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THE GABDENEBS' CHRONICLE. 



[August 2. r ), 1888. 



DEVON AND EXETER HORTICUL- 

 TURAL. 



August 18. — The 167th exhibition of this Society 

 was held in the public grounds of Northernhay. 

 The weather proved all that could be desired, and 

 the display of plants, cut flowers, fruit and vege- 

 tables, in the various tents was of a high order. 



Cut Flowers (Open). — For a collection of forty- 

 eight Dahlias, double, distinct, Mr. J. Nation, 

 Taunton, was 1st, but did not show so well as usual, 

 owing probably to the lateness of the season ; his 

 best blooms were Emily Edwards, Mrs. Saunders, 

 Vice-President, Mrs. S. Hibberd, E. Smith, Earl of 

 Ravensworth, Peacock, Harrison "Weir, Mr. J. C. 

 Reid, W. Rawlings, James Cocker, Grand Sultan, 

 Imperial, Mrs. E. Foreman, and Crown Prince. 



Mr. Rowland, gr. to Win. Brock, Esq., Exeter, led 

 in the class for eighteen bunches cut flowers, show- 

 ing a good lot. Mr. Rowland also led for nine stove 

 and greenhouse flowering plants, with a nice lot of 

 fresh plants, including Allamanda Hendersoni, A. 

 grandiflora, Ixora Williamsi, I. Duffi, Dipladenia 

 amabilis, with splendid flowers and foliage; 

 a grand well-flowered specimen of Stepha- 

 notis floribunda, Bougainvillea glabra, Anthu- 

 I'ium Andreanum, and Rondeletia speciosa major. 

 Mr. Locke, gr. to "W. C. Cleaver, Esq., Crediton, 

 who had some grand specimens, but had materially 

 suffered through being exhibited at various shows 

 before, was 2nd. Ericas, AUamandas.Phoenocoma pro 

 liferaBarnesi, Eueharis amazonica (a grand pot), and 

 Clerodendron Balfouri were good. The same exhi- 

 bitor was an easy 1st for nine stove and greenhouse 

 foliage plants ; his Crotons were especially good and 

 highly coloured. Cycas circinalis, Encephalartos 

 villosa, Kentia Fosteriana and K. Balmoreana, 

 Alocasia Thibautiana and A. dasylirion were 

 amongst the best. Mr. Rowland followed with fine 

 plants of various Palms. Mr. Locke secured another 

 1st for Ferns, with splendid plants of Adiantum 

 cuneatum, Davallia fijiensis, Tyermanni, bullata, 

 and polyantha; Nephrolepis davallioides furcans, 

 Cibotium princeps. 



For a group of miscellaneous plants arranged for 

 effect on 100 square feet, a Silver Cup was given 

 by the Mayor of Exeter (C. T. K. Roberts, Esq.). 

 Here Mr. Locke was again successful, eclipsing 

 anything he has ever put up at this show in previous 

 years ; Mr. Rowland again followed him with a very 

 effective arrangement. 



Six Fuchsias, distinct, were good, from Mr. 

 Mollon, gr. to Mrs. Ponget ; and Mr. Staddon, gr. to 

 Col. Courtenay, led for Gloxinias, showing very well. 



Fruit. — Collections of ten dishes were good. Mr. 

 Iggulden, gr. to the Earl of Cork, Marston House, 

 Frome, had the 1st prize lot, with fine bunches of 

 Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, 

 large and handsome Sea Eagle Peaches, Lord Napier 

 Nectarines, Moor Park Apricots, Brown Ischia Figs, 

 Florence Cherries, Plum Early Bride, and Hero of 

 Lockinge Melon. Mr. James, gr. to Sir J. Walrond, 

 Bart., who had fine and well finished bunches of 

 Black Hamburgh Grapes, Melon High Cross Hybrid, 

 splendid Elruge Nectarines and Bellegarde Peaches, 

 Napoleon Bigarreau Cherries, and Dumelow's Superb 

 Plum, led in the smaller class for six dishes. Single 

 dishes of Grapes were numerous, Messrs. Iggulden, 

 Pike, Barnes, and Langworthy taking the chief prizes. 



