234' 



JOUKNAL OF HOHTXOULTURE AND COTIAGE GAUDENEK. 



[ September 9, 1875. 



followed by Mr. Edmonds and Mr. Akeburet. In the single- 

 bunch classes the Black Hambarghs were excellent, as also were 

 the Alicautea and Lady Downe's, the Muscats lacking finish, 

 and the solitary bunch of Golden Champion being only a mode- 

 rate specimen of its kind. The chief prizewinners in this 

 section were Messrs. Coleman, Wildsmith, Irving, Upjohn, 

 Edmonds, and Messrs. Lane & Son. 



In the classes for flavour the qualities in blacks stood — Black 

 and Muscat Hamburghs, and Madresfield Court, the growers 

 being Mr. Cox, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Thomas, Whetstone ; and 

 in whites Mr. Wattam, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Bones won with 

 Duchess of Baccleuch, Muscat of Alexandria, and Canon Hall 

 Muscat respectively. The entries were numerous, but the 

 bunches were generally poor. For the heaviest black bunches 

 Mr. Goodacre won with a CJ lli. bunch of Black Hamburgh 

 with poor berries ; and for whites Mr. Edmonds was first with 

 Syrian weighing 5J lbs. The classes both for weight and flavour 

 were not satisfactory, the big bunches not being fit to place 

 on any gentleman's table; and as to iiavoBr there was a poor 

 return for the prizes offered, and which, indeed, were hardly 

 needed to elicit the well-proved fact that well-grown examples 

 of the staple varieties are always good in quality. 



For the 12-lb. baskets there was good competition of first- 

 class produce, Mr. Culeman winning in blacks with Black Ham- 

 burgh, followed by Mr. Akehnrst and Mr. Thomas. For whites 

 Mr. Bashford won with Muscat of Alexandria, followed by Mr. 

 Akehurst and Messrs. H. Lane iS: Son. In Class C, for two 

 bunches of specified varieties, there was but little competition, 

 except in the Black Hamburgh class. The fruit generally was 

 not of superior merit, except the finish of Mr. Luokhurst's 

 Muscats, which was very noticeable. The principal winners 

 wei-e Messrs. Lnckhurst, Mackie, Hoard, Crane, and Le Sueur. 



Messrs. Lane & Son had capital examples of pot Vines heavily 

 laden with fruit. Of the Grapes, of which about five hundred 

 bunches were exhibited, the blacks, especially the Hamburghs 

 and Alicantes, were splendid, but the whites were generallj' 

 deficient in fiuish. The baskets were an admirable display, and 

 the "large bunch" and "best flavour" classes closely ap- 

 proached failure. 



The division for foreign exhibitors only, was not a success, ex- 

 cept as regards the Pears, and of these good specimens were 

 Bent. The Pine classes were empty, and the majority of the 

 Grapes were indifferent. Muscat "Befire" was the best, and 

 Gros Colman was f lirly good, but it is clear that our foreign 

 friends cannot teach us any good lessons in Grape-growing, yet 

 the fruit was generally set up in good condition, while many of 

 the English Grapes had been injured in packing and transit. 

 Disfigurement in this respect was very noticeable. In this 

 division some good collections of Apples were sent, but not 

 equal to the best examples of home culture. The winners were 

 in Grapes Mr. Le Sueur, and in Pears and Apples Mr. Bashford 

 and Mr. Pluck. 



In Division E, which embraced Peaches, Keetarines, Plums, 

 Pears, Apples, and Figs, a really splendid spread of fruit re- 

 sulted. In the classes for twelve and six Peaches upwards of 

 thirty dishes were staged, the majority possessing great merit. 

 For twelve fruits Mr. Coleman had the first award for Crasvford's 

 Early, fine in size and colour; Mr. Jones being second with 

 Bellegarde, a model dish ; Mr. Grant following with an excellent 

 dish of Chancellor. For sis fruits the first honours went to Mr. 

