27G 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[September S, 1888, 



Belmont, Belfast, played a worthy 2nd to them 

 with beautiful flowers. 



Vegetables were a capital show, samples being 

 both numerous and superior in quality. The col- 

 lections, which were very fine, were keenly contested, 

 but Mr. Low, of Stirling, was placed 1st with a very 

 fine lot. Potatos were numerously exhibited, and 

 notwithstanding the rumours of disease were per- 

 fectly clean and beautiful samples. The show on the 

 first day was numerously attended, the weather being 

 very favourable. 



The dinner took' place in the Waterloo Hotel in 

 the afternoon, under the presidency of Bailie Mac- 

 donald. The toast of the Society was proposed by 

 Councillor Colston, and replied to by Mr. Thomson, 

 Clovenfords, who touched on the general question of 

 fruit culture. 



BATH FLORAL FETE. 



Oe the four shows now held annually under the 

 auspices of the Floral Bete Committee perhaps the 

 autumn show is the most popular, and this year it 

 must be regarded as of additional interest, owing to 

 the city being honoured with the visit of the British 

 Association. In connection with this latter event, 

 there were a number of special classes for subjects 

 mostly of botanical interest, and towards which the 

 local committee voted a sum of £50. British 

 Association Certificates of Merit have also been 

 awarded to exhibits in these and other classes where 

 these were considered specially meritorious. As in 

 previous years, the show was held in Sydney Gar- 

 dens, and was well attended. No fewer than eight 

 tents were filled with exhibits ; whilst most of the 

 vegetable classes were, owing to want of space, 

 placed outside. 



Fuchsias. — These were a speciality of the show, and 

 in few other districts do we meet with such huge 

 specimens as we do here. For nine varieties, the 

 plants in this class, as in some of the other classes, 

 were 10 feet high, and full of bloom. The 1st prize 

 was awarded to Mr. Tucker, gr. to Major Clarke ; the 

 varieties shown were Bountiful, Harriet Lye, Hon. 

 Mrs. Hay, Doel's Favourite, Miss Lucy Finnis, 

 Thomas King, Charming, and a rather promising 

 seedling. Mr. Lye, gr. to Hon. Mrs. Hay, was 2nd. 



For six varieties, Mr. J. Kiddeck, gr. to Mrs. 

 Kinder, Bath, was 1st ; Mr. Hawkins, gr. to Thos. 

 Jolly, Esq., 2nd. 



Three other classes of plants, one for four and 

 two for single specimens, were also keenly contested. 

 Plants. — Some very good representative collections 

 of these were to be met with, and in the class for 

 twelve stove or greenhouse plants in bloom, Mr. J. 

 Cypher, Cheltenham, was justly awarded 1st, with a 

 clean and well flowered collection, consisting of 

 Bougainvillea glabra, Erica obbata purpurea, E. 

 Thompsoni, E. Eweriana, E. ampullacea, E. Barnesi, 

 E. Irbyana, Phcenocoma prolifera Barnesi, Alla- 

 manda nobilis, A. Hendersoni, Statice profusa, Cle- 

 rodendron Balfourianum, and Ixora Fraseri. 2d, Mr. 

 Tucker, gr. to Major Clarke, Trowbridge. In the 

 class for six ditto, Mr. Mould, gr. to E. E. Bryant, 

 Esq., was placed 1st, with a clean fresh lot of medium 

 sized plants ; 2nd going to Mr. Wills, gr. to Mrs. 

 Pearce, of Southampton. 



In the class for twelve ornamental foliage plants, 

 Mr. Cypher was again to the fore, his plants being 

 Kentia Belmoreana, K. .Fosteriana, K. australis, K. 

 canterburyana, Cycas revoluta, C. undulata, Latania 

 borbonica, Dasylirion acrotrichum, Crotons, several 

 species — the whole of which were fine specimens, and 

 the Crotons remarkable for high colour. The 2nd 

 prize was awarded to E. E. Bryant, Esq., whose best 

 plants were Encephalartos horridus Bryantianus, 

 Acalypha mosaica, Croton elegans, and Latania 

 borbonica. In the class for eight ditto, Mr. Wills 

 and Mr. Curry, gr. to Colonel Pepper, Salisbury, 

 were 1st and 2nd respectively. 



