206 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 6, 1885. 
time for the Judges, and consequently the public had early admission to 
criticise and admire what was evidently as great an attraction as the 
magnificent display of Dahlias in the other transept. 
COLLECTIONS. 
Liberal provision was made in the schedule for collections of fruit, three 
classes being devoted to them, in which the prizes ranged from £15 to £2 in 
value, yet the competition was not so keen as might have been expected, 
comparatively few exhibitors beyond those named as securing prizes entering 
the lists. To balance this, however, the quality of most of the fruit in these 
collections was above the average, and in several case3 examples of great 
excellence were staged. This was particularly noticeable in the case of the 
Grapes, some bunches of which were in general finish superior to any in the 
classes devoted to Grapes alone. Peaches and Nectarines, too, were well 
shown throughout, of good size, and finely coloured. The leading class, and 
that in which chief interest centred, was for a collection of fruits not less 
than twenty-four dishes, to contain four dishes of Grapes, three bunches 
each, two white and two black varieties ; three Pines, two Melons, two 
dishes of Peaches, two of Nectarines, and two of Plums, the remaining 
dishes to be distinct varieties. Three prizes were offered—namely, £15 as 
the first, £10 as the second, and £5 as the third ; but only two competitors 
appeared—namely, Mr. W. Coleman, gardener to Earl Somers, Eastnor 
Castle, Ledbury, and Mr. J. EL Goodacre, gardener to the Earl of Harrington, 
Elvaston Castle, Derby, who were respectively awarded first and second 
honours. Mr. Coleman’s collection comprised Poster’s Seedling and Muscat 
of Alexandria as the white Grapes, both good, especially the latter, Alicante 
and Black Hamburgh as black Grapes, the last-named being very handsome 
in size of berry and bunch and in colour ; Bellegarde and Yiolette Hative 
Peaches, large and ripe ; Lord Napier and Stanwick Elruge Nectarines, fine ; 
Victory of Bath and Eastnor Castle Melons ; well ripened examples of Moor¬ 
park Apricots, Magnum Bonum and Kirke’s Plums ; excellent Williams’ Bon 
Chretien Pears, Quarrenden Apples, Negro Largo Pigs, Morello Cherries, 
three fine Pines, Strawberries, Gooseberries, Pilberts, and Oranges. Mr. 
Goodacre’s fruit was similarly good, but he lost a few points in some of the 
dishes. Very notable was a grand example of Charlotte Rothschild Pine, 
laige, of fine shape and colour ; Smooth Cayenne and Queen Pines were also 
good. The Muscat Hamburgh Grapes were in admirable condition, the 
colour and bloom perfection ; Madresfield Court Grapes were similarly 
excellent, and Buckland Sweetwater was well ripened. The other principal 
dishes were Royal George and Barrington Peaches, handsome Violette 
Hative and Pitmaston Orange Nectarines, Williams’ Bon Chretien and Jar¬ 
gonelle Pears, Morello Cherries, Read’s Scarlet-flesh and Lockinge Hero 
Melons, Brown Turkey Pigs, Red Astrachan Apples, Moorpark Apricots, 
Pond’s Seedling and Goliath Plums, and Filberts. Both collections were 
very praiseworthy, and were greatly admired by numerous visitors and 
horticulturists. 
The next important class was for a collection of twelve dishes, to 
comprise two dishes of Grapes, one Pine, two Melons, but only one dish 
of the other varieties needed to constitute the requisite number, the prizes 
being £8, £6, and £4. Of the three competitors, Mr. J. Coomber, gardener 
to J. H. .Rolls, Esq., M.P., The Hendre, Monmouth, deservedly won first 
honours with a most satisfactory collection of well-ripened fruits ; but the 
leading feature was his three grand bunches of Alnwick Seedling Grapes, 
which for size of berry, evenness of bunch, colour, and general finish were 
unsurpassed in the whole Exhibition. The Muscat of Alexandria were not 
quite so ripe. One bunch was, however, in fine condition. Royal George 
Peaches and Humboldt Nectarines were of good size and colour, Hemskerk 
Apricots fine, Jargonelle Pears, Hendre Seedling Melon large and regularly 
netted, Kirke’s Plums, Vicomtesse Hdricart de Thury Strawberries, and 
Smooth Cayenne Pines well ripened. Mr. Goodacre was adjudged the 
second position, his best dishes being the Madresfield Court Grapes, hand¬ 
some bunches, and excellent in colour. The Muscats were well ripened, 
Bellegarde Peaches, Pitmaston Orange Nectarines, Goliath Plums, Williams’ 
Bon Chretien Pears, and Smooth Cayenne Pine being similarly praiseworthy. 
