516 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[NOVEMBER 3, 1888. 



seed should be sown where the plants are to remain. 

 Autumn- sown plants make a fine display early the 

 following summer. The photograph seut was taken 

 from an autumn-sown plant this summer, growing in 

 tiie gardens of Mr. Geo. Clarke, Pinner. J. W. Odell. 



SCABIOSA SNOWBALL.— When this charming 

 novelty first came under my notice last spring, 1 

 was rather doubtful as to its real merit, as it is 

 quite a common occurrence to find white-flowering 

 varieties amongst the mixed German Scabious, of 

 which I grow a large quantity for cutting purposes. 

 Young seedlings planted out in the beginning of May 

 soon formed nice compact bushes about 2 feet high. 

 The large pure white flowers are freely produced in 

 unending succession from the beginning of August 

 until October, and are not unlike a white pompon 

 Dahlia. For cutting purposes the flowers are simply 

 lovely ; they not only come in most useful for ordi- 

 nary flower-glasses, but are as well adapted for 

 making up wreaths, crosses, and other choice 

 designs. I often compared flowers of the new variety 

 with white forms I had in a bed of selected mixed 

 German Scabious, but the Snowball surpassed them 

 by far in form and pureness of colour. I am sure this 

 beautiful hardy annual is quite as deserving of 

 popularity as its predecessors. C. S. 



Societies. 



HORTICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL 

 OF MANCHESTER. 



An exhibition of fruit, flowers, and vegetables was 

 opened on Friday, Oct. 26, at the Botanical Gardens, 

 Old Trafford, and remained open till Saturday. 

 The range of permanent glass is now extensive, 

 immense additions having been made by retaining 

 portions of the structure provided for the Jubilee 

 Exhibition of 1887. The exhibits were set out 

 partly in the annexe and partly in the Palm- 

 house. Apples and I'ears were the main features 

 of the show. It has not been a particularly good 

 season for these fruits, but except a general want 

 of colour there was little to complain of in the 

 quality of the exhibits. The Society's Gold Medal 

 for the best collection of Apples was taken by Mr. J. 

 Watkins, Whittington, Hereford, and the Gold 

 Medal for Pears by Mr. A. J. Thomas, Sitting- 

 bourne. A collection of Apples and Pears, sent 

 for exhibition by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 

 Chelsea, secured a First-class Certificate. The 

 Messrs. Dickson (Limited), Chester, and Messrs. J. 

 Cranston & Co., Hereford, also sent collections for 

 exhibition. Next in interest to the Apples and 

 Pears were the Potatos. The collection for which 

 Messrs. Dickson & Robinson, Manchester, were 

 awarded the Society's Gold Medal, included 

 more than 100 varieties, and was in many respects a 

 remarkable exhibit. Messrs. Dickson & Robinson 

 also received a certificate for Onions. Another fine 

 collection of Potatos, also comprising over a hundred 

 varieties, was shown by Messrs. Dickson, Brown & 

 Tait, Manchester, to whom was awarded a First- 

 class Certificate. Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, 

 were also exhibitors in this section. A certificate 

 for seedling Tomatos was taken by Messrs. Dickson, 

 Brown & Tait. 



The exhibits of flowers were not numerous. 

 Except a few Cyclamens and Heaths, this depart- 

 ment was represented solely by a collection of 

 Gladioli, Roses, Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, and 

 other hardy flowers, grown in the open air at 

 Llandudno by Mr. S. Barlow. The collection 

 spoke volumes for the climate of the popular 

 watering-place. The following is a list of the 

 awards : — 



Nurserymen. — Collection of Apples. — 1st (the 

 Society's Gold Medal), Mr. J. Watkins, Hereford ; 

 2nd (the Society's Silver Medal), Messrs. John Cheal 

 & Sons, Crawley, Sussex ; 3rd (the Society's Silver 

 Medal), Messrs. J. Cranston & Co., Hereford. 



Collection of Pears. — 1st (the Society's Gold 

 Medal), Mr. A. J. Thomas, Rodmersham, Sitting- 

 bourne ; 2nd (the Society's Silver Medal), Messrs. 

 J. Cheal & Sons. 



Amateurs — Twenty-four dishes of Apples. — 1st, 

 Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle Derby. 



Twelve dishes of Apples, distinct varieties. — 1st, 

 Mr. R. H. C. Neville, Wellingore Hall; 2nd, Earl 

 of Harrington. 



Six dishes of dessert Apples. — 1st, Earl of Har- 

 rington, 



Six dishes of culinary Apples. — 1st, Mr. R. H. C. 

 Neville. 



Twelve dishes of Pears. — 1st, Mr. J. Butler, Sit- 

 tingbourne ; 2nd, Earl of Harrington. 



Six dishes of Pears. — 1st, Mr. J. Butler. 



