248 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 11, 1884. 
encourage the spread of horticulture in Sussex, and afford pleasure to the 
numerous visitors at Brighton at the present period of the year. 
The Show was divided into two divisions, the first of which comprised 
classes open to all exhibitors, and the second division containing exhibits 
from growers in the county of Sussex only. Although the arrangements 
were in the main excellent, the necessity of holding the Show in several 
small rooms rendered the task of taking notes one of no small difficulty, 
many of the fruit classes, for instance, being placed in one room, while the 
remainder were in another ; while in the case of Zonal Pelargoniums, Classes 
E and F were staged in a room some distance away from those in Class G. 
In addition to the exhibits in the apartments of the Pavilion a large maiquee 
was erected for the specimen plants and groups in the gardens adjoining. 
PLANTS. 
There were two open classes for stove and greenhouse plants, the first 
for money prizes offered by the Society, and the second for the Ashbury 
cup, value five guineas, presented by James Ashbury, Esq.; J. Warren, Esq., 
Handcross Park (Mr. Rann, gardener), being placed first in each class. In 
the former the most remarkable plants in his group were Crotons Andreanus 
and Warrenii, Gleichenia rupestris glaucescens ; and in the latter magnificent 
specimens of Crotons Andreanus and Hendersoni and an Allamanda. The 
plants appeared most healthy, and well deserved the position they won. 
Messrs. Gilbert, nurserymen, Hastings, and ]\Ir. Meachen, gardener to C. 
Armstrong, Esq., Witbdeane, were respectively second and third in each 
class. Mr. Gilbert’s exhibit in Class B included splendid specimens of Ericas 
cerinthioides coronata and Austeniana, Statice Gilberti, Allamanda Hen¬ 
dersoni, and Bougainvillea glabra. In the county class for four stove and 
greenhouse plants Mr. Warren was again to the fore, IMr. Jupp, gardener to 
C. Boulton, Esq., Eastbourne, being awarded second priz?. Handsome 
groups of Fuchsias, Coleuses, and Begonias were shown in the open classes, 
the prizes for the former being won by Mr. Fluck, gardener to J. 0. Smith, 
Esq., Richmond Villa, with a beautifully arranged group, and Mr. Meachen. 
Messrs. Martin, gardener to J. Langham, Esq., Eastbourne; Jupp, and H»ad, 
florist. West Brighton, secured the prizes for a group of Coleuses, the first- 
prize group being tastefully arranged with plants of good colour. Messrs. 
Spottiswood, gardener to G. Duddell, Esq., Queen’s Park ; Gregory, gardener 
to Admiral Maxse, Eastbourne; and Meachen, were awarded priz s for 
effective groups of Begonias. In the county classes for Fuchsias and Be¬ 
gonias Messrs. Fluck, Mann, gardener to C. Gilbert, E.sq., Eastbourne; 
Townshend, gardener to the Rev. A. Thomas, Rottingdean ; were prize¬ 
winners. Well-flowered healthy plants of Zonal Pelargoniums from Messrs. 
Gilbert, Meachen, Townshend, and Haggett secured prizes in their respective 
classes, Mr. Gilbert’s plants being particularly good ; Messrs. Warren and 
Turner being awarded prizes in the county classes for four variegated plants, 
these being chiefly Crotons. 
GROUPS. 
An important feature in the open classes were the prizes offered for 
groups of Ferns, arranged in a space not exceeding 200 square feet, and it 
is to be regretted that there was practically no competition, the only group 
staged being that of Mr. Miles; this, however, was most tastefully and 
effectively arranged—indeed, considering the general sameness of hue which 
the plants necessarily exhibited, it is astonishing how really effective the 
group was made by being massed in so skilful and artistic a manner. In the 
county classes for groups of plants the most noteworthy w^ere the compet¬ 
ing exhibits for the Ashbury cup, value five guineas, presented by James 
Ashbury, Esq., for a miscellaneous group of plants in or out of flower. This 
was secured by Mr. Meachen, who showed consistently good exhibits in each 
of the classes in which he competed. In this case his victory was extremely 
well deserved, the group being one of the most attractive features of the 
Show. It consisted of such flowering plants as Liliums, Gladioli, Begonias, 
Eucharises, Ericas, and others, interspersed with small plants of Crotons, 
Coleuses, &c., and resting on a light and attractive groundwork of Adiantums 
and other Ferns. Mr. Turner, gardenn- to Major Way, Wick Hall, was 
awarded the second prize of £3, also with an exceedingly attractive group, 
and Mr. Jupp was a meritorious third. The last-named exhibitor was well 
to the fore in the county class for groups of Ferns arranged for effect on a 
space not exceeding 75 square feet. His group was most lightly and taste¬ 
fully arranged, Mr. Townshend being awarded second prize, and Mr. Turner 
third. The groups competing in the county classes, together with the ex¬ 
hibits of Coleuses, Begonias, Fuchsias, and specimen plants before alluded to 
were staged in the marquee in the gardens, w'hich consequently looked very 
attractive. 
