August 25, ltS7. ] 
169 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
bread was second, showing Leviathan Onion, Sutton’s Gem Carrot, and 
Cosmopolitan Potatoes we 1. Mr. W. Woolford was a creditable third, Mr. 
G. Goodman fourth, and Mr. J. Hughes fifth. Messrs. Webb <fe Sons, 
Wordsley, Stourbridge, offered three prizes for a collection of six vegetables, 
to include at least two named in their spring catalogue. Seven collections 
were in competition, a grand lot f om Mr. T. Lockie securing the first prize. 
Webb’s Perpetual Bearer Cucumber, New Intermediate Carrot, Jubilee 
Tomato, and Chancellor Peas were finely shown, also Giant Rocca Onions 
and Cosmopolitan Potatoes. Mr. G. Elliott was a good seoond, and Mr. D. 
Paxton third, also showing well. Mr. Lynn of Maidenhead offered three 
prizes for the best nine bulbs of Exhibition Onionb, and they wire won by 
Messrs. Woolford (first), Elliott (second), and G. Hopkins (third). 
Good produce was shown in many of the amateurs’ and cottagers’ classes, 
but they we e too numerous for details of the awards to be given here. 
WELSH SHOWS. 
Horticultural Shows are very common in South Wales during the 
month of August, and are invariably good and well patronised. Horticul¬ 
ture is in a very flourishing state amongst all classes in the Principality, 
and, with perhaps the exception of the Eisteddfods, there are no gatherings’ 
so well attended as the flower shows. 
Cardiff. —This was held in the Sophiah Gardens on August 10th. It 
was a most successful show. The exhibits were placed in tents disposed 
here and there amongst the trees, and had a very pretty effect. Mr. 
Cypher of Cheltenham gained the first prize for twelve stove and gr en- 
house plants. They were all grand specimens. Mr. G. Jones, a local exhi¬ 
bitor,was a good Becond. In the n<xt class,which was for fine-foliage plants, 
Mr. Pettigrew, Cardiff Castle, was an easy first, Mr. Cypher coming second. 
The Cardiff Castle plants were excellent, and the win was a popular one. 
Fuchsias were very good, but not so fine as they were last year. Mr. J. 
Watson had the best. Exotic Ferns from Sir George Elliot and Mrs. 
Steads were splendid. In the amateur plant classes Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. 
C. H. Williams, Mr. C. Thompson, Colonel Page, Mr. C. Waldron, and Mr. 
W. L. Blake were the principal prizewinners. Mr. Ralph Crossling, The 
Nurseries, Penarth, and Mr. Stephen Treseder of Cardiff were the chief 
exhibitors of Roses. In variety and quality of bloom their stands would 
have been hard to beat at this season. Messrs Heath &. Son, Cheltenham, 
exhibited some excellent Dahlia blooms, and had no difficulty in securing 
the first prize. Mr. G. M. Traherne was first with Phloxes and some other 
flowers, [and the dinner tables were a grand feature of the Show. They 
were laid out with dessert, and adorned with flowers. Miss C. Hill obtained 
the first prize for table confined to the ladies of Glamorganshire with a 
very pleasing arrangement, in which dark Carnations held a prominent 
place. Mr. Phelps of Cardiff bad a more elaborate display on the open 
table, but it merited the first prize. 
Fruit was staged extersively, and. as a rule of high quality. Mr. 
Hawkins, g&rd-ner to Colonel Turberville, Ew nnv Priory, Bride-end, was 
first for the leading col’ection. His Muscat of Alexandria Grapes and 
Peaches and Pears were extra good. Mr. P, ttigrew took all before him 
1D j ./P es, being first for a collection of Pines, first for a Queen Pine, 
and first for a Pine of any other variety. Mr. Morris, gardener to A. P. 
,y lan ' ® s ?-, Glenafon Taibach, was second for a Queen, with a fine fruit 
rather too ripe. Mr. Silk, gard ner to T. M. Franklen, Esq.. St. Hilary, Cow- 
bndge, was first for three bunches of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes w ith 
huge bunches and fine berries, grandly ripened. Mr. Hawkins was second 
with small bunches extra well coloured. Lord Aberdare was first for Black 
Hamburgbs, and Major Howell second. In any other black, Mr. G. M. 
Traherne was first with Madresfield Court, and Mr. Silk second with Gros 
Maroc, large in bunch, enormous in berry, and very well coloured. Mr. 
Hawkins secured the prize for a collection of Grapes. Melons W: re well 
Gibbon by pw?! rB i ®^. e X Cardiff ’ Mr ; Hawkins, Mr. Pettigrew, and Mr. 
