176 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ September 7, 1871. 



ever foremost in aseisting in every good work which has for its 

 aim the elevation of the vast numbers who are to a great extent 

 dependant upon them. Ont of this desire originated the 

 Bjhope floral and Horticnltnral Society, with its Eshibition 

 and its Poultry Show, which yesterday (Angust 28;b) resulted 

 in one of the most signal successes which has attended any 

 similar effort in this district. The Show itself, considered as 

 a Show, was an immense success ; and, apart from the splendid 

 display of plants from the conservatories of the surrounding 

 upper ten, not the least interesting feature was the great 

 quantity of " stufJ " sent from the colliery itaelf, and exhibited 

 in the various flower, fruit, and vegetable classes open to 

 "cottagers or workmen at the colliery," the whole occupying 

 four marquees, one 60 feet in diameter, another 90 feet by 60, 

 and the other two 80 feet by 25. Not more interesting to 

 ■ those conversant with the higher walks of horticulture are the 

 great exhibitions of the day than was the Show of yesterday 

 to many a begrimed hewer, who had spent many an hour in 

 cultivating his little estate, and who was as proud of being first 

 with his six spring Onions as the winner of the first prize for 

 six stove or greenhouse plants. There will not be room in 

 your columns for the names of the winners, but 1 daresay some 

 who read the Journal will see recorded — 



" Sometbing attempted, something done." 

 Yon noticed the poultry show last week. — W. A. Blaksiox. 



METEOPOLITAN FLORISTS' SOCIETY'S SHOW 

 AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 



August 30th and 31st. 



There was an immense difference between this Show and tliat of 

 last year, bnt there is an immense difference also in the season of 1871 

 as compared with that of 1870. A dry summer can to some extent be 

 remedied by the liberal use of the watercan or hose, but such a season 

 (summer we cannot call it) as this, no artificial means can remedy ; 

 find the cold and cheerless spring, the wet and cold of June and July, 

 were elements nothing could combat ; and hence it was that in vain 

 we looted for that magnificent line of Dahlias which made the last 

 Show so memorable, for the splendid Asters, for the glowing Roses 

 of 1870. The only flowers which were at all comparable to those of 

 last year were the HoUyhoets and the Gladioli ; the former certainly 

 surpassed last year, and the latter were far more numerous, while I 

 was glad to see fresh exhibitors takinG the field and occupying promi- 

 nent places. As it was, it ia not diflicult to see why Dahlias should 

 have so fallen short. Anything more ungenial for them than the 

 weather which immediately succeeded their planting-out could not be 

 imagined. They did not remain stationary, they went back ; and al- 

 though the fine weather in the latter part of August did much for 

 them, yet not one-third of the plants were in bloom, and indeed now I 

 hardly fancy they will be equal to the splendid flowers of last year. 

 Hollyhocks were very fine ; and the seedling of Mr. Kelway's that ob- 

 tained Lord Hawke's first prize, and that of Mr. Oats which ob- 

 tained Mr. Chafer's prize, were really magnificent flowers. Mr. 

 Kelway's Gladioli were as usual very fine, though hardly equal in 

 finish to those of last season ; while, on the other band, Mr. Douglas, 

 of Losford Hall, has never shown such spikes as he has done this year. 

 Both of these exhibitors exhibited some fine seedlings, to some of 

 which certificates were awarded. 



I may as well here mention that a change will be made in the Exhi- 

 bition next year. An international fruit show wiU be added to it if 

 the fruit-growers of the kingdom will give their aid. I am quite willing 

 to take the additional labour provided they will come forward to aid it. 

 I shall hope to consult them by-and-by, and in the meantime can say 

 that the Crystal Palace Company will give £50 to start with. So, my 

 friends, set to work, and let us have a Show which shall be worthy of 

 English gardening and of the place where it wiU be held. — D., Deal. 



