182 



JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



[ September 8, 1870. 



tinned to grow it extensively for seed at our Sunbury nursery, 

 where a large quarter may now be seen as true to character as 

 when it was first sent out, and admired by everyone who sees it, 

 for its decorative effect. — Oseokn& Sons, Fulham Nursery, S. TV. 



METROPOLITAN 



FLORAL 

 SHOW. 



SOCIETY'S FIRST 



September 6th, 7th, and 8th. 



An autumn show of florists' flowers — a show which would bring 

 'together at one time the early autumn flowers from a number of exhi- 

 bitors in a]l parts of the country, has been a long-felt want among 

 florists. The Crystal Palace Autumn Show was given up some years 

 ago, because it did not pay, and the subjects of exhibition at that 

 show were mainly flowers of the description just referred to and fruit. 

 Since then there has been a blank, which has only been to some extent 

 filled by the Floral Committee meetings at Kensington, but it was 

 felt that larger prizes should be offered to bring competitors from a 

 distance and in sufficient numbers to create an autumn exhibition 

 equal to those held at the Crystal Palace some years ago, and which 

 would be worthy of English florists. The Rev. H. H. Dombrain con- 

 ceived some time ago the happy idea of resuscitating an autumn 

 show at the Palace, he was supported with great spirit, and the result 

 lias been a complete success, for the show, which opened on Tuesday 

 and will close this evening, is better than most of its predecessors at 

 the same season at the Palace, there being, as we are given to under- 

 stand, fully double the number of entries. Of the quality it is im- 

 possible to speak too highly — the Dahlias with but few exceptions are 

 equal to those produced in the best of seasons, and in some stands 

 even better than in more favourable years. The Gladioli are ex- 

 cellent, Hollyhocks good, and Koses good for the time of year. The 

 Society may therefore be congratulated on the success of this their 

 ■first exhibition, and it only wants a little more encouragement, and 

 that encouragement we are convinced will be given, to render its 

 exhibitions permanent. Now that one part of the Autumn Show at 

 the Palace has been renewed, would it not be desirable to make an 

 effort to restore the other — fruit? 



In the class for forty-eight Show Dahlias, Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, 

 is first with splendid blooms of John Kirby, Queen of Beauties, Vice- 

 President, Annie Neville, Gazelle, Lightning, Flag of Truce, Heroine, 

 Amy Creed, James Cocker, Mary Keynes, Octoroon, Princess of 

 Prussia, Miss Henshaw, William Lucas, Mrs. Eckford, very beautiful, 

 Mrs. Thornhill, Flora Wyatt, Yellow Boy, Toison d'Or, Matilda, Mr. 

 Dix, Lady Jane Ellis, Sir Greville Smyth, Lady of the Lake, James 

 Backhouse, Golden Drop, Hon. Miss Herbert, Lilac Queen, Victory, 

 Mrs. Bunn, James Hunter, Julia Wyatt, John Harrison, Mrs. Boston, 

 Incomparable, Lady Gladys Herbert, King of Primroses, Emperor, 

 Netty Buckle, Memorial, Jenny Austin, George White, Earl of Pem- 

 broke, Leah, splendid, and Norfolk Hero, Mr. H. May, of Bedale, 

 is second with an excellent stand ; John Dunnington, Baron Taunton, 

 Memorial, High Sheriff, and Miss Henshaw being remarkably fine ; 

 while Mr. J. Harrison, of Darlington, and Mr. G. Edwards, of 

 York, are respectively third and fourth, each having fine-sized, sym- 

 metrical blooms. Messrs. Kimberley ; Milner, of Bradford ; Draycott, 

 of Humberstone ; and Mr. Searle, of Sevenoaks, also exhibit good 

 stands. 



The best thirty-six come from Messrs. Draycott, who are first with 

 a very even and fine set of blooms, consisting of Gazelle, Lady Jane 

 Ellis, Norfolk Hero, Heroine, Lord Derby, Criterion, Volunteer, 

 Annie Neville, John Dunnington, James Hunter, Blushing Fifteen, 

 Julia Wyatt, Memorial, Princess of Wales, Mr. Dix, very fine, Firefly, 

 Lilac Queen, Leah, Flag of Truce, Vice-President, Triomphe de Pecq, 

 John Kirby, Hon. Mrs. Wellesley, Miss Henshaw, British Triumph, 

 Yellow Perfection, Eclipse, Mrs. Thornhill, Mrs. Boston, James 

 Bennett, Juno, Lord Palmerston, Lady G. Herbert, George Brown, 

 King of Primroses, and Sir G. Smythe. Mr. May, of Bedale, is 

 second, and Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, is third, each with fine blooms, 

 Mr. Harrison, of Darlington, being fourth. 



