190 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ September 1 1887. 
specimens of exotir Ferns, <fcc., from the palace gardens. Messrs. 
J. Lywood, of Catherine Street, Sa'isbury, also contributed cut flowers. 
SANDY AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The nineteenth of these popular annual gatherings was held on Friday 
last as heretofore in the pretty and convenient grounds of J. N. Foster, Esq., 
at Sandy Place, and within a quarter of a mile of the railway station; and 
although the season must be considered an unpropitious one for vegetables, 
the staple of the locality, and notwithstanding the clashing of the Exhibition 
with some concurrent local gatherings, it must be noted as one of the most 
successful, if not the largest, that the Society has yet held. In point of 
numbers of entries there was on this occasion, as might have been antici¬ 
pated, a considerable falling off, and especially was this evident in the 
diminished display of single dishes of vegetables, but in the quality of the 
exhibits there was a patent advance. Frequent showers which barely more 
than cooled the ground were almost welcomed even by ladies in light holiday 
attire, and after the long spell of drought which has severely affected the 
district did not appear at all to interfere with the comfort or pleasure 
of the visitors; and indeed the amount of gate-money received attested that 
for the surrounding counties Sandy Show is as popular as ever. 
The display of stove and greenhouse plants, although somewhat marred 
by being awkwardly raised at an elevation of some 6 or 8 fe> t on an 
unsightly wooden platform in a narrow tent, and which had to be studied 
with the head placed back at an angle of 45° or mo-e, was a most satisfactory 
one. The first prize in the open class for ten stove and greenhouse plants 
was awarded to Mr. W. Finch, gardener to H. Marriott, Esq., Coventry, who 
had grand specimens of Stephanotis floribunda, Lapageria rosea, ixora 
Williamsi, Statice profusa, Rondeletia speciosa nigra, Allamanda nobilis, 
and four Ericas ; Mr. W. Rabbitt, gardener to Gen. Pearson, C.B., The Hazells, 
Sandy, was a very close second with large plants, several being as well 
grown as those in the winning lot, but one or two specimens hardly being 
sufficiently advanced in bloom. Mr. Rabbitt showed Bougainvillea glabra, 
Stephanotis floribunda, Ixora Fraseri, Dipladenia amabilis in fine condition. 
Mr. Parker, of the Rugby Nurseries, had smaller but well-flowered speci¬ 
mens, to which third prize was awarded. For six foliage plants (nursery¬ 
men excluded), Mr. Redman, gardener to J. H. Goodgames, Esq., Eynesbury, 
St. Neots, was first, and Mr. Rabbitt second. For six stove and greenhouse 
Ferns, Mr. Tillbrook, gardener to Bateman Brown, Esq., Houghton, Hunts, 
took ieading position, and for six hardy ditto Mr. Rabbitt. For three 
Cockscombs Mr. Redman was first, and for six showy and well-flowered 
Begonias W. H. Apthorp, Esq., Cambridge, held first place. For twelve 
Zonal Pelargoniums, Mr. Rabbitt, a constant winner in the competition, was 
again first, but the plants hardly in so good form as usual. Queen of the 
Belgians as a fine white, and Mrs. Patchett as a carmine-cerise, were con¬ 
spicuous as good specimens. 
Cut flowers, especially Roses, Dahlias, and Gladioli, were well repre¬ 
sented. In the open class for forty-eight cut Roses (not less than twenty- 
four distinct varieties), Messrs. Paul & Son, of the Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
showed two good boxes of good s zed, clean, and well-coloured blooms, and 
were placed first. Madame Alfred Vy was noticeable as a well-shaped, 
stiff-petaled, purplish-crimson flower, and said to be a useful autumn Rose. 
