September 8, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
221 
Waite coming second with the same very fine variety, and Mr. Kneller 
was third. V ith Cabbage Lettuces Mr. W. Palmer of Andover, Mr. 
TurtoD, and Air. Lye took the prizes, all having that very fine variety 
Sutton s I avourite, which has slightly curled leafage. In the class for 
six Parsnips, of which kind fourteen lots were staged, Mr. Maxim, 
gardener to the Hon. Miss Lefevre, Heckfield Place, was first with very 
'fine but rather rough skinned Student, Air. Pope coming second with 
very handsome samples, and Air. Booker was third. Tomatoes brought 
more moderate competition. The awards were surprising, as the first and 
second prize fruits were big and had large brown centres, both serious 
defects. Mr. Callender. Henley, was first; and Air. Alackay, Penn, was 
second ; Air. Waite, who had a beautiful dish of Perfection, coming third. 
There were fourteen dishes of Peas. Air. Goodman, gardener to Aliss 
Hammersley, Alarlow, had Duke of Albany for first; Air. Bowerman was 
second with Alain Crop Marrow ; Air. Pope was third. The latter was, 
however, first in the Runner Bean class with somewhat large Al, Air. 
Bowerman coming second, and Air. Lye third with the same variety, but 
all a trifle too old. A truly beautiful dish from Air. Kneller, younger and 
more perfect, was oddly overlooked. For prizes offered by Messrs. John 
Sharpe & Sons the competition was poor. Air. Waite had the best 
Tomatoes and Mr. Kneller the best Carrots. 
Such a remarkably fine lot of vegetables as was here staged deserved 
better treatment than exposure to wind and rain, and would have made 
a splendid show if properly arranged in a large tent. Of Tomatoes shown, 
not for competition, there were fine lots from Mr. Churchman, Notting¬ 
ham ; Air. F. Lees, Reading ; and Mr. Bradley, Tilehurst. Cucumbers, 
in the Society’s classes, produced a truly beautiful brace of Suttons’ 
Matchless from Mr. Alortimer, Farnham, who was first, Air. Smeller 
being second with Telegraph. 
Fruit was remarkably good, as it always is at Reading. Air. Alaxim 
had the best collection of eight dishes, having good Airs. Pince and 
Golden Queen Grapes, Sea Eagle Peaches, Lord Napier Nectarines, &c. 
Air. Goodman, who was second, was weak in Grapes, but had capital 
■other fruits. Air. Smith, gardener to Al. Overy, Esq., Badgemore, was 
first with six dishes, having heavy Alicante and Muscat Grapes, Barring- 
ton 1 eaches, Llruge Nectarines, &c. Air. Johnson, gardener to A. 
Gilliat, Esq., Slough, was second. Crawford’s Early Peach was with 
him wonderfully coloured. Air. Waite was third. Air. Osman, Otter- 
shaw Park, had the best three bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes, Air. 
Turton coming second. Air. Alaxim was first with good clean Alicante 
in the class for any other black, Air, J. Pound, gardener to Alfred 
button, Esq., coming second with the same variety, very fine clusters. 
Mr. Smith had the best white Grapes in well coloured Aluscat of 
Alexandria, Mr. Pound again being second with fine bunches, 
hardly ripe. These same exhibitors came first and second in 
the class for any other white, having good Golden Queen and 
Buckland Sweetwater respectively. With six dishes of dessert Apples 
Air. Turton was first, having handsome rich-coloured Strawberry, 
Worcester Pearmain, Duchess’s Favourite, Irish Peach, Astrachan, 
and Kerry Pippin. Air. Paxton, gardener to Hon. C. P. Irby, Taplow, 
w'as second. With six dishes of kitchen Apples Air. Turton and Mr. 
Dockerill, gardener to G. W. Palmer, Esq., M.P., Reading, were placed 
equal first, so very fine and even were their samples. The former had 
Lord Suifield, Warner’s King, Saltmarsh’s Queen, Peasgood’s Nonesuch, 
Waltham Abbey Seedling, and Ecklinville ; the latter had Peasgood’s, 
Bramley’s Seedling (very fine), Emperor Alexander, Stirling Castle, 
Ecklinville, and Lord Suffield. Mr. Goodman was placed second. Pears 
were of moderate quality. Mr. Paxton had the best dish of Figs, and 
Mr. Bowerman with Barrington, a superb dish of Peaches. Mr. Bowerman 
was also first with very fine Humboldt Nectarines, Mr. Pound coming 
second with Pineapple. Air. Waite had the best three dishes of Plums” 
and Mr. Dockerill had the best brace of Alelons and the best single 
Alelon with Hero of Lockinge, though much over-ripe, the flesh being 
soft and pulpy. 
