508 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 22, 1893. 
mCD) including many leading lights of the City Corporation, bring their 
energies to bear. They put matters on a broad and popular basis, and 
ally with the Exhibition a long and varied course of entertainments. 
They have had their reward. At Gala time quiet York hardly knows 
itself. Visitors pour in fr jm far and near and crowd into the show 
grounds in thousands. No matter whether it is the fruit or the fireworks, 
the bouquets or the balloon, the Irises or the feats of strength which 
attract them, they come, and that .is the main thing. There are plants 
and popularity, flowers and fun, and so the York Gala goes on its way 
prosperous and rejoicing. 
A mistake that might be made in some cases would be to consider 
that the Show might be treated as a minor consideration, that anything 
in the way of horticultural products would suffice. It is not made at 
York, The Exhibition is the leading feature, and the other things are 
accessories. A most extensive schedule is compiled, and several hundred 
pounds given in prizes. One class for groups absorbs £58, and the first 
fruit class takes £25. This means prizes worth striving for by the leading 
cultivators, and consequently the exhibits are of the first quality. 
Common report and the testimony of experts characterised this year’s 
Show as one of the best, if not the very best, yet held. Certainly there 
was much both to astonish and delight a new visitor. Take the case of 
the groups. They were totally distinct from the common order, more 
tasteful, more complete. That of Mr. McIntyre, which won the first 
prize of £20, was really a work of art, as carefully thought out, as 
boldly limned, and as exquisitely finished as a great painting. There is 
the soul of a true artist in the man, unknown to the present writer, who 
designed and executed this marvellous group, and as much respect ought 
to be felt for him as for a Tadema or a Millais. The specimen plants 
must be placed in a different sphere, for their chief qualification is bulk; 
nevertheless, as examples of culture they were remarkable. Mr. 
Cypher, Mr. Letts, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Leadbetter, and others brought 
out some of the wonderful giants with which their names are associated, 
and very striking they were in their huge proportions and fine colours. 
The Pelargoniums, too, made a surprising display. They nearly filled 
one large tent, forming two immense banks ablaze with all the hues 
these robust plants possess. Very rarely are such examples met with as 
those which Mr. Vear, Mr, Eastwood, and Mr. McIntosh exhibited. 
The foliage and bloom were extremely fine, and they were allied to great 
size of plant and admirable training. It would be impossible to com¬ 
ment specially on all the things worth special mention, but it may be 
added that the cut flowers were a splendid feature, and that fruit was 
very finely shown, Mr. Mclndoe’s win in the leading class being gained 
by material of sterling quality. 
It might be expected that the experience of thirty-five years would 
teach valuable lessons in the way of arrangement, and certainly there 
is little to take exception to. The disposal of the tents, the allotment 
of space for exhibits, the judging, and the countless details connected 
with such a gigantic undertaking were effected in a satisfactory manner. 
Alderman Sir Joseph Terry, Mr. Alderman Milward, and the Secretary, 
Mr. Simmons, worked with praiseworthy coolness, and so matters went 
smoothly on. They were all valuable helpers, and the Gala owes much 
to them. The Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman Close), an amateur gardener 
of great earnestness, also takes a deep interest in the undertaking, and 
actively supports it. Judging by his speech at the luncheon age has 
neither quenched his love for gardening nor dimmed his wit. It was 
claimed for him that he might fairly be termed an ancient York florist, 
for he had cultivated Dahlias sixty years ago. The collation brought 
together a most pleasant gathering of northern horticulturists. Glorious 
weather favoured the Gala throughout, and all went merrily as a 
marriage bell. The total number of visitors last week were 62,915, an 
increase of 12,400 over that of last year, and 3169 more than in 1890, 
the highest number on record until this year. 
Groups. 
The groups were to consist of “ miscellaneous plants arranged and 
banked for effect, and occupying a space not exceeding 300 square feet.” 
