202 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 1. 1881. 
Messrs. Paul & Sons. Old Nurseries, Chestiunt, also staged a fine 
group of healthy and well-coloured plants, especially the Golden 
Tews, Thuja George Peabody, good ; Abies A'cockiana, very fine ; 
and Picea concolor. Messrs. Caldwell & Sons, Knutsford. staged a 
large group, which included magnificent specimens of Ilex Hodginsii, 
Golden Queen, and I. madeirensis nigrescens. Messrs. Osborn and 
Sons, Fulham Nurseries, exhibited their new variegated Ivy, Hedera 
Helix madeirensis variegata, a splendid variety with a very light 
clear variation ; they also staged a small choice collection of Conifers. 
Messrs. Birkenhead, Sale, Manchester, had a large and handsome 
group of Ferns, comprising many choice species and varieties. 
Messrs. Dick Radclyffe & Co., High Holborn, exhibited a number 
of imperishable flower wreaths, and an ornamental fountain in the 
large marquee. Messrs. .T. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, Bute, had a fine 
collection of Pansy and Marigold blooms ; and John Parshaw, Esq., 
Fulwood, showed two pans of Dionsea muscipula, the plants being 
in extraordinarily vigorous condition ; the leaves very large. 
CUT FLOWERS. 
Ample provision was made for these, prizes being offered by the 
Society in thirty classes in addition to those of the National Rose 
and Carnation and Picotee Societies. Two long annexe tents, each 
nearly 100 feet long, at the end of the fruit marquee were filled with 
the exhibits in these classes, and in several the competition was very 
keen, this being particularly the case in the classes for bouquets, 
considerably over a hundred being staged. The great feature of the 
display however, especially as regards quality, was the 
Dahlias. —Rarely have larger and better-formed examples of these 
popular flowers been seen at horticultural exhibitions, certainly not 
this year. Even those who object to great size in such blooms on 
the score of the usually attendant coarseness could scarcely have 
advanced this plea against the blooms in the leading collections, for 
massiveness and substance were united with refinement and symmetry. 
The colours, too, were very clear and bright in most cases. The 
principal class was that for thirty-six blooms, in which there were 
about eleven entries, though scarcely more than five or six staged 
collections. The premier honours were accorded to Mr. H. Hark- 
ness, Bedale, Yorkshire, for magnificent examples of the following 
varieties among others :—Criterion. Hon. Sydney Herbert, Harry, 
John N. Keynes, John Standish, Thomas Goodwin, John Kirby, 
Bessie Ford, Yellow Boy. Burgundy, Perfection of Primroses. George 
Smith, John W. Lord, Prince Arthur, Mrs. J. C. Quennell, Delicata, 
Perfection. Flag of Truce, Duke of Connaught, Royal Purple, Prince 
Bismarck, Countess of Pembroke, and Flora Wyatt. This stand was 
greatly admired by ail, but especially by florists, who could appreciate 
the qualities so well developed. Messrs. Keynes & Co., Salisbury, 
were placed second with a collection of great merit and very slightly 
inferior to the first, though on careful examination the judging 
appeared correct. The colours of these blooms were remarkably fine 
—so clear and brilliant. Some of the most notable varieties were 
Lady Gladys Herbert, Earl Radnor, Shirley Hibberd, Frederick 
Smith, and Thomas Goodwin. Messrs. Cannell it Sons, Swanley, 
Kent, took the third position with good and carefully selected blooms, 
a large number of handsome varieties being represented. In the 
class for twenty-four the same exhibitors competed, and were ac¬ 
corded precisely similar positions. With twelve Messrs. Keynes, 
Cannell, and Ilarkuess were again the prizetakers, but this time in a 
different order—as named here. For twenty-four Fancy Dahlias 
Messrs. Keynes it Co. gained the chief prize with handsome blooms 
of Annie Pritchard, Lizzie Leach, Egyptian Prince, Frederick Smith, 
and Henry Glasscock among others of considerable merit. Mr. H. 
