November 13, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
447 
groups arranged in a space 8 feet by 5 feet, quality and general effect to be 
the leading feature, Mr. J. Allen, gardener to J. Bailey, Esq., Elmfield Hill, 
was awarded the first place for dwarf-grown plants carrying well-built 
flowers, and very effective. Mr. T. Osborne, gardener to H. J. Buchan, Esq., 
Wilton House, received second honours with plants much taller, but with 
good flowers ; Mr. Blandford, gardener to Mrs. Hazelfoot, Moorhill, the third 
place; and Mr. Shadwell, gardener to H. Morant, Esq., Manor House, Ring- 
wood, the fourth priz’. For six plants, incurved or reflexed, Mr. Wills, 
gardener to Mrs. Bassett, The Firs, Southampton, was a very good first, 
exhibiting plants from 4 to 5 feet in diameter, and carrying well-developed 
flowers ; the varieties were Mrs. Sharpe, a grand plant; Lord Alcester, 
Chevalier Homage, Pink Christine, Gloria Mirndi, and Mrs. G. Rundle. Mr. 
Allen, gardener to H. J. Buchan, Esq., took second honours for a very good 
collection of Alfred Salter, Dr. Sharpe, Snowball, Pink Christine, Mrs. Sharpe, 
and Mrs. G. Rundle. Mr. Kings, gardener to Lieut.-Col. Macleay, Lyndhurst, 
received the third prize, all exhibiting well. For four plants Mr, Allen is 
first with Mrs. Forsyth, Golden Christine, Dr. Sharpe, and Christine, all 
profusely flowered and neatly trained. Mr. W. Joy, Shirley, was placed 
second ; and Mr. J. Reynolds, gardener to the Hon. H. G. L. Crichton, Netley 
Castle, third. The six Japanese plants of Mr. Wills were marvels of cultural 
skill and training, most of the plants containing from 200 to 300 flowers, 
particularly La Nymphe and Hiver Fleuri; his other varieties were Fair 
Maid of Guernsey, Soliel Levant, Madame Berthie Rendatler, and Lady 
Selborne. Messrs. Joy and Bailey were placed second and third respectively 
with plants that sometimes are worthy of first honours. For four Japanese 
Mr. Allen was a good first with Bouquet Fait, Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
Madame Berthie Rendatler, and La Nymphe, all neatly trained and exceed¬ 
ingly well flowered. Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Thomas, gardener to R. R. 
Scott, Esq., Shirley, were placed in the order of their names. 
In the class for six plants, nurserymen, Messrs. Joy, Dove, and Ransom 
have the honours between them ; and for single specimen plant Messrs. 
Wills, Kings, Joy, and Allen were the prizetakers in order of their names. 
Cut Blooms. —Twelve classes were set apart for cut blooms, the whole of 
which were most keenly contested. In some of the classes there were fifteen 
competitors, and throughout the blooms were distinguished by their 
general high quality and freshness of colour. The most important class 
was that for twenty-four varieties, distinct, sixteen incurved or reflexed 
and eight Japanese. As there were eight collections staged, and the back 
row M’as composed throughout of Japanese, while the two front rows were 
made up of the incurved and reflexed, it produced a most brilliant effect. 
Mr. Molyneux, gardener to W. H. Myers, Esq., Swanmore Park, Bishop’s 
Waltham, gained the premier position for a magnificent collection, consisting 
of the following :—Japanese ; Baronne de Frailly, Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
Thunberg, J. Delaux, very bright and distinct; Meg Merrilees, M. Ardene, 
Comte de Germiny, and Madame Chas. Audiguier. In the second there were 
Golden Empress, Jeanne d’Arc, Alfred Salter, Empress of India, Lord Wolseley, 
Queen of England, King of Crimsons, Lord Alcester, Princess of Wales, 
good; Venus, Prince Alfred, Princess Teck, Hero of Stoke Newington, Mr. 
Heales, magnificent; and Mr. Howe. Mr. Melville, gardener to J. W. Flight, 
Esq., Cornstiles, Twyford, Winchester, was a very fair second. His collection 
contained some very large and solid flowers; King of the Crimsons, Lord 
Wolseley, Hero of Stoke Newington, and Eve being among the best. Mr. 
Wills, gardener to Mrs. Pearce, The Firs, Basset, was placed third, most of 
his b-^ing very large, but lacked refinement. King of the Crimsons, which is 
always shown at Southampton in good condition; Miss Mary Morgan, 
Snowball, and Lord Alcester were large and compact. Mr. Osborne, 
gardener to J. H. Buchan, Esq., J.P., Wilton House, was awarded fourth 
honours for a very good collection. 
