November 3, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
“ There is, as a rule, an absence of taste amongst gardeners, 
simply because they do not take the trouble to cultivate taste for 
artistic gardening.” I do not think there is such a lack of taste 
amongst gardeners as your correspondent would have us believe ; 
we rather think the true causes of bad floral arrangements are to 
be found in other directions. In a considerable m-ijority of cases 
the gardener has not the sole control of the floral decorations. It 
is very well to write where and how dishes and glasses are to be 
placed, but it is often the case that when a gardener takes his 
flowers into the house he is told by others where they are to go. 
The butler thinks this would be pretty here, the housekeeper 
thinks it would be better there, and in the end the arrangement is 
anything but what it was first intended to be. Again, what one 
lady or gentleman would admire another would not like at all. 
For instance, Miss L likes the Marechal Niel Koses arranged all 
on one flat dish simply intermixed with Ferns. Master T abhors 
such an arrangement, and the gardener, anxious to please, finds 
himself beset with difficulties on every side. I know establish¬ 
ments where the butler arranges the flowers, others where the 
housekeeper does it, and one—not a small establishment either— 
where the governess both cuts and arranges the flowers. These 
are not cases where the gardeners are not capable of doing the 
work, but because they have not the opportunity. How many 
ladies, too, arrange the flowers themselves ? We believe that if 
the floral decorations were left more in the hands of the gardener 
we should see much better results. 
Mr. Luckburst will pardon me for adding to his already exten¬ 
sive list of requirements for the flower-room. Let a close-fitting 
shutter be provided for the window, so that if necessary daylight 
may be excluded while arranging flowers for evening parties. I 
have found that if flowers are arranged by the same light as that 
in which they are to be used much better results may be obtained, 
as it is well known that some colours which look well by daylight 
will spoil the whole arrangement when seen under artificial light. 
In conclusion I will add that the less hard-and-fast lines we admit 
in the arrangement of cut flowers the better, but the following I 
would recommend : Avoid glaring colours, let white predominate ; 
use a good proportion of light green foliage, and do not crowd the 
flowers.—W. Plant. 
THE HEREFORD FRUIT SHOW. 
To pomologists Hereford is the Mecca where their annual pilgrim¬ 
age is made, and it is certainly well worthy of the distinction, and the 
visitors increase in number and become more enthusiastic every year. 
I can heartily congratulate the members of the Woolhope Club on 
the success of this year’s Exhibition, which was held on the 26th and 
27th ult., when two thousand plates were staged, but with such 
leaders it is not to be wondered at. It is to be hoped that good may 
follow these annual exhibitions in greater efforts being made in the 
county for successful fruit cultivation, for Hereford is certainly 
behind both Kent and Middlesex. The soil is peculiarly adapted for 
fruit culture, and after the magnificent display of Blenheim Pippins 
and King of the Pippins exhibited this year it would be impossible 
for anyone to detract from the merits of the county as suitable for 
improved culture. In travelling through Kent or Middlesex during 
the last few years visitors have been astonished at the numbers of 
acres recently planted with fruit trees, but this is not the case here. 
On entering the rooms of the Woolhope Club the visitor was struck 
by the general effect caused by the blending of colour of the different 
varieties of Apples, well arranged on suitable tables covered with 
red and green cloths, the cider Apples being especially notable. 
Nearly every class was well contested, and in some it was very diffi¬ 
cult for the Judges to give a decision, the class being so good ; this 
was notably the case with Blenheim Pippins, where out of the thirty- 
six plates exhibited twenty-six would have taken the first prize at 
any average show. 
In the open class for dessert Apples, fifteen varieties, Mr. Haycock, 
gardener to Roger Leigh, Esq., M.P., Barham Court, Maidstone, took 
the first prize with a beautifully even collection, consisting of the 
following well-known and good varieties—Sam Young, Lord Burgh- 
ley, Margil, Brownlee’s Russet, Mannington Pearmain, Cornish Gilli- 
flower, Court Pendu Plat, Calville Blanche, Cox’s Orange Pippin, 
King of the Pippins, Ribston Pippin, Melon Apple, Reinette Grise, 
Mother Apple, and Reinette da Canada. In the other collections 
were good plates of Pearson’s Plate, Old Pearmain, Ashmead’s Kernel, 
Court of Wick, and Fearn’s Pippin. I think Court of Wick must be 
profitable, for it is ubiquitous, and has a habit, which I have noticed 
in previous years, of appearing under different names in many of the 
classes, and one especially—the Golden Harvey. In the collection 
for culinary Apples the first prize also went to Kent with the follow¬ 
ing eighteen varieties—Bedfordshire Foundling, Blenheim Pippin, 
Tower of Glamis, Round Winter Nonsuch, Lewis’s Incomparable, 
Loddington, Warner’s King, Wellington (Dumelow’s Seedling), Lord 
Derby, Minchall Crab. Hollandbury, Golden Noble, Striped Beefing, 
Beauty of Kent, New Hawthornden, Emperor Alexander, Cox’s Po¬ 
mona, and Lady Henniker. I may mention that the Loddington, 
401 
which usually creates a sensation when well exhibited, and was sup¬ 
posed to be unknown in Hereford, was shown twice, in one case taking 
the first prize for cottagers’ fruit. In the other collections were good 
specimens of Dr. Harvey, an Apple worthy of notice, and apparently 
identical with the Wormsley Pippin; Broadend, Summer Queening, 
Waltham Abbey Seedling, and Alfriston. 