 Cos with VioletteHative, followed by Mr. Wildsmith withBoyal 

 George, and Mr. Smith, Bentbam Garden?, with Noblesse. A 

 beautiful dish of Dr. Hogg was exhibited by Mr. Luckhurst. Nec- 

 tarines were also an admirable display, twenty-two dishes being 

 staged with scarcely an indifferent fruit in the entire collection. 

 In tho class for twelve fruits Mr. Coleman was placed first with 

 fine and highly-coloured fruits of Pitmaston Orange, Mr. Luck- 

 hurst fjilowing with admirable examples of Lord Napier; and 

 in the class for six Mr. McClure won with splendid fruit of 

 Violette Hative, followed by Mr. Akehurst with Elruge. 



Of Figs eight very fine dishes competed, the first and second 

 awards falling to Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Chard, for Brunswicks. 

 For Plums, twelve of any sort, there was a great display of 

 nearly forty dishes, Mr. Stephens and Mr. Bridgemau winning 

 with Green Gage and Jefferson's; Mr. Lane had also an extra 

 award for Jeflei sou's. This was a very successful class, the whole 

 of the fruit being of fine size and finish. 



Pn.vRs AND ArpLEs. — Of these there was an admirable ex- 

 hibition. For twelve Pears, two of each, there were sixteen 

 competitors ; Mr. Jones. Mr. Bashford, and Mr. Pluck taking 

 the honours with splendid examples of Beurrc Clairgeau, Gene- 

 ral Todtleben, Doyenne du Cornice, Beurru Bachelier, Baurrij 

 d'Amanlis, &c. For six fruits of Jargonelle Mr. Palling, Mr. 

 Gocdacre, and Mr. Gough had the awards ; for six of any other 

 sort Mr. Upjolmwua first with Fondante d'Automne, followed by 

 Mr. J'oorman, and Mr. Jones, with Williams's Bon Chic' lien; and 

 for si. \ heaviett Pears Mr. Bashford won with Belle de Jersey, 

 weighing tj\ 11 . 



Apples were extensively exhibited, but several dishes were in- 

 correctly named. For a collection of dessert kinds there were 



sixteen competitors, Mr. Plack, Messrs. G. & J. Lane and Mr. 

 Holder standing in the order named, and for twelve ripe desserii 

 kinds there were eleven entries, Mr. Webb winning. In the 

 class for six sorts of baking Apples there was a grand display, 

 twenty-six competing, Mr. Cocks and Mr. Pluck being the most 

 successful. The finest sorts were Warner's King, Lord Sulfield, 

 Kentish Fillbasket, Alfristou, Dutch Codlin, Blenheim Pippin, 

 and Eeinette du Canada. For the six heaviest Apples Mr. Pluck 

 won with London Pippins, weighing libs. 13 ozs., followed by 

 Mr. Chisholm with Warner's King, weighing i lbs. 12i ozs. 



Melons were generally small. In the Green-fleshed section 

 twelve fruits were exhibited, the best being Golden Gem, 

 Worcester Hybrid, and Golden Perfection, from Mr. Tyler, 

 Bishop Stortford ; Mr. Gough, and Mr. Chafl respectively. In 

 the Scarlet-fleshed section eight fruits were staged, the best 

 being Bead's Netted, Hero of Bath, and Scarlet Gem, from 

 Mr. Ellis, Coombe Warren ; Mr. Wildsmith, and Mr. Boss, in 

 the order named. Mr. Coleman was the most successful exhi- 

 bitor of fruit, winning nine first and two second prizes ; his pro- 

 duce, which was very superior, being secured by Messrs. Webber 

 and Co., Covent Garden. 



Veget.ibles. — These were exhibited in collections, which 

 were fairly good, but more remarkable for size than for quality 

 and superior finish. Cauliflowers were all overgrown. Celery 

 was coarse, and Parsnips were 4 feet in length. Beans, Peas, 

 Potatoes, 'Turnips,! Carrots, Onions, and Tomatoes were in ex- 

 cellent condition. For sixteen varieties Mr. Cox, Madresfield, 

 and Mr. Holder, Prestbury, were equal firsts, followed by Mr. 

