May 29, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
429 
Mastersiana were uncommonly fine. Mr. Williams had smaller plants, but 
representing a greater number of the newer choice varieties and hybrids. 
Roses. —Two charming groups of eighteen Roses were contributed. Mr. 
C. Turner scoring a snccess with beautiful healrhy little bushes, the foliage 
fresh and vigorous in the extreme ; the flowers large without being coarse, 
and highly coloured. Madame Lacharme, Camiflo Bernard’n, Sir Garnet 
Wolse'ev, Mons. E. Y. Teas, Celine For^stier, and Edouard Morren w. re the 
most attrac'ive plants. Messrs. Paul <fc Son, Che^hunt, were a very close 
second, their plants bmng equally healthy and with handsome blooms. 
Table Pl\nts. —Competition was keen in the class for eighteen table 
plants, four collections being entered and extremelv close in merit—so close, 
indeed, that some va ied opinions were expressed regarding the awards. 
Messrs. Hooper & Co. were adjudged the leading position, their plants being 
very neat, and extremely healthy, but included too many with broad leaves to 
please some tastes. Dracaena Go'dieana, for instance, would not be tolerated 
by some persons. Several of the plants were, however, well selected, such 
as Croton Weismanni, Geonorca gracilis, Aralia Vmtchi, and Cocos Weddel- 
liana. Messrs. Eaing it Co. were placed second with similar plants, very neat 
and healthv; and Mr. B. S. Williams was third with elegant A-alias. Asparagus 
plumosus, Eulalia jtponica variegata, and others of a similar character. In 
the opinion of many persons these plants were the most fitted for table 
decoration of all tho«e shown. 
Table Decobattons. —Some extremely tasteful arrangements of flowers 
wer» entered in the class for three vases for a dinner table ; M'ss Cross. (1. 
Oxford Terrace, Add'scombe Road, Croydon, being honoured with the chief 
award for three very graceful stands, each with three branches, lightly til led 
with Rhodanthe^. Centaureas, Spiraeas, and Grasses, with a ba u e of Carnations, 
Dipladenias, and Pelargoniums. Mr. J. Cha’d. Clapham Common, was a 
close i-econd. having tall stands, somewhat similarly fill'd to the above, but 
not quite «o light. Mr. Butcher, South Norwood, was third with smaller hut 
neat stands. For one epergne or vase for the drawing-room. Mr. Cha d ; Mr. 
J. Lambert, gardpner to H. W. Segelcke, E- - q.. Herne Hill ; and Mr. Butcher 
were the prizetakers in that, order. Bouquets and buttonholes were numerous 
and tasteful, Messrs. C. Hepburn, Chard, Butcher, and Hill being the chief 
prize takers. 
Messrs. Sutton <fc Sons. Reading, offered three prizes for a brace of 
Cucumbers, and several good samples ■were staged. Mr. C. J. Waite, The 
Gardens. Gl nhurst, Esher, was first with Purley Park Hero, very even and 
good. Mr. Kendall, Templeton Gardens, Roehampton, followed closely with 
Model ; and Mr. Osman, Sutton, Surrey, was third with Improved Telegraph. 
Miscellaneous. —The most, imposing group amongst the non-competing 
exhihits were the Roses from Messrs. G. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, which formed 
a magnificent hank in the large tent. These comprised the grand specimens 
of Charles Lawson, Beauty of Waltham, Anna Alexieff, Edouard Morren, 
Celine Forestier, Centifolia Rosea, and Comte de Serenye, which have 
attracted so many admirers at the exhibitions of recent years. An extra 
priz° was awarded for this group, also to the following exhibitors:—Mr. 
C. J. Salter for four superb plants of Utricularia montana with hundreds 
of flowers, an t a group of handsome Calceolarias ; to Mr. C. Turner for a 
collection of choice Azaleas; to Mr. B. S. Williams for a group of new 
plants ; to Messrs. Carter &. Co. for a group of Calceolarias ; to Mr. Bird 
for a group of Crotons ; to Messrs. Laing & Co. for a collection of miscel¬ 
laneous ptants ; and to Mr. Chard for baskets of flowers, wreaths of flowers, 
and floral designs for the table ; and to Messrs. Hooper & Co. for collections 
of Paeonies, Li'ies, and Irises. 
Fist-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :—To Mr. 
B. S. Williams for Nepenthes Mastersiana, Dracaena Lmdeni. Aralia Ker- 
choveana, and Sarracenias Tolliana. Mitchel'iana, Fi'desias. and Cypripedinm 
cilio'are, which have been previously described ; to Messrs. J. Laing it Co. 
for Caladium Comtesse de Condeixa, L’Aurore, and Tube ous Begonias Her 
Majesty, Mrs. Wcekes, Lord Chesterfield, Lady Chesterfield, Distinction. 
