Dki-embkk 1, 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



643 



Mr. Thomson presided, further allusion was made 

 to this subject, and the Chairman stated that a large 

 amount could be raised without difficulty for such a 

 show, and pledged his own rirm to the amount of 

 £o towards it. 



Cut Blooms. 

 The show was the best the Society has yet held, 

 the entries in most classes being a considerable 

 increase on those of last year. The success that has 

 attended the efforts of the Council of the Associa- 

 tion to meet the public desire for the popularising of 

 the Chrysanthemum is creditable and gratifying, and 

 proof also that the Royal Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society erred when three years ago it declined to 

 take the matter up. There was a marked improve- 

 ment in the quality and finish of the cut blooms, 

 especially the incurved varieties. The competition 

 for a Challenge Cup offered by the Society for thirty- 

 six blooms, eighteen Japanese sorts and eighteen in- 

 curved, was the chief point of interest in the show. 

 For this there were five entries, every one of which 

 was highly meritorious and where so much excel- 

 lence was brought together there was naturally a 

 difficult piece of work for the judges. Between the 

 1st and 2nd lots there was little to choose, but Jlr. 

 McHattie, of Newbattle Gardens, was awarded the 

 1st prize for a fine stand in which the principal 

 flowers were: — Criterion, Duchess of Albany, E. 

 Molyneux, M. H. Fabre, Duchess of Manchester, 

 Jeanne d'Arc, Lord Alcester. The 2nd prize was 

 awarded to Mr. Carruthers, gr. to Mrs. Fleming, 

 Hillwood, Corstorphine, who tabled a fine lot, the 

 most prominent varieties being Gloriosum, Mdlle. 

 Lacroix, Amy Furze, Barbara, Queen of England, 

 Jardin des Plantes, Fink Venus, Jeanne d'Arc. 

 Mr. Hepburn, gr. to T. Burnley, Esq., Ericht Bank, 

 Kirn, Argvleshire, was placed 3rd with a stand of 

 great merit. 



In the class for twenty-four blooms, twelve Japanese 

 and twelve incurved, Mr. Hepburn was placed 1st, 

 with Prince Alfred, Jeanne d'Arc, Golden Beverley, 

 John Salter, Elaine, and Boule d'Or as conspicuous 

 blooms, and the whole fine. This competitor was 

 the only one competing with dressed blooms; and on 

 this point there was conflicting opinions, some hold- 

 ing that the practice led to artistic results, others 

 that the undressed flowers were the most effective 

 because natural. The 2nd prize in this class went to 

 Mr. Carruthers, whose stand contained grand 

 samples of Pink Venus, White Venus, Prince Alfred, 

 Lord Alcester, Duke of Albany, Mdlle Lacroix, 

 and Queen of England ; and Mr. John Foster, gr. to 

 Mrs. Roberts, Welwood Park, Selkirk, was 3rd with 

 also a very excellent lot. 



The class of twelve blooms incurved, distinct, 

 brought Mr. A. McMillan, Trinity, Edinburgh, to 

 the front, Mr. Donward, Townhead, Thornhill. 

 Dumfries, being a good 2nd. 



For six blooms incurved, distinct, Mr. Peter 

 Matheson, gr. to Mr. Outram Dahling Mohr, Kirn, 

 Argyle, stood 1st with a very fine stand of well- 

 finished blooms ; 2nd, Mr. Cumming, St. Roque, 

 Grange Loau, Edinburgh ; Mr. Rushton, 3rd. 



In six blooms incurved, one variety, Mr. Carruthers 

 took the 1st prize, Mr. Foster making a close 2nd ; 

 Mr. Kirie, gr., Sunderland Hall, Selkirk, being 3rd, 

 competition being keen. 



Twelve Japanese, distinct, placed Mr. Rushton 

 1st, with splendid examples of Elaine, Mrs. John 

 Laing, Belle Paule, Boule d'Or, Soleil, Levant ; and 

 Mr. Matheson pressed him hard witli fine blooms of 

 Madame Rendatler, Belle Paule, Mdlle. Lacroix. 

