July 8, 1880. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
33 
to a successful issue this second Exhibition of the Canterbury and 
East Kent Rose Society.—D., Deal. 
A NEW SOCKET VALVE. 
In our report of the great summer Show of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society we briefly referred to a new throttle valve invented 
by the Meadow Foundry Company (Limited) of Mansfield, and 
for which the manufacturers were awarded a silver medal. This 
valve is different from all others that we have seen, inasmuch as 
the socket in which it is fixed is moveable (fig. 9). and only needs 
to be inserted in the pipe and screwed down (fig. 10), and it is 
firm, safe, and complete. This new valve takes up no more room 
Fig. 9. 
Fig. 10. 
than an ordinary valve, and can when necessary be taken to 
pieces, cleared of the cause of any stoppage, and replaced in a 
few minutes by the stoker or gardener ; and by keeping a spare 
valve plate and seating in stock a damaged plate through accident 
can be replaced as simply. The high mark of approval which the 
valve received at the Show referred to is sufficient recommendation 
of its merits, and after examining the valve carefully we consider 
it worthy of the recognition it received by the Judges. 
TUNBRIDGE WELLS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
JULY 2ND. 
Although the twenty-fourth annual Exhibition was not the 
largest ever held in the towD, the surroundings of which are so 
beautiful, yet it was of undeniable excellence. Specimen plants 
were very good, fine-foliaged plants fair, Ferns excellent, while 
Fuchsias, Achimenes, and Begonias were better than we have seen 
for a very long time. Groups of plants for effect had a tent to 
themselves, and were attractive ; and another large marquee was 
devoted to fruit, which was of great merit. Roses formed an attractive 
display, table decorations and collections of wild flowers splendid, 
bouquets tasteful, and vegetables very good. 
Plants. —We are only able to notice the exhibits in the principal 
classes and enumerate the chief prizetakers. Mr. Balchin, Silver- 
wood Conservatory, Western Road, Brighton, staged admirably in 
several classes, and secured first prizes in the open class for eight 
specimen plants in bloom, for eight fine-foliaged plants, for six 
Ericas, for eight Ferns, for bouquets, besides some minor prizes. 
Mr. Bolton, gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq., Coombe Bank, Seven- 
oaks ; Mr. Pope, gardener to J. J. Barran, Esq., Holmwood, Tun¬ 
bridge Wells ; Mr. Johnstone, gardener to the Marchioness of Cam¬ 
den, Bayham Abbey ; and Mr. Peed, Norwood, were also highly suc¬ 
cessful, and staged plants of great merit in the leading classes. A 
few of Mr. Balchin’s noteworthy plants were Statice imbricata, 7 feet 
over, and Ferns ; Mr. Barran’s Crotons and Kalosanthes ; Mr. Bolton’s 
Clerodendron fallax, with a dozen fine heads, and Maranta vittata, 
fresh and fine ; and Mr. Peed’s Ixora Prince of Orange. 
In the open class for six Fuchsias Mr. Turner, gardener to F. R. 
Le Lachaer, Esq., The Wilderness, Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells ; 
Mr. Earley, gardener to G. A. Brittain, Esq., Ferndale House ; and 
Mr. Shrives, gardener to the Corporation of Brighton, secured the 
prizes in the order named with healthy, well furnished, admirably 
bloomed pyramids, 5 to 6 feet high, and 3 feet in diameter at the 
base. The ‘‘Try-me-O” of Mr. Turner would have gladdened the heart 
of a Canned. In Achimenes Mr. Scammell, gardener to Charles Reily, 
Esq., Nevill Park ; Mr.Bashford, gardener to F. Douglas, Esq., Chilton 
House; and Mr. Wilkins, gardener to Mrs. Williams, Shirley Hall, 
Langton, were the respective winners with fresh healthy examples 
2 feet across, covered with fine flowers. The last-named exhibitor 
was first in the Zonal Pelargonium classes with good plants. Mr. 
Shoebridge, gardener to W. Edwards, Esq., Fairbank, Sandrock Road ; 
and Mr. Allen, gardener to G. Hambro Field, Esq., Ashurst Road, 
Bolton, securing the prizes in the Show and Fancy classes. Remark¬ 
ably fine pans of Selaginellas were staged by Messrs. Scammell, 
Bashford, and Mayer (gardener to Mrs. Foster, Boyne House), and 
Mr. Earley. 
For groups of plants the prizes went to Messrs. Bolton, Bashford, 
Pope, Turner, Scammell, and Earley. Though all possessed merit 
they were rather too smooth and level. Mr. Pope’s (third) was the most 
tasteful, but required more flowers. One (very properly passed) was 
a mere floral toy, like a collection that somewhat strangely was 
awarded the chief prize at the great summer Show at Kensington. 
Those groups were in squares, but would have had a more pleasing 
effect in half-circles. 
Fruit. —This was of great excellence. The collections were ex¬ 
ceedingly smart—perhaps too smart—as arranged on square trays 
covered with moss and lichens margined with foliage and sprinkled 
with flowers. A dessert cannot be placed on the table in this form, 
and the ornamental adjuncts are calculated to detract attention from 
the real merit of the fruit, yet the prizes were rightly awarded to Mr. 