Blooms of Chas. Lefebvre, H. Schultheis, Madame V. Yerdier, Madame 
Margottin, Marshal Wilder, Innocente Pirola, Duke of Teck, Paul Neyron, 
Niphetos, Etienne Levet, Cornelia Kock, Prince Arthur, and G. W. Head 
were all good in this stand. Messrs. Burrell & Co., of Howe House 
Nurseries, Cambridge, came second, having fresh but a trifle smaller 
flowers. In this stand Nipheto?, Jean Ducher, Catherine Mermet, Duke of 
Teck, Dupuy Jamain, Marechal Niel, Dr. Andiy, and Duke of Albany (as 
shown much like Fisher Holmes) were well represented. Messrs. J. & W. 
Burch, Rose growers, Peterborough, came third, having bright blooms of 
Alphonse Soupert and Duchess of Bedford ; Pierre Notting, F. Lesseps, and 
Niphetos also being attractive. Mr. J. House, of the Peterborough Nurse ies, 
also showed some fine blooms set up in his neat-looking registered stands, 
where moss is dispensed with, and although this may not altogether dis¬ 
place the real article, in seasons of drought like the present the invention 
seems a suitable and most desirable one. For Gladioli it seems especially 
adapted. Amongst Mr. House’s Roses a bloom of Madame Eugene Fremy, a 
dark H.P., although small, attracted attention as a possible show Rose of 
the future. Souvenir de Therd e Levet in Mr. House’s collection wib 
remarkably curious and distinct, and unless in Rose company would scarcely 
be recognisable as a Rose. For twenty-four cut blooms (nurserymen 
excluded) Mr. E. B. Lindsell, of Bearton, Hitchin, was an easy winner, and 
notwithstanding the Hertfordshire plague of earwigs, which the exhibitor 
states has impaired his late blooms, tbe stand was a creditable one. 
In the open class for twenty-four Dahlias, the “ all round ” Mr. R. 
Petfield, gardener to C. Thornhill, Esq, Diddington, Hunts, distanc d the 
veteran Mr. H. Glasscock of Bishop’s Stortford, who is always “off” in 
tropical weather. Mr. Petfiehl’s first prize stand contained the following 
flowers in champion form—viz., MBs Can nell, Wlllie Garrett, H.Weir, Defiance, 
Goldfinder, Mrs. Freeman. Primrose Perfection, Jos. Henshaw, Jas. Stephen, 
Jas. Cocker, very fine ; Mrs. G. R. Gifford, Prince Bismarck, Jos. Ashby, 
Shirley Hibberd, Mrs. Gladstone, J. Standish, J. B. Service, J. W. Lord, 
Constancy, Prince of Denmark, fine ; Mrs. Dodds, Illuminator, Mrs. Langtry, 
and Imperial. In Mr. Glasscock’s stand, which was placed second, w re 
good flowers of Chas. Ridley, Piince of Denmark, J. Y. Quennell, and Mr. 
H. Glasscock. For six Fancy Dabl'as, Mr. H. Glasscock was placed first, 
having good flowers of Duchess of Albany, Mrs. Browning, Wizard, and 
Chorister ; Mr. Petfield, who was here second, having Gaitty, Duke of Albany, 
Rev. J.B.Camm, Hercules, E Fisher, and H.Eckford. For twelve Show Dahlias 
Mr. G. Arnold of Laighton Buzzard, Beds, was first with some grand flowers, 
including a bloom of Mr?. Douglas, probably the finest flower in the Show. 
A good stand was al?o exhioited by Mr. Apthorp. Mr. W. Bourne of 
Cambridge was first for tome fine African Marigold?, and Mr. Petfield for 
Zinnias, which were good for the season. Asters were Fmall, and showed 
the effects of the drought. For twenty-four spikes of Gladiolus, Messrs. 
Burrell & Co., Cambridge, were first with very fine spikes, including several 
of their own seedlings, Grand Mogul, and another unnamed of the Horace 
Vernet type, having bold, well built flowers, and colours well defined, Mr. 