Apricot, Hercules, Mrs. Brissenden, and Croton gracillimus. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
FRUIT AND YEGETABLE SHOW,— May 27th. 
The combined attractions of the Fruit and Vegetable Show, and the 
groups of new and choice plants and flowers submitted to the inspection of 
the Floral Committee, render d this meeting one of the most interesting that 
has ben held this year, and it is reasonably expected that the subsequent 
monthly shows will be of still greater importance and interest. 
The first of the series of Exhibitions announced for th° present season, 
to be held by the Royal Horticultural Society in connecti n with the Health 
Exhibition, took place on Tuesday last; and though the entries were less 
numerous in some of the classes than bad been expected, the vegetables were 
all that could he desired, and formed a most interesting feature. This first 
Show was evidently -ather too early for the majority of fruit-growers, and a 
keener competition may be looked for at the next Exhibition in .Tune. Stages 
around one-half of the conservatory were devoted to the exhibits in com¬ 
petition, the other portion being gay with groups of flowers and plants shown 
before the Floral Committee. Twenty-eight c’asses were enumerated in the 
schedule, th» p izes being extremely liberal in the majority, the highest being 
£fi for a collection of fruits, and the lowest 7s. 6d., the third prize for two 
Lettuces. 
CoHec'ions of Fruits .—Three prizes, value £6, £4, and £3, were offered for 
a collection of six kinds of fruits, but there was only one exhibitor, Mr. G. T. 
Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, Wvcombe Abbey, who was awarded the 
first prize for large handsome bunches of Foster’s Seedling, which would have 
been better a week or two later. The Black Hamburgh bunches were smaller, 
but of good colour; Elrnge Nectarines very handsome; Stirling Castle 
Peaches of good colour; Golden Queen Melon very neat, and a beautiful 
even Queen Pine were the other dishes, and all were good, well deserving 
the honour tb^v obtained. 
Gropes .—The comnetition was close in the class for two bunches of black 
Grapes, sewn lots being staged. Mr. W. Robins, gardener to E. 0. Lee, E«q., 
Hartwll House, Aylesbury, taking the first position with Black Hamburgh, 
the berries large and well finished, and the bunches of fair size. Mr. Wood- 
bridge, gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford, 
was a good second also with B'ack Hamburgh, a trifle less well coloured; and 
Mr. Fyfe, gardener to W. W. F. Dick, Esq., Thames Ditton House, was third 
with smaller bunches and berries of the same variety. Eight lots of white 
Grapes were entered, Mr. Robins gaining first honours with Foster’s Seedling 
in fine condition, beautifully ripened, the hunches large, even, and symme¬ 
trical. Mr. Fvfe followed with the same yarietv, the bunches of good size, but 
less even and not quite so well ripened ; Mr. Miles taking the third position 
with Bucklan l Sweetwater, not so ripe as might have be-n wished. 
Strawberries. —Three classes were provided for these, but in only one was 
the competition at all satisfactory. This was for one dish of thirty fruits, and 
ten we e staged, Mr. G. Thompson, Manor Wells, Croxby House, Hounslow, 
securing fi st honours with Sir Charles Napier, large and richly coloured 
fruits. Mr. Haines, gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Coleshill House, High- 
worth, followed with even examples of Sir Joseph Paxton ; and Mr. Austen, 
The Gardens, Ashton Court, Bristol, was third with the last-named variety, 
rather small. For two dishes, distinct vari ties, Mr. J. Yert. The Gardens, 
Audley End, Saffron Wa.ld-n, won chLf honours with James Veitch and Sir 
J. Paxton, both represented bv fine fruits. Mr. Austen took the next place, 
his varieties being S ; r J. Paxton and President, much smaller. Strawberries 
in pots were very poor, the third priz being awarded for the only collection 
from Mr. J. Worthing, gardener to A. Moss, Esq., Chad well Heath, Ess^x ; the 
variety was La Grosse Sucr6e, but the plants were nearly destitute of foliage 
and ihe fruits were very poor. 
Pearlies and Nectarines. —Four dishes of six fruits were entered in the Pencil 
class, Mr. Miles leading with Stirling Castle, large and extremely well 
coloured. Mr. Robins followed, showing Alexander of fair size, hut rather 
deficient in colour; Mr Nash, gardener to Dr. Fuller, New Shoreham, 
Sussex, being third with p de samples of Royal George. Nectarines were 
not so well represented as the preceding, as only two dishes were staged, 
Mr. Nash securing the premier position with Violette Hative, of fine colour ; 
and Mr. Miles followed, showing Lord Napier scarcely ripe. 
Cherries were represented by two dishes from Mr. Miles and Mr. T. Hare, 
Grantham, who were respectively first and second, the former showing 
very handsome fruits of Black Circassian. 
