882 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 30, 1890. 
stimulating effect on southern growers, and at the same time his eyes 
were opened on the capabilities of the Japanese, and these were subse¬ 
quently grown as well around Liverpool as in the metropolitan district. 
Mr. Tunnington has done enough as an exhibitor, and retired from com- 
petion, and his services are now in demand as a Judge at shows. 
Mr. G. Woodgate (Kingston-on-Thames).—At the death of Mr. 
Jackson, Secretary of the Kingston Chrysanthemum Society, which 
during his period of office had taken so high a place amongst similar 
societies,- Mr. G. Woodgate, The Gardens, Warren House, Kingston, was 
unanimously appointed his successor. Perhaps no greater compliment 
could be paid to him than by recording the fact that he has well main¬ 
tained the credit of the Society, and has won the confidence and esteem 
of all his colleagues. Mr. Woodgate is an experienced horticulturist with 
wide practical knowledge, he grows Chrysanthemums well, and keeps 
an extensive garden in admirable condition. 
Mr. Norman Davis (Camberwell).—As a Chrysanthemum specialist 
Mr. Davis has rendered his name familiar to growers throughout Great 
Britain, and he possesses an exceptional critical knowledge of the 
varieties cultivated within the past twenty years, for he has made them 
the subject of close study. Mr. Davis commenced as an amateur grower 
of Chrysanthemums when a mere youth, and had gained some years’ 
experience before he made them his business. Even then the beginning 
was very modest ; he gradually advanced, however, and at last removed 
to the Lilford Road, where he has grown all the varieties of each 
section that could be obtained. As many as 1400 varieties have been 
thus included at one time. Many excellent varieties have been sent 
out by Mr. Davis which are established favourites with cultivators. 
Mr. Peter Blair (Trentham).—Trentham is one of England’s 
celebrated gardens, and Mr. Blair has in the past few years satisfactorily 
proved his ability to maintain its fame. Orchids, Chrysanthemums, and 
fruit are the specialties, but it was a surprise to many last year to find 
Mr. Blair a successful competitor at Chrysanthemum shows both north 
and south. The collection of Chrysanthemums is probably the largest 
in any private garden in this country, as considerable quantities of cut 
Powers are required for decorative purposes. 
Mr. R. Falconer Jameson (Hull).—The popular Chairman of the 
Hull Society could fairly claim to have exerted a greater influence upon 
the extension of the Chrysanthemum interest than any other amateur 
in the north of England, and mainly by his efforts the Hull Society 
was started, and the generous policy he advocated has resulted in a most 
gratifying success. The annual Show there has now become one of the 
best in the kingdom, and attracts a large attendance of visitors, rivalling 
Portsmouth in numbers. Mr. Jameson has been ably supported by the 
Hon. Secretaries, Messrs. Harland and Dixon, the former especially as 
the Hull representative on the Committee of the National Society, and 
all worked together most harmoniously to ensure the success of the 
National Provincial Show at Hull last year. 
Mr. J. Hughes (Birmingham).—As Secretary of the Birmingham 
and Midland Counties Chrysanthemum, Fruit, and Floral Society, Mr. 
Plughes occupies a prominent position in the midlands. He is not an 
exhibitor, but a laborious worker in the interests of horticulture. He is 
a model Secretary, patient, courteous, and possessing a mastery of 
details that renders his services invaluable. He appears to spend all 
his spare time in the furtherance of objects that are instituted for the 
improvement of gardening and the well-being of gardeners. The Bir¬ 
mingham Chrysanthemum shows now rank amongst the most important, 
and the November exhibitions in their entirety are not surpassed by 
any in the kingdom. _ 
Mr. C. Gibson (Morden).—An able gardener, a persevering worker, 
an excellent Chrysanthemum grower, and an unassuming man is Mr. C. 
Gibson. He is regarded as one of the most modest winners and best 
losers in the south. He neither boasts when successful, nor grumbles 
when defeated, but is “ always the same.” When, through an accident 
in staging at one of the National Shows, he lost the first prize in an 
important class, his integrity was recognised and a special honorarium 
granted. There are not many men who cut more exhibition blooms 
from the same number of plants than does Mr. Gibson, nor win more 
prizes with them. He always stages well, and has secured valuable 
prizes in the best classes at leading shows. The chief events in Mr. 
Gibson’s career can only be briefly summarised. He commenced his 
career as an exhibitor at the Borough of Hackney Society’s Show in the 
Royal Aquarium, Westminster, in 1879, where he won three first prizes. 
