Kovomtjer 29, 1877. ] 



JODBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



423 



CROYDON. 

 It is only a few weeks since the first mooting of an autumn 

 show was hinted at in this locality, and considering the short 

 notice a very good display wag arranged at the Public Hall on 

 the 22nd and 23rd inBt. Specimen plants were not equal to 

 others we have seen this season, hut the cut bluoms, also fruit 

 and vegetables, were very good indeed ; in fact the vegetables 

 were the finest we have seen this season with the exception of 

 some collections at the Crystal Palace in September. 



The principal contributors of specimen plants were Mr. King, 

 gardener to Stephenson Clarke, Esq., the President of the 

 Sooiety; Mr. Brett, gardener to Mrs. Charlton, Mitcham; and 

 Mr. Jupp. For twenty-four cut blooms incurved, distinct, Mr. 

 Orchard, gardener to F. W. Harris, Esq., Coombe House, Croy- 

 don, was awarded the first prize for a very neat and superior 

 collection of White Globe, Princess of Wales, Jardin des Plantes, 

 Queen of England, P/inceBS of Teck, Prince of Wales, Mr. Bonn, 

 White Venus, Eve, Capitata, Miss Mary Morgan, Lord Derby, 

 Golden Beverley, Mr. Gladstone, Venas, Empress of India, 

 Prince Alfred, Mrs. Halliburton, General Bairrbrigge, George 

 Glenny, Abbe Passaglia, MrB. G. Bundle, Le Grand, and Mrs. 

 Dixon. Mr. King was a very good second, and Mr. Neal, 

 gardener to E. Wormall, Esq., third with a very good collection. 

 In the class for twelve Mr. Orchard was again to the front with 

 good blooms of some of the varieties above named, and Mr. 

 Neal and Mr. Brett second and third respectively. Mr. Chaff, 

 gardener to C. H. Goschen, Esq., Shirley, staged a board of six 

 admirable blooms of Jardin des Plantes, Princess of Teck, 

 Queen of England, Bronze Jardin des Plantes, White VenuB, 

 and General Bainbrigge, to whioh the firBt prize was awarded. 

 Japanese blooms were contributed by Messrs. Neal, Orchard, 

 and Brett, and the prizes awarded in the order named. Anemone 

 bl.'oms came from Messrs. Brett and Neale, and Anemone Pom- 

 pons from Mr. Brett and Mr. King. 



Mr. King was awarded the first prize for four Orchids with 

 very fair examples of Vanda tricolor, Cypripedium insigne, 

 Calantb.es vestita oculata, and Veitchii. Several collections of 

 Primulas were staged; the prizes were awarded to Messrs. Price, 

 Brett, and King in the order named. Prizes were also offered 

 for Poinsettias, the best coming from Mr. Neal, Mr. King, and 

 Mr. Chaff, who were first, second, and third respectively. 



Mr. Charman, gardener to C. W. Bond, Esq., received the 

 first prize for a collection of fruit, and Mr. Chuff the first prizes 

 for Muscat of Alexandria and Black Prince Grapes, Mr. Neal 

 being awarded the second prize in both cases. An extra prize 

 was awarded to Mr. Stephenson, gardener to F. Peek, Esq., for 

 very fine Black Alicante Grapes. Apples were Bent by Messrs. 

 Chaff, Walker, and King, who were the prizetakers in the order 

 named. 



Nine collections of vegetables were staged, all of extraordinary 

 merit. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Chaff for excellent 

 examples of Ne Plus Ultra Peas, Walcheren Cauliflower, Serym- 

 ger's Brussels Sprouts, three sorts of Cabbages, Parsnips, 

 Spinach, fine Veitch's Red Globe Turnip, Beet, Onions, Early 

 Horn Carrot, Tomatoes, Paterson's Victoria Potatoes, &c. Mr. 

 Orchard was placed second with a very good collection contain- 

 ing some very fine Cardoons, and Mr. Brett third. Several 

 other exhibitors were highly commended, all showing well. 



Messrs. RolliBBon & Sons of Tooting sent a group of Chrys- 

 anthemums, which had a very pleasing effect ; and Mr. King, 

 gardener to Stephenson Clarke, Esq., contributed a very fine 

 bank of fine-foliaged plants, completely filling the spacious plat- 

 form of the Hall with Palms, Dracaenas, very large Adiantums 

 farleyense and scutum, the whole edged with Erica gracilis 

 and Panicum variegatum mixed. To Mr. W. P. Robinson, the 

 Secretary, is due in no small measure the success of the Show. 



DAKTFOBD. 



The seventh annual Show of the Dartford Chrysanthemum 

 Association was held at the Victoria Assembly Rooms on the 

 21st and 22nd inst., and was quite equal if not superior to its 

 predecessors. Specimen plants were very good, and were 

 shown principally without that bad training the Chrysanthe- 

 mum is so much subjected to. The display of cut blooms was 

 also exceedingly good, an amateur (Mr. Hards) outstripping all 

 the gardeners both for size and quality. His collection of twelve 

 blooms were the best we have seen this season, and comprised 

 very fine examples of Lady Hardinae, Empress of India, Golden 

 Queen, White Globe, Queen of England, Prince Alfred, Bar- 

 bara, MrB. G. Bundle, Mrs. Dixon, Mr. G. Glenny, Nil Despe- 

 randum, and Prince of Wales. Mr. Hards practisea the once- 

 potting system, and removes his plants from a small Eta.te to a 

 large one without any intermediate change; to this he attributes 

 his success. Many other creditable collections deserve notice, 

 but our space will not allow us to particularise them ; suffice it 

 to say it was altogether a good Show, and well managed by 

 Mr. Skelton. 