 Mr. Jardine made a close 3rd in this class. 



Among plants (Chrysanthemums) there was less 

 keen competition, Mr. Jardine, of Ravelston Hall, 

 Elinburgh; Mr. Cumming, Mr. Foote, Parson's 

 Green, Edinburgh ; Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Ferguson, 

 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh ; Mr. Donaldson, 

 Onuelie, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, being the principal 

 competitors. 



Fruit. 

 In this portion of the show the display was not 

 large, but the quality was excellent. Mr. Murray, 

 Culzeau Castle, Maybole, was placed 1st in the 

 class of two bunches of black Grapes, with mag- 

 nificent well coloured and highly bloomed Black 

 Alicante ; Jlr. McHattie, Newbattle, being 2nd, with 

 good Gros Colmar. In white Grapes Mr. McHattie 

 was a very easy 1st, with two bunches, splendidly 

 coloured, of Muscat of Alexandria, the fine amber tint 

 of which was much admired and commented upon. 

 The 2nd prize in this class went to Mr. Adam Duff, 

 Clifton Hall Gardens, Ratho, for two beautiful 

 bunches of Rivers' New Sweetwater, a handsome- 

 looking Grape, new to this quarter. 



The best collections of Apples and Pears came 

 from Mr. Day, Galloway House, and were very fine 

 fruit ; and the 2nd best from Mr. McHattie. 



Miscellanous plants were represented by Primula 

 sinensis, the best coming from Mr. Ball, gr., Glen- 

 bourne, Oswald Road, Edinburgh, who also tabled 

 the best six Primula obconica in o-inch pots, which 

 were models in their way ; and zonal Pelargoniums, 

 the best six of which came from Mr. Rushton. 



Cultural Certificates were awarded to Mr. 1). 

 Murray, Culzean, for two bunches of Barbarossa 

 Grapes, weighing each 11 lb., and for six splendid 

 Pines, the sorts being Charlotte Rothschild, Prince 

 Albert, Smooth Cayenne, and Queen. 



Messrs. Methveri & Sons, and Messrs. Laid & 

 Sons decorated the orchestra, with admirable effect, 

 with choice Palms and other foliage plants. Messrs. 

 Dicksons & Co., occupied a table with a choice 

 assortment of stove and greenhouse plants, and 

 exhibited fine samples of Red Hawthornden Apples. 



Messrs. Ireland & Thomson had a very attractive 

 table of select stove and greenhouse plants, in- 

 cluding some excellent Nepenthes. Messrs. James 

 Dickson & Sons had a miscellaneous table of plants 

 and dried flowers ; Mr. Henry Erskine, a beautiful 

 display of wreaths and otherobjects of the florists' 

 art. Messrs. Methven & Sons made a beautiful dis- 

 play of cut blooms of Chrysanthemums, interspersed 

 with small Ferns and Palms, &c, which was much 

 admired ; and Messrs. Laird & Sons exhibited over 

 100 blooms Chrysanthemums, which were equal to 

 anything in point of quality that was to be found in 

 the competing lists. 



Mr. Fairgrieve, Dunkeld, exhibited a model of a new- 

 fruit tree protector ; the leading feature of which is 

 a movable screen ot canvas suspended from the top 

 of the wall, attached there to a 3-inch batten, and 

 having a roller 4 inches in diameter at bottom. The 

 screen is recommended to be fitted up in 20 feet 

 lengths, and to have the rope and pulley fixed at the 

 centre 10 feet from either ends. The pulley is fixed 

 to the batten at the top, and a groove is made in the 

 roller at the exact centre which in hauling up or let- 

 ting down the screen serves to prevent unequal move- 

 ment at either end and consequent entanglement. 



Eefle.red.. -Jlr. Baskett had the best stand of twelve 

 blooms — Cloth of Gold, Amy Furze, Cullingfordi, 

 King of Crimsons, Phidias, Madame JI. Tezin, 

 being very fine ; Jlr. Neal was 2nd. 