Plums, Apncots. Ac., were rather scarce. 
o 68 w 1 r f, Pitiful, and in many instances very fine. Messrs. 
Webb to Sons, of Stourbridge, offered prizes for six varieties, and the first 
prize was secured by Mr. J. Muir. Margsm ; the second by Mr. G. M. 
Traherne, and the third by Mr. G. Rees», Merthvr Mawr, Bridgend. The 
next collection was that of nine dishes, and Mr. J. Muir again secured first 
j® °l* he greatest excellence. Sir Geo-ge Elliott was second 
ana •Mr. Bilk third. The competition in the single dishes of vegetables was 
very keen, the pnncipal winners being Mr. Mu r, Mr. Moiris, Mr. Moor, 
Coednglan, Mr. Silk and Mr. J. Watson. ’ 
This is a small town in m-'d-Glamorgan. For several years 
past it has produced an excellent horticultural show, snd the one held this 
year on the day succeeding Cardiff proved the best of the series. The Com¬ 
mittee are mostly amateurs with a great love for gardening, the arrange¬ 
ments lor the Show admirable, and the conducting of it most spirited. Mr. 
Cypher exhibits annually at it. and his first prize group this year contained 
nne specimens of foliage and flowering plants, but he was closely followed 
by Captain Manefi Id, St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, who was second with 
very large P ants ; and Mr. Worgan, gardener to A. Gilbertson, E*q„ 
ontardawe, exhibited so well in this class as to secure an extra prize. His 
plantB were small but uncommonly healthy, and indicated the foundation 
ot what would easily prove a formidable lot. Exotic Ferns were exceed- 
p w 2 ?*’ be8t coming from D. Bevan. Esq., Cadoxton, Neath, and 
j .V. 1 Flower, Baglan Lodge, Briton Ferry. Roses we e shown extensively 
in the open classes by Mr. Crossling, and Mr. Cypher’s epergnes were the 
best. Ihe amateurs’classes were well filled with plants more remarkable 
, t ,” el ? r R 0 P$ condition than great size. Howel Gwyn, Esq., Dyffryn, 
Neath : Mr. Worgan, Mr. J. H. Rowland, Mr. H. P. Charles, Mr. Moon, and 
several others, in the locality stigirg well, but flowers were highly attractive, 
rr r ' v- * 4J lw, . n > Hr. J. M. Moore, Mr. D. Davies, and Mr. J. Pile being 
the chief prizewinners. 
The vegetables did not appear to have experienced any of the backward 
results attending an exceedingly dry season, as th-ywere staged in enor¬ 
mous quantities and of capital quality. Mr. Morris, Glenafon; Mr. 
Hawkins, Ewenny ; Mr. Dan Moris, Carmarthen; Mr. Speck, Llanelly; 
Mr. Moor, Coedriglan, Cardiff; Mr. Worgan, and Mrs. Palmer, Rheoid, 
p Cre amon 8 8 t the principal prizewinners. 
1 he Crapes from St. Hilary were very conspicuous amongst the fruit, 
ana Mr. Hawkens staged finely ripened fruit in this section. The best 
Melons came from Mr. Worgan, the best Nectarines from Mr. Morris, and 
much good fruit was shown by Mr. D. Bevan and others. Brief as the-.e 
notes are they deal with a grand show. 
Llandovery. —This is a small town situated in one of the mostpicturesque 
parts of Carmarthenshire. It is well above the sea level, beautifully sur¬ 
rounded with hills and undulating ground, and is noted for its health-giviDg 
resources, being close to the Welsh “ Wells ” so largely patronised for their 
medical properties. No more delightful situation could have been chosen 
for a show, and although the Exhibition held on August 16th was the first 
it was of great merit and argued well for the establishing of an annual 
show. The Committee, although new to the work, carried out their duties 
admirably. Captain Mansfield staged plants very extensively and was the 
chief prizewinner. Mi38 Jones, Ystrad House, Mr. J. M. Sinnett, Mr. 
Moreton, and Dr. Lewis were the chief local prizetakers in plants ; Captain 
Mansfield, Mrs. Norton, Llanelly, Mr. Harding, Llanelly, Mr. J. M. Sinnett, 
and Miss Davies in flowers; and Major Thomas of Llandilo, Mr. D. W. 
Jones, Cardiff, and Mr. J. C. Richardson, Llandilo, in Grapes. The Muscat 
of Alexandria from the latter gentleman would have won at a much larger 
show. Vegetables app ared in large quantities, and the quality throughout 
reflected much credit on their cultivaiois. 