Mr. J. Roberts, gardener to the Baroness Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, 
Acton, followed _ closely, having three fine bunches of Madresfield Court 
Grapes, the berries of great size and bearing good bloom, Belle de Doue 
Peaches, Red Astrachan Apples, and Williams’ Bon Chretien Pears being 
other noteworthy dishes. 
The third class in this section was provided for a collection of eight 
dishes, and in this Mr.^G. P. Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, Wycombe 
Abbey, gained the chief position with beautiful examples of Gros' Maroc 
Grapes_ of moderate size but well finished, Poster’s Seedling Grapes, Elruge 
Nectarines, Morello Cherries, Victory of Bath Melon, Crawford’s Early 
Peach very handsome in colour and size, and a good Queen Pine. Mr. 
Elphinstone, gardener to E. M. Munday, Esq., Shipley Hall, Derby, was a 
close second, his Muscat Hamburgh Grapes, Pine Apple Nectarines, and 
Goliath Plums being the best dishes. Mr. Nash, The Gardens, Bad¬ 
minton, Chippenham, took the third position, perhaps his finest dish 
being, good bunches of Alicante Grapes. The three classes above noted 
occupied considerable space, and formed a most satisfactory feature of the 
Exhibition. 
GRAPES. 
Altogether there was a great display of these. Some of the finest bunches, 
however, were in the collections of fruit. Mr. Goodacre staged Madresfield 
Coin t splendidly, but the most notable examples in the Show were grand 
bunches of Alnwick Seedling from Mr. Coomber. Mr. Coleman and others 
above noticed exhibited well. 
The principal class was that for ten varieties, six black and four white, 
two bunches of each. Mr. Roberts of Gunnersbury was the champion, 
gaining leading honours with a fine collection, comprising the following :— 
Muscat Hamburgh, good colour ; Buckland Sweetwater, well ripened; 
Gros Maroc, large but not quite ripe ; White Tokay, fine berries but a trifle 
green ; Madresfield Court, bunch and berries large, colour good; Alicante, 
fine in bunch but not fully ripe ; Muscat of Alexandria ; Alnwick Seedling, 
large bunches ; Black Hamburgh, fine ; and Golden Champion, good. Mr. 
A. Barker, gardener to Sir H. Allsop, Bart., Hindlip Hall, Worcester, was 
second with fairly finished examples of Mrs. Pince, Madresfield Court, 
Alnwick Seedling, Foster’s Seedling, Trebbiano, Alicante, Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, Gros Colman, and Black Hamburgh. 
For a collection of five varieties, two white, two bunches of each, the- 
competition was much keener, seven lots being entered. Mr. G. F. Miles- 
was the most successful, being first with Black Hamburgh, fine in bunch,, 
berry, and colour; Foster’s Seedling, Gros Maroc, Muscat of Alexandria' 
well ripened, and Lady Downe’s, good colour. Mr. G. Tucker, gardener to- 
J. L. Lovibond, Esq., Start’s Hill, Parnborough, was second, the best Grapes in 
his collection being Alicante and Madresfield Court. Mr. Woodbridge, The 
Gardens, Syon House, Brentford, followed; Alnwick Seedling, Alicante, and 
Muscat of Alexandria being the finest. 
Coming to the classes of three bunches Black Hamburghs as usual headed’ 
the list, but they were scarcely worthy of the honour on this occasion. Mr.. 
Coleman well won the first position with well-filled 2-tb. bunches and 
medium-sized and well-finished berries, Mr. Roberts, Gunnersbury Park 
Gardens, following with smaller bunches, but better berries ; third honours 
going to the veteran cultivator, Mr. Bailey of Shardeloes, for small bunches,, 
but berries of good size and quality, cut from a Vine which has produced a 
crop of 250 similar examples this year. Ten stands of Muscats were staged,, 
but several of the bunches were scarcely finished, and in some the berries- 
were small. Mr. Middleton, gardener to R. Pilkington, Esq., Ranford Hall,. 
St. Helens, secured the first position with good, full, well-shaped bunches; 
and very fine berries, Mr. Woodbridge, Syon House, being an extremely clpse- 
second with larger bunches and perhaps better finished yet smaller berries,. 
Mr. Coleman being third with excellent produce. There was not great- 
competition in the Gros Colman class, but the examples staged were very 
good indeed. Mr. Coleman secured the first position with large, full, and fine- 
bunches of admirably coloured and good berries. Mr. Elphinstone, Shipley- 
Hall Gardens, Derby, closely followed with smaller bunches, the berries- 
being of the first size and quality, third honours going to Mr. Tucker for 
creditable examples. 