Clark, Leeds, followed closely, and Messrs. Cannell secured the third 
prize. Messrs. Keynes were again first with twelve Fancy varieties. 
Professor Fawcett, Hercules, and Gaiety being noteworthy. Messrs. 
Cannell and Turner followed in that order, both showing good 
blooms. 
Gladioli. —Another feature in the display of cut flowers were the 
collections of Gladioli in competition, but though some of the spikes 
were large and massive the general quality was not so good as we are 
accustomed to see at South Kensington occasionally. For the best 
collection of spikes, number not stipulated, Messrs. Kelway were to 
the fore with stands of nearly two hundred spikes, representing a 
large number of varieties. Messrs. John Thomson & Son, Newcastle- 
on-Tyne, were the only other exhibitors in the class, and staged a 
much smaller collection, though both flowers and spikes were fine. 
Messrs. Kelway had the only stand of twenty-four spikes, including 
excellent examples of the following varieties :—Countess of Craven, 
Agrius. Helen, Orontes, Robert Ker. Wm. Paul, J. Douglas, Mr. Ash¬ 
bury, Robt. Tait, J. Downie, and Queen Mary. For twelve spikes 
Messrs. Thomson secured the first prize with perhaps the finest spikes 
in any of the classes, the flowers being of great size and substance, and 
closely placed in massive spikes. Mr. Harkness was a very good and 
close second, the colours being remarkably bright. 
Herbaceous Cut Flowers. —Several pretty stands of these were con¬ 
tributed in the two classes devoted to them. For thirty-six bunches 
Mr. F. Perkins, Leamington, was the successful exhibitor, securing 
the chief award for an interesting collection, including Phlox John 
Laing, Pyrethrum Miss Kelway, Gypsophila paniculata, Yucca fila- 
mentosa, Achillea Ptarmica flore-pleno, Potentilla Don Quixote, 
Veronica longifolia subsessilis, Anemone Honorine Jobert, and many 
others of more or less beauty. Messrs. Thomson were second with 
a similar stand, in which were some specimens of a white Mallow 
named Malva speciosa alba, closely resembling Malva moschata alba. 
In the c’ass for twelve bunches Mr. Faulkner, gardener to F. R. Ley- 
land, Esq., Woolton Hall, was placed first, having good specimens of 
Matricaria inodora fl.-pl., Galtonia candicans, Aconitum cmruleum, 
Amaryllis Belladonna, Stenactis speciosa, Dahlia coccinea, Lilium 
auratum, Campanula pyramidalis, and numerous others. Mr. F. 
Perkins and Mr. W. Plant followed in the order named with pretty 
collections. 
In addition to the above, which can only be considered as the most 
striking features, there were classes for Stocks, Hollyhocks, Asters, 
French and African Marigolds, Phloxes, Pelargoniums, Verbenas, 
Pentstemons, and Pansies, all of which were well represented. 
Bouquets .-—As has been already noted, these were shown in large 
numbers, and some very tasteful examples of floral arrangement 
were contributed. For six wedding bouquets Messrs. Jones it Son 
were first with light and pleasing examples, chiefly composed of 
Eucharises, Pancratiums, Bouvardias, white Lapagerias, and Stephn- 
notises, sufficient Fein fronds being employed to impart a giaceful- 
ness to them without rendering them dull. Mr. W. Brown, St. 
Mary’s Grove, Richmond, was an admirable second, the bouquets 
containing some first-rate flowers well disposed. Mr. F. Perkins was 
third with carefully made examples. For the same number of ball¬ 
room bouquets Messrs. Jones & Son were again to the fore, having 
bright and elegant arrangements of Orchids, with other brightly 
coloured and choice flowers ; Ixoras, Lapagerias, Disas, Oneidiums, 
Stephanotis, Masdevallias, and Forget-me-nots figuring conspicuously. 
Messrs. Turner Bros.. Liverpool, were very good seconds ; and Mr. 
Stephenson, Timperley, was a close third. Single bouqets were well 
shown by Messrs. Henry Cypher, Perkins ; J. Kellett, Manchester ; 
and J. Mason, Manchester. 
