480 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 2 », isso. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co., London, exhibited large heaps of 
Magnum Bonum, Scotch Champion, and a very great variety of other 
Potatoes in good condition, and also a collection of vegetables, which 
included well-grown examples of Model Cucumber, Perfection Brus¬ 
sels Sprouts, Pinesfield Improved White Spanish Onion, Perfection of 
Beets. Mont Blanc Cauliflowers, and several more of their specialities. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons brought fine heaps of their Magnum Bonum, 
Reading Abbey, Woodstock Kidney, and Redskin Flourball Potatoes, 
and a general collection of leading varieties, which comprised good 
dishes of Purple Blush, Red Fluke, International, St. Patrick, York¬ 
shire Hero, Yicar of Laleham, and other popular varieties. Messrs. 
Charles Lee & Sons, Hammersmith, also exhibited a good collection 
of Potatoes, which included a large heap of the new Defiance Seedling, 
Hammersmith Kidney, Wonderful, Pride of America, Blanchard, and 
Late Rose. 
Among the special exhibits in the central hall were collections of 
handsome Pelargonium blooms and Salvias from Mr. H. Cannell, 
Swanley, Kent, that formed a bright little group, backed up with 
plants of the graceful Prenanthes elegantissima. Mr. Biggs of 
Lewisham was awarded a special prize for enormous dwarf-trained 
specimen Chrysanthemums, fairly well flowered but rather coarse ; 
and Mr. Peachey, Stamford Hill, sent blooms of the Chrysanthemum 
Angelina, for which a first-class certificate w r as awarded, as at Stoke 
Newington. The general arrangements were very satisfactory, and 
highly creditable to Mr. W. Holmes, the Secretary, except in the 
system adopted of writing the prize cards out after the judging, which, 
as we alluded to last year, caused considerable delay. 
CROYDON. 
This Society held their fourth annual autumn display on Friday 
and Saturday last in the small Public Hall. In the plant classes 
there was a decided falling-off, although several of the groups were 
very attractive. The cut-flower classes were above the average, the 
vegetable and fruit very fine. Mr. Gibson, gardener to J. Wormald, 
Esq., Mitcham, obtained the premier award for twelve incurved blooms 
and twelve Japanese blooms. His collection was very fine, some of 
the blooms being those he exhibited at the Aquarium a few days 
previous. Mr. C. Welstead, gardener to Mrs. Lodge, Bramley Hill, 
Mr. C. Roffey, and Mr. H. Reed were among the prizetakers for groups 
of Chrysanthemums ; while Mr. J. Fewell, gardener to C. J. Lanyon. 
Esq., Birdhirst, was a successful prizetaker in a dozen classes. Mr. C. 
Orchard, gardener to F. W. Harris, Esq., Coombe House, also ex¬ 
hibited very largely, and was awarded several first prizes ; Messrs. 
Elsey, Johnson, and Brice exhibited well and obtained several prizes. 
The arrangements were well carried out under the superintendence 
of Mr. C. Roffey, the Secretary. 
MAIDSTONE. 
On Friday last the 10th inst. this Society held its annual Exhibition 
of Chrysanthemums and fruits in the Com Exchange of Maidstone ; 
and although the former were neither so numerous nor of such qua¬ 
lity as might have been expected from the liberal prizes offered, yet 
the magnificent Apples and Pears staged in the fruit classes com¬ 
pensated to a great extent for the deficiency. It is remarkable that 
in one of the best districts of favoured Kent Chrysanthemums, both 
plants and cut blooms, should be exhibited in some instances inferior 
to those produced by such urban societies as Stoke Newington and 
Lambeth, where the members have all the disadvantages to contend 
with that a smoke-laden atmosphere can occasion. This is still 
stranger when it is considered the prizes offered at Maidstone in the 
chief classes far exceed those at the majority of Chrysanthemum 
exhibitions. Every possible encouragement was given both to growers 
in the district and to those of England generally, but with com¬ 
paratively poor results. The reason for this it is not easy to discern, 
but it certainly appears that in one portion of the kingdom at least 
this deservedly popular plant does not receive the attention it merits. 
