July 81, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
101 
of very fine Crotons, Dracsenas, and Ferns, conspicuous amongst which were 
fine specimens of Dracaena amabilis and Goldieana. A marked dift’erence 
between this and the second-prize group was in the number of flowering 
plants it contained, which in Mr. Hannah’s group were plentiful and good. 
The second-prize group was arranged by Mr. W. Winter, gardener to J. 
Tasker, Esq., and was a very good and tastefully arranged one, which called 
forth much praise. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —Of these there was a fine display in all the 
several classes or sections. In that devoted to nurserymen Messrs. Fisher, 
Son & Sibray were the largest and moat successful exhibitors ; Mr. Hannah, 
the like position amongst gentlemen’s gardeners. In one class, however, for 
six stove or greenhouse plants, restricted to growers within seven miles of 
Sheffield, the first prize was taken by Mr- J. Walker, gardener to B. P. 
Broomhead, Esq., Broomhall Field, with a very evenly matched collection, 
consisting of Crotons variegatus, majesticus, and Johannis, Cycas revoluta, 
Impatiens Sultani fine, and Asparagus plumosus nanus, a grand plant. Mr. 
Hannah was placed second with a collection scarcely inferior. For six plants, 
open to all, Mr. Hannah was a long way first with very fine plants of Phyl- 
lotfenium Lindeni, Cordyline indivisa. Crotons majesticus and variegatus, 
Dracaena Youngii, and Anthurium Warocqueanum. 
Crotons. —In a class for six Crotons, distinct, Mr. Hannah was placed first 
with large, clean, and grandly coloured specimens of C. Morti, Queen Vic¬ 
toria, variegatus, angustifolius, Wiesmanii, and majesticus. 
Table Plants. —For these good prizes were offered in each section, conse¬ 
quently there was a large number of exhibits. In the nurserymen’s class, 
Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray were again the most successful. In a class for 
six Palms for table decoration they exhibited a beautiful collection, consisting 
of Areca lutescens, Dsemonorops Lewisianus, Calamus ciliaris, Geonoma 
gracilis, Kentia Canterburyana, and Cocos Weddelliana. In the amateurs’ 
and gentlemen’s gardeners’ class, open, Mr. Sheridan, gardener to Mrs. Harmor, 
Ranfall, was first with admirable examples. 
Orchids. —Of these plants there was not a large display, but some good 
specimens were shown. In the nurserymen’s class for six exotic Orchids in 
bloom, Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray were first with fine specimens of Den- 
drobium thyrsiflorum, twelve spikes ; D. Bensonim, a large basketful; Cypri- 
pedium barbatum nigrum, Vanda tricolor, and Cattleya Leopold!. Mr. 
Hannah was first in the gardeners’ class with good plants of Masdevallia 
Veitchii, Odontoglossum Alexandrse, and Disa grandiflora, a fine piece. For 
a single specimen, Mr. Walker was placed first with Vanda tricolor; Mr. 
Hannah second with Cattleya gigas. For three plants, limited to Sheffield 
growers, Mr. Walker was first with Dendrobium Dearii, D. Bensonire, and 
Miltonia spectabilis. 
Ferns, Exotic and British, —Of these a large number were exhibited in 
both classes. For thirty-six varieties of British Ferns, distinct, some beautiful 
collections were staged, Mr. J no. Eadon taking first prize and Mr. H. Davy 
second. For six varieties Mr. Eadon was again first, Mr. J. W. Newsham 
second. Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray were first in the trade class for six 
exotics with grand plants of Todeas grandis and pellucida; Mr. Hannah 
being first in the gardeners’ class with the six finest specimens in the Show, 
amongst which were grand examples of Adiantums farleyense and 
gracillimum and of Gleichenia Mendelli. 
Coleuses were well shown by Messrs. Sheridan and Simmonds. The first 
prize six, from Mr. Sheridan, were Idia, Pompadour, Wizard of Woking, 
G- Simpson, Mrs. G. Simpson, and Sunrise. 
Selaginellas were remarkably good from Mr. Speight, gardener to Mrs. 
Fawcett, Clarke House, his pans of apoda and denticulata elegans being 
almost unsurpassable. 
Begonias. —These were finely shown as plants in pots by Messrs. Fisher, 
Son & Sibray, and as cut blooms by Messrs. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, 
whose blooms of both double and single varieties astonished all who saw 
them, both for their wondrous size and brilliant colours. The same exhibitors 
also set up a very fine lot of Zonal Pelargoniums, cut blooms, in a most attrac¬ 
tive style peculiarly their own. 