Orchids were not well represented. In the class 

 for six specimens, Mr. Cypher was 1st, with Onci- 

 dium incurvum, Cattleya guttata, C. Gaskelliana var. 

 delicata, Odontoglossum grande, Mormodes luxatum 

 eburneum, and Epidendrum prismatocarpum ; the 

 2nd going to Mr. Wills, of Southampton. Other 

 classes for Heaths and single specimen flowering 

 and foliage plants were in most instances well 

 contested. 



Ferns. — We regret that space precludes our giving 

 anything like a detailed report of many exhibits that 

 might be considered worthy of special notice suffice 

 it to say that such high authorities as Colonel 

 Jones, of Clifton, E. J. Lowe, Esq., of Chepstowe, 

 and J. M. Barne, Esq., of Clifton, were amoDg the 

 exhibitors of hardy Ferns, and that the trade was re- 



presented by Messrs. Birkenhead, of Sale, Manchester, 

 who had a collection similar to the fine one shown 

 in London recently. Some of the most noteworthy 

 plants in this collection were Gymnogramma schizo- 

 phylla var. gloriosa, Nothocltena Muelleri (a very 

 attractive and singular-looking species), N. sinuata, 

 Adiantum Fergusoni, A. palmatum, and some 

 other 300 species and varieties in about 600 plants. 

 We must also note a large collection exhibited by 

 the British Zoological Society not for competition, 

 and chiefly with an educational object in view, which 

 we do not doubt amply fulfilled its purpose. This 

 collection, which was under the care of Mr. Harris, 

 and were mostly collected and raised from seed 

 originally by Colonel Jones, contained from 2000 to 

 3000 plants, and were arranged in the form of a long 

 irregular border, faced with rockwork and boulders 

 of stone, placed in the borders at intervals, and was 

 greatly admired. 



In the class for twelve Exotic Ferns Mr . Tucker 

 was 1st, and Thomas Carr, Esq., of Tiverton, 2nd. 



Miscellaneous Groups of plants and cut flowers 

 were exhibited by Messrs. R. Veitch & Sou, of 

 Exeter"; R. Smith & Co., of Worcester ; Sutton & 

 Sons, of Reading ; each and all of whom exhibited 

 many novelties, and which were much admired. 



Cut Flowers were fully represented by numerous 

 well-known exhibitors. 



For thirty-six Roses Dr. Budd, of Bath, was 

 placed 1st, his best blooms being Mad. Lambard, 

 Marie Van Houtte, Star of Waltham, Horace Vernet, 

 Mdme. Charles Wood, and Fisher Holmes; 2n,d, 

 Messrs. Perkins, of Coventry. 



In the class for twenty-four blooms Messrs. Cool- 

 ing & Sons were placed 1st, with good blooms of 

 Due de Rohan, Grace Darling, Captain Chritty, La 

 France and others; 2nd, Dr. Budd. 



Dahlias, twenty-four dissimilar. — Messrs. Keynes, 

 Williams & Co., of Salisbury, 1st, with large, clean, 

 well developed blooms, in so far as these are obtain- 

 able this unpropitious season ; 2nd, Messrs.Heath & 

 Son, of Cheltenham. 



For twelve varieties Mr. Hobbs, of Bristol, took 

 1st; and for nine fancy ditto Messrs. Keynes, 

 Williams & Co. occupied a similar position. 



Gladiolus, thirty-six spikes. — Messrs. Kelway & 

 Son were placed 1st for a very meritorious collec- 

 tion ; 2nd, Samuel Dobree, Esq., of Wellington. 



Table Ornament. — Mr. Cypher, 1st: Mr. Jones, 2nd. 



Messrs. Cooling exhibited some excellent Tea 

 Roses, not for competition. 