One dish of Apples. — 1st, Earl of Harrington. 



One dish of Pears. — 1st, Mr. J. Butler. 



Eighteen dishes of Apples. — 1st, Mr. S. Barlow ; 

 Middleton ; 2nd, Colonel Wingfield, Shrewsbury. 



Nine dishes of Apples, distinct varieties. — 1st, Mr. 

 J. Such, Mount Pleasant ; 2nd, Colonel Wingfield ; 

 3rd, Mr. S. Barlow. 



Four dishes of dessert Apples. — 1st, Colonel Wing- 

 field ; 2nd, Mr. S. Barlow. 



Fruits Grown within 20 miles of Manchester. — 

 Twenty-four dishes Apples. — 1st, Mr. A. Smith 

 Barry, Marbury Hall ; 2nd, Mr. R. P. Gill, Wood- 

 heys Hall ; 3rd, Mr. S. Lord, Oakleigh. 



Twelve dishes Apples, distinct varieties. — 1st, Mr. 

 A. Smith Barry; 2nd, Mrs. Grundy, Lymm ; 3rd, 

 Mr. S. Lord. 



Six dishes Dessert Apples.— 1st, Mr. R. P. Gill ; 

 2nd, Mr. S. Lord. 



Six dishes Culinary Apples. — 1st, Mr. J. Watts, 

 Abney Hall ; 2nd, Mr. A. Smith Barry. 



Six dishes Pears. — 1st, Mr. A. Smith Barry ; 2nd, 

 Mr. J. Watts, Cheadle. 



One dish Apples.— 1st, Mr. R. P. Gill ; 2nd, Mr. 

 S. Lord. 



One dish Pears. — 1st, Mr. S. Lord. 



Open Classes. — Collection of Potatos. — 1st (the 

 Society's Gold Medal), Messrs. Dickson & Robinson, 

 Manchester. 



DEVONSHIRE POMOLOGICAL. 



October 25 and 26. — The fourth annual exhibi- 

 tion of Apples and Pears was held in Exeter on the 

 above dates. The Lower Market, Fore Street, as on 

 previous occasions was used for making the display 

 of fruit, the long ranges of stalls being draped and 

 festooned with bunting and evergreens, which so 

 altered the appearance of the market, that those who 

 frequent it daily would not have recognised it ; this 

 was the handiwork of a few energetic members of 

 the committee. The Society until this season was 

 without a title, so as their labours in the past had 

 been recognised by patrons from all parts of the 

 county, " The Devonshire Pomological Society " was 

 adopted as a most appropriate name ; a name calcu- 

 lated to draw support from the whole of the agricul- 

 tural and horticultural element in the county. That 

 good work has been done by these exhibitions was 

 proved by the grand display held this past week com- 

 posed of all the principal varieties, new and old, in 

 cultivation, and which showed that since these exhi- 

 bitions commenced, exhibitors have taken note of 

 many varieties of superior merit and have added 

 them to their collection, and are now able to compete 

 with those of Kent and other favoured counties. 



Sir T. Acland, in declaring the show open, 

 said that he could not claim to be an active 

 promoter of this show, although he was much 

 honoured by the invitation to be its Pre- 

 sident. In former times he had endeavoured, with 

 the help of his friend Mr. Belfield, to promote a 

 knowledge of fruit growing through the Journal 

 of the Bath and West of England Society, a 

 Society which, at its meeting in Exeter in 1889, 

 would gladly help on the good work. He (Sir T. 

 Acland) had rather a preference for the early 

 English title — Apple and Pear show. As to the 

 word pomology, he had searched in vain for its 

 origin in Greek. He could only find poma, which 

 means drink ; and he feared his temperance friends 

 would not like that for one object, though the 

 making of pure and good cider was not to be 

 despised. He read a passage from Lord Carnarvon's 

 pleasing translation of the Odyssey, book vii. : — 



" Hard by the gates, without the courtyard, lies 

 A goodly orchard, some four acres wide, 

 Fenced in on either hand : within its pale 

 The tall trees stand and blossom : thus the Pear, 

 The bright hued Apple, and Pomegranate grow. 

 The blooming Olive and the luscious Fig, 

 Whose fruit, the livelong year, nor falls nor fades 

 In winter's cold or summer heat ; but age. 

 The soft west wind ripens or brings to birth 

 Each in due season. Pear to Pear succeeds, 

 And Fig and Apple, and the clustering Grape 

 Their harvest yield." 



This 'showed that the poet who wrote or rather 

 sang 1000 years before the Christian era was not 

 ignorant of Apples and r Pears. From Greek he 



turned to Latin, and then referred to an article on 

 Pomona in the EA-inburgh Bcview, 1833, to which his 

 attention had been directed by Mr. Josiah Godwin, a 

 man.with a cultivated mind, formerly a leading man 

 in the Exeter press. Pomona was a coy goddess 

 difficult to win. She was courted by Vertumnus, a 

 versatile deity. An old classical authority said that 

 he won his suit by appearing in the guise of an old 

 woman. This might represent the old traditions of 

 Exeter city, semper fidelis; but it did not represent 

 the energy of the mayor, who, when Art, or Commerce, 

 or Literature wanted his help was ever ready. 