Hopgood, gardener to Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., Summerhill, the 
noteworthy dish being a fine bunch of the Duke of Buccleuch Grape; 
Mr. Henderson, gardener to F. Deacon, Esq., Mabledon Park, a close 
second; Mr. Fennell, gardener to E. Cazalet, Esq., Fairlawn Park; 
and Mr. Bashford, all of whom staged excellent produce. Splendid 
Pine Apples were staged by Mr. Scammell; Mr. Hopkins, gardener 
to R. Thornton, Esq. ; Mr. Harris, gardener to 0. A. Smith, Esq., 
Hammerwood, East Grinstead, also had good fruit. Mr. Johnstone 
was placed first for three varieties of Grapes, Duke of Buccleuch being 
excellent; Mr. Bolton and Mr. Allan having the remaining prizes 
with good and well-finished bunches. For Black Hamburghs the 
prizes went to Mr. Reeks, gardener to R. Watson Smith, Esq., Wood- 
hurst Castle, Mr. Henderson and Mr. Hopwood, who all staged 
superior fruit in a very fine class. In the class for white Grapes Mr. 
Blundell, gardener to F. Holtman, Esq., East Hatherley, was first 
with good Muscats, but not perfectly ripe ; Mr. Johnstone second 
with Buckland Sweetwater, very fine but overripe ; Mr. Bolton third 
with good Foster’s Seedling, and Mr. Barnes fourth with excellent 
examples of Golden Champion—a most difficult class to judge. 
Peaches were very fine, Mr. Fennell winning with a splendid dish of 
Noblesse ; he was followed closely by Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Ridout, 
gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, who 
had the remaining prizes. Nectarines were fine. Mr. Allan was first 
with such a grand dish of Elruge as is seldom seen ; Mr. Goldsmith, 
gardener to Mrs. Lambert, Sandhills, Bletchingley, and Mr. Bashford, 
following with excellent fruit. Strawberries were splendid. Mr. 
Goldsmith was first with a remarkable dish of James Yeitch, the 
thirty fruits weighing 3 tbs. 6 ozs.; he also staged a plant of the 
same variety in a pot with forty to fifty fruit, several of which 
exceeded an ounce in weight. The second prize in the class was won 
by Mr. Fennell, and third by Mr. Holliday, gardener to J. Norris, 
Esq., Castle Hill, Bletchingley, both with superior dishes of Sir J. 
Paxton. 
Roses and Cut Flowers. —Mr. Piper, Uckfield, was first in the 
classes for forty-eight single Roses and twenty-four triplets, Messrs. 
Mitchell & Sons being second in both classes with good stands. For 
twelve and twenty-four blooms J. B. Haywood, Esq. (Mr. Ridout, gar¬ 
dener), had the chief prizes with grand blooms, the latter stand not 
being equalled at the National Rose Show. Mr. F. Warde, West 
Farleigh, and Mr. Goldsmith had the remaining prizes in these classes 
with good stands. Messrs. Wood & Son, Maresfield, staged an excel¬ 
lent collection of Roses not for competition. In the class for eighteen 
varieties of cut flowers Messrs. Johnstone, Bolton, and Hopkins 
secured the prizes with splendid stands. 
Table Decorations and Wild Flowers. —The stands furnished 
with exotic flowers were tasteful, but those containing wild flowers 
and Grasses were of extraordinary merit. We never saw them 
equalled, and the winners—Miss Parkhurst, Quarry Hill, Miss Staples, 
The Gardens. Chipstead Place, Sevenoaks, and Miss Satchell—have 
our congratulations. The association of Poppies, Ox-eye Daisies, 
Cornflowers, wild pink Roses, and Water Lilies with Grasses was 
most elegant. We have a high meed of praise, too, for the exhibitors 
of collections of wild flowers, of which we cannot speak too approv¬ 
ingly. The first-prize collection of Miss Isabella Cox of Redleaf was 
of exceptional merit; the flowers, nearly one hundred, were arranged 
tier above tier, with the botanical and popular names of each flower 
neatly printed on small cards, the effect being very complete. _ Miss 
Ware’s (of Frant) collection contained perhaps still more varieties ; 
and most meritorious were the stands from Mr. Dixon, gardener to 
Captain Taylor, Glenleigh, Hastings, and Mr. Allan, Ashurst Park, 
who had the remaining prizes. 
The Show was held in the extensive and attractive grounds of 
Bishop’s Down Grove, Spa, and was largely attended by a fashionable 
company. To Mr. Loof, who has been the Society’s efficient Secre¬ 
tary since its formation, we are indebted for much courtesy during 
our visit to this excellent Show. 
The Primrose and Polyanthus. — I have been greatly in¬ 
terested in the discussion on the origin of the Primrose, Cowslip, 
and Polyanthus, as I have been collecting some of the best 
seedling Polyanthus with the idea of improving them by cross¬ 
breeding and selection. Two years ago I met with a blue, or 
rather a lilac-blue, Polyanthus, and have now four seedlings from 
it. This year I divided the plant, and now find one of the plants 
is producing seed (fertilised) on single stems like the Primrose, 
the other is producing seed on a stem the same as the Polyanthus. 
