August 4, 1881 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 101 
John Gibson, and Mrs. Marshall. Mr. Butler was a good second ; 
and Mr. Gore, gardener to T. Holden, Esq., Aigburth, third. In the 
class for three plants Mr. Wright, Mr. Savin, gardener to Henry 
Thomson, Esq., and Mr. W. Evans obtained the prizes. Coleuses 
were very good, and Messrs. Savin and Bustard took the lead, while 
Messrs. Mease, Evans, and Savin took the prizes for Achimenes, which 
were shown in better condition than at any previous shows of the 
Society, but there is still room for improvement. Tuberous Begonias 
were a great feature in the Exhibition, and the plants showed a 
marked improvement over those shown last year. In the class for 
six Mr. J. Hurst and Mr. Wright took the lead, both staging excel¬ 
lent plants well grown and bloomed. For three plants Messrs. 
Wright, B. Cromwell, and Evans took the prizes in the order as 
named. In the class for a single specimen there was good compe¬ 
tition, and plants nearly 4 feet through were staged ; the prizetakers 
being Messrs. Mease, Hurst, and Wright. Some good plants of 
Caladiums were shown by Messrs. Mease and Wright. Cockscombs 
were only of moderate quality. Balsams were better, some of them 
good ; the principal prizetakers being Messrs. A. It. Cox, Savin, and 
Mease. Petunias were staged in very good condition, and that suc¬ 
cessful exhibitor, Mr. Mease, again cominz to the front, followed by 
Mr. Hurst, gardener to W. B. Bowering, Esq., Aigburth. The plants 
were 2 feet in diameter, densely flowered and effective. 
Table plants were not shown in large quantities, Mr. W. Pratt 
being first for eight plants with Croton majesticus, Dracaena Ernesti, 
Aralia elegantissima, Kentia Balmoriana, Pandanus Yeitchii, Geonoma 
gracilis, Aralia Veitchii, and Dracaena gracilis. Mr. J. Ward and 
Messrs. Jones & Sons, Shrewsbury, had the remaining prizes. 
In the class for new and rare plants sent out since 1878 Messrs. 
R. P. Ker & Sons, Aigburth, obtained the Society’s gold medal, and 
staged a neat and attractive group, such as Croton interruptus aureus, 
a fine narrow-leaved variety ; Croton Warreni, an excellent plant in 
good character ; C. Hawkeri, fine ; C. Devoniensis, C. Finneanus, the 
result of a cross between C. Williamsii and C. Disraeli, and promises 
to become a good and distinct variety ; and C. Aigburth Beauty, 
another promising seedling; Maranta Clokei, Adiantum Bausei, Lo- 
maria oltusatum (New California), a very fine and distinct form, for 
which a first-class certificate was awarded; Dracaena Bella, Juncus 
zebrinus, Begonia Daviesi hybrida, one of the finest of the doubles, 
being very dwarf, and flowering abundantly; Ivy-leaved Geranium 
Gloire d’Orleans, brilliant and good ; Dracaena Ifindeni, and Nidu- 
larium splendens Binoti. 
Groups. —The prizes offered for groups were very well competed 
for considering it is the first year for such competition, three groups 
being staged in the open class, and six in the class devoted to local 
exhibitors. The plants were arranged in the centre of two long tents, 
with the Roses and other cut flowers round the sides of one, and the 
fruit and vegetables round the other. The collections were a fine 
feature of the Show, and added materially to its attractiveness. On the 
whole they were not of that excellence we have seen at some other 
exhibitions, at the same time they were very creditable to the 
exhibitors. In the open class, space not exceeding 250 square feet, 
Messrs. R. P. Ker ifc Sons, Aigburth Nurseries, were first, and staged 
choice plants, including two very fine Prince of Wales Crotons, a 
good C. Queen Victoria, intermixed with Gloxinias, Ferns, Palms, 
Begonias, Zonal and Regal Pelargoniums, Dracaenas, and many 
others. Messrs. Caldwell & Sons, Knutsford, were second, the old 
Vinca alba showing to advantage. Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons 
were third, having in their group a few good plants of Acer Negundo 
variegata, which imparted to the group a light and beautiful appear¬ 
ance. The local groups were also circular, the space not exceeding 
150 square feet. Mr. A. R. Cox was placed first with the lightest and 
most distinct group in the Show, the groundwork consisting chiefly 
of Ferns, out of which were elevated Palms, Crotons, Dracrenas, 
Coleuses, Alocasias, Lobelias, and other plants, the pots being 
hidden from view with Selaginellas and other suitable plants. 
