July 23, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
73 
with the object of providing additional attractions on the Show day a 
number of classes were provided open to gardeners from everywhere, and 
the liberal prizes offered had the usual result—splendid competition. 
The special features of the Show to be briefly noticed were the 
groups of miscellaneous plants, Eoses, and fruit, though vegetables were 
good, while the