August 21, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
165 
Table decorations and bouquets are always a strong feature at the 
Taunton Show, where a tent is appropriated to them on this occasion. 
Four tables were arranged, the first by W. B. Cleave, Esq., although it 
might not meet the requirements of the fashion of the day, which 
requires the decorations to be low and the flowers all of one colour, was, 
I think, in the very best of taste. It might have been set up (and I could 
give it no higher praise) by Miss Cypher in her best days, the main 
feature being three tall centrepieces most gracefully filled with light 
and elegant flowers, such as Francoas and Pancratiums, while the bases 
were (veil filled with more solid flowers, Dipladenias, &c. The second 
table was more remarkable for the quantity of lamp and candle shades 
than for anything else, while the third erred on the side of poverty. 
Simplicity is all very well, but to decorate a table with the common 
wild Poppy and with Grasses is a little too meagre for effect. A line 
must be drawn, and I think it may be drawn at wild Poppies, which, 
moreover, are objectionable for their smell. The band bouquets were 
large, too large I think, but then the wording of the schedule was 
curious—“ a hand bouquet suitable for a drawing room.” The first prize 
was awarded to a very beautiful one, consisting of white flowers. The 
single stands for dining rooms were also of very great merit, the 
first with its beautiful bits of Gloriosa superba, Pancratiums, and 
Francoas, was light and elegant. There were also some very excellent 
bouquets of wild flowers, some of them very tastefully arranged. 
Other cut flowers—Dahlias (Show, Fancy, single, and Cactus), 
Asters, and Hollyhocks were well shown, especially when the season is 
taken into account. Some very beautiful Carnations and Picotees were 
shown by Mr. H. Fowler, not, of course, quite up to the mark of the 
well dressed blooms that are set up by Mr. Turner and Mr. Douglas, but 
still very beautiful ; the yellows, such as Dorothy, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, 
Terra Cotta, and Agnes Chambers, being much admired. He also 
secured the first prize for Cactus Dahlias, while in the Show varieties 
it was pleasant again to see Mr. Hobbs holding his own. 
During the many years that I have been permitted to visit Taunton 
I have seen many changes in the personnel of the Society. Presidents, 
Secretaries, and Committees have all changed, but through all there has 
always been manifested a kind and courteous consideration for 
exhibitors and Judges, and never has this been more shown than under 
its present arrangement. The young and active Secretaries, Messrs. 
Maynard and Hammet, exerted themselves to their utmost to make all 
go smoothly, while the Committee worked heartily for the same good 
end, with the usual result that attends such efforts, good will and kindly 
feeling all round.—D., Deal. 
Fruit ancl Vegetables .—The exhibits of fruit and vegetables by pro¬ 
fessional gardeners fully filled the large tent, and a grand lot of produce 
was staged, the competition being very keen throughout. In the premier 
class fcr fruit, or that for a collection of ten dishes, Mr. W. Iggulden, 
gardener to the Earl of Cork, Marston House, Frome, was placed first, 
having exceptionally well coloured Madresfield Court and fairly good 
Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, a good Smooth Cayenne Pine Apple, 
handsome Blenheim Orange Melons, fine Sea Eagle Peaches, Lord 
Napier Nectarines, Brown Turkey Figs, Hemskerk Apricots, Jargonelle 
Pears, and De Montfort Plums, all in good condition and well coloured. 
Mr. J. Lloyd, gardener to Vincent Stuckey, Esq , Hill House, Langport, 
was a close second, his collection including good Madresfield Court 
Grapes, Smooth Cayenne Pine Apple, Dymond Peaches, and fine Brown 
Turkey Figs. Mr. Crossman, gardener to J. Brutton, Esq., Yeovil, was 
third. There were eight entries in the class for four varieties of fruit, 
Mr. Iggulden again being placed first; Mr. Daffurn, gardener to Donald 
Cox, Esq., Weston-super-Mare, being a good second, and Mr. Webber, 
gardener to G. F. Luttrell, Esq., third, all having excellent dishes 
throughout. The first prize for a Pine Apple was awarded to Mr. 
