5 8o 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



September 



3, 1898. 



Harkness and Sons, who were placed first, and the other from Messrs. Laxton 

 Bros., Bedford, who were placed second. The latter somewhat discounted the 

 valueof an imposing collection by staging seven bunches of herbaceous phloxes. 

 Gaillardias, lilies, Iceland poppies, Chrysanthemum latifolium, helianthus, 

 coreopsis, Scabiosa caucasica, Asclepias tuberosa, Anemone iaponica alba, mont- 

 bretias, &c, made up the collections. In the amateurs classes some very 

 creditable bunches were also staged. 



In the amateurs' division Mr. R. Burgin, of St. Neot's, was the principal prize- 

 winner with dahlias. There were many classes for cut flowers ; too many to be 

 particularized. A tent devoted to table decorations was an attractive one for the 

 fair sex, the principal feature being arranged dinner tables. There was a 

 large number of entries, and generally they were executed in excellent taste. Miss 

 Ethel Pearson, Sandy, was first, the flowers employed, annual xeranthemums and 

 Scabiosa caucasica ; a simple but highly tasteful arrangement. Mr. Maddison, 

 St. Neot's, was second, and Miss Logsden, Hitchin, third. 



The only collection of fruit in eight kinds came from Mr. Empson, who had 

 Alicante and Foster's Seedling grapes, Bellegarde peaches, Hardwicke nectarines, 

 pears, etc. Mr. T. Lockie had the best six dishes of fruit ; Mr. R. Carter, 

 grower to Mrs. Axtell, was second. There were classes for grapes, peaches, 

 nectarines, cherries, apples, and pears ; good fruit on the whole being staged. 



Vegetables were very fine, as might be expected in the very heart of such a 



market gardening district. 



A remarkably attractive collection of charming garden roses in bunches from 

 Mr. Mattock was a good feature, and a fine collection of plants from Messrs. W. 

 Cutbush and Sons, Highgate, was staged. The pretty pink Chironia baccifera 

 was included. 



KINQSWOOD 



ROYAL OXFORDSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



August 23. 



On Tuesday, by permission of the Radcliffe Observer (Dr. Rambaut), the Roya^ 

 Oxfordshire Horticultural Society held its second show for the year at the 

 Observatory, and thus completed its sixty-ninth year. The grounds are spacious, 

 well enclosed, and possess a number of ornamental trees which afford shelter and 

 shade. Two tents, seventy feet by forty feet, sufficed to stage the plants, blooms, 

 and fruit, the bulk of the vegetables being staged on tables in the shady walk 

 adjoining the Infirmary, Entries were not equal to the average of an August 

 exhibition, but any lack in quantity was balanced by general good quality in the 

 bulk of the classes. 



The display was augmented by the following extra productions, viz. : A very 

 large collection of herbaceous perennials, &c M from Mr. H. Deverill, Banbury, 

 whose showy exhibit secured a very high commendation. Mr. Perry, Banbury, 

 also put up some novelties in the way of garden flowers and also an Irish harp of 

 choice blooms, the strings being the white heads of Achillea millefolia. Mr. H. M. 

 Turner put up a dozen bottles of run honey ; and Mr. J. Baker, Aston Street, 

 exhibited a basket of ripe blackberries, demonstrating how the size and colour of 

 the wild bramble may be improved by garden culture. 



In the plant classes there were any number of good things, and, if we except 

 some non-placed fuchsias, the quality was decidedly good. For six stove and 

 greenhouse varieties Mr. Jacob, Witney, was the only exhibitor, his three foliage 

 plants being palms and a cycad, the flowering specimens were Bougainvillea 

 Sanderiana, Statice profusa, and Anthurium Scherzerianum. The single speci- 

 mens were generally full-sized ; for a stove plant, Mr. Mattock put up an orchid, 

 La*iia purpurata, and Mr. Anstiss a well-flowered Hoya carnosa ; for foliage, Mr. 

