444 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 17, 1881. 
a very long time, if not for ever. Our garden here is about one 
hundred years old, and has, as long as anyone remembers, been 
tilled exclusively with these manures, and it continues to produce 
good crops of all kinds of vegetables, Potatoes especially. We 
have had tubers lying in the fruit-room for a month, some of 
which weigh 2 lbs. each. These manures will provide a consider¬ 
able quantity of potasb, straw and manure included in the stable- 
yard manure, but not nearly enough, according to “ Single- 
handed,” and our Potatoes ought by this time to be elongating 
their tops and producing fewer and fewer tubers of constantly 
decreasing size, but such has not happened yet. Indeed the 
haulms have never been over-luxuriant—not more than I like to 
see them. Onions are equally as good as Potatoes. The subject 
taken up by your correspondent is an important one ; and I might, 
perhaps, suggest that the interests of the practical gardener 
would be best consulted by taking up one garden vegetable at a 
time, stating what substances it requires most of to grow it suc¬ 
cessfully, and where the gardener can most readily find them. 
There are plenty of works on plant-chemistry, some, I think, 
published at your office ; but in practical garden articles I think 
the subject might be brought home in a more concise manner 
than is being done, and more to the advantage of those for whom 
the information is intended.— Practical. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
So far the exhibitions have proved better than was expected 
by many growers, but there has been more irregularity in the 
exhibits than usual, some being of excellent quality, and others 
of very inferior merit. Both incurved and Japanese blooms have 
been well shown in the leading collections, but really good 
specimen plants have not been so numerous as during previous 
years. 
RICHMOND. 
Though this was the first Show of the season, and fixed at a some¬ 
what early date—the 10th inst.—even for the south in the present 
year, and though many had predicted a failure, yet it is satisfactory 
to record that in number of exhibits and general good quality all the 
success was attained that could have been desired by the most hopeful 
of the Society’s supporters. As on the last occasion, the spacious and 
handsome rooms of the Castle Hotel were secured for the Exhibition, 
one being devoted to the groups of Chrysanthemums, the majority of 
the specimen plants, the fruit, and a few miscellaneous exhibits, while 
the other which overlooks the Thames contained the cut blooms and 
table plants, the small intermediate apartment being appropriated to 
the vegetables. 
Groups .—One class was provided for a group of Chrysanthemums 
arranged for effect, to occupy a space not exceeding 50 square feet, 
the prizes being £2 10s., £2, and £1 10s. The competition was ex¬ 
tremely spirited, nine groups being entered, forming the chief feature 
in the first large room. The plants, too, were mostly in good con¬ 
dition, the flowers large, and the arrangement tasteful. But in those 
that failed to secure a position among the prizewinners the principal 
defect was the bareness of the front rows, due to the plants employed 
being too tall. Two feet height of bare stems in the front allowed 
all the pots to be seen, and imparted a harsh unfinished appearance 
to some that were otherwise satisfactory. The chief honour was 
adjudged to Mr. C. Bond, The Gardens, Orford House, Ham, who 
staged a bright and compact but not crowded group, the blooms being 
of notable size, and the different colours well disposed. Mr. W. 
Brown, St. Mary’s Grove Nursery, Richmond, was a very close second 
with a handsome group, the only defect of which was a rather too 
noticeable approach to crowding ; but for this it would have well 
merited a higher position. Mr. J. Sallows, gardener to J. J. Flack. 
Esq., Heddingham House, Twickenham, was third, bis plants being 
very strong and the foliage surprisingly vigorous, but the flowers 
were scarcely sufficiently numerous, and the arrangement was rather 
loose. 
Specimen Plants .—These formed the weakest portion of the display, 
not in numbers but in quality. The leading collections were gene¬ 
rally satisfactory, but there -was considerable disparity in the equality 
of the second and third-prize plants in most of the classes. In the 
class for six large-flowering varieties Mr. Sallow's was placed first 
with dwarf flat-trained even specimens, Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. G. Rundle. 
Julia Lagravere, George Glenny, and St. Patrick being the most note¬ 
worthy. All were flowering well. _ Mr. G. Stevens, St. John’s Nursery, 
Putney, followed with larger specimens, not so formally trained, but 
bearing abundance of flowers, especially an example of Julia Lagra¬ 
vere, which was very handsome. Mr. J. Coombes, Sheen House, 
Richmond, was third with small plants. For three standard large- 
flowering varieties Mr. E. Beckett, gardener to J. P. Currie, Esq., 
Sandown House, Esher, was the chief prizetaker with neatly trained 
examples of Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, and George Glennjn Mr. 
Sallows followed closely with good plants, but too recently tied. 
The best single specimen in the large-flow r ered section was Mrs. 
Haliburton from Mr. E. Beckett, who w'as follow'ed by Mr. Stevens 
with Mr. Brunlees, and Mr. G. Trussler, gardener to A. Cooper, Esq., 
Thistlcworth, Twickenham. ’ ’ 
Specimen Pompons were shown in four classes, but the best were 
those in the class for six specimens trained with single stems. Mr. 
G. Stevens was first with dwarf neat plants of Liliputian, Rosinante, 
Golden and Lilac Cedo Nulli, Mr. Hutt, and Bijou. Mr. W. Brown 
followed with taller plants, President being very fine. Mr. J. Wa - 
staff, gardener to J. H. Elam, Esq., Firsleigh, Isleworth, staged the 
finest single specimen—a handsome example of Rosinante. flowering 
profusely. Mr. J. Coombes followed with Mdlle. Marthe, and Mr. 
W. Brown with President, both good. The above-named exhibitors 
also secured the chief prizes in several other smaller classes. 
Cut Blooms .—The competition in nearly all the cut bloom classes 
was very keen, two long tables being occupied with the boxes. 
