Beptemfcer 8, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
213 
the collection. In smaller classes, where it is desired to obtain as many 
competitors as possible, it is always advisable to keep Pines out, but it 
was not difficult in the case under notice to forecast how many exhibitors 
would stage. The contest was a close one between Mr. J. Hunter, gardener to 
t wr -Durham, Lambton Castle, and Mr. J. Hclndoe, gardener to Sir 
J. VV. Pease, Bart., M.P., Hutton Hall, Guisborough, but Mr. Hunter won by 
several points, his Grapes, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, and Melons, 
including good specimen fruits. The Grapes comprised large handsome 
bunches of Alicante, Cannon Hall Muscat with fine be ries, Gros Guillaume, 
large bunches.of berries, but somewhat rubbed ; Muscat of Alexandria, good 
bunches, medium berries, fairly coloured; Black Hamburgh, fine bunches 
and colour, but medium size berries; and Trebbiano, very large heavy 
bunches. The Melons were capital specimens of Scarlet Premier, Lord 
Strathmore, and Best of All. The Pears included large clean fruits of 
• 'tu'rf 311 ’ ® e . urr ^ Giffard, Williams’ Bon Chretien, Beurre Diel, Brock- 
worth Park, Pitmaston Duchess, Souvenir dn Congres, and an unnamed 
™ j ?• The Apples were White Calville, Cellini, Worcester Pearmain, 
Lord Suffield, Jefferson, Ringer, Ribston Pippin, and an unnamed dish. The 
leaches were Royal George and another variety, the fruits large in both 
cases .; the Nectarines Pitmaston Orange and Pine Apple. Plums were fine 
white and yellow Magnum Bonum, Denbigh and Prince Bnglebert being the 
varieties shown. The' e were also Early American and Moorpark Apricots, 
Osborn s Prolific and Brown Turkey Figs, Red, White and Black Currants, 
two dishes of red and green Gooseberries, two dishes of Cherries, Citrons, 
Lemons, and fruits of Cvcas revoluta. the last named occasioning a little 
criticism as to its admissibility. Mr. J. Mclndoe also had some good Grapes ; 
ms A icantes wire well coloured, Gros Colman was also finely represented. 
Muscat of Alexandria, Black Hamburgh, Gros Guillaume, and Buckland 
oweetwater were included; the bunches good, but some seemed to have 
suffered in transit, and were somewhat rubbed. Handsome fruits of Golden 
Eagle and \iolette Ha’ive Peaches were shown, together with Apples and 
Pears ; of the former Peasgood’s Noil' such and Maiden’s Blush were excep¬ 
tionally fine. Two good i ishes of Tomatoes were inc’uded, and a large 
bunch of Bananas, but green, and this weakened the collection materially, 
ocarlet Premier Melon, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury Strawberries, and 
some fine Citrons were the other leading dishes. Mr. J. H. Goodacre, 
gardener to the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston CaBtle, Derby, was third, and 
was not exhibiting in his usual style. His Grapes were mostly well coloured ; 
Maclresfield Court, Muscat Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling, Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, Black Hamburgh, and Trebbiano were the varieties, Barrington and 
Downside Peaches being also excellently shown. It was rather surprising 
that some of the choice exotic fruits occasionally grown under glass in 
large gardens, such as.Guavas, Passiflora edulis, and Eugenia Ugni were not 
shown m these collections, as they would have possessed more value than 
inherent Gooseberries, and would not have been open to any doubt, like 
the Cycas fruits and Tomatoes. 
In the classes for eight and four dishes of fruit respectively there was 
keen competiticn. nearly one hundred dishes being entered in the twoclasses. 
Mr. HunLr won first honours with eight dishes amongst seven competitors, 
his collection being distinguished by the even quality of the fruits, and this 
class altogether comprised some of the best in the Show. The varieties 
were Smooth Cayenne Pine Apple, finely developed ; Golden Queen, Golden 
Champion, and Gros Colman Grapes, good solid well-finished bunches ; 
Best of All Melon, Goshawk Peaches, Williams’ Bon Chretien Pears, and 
Worcester Pearmain Apples. Mr. R. Westcott, gardener to the Duke of 
Glswuand, Raby Castle, was a close second with capitil Black Hamburgh 
and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, Raby Figs, Rivers’ Early Elruge Nec¬ 
tarines, Peaches, and a Melon. Mr. John McIntyre, Woodside Gardens, 
Darlington, was third, Mr. Mclndoe fourth, and Mr. R. Parker, gardener to 
John Corbett, Esq., M.P., Impney Droitwich, fifth, the last-named showing 
a large bunch of Muscat of Alexandria and a good Melon. With four dishes 
Mr. R. Westcott was a good first in a class of nine competitors, staging 
Muscat of Alexandria and Black Hamburgh Grapes finely coloured, Wil¬ 
liams’ Bon Chretien Pears, and Yiolette Hative Peaches ; Mr. R. Parker 
was second with handsome bunches of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, 
Blenheim Orange Melon. Noblesse Peaches, and Elruge Nectarines; Mr. 
