September 8, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
211 
hngwortli, Esq., Turkey Court, Maidstone, was easily first with long, well- 
filled bunches of Canon Hall; Mr. Bury, second, with Foster’s Seedling; 
and Mr. T. Osman, third, with Mrs. Pearson, the bunches in both cases 
large but berries small, and little to choose between them. In the “ any 
other black ” class, Mr. T. Osman was placed first; Mr. Harvey second with 
Lady Downe’s ; and Mr. C. J. Goldsmith third with Black Prince. There 
was good competition in the class for a basket of black Grapes, the first 
prize being awarded to Mr.Howe, gardener to H. Tate, Esq., Streatham 
Common, for a good pile of well finished Black Hamburgh, the second to 
Mr. G. Duncan, for a basket of highly finished Alicantes, and the third to 
Mr. J. Harvey, Ticehurst, who had the same vaiiety. For the best basket 
of white Grapes Mr. R. Gray was placed first with well ripened Muscat of 
Alexandria; Mr. Goldsmith second, and Mr. Pratt third with the same 
variety. The Grapes throughout were decidedly above the average as 
seen at the best shows, and highly creditable to the several cultivators. 
The classes for the other kinds of fiuit were well filled, and in most 
the competition very ketn. The Peaches and Nectarines were remarkable 
for their size and high colour, especially those exhibited by Mr. W. H. 
Divers, who took the chief prizes for these fruits. Plums were not so 
large and fine as we have seen them in other years, the dry season, no 
doubt, accounting for that. 
The first prize for four dishes of Peaches was awarded to Mr. W. H. 
Divers, gardener to J. T. Hop wood, Esq., Ketton Hall, Stamford, for ex¬ 
cellent examples of Bellegarde, Crimson Galande, Early Crawford, and 
Dagmar. The second to Mr. J. Edmonds, Bestwood Gardens, Arnold, 
Notts, and the third to Mr. W. Smith, Neville Court Gardens, Tunbridge 
Wells. In the corresponding class for four disht s of Nectarines Mr. Divers 
was again first with fine fruit of Victoria, Dryden, Lord Napier, and Rivers 
Orange; Mr. J. Edmonds second ; and Mr. C. J. Goldsmith third. Mr. 
Divers was also awarded first for a single dish of Peaches, showing a fine 
highly coloured dish of Crimson Galande. The second was awarded to 
Mr. F. Day, gardener to W. S. Gover, Esq., Cassino Hou=e, Herne Hill, for 
a good dish of Prince of Wales, and the third to Mr. G. Holliday, gardener 
to J. Norris, Esq., Castle Hill, Bletchingley, for a dish of Violette Hative. 
For a single dish of Nectarines Mr. S. Pullman was first with a good dish 
of Pine Apple ; Mr. J. Ridout, Reigate, second with Lord Napier ; Mr. 
Divers third with a dish of highly coloured but smaller fruit of Rivers’ 
Orange. In the next class for six dishes of Peaches and six dishes of 
Nectarines, distinct kinds, Mr. Divers was first with Dagmar, Dr. Hogg, 
Violette Hative,Early Crawford, Crimson Galande, and Bellegarde Peaches, 
and Pine Apple, Dryden, Victoria, Rivers’ Orange, Lord Napier, and Albert 
"Victor Nectarines; Mr. A. Waterman, gardener to H. A. Brassey, Esq., 
Preston Hall, was second, and Mr. C. J. Goldsmith, third. 
Melons were represented by eighteen exhibits in each of the classes for 
a single fruit. The first prize for a green-flesh being won by Mr. A. 
Bolton, Montreal, Sevenoaks, with Sutton’s Horticultural Prize ; the second 
by Mr. J. H. Goodacre, with Best of All, and the third by Mr. H. W. Ward, 
with Hero of Lockinge. The first for a scarlet-fleshed was taken by Mr. 
Goodacre, with Read's Scarlet; the second by Mr. Ward, with Blenheim 
Orange ; and the third by Mr. W. Sullivan, gardener to H. B. Kohler, Esq., 
Fawkham Manor, Dartford, with Veitch’s Perfection. 
Plums.—In the class for four dishes of Plums, any varieties, Mr. J. 
Neighbour, gardener to E. J. Wythes, Esq., Chislehurst, was awarded 
first; Mr. J. Bolton, Coombe Bank Gardens, Sevenoaks, second ; Mr. A. 
Bolton, third. For four dishes, green or yellow varieties, Mr. J. Wells, 
Windsor Forest, was first; Mr. H. W. Ward second; and Mr. C. J. Gold¬ 
smith third. The first for four dishes, purple, Mr. G. Holliday was first; 
Mr. Ward, second ; and Mr. E. Chadwick, gardener to E. M. Nelson, Esq., 
Hanger Hill House, Ealing, third. Figs were very good, the prizes being 
taken by Mr. J. Butler, North Lancing, Mr. J. Wallis, Keele Hall, and Mr. 
Howe, Streatham Common, in the order of their names. 