In the class for fifteen varieties of dessert Pears Mr. Haycock was 
first with one of the best collections I have ever seen, including the 
following well-known varieties—Easter Beurre, Yan Mons Leon Le- 
clerc, Passe Colmar, Beurrd Superfin, Doyenne du Comice, Duchesse 
d’Angouleme, MaiAchal de Cour, General Todtleben, Marie Benoit, 
Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre Hardy, Durondeau, Brown Beurre, Beurre 
Diel, and Emile d’Heyst. Mr. Young, gardener to Sir H. Scudamore 
Stanhope, Bart., was second with an excellent collection, including, 
with others named above, good specimens of Flemish Beauty, Beurrd 
Sterckmans, and Beuire d’Aremberg. In the division for amateurs 
the first prizes for both kitchen and dessert for nine varieties went to 
Mr. Haycock. The kitchen varieties consisted of the following 
kinds—Lord Derby, Bedfordshire Foundling, Belle Josephine, Belle 
Dubois, Reinette du Canada, Peasgood’s Nonesuch, Emperor Alex¬ 
ander, Belle Dubois, Loddington, and Warner's King. In Sir H. 
Stanhope’s collection that obtained the second prize were good Blen¬ 
heims, Alfriston, Emperor Alexander, and Wormsley Pippin (the 
latter Apple I say with Captain Cuttle, “ When found make a note 
of it.”) In the other classes were many good plates, but they were 
chiefly repetitions of varieties named above. 
In some classes the Judges had a very invidious task—notably 
where the Apples were exhibited “ for flavour.” The entries were 
very numerous, and in many cases ridiculous. In giving a decision 
of course the period of ripening is the matter under consideration, 
and if a fortnightly show were held a different variety would natu¬ 
rally take the prize. The early varieties were of course out of the 
race, but the winners with Cox’s Orange Pippin were run very closely 
by plates of Margil and Cornish Gilliflower. The Ribston Pippin, in 
comparison with the others, was too hard in texture.' 
In the class for weight this year there was a notable falling-off, 
accounted for, I suppose, by the quantity grown. The heaviest Apple 
exhibited was a Warner’s King, 1 lb. 3| ozs. Hereford usually pro¬ 
duces this Apple in grand form, but this year was an exception. I 
wish some of my friends the nurserymen would tell me the reason 
they describe it as a November Apple. The second week in October 
I have always found the latest time it could be eaten, although it 
may be shown at Christmas. The old Pearmain was well shown by 
Herefordshire growers, but with Cox’s Orange Pippins they had no 
chance with the Kentish exhibitors. 
I think perhaps there may be an alteration in the class for Seek- 
no-Purthers. Many growers think this Apple is different from the 
King of the Pippins, but the distinction is impossible to prove. It 
was exhibited under six different names, and in many cases justly 
disqualified by the Judges. Messrs. A. F. Barron and Rivers acted in 
that capacity, and their awards were more thoroughly appreciated 
than is usual at horticultural exhibitions, but the names are sufficient 
to prove that the confidence in their judgment was well warranted. 
—L. A. K. 
[Our correspondent has omitted to say that Mr. Killick was awarded 
amongst other prizes the second honours for fifteen dessert and the 
first for fifteen culinary Apples.] 
We learn that there is likely to be keen competition for 
Messes. Sutton & Sons’ Prizes for vegetables at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday next. 
Messrs. Sutton will exhibit vegetables largely, and a fine display 
of Apples is expected from the Kentish growers. 
- At a meeting of the Committee of the Canterbury and 
East Kent Rose Society, held at the Rose Hotel on Saturday 
last, it was determined that the Exhibition for 1882 should be 
held at the Corn Exchange, Canterbury, on the first Thu sday 
in July. 
- Mr. E. R. Cutler writes as follows concerning the Pension 
Augmentation Fund of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution :—“Up to this date the number of the contributors 
to this fund is 426, and the amount that has been received is 
£509 7s. id., giving an average of £1 3s. 10 d. each response. The 
Committee have decided to close the list for this year on the 15th 
