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504 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November so, isaa. 
Haines, gardener to Mrs. Jones, Clock House, West Hill ; a box of 
Pears and collection of fruit by Mr. Goodyear, gardener to W. Vant, 
Esq., Grove House ; a stand of twenty-four “ undressed ” incurved 
blooms by Mr. G. Harding, gardener to T. D. Galpin, Esq., Putney 
Heath ; and a model bee hive by Mr. Smith, Cyprus Cottage, Wim¬ 
bledon. 
STAINES.— November 23rd. 
Presumably with a similar object in view, and with similar chances 
of success to the Walton and Weybridge Society, a Chrysanthemum 
Society has this year been formed on the Middlesex side of the Thames, 
embracing the districts of Staines, Egham, Ashford, and Laleham, 
and the efforts of the projectors have been so far successful that the 
first Exhibition, held on Thursday last in the Staines Town Hall 
proved, though of moderate extent, sufficiently satisfactory to encou¬ 
rage hopes of considerable progress in future years. H.It.H. Prince 
Christian accords the Society his patronage as President; the Vice- 
Presiden’s include more than a dozen of the leading gentlemen in the 
neighbourhood, while a strong and practical Committee, with the 
courteous and experienced Secretary, Mr. T. J. Rawlings, evidently 
intend rendering their show a credit to the district. The first exhi¬ 
bition of a society like this can be considered as little more than an 
experi nent, and it is only when two or three have been held that the 
capabilities of the growers can be fully perceived and provided for 
accordingly in the schedule. Some litt'e time, too, is needed to give 
t ie local growers confidence, and induce those who have hitherto been 
non-exhibitors to enter the lists with their neighbours and test the 
rerpectn e merits of their productions side by side. It was not, there¬ 
fore, to be expected that the competition would be very keen, espe¬ 
cially as the prizes were moderate—indeed, when the schedule was 
first issued the amount of the prizes could only be stated in a few 
classes. Though, however, the contributors were not so numerous as 
they may be expected to be another year, yet the plants and blooms 
were sufficient to fill, without crowding, the commodious hall devoted 
to the Show, and these being arranged with excellent taste con¬ 
stituted an effective display. 
The groups of Chrysanthemums formed the leading feature, eight 
being placed round the hall, four on each side. The class was pro¬ 
vided for, a group arranged for effect in a half-circular space 10 feet 
by 5 feet, the quality of the plants and blooms, as well as the style 
of arrangement, being taken into consideration. Mr. Thatcher, 
gardener to H. L. Burnell, Esq., Thorpe, secured the chief honours 
with a most meritorious group both in arrangement and in the 
quality of the plants and blooms composing it. An even sloping 
bank was formed, the blooms being abundant, large, and the colours 
clear and bright. Dwarf healthy plants formed the margin and 
imparted a suitable finish to the appearance. Mr. Hutchings, gar¬ 
dener to E. H. Ashby, Esq., Westbourne House, Staines, followed with 
a free graceful arrangement, his plants being most profusely flowered, 
especially prominent being Soeur Melanie and Julie Lagravere in fine 
condition. Mr. H. Craile, gardener to G. F. Yeo, Esq., The Hythe, 
Staines, took the third position, having fresh healthy plants,ard fairly 
well flowered. Mr. H. Jemmett, gardener to H. C. Paice, Esq., Egham, 
and Mr. G. Riddick, gardener to W. Paice. Esq., The Limes, Egham, 
were awarded the fourth and fifth prizes. Two handsome groups not 
in competition at the sides of the proscenium were also noteworthy, 
both containing remarkably well grown plants. That from Mr. 
McNichol, gardener to W. Burchell, Esq., Laleham, comprised freely 
flowered examples of Chrysanthemums, with a pretty margin of 
Roman Hyacinths and Selaginellas alternately. Mr. Sims, gardener 
to W. B. Eastwood, Esq., had a greater diversity of plants in his 
group, including besides Chrysanthemums, well-grown Bouvardias 
and Poinsettias, with Palms, Ferns, and similar fine-foliage plants. 
