166 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 17, 1893. 
trifles indeed. But then these trivial differences in merit are really 
great ones when the old system of prizegiving is practised. Here was 
a sum of £5 set apart for the class to he divided into four prizes. 
Ordinarily the prizes would have been 403,, SOs., 20s., and lOs,; the 
second prize being 25 per cent, less than the first, the third prize 33i 
less than the second, the fourth 50 per cent, less than the third, and 
75 per cent, less than the first. Now, as the points of the selected four 
when most carefully judged stood at 541^, 54, 53, and 51^. can anyone 
assert with any degree of justice that under the ordinary method of 
giving prizes the merits of these four collections would have been fairly 
dealt with ? It would be too absurd to say so. I should very much like 
to learn how the £5 were ultimately apportioned ; but having regard 
to relative merits, as shown by the pointing, I make the amounts to be— 
first, 28s.; second, 27s. ; third, 25s. ; and fourth, 203.— A. Dean. 
[Other prizes were awarded for collections in which there was a 
greater falling off in points, but the particulars given below were not 
previously obtained. At the first pointing two of the collections were 
equal, and it was only on a second rigid examination that a slight 
difference could be discovered. The system is a just one, but its general 
adoption would necessitate an increase in the number of judges at 
most, if not all, shows.] __ 
Collections of Vegetables. 
£ 
S. 
d. 
1st 
Prize 
. 54i points . 
0 
18 
10 
2nd 
. 54 . 
0 
18 
8 
3rd 
... ... 53J ,, 
0 
18 
6 
4th 
. 5U „ . 
0 
17 
10 
6 th 
. 45 „ . 
0 
15 
7 
0th 
>? 
801 
••• JJ 
0 
10 
7 
£5 
0 
0 
— G. W. Cummins. 
WOODHATCH, REIGATE. 
Being at South Park, Reigate, the other day, and close to the 
beautiful place of the Treasurer of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, Mr. 
T. B. Haywood, I gladly availed myself of a kind invitation from Mr. 
Salter, the esteemed gardener, and a spare couple of hours, to visit these 
grounds. Their great feature to me is found in the remarkable neatness, 
the very high order of keeping, to use a common term, found in every 
direction. I think I have never seen a tidier garden, or one in which 
order so thoroughly prevails. That may to some extent be due to 
abundance of help. 1 do not know, but certainly very much also is due 
to the excellent training in these elements of garden excellence Mr. 
Salter has had. I do not propose to outline or describe the place except 
to say that a large portion of it is very close home and compact, 
especially so is that the case with the glass department. But such parts 
as vegetables, Potatoes, and hardy fruit are in different places, and some 
of them remote. Even the Roses, of which there are many grown, are 
close to the farm, some distance from the house, but then it has 
been needful to find for them there a soil that is suitable for their 
requirements. 
Two- special kinds of plants are grown at Woodhatch in great 
quantities. These are Orchids and Chrysanthemums, both wonderfully 
well done. Mr. Salter took me through house after house, each devoted 
to Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums, Cattleyas, and so on in their respec¬ 
tive sections, all in the most admirable condition, clean beyond 
description, and the plants in perfect health. Perhaps it is not at all 
difficult to manage Orchids well when you have plenty of good houses 
and assistance, but I have seen many very much bungle at it all the 
same, and have been very glad to get away from them. It is far 
different at Woodhatch, where, whilst just now few of the plants are 
blooming, it is a rich treat to look through the houses, but in the spring 
it must be indeed a delight. Then out in the open there is a wondrous 
lot of Chrysanthemums. Mr. Salter has a thousand plants of many 
sorts in every section, and it is not possible to withhold a warm 
tribute of praise for their splendid condition. The Reigate district 
has considerable fame for the production of high class Chrysanthemums, 
due to some extent perhaps to the excellent locality, but chiefly, of 
course, to skill attained through frequent severe competition at local 
shows : and even Woodhatch finds formidable competitors at Great 
Doods, where Mr. Brown practises so well, and in Messrs. Riches, Bailey, 
Hayter, and others. How like the shepherd who so well indicates the 
members of his flock by their faces does Mr. Salter point out the 
Morels, the Smiths, the Queens, the Avalanches or Sunflowers and 
numbers of others by their leaves alone. Every one is known, and a 
beautiful study does this class of plant knowledge present. There are 
no insects on the plants, and no rustiness about leaf or pot. It would 
not be easy to detect that the plants had been watered, and but that 
they were properly moist, as all over the area on which they stand, 
a fine rake is run and footsteps obliterated after each watering. 
In one long lean-to house there is a brilliant lot of double and single 
Begonias, and in another similar house a fine collection of bush Fuchsias. 
On the back wall ot both houses is a fine lot of Peaches and Nectarines, 
doing capitally. There is in one of the double Begonias a sort of 
departure from the normal type, as the flowers have much the shape 
and form of a Cactus Dahlia. Anything which looks like a break from 
the big rotund type of flowers may, well be regarded with interest. The 
chief Tomato grown here is Hepper’s Goliath, a very old variety 
relatively, but at Woodhatch it is a truly enormous cropper. The fruits 
of the largest are rather sutured, the smaller ones of excellent form, but 
the crop could not be excelled. The plants, trained up under a sloping 
roof, are planted in a somewhat narrow shallow bed of soil, whilst 
excess of root room seems conducive to coarse growth and disease, 
certainly the finest fruit crops are got from very limited soil beds. 