J. House having also a fine stand, for which he was awa- ded second prize. 
Very good Hollyhocks came from Messrs. Welb & Brand of Saffron 
Wa’den, including Cygnet, a very clear well-formed white ; Alfred Chater, 
Purity, F. G. Dougal, W. Archer, Golden Drop, Carus Chater, Goliath, antt 
Prince Arthu-. In the competition for the silver medil offered for the test 
collection of cit flowers by Messrs. Wood & Son of Wood Green, Mr. vv. 
Finch of Coventry secured the prize. 
Fruit. —For the collection of eight distinct'kinds of '*i2 es - ex * 
eluded) Mr. G. R. Allis, gardener to Major Shuttleworth, Old Warden, 
worthily secured the first place with splendid Alicante and Buckland bwee 
water Grap-s, Barrington Peaches, White Ischia Figs, Nectarines,. 
Moorpark Apricots, Melon and Cherries. Mr. Tillbrook was placed secon r 
his Muscat Grapes being very fine, but hardly finished. For six distinct Kinds 
Mr. G. Warboys, gardener to Mrs. Medland, St. Neots, took the leading 
prize. For two bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes Mr. W. H. Murfin o 
Little Staughton, Hunts, was first, and Mr. Tillbrook second, ror two 
bunches of any other variety of black Grapes Mr. Tillbrook was first wit 
fine Gros Maroc. For two bunches of Muscat of Alexandria Mr. thos. 
Nutting, gardener to J. B. Maple, Esq., Childwickbury, St. Albans, was hrst 
with large fruit, and bunches nearly finished, and Mr. H. Edwards, Cam¬ 
bridge, second. For two bunches of white Grapes, any other variety, Mr. 
Allis « as first in his usual style with very fine well ripened bunches o 
Buckland Sweetwater. The display of Grapes was altogether a good on 
and the competition strong. For a scarlet-flesh Melon Mr. Allis was also- 
firs f , and Mr. Cook, gardener to Col. Stuart, Tempsford Hall, seccmd; and 
for a green-flesh Melon Mr. R. Carter, gardener to Col. Duncombe, Wares iy 
Park, was first; and for six Peaches Mr. Allis. Mr. Cook was also t e 
winner with a fine dish of Florence Cherries. In the competition for best 
collection of Tomatoes three interesting collections were shown, the first 
prize being awarded to Mr. Tillbrook for four large varieties, two red and> 
two yellow. Mr. Rabbitt was second, and Mr. W. Bourne third, the latter 
showing a distinct and luscious looking small yellow seedling, lbe first 
prize for cooking Apples was awarded to Mr. J. Beaumont of Eaton bocon, 
for Peasgood’s Nonsuch. . , 
Vegetables, an especial feature at 8andy, were, if more sparingly shown 
than usual, admirably represented. For a basket of twelve varieties Mr. tr- 
Vyne, gardener to C. Franklin, Esq., Bedford, was first, and Mr. Ituis, 
girdener, Pemberly, Bedford, a good second. For a collection of six varie¬ 
ties, Mr. G. Woodham, Kempston, Beds, was first, and Mr. Carter, Waresley. 
second. Mr. Rabbitt was awarded first for a very fine brace of Tender and 
True Cucumber, nearly 30 inches long. Mr. W. Pepper, Welwyn, had a 
similar position for excellent Intermediate Carrots and for a dish or 
Lixton’s Evolution Peas, by far the best in the Show. For a collection ot 
Potatoes, Mr. R. Carter was first with Snowdrop, and Mr. Bresee (excelhnt 
specimens), Vicar of Laleham, Beauty of Kent, Adirondack, and 
national, also good. Mr. J. Bradford, Thorney, Cambs, was second, ror 
the best dish of white kidney Mr. T. Scotchbrook, Whittlesey, Cambs, was 
first with International, and Mr. All's second with Snowdrop. For round 
white Mr. Scotchbrook was first with Schoolmaster, Trizetaker coming in 
as the best coloured kidney, Reading Russet as the best coloured round. 
