142 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ Angn;t 12, 1886. 
close to the Oak tree planted by Her Royal Highness, is a bit of true 
artistic work in carpet bedding, worthy of Heckfield and William Wildsmith, 
and that is saying a great deal. Leicester is truly a fortunate place in its 
grand park, so greatly appreciated by the inhabitants, and the Corporation 
are now laying out another park of forty acres at Spinny Hill, on the other 
side of the town, where there is a grand sweep of undulated ground, plenty 
of grassy slopes and level ground, fully grown trees, and truly a park. 
Flower gardening will no doubt be an accompaniment here, for already 
shrubberies and plantations are springing up ; but the natural beauties of 
the place, its position, and extensive stretch of country viewed from the 
rising ground, is sufficient to stamp it as a place of very popular resort 
when completed, and a fine contrast to the floral beauties and artistic 
arrangements of the Abbey Park. The work of designing and carrying 
out the planting and details falls upon Mr. John Biron, and he is doing his 
work right well. 
The sum of £640 was taken at the gateB in addition to tickets sold. 
There were 752 entries from exhibitors, and the entry fees amounted to 
over £11. The arrangement was superintended by Mr. A. Angus of the Carl¬ 
ton Hotel, a well-known horticulturist in Leicester. 
FROME.— August 2nd. 
This, the third annual Exhibition and Fete, was a great improvement on 
its predecessors, and there is every prospect of its eventually becoming one 
of the most popular fixtures in the neighbourhood. No large prizes are 
offered, and consequently the competition is confined principally to the 
locality, but this in time may be remedied and a still more attractive Show 
be arranged. The meeting under notice was remarkably well attended, and 
everything passed off most creditably to all concerned, and notably 
the Honorary Secretary, Mr. W. H. Frankham,and a few indefatigable 
workers. 
The test prizes were offered for miscellaneous groups of plants, and of 
these there were three capital lots staged. Mr. Pratt, gardener to the 
Marquis of Bath, Longleat, was placed first, his arrangement including 
several well-grown Crotons and other choice plants. The second prize was 
well won by Mr. E. J. Wilcox, gardener to Mrs. Siakins, Frome, who had a 
fine plant of Musa Ensete for a centre, many grandly flowered Lilium 
auratum, Ferns, &c., while the third prize went to Mr. B. Hopkins, gardener 
to John Baily, Esq., Fairlawn, Frome, who also had a capital lot of Dracfenas, 
Crotons, Caladiums, Ferns, Begonias, and various other plants. Each group 
presented a somewhat crowded appearance, but the positions assigned them 
were altogether against artistic arrangements. Mr. J. Tucker, gardener to 
Major Clarke, Trowbridge, was the only exhibitor of six flowering plants, and 
fully deserved the first prize awarded. Anthurium Schertzerianum, 
Dipladenias, Bougainvillea glabra, and similar popular kinds were all repre¬ 
sented, and the same exhibitor was first for a single flowering plant, having 
a capital plant of Bougainvillea glabra ; the second prize going to Mr. S. 
Andrews, gardener to A. J. Hayman, Esq., for Plumbago capensis in good 
condition. The best six fine-foliage plants were staged by Mr. H. Prosser, 
gardener to W. H. Laverton, Esq., Westbury, Mr. B. Hopkins being a close 
second. Palms in variety, Cissus discolor, Pandanuses, Asparagus plumosus. 
were all in good condition. Three creditable lots of twelve Ferns and 
Mosses were shown, and of these Mr. Tucker had the best. Mr. E. Brown, 
gardener to C. Baily, Esq., Frome, was second, and Mr. H. Wright, Frome 
third. With six Ferns Mr. Hopkins was easily first, and was followed by 
Mr. G. Taylor, gardener to A. ft. Baily, Esq., Frome, the third prize going to 
Mr. J. Payton, Frome. 
Fuchsias were rather backward, but Mr. E. Brown fully deserved the first 
prize as awarded- the second going to Mr. H. Wright, and the third to E. R. 
Trotman, Esq., From’. Zonal Pelargoniums made a good display, the 
prizewinners in the order named being Messrs. G. Tucker, E. Brown, and B. 