Apples and Pears were fairly represented, although many of the early 
varieties were affected with the maggot, which appears to be very prevalent 
this year. For twelve dishes of Apples, six kitchen and six dessert kinds, 
Mr. A. Waterman was first, Mr. J. Butler second, Messrs. G. & J. Lane, St. 
Mary’s Cray, third. For three dishes of AppleB, ripe, Messrs. G. & J. Lane, 
was first, showing Red Astrachan,Shakespeare,and Duchess of Oldenburg; 
Mr. S. T. Wright, gardener to C. Lee Campbell, Esq., Glewston Court, Ross, 
second with Worcester Pearmain, Lord Suffield, and Yorkshire Beauty; 
and Mr. A. Waterman third with Red Quarrenden, Red Astrachan, and 
Duchess of Oldenburg. In the class for ten dishes of Pears Mr. Butler 
was first with a good fruit, Mr. Goldsmith second, and Mr. Waterman third; 
and for three dishes of ripe Pears Mr. J. Butler was first with good examples 
of Windsor, Clapp’s Favourite, and Beurre Goubault; Mr. A. Waterman 
second with Beurrd d’Amanlis, Beurre Giffard, and St. Jule Luizot; Mr. 
J. Bolton third with Williams’ Bon Chretien, Jargonelle, and Doyenne 
Boussoch. 
There were nine competitors for six dishes of Tomatoes in distinct 
varieties, and the successful exhibitor was Mr. 0. Waite, gardener to Colonel 
the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher, with heavy fruit of The Mikado, 
large, magenta tinted; Reading Perfection, fine; Carter’s Perfection, 
Laing’s Pedigree, Hathaway’s Excelsior, and Burpee’s Cardinal. The second 
was awarded to Mr. C. J. Goldsmith for an excellent collection, and the 
third to Mr. J. W. Silver, nurseryman, Streatham, Silver’s Invincible being 
one of the finest Tomatoes in the Show. 
Miscellaneous. —Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, exhibited a 
group of small orchard house trees in pots loaded with fruit and in the best 
of health; these formed an interesting feature in the Exhibition ; the group 
was faced round with good dishes of Grapes, Peaches, Apples, and Pears, 
and other kinds of fruits of very excellent quality. Messrs. J. Veitch and 
Sons, Chelsea, also exhibited a fine group of somewhat larger trees in full 
fruit in pots, chiefly consisting of Peaches and Nectarines. 
Cut Flowers.— In addition to the Fruit Show the Palace authorities 
offered prizes for cut flowers other than Dahlias. Gladioli were the leading 
feature. In the open class Mr. A. Campbell of Gourock placed 150 and 
Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Cambridge, about 180 spikes in competition, the 
prizes being awarded in the order named, but the famous Scottish grower 
had by no means an easy win. In the amateurs’ classes the Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain, West well Vicarage, Ashford, far out-distanced other com¬ 
petitors with his eighteen Bpl-ndid spikes, the colours of the flowers being 
particularly bright and clear. The remaining prizewinners were Mr. W. H. 
Apthorpe, Cambridge, and Mr. A. Whitton, Bedale. Asters were, plentiful, 
but not quite so good as usual. Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son, Chelmsford, 
were decidedly first with both Quilled and French kinds, the remaining 
winner being, for the former, Mr. G. Cooper, Chippenham, and Mr. H. 
Humphries, Kington Langley, Wilts ; for the latter Mr. W. J. Janes, Lark- 
hall, Bath, and Mr. S. Cooper. Hollyhocks were very poor, and we are 
quite sure there were thousands better in the country. It would not 
perhaps be a bad venture to offer prizes for seedlings or unnamed 
varieties, the same as for Asters, the vast majority of Hollyhock 
plants being raised from seed, and flowers from good strains quite 
equal several of those staged that were named. These flowers 
used to be effectively shown in spikes inserted in pots of sand, 
and the custom is worthy of resuscitation, allowing both named and un¬ 
named varieties to be eligible for competition. The date of the Show was, 
however, perhaps too late for these flowers, considering the heat of the 
Bummer, They want encouragement, and to bring them out in greater force 
is to give latitude to exhibitors, then greater competition and eventually 
better quality would follow. Very good collections of stove and green¬ 
house flowers were staged by Mr. J. Prewett, Hammersmith; Mr. H. 
James, Norwood; and Mr. A. Gibson, gardener to T. F. B. Atkins, Esq., 
Halstead Place, Sevenoaks. Messrs. Davis & Jones, Camberwell, won the 
first prize offered for a collection of summer-flowering Chrysanthemums, an 
extra prize being granted to Mr. W. Piercy, who inadvertently contravened 
the conditions as to size of pots; and Messrs. Sanders, Charlewood Park, 
Crawley ; Spinks, Honley ; and Lambert, Herne Hill, secured the prizes for 
Cockscombs in the order named. 
In the miscellaneous class extra prizes were awarded to Messrs. Paul and 
Son, Cheshunt, for a great display of Roses ; to Messrs. Cannell & Sons, 
Swanley, for an imposing representative collection of Dahlias, double 
Begonias, and other flowers ; to Messrs. J. Laing & Co., for baskets of 
Begonias lifted from the open ground—a dazzling group—the plants dwarf 
and vigorous, and the varieties of superior merit; and to Mr. W. Gordon for 
a splendid group of Liliums. 
