July 27, 1912 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



581 



years to come be able to report Birmingha: 

 Show as occupying a foremost position 

 among the leading exhibitions in the king- 

 dom. 



OPEN SECTION. 



ar- 



Tlie four groups in the class for a 

 rangement of stove and greenhouse plants, 

 occupying 300 eq. ft., were very creditable 

 efforts. Messrs. J. Cypher and Sons, Chelten- 

 ham, were declared winners of the first prize, 

 and it may be said their group was arranged 

 with the good taste one always expects and 

 finds in the work of this well-known firm. 

 There were capital corner and dot plants of 

 crotons, Humea elegans, and palms, with 

 good cattleyas, odontoglossums, cleroden- 

 drons, and other fine flowering subjects in 

 undulating mounds, surmounted by a rustic 

 arch supporting a fine kentia as the centre- 

 piece, ^cond place was worthily taken by 

 Mr. J. MacDonald, gardener to Sir George 

 Kenrick, Edgbaston, whose principal plants 

 were similar in character and quality to 

 those mentioned in the winning group, a few 

 Malmaison carnations 



used 



together 



and crassulas also 

 with long trailing 

 tinted selaginellas. 



given 



Possibly the 

 a deep gully 



a bridge, and 



being 



plants of beautifully 

 Third prize went to Mr. W. Vause, Leami 

 ton, who used rather too many tall plants; 

 Mr. W. E. Manning, Dudley, was 

 fourth prize. 



Messrs. Cypher and Sons' twelve specimen 

 stove plants secured premier honours, their 

 Allamanda Hendersoni and A. nobilis being 

 beautifully flowered specimens, a grand plant 

 of Croton Warrensi being also conspicuous. 

 Mr. W. Vause was second in this class. Of 

 two entries staged in the class for six coleus 

 Mr. Alfred Cryer, gardener to A. Kenrick, 

 Esq., Edgbaston, had the best, and really 

 good plants they were ; Mr, Perks, gardener 

 to J. Boston, Esq., J. P., Handsworth being 

 second. Mr. Perks was also a winner for six 

 fuchsias. 



The growing popularity of rock and water 

 gardening prompted the inclusion of a class 

 for a display occupying 20ft. by 20ft. ; there 

 were two entries. The judges awarded first 

 to Messrs. Gunn and Sons, Olton, who had 

 a bright and attractive exhibit, but the domi- 

 nance of border phloxes and big liliums of 

 the longiflorum and auratum types was 

 scarcely in keeping with the requirements of 

 the class, whereas, as a rock and water gar- 

 den, that designed by Messrs. Child and Co., 

 Acocks Green, seemed nearer the specifica- 

 tion, although placed second, 

 objection was that, although 

 had been formed, spanned by 

 planted with Japanese iris, reeds, spiraeas, 

 etc., the water had not been turned on, 

 whereas the centre of Messrs. Gunn's exhibit 

 was a pool with nymphaeas floating on its sur- 

 face. Both exhibits were worthy of special 

 note. ^ ^ 



ROSES. 



The principal rose class was for forty-eight 

 blooms distinct, for which a M first prize 

 was offered, and of the four entries Messrs. 

 ;t^rkins and Sons, Coventry, took the lead, 

 llie flowers staged were of high quality, 

 there being a few blooms of outstanding 

 jwerit, particularly Mrs. Joseph H. Welsh, 

 ^laudius, and Dean Hole. Mr. J. Mattock, 

 iNew Headington, Oxford, was second with 

 nnich smaller but fi-esh and even flowers, 

 Woire de Chedane Guinoisseau, Suzanne 

 ^ane Rodocanachi, and Mildred Grant 

 P^ing among his be«t flowers. Mr. W. T. 

 ^attock. Barton End, Oxford, was third. 

 Messrs. Perkins and Sons scored again in the 

 twenty-four class, showing excellent blooms 

 «t l^rau Karl Druschki, Edward Mawley, The 

 i^yon, and Ladv Barham: Mr. Henry Drew, 

 i^ongworth, Faringdon, followed and Mr. J 

 Mattock came third. 



Messrs. Perkins and Sons maintained their 

 ^a<l in the class for eighteen blooms, beating 

 ■^r. H. Drew and Mr. J. Mattock, who took 

 second and third places respectively. For 

 twelve teas Messrs. W. and J. Brown, Stam- 

 XV the advantage, showing neat flowers 

 9i VV. R, Smith, Mdme. J. Gravereaux, 

 ■*iaman Cochet. and Mdme. Fermorel. Mr. 



Drew was second, and third prize went to 

 Messrs. Townsend and Sons, Worcester. 