Dinner-Table Decorations .—There were five entries in the class for 
a dinner-table laid for twelve persons, Mr. J. Cypher carrying off the 
principal prize with one of his most tasteful arrangements, lightness 
and brightness being the chief objects aimed at and attained. The 
central plant was a Cocos Weddelliana, which was surrounded by 
Orchids, Lilies, and Ferns, two side stands being gracefully decorated, 
and the fruit represented was Melons, Grapes white and black, Pines, 
Peaches, and Apricots. Mr. Mason followed with a pretty design 
but rather heavy in the centre ; while Messrs. Jones & Son, who were 
third, had scarcely sufficient diversity in the arrangement, the vases 
being too low. 
VEGETABLES. 
An enormous quantity of vegetables of all descriptions was staged 
in the various classes devoted to them. A great per-centage were of 
excellent quality ; and, what is rather unusual, no blank spaces were 
to be seen when the tents were cleared for the Judges to commence. 
At the same time, if one-half of the intended exhib tors, notably in 
the Potato classes, had fulfilled their engagements, the confusion 
would have been great, space being limited and the localities hard to 
find. The staff had laboured hard and well to arrange everything 
satisfactorily, but a few large placards notifying each class would be 
far preferable to “ Stewards ” to indicate the respective localities. 
Owing to the stringent rules necessitating staging on the day prior 
to opening, an tarly clearance was made, and the Judges, of whom 
there appeared to be an unusual abundance, easily completed their 
duties by the appointed time for opening. 
COLLECTIONS OP VEGETABLES. 
In the premier class for twenty distinct varieties there were thirteen 
competitors, but no great difficulty was experienced in awarding the 
prizes. Mr. G. T. Miles secured the first prize with a very even lot, 
consisting of Tender and True Cucumbers, Stamfordian Tomatoes, 
Canadian Wonder Beans, Large Rouen Leeks, Walker’s Exhibition 
Onions. Early Munich Turnips, Green Globe Artichokes, Telegraph 
Peas, Nantes Horn Carrots, Moore’s Cream Vegetable Marrows, 
Carter’s Incomparable Crimson Celery, Green Globe Savoys, Heart- 
well Marrow Cabbage, Stott’s Red Beet, Carter’s Giant Runner 
Beans, Covent Garden Perfection Potatoes, all very good ; Maltese 
Parsnips, Walcheren Cauliflowers, Carter’s Perfection Sprouts and 
Mushrooms being the only weak dishes. Mr. Mirir, gardener to 
C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., Margam Park, very closely followed Mr. 
Miles, his Drumlanrig Tomatoes, Dickson’s Eclipse Cauliflowers, 
Webb’s Improved Banbury Onions, Intermediate Carrots, Beet, Cul- 
verwell’s Giant Marrow Peas, and Wheeler’s Cocoa-nut Cabbage 
being remarkably good. The third prize was awarded to Mr. J. 
Turk, Cheltenham, whose generally creditable collection included 
good Early Market Carrots and Artichokes. Fourteen exhibitors 
competed in the class for ten dishes. Mr. J. Snowdon, Thirsk, 
secured the first prize with a very good collection, consisting of 
Eclipse Cauliflowers, Giant White Celery remarkably good. None¬ 
such Peas, Moore’s Cream Marrows, Tender and True Cucumbers, 
Canadian Wonder Beans, International Kidney Potatoes, Excelsior- 
Tomatoes, and Intermediate Carrots. Mr. W. Iggulden, gardener to 
the Earl of Cork, Marston, Frorne, obtained the second prize with a 
collection but slightly inferior. His best dishes were Livingstone’s 
Perfection Tomatoes, Nantes Horn Carrots, Suttoas’ Reading Exhi¬ 
bition Sprouts, Eclipse Cauliflowers, and Woodstoc'i Kidney Potatoes. 
Mr. Crump, gardener to the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim, was 
awarded the third prize, staging, among others, good examples of 