Thirty bunches of Madresfield Court were placed in competition, but 
many of them were not ripe, while a few were very small. The first-prize- 
bunches, however, from Mr. Goodacre were splendid in size, shape, and 
finish ; as also were, in size of berry especially, the second-prize examples 
of Mr. Roberts ; Mr. Coleman, who was third, staging smaller but admirably 
finished produce. 
A similar number of Alicantes was staged, and the class was a good one.. 
The first-prize bunches from Mr. Nash were very fine indeed in every respect, 
and fully merited their position. Mr. Elphinstone followed with smaller 
examples, but splendidly finished; Mr. Howe, gardener to H. Tait, Esq., 
Park Hill, Streatham Common, securing the remaining prize with large- 
bunches and good berries, but not equal in finish to the preceding. Mr.. 
Polkes, gardener to J. P. Halsey, Esq., M.P., Great Gaddesden Place, Heme! 
Hempsted, staged very fine examples, but they had been unfortunately much, 
disfigured in transit; but for this mishap they would presumably have had 
a place in the prize list. 
In the cl&ss for white Grapes the result would please Mr. Thomson of" 
Clovenfords, if it pleased no one else ; the first and second prizes going to- 
the Duke of Buccleuch and Golden Champion respectively, the third to 
Buckland Sweetwater. Poster’s Seedling and Golden Queen were the- 
remaining varieties in the class. The bunches of “ the Duke,” staged by 
Mr. Tucker, were not large, but the berries were very fine, ripe, and clear- 
They merited the position. Golden Champion, exhibited by Mr. Roberts,, 
was fine both in bunch and berry, but not perfectly ripe. Buckland Sweet¬ 
water, staged by Mr. Adams, gardener to H. Trigg, Esq., The Brokes, Reigate- 
Hill, being very good, and if anything overripe. The bunches of Golden- 
Queen, exhibited by Mr. Coomber, were very fine, full, and regular, but we- 
understand were defective in quality, otherwise they would have found a 
place in the prize list. They were not quite ripe. 
TEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
As previously remarked the Peaches and Nectarines in the genera® 
collection were remarkably fine, and again in the classes specially devoted 
to them similar excellence was notable, though there were a few dishes of 
unripe fruits. The principal class for a collection of not less than six dishes 
of Peaches and the same number of Nectarines, four fruits each, and though 
prizes of £4, £2, and £1 were offered, only one collection was staged—namely,, 
from Mr. Coleman, who secured the first prize with beautiful fruits of the 
following Peaches—Prince of "Wales, Violette Hative, Vanguard, Bellegarde, 
Galande, Royal George, Exquisite, and Noblesse. The Nectarines were- 
Elruge, Violette Hative, Albert Victor, Pine Apple, Lord Napier, and Pit¬ 
maston Orange, all of good size and mostly of good colour. Five lots of 
four dishes of Peaches were staged, Mr. Coleman again securing first honours; 
with Violette Hative, Bellegarde, Royal George, and Alexandra Noblesse, 
very handsome. Mr. Roberts followed, having Belle Beauce in fine condition,, 
and Mr. Coomber was third. A dish of Thames Bank, a fine golden yellow- 
variety, was very notable. Fourteen single dishes of Peaches were con¬ 
tributed. Mr. Blair, gardener to Sir G. M. Middleton, Bart., Shrubland Park,. 
Ipswich, was first with large handsomely coloured fruits of Barrington - 
Mr. Coleman was second with Bellegarde, equally as fine ; and Mr. Nash was- 
third with fine examples of Barrington. 
Two classes were appropriated to Nectarines, one for four dishes and 
the other for single dishes. In the former Mr. Coleman continued his- 
successful career, and gained the first position with Stanwick Elruge, Lord 
Napier, Albert Victor, and Pitmaston Orange, all beautiful fruits. Mr_ 
Goodacre was a close second, his examples of Violette Hative, Elruge, and’ 
Pine Apple being very noteworthy. Mr. Hanagan, gardener to R. C. Naylor, 
Esq., Hooton Hall, Chester, was third, Pitmaston Orange being well shown- 
Nine competitors entered with single dishes, Mr. Coleman leading with 
Stanwick Elruge of moderate size but superbly coloured. Mr. Elphinstone- 
took the second place with Elruge ; and Mr. Ridout, gardener to T. B. Hay¬ 
wood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, third with Lord Napier. 
PINE APPLES. 
These were not largely shown, but the fruits were of fair size and well 1 
ripened. The best pair of Queens were from Mr. Bailey, The Gardens, 
Shardeloes, Amersham—fine even fruits. Mr. Goodacre was second with 
slightly smaller examples. There was no entry in the class for a pair of 
Smooth Cayenne Pines, but in the Any other variety class Mr. Miles was 
first with two handsome unnamed fruits somewhat like Black Jamaica 
