September 20, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



231 



The second prize was, I think, wrongly awarded : the tables 

 were too fall, and the articles containing the flowers and fruit 

 were arranged in three Btraight lines. One table was conspi- 

 cuous for a heavy epergne which seemed as if it required some- 

 one to hold it up. Another was terribly overloaded, but seven oat 

 of the eleven were arranged with taste and skill. There was a 

 very large number of bouquets, and some of them evinced very 

 great taste, notably those of Mr. Perkins of Leamington, being 

 neither heavy nor overcrowded. It is evident that, in some 

 parts of the country at least, a better taste in these matters is 

 beginning to prevail, and that we shall no longer have our eyes 

 vexed with the inartistic abominations of former days. 



It was in truth a great Show, but no attempt at artistic ar- 

 rangement was made anywhere, and buccobb depended on the 

 excellence of the exhibits alone; and terrible indeed was the 

 Bcene. Never shall I forget the luncheon, from which I beat a 

 hasty retreat, although many even of the ladies sat it out. Sir 

 Wilfred Lawson did not remain for it, but assuredly he might 

 have done so, for his favourite element was there in abundance. 

 Oh that I had the pencil of poor John Leech to portray the 

 portly form of my reverend brother of Caunton, as in broad- 

 brimmed canonical hat and great coat he sat crouched under 

 an umbrella sipping half-cold soup ! It was a sight well worth 

 seeing. I can only hope that better fortunes dawned on the 

 promoters on Friday, or else there must be a heavy reckoning 

 for the guarantee fund. It would be unfair to close these few 

 notes without acknowledging the excellent and thoughtful ac- 

 commodation made for the Judges ; nothing could have been 

 better, and one and all appreciated it.— D., Veal. 



ALEXANDRA PALACE GREAT INTERNATIONAL 



FRUIT SHOW. 



13th, 11th, and 15th September. 



The liberal prizes offered by the lessees of the Alexandra 

 Palace for fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, and table decorations 

 brought together a very good display — a far better display than 

 could have been expected from the general scarceness of outdoor 

 fruit this season. The productions sent completely filled the 

 large centre hall. Grapes were exceptionally good and shown 

 in large numbers, no less than twenty classes being set apart for 

 them. Peaches and Nectarines were very good, but perhaps not 

 ao extensively shown as in some previous years, and these same 

 remarks will apply to most of the other sections of fruit classes. 

 Dahlias were most extensively shown and in most excellent trim, 

 as also were Asters, while the cut blooms of Roses — which came 

 from Messrs. Paul & Son, Messrs. CranBton & Co., and several 

 other exhibitors — were in splendid condition, and formed a very 

 attractive addition to the Exhibition. Vegetables and salad were 

 also shown in large numbers and in splendid condition. 



Following in the order of the schedule Class 1 is for collection 

 of sixteen sorts of fruits — not more than four sorts of Grapes, 

 two sorts of Pines, and two sorts of Melons, for which the first 

 prize is £16. This brought three remarkable even collections, 

 and Mr. Coleman, gardener to Earl Somors, Eastnor Castle, was 

 awarded the first prize for first-rate dishes of Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, Black Hamburgh, Lady Downe's, and Madresfield Court 

 Grapes, Pine Apple and Oldenburg Nectarines, Violette Hative 

 and Early Crawford Peaches (very fine), Golden Gem and East- 

 nor CaBtle Melons, fine fruits of Smooth Cayenne and Blaok 

 Jamaica Pines, large Brown Turkey Figs, Green Gage Plum, 

 Pitmaston, Duchesse d'Angouleme Pears, and Morello Cherries. 