Nicholas, gardener to Earl Fortescue, Castle Hill, Devon, who had a 
grand fruit of Smooth Cayenne. The competition with Black Hamburgh 
Grapes was close, great size of berry and good finish gaining Mr. E. T. 
Hill, Bristol, the first prize. Mr. Iggulden was second, and Mr. Lloyd 
third, both having excellent examples. In the any other black class 
Mr. Iggulden led with well finished Madresfield Court, Mr. Lloyd being 
a close second, and Mr. Daffurn third, both having the same variety in 
good condition. White Grapes were not so satisfactory. Mr. Lloyd 
was well first with Muscat of Alexandria, Mr. Iggulden second, and the 
Rev. Spekes-Mules, third. With any other white variety Mr. Luttrell 
was first with Buckland Sweetwater, Mr. Iggulden second with Foster’s 
Seedling, and Mr. C. Cooper, gardener to G. L. Collard, Esq., third. 
Melons were fairly good. Mr. Crossman was first with Hero of Lockinge, 
and Mr. G. Bridge second with tbe same variety. A handsome dish of 
Grosse Mignonne gained Mr. Daffurn the first prize for Peaches, Mr. 
Crossman being second. The last-named took first for a grand dish of 
Pine Apple Nectarine, the second going to Mr. Daffurn for handsome 
fruit of Elruge. Mr. R. Huxtable, gardener to T. M. Newton, Esq., was 
first for Apricots, and Mr. Iggulden second. Cherries, principally 
Morellos, were very fine, but these were quite eclipsed in every way by 
a grand dish of Castle Hill Seedling staged by Mr. Nicholas. Plums, 
Pears, Apples, and other hardy fruit were also well represented. 
Vegetables were exceedingly numerous and good in quality, though 
a tendency to coarseness is always noticeable at the Taunton shows. 
Mr. Webber and Mr. W. Every were placed equal first for ten varieties, 
though the former certainly had the best collection. Each had several 
extra good dishes of poDular varieties. Special prizes were also offered 
for collections of vegetables by Messrs. Webb & Sons and Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, each attracting good competition. For the former Mr. 
H. Moore was first, Mr. J. F. C. Parsons second, and Mr. D. E. Perkins 
third. Mr. Moore was also first for Sutton’s prizes, Mr. G. Lock being jt 
good second, and Mr. G. Ricks third. Tomatoes were remarkably fine. 
Mr. Wills was first for a single dish, and Mr. G. Lock second, both 
staging Perfection. Messrs. Lloyd, Crossman, Diayson, Madley, Turner, 
Bryant, and Gibbs also exhibited successfully in the various other 
classes for vegetables. 
MAIDENHEAD.— August 14th. 
The twelfth annual Show of the Maidenhead Horticultural Society 
was held in the grounds of Curtisfield, Maidenhead, on the above 
date. Without displaying any features of a special character, it 
brought together a collection of exhibits, both flower, fruit, and vege¬ 
table, of good average merit. Flowering and foliage plants, cut 
flowers, fruit, and vegetables were all well shown. It would appear 
from the annual report that the financial position of the Society is not 
entirely satisfactory, the balance-sheet showing a deficit in 1889, following 
a still more serious one in 1888. It is to be hoped that the present year 
will yield an improvement, as a continual “down grade” movement in 
money matters cannot always go on. Possibly the unsatisfactory financial 
position may have led to economy in the matter of schedules, for it 
proved a difficult matter to obtain one from the Secretary, Mr. 0. King. 
Another official, however, proved very obliging, and is thanked for his 
courtesy. The band of the Royal Horse Guards was in attendance 
during the afternoon, and there was an attraction for feathered fanciers 
in a poultry exhibition. The principal awards in the horticultural 
section are appended, but the amateurs’ and cottagers’ classes, though 
interesting locally, were too numerous to be dealt with. 
Groups formed a very pleasing feature in a large tent devoted to- 
flowering and foliage plants. Two classes were provided, the first prize 
in the larger (12 by 10 feet) being won by Mr. Aitken, gardener to Major 
Meeking, Riching Park, Slough, whose arrangement, though perhaps a 
little overburdened with bloom, was undeniably attractive. The popular 
Maidenhair Fern formed a cool groundwork, from which sprung 
Gloxinias and Crassulas, table plants comprising Vallota purpurea,. 