CUT FLOWERS. 
For these there were numerous classes provided, and the stands of 
Dahlias, Roses, Asters, Gladioli, Phloxes, and other flowers imparted an 
appreciable degree of brightness to the Show. Dahlias were remarkably 
good, the first-prize collection of forty-eight blooms of Show varieties from 
Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Xur.eeries, Cheshunt, being magnificent. Mr. 
Seale, nurseryman, was a close second with a collection of almost equal 
merit, and Messrs. Cheal & Son, Lowfield Nursery, Crawley, third. The 
position of the leading competitors in the Show class was reversed in the 
competition for twenty-four Fancy blooms, Messrs. Seale and Paul being 
first and second respectively. Messrs. Cheal, Paul, and Seale were again to 
the fore for single Dahlias, these also being splendidly shown. In the 
county classes for Dahlias they were well shown, and prizes won by the Rev. 
R. Hales and Mr. Vine nt, gardener to J. Hart, Esq., Keymer, but the com¬ 
petition was by no means keen. 
The prizes offered for Roses produced fairly good exhibits, the first prize 
in the open classes falling to Messrs. Paul & Son wdth excellent boxes of 
blooms, Messrs. G. Piper, nurseryman, Uckfield, and Virgo, Wc nersh Nurser}', 
Guildford, being second and third. In the remaining open classes the prize- 
takers were Messrs. Balchin, Seale. Piper, and Slaughter, Steyning. In the 
county classes Messrs. Slaughter, Vincent, and Hales were the prizetakers. 
The competition in the class for mixed bunches of cut flowers was fairly 
close, and many attractive bunches were shown, Messrs. Gilbert, Balchin, 
and Morse, nurseryman, Epsom, taking the prizes. Messrs. Staples. Balchin, 
and Townshend took the prizes for Phloxes and Gladioli. In addition to 
those pieviously mentioned Messrs. Hyde, Hope, Hobden, and Fowler 
were to the fore in the county classes. Open classes were also provided for 
wreaths of white flowers, table decorations, bridal bouquets, itc., and prizes 
were also offered for the best tables laid for dessert. In these classes Mr. 
Chard, Floral Depot. Clapham Common, evinced decided superiority, taking 
first prize for the dessert tabP, most lightly and tastefully arranged, Mr. 
Miles being second ; Messrs. Webber, Tonbridge, and Balchin also taking 
prizes in these classes, many charming designs being shown. A not unim¬ 
portant feature were the open classes for table plants in or out of bloom, 
and in these Messrs. Balchin, Turner, Meachen, and Spottiswood were 
deserving prizetakers. 
FRUIT. 
Both in the open and county classes the fruit exhibits were on the whole 
good. Grapes in particular being excellent. There was, however, only one 
entry in the open class for twelve dishes of fruit, the first prize being a cup, 
value ten guineas, presented by the Directors of the London, Brighton, and 
South-Coast Railway Company. This was secured by Mr. Roberts, gardener, 
Gunnersbury Park, with Grapes, Pine Apples, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums, 
Figs, Melons, and others. For three bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes 
the first prize fell to Mr. Inglis, gardener to T. Lister, Esq., Cuckfield, with 
large and well-coloured bunches, Mr. Ford being second, and Mr. Booth, gar¬ 
dener to W. YaGs, Esq., Uckfield, third. The prizewinners in the correspond¬ 
ing class for county exhibitors being Messrs. Hotston, gardener to R. H. 
Penney, Esq., Dyke Road ; Dixon, gardener to Sir S. M. Nelson, Fletching ; 
and Meachen, the first-named securing premier honours with splendidly 
coloured bunches. Mr. Johnstone, 'The Gardens, Bayham Abbey, was 
awarded first prize for three bunches of white Muscats with large and well- 
ripened examples, Mr. Goldsmith. Kelsey Manor Gardens, being second, and 
Mr. Wells, Earlswood, third ; Messrs. Chatfield, gardener to T. Holman, 
Esq., East Hoathly ; Spottiswood, and Townshend being to the fore in the 
county class. Several entries were received for six bunches of black Grapes, 
Mr. Hotston being again first with splendid bunches, Mr. Warren, gardener 
to Mrs. Hankey, Balcombe Place, taking second prize, and Mr. Booth third. 
