478 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November sb. isso. 
attacked by the fungus it would not make way on the tissues 
of the plant with anything like the same rapidity it would on 
those grown in a damper soil; and the extra dryness of the soil 
would also act in another way, by preventing the disease spreading 
from tuber to tuber in the soil. The earth when dry is an ex¬ 
cellent deodoriser, but when sodden with wet the effect is almost 
entirely lost. The rows grown on land sheltered from rain by 
the Scarlet Runners were probably less diseased from the same 
reason as mentioned above. And with regard to “roots grown 
close to a coarse-growing weed, such as fat hen, invariably giving 
sounder tubers than other roots in the same patch,” I believe 
this comparative immunity arises from the large weeds keeping 
off the seeds of the fungus to a certain extent like an umbrella. 
But my own experience with regard to weeds is somewhat different 
from that of “ Interloper.” Sometimes a root appears all the 
better for being partly protected by weeds, at others worse, but 
the weeds have been of a smaller kind. Generally speaking I 
should prefer the weeds removed, as interfering with the proper 
evaporation of moisture from the soil, and thus tending to aggra¬ 
vate the malady rather than prod uce a beneficial effect.— Amateur, 
Cirencester, 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
KINGSTON AND SURBITON. 
This important Chrysanthemum Society held its annual Ex¬ 
hibition in the large Drill Hall, Kingston, a highly satisfactory display 
being produced. Semicircular groups of decorative plants alternately 
arranged with Chrysanthemums and collections of specimen plants 
were placed near the walls, while the centre of the spacious building 
was occupied with long tables of cut flowers and fruits and a large 
collection of graceful table plants. The arrangements generally were 
very creditable to the j}ainstaking and energetic Secretary, Mr. Thomas 
Jackson. The unpropitious weather of the first day prevented many 
from attending, but on the second day the weather was better, and a 
larger company attended than on any former occasion. Among the 
liberal prizes offered for Chrysanthemums were the challenge vase, 
value twenty-five guineas, won in 1879 by Mr. Harding, gardener to 
J. D. Galpin,Esq., Putney ; two handsome clocks, and a silver watch, 
each of the value of four guineas. The schedule of prizes was most com¬ 
prehensive and carefully compiled, open to every subscriber, and so 
arranged that a competitor in the larger classes is prevented from 
competing in the smaller classes, thereby bringing a greater number 
of successful exhibitors and a finer display. 
Groups .—The best arranged group of miscellaneous plants, flower¬ 
ing, and foliage for effect, was from Mr. King, gardener to R. Few, Esq., 
Wolsey Grange, Esher ; it was most tastefully and admirably finished, 
and contained very fine decorative Crotons, Palms, Ferns, Eucharis, and 
Primulas. Mr. C. Attrill, gardener to C. J. Freake. Esq., Bank Grove, 
Kingston, and Mr. Croxford, gardener to Mrs. Dunnage, Allbury 
House, Surbiton, were second and third respectively, all exhibiting good 
collections. Messrs. Jackson also staged a large collection of flower¬ 
ing and foliage plants. The groups of Chrysanthemums arranged in 
a space of 50 square feet wrnre no improvement on the past. The 
best, both for quality and effect, came from Mr. C. Bond, Orford 
House, Ham ; the second prize was awarded to Mr. J. Buss, gardener 
to Mrs. Price, Parkside, Ewell, for a very crowded and non-effective 
collection ; the third went to Mr. J. Otley, gardener to G. F. Belville, 
Esq., Lismaine, Surbiton, who, in the opinion of many visitors, should 
have been placed second ; fourth to Mr. T. Luff, gardener to H. Evill, 
Esq., Worcester Park; and an extra prize to Mr. R. Watson, gardener 
to T. H. Bryant, Esq., Surbiton. 
Plants .—In the class for six trained specimen large-flowering plants, 
the collections exhibited by Messrs. King and Beckett attracted much 
attention from their enormous size (some being nearly 5 feet in 
diameter), the number of flowers, and the regularity of their training. 
