May 24, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
433 
dissimilar seifs for a special medal. It was hapi)ily won by the exhibi¬ 
tor who last year had his chances shattered by the reversal of his box, in 
which there was not even hope left unescaped. That competition 
showed that six good seifs arc not easy to show or bring in good condi¬ 
tion in an awkward season. The premier flower of the Exhibition was 
a very bright Acme, not often seen so good, better up upon the stem 
than it often is, body colour evenly b.alanced on the petals, which it often 
is not, edge a good white, and tube lively, the five pips of even quality, 
and the petals prettily smoothed. Acme’s edge is frequently no whiter 
than the grey-mcaled foliage, and, contrary to law and custom, is at 
times a superb thing from an autumn bloom. 
A premier flower for each class was eligible out of the whole of the 
stands and single plants, and in green edges the Prince of Greens, which 
bloomed so phenomenall}- last season and won so highly in the English 
shows, was here again the premier, though with a lessened splendour. 
Prince at his best, with his grand gi-een edge, and jet-black ground 
colour, and round paste, but always weak if not “ fishy ” tube, unites 
the best with the worst property of the Auricula, and reminds me some¬ 
how of Hood’s lament over the fanciful make-up of the mermaid— 
" That .ioinert, to test of hmnau form 
The worst end of a fish.” 
In grey edges Alderman Wisbey in that character was the premier 
flower, none of the leading greys being in sufficient character and con¬ 
dition. In the seifs an exceedingly good and fresh complexioned Topsy, 
with more well-finished pijjs than this variety almost ever carries, had 
the post of honour. 
In addition to the Auriculas, of winch, in the Alpine classes I have 
no notes, there were six exhibitors of kindred and other plants, and 
among the Primula species was a very beautiful and varied collection 
from the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, also some very finely 
grown specimens of P. obconica completely sheeted in masses of 
bloom, some flowers being of a very large type. 
I cannot but say how true and enjoyable were the warm welcomes 
and the keen enthusiasm of the florist brotherhood in the far north. It 
would have carried off even a poor show well, and it w.as nothing 
damped last year by manifold mishaps to the plants. There is a 
social floral atmosphere in which anything will grow, and the land, 
by tradition now waxing old, is a happy land for the Auricula. 
—F. D. Hoexee, Btirton - bi - LvJisdale . 
LIST OF WINNING FLOWERS. 
For the gold mcd.allion, presented by Mr. Wb Straton, Broughty Ferryi 
for six self Auriculas, dissimilar—Heroine, Black Bess, Pizarro, Princess; 
Onward, Sapphire. 
For six dissimilar Auriculas, one at least in each class.—First, Prince 
of Greens, Conservative, Ajax, Beauty, Frank Simonite, Mrs. Douglas. 
Second, Heatherbell, Black Bess, Colonel Taylor, George Lightbody, 
Ringleader, Prince of Greens. Third, Prince of Greens, Acme, Miss 
Gair, C. J. Perry, Dr. Kidd, and seedling green edge. 
Four dissimilar, one in each of the classes. —First, Lovely Ann, Geo. 
Lightbody, Acme, Meteor Flag. Second, Heatherbell, Geo. Lightbody, 
Rev. F. D. Horner, Heroine. Third, Rev. F. D. Horner, F. Simonite, 
Rd. Headly, Lord Lome. 
Pairs, dissimilar in variety and class.—First, Geo. Lightbody, Staple- 
ford Hero. Second, Lovely Ann, Sophia Dumaresque. Third, Lanca¬ 
shire Hero, Dr. Kidd. 
Single Plants, Green-edged.—First, Rev. Pb D. Horner ; second. 
Booth’s Freedom ; third. Page’s Champion ; fourth. Lovely Ann ; fifth. 
