60 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 20, 1893. 
greenhouses and garden frames and their improved glazing ; to Messrs. 
Bayliss & Inmann, Birmingham, for artistically designed and constructed 
garden arbours, &c. ; to Mr. G. H. Brotherton, Wolverhampton, for 
garden furniture ; to Mr. Jabez Attwood, Stourbridge, for improved 
hot-water apparatus for amateur greenhouses, and to Messrs. W. Cook 
and Co., Wolverhampton, for their patent double-action force foot 
pump, an excellent and easily worked garden hose distributor. 
On the third day of the Exhibition special prizes were offered for 
garden Roses, the object of the Committee being to encourage the 
cultivation of the older-fashioned garden Roses, and at this Show 
last year these were brought out in good style, many very old 
garden favourites being seen. But this year our old kinds had been 
prematurely driven into and out of flower, and scarcely any were left 
for exhibition, so H.P.’s and Teas and what older Roses were left in 
flower had to be fallen back upon. Messrs. Perkins & Sons won flrst 
prizes, and Messrs. Townsend & Sons seconds. Mr. Coombs, gardener 
at Himley, was first for a basket of such Roses. 
As a result of the successes of the annual floral fites, the public park 
in which they were held has benefited by sundry erections, and recently 
an offer of £1000 was made by the Show Committee to the Town 
Council for the erection of a conservatory in the park, with an under¬ 
taking to maintain it. This was not accepted, on the ground that the 
amount would be more acceptable if applied to the acquirement of an 
additional park in another locality, where such appears to be needed. 
The Show Committee, however, prefer to take their stand on the prin¬ 
ciple that where the money was earned there it should be expended. 
Undoubtedly the erection of a sensible and commodious structure would 
be an acquisition, as at Leicester and other places, including some of the 
London parks ; and in every instance, so far as we know, where displays 
of Chrysanthemums have been provided under glass in the autumn they 
have given unbounded satisfaction. These park Chrysanthemum shows 
are visited by thousands, and the public interest in them increases 
yearly. It is possible the offer in question will be reconsidered, and we 
may expect the end of it will be that both a new park will be obtained 
and a new feature of interest added to the fine existing enclosure. This 
would be a happy issue of which the authors would have every reason 
to be proud in achieving. As evidence of the success of the Wolver¬ 
hampton Shows as rehabilitated largely on the initiative of Mr. W. A. 
Green, an ardent amateur florist and trusted town oflScial, it may be 
stated that the takings in 1889 amounted to £907, in 1890 to £986, in 
1891 to £1275, in 1892 (wet days) to £1152. On the present occasion 
the rain led to a reduction of £175 the first day, the receipts being 
£100 73. 6d. On the second day they were £322 5s., and on the third 
£589 9s. 6d., the greatest amount ever taken in one day at these shows. 
On the last day there were 35,000 visitors. 
BOSTON.— July 12th. 
The “ port of Lincolnshire ” was en fete on the 12th of July, the 
annual horse, dog, cat, bird, rabbit, Rose and horticultural Show taking 
place on that date. One large tent suflBced for the gardening portion 
of the Show, contiguous to which was that devoted to the canines, and 
it was to a mournful accompaniment of howls in all manner of keys 
that our representative pursued his work. He thought of giving the 
dogs a look up afterwards, but a stony stare from a sad-eyed bull dog 
induced him to alter his mind and he contented himself with admiring 
Spratts’ fine stand of biscuits, &c., outside. The plants were not a very 
grand display, but cut flowers, fruit, and vegetables were very fair, 
while the few Roses staged were excellent. 
