August 11, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
131 
Straker, Esq., had the best three Caladiums, whilst the best four Ferns 
were staged by Mr. Westbrook, gardener to J. Young, Esq. There were 
many good exhibits in cut flowers, especially the boxes of bunches of 
hardy varieties. Dinner table decorations formed an attractive class, 
the best set being dressed with small yellow flowers, Iceland Poppies, 
Sweet Sultan, Coreopsis, and Ferns and Grasses arranged by Mrs. 
Beadel. Other tables were dressed with yellow coloured Shirley 
Poppies, Bougainvillea glabra, white Peas, and foliage of variegated 
Acer and Sweet Peas in dark colours. 
Some good Buckland Sweetwater and Black Hamburgh Grapes, not 
in competition, were sent by Captain Arkwright. Mr. Evered had’ the 
best collection of hardy plants in a dozen small dishes, and also the best 
Melon, of very fair flavour. Vegetables in all classes were excellent. 
In two classes for six varieties Mr. Floyd, gardener to Mrs. Jackson, was 
well first, having his admirable exhibits arranged in flattish green 
wooden trays, 2 feet by feet; they were as nicely set up as well could 
be, and presented features far more commendable than the ungainly 
baskets so generally used. Mr. Evered showed the finest six dishes of 
Potatoes, Vicar of Laleham, Satisfaction. Beauty of Hebron, White 
Beauty, &c. ; and Mr. Johnson was second with a rather smaller, but 
still handsome, lot of tubers. We would not omit mention of a very 
interesting collection of Cacti, sent by Messrs. Jas. Carter & Co Hio-h 
Holborn, & 
During the afternoon, from the band-stand, to a good and much- 
interested audience, assisted by various exhibits taken from the Show 
Mr. A. Dean, on behalf of the Surrey County Council, gave an address 
on the lessons to be learned from the Exhibition. The site of the 
Exhibition was a park-like meadow situate in a deep valley a few 
minutes’ walk from the railway station. 
NEWENT.— August 4th. 
The fifth annual Exhibition of this Society was held in the beau¬ 
tiful giounds at Newent Court, kindly placed at the disposal of the 
Committee by the owner, A. Knowles, Esq., on August 4th. The fine 
weather induced a large attendance, and no doubt the Show was as 
great a success financially as it was in other respects, there being over 
1000 entries. It is most gratifying to note the improved quality of the 
exhibits staged each year by amateurs and cottagers, the latter more 
especially exhibiting first-class produce. 
Groups were the greatest attraction, and were a marked improve¬ 
ment on former years. Messrs. Roberts & Storr of Gloucester were 
first with a lovely group, admirably arranged. The flowering and 
foliage plants were finely grown and put together with great taste. 
A. Knowles. Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. Shaw), was placed second, and 
Captain Archdale, I he Holts, Newent (gardener, Mr. Durham), third. 
I he competition between the second and third was very close, causing 
the Judges much trouble to decide which was best. — Martin, Esq. 
Upper Hall, Ledbury (gardener, Mr. Bailey), was fourth, his group 
being rather heavy. For six Ferns Messrs. Roberts & Storr were a 
good first with massive plants. Second, Mr. Bailey. Roses were not 
shown well, and the competition was not keen. Mr. Bosly, Redmarly, 
was the most successful exhibitor. Asters and Zinnias do not call for 
any special mention. 
Mr. Dawes, gardener to Lady Elizabeth Biddulph, Ledbury Park, 
Ledbury, was a good first for a collection of eight dishes of fruit. His 
Madresfield Court Grapes were magnificent, the berries and bunches 
being of extra size, and only required a few more days for perfect 
finish ; Brown Turkey Figs, Melons, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, 
Ilum3, and Exonian Strawberries were very fine. Mr. Bailey was 
second with a good collection, his Grapes being a little weak. For both 
black and white Grapes Mr. Dawes took the first prizes, his Alnwick 
Seedling and Buckland Sweetwater being specially worthy of note for 
size and finish. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Preston, Quarry House, Gorsley, 
took the other Grape prizes. Messrs. Roberts & Storr were the most 
successful with Melons, Mr. Dawes following closely. For both Peaches 
and Nectarines Messrs. Dawes and Bailey took the prizes in the order 
named the former staging grand fruit. Mr. Dawes was first for 
Cucumbers, Messrs. Roberts & Storr second, both staging well. For 
Tomatoes Messrs. Roberts & Storr were an easy first with a dish of perfect 
and very large fruits, unnamed. Mr. Dawes second. 
