406 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
{ November 28, 1878. 
honours with the finest collection that has ever been staged ; the 
blooms measured from 6 to 9 inches diameter, and_ comprised 
Fair Maid of Guernsey, Bronze Dragon, Dr. Masters, Grandiflora, 
Red Dragon, The Daimio, Baron de Prailly, Fulton, Striatum, 
La Nymph of extraordinary size, The Sultan, Gloire de Toulouse, 
Red Indian, Meg Merrilees, Fulgore, and Ne Plus Ultra; Mr. 
Ploughman was awarded second honours with a remarkably good 
collection ; and Mr. Masters third. Several collections of twelve 
Japanese blooms were staged. Mr, Watson secured the first place, 
having, among others, a fine bloom of The Khedive; Mr. Jordan 
was second with a good lot; and Mr. Burns third. In the sixes 
Mr. A. Nagle, Mr. P. F. Sutton, and Mr. Benson were placed first, 
second, and third respectively. 
The best stand of reflexed varieties was composed of Chevalier 
Domage, Golden Christine, Garibaldi, Cloth of Gold, Progne, 
Ariadne, Beauté du Nord, Mazeppa, Mrs. Forsyth, and Felicity 
exhibited by Mr. Ploughman ; Mr. R. Watson was placed second, 
and Mr. Harding third; and for twelve Anemones Messrs. Mas- 
ters, Cornhill, and Watson were placed in the ordernamed. Mr. 
Lyne was first in the class for twelve Pompons, and Mr. Watson 
second. The principal contributors among the amateurs were 
Messrs. Drewitt, Nagle, and Sutton, who all exhibited well. 
Numerous collections of dinner-table plants were contributed. 
The first prize was awarded to Mr. Bates, gardener to W. Punch- 
ard, Esq., Twickenham ; the second to Mr. Jordan, Wimbledon ; 
“and the third to Mr. Beckett, all exhibiting collections of high 
quality. Chinese Primulas, Cyclamens, Poinsettias, and berried 
plants were contributed by Messrs. Beckett, Beard, Kent, Watson, 
and Hinnell, who were the principal prizetakers. 
Several good collections of fruit were also staged, especially by 
Mr. Child, Mr. Baker, Mr. Beard, and Mr. Cornhill; and Messrs. 
Jackson & Son contributed several boxes of cut blooms of Chrys- 
anthemums, principally of new varieties. 
GRAVESEND. 
The fifth annual Show was held in the Milton Hall on Novem- 
ber 19th and 20th. The quality generally of the exhibits presented 
avery marked improvement on those of previous years, some of the 
specimens being particularly good. The method adopted of giving 
prizes according to the number of points obtained, and in propor- 
tion to the amount of subscriptions received and money taken at 
the doors, is worthy of being imitated not only at Chrysanthe- 
mum shows, but also at other shows held earlier in the sea- 
son. It is a well-known fact that many horticultural societies 
collapse for want of funds. If, however, societies adopted the 
plan followed at Gravesend this much-to-be-regretted occurrence 
would be avoided. 
The various classes in the Show were all filled. Only in one 
instance was it found advisable to withhold the first prize. 
Amateurs showed in a very creditable manner—namely, Messrs. 
Carpenter, Dunk, and Bardoe. In the gardeners’ class for four 
dwarf-trained large-flowering varieties Mr. R. Phillips, gardener 
to Capt. Jackson, Meopham, was first with good specimens of 
Mrs. Forsyth, Mrs. Sharpe, Mrs. G. Rundle, and Gloria Mundi. 
Had the plant of Venus staged in the second-prize collection by 
Mr. Lamkin, gardener to J. 8S. Dismore, Esq., Gravesend, been 
sufficiently in bloom the positions would have been reversed, 
his plants of Prince of Wales, Mr. G. Glenny, and Sir Stafford 
Carey being very superior. Mr. Lamkin was first for two dwarf- 
trained plants with Dr. Sharpe and Golden Hermione, and also for 
four standards with Lord Derby, Lady Hardinge, Mrs. G. Rundle, 
and Mrs. Dixon. For two standards Mr. J. Boulton, gardener to 
R. A. Gibbons, Esq., Northfleet, was first with Mrs. G. Rundle and 
Mr. G.Glenny. The single specimen dwarf-trained and pyramid 
classes were very good. Mr. Lamkin was first in both classes, in 
the former staging a remarkably fine well-flowered specimen fully 
5 feet in diameter of Mrs. Dixon, and in the latter a good plant 
of Mr. G. Glenny. The same exhibitor was also first for four 
dwarf-trained Pompons with Antonius, Mdlle. Marthé, Cidonia, 
and White Cedo Nulli, also for a single specimen pyramid. Mr. J. 
Boulton was first for four and also for two standard Pompons. 
There was a good display of cut blooms. Mr. G. Pendred, 
gardener to S. C. Umfreville, Esq., Greenhithe,and Mr. J. Boulton 
each took three prizes, the former for twenty-four and twelve in- 
curved varieties, among which were good blooms of Princess Teck, 
Beethoven, Guernsey Nugget, Eve, Empress of India, Prince of 
Wales, Mrs. Haliburton, &c., and for twelve Japanese varieties ; 
these included fine blooms of Dr. Masters, Baron de Prailly, Hero 
of Magdala, Alfred Salter, and Fair Maid of Guernsey. Mr. Boulton 
was first for twelve reflexed, twelve large Anemone-flowering, and 
twelve bunches of Anemone Pompons. 