This afforded good scope, and as prizes of £20, £15, £10, £8, and £5 
were offered it was not surprising that one of the six large tents was 
fully occupied. It is difficult to imagine that the art of grouping has 
been carried to higher excellence than at York. Two of the arrange¬ 
ments can only be justly characterised as magnificent, while a third, 
though less original, was very beautiful. The valuable first prize went 
to a superb group arranged by Mr. McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. Pease, 
which was beautifully designed and admirably worked out. So com¬ 
plete and elaborate was it that a description cannot do it justice. The 
centre was occupied by a large mound of stones covered at the base with 
Ferns, Cattleyas, and other flowers pushing through. Above was a 
bright, but not heavy mixture of Crotons, together with various Orchids 
and other flowers, a graceful Palm surmounting the whole. In a line 
with this at each end was another smaller mound somewhat similarly 
planted. In front of these three mounds were two lower ones arranged 
so as to form with the larger a pair of triangles ; a line of Ferns, 
Palms, Caladiums, and other plants formed a beautiful background, and 
in front was a broad border or low bank of Ferns, Caladiums, Crotons, 
Dracaenas, Orchids, and other foliage and flowering plants. There was 
no crowding, each mound had a broad base or groundwork, and the 
plants were disposed with faultless taste. Clearly Mr. McIntyre is a 
master in plant arrangement. If there was an academy of garden 
artists he would soon be admitted. 
Another very beautiful group was put together by Mr. Edmonds, 
gardener to the Duke of St. Albans. Broadly speaking, it consisted of 
a series of mounds and recesses, the arrangement being graceful, free. 
informal, and extremely beautiful. It was full of bright flowers and 
cool foliage. In the ordinary course of events such a group would have 
scored an easy victory ; but though defeated Mr. Edmonds secured a 
handsome prize as a reward for the care and taste which he had dis¬ 
played. The third prize went to Mr. W. H. Simpson, whose group was 
full of good material tastefully arranged, but displaying less originality 
of design than the others, and if anything a little heavy. Mr. Semley 
was fourth, and Mr. Stephenson fifth. Mr. Letts, gardener to the Earl 
of Zetland, Aske Hall, secured the first prize of £20 for a group of ten 
stove and greenhouse plants in bloom (Orchids excluded), and six 
ornamental foliaged plants, with some magnificent specimens. Croton 
angustifolius was a noble plant 6 feet high and through ; Azaleas Cedo 
Nulli and Criterion were splendidly flowered plants about 6 feet by 6. 
Erica depressa was about 7 feet across and full of bloom ; and there 
was a fine plant of Anthurium Schertzerianum, together with a superb 
Kentia Forsteriana about 12 feet high. Mr. J. Cypher was a good 
second with some excellent specimens, such as Pimelea diosmmfolia 
6 feet across. Erica ventricosa hirsuta alba of equal dimensions, Latania 
borbonica 20 feet high, and a grand Bougainvillea glabra. Mr. J. F. 
Mould was third. 
Specimen Plants. 
Mr. Cypher was first with six stove and greenhouse plants in bloom, 
Orchids excluded, exhibiting a most powerful contingent. He had 
Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesi, 5 to 6 feet across and full of bloom ; 
Erica Cavendishiana, 7 to 8 feet ; E. ferruginea major, Hedaroma 
tulipifera, 6 to 7 feet ; Ixora Williamsi, and a good Dracophyllum 
gracile. Mr. Mould was second with a grand Phoenocoma, larger than 
Mr. Cypher’s, but hardly so full of bloom perhaps ; Erica tricolor 
Wilsoni, 7 feet through ; a fine Statice profusa, and other good plants. 
Mr. Nicholas, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, Upleatham, was third 
with Erica Cavendishiana and Dracophyllum gracile in excellent con¬ 
dition. Mr. Nicholas was first with three plants, these including a 
splendid Ixora Pilgrimi. Mr. Haw, gardener to Mrs. Lloyd, second with a 
fine Bougainvillea amongst his trio ; and Mr. J. P. Leadbetter, gardener to 
A. Wilson, Esq., third. Mr. Slater, gardener to the Lord Mayor of York, 
was first with one plant, a very healthy and well flowered Stephanotis 
floribunda on a balloon shaped trellis representing him. Mr. Letts was 
second, and Mr. McIntyre third. In the corresponding class for a 
greenhouse plant Mr. Letts was successful with Aphelexis maerantha 
rosea beautifully bloomed. Mr. Atkinson, gardener to F. Schroder, Esq., 
second; and Mr. Eollinson, gardener to W. Bateman, Esq., third. 