OwisG to the exceptional character of the season the Show on this 

 occasion was by no means equal to our expectations, notwithstanding 

 the fact that the Crystal Palace Company had liberally supplemented 

 the prizes 'offered by the Metropolitan Florists' Society. Dahlias were 

 on the whole small, but would no doubt have been much larger had 

 the Exhibition been a week later, and had the hot sun of the week 

 previous not destroyed the best. Hollyhocks, on the contrary, were 

 very good. Among the Gladioli were some remarkably fine seedlings, 

 whUe Asters were also good. The arrangements of the tables, as 

 usual, were excellent, and the introduction of a variety of plants 

 along the centre of the stages, and breaking these up in bays, gave a 

 good general effect. 



In the nurserymen's class for forty-eight Dahlias, Mr. May, of the 

 Hope Nurseries, Bedale, and Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, were the two 

 most redoubtable competitors. The former took the first position, the 

 latter the second place. In Mr. May's stands the following were well 

 represented — viz.. Sir Greville Smythe, Emperor, Miss Eoberts, Mr. 

 Dix, J. Duunington, J. Bennett, Charles Backhouse, Miss Henahaw, 

 Commander, Yellow Perfection, Jalia Wyatt, Flag of Truce, Vice- 



President, Golden Gem, Juliana, Indian Chief and Mrs. Thomhill. 

 Mr. Keynes had veiy good blooms of James Cocker, Queen of Prim- 

 roses, Annie Neville, Golden Eagle, Artemns TVard, Pioyalty, Mr. Dix, 

 Sir G. Smytho, Monarch, Mrs. Wyndham, Mary Keynes, small bnt 

 beautiful in colour, Vice-President, Hugh MiUer, Lothair, Leah, rather 

 small, and Gazelle. The third pri^e was withheld, and the fourth went 

 to Mr. Vi'alker, of Thame. 



In the class for thirty-six the positions were reversed ; Mr. Keynes 

 was first and Mr. May second, Mr. Walker being third. Mr. Keynes's 

 best were J. Cocker, J. Hunter, Flag of Truce, Jenny Austin, J. 

 Neville Keynes, Lothair, Hugh MiUer, Caroline TettereU, Victory, 

 Monarch, Annie Neville, John Lambert, and Sir G. Smythe. Mr. May 

 sent Lord Derby, Sir G. Smythe, Octoroon, Adonis, lovely colour, 

 white washed with pale lilac, J. Kirby, and others already named. 



For twenty-four Messrs. Draycott. Humberstone Nursery, Leicester, 

 Mr. May, Mr. Seale, Sevenoaks, and Mr. Walker were prizetakers in 

 the order in which they are named. Among the varieties best shown 

 were Julia Wyatt, Criterion, Hugh MiUer, J. Bennett, Queen of 

 Primroses, Harriett TettereU, Sir G. Smythe, Miss Henshaw, Lord 

 Derby, Flag of Truce, Edward Spary, and Yellow Perfection. 



In the amateurs' classes the leading prizes for twenty-four were 

 taken by Mr-. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwieh, and Mr. Burpitt, gar- 

 dener to C. Lambert, Esq., Wandsworth Common ; and for twelve by 

 Mr. Glasscock, Bishop Stortford, and Mr. Fewkes, Birmingham ; Mr. 

 Martin, Mr. Steer, and Mr. Beach, gardener to C. J. Herries, Esq., 

 Sevenoaks, being the other pri2etakers. 



Of Fancies, the best twenty-four came from Mr. Keynes, and com- 

 prised good examples of Grand Sultan, Fanny Stnrt, Miss Annie, 

 John Sealey, Sam Bartlett, Bessie Wyatt, Pauline, John Salter, 

 Sparkler, and Niss NeUson. Mr. May was second with fine blooms 

 of Pinto, Pope's Gem, Galatea, Leopard, Hero of York, Sparkler, 

 and Chang. In the amateurs' class for twelve the prizes went to Mr . 