Melons. —These formed a very large class, no less than twenty-one being 
entered, and the Judges had a rather severe trial in awarding the prizes. It 
was also remarked as regretable that only one class was provided, as the 
result of green and scarlet-flesh varieties being in competition together 
must almost invariably be in the favour of the first named, and so it was in 
this case. Mr Herrin. Chalfont Gardens, Gerrard’s Cross, won the first 
prize with Chalfont Favourite, a green-flesh variety of good flavour and 
prettily netted. Mr. Austen was second, showing William Tillery, also a 
green-flesh in good condition; and Mr. Howe, the Gardens, Benham 
Park, took the third place with Benham Beauty, a scarlet-flesh variety, a 
cross between Hero of Lockinge and William I. Messrs. J. Carter & Co.’s 
prizes for two Melons, Captain Larks and Carter’s Emerald, brought one 
exhibitor, Mr. W. Mead, gardener to Lord Barrington, Beckett Park, 
Shrivenham, who had two good fruits, Carter’s Emerald being well netted. 
Mis ellaneous Fruits. —This class was specially provided to encourage the 
exhibition of foreign fruits not included in the other classes, but the response 
was not very hearty. Mr. Woodbridge was awarded a first prize for a collec¬ 
tion of nineteen fruits of Vanilla planifolia, beautifully ripened and very 
fragrant. A similar awird was made to Mr. C. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, 
Esq., Welford Park, Newbury, for an excellent collection of App'es and 
Pears in first-rate condition. Four dishes were staged of Uvedale’s St. 
Germains, very large and fresh, six of Cornish Aromatic, three of Sturmer 
Pippin, two of Cox’s Orange Pippin, one of Mannington Pearmain, and one 
of Annie Elizabeth. Second and third prizes were adjudged to Messrs. 
Austen and Howe for dishes of Figs, the former having Brunswick large and 
ripe, the latter good examples of Brown Turkey. 
Vegetables. —A surprisingly close and beautifnl display of vegetables was 
provided in the class for eight distinct kinds, seven competitors appearing, 
and their contributions were so nearly equal in merit that the Judges had 
much difficulty in determining their position. Mr. A. Waterman, gardener 
to A. Brassey, Esq., M.P., Preston Hall, Aylesford, was placed first with 
most pra’seworthv examples of Vick’s Criterion Tomatoes. Canadian Wonder 
Beans, Early Milan Turnips, White Italian Onions, Connover’s Colossal 
Asparagus, Cnlverwell’s Telegraph Peas, French Forcing Carrots, and Brown 
Globe Artichokes, all very even, neat, fresh, and good, but some objected to 
the collection on the ground that Potatoes were omitted. Mr. Miles was an 
extremely close second, being but a few points behind the other. His Stam- 
fordian Tomatoes were very handsome, large, and finely coloured. Other 
good dishes were T-nder and True Cucumbers, The Queen Onions, Early 
Nantes Carrots, Little Gem Peas, Veitch’s Extra Earlv Forcing Cauliflowers, 
Lady Paget Potatoes, and Asparagus. Mr. Loclde, Oakley Court Gardens, 
Windsor, was thi' d, showing Reading Perfection Tomatoes exceedingly fine. 
Queen Onions and Negro Beam being similarly noteworthy. 
Asparagus. —A great show of Asparagus was made by the entries in the 
four classes devoted to it. and there was considerable difference in the 
respective merits of the exhibits. In the amateurs’ class for fifty heads 
there were seven competitors, Messrs. Cheshire Brothers, 24, St. Botolph 
Street, Colchester, taking the first position with large, even, and white 
samples. Mr. F. A. Cole, Colchester, followed with less even specimens ; and 
Mr. J. Stewart, gardener to H. J. Barnett, Esq., Langford Park, Maldon, was 
third for large and rather coarse heads. In the market growers’ class for 
100 heads Mr. G. R Simpson, Plough Lane, Colchester, had the best of the 
four lots staged ; large and handsome heads well blanched. M 1- . A. J. 
Harwood, St. Peter’s Street, Colchester, was a close second; and Mr. J. 
Poupart, Kvw, was third with similar examples. Only two bundles of 
100 heads of French growth were shown. Messrs. Webber & Co. being 
awarded the first prize for enormous specimens, some of the stems being 
If inch in diameter. A class was also provided for fifty heads “ grown in 
the most natural manner.” and in the opinion of the majority these were 
the best of all. Eleven bundles were entered, Mr. Miles taking the first 
place with neat e'ean examples, about half the 1-ngth of the stem being 
g 1 een. Mr. Pitt, Bnrv Hill, Dorking, was second with similar but smaller 
heads; and Mr. W. Mead was third, also with “green” Asparagus. The 
exhibits in these classes attracted much attention. 
Cauliflowers or Broccoli. —Here, as in the Melons, it was thought that a 
