November 29, 1888. 1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Esq., Morden Park, Mitcham. The most conspicuous in hia board of 
Japanese were Ralph Brocklebank, Lady Lawrence and Meg Merrilies. 
His incurved flowers were of superior quality, and contained Princess 
Beatrice, Princess of Wales, and Lord Alcester' In his stand of Japanese 
Anemone an enormous flower of Madame Cabrol was staged. This 
collection also included two boards of both Anemone and reflexed 
Pompons. Mr. Butcher of Sydenham Road put up a very attractive 
group of foliage and Chrysanthemum plants on the platform ; some well 
trained plants w T ere also exhibited by the same grower and awarded a 
special prize. Messrs. J. Laing of Forest Hill had a good group of 
Palms and Chrysanthemums, including many of the new varieties; 
amongst them we noticed EtoiledeLyon and Sarah Owen. Messrs. 
Bunyard of Maidstone staged a fine collection, 100 dishes of Apples. The 
exhibit of Messrs. Cannell & Sons of Swanley, which comprised bunches 
of Chrysanthemums and a fine exhibit of Zonals, were a great attraction 
to the visitors. Mr. Cheal of Crawley also exhibited a fine collection of 
fruit, and a very fine and instructive display was contributed by A. H. 
Smee, Esq., Hackbridge (gardener, Mr. G. Cummins), the most useful 
varieties for succession being indicated. 
RUGBY.—November 21st and 22nd. 
The second Show of the Rugby and District Chrysanthemum 
Society was held in the Town Hall on the above dates, and proved most 
satisfactory in all respects, the exhibits being numerous, of capital 
quality, and the attendance of visitors good, The Hon. Secretary, Mr. 
'W. Bryant, assisted by a practical Committee, has already secured an 
exhibition of considerable interest, and with adequate local support 
- will soon develope into one of still more importance, as it is evident 
there are plenty of good cultivators in the district. 
The cut blooms were notable throughout the principal classes for 
their neatness, and the competition was extremely close in several classes. 
This was especially the case in the class for thirty-six blooms, distinct 
varieties, eighteen incurved and eighteen Japanese, in which there were 
five competitors, the blooms from three of these being so nearly equal 
that they had toibe most carefully “ pointed,” with the result that there 
were only four points difference between them, the first leading by three, 
and the second was only one point ahead of the third. The first prize 
(£2 10s.), together with a special prize of equal value contributed by 
Mr. W. Bryant, was won by Mr. H. Dunkley, gardener to S. Symington, 
Esq., Brookland House, Market Harborough, who had the following 
varieties well represented, the incurved and Japanese nearly equal in 
merit. Incurved : Back row—Queen of England, Guernsey Nugget, 
Lord Alcester, Golden Empress, Empress Eugenie, and Empressof India. 
Middle row—Prince Alfred, Princess of Wales, Jardin des Plantes, 
Cherub, Beverley, and Lord Wolseley. Front row—Jeanne d’Arc, Mr. 
Brunlees, Yenus, Barbara, Baron Beust, and Mabel Ward. Japanese :— 
Back row ; Ralph Brocklebank, Edwin Molvneux, Madame B. Pigny 
Baronne de Prailly, Japonaise, and Meg Merrilies. Middle row—Mrs. J. 
Wright, Duchess of Albany, Madame C. Audiguier, Criterion, Belle 
Paule, and Thunberg. Front row—Boule d’Or, Dr. Macary, Golden 
Dragon, Elaine, Val d’Andorre, and Fair Maid of Guernsey. Mr. W. 
Comfort, gardener to G. A. Everitt, Esq , Knowle Hall, was second, his 
Japanese blooms being much superior to his incurved, which was also 
the case in the third prize collection from Mr. J. Morris, gardener to Sir 
R. Moon, Bart., Copswood Grange, Coventry. 
With twelve incurved blooms, distinct varieties, there were also five 
exhibitors, who contributed blooms very close in merit, and the premier 
honours were again secured by Mr. Dunkley, who had compact solid 
examples of the following varieties :—Back row—Lord Alcester, Golden 
Empress, Queen of England. Middle row—Jardin des Plantes, Princess 
of Wales, Prince Alfred, and Empress of India. Front row—Baron 
Beust, Mabel Ward, Lord Eversley, and Venus. Messrs. Morris and 
Comfort followed as second and third respectively. Amongst four com¬ 
petitors in the class for twelve Japanese. Mr. Comfort won the first 
place with fresh and excellent blooms of Boule d’Or, Comtesse de Beau- 
regarde, Ralph Brocklebank, Madame C. Audiguier. Middle row—Meg 
Merrilies, Marguerite Marrouch, Madame Baco, and Fair Maid of 
Guernsey. Front row—Criterion, Mdlle. Lacroix, Madame J. Laing, 
and Yal d’Andorre. Mr. Morris was second, and Mrs. Caldicott, The 
Lodge, Rugby (gardener, Mr. B. Robinson), was third. 
