Cannell & Sons’ Complete Seed Guide. 
i 
between the first tliree societies was not great, as the respective 
aggregates te8tifJ^ Penshurst are to be congratulated upon tlieir 
capital fight. Among the Penshurst representatives was an old 
friend in the person of Mr. E. Baker, formerly of Milsted. The 
collections made an extremely handsome show. They comprised 
the cream of Kentish garden produce, and elicited general 
admiration. 
THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT WILL STAY AT MILTON. 
We understand that, as Milton have won the championship 
belt three times, it is the intention of Messrs. Cannell & Sons to 
let the Miltonians retain it for good. The contest will now 
return to a central position in Kent, which will be chosen. 
The judges were Mr. W. P. AVright, E.ll.II.S. (the well- 
known instructor in horticulture for the Kent County Council) ; 
Mr. J.Cornford, of Quex Park, Birchington; and Mr. F. T. Hart, j 
of Ospringe, Favershain. It may be asserted that never did judges 
have a more difficult task allotted to them, and never was that 
task more faithfully and conscientiously performed. 
THE LUNCHEON 
took place in a booth adjoining the show, the catering being well 
done by Mr. W. Gott, of the Fruiterers’ Arms, Kodmersham 
Green. Mr. R. Mercer, C.C., the president of the Eodmersham 
Society, was in the chair, and amongst those present were Mr. J. 
Dixon, the chairman of the Eodmersham committee of manage- 
ment, Mr. A. J. Thomas, Mr. Dunbar Thomas, the judges, 
members of the Eodmersham committee, and the representatives 
of the competing societies. 
The CiiAiiiMATr gave the toast of “ The Queen,” which came 
with especial significance in this Jubilee year. It was loyally 
honoured, whereupon 
Mr. Dixon submitted tbe toast of “ The Judges.” He i 
remarked that it went without saying that the judges had given 
great satisfaction. He paid a high compliment to the three 
gentlemen who had come there that day to award the prizes, and 
he thought everyone would agree with him that they had done 
theii- duty. Tbe toast was drunk with great cordiality. 
Mr. CoRNFonu, in replying, congratulated Eodmersham upon 
their excellent exhibition. AVith regard to the championship belt 
competition, Mr. Cornford said that his colleagues and himself 
had spent considerable time in examining the various collections. 
The quality was remarkably good and the competition keen. The 
exhibits were the best that he had had the pleasure of seeing this 
season. He trusted that another year the season would be more 
favourable for gardeners. The exhibition reflected great credit 
upon all the competing societies. Although Eodmersham were 
second that day, he hoped they would be first next year. He i 
confessed it was a toss up to say which was the better of the two 
Milton or Eodmersham. He trusted that the show would be 
a financial success. (Applause.) 
Mr. AVniGiiT, who was called upon for a response, also said a 
few words. He said there was one aspect of the show which 
had struck him with considerable force — and that was the 
educational aspect. They had seen a magnificent lot of produce 
there that day, and, as one who believed in the value of 
education, he only wished that every society in the county could 
have sent a representative to see that exhibition. There was a 
lot of stuff there, and it was very fine, but the vegetables were not 
coarse, a remark that applied more particularly to the onions. It 
would’be a good thing, he thought, to know how the onions were 
grown. A little information on that subject, widely disseminated, 
could not fail to do good. Horticulture, as they saw there that 
day, was a grand educational work, and he thought it would go 
on. Mr. Wright concluded with a few humorous remarks, and 
resumed his seat amidst loud applause. 
A. J. Thomas, Esq., submitted the toast of the health of Mr. 
Cannell, who was the promoter of the championship competition. 
It was a funny little game that was going on there — Eodmersham 
winning one year, and Milton the next. (Laughter.) They had 
I got a County Council representative there, and he should like to 
see the County Council take the matter up. If it could be 
arranged, he thought it would be a grand idea to get the 
horticultural societies of the county to enter into competition 
once a year. (Hear, hear.) Nevertheless, they must not forget 
that horticulture owed a great deal to Mr. Cannell for the grand 
work he had done ; for one result of the competition was that 
produce was now raised, the equal of which had never been seen 
before. Mr. Thomas regretted that Mr. Cannell was not with 
them that day, and then submitted the toast, which was drunk 
with great heartiness. 
Mr. Aetuub Mayes, the representative of Messrs. Cannell 
& Sons, acknowledged the compliment, remarking how sorry 
Mr. Cannell was at being unable to be present, in consequence of 
a show that took place that day in his (Mr. Cannell's) own 
I neighbourhood. Mr. Mayes said he quite agreed with the judges 
I that the produce improved in quality year after year. Last year 
the exhibits in the belt competition were good, but he thought 
that this year the first three or four of the collections w’ere 
certainly better than those of last year. Taking the season into 
consideration he thought that the fruit was very fine. He congratu- 
lated Milton upon their success in again winning the belt, but — it 
was no good to cloak the matter — Mr. Cannell would rather have 
seen the belt go to some other part of the county. (Hear, hear.) 
He thought that Mr. Thomas’s idea of a county competition being 
taken up by the County Council a grand one, and he saw no reason 
why it should not be brought about. Mr. Mayes concluded by 
proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Mercer for having presided so 
efficiently over those proceedings. (Applause.) 
The Chairman returned thanks, and observed that, in his 
capacity as County Councillor, he should be pleased to do all that 
he could to promote the establishment of a competition under the 
auspices of the Technical Education Committee of the County 
Council, as suggested by Mr. Thomas. 
THE HANDING OATER OP THE BELT 
was a ceremony that possessed no little interest tor the company. 
The belt was handed over by Mr. Dixon to the Chainnan, w'ho 
invested Mr. Chopping wdth the silken sash, amidst loud apjilause, 
Mr. Chopping sententiously remarking, “The same old boss.” 
Mr. Chopping observed that Milton had been second three 
times, and they had won the belt three times — a record of which 
any society might well feel proud. AVith a proud air, 
Mr. Chopping exhibited the .sash to admiring rivals, and received 
the congratulations of a circle of delighted Miltonians. 
The show w'as formally opened by Mr. Mercer, who said they 
bad hoped to have secured the .services of Mr. Gorell Barnes, M.P., 
for that function, but that gentleman was abroad. Failing Mr. 
Barnes, it gave him (Mr. Mercer) the greatest pleasure to open it. 
They had a grand show in the championship competition, and he 
would do all he could to support the suggestion of Mr. Thomas. 
Amidst applause, Mr. Mercer then declared the show to be open, 
wishing it every success . — Kentish Gazette. 
( 152 ) 
