190 



JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



[ September 5, 1873. 



Laura Haslarn, primrose, tipped "with ivory white ; Herbert 

 Turner, blush white ; and Nelly, cream, tipped with rosy purple. 

 Messrs. Kelway had first-class certificates for Gladiolus Vacuna, 

 TJnca, Olen, John Davis, William Dodds, andZana; Mr. Douglas 

 for Carminata, Delicata, and A. F. Barron ; Mr. Wheeler, War- 

 minster, for Coquette ; and Eev. H. H. Dombrain for Jupiter, 

 very fine dark crimson and red. 



Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing exhibited a charming mixed 

 group of Phloxes, Palms, Caladiums, and other plants ; Mr. 

 Turner and Mr. Glasscock collections of Dahlias ; Mr. J. J. 

 Chater a stand of fine double Zinnias ; and Messrs. Carter & Co. 

 a handsome specimen of Adiantum farleyense. 



The show of fruit excited but little competition ; in-door 

 fruits were far from plentiful, and for Apples and Pears the 

 Show was far too early. A later date could not, however, well 

 have been fixed without sacrificing the flowers, which were the 

 main object of the Show ; but in Grapes, at least, considering 

 the prizes offered, a greater competition might fairly have been 

 expected. Although a first prize of £6 was offered for the best 

 collection of fruit, no one came forward to claim it. The only 

 Queen Pine came from Mr. A. Watkins, Bishop Stortford; the 

 only other Pines from Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, 

 Esq., Loxford Hall, and Mr. Harrow, gardener to H. Bessemer, 

 Esq., Denmark Hill, were Smooth-leaved Cayenne, taking first 

 and second prizes in the An y other variety class. For col- 

 lections of Grapes, Messrs. Lane, of Berkhamsted, and Mr. 

 Douglas were prizetakers with fine bunches of Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, Black Hamburgh, Foster's White Seedling, Mrs. Pince, 

 Lady Downe's, Trentham Black, and Buckland Sweetwater. 

 Of three bunches of Black Grapes there were only two exhi- 

 bitors, Mr. C. Goldsmith, gardener to Sir W. Farquhar, Bart., 

 Dorking, and Mr. Douglas, who each sent excellent Black Ham- 

 burghs. In the corresponding class for White Grapes, Messrs. 

 Lane were first with grand bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, 

 Mr. Cole, gardener to J. Budgett, Esq., Ealing Park, being 

 second with excellent bunches, which, though not so large, ap- 

 peared to be better ripened ; Mr. Bristow was third. In Peaches 

 Mi-. Paice, gardener to W. Main, Esq., took the first place with 

 Bellegarde, large and finely ripened; Mr. Dawes, Balcpmbe, 

 being second with Gror se Mignonne, also fine. For Nectarines 

 Mr. J. King was first with Violette Hative, Mr. Douglas second 

 with excellent fruit of Pine Apple. In Melons Mr. Goldsmith 

 was first, and B. Webb, Esq., Culham House, Beading, second, 

 with green-fleshed kinds. Mr. Goldsmith also sent the only 

 two dishes of Cherries. The best three dishes of Plums came 

 from Mr. Jackson, gardener to J. L. Gower, Esq., Titsey Park, 

 Limpsfield, and consisted of Jefferson, Kirke's, and Green 

 Gage ; G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, was second with Quetsche 

 de Dorelle, Transparent Gage, and Goliath; B. Webb, Esq., 

 took the third place with Kirke's, Green Gage, and White Mag- 

 num Bonum. The best four dishes of Dessert Apples came 

 from E. Webb, Esq., and consisted of Excelsior, Newtown 

 Pippin, Bed Astrachan, and Eibston Pippin. The remaining 

 prizes went to Messrs. Gold and Bristow. In Kitchen Apples the 

 last-named two exhibitors were third and fourth, Mr. Webb 

 being again first with good samples of Hollandbury, Blenheim 

 Pippin, and Lord Sumeld, and Mr. Mortimer, Wallington, 

 second. The best three dishes of Dessert Pears were Beurre 

 d'Amanlis, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and Williams's Bon Chretien 