Taking the fruit first, the first prize for black Grapes was awarded to 
Mr. A. Black, who had large and heavy bunches, but unfortunately they 
were rubbed, and their appearance thus marred. The variety appeared 
to be Gros Maroc. Mr. A. Jarnell was second with Black Hamburgh, 
small, but splendidly coloured ; and J. Oldred, Esq., third. Whites 
were not nearly so good, the first prize bunch (that of Mr. A. Lighten) 
being uneven, and Mr. Black’s second prize cine unripe. There were 
some splendid dishes of Gooseberries, such as are not often seen in the 
south. Mr. W. Nightscales was first, the Rev. T. Staffurth second, and 
Mr. Jarnell third. It is getting late for Strawberries, and only two 
moderate dishes were shown, Mr. Vinters being first, and Mr. M. Crowden 
second. Currants were excellent, especially the blacks. Mr. King and 
Mr. Staffurth both had splendid dishes, the former winning. The 
third prize went to Mr. W. Greenfield. Mr. Staffurth won with whites, 
and Mr. Nightscales with reds, a second award going to Mr. Greenfield. 
R^pberries were rather poor, and so were Cherries, Mr. King winning 
with the former, Mr. Staffurth second. Only a second prize was awarded 
for Cherries, this going to Mr. Crowden. Mr. Black had the best dish 
of Peaches, Mr. Dolby following, and the latter won with Nectarines. 
The vegetable exhibits were good on the whole. Tomatoes were 
grandly represented, there being twelve dishes in all, most of them 
excellent in quality. Mr. King won with a very fine dish of the Per¬ 
fection type, Mr. Lighten second, and Mr. Vinters third. The best of a 
fair lot of Peas came from Mr. Nightscales, Messrs. Crowden and Green¬ 
field following. French Beans were of about equal quality, the prizes 
going to Messrs. Crowden, Nightscales and Staffurth. Broad Beans were 
very good, Messrs. Nightscales, Staffurth and Jarnell being first, second, 
and third in the order of their names. A splendid pair of Cauliflowers 
came from Mr. Dolby, who won from Messrs. Nightscales and Crowden, 
and Cucumbers were equally well shown by Mr. Greenfield, who defeated 
Messrs. Crowden and Nightscales. Cabbages as shown by Messrs. Dolby 
(first), King (second), and W. Mumford (third) were all very good, but 
neither Lettuce nor Endive was quite up to the mark. Mr. Crowden took 
a second prize for both. Mr. Dolby had excellent Carrots and won easily 
from Messrs. Mumford and Crowden. Capital Turnips came from Mr. Roe, 
who easily defeated Messrs. Mumford and Jarnell. He also showed Onions 
extremely well, the second and third prizes for these going to Messrs. 
Staffurth and Mumford. Mr. Roe had a somewhat thin pot of Parsley, 
but the quality was better than that of Messrs. Mumford and Staffurth, 
who followed him in the order of their names. Mr. Staffurth was the 
only exhibitor of Rhubarb, and was placed first for grand sticks. Mr. 
Dolby won with Kidney Potatoes and Mr. Nightscales with rounds, the 
minor awards going to Messrs. Staffurth, Jarnell, and Crowden. 
In another section Messrs. Craven and Lockwood divided most of the 
first prizes for fruit between them, and also showed very prominently in 
the vegetable classes, other prizes going to Dr. Ashdown, Mr. A. Tapster, 
and Mr. Vines. The latter had some excellent Potatoes. In classes for 
collections of vegetables, Messrs. Dolby and Tapster secured first prizes, 
the minor ones going to Messrs. Jarnell, Craven, and Ashdown. 
Cut flowers were somewhat numerous. Mr. J. Illman, Lincoln, had 
the best bouquet and also the best one of Roses, Mr. Dolby following in 
each class. The latter won with garden flowers, and was also first in 
other classes, but Mr. Illman defeated him with buttonholes and also 
with twelve stove and greenhouse flowers, the Lincoln exhibitor having 
some fine clusters. With hardy flowers Mr. W. Clegg was first and Mr. 
Dolby second. Pansies were rather poor, neither Mr. Clegg nor Miss 
Porter, who were first and second respectively, having particularly good 
blooms. The Rose classes showed a must unusual state of affairs, there 
being only two exhibitors, Messrs. G. «fc W. H. Burch and Mr. Clegg. 