 Turk and Mr. Eushmore. In the collection of six varieties 

 the winners were Mr. Smith, Mr. Bloxham, and Mr. Crane. In 

 Salads two attractive collections were exhibited by Mr. Smith, 

 Bentbam Gardens, and Mr. Holder, who received first and 

 second awards respectively. 



Miscellaneous. — In this class were interesting contributions. 

 Messrs. Deard & Co. had their hot-water apparatus ; Mr. Voice, 

 improved Cucumber frames; and Mr. Webb and Mr. Cocks 

 seedling Apples, for which certificates of merit were awarded. 

 Fruit-bearing Apple trees lifted from the ground, and exhibited 

 in baskets, by Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, were a prominent 

 feature. 'They comprised over fifty sorts, and the trees from 

 3 to 6 feet in height were heavily laden with fruit. Messrs. T. 

 Kivers & Son also exhibited fruit trees in variety, and an ex- 

 tensive collection of fruits, including branches of Plums of ex- 

 treme fruitfulness. Mr. William Paul had a great collection of 

 fruits the resources of the Waltham Cross Nurseries. Mr. 

 Webb, Beading, staged a very fine collection of Nuts in twenty- 

 eight varieties. Mr. Solomon, gardener to D. Flooke, Esq., sent 

 a gigantic Pumpkin, nearly 7 feet in circumference. Messrs. 

 Brown, Stamford, exhibited splendid specimens of Peasgood's 

 Nonsuch Apple, which somewhat resembles Cellini highly mag- 

 nified. Mr. Yeates had metallic labels ; Mr. Matthews, pottery, 

 &o. ; Messrs. Balderaon (t Knox, insect killers; Mr. Kaye, skele- 

 ton leaves; and Mr. Laxton, new double Pelargoniums Guiding 

 Star, Illuminator, and Emily Laxton. 



The Judges of the several classes were most painstaking in 

 their duties, and their awards gave general satisfaction. 



• TAJSLE decorations. 



It was wise to add to the grand schedule for fruit one for 

 table decorations, for they are always interesting to a large 

 number of people, and as no other flowers were exhibited they 

 gave variety to the stages. I was anxious to see what would be 

 the result in a new locality, whether the old exhibitors would 

 appear on the scene and new ones be added to them. Both 

 classes came forward, and if the results were not very striking 

 as to novelty, neither was there anything very ofi"eusive to the 

 taste. In all I could suggest improvements, although, perhaps, 

 had I to do them myself I should miserably fail. "There were 

 four tables in the first class, which was described as a " table 

 10 feet G inches long by 5 feet wide, completely laid out for 

 twelve persons, and so arranged as to show the best means of 

 utilising fruit and flowers in its adornment." It was evident 

 that one of the exhibitors could not have read this, for no one 

 could imagine that a plate, a fish knife, and a large silver fork 

 was all that was required for the use of a dinner table. The 

 first prize was awarded to Mr. Soder, gardener to 0. Hanbury, 

 Esq. This was arranged with three centrepieces ; the centre 

 one consisting of a base, middle tray, and long glass top. This 

 was very elegantly and lightly arranged, the top with sprays of 

 Celosia and Grass; the central tray with some charming trusses 

 of a Cape Geranium, some bells of Agapanthus, and Adinntum; 

 the base with blooms of Vallota purpurea and Eucharis ama- 

 zonica intermixed with Adiantum. The side vases were similar 

 without the central tray, the top filled with Cornflower and 

 Grass : the Cornflower was rather jammed down into the glass 

 and spoiled its lightness. The bases were arranged with Water 

 Lily, Vallota, an-d Adiantum. The fruit was arranged in glass 

 baskets, and the table fairly treated with glass, Sec, although I 

 think some ruby glasses would have been an improvement, 

 as there was not overmuch colour in either flowers or fruit. 