DIDSBTJRY. 



This, the third annual Show of the Society, was held on the 

 24th inst. One of the prettiest plants to be seen at this season 

 was exhibited — namely, a specimen of Cattleya Trianias with 



seven spikes of beautiful rosy flowers. This was sent from the 

 collection of G. Gottschalke, Esq., Fallowfield. Amongst the 

 Chrysanthemums in pots it might be observed that the varieties 

 of Cedo Nnlli are yet unsurpassed for free flowering and general 

 usefulness. For the best six Primulas, three red and three- 

 white, T. Ashton, Esq., showed a very fine set, doing credit to 

 his gardener, Mr. Johnson. Epiphyllums were a good feature 

 in this Show, the best being contributed by C. Blackburn, Esq. 

 These plants are most showy in their season, either as small 

 plants for table decoration or as large plants in the conservatory, 

 and tbey are capable of being grown in so many ways, such as 

 high or dwarf standards on the Cereus stock. There was a good 

 competition for six pots of Roman Hyacinths in pots not exceed- 

 ing 7 inches, about fourteen bulbs being grown in these sized pots. 

 The first-prize Grapes — white, which were Muscat of Alexandria, 

 and black, which were Alicante — -were shown by D. AdamBon, 

 Esq., doing credit to his gardener, Mr. Brierley, who is alBO 

 Secretary for the Society. 



Amongst table plants, which were shown in half-dozens, the 

 most chaste one in flower was an Ixora Coleii, about a foot high 

 with soven heads of pure white flowers. This was in the first- 

 prize stand, which was contributed by — Morris, Esq. Amongst 

 foliage plants in this class Cocoa Weddelliana and Aralia Veitcbii 

 were the most elegant. For the best four exotic Ferns J. Bol- 

 land, Esq. (J. Fletcher, gardener), was first with four choice 

 kinds and good specimens. 



For the best eighteen cut blooms of large-flowered Chrysan- 

 themums, which was the main feature of the Show, and in which 

 there was a very good competition, Miss Ashton was first (H. 

 Royle, gardener). The varieties were Prince Alfred, Golden 

 Beverley, Novelty, Fingal, Princess of Wales, Prince of Wales, 

 White Beverley, Mr. Howe, Lady Slade, Nil Desporandum, 

 Jardin des Plantes, Miss Mary Morgan, Baron Beust, Golden 

 Nugget, Queen of Beauties, Mrs. Halliburton, Lady Salford, 

 Mrs. G. Bundle. This last-named kind next to the white Cedo 

 Nulli might be said to be Al for pot culture for conservatory 

 work. In the classes of twelve and six cut blooms D. Adamson, 

 Esq., was the successful exhibitor. 



For a collection of six distinct dishes of vegetables C. P. 

 Henderson, Esq. (W. Oakes, gardener), was first with a good 

 tray, in which were fine heads of Cauliflower, Mushrooms, 

 Brussels Sprouts, &c. An honorary exhibit of eighteen cut 

 blooms (Chrysanthemums) were by Mr. Faulkner, Woolton Hall, 

 Liverpool, to which an extra prize was awarded. 



FLOWER SHOWS, GENERAL AND SPECIAL. 



As surely as ventilation, water supply, oharity organisation, 

 or some other subject crops up in the dead season in the 

 Times, so when gardens are comparatively empty, plants at 

 rest, and the days dull, does the subject of flower shows occupy 

 the columns of the horticultural press. Faults are found, 

 " high falutin " indulged in, suggestions made, and after all 

 we fall back into the same grooves as before. 



As " One of the Public " has given us his views anent Rose 

 shows, may I be allowed to take a little wider range, and from the 

 experience of many years in many places to express my views ? 

 I desire " nothiDg to extenuate or set down aught in malice;"' 

 there are only two flowers which I ever exhibit, and the Rose 

 is not one of them, and I hope therefore to give an impartial 

 view. Before entering on it may I be permitted to say, in 

 reference to your correspondent's remarks at the close of his 

 letter, that I have had the pleasure of the acquaintance of 

 most of the leading nurserymen of the United Kingdom, and 

 that I do not know a body of men less moved by mercenary 

 (I use not the word in an offensive sense) considerations. 

 Witness the manner in which the metropolitan nurserymen- 

 have supported through evil report and good report the Royal 

 Horticultural Society, and only this year I had the real pleasure 

 of meeting in the far south-west of Scotland two of our leading 

 rosarians, and although they took the chief prizes the money 

 could not half have paid them for their expenses and loss of 

 time. 



The ground that I take will be seen at once when I say that 

 I do not believe there is a flower show in the kingdom, general 

 or special, that pays — that is, that the " gate money " as it is 

 called — the contributions of the general public, not only do 

 not pay the prize money and expenses, but in moBt cases would 

 hardly even pay the latter. Let me, then, divide flower shows 

 thus — I. Metropolitan ; (a) those held by societies, (6) those 

 by joint-stock companies, (c) special shows. II. Provincial. 



I. (a) With regard to the great 6hows of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural and Royal Botanic Societies we have had painful ex- 

 perience for some years. When successful — i e.,when there is 

 a large attendance of visitors, it is evident that horticulture 

 is not the magnet. Music of the first quality, the attendance 