The prizes for a collection of roses occupy- 

 ing 10ft. by 4ft., were keenly contested, the 

 first prize being well won by Messrs. Gunn 

 and Sons, Olton. A big mass of fresh, clear 

 Lyon roses, supported by pillars of Hiawatha, 

 Crimson Rambler, and Leontine Gervaise, 

 made a grand background for bowls of 

 General McArthur, Juliet, ^\Tiite Killarney, 

 Marquise de Sinety, and other of the newest 

 and best hvbrid teas. Messrs. W. and J. 

 Brown, Stamford, were placed second, their 



just failing in light and delicate 

 Mr. J. Mattock, Oxford, came third, 

 fourth prize went to Messrs. R. M. 

 and Son, Malvern, while Mr. W. T. 

 Mattock was highly commended. This class 

 was a feature that would have done credit to 

 any show. 



Mr. W. T. Mattock scored with twelve 

 bunches of garden roses, and was followed by 

 Mr. J. Mattock and Messrs. Perkins and Sons 

 in the order named. For a single bowl of 

 roses there were half a dozen entries, and it 

 must be remarked that the exhibits were 



tasteful. Messrs. S. Perkins and Sons 

 given pride of place for the Lyon 

 displayed with long sprays of dark foli- 

 Miss F, Jenks, Codsall, followed with a 

 very lightly arranged bowl, third prize going 

 to Mr. W. T. Mattock. 



stand 

 shades 

 and a 

 Fraser 



very 

 were 

 rose, 

 age.' 



blooms 

 A. E. 



victors 

 Alba 



HARDY FLOWERS. 



The class for two dozen bunches of hardy 

 herbaceous flowers was responsible for six 

 entries, among which Messrs. T. B. Grove's 

 effort was adjudged the best. These Sutton 

 Coldfield nurserymen had among their most 

 successful vases some good phloxes, Veronica 

 spicata rosea, and Galega Hartlandi. Messrs. 

 Harkness and Sons* second-prize exhibit con- 

 tained Papaver Mrs. Perry, Lilium candidum, 

 Lupinus Rose Queen, and good gaillardias; 

 and Messrs. G. Gibson and Co., Bedale, also 

 had some good things on their third-prize 

 stand. Messrs. Harkness and Sons led for 

 a collection of delphiniums, and second prize 

 was taken by Mr. A. Cryer, gardener to A. 



Kenrick, Esq., while Messrs. Gibson and Co. 

 came third. 



The collection of perpetual carnations put 

 up by Mr. A. F. Button, Iver, Bucks, was 

 the only entry in its class, first prize being 

 UAvarded. A smoo^:h-edged clear yellow, 

 named Yellow Gem, was conspicuous on this 

 stand, and it should be a valuable acquisition. 

 I welve vases of boi-der carnations, three 



of each, fo:i:id four entries, Messrs. 

 Brown, Lim., King's Norton, being 

 with fine flowers of Lord Steyne^ 

 Margaret Tliurston, Black Dougl 

 My Fancy, and Kaffir Chief. Mr. H. H. Par- 

 ton, Moseley, was second, his Sam Weller, 

 Lord Steyne, and Linkman being three good 

 yellow-ground fancies; third place was 

 awarded Mr. C. J. White, gardener to 

 Frank Bayliss, Esq., Walsall. For a collec- 

 tion of carnations and picotees staged on a 

 space 6ft. by 4ft., Messrs. W. J. Godfrey and 

 Son, Fxmouth, had the advantage over 

 M Cfcisi's. A, R. Brown, Lim.. both stands con- 

 taining good flowers, nicely arranged. 



The class for twelve border carnations and 

 picotees, distinct, found Mr. W. H. Parton 

 at the head, with large, well-grown blooms 

 of excellent varieties; he was followed bv 

 Messrs. A. R. Bcown, Lim , and Mr. C. J. 

 Vvhite. 



Violas are always nicely staged at Birming- 

 ham, and for a dozen bunch-es. distinct, there 

 were six strong entries. Mr. Howard Allen, 

 Handsworth, took first place with beauti- 

 fully-grown flowers. Mr. J. Bastock, Mose- 

 ley, came second (he was guilty of omitting 

 to label his flowers), and Mr. F. Reily. King's 

 ireath, was third. A class of more than 

 ordinary interest was that for a collection of 

 pansies and viol is tastefully arranged on a 

 table space 6it. by 3ft. Here Mr. J. Bastock 

 scored a decisive victoi*y wit'i small vases of 

 good varieties set up in front of a mirror that 

 made a very good background. Messrs. Sea- 

 grave and Co., Sheffield, were second with 

 well-grown flov ers arranged in a more formal 



well and largely 



manner; Me.^t.rs. Pemberton and Sons, Wal- 

 sall, third. 