The arrangement was too artificial, and lacked brightness. Mr. 
Mease was placed second, and Mr. Sherwin third ; but the arrange¬ 
ments were too formal, more relief being needed by placing taller 
plants near the front. Messrs. James Dickson, Newton Nurseries, 
staged an excellent collection of choice new Conifers, for which they 
obtained the Society’s gold medal. Messrs. F. & A. Dickson also 
staged a very fine assortment. 
Cut Flowers. —These were shown in good condition in all the 
classes devoted to them, and the competition was keen in many in¬ 
stances. The Roses were good and numerous considering the lateness 
of the season. The box of stove and greenhouse blooms staged by 
Mr. Faulkner are worthy of special note, also the box of herbaceous 
cut blooms shown by Mr. Mease. In the class for forty-eight Roses, 
triplets, Messrs. Cranston & Co., Hereford, staged in their usual style 
and secured their usual position—first. It is not necessary to enume¬ 
rate the varieties. The same exhibitors had the first position in the 
class for forty-eight single blooms, followed by Messrs. James Dick¬ 
son & Sons and Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons of Chester. In the 
first lot Mrs. Jowitt was the best bloom in the stand, other good 
blooms being Lonis Van Houtte, Fisher Holmes, Madame Gabriel 
Luizet, L’Esperance, Hippolyte Jamain, Duchesse de Vallombrosa, 
Dr. Andry, and John Hopper. The most noteworthy blooms in the 
second stand being Louis Dorb. a fine Rose; Masterpiece, fine ; Com- 
tesse de Paris, Madame Ducher, Empress of India, and a good ex¬ 
ample of Niphetos. The third-prize lot was smaller but even, the best 
blooms being Duchess of Bedford and A. K. Williams. Mr. Jowitt, 
Hereford, was the only exhibitor in the open amateur class for 
twenty-four triplets, and staged in his usual excellent manner. In 
the class for twenty-four single blooms J. B. Hall, Esq., Leechwood, 
Rock Ferry ; Mr. W. Owen, gardener to T. Griffiths, Esq., Oxton, 
Birkenhead : and Mr. Mease obtained the awards as named. In the 
first stand good blooms of Dingee Conard, Mdlle. Marie Finger, Perle 
des Jardins, and Duke of Edinburgh were staged. In the class for 
twelve blooms D. Walford, Esq., Bebington, Birkenhead, was first 
with a good Marechal Niel, Beauty of Waltham, and La France. Mr. 
Owen was second, having a good Mdlle. Eugenie Verdier, Mr. T. B. 
Hall being third, having a good Sbnatenr Vaisse. In the class for 
twelve blooms of any one dark variety Messrs. Cranston & Co. were 
first with fine blooms of Mrs. Jowitt, which is evidently a fine late 
Rose, and was very rich in colour. Messrs. James Dickson & Sons 
were second with Alfred Colomb; and Messrs. F. i& A. Dickson and 
Sons third with the same variety. Messrs. Cranston & Co. were again 
first in the class for twelve blooms of any light Rose with Baronne 
de Rothschild. In the class for the most tastefully arranged box, the 
prizes being given by Messrs. Cranston & Co., the first prize was won 
by E. Laxton, Esq., Ask Villa. The stand contained many Teas, and 
was edged with Asplenium Ruta-muraria. Mr. Waterman, gardener 
to A. Late, Esq., was second. Only two lots were staged. One 
exhibitor only staged for the prize given by Mr. W. Paul, Waltham 
Cross, for twenty-four blooms staged with buds and leaves as cut— 
namely, Mr. T. B. Hall, but the stand was not remarkable, as there 
were no buds and but little foliage, yet the blooms were good. Mr. 
