Cannell & Sons’ Complete Seed G^lide. 
but there was a look of firm determinatiosi about some of the 
prominent members which said as plainly as anything could that 
they meant to do all they could to gain possession of that 
coveted belt. They were not so sanguine as to hint at ultimate 
victory, but they meant to get as near the top as they could. 
This was none other than the Eodmersliain Society. By a few 
thoughtful individuals Eodmersham had all along been looked upon 
as “ the dark horse.” It was felt that the men of Eodmersham 
would make the pace pretty hot for the holders. And so they did. 
AVhen it was known that the championship had gone to 
Eodmersham everybody was delighted. Even the Milton men 
were pleased. Although Miltonians naturally heaved a sigh of 
regret at losing the belt, they were glad to know that the 
championship had been retained in the district. They were 
beaten by a single point only, but that was sufficient to turn 
the scale against them. Eodmersham, with 35 points, were 
awarded the championship belt and its accompanying prize of 
£3 ; Milton took the second prize of £2 with 34 points ; and 
Littlebourne (Dover), with 33 points, were placed third, which 
entitles them to a prize of Xl. The victory of Eodmersham 
was richly deserved. After patient and earnest plodding, the 
society holds the vegetable championship of Kent ; and that, too, 
at the first time of entry. It is something to be proud of, and 
well might those gardeners who contributed to the grand 
collection be elated at the result. It is also an honour to 
Eodmersham itself, and the success of the Eodmersham men 
ought to do much towards raising the standard of cottage and 
amateur gardening in that parish. Eodmersham has long been 
noted for the excellence of its fruit, now it is going to take 
a prominent position in the vegetable world. Now that they 
have won the belt the Eodmersham men say they mean to keep 
it, so there will be trouble ahead for someone. The societies 
which compete next year will have to go to Eodmersham to 
wrest the belt from the present holders, so that the Eodmersham 
horticultural exhibition of 1895 will be an extensive affair. 
The contributors to the championship collection w'ere Messrs. 
T. Gordon, W. Saunders, E. Day, S. Snashall, J. Kennett, 
C. Busbridge, and G. Fuggle. It was indeed a magnificent array 
of vegetables. Milton, as may be imagined, w^ere almost as good, 
being only a jjoiut behind ; w'hile the Littlebourne collection 
was likewise a very fine display. To an unpractised eye the 
collections appeared to vary very little from each other. They 
were all iiiasterpiect.-s of cultivation. Heart-burnings existed 
in some quarters at non-success, but it must be confessed that 
the decision of the judges was perfectly just, and that the points 
were allotted on merit, and on merit alone. The collections 
of vegetables in this competition formed the great feature of 
the show, and they were universally admired. 
The luncheon took place at the AFliite Hart Inn, the head- 
quarters of the Milton Society, where hostess AVillson placed an 
('xcellont repast upon lire taldes. As a compliment to the 
( 
founders of the championship competition, Mr. H. Cannell w'as 
placed in the chair, the vice-chairs being filled by Mr. E. Chop- 
ping and Mr. G. .Iordan. There was a good company present, 
including the representatives of the various societies who had 
brought their collections of vegetables to Milton in competition 
for the belt. After lunch a few toasts were honoured. 
The CitAiratAN observed that the judges had had a rather 
stiff time of it, and he asked the company to drink the health of 
those gentlemen who, he was sure they were all agi’eed, had 
performed their duties admirably. The toast having been 
cordially received, 
Mr. WooDWAun thanked them all for the kind manner in 
which the toast had been drunk. He admitted that they had 
been given plenty of work, and he was glad to see that they had 
such a good show'. AVith regard to the championship competi- 
tion, he thought he should be divulging no secret when he said 
that the competition in the first three collections was as close, if,, 
not closer, than anything he had ever judged before. He took 
that to be an improvement in the right direction ; perhaps those 
who were now at the bottom of the list w'ould be at the toj) of 
the tree another year. He had heard of no complaints about the 
awards of the judges, and if anybody had any complaints to make, 
his colleagues and himself w'ould like to hear w'hat they were, 
and then, as “ Men of Kent,” they w’ould stand up and defend 
themselves. (Laughter and applause.) 
Mr. WooncocK also acknowledged the compliment, observing 
that the show this year w’as a great improvement upon the last 
exhibition. * 
Mr. Jaemax endorsed ail that had been said by his brother 
judges. He said the vegetables were extremely good, and the 
competitors had given the judges plenty of trouble, but they (the 
judges) did not mind that. He concluded by saying that if the 
judges were asked to come again to Milton they should be 
pleased to do so, an announcement that was received with 
applause. 
The Chaihmax expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting the 
judges, and remarked that he was glad to hear them speak so well 
of the collections of vegetables. The exhibition had afforded him 
great pleasure, and the collections which he had seen were fine 
examples of culture. He thought, when he offered the belt in 
competition, that it woidd be an incentive to cottagers and others 
to try and make their gardens more productive than hitherto. 
He must say that the first three collections were some of the best 
vegetables that he had ever seen, while some of those which were 
out in the cold were fine specimens of cultivation. Mr. Cannell 
then submitted the health of Mr. Chopping, the Chairman of the 
Milton Society. (Applause.) 
Mr. CiiOPPiXG, in returning thanks, said that one of the 
greatest aims in gardening should be the high cultivation of 
vegetables, and he had noticed a gre.at improvement in that 
neighbourhood since the Milton Society w'as started in 1887. 
iii ) 
