JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
54 
[ July 21, 1881. 
Mr. Bridger, gardener to J. B. Alston, Esq., Fairfield, Bickley, some 
of the plants bearing nearly a hundred flowers. The same exhibitor 
was first with Achimenes, which were excellent. The best Fuchsias 
and Dracaenas, both good, came from Mr. Mitchell; Tuberous Be¬ 
gonias, also good, from Mr. Saville ; ar.d Caladiums from Mr. Gammon. 
Messrs. Archer, Mitchell, and Whitehouse, gardener to J. Cameron, 
Esq., Park Road, Beckenham, also shared in the honours in these 
classes. 
Roses. —Considering the great heat of the preceding days Roses 
were remarkably fresh but on the whole rather small, it evidently 
having been necessary to cut before the blooms were expanded. In 
the open class for forty-eight triplets Mr. Cant, Colchester, secured 
first honours with an excellent collection containing many fine blooms, 
the remaining prizes going to Messrs. Paul of Cheshunt and Laing of 
Forest Hill. These exhibitors had the same positions in the class 
for twenty-four single blooms, all staging well. For twelve blooms 
(open class) E. Hawley, Esq., Lucknow House, Croydon, was an easy 
winner with fresh and good blooms, Innocente Pirola being the gem 
of the stand. Mr. Rumsey, Waltham Cross, and Mr. Bunyard, Maid¬ 
stone, followed in this class, their collections being of nearly equal 
merit. For twelve Roses of any one variety Messrs. Paul were first 
with a beautiful stand of Niphetos, Mr. Cant second with rather small 
but very bright blooms of Marechal Niel, and Mr. Rumsey third with 
Pierre Hotting. 
In the amateurs’ class of twenty-four single blooms Mr. Burnaby 
Atkins was an excellent first, and secured the National Rose Society’s 
medal with a charming stand, in which Duke of Connaught, very 
bright; Reynolds Hole, Dupuy Jarnain, Annie Wood, Marie Baumann, 
Dr. Andre, Madame Margottin, Jean Pernet, Madame Bravy, and 
Souvenir de Paul Neyron showed to great advantage. The flowers 
were remarkably well staged and the foliage very good. The Society's 
bronze medal was won by Mr. A. Pearce with beautifully fresh 
but small blooms and fine foliage. Messrs. Christy, Whitehouse, 
Cameron, and Mrs. Fuller were also prizewinners, the last-named 
exhibitor staging a beautiful stand of Marie Yan Houtte, and Mr. 
Christy one of Comtesse de Serenye, which secured the chief prize iu 
the class for one variety. Owing to some mistake in placing the prize 
cards we were unable to distinguish the winners of several of the prizes. 
Table Decorations. —Special attention is devoted to this section 
of the Show, and liberal prizes are provided. A large marquee was 
devoted to the exhibits, which were characterised by extreme light¬ 
ness. The first-prize table, 10 by 5 feet, was arranged by Miss R. A. 
Tweedie, Bornington, Bickley. The centre was an oval lake with a 
porcelain boat decked and surrounded with grass and Cornflowers. 
This centrepiece was about 4 inches high, and its toy-like artificiality 
was the weak point of an otherwise chaste and charming table, the 
eight small baskets and vases being tastefully filled with Tropseolums, 
yellow Columbines, and grasses. The second-prize table of Mrs. 
T. A. Mitchell was more free and pleasing, but we understand the 
Judge did not consider it sufficiently diversified, all the vases being 
filled alike. Miss F. A. Sentence was placed third for a chaste yet 
bright arrangement, and an extra prize was deservedly awarded to 
the Misses Scott of Abbyfield, Binkfield, for a most tasteful arrange¬ 
ment of grasses and Poppies, also to Miss Baggallay of Beckenham ; 
but why the beautiful table of Mrs. Scott, jun., of Elmfield was passed 
over surprised not a few critical visitors. The smaller tables furnished 
with wild flowers were charmingly arranged, the successful exhibitors 
being Misses J. & A. Turner, Sentence, and Field. 
Fruit and Yegetables. —The display was not large but gene¬ 
rally very good. Mr. Tucker, gardener to J. Lovibond, Esq., Starts 
Hill, Farnborough, was very successful, winning the first prizes for a 
collection of nine dishes for black and white Grapes, heaviest bunch 
of Grapes, Melon, Cherries, and three dishes of Strawberries. Mr. 
Mitchell was first with Muscats, good ; and Messrs. Bradford, 
Maynard, Whitehead, and Gammon secured prizes for highly credit¬ 
able produce in the different classes. A collection of fruit of great 
merit was also staged by Mr. Neighbour, gardener to G. Wythes, 
Esq., Bickley Park. A noticeable feature of this department -was the 
Eleanor Strawberry, represented by many fine dishes, showing its 
excellence as a late variety. 
Yegetables, considering the tropical heat that has lately prevailed, 
were very good indeed and a credit to the exhibitors and prizetakers, 
Messrs. Gammon, Real, Maynard, Humphrey, and Eke. The cottagers’ 
produce was also of a very high order of excellence. 
The Exhibition was well arranged by Mr. Eyles, and the Secretary 
and Committee vied with each other in rendering it as agreeable as 
it was successful. 
COLEWORTS. 
