I'ovember 27, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
467 
Plants .—Prominent in this section of the Show were the “groups of 
Chrysanthemums interspersed with foliage plants arranged for effect 
in a space of 100 square feet.” When it is remembered that Mr. 
George Bohn, to whom the Society owes so much for hi 3 generosity, 
offered a 20-guinea challenge cup in this clas^, and the Society a prize of 
£<> to the winner, also £5, £4, and £2 as the remaining prizes, strong 
competition was naturally expected. Strong indeed it was. The Hull 
groups have become famous by their excellence, and those of this year 
surpassei all previous efforts. There were seven of them, three on each 
side of the hall and one at the end. They were semicircular in outline, 
each with a Palm rising above the blooms to a height of 10 feet or there¬ 
abouts, and all of them margined with ornamental foliage plants and 
Ferns. The aggregate effect of these grand groups, for grand they were, 
was highly imposing. The Judges scanned them over and over again, 
but at each round of inspection paused the longest at a free and beautiful 
arrangement by Mr. G. Wilson, gardener to James Beckitt, Esq. ; but a 
hoble pile of handsome blooms and good foliage plants much more 
formally arranged by Mr. E. Wright, gardener to D. Wilson, Esq., pulled 
hard against it for a time, but eventually had to yield to the superior 
artistic taste and superb finish displayed in Mr. Reckitt’s group, and to 
this the chief prize was awarded. It was referred to by one of the 
Judges as fit for a Royal drawing-room, and the most instructive arrange¬ 
ment of Chrysanthemums and foliage plants that had come under his 
notice. Its charm consisted in the pleasing diversity of the arrange¬ 
ment. It was unlike all the others, while the plants were in the best 
of condition. It is not easy to describe this group in a few words. 
Briefly, the centre plant was a large Kentia, under which, and quite 
below the arching leaves, were arranged dwarf Chrysanthemums 
bearing handsome exhibition blooms. From this somewhat hollow 
centre rather taller plants rose towards the front, and taller still right 
and left of the Palm towards the back, forming bold shoulders. Very 
prominent at intervals in the breast of the group were large plants, 
with numerous inflorescent spikes, of Eulalia japonica variegata. To¬ 
wards the front were superbly coloured Crotons and Dracaenas standing 
out bold and clear, so that their full beauty could be seen. The margin 
was of moss, in which small plants of the silvery Chamsepuce diacantha 
and Panicum interspersed with small Coleus and other suitable plants. 
Not a pot was visible, nor was there the least suspicion of packing 
and crowding throughout the arrangement. The more the group was 
examined the better it was liked, and though a few persons appeared 
to be taken by surprise at the first by the position it won, no long time 
elapsed before there were scarcely any left to dispute its supremacy. 
It was indisputably in advance of all others, and the N.C.S. Centenary 
medal was awarded to it as the most strikingly meritorious exhibit in 
the Show. It must not be supposed, however, that the other groups 
were not good also, the second prize arrangement above men¬ 
tioned, also the third prize group of Mr. W. R. Willey, gardener to W. 
Wheatley, Esq., and the fourth prize, one arranged by Mr. G. Jarvis, 
gardener to B. AVhittaker, Esq., were such as are rarely placed in those 
positions, while the three which failed to obtain prizes would have 
obtained them at many other shows. Practically, all the fault that could 
be found with them was the very common one of overcrowding. 
Plants appeared to have been pressed in as if to hide something be¬ 
hind, and they certainly spoiled the effect of each other. There was 
very little to choose between some of the groups in merit, and critical 
observers would perhaps note that the greater the freedom and less the 
crowding the higher were the awards. It will be interesting to see the 
Hull groups next year. The fine cup has to be won twice to be 
owned, and it may be expected the present holder of it, expert as 
he evidently is, will have to put forth his full strength to keep it in his 
possession. It can only be won by superior plants, freely, yet tastefully, 
arranged, with an absence of huddling and a better finish than is pre¬ 
sented by a curve of red pots. 
Only a little can be said about the specimen plants, but the few 
words must be words of high approval of the great progress that has 
been made in this section. The dwarf trained plants produced by Mr. 
J. S. Graham, which won the chief prize and the N.C.S. certificate, were 
worthy of a position in any show ; while those of Mr. J. Hemming and 
Mr. H. Taylor, who were second and third respectively, were not far 
behind them. Standards were also good from the two first named 
exhibitors, who occupied the same relative positions, Mr. W. Mason, 
gardener to Major Dibb, being a very good third. Bush grown, but 
not formally trained plants, made a fine display. They were just 
such plants as are suitable for many conservatories, and Messrs. 
Hemming, Graham, Coupland, Mason, Grant, and Thirsk well merited 
the prizes they won. 