 A more recent classical authority said that Vertum- 

 nus won his suit as a handsome young man. Any- 

 how, they were much indebted to the Mayor for the 

 present most useful and beautiful exhibition. Sir 

 Stafford and Lady Northcote were present, whose 

 hereditary interest in the trade of England and the 

 welfare of her colonies were well known. To come 

 to a more practical view of the exhibition, there 

 could be no doubt that there was much need for 

 encouraging the growth of fruit on small holdings 

 as well as on farms. He had noticed in the Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle some speeches laying blame on the 

 landlords for not encouraging fruit growing. To this 

 even this exhibition might afford an answer. But 

 he (Sir T.), was used to being told that all the evils 

 of Society were caused by the wicked landlords. He 

 thought the statements he referred to were some- 

 what exaggerated. However, there might be need 

 for some alteration in the law as to compensation 

 for the planting of fruit trees. His own gardener, 

 Mr. Garland, had been doing a good deal to intro- 

 duce better sorts of fruit for sale ; he believed that 

 his tenants and neighbours were becoming every 

 year alive to the profit to be derived from this 

 source. If he might venture to urge what he had 

 been told by practical judges, it were better not to 

 think too much about multiplying new sorts, but to 

 find out the few which are most marketable, and to 

 bring them forward, in the best condition, at the 

 season when they were most marketable. 



The display of fruit, good for the season, was not 

 so large as usual, neither were size and quality so 

 conspicuous as in former years ; colour, more espe- 

 cially was absent to a very great extent, and this is 

 due in a great measure to the sunless and rainless 

 season, for at no time during the whole of last winter, 

 spring, or summer did rain fall in sufficient quantity 

 to reach the roots of the trees. Many varieties did 

 not commence their last swelling until the middle of 

 October. Mr. J. J. Pengelly, the Secretary, worked 

 most indefatigably in carrying out the details and 

 arrangements for the show. 



Mr. W. Blackmore, Duryard, Exeter, exhibited a 

 seedling Apple, which was submitted to the judges, 

 who thought so highly of it that a Certificate was 

 given, and named Queen of the Exe. The parents 

 are Cox's Orange Pippin and Blenheim Orange ; the 

 fruit is characteristic of each, and said to be an 

 excellent keeper, and of very good flavour. 



A large assortment of foreign fruit, comprising 

 magnificent Doyenne du Cornice, Glou Morceau, 

 Belle de Gany Pears, and Warner's King Apples, was 

 exhibited by Mr. J. Stokes. 



Apples. 



Open Classes. — Twenty-four dishes, distinct varie- 

 ties. — 1st, Messrs. Bunyard & Co., The Old Nurseries, 

 Maidstone, with capital fruits of the following kinds : 

 — Lord Derby, Kentish Filbasket, Belle Dubois, 

 Gospatrick, Tippet's Incomparable, Loddington, very 

 fine ; Emperor Alexander, especially large ; Queen, 

 Cellini, Pott's Seedling, Queen Caroline, Cox's 

 Pomona, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Ecklinville, Stirling 

 Castle, Warner's King, Grenadier, Lord Suffield, 

 Beauty of Kent, Small's Admirable, New Hawthorn- 

 den, Tyler's Kernel, Tower of Glamis, and Bismarck, 

 fine colour. 2nd, Mr. C. G. Sclater, Heavitree 

 Nurseries, who had especially fine Peasgood's Non- 

 such, Warner's King, Loddington, Lady Henniker, 

 and Lane's Prince Albert. 



Twelve dishes dessert, distinct. — 1st, Mr. Sclater, 

 who had clean and nicely coloured fruit, including 

 Worcester Pearmain, Blenheim Orange, King of the 

 Pippins, Braddick's Nonpareil, Beauty of Wilts, 

 Cox's Orange Pippin, Autumn Pearmain, Ribston 

 Pippin, Cornish Gilliflower, Court Pendu-Plat, and 

 Gravenstein. 2nd, Mr. D. C. Powell, whose best 

 were Worcester Pearmain, Baumann's Red Reinette. 

 Gravenstein, and Claygate Pearmain. 



Twelve dishes culinary, distinct. — 1st, Mr. D. C. 

 Powell, with a fine clean lot of fruit. His collection 

 comprised Blenheim Orange, Mere de Menage, Al- 

 friston, Small's Admirable, Peasgood's Nonsuch, 

 Loddington, Gravenstein, Ecklinville, Warner's 