This success has been well followed each year until his record now is over 
100 prizes, a large proportion being firsts. His best year was in 1886, 
when he won the Kingston cup, £10 at the Crystal Palace for forty- 
eight Japanese and incurved, the same amount at the Aquarium for 
forty-eight Japanese, and would have won the corresponding prize for 
forty-eight incurved at the same Show but for the unfortunate accident 
of showing four Golden Queens when not more than three of one variety 
were admissible. _ 
Mr, Henry Cannell (Swanley).—The Home of Flowers is famed 
for its Pelargoniums, its Tuberous Begonias, and for many other popular 
flowers, but at this time of year the special feature is formed by the 
Chrysanthemums. To these Mr. Cannell has devoted much attention 
for many years, and has achieved a large share of success, for not only 
has he aided in drawing public attention to them generally, but he has 
introduced many valuable varieties, some direct from Japan, and others 
as seedlings or sports raised on the Continent or in England. A long 
chapter could be written respecting the important service rendered by 
Mr. Cannell in the Chrysanthemum cause, but space will not permit 
in the present issue, and we shall have something more to add on 
“ men of the time,” among whom Mr. Cannell is entitled to a high 
position. _ 
Mr. Charles Pearson (Nottingham).—Chilwell, near Nottingham, 
is admittedly the great Chrysanthemum emporium of the midlands, and 
has been raised to the position it occupies mainly through the instru¬ 
mentality of Mr. Charles Pearson, who maybe termed the floral member 
of the firm that has there been so long established. The Chilwell 
collection of Chrysanthemums is one of the largest in the kingdom, and 
the plants are displayed to the best advantage in the large and lofty 
structures in which they are arranged. Mr. Charles Pearson is a great 
admirer of the flowers, and secures the best new varieties for com¬ 
parison with the old. He has a keen eye for noting the characters of 
the varieties, and their adaptabilities for exhibition and floral decoration, 
and the papers which he from time to time writes are always fresh, 
instructive, and interesting. Assuredly he has plenty to write about, as 
will be readily acknowledged by all who find their way to Chilwell 
about the middle of November. The Show there is visited by thousands 
of persons during the Chrysanthemum month, and is worth a long 
journey to see. _ 
Mr. Robert Owen (Maidenhead).—Mr. Owen is widely known in 
the Chrysanthemum world, for he has been a cultivator for many years, 
and has introduced many varieties into commerce. Numerous seedlings 
have also been raised at the Floral Nursery, Maidenhead, some of which, 
especially in the late-flowering type, have proved very useful additions 
to the lists of decorative Chrysanthemums. Mr. Owen has for some 
years taken an active part in the affairs of the National Society, being 
a member of the General and Floral Committees. 
Mr. George Stevens (Putney).—In the St. John’s Nursery, 
Putney, Mr. Stevens devotes a large proportion of space under glass to 
Chrysanthemums in October and November, not only as a display, but 
to furnish supplies of blooms for cutting. For this purpose he grows 
all the most effective and free-flowering varieties, and in addition has 
a large general collection. Mr. Stevens has been fortunate in raising 
numerous distinct seedling Chrysanthemums from imported seed, and 
intends following this method up more closely. He has been connected 
with the National Chrysanthemum Society for some years, and is a 
regular attendant at all the meetings. 
Mr. J. Lambert (Shrewsbury).—The Shrewsbury horticultural 
shows have become famous, not only for their magnitude, but for the 
extraordinary number of visitors which attend them from the surround¬ 
ing district. Mr. Lambert has been one of the many successful exhi¬ 
bitors at those shows, and has also proved himself a skilful grower of 
Chrysanthemums by the blooms he has staged and the prizes he has 
won in high class competition. He may be fairly regarded as a repre¬ 
sentative cultivator in the district in which he has done such good work 
as a gardener, and whenever he exhibits his opponents have learned 
that it is necessary to put forth their full strength for placing him lower 
than themselves in the prize list. He is a thorough gardener and strives 
to do whatever he undertakes well, including the growing and also the 
staging of Chrysanthemums, for his blooms are always displayed to 
great advantage in the stands. _ 
Mr. E. Molyneux (S wanmore).—When we published Mr. Molyneux’s 
portrait on a former occasion, we stated that as a young man he had never 
been employed in a garden where Chrysanthemums were grown, except in 
the ordinary decorative way ; but seeing the splendid flowers produced 
by the Liverpool growers, and being impressed with their excellence, 
he was animated with a desire to equal them, and well he has suc¬ 
ceeded, in winning such a large number of prizes in the best com¬ 
petition, including more large challenge cups than any other man. 
This should be very encouraging to other young growers who desire to 
emulate him. He is a close observer of all small details in connection 
with the growth of the Chrysanthemum, never over-estimating his own 
produce. He has also been serviceable to many by his excellent work 
on Chrysanthemum culture. _ 
Mr. John Laing (Forest Hill).— One of the most genial horticul¬ 
turists of the present time, a practical, shrewd, and thorough man of 
business, a skilful hybridiser and cultivator, and a devoted gardener in 
the broadest sense of the term. Mr. John Laing, the founder of the 
Forest Hill firm, well deserves his popularity and success. Mr. Laing 
was born in October, 1823, in the parish of Carriston, near Brechin. 
His first instruction in gardening was gained in the gardens of Old 
Montrose, under the charge of Mr. Reid, and it was there he directed 
his attention to the study of Mosses and other cryptogamic plants, of 
which he ultimately acquired a considerable knowledge. The next move 
was to the gardens of Kinnaird Castle, the seat of the Earl of Southesk, 
and during the two years spent in that establishment he applied himself 
closely to his gardening duties, but still found time to pursue his 