 Jacob was first for a towering, spreading Kentia Forsteriana ; Mrs. Hartley second 

 with an immense bush of the highly-coloured croton, Baroness Rothschild. For 

 greenhouse, Mr. Mattock had a columnal pyramid of fuchsia, Doel's Favourite, 

 scarlet tube and petals, purple corolla, a very fine plant densely bloomed ; Mr 

 Jacob second, with Statice profusa. The best amateur's plant was a giant 

 rhormium tenax (New Zealand flax), exhibited by Mr. Cross, who was also 

 first with a large blue African lily {Agapanthus umbellatus) ; the best greenhouse 

 p ant came from Miss Greswell, who put up a very fine bush of fuchsia, Lady 

 Uaytesbury, waxy white tube and sepals, rosy-purple corolla. The premier 

 hardy plant in flower was a large piece of Statice incana, and a very large bush of 

 the pale blue Plumbago capensis came from the representatives of the late Mr. E. 



aT' WUh their hi 6 h col ™red foliage were nice plants all through ; 



and the groups of begonias were very showy amid a setting of small ferns. The 

 hardy ferns in twelve varieties were a nice distinct collection ; and the very large 

 specimen greenhouse ferns of Mr. Johnson's were well worthy of the post of 

 honour conferred. Fuchsias, as exhibited by Mr. J. Bates, sen., and Miss Ores- 

 wen, were nicely grown and well- flowered, and zonal geraniums, though a limited 

 competition, were excellent. Cut flowers occupied a considerable range of 

 tabling ; the show dahlias, though fewer than usual, were very attractive. Mr. 



24. 



This is also known as the West 

 probably the principal exhibition of the kind "held in thrBriJtS diS 9 \ n , d U 

 of the miners, shoemakers, and other artisans who inhabit this c a , ny 



county are keen florists, and grow very good things, having a keen f p ^ eciattn r 

 what constitutes quality. > < * F^ciation of 



As is usual in such societies, a number of classes are thrown onen t 

 comers, with the result that a fine display is secured. Handsome nrL 

 offered for sixteen specimen plants, ten in flower and six in foliage Mr T 

 Cypher brought a very fine lot, and took the first prize with Kerttk Fors\eSf 

 K. Belmoreana, and K. austrahs, Latania borbonica, and two fine crotons form? 

 the background ; in front of these such fine flowering subjects as BougainvilW 

 Sanderiana, Statice profusa, Ixora Duffi, Erica Austiniana, and Aitoniana Barred 

 Statice intermedia, Allamanda nobilis, &c. ; second, Mr. W. Vause, Learning™' 

 who had fine pieces of Cycas circinalis, Latania borbonica, good crotons ami 

 flowering specimens, chief among them Allamanda nobilis and Erica Austiniana. 

 The best group of plants filling a space of one hundred feet also came from Mr 

 Cypher, and the second prize went to Mr. W. Vause. 



Some good tuberous-rooted begonias were staged. The best eight single 

 varieties came from Mr. J. Rogers, a local grower, and they were well done ; Mr 

 G. Tucker, Hilperton, Trowbridge, was a good second. With four varieties of 

 singles the first prize was also awarded to Mr. J. Rogers. The double variety 

 were equally good. Mr. C. Cornish, gardener to F. J. Farr, Esq., was first ; and 

 Mr. R. Denton, gardener to the Rev. R. Fawsett, second, both showing in good 

 form. The best six specimen zonal pelargoniums came from Mr. W. J. Mould 

 Bath, and Mr. E. W. Towell, gardener to Mrs. G. Coles, was second. Mr! 

 G. Tucker had the best eight exotic ferns, staging some good adiantums and 

 others ; Messrs. R. Pulman and Son, Bristol, were second. 



