Jnly F, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
5 
hundred persons had been erected, with a carpeted wooden floor, a roof 
impervious to rain, and the walls fittel with windows and curtains, and 
'lined throughout with chintz of a very tasteful pattern. In fact, it was 
a very pretty little theatre, and on the platform at one end Mr. Gros- 
■smith, from the Savoy, gave several well-known and very amusing 
sketches. A very large and appreciative audience was present, in spite 
■of the heavy rain, and had it not been for the weather the room would 
■scarcely have held the many friends whom Mrs. Gough Nichols had in¬ 
cited to witness the entertainment. At the other end of the room the 
Hungarian Band, which had also been engaged, played a selection of 
their well-known and beautiful stirring music from time to time during 
the intervals of Mr. Grossmith’s entertainment. The house was, with a 
kindness characteristic of Mrs. Gough Nichols, thrown open to her 
friends, and every kind of refreshment was provided. A particularly 
pleasing effect was produced by the removal of the doors throughout the 
long corridors, and different sorts of Iris and other flowers with drooping 
^Grasses being suspended in pieces of bamboo. The house, accordingly, 
which is filled with very many plants of beauty and value, was occupied 
By a continual stream of visit >rs. 
Holmwood Park is three miles from Dorki' g. It was formerly the 
residence of Francis Seymour Larpent, Esq., Judge Advocate-General to 
the Forces in the Peninsulaof Spain, under the late Dukeof Wellington. 
It was subsequently purchased from Baron de Hochfield Larpent by the 
late John Gough Nichols, Esq., F.S.A., who for many years was the 
editor and proprietor of the “ Gentleman’s Magazine,” and the author of 
numerous antiquarian treatises. 
The house (which, by the way, is roofed with Horsham flags) stands 
in the most beautiful and picturesque part of Surrey near Leith Hills 
and Holmsdale. In years gone by it joined the extensive woods of the 
Duke of Norfolk, which reached as far as Arundel Castle. Designed 
and built by Mr. Larpent, it was formerly a warder’s lodge belonging to 
the Earls of Arundel, and is now surrounded by a park-like common of 
BOO acres. The church, built and endowed by Mr. Larpent, stands on 
the hill above, and there are beautiful views in the distance of the 
Reigate Hills on one side and the Bedland Woods on the other. 
The Rose Show was held in a meadow opposite the house. There are 
sixty-two members of the Association, and of these twenty were ex¬ 
hibitors, two more than last year. Considering that Rose-growers 
hitherto have this season been discouraged by nearly every plague that 
the “ queen of flowers ” is heir to, it was no small surprise to see such a 
large Show and such a good one. It helped the attractiveness of the 
Exhibition to see at the entrance a grand box of thirty-two new and 
other Roses from the well-known gardens of Messrs. George Paul & Son 
of the “ Old Nurseries,” Cheshunt, containing Mrs. John Laing, 
Madame Bois, three red seedlings (raised by Mr. Geo. Paul from Beauty 
and Grandeur of Cheshunt), Lady Alice. Inigo Jones, Comte de Paris, 
Madame Honord Defresne, Lady Helene Stewart, Sdver Queen, all new, 
and the following:—Madame Treyve, Marie, Chateau des Bergeries, 
Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Souvenir de Gabrielle Drevet, Madame Henry 
Pereire, Gloire Lyouaise, and American Beauty. In addition to these 
Roses, Mr. Appleby of the Boxhill nurseries had, as he always does, 
brought very many decorative plants, such as Caladiums, Crotons, 
DracEenas, Ferns, and Pelargoniums, which made the Show tent very 
bright, and two boxes of H.P.’s and Teas, comprising amongst others, 
Souvenir d’un Ami, Niphetos, Rubens, Clotilde, and Madame Welch, 
Ulrich Brunner, Xavier Olibo, H. Schultheis, Madame G. Luizet, and 
General Jacqueminot. Mr. E. Claxton of The Rosery, Allerton, Liver¬ 
pool, had also actually sent his man with two grand boxes of Teas, not 
for competition, including Anna Ollivier, Souvenir de T. Levet, jean 
'Ducher, Innocente Pirola, Madame Lambard, Madame de Watteville, 
and Franeisca Kruger. The three Judges were T. W. Girdlestone, 
Esq., on the Committee of the N.R.A. ; Mr. George Paul, from the 
Old Nurseries ; and the Rev. A. B. Alexander, late Hon. Sec. of the 
Farnham Rose Association, and they were unanimous generally in 
awarding the prizes as follows :— 
For twenty-four distinct blooms (three competitors), first prize, 
gold medal of the N.R.A., awarded to the Rev. Alan Cheales for a fine 
box, including Star of Waltham, Princess of Wales, Duke of Edin¬ 
burgh, Marquise de Castellane, Violette Bouyer, Charles Lefebvre, La 
France, Glory of Cheshunt, Belle Lyonaise, A. K. Williams-, Lady 
Mary Fitzwilliam, Piide of Waltham, Reine Marie Henriette, Marh- 
■chal Niel, Madame Thhrese Levet, Jean Ducher, Le Havre, Reve d’Or, 
Fisher Holmes, Dupuy Jamain, Madame Bravy, Duke of Teck, 
•Catherine Mermet, and Horace Yernet. The second prize for 24’s 
■went to Mr. Cuthell for a good box containing, amongst others, 
Magna Charta, Captain Christy, Etienne Levet, M. Noman, Countess 
of Rosebery, M. E. Y. Teas, Madame Gabriel Luizet, and Abel Carriere. 