Hunter was third, Gros. Colman Grapes being the most telling dish. A 
class was provided for six hardy fruits and seven competitors entered, but 
a e ex kib'ts were not of unusual merit. Mr. John Short, gardener to 
Arthur Pease, Esq., Hummersknott, Durham, was well to the front, followed 
by Messrs. Westcott and Parker. 
Gbapes —The display of Grapes was a very extensive one, but the 
general quality was not quite so high as might have been expected, though 
there were many excellent samples. The class for six bunches not less 
than three varieties was a remarkable one, ten competitors entering, and 
the sixty bunches shown formed a fine array. Mr. J. Witherspoon, Rea 
Rose Vineries, Chester-le-Street, gained a victory in this class, showing 
exceptionally will finished bunches of Gros Maroc, Black Hamburgh, and 
Alicante. The two bunches of the last-named were grand specimens, 
beautifully proportioned, the berries good, and bearing a fine dense bloom, 
very rarely are such handsome Grapes seen at exhibitions ; Gros Maroc was 
alEO fine; and the Black Hamburgh heavy bunches. Mr. Hunter followed 
wih Muscat of Alexandria, Cannon Hall Muscat, and Gros Colman. Mr. 
Mclndoe was third with Duke of Buccleuch, Black Hamburgh, and Gros 
Colman ; the fourth and fifth rrizes going to Mr. W. Laidlaw, gardener 
to the Rev. J. Burdon, Castle Eden, Sundtrland. and to Mr. R. Thompson, 
Rose Villa Gardens, Bedlington. The competition was also very strong 
with two bunches of Black Hamburgh, no less than fourteen staging good 
samples. Mr. J. Mclndoe won premier honours for even bunches and 
harries capitally colour d; Mr. Goodacre was Becond with much larger 
bunches and good berries, but not quite so well coloured; Mr. W. Luck, 
Amble, being third with compact bunches. Mr. Witherspoon was first in 
the Alicante class with similar finely coloured samples to those in the 
other class ; Mr. Heslop, gardener to J. J. Allison, Esq., Roker, Sunder¬ 
land, was second with good bunches, but they had been rubbed, and this 
spoiled their appearance to a great extent; Mr. McIntyre was third, and 
there were four other exhibitors. 
Eight competitors entered with two bunches of black Grapes, any other 
sort than those provided for in the special classes. Mr. J. Mclndoe was 
first with Gros Cclman, large in bunch and berry, and finely coloured. . 
Mr. Hunter was second with good specimens of Alnwick Seedling, Mr, 
Witherspoon following with Lady Downe’s, of which the berries were- 
small but well coloured. The same number of exhibitors entered with two 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, and the three winning pairs from Messrs. 
Hunter, Westcott, and Letts were cr editable specimens, the first and second 
bring distinguished by their good colour and clean berries. Of the four 
exhibitors of Buckland Sweetwater, Mr. Heslop won the first place with 
good bunches, Mr. Wm. Carrick, gardener to E. H. Ryott, Esq., Saltwell 
Grove, Gateshead, and Mr. Laidlaw following, the last-named having small 
but highly coloured bunches. For any o her white variety Mr. Hunter led 
amongBt six competitors with substantial specimens of Trebbiano, Mr. J. 
Mclndoe was second with Foster’s Seedling, well ripened, and Mr. Westcott 
third for Golden Champion with large berries. Mr. Mclndoe had the 
heaviest bunch of Grapes, Gros Guillaume weighing 9 lbs., but not quite 
finished ; Mr. Witherspoon followed with Alicante of good siz°. 
Miscellaneous Fbuits. —Peaches and Nectarines were numerously 
shown, twelve dishes of the former and ten of the latter being Btaged. 
Mr. Paul Blanchard, gardener to Dr. C. J. Gibb, Sandyford Road, Jesmond, 
was accorded first honours for fine fruits of Violette Hative. Mr. F. 
Nicholas, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, Upleatham, Yorks, secured 
the second place with Princess of Wales, and Mr. J. Thomson, gardener to 
W. G. Pawson, Esq., Shawdon Hall, Alnwick, was third with Noblesse. 
Mr. Goodacre had the leading Nectarines, Pine Apple. Mr. Wm. Jenkins, 
gardener to B. Cochrane, Esq., Aldin Grange, Durham, and Mr. J. Burrow, 
gardener to Sir John Lawson, Brough Hall, Catterick, were second and third 
with the same variety. Ten dishes of Apricots were shown, hut the fruits 
were rather small. Mr. Short was first for Moorpark, followed by M r . 
Westcott and Mr. Austin Lunt, Holmr Hall Gardens, Yorks. Of twelve 
dishes of Cherries Mr. Mclndoe had the best fine fruits of Bigarreau 
Napoleon, followed by Messrs. P. Blair and J. Hire. App’et were numerous, 
and a large proportion were Lord Sufiield, Messrs. Parker, Chuck, and Short 
winning in the order named for culinary varieties. Dessert App’es from. 
Messrs. Short, Parker, and Nicholas, and Pears from Messrs. Hunter, 
Parker, and Short, were well shown. Melons, Plums, Currants, and 
Tomatoes were al-o abundant. M-. C. Bull, Down Gardens, Crediton, h id 
the finest Pine Apple, a very handsome fruit of Smooth Cayenne, Mr. 
Mclndoe, and Mr. Neil Black, Southend Gardens, Darlington, taking the 
second and third places. 
Plants. —One of the marquees was well filled with specimen plants in, 
competition, and they were remarkable in all the classes for their fresh 
healthy condition. The chief class for flowering plants was that for e'g’at. 
specimens, and in which Mr. E. H. Letts, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, 
Aske Gardens, Richmond, Yorks, won the honours with even, well flowered 
plants, 4 to 5 feet in diameter, of Statice profusa, Ericas Parmentieriana 
rosea, Ajtoniana superba, and Marnockiana ; Allamanda grandiflora, 
Dipladenia amabilis, and Ixora Williamsi, Mr. Thos. Sufiield, gardener to 
Mrs.Kitching, Elm Field, Darlington, was a strong exhibitor in this class, 
running Mr. Letts very closely for the first prize ; he was, however, placed 
second, his plants including an extraordinary sp cimeD of Oncidium 
flexuosum, with scores of large panicles of flowers. Dipladenia amabilis, 
Clerodendron Balfourianum, and Rondeletia speciosa were all notable 
plants, the last a globular specimen flowering freely. Mr. J. Cypher, Chel¬ 
tenham, took the third place, a very unusual position for him, and it will 
give some idea of the merits of the exhibits, for all his plants were fresh and 
good as usual, though he had not brought his giants. The plants were 
Allamanda Hendersoni, Statice profusa, Ixora Dnffi, Erica Marnockiana, 
Clerodendron Balfourianum, Ixora salicifolia, and Phcenocoma prolifera 
Barnesi, 6 feet in diameter. Mr. Adams, Swalwell, was fourth with well 
grown plants, but somewhat the worse for their previous travels. A class 
for six flowering plants was provided in Division B, from which nursery¬ 
men were excluded. Mr. F. Nicholas, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, 
Upleatham, Yorks, was a capital first in this class, showing a good plant 
and variety of Anthuiium Scherlzeriacum, with Allamanda nobilis, 
Bougainvillea glabra, Dipladenia amabilis, and Clerodendron Balfourianum. 
Mr. R. Gardner, Dunston-by-Gateshead, was good second, his most remark¬ 
able plant being an extraordinary specimen of Statice imbiicata, 7 feet in. 
diameter, in perfect health, and bearing a large number of large dark: 
coloured trusses of flowers. Mr. Sufiield was third with smaller plants. Mr. 
Adams exhibited well in another class for flowering plants, and had several 
uncommonly fine Phoenocomas, one G feet in diameter and 4 feet high, being 
in grand condition, and as the productions of an amateur they were the more 
remarkable. Fuchsias were fairly represented by well flowered but not 
large plants. 
The foliage plants occupied considerable space, as some very large 
specimens were contributed by the exhibitors in these classes. For eight 
specimens Mr. Letts secured the premier prize for gigantic specimens in 
vigorous health of Encephalartos Altensteini, Kentia Forsteriana, 
Cycas revoluta, Stevensonia grandifolia, Kentia australis, Cycas cir- 
cinalis, and two grandly coloured Crotons angustifolius and Johannis, 
about 6 feet high each, nearly as much in diameter, and in splendid con¬ 
dition. Mr. A. Mi thven, ga dener to T. Lange, Esq., Heathfield House, 
Gateshead, was a good second, his Crotons Queen Victoria and majesticua 
being large handsome specimens ; Sabal umbraculifera, Zimia natalensis, 
and a fine Cordyline were also included. Mr. McIntyre took the thud 
place. For six foliage plants in Division B Mr. Nicholas was the most 
successful exhibitor, and he had a magnificent specimen of Davallia fijiensis 
plumosa which attracted much attention, it was 7 feet in diameter, in 
splendid condition, the fronds rich dark green, and large. Other notable 
plants were Crotons Johannis and Queen Victoria finely coloured; Kentia 
Belmoreana, Cycas circinalis, and Chamserops Fortunei. Mr. McIntyre was 
second, having Cycas revoluta and Phoenix rupicola of great size. 
Two classes were provided for six exotic Ferns, one in Division A, and 
the other in Division B. In the latter Mr. Nicholas was again successful 
exhibiting excellent specimens of Leucostegia immersa, Neottopteris 
australis, Dicksonia antartica, an unusually fine Lomaria cycadsefolia, Pt-ris 
scaberula large and healthy, and Gleichenia rupestris glaucescens in 
good condition. Mr. McIntyre was second with Davallia Mooreana, 8 feet 
in diameter, and remarkably healthy amongst other good plants, Mr. 
Methven being third. In the other class Mr. H. Johnston, gardener to 
J. B. Hcdgkin, Esq., Elm Ridge, DarliDgton, took the lead, also having 