Hopkins. Gloxinias were well shown by several competitors, Mr. Trotman 
taking first prize, and was closely followed by Messrs. G. Tucker and S. 
Andrews. Coleus were more remarkable for their good colour than size. 
Mr. W. Wright was first, Mr. Wilcox second, and Mr. Hopkins third. Some 
of the classes for cut flowers were well filled, others were very thin ■ the 
comparatively heavy entrance fees affecting the competition in these as well 
as other classes. Mr. W. Iggulden, gardener to the Earl of Cork, Frome, 
was easily first for twelve varieties of choice cut flowers, Mr. Tucker being 
second and Mr. H. Prosser third ; and a capital box of annuals stag d by Mr. 
Wilcox gained the first prize in the class provided for them, the second prize 
going to Mr. W. Thomas, gardener to — Horner, Esq., Wells. A fine lot of 
Boses were staged, and it is to be hoped that more liberal prizes will be 
offered for the next year. The first p> ize for twelve single blooms, eistinct, 
fell to S. P. Budd, Esq., Bath, Messrs. Keynes & Wiiliams, Salisbury, being a 
close second, and Messrs. G. Cooling A Son thiid, all having surprisingly 
good examples of well-known sorts. Mr. G. Garraway, Bath, had the best 
six blooms, the second prize going to Mr. W. P. Jones, gardener to J. S. Pope, 
Esq., Bath, and the third to Mr. W. J. Stokes, Trowbridge. Mr. W. P. Jones 
was first for twenty-four Asters, and Mrs. John Jones, Bath, second. The 
first-prize vase of cut flowers, exhibited by Miss F. Baily, Oriel Cottage, 
Frome, was far ahead of the rest, and for choiceness of flowers and excel'ent 
taste in arrangement would have been in the prize list at any show. Mr. 
E. Brown was second, and Miss K. Tainbury third. Mr. Brown was first 
for a floral wreath, and Miss K. E. Parsons second. The first prize for a 
hand bouquet was easily won by Mr. G. Garraway. 
Fruit was not extensively shown, the fixture being rather too early for 
many hardy fruits, but the exhibits included some fine examples that would 
have been hard to beat anywhere. The best collection of six dishes was 
staged by Mr. W. Iggulden, who had Black Hamburgh and Foster’s Se d- 
ling Grapes, Grosse Mignonne Peaches, Victoria Nectarines, Early Moor¬ 
park Apricots, and Blenheim Orange Melon, all in good condition. Mr. B. 
Hopkins was a creditable second. Mr. Pratt had grand bunches of Black 
Hamburgh Grapes, and was first, the second prize going to Mr. Iggulden, 
who was closely followed by Mr. A. R. Baily, both having good examples of 
the same popular Grape. In the corresponcdng class for any white variety 
Mr. Pratt was again easily first with very fine bunches of Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, Mr. Iggulden following with Foster’s Seedling, the third prize going 
to Mr. Prosser for the same variety. The first prize for a Melon went to Mr. 
Prosser, who had Blenheim Orange in fine condition, the second prize going 
to Mr. Pratt for Longleat Perfection not quite at its best. A beautiful dish 
of Grosse Mignonne, staged by Mr. Iggulden, won first prize for Peaches, 
Mr. Andrews being a good second with Violette Hative. 
Twelve competed for the special prizes offered by Messrs. Sutton and 
Sons, Reading, for a collection of vegetables. The la’gest and most com¬ 
plete collection was staged by Mr. Iggulden, who received the firstpiize ; his 
best dishes were Erfurt Mammoth Cauliflowers, Perfection Tomatoes, The 
Dean and Schoolmaster Potatoes, Laxton’s Charmer Peas, Negro Longpod 
Kidney Bean, Pen y Bydd Marrow, and New Intermediate Carrots. Mr. 
Garraway was a good second ; Mr. S. Andrew's third ; Mr. F. Mead, Frome- 
field, fourth; and Mr. Thos. Evry, Batheaston, highly commended. Mr. J. 
Payton was first with Cucumbers, and Mr. A. Cray second, both having good 
examples, and Messrs. W. Thomas and C Cockey were commended. Mr. 
