814 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 16, 1885. 
Garandesse, and King of the Blues. Mr. McLure, Trinity, was third. . 
In the other classes provided in this section the competition wa3 good, and I 
well-grown plants were staged. 
Amongst cut flowers Roses were the great attraction. For twelve 
Marshal Niels Mr. Pearson was first with grand globular blooms ; Mr. 
Ramage, gardener to Colonel Gillen, Wallhouse, being a very close second. 
With twelve Gloire de Dijon Mr. Walker, gardener to J. M. Richard, Esq., 
Clarendon, Linlithgow, was first with fine flowers of a light straw colour. 
Mr. Pearson second with much smaller flowers. Of twelve Roses Mr. G. L. 
Hunter, gardener to J. MacKnight Crawford. Esq., Lauriston Castle, staged 
fine examples, and gained the first prize. For twelve Rhododendrons Mr. 
Cuming, St. Rogue, was first; and with twelve trussed cut stove or green¬ 
house flowers Mr. McIntyre gained a similar position, having a fine truss 
of Rhododendron Nuttalli. Mr. Grossart was second with what many 
would consider much the best, eleven of the twelve being varieties of 
Orchids. For six buttonhole bouquets Mr. McLeod, gardener to R. Smith, 
Esq., Brentham Park, Stirling, was first with neat arrangements of Orchid 
blooms and Maidenhair Fern. Me3srs. R. B. Laird & Sons took the first 
place for Mardchal Niel Rose in the nurserymen’s class. 
There was a small display of fruits, but of Grapes some seven lots of black 
were shown. Mr. McKinnon, Melville Castle, was first with Alicante, and 
Mr. McKelvie, Broxmouth, second with Lady Downe’s. Mr. Johnston, 
Glamis, took the first place with a very good Pine Apple, Mr. McIntyre being 
second. For thirty Strawberries, Mr. Don, Newbyth, was first with Garibaldi 
and President mixed ; Mr. Johnson second with Garibaldi. With six pots 
of Strawberries Mr. Don was first. For twenty-four kitchen Apples Mr. 
Killick, Maidstone, was first, Lord Derby, Beauty of Kent, and Winter 
Queening being finely represented. For twenty-four dessert Apples Mr. 
Robertson, Hartrigg, Hull, was first with a mixture of dessert and kitchen 
kinds and for twenty-four Pears. 
Vegetables were fairly represented in numbers, and the produce was 
generally excellent. Four collections of twelve sorts were staged, Mr. 
Robertson being first. Some Leeks, Turnips, Seakale, Asparagus, Broccoli, 
Celery, Peas, Potatoes, Carrots, Cabbages, and Brussels Sprouts were the 
kinds included in this lot. Mr. Potter was placed second, the competition 
being very close. Mr. Logan, Coldstream, was third. Among the single 
dishes Mushrooms were specially fine; Leeks were large and good. Good 
Onions, Cabbages, French Beans, Rhubarb, Broccoli, and Potatoes were also 
exhibited by several growers. 
In the nurserymen’s section for a table of plants 40 feet by 10 feet, 
Messrs. Ireland & Thomson secured the first prize of £7 with a grand lot of 
plants, including among the ordinary class of Azaleas, Rhododendrons, &c., 
many pieces of Orchids, several good Amaryllises, &c. Messrs. R. B. 
Laird & Sons were second with a good number of plants, though less 
densely flowered than the premier ones. This firm had first for twelve 
hardy Rhododendrons in pots or tubs with immense beautifully flowered 
specimens, taking first places also for four Azaleas, for four greenhouse 
Rhododendrons, and for twenty-four Hyacinths ; Mr. Sutherland, Lenzie, 
being second. Messrs. Ireland Jt Thomson had some grand Rhododendrons 
in 9-inch pots, for which they received the first prize, Messrs. Laird being 
second. With twelve Coniferce Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons, Hanover Street, 
were the only exhibitors, and were worthily awarded the first prize. For 
four Azalea indica Messrs. Ireland & Thomson were first, and Messrs. Laird 
second. Messrs. Ireland & Thomson were first for four Crotons, being 
the only exhibitors of those plants. For a collection of hardy spring flowers 
Mr. Sinclair, Prestonkirk, took the lead with a group which contained many 
curiosities in the Primula family. Two pans of Daffodils, the one of single 
and the other of double flowers, were shown as having come from an original 
bed of the single variety. Mr. Robertson Munro received a second prize for 
a group, less showy and effective, but containing a very recherche collection 
of spring flowers, the yellow-flowered Saxifraga Bensoniana Boylei being 
especially conspicuous. For six new plants Messrs. R. B. Laird & Sons 
were first, and Messrs. Ireland & Thomson second. 