For twenty-four, not less than eighteen varieties (open), there were six 
competitors. Mr. ilolyneu.x was again awarded first honours for a collection 
staged w'ith his usual excellence. Madame C. Audiguier, Fair Maid of 
Guernsey, Criterion, Flamme de Punch, Meg Merrilees, Peter the Great, 
Comte de Germiny, and a second bloom of Mad. C. Audiguier composed the 
back row; and it must be here observed that, as only eighteen varieties are 
required, in reading the names of each collection from left to right the same 
variety may be named more than onc“. In the second row there were 
Golden Empress, King of the Crimsons, Queen of England, Empress of 
India, Prince Alfred, Queen of England, Golden Empress, and Princess of 
Wales ; while the front row contained Hero of Stoke Newington, Princess of 
Wales, Prince-s Teck, Mr. Howe, Pnnce-s of Wales, Alfred Salter, Jeanne 
d’Arc, and Hero of Stoke Newington. Mr. Neville and Mr. Wills were 
.awarded respectively second and third honours for good collections, while an 
extra prize was awarded to Messrs. W. A G. Driver, Fareham. 
In the class for twelve incurved, distinct, Mr. Molyneux was well ahead 
of the other eight collections staged with Golden Empress, Princess of 
Wales, gi-and ; Lord Alcester, Empress of India, Jeanne d’Arc, Hero of 
Stoke Newington, Cherub, Mrs. Shipman, Prince Alfred, Jardindes Plantes, 
Alfred Salter, and Princess Teck. Mr. Wills obtained second honours for a 
good collection. Messrs. Drover gained the third, and Mr. Hunt, gardener 
to R. Moss, Esq., M.P., Weston Grove, the fourth positions. 
For twelve cut blooms, Japanese, di-tinct, there were eleven boxes 
staged, and here Mr. Wills and Mr. Molyneux ran each other very closely 
indeed, both collections being most evenly matched. After careful con¬ 
sideration the palm of honour was awarded to Mr. Molyneux, whose 
blooms, taken collectively, were the brightest, while a few were of greater 
depth. Mr. Molyneux’s collection consisted of Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
Criterion, M. Ardene, Comte de Germiny, Japonaise, M. Delaux, Thunberg, 
Madame C. Audiguier, Golden Dragon, .T. Delaux, fine telling variety; M. 
Burnet, good ; and Triomphe du Nord. In Mr. Wills’s there were M. 
Ardene, Golden Dragon, Hiver Fleuri, very good ; Mons. Astorg, similar to 
Elaine ; Criterion, Dolores, Meg Merrilees, Mons. Burnet, Mr. Barnes, 
Madame Lacroix, Magnum Bonum, grand for that old variety ; and 
Tiiomphedu Nord. Messrs. Neville and Drover shared the third and fourth 
positions in the order of their names. All the collections were of marked 
excellence. 
The class for twelve Anemone-flowered, not less than eight varieties, 
was encoiu'aged with seven competitors, Mr. Molyneux being a long way 
ahead with a magnificent lot which contained several new varieties, in¬ 
cluding Madame Cabot (2), Fabias de Maderanaz (3), Fleur de Marie (2), 
Sccuer Dorothee Souille (2), Mrs. Pithers, Madame Clos, Lady- Margaret, and 
Acquisition. Mr. Wills received second honours, and Messrs. Drover the 
third. 
Reflexed blooms were also staged in admirable condition, and for twelve 
blooms, not less than eight varieties, Messrs. Molyneux, Wills, and Neville 
were placed in the order of their names. The first-prize stancl consisted of 
Golden Christine (2), King of the Crimsons (2), Pink Christine, Mrs. 
Forsyth (2), Phidias (2), Cloth of Gold, Felicity, and Dr. Sharpe. In the 
seven collections there were but very few weak flowers. 
For twelve blooms in not less than six varieties of natural growth, to be 
shown with not less than 4 inches of stem above the tube, the competition 
was very keen, and some large flowers were exhibited, but in comparison 
with dressed flowers there is a want of tidiness and uniformity in the 
manner in which they were staged. Mr. Wi’lswas placed first with massive 
blooms of Queen of England, Lord Alcester, &c. Mr. Allen received the 
second prize with a stand of all Japanese, and Mr. Osborne the third 
place. 
In the gardeners’ class for twelve cut blooms not less than eight varieties, 
sixteen collections were staged, and Mr. Wildsmith, gardener to Viscount 
Eversley, Heckfield Place, Winchfield, was awarded the premier position 
with a grand stand, but principally Japanese. As in these classes there was 
no stipulation what variety should be exhibited, the Judges had more than 
ordinary trouble in coming to a decision, for it is very hard work to pit the 
worth of a good Japanese flower against a good flower of the incurved 
section. Mr. Wildsmith’s stand worthily deserved its position, and was 
composed of well-built flowers of Soliel Levant (2), Madame C. Audiguier 
(2), Fair Maid of Guernsey (2), Queen of England (2), Criterion, a magni¬ 
ficent bloom; Nil Desperandum, Hiver Fleuri, and Comte de Germiny. 