 Mr. Thos. Bannerman was placed second with a very fine collec- 

 tion, and Mr. J. H. Goodacre, Elvaston Castle, Derby, third with 

 a very smart and excellent lot. In the class for twelve sorts 

 exclusive of Pines there were only two competitors. Mr. Neigh- 

 bour, gardener to G. Wythes, Esq., Bickley, Kent, was first with 

 very fair examples of Foster's Seedling, Black Hamburgh, and 

 Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, White Magnum Bonum and 

 Victoria Plums, Violette Hative and Bellegarde Peaches, Brown 

 Turkey Figs, Pitmaston Orange Nectarines, a Soarlet-flesh 

 Melon, Jargonelle Pears, and White Currants. Mr. Rushmore, 

 gardener to Sir C. R. Rowley, Bart., Colchester, was placed 

 second, with very good examples. For twelve sorts of fruits 

 exclusive of Pines and Grapes Mr. Cox, gardener to Lord Beau- 

 ohamp, Madresfield Court, and Mr. Thos. Crane, gardener to the 

 Rev. L. Deedes, Bramfield Rectory, Hertford, were first and second 

 respectively. Mr. Cox's collection contained good examples of 

 Violette Hative and Crawford's Early Peaches, Goliath and 

 Green Gage Plums, Irish Peach Apple, Jargonelle Pears, 

 Warrington Gooseberries, Morello Cherries, Oldenburg and 

 Downton Nectarines. 



Pines.— Three classes for Pines were fairly represented, and 

 the two best Smooth CayenneB came from Mr. Ross, gardener 

 to C. Eyre, Esq., Newbury; Mr. W. Toomer, gardener to W. 

 Knowles, Esq., Streatham, being placed next in order of merit ; 

 and the best pair of Queens, very even and good fruit, came from 

 Mr. J. Churchfield, gardener to H. Littleton, Esq., Westwood 

 House, Sydenham ; while Mr. Toomer and Mr. Webb were placed 



second and third respectively, and for two of any other kind 

 Mr. Coleman was awarded the second prize. 



Grapes. — The first prize for eight varieties, one bunch of each, 

 went t") Messrs. Lane & Sons, Berkhampstead, for splendidly 

 finished bunches of Gros Colman, Bowood Muscat, Black Ham- 

 burgh, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Hamburgh, Pearson's new 

 Golden Queen, Alicante, and Trebbiano. Mr. W. Wildsmith, 

 gardener to Lord Eversfield, Heckfield Place, winning second 

 honours with bunches somewhat smaller and not quite so well 

 coloured as the first-prize collection. Seven good collections 

 were staged in the class for four varieties. Mr. Coleman was 

 awarded the first prize for Madresfield Court, Black Hamburgh, 

 Lady Downe's, and Muscat of Alexandria, all finished in his 

 well-known style. Mr. Bannerman came second with good 

 examples of Alicante, Gros Colman, Trebbiano, and Black Ham- 

 burgh. Mr. T. Coomber, gardener to Allan Rolls, Esq., Mon- 

 mouth, third. In the class for three bunches of Black Ham- 

 burghs there were nine competitors, Messrs. Coleman, Coomber, 

 Bannerman, and Edwards sharing the honours in the order 

 named. Buckland Sweetwater was represented by five com- 

 petitors, and the best came from Mr. J. Bain, gardener to Sir 

 C. R. Boughton, Downton Hal), Salop; the next best from Mr. 

 Miles, gardener to Lord Carington, Wycombe Abbey; the 

 third prize going to Messrs. Lane & Son. For three bunches of 

 Madresfield Court, Mr. J. W. Chard, Salisbury ; Mr. C. Tyler, 

 gardener to R. Gosling, Esq., Hassobury ; and Mr. Toomer, 

 were placed first, second, and third respectively. Seven col- 

 lections of Blaok Alicante were staged, and Mr. J. Freeman, 

 Beechwood Park, Dunstable, was placed first with remarkably 

 well-finished bunohes ; Mr. Peed, Roupell Park Nurseries, being 

 a very good second; Messrs. Lane & Sod, third; and an extra 

 prize awarded to Mr. Goodacre. Lady Downe's was also well 

 represented, and the best bunches came from Mr. Wright, 

 Thurleston Lodge, Ipswich ; and from Mr. Tyler, and Mr. 