Table and Floral Decorations .—In this section there were ladies’ 
classes for dessert tables, bouquets, sprays, and picturesque arrange¬ 
ments of Chrysanthemums, resulting in great competition. In addi¬ 
tion to the first prize of 4 guineas for a dessert table, Mr. Bohn added 
a piece of challenge plate, which was won by Miss Kathleen Todd of 
Tranby Park. We are compelled to pass the other exhibits, good as 
many of them were, and can only note that in the special class for 
children for the most tasteful arrangement of Chrysanthemums, with 
any kind of foliage and grasses, the silver flower vases offered by Mrs. 
Bohn were won by Miss Gertrude Harland, daughter of one of the 
Honarary Secretaries, with one of the prettiest effects in the room. 
Messrs. E. P. Dixon & Sons, Mr. Martin, and others added to the in¬ 
terest of the Show by large and meritorious exhibits not for competition. 
It will be seen that the Exhibition was of great magnitude and high 
excellence, and if a National medal were offered for good management 
Hull would win it, unless something better than the following facts can 
be presented from elsewhere. The large hall was cleared and ready 
for the Judges by ten o’clock, all other parts of the Show in a quarter 
of an hour afterwards ; and lists of all the exhibitors, classes, and prize¬ 
winners were printed in schedule form and distributed at 2.30, the 
awards as they were made being conveyed to the printers by bicyclists. 
In recognition of the good work that has been done at Hull in the 
advancement of Chrysanthemum culture, we have pleasure in giving 
the portrait of Mr. E. Harland, who has worked zealously and success¬ 
fully for four years as Honorary Secretary with his able colleague, Mr. 
James Dixon. Mr. Harland has been a successful exhibitor before he 
was officially connected with the Society, and still takes pleasure in 
growing Chrysanthemums well at Cottingham, but does not think it 
desirable now to join in public competition. The Hull Chrysanthemum 
Society is singularly fortunate in all its officials, and to this circum 
stance is mainly due the prominent position it occupies in the Chrys¬ 
anthemum world. 
SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Exhibition held in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, on the 
20th, 21st, and 22nd, was in all respects a good one. Cut blooms were 
very largely represented, the Japanese being particularly fine, and also 
among the incurved varieties many specially fine examples of high 
culture were staged, though the number of badly dressed blooms was 
very great. Plants in pots were not so good by a long way as the cut 
blooms, and some of the best were not grown from single stems, but 
were pots of made up plants. Fruit was largely shown, splendid 
Grapes being staged, there being a'so a good display of Apples and 
Pears. Vegetables, again, were extra good, and staged in large quan¬ 
tities. One of the finest exhibits was a massive group of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums from the nurseries of Messrs. T. Methven & Sons, Princes Street, 
the blooms being of large size. Messrs. Todd & Co , Maitland Street, 
contributed a remarkably fine decorative stand, comprising a few 
Palms and other plants, with grand examples of bouquets, vase deco¬ 
rations, and flower baskets, nearly all composed of Chrysanthemums. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill, with Chrysanthemums contributed 
groups of Pernettyas. Messrs. Clibran& Sons, Altrincham ; Mr. Erskine, 
George Street ; Messrs. Dickson & Sons, Hanover Street, and others, had 
also exhibits on exhibition. The following were the chief items in the 
prize list:— 
Cut Blooms .—The City of Edinburgh prize for forty-eight blooms, 
Japanese (not less than thirty-six varieties), £20 and the Association 
medal, £10, £5, £3, and £2, brought out five, the best of which was 
clearly that to which the Judges awarded the first prize. This was 
staged by Mr. Forbes, gardener to A. Holt, Esq., Crofton, Aigburth,and 
included deep and massive blooms. .The duplicates were Etoile de 
Lyon, Mrs. F. Jameson, Stanstead White, Condor, Avalanche, Mrs. 
G. Atkinson, Sunflower, all extra fine ; Ralph Brocklebank, E. 
Molyneux, Madame J. Laing. The singles were Carew Underwood, 
Fimbriatum, Gloriosum, Boule d’Or, Madame Baco, G. Daniels, M. A. 
Carriere, extra good ; and Fair Maid of Guernsey, Sarah Owen, Jeanne 
Delaux, Holborn Beauty, Belle Paule, Criterion, T. Stephenson, J. 
Delaux, M. Bernard, Mrs. H. Cannell, Bouquet des Dames, A. H. Neve, 
Maisa, Meg Merrilies, Album Fimbriatum, Mrs. F. C. Price, Puritan, 
Pelican, and Stanstead Surprise. To Mr. J. Carruthers, gardener to 
Mrs. Fleming, Corstorphine, the second prize was awarded. The third 
prize blooms came very close to the second, Mr. McHattie, gardener to 
the Marquis of Lothian, Newbattle, securing this. Mr. J. Wheeler, 
Jesmond Towers, Newcastle; and Mr. Rae, Sunlaws, Kelso, being 
fourth and fifth respectively. 
The next class was open to cultivators living in Scotland. Eighteen 
Japanese and eighteen incurved, not less than twelve varieties of each. 
First prize, Scottish challenge cup value fifteen guineas, with the 
National Chrysanthemum Society’s medal and £5. Five competitors 