The large hall of the Corn Exchange was devoted to the Chrys¬ 
anthemums, and considering the few entries the arrangement was 
all that could be expected. Had there been three times the number 
a much better effect would have been produced, for some difficulty 
was evidently experienced in disposing the exhibits so as to occupy 
the space at command, the plants being arranged near the walls and 
the cut blooms on the long central table. The principal of the plant 
classes was that for twelve large-flowering varieties, in which the 
first prize was a silver cup, value five guineas, presented by Lord 
Holmesdale. The best collection, not only in that class but in the 
whole Exhibition, was from the Rev. C. W. Shepherd, Trottiscliffe 
Rectory, Maidstone, and Honorary Secretary of the Society, to whom 
the cup was awarded. The plants were healthy, well clothed with 
foliage, and bore numerous but rather small blooms. Golden George 
Glenny was a handsome specimen, fairly well trained and of good 
size, the blooms being neatly formed and abundant. Other note¬ 
worthy varieties were Golden Christine, Pink Yenus, Hereward, and 
Mrs. G. Rundle. The second position was accorded to plants from 
H. A. Brassey, Esq., M.P. ; these also were vigorous and fresh but 
rather irregular, the most compact being a specimen of Yesta. T. 
Phillips, Esq., West Mailing, was third with even plants, but in rather 
poor condition. For six plants of incurved varieties Charles Neve, 
Esq., Chart Sutton, was placed first with examples of the Empress of 
India bearing handsome blooms ; J. W. Braddick, Esq., Broughton 
Mount, and W. J. Newberry Esq., Leeds, taking second and third. Mr. 
Neve also had the best single specimen—namely, Mrs. G. Rundle, 
moderately well flowered. The Rev. C. W. Shepherd exhibited the 
only collection of six Japanese varieties, and secured the chief prize 
for specimens of The Cossack, Mons. Lemoine, Peter the Great, and 
Elaine flowering profusely, the latter especially, though the blooms 
were not of excellent form. 
But little more can be said in favour of the cut blooms than of the 
plants, for there was scarcely a first-rate collection staged. The 
class for thirty-six incurved blooms was open to all England, a hand¬ 
some silver cup value ten guineas constituting the first prize, £4 the 
second, and £2 the third, which might have been expected to insure 
a large number of entries and keen competition ; this was not the 
case, however, for only two collections appeared, and the Judges 
must have had very little difficulty in determining their relative 
position. Mr. J. Hillier, Wandsworth, gained the cup with blooms 
of medium size, moderately good in form and substance, but well 
staged. Some of the best in the stand were Princess of Wales, 
Golden Empress of India, Nil Desperandum, and Nonpareil. The 
second prize was awarded to A. Warde, Esq., West Farleigh, who had 
rather irregular blooms, though the Bundles were fine. C. N. Kidd. 
Esq., Dartford, exhibited the finest of the three collections of twenty- 
four incurved varieties, and easily secured the chief prize with even 
blooms, Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred being very well repre¬ 
sented. Mr. Warde and Mr. S. Davis, The Cemetery, obtained the 
other prizes with fairly good blooms. The same exhibitors held 
similar positions with eighteen blooms. For twelve incurved varie¬ 
ties Frederic Pine, Esq., was first with even and good blooms, among 
which Prince Alfred, Mr. Brunlees, and Lord Derby were particularly 
notable. J. P. Franklyn, Esq., Maidstoue, and J. B. Green, Esq., 
Tovil, were accorded equal thirds. Mr. F. Pine staged the only col¬ 
lection of Anemone varieties, and was adjudged the first prize ; some 
of the blooms were large and well formed, particularly Gluck, Fleur 
de Marie, and Marginatum. The same exhibitor was again first with 
six Japanese blooms, bright and fresh, followed by Mrs. Stoddart 
Douglas, Tunbridge Wells, and Mr. Warde. 