In the classes for groups of Chrysanthemums several admirable con¬ 
tributions were staged, notably those from the Rev. F. D. Moore, Hill- 
morton Road, Rugby (gardener, Mr. J. Morton), and W. G. Mitchell, 
Esq., Church Walk, Rugby (gardener, Mr. G. W. Batchelor), who were 
awarded the premier prizes in two classes. The Rev. J. W. Vacqueray, 
Hillbrow, Rugby (gardener, Mr. Durbin), and Mr. J. Parker, Rugby, 
also exhibited well. Fruits, especially Apples and Pears, were well 
shown, as also were vegetables, the competition being exceedingly keen 
in all these classes. Mr. G. Goldsmith, gardener to Sir E. G. Loder, 
Bart., Floore, Weedon, gained leading honours for dessert and kitchen 
Apples, Pears, and a collection of vegetables with capital specimens in 
every case, showing good culture. 
Several non-competing groups were exhibited, but an extensive and 
handsome display of plants from Mr. Parker was greatly admired. Mr. 
Bester also had a neat group. 
BIRMINGHAM.— November 21st and 22nd. 
The Birmingham and Midland Counties Chrysanthemum Society is 
not young, but possesses all the vigour of youth, while the ripe experi¬ 
ence of its officials enables them to conduct the exhibitions in the most 
4&G" 
satisfactory manner. The prize cards are the best we have seen, file¬ 
names of the ovvners of the exhibits and their gardeners, with the 
number and description of the classes, being clearly printed on them y 
not a line is written on the cards, so there can be small excuse for mis¬ 
takes in transcribing. The class and exhibitor’s numbers are on the 
back of the cards, as is customary at most shows, but at Birmingham 
the cards have only to be turned over and the awards stamped on, all 
particulars being then “in print,” hence easily read by a moving mass, 
of visitors, a matter of importance in a crowded show where obstruction, 
is often caused by the delay consequent on attempts to decipher 
hurriedly written names. The Judges’ cards are also simple and' 
effective. 
Birmingham shows have long been celebrated for specimen plants,, 
and latterly the groups have been of a high order of merit. In these 
the improvement has been very great, but not more marked than in the 
cut bloom classes. A few years ago these were comparatively weak, but 
now they are strong, and it is questionable if finer stands have been.-, 
seen in competition this year than those of Messrs. Parker and Lindsay, 
the former, however, distinctly taking the lead ; indeed, the cut blooms 
were the most important feature of the Exhibition, and plants were for 
once put in the shade, so to say, at Birmingham, a no small feat to 
achieve, and might, perhaps, not have been accomplished if the: 
specimens of the great grower, Mr. W. H. Dyer, had not been ruined by 
the early and severe October frost. Do not let it be supposed, however, 
that there were no plants worth seeing ; on the contrary, there was- 
really a rich display in the body of the handsome Town Hall, Mr. E. 
Cooper, gardener to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, exhibiting well 
and taking the chief prizes, a good share of honours also falling to- 
Mr. 0. Brazier, gardener to Sir Thomas Martineau, E.lgbaston, and Mr. 
F. Cooper, gardener to C. Showell, Esq. Mr. E. Cooper also secured 
the first prize with one of the best groups we have seen during the 
season, Messrs. A. Cryer, gardener to J. A. Renrick, Esq., and J. Walshall, 
gardener to J. B. Lees, Esq., following. Messrs. Wood & Son’s medal 
for three plants was won by Mr. E. Cooper. And now, through want 
of space, the plants must be dismissed in order that the blooms in this, 
the twenty-fourth Show of the Society, may be noticed in the leading 
open classes. 