Messrs. Allen, Osborne, and Hunt divide the other awards in the order of 
their names. A similar class open to exhibitors who had never won a prize 
for Chrysanthemums at any exhibition brought out a like number of com¬ 
petitors, and the awards of first, second, third, and fourth prizes fell to Mr. 
Wildsmith ; Mr. R. H. Munday, Basingstoke ; Mr. Selden, gardener to Mrs. 
Brooke, East Cowes ; and Mr. Busby, gardener to F. Willan, Esq., J.P., 
Thornhill Park, in the order their names are here placed, all exhibiting 
good collections. 
Some very fine stands from amateurs were staged, Mr. R. Carter, Kent 
Road ; St. Denys ; and Captain Gibbs, Redthorne, Portswood, ran each other 
very closely for first position in the class for twelve cut blooms, eight varie¬ 
ties. The prizes were awarded in the order of their names, Mrs. E. Flight 
taking the third position, and for six blooms Messrs. Brodie, Reeves, and 
Bramplin were placed first, second, and third respectively. Altogether 
150 specimen plants and ISOOjblooms were staged at this fine E.xhibition. 
Fruit, particularly Grapes, Apples, and Pears, were exhibited both 
numerously and of excellent quality, the colours, particularly the Apples, being 
very bright, the result of a hot summer. Some very tastefully arranged 
miscellaneous groups were exhibited, and other deserving objects which our 
space will not suffice to state in detail. Altogether the Show was a most 
excellent one, and well patronised and well regulated. Our thanks are due 
to Mr. F. C. Fuidge, the energetic Secretary, Major General Lacy, Captain 
Gibbs, and others on the executive who united strive to make the Society as 
popular as it is. 
NOTES FROM INGESTRE. 
Any gardener visiting Ingestre Hall, Stafford, will at all times find 
something interesting and instructive, for where such energetic and 
thoroughly practical men as Mr. Gilman have charge horticulture is sure 
to be well carried out. Fruit, flowers, plants, and vegetables are culti¬ 
vated in a high-class manner, consequently it would be difficult to say 
which department is the most creditable. Grapes take precedence in 
some gardens, as also in the estimation of their owners, and the vineries 
being the first on my notes I briefly mention the excellency of the crops 
they contain in general, and of the Muscats of Alexandria in particular. 
These, though not sensational in size of bunch, are unsurpassed in 
“ finish,” bearing the rich pale amber tint so often desired by first-class 
cultivators, but not always attained. I have only seen them equalled in 
quality once, and that was by some bunches at each end of the large 
Muscat house of which I had charge at Garston Vineyard in 18G8, and 
which, along with some bunches of black varieties, I think Mr. Meredith 
had the honour of personally presenting to the Queen at Christmas of the 
same year. The bunches at Ingestre average about 2^ lbs. each, and with 
berries of more than average size. White Tokay is also remarkably well 
grown, and though not in great demand at some places there are others 
where it is a great favourite, and I wilt plead guilty to the weakness of 
being partial to it, preferring it when well grown to any other non- 
Muscat white variety. 
The conservatory is a spacious structure filled with gigantic Camellias 
well set with buds, and fine specimens of Tree Ferns and Palms, all 
clean and in robust health. The best varieties of the Camellias are Alba 
plena. Lady Hume’s Blush, Donkelaarii, and Waratah. They are all 
planted out, and comprise some of the finest specimens in the country. The 
Peach houses are nearly cleared of their fruit, and are being prepared for 
next year’s campaign. The foliage is large, green, and of good substance, 
with moderately strong and very firm wood in the late houses, and the 
early houses have their lights off and their contents exposed to the 
influences of the weather. Good crops of large and highly coloured fruits 
are annually produced both of Peaches and Nectarines, the favourite 
varieties being Violette Hative, Royal George, and Barrington Peaches ; 
Pine Apple, Pitmaston Orange, and Lord Napier Nectarines. 
Figs, as at Worksop Manor, are grown on wires up to the roof, and 
produce immense crops of luscious fruits, for in this position they receive 
the maximum amount of heat and air to be obtained in the structure, as 
well as—and this is important—the full benefit of solar heat and light. 
Brown Turkey and White Marseilles are the varieties grown, and here, as 
elsewhere, give the greatest satisfaction. 
In the Melon house was—considering the time of year, the end of 