The first prize, consisting of a silver watch value four guineas, was 
awarded to Mr. King, the varieties represented being La Nymphe, 
with 136 perfect blooms : Prince of Wales, Mr. G. Glenny, Mrs. Dixon, 
Mrs. G. Rundle, and Hero of Stoke Newington—all healthy and 
remarkably well flowered. Mr. Beckett, gardener to J. P. Currie, Esq., 
Sandown House, Esher, took second honours with a handsome collec¬ 
tion, the plants not quite so large as the first-prize collection, but in 
one or two instances the blooms were larger. All were well grown, 
particularly Prince Alfred, Prince of Wales, Julie Lngraviere,and the 
trio of the Rundle type. Mr. R. Watson received the third prize. 
For three plants Mr. W. Burns, gardener to H. A. Rigg, Esq., 
Wykeham Lodge, Horsham, and Mr. j. Child, gardener to J. Gray, Esq., 
Claygate, were first and second respectively ; while in the class for 
three standards Messrs. Beckett, Watson, and J. Child were placed in 
the order of their names. The standards were very healthy, but tied 
rather too late. Some very large and profusely flowered single 
specimens were exhibited ; Mr. King being first with a grand Mrs. 
Dixon, Mr. Beckett second with a good Prince of Wales, and Mr. 
Burns third with Mrs. Dixon. 
Pompons were good. For six trained Mr. R. Watson w r as the most 
successful with Cedo Ntilli, Fanny, Antonins, Salamon, Helena, and 
Marquis de Coix. Mr. Lyne, gardener to A. Schlusser, Esq., was a 
praiseworthy second with plants naturally growm and very profusely 
bloomed ; a good plant of Dick Turpin was very conspicuous. For 
three plants Mr. J. Watson, gardener to Captain Cundy, Norbury 
House, Surbiton, was the only exhibitor, and was awarded the first 
prize. Three standards were exhibited by Messrs. Lyne and R. Watson, 
who were placed in the order of their names. Mr. Lyne’s collection 
was Rosinante, Dick Turpin, and Bijou d’ Horticulture, very large 
heads and surprisingly abundant blooms. Mr. R. Watson’s single 
specimen James Forsyth was especially noteworthy, while Mr. Lyne 
and Mr. Curtis occupied the second and third positions with good 
plants. 
Cut Blooms .—These w r ere, taken collectively, remarkably fine and 
numerous. About 1200 blooms were staged, the Japanese being fine 
and in large .numbers. The great centre of attraction was in the 
competitive class for the champion challenge vase mentioned above, 
for which there were seven competitors. The prize w 7 as given for forty- 
eight Chrysanthemum blooms, twenty-four incurved and twenty-four 
Japanese, shown on separate boards. Mr. Tunnington, gardener to 
C. Maclver, Esq., Calderstone, Liverpool, staged the premier collection, 
the majority of the blooms being of excellent form. The twenty-four 
incurved varieties w r ere faultless ; some few of the Japanese were not as 
large as in some of the other collections, but the weight and superi¬ 
ority of the incurved varieties more than balanced the little that was 
w r anting in the Japanese collection. This was altogether a handsome 
collection, and well merited its position. The varieties w r ere Queen of 
England, Prince Alfred. Empress of India, Inner Temple, Novelty, 
Golden Empress of India, Prince of Wales, John Salter, Princess of 
Wales, Yenus, Mrs. Heales, Jardin des Plantes, Beauty, NilDesperan- 
dum, Sir Stafford Carey, Lady Hardinge, Lord Derby, White Beverley, 
Mrs. Dixon, Princess Beatrice, White Venus, Hero of Stoke Newington, 
George Glenny, Mrs. G. Rundle, Japanese, Elaine, The Sultan, Peter 
the Great, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Chang, Soleil Levant, Meg Mer- 
rilees, the finest bloom of the variety in the Exhibition ; Bismarck, 
Comtesse de Beauregard, Fleur Parfait, L’lncomparable, Hero of 