The newer forms of the now popular Streptocarpus are grown here in 
great quantity. Mr. Salter has been intercrossing to secure, and with 
much success, finer blooms. Some, too, are of rich hues of colour, whilst 
now so beautiful it is very obvious that there is still great room for the 
production of greater variation in colour of the flowers. 
A lovely Antirrhinum, yellow and red, a wonderful bloomer, is a 
striking feature in the open borders. All kinds of hardy plants are 
well grown, and indeed they are greatly encouraged here, where so 
much of glass does not by any means produce insensibility to the 
beauties of hardy outdoor plants. The crop on Apple, Pear, and other 
fruit trees is a heavy one, but tomtits and wasps are giving great 
trouble. The district is one essentially favourable to fruit production, 
but it is evident that where there is practical knowledge of tree 
requirements, by far the best results are secured.—A. D. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
LEICESTER. 
The annual Show was again held in the Abbey Park on the 8th inst.> 
and as usual attracted an enormous crowd of people. Upwards of 
12,000 generally attend, and this year that number must have been 
much exceeded. Horticulture is encouraged very much by the Corpo¬ 
ration, especially among the working classes. One striking evidence of 
this may be seen in the large number of allotment gardens close to 
the town. Another is the beautiful Park where the Show is held yearly, 
the profits of which are devoted to its maintenance; and not the least 
of all is the gratifying sight of the garden produce in the cottagers’ 
tent, many of whom would stand a good chance in the professionals’ 
class. The fiower beds and park generally looked remarkably well, but 
one could easily see Mr. Burn has had some hard work this hot, dry 
season, the whole of the soil being mud from the river, which is not a 
good staple for a dry season like the present. 
The groups of plants were arranged in the centre of the new show 
house, a recent addition to the park, the cost of which was defrayed by 
the flower shows, and amounted to £700. This is a famous place for 
Chrysanthemums in the winter, of which a fine lot were in preparation 
near at hand, and looked very promising. The first prize for a group of 
plants was awarded to Mr. J. Smith, gardener to Mr. S. Bennett, who 
had clean well-grown examples of Crotons. Dracasnas, Alocasias, and 
Chrysanthemums, lightened by good plants of Eulalia japonica variegata. 
Second, Mr. G. Barry, gardener to Mr. H. Snow, whose group was rather 
heavier in appearance. Third, Mr. W. Calvert, gardener to Mr. G. 
Oliver, the arrangement being better than No. 2, but the plants not so 
fresh. Zonal Pelargoniums lined the sides of this house in conjunction 
with Begonias and other plants, making an effective display. A novelty 
in the shape of three bouquets immersed in water under glass shades 
attracted attention, as exhibited by Mr. H. Smith. The specimen stove 
and greenhouse plants were arranged in an adjoining house. Mr, W. S. 
Bolton, gardener to VV. Billson, Esq., was awarded the first prize for 
good specimens, including Allamanda Hendersoni, Plumbago capensis, 
Bougainvillea glabra, and others. Second, Mr. W. Calvert. For six 
exotic Ferns Mr. J. Smith was first, showing a fine Adiantum farleyense, 
Davallia canariensis, D. Mooreana. among other good specimens. 
The fruit classes were keenly contested. The first prize for a 
collection of eight dishes was won by Mr. Goodacre, gardener to the 
Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle. The fruit was good and well 
staged. Black Hamburgh Grapes were fine in colour and bunch, 
Muscat of Alexandria good, as was the Madresfield Court. An excellent 
Queen Pine, Best of All Melon, Nectarines, Peaches, and Apricots com¬ 
pleted the collection. Second, Mr. Mclndoe, who showed fine fruit, 
but not so fresh in appearance. His collection contained fine bunches 
of Black Hamburgh Grapes, a large bunch of Bananas, and very fine 
Pitmaston Duchess Pears. Third, Mr. J. Read, Bret by Park. In the 
collection of four dishes there was a very strong competition. Mr. 
Goodacre was again placed first, showing very fine Muscat Hamburgh 
Grapes, a Melon, Nectarines, and Peaches. Second, Mr. W. H. Divers, 
who lost a few points with Grapes, but was much in advance with 
Peaches and Nectarines. Third, Mr. McVinish. Fourth, Mr. Mclndoe. 
Grapes, Muscat of Alexandria, first, Mr. McVinish, good bunches, 
fairly coloured ; second, Mr. Mclndoe. For any other white Grape, 
Mr. Reed was first, showing Cannon Hall, good in bunch and berry, but 
deficient in colour. Black Hamburghs, first, Mr. McVinish, good in all 
points ; second, Mr. J. Goodacre, with good bunches, not so perfect in 
colour. For any other black, Mr. W. Messenger was a good first with 
Gros Maroc, grand berries and well coloured ; second, Mr. W. G. Adams. 
Peaches, first, Mr. W. H. Divers with Crimson Galande, fine in size and 
colour ; second, Mr. Mclndoe ; third, Mr. McVinish. Nectarines, first, 
Mr. W. H. Divers with a fine dish of Dryden ; second, Mr. J. H. 
Goodixcre ; third, Mr. J. Mclndoe. Apples were a large class, and some 
very fine examples were shown ; small fruits and Plums also brought a 
large number of entries. 
There was strong competition in the open class for a collection of 
twelve kinds of vegetables. No less than nine lots were staged, and all 
good. Mr. Garraway, Bath, took first with a superb collection coitaining 