Iggulden had the best Tomatoes, Carter’s Perfection in fine condition, the 
second prize going to Mr. Andrews, w'ho had a fine dish of Reading Perfec¬ 
tion. Messrs. Garraway and F. Mead won the prizes for salading, and Mr. 
Iggulden was first in the classes for round and also kidney Potatoes, his col¬ 
lections including several of Carter’s novelties, notably Cosmopolitan and 
the Village Blacksmith. Mr. H. Hale and Mr. Hopkins also exhibited 
successfully in these classes. _ V j 
The local nurserymen, including Messrs. Bourne & Son, Beckington, 
and Mr. Cray, Fromefield, arranged miscellaneous groups of plants, not for 
competition, and the last named had also a capital lot of vegetables and 
fruit. 
OUT ANNUALS AND HERBACEOUS FLOWERS AT SHOWS. 
Where show committees offer prizes for cut flowers of the above 
the result is generally a most interesting and attractive display. One i f 
the best shows of the kind I have seen this season was at Bristol, where 
good prizes were offered for a number of bunches of annuals and herba¬ 
ceous flowers, and over a dozen collections were staged. They were 
shown in large prominent bunches like Roses, filled one side of a tent, and 
were showy and pleasing in the highest degree. Many of the annuals 
were certainly the prettiest, but the herbaceous flowers were the most 
substantial, and the whole had a splendid effect; indeed the bunches of stove 
and greenhouse flowers, although choice and good, were not so beautiful 
as those border flowers, and societies generally would find the introduc¬ 
tion of a class or two of this description increase the reputation of their 
shows. All who own a flower bed or border is interested in good annuals, 
and although accurate descriptions of them are often given in seed 
catalogues a display of blooms is more instructive. For instance, few can 
really imagine from the description in the catalogues what a lovely flower 
Statice Suworowii is, but as seen exhibited amongst the annuals at Bri-tol 
it was the admiration of everybody. Messrs. James Carter & Co. hare 
done a great deal to popularise annuals by the excellent exhibitions cf 
them they have frequently shown recently in pots, and the cut flower 
classes are undoubtedly a step in the right direction. At the Sou'h 
Wales shows flowers of this kind have not been shown prominently in 
the manner here indicated, but I know of several committees who con¬ 
template introducing classes for them, and in the meantime Mrs. Loadstone, 
the lady florist of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, has heen exhibiting large 
quantities of those flowers at Newport, Neath, and other shows, and her 
flowers are exceedingly good in colour and variety, and delight all who 
see them.—J. Muir, Margam Park. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Celery. — The earliest rows are now ready for use. They have been 
earthed several times, and are now well blanched. Those with good eaily 
crops may be inclined to keep some of the rows on for late use, but heads 
which are ready now will not remain good un*il November or late autumn, 
and to prevent loss they should all be used soon. As many of our readers 
will now be exhibiting vegetables, they will find that gcod Celery forms 
one of the most weighty dishes they can use in a collection, and it well 
blanched, sound, and free from worm marks, it should always be exhi¬ 
bited in good collections. We have been getting several trenches ready 
for show. To keep it free from worm marks some of it was earthed wdth 
sifted ashes, but in the hot weather in July the ashes dried up so moot', 
and became so hot, that they caused the leaves to flag, and the best heads 
are those earthed with the euironnding soil in the usual way. In exhi¬ 
biting Celery only a few of the short outer leaves should be taken off, and 
as it is always cut by the judges when shown in the Celery classes, < are 
should be taken that none bui sound heads are exhibited. Some growers 
are in the habit of deferring earthing-up until the plants are almost fully 
grown, then one heavy earth ng is all that is given, but when left un¬ 
earthed until late, many of the leaves are apt to fall over and break, which 
spoils the heads. It is also late befote the blanching is accomp! shed 
when this system of earthing is followed, and we prefer the old-fashioned 
and common way of treating it by earthing as the plants gain s ze. The 
latest crops should now be earthed a lit:le, and if more soil is put to them 
in September and October, excellent results are sure to be produced. It 
is generally about this time the Celery fly begins to be troublesome. Its 
presence is first noticed by spots appealing on the leaves. They are 
brown, blistered like blotches, and the maggot is incased in them. 