The best twenty-four come from Mr. Walker, of Thame, and com- 

 prise fine examples of Yellow Boy, Mr. Dix, John Kirby, Gazelle, 

 Norfolk Hero, Hugh Miller, George White, Champion, and Mrs. 

 .'Boston. Messrs. Kelway, of Langport, Somerset, are second ; Mr. 

 Clark and Mr. Pilcher, of Horsham, are respectively third and 

 fourth. 



By far the best stand in the amateurs' classes is Mr. C. J. Perry's 

 twenty-four. In this there are very fine blooms of Lord Shaftesbury, 

 Pink of Perfection, Head Master, Mr. Dix, King of Primroses, High 

 Sheriff, Lady G. Herbert, Memorial, Andrew Dodds, Leah, Flag of 

 Truce, George Brown, and Queen oi Beauties ; second, Mr. Petfield, 

 ••with excellent blooms; third, Mr. Burfitt, Wandsworth Common; 

 . and fourth, Mr. R. Hopkins, New Brentford. 



In twelves, the prizes went to Mr. J. F. Martin, Henfield, Sussex ; 

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

 'Mi-. Fry, Taunton. 



The Fancy Dahlias are not very numerously represented ; the best 

 six in the amateurs' class are from Mr. C. J. Perry, and are Fanny 

 Start, Pauline, Lightning, Prospero, Grand Sultan, and Butterfly. 

 Mr. Petfield is second ; Mr. Burfitt third with large blooms ; and Mr. 



Fewkes fourth. In the nurserymen's class for twenty-four, Mr. 

 Keynes is first with splendid blooms of Flora Wyatt, Flossie Williams, 

 Sparkler, Hero of York, John Salter, Fanny Sturt, Chameleon, 

 Leopardess, Richard Dean, and Attraction. Mr. May, of Bedale, is 

 second with large blooms ; and Mr. Draycott has a remarkably fine 

 stand, in which Stafford's Gem, an old but most beautiful variety, 

 rosy purple tipped with gold, is ever welcome ; third, Mr. Walker ; 

 fourth, Mr. Edwards. 



A first-class certificate was given for seedling Annie Hobbs, white 

 self, shown by Mr. Hobbs, of Lower Easton, Bristol ; and a similar 

 award was made to Fancy Dahlias, Flora Wyatt, buff ground tipped 

 with purplish red; and Richard Dean, yellow, dotted and tipped with 

 dark crimson. Excelsior, rosy purple, and Princess Mary of Cam- 

 bridge, white, from Mr. Kimberley, of Coventry, are large well- 

 built flowers, the latter less so than the former. James Cocker, rosy 

 purple ; and John Neville, yellow, are also very promising selfs. 



Of Gladiolus there is a very good though not large display. Messrs. 

 Kelway take the first prize for thirty-six with fine spikes of Meyerbeer, 

 Circe, Norma, Rosea perfecta, Etendard, Adolphe Brongniart, Prince 

 Imperial, James Veitch (splendid), Eurydice, Sultane, Moliere, Mar- 

 shal Bazaine, LaceptJde, Mr. Eyles, Madame Desportes, and Vandyke, 

 and some others mostly as good. Mr. G. Wheeler, of Warminster, is 

 second. For twenty-four Messrs. Stuart & Mein, of Kelso, are first 

 with, among others, splendid examples of Madame Desportes, Robert 

 Fortune, Delicatissima, Michel Ange (very fine colour), Meyerbeer, 

 Marechal Vaillant, Moliere, and Bernard de Jussieu. The second 

 prize goes to Messrs. Draycott for a stand in which Yirgile is conspi- 

 cuous among several good spikes ; the third and fourth prizes being 

 taken by Mr. Edwards, of York, and Mr. Walker, of Thame. The 

 best twelve come from Mr. Fry, of Tannton. In this stand are fine 

 spikes of Etendard, Rosea perfecta, Moliere, and Ulysse. The second 

 prize is taken by the Rev. H. H. Dombrain with excellent examples 

 of Eleanor Norman, Madame Dombrain, Madame Furtado, Norma, 

 and others. For six Mr. G. Rickwood, Ikley, Leeds, is first ; Mr. 