 from Mr. Douglas. Messrs. Goldsmith, Miles, gardener to Lord 

 Carrington, and Gold were also successful exhibitors. The 

 single dishes of Pears exhibited for weight were not remarkable ; 

 the heaviest was Catillac, from Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Miles being 

 second. For flavour the best dishes were Williams's Bon 

 Chretien from Mr. Douglas, and Louise Bonne from G. F. 

 Wilson, Esq. 



I hope there is no parental partiality biassing my mind when 

 I think over the splendid display of flowers we had at the 

 Palace on August 28th, or that I am giving a rose-coloured 

 account of the Show. I have attended many autumn shows ; 

 I have seen a larger display of flowers — notably the first ex- 

 hibition we held two years ago, but never have I seen autumn 

 flowers in such perfection as then. Mr. Keynes has exhibited 

 Dahlias for a great many years, but never has he staged flowers 

 of such depth and build as at this Show. Gladiolus were never 

 so represented before ; and Hollyhocks were in the very per- 

 fection of beauty ; and as to Eoses, who ever saw such Eoses 

 in August as Mr. Prince's, or such a box of Clemence Eaoux 

 as he put up ? while Asters, if they have been more numerously 

 exhibited, were never finer ; and Verbenas were good in quality 

 and abundant also. Fruit was deficient in quantity, although 

 good in quality; but it could hardly be otherwise considering 

 this is the worst fruit season we have had for thirty-five years. 



Mr. Kelway made a splendid display of Gladiolus, not only 

 Lis six hundred spikes, but also most especially his stand of 

 thirty-six, claiming general attention. There is no doubt that he 

 has a good strain of seedlings. Some flowers were remarkable 

 for colour and form ; but it is tantalising to feel that many of 

 them will not be let out for years. As to amateurs, I am sure no 



such three stands of twelve were ever before staged as Lord 

 Hawke's, Mr. Douglas's, and my own, and it evidences that we 

 are getting on in our cultivation, and I believe here, as in other 

 things, the victory is with the big battalions. H Lord Hawke 

 could have staged twelve such as his four first flowers, not even 

 Mr. Kelway would have beaten him ; and the blooms of Beatrix in 

 Mr. Douglas's stand, and Norma and Eurydice in my own, were 

 quite equal to anything elsewhere. In the class for six, too, 

 there were some excellent flowers, especially in the Eev. J. G. 

 Hodgson's, of Croydon. If we could only battle successfully 

 with the disease which affects them, this would soon become a 

 most popular flower; indeed, it must become so in spite of the 

 disease, out I shaU have more to say of it anon, when reviewing 

 the whole subject for the year. 



I shall not be trespassing on the domain of privacy if I add, 

 that the opportunity was taken of giving a complimentary dinner 

 to the veteran exhibitor, Mr. John Keynes, of Salisbury, who 

 has just completed his fiftieth year as an exhibitor, and who, I 

 believe, now retires from the field as a Dahlia exhibitor ; his- 

 last triumph showing that the experience of the past has no 

 way been hindered by the advance of years, and he now retires 

 with his blushing honours thick upon him. 



Finally, I would say to Kose exhibitors, Look to your laurels 1 

 they have already been plucked from some of your brows, and 

 more determined contests are in store for you. Mr. Prince, of 

 Oxford, will be a formidable competitor to the growers for sale, 

 while Mr. Camm will make a good fight amongst amateurs. It 

 is pleasant to find new hands taking up the work; and although 

 I was beaten in Gladiolus, yet I gladly record the fact, when a 

 new competitor, such as my friend Lord Hawke, lays me low 

 with the first touch of his spear. I hope many more will come ; 

 and let us fight well and loyally in the tilted field, and let victors 

 and vanquished alike take pleasure in the revived taste for- 

 florists' flowers. — D., Deal. 