 C. J. Perry, Mr. Burpitt, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Martin, Hurstpierpoint. 



For the prizes offered by Mr. Keyneg for seedling Dahlias sent out 

 by him in 1870 and 1871, Mr. C. J. Perry stood first, his best being 

 James Cocker, Thomas Hobbs, crimson ; Victory, James Grieve, buff, 

 edged with crimson ; Gipsy King, and Maiy Keynes. Mr. May was 

 second with Charles Backhouse, rich scarlet. Victory, and Thomas 

 Hobbs. The third prize went to Mr. Coppin, Shirley, Croydon. 



Messrs. Carter & Co. sent several pretty Pompone Dahlias about 

 *2 inches in diameter, among which we noticed Obelisk, Princess Alice, 

 and Erlking. Mr. Rawlings, Eonrford, received a first-class certifi- 

 cate for Maid of Essex, cream tipped with purplish lilac. Mr. Turner, 

 of Slough, had a lite award for Mrs. Saunders, pale yeUow tipped 

 with white, also for John Standish, rich red ; both fine-formed 

 flowers. 



Hollyhocks were not numerous, hut they were very good. The 

 best nine spikes came from Mr. Oats, gardener to the Eev. Lord 

 Hawke, Willingham Kectory, Gainsborough, and consisted of splendid 

 examples of Alba superba, Walden Primrose, Fair Ellen, Queen of 

 Yellows, IVIidnight, and rose, blush, and rosy crimson seedlings. Mr. 

 Chater, Saffrnn Walden, the only other exhibitor, had fine spikes of 

 Cygnet, Wniingham Defiance, and Cams Chater. For twenty-four 

 cut blooms, Mr. W. Chater was first, and Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, 

 second ; and for twelve, the prizetakers were Messrs. Oats, Porter, and 

 J. W. Silver. The most noticeable for quality were Purity, Prince 

 Albert, Triumph, SanspareU, Euby Queen, Walden King, Leah, Gold- 

 finder, and Leviathan. Mr. Oats was also first for the best seedling 

 with one of a fine rose colour, with the spikes thickly set with blooms. 

 The Kev. Lord Hawke's prizes for seedlings went to Messrs. Kelway, of 

 Langport, Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, and Mr. Chater, Cambridge ; to 

 the first for Lord Hawke, with very large rose-coloured flowers, to the 

 second for Pioyal Prince, rosy red, and to the third for Albert Memorial, 

 rosy crimson. 



Of the Gladiolus there were several fine stands, notably those from 

 Messrs. Kelway, of Langport, and Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whit- 

 bourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford. The former were first for thirty- 

 six and the latter for twenty-four and twelve. In Messrs. Kelway's 

 group four seedlings had first-class certificates — namely. Magnificent, 

 fiery scarlet ; Felix, carmine, flaked with lake, and having a violet 

 stripe in the lower divisions ; Victory, carmine, with a violet feather 

 and a white blotch in the lower divisions ; and Glow, orange scarlet, 

 with an ivory centre, flaked with carmine. Among the others in this 

 collection were Distinction, soft rose, flaked with scarlet and feathered 

 with purple ; Vesuvius, Sir Thomas Symons, Meyerbeer, Madame 

 Desportea, Norma, and Lacepede, all of which were fine. The second 

 and third prizes for thirty-six went to Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, and 

 the Eev. H. H. Dombrain, and the corresponding prizes for twenty- 

 four to Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Walker, Thame, whilst for twelve 

 the Eev. H. H. Dombrain was second. For six Mr. Hodgson, of 

 Croydon, was first with Circe, Marie Dumortier, Eacine, Madame 

 Dombrain, Delicatissima, and Due de Malskoff, the other prizetakers 

 being Mr. Gold, Mr. Oats, and Mr. Glasscock. Mr. Douglas likewise 

 took Chapman's patent show case, offered for the best sis spikes of 

 Gladiolus of 1870, showing Horace Vemet, Nestor, Sir John Franklin, 

 Phidias, and Van Spandouck. In addition he had first-class certifi- 

 cates for Sylvia, scarlet, streaked with white, and feathered with purple 

 at the base of the divisions, and for Fairy Bells, rose, edged with 

 salmon and feathered with purple. Along with these were several 

 other good seedlings, and fine spikes of Meyerbeer, Sir J. Franklini 