Primary interest naturally centred in the great class of forty-eight 
blooms, distinct, half incurved and half Japanese, the prizes offered 
being £10,.£7, £4, and £2. There were four competitors, the first prize¬ 
falling. as previously indicated, to Mr. R. Parker, gardener to J. Corbett, 
Esq., M.P., Impney, Droitwich, who has in a very short time won his 
way into the front rank in the Chrysanthemum world. The incurved 
blooms were not only well grown but well finished, not large and loose, 
but of good size and firm, while the Japanese were large, full, and fresh. 
The varieties were as follows :—Incurved—Back row—Alfred Salter, 
Empress of India, Lord Wolseley, Emily Dale, Queen of England, 
Golden Empress, Lord Alcester, and Prince Alfred. Middle row—- 
Refulgens, Jeanne d’Arc, Mrs. Heale, Hero of Stoke Newington, John 
Salter, Princess of Wales, Nil Desperandum, and Jardin des Plantes. 
Front row—Lord Eversley, Lady Carey, Barbara, Princess of Teck, 
Charles Gibson, Cherub, Mrs. N. Davis, and Mr. Brun'ees. Japanese :— 
Front row—E. Molyneux, Ralph Brocklebank, Avalanche, Mdme. C. 
Aud'guier, Meg Merrilies, Boule d'Or, Baron de Prailly, and Carew- 
Underwood. Second row—M. J. Pigny, Duchess of Albany, Thunberg, 
Mrs. H. Cannell, Val d’Andorre, Fair Maid of Guernsey, M. J. Laing,, 
and Mdlle. Lacroix. Front row —J. Dblaux, M. Freeman, Marguerite Mar¬ 
rouch, Criterion, Mr. H. Cannell, M. Brunet, Martha Harding, and Comte 
de Germiny. Mr. D. Lindsay, gardener to Sir T. Edwardes-Moss, Bart,, 
Otterspool, staged remarkably well, but was not quite equal in eithec 
section to his successful rival, though he had no great difficulty in¬ 
winning the second place. Some of his blooms were a little past their 
best, but very fine indeed were Queen of England, Empress of India,, 
Mrs. Heale, Princess of Wales, Boule d’Or, Criterion, and Belle Paule. 
Mr. A. Haggart, gardener to Mrs. Foster, Ludlow, followed, the remain¬ 
ing prizetaker being Mr. E. West, gardener to H. Wright, Esq., both* 
having creditable stands of blooms. 
Mr. Parker was also well ahead of his rivals in the class of twenty- 
four blooms, distinct, twelve incurved and the same number of Japanese,, 
staging admirably in the former section Lord Wolseley, Queen of Eng¬ 
land, Emily Dale, Golden Empress, Lord Alcester, Empress of India,. 
Alfred Salter, Princess of Wales, Mrs. Heale, Princess Teck, Jeanne 
d’Arc, and Barbara ; and in the latter, Ralph Brocklebank, Fair Maid of 
Guernsev, Boule d’Or, Meg Merrilies, M. Brunet, E. Molyneux, Avalanche,. 
Baron de Prailly, Criterion, M. J. Laing, Mr. H. Cannell, and M. Free¬ 
man, Messrs. Walshall and Haggart following in the order named with 
good examples of culture. Mr. Lindsay won the chief position with 
eighteen incurved blooms, distinct, with excellent examples of Empress. 
of° India, Lord Wolseley, Emily Dale, Prince Alfred, Lord Alcester, 
Queen of England, John Sa'ter, Mrs. Heale, Princess of Wales, Mr.. 
Bunn, Alfred Salter, Go'den Empress, Jardin des Plantes, Princess. 
Beatrice, White Venus, Sir S. Carey, White Bever'ey, and Mr. Brunlees. 
Mr. Haggart was second, his best b’ooms being A'fred Sa’ter, Lord 
Wo'se’ey, Lord Alcester and Queen of England, Mr. E. West following 
very closely with the third prize. 
In the open class of twelve Japanese blooms, distinct, Messrs. 
Parker and Lindsay came into competition again, the former securing the 
foremost place with a beautiful stand, comprising Meg Merrilies, Boule 
d’Or, Avalanche, Madame C. Audiguier, J. Delaux, Baronne de Prailly, 
E Molyneux, Ralph Brocklebank, Mrs. H. Cannell, Duchess of Albany, 
Mdlle. Lacroix, and M. J. Laing. Mr. Lindsay was second, and Mr. 
