Atjgxtst 24, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



645 



SHREWSBURY FLORAL FETE. 



" Better than ever," was the general ver- 

 dict upon the Shrewsbury Floral Fete of 

 1912, held in the Quarry Grounds on Wed- 

 nesday and Thursday, August 21 and 22. 

 The specimen plants were grand examples of 

 the highest cultural skill; grapes were good, 

 though not superlatively so ; groups were ex- 

 cellent, and cut flowers extremely beautiful 

 and good; choice dessert fruits were dis- 

 played splendidly, but there seems need for 

 some slight alteration in the schedule speci- 

 fication, for at present it is quite possible 

 for a competitor to win or lose in the deco- 

 rated dessert fruit table class on his flowers 

 and decoration alone; indeed, it is possible 

 for a man to win the first prize, and yet stage 

 fruit several points inferior to that of his 

 opponent. The show was altogether worthy 

 of the old Salopian town and of the secre- 

 taries, Messrs. Adnitt and Naunton, who 

 have laboured hard ever since the society 

 started about thirty-four years ago. Judg- 

 ing commenced about 10 o*clock, and the 

 members were admitted at 11.30, before 



8, 7j 7^, and 7^; Prince of Wales grapes, 8^ 

 and 7|; Mrs. Pince grapes, 7^ and 7; Ring- 

 leader, Seedling, and two Royal Sovereign 

 melons, 7, 7, 7, and 6^; Humboldt, Pitmaston 

 Orange, and two dishes of Pineapple necta- 

 rines, 7, 6, 5|, and 4^; Crimson Galande, two 

 dishes of Bellegarde, and Royal George 

 peaches, 7, 7, 6, and 6^; two dishes of Souv. 

 du Congres, Marguerite Marillat, and 

 Triomphe de Vienne pears, 6, 6, 5a, and 5J; 

 Kirkes plums, 4; beauty of flowers and 

 foliage, 5^; general arrangement for effect, 

 total, 253^ points. 

 Mr. J. H. Goodacre came second with 

 252J points, losing two points (4J and 4^ 

 against 5^ and 5^) on his flowers and decora- 

 tions, which were a trifle heavy, and con- 

 sisted of francoa and Lilium speciosum. He 

 made, it seems to us, a point more on his 

 fruit as a whole than did Mr. Gibson, his 

 grapes scoring finely and bringing him well 

 up. Mr. G. MuUins, gardener to Lady 

 Henry Somerset, Easton Castle, Ledbury, 

 third, with 235J points. 



'-'2 » 



Mr. Barnes also led for decorations, with 

 Francoa ramosa, Gloriosa superba^ and On- 

 cidium sprays. 



Mr. J. H. Goodaere, gardener to the Earl 

 of Harrington^ Elvaston Castle, came second, 

 and his set scored as follows : 



No. of Max. Points 



Bunch. Variety. Points. Awarded, 



1 Blsu^k Hamburgh 10 ... 9 



2 Mascsat Hamburgh 10 



3 Muscat of Alexandria 11 ... 7\ 



4 Muscat of Alexandria 11 ... 7 



5 Madresfield Court 10 ... S 



6 Musoat Hamburgh 10 ... 9 



7 Muscat Hamburg-h 10 ... \} 



8 Muscat of Alexandria 11 ... 7 



9 Madresfield Court 10 ... 8 



10 Muscat Hamburg-h 10 ... ^ 



11 Muscat of Aleinndrio, 11 ... 7 



12 Black Hamburgh 10 ... 9 



124 98 



Third prize fell to Mr, T. Bateman, E^^' 

 dener to C. A. Cain, Esq., Welwyn, with 97^ 

 points out of a possible 123. Mr. W. H. 

 Cook, gardener to Lord Belper, Derby, came 

 fourth with 95 points out of a ix)ssible 120. 



FIRST PKIZE DECORATED DESSERT TABLE, EXHIBITED AT SHREWSBURY BY MR. JAS. GIBSON, GARDENER TO THE 



DUKE OF PORTLAND, WELBECK ABBEY, NOTTS. 



judging- was finished, and at 12 o'clock the 

 tents contained solid masses of humanity, 

 making judging', reporting, etc., well-nigh 

 impossible. This year the first day was a 

 beautifully fine one, and during the greater 

 part of the day the ten big tents were 

 crowded with those who appeared to take a 

 keen interest in the magnificent collections 

 of plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables dis- 

 played. Entries were larger than usual, and 

 trade exhibits more numerous than ever 

 before. 