Three classes were devoted to incurved varieties—namely, for eighteen, 
twelve, and six. The best stand of eighteen was contributed by Mr. 
E. Molyneux, gardener to W. H. Myers, Esq., Swanmore Park, Bishop’s 
Waltham, the flowers being of excellent form, but those in the front 
row were slightly flat, and the others were not large but very neat. 
The varieties were Miss Mary Morgan, Snowball, Prince Alfred, 
Princess of Wales, Baron Beust, Mr. Heale, Inner Temple, General 
Bainbrigge, Princess Teck, Lady Hardinge, George Glenny, Princess 
Beatrice, Barbarossa, and Eve. The bloom of Inner Temple was one 
of the best we have seen. Mr. E. Berry, gardener to the Countess 
of Leven, Roehampton, was second with good blooms, but not quite 
so even as the first. Nil Desperandum, Rev. J. Dix, and John Salter 
were admirably represented. Mr. J. Bennett, gardener to F. Rode- 
well, Esq., Feldheim, Wimbledon, was third with neat blooms. There 
were five exhibitors. Ten collections were staged in the class for a 
dozen blooms, and nearly all were satisfactory. Mr. W. R. Strong, 
gardener to Mrs. Reid, Kenwolde Court, Virginia Water, was an ex¬ 
cellent first with very handsome blooms, particularly the examples of 
Golden Queen, Empress of India, Golden Empress, and Queen of 
England in the back row of the stand ; these were not only large 
but of great substance and good form. The other blooms were of 
similar merit. Mr. Elcombs, gardener to F. H. Brown, Esq., Lawn 
Bank, Teddington ; and Mr. C. Slade, gardener to Lady Bowater, 
Richmond, were second and third respectively with very creditable 
blooms. Collections of six were well shown by Messrs. W. R. Strong, 
E. Coombs, and J. Strong, gardener to H. Sweet, Esq., Dornley House, 
Weybridge, who were the prizetakers among nine exhibitors. 
Japanese varieties were represented by several beautiful collections. 
The best twenty-four blooms were staged by Mr. E. Molyneux, and 
■were greatly admired, being large, of good substance, and bright in 
colours. The chief varieties were Baronne de Prailly, Peter the Great, 
Alba Plena, Cry Kang, Mdlle. Moulise, Ducal, Peter the Great, James 
Salter, Criterion, M. Ardene, Hiver Fleur, Bouquet Fait, Elaine, 
Madame Berthe Rendatler, L’lncomparable, Nymphe, Triomphe du 
Nord, and Red Dragon. Mr. Sallows was a close second with fine 
flowers but rather looser than the first. Bronze and Red Dragons, 
Chang, and Nymphe were noteworthy. Mr. W. R. Strong was third, 
his best blooms being Pere Delaux and Triomphe du Nord, the former 
very rich in colour. Five collections were staged. The class for 
twelve was well filled, eight competitors entering. Mr. G. King, 
gardener to R. Few, Esq., Esher, was accorded chief honours for 
excellent blooms of Soleil de Levant, Criterion, Oracle, Cry Kang, 
and M. Ardene amongst others ; Messrs. J. Strong and J. Hill, gar¬ 
dener to A. Savory, Esq., Potter’s Park, followed closely. Mr. J. 
Hill gained the first prize for twelve reflexed blooms, the varieties 
being Cloth of Gold, Christine, Golden Christine, Mrs. Forsyth, Dr. 
Sharpe, Phidias, and Chevalier Domage, all of fair quality. Mr. 
Sallows was a good second, his best blooms being Mrs. Forsyth, 
William Shipman, Annie Salter, and Mazeppa. Anemone-flowered 
varieties were not largely shown, nor were they of first-rate quality. 
Mr. J. Bennett had the best, including Lady Margaret, George Sands, 
Empress, Prince of Anemones, Fleur de Marie, Gluck, and Mr. 
Pethers. 
Fruit ..—Though not so largely shown as last year, fruit of good 
quality was staged, particularly the Apples and Pears. For a col¬ 
lection of six dishes of fruit Mr. J. Hudson, gardener to H. J. 
Atkinson, Esq., Gunnersbury House, Acton, was first with w r ell- 
coloured Alnwick Seedling and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, neat 
King of the Pippins and Hollandbury Apples, and Beurre Superfin 
Pears. Mr. J. Munro, gardener to Lady Chichester, Cambridge House, 
Twickenham, followed. The best four dishes of Apples among the 
thirteen collections staged were from Mr. E. Beckett, the varieties 
being Cox’s Orange Pippin, King of Pippins, Emperor Alexander, 
and Blenheim Pippin, all of even size. Mr. Ivinghorn, Sheen Nursery, 
Richmond, was a very close second with fine examples of Ribston 
and Blenheim Pippins. Mr. W. Fanning, The Convent, Roehampton, 
■was third. Eight collections of Pears (four dishes each), Mr. G. 
King winning the premier prize with Marie Louise d’Uccle, Beurrb 
Diel, General Todtleben, and Catillac. Messrs. W. Fanning and 
Hudson followed in that order. 
Vegetables .—In the c'ass provided by the Society for a collection of 
vegetables, six varieties, the competition was remarkably keen, though 
the prizes were small. Fifteen collections were staged. Mr. J. Hill 
was first with creditable examples of Autumn Giant Cauliflowers, 
Snowflake Turnips, Aigburth Sprouts, Model Cucumbers, Hathaway’s 
Excelsior Tomatoes, and Schoolmaster Potatoes. Messrs. J. Edie, 
gardener to P. Adie, Esq., Worton Hall, Isham, and B. Murrell carried 
off the other prizes with clean healthy vegetables. 
In addition to the above, table plants were numerously and well 