Kingswood may be said to be largely a cut-flower show. Roses were a good 

 feature, Dr. Budd, of Bath, showing in fine character. He was first with twenty- 

 four varieties, three blooms of each, a somewhat heavy demand at this season of 

 the year. He had good representatives of Comtesse de Nadaillac, Caroline 

 Testout, The Bride, Perle des Jardins, Maman Cochet, Hon. Edith Gifford, 

 Marechal Niel, Mrs. J. Laing, Marie Van Houtte, &c. ; second, Mr. A A. 

 Walters, Kensington Nurseries, Bath. With twelve varieties, (three blooms of 

 each, Mr. Thomas Hobbs, St. Mark's Road, Bristol, was first, with clean, bright 

 blooms of Mrs. J. Laing, Comte de Raimbaud, Horace Vernet, Charles Lefebvre, 

 Duchess of Bedford, and others ; Dr. Budd was second. 



The best twenty-four dahlias came from Mr. W. J. Treseder, nurseryman, 

 Cardiff, with some good blooms, chief among them being Dr. Keynes, Prince 

 Bismarck, J. Hickling, Earl of Ravensworth, Colonist, John Ashby, Willie 

 Garratt, Mrs. J. Downie, &c. ; second, Mr. G. Humphries, nurseryman, Chippen- 

 ham. With twelve fancy dahlias Mr. Humphries was first with a good stand, 

 having in character Mrs. Saunders, Comedian, George Barnes, Frank Pearce, 

 Dazzler, Lottie Eckford, &c. ; Mr. W. Treseder second. Mr. J. Burgess had the 

 best twelve bunches of single varieties, a little large in size, but fresh and well- 

 balanced ; Mr. Treseder was second. The latter was first with six bunches of 

 cactus, showing this type in finished character ; Mr. Humphries second. 



The best twenty-four blooms of quilled asters — a heavy quantity to supply in 

 such a season— came from Mr. C. H. Vickery, Bath, and they were much better 

 in quality than could have been expected ; and first also with twenty-four of 

 the flat-petalled type. Mr. F. Hooper was second, with quilled ; and Mr. 0. 

 Humphries second, with flat-petalled. Phlox Drummondi, shown in twelve 

 bunches, were very pretty indeed, and they have quite driven the verbenas 

 out of the field. Mr. Smith, Kingswood, had the best twelve spike*, of 

 herbaceous phloxes ; Mr. F. Hooper was second. 



Cut blooms of begonias, both double and single, were shown in good character, 

 Mr. J. Rogers taking the first prizes with twelve double and also with twelve 

 single. Hardy flowers in bunches of twelve were a leading feature, Mr. W. Smith 

 taking the first prize with bold examples of Harpalium regidum, Senecio pulcher 

 (very fine), White Everlasting pea (a very fine large-flowered variety), Campa- 

 nula pyramidalis, &c. ; Messrs. J. Stokes and Son, Frome, were second. 



In the amateurs' division for six stove and greenhouse plants, Mr. W. Kye, 

 was first with a good collection. Chief among the specimens were 

 Bougainvillea glabra, Ixora regina, Allamanda nobilis, and Statice pro tusa, 

 second, Mrs. G. Coles, with similar subjects. Captain -Belford also had the De^ 

 six exotic ferns, which included Davallia Fiiiensis, Todeas superba, and pelluciua, 

 &c; Mrs. R. Palmer was second. Captain Belford was first with six foliaged 

 plants, having good crotons and palms ; Mrs. G. Coles coming second. 



The show of fruit was a good one. The best eight dishes came from Mr. w. 

