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THE GARDENERS* MAGAZINE. 



August 10, 1912, 



FLORAL DECORATIONS. 



Floral decorations were plentiful and of 

 nuicli merit. Very strong was the competi- 

 tion in the classes for baskets of flowers, but^ 

 unfortunately, the majority of the arrange- 

 ments were much crowded. Mr. H. Widdow- 

 son, Loughborough, was first with a lightly 

 arranged and very tasteful basket; Mr. J. 

 Barker wm second with a basket that would 

 have probably taken a higher place had the 

 quantity of flowers been con.siderably re- 

 duced. Mr. J. Vine was third with an 

 effective but somowhat formally arranged 

 basket. 



Hand bouquets occupied a long run of 

 tabling, and proved a great source of attrac- 

 tion to visitors. Mr. J. Barker had the l>est 

 shower bouquet, and Mr. E. Vine was second. 

 Mr. J. Barker was alwo first for bridal bou- 

 quets with a remarkably tasteful arrange- 

 ment of carnations, chrysanthemums, and 

 lilies. Mrri. Underwood, Coventry Road, 

 Letterworth, was second. 



PLANTS. 



Tlie big marquee in which the groups ar- 

 ranged tor eliect had a place was rich in 

 attractiouij. and afforded many object-lessons 

 of much value in the arrangement of plants 

 remarkable for the lx>auty ot their flowers or 

 foliage. Tlie comi)etition in the great group 

 class waij of the keenest, and Messrs. J. 

 Cy])her and Sons, Cheltenham, added to their 

 many honours by winning the first prize. 

 That the arrangement was remarkable for 

 the taste displayed goes without saying, and 

 to describe it in such manner as to convej 

 a clear idea of it is practically impossible 

 without devoting more space than can be 

 spared to the report. Suffice, therefore, to 

 say that the group was one of the most 

 successful of the many eflorts of the Arm, 

 and afforded an object-lesson of a value that 

 cannot well be over-estimated. The second 



{irize was awarded to Mr. Holmes, West 

 Aid Nurseries, t^iesterfield, for an effective 

 group that was probably rather too strong 

 in crotons, although characterised by much 

 taste; Mr. W. R. Manning, Dudley, was 

 third with a good group. 



Specimen plants were not plentiful, but 

 they were more numerous and of liigher 

 quality than is usually the case at provincial 

 shows. For a single specimen in bloom, Mr. 

 C. Ward was first with a well-flowered 

 example of Stephanotis floribunda ; and 

 Me.ssrs. J. Wright and Sons, Leicester, were 

 second with a large, finely-flowered fuchsia. 

 Mr. C, Ward and Messrs. J. Wright and 

 Sons were also first and second for coleus 

 with large and highly coloured specimens. 

 Ferns were represented in capital condition, 

 and chief among the more successful exhibi- 

 tors were Mr. "VV. Weston and Mr. H. Rogers, 

 Leicester. llie last-named exhibitor and 

 Messrs. J. Wright and Sons were especially 

 successful in the classes for zonal pelargo- 

 niums and fuchsias, both staging splendidly- 

 flowered spe<?imens, trained in natural, and 

 therefore graceful, style. 



FHUIT. 



The most important of the features in the 

 division set apart for fruit was that formed 

 by the contributors to the two classes for 

 dessert tables, decorated" with flowers. Two 

 separate sets of prizes were provided in each 

 class, one for fruit, and the other for flowers. 

 There was an especially strong contest for 

 the prizes for six kinds of fruit, and the 

 premier award was made to Mr. J. H. Good- 

 acre, gardener to the Earl of Harrington, 

 Elvaston Castle, Derby. The kinds were 

 Muscat of Alexandria and Muscat Ham- 

 burgh grapes, Noblesse peaches. Pineapple 

 nectarines. Royal Favourite melons, and 

 Lady Sude ley apples, all of which were of 

 the highest quality. Mr, Goodacre was first 

 also for floral decorations, which consisted 

 chiefly of vases of Madame Abel Chatenay 

 roses and Francoa ramosa. Mr. T. Ireland, 

 gardener to the Misses Webb, Newstead 

 Abbey, Notts, was second for fruit and de- 

 corations, both being of a high order of 

 merit. Especially notewortliy were the 

 dishes of Gashawk peaches and Pitmaston 



Orange nectarines. Mr. Buxton, Carlton, 

 was third for decorations and fruit with ex- 

 cellent produce, and tastefully arranged 

 flowers. It is seldom that the prizes for 

 decorations follow those for fruit, as in this 

 case. 