Roses. —Prizes amounting to over sixty guineas had been offered for these, 
and the good display occupied a large space. Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray 
exhibited in a class for twelve Roses in pots (Perpetuals) and were first, in 
addition to which they had about 100 plants in pots not for competition— 
dwarf vigorous healthy plants, each carrying about half a dozen expanded 
blooms. In cut blooms the first prize for thirty-six varieties, single trusses, 
was carried off by Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, with a very fine lot, the 
second prize going to Mr. Proctor, nurseryman. Chesterfield. In the class for 
twenty-four the same exhibitors were again the prizewinners, but with a 
change of position, Mr. Proctor being first, Messrs. Paul second. The contest 
in this class was very close, and some excellent blooms were staged. In 
classes for eighteen Hybrid Perpetuals, six Teas or Noisettes and six new 
Roses sent out since 1881, Messrs. Paul were in each case placed first. The 
six new Roses staged by them were Pride of Reigate, Queen of Queens, 
Duchess of Connaught, Merveille de Lyon, Pride of Waltham, and Ulrich 
Brunner. 
In the class for amateurs the first prize for thirty-six varieties (a silver 
cup given by the Mayor of Sheffield) was carried off by the Rev. J. W. 
Pemberton, Romford, Essex, with fine blooms ; Mr. Thomas B. Hall, Rock 
Ferry, Birkenhead, being placed seeond. The stand of the last-named con¬ 
tained the premier bloom in the Show, a grand A. K. Williams, which was 
stated by the Judges to be the best bloom they had seen this season. In the 
three next classes—those for twenty-four, eighteen, and twelve blooms—Mr. 
Hall was an easy first, he being the only competitor. In the class limited to 
growers within seven miles of Sheffield, Duncan Gilmour, jun,. Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. Holland), carried off the leading prizes with fine blooms. The first prize 
for a single bouquet of Roses in this class was won by Mr. T. B. Hague, a 
similar prize for two Rose bouquets going to D. Gilmour, Esq. 
Cut Fioioers.—ThQ first prize for a collection of twelve stove or greenhouse 
varieties was won by Mr. Hannah, second Mr. Sheridan. Mr. Hannah was 
also first with a hand bouquet. For a bride’s bouquet and a ball bouquet Mr. 
T. Earnshaw was first in each case. In two classes for six buttonhole 
bouquets, Mr. Walker and Mr. J. Simmonds gardener to G. Fisher, Esq., 
Endcliffe Grove, each won a first place. Carnations and Picotees were 
shown in fine condition by Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray, and Mr. B. 
Simonite. 
Fruit. —For pot Vines Mr. Sheridan was a good first with both black and 
white Grapes, his Vines being well grown and carrying each eight or nine 
good bunches. For two bunches of black Grapes Mr. Simmonds was first 
with very good examples of Mill Hill Hamburgh, the bunches being about 
IJ lb. each, with very large and well-coloured berries. Mr. G. H. Shaw, 
Howden, Yorkshire, was second with much larger bunches of Black Hamburgh 
not well coloured. White Grapes.—First Mr. C. F. Shorter, second Mr. 
Sheridan. Muscats.—First G. H. Shaw, second J. Simmonds. The first prize 
for one Pine Apple was awarded to Mr. J. Sutton, gardener to — Garside, Esq., 
Worksop Manor, for a very fine Providence. Mr. Simmonds gained a first 
prize for one Melon with a large fruit of Blenheim Orang'^, also a first for 
Cucumbers with two very fine, smooth, straight examples of Carter’s Model. 
For six Peaches Mr. Shaw was first with Grosse Mignonne, Mr. J. Sutton 
second with Dr. Hogg, scarcely inferior to those placed first. Six Nectarines- 
—First J. Walker, second j. Sutton. For Tomatoes, four distinct kinds, 
three fruits of each, first G. H. Shaw, Esq., with very fine specimens of 
Hathaway’s Excelsior, Sutton’s Perfection, Sutton’s Earliest of All, and 
Shaw’s Perfection, a very large and smooth variety, colour a very dark 
crimson—a very fine show variety. 