Magdala, Mdlle. Moulix, Cry Kang, Apollo, Nuit d’Automne, La 
Nymphe, andBaronne de Prailly, more like Gold Thread; M. Crousse, 
La Frissure, Arlequin, Fulgore, and Laciniatum. Mr. G. Harding, 
gardener to J. D. Galpin, Esq., Putney Heath, was aw r arded the 
second place. Most of Mr. Harding’s Japanese blooms were de¬ 
cidedly larger and superior to the first-prize collection, but in 
this collection there were two or three weak varieties—an Elaine 
and a Red Gauntlet that displayed a very prominent eye, though most 
of the others were most praiseworthy ; but in the incurved section this 
collection was decidedly many points inferior, the best being Princess 
of Wales, Nil Desperandum, Prince of Wales, Mr. Brunlees, and 
Yellow Perfection. Sarnia, Meg Merrilees, Baronne de Prailly, 
Sultan, IS uit d’Hiver, Oracle, Fanny Boucharlet, Gloire de Toulouse, 
Fulton, and Fulgore of the Japanese w’ere magnificent. Mr. Gibson, 
gardener to J. Wormald, Esq., Morden Park, Mitcham, was placed 
third ; his collection of twenty-four varieties of Japanese were de¬ 
cidedly the best collection, taken collectively, in the Exhibition, 
but his incurved varieties were wrnak. Mr. Gibson’s Criterion, Fair 
Maid of Guernsey, and Baronne de Prailly were extremely fine. 
M'-. King was placed fourth, and an extra prize was awarded to Mr. 
McPherson, gardener to J. Page, Esq., Surbiton, all exhibiting very 
creditable collections, and thus this handsome trophy goes to the north 
for the present. 
The superiority of Mr. Tunnington’s incurved blooms w r as again 
displayed in the class for twenty-four distinct, for he was a long way 
ahead of the other four competitors. Messrs. Beckett, E. Berry, and 
Croxford were placed second, third, and fourth respectively. For 
twelve incurved blooms there were nine collections staged. Mr. J. Hill, 
gardener to A. Savory, Esq., Potter’s Park, Chertsey, was a very good 
first with a remarkably neat and even collection. Messrs. J. Lyne and 
Burns took second and third prizes in that order. For six blooms 
Mr. H. Smith, Waverley Abbey, Farnham, and Mr. T. A. Benson, gar¬ 
dener to W. S. Roots, Esq., Kingston, shared the honours between them. 
A maiden class w : as provided, which brought nine exhibits ; Mr. H. 
Smith being placed first, Mr. C. Slade, gardener to Lady Bowater, 
Richmond Park, second, and Mr. J. Martin, Surbiton, third. 
Japanese blooms w r ere numerous. In the class for tw 7 enty-four dis¬ 
tinct varieties there were ten exhibitors, the finest collection being ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. Beckett, who won a timepiece, value four guineas, with 
a handsome, even, and brilliant collection comprising Chang, Baronne 
de Prailly, M. Bellew, Hiver Fleur, Magnum Bonum, Soleil Levant, 
Oracle, Alba Plena, Triomphe du Nord, Grandiflora, Striatum, Fulgore, 
Nuit d’Hiver, Sarnia, Bouquet Fait, Mdlle. Moulix, Orphde, The 
Daimio, M. Ardene, and Peter the Great. Mr. Lyne’s was a very good 
and close second ; Mr. Hinnell, gardener to F. A. Davis, Esq., Surbiton, 
third, Mr. Harding fourth, and to Mr. Watson an extra prize was 
awarded. 
For twelve Japanese Mr. Hill was deservedly awarded the first 
prize, Messrs. Bums and Berry being placed second and third respec¬ 
tively. 
Anemones were numerously exhibited, Mr. Hill being well to the 
front with Mrs. Pithers, Queen Margaret, Acquisition, Prince of 
Anemones, Gluck. Fleur de Marie, Louis Bonarny, and a fine flower of 
Lady Margaret. Messrs. Berry, Gibson, and Hinnell were the other 
successful exhibitors in this class. Reflexed blooms were also plenti¬ 
fully staged, Messrs. Watson, Hill, and Child being placed in the 
order of their names. 
Other successful exhibitors of Chrysanthemums were Messrs. Smith, 
Bolt, Pacey, and Press. 