Anemone-flowered. — These included the Japanese 

 forms also, and Mr. Neal was 1st, having fine 

 examples of Empress, Lady JIargaret, Grand Alveole, 

 Gluck, Jliss Annie Lowe, Fleur de Marie, Georges 

 Sand, Duchess of Edinburgh, &c. ; 2nd, Mr. Allen. 



Jlr. Allen had the best twelve blooms of any one 

 variety ; being 1st also with fine Golden Christine, 

 Jlr. R. N. Byass being 2nd with the white incurved 

 Isabella Bott. 



Fruit. — There were several 6tands of three bunches 

 of Grapes, Jlr. J. Hughes, gr. to Col. Cartwright, 

 By Held, being 1st with well-finished Alicante, Jlr. 

 F. J. Myers being 2nd with the same variety. 



Some very fine bunches of Gros Colmar, shown by 

 Mr. E. Crump, Leamington, were highly commended, 

 not being eligible to compete in the Grape class. 



The best eight dishes of Apples and Pears came 

 from Jlr. R. N. Byass — a very good lot of dessert 

 and culinary varieties. Captain Bunyon being 2nd. 



Jlr. J. Green also had the best six dishes of Pears, 

 Jliss Percy being 2nd. 



Potatos. — These were numerous, and very good. 

 The best nine dishes came from Jlr. A. Cartwright, 

 who had very fine examples ; 2nd, Jlr. V. S. Cross, 

 also with a fine lot. Jlr. A. Batchelor had the best 

 six dishes. The best round Potato was Satisfaction, 

 Reading Giant the best kidney. 



Several classes were set apart for amateurs 

 plants, flowers, and fruits, the leading prize-takers 

 being Jliss Gillett, Jlr. C. F. Edmunds, Jlr. C. 

 Gillett, Mr. W. Rowles, Jlr. E. C. Rainbow, and 

 Jlr. W. Dale. 



Unions. — These were very fine. Mr. Doherty was 

 1st with twelve marvellous examples of Lord 

 Keeper, the heaviest bulbs weighing 2 lb. ; Mr. 

 Neal was 2nd with Anglo-Spanish. 



BANBURY CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



November 21. — This exhibition took place, as 

 usual, in the Exchange Hall, and a pretty and bright 

 display resulted. Prizes were also offered for winter- 

 flowering plants, and fruit and Onions— always a 

 strong point at Banbury. Plants of Chrysanthe- 

 mums were somewhat poor, and showed signs of 

 having been kept too long, and the judges wisely 

 held back the 1st prizes in consequence. 



Group* i if Chrysanthemums. — One of the best seen 

 this season came from Jlr. Baskett, gr. to W, Jlew- 

 burn, Esq., YVykeham Park, Banbury, the plants 

 being well grown and finely bloomed, and included 

 fine decorative Japanese and incurved varieties. Jlr. 

 T. Cummings, gr. to J. Gillett, Esq., was 2nd, with 

 some finely bloomed plants. 



Tables of Winter-flowering Plants. — These proved a 

 very pleasing feature, and the arrangement and 

 effect were decidedly in advance of last year. Jlr. 

 Doherty was a good 1st, with foliage and flowering 

 plants, including Calanthe Veitchii and other 

 Orchids, nicely blended ; Jlr. P. J. Perry, nursery- 

 man, Banbury, being 2nd. 



Cut Flowers were remarkably good, the lateness of 

 the season considered. The best twenty-four in- 

 curved, distinct varieties, came from Jlr. W. Allen, 

 The Gardens, Swallowfield Park, Reading — nice 

 fresh blooms, not over large, but of good quality — 

 Empress of India, Princess Teck, Lord Wolseley, 

 Hero of Stoke Newington, Lord Alcester, Emily 

 Dale, Golden Empress. Golden John Salter, Queen 

 of England, Princess of Wales, Cherub, Mrs. Norman 

 Davis, and Lord Eversley being the leading ones ; 

 Mr. G. Neal, gr. to P. Southby, Bampton, was 2nd. 



R. N. Byass, Esq., Banbury, had the best twelve 

 blooms of incurved ; the Rev. E. E. Elliott being 2nd. 



Jlr. F. J. Myers, Banbury, had the best nine. 



Japanese. — Stauds of twenty-four varieties were a 

 good feature, Jlr. Tipler, gr. to S. Gulliver, Esq., 

 Aylesbury, being 1st, with some finely developed 

 blooms of JIadame J. Laing, Jlons. Tarin, Ralph 

 Brocklebank, JIadame C. Audiguier, Val d'Andorre, 

 Elaine, Gloriosum. Jeanne Delaux, Sarnia, Duchess 

 of Albany, Thunberg, Mdlle. Lacroix, &c. ; 2nd, 

 Mr. Allen. 



Mr. Symington, Banbury, had the best twelve ; 

 R. N. Byass, Esq., being 2nd. 



The Rev. F.W. Cart wright was 1st with nine blooms. 



YEOVIL. 



November 21. — This exhibition was held in the 

 Town Hall, and, taking it altogether, was a very 

 good one. 



Groups. — Mr. Crossman, gr. to J. Brutton, Esq.. 

 Yeovil, won the Silver Cup for the best arranged 

 group of Chrysanthemums, his plants being in tine 

 condition, the flowers large, plentiful, and fresh. 

 Jlr. W. Appleby, gr. to T. W. Dampier-Bide, Esq., 

 Yeovil being a very close 2nd. Jlr. S. Ridley, gr. to 

 H. A. Helyar, Esq., Coker Court, Yeovil, and Jlr. 

 G. Taylor, gr. to Captain Marsh, Yeovil, were 1st and 

 2nd in that order with excellent arrangements. 



Cut Flowers -Open Classes. — The competition in 

 these classes was not quite so keen as it would have 

 been if the Bristol show had not been on the same 

 day. Jlr. C. Lucas, gr. to John JIarshall, Esq , 

 Taunton, was 1st for twenty-four blooms, distinct, 

 twelve Japanese and twelve incurved, with large, 

 fresh, and well-formed blooms of Baronne de Prailly, 

 Boule d'Or, Japonais, Ralph Brocklebank, Lord 

 Alcester, Jeanne d'Arc, Lord Wolseley, Jardin des 

 Plantes. 



Jlr. Lucas was also 1st for twelve reflexed varieties 

 — an excellent stand. 



Mr. W. Cocks, gr. to W. Fitzherbert Wyndham, 

 Esq., Kingswear, South Devon, was 1st for six in- 

 curved and six Japanese, showing large well-finished 

 blooms in both stands. 



Jlr. II. Copp, gr. to W. Drax, Esq., Holnest Park, 

 Sherborne, had the best twelve bunches of pompons. 



Mr. Cocks staged an excellent stand of Japanese 

 (not for competition), in which Mons. J. Laing, 

 Belle Paule, and Jlrs. Cannell were conspicuous. 



Fruit was a fairly good display, the quantity being 

 good. Jlr. Lloyd was 1st for a collection of six kinds 

 of fruit, with good Black Alicante and Trebbiano 

 Grapes, Glou Morceau Pear, Ribston Pippin Apples, 

 and Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury Strawberry; Mr. 

 Crossman was a good 2nd. Mr. Lloyd was 1st for 

 two bunches of Black Alicante and two bunches of 

 Mrs. Pince in the any other black class. Jlr. Cross- 

 man was 1st for two bunches of JIuscats ; and Jlr. 

 Daley, gr. to R. Stamer Handle, Esq., JIaperton 

 House, Wincanton, occupied alike position with two 

 bunches of Foster's Seedling in the any other white 

 Grape class, all staging shapely well-finished bunches. 

 Jlr. Daley had the best three dishes of dessert 

 Apples : and Jlr. Lloyd had the best three dishes 

 of culinary, as well as the best dish of dessert 

 Pjears. Jlr. Kidley had the best dish of culinary 

 Pears. 



Vegetables. — There were four excellent collections 