For six ornamental foliage plants Mr. Letts was first, his contribution 
including a magnificent Croton montefontainensis, 7 to 8 feet through, 
and splendidly coloured ; a fine Cycas revoluta, and Kentias Forsteriana 
and australis of considerable dimensions. Mr. McIntyre was second, 
Cycas revoluta. Crotons angustifolius and Queen Victoria 7 to 8 feet 
across being his best plants. Mr. Sunley and Mr. Simpson secured the 
remaining awards. Mr. Leadbetter won with three plants, Messrs. 
Nicholas and McIntyre following ; and in the class for two plants 
(amateurs) the awards went to Messrs. Eollinson, Leadbetter, and Letts, 
in the order of their names. Mr. Letts was the only exhibitor of three 
greenhouse Azaleas, and was placed first for huge, informal plants well 
flowered. Mr. Cypher was successful with one plant. Mr. Letts was to 
to the front with four Crotons. He had a magnificently coloured Queen 
Victoria about 7 feet through, and a very fine Chelsoni. Mr. McIntyre 
was second. The latter was victorious with four Dracaenas, showing 
large and well coloured plants. Mr. Leadbetter was second, and Mr. 
Smallwood, gardener to H. Leetham, Esq., third. The best three Cape 
Heaths came from Mr. Cypher, Jubata rubra, Kingstoniensis, and 
Massoni major representing him. Mr. Mould was second. Messrs. 
Atkinson ; F. Young, gardener to T. F. Wood, Esq. ; and W. Dodds, 
gardener to the Hon. C. Lambton, took the prizes for Coleuses. Messrs. 
E. D. Shuttleworth & Co.’s prizes for Palms and fine-foliaged plants 
were won by Mr. Sunley and Mr. Simpson. 
Ferns. 
Ferns are admirably grown in the north, and many fine plants were 
exhibited. Mr. Nicholas was first with six exotics, having Davallia 
fijiensis plumosa 7 to 8 feet across, D. tenuifolia Veitchi of nearly equal 
dimensions, Leucostegia immersa about 6 feet, Lomaria zamiasfolia, 
Sadleria cyatheoides, and Gleichenia Mendeli, 6 feet through. Mr. 
McIntyre was second with Dicksonia antarctica, Davallia fijiensis plumosa, 
and Gleichenia Mendeli of fine proportions and health ; and Mr. Snow¬ 
den, gardener to the Eev. G. Yeatea, third. Mr. Leadbetter won with 
three, having splendid plants of Leucostegia immersa, Microlepia hirta 
cristata, and Gleichenia dicarpa. Messrs. McIntyre and Lazenby, 
gardener to H. Bushell, Esq., were second and third. The best single 
specimen came from Mr. Eollinson, who had a splendid Gleichenia 
rupestris glaucescens 6 feet across, Messrs. Smallwood and Leadbetter 
following. Mr Nicholas had the finest Tree Fern, a very fine Dicksonia 
antarctica ; and the next best plants came from Messrs. Simpson and 
Eastwood. Hardy Ferns were also well shown, and the collections were 
of great interest to lovers of this class. Mr. J. Nicholson won with ten 
plants, one of them being an Athyrium filix-foemina Howardianum, 
6 feet across ; Messrs. J. Jackson and Simpson following. With six, 
Mr. Jackson won from Messrs. Nicholson and Snowden. The best 
single specimen came from Mr. Nicholas, this being a Trichomanes 
radicans, nearly filling a 4 feet case. Mr. W. Heppell was second, and 
Mr. Lazenby third. 
Orchids and other Flowering Plants. 
For ten Orchids £22 was offered in four prizes. The premier award 
went to Mr. Cypher for even healthy and well flowered pieces of LjKlia 