Vegetables were shown in grand style — never 

 better. For the collection of twelve kinds Mr. 

 Maris, gr. to Sir G. Shelley, put up a splendid lot, 

 including Red-top Turnip, Sutton's Gem Celery, 

 Intermediate Carrot (James), Hulin's Giant Cauli- 

 flower, Moore's Cream Marrow. Reading Perfection 

 Tomato, Sutton's Reading Sprouts, Purly Park 

 Hero Cucumber, Sutton's Seedling Potato, Duke of 

 Albany Pea, Girtford Giant Runner Bean, and 

 Giant Rocca Onion ; Mr. Leach, gr. to J. Drew, Esq., 

 was a very good 2nd. The prizes offered for a single 

 dish of vegetables were all well contested. D. C. P. 



SHROPSHIRE FLORAL. AND HORTI- 

 CULTURAL. 



August 22 and 23. — Several tents were occupied 

 in displaying the numerous exhibits (numbering 

 2800 entries), being some 360 more than last year), 

 and which were generally of a high order. 



Plants. — In the principal class — that for twenty 

 stove and greenhouse plants, prizes of £25, £20, and 

 £15 being offered — there were three competitors, 

 their combined efforts making a very meritorious 

 display. In this class Mr. James Cypher, Chelten- 

 ham, staged some grand examples of cultivation, and 



took the 1st place, the most noteworthy being Erica 

 Irbyana, E. ampullacea Barnesi, Statice profusa, 

 Ixora Erased, Bougainvillea glabra, Allamanda 

 nobilis, Croton Queen Victoria, grandly coloured ; 

 Latania borbonica, Cycas revoluta, &c. Mr. C. 

 Roberts, gr. to A. Nicholson, Esq., Highfield Hall, 

 Staffs., made a close 2nd, with very fine examples of 

 Dipladenia profusa, Erica retorta major, E. jasmini- 

 flora, and Crotons. 



For nine stove and greenhouse plants, Messrs. 

 Pritchard & Sons, Shrewsbury, who also had 

 good Fuchsias and zonal Pelargoniums, led, 

 the most noteworthy plants being Clerodendron 

 Balfouri, Allamanda Hendersoni, Gleichenia dicho- 

 toma, Davallia Mooreana, &c. ; 2nd, Mr. J. Farrant, 

 gr. to Mrs. Jason, Abbey Forgate, with, amongst 

 others, good examples of Franciscea calycina major, 

 Dipladenia amabilis, Erica semula, and Ixora 

 amabilis. 



In the class for six stove and greenhouse plants, 

 confined to gentlemen's gardeners in Salop and 

 Montgomery, Mr. J. Farrant was again to the front. 

 With six "exotic Ferns, Mr. C. Roberts was to the 

 fore, his principal plants being Todea superba, a fine 

 piece ; Cyathea medullaris, Platycerium alcicorne, 

 and Dicksonia antarctica. 



Mr. J. Cypher was again victorious with six plants 

 in flower, Orchids excluded, Erica ferruginea superba 

 being shown finely flowered ; 2nd, Mr. C. Roberts, 

 who led in the class for six Palms, with large 

 examples of Latania borbonica, Thrinax elegans, 

 Kentia australis, &c. 



Cut Flowers. — In the classes for thirty-six and 

 twenty-four Dahlias, the 1st and 2nd prizes were 

 taken by Messrs. Heath & Sons and Mr. W. Shaw, 

 the last-named exhibitor securing 1st honours for 

 eighteen Gladioli spikes. Roses were best from 

 Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry ; and from Mr. S. 

 Garner. Bridal and hand bouquets and buttonholes 

 were well shown by Messrs. Perkins & Sons. 



