174 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 25, 1892. 
•especial mention ought to be made of a few grand rows oE Pea?, which 
were as even and well podded as it seems possible to have them. One 
variety was St. Duthus, which is much grown in this locality, another 
being Eenown. Strawberries, too, were in extra good condition. A 
variety, grown under the name of Hayward’s Prolific, was carrying an 
enormous crop. Mr. Clements attributes his success in securing such 
heavy crops in a light soil to the fact that the soil around each plant is 
rammed firmly each year. 
The glass structures have until recently been somewhat limited, but 
with the addition of a substantial range, consisting of two vineries, a 
-span-roofed conservatory, and an excellent fernery, a better opportunity 
is now given to supply the demands of the establishment, and arrange¬ 
ments are at present being made for the erection of two other houses. In 
■the conservatory, which was gay and well kept, I noticed a fine batch of 
seedling Streptocarpus. These are a very showy and useful class of 
plants. Fuchsias, Begonias, Zonal Pelargoniums, Justicias, and 
Abutilons were also in capital condition. The fernery is well fitted up 
with artistically arranged rockwork, the Ferns being planted in pockets 
.and carpeted with Lycopodium, while overhead are trained such useful 
subjects as Asparagus plumosus and Smilax. A winding walk is formed 
among the rocks, by which the upper portion of the back wall is 
brought within easy reach. When looking down from this point the 
verdant green Fern fronds of so many different forms, and the glistening 
water splashing against some of the rocks aDd trickling down the sides 
of others, leave a vivid impression of a fairy scene. 
The vineries are planted with such useful varieties as Black Ham- 
burghs, Madresfield Court, Buckland Sweetwater, Muscat, and Gros 
Colman. These Vines are carrying one bunch each this year. A 
number of Black Hamburghs, just beginning to colour, are growing 
in pots plunged in the middle of the house, and trained to the 
upper portion of the roof. Other houses are filled with a variety of 
plants useful for decorative purposes, which are in great demand. Mr. 
Clements’ favourite Tomato is Trentham Fillbasket, on account of its 
great cropping qualities. I was much struck with the fine type of 
Cucumber grown, which is Dickson’s Excelsior. It is of medium size, 
perfect in shape, and a good cropper. I predict it will in the future be 
■extensively grown. 
I should have mentioned the walks around one kitchen garden are 
bordered with fruit trees, Apples and Pears being planted 10 feet apart, 
and G feet from the Box edging. Some of the trees first planted in 
these positions suffered badly from canker where the roots penetrated 
the sandy subsoil. These were removed, holes 6 feet in diameter dug 
•out, and concreted at the bottom. Healthy young trees were then 
planted, which are now going on in a satisfactory manner, and by 
rooting out all the old trees which had shown signs of canker, and 
planting young ones on prepared stations, Mr. Clements hopes to 
prevent another attack of canker.—H. D. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
QUEEN’S ROAD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SHEFFIELD. 
The tenth annual Exhibition of this Society was held on Monday, 
August 15th, in the beautiful grounds of “ The Farm,” the Sheffield 
residence of the Duke of Norfolk. The exhibits were all arranged in one 
immense marquee, situate at the head of the Park overlooking the 
Duke s residence. Down the centre of this was arranged a number of 
groups arranged for effect, mostly of a very high order of merit, some of 
them being thoroughly artistic in their arrangement. Whatever may be 
•urged against the prevailing custom with committees in offering prizes 
for these groups for effect, it cannot be denied that wherever so 
encouraged they prove the feature of the Show, and that they have a 
most telling effect in the technical and artistic education of the local 
gardeners. W e find as a rule that where these groups are a new feature 
•the first efforts of local gardeners invariably appear in the form of 
■sloping banks of foliage and flowering plants and Ferns, packed suffi¬ 
ciently close together to hide the pots and the faulty parts of each plant; 
but each succeeding season that these groups are continued we find a 
further remove from this primitive form of grouping, until in the best 
efforts to be seen at old established shows, one cannot but admit that 
the mind and eye of a true artist have designed and superintended their 
arrangement. This is as it should be, and it is a legitimate argument 
in favour not only of continuing these shows, but also especially of the 
continuance of these classes. 
The first prize in each of the two classes for a group of foliage and 
flowering plants and for a group of Ferns was taken by Mr. E. Pidsley 
gardener to Mrs. H. Wilson, Westbrook, Sheffield ; second, for plants, 
Mr. Topham, gardener to Councillor J. Smith ; and for Ferns, Mr. W. 
Sheridan. In the open classes also stove and greenhouse plants and 
Ferns were especially well shown. For six foliage and flowering plants 
Mr. 1 idsley was again first with a very fine collection, consisting of 
•Clerodendron Balfourianum (large and well flowered), Stephanotis 
fionbunda, Croton Hookeri, Allamanda boliviensis, Maranta Makoyana 
(a grand plant), and Croton Hillianum. Mr. W. Sheridan was first for 
six F erns with very fine specimens. Begonias, Zonal Pelargoniums, and 
P uchsias were very well shown in the open and gentlemen’s gardeners’ 
classes, but only very indifferently in those devoted to amateurs and 
■cottagers. 
Cut flowers, in stands of twelve, were a fine feature of the Show, and 
were very good throughout. Fruit and vegetables, on the contrary, were 
■sparingly shown, and generally deficient in quality. Much of this was 
attributable to the fact that the gardens of a very large number of the 
members of the Society and past exhibitors have during the past year 
been appropriated by the Midland Railway Co. for extensions to their 
sidings and goods sheds. It is satisfactory, however, to know that the 
Duke of Norfolk has, through his agent Mr. Ellison, provided other 
land, which is being laid out as allotments, to replace that thus lost. 