 Reeves, Grass Farm, Finchley, who were placed first, second, 

 and third respectively, and an extra prize being awarded to Mr. 

 Bannerman. Muscat of Alexandria was also extensively shown, 

 and Mr. Colemau was again to the fore with three of the best 

 bunches in the Exhibition, followed by Messrs. Lane & Son who 

 were placed second, and third went to Mr. Wattam, gardener 

 to A. H. Longman, Esq., Hemel Hempstead. Mr. Tyler was 

 awarded an extra. For a single bunch of Black Hamburgh Mr. 

 Wildsmith was awarded the first prize for a splendid bunch, 

 both for size of berry and an intense black colour. Mr. Cooper, 

 gardener to M. Yeatman, Esq., was placed second, the third 

 prize being withheld. Mr. Taylor, gardener to J. Johnstone, 

 Esq., Hampstead, Mr. Wildsmitb, and Mr. Cooper were placed 

 in the order named for one bunch of Foster's Seedling. The 

 first prize for a bunch of MadreBfield Court was awarded to Mr. 

 Peed, and the second prize to Mr. Cox, whose bunch was by far 

 the largest but inferior in point of colour. For Black Alicante 

 Mr. Peed was again firBt and Mr. Wildsmith second; and for 

 Lady Downe's the first prize was withheld, the second prize 

 going to Mr. Cooper. 



For the finest-flavoured black Grapes fourteen collections were 

 staged. Mr. Bannerman was awarded the first prize ; Mr. Lane, 

 gardener to Major-General Ffytche, the Eecond; and Mr. Wild- 

 smith the third ; and for the best flavoured white Grapes Messrs. 

 Coleman, Bannerman. and Bashford were placed first, second, and 

 third respectively. Mr. Peed took the first prize for the heaviest 

 bunch of Grapes (black) with Barbarossa, Si lbs. ; Mr. Wild- 

 smith second with a bunch 5 lbs. 2 ozs.; and the third prize to 

 Mr. Coleman. For the heaviest bunch (white) the first prize 

 was withheld, Mr. Wildsmith being placed second with White 

 Nice, weight 6 lbs. 14 ozs. ; and Mr. Peed third with Trebbiano, 

 weight 3 lbs. 12 ozs. There was a keen competition in the two 

 classes for basketB of Grapes not to exceed 12 lbs., Mr. Cole- 

 man winning the first prize in both classes with Black Ham- 

 burgh and Muscat of Alexandria, which were grand ; and Messrs. 

 P. S. Kay, Finchley, was awarded second for blacks and third 

 for whites, and Mr. Thomas was placed third with Black Ham- 

 burgh and second for Muscats. 



In the class for twelve Peaches there were eight competitors, 

 and the best was a dish of Prince of Wales from Messrs. Hay- 

 cock, Barham Court, Maidstone. Mr. Jones, Frogmore, took 

 the second prize with Barrington Peach, and the third was 

 awarded to Mr. J. Maher, gardener to C. Allhusen, Esq., Stoke 

 Court, Slough, for Crawford's Early. Mr. Coomber was placed 

 first with Royal George out of eleven exhibits for six Peaches, 

 Mr. H. J. Clayton second with Late Admirable, and Mr. J. 

 Seymour third with Bellegarde. Mr. Coomber, Mr. Haycock, 

 and Mr. Seymour were placed in the order named for twelve 

 Nectarines, the first prize being awarded to a dish of Pitmaston 

 Orange; and in the corresponding class for six Mr. Coleman 

 was placed first, Mr. Green second, and Mr. Crane third. 



Figs were both plentiful and good. Messrs. Chisholm, Miller, 

 and Coleman were placed in the order named. 



The best Jeff erson's Plum came from Mr. Clayton; the Becond 

 from Mr. Pragnell, gardener to D. W. Digby, Esq., Sherborne 

 Castle; the third from Mr. Murrell, gardener to A. R. Allerton, 