Fruit. — This was a great point of attraction to the 

 majority of visitors, and was remarkable for the 

 quality and quantity. 



Collections of eight dishes had an imposing ap- 

 pearance, as may well be imagined, when it is stated 

 that dishes of Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, and Figs, 

 contained nine fruits in each. The 1st prize was 

 gained by Mr.Pratt, gr. to the Marquis of Bath, Long- 

 leat, who had Black Alicante and Muscat of Alex- 

 andria Grapes, Barrington Peaches, Hero of Lock- 

 inge Melon, Moor Park Apricot, Morello Cherries, 

 Elruge Nectarines, and Washington Plums ; 2nd 

 and 3rd were taking respectively by Mr. Nash, of 

 Badminton, and Mr. Miller, of Rood Ashton. 



Peaches, single dish. — 1st, Mr. G. H. Richards, 

 Somerley, Ringwood; W. Butter, Esq., 2nd. 



Nectarines. — 1st, Mr. Pymm ; 2nd, Mr. J. Curtis. 



Single dishes of Cherries, Plums, Figs, were equally 

 well contested as the foregoing. 



For three dishes of dessert Apples, Mr. Hall and 

 Mr. W. Smith, of Bath, were awarded 1st and 2nd 

 respectively; for culinary ditto, Mr. Miller and Mr. 

 Hall occupied similar positions. 



Grapes. — The class for twelve bunches in six 

 varieties was one of the most important in the whole 

 show, and although there were only two exhibitors 

 the exhibits were characterised by very great merit. 

 1st, Mr. Taylor, gr. to J. Chaffin, Esq., of Bath, with 

 Black Alicante, Alnwick Seedling, Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, Gros Maroc, Madresfield Court, and Black 

 Hamburgh ; 2nd. Mr. Pratt, his best bunches being 

 Black Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, and Foster's 

 Seedling. 



Six bunches in three varieties. — Mr. Taylor was 

 again placed 1st, Mr. Pratt 2nd, and Mr. Gibson, gr. 

 to Early Cowly, was 3rd. 



Black Hamburghs, three bunches. — Mr. J. Chalk, 

 gr. to G. Read, Esq., was placed 1st, the 2nd and 

 3rd going to A. Coles, Esq., and Mr. Gibson. 



Muscat of Alexandria, two bunches. — Mr. Coates, 

 Mr. Pratt, and Mr. Taylor, took the prizes in the 

 order named. 



Any other White.— 1st, A. Cole, Esq., 2nd, Mr. 

 Pratt. Any other Black. — 1st, Mr. T. Jones, with 

 Alicante ; 2ad, Mr. Pratt, with Alnwick Seedling. 



Vegetables. — For collection of twelve varieties Mr. 

 Pragnell, gr. to J. D. Wingfield Digby, Esq. was 1st ; 

 his best exhibits were Autumn Giant Cauliflowers, 

 Hackwood Park Tomatos, Veitch's Matchless Car- 

 rots, Rousham Park Onions, Tender and True Cu- 

 cumber, Parsnips, Artichokes and Snowball Turnips; 

 2nd, Mr. Copp ; 3rd, Mr. Wilkins. Collection of six 

 varieties, for prize offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons : 

 1st, Mr. Pragnell ; 2nd, Mr. Wilkins. For a similar 

 collection, Messrs. Webb offered prizes in this in- 

 stance, the awards going to Mr. Pragnell and Mr. 

 Miller in the order named. Collections of Potatos 

 and single dishes of various other vegetables were 

 shown in large numbers, and in some instances the 

 competition was keen. 



BASINGSTOKE HORTICULTURAL. 



' Thursday, August 23. — The exhibition of this 

 horticultural Society was held as usual in the " Gold- 

 ings." The numerous plants, cut flowers, fruit, &c, 

 made a most satisfactory exhibition, and the com- 

 petition in most of the classes was severe, while the 

 quality of much of what was shown was quite up to 

 the average. The arrangements made by Mr. Weeks, 

 the able Secretary of the Society, afforded much 

 satisfaction to all concerned. 



