186 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 5, 1878. 
now ripe, one bunch on each. The one is true to character in 
every particular, so also is the other except in colour, which is 
as black as the Hamburghs. They have been seen and tasted 
by our friend Mr. Robson of Linton and others; but the 
bunches, though somewhat reduced in size, still remain on 
the Vine to be seen by any who may like to look at them. 
T hardly like to cut them, or I would send you a few berries of 
each in proof.—W. B., Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent. 
SANDY HORTICULTURAL SHOW. 
AUGUST 30TH. 
A PLEASANT and appropriate site for a show, with good 
approaches and convenient railway accommodation at the junction 
ot the Great Northern and London and North-Western lines in 
the midst of a fertile market gardening district studded with 
gentlemen’s seats, a liberal subscription list, a well-organised 
Committee, and, above all, energetic Secretaries, form a combina- 
tion of advantages which have enabled the Sandy and District 
Horticultural Society to hold ina small village one of the best of 
local shows. The Society is indeed fortunate in being thus 
privileged, and had it not been for the frowns of Jupiter Pluvius 
in the early part of Friday last I might have recorded the 
Exhibition as a perfect success. 
The Show was held in the stately little park of Sandy Place, 
kindly lent for the occasion (as is his custom) by J. N. Foster, Esq. 
The site was within five minutes’ walk of the two railway stations, 
and notwithstanding unfavourable weather the Show was attended 
by many thousands of visitors, and itis hoped may prove a financial 
success. The whole affair is usually carried out on such a scale 
and with such spirit that only those who have not been to the 
Sandy Show previousiy need be surprised. The Society embraces 
under its fostering wings not only plants, flowers, fruits, 
vegetables, and dinner-table decorations, but Mangolds and other 
roots, cereals, Beans, big Gourds, live and trussed poultry, honey, 
butter, cage birds, live bees, needlework, and darning !—a tolerably 
wide field with scope for most tastes, and to judge from the 
earnestness of the attendant visitors each department had its 
zealous admirers. The excellent band of the Coldstream Guards 
under the leadership of Mr. F. Godfrey, and a public dinner 
under the presidency of J. Shuttleworth, Esq., the Society’s 
President for the year, served as agreeable counter-attractions. 
The Show altogether occupied nearly a dozen large marquees, 
and the magnificent plants exhibited by Mr. J. House of Peter- 
borough and Mr. Parker of Rugby, who divided honours in the 
open class, and by Mr. John Cook, gardener to Col. Stuart of 
Tempsford Hall, and Mr. Rabbitt, gardener to Major-Gen. Pearson 
of The Hassells, Sandy, who were each successful exhibitors in 
that department, were a great attraction; but, as might.be 
expected in a market gardening county, fruit and vegetables were 
the strong points of the Show. ‘he former occupied nearly the 
whole of the centre table of a marquee nearly 100 feet long. For 
the open collection of six varieties of fruit in baskets there were 
nine competitors, the first prize falling to Mr. Tillbrook, gardener 
to B. Brown, Esq., of Houghton, who had good Black Hamburgh 
and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, Peaches, Melon, and Golden 
Drop Plums, all thoroughly ripened; Mr. R. Waller, gardener to 
J. Howard, Esq., Bedford, coming in a goodsecond. Several good 
collections were also shown in the amateurs’ and cottagers’ classes. 
As the highest prize offered for any collection of fruit was only 
1ds., it appears that large prizes are not always necessary in order 
to procure a good show ; indeed it is a healthy sign, and it is fair 
to presume that, in this district at least, exhibitors are not always 
worshippers of Mammon, and that advancement of the craft has 
more weight with many than the desire for gain. For black 
Grapes the first prize was awarded to Mr. J. W. Shepherd, 
gardener to F. Martin, Esq., Great Staughton, Hunts, for two 
extremely fine bunches of Black Hamburgh, but which were 
slightly wanting in colour ; and the second to Mr. G. Claydon, 
gardener to J. H. Astell, Hsq., Woodbury Hall, for two smaller 
but well-finished bunches. In white Grapes Mr. Redman, 
gardener to — Goodgames, Esq., Eynesbury, was first with good 
Muscat of Alexandria. Mr. G. Clutton, gardener to Mrs. Percival, 
The Bury, Arlesey, was first for Scarlet-fleshed Melon with Duke 
of Edinburgh, and Mr. W. Ratchelous, St. Neot’s, for a Green- 
fleshed with Hastnor Castle. Peaches, Nectarines and Plums 
were also shown remarkably fine, the latter especially so; the 
first prize for kitchen Plums going to Mr. George Vigne, gardener 
to J. H. Thornton, Esq., Kempston Grange, for twelve Kirke’s, 
and for twelve dessert Plums to Mr. Parker, Waresley Park, for 
Reine Claude de Bayay. In the cottagers’ class, too, Goliath was 
shown large and well ripened. 
Vegetables were shown in open, market garden, amateurs’, and 
cottagers’ classes, and an immense display was the result. For 
the collection of eight varieties, open to all, the basket shown by 
Mr. R. Waller, gardener to J. Howard, Esq., was almost faultless, 
and a better basket of cleaner stuff all just fit for table has 
rarely been seen at more important shows; Mr. Robinson, 
gardener to F, Howard, Esq., Abbey Close, Bedford, being a good 
second. Creditable collections were also staged in the amateurs’, 
market gardeners’, and cottagers’ classes. Of course, in Bedford- 
shire Onions were an important feature and almost a study—they 
might indeed be said to vie with the “ noble tuber ” for supremacy ; 
but the latter being represented in strong force did not seem 
inclined to bow to the claims of its more fiery compeer, for not- 
withstanding the recent rains and state of the atmosphere an 
immense variety of clean, smooth, and well-ripened Potatoes free: 
from disease were shown. 