The fine-foliage plants were very useful in filling up what would 
otherwise have been unpleasantly bare spaces between the Chrys¬ 
anthemums. Three very good collections were contributed, the one 
for which the premier prize was awarded being from Mr. J. B. Green’s 
garden. The plants were well grown and remarkably healthy, the 
most noteworthy being Seaforthia elegans, Maranta zebrina, and 
Adiantum farleyense. Mr. H. A. Brassey’s specimens were very close 
to the first in merit, a large example of Fittonia argyroneura and 
Alocasia metallica were particularly fine. Mr. F. Pine secured the 
third position with rather small specimens. 
The display of Apples in that portion of the building devoted to 
the fruit was extraordinary, and it is rare to see at exhibitions such 
handsome examples as gained the chief prizes. Some good Pears 
were also shown, but much less numerously, as only two classes were 
devoted to them. The most important exhibits were in the open 
class for eighteen dishes of Apples, distinct varieties ; H. A. Brassey, 
Esq., contributing the first prize—a five-guinea silver cup, and R. 
Leigh, Esq., M.P., the second and third of two guineas and one 
respectively. There were four collections staged, all possessing more 
than ordinary merit, but that from W. Skinner, Esq., Broughton, for 
which the cup was awarded, was unquestionably one of the finest that 
has ever been staged. Some examples of Loddington were magnifi¬ 
cent, and measured 14J inches in circumference. Warner’s King, 
Beauty of Kent, Mere de Menage, and Bedfordshire Foundling were 
also of great size and excellent form. The following varieties, which 
completed the collection, were admirably represented by clean hand¬ 
some fruits—Golden Knob, Cox’s Orange Pippin, King of the 
Pippins, Court Pendu Plat, Wyken Pippin, Mannington’s Pearmain, 
Hanwell Souring, Blenheim Pippin (very fine), Winter Hawthornden, 
Round Winter Nonesuch, Pomeroy, Tower of Glammis, and Ribston 
Pippin. This handsome collection was greatly admired both by the 
pomological and general visitors. The second prize was accorded to 
Mr. H. A. Brassey for excellent Apples, very little inferior to the first; 
the following varieties being especially well represented by hand¬ 
some specimens—Cox’s Orange Pippin, Brabant Bellefleur, Golden 
Noble, Small’s Admirable, Dutch Mignonne, Beauty of Wilts, and 
Blenheim Pippin. Sir Francis Geary, Bart., Oxonhoath, was third 
with large fruits but rather green ; a dish of fine New Hawthornden 
was noteworthy. In the two classes for dessert and culinary Apples 
respectively, nine dishes of each, W. Robinson, Esq., offered the chief 
prizes, some fine specimens being staged in competition. Mr. A. 
Warde had the best collection of dessert varieties, clean and good in 
form—Keddleston Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin, 
Melon Apple, and Golden Russet were very even and handsome. 
G. Edmett, Esq., had good Ribston and Wyken Pippins in his second- 
prize collection ; L. Killick, Esq., Langley, taking third with fine 
Worcester Pearmain among others. Mr. Warde obtained a similar 
position with nine dishes of culinary Apples of good size and even— 
Hanwell Souring, Mere de Menage, Belle Dubois, and Loddington 
were remarkable. Mr. Brassey was a close second, and Mr. Killick ob¬ 
tained third with specimens of Loddington and Warner’s King in good 
form. For three dishes of Apple3 Mr. Brassey was first in the dessert 
class with Claygate Pearmain, Blenheim Pippin, and Cox’s Orange 
Pippin beautifully ripened. W. Blest, Esq., Wateringbury, and Mr. 
Braddick followed with smaller but good specimens, Braddick’s 
Nonpareil in the last-named collection being excellent. A. Killick, 