Colonel Taylor. Grey-edged.—First, Alderman Wisbey ; second. Ring¬ 
leader ; third, George Lightbody ; fourth, Trail’s Beauty ; fifth, George 
Lightbody. White-edged.—Fiist, Beauty (Trail) ; second, John Simon¬ 
ite ; third, Mrs. Dodwell; fourth, Frank Simonite ; fifth, Earl Gros- 
venor. Selfs.—First, Topsy ; second. Black Bess ; third. Cathedral 
(Browning) ; fourth, Andrew Millar ; fifth. Lord Lome. 
Premier of whole Exhibition.— Acme (white-edged). Premier 
green edge, Prince of Greens. Premier grey edge, Alderman Wisbey. 
Premier white edge. Acme. Premier self, Topsy.—F. D. H. 
The list of prizewinners is published as we received it in the 
columns of a newspaper :—Probably the best cultivated specimens 
were shown by Mr. Ben Simonite, Sheffield. In respect of size 
and colour they were admirable. A leading prize—viz., a gold 
medallion given by the Secretary—was won by iMr. J. D. Kerr, 
Dougl.asfield, Dundee, for the best six self stage Auriculas. The follow¬ 
ing is the prize list :— 
Six plants, dissimihar in class and variety.—1, Wb H. AVhite, New¬ 
castle ; 2, J. D. Kerr, Douglasfield ; 3, W. Marshall, Ayr. F'our plants, 
one from each class.—1, E. Adams, Swalwell ; 2, J.as. Black, East 
Calder ; 3, W. H. White, Newcastle. Two plants, dissimilar.—1, E. 
Adams ; 2, W. Kilgour, Blair Adam ; 3, W. H. White. One plant, green- 
edge.—1, Wb H. W'hite ; 2, 3, 4, .and 5, Wb Kilgour, Doune. One plant, 
grey-edge.—1, F. D. Kerr ; 2, W". Kilgour ; 3, W. Bairnsf.ather, Leek ; 
4, E. A. Adams ; 5, Wb H. White. One pl.ant, white-edge.—1, Wb H. 
White ; 2, Wb Marshall. One pl.ant, self.—1, J. D. Kerr ; 2, 3, and 4, 
W. Kilgour ; 5, A. Scott, P’orglen. Premier plant in each class.—1, 
W. H. White, green-edge ; J. D. Kerr, grey ; E. A. Adams, white ; J. D. 
Kerr, self. Premier Auricula in Show.—E. A. Adams, Acme, white. 
Alpine Auriculas, six dissimilar.—1, E. A. Adams ; 2, Jiamcs Black ; 3, 
A. C.alder. Four dissimilar.—1, E. A. Adams; 2, James Black ; 3, A. 
Calder. Two dissimilar.—1, James Black ; 2, A. R. Henderson ; 
3, E. A. Adams. Polyanthus, three dissimilar, gold laced.—E. A. 
Adams. Primula species, si.x distinct.—Wb Straton, Annfield, Broughty 
Ferry. Three pots Primula obconica.—1, W’'. Henderson, Clermiston;; 
2, Wb Straton.” 
THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY’S 
PROVINCIAL SHOW AT SHEFFIELD. 
A PAETY of officers and members of the N.ational Society left Londoa 
last week to visit Sheffield and complete some preliminary arrangements 
respecting the provincial show to be held in that town next November,. 
The Committee and officers of the Sheffield Society took the opportunity 
of .arranging to entertain their visitors .at a dinner on Saturday evening 
last, and the idea was carried out in the earnest and thorough miinnei* 
which distinguishes our northern friends. About fifty members and patrons 
of the Sheffield Society assembled at the “ Clarence Hotel ” at 7 P.ir.,., 
Capt. Mark Firth presiding, the following being the representatives of 
the National Society present:—Mr. R. Ballantine (Vice-President), Mr, 
W^m. Holmes (Hon. Secretary), Mr. Lewis Castle, Mr. G. S. Addison, 
Jlr. G. Stevens, and Mr. J. 11. Laing. Of the local Society there were- 
Mr. Duncan Gilmour, jun., Mr. Fenton, Mr. H. Outrara, Mr. T. B. 