Cut flowers were very fair. Mr. Alortimer and Messrs. Cheal & Sons 
had the best double Dahlias, and the latter the best bunches of sing’e 
Dahlias. Messrs. Perkins k Sons of Coventry had beautiful Roses, Mr. 
Turton the best Zinnias, Mr. Such, Maidenhead, beautiful Phloxes, Mr. 
Phippen very fine wreaths and crosses. Mr. Finch had a grand lot of 
bunches of cut flowers, Mr. Best good Asters. The length of the report 
necessitates leaving plants unnoticed beyond saying that, whilst some 
were good, groups were poor. 
WIRRAL.— August 31st and September 1st. 
The fiftieth annual Exhibition of the above Society was held in 
connection with the Birkenhead and Wirral Agricultural Show in the 
Bidston Show Ground. Unfortunately for the Society the weather on 
the first day was very wet, and a great decrease in gate money was the 
result ; but on the second day the weather was decidedly better, and 
the attendance excellent. As regards entries, which numbered 850, 
they were far in advance of former years, and an excellent show in 
e ^ er ^j ^ e P ar ^ men ^ vvas the result. Groups and cut flowers were 
abundant, and of the finest description. Fruit was very fine, and 
vegetables superb. 
For five foliage and the same number of flowering plants Mr. 
A. Brown, gardener to Geo. Webster, Esq , Claughton, was first with 
eX u^u- en ^ £ xam ples, and throughout the whole of the classes the same 
exhibitor held his ground, gaining first prizes for three stave and green- 
nouse plants, three foliage plants, three Ferns, three Lycopods, one 
greenhouse and one stove plant in bloom, one foliage plant, one Fern, 
■one 1 uchsia, twelve Asters, six Asters, twelve varieties of cut flowers, 
six desseit Apples, and six Plums, the more credit being due to him 
owing to strong competition in some of the classes. 
In the group arranged for effect Mr. S. Haines, gardener to 
Macgregor Laird, Esq., was deservedly first. The prizes for one Palm, 
table plants, Gladioli, and six varieties of cut flowers (indoor), and the 
same number of outdoor were awarded to Mr. J. Bounds, gardener to 
A. L. Jones, Esq., Oaklands, Aigburth. The prizes for twelve and six 
Dahlias went to Air. J. Lee, whilst that for twelve Cacti was awarded 
to Mr. T. Woolrich, and for six to Air. J. H. Howell. The classes for 
twelve and three varieties of outdoor cut flowers, everlasting flowers, 
and hand bouquets were taken by Messrs. W. B. Burnham, John 
Wynne, C. J. Proctor, and Wm. Henderson. 
In the class for six dishes of fruit Air. W. Oldham, gardener to 
J. Beecham, Esq., Ewanville, Huvton, just succeeded in beating Air. 
T. Ferguson, gardener to Mrs. Paterson, Rock Ferry, both having 
splendid dishes ; the third place being occupied by Mr. Hannagam 
gardener to R. C. Naylor, Esq , Hooton Hall. The best collection of 
hardy fruits was shown by Air. C. Worker, gardener to Mrs. Blomfield. 
The Grape classes were strongly contested, the pr zes for Hamburghs 
and any other black going to Mr. Bramhall, gardener to G. C. Sinclair, 
Esq., with superb bunches. The prizes for Muscat of Alexandria and 
any other white were taken by Messrs. J. Heap and J. Downham, gar¬ 
dener to E. H. Harrison, Esq., Eastham. For six Peaches Air. Ferguson 
was first with a magnificent dish of Sea Eagle ; and six Nectarines, very 
fine fruits of Pineapple, secured Air. Oldham the first position. The 
prizes for scarlet and green-flesh Alelons went to Messrs. Heap and 
Ferguson, the latter winning in the class for six Jargonelle Pears, and 
Air. T. Watkinson in that for any other variety. Mr. C. Worker won 
with Green Gage Plums. 