Miscellaneous exhibits chiefly comprised tables of plants from nursery¬ 
men. Messrs. D. Methven & Son, Leith Walk, Edinburgh, had a very large 
group of decorative greenhouse plants, various Rhododendrons, Roses, 
Dendrobiums, Japanese Maples, forced shrubs, &c., very bright and effective. 
Messrs. Dickson & Co., Waterloo Place, exhibited a small group of the same 
class of plants, among which several Orchids were interspersed; notable 
among these latter was a variety of Odontoglos3um Alexandras with light 
red spots, to which the name Dicksoni has been given. A certificate was 
awarded for it. Messrs. Gordon, Coltbridge, staged a large group of plants 
suitable for market, the front being composed of small plants of the pretty 
Primula viscosa nivea. Messrs. J. Mitchell & Sons, 106, Princes Street, 
exhibited a table laid out for dinner, the lighting being by incandescent 
lamps supplied with electricity by accumulators. The decorations were by 
Messrs. Todd & Co., 8, Maitland Street, and consisted wholly of Daffodils. 
This firm also showed examples of crosses and wreaths in their usual artistic 
manner. 
MANAGEMENT OF HORTICULTORAL SOCIETIES. 
I AM pleased your correspondent, Mr. A. R. Cox, is generou*, and 
admits on page 292 the great improvement that has taken place in the 
vegetables exhibited by local competitors at the summer show held in 
Sefton Park. In my estimation the improvement has been very marked 
indeed, and this Mr. Cox admits is the result of competition. The advan¬ 
tage of having the classes open to all is thus proved beyond doubt. 
Great strides have been made ; this is a step in the right direction, and 
there is no telling what degree of excellence might yet be attained. If 
the highest stage of perfection has been reached that it is possible to 
attain in the neighbourhood, an impression conveyed by your correspon¬ 
dent, then no farther progress in vegetable culture need be anticipated. 
Progress has been made, and I fully believe that greater perfection can be 
achieved, not by excluding outsiders, who, if they only gain a few prizes, 
assist in the general work of progress (which horticultural societies are 
instituted to encourage) by encouraging losers to greater efforts. 
Your correspondent takes into consideration only a very limited radius 
—four or five mile3 round the Liverpool Ex :hange—but he must remember 
the restricted classes are for competitors residing within ten miles. This 
includes several localities where vegetables can be and are grown to a very 
high state of perfection. If societies are not stimulating horticulturists 
to improvement in a more extended radius than four or five miles round 
their immediate centres they are certainly not accomplishing the grand 
achievements I had given them the credit of doing. If this, is the case, 
there is less reason than ever for restricting the schedule; it would not 
have been so bad had the classes in question been open to Lancashire and 
Cheshire, or the whole of the northern counties. Under such circumstances 
—judging from what I have seen at Liverpool both of vegetables and 
hardy fruits—I fully believe that local competitors could hold their own, 
and the task, which is optional, not “ imposed," would accord to th-m 
the highest honours that could be attained. 
I am aware that both Parsley and Carrots are difficult to cultivate in 
some soils, and this is not confined to the neighbourhood of Liverpool, 
but extends to localities, even in the pure atmosphere of the country where 
there is no sulphur or chemical vapours existing to contaminate the 
atmosphere. Those who have practised in the vicinity of large towns, 
such as London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle on-Tyne, 
and others, have a good idea of the atmosphere and its effects upon 
vegetation in general. Taking this fully into consideration, I am of 
opinion that vegetables can and will be better grown in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Liverpool than has hitherto been the case. 
The Shrewsbury Society was mentioned by me because it had been 
favourably noticed by Mr. Waterman, but I did not intend to convey the 
idea that no restrictions were imposed by that Society. I have not a 
schedule before me, but, if my memory serves me rightly, two or three 
classes only are open, the remainder for gardeners, amateurs, and cot¬ 
tagers in Shropshire and two other counties. If this is not correct, per¬ 
haps Mr. Cox or someone else will kindly correct m?. It will thus be 
seen that this Society provides for four classes of exhibitors, while Liver¬ 
pool and many others provide only for two. 