Plants. — The leading class was for twelve speci- 

 mens, and these might be flowering or foliage, four 

 growers competing. Mr. Bowerman, gr. to C. 

 Hoare, Esq., Hackwood Park, Basingstoke, was 1st, 

 his plants being healthy and well grown : Cycas re- 

 voluta and Allamanda Hendersoni were the finest. 

 2nd, Mr. F. Mould, Pewsey, Wilts, with smaller 

 specimens, including nicely-flowered Heaths. 



For six stove and greenhouse plants in flower, Mr. 

 Mould was 1st 



Foliage plants were shown well by Mr. Bowerman , 

 who was an easy 1st. Mr. T. Weaver, gr. to W. B. 

 Beach, Esq., Oakley Hall, Basingstoke, staged in 

 the single specimen class a very fine example of 

 Eucharis amazonica with more than fifty spikes of 

 bloom ; and Mr. T. Russell was 2nd, with a well- 

 grown specimen Fuchsia. Mr. Beaver gained 1st 

 prize for exotic Ferns, his plants being large and 

 well done. Hardy Ferns were best staged by Mr. 

 Kneller, gr. to W. S. Portal, Esq., Malshanger 

 Park, Basing stoke. Mr. Russell had the best 

 Fuchsia, which was neatly trained and freely 

 flowered. Table plants made a satisfactory feature, 

 the best coming from Mr. T. Best, gr. to C. W. 

 Chute, Esq. ; Mr. Kneller following very closely. 

 For a semicircular group not exceeding a 16 feet 

 chord, Mr. Weaver won easily the 1st prize. The 

 plants were of a varied character, and consisted of 

 flowering and foliage plants put lightly together. 



Fruit. — Mr. Best put up the only collection shown, 

 which was one of six dishes, Pines being excluded. 

 The Black Hamburgh Grapes, Peaches, and Nec- 

 tarines were about his best fruit. In the class for 

 Black Hamburgh Grapes there were six competitors, 

 and Mr. T. Osman, gr. to L. J. Baker, Esq., Otter- 

 shaw Park, Chertsey, was easily 1st with large, heavily 

 shouldered bunches having large, well coloured berries ; 

 Mr. Kneller, in the any other black Grape class was 

 awarded 1st prize, with two bunches of Gros Maroc, 

 the bunches being of medium size with fine berries ; 

 Mr. Osman with Alicante taking the 2nd. The best 

 Muscats of Alexandria were shown by Mr. Osman ; 

 and he also was 2nd for two bunches of any other 

 white Grape — Mr. Kneller, with fairly good Buck- 

 and Sweetwater, being 1st. 



Melons were not a conspicuous feature in the 

 show ; Longleat Perfection, from Mr. Kneller, being 

 the best green-flesh variety, while Mr. Bowman's 

 Blenheim Orange was considered the best scarlet 

 flesh. This competitor also was 1st for a dish of Nec- 

 tarines, finely coloured Elruge ; handsome Noblesse 

 Peaches, secured the 1st prize for Mr. Russell. 



Vegetables. — These were shown in large quantities, 

 of good quality, and the competition was keen. For 

 twelve kinds, with not more than two varieties of 

 Potatos included, five competed. 1st, Mr. R. Lye, 

 gr. to W. H. Kingsmill, Esq., Rousham Park Onion, 

 Snowball Turnip, Ne Plus Ultra Runner Bean, and 

 Autumn Giant Cauliflower being his best dishes. 



For six varieties, prizes given by Messrs. Webb 

 & Sons. — 1st, Mr. Kneller, with capital produce ; as 

 he likewise was for Messrs. Sutton & Sons' special 

 prizes for six varieties. 



For a collection of nine varieties of Potatos, 

 nine tubers of each. — 1st, Mr. F. W. Seers, gr. to 

 Captain Oldfield, his tubers being large, clean, and 

 symmetrical, and comprised some of the leading 

 varieties. 