Very brisk also was the contest for the 

 awards in the class for tables of eight kinds 

 of fruit with floral decorations, and Mr. J. H. 

 Goodacre repeated the splendid success 

 achieved in the preceding class by winning 

 both for fruit and decorations. The fruits 

 included two grand clusters of Muscat of 

 Alexandria, and equal numbers of bunches of 

 Black Hamburgh and Muscat Hamburgh 

 grapes, which were remarkable for size of 

 ix^rry and fine colour; and excellent dishes 

 of Lord Napier nectarines, Barrington 

 peaches. Souvenir du Congres pears, James 

 Grieve apples, and Brown Turkey figs, with 

 a Royal Favourite melon. The floral decora- 

 tions consisted chiefly of scarlet carnations, 

 gloriosas ,and orchids. As in the class for 

 six kinds, Mr, Ireland was second for fruit 

 and decorations, the peaches and nectarines 

 being especially high in quality. 



For four varieties of grapes, two bunches 

 of each, Mr. Goodacre was a splendid first 

 with clusters of Madresfield Court, Muscat 

 Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and Gros 

 Maroc. Mr. Ireland was a close second with 

 large, well-finished chisters. In the class for 

 two bunches of black grapes, Mr. J. H. 

 Goodacre scored with two superb clusters of 

 Black Hamburgh, and he was first also for 

 two bunches of white grapes, well-finished 

 bunches of Muscat of Alexandria. Mr. Bux- 

 ton was first for six dishes of hardy fruit, 

 and Mr. G. H. Greasley, Rothbury Temple, 

 second. Peaches were admirably shown, and 

 the premier award was made in favour of 

 Mr. John Hay, Hothorpe Hall Gardens, 

 Thedingworth, who had Sea Eagle in splen- 

 did condition. The best dish of nectarines 

 was that of Stanwick Elruge, shown by Mr. 

 T. Sims, Pinfold. Thorpe Satcbvillc. Melons 

 were comparatively few in number, but of 

 cherries, plums, gooseberries, apples, cur- 

 rants, there was an immense display, and 

 the fruit generally was of very high quality. 



VEGETABLES. 

 There was an enormous display of vege- 

 tables of all kinds that are now available for 

 exhibition, and on the whole the quality 

 was remarkably high. The contributions to 

 the classes for collections were sufficient to 

 fill the whole of one side of a marquee about 

 two hundred feet in length, the other side 

 ])eing occupied by the entries in the classes 

 for single dishes of specified kinds. As is 

 customary, the entries were numerous in the 

 society's class for a collection of nine kinds,' 

 and the produce was throughout of great 

 excellence. Mr. J. Hudson, Gimson Road, 

 Leicester, was, as for some years paj^t, suc- 

 ceasful in obtaining the first place, and 

 staged produce in every way worthy of his 

 high reputation as a cultivator. All the 

 examples were so gooa that none can be 

 mentioned as being the most noteworthy. 

 Mr. Hartshorn and Mr. W. Ball, who were 

 second and third, also staged collections of 

 great excellence. There were nine entries in 

 the class, but not one of the exhibitors afiixed 

 a single name to his exhibits. 



There were six or seven competitors in the 

 class in which Messrs. Sutton and Sons offered 

 the prizes for six kinds, and in this, as in 

 the preceding class, the post of honour was 

 occupied by Mr. J. Hudson with a collection 

 deserving of the highest praise. Mr. W. 

 Ball was a good second, and Mr. W, Towns- 

 end, Melton Mowbray, was third. Messrs. 

 E. Webb and Sons' prizes for six kinds of 

 vegetables were keenly contested, and Mr. 

 J. Hudson, Gimson Road, Leicester, was first 

 with cauliflowers, onions, tomatoes, runner 

 beans, and peas of exceptional qualicy; 

 Mr. O. Hartshorn, Thurmaston, was a good 

 second; and Mr. W. Buxton staged excellent 

 produce for third place. The competition for 

 the prizes offered by Messrs Harrison and 

 Sons, Leicester, for collections of ten varie- 

 ties was spirited, and Mr. J. Hartshorn, Sys- 

 ton, and Mr. J. Cank were first and second 

 with excellent produce. 