Fruit. — For the collection of twelve dishes, four 

 competitors appeared, the 1st place being accorded 

 to Mr. R. Dawes, gr. to Hon. Mrs. Ingram, with very 

 noticeable specimens of Royal George Peaches, Bar- 

 barossa Grapes, Brown Turkey Figs, Queen Pine, 

 and Roman Apricots ; 2nd, Mr. J. H. Goodacre, gr. 

 to the Earl of Harrington, who had fine Barrington 

 Peaches, Elruge Nectarines, and Muscat of Alex- 

 andria Grapes, &c. Mr. Pratt, gr. to the Marquis of 

 Bath, Longleat, and Mr. Gilman, gr. to the Marquis 

 of Shrewsbury, Ingestrie, being respectively 3rd and 

 4th ; Mr. J. Lambert having good Royal George 

 Peaches, Humboldt Nectarines, Gooseberry Won- 

 derful (very fine), Black Hamburgh and Muscat of 

 Alexandria Grapes, led in the collection of nine 

 dishes. 



In the class for six Peaches as many as eleven 

 competitors appeared, Mr. Gilman leading with 

 grandly-coloured Barrington. Out of ten entries for 

 Nectarines, Mr. Burnett, gr. to Hon. C. H. Wynne, 

 was 1st, with Pine-apple. 



Black and white Grapes were shown in wonder- 

 fully good condition, considering the nature of the 

 season, by Mr. J. Stevenson, gr. to Col. Pilkington, 

 Prescot, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Davies, Mr. Bennett, Mr, 

 Barker, Mr. Middleton, and others. 



Vegetables. — The centre of attraction in this de- 

 partment of the exhibition, which was well repre- 

 sented, Potatos being largely shown, was in the 

 class for a collection of vegetables, twelve varieties, 

 in competition for the prizes offered by the Veitch 

 Memorial Trustees. There were thirteen entries, 

 Mr. J. Lambert, gr., Onslow Hall, with a magnifi- 

 cent lot, being adjudged the premier place, his prin- 

 cipal dishes being Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Lyon 

 Leek, Snowball Turnip, Purley Park Cucumber, 

 Laxton's Czar Runner Beans, Prodigy Pea, Prime 

 Minister Potato, Carrot Improved Intermediate, &c, ; 

 2nd, Mr. C. J. Waite, Glenhurst Gardens, Esher, 

 who has good specimens of Sensation Tomatos, 

 White Tripoli Onions, Ne Plus Ultra Bean, New 

 Intermediate Carrot, Autumn Giant Cauliflower, &c. 

 Special Prizes. — For the prizes offered by Messrs. 

 Webb & Sons for a collection of vegetables, eight 

 distinct kinds, Mr. C. J. Waite took 1st prize with 

 fine Chancellor Turnip, Sensation Tomato, Major 

 Clark's Celery, Duke of Albany Pea3, White Tripoli 

 Onions, New Intermediate Carrot, &c. ; Mr. J. 

 Lambert and Mr. A. J. Skinner following in the 

 order named. 



Prizes were offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons for 

 Cucumbers, Mr. A. J. Skinner and Mr. G. Pearson, 

 gr. to Lord Berwick, being respectively 1st and 2nd. 

 For prizes offered by the same firm for Melons, 

 1st, Mr. C. J. Waite ; 2nd, Mr. W. Palmer ; 3rd, 

 Mr. Borlass, each staging Hero of Lockinge. 



Miscellaneous. — Messrs. R. Smith & Co., Worcester, 

 contributed a good collection of foliage and flowering 

 plants'; Messrs. W.& J. Birkenhead.Sale, staged a very 

 interesting and beautiful collection of Ferns ; from 

 Messrs. Kelway & Sons, Langport, there was an attrac- 

 tive bank of Gladioli, Delphiniums, Gaillardias, &c. ; 

 and Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, had 

 Dahlias and zonal Pelargoniums (cut trusses) ; Messrs. 

 Jones & Son, Shrewsbury, sent foliage and flowering 

 plants, prays, bouquets, &c. ; Messrs. Clibran & Son, 

 foliage plants; Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, cut 

 flowers of their strain of African Marigold ; Messrs. 

 Dicksons & Co. ("Limited), Chester, a group of 

 nicely coloured Crotons and other foliage plants, cut 

 Roses, &c. ; and Messrs. E. Webb & Sons, Stour- 

 bridge, contributed an attractive stand of their 

 various vegetable novelties. 



NEWCASTLE FLOWER SHOW. 