 Mincbin, Hook Norton, being second. 



Asters afford a very good display, although not so large on the whole 

 as we have seen at former shows, a fact easily explicable by the extra- 

 ordinary character of the season. The best thirty-six French come 

 from Mr. G. Wheeler, the second best from Mr. W. Sandford, gardener 

 to T. Thomasett, Esq., Maidenhead. The largest of these measure 

 4 inches across. The third prize was awarded to Mr. Walker, of 

 Thame, and the fourth to Mr. H. Minchin. The best twelve come 

 from Mr. G. Matthews, of High Street, Shoreditch, who takes the first 

 prize for beautifully incurved flowers almost like show Chrysanthe- 

 mums. Mr. Petfield, gardener to G. Thornhill, Esq., Diddington, is 

 second, and Mr. Jennings, of Shipston-on-Stour, third. 



Of the German or Quilled Asters there is a good show, those from 

 Mr. Wheeler, of Warminster, being particularly noteworthy. Two 

 flowers in his stand, white bordered with violet, are very conspicuous. 

 The second prize for twenty-four went to Mr. Walker, for blooms 

 which, though larger, are not so refined; and the third to Mr. Bet- 

 teridge, of Chipping Norton. 



Verbenas are not numerously shown, but mostly excellent. Mr. 

 Perry, of Castle Bromwich, takes the lead with remarkably fine trusses, 

 of which Rev. C. Peach (purple), Mrs. George Prince, Mauve Ring, 

 Modele, Edwin Day, Mrs. Mole, Diana, Rev. S. Hole (a lilac seedling), 

 and Velocipede are most conspicuous. The second, third, and fourth 

 prizes are taken respectively by Mr. Minchin ; Mr. Fewkes, Birming- 

 ham ; and Mr. Burfitt, of Wandsworth. 



Hollyhocks aie shown both in spikes and as cut blooms. The best 

 nine spikes are from Mr. Minchin ; Mr. Chater, of Saffron Walden, 

 being second ; and Mr. Harrison, Darlington, third. As a whole the 

 cut spikes are not so fine as we have seen.' In cut blooms, Mr. Chater, 

 of Saffron Walden, takes the first prize, and Mr. Minchin the second 

 with blooms between which it would be difficult to decide ; Mr. Harri- 

 son is third, and Messrs. Draycott fourth. For twelve blooms the 

 prizes went to Messrs. Minchin, Fry, and Rickwood. 



Cut Roses are shown by Messrs. Paul & Son, Keynes, Coppin 

 among nurserymen, and by Messrs. Exell, Parnell, Perry, and Soder 

 among amateurs, and are fair specimens for the time of year. Each 

 of these exhibitors takes a prize. 



In baskets or vases of cut flowers for table decoration, Miss A. 

 Hassard, is first with a stand having Ferns, Grasses, and Pelar- 

 goniums in the bottom dish, and the top dish similarly filled, with 

 the addition of Lilium lancifolinm, the whole burmounted with an 

 elegant aigrette of Grasses, pink Pelargoniums, and bine Lobelias. 

 The second prize went to Mr. Soder, gardener to 0. Hanbury, Esq. ; 

 the third to Mrs. Dombrain, Westwell Vicarage, for a basket of Ferns, 

 Caladiums, Vineas, Pelargoniums, Roses, Zinnias, and Stephanotis. 

 Mr. D. McKay, of Sudbury, sent a stand of African Marigolds; 

 Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Co., baskets of Tricolor Pelargoniums; 

 and Messrs. Carter and Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing sent fine 

 groups of plants, which were very tastefully arranged in front of the 

 orchestra. For these special certificates were given ; and certificates of 

 the first class were likewise awarded to Measrs. Downie & Co. for 

 Pelargonium Pink Queen ; to Messrs. Paul & Son for Cupressus Law- 

 soniana pendula alba, a pretty variegated form of that handsome 

 species ; to Mr. Appleby for his simple and effective fumigator, and to 

 Mr. Chapman for his excellent flower and fruit cases, which have 

 been frequently noticed as admirable contrivances for transporting cut 