For six bunches of Muscats Messrs. Johnstone, Goldsmith, and Spottiswood 
took the prizes in the order named. An open class was also provided for a 
collection of Grapes, to comprise three bunches each of six varieties. For 
this the first prize was the Hotel-keepers’ cup, value ten guineas, and it was 
easily won by Mr. Roberts with magnificent bunches of Black Hamburgh, 
Alnwick Seedling, Madresfield Court, Buckland Sweetwater, Muscat of 
Alexandria, and Foster’s Seedling. Mr. Chatfield, with large but badly 
coloured bunches, was second, and Mr. Wells third. 
Messrs. Waldir, gardener to D. Cornish, Esq., Burgess Hill; Balchin, 
Hyde, Staples, Mann, and Ford were prizewinners in the classes for Peaches 
and Nectarines, as were the two last-named exhibitors and Messrs. Booth, 
Miller, Hotston, Durrant, Smith, Stringer, and Johnstone for Apples and 
Pears. Plums and Green Gages were w'ell shown by Messrs. Staples, Stringer, 
Holman, and Stephens. For Figs and Cherries Messrs. Stephens, Ford, 
Staples, Butler, Burtenshaw. and Gatehouse took the prizes. In the county 
classes Messrs. White, Waldir, Dixon, Fowler, and Ford were to the fore 
with Peaches and Nectarines ; Messrs. Hotston, Dixon, Stephens, Towns - 
hend, Graveley, Ford, Deadman, Fowler, Hyde, and Mann with Apples and 
Pears; Messrs. Johnstone, Stephens, Burtenshaw, Holman, Ford, Butler, 
Fowler, and Plater with Plums, Green Gages, Figs, and Cherries ; while for 
Tomatoes Messrs. Johnstone and Townshend secured the prizes. 
Messrs. Balchin, Piper, Woolard, and others sent miscellaneous exhibits 
not for competition, these adding in no small degree to the success of the 
Show. 
STAMFORD SHOW. 
September 2nd. 
This praiseworthy effort on the part of the managers and some persons 
interested in horticulture in the neighbourhood to revive the annual Flower 
Show at Stamford must be recorded, I fear, as a financial failure, although 
under the patronage of the Mayor (who kindly distributed the prizes), the 
Most Hon. the Marquis of Exeter, the Earls of Lindsey, Gainsborough, 
Rosslyn, and many others of the nobility and gentry in the district. The 
weather, as usual, was the cause of all the trouble. The day opened fine 
and promising, but about 2 p.m. heavy clouds came over the scene, and 
soon a heavy downpour of rain, which lasted until five o’clock, accompanied 
by very sharp lightning and thunder, caused what few people had then 
assembled to crowd into the tents, and kept those at home who would other¬ 
wise have come. The weather, however, was finer in time for the fire¬ 
works in the evening, which were well attended, and this partly com¬ 
pensated for the small amount taken at the gates in the afternoon. But, 
although a financial failure, it was not a failure as far as exhibitors are con¬ 
cerned, upwards of 500 entries being secured; but, still, more competition 
was expected, and was certainly desirable. Many of the exhibits which 
gained prizes would have stood a poor chance if this had been the case, so 
exhibitors will do well to make a note of this Show for another year, Stam¬ 
ford being in direct rail communication with all parts of the kingdom, as 
the three principal companies have stations there, and it is hoped this 
partial failure ■will not dishearten the Committee and Secretaries in their 
endeavours to provide a show next year, and we trust under favourable 
auspices. 
Open Cl.^sses. —The principal prize on the schedule was for a mis¬ 
cellaneous collection of plants, which was won by Earl Lindsey; J. R. 
Lowe, Esq., being second; and A. Maples, Esq., third. Some fair speci¬ 
mens of Coleus were shown, the Earl of Lindsey being again first, J. E. 
Lowe, Esq., second; Miss Thompson, Stamford, being awarded an extra 
prize. Roses were scarce, but shown in splendid condition by Mr. J. House, 
nurseryman, Peterborough, who was the only exhibitor. Mr. House was 
also first for Dahlias in all three classes—viz., twenty-four double, twelve 
Fancy, and twelve single—the latter being an error on the part of the 
Judges; the second-prize box shown by Messrs. Brown of Stamford being 
far superior. HoUyhock were poor, but it is a treat to see them at all 
now-a-days. Mr. House was first again, and also the only exhibitor. A good 
stand of Zinnias came from Mr. Wilson, gardener to the Earl of Lindsejq 
who also obtained first prize for cut Pelargoniums. For hardy cut flowers 
there was more competition, and especially noticeable in one stand was 
the bright colour of Senecio pulcher. Mr. House, first; Messrs. W. it J. 
Brown, second; Earl of Lindsey, third. For hand bouquets there were 