Mr. F. T. Wollaston also had a good box in this class, which did him 
credit. 
For twelve Teas in class 2, Mr. Cuthell took first prize (silver medal 
.of N.R.A.) for Jean Ducher, Marie Van Houtte, Catherine Mermet, 
Anna Ollivier, Princess of Wales, Souvenir d'un Ami, Rubens, Madame 
’Lambard, Perle des Jardins, Madame Watteville, Jules Finger, and 
•Caroline Kuster. The second prize (bronze medal of N.R.A.) was won 
by Mr. Horne for Perle des Jardins, Madame Bravy, Marhchal Niel 
£grand bloom), Anna Ollivier, Climbing Devoniensis, Madame Camille, 
and other varieties. The Rev. A. Cheales was highly commended 
by the Judges for a very good box. For nine single trusses Teas, N. 
or H.P.s (same kind), Mr. Cheales won the first prize for Marshal Niel, 
and Mr. Horne was second for Annie Laxton. For four triplets, the Rev. 
Alan Cheales had the first prize for Yiolette Bouyer, A. K. Williams, 
Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, and Reine Marie Henriette. The second prize 
went to Mr. Cuthell. 
In division B, class 1, for twelve single blooms, distinct, Lady 
Lawrence won the N.R.A. gold medal for twelve very fine blooms of 
Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Earl of Pembroke, Edouard Morren, Jean 
Pernet, A. K. Williams, Anna Ollivier, Marie Baumann, C. Bell, Gdndral 
Jacqueminot, Eugene Furst, Madame M. Roederer, and M. Noman. Mr. 
Thompson took the second prize, and in her box was a fine bloom of 
Sultan of Zanzibar. The Hon. Lady Ryder was highly commended. 
For six distinct blooms of any sort Mr. Leopold Seymour received 
first prize, and Mr. Hatch second. For six of the same sort of any 
class of Rose Mrs. Mortimer carried away the first prize for Souvenir 
d’un Ami, and Mrs. Thompson second prize for the same Rose. In 
the class of three triplets Mr. Leopold Seymour had the first prize, 
and Mr. Hatch second. 
For the decorations in division C there were altogether sixteen 
exhibitors. Mr. Cuthell won the first prize for a dinner table 
decoration of Tea Roses and Ferns that was well arranged and in ex¬ 
cellent taste. Mr. Bruce Nichols took second prize for two low 
baskets, well arranged, but with too much Fern. For the drawing¬ 
room decorations, which displayed both good taste and genius, Mrs- 
Benecke had the first prize for a ball wicker basket, containing Spiraea, 
Aquilegia, Fern, and Passion Flowers, and Begonia. For a pretty 
simple arrangement of pink Pelargonium, Fern, and white Geranium, 
Mrs. Bruce Nichols received the second prize, while for a very Urge 
arrangement in Poeonies and Copper Beech Miss Perkins took equal 
second prize. The buttonhole bouquets were prettier and more tasteful 
and suitable than usual, though some were too small and others tco 
large. Mrs. Cuthell, Mrs. Thompson, and Miss Carter Perkins took the 
first, second, and third prizes respectively. 