Vegetables in the local class, eight varieties, were best shown by 
C. J. Proctor, Esq. ; and for the same number, open, by Air. T. Smetham, 
Leaton Knolls, Shrewsbury, with splendid exhibits ; the latter also 
winning first places with two Cauliflowers, two roots of Parsley, six 
Parsnips, and six Carrots. Mr. T. Woolrich won with twelve coloured 
Potatoes (round), green and red Cabbages. Mr. W. Lancellotte was 
first with twelve white (round) and twelve kidney (coloured) Potatoes, 
twelve Shallots, and six Beetroots. The prizes for twelve white 
kidney Potatoes, twelve Leeks, twelve spring Onions, French Beans, 
Scarlet Runners, Peas, Cucumbers, Celery, and Vegetable Alarrows were 
awarded to Alessrs. Pigott, Dickson, Worker, Bennett, Burnham, Clarke, 
Condon, Leach, and Lawton. Mr. J. Lee secured that for twelve 
Tomatoes. 
Mr. Henry Middlehurst, Alanchester Street, Liverpool, was awarded 
the gold medal of the Society for the best collection of garden and 
farm seeds and produce ; Dicksons (Ld.), Chester, receiving the silver 
medal. In the classes for bees Mr. P. Harbordt, Covent Garden Seed 
Stores, Liverpool, was most successful. 
NATIONAL DAHLIA SOCIETY AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE, 
September 2nd and 3rd. 
Is the Dahlia losing its popularity? Oae might be tempted to 
think so from the little interest that appeared to be taken in the opening 
of the National Show on Friday last. There were very few people present, 
and no signs of the lively interest that used to be manifested in the flowers. 
Or is it that the Show suffered from the absence of the measures usually 
taken to make the Sydenham gatherings known to the gardening 
fraternity ? There may be something in this. The average visitor is 
apt to let a fixture slip by unless he has a special reminder of its coming. 
If he is accustomed to have his memo^ freshened by advertisements it 
is not unnatural for him to think that in their absence there is nothing 
to advertise, and so the shows suffer. Whatever may be the cause, 
exhibitors, judges, and reporters had matters pretty much to themselves 
on the first day of the Show. 
The flowers were not quite up to the usual standard so far as size 
is concerned, the Show and Fancy blooms ruling somewhat small 
throughout, but in other respects there was nothing to find fault with. 
Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. were prominent in the trade classes, 
while in the amateurs’ section that well-known exhibitor, Mr. J. T. 
West, and Mr. Sidney Cooper had very fine blooms. Cactus and 
Decorative varieties were very finely shown, and Pompons were good. 
Singles were somewhat scarce, but the quality was excellent. We have 
seen them larger, but that is no advantage. 
Show and Fancy. —There were four stands of sixty bloom?, Show 
and Fancy intermixed, in the leading trade class, the best being that of 
Alessrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, whose flowers were very 
bright and even, although hardly so heavy as some previous winning 
stands in this class have been. The varieties were as follows Back 
row : Harrison Weir, Rebecca (self), Airs. Kendal (a splendid bloom), 
James O’Brien (also a fine example), Shirley Hibberd, Mr. Glasscock (a 
large and heavy flower), Duchess of Albany, Colonist, Roval Queen, 
J. N. Keynes, R. Dean, Rebecca, Rev. J. B. M. Camm, Seedling, John 
Hickling, Buffalo Bill, Gloire de Lyon (very fine), Geo. Hurst, Arthur 
Ocock and William Rawlings. Middle row : Thos. Hobbs, J. T. Salt- 
marsh, J. T. West, Imperial, Matthew Campbell, J. C. Vaughan, Robina, 
James Cocker, Dandy, James Huntley, a sport, Alice Emily, T. S. Ware, 
Alaud Fellowes, Willie Garratt, a seedling, Duke of Fife, William 
Powell, Mrs. J. Downie, and Harry Keith. The first eight were somewhat 
undersized but otherwise good in every way. Front row : Mrs. Langtry, 
Mrs. Stancomb, Rosetta, Comte de la Saux, Crimson Globe, ComediaD, 
Eclipse, Chorister, Arthur Rawlings, Miss Fox, John Walker, Henry 
Bond, Miss Cannell, a sport, Mrs. Gladstone, Sunset. Hon. Mrs. Wyndham, 