In other classes for plants several collections of vigorous neatly 
trained specimens were staged. Mr. E. J. Sims, gardener to J. N. 
Pimm, Esq., The Mansion, Staines, had the best four standards, most 
creditable examples of Fair Maid of Guernsey, St. Patrick, Venus, 
and Refulgence, the heads even and the blooms good. Mr. Craile 
followed with smaller but praiseworthy specimens. For a pair of 
standards Mr. J. Cox, gardener to J. F. Mieville, Esq., Duncroft, 
Staines, won the premier prize with Mrs. G. Rundle and G. Glenny, 
neat, healthy, and well flowered; Mr. Jemmett taking the second place. 
For the best single specimen standard Mr. Thatcher took the lead 
with G. Glenny in fair condition, Mr. Riddick following closely with 
Her Majesty. Mr. Sims had a neat pair of standard Pompons, St. 
Michael and Mr. Murray being the varieties. 
Cut blooms were fairly represented, as, though they were not large, 
they were mostly neat and compact, fresh and bright. In the open 
class for twenty-four incurved Mr. Thatcher secured the chief prize 
with a creditable collection ; Mr. Gray, gardener to Griffith Thomas, 
Esq.. Park House, Englefield Green, taking a similar position in the 
district class. Mr. Hutchings exhibited the best twenty-four Japan¬ 
ese, and Mr. Riddick the best twelve, all good blooms. In other 
classes Messrs. Cox, Thatcher, Hutchings, Sims, and Riddick were 
the prizetakers. 
Miscellaneous plants comprised some good examples of Zonal 
Pelargoniums, Primulas—the first-prize collection of the former from 
Mr. Sims being extremely healthy—Vesuvius, Henry Jacoby, and 
Wonderful being represented by vigorous specimens flowering most 
profusely. Primulas and Cyclamens were well shown by Messrs. 
I hatcher, Riddick, and Jemmett. Mignonette was also largely 
shown, the leading collections from Messrs. Riddick and Spring- 
thorpe comprising neat specimens, healthy, compact, and freely 
flowered. 
Fruit, including Grapes, Apples, and Pears, were contributed by 
Messrs. W. Marcham, gardener to the Countess de Morelia, Virginia 
Water, Sims, Hutchings, and Thatcher, who won the chief prizes. 
Vegetables were also fairly represented, Messrs. Spnngthorpe, Belcher, 
and Thatcher securing the prizes. 
Messrs. Smith & Larke, Kensington, contributed some ornamental 
china and glass stands filled with flowers, and tastefully arranged on 
tables at each end of the hall. 
THE LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION’S SHOW. 
Friday, November 24th. 
It was unfortunate for the above Society in many respects that 
the Exhibition had to be postponed for a few days on account of the 
Assizes. It was very disappointing to several strangers who travelled 
long distances to see the Show on Tuesday and returned without 
seeing it, while many exhibitors were much inconvenienced by the 
alteration of the date. Notwithstanding this drawback, however, 
and the drenching rain which fell at intervals during the day, the 
attendance was good, and the Show, as far as the exhibits were con¬ 
cerned, was a great success, and undoubtedly superior to the two pre¬ 
vious shows held by the Society. There was a falling-off in some of 
the classes, especially those devoted to stove and greenhouse plants, 
although the Crotons staged by Mr. W. Mease were wonderful 
examples of cultivation. The Chrysanthemum plants were not so 
good as usual, but the incurved blooms were magnificent. The 
blooms of Japanese varieties showed a marked improvement in both 
quality and quantity over past years. Some one thousand blooms 
were entered for competition, and out of that number 886 were 
staged with scarcely a bad flower amongst the whole. 
Chrysanthemums in Pots .—These on the whole were scarcely so 
fine as on previous occasions. This refers principally to the closely 
trained large-flowering varieties, but the Pompons shown by Mr. C. 
Finnigan were superb, and the same applies to the pyramids. In the 
class for six large-flowering kinds Mr. C. Finnigan. gardener to W. 