Lilium speciosum, Celosia pyramidalis, Tuberoses, Gladioli, and the 
graceful flower spikes of Francoa ramosa. Small-leaved Crotons were 
also used, but a little too freely for securing a perfect effect. Altogether 
quieter in tone was the second prize group of Mr. W. H. Austin, Chalvey,. 
Slough, but here the other extreme had been gone to, and the cultural 
merit of the various plants used was much in the rear of the winning 
group. Mr. T. Lockie, gardener to G. 0. Fitzgerald, Esq., Oakley Court, 
won in the class for group 6 feet by 5 feet, but this was altogether too 
lumpy and packed. The plants were well enough grown, the Gloxinias 
in particular being very fine, but the mass of colour, both of flower and 
foliage, was too heavy. A prettier group came from Mr. D. Paxton, 
gardener to the Hon. C. S. Irby, Hitcham Grange, Taplow, but it 
was a little too flat, and only second prize was awarded, while the third 
prize collection of Mr. W. R. Williams, gardener to J. M. Richard¬ 
son, Esq., Seymour Court, Great Marlow, was arranged on very primitive 
lines. Great as the advance has been in this class of work, it is evident 
that very much remains to be learned. 
Floioering and Foliage Plants were a very good display on the 
whole. Amongst the former Tuberous Begonias showed the marked 
improvement that has taken place in these plants of late years, and 
also their great value for decorative purposes. Six plants were asked 
for, and the first prize went to Mr. Lockie’s specimens, beautiful plants 
which did him very great credit. They were about 2^ feet high from 
the edge of the pot, and the same in diameter, well clothed with clean 
substantial foliage from top to bottom, and admirably bloomed. The 
varieties were not named, possibly they own no names, but they were 
not the less highly attractive. Mr. A. Headman, gardener to G. Higgins, 
Esq., Ray Park, was second with smaller plants, but similarly healthy 
and well flowered, and the varieties were good. Mr. Goodman, gardener 
to C. Hammersley, Esq., Abney House, Bourne End, was a close third, 
and judging from the character of his exhibits, as well as the others. 
Begonias would seem to be well grown in Berkshire. Fuchsias were 
correspondingly good, large vigorous plants, freely clothed with flower¬ 
ing growths from Mr. G. Hopkins, gardener to J. W. Burrows, Esq., 
The Elms, Cookham, winning somewhat easily. The useful old 
varieties, Mrs. Marshall, a good plant, but only in bud, Rose of Castile, 
Try-me-Oh ! and Warrior Queen were among them. Smaller plants 
from Mr. Masson, gardener to Miss Goulden, The Grove, Cookham, took 
the second prize. They were more formally trained than Mr. Hopkins* 
plants, for which they were no better, but had an advantage in being a 
little further advanced in bloom. Mr. Paxton followed. Mr. Hopkins 
also won with Coleuses, but with Cockscombs Mr. Lockie and Mr. 
Masson could not be separated. The former had the smoothest combs, 
the latter the dwarfest plants, carrying splendid foliage as well as 
heads. Mr. Lockie, a good cultivator, won again with foliage plants, 
his Dieffenbachias (picta and magnifica) being splendid, and Dracaena 
Lindeni excellent, while plants of Acalypha macrophylla, with their 
warm foliage of various tints, showed up well. Stove and greenhouse 
Ferns were finely shown by Mr. Aitken. His Gold and Silver Ferns told 
splendidly ; Gymnogramma Alstoni (gold), and G. peruviana argyro- 
phylla (silver) being a beautiful pair of plants. He also won with six 
stove and greenhouse plants, large and well-flowered specimens, and 
with a single specimen plant. These huge plants do not, however, 
command the attention that they once did. Zonal Pelargoniums camo 
from Mr. Aitken, well grown and finely flowered, but a little past their 
best, the varieties being Constance, the valuable double F. V. Raspail, 
Royal Osborne, the fine double white Le Cygne, and Daphne. Mr„ 