Certificates were granted to Messrs. Davis & Jones for Chrysanthemum 
• Mrs. John R. Pitcher, white, with large blooms and broad florets, apparently 
as early and free as Madame Desgrange; and to Mr. George Miles for 
C. Mrs. Burrell, a primrose coloured form of the vaiiety last named, and 
very effective. 
NATIONAL DAHLIA SHOW. 
The great Exhibition of the National Dahlia Society was held in con¬ 
junction with the fruit Show above referred to, the stands being arranged, as 
in one or two previous years, in the csntral avenue of the Palace—a grand 
promenade with ample room for exhibits and spectators alike. It might not 
unreasonably have been expected that after so unpropitious a season the 
examples of this good autumnal flower would lack the high quality which 
distinguished prize Dahlias from the best growers in ordinarily favourable 
seasons; but, on the contrary, the blooms generally were in splendid con¬ 
dition. Show and Fancy flowers were wonderful, taking the long drought 
into consideration, baing of good size and form, the petals substantial, and 
the colour everything that could be desired. Single flowers were perhaps 
hardly up to the mark, and all the classes were not well filled, but the Pom¬ 
pons were grand, and made quite a remarkable feature. Cactus varieties 
were also shown plentifully and well; these are unmistakeably “ creeping 
up.” The Show was undoubtedly one of the best—if not the best—ever 
held. Details of the awards are appended. 
Nurserymen’s Classes. —Some alterations were this year made in the 
schedule. The principal classes stipulated for seventy-two blooms instead 
of forty-eight, as in former years ; and instead of separate classes being de¬ 
voted to Show and Fancy blooms, all were to be composed of Show and 
Fancy flowers intermixed. In the great class for seventy-two, not fewer 
than thirty-six varieties or more than two blooms of any one variety, 
there were five competitors, and the always formidable task of adjudicating 
proved more than usually difficult and tedious. Eventually a close struggle 
for the coveted first prize resulted in a victory for Mr. W. Boston, Car- 
thorpe, Bedale, Yorks, an old exhibitor of Dahlias. It is significant 
that the great prize at this and the National Rose Society’s Show 
were both won by blooms from the same locality, and that a northern one. 
Mr. Boston’s was a highly meritorious collection, comprising many magni¬ 
ficent blooms, and all noteworthy for perfect contour and purity of hue. 
The varieties shown were as follows, the names being given as read from 
left to right:—Back row—Henry Walton, Miss Cannell, Jas. Cocker, J. B. M. 
Camm, Mrs. F. Foreman (a beautiful bloom), J. T. Saltmarsh, Prince of 
Denmark, Mrs. Sanders, J. B. M. Camm (self, 2), W. Slack, John Wyatt 
(very fine), Goldfinder, Jas. Cocker, Criterion (a splendid flower), Henry 
Walton, Burgundy (2), Mrs. Gladstone, Artist, Jas. O’Brien, Earl of Ravens- 
worth, Eccentric, and Rev. J. Goodday. Middle row—Mrs. Gladstone, 
Professor Fawcett, Mrs. Langtry, Jas. Stephen, Miss Henshaw, John 
Forbes (self), Duchess of Wellington, Jos. Ashby (excellent), George Paul, 
Eccentric, Shirley Hibberd, Mrs. F. Foreman, Thos. Goodwin, Miss Henshaw, 
Hugh Austin, Gladys Herbert, Rev. J. Goodday, Goldfinder, Hope, Mrs. 
Langtry, G. Barnes, Criterion, W. Rawlings, and Sunbeam. Front row— 
John Wyatt, Sunbeam, MrB. Harris, Bessie Ford, Shirley Hibberd, Mrs. J. R. 
Jefford (2), Chorister, a sport, Galatea, General Gordon, Annie Neville, Miss 
Large, H. W. Ward (2), Henry Bond, C. Wyatt, Jas. Stephen, W. B. 
Pritchard, 0. E. Cooper, Hon. Mrs. W. P. Wyndham, Professor Fawcett, 
Mrs. G. Rawlings, and Prince of Denmark. Mr. Charles Turner, Royal 
Nurseries, Slough, was the exhibitor of the second prize collection, and 
though defeated he was very far from being disgraced, his blooms 
being in every way excellent. One or two flowers were lacking in 
size, hence lost a point or two, but all were wonderfully substan- ) 
tial and fresh. Annie Pritchard, Crimson King, Constancy, and Mrs_ 
W. Slack were noteworthy examples. Messrs. KeyneB, Williams & Co." 
Salisbury, showed well, though hardly, perhaps, in their usual form, third 
place being assigned to them. Messrs. Heath <fc Son, College Nurseries, 
Cheltenham, Becured the remaining prize. Mr. Turner again showed 
splendidly with forty-eight blooms, and improved on his previous position 
by securing the premier award from seven opponents. The varieties 
shown were as follows Back row—Goldfinder, Progress, Crimson King, 
very fine; T. J. Saltmarsh, Win. Rawlings, a seedling; Champion Rollo, 