BOYAL HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 September 4th. 



Though by no means a large Show, the general quality of the 

 Dahlias, Asters, and other subjects exhibited was very good. 



In Class 1, for twenty-four Dahlias, Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury,, 

 was first with magnificent blooms of Criterion, Julia Wyatt, Ne 

 Plus Ultra, Eev. Mr. Camm, deep rose ; Seedling, Caroline Tette- 

 rell, Vice-President, Lady Gladys Herbert, Monarch, Mrs. Bunn,. 

 John Neville Keynes, Amy Creed, Queen of Buffs, John Stan- 

 dish, Mrs. Thornhill, Yellow Boy, James Bennett, Queen of 

 Beauties, Flag of Truce, Harriet Tetterell, Memorial, Flora 

 Wyatt. James Cocker, and Maid of Essex. Barely, if ever, have 

 we seen a stand so uniformly excellent. Second came Mr. 

 Turner, of Slough ; third Mr. Seale, Vine Nurseries, Sevenoaks. 

 Mr. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich, and Mr. Walker, Thame, 

 also exhibited in this class. In the amateurs' class for twelve 

 blooms Mr. C. J. Perry was first with fine examples of Acme of 

 Perfection, Monarch, Marchioness of Lome, Alexander Cra- 

 mond, Amy Creed, Miss Eoberts, Flora Wyatt, John Standish, 

 Vice-President, and Annie Neville. Mi-. Beach, gardener to C. 

 J. Henries, Esq., St. Julians, Sevenoaks, and Mr. Burpitt, 

 gardener to C. Lambert, Esq., Wandsworth Co mm on, took the 

 second and third prizes. 



Of Asters there was a good display. The first prize for twenty- 

 four, not rrniHp.fl, went to Mr. Eowe, gardener to Mrs. Lewis, 

 Eoehampton, for a stand of Chrysanthemum-flowered, well 

 grown and well varied in colour. Mr. G. Wheeler, Warminster, 

 was second, and Mr. J. Walker, Thame, was third with incurved 

 very fine. In the open class for twelve blooms not quilled the 

 prizes went to Mr. G. Wheeler, Mr. J. Walker, and Mr. W. 

 Kemp, gardener to D. B. Chapman, Esq., Eoehampton ; and in 

 the corresponding class for amateurs only Mr. Eowe, Mr. Kemp, 

 and Mr. B. Porter, gardener to Mrs. Benham, Sion Lodge, Isle- 

 worth, were the successful competitors, each showing an excel- 

 lent stand. For a tray of twenty-four blooms of Pseony varieties, 

 with incurved "petals," Mr. G. Wheeler was first, only one 

 other exhibitor showing, and he was disqualified. Mr. Wheeler 

 was also first for twenty-four Victoria Asters with reflexed 

 petals ; these were very fine. Mr. Vallance, Farnham Eoyal, 

 sent a collection of fifty cut blooms. For six Asters not quilled, 

 in 8-inch pots, Mr. Eowe and Mr. George, gardener to Miss 

 Nicholson, Putney Heath, were respectively first and second, 

 and Mr. Porter third. 



An excellent stand of twenty-four Verbenas from Mr. C. J. 

 Perry came first in the class for that flower, Mr. Burpitt being 

 second. 



For six pots of Lilium speciosum (lancifolium), not fewer than 

 three varieties, Mr. W. Paul had a first prize for magnificent 

 specimens of rubrum, album, and atrosanguineum ; also an 

 extra prize for a very fine collection of the same Lily. 



Of miscellaneoussubjects Mr. William Paul and Mr. G. Prince, 

 of Oxford, sent fine stands of Eoses; Mr. Turner, Slough, an 

 excellent group of Lilium auratum, also some charming bedding 

 and bouquet Dahlias. From Mr. Toung, Milford Nurseries, 