Burnyeat, Esq., Huyton, was the chief prizewinner with Mrs. Dixon, 
Prince of Wales, George Glenny, Hero of Stoke Newington, and 
Golden Empress of India ; Mr. Gowan, gardener to J. Cunningham, 
Esq., Moseley Hill, was the other only exhibitor. For four plants 
Mr. S. Whitfield was first, and Mr. C. Finnigan second best. The 
last-named exhibitor was first in the class for six Pompons, and 
staged very fresh profusely flowered plants of Mrs. Hutt, White and 
Golden Cedo Nulli, Aigle d’Or good, and St. Michael. Mr. S. Whir- 
field was the other competitor. For four plants the same exhibitor 
was again first with similar varieties, except one named Snowball, a 
pretty small pure white-flowered variety. Messrs. J. Hurst and W. 
Bustard were placed equal third. For one standard (trained) Mr. E. 
Green was first with a good specimen of Mrs. Dixon. The same 
exhibitor and Mr. Gowan were the prizetakers foi one pyramid. Both 
staged remarkably neat examples. 
Cat Blooms .—Incurved varieties were the feature of the Exhibition, 
and the blooms throughout the various and numerous stands were of 
large size and substance, possessing a depth and breadth of petal 
seldom seen, combined with good form and fresh colour. The com¬ 
petition was in many instances very close, more especially in the 
class for twenty-four blooms. There were three exhibitors. Mr. F. 
Roberts, gardener to W. D. Holt, Esq., West Derby ; Mr. G. Mease, 
gardener to W. Nicol, Esq.. Aigburth ; and Mr. T. Leadbetter, gar¬ 
dener to R. N. Dale, Esq., Bromborough Hall, were the prizetakers 
in the order named. The first and second stands w r ere so close that 
Mr. Roberts only secured his position by one point, his weakest 
bloom being Queen of England. This box contained grand blooms 
of Mr. Howe, Golden Empress, Empress of India, Incognita, Piincess 
of Wales, Mr. Bunn, Mrs. Heale, Mr. Cullingford, Jardin des Plantes 
very fine, Barbara, White Venus, Hero of Stoke Newington, Re- 
fulgens, Princess of Teck, Bronze Jardin des Plantes, and White 
Beverley. Mr. Mease had grand flowers of Miss M. Morgan, Mrs. 
Halliburton, John Salter, Emily Dale, Novelty, Queen of England, 
Princess of Wales, Mrs. Heale, and Hero of Stoke Newington. Mr. 
Leadbetter had a grand bloom of Eve and Mr. Howe. For eighteen 
blooms there were six exhibitors, and the competition was again simi¬ 
larly close. Mr. J. Jellico, gardener to F. II. Gossage, Esq., Woolton, 
obtained the premier award, having splendid examples oi Pink Venus, 
Lady Slade, Mr. Bunn, Princess of Wales, Empress of India, and 
several others, the same as those named in the previous class. Mr. 
F. Foster, gardener to J. Brancker, Esq., Wavertree, second with neat 
but rather flatter blooms. Mr. J. Warrington, gardener to T. Bright, 
Esq., Aigburth, was a good third. In the class for twelve blooms, 
from which exhibitors in the two previous classes were excluded, 
there was great competition. Mr. Brantingham, gardener to S. Still, 
Esq., Claughton, took the lead with remarkably fine blooms, followed 
closely by Mr. G. Burden, gardener to G. Cockburn, Esq., Oxton ; 
and Messrs. W. Todd, gardener to J. W. Cropper, Esq., Aigburth ; 
and R. G. Waterman, gardener to A. Tate, Esq., the last two being 
placed equal third. In the corresponding class for twelve blooms 
the prizetakers were Messrs. T. Leadbetter, G. Mease, Foster ; Mr. 
F. Roberts, an extra prize, five competitors staging blooms. Alto¬ 
gether this was the finest exhibition of incurved flowers we have 
ever seen. 
Japanese kinds were more numerous and superior to those exhi- 