Miscellaneous .—Large groups of plants, not for competition, were con¬ 
tributed by Mr. B. S. Williams, Holloway, London, and Messrs. Fisher, Son 
and Sibray, Handsworth, Sheffield. The groups shown by the first-named 
exhibitor filled a space of about 30 feet by 10 feet and contained a large 
number of rare and valuable plants, including a good number of Orchids in 
bloom, conspicuous amongst which were Cypripedium superbiens, severa 
plants, one with seven flowers, Cattleyas Dowianaand Mendelli, Dendrobium 
Bensonire, Lmlia purpurata several plants, Odontoglossum Alexandras 
Warnerii, and others. In Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray’s group, which occu 
pied slightly more space than that from Mr. Williams, were some fine 
Crotons, Dracmnas, Palms, and Ferns, a beautiful case of Bertolonias and 
Sonerilas, two fine densely flowered plants of Dipladenia boliviensis, and a 
very large Stephanotis almost solid with bloom and trained in a novel style 
—viz., a ballon-shaped trellis of the ordinary type about 4 feet high and 
4 feet through, from the centre of which sprang supports carrying a second 
umbrella-shaped trellis some 1 foot 6 inches above the balloon, the whole 
well covered with good foliage and abundant bloom. A group of four dozen 
pots of named varieties Pansies, from Mr. Herbert Simpson, Crookes, Sheffield, 
proved very attractive. Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray took first honours in a 
class for three new plants brought into commerce since 1881, with Selaginella 
grandis, Leea amabilis, and Eucharis Sanderii. 
Especial praise is due to Mr. Ewing, the esteemed Curator of the 
Gardens, for the effective manner in which his part of the work has been 
performed, for the great courtesy extended by him to all concerned, and for 
the beautiful condition of the grounds, especially the carpet bedding along 
the broad terrace walk, which is very effective and was greatly admired by 
all.—W. K. W. 
NEWSTEAD ABBEY. 
Amidst the grandeur and the stillness of the forest stands the world- 
renowned Abbey of Newstead, a grand old pile, around which cling so 
many historic recollections. It is easily reached by Midland route, and is 
distant from Nottingham about eleven miles. The visitor ere leaving the 
railway station must make application for a pass to enable him to view the 
Abbey and grounds. These passes are freely granted to any applying for 
them, and only those in possession of such obtain admission, and, leaving 
the railway, the visitor commences his pleasant walk to the Abbey. Pass¬ 
ing the entrance gates, we proceed by a spacious road of recent date, 
having Limes and Chestnuts, destined one day to form an avenue of con¬ 
siderable importance. No special attractions here exist, the road being 
perfectly straight, but passing by the second lodge both a change in the 
scenery and a pleasing landscape are opened up to view. The ancient and 
renowned forest of Sherwood. The route is somewhat diversified, the 
visitor having to pass beneath the shade of an avenue of Oaks. The sur¬ 
roundings increase in beauty, till at length the grand old Abbey is seen. 
It is delightfully situate, and commands an extensive view. The front of 
the Abbey presents a noble and imposing appearance. Its style of architec¬ 
ture is somewhat mixed, and antiquarians and archieologists are as yet un¬ 
decided as to the exact date of some of its parts. Its front, however, is an 
exquisite specimen of the early English style, and it said to be unique. 
To the immediate left of the visitor are the remains of the old Abbey 
church, which, containing similar tracery, excite the curiosity of those 
learned in ancient architecture. 
The Abbey of Newstead, or New Place, is of considerable antiquity, 
having been founded in the year 1170 by Henry II. Nothing of impor¬ 
tance, however, seems to have been recorded till the dissolution of the 
monasteries in 1539, when it was surrendered to Henry VIII., w'ho 
the following year granted it to Sir John Byron. During the time the 
Byrons, who were a warlike race, held Newstead many and various were 
the changes it underwent, at times being quite unfit for habitation, at 
others fitted in princely style. It was visited by some of England’s 
greatest monarchs, who were also entertained within its walls. It subse¬ 
quently passed into the hands of Colonel Wildman, who set about its im¬ 
mediate restoration, and at his death it was secured by the present pro¬ 
prietor, William Frederick Webb, Esq., who, together with Mrs. Webb, 
have exhibited such a noble appreciation of all pertaining to the Abbey. 
I cannot dwell longer on the many^nd various striking features which 
here abound, and which cannot in a brief notice like the present be justly 
recorded, but will suflfice by enumerating some of the m 'st noteworthy 
features during a pleasant walk through the grounds. Conspicuous on the 
south front are stone-edged beds, ingeniously planted with Sedums, Mentha, 
Iresine, and similar plants, which so well adapt themselves in all carpet- 
bed arrangements. In close proximity, too, must be noted a fine old 
Wistaria, and in the front of the mansion is the lake, a fine expanse ot 
water some 36 acres in extent. Here Byron was wont to sail, and practise 
some of those eccentricities to which he was prone, and from this point the 