Hague, Mr. T. Haigh, Mr. Allison, Mr. Eadon, Mr. Broomhead, Mr. Ben 
Simonite, Mr. J. Udale, Mr. W'alkor, &c., and the Hon. Secretaries, Mr, 
W^. K. W''oodcock, Mr. J. W. Needham, and Mr. J. W. Jarvis. 
An excellent repast w.as served by Mrs. M’Culloch, and .after full 
justice had been done to it, the toasts were commenced by Mr. T. Haigb 
proposing “ The National Chrys.anthemum Society and Visitors.” He 
said they all hoped that the new departure which had been taken by the 
National Society in coming into the provinces would bring it much 
into notice. The local society felt greatly honoured by the fact that 
the N.ational Society bad selected Sheffield as the town in which to 
hold its first provincial show, and he trusted it would be a complete 
success. 
Mr. Ballantine was received with applause on rising to respond. 
He said it was a peculiar pleasure to him to be present to inaugurate a 
new departure in the history of the National Society, and he trusted 
that the commencement of all the meetings in other towns would be as 
pleasant as the commencement of the November Show had been in 
Sheffield. From the manner in which the deputation had been re¬ 
ceived, and from the correspondence which had passed with the local 
officials, he had no doubt whatever that the holding of the first pro¬ 
vincial show in Sheffield could not fail to have a successful issue. 
Mr. IV. Holmes also responded, .and met with a cordial reception. 
He expressed regret that they had not with them the President of th& 
Nation.al Society, Mr. Edward Sanderson, and then said the kindness and 
hospitality they had received since their arrival in Sheffield had far- 
exceeded their expectations. He also thanked them for the kind 
references made to the National Society, with which he had been con¬ 
nected from its beginning, and in working which he had taken a some- 
wdiat active part. He had watched their Society grow from a purely 
local into a national Society, but none of the steps taken in connection 
with it had been watched with greater pleasure and anticipation thaik 
the one they were now attempting—the holding of a provincial Show. 
Such a departure was suggested four or five years ago by-Mr, Morton, of 
Darlington, but it w.as not entertained. The Committee were now 
unanimously of opinion that the attempt should be m.ade, and then came- 
the question. Where should the first provincial Show be held ? The reply 
from the executive of the Sheffield Society was so satisfactory—so- 
thoroughly business-like—as to le.avc no doubt in their minds as to which 
was the right town in which to begin the attempt. They knew that ir» 
Sheffield there were not only large numbers of florists who take an. 
interest in Chrysanthemums, but that there were men who, like them¬ 
selves, neither knew nor believed in the word failure. Hence the-i 
National Society had uo hesitation in selecting Sheffield as, the first town 
to be visited, and he hoped the pleasant meeting they hail that day had 
was a happy augury of the success which would attend their first pro- 
vinci.al Show. 
Mr. G. S. Addison followed with the toast of the “ Shefllcld and 
West Riding Chrysanthemum Society and the Hallamshire Gardens- 
Society,” and spoke of the very great hospitality the visitors hadrecmyecl 
from the Sheffield Society. He should bo pleased to meet the officials 
again in November. He had been told that in Sheffield they could grow 
Chrysanthemum blooms as big as they wairted them. They could not 
manage that in the south, but they could grow small and compact- 
blooms. He hoped the Show would be a great success. 
ilr. W. K. Woodcock, in responding, said the local Society had only 
been est.ablished four years, and they were very proud of the success it 
had already achieved. For that success they had to thank, in a very' 
barge measure, their esteemed President, Mr. Firth. Not only h.ad Mr. 
Firth rendered them valuable financial aid, but he had uscfl his great 
influence in many ways to promote the prosperity of the Society. He 
also bore testimony to the valuable aid they had received from Mr. Gil¬ 
mour, Mr. Fenton, and other friends, and concluded by expressing the 