The Peterborough growers were placed first for forty-eight, second for 
twenty-four, and second for twelve trebles, having no opposition in each 
case. Their forty-eight stand was a very fine one, and the twenty-four 
deserved first prize considering the season. Mr. Clegg was first in another 
class for twelve. 
Plants were only moderate. Mr. Oldred appeared to be the only 
exhibitor of Selaginellas, and was placed first for healthy plants. Mr. 
Dolby was the only exhibitor of Petunias, Fuchsias, and Begonias. The 
latter were the best, and the first prize was given to them ; but he had to 
put up with second for the others. The best group came from Mr. 
Oldred. It was well arranged, but somewhat wanting in flowers, the 
foliage work having been a little overdone. Mr. Dolby was second with 
a group exhibiting precisely the same fault as the other. Mr. Night¬ 
scales wag third. Mr. Dolby won with a hanging basket, and the first 
prize for foliage plants went to Mr. A. O. Scrivener, whose plants were 
small but healthy. Mr. Dolby was second, and Mr. Nightscales third. 
Mr. Dolby won with Coleus, having large plants just a little wanting in 
colour; and for Ferns the prizes went to Messrs. Oldred, Dolby, and 
Black in the order of their names. 
WOODBRIDGE.— July 13th. 
A LOCAL reporter, skilled in the art of observation and description, 
“ wrote up to ” the annual Exhibition, which is an event of the year, 
in the “ East Anglian Daily Times ” as follows :—“ The annual show of 
the Woodbridge Horticultural Society, which claims and deserves the 
name of a grand musical and floral fete, was held on Thursday last under 
somewhat unfavourable conditions. It is a traditional coincidence, not 
out of harmony with the different character of the two enterprises, that 
Ipswich Flower Show is always spoiled by rain, and the neighbouring 
event always brightened by sunshine. With the present exceptional 
season, however, there was a change of luck. Rain fell in torrents just 
as the charming Abbey Grounds opened upon this year’s Exhibition at 
Woodbridge, and the weather was dull and threatening throughout the 
day. The scene lost something of its bright and pleasure-inspiring 
aspect in consequence, but it takes something more than a few showers 
to subdue the energy of the promoters, or the public spirit of the in¬ 
habitants, and in all essential respects the old prestige of the town was 
splendidly sustained. The streets were decorated, general holiday was 
observed, and there was an exceedingly large attendance of visitors 
from all parts of the neighbouring district. The entrance to the Show 
was by a path beneath the spreading Beeches in front of Capt. R. J. 
Carthew’s mansion—whose kindness on these occasions merits warm 
acknowledgment—and the splendid site provided on the sloping 
meadows beyond was laid out in much the same style as in previous years. 
Four large marquees were erected for the staging of the various exhibits ; 
a handsome bandstand was “ o’er-canopied ” with festoons, and illumi¬ 
nated at night by fairy lights ; and the natural surroundings, with the 
square tower of St. Mary’s Church rising above the trees, formed a 
lovely setting to the animated scene. Judges from a distance were much 
impressed with the beauty of the grounds. The prize schedule comprised 
nearly 200 classes, and, generally speaking, the Show was a long way 
ahead of the Ipswich and East of England Exhibition, and why it should 
be so was a question much discussed by visitors from the county 
town. Does the inferiority arise from want of money, lack of good 
management, or what ? The fact remains, whatever may be the cause, 
and the Woodbridge folk have good reason to feel gratified with the 
comparison.” 
The Woodbridge Shows are popular for several reasons. 1, The Society 
has been long established, and its Jubilee Exhibition is not far distant. 
2, It is managed by a body of business men who take great interest in the 
shows and work together harmoniously. 3, The town, of between 4000 
and 5000 inhabitants, is breezy and clean, and not too far from Ipswich 
(about seven miles by rail) to render the journey a task. 4, The 
Exhibition grounds are picturesque, and in themselves a force of attrac¬ 
tion. 5, The local gentry, tradesmen, and apparently the inhabitants 
