110 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ February 7, 1884. 
Corporation scattered amongst the lot. It was a goodly and a repre¬ 
sentative company of the gardeners of Nottinghamshire. 
The toast list was well drawn up, giving opportunity for the saying 
of good things ; for loyal sayings, in “the Queen and the Eoval Family,” 
with the singing right lustily from warm hearts of “ God Save the 
Queen ” and “ God Bless the Prince of Wales; ” in appreciative sayings, 
as “ the Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces,” and “ the Houses of Parlia¬ 
ment ; ” in professional sayings, as in “ the Nottinghamshire Horticul¬ 
tural and Botanical Society; ” in congratulatory and complimentary 
sayings, as “ the President of the Society ; ” in municipal sayings, as 
“ the Town and Trade of Nottingham ; ” in dutiful sayings, as “ the 
Ladies ; ” and in rightful sayings, as “ the Press ; ” besides many others 
which suggested themselves as the evening advanced. 
These toasts were all proposed and responded to with much hearti¬ 
ness, and with a freedom of thought and language which speaks well 
for the debating powers of the members of Notts Horticultural and 
Botanical Society—a fact that was borne witness to by the proposer of 
the toast of the evening, “ the Society,” when he said that “ he had 
attended a few of the monthly meetings of the Society, and was much 
struck by the intelligent way that the members expressed themselves in 
the discussions, the admirable way the debates were carried on, and the 
depth of reading and breadth of observation which enabled the speakers 
to take their part in the business of those monthly meetings, which were 
to him so highly creditable and interesting.” 
The speeches were interspersed with songs, many of them from 
gardener singers, and all showing good taste in the selection of the 
song and the rendering of it, and much study and practice in the culti- 
vstion of the voice. The whole evening was a very happy one, and 
everyone, from the Chairman down to the humblest gardener present, 
appeared to catch up the spirit of the meeting and cultivate it. Though 
the weather outside was wet and damp, having interfered with many 
being present, and giving prospect of a miserable walk or ride home, 
these disagreeables did not mar the harmony of the evening. 
The menu and toast list had been specially designed and printed for 
the Society, and were most appropriate, suggestive, and excellent.— 
N. H. Pownall. 
PRIZES FOR EARLY-FLOWERING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
I have just received from the Crystal Palace a schedule of prizes, 
and among those for the Show of September 5th and 6th, 1884, at 
p. 12, No. 7, are the prizes as follows :—For collections of early-flowering 
Chrysanthemum indicum (to be sufficiently in flower for decorative 
purposes), not less than six varieties, three plants each, and grown in 
8-inch pots. First prize, £4 ; second prize, £3 ; third prize, £2. Now, 
as far as I know, these are the first prizes ever offered in this country for 
early-flowering Chrysanthemums, I think this should be more widely 
known than it can be through that schedule alone. Any person who 
may wish for more particulars should apply to Mr. W. G. Head, Garden 
Superintendent, Crystal Palace, Sydenham.— W. Piercy, SO, West Road, 
Forest Hill, London, S.E. 
CHOU DE BURGHLEY. 
Like all new introductions this has been favoured with much attention 
of late ; Borne asserting it to be inferior to the most ordinary Cabbage, 
while others have extolled its qualities to the utmost. I do not say that 
those who have written against it had no cause to do so, as by some means 
or other their produce may have turned out entirely different from what 
was expected. I am certain this is no fault of the vegetable, and the 
same difference occurs in many vegetables besides Cabbage Broccoli. Take 
Celery for instance. May not the very best variety ever introduced often 
be found soft and pithy with one cultivator, while with another the same 
variety is hard, crisp, and delicious ? In this way I am inclined to account 
for the variation in the quality of the Chou de Burghley. It has been 
cultivated in our garden since some time previous to the award of the 
certificate until now, and from first to last it has shown a distinct, true, 
and superior character. In fact it has at all times corresponded with the 
description of the raiser, and I do not think any more than this can be 
expected from it. I would briefly recommend it as being superior to any 
Cabbage, a good substitute for Broccoli in winter, and a vegetable which 
merits cultivation in every garden.—A Kitchen Gardener. 
FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULES. 
The managers of flower shows will now be thinking of revising and 
issuing their prize lists for the season. It is a very difficult matter for a 
committee, no matter how careful they are, to issue a schedule faultless 
in the eyes of all parties. Some public discussion on such matters may 
lead to good results, as it has done in the past, for of my limited expe¬ 
rience I could point to reformations being effected with great advantage 
from their being brought to notice in your pages. I venture to make a 
few remarks on the schedule of the Brighton and Sussex Horticultural 
Society in hopes that they may prove of some general interest to others 
who may have to be subjected to similar rules and circumstances ; and 
if exhibitors would express their opinions freely and fairly committee¬ 
men are not so blind to their own interest as to turn a deaf ear to their 
complaints. 