W. Paul staged several boxes of blooms not for competition, which 
were highly commended by the Judges. Amongst the blooms Lady 
Sheffield is a promising Rose, being many shades lighter than Marie 
Baumann ; Duke of Albany, a good Rose, much after the style of 
Duchess of Bedford. One of the boxes contained a rather promising 
unnamed seedling, the edge of the petals being slightly tipped with 
white. In the same box Masterpiece was good, also Red Dragon, 
said to be a good climbing Rose. Messrs. Dickson 4; Robinson of 
Manchester also staged a good general collection of Rose blooms, 
which were also highly commended. Messsrs. Cranston & Co. ex¬ 
hibited a box of their new Rose Mrs. Gretton, a good dark variety, 
which was awarded a certificate of merit. As may be imagined by 
its parentage—Louis Van Houtte and Xavier Olibo, it is extremely 
rich ; the form is also excellent, the centre being full and symme¬ 
trical, and the stout outer petals recurving gracefully. Some pilferer 
abstracted one of the blooms, but as the buds had been pi'eviously 
cut out he will not be much the richer for his pains nor easier in his 
conscience—if he has one. 
In the class for eighteen varieties of stove and greenhouse cut 
flowers Mr. Faulkner was first with very fine bunches of Kalosan- 
thes coccinea, Odontoglossum vexillarium, Lapageria alba, Ixora 
Prince of Wales, Erica tricolor, Eucharis, Allamanda Hendersonii, 
Anthurium Schertzerianum, Ixora Williamsi, Dipladenia grandiflora, 
and Ericas Fairrieana, Aitoniana, and Shannoni glabra ; Mr. J. Ward 
and Mr. Mease being placed equal second with very creditable boxes. 
In the class for twenty-four herbaceous cut blooms Mr. Mease took 
the lead with an excellent lot, including Lilium auratum, L. candi- 
dum, Campanulas, Hypericum calycinum, Alstromeria aurea, Spiraia 
venusta, and others ; Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons, Chester, being 
second, and Messrs. F. A A. Dickson & Sons third, both having good 
collections. For twelve varieties Mr. Faulkner was first, showing 
Dahlia Yuare.i very fine, Mr. Mease being second, and Mr. W. 
Bustard, gardener to J. Lewis, Esq., being third. For the best collec¬ 
tion of wild flowers Mr. W. Friar, gardener to J. F. Robinson, 
Esq., Mossley Hill, who staged about one hundred varieties, was 
awarded the first prize ; Mr. R. Gore being second. For two hand 
bouquets Messrs. Jones & Sons, Shrewsbury, Turner & Co., Liverpool, 
and Mr. John Mossley, Bolton, took the prizes in the otder named. 
The awards went in the same order for one hand bouquet. In the 
local class Mr. H. Bodsworth, Stone House, Allerton ; Mr. Evans, and 
Mr. Whitfield were the prizetakers. 
Fruit.—T he show of fruit on the whole was excellent, and the 
competition keen in the Grape classes as well as in those devoted to 
Peaches and Nectarines. In the class for eight dishes, distinct, not 
more than two varieties of Grapes, two collections only were staged ; 
Mr. J. Ward, gardener to T. H. Oakes, Esq., Alfreton. Derbyshire, and 
Mr. Faulkner, gardener to R. F. Leyland, Esq., Woolton Hall, Liver¬ 
pool, securing the prizes in the order named. Mr. Ward had good 
dishes of Brown Turkey Figs, Bellegarde Peaches, Jeff rson Plums, 
Downton Nectarines, Colston Basset Melon, Queen Pine, with Black 
Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes. Mr. Faulkner showed 
Princess of Wales Peaches in excellent condition and aline Queen Pine. 
In the corresponding class for six dishes four collections were staged. 
Mr. Elsworthy, gardener to A. R. Gladstone, Esq., Court Hey, Liver¬ 
pool, was awarded the first prize, having good Muscat of Alexandria 
and Madresfield Court Grapes fine in berry and colour, Conqueror of 
Europe Melon, Brown Turkey Figs, Pine Apple Nectarines very fine, 
and a superior dish of Bellegarde Peaches. Mr. Mease, gardener to 
C. W. Neumann, Esq., Wyncote, Allerton, was placed second, and 
staged very fine Muscat of Alexandria and Black Hamburgh Grapes, 
and a good Hero of Lockinge Melon ; the third prize being obtained 
by Mr. Hannagan, gardener to R. C. Naylor, Esq., Hooton Hall, 
Cheshire, who staged good Madresfield Court Grapes and fine Royal 
Charlotte Peaches. For two Pines Mr. Faulkner; Mr. Goodacre, 