The grand object of horticultural societies should be to provide for as 
large and varied a number of competitors as possible ; by so doing a very 
wide interest in gardening is created. If prizes are offered as an induce¬ 
ment to the garden-loving public to contribute to the exhibition, a know¬ 
ledge is created that the society exists, it reputation will annually 
increase, the only means by which success can be financially insured for an 
indefinite period. Shrewsbury is commendable in this respect, and the 
days upon which the exhibitions are held are regarded as a general holi¬ 
day, and people flock from all parts to see the exhibition. This is as it 
should be, and every effort possible should be made to attain the end in 
view.— North eknek. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Anur, 14 th. 
Daffodils in thousands greeted the visitor to last Tuesday’s meeting, 
and with the exception of the “ Conference ” last year, so extensive a display 
of these valued and popular flowers has never been provided at Kensington. 
All imaginable shades of yellow were represented, and but for the judicious 
employment of Anemones and a few other hardy flowers this would have 
had a rather monotonous effect. The introduction of a few Palms, Ferns, &c., 
also served to further relieve the preponderance of yellows. Small col¬ 
lections of Orchids and miscellaneous plants added their attractions to 
a gathering of exceptional interest. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. John Lee, Wm. Paul, S. Lyon, John E. Lane, G. Bunyard, C. Ross, 
J. Willard, G. Goldsmith, J. Woodbridge, W. Denning, Harrison Weir, 
T. B. Haywood, and R. D. Blackmore. An admirable collection of thirty- 
two varieties of Apples was shown by Mr. C. Ross, Welford Park Gardens, 
Newbury, the fruits being in excellent condition, fresh, firm, and bright in 
colour, well deserving the silver medal awarded for them. The varieties 
were Northern Greening, Cox’s Orange, Boston Russet, Broad-eyed Pippin, 
Brabant Bellefleur, Court Pendu Plat, Mannington’s Pearmain, Annie 
Elizabeth, Cox’s Pomona, Betty Geeson, which Mr. Ross states is grown in 
the cottage gardens about Newbury as the “Sauce Apple,” Scarlet Non¬ 
pareil, Baldwin, Dutch Mignonne, Blenheim Pippin, Peck’s Pleasant, 
Cornish Aromatic, Sturmer Pippin, Margil, Merede Menage, Cockle’s Pippin, 
White Nonpareil, Lewis’s Incomparable, Loddington, Lane’s Prince Albert, 
and Lord Burghley. Good fruits of Catillao Pear were also shown by 
Mr. Ros3. The only other exhibit was a collection of Rhubarb from the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, which comprised the 
medium-sized Linnaeus and Early Red, with Baldwin’s Scarlet, Defiance, 
Crimson Perfection, Hawkes’ Champagne, and Buck’s Early Red, but the 
best in colour and general appearance was Dancer’s Early Red, which was 
certificated last year. 
Floral Committee.— Shirley Hibberd, Esq., in the chairi Present— 
Dr. M. T. Masters, the Rev. G. Henslow, and Messrs. W. Wilks, H. Bennett, 
W. Bealby, J. Child, H. Herbst, James Walker, J. James, Charles Noble, 
John Fraser, G. Duffield, H. M. Pollett, James O'Brien, H. Ballantine, Harry 
Turner, E. S. Hill, W. B. Kellock, and J. Douglas. A choice collection of 
new and rare plants was shown by Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, 
comprising some finely coloured Amaryllises, Dr. Masters Improved,Desde- 
mona, and Joseph Broome being especially noteworthy, the last-named 
having long dark crimson well-proportioned flowers. Imantophyllum 
miniatum splendens was notable for its bright scarlet colour, Pancratium 
calathinum had large pure white flowers, the central crown being wide and 
shallow. Odontoglossum Andersonianum grandiflorum was remarkable for 
its large flowers. O. radiatum had a long raceme of handsome yellow and 
rich brown flowers. (Vote of thanks). The peculiar and interesting Ochna, 
multiflora (figured in this Journal, page 2G1, vol. iv.), the richly spotted and 
lovely little Odontoglossum naevium majus, and a dark red narrow-leaved 
ornamental Beet named Unique, were also prominent in the group. Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, contributed several of the handsome Amaryllises, 