But by far the best Potatoes in the Show were those from Mr. J. House,. 
Peterborough, in the market gardeners’ tent, his Magnum Bonums, Reading 
Russets, Trophy, Edgecote Purple, Snowdrop, and Cosmopolitan having in 
more favourable seasons been rarely equalled, but from unac-ountable and 
hesitating management in this department part of the exhibits were not 
allowed to be staged, and so other prizes were reluctantly awarded, lhe 
prize off red by Messrs. Harrison & Sons, seed merchants, Leicester, for six 
kinds of vegetables, four to be grown from their seeds, was awarded to Mr. 
W. Johnson, Bedford. . 
Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, had a good display of decorative, Pompon* 
and single Dahlias. The best of the decorative sorts were William Rayner, 
a striking msthetic flower, Mrs. Hawkins, Henry Patrick, and William. 
Pearce (yellow). Amongst the Pompons were Nemesis, a very small self¬ 
chocolate flower; Pure Love, a very delicate peach; Eccentric, very 
curious orange and buff; Profusion, Gem (bright scarlet), and Brunette. 
Messrs. J. Cheal <fc Sons, of Crawley, Sussex, a’so made a very 
effective display with these Dahlias, and their mode of setting up the 
decorative flowers as single blooms, backed up with their foliage, proved 
most attractive. Amongst the Cactus type, Lady M. Marsham (crush'd 
strawbeny), Empress of India (very dark), General Gordon, Mrs. Tait 
(imbricated white), Picta formosissima, Juarezi, and Cochineal were very 
effective. In sing es, the best were Beauty of Uplands, Ellen Teiry, Mrs. 
Rennett (striped), F.CC., Jas. Kelway, Sunset, Silver King, Amos Perry, 
and Queen of Singles (mauve). The best of the Pompon type were 
Crawley Gem, Little Bobby, Emotion, Favourite, Fair Helen, Lightning, 
and Dr. F. Junker. Messrs. W. Wood & Son, of Wood Gr en, showed 
specimens of their “ Thanatos ” insecticide, universal plant food, manures, 
and othf r specialities; and Mr. William Colchester, of Ipswich, samples 
of his Ichthemic guano. 
FALKIRK. 
The above Show was held in the Falkirk Town Hall, on Friday and 
Saturday, 26th and 27th ult. It was one of the finest, although not the 
largest, that has been held, and far surpassed others with higher preten¬ 
sions. Many of the exhibits were extraordinary examples bo'h in size and 
quality, the vegetables especially so. Leeks measured 10 inches long and 
2J in diametrr, finely blanched; Onions weighed If lb.; Parsnips and 
Carrots were simply perfection, the former measuring upwards of 2 feet 
6 inches long by 3 inches in diameter; Celery was also of extra quality. 
Plants and cut flowers were excellent, as also was the fruit. Miss Cochran. 
Comely Park House, Falkirk, exhibited some wonderfully large Norwegian 
Red Currants. Messrs. R. B. Laird & Sons exhibited a table of plants 30 
feet by 6 feet nicely arranged, and gave grand effect to the Exhibition ; the 
Crotons and Dracaenas were very highly coloured. The same firm also 
exhibited single and Pompon Dahlias, which were much admired; they were 
arranged with great taste. Amongst the single varieties we observed a 
number of new ones worthy of special notice; Scotch Lassie, beautifully 
striped ; James Kelway, white, purple edged ; John Sutherland, orange, 
striped scarlet; Mrs. H. M. Murray Stewart, edged pink; and amongst the 
Pompons, Eocentric, a novel and pleasing variety ; Dandy, crimson purple. 
Mr. M. Campbell, Blantyre, exhibited two stands of Dahlias, remarkably well 
grown and very larg». The Carnations exhibited by the same gentleman 
were excellent. The Judges declined to pass any remarks upon several 