SWEET PEAS. 



A good deal of interest was centred in a 

 class for a display of sweet peas occupying 

 20ft. by 4ft. A .silver challenge cup, value 

 tventy guineas, a gold medal and £5 were 

 offered lor the best group, and the successful 

 exhibitors were Messrs. Herd Bros., Penrith. 

 Their display was arranged on a low stage in 

 a manner that made it possible to see every 

 flower with ease. The varieties included 

 such good things as Red Star, Melba, Her- 

 cules, Thomas Stevenson, Romani Rauni 

 and R. F. Felton, the whole consisting of 

 v.ell-grown flowers put up in a really attrac- 

 tive manner. Mr. J. Stevenson, Wimborne. 

 came a good second, his flowers showing excd- 

 lent cultivation, and Messrs. Holder and Co., 

 Erdington, were third in a keenly-fought 

 competition. 



Another bi^ class was for twenty-four 

 bunches in twelve varieties, and there being 

 seven entries, all of good quality, Mr. George 

 Hallett, gardener to Sir R. Graham, Bart. 

 Carlisle, scored a first, his flowers, which wer- 

 of good quality, being set up to great advan- 

 tage m clear glass vases. Mr. F. R. Minshall, 

 Market Drayton, was a good second, and Mr 

 Jchn Vicarage, Harvington Nursery, Kidder- 

 iriiisler was third. 



GARDENERS AND AMATEURS. 

 This was a large section of the show, and 

 it must be recorded that the exhibits, both in 

 point of variety and quality, were demonstra- 

 tive ol high culture, shoeing that around 

 Birmingham gardening 

 practised. 



The groups in this section were admirable 

 Occupying 15ft. by 8ft, with ^.ingle frontage' 

 they were eight in number, and Mr. Alfred 

 < ryer is to be congratulated on his well- 

 uicrited win among so many strong com- 

 petitors. AH his plants were well-grown 

 c^tuff, the crotons beautifully coloured the 

 palms shapely, and the orchids, begonias, 

 nliums, etc,, were bright and clean. With a 

 highly-built background, central and corner 

 mounds, the body of the group was lightly 



ged. Quite different in style was the 

 second-prize group put up by Mr. G. Corbett 

 gardener to Hume C. Pinsent. Esq., Harborne, 

 whose strong point was colour, provided 

 n-amly by Verbena Miss Willmott, st^hizan- 

 thuses, liliums, and highly-coloured but small 

 crotons. Of necessity these subjects gave a 

 somewhat flat arrangement, and the intro 

 duction of a few tall foliage plants would 

 have been an improvement. Mr. T. Perks, 

 gardener to J. Boston, Esq., Handsworthl 

 received third prize, his group being very 

 tasteful in arrangement. There were two 

 other classes for smaller grou})s, in one of 

 which Mr. W. S. Smith, Handsworth. took 

 first, and Mr. J. Cope, Balsall Heath, second; 

 while in the other the only exhibit wiis that 

 of Mr. E. VoUet, gard-ner t^> T. Ollard, Esq., 



Handsworth, who was awarded a second 

 prize. 



Six exotic ferns were best shown bv Mr. 







H. Faulkner, gardener to J. R. Shaw, Esq., 

 Handsworth. In Mr. Ellison's class for 

 twelve ferns Mr. H. Faulkner was again 

 winner, and for three specimens Mr. Perks 

 took first and Mr. R. Usher second. Mr. 

 Perks also won for six fuchsias. For six 

 stove plants Mr. A. Cryer put up some fine 

 plants, winning a first, his Phoenix rnpicola 

 and Kentia Belmoreana being grand speci- 

 mens. There were numerous other classcis for 



be- 



greenhouse plants, such as gloxinias, 

 gonias, etc., the competitors already named 

 accounting for most of the awards. 



There were two entries for a dozen bunches 

 of stove and greenhouse flowers, the winner 

 being Mr. A. H. Lord, gardener to C. A. 

 Palmer, Esq., Handsworth; he was followed 

 by Mr. J. Freeman, gardener to Colonel 

 Walker, Acocks Green. A very nice little 

 collection of hardy flowers was put up by 

 Mr. E. J. Keeling, Small Heath, with which 

 he won first. Sidalcea Listen, Gypsophila. 

 rosea, Lyeimachia clethroides, and Alstroe- 

 meria chilensis were among his best subjects; 



h 



