December 8, 1687. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
499 
f Sir M. White Ridley, where the Prince stayed during his visit to 
Newcastle. At the Royal Jubilee Exhibition in the same city similar 
and smaller specimens were employed in some of the large central courts 
■with excellent effect, which was considerably heightened by the admir¬ 
able lawns. Many of the choicest Conifers can be so employed in corridors 
and cold passages where few other plants succeed. In some cases, too, a 
system like that at Cragside, which has been previously noted, could be 
advantageously tried—namely, enclosing the beds devoted to the choicer 
or more tender Conifers with glass sides open at the top, but so con¬ 
structed that lights could be placed on in severe winters. 
The Prattsfield Nursery includes some capital young fruit trees, 
both trained and standards, Apples being extensively represented by 
a selection of the varieties that have been proved best adapted for the 
northern counties. A comparatively new Apple that is much esteemed 
in the north, especially in Scotland, is the Beauty of Moray, to which 
Messrs. Fell & Co. have given some attention with good results, as 
several gardeners have tried it and speak favourably of its merits as a 
culinary variety of har'dy constitution and as a good keeper. At the 
Chiswick Congress in 1883 it was only shown by one exhibitor, Mr. G-. 
Webster, The Gardens, Gordon Castle, Fochabers, N.B. ; and Mr. A. F. 
Barron thus describes it : “ Large, round, angular, greenish yellow, 
mid-season ; a favourite Apple in the north of Scotland.” It seems 
likely to be particularly useful in exposed situations, as I saw healthy 
fruitful young trees of it at Sunderland, where the number of varieties 
that will succeed is very restricted. The houses for propagating pur¬ 
poses are chiefly in the Wentworth Nursery, and there the choicer 
Conifers, are increased, together with a miscellaneous collection of 
indoor plants. Extensive packing and storing sheds, offices, &c., to¬ 
gether with a seed office in Priestpopple Street, complete the numerous 
departments of this firm. It need only be added; that in all abundant 
evidence is afforded of the energetic business-like system adopted by the 
courteous partners Mr. Fell and Mr. Milne, and their experienced 
manager, Mr. Brown.—L. Castle. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT WOODCOTE HALL. 
The Rev. E. W. Northey with his usual kindness gave the in¬ 
habitants of Epsom and district the privilege of inspecting his Chrysan¬ 
themums so successfully grown by his gardener, Mr. T.' Pledger, last 
Thursday and Friday. The plants are arransed in the conservatory, 
which is 65 feet in length by 21 feet, and was illuminated at night with 
lamps and Chinese lanterns. The cutting down system has been adopted 
with the result that all the plants (450 in number) are dwarf and com¬ 
pact and feathered with bright green foliage to the pot. The tallest, 
not exceeding 4 or 5 feet, are grouped together on the floor right through 
the centre among some finely trained Camellias planted out, the 
dwarf ones, 1J foot to 3 feet high, occupying the stages all round. There 
are three rows of these, and in front are two rows of well flowered single 
Primulas, red and white. Madame C. Audiguier has some well developed 
blooms on plants only 3 feet high ; Comte de Germiny, with large and 
well formed flowers, equally dwarf. Among the best Album plenum was 
very conspicuous. Boule d’Or, Baronne de Prailly, Balmoreau, Dr. 
Macary, Etoile du Midi, Hiver Fleuri, Meg Merrilies, Mdlle. Lacroix, 
Peter the Great, Triomphe du Nord, Jeanne Delaux, M. Desbrieux, 
Thunberg, Val d’Andorre, Madame B. Rendatler are also good. The 
Japanese Anemone-flowered and some of the best incurved varieties are 
well represented. There was a continual stream of visitors on both 
evenings, including many growers of this popular autumn flower.— 
G. W. C. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT EAGLE HOUSE, DOWNHAM, NORFOLK. 
Being invited to see these very popular plants in flower I availed 
myself of the opportunity, and spent a very enjoyable hour amongst 
them. My friend told me his flowers were creating a sensation ; 
well they might, for they were fine clean blooms fit for any exhibition 
table. The Japanese were in very fine form, and I send a few names of 
the best. Belle Paule, Comte de Germiny, Elaine, very large ; Fer¬ 
nand Feral, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Japonaise, Madame C. Audiguier, 
M. Astorg, Mdlle. Lacroix, Mr. John Laing, Thunberg, Lady Hardinge, 
Lord Alcester, Mr. George Glenny, Queen of England, Golden Empress, 
Cullingfordi, a noble flower ; Mrs. Forsyth, Soeur Dorothde Souille, 
Madame Cabrol. Anemone-flowered was very conspicuous. Madame 
B. Rendatler, Jeanne Dclaux, Mabel Ward, King of the Crimsons, very 
fine reflexed ; Soleil Levant, good j ellow ; Mrs. G. Rundle, and Mrs. 
Weston. It is not a very long list, but what I take to be of the best of 
the numerous varieties now grown. Mr. Strong is an old hand at Chrys¬ 
anthemum growing, and he has done well.—S. C. 
JUDGING AT SHOWS. 