Aberdare. —This Show, he’d on the 18th inst., has been establ shed for 
some years, and now ranks amongst the best in South Wales. It is managed 
with great spirit, and no effort is wanting by the Committee to make it a 
success ; indeed, it is a great pleasure to come in contact with such officials, 
as they are all earnest in promoting good gardening. Mr. Cypher always 
appears here and sets a good example to others in the excellency of hie 
groups, which invariably secure first prize ; Captain Mansfield followed 
closely, and Mr. Cumley, gardener to J. Lewis, Esq , Abernant, was third. 
Ferns were very good from Mr. R. H. Rhys, Plasnewydd, and Mr. Bevan, 
Neath, and Geraniums and Fuchsias by Sir George Elliott, Major Howell, 
and Captain Mansfield. Mr. Ralph Crossling was again an extensive exhibitor 
of Roses. Mr. W. Treseder, Cardiff, and Mr. J. N. Moore, Neath, staged 
some excellent Dahlias, and the Asters, Phloxes, Verbenas, Ac., wtre very 
attractive. 
The fruit classes were filled and contained some fine examples. For nine 
dishes the Misses Rous, Cardiff, was first and Captain Mansfield second, and 
in the class for six dishes Mr. Comley came first with fine Grapes, a good 
Queen Pine, and grand Peaches ; S r George Elliott was second, and Major 
Howell third. Black Hamburghs were extensively shown, the first prize going’ 
to Sir George Eliot. Mr. Stone, gardener to Lord Aberdare, was first for 
Musoat of Alexandria, and Mr. Comley was first for any other kind of blick 
Grape with fine samples of Madresfhld Court, and in the any other whi e- 
class the fi st went to Sir W. T. Lewis for fine bunches of Foster's Seedling. 
Mr. J. Croft, Resolvent, also exhibited fine Grapes, and the fruit classes 
were the best we have s en at this popular Show. The vegetables in boht 
the gardeners’ and cottagers’ s. ctions were very good, and the whole proved 
a most instructive Exhibition. 
THAMES DITTON HOUSE. 
Perhaps of the waterside residences within easy distance of the 
great City this may fairly claim to be one of the most beautiful and 
pleasantly situated. The house is embowered in a wealth of fine trees, 
to a few of which we shall briefly allude, the spacious and well-kept 
lawn overlooking the Thames, the effect of the picturesque view being 
considerably heightened by the fact that across the water is the Home 
Park adjoining Hampton’s historic pile. 
Referring to some of the trees, that admirable subject for water- 
margins, the Weeping Willow, is represented by some very fine and 
graceful examples, and wending our way towards the mansion we note 
a magnificent specimen of Platanus orientalis, some 80 or 90 feet in 
height, and well clothed with foliage. It has been remarked that this 
fine tree flourishes best and attains the greatest size where the roots- 
have access to water, the cause of its success, doubtless, at Thames 
Ditton. A fine Beech, too, arrested attention, its circumference being 
270 feet, the branches sweeping upwards to a considerable height, form¬ 
ing, as it were, stately arches. 
We noticed hereabouts what may be called a successful operation in 
tree moving. A fine example of .the single scarlet Thorn had long been 
an eyesore to the owner, W. F. Hume Dick, Esq., on account of its 
being planted so close to others that it lost its individuality. Last 
November it was decided to have it removed—rather a risky proceeding 
—to a more open part of the lawn. This was accordingly done, and that 
the process was entirely successful is now evident by the flourishing 
condition of the tree, and Mr. W. Palmer, Mr. Dick’s able head gardener, 
may be congratulated accordingly. 
In the pleasure ground we were much struck with the natural style 
of the planting, affording an indeed pleasant contrast to the stereotyped 
system sometimes seen. The grounds, too, are so planted that we do not 
see the whole at once. There are some charming peeps that one comes 
upon here and there as pleasant surprises ; and embowered as we are at 
points with a wealth of cool and pleasing foliage, we might well imagine 
that we were in the heart of some fair domain far away in the country,, 
and not within a few miles only of London’s din and roar. 
On a wall near the mansion we noted a fine example of Magnolia 
grandiflora (Exmouth var.) wreathed with its noble blossoms, the- 
fragrance emitted being almost overpowering. In an effectively planted 
walk leading to the carriage drive we noted some particularly handsome 
specimens of Cupressus Lawsoniana towering to a great height and 
forming a conspicuous feature. Variegated forms of Acer Negundo- 
dotted here and there help to light up this portion of the grounds in a. 
very pleasing way. That magnificent evergreen tree, the Cedar of 
Lebanon, is represented by a stately specimen that the late storms have- 
left their mark upon. 
The rosery is an attractive feature Mr. Palmer’s practice, in order 