An important portion of the Show was the exhibits not for competi¬ 
tion. Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray, and B. Crossland & Son each 
exhibited fine large groups of plants not for competition. Mr. D. Fellows 
had a smaller but very pleasing group. Mr. B. Simonite had a 
fine exhibit of cut flowers of yellow ground Carnations, mostly unnamed 
seedlings, to several of which certificates of merit were awarded. Mr. 
E- W. Proctor, Chesterfield, had a very fine collection of Roses and 
Carnations. A certificate of merit was awarded to him for a beautiful 
wire-edged Picotee named Mrs. Wilson. Mr. J. W. Wilson, florist, 
Handsworth, bad a collection of Carnations, Picotees, and Pompon 
Dahlias, for which he was awarded a special prize, and also certificates 
of merit for two seedling yellow-ground Carnations—Mrs. Wilson and 
Dolly Gunn. Mr. J. Lamb, of Burton Joyce, Notts, sent a stand of six 
flowers of his new seedling rose-flaked Carnation Duchess of Portland, 
for which a certificate of merit was awarded. The Show Dahlias were, 
as they always are at this Show, very fine indeed. We have seen no 
better exhibited at any show this season. 
Another feature of the Show, which formed a centre of attraction, 
were the exhibits in a class for a design for house and flower garden. 
The one taking first prize was a most elaborate and costly affair, which 
a label upon it stated had taken nearly 2000 spare hours in construction. 
SHANKLIN (ISLE OF WIGHT).— August 17th. 
This Show was held in the beautiful grounds at Rylestone by per¬ 
mission of M. Sparatali, Esq., and a better site could not well have 
been found, as it overlooks the Chine, pier, and esplanade. It proved 
one of the most successful yet held. The exhibits were shown in three 
large marquees. The collection of stove and greenhouse plants, groups, 
baskets of plants for effect, Asters, and Marigolds, which are a speciality 
in the island, were very good. The cottagers’ vegetables were better 
than those shown by professional gardeners. Mr. Pritchard, florist, 
Christchurch, showed a splendid collection of hardy herbaceous flowers, 
many of them novelties. Special prizes were given by Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons, Reading; Messrs. Daniels Brothers, Norwich, and the Lady 
Isabel Atherley. 
The Show was honoured by a visit from H.R.H. the Duke of Con¬ 
naught, Prince Herman of Saxe-Weimar, and Princess Margaret of 
Connaught. Mr. W. Drover, one of the Judges, conducted them through 
the tents. The Duke expressed himself greatly pleased with the beautiful 
exhibits. On leaving the Show Mr. W. Drover presented the Princess 
Margaret of Connaught with a lovely bouquet, which the firm exhibited 
not for competition. The Duke thanked Mr. Drover, and intimated his 
intention of paying a visit to the Nurseries at Fareham. 
Credit is due to the Chairman, Dr. Cowper, and the Committee for 
the success of the Show ; and to Mr. J. A. Ventin, the new Hon. Secre¬ 
tary, the highest praise must be given for the thorough manner in which 
the arrangements were conducted. 
EYNSFORD.— August 17th. 
The Eynsford Cottage Gardeners’ and Mutual Improvement Society’s 
annual Exhibition was held on the above date in the beautiful grounds 
of Lullingstone Castle, by the kind permission of Sir W. Hart Dyke, 
Bart. It was a typical village flower Show, but, nevertheless, of an 
extremely interesting character. True, the display of garden produce 
could not be compared to that shown at the many large exhibitions 
which have recently been reported in these pages, but so far as quality 
was concerned the exhibits were perhaps beyond the standard generally 
seen on such occasions. The Eynsford cottagers have long been famous 
for their well-grown vegetables, and the results of this year’s labour 
were no exception to the rule. Possibly we shall not be far from the 
right track in saying that, in a great measure, the success of the 
Eynsford cottagers and their Exhibition are largely due to their near 
benefactors—Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. This well-known firm has so 
long been acquainted with everything connected with horticulture that 
it is not at all surprising to hear of the successful culture of vegetables in 
the immediate neighbourhood. It was a glorious day for holding a 
flower Show, and the villagers were quite en fete , there being sports 
and various other entertainments, in addition to the Exhibition. 
The collection of vegetables shown by members of various societies 
in Kent, and grown from seed supplied by Messrs. Cannell & Sons, were 
the principal features of the Exhibition. Prizes to the extent of £6 
were offered by the Swanlev firm in this class, and these brought forth 
some good exhibits. The first prize was awarded to a meritorious col¬ 
lection, comprising Duke of Albany Peas, Cannell’s Perfection Potatoes, 
Cannell's Selected Runner Beans, and Moore’s Cream Marrows, all well 
grown. The name of the winning Society had, however, been cut from 
the show card for some unexplained purpose. A collection shown by 
the Milton Horticultural Society (Sittingbourne) was placed second, 
Broughton Horticultural Society being third. In each case the 
vegetables were exceedingly good, considering that they were the 
produce of cottage gardens and allotments. 
Potatoes were exceptionally fine in the classes provided for them, 
affording ample evidence that the soil of Kent is capable of producing 
fine samples of the popular tuber as well as fruit. Messrs. W. Smith, 