CHAMPION DECORATED FRUIT TABLE. 



In this class a table 10ft. by 4ft, 3in. has 

 to be filled with thirty dishes of ripe fruits, 

 with suitable added floral decorations. There 

 were three competitors, and rarely has there 

 been so close a fight for the championship 

 as on. this occasion. Mr, Jas. Gibson, gar- 

 dener to the Duke of Portland, Welbeck, 

 secured the premier award with 253| points. 

 All the exhibits were very fine. Mr. Gib- 

 son's points were: Washington, Rival, Gas- 

 coigne's Scarlet, James Grieve apples, 6, 6, 

 6, and 6 points; Brown Turkey and Negro 

 Largo figs, 6 and 5^; Muscat of Alexandria 

 grapes, 8, 8, 7, and 7; Buckland Sweetwater 

 grapes, 6^^ and 6; Madresfield Court grapes. 



GREAT GRAPE CLASS. 



A sum of ^67 is awarded in six prizes for 

 a collection of a dozen bunches of grapes 

 in four or more distinct varieties. The 

 floral decoration of each exhibit is judged 

 separately. For the grapes a maximum of 

 11 points is granted for Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, 10 points for all other Muscats and 

 Black Hamburgh, and 9 points for all other 

 varieties. 



There were seven competitors, and the 

 premier award was made in favour of Mr. 

 N. F. Barnes, gardener to the Duke of West- 

 minster, Eaton Hall, Chester, who had 

 shapely, fairly large, and finely finished 

 bunches, as follows : 



No. of M^ix. Points 

 Bunch. Tiarioty. Points. Award<?d. 



1 Blaek .Haniburg-h 10 ... " 



2 Muscat of Alexandria. 11 ... 10 



3 AppJey Towers 1* " 



4 Appley Towers 9 -■• " 



5 MiLscat of Akxandria 11 ... 10 



6 Black Hamburgh 10 ... 7\ 



7 Madresfield Court 10 ... 9 



8 Madresfield Court 10 ... 8 



9 Muscat of Alexandria 11 ... 10 



10 Mu&CAt of Alexandria 11 ... ^ 



11 Madresfteld Court 10 ... 8 



13 Madresfield C-ourt 10 ... 8 



122 101 



Mr. J. R. Tooley, gardener to II, Andrews, 

 Esq., Winchcombe, fifth with 9(J points out 

 of a possible 121 ; Mr. S. Barker, gardener to 

 the Duko of Newcastle, Clumber, Works ip. 

 sixth with 89 points out of a possible 124. 

 Mr. »S. Barker was second for the decoration 

 of his exhibit; and Mr. Tooley third. Seven 

 competitors. 



GRAPES. 



Mr. J. Jones, gardener to R. J. Corbett, 

 Esq., Towyn, had the finest four bunches of 

 grapes, tw-o white and two of black, and he 

 scored with superb bunches of Gros Maroc, 

 liiiely-coloured and berried, and Muscat of 

 Alexandria; Mr. J. Mills, gardener to Cap- 

 tain Heywood Lonsdale, Shavington, second 

 with Muscat of Alexandria, finely coloured, 

 pnd Madresfield Court; Mr. T. Lambert, 

 Brogyntyn, third. Nine entries. 



Mr. W. H. Wilson, gardener to J. Bre-nton, 

 Esq., Stourport, had the finest pair of 

 bunches of Black Hamburgh, and he was fol- 

 lowed by Mr. G. Mullins, and Mr. J. H. 

 Goodacre among eight competitors. Mr. G. 

 Mullins Eastnor Castle Gardens, had the 

 best single bunch of Black Hamburgh, Mr. 

 Goodacre and Mr. WMlson following. For a 

 pair of bunches of blaek Muscat grapes Mr. 



T^«^o frar/lpnpr to (r, C. LoUiaX. Esfl . . 