With collections of vegetables, J. Smith, Esq., The Scarr, Newent, was 
first for both Me-srs. Sutton’s and Messrs. Carter’s prizes. Other successful 
exhibitors in these classes were Major Howe, Captain Onslow, Rev. R. 
Horton, and Dr. Smelt. For Messrs. Wheeler’s prizes, A. Knowles, Esq., 
was tbe most successful, very closely followed by Captain Archdale and 
Mr. Bellamy. Good competition took place in the jam and honey 
c a ^ e ^5 the exhibits being of a very high order. Prizes were given for 
cooked I otatoes, and excited much interest. The Committee are to be 
congratulated on having worked up the Show so successfully, and 
also on having such an enthusiastic Secretary as Mr. J. J. Clark. 
Long may they prosper in their good work is the wish of— 
A CORRESPONDENT. 
LEICESTER ABBEY PARK FLOWER SHOW AND GALA. 
^ HI . S Show, which is most admirably managed by a Committee of 
the Leicester Town Council, with Mr. John Burn, the Park Superin¬ 
tendent, as Secretary and Curator, is fast becoming one of the most 
important and popular in the midland counties. It is visited not only 
by the major portion of the best citizens of Leicester, for whom it 
provides an enjoyable holiday, but also by thousands of the inhabitants 
of neighbouring towns and country villages, the railway companies 
offering special facilities by running numerous special trains. The 
Show has continued increasing in importance and popularity each year 
since its commencement some ten years back, and so long as the present 
able management lasts its prosperity is likely to be uninterrupted. The 
1 ark in which it is held is admirably adapted for the purpose. The 
grounds are extensive, and in point of keeping and beautiful embellish¬ 
ments are scarcely second to any in the kingdom. The river Soar forms 
the boundary on one side, and this is taken advantage of by the Com¬ 
mittee to provide a series of water sports, which, judging by the thou¬ 
sands of people crowding the banks of the river whilst they are in 
progress, are immensely popular. Three excellent local brass bands 
discoursed good music in different portions of the park. 
The Show was of generally excellent quality throughout, and suffi¬ 
ciently extensive to well fill five large tents. Its most meritorious 
features are the fruit, cut flowers, and vegetables, in all of which it is 
scarcely surpassed by any provincial show. The weak points are the 
groups arranged for effect, and the collections of stove and greenhouse 
plants, the prizes for these being insufficient to bring exhibitors from 
a distance. The result is that the display does not compare favourably 
with what has been seen at such shows as Manchester, York, and 
Shrewsbury. It is hoped that the Committee having thus far done their 
work so well, and made of the Show a popular annual holiday, as well 
as a great financial success, will take note of weak points as here 
indicated, and endeavour to strengthen them. 
Leaving generalisation for detail, we enter No. 1 tent, where were 
shown the groups and collections of stove and greenhouse plants. 
Class 1 in the schedule was for a group of plants to occupy 100 feet 
superficial. Four prizes were offered—viz., £5, £3, 30s., and 20s. For 
these four groups were arranged (all by local growers), < ccupying the 
whole space down the centre of the tent. A want of originality was 
apparent in them ; all of these groups were put up on the much too 
stereotyped plan of starting from a tall Palm in the centre and working 
downwards, forming a sloping bank of foliage and flowering plants 
closely packed together, the close packing serving to hide the pots and 
also defects in the plants. The first prize was taken easily by Mr. John 
Smith, gardener to S. Bennett, Esq., Holmedale, Stoneygate, Leicester, 
who had far the brightest and best arranged group, which very well 
deserved the honours it won. Second, Mr. George Barry, gardener 
to H. Snow, Esq., Glewcod. Third, Mr. John Mawby, Yictoria 
Nurseries, Leicester. Fourth, Mr. W. Calvert, gardener to G. Oliver 
Esq., Hugliendon, Knighton, Leicester. 