At the late Chrysanthemum Show held in Manchester a most 
curious circumstance occurred in making the awards, and to me a most 
incomprehensible one—namely, in five classes as many as six equal 
prizes v, ere given, which means that twelve persons were awarded prizes, 
whereas five only should have had them. Such results show that the 
exhibits must have possessed a most wonderful likeness to each other 
in all points, or the only other reason I can account for it was a lament¬ 
able ignorance on the part of the judges appointed to adjudicate on 
these particular classes. I am not a believer in equal prizes only in 
very exceptional cases where the points of comparison are very few in 
number. Certainly in Chrysanthemum cut blooms, where so many points 
are involved, there should be no equal firsts, or any other grade, but 
more particularly first prizes. For instance, I do not think it is possible 
for judges to make two stands of, say, twenty-four blooms equal ; if by 
chance it does occur when the blooms are gone over and judged by the 
point method the first time, then the judges should start at the opposite 
that at which they finished—and if they should by any chance 
ariive at the same total of points again, which is hardly likely, the 
judges should look for an extra point in the setting up of the blooms, 
airangement of colours, and so on. These two points are surely worth 
some consideration in all cases, much more so in close competition. I 
look upon the award of equal prizes as loopholes for the judges to get 
out of a difficulty to determine by a little more labour which are really 
the best stands. 1\ e do not notice so very much one or even two 
equal prizes, but when as many as six are awarded in five classes there 
is reason to question the ability of the judges. The best security for the 
continuance of good exhibitors at any show is the appointment of com¬ 
petent men to judge their products ; and in these days of competition, 
where societies are so numerous and prizes so valuable, exhibitors have 
the remedy in their own hand, that of going where they know justice 
will be dealt out to them. Therefore all societies should bear this in 
mind, tha,t the appointment of qualified judges gives a popularity to 
their exhibition amongst competitors, and these persons are not the last 
to consider in prolonging the welfare of any society.— An Exhibitor. 
MRS. NORMAN DAVIS. 
Considering the limited time at his disposal and the crowd of visitors 
in St. George’s Hall, it is surprising your reporter gave such a full and 
good account of the Liverpool Show as appeared on page 477 last week. 
In that report reference was made to the new Chrysanthemum Mrs! 
Norman Davis ; but the exhibit merits a little further notice. Three or 
four round flat baskets were filled with blooms containing probably as 
many hundreds, massive, broad petalled golden globes, fresh, bright, and 
beautiful, proving to demonstration how admirably the variety is adapted 
for late exhibitions and decorative purposes. It is questionable if such 
a display- of yellow Chrysanthemums, or indeed of any other variety 
has been hitherto seen at a public exhibition.—W. 
AMY FURZE. 
This variety has been more than once certificated as a reflexed 
flower, but it only comes within that designation when in a young state 
and the florets are flat and imbricated. As the blooms get older, and 
especially when grown large on strong plants, the florets become more 
or less revolute, spreading, and distinctly arching, exactly in the same 
manner as in some of the Japanese varieties. In that form they are 
quite dissimilar in their essential character from recognised reflexed 
blooms, and cannot do otherwise than weaken the stands of these con¬ 
siderably. Very large blooms of Cullingfordi lose their reflexed character, 
but the departure is rarely so marked as in the case of Amy Furze ; and 
if these varieties are included in reflexed stands they should be young, 
as size is only attained at the expense of character, and when they 
assume the tasselled form they will be either passed or lose points with 
most adjudicators. Both varieties are excellent for decorative purposes. 
—A Judge. 
THE HULL CHALLENGE CUP. 
I AH sorry if I have hurt Mr. Udale’s feelings. Such was not my 
intention. I merely wish to make the matter clear to the readers of the 
Journal, and to do this it is unavoidably necessary for me to draw atten¬ 
tion to what I conceive to be the weak points of Mr. Udale’s letters. If 
my amendment to Mr. Udale’s suggestion is comparatively worthless, 
surely his suggestion is still more so, as if carried out it would actually 
prevent executors from carrying on a competition, and the absence of 
any provision to enable them to do so was the only obstacle to our Com¬ 
mittee allowing the late Mr. Neumann’s executors to-count last year’s 
win. The clause I have suggested would, should a similar case arise 
again, allow of a previous year’s win remaining to the credit of a 
deceased competitor’s executors. Mr. Udale claims to have been sup¬ 
porting Mr. Mease's case, but if the former’s suggested clause had been 
in force it would have entirely shut out the latter from winning the vase 
finally this year for Mr. Neumann’s executors, which the action of our 
Committee has enabled him to do ; such action, I may remark, having 
been taken immediately the legal difficulty was removed. Throughout 
this matter none have had more friendly feelings towards Mr. Mease 
than have the members of our Committee. 1 think the readers of the 
Journal will now have had enough of the subject. This, therefore, will 
be my last communication on the topic, and nothing remains but forme 
to thank the Editor for allowing it to be freely ventilated.—R. Falconer 
Jameson, Chairman Hull and Hast Riding Chrysanthemum Society. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT WALTON LEA. 
Walton Lea is the residence of John Crossfield, Esq., and is about 
two miles from the busy town of Warrington. Mr. William Kipps has 
for many years been in charge of the gardens, which are admirably 
kept, his object evidently being to do whatever he undertakes well. He 
is known as a competent judge of Chrysanthemums, and was at one 
time an exhibitor at the Liverpool shows, but during recent years he 
has devoted his attention to providing home exhibitions, and the plea¬ 
sure of these has, by the consideration of his employer, been shared 
in by such of the inhabitants of the contiguous town as took ad¬ 
vantage of the opportunity that was afforded on the two appointed 
days for a public inspection. The privilege appears to have been 
warmly appreciated, for upwards of two thousand persons attended. 
