Bedfordshire^ Berkshire, Cambridgeshire. 693 



against some of the prizes, and to find that several of them were not awarded, 

 foi" want of claimants. {Cheltenham Chronicle^ Sept. 25.) 



Berkshire. — Reading Horticultural Societr/. April 30. This was a splen- 

 did show; the most successful candidates, W. Stephens and C. S. Lefevre, 

 Esqrs., each sending a fine collection of plants. Mr. Wood, gardener at White 

 Knights, and Mr. Greenshields, gardener at Englefield House, also sent some 

 very handsome specimens, though only for ornament. The cottagers' prizes 

 were numerous and remarkably good. {Berkshire Chronicle, May 2.) 



Cambridgeshire. — Cambridgeshire Horticultural Society. March 17. This 

 was the best collection of flowers, fruits, and vegetables ever exhibited by this 

 Society so early in the season. The cucumbers, asparagus, sea-kale, lettuces, 

 and other vegetables, were remarkably fine; as were the stalks of rhubarb and 

 the table and baking apples. Mr. J. Newman and Mr. Hudson gained most 

 prizes ; and a basket of spring flowers, by Mr. J. Denson, excited very general 

 admiration. (Cambridge Chronicle, March 27.) 



April 22, This show was rendered very brilliant by the number of stove 

 and green-house plants sent by the neighbouring gentry for ornament. The 

 principal flowers shown for prizes were auriculas and polyanthuses, most of 

 which were old favourites ; but two seedlings (Gimson's conqueror auricula, 

 and Hunt's formosissima polyanthus) were much admired. (Ibid., April 24.) 



May 20. This show was principally for tulips, but some remarkably fine 

 pelargoniums, &c. were exhibited. Some beurre de Ranz pears, and golden 

 pippin apples kept from last year, obtained extra prizes, as did a pyramid of 

 ranunculuses by Mr. Catling, a basket of border flowers by Mr. Denson, 

 some seedling calceolarias by Mr. Biggs, &c. The cottagers' prizes were nu- 

 merous and good. (Ibid., May 22.) 



■luly 15. This was principally a fruit show. The heaviest gooseberry 

 weighed 1 oz. 7 gr., and was exhibited by Mr. Giddings. A seedling red goose- 

 berry was shown by Mr. Woods, who had also a seedling carnation which 

 gained a prize. The carnation and picotees were very beautiful. The cot- 

 tagers' prizes were not so numerous as usual. (Ibid., July 17.) 



Sept. 16. We never witnessed a more gratifying exhibition, or one which 

 more strikingly evinced the improved condition of horticulture and floricul- 

 ture in this neighbourhood. The flowers (particularly the dahlias) were of a 

 most splendid character, and marked out Cambridgeshire as a successful com- 

 petitor against all England. To establish this reputation, some of the mem- 

 bers of the Society raised a handsome private subscription, to be distributed in 

 three prizes of 10/., 51., and 21., for the best exhibition of 24 dahlias, the com- 

 petition to be open to all England. These prizes were gained by Mr. Widnall, 

 Mr. Brewer, and Mr. Searle. The collection of fruits on the occasion was 

 not so large as usual. The room was very tastefully decorated with various 

 devices in flowers by Mr. Catling. 



The following articles, well worthy of notice, were sent for exhibition only, 

 viz. : by Mr. Curtis of Glazenwood, a dish of Gemerina, or large Portugal 

 plums, such as are sent to England dried, and used for desserts : by Mr. Wil- 

 mot of Isleworth, a large bunch of fine seedling white grapes, of the muscat 

 kind, having large berries. The grape is most prolific, and can be obtained in 

 perfection from March till October : it is called Wilmot's early prolific mus- 

 cat. Mr. Wilmot also produced two very large and fine specimens of pines, 

 viz. the Sierra Leone and the globe. 



The establishment of the cottage garden prizes was considered a most im- 

 portant feature in the progress of the Society. Mr. Leviche, a gentleman from 

 Sheffield, proposed to give three prizes, each consisting of a set of knives and 

 forks, to those cottagers who shall gain the most prizes, in number and value, 

 during the next year, and a set of scissors to each of their wives. Mr. Wilmot 

 of Isleworth proposed to give prizes of garden seeds and garden tools to cot- 

 tagers, by way of additional encouragement. Mr. Leviche afterwards proposed 

 to give a silver tea-service, value 40/., to such member of the Society as shall 

 gain, next year, the greatest number and amount of prizes. (Ibid., Sept. 25.) 



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