For the first time for twenty-three years the Treasurer could not 
attend the Show. His absence was greatly felt, and the fullest sympathy 
went with him. It only remains to say that—1, The Show was an 
exceedingly good one. 2. The Teas were unusually well represented. 
3, All the classes had a fair number of competitors. 4, The old wir- 
ners did not have it all their own way. 5, The number of visitors was 
very large. 6, The luncheon to the Committee unusually good ; 7, and 
the speeches of the three Judges thereat were short and to the point.— 
A. B. Alexander. 
RYDE.— June 28th. 
The fourth annual Exhibition of cut Roses and other flowers was 
held in the Town Hall, Ryde, Isle of Wight, on Coronation Day, June 
28th. The day is observed as a general holiday throughout the Island, 
and, notwithstanding the many counter attractions, and the inclement 
weather, the Exhibition drew together a large number of visitors, who 
seemed to take a lively interest in the excellent display of flowers. The 
Exhibition was opened by the Mayor (R. Colenutt, Esq.), accompanied 
by other members of the Corporation, and Mr. J. Eley, the efficient and 
courteous Hon. Secretary. The wet weather the day previous and on 
the morning of the Exhibition no doubt prevented many from taking 
part in it; nevertheless, it was satisfactory to find that the exhibits, in 
number and quality, were quite equal to those of the previous year, and 
much better than we expected to see in this late and unfavourable 
season. 
In the open class for twenty-four cut Roses, distinct, the first prize, a 
gold medal offered by the National Rose Society, was won by Mr. R. E. 
West, Reigate ; and the second prize, the silver medal of the N.R.S., was 
awarded to Messrs. W. & G. Drover, Fareham. The first prize stand 
contained good blooms of M. E. Y. Teas, Countess of Rosebery, Mar¬ 
quise de Castellane, Marguerite Brassac, Mrs. Baker, Ac. ; and in Messrs. 
Drover’s stand were good blooms of Pitrod, a good dark Rose, Cannes la 
Coquette, Souvenir de Rend Leveque, Duchess of Hatwcll, Rosy Morn, 
Mrs. Laxton. &c. Messrs. Ewing & Co., Havant, also exhibited in this 
class. In the class for twelve, Captain Ramsay, Fareham, was first with 
good blooms of Earl of Pembroke, Merveille de Lyon, Lady Mary Fitz¬ 
william, Souvenir d’un Ami, and Amazone, a beautiful yellow Tea. The 
second was awarded to Mr. D. Seaton, Bitterne. The stands of Tea 
Roses were very fine, Mr. D. Seaton winning firA honours for twelve, 
showing Grace Darling, Madame Lambard, Rubens. Madame Cusin, very 
fine. Second, Mr. Ridout, Woodhatch Gardens, Reigate ; and Messrs. 
Ewing & Co. were highly commended. 
The chief competition in the local classes was for two silver 
challenge cups presented by the Rev. Canon Girdlestone, and offered 
as the first prize in the twenty-four, and the first prize in the 
twelve class, both of which have now been finally won by Mr. 
G. Pack of Ryde, whose exhibits were amongst the finest in the 
Show. In the class for twenty-four there were five competitors, and in 
Mr. Pack's winning stand were good blooms of Glory of Cheshunt, 
Violette Bouyer, Dupay Jamain, Marie Baumann, Isaac Perriere. Chas. 
Lefebvre, Mrs. Baker, and Madame Victor Verdier. Mr. J. 0. Brook, 
Ryde, also exhibited well, President Vullamy and Ulrich Brunner being 
very fine. In Mr. Pack’s winning stand of twelve blooms were good 
examples of Mrs. Caroline Twailes, Violette Bouyer. Merveille de Lyon, 
and La France. Mr. Brooks was again a good second in this class. Mr. 
Pack was also first in another class for twenty-four distinct varieties 
with Mr. E. Ratcliffe, Ryde, second. In the leading stand were good 
blooms of Madame Marie Finger, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Duke of 
Edinburgh, and Mrs. Baker. With twelve Teas, four varieties, Mr. G. 
Williams, Gatcombe, was first, and Mr. Brooks a close second: and in 
the class for six Teas, distinct, were some fine blooms of Grace Darling, 
Madame Willermoz, Madame de Jacquier, Jules Finger, Marechal Niel, 