Mr. Wright, gardener to E. Bryant, Esq., Gravesend, was first 
for a collection of fruit, consisting principally of excellent dishes 
of Apples, Pears,and Grapes, and also for three bunches of Grapes, 
with very creditable well-coloured Mrs. Pince’s Muscats. Collec- 
tions of vegetables were well shown. Mr. J. Pope, gardener to J. 
Russell, Esq., was first, closely followed by Mr. J. Fielder and 
Mr. R. Phillips, who were placed equal second. Mr. Beazley ex- 
hibited a monster Gourd weighing 84 Ibs., and Mr. J. Coombes, 
nurseryman and seedsman, Gravesend, an attractive group of 
plants, fruit, and artificially coloured grasses and flowers. The 
Show was well arranged, and reflected great credit on the Secretary 
(Mr. Wright) and the Committee. 
MAIDSTONE. 
Under the auspices of the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Chrysanthe- 
mum and Fruit Club the annual Exhibition was recently held in 
the Corn Exchange and Concert Hall, and the exhibits, which 
were numerous, exceeded in point of merit any show that has 
taken place in the town during the present year. The schedule 
was a liberal one, and included two handsome cups—one given 
by Viscount Holmesdale and Sir W. Hart Dyke, Bart., and the 
other by Major Ross and Captain Aylmer. These were won by 
the Rey. Stuart Robson, and the silver cup given by the Society 
was carried off by the Rey. C. Shepherd. There were other ex- 
hibitors not far behind the above. These were Mr. S. Davies, 
F. Pine, Esq., J. W. Braddick, Esq., and R. Whibley, Esq. The 
specimen plants, both standards and bush-trained, were nearly 
perfection in every instance, while the cut blooms for size, sym- 
metry, and colour were difficult to surpass; indeed, it must be 
very gratifying to those who have had the working-up of this 
Society, which is yet in its infancy, to see their labours prove so 
successful in the advancement of the cultivation of a flower 
which has for years been somewhat in the background in the 
district. 
The display of fruits was equal to what might be expected 
from the county, all being first-class in quality, and contributed 
a fine feature tothe Show. The black Grapes from Lady Mostyn, 
and the white Grapes from Mr. Douglas and others, were the 
admiration of all. The Apples and Pears sent by Roger Leigh, 
Esq., L. A. Killick, Esq., and Mr. Skinner, as well as vegetables 
by Mr. Killick, were excellent. There was a full complement of 
miscellaneous plants sent by gentlemen not for competition, 
which, when interspersed among the stands of cut flowers and 
fruit, added greatly to the beauty of the Exhibition. 
CHELMSFORD. 
After a lapse of twelve years the Chelmsford and Essex Horti- 
cultural Society have resumed their Chrysanthemum Show, which 
was held on the 20th inst. The Show, which was a good one, 
was held in the Corn Exchange and was largely attended. Messrs. 
Saltmarsh & Sons were the most successful exhibitors, both their 
plants and cut blooms being highly meritorious. Amongst ama- 
teurs Mr. Tunbridge, gardener to W. Bott, Esq., Broomfield ; Mr. 
Kemp, gardener to James Christy, Esq., Roxwell ; and Mr. Smale, 
gardener to Robert Woodhouse, Esq., Writtle, staged very good 
specimens. Cut blooms of Pompons were not good, neither were 
the stove and greenhouse plants. Ornamental-foliaged plants 
were creditably exhibited by Mr. H. Clements, Mr. T. Harris, and 
Mr. J. Burrell, who secured the prizes in the order named. Mr. 
Southgate, gardener to Alfred May, Esq., Chelmsford, exhibited 
excellent fruit, his Grapes being particularly good. Mr. Clements 
and Mr. Lay, gardener to C. H. Gray, Esq., Chelmsford, also took 
prizes for Grapes. Of Apples and Pears there was an excellent 
display. Mr. James Clark, Writtle, exhibited fifty varieties, for 
which he was awarded an extra prize. Messrs. Saltmarsh & Sons 
also exhibited (not for competition) seventy-two dishes of Apples 
and Pears. Mr. Carver, gardener to the Bishop of St. Alban’s, 
had also good Apples and Pears. Mr. P. Edwards and an indus- 
trious Committee contributed much to the success of the Show. 
GLOXINIA-GROWING MADE EASY—PLANT PITS. 
VARIOUS guides and catalogues are occasionally sent to me 
many containing long lists and cultural directions for growing 
| this attractive plant. Almost invariably it is stated, “Given a 
sufficiency of heat and success is easy,” and what this sufficiency 
is another puts in these words, “Gloxinias only thrive well 
with a bottom heat of 65°, going up to 85°,” and soon. I 
have grown a considerable number of plants during the past 
year, and have proved that no such high temperature was 
indispensable or even desirable. In the following brief obser- 
vations I propose to refer to a few varieties, how I grew them, 
and what has been the result. 
Many of my corms were young, some grown from the leaf- 
stalks of the previous year—none old ; principally Aida, purplish 
rose, shading to blue ; Duke of Edinburgh, throat bluish purple, 
shading to maroon; Esperanza, shaded rose; Princess Royal, 
throat dark blue, with white tube; with Skeltoni and some 
other distinct colours. Many of them were upwards of 22 inches 
across, and produced a great number of flowers in succession, 
some continuing until the middle of Noyember without any 
extra heat. They were grown in a moist plant pit, which Ishall 
now describe andrecommend. The pit is made like an ordinary 
frame, but has a shelf around it for small and special plants 
which require less moisture and do best near the glass, It 
is facing south, and raised behind to catch every ray of sun- 
light. In summer the shade afforded by this shelf is found 
very desirable for cuttings and young tender plants. I find 
Cyclamens, Gesneras, Achimenes, and many allied plants 