The first prize in the open class for twelye round Potatoes was 
awarded to Mr. Waller for a very good type of the Schoolmaster,. 
and the second also for Schoolmaster. All through the Exhi- 
bition this Potato was shown remarkably well, and it fully 
justifies the award of a first-class certificate made to it by the: 
Committee of the International in 1876. Nearly all the 
specimens consisted of clean though rough-skinned, almost 
perfect balls of good size. It is not only a Potato to look at 
but a Potato to eat, and, if I am not mistaken, it will do 
credit both to Mr. Bennett, the fortunate raiser, and to Mr. 
C. Turner who sent it out. For twelve kidneys Mr. J . Hills, 
the Sewage Works, Bedford, was first with fine specimens of 
Fenn’s International; Mr. Rodwell, Biggleswade, being second 
with Myatt’s. For the collection of Potatoes, six sorts, three 
round and three kidney, six of each, there was a very strong 
competition, several good collections having to be placed under 
the tables. Mr. R. Waller was first with a well-matched lot, very 
clean and sound, and not too large, consisting of Schoolmaster,. 
Late Rose, Model, Bresee’s Prolific, Snowflake, and Brownell’s. 
Beauty. In the market gardeners’ class for a collection of 
Potatoes, twelve of each variety, Mr. George Kirby, Arlesey, was. 
first, showing very good specimens of Early King, Extra Barly 
Vermont, American Breadtruit, Model, Myatt’s Prolific, Rector 
of Woodstock, a good unnamed red kidney, apparently Red. 
Fluke ; Early Rose, and Giant King, not unlike Early King, but 
with a few more eyes; Red Peerless (fine) ana Challenger, a 
variety in appearance much like Schoolmaster. Mr. John Cox of 
the Three Counties Asylum, Arlesey, was second with larger 
specimens, but not quite so clean. The following varieties were 
also noticeable as useful exhibition sorts—viz., Radstock Beauty, 
round, splashed red, something like Marchioness of Lorne ; Peach- 
blow, very good; Snowflake, shown both as round and kidney ; 
Alpha, very smooth and white; Blanchard, Vermont Beauty, 
and Sutton’s Early, which appeared to be Magnum Bonum. 
Onions were good, especially the White Spanish, of which two 
different types were shown, the majority of exhibitors having the 
ordinary variety with a pale greenish skin, whilst in two collec- 
tions a variety not quite so perfect in form, but equally large, with 
a pinkish yellow-tinted skin, was exhibited. Good specimens of 
the Blood-red and White Globe were also staged, the latter vary- 
ing in shape from an wn to a perfect globe. 
Cucumbers were largely exhibited, some of the field-growm 
ridge varieties reaching 16 inches in length, but nearly all showed 
a tendency to swell at the point, being evidently free seeders- 
For the best brace of frame varieties Mr. Rabbitt and Mr. 
Tillbrook were placed equal first, the former with a matchless but 
well-matched brace of Tender-and-True, the latter with a very 
fine black-spined variety unnamed ; and Mr. Waller was close up 
as second, again with Tender-and-True. Peas for the season were 
also good, the best shown being Ne Plus Ultra, Omega, British 
Queen, Criterion, and Fillbasket. Intermediate Carrots, called im 
the Schedule “ St. James,” were well shown. Turnips also, espe- 
cially a White Globe variety staged by Mr. R. Facey, cottager of 
Goldington, were remarkably white, sound, of perfect form and yet 
good size ; but upon the whole roots showed a tendency to fork, 
a complaint which is general and attributable to the season. 
The heaviest Gourd showed by Mr. Joseph Holmwood, gardener 
to J. N. Foster, Esq., weighed 154 Ibs. There were also some: 
immense but perfect speciments of the Large Red and Drumhead. 
Cabbage which attracted considerable attention. Tomatoes were 
also good and well coloured, those shown by Mr. R. Facey 
in his collection of vegetables would not disgrace the best 
growers. ? 
The show of cut flowers was good, and included Roses ; 
Mr. John House of Peterborough being first with some fine 
autumn blooms, including Auguste Neumann, a Rose which 
always stands well; Duchesse de Vallombrosa, clean but 
small; Star of Waltham, fine; Hippolyte Jamain, and Baron 
Hausmann, In the twelve varieties, amateurs, Mr. D. Sewell, 
St. Neot’s, was first, haying neat blooms of Niphetos, Pierre 
Notting, Duke of Edinburgh, Hippolyte Jamain, and Mdlle, Victor 
Verdier ; Mr. John Burton of Sawtry was second with a very 
creditable stand well set up, including Pierre Notting, John 
Keynes,” Devienne Lamy, and Mdlle. V. Verdier. The Rey. EB. 
Fellowes, Wimpole Rectory, Royston, was third, haying fresh 
blooms of Souvenir @’un Ami, Maréchal Niel, and Etienne Dupuy 
A good stand not for competition, mounted on black velvet and 
with ample foliage, from Mrs. Sewell, showed to much advantage. 
Gladioli were not largely shown ; a good six, however, came 
from Mr. P. Meyer, Orwell. For Dahlias (twelve Show varieties) 
the Rey. E. Fellowes was first, and for six Fancies Mr, P. Meyer. 
ee ee ee 
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