452 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 24, 1887. 
entertained. Of groups of Chrysanthemums and gveea foliage plan 
arranged for effect in a semicircle, T. C. Bourne, Eiq., and T. Bell, Esq., 
were the only exhibitors, and they ran each other very closely, the first 
prize eventually going to the former. 
Fruit was well represented, Mr. Warrener being the most successful ex¬ 
hibitor of Apples and Pears ; prizes being also avarded for the produce of 
R. H. Neville, E-q., (gardener, Mr. Ha r e), and H. Greenham, E ; q. 
The competition for vases for table decoration was very keep, Miss 
Pennell winning first honours with an excellent arrangement, airy and 
graceful in composition, but inclined to be “ artificial.” C. E. Marfleet, 
Esq., was a close second with an arrangement of chaste colouring, bnt with 
a defective base ; a little more Fern there would have altered the respective 
positions of the prizewinners. 
The flowers exhibited in the cottagers’ class was of very high merit, and 
the improvement made daring the past year cle irly d rmonstrates what may 
be accomplished by perseverance. 
BIRMINGHAM.— November IGth and 17th. 
The Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society held the twenty-seventh 
annual Exhibition in the Town Hall, a place well alapted for the purpose, 
excepting that it is now becoming too small, so numerous are the exhibits. 
A decided improvement was manifested on this occasion in the arrangement 
of the various products. Iu a broad two-faced bank down the centre of 
hall was arranged on one side the group3 of Chrysanthemums, of which 
there were five, making a grand display as viewed from the gallery. 
Upon the opposite side were the specimen plants on a raised stage, standing 
three and four deep. Down the centre was a row of tall Palms, which lent 
a graceful character to the whole flowering plants below. On the sides of 
the halt, on long tables, were placed, on the side next to the body of the 
hall, the Grape3, Apples, and Pears, of which 150 dishes were staged, 
owing to the increased prizes offered, wh le the quality left nothing to be 
desired. On the opposite sides of the tables ware arranged the Primulas, 
for wh'ch Birmingham has long ba n noted. Mr. Dyer was the chief 
exhibitor of plants, all showing excellent cultivation, being freely flowered 
and possessing ample foliage. Cut blooms were a very fine display in the 
gallery—in fact, the whole Show was a credit to those concerned in its 
management, and Mr. J. Hughes, the indefatigable Secretary, deserves a 
special word of praise. Mr. Lathom, as Chairman of Committee, and Mr. 
Jones, as Treasurer, also assisted materially. 
Cut Blooms. —These were shown in large numbers, as many as 1500 
being staged in all classes. The principal class was that for forty-eight 
blooms, distinct—twenty-four incurved and the same number of Japanese— 
the handsome prizes of £10, £7, £4, and £2 being offered. For these eleven 
compe itors entered. The first prize was awarded to Mr. R. Parker, 
gardener to J. Corbett, Esq., Irnpney Hall, Droitwich. The incurved 
blooms were large, solid, fresh, and well finished; the Japanese were heavy, 
the colours good and well staged. The following are the names :—Incurved : 
Back row—John Salter, Alfred Salter, Jeanne d'Aic (very fine), Queen 
of England, Lord Alcester, Bronze Queen of England (extra good), 
Empress of India, Lord Wolseley. Middle row—Princess Teck, Mrs. 
Heale, Nil Desperandum (deep), Jardin des Plantes, Prince Alfred, Golden 
Empress, Refulgence (rich), Beverley. Front row—Barbara, Sir S. Carey, 
Hero of Stoke Newington, Mr. Brunlees, Mabel Ward, Princess Beatrice, 
Cherub, and Mrs. N. Davis. Japanese : Back row—Boule d’Or, Madame C. 
Audiguier, Fair Maid of Guernsev, Triomphe de la Rue des Chalets (grand), 
Belle Paule (fine), Thunberg, Meg Merrilies, Baronne de Prailly. Middle 
row—Carew Underwood, Comte de Germiny, Jeanne Dalaux, M. Astorg, 
Duchess of Albany (very fine), Mons. J. Laing, Japonaise, Maiden’s Blush. 
Front row—Soleil Levant, M. Burnet, Peter the Great, M. Marrouch, 
Grandiflorum, Madame Laing, L’Adorable, Yellow Dragon. Mr. D. Lindsay, 
gardener to Sir T. Edwardes Moss. Otterspool, Liverpool, was placed second. 
The Japanese was rather lighter, while the incurved were more uneven, 
particularly in the front row. Still, on the whole it was a very fine stand, 
and at many shows would have taken first honours. Mr. T. Lambert, 
gardener to Lord Harlech, Oswestry, was third, staging much smaller 
blooms. Mr. A. R. Cox, gardener to H. Watt3, Esq., Elm Hall, Wavertree, 
Liverpool, was fourth. For twenty-four blooms, distinct—twelve incurved 
and twelve Japanese—as many as thirteen entered the lists. Mr. Parker 
was again first, staging very fine flowers, mainly of the variety named in 
the leading class. Mr. Lindsay was here again second, staging good 
blooms; Mr. Oox being third. For eighteen incurved, distinct varieties, 
amongst seven competitors, Mr. Lindsay turned the tables on his rival, Mr. 
Parker, by winning first honours with large well-finished blooms. Mr. 
Paiker wa3 an exceedingly close second, a bad bloom of Jardin des Plante3 
spoiling his chances of success. Mr. A. Haggart, garden r to Mrs. Forster, 
Moor Park, Ludlow, wa3 third. As many as seventeen competed in the 
class for twelve Japanese, distinct. Here again Mr. Parker followed up his 
revious successes by taking first honours. Belle Paule, Triomphe de la Rue 
es Cbdlets, Duchess of Albany, Jeanne Delaux, and Boule d’Or were very 
fine. Mr. Lindsay tvas a capital second, and Mr. Haggart was a very close 
third, while other exhibitors followed closely. Mr. Parker was successful 
with twelve blooms of Anemones in not less than six varieties. These were 
not equal to the best staged last year. Mr. W, Comfort, gardener to G. A. 
Everitt, Esq., Knowle, Birmingham, followed. Prizes were offered for 
growers living within four miles of Stephenson Place. Ia all cases the 
blooms staged were meritorious. 
Plants. —Specimen plants of Chrysanthemums were staged in increased 
numbers and of superior quality as compared with last year, the plants being 
not so severely trained, while they wtre freely flowered, and on the whole 
were most creditable. For nine large flowering varieties, Japanese excluded, 
Mr. W. H. Dyer, gardener to Mrs. Marigol i, Edgbaston, was easily first; 
John Salter was an excellent sp cimen, Clullingfordi was also noteworthy. 
Mr. G. Brasier, gardener to Sic T. Martineau, was secrnd. For six plants, 
the conditions the same as in the above class, Mr. Dyer was again first. 
The best specimen large flowering, Japanese excluded, was a grand one of 
John Salter, carrying over seventy well formed blooms; these accompanied 
with fine foliage and free training presented a noble specimen most creditable 
to Mr. Dyer, by whom it was staged, J. Elkington, Esq., took second 
honours. Mr. Dyer had the best single specimen of Japanese, one of Val 
d’Andorre, 4 feet in diameter, freely flowered and of brilliant colour. Mr. G. 
Brasier was second with a specimen of Madame C. Audiguier carrying fine 
bloom 3 . Standard and Pompon pyramid Chrysanthemums were not 
remarkable for large numbers or high quality, but dwarf trained specimens 
iu three varieties of Pompons were well shown by Mr. Dyer; RoseTrevenna, 
Lilac, and Golden Cedo Nulli were capital. Mr. G. Fawdry, gardener to J. 
Breeden, Esq., Moseley, was second, while Mr. G. Brasier was placed third. 
For one specimen plant to be fed with Messrs. W. Wood & Sons’ liquid manure 
powder Mr. Dyer easily gained first honours. There was great improve¬ 
ment in the groups of Chrysanthemums arranged for qua'ity and general 
effect in a space not exceeding 80 square feet; five competed, all staging 
most meritorious collections, which formed a magnificent bank down the 
centre of the hail. Mr. J. H. Horton, gardener to R. Chamberlain, Esq., 
Edgbaston, who staged a very fine group of well-grown plants. Mr. Dyer 
being second for dwarfer plants, the blooms not quite so good, Mr. J. 
Wastall, gardener to J. B. Lees, Esq., Handsworth, being a good third. 
Primulas were staged in large numbers; Mr. T. B. Thomson, Sphrkhill 
Nurseries, Birmingham, was an easy fi r st for tw lve Chinese, single varietes, 
any colour ; for six, same conditions ; for six doable flowered, any colour; 
and for s'x Fern-leaved, any colour, with plants in all cases such as are 
rarely seen. The varieties were Sensation (very bright), Marquis, Princess 
Louise, The Queen, among the single varieties, and Lady Mirtineau, a new 
double variety, was most conspicuous in that class. Mr. E. Cooper, gar¬ 
dener to the Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain, Highbury, Birmingham ; Mir. C. 
Shepherd, gardener to W. M. Warden, Esq., Edgbaston ; and G. H. Fewkes, 
Esq., Selby Oak, were seconds in the above classes. Mignonette, Cycla¬ 
mens, Zonal Pelargoniums, and other miscellaneous plants were stag id 
creditably, while bouquets were, as they always are. a feature at th : s Show, 
the best of the latter (nurserymen only) coming from Messrs. Perkins and 
Son, Coventry—a real gem. 
Fruit. —The Grapes showed a great improvem:-nt on other years, owing 
no doubt to the increased prizes offered. For six bunches, not less than 
three varieties, £5,‘ £3, and £2 were offered, bringing nine competitors. 
First, Mr. W. Taylor, gardener to J. Chaffin, Esq., Bath, for specimens 
of Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, and Lady Downe’s, very fine in every 
respect. Second, Mr. J. Harvey, gardener to J. Watson E;q., Ticehurst, 
Sussex, Gros Colman bung especially good. For the best three bunches of 
black Grapes, Mr. A. John-tone, gardener to R. Ramsden, E-q., Knowle,was 
first with Gros Colman, extra fine iu bunch, b>rry, and colour. Second, 
Mr. J. Harvey, who had very fine Alicante. Third, Mr. Sage, gardener to 
Earl Brownlow, Belton, Gran'ham. Eleven oompeted. For the same 
number of bunches Muscat Grapes, Mr. D. Lindsay was first, showing Muscat 
of Alexandria variety extra fine, the bunches being large, heavily shouldered, 
while the berries were large and of a splendid colour. Mr. Taylor was 
secood with the same variety, not quite so large in bunch, but in other re¬ 
spects was firat rate. For two bunches of white Grapes, Muscats excluded, 
Mr. Sage was first, staging Trebbiano in capital style. M 1- . E. Gilman, 
gardener to the Earl of Shrewsbury, was second with th9 same variety. 
For one bunch of black Grapes, Mr. Taylor was first with Alicante, excel¬ 
lent in every way. Mr. A. Johnstone, gardener to R. Ramsden, Esq., 
Knowle, was second with Gros Colman, very fine. For one bunch of white 
Grapes, any variety, Mr. Taylor was first wi'.h a long tapering hunch of 
Muscat of Alexandria, fine both in berry and colour. Second, Mr. J. Dawes, 
gardener to M. Biddulph, Esq., M.P., Ledbury Park, Hereford. Third. Mr. E. 
Gilman. For one Pine, any variety, Mr. G. Robinson, gardener to J. Cart- 
land, Esq, King’s Heath, and Mr. E. Gilman were first and second respec¬ 
tively. For six culinary App’es there was keen competition. Mr. W. 
Green, gardener to E. V. V. Wheeler, Esq., Tenbnry, was first with speci¬ 
mens of splendid quality. Second, Mr. Sage. Third, Mr. G. Hodges, 
gardener to R. Cadbury, Esq., Moseley. For the same number of dessert 
Apples Mr. W. Green was again first, staging finely coloured examples. 
Second, Mr. W. Iggulden, gardener to the Earl of Cork, Marston House, 
Frome, Somerset. Third, Mr. W. Brown, gardener to W. C. Alston, Esq., 
Elmdon Hall. For eight dishes of Pears, distinct varieties, Mr. Parker was 
easily first, staging fine fruits of Beurrd Diel, Hacoa’s Incomparable,Beurre 
Bachelier, and Josephine de Malines. Second, Mr. Iggnlden with richly 
coloured fruit. Mr. Parker was again first with four varieties, all good 
samples. Mr. P. Blair, gardener to the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, was 
secood; Mr. Iggulden, third. 
Miscellaneous exhibits formed a strong feature. Mr. B. T. Thomson 
staged, “not for competition,” a handsome group composed of Palms, 
Crotons, Bouvardias, Poinsettias, Selagine'las, and Roman Hyacinths, all 
set in a groundwork of Ferns. Conspicuous in this group was some highly 
coloured plumes of Celo3ias grown as pyramids, forming a rare bit of colour 
amongst the green surroundings. Mr. Hans Niemand, Royal Nurseries, 
Harborne Road, Birmingham, staged, “not for competition.” a group con¬ 
sisting of Palms, Cyclamens, Erica hyemalis, Crotons, finely coloured, all 
neatly arranged. Messr*. Cranston it Co., The Nurseries, Hereford, staged 
a very fine lot of Apples ; while Messrs. E. Webb & Son staged a capital 
collection of Potatoes. Messrs. R. Smith & Co., The Nurseries, Worcester, 
had on view a splendid collection of Apples and Pears. Messrs. W. Thom¬ 
son Sons, Clovenfords, Scotland, had fine basketful of Grapes, Gros Col¬ 
man, magnificent in both bunch and berry. Messrs. Pope & Sons, nursery¬ 
men, Birmingham, ‘were awarded a certificate of merit for grand 
Pelargoniums, so freely were they flowered and of such excellent colour, as 
was also Mr. R. Owen, Castle Hill Nurseries, Mai lenhead, for a miscellaneous 
collection of Chrysanthemums cut blooms, one variety amongst these, 
Sarah Owen, being awarded a special certificate; it is a sport from Madame 
Laing, in the style of Criterion, but having more gold in it. Mr. Owen also 
received a fir3t-class certificate for Amy Furze, areflexed variety sent out last 
year. Messrs. W. & G. Drove", Fareham, Hants, received a first-class 
certificate for their new Japanese variety (W. G. Drover), lately described 
in these pages. Messrs. W. Wood & Son, Wood Green, London, had on 
view samples of their Orchid peat and other garden specialities ; while Mr. 
W. Colchester had on hand a large display of their Ichthemic guano. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, seedsmen, Reading, offered prizes for a collection 
of vegetables, six distinct varieties. For this there was spirited competi¬ 
tion. Mr. J. Lambert, gardener to Col. Wingfield, Shrewsbury, was first with 
a very fine lot, staging Parsnips, Leeks, Celery, Cauliflowers, and Carrots; 
second, G. H. Kendrick, Esq. (gardener, G. Neville), Edgbaston; third, Mr. 
E. Burdon, gardener to F. Wilmot, Esq. 