NON-COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS. 



The miscellaneous contributions from nur- 

 serymen and seedsmen were numerous, meri- 

 torious, and interesting, and contributed 

 very materially to the attractions of the ex- 

 hibition. The following awards were made: 



Gold Medal.— To Messrs. E. Webb and 

 Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge, for a large and 

 tastefully arranged collection, comprising 

 sweet peas and other annual flowers, and 

 many other of the specialities for which the 

 firm is famous; to Messrs. Harrison and Son, 

 Leicester, for an attractive and interesting 

 collection of cut flowers, vegetables, etc.; to 

 Messrs. J. Wright and Sons, Market Place, 

 Leicester, for a large collection of miscella- 

 neous plants; to Mr. H. J. Rogers, Leicester, 

 for an effective collection of flowering and 

 fine foliage plants; to Mr. Charles W^^rren, 

 Abbey Nurseries, Leicester, for a large and 

 tastefully arranged coUecton of cut roses, 

 etc. 



Silver Cup.— To Mr. W. Bentley, Belgrave, 

 for a large and beautiful collection of deco- 

 rative and rambling roses. 



Silver Medal. — To Messrs. Aldersey atfd 

 Marden, Malpas, for a fine collection of sweet 

 peas; to Mr. Ellison, West Bromwich, for 

 an interesting collection of cacti, etc.; to 

 Mr. J. Wilkins, Ayleston, for an admirable 

 exhibit of rock and alpine plants ; to Messrs. 

 G. and F. Hallam, Aylestone, Leicester, for 

 cut roses ; to Mr. George IJnderwood, 

 Ayleston Park, Leicester, for a large and 

 interesting exhibit of violas; to Messrs. E. 

 Pringle and Co., Belvoir Street, Leicester, 

 for an exhibit of carnations and miscella- 

 neous plants. 



Roya.1 Horticultural Society. 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, JULY 30. 



Present: Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.C.S. 

 (in the chair), Messrs. E, M. Holmes, C. H. 

 Hooper, A. Worsley, G. W^ilson, J. T. 

 Bennett Poe, J. O'Brien, A. W. Hill, and F. 

 J. Chittenden (hon. secretary). 



INJUEY FROM SMELTER FUMES.— Dr. 

 Voelcker reported that the leaves sent to 

 him from the last meeting were damaged by 

 smelter fumes, probably by hydrochloric and 

 sulphur acids in the fumes. Zinc and man- 

 ganese were also present. 



HYBRID ORCHID.— Mr. O'Brien drew at- 

 tention to a hybrid orchid, Brasso-cattleya x 

 Thetis, shown by Messrs. J. Veitch. It was 

 raised 'betwieen Btrassavola Digbyana and 

 Cattleya Aclandiae, but practically all the 

 spotting of the latter had been eliminated 

 by the cross. 



CATERPILLARS ON HOPS.— Mr. E. M. 

 Holmes remarked upon damage done to hops 

 by the larvae of the peacock butterfly, "Van- 

 essa lo, in Herefordshire; Vanessa C. -album 

 frequently damages them, but he had no 

 doubt whatever that, what was apparently a 

 previously unrecorded occurrence, in this 

 case V. lo was the culprit. 



MIMULUS MOSCHATUS 



■ 



SCENTLESS.— Mr. A. W. Hill showed speci- 

 mens of Mimulus moschatus to draw atten- 

 tion to the almost scentless condition of the 

 plants. It would appear that under certain 

 cultural conditions this plant fails to product 

 the essential oil to which its characteristic 



great quantity. 



DELPHINIUM MACHOCENTION. 



■Mr. 



Bartholomew, of Reading, sent a specimen 

 of this uncommon species of delphinium from 

 his garden. It is a native of Uganda, and 

 is somewhat poorly figured in Bot. Mag.» 

 tab. 8,151. 



Royal Lancashire Show. 



At the exhibition recently held at Moor 

 Park, Preston, special prizes, in the form ot 

 silver cups, were awarded to the most succe^- 

 fnl amateur exhibitors, resident in the Countv 

 of Lancashire, as follows : For herbaceous ana 

 hardy cut floVers, to Mr. W. G. Easthani. 

 Preston; for sweet peas to the Eev. A. 

 Tomlinson, Bolton-le-Sands ; and for cut 

 roses, to Mr. R. L. Garnett, Wyreside. 