 Strugnell, The Gardens, Rood Ashton, Trowbridge, who had Madresfield Lour 



ana muscat, or Alexandria grapes, Sea iiagle peacnes, ruica^.*. . 

 apricots, plums, &c. ; second, Mr. W. Allan, gardener to W. Marsh, fcsq., 

 had Gros Maroc and Muscat of Alexandria grapes, peaches, nectarines \c. 

 best two bunches of blank <r rariM „ wr p H^humhs. from Mr. T. Williams, e« 



peaches, Pineapple nectari 



Walker, Thame, was the only exhibitor of 24 varieties ; his stand containing a well ^st two bunches of black grapes were Hamburghs, from Mr. T. VV Uj"" 8 ^ 

 balanced collection of blooms. Mr. Walker was also first for a dozen triplets of dener t0 the Rev. T. Greaves ; Mr. J. Trewhill, gardener to G. C. 1 "^J* ' B udc- 



single dahlias, and also cactus forms ; the best dozen sets of pompon dahlias came 

 trom Cross Ways garden, the individual blooms like so many rosettes from white to 

 darkest maroon. Double zinnias were generally large flowers of bright colours, 

 but the asters scarcely touched the high water mark of quality usual at the Oxford 

 August show. Roses from Headington were equal to mid -season blooms, all 

 orignt, clean, and shapely. Herbaceous phloxes have seemed to enjoy the warm 

 temperature of late, and the annual variety known as P. Drummondi was exhibited 

 m many pretty forms. Hardy perennials always make a fine show, and when well 

 posed, as at these shows, prove wonderfully attractive ; Mr. Johnson's premier 



mtS 1 C S ,n !? Phl ° x ' ™ dbe ckia, helianthus, scabiosa, everlasting pea, 

 montbret.a, gatllardia, coreopsis, and carnations. 



th* ■ ShL!* 8 T m P tm e> but some of Ae out-door varieties were not ripe, notably 

 of AleJTnHriJ pe , S , We I e o Ver y nice, y finished, the white forms being Muscat 

 of the f wli w Buck ' and Sweetwater, Black Hamburgh and Alicante, some 

 Al«™?i v VCry 6ne 5 were Grose Mignonne, Princess Royal, and 



lS?^° ^r 1 nectarines Lord Napier and Pine Apple ; dessert plums 

 i e " erSOn , S . and J u, y Ga g. e ; Pears Windsor and Taronnelle : culinary plums Maui 



was second, with the same. The best two bunches of white grapes * ere T 

 land Sweetwater, from Mr. J. Marshall, gardener to J. Dole, Esq. 5 the m . • 

 Greaves was second, with Muscat of Alexandria. The best dish ot cu.'n ^ 

 apples was Peasgood's Nonsuch, from Messrs. R. Palmer and bon . • • • 

 Hall came second, with Lord Suffield. Mr. George Garroway had he *** ^ 

 of dessert apples, showing Irish Peach ; Mr. Hall was second, with Kea ^ 

 den The best dessert pear was Jargonelle ; the second best, Doyenne BaWJJJj 

 A silver cup, offered for eight dishes of fruit, was also won by Mr. 

 second, Mr. Wallen, with a good collection. , t . ^ dean 



Vegetables were numerously shown in the open and amateur cw»**> 

 and bright. The competition was very keen in some of them. 



It is 



FLOWER 5 HOW 



very probable that scarcely 

 Society was present on Thin 



Vegetables numbered 



of cottagers. 



W y one. of the ounders 01 in the 



t on Thursday to inspect the fiftieth ex 



_ c r .w-o„. w lttlu attached to Howard House School. 



formed in 1848. 



society « 14 



lumbered nearly 400 exhibits, nearly one half being the contribution 

 flowers were oresenHn thrl?? T e i ar 2 er ^n could have been expected ; cauli- 

 reached ^SST^ ^^3^7^ ^ was fair ' but peas and beans had 

 gardeners' dass Mr New™ ^ H ter Mr ' H <> lto ° headed the Ust in the 

 cottagers' for runner beans of ' D , ^teurs', and James Simmons in 



Walker staged a very showy 



liana, Oncidi 

 rencianum. 1 



taged 



inc 



luding Cattley 



ipedi 



from 



fr. W. 

 twenty 



ounces 



g Giant. 



of 



zonals, exotic and ^ ^ 