Probably few crops are of greater service in the garden than 
Coleworts, and yet they seldom have prominent notice in the 
gardening press. This is one of the staple crops of market 
gardeners, who occupy ground with Coleworts that has been 
vacated by early crops of Peas, Potatoes, &c. They are also 
planted between rows of Dwarf Kidney Beans—in fact every¬ 
where where space can be found either between other crops 
or under trees. They are pulled up and sold in bunches during 
the winter and spring, and when fresh no green vegetables are 
more delicious. Coleworts, then, it will be seen, form an adven¬ 
titious crop of such great value as to be regarded as a staple 
product of the garden. Almost any of the small Cabbages of 
the Early York type may be used as Coleworts, and as regards 
quality nothing of their kind can surpass them, but they lack 
the all-important essential of hardiness, which is possessed by the 
true Rosette Colewort. It is questionable if the frost-enduring 
property of this variety is sufficiently understood by cultivators 
generally. During the last extremely severe winter large breadths 
passed almost scatheless through the ordeal, while Savoys and 
Kales were killed. Probably the dwarf habit of the Colewort 
was much in its favour, as the plants could be the more effectually 
protected by the snow ; but apart from this it is a distinctly 
hardy vegetable, and as such it has strong claims to the notice of 
gardeners. 
The plants ought now to be ready for planting out, and those 
who do not possess them would make as good an investment in 
purchasing a few hundreds as in buying a new Coleus. An 
impression prevails in the minds of some people that early July 
is soon enough for sowing Coleworts ; but it is not. About the 
middle of May is the proper time, and the plants are then ready 
just when they are wanted, and have time to become strong 
before winter. Strong plants may be planted about 15 inches 
apart, and if they have been raised from a true stock they will 
have an attractive appearance in the autumn, as all the plants 
will be of the same height, and the rosette-like heads appear as if 
they had been cast in a mould. 
Those who bad large breadths of Coleworts last year felt them¬ 
selves fortunate, but such individuals were not a majority ; on 
the contrary, this simple yet important crop was absent from 
many gardens. The value of this crop is now referred to, so 
that those who desire to have it in their gardens may obtain 
plants, as there is no better time than the present for planting, 
and vacant ground cannot be better occupied than by devoting 
at the least a portion of it to the really serviceable vegetable.— 
A Market Grower. 
KINGSTON and SURBITON ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY.—July 13th. 
The seventeenth annual Exhibition of this Society was held in the 
beautiful grounds of Bank Grove, Kingston, the residence of J. C. 
Freake, Esq. Bank Grove is charmingly situated on the banks of 
the Thames, and has been long celebrated for its collection of 
Camellias. Sikkim Rhododendrons, and rare exotics. The grounds 
contain many very fine examples of Conifer®, besides numerous 
lofty and stately old trees ; it was under the shade of some of these 
the Society were fortunate in being allowed to pitch their tents, and 
never have they had such a fine display. The large marquee, 150 feet 
long by 50 feet broad, was full, and presented a most pleasing effect. 
The centre stage was occupied with the larger foliage and flowering 
plants tastefully arranged, while at the sides on the ground were 
sixteen groups of plants, most of them in competition. 
Prizes were given by H.R.H. Prince Leopold for groups to occupy 
100 square feet, arranged for effect, and there were six competitors, all 
exhibiting good and close collections. The Judges experienced great 
difficulty in determining the awards, for none of the six collections 
contained a bad or unsightly plant, and each was arranged with 
great taste. The premier award was secured by Mr. Beckett, gar¬ 
dener to J. C. Currie, Esq., Sandown House, Esher, but he was run 
very closely by Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, who, in the 
opinion of many, had the most effective group. Messrs. Hooper and 
Co. received the second prize, and Mr. Brown, nurseryman, Richmond, 
the third. Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, and Mr. Stevens, 
nurseryman, Putney, also exhibited in this class good collections. 
The Society also provided substantial money prizes for groups of 
smaller dimensions, 50 feet square ; there were also six entries in this 
class, and the awards wei-e made in the following order :—Mr. Brand, 
gardener to W. Clay, Esq., Elm Villa, Kingston ; Mr. Croxford, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Dunnage, Albury House, Surbiton, and Mr. Clark, 
gardener to A. Nagle, Esq., Surbiton. For twelve miscellaneous 
plants Messrs. Jackson & Son, Kingston, were first, exhibiting amongst 
others a very fine Ixora Williamsii, Calanthe veratriflora, Dracophyl- 
lum gracillimum, some large Ericas, and a handsome Statice. Mr. 
W. Bates, gardener to J. Meek, Esq., Twickenham, who received the 
second prize, had charming specimens of Allamanda Hendersonii, 
Stephanotis floribunda, and Cocos Weddelliana. Messrs. B. Peed and 
Co. were placed third. For nine stove and greenhouse plants Messrs. 
Jackson ife Sons and B. Peed & Co., Norbury Nurseries, Streatham, 
were the only exhibitors, and were first and second respectively. 
In the class for six stove and greenhouse plants Messrs. Croxford 
and Beckett divided the honours in the order of their names. Fine- 
foliage plants were numerously staged, there being no less than nine 
competitors. The chief award fell to Messrs. Hooper & Co.; Mr. 
Crafter, gardener to Miss Finch, Kingston Hill, was placed second, 
and Mr. Gregory, gardener to J. Weymouth, Esq., Bushey Nook, 
Teddmgton, third. Ferns were well represented in both the classes 
for six and three exotics and for nine British, the chief awards 