In your report of this Society’s September Show you made reference 
to the falling-off in the number of entries. I think I can point to one 
reason for this falling-off. To those who “ go in ” for exhibiting a 
two-days show is thought nothing of ; but to the great majority of 
those who come together to make up such local displays as that at 
Brighton a two-days show is rather a disadvantage. Until last year I think 
Brighton was simply a two-days show, but now it is virtually a three- 
days show to the exhibitor. Instead of closing the show at an early hour 
in the evening of the second day, it is now stated that “ all exhibits must 
remain untouched until the morning of the third day, in consequence of 
keeping the show open until 11 p.m. on the second day.” And they are 
not content with this, but they must needs pay the prize money on the 
second day to make sure of having exhibitors present all three days. 
Now three journeys, if only a short distance, and three broken days, will 
not pay the small exhibitor who simply wants an outing, and takes a few 
exhibits to try to get his expenses out of them. It would pay him better 
to simply pay a shilling the second day to see the show, and meet friends 
he has been accustomed to greet on such occasions, and be content to 
drop out of the list. Few would object to the two days, because a gar¬ 
dener may take a few dishes of fruit or boxes of cut flowers, see the show, 
meet his friends, and otherwise enjoy a holiday, and on the second day 
give his young man or men a similar outing, and let them bring home 
the exhibits. 1 think the Committee should carefully consider what 
money was taken at the doors after 8 p.m., and see if it would not be 
advisable to close the Show at that hour, as even then a great number of 
exhibitors of small things could reach home by late trains. 
When I saw the excellent display of Grapes staged at Brighton last 
September I thought it was a great pity that the wording of the schedule 
prevented any other than Black Hamburghs and White Muscats from 
entering into the competition. It is no doubt more satisfactory to judges 
and competitors when only bunches of the same Grape are staged in the 
same class, and this should be followed as far as possible ; but I think it 
is a mistake to exclude all other sorts at a September show. I think it 
would give a much more interesting show of Grapes to reduce the num¬ 
ber of bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes and Muscats, and offer prizes 
for a few other popular sorts, while two bunches well shown show the 
quality of the fruit as well as six bunches. 
The question of entrance fees might also be reconsidered with advan¬ 
tage. When we consider that the promoters of great shows are reducing, 
and many doing away with entrance fees altogether, I think the Brighton 
tax on exhibiting is rather heavy. In the “ All-England ” division there 
are ten classes taxed at 2s. Gd. each, while all the others, forty in number, 
are Is. each, and similar amounts have to be paid in the “ County ” 
division for smaller prizes. I am not an advocate for the no-entrance-fee 
system. I think exhibitors entering into competition with some prospects 
of gain should cheerfully subscribe to the funds of the Society, but I 
think it should be in the form of an annual subscription, constituting 
membership. 
While writing on this subject it has occurred to me to mention a 
rather curious mistake that was made in the schedule of the Brighton 
Hove and South of England Chrysanthemum Society. In Rule 1 it is 
stated that the entrance fee will be “ 2s. Gd. for the first entry, Is. Gd. for 
each subsequent entry (members free).” On seeing this it was natural 
to inquire what constituted membership, but, strange to say, there is not 
a word in the schedule conveying this information. I have since the 
Show been informed by a friend that by subscribing 5s. you become a 
member. If this be so, all exhibitors will become members, and many 
who do not intend exhibiting should also do so, for I find by the schedule 
that members get a free pass and one ticket for his 5s. For this sum he 
will not only have the pleasure of examining the exhibits, but will also 
have the pleasure of listening to some excellent music—in fact, he has 
four miscellaneous concerts. 
I was very much pleased with this fresh effort to popularise the 
Chrysanthemum at Brighton. I understand that it has been chiefly pro¬ 
moted by the younger members of the Brighton gardeners, and it must 
be admitted that their first show was a good one, and that they showed 
considerable ability in conducting it and in providing acceptable amuse¬ 
ments, so necessary to the success of such gatherings. I hope to see such 
another show next autumn. I also hope that these shows will be finan¬ 
cial successes, and that the Dome and the use of the organ will be granted 
on as easy terms as possible for so useful a purpose.—A Mid-Sussex 
Gardener. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
As time rolls on it brings with it many changes, and I think 
that amongst those changes in which horticulture is concerned 
is the light in which even a veteran regards exhibiting. Exhi¬ 
bitions may please, and do please, for the love of flowers does 
not wane as years increase; but the desire to engage in the 
contests of the exhibition table, as' far as my own personal 
observation goes, does certainly diminish. The trouble and 
worry that sat lightly upon us in our earlier days are become 
invariably a burden now, and as we think of what it involves 
we come to the conclusion that the game is not worth tlie candle. 
The small ambitions of former days no longer kindle a flame 
within, and we are contented to be snuffed out by younger and 
abler hands. I have never been much of an exhibitor, and I 
must honestly confess never a very successful one—indeed, there 
are but two flowers in which I have ventured upon it, the 
Auricula and the Gladiolus. The latter has simply disappeared 
from the schedules of our metropolitan societies, because of 