In the class provided for six stove and greenhouse plants there was 
only a small entry, the first prize going to Mr. John Smith, whose 
collect on contained a very fine specimen of Abelia floribunda, densely 
covered with its small white flowers. It is a plant worthy of more 
general cultivation. Class 4 was for three exotic Ferns, and produced 
good competition. The plants exhibited by Mr. John Smith, which 
worthily won first honours, were grand specimens. They were Adiantum 
farleyense, A. cuneatum, and Davallia fijiensis. Second, Mr. G. Barry. 
In the same tent were shown excellent collections of Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums, double and single Fuchsias, Tuberous Begonias, and Coleus. 
The prizes in these classes were pretty equally divided between Mr. H. 
Rogers, Gipsy Lane Nursery, Leicester; Mr. James Wright, nurseryman, 
Thurmaston ; and Mr. John Smith. 
Tent No. 2 was devoted to fruit and vegetables in the open class. In 
that for eight distinct dishes of fruit there were five collections staged, 
the first prize being taken by Mr. J. H. Goodacre, Elvaston Castle 
Gardens, with a fine lot, consisting of three varieties of Grapes, two 
bunches of each, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Hamburgh, and Black 
Hamburgh, medium-sized bunches, berries not large but well coloured ; 
Dymond Peach, Lord Napier Nectarine, an excellent Smooth Cayenne 
Pine, a very fine Melon (Read’s Scarlet Flesh), and Negro Fig. Second 
Mr. P. Blair, Trentham Gardens. Third, Mr. J. Mclndoe, Hutton Hall 
Gardens. Fourth, Mr. J. Edmonds, Bestwood, Notts. The names of the 
exhibitors are a sufficient guarantee of the quality of the exhibits. For 
four dishes of fruit, Pines excluded, Mr. Mclndoe was first, Mr. Goodacre 
second, Mr. P. Blair third, and Mr. C. Slade, Clumber Gardens, Worksop, 
fourth. In a class for one Pine there were some good fruits shown 
First, Mr. Slade ; second, Mr. Goodacre; third, Mr. P. Blair. In the 
respective classes for two bunches of black and for two bunches of 
white Grapes the entries were numerous, and s >me splendid fruit was 
shown. For two bunches of Black Hamburgh.—First, Mr. A. MacYinish, 
Lockington Hall Gardens ; second, Mr. C. Slade ; third, Mr. J. Mclndoe! 
Two bunches White Muscat of Alexandria.—First, Mr. A. MacYinish ; 
second, Mr. J. Mclndoe. Two bunches black Grapes, Hamburghs 
excluded.—First, Mr. J. Mclndoe, with grand Alicantes. Six Peaches!_ 
First, Mr. W. H. Divers ; second, Mr. G. Barry. Six Nectarines.—First, 
Mr. J. Edmonds ; second, Mr. J. H. Goodacre. One dish of Figs.— 
First, Mr. W. H. Divers. One dish of Cherries.—First, Mr. W. H. 
Divers. One dish of Strawberries.—First, Mr. W. H. Divers. One Melon' 
Green Flesh.—First, Mr. C. Slade. One ditto, Scarlet Flesh._First,’ 
Mr. J. Edmonds. With twenty-four Tomatoes there were many entries’, 
mostly of high quality.—First, Mr. A. J. Smith ; second, Mr. J. Edmonds ; 
third, Mr. J. Read. Currants and Gooseberries were shown in great 
numbers, and were generally of good quality. 
The vegetables were indeed a fine display. For the collection in the 
open class Mr. A. MacVinish was placed first with a most meritorious 
exhibit, consisting of Cauliflowers, Celery, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Peas, 
Scarlet Runner Beans, Potatoes, Leeks, Turnips, Carrots, and Onions, all 
good throughout, well arranged, and finely set up, on a groundwork of 