August 22 — 24. — There were (says the Newcastle 

 Daily Leader) 112 exhibitors with 3492 exhibits, and 

 the entries comprised 159 plants in bloom, and 

 foliage and table plants ; 238 Ferns, Ericas, Liliums, 

 Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, and Begonias ; 88 epergnes, 

 baskets of flowers, and dessert tables ; 69 hand 

 and .bridal bouquets, sprays, and buttonholes ; 592 

 Dahlias, Hollyhocks, and Gladioli (spikes) 300 

 Roses ; 54 bunches of herbaceous flowers ; 1670 

 Asters, Carnations, Picotees, Marigolds, and Pansies; 

 217 dishes of fruit, and 105 bunches of Grapes. 

 These figures do not include the exhibits for which 

 several prizes were offered, nor those which were not 

 for competition. 



The large marquee was divided into three sections, 

 and up the centre ran the table upon which, perhaps, 

 the most delicate and pretty collection of the whole 

 show was displayed — namely, hand and bridal 

 bouquets, sprays, buttonholes, epergnes, baskets of 

 flowers, and dessert tables. 



Grapes were about the largest section, the white 

 kinds predominated in numbers, but the splendid 

 large bunches of Black Hamburghs, with bloom 

 almost untouched, had a richer appearance. Nec- 

 tarines, Peaches, Pine-apples, Pears, and other fruit 

 were arranged in profusion, and were well set off with 

 dishes of Currants, Cherries, &c. 



Cut flowers, of course, formed a very important 

 item in the show; Roses, Carnations, Picotees, 

 Asters, Marigolds, Dahlias, Gladioli, Hollyhocks, 

 and other kinds, all in great variety, formed a showy 

 and handsome display. The Roses, Carnations, and 

 Hollyhocks were exceptionally fine. Stove plants 

 in bloom were well exhibited. 



A special prize for the best collection of six 

 varieties of vegetables was given by Messrs. S. 

 Finney & Co., seed merchants, Newcastle. This 

 being the largest of the special prizes brought a good 

 competition. There were, as usual, three divisions — 

 open, amateur, and special — and whichever one was 

 examined it was seen that the competition was very 

 close, and the judges — Mr. James Douglas (Essex), 

 Mr. John Paterson (Edinburgh), Mr. John Ward 

 (Essex), Mr. Jas. Grieve (Edinburgh), Mr. J. 

 Machonochie (Alexandria, N.B.), and Mr. Joshua 

 Atkins (Cheshire) — had an arduous task before 

 them in selecting the winners. The principal prize- 

 takers in the various classes were : — J. Mclndoe, 

 gr. to Sir Jos. Pease ; J. Hunter, gr. to the 

 Earl of Durham; Jos. Punton, gr. to Dr. Hodg- 

 kin, Newcastle ; J. Spoor, Gateshead ; J. Walker 

 and N. Walker, Low Fell ; F. Edmondson and Miss 

 Mary Edmondson, Newcastle ; T. Battenby, Whick- 

 ham ; J. Battenaby, Blaydon ; J. Westcott, gr. to 

 the Duke of Cleveland; J. Mclntyre, gr. to Mrs. G. 

 Pease, Darlington ; and M. Flowdy, Gateshead. 



At the east and west ends of the marquee were the 

 stands of exhibits not for competitiou. In this class 

 the judges awarded the highest honour of "very 

 Highly Commended " to Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, 

 nurserymen, Carlisle, who exhibited a magnificent 

 group of foliage and ornamental plants. 



Varieties of Crotons particularly worthy of 

 mention were C. Prince of Wales, C. Warreni, 

 C. Williamsi, C. Queen Victoria, and C. Countess. 

 Taken as a whole the collection had a beautiful 

 blend of colour, and this fact, together with the 

 rarity and fineness of many of the plants, un- 

 doubtedly made the collection one of the most 

 striking features in the show. Messrs. William Fell 

 & Co., nurserymen, Hexham, deservedly received a 

 special commendation from the judges for their col- 

 lection of herbaceous plants and cut flowers. The 

 Coniferaj— which formed the principal part of the 

 collection — are seldom seen in such good form. 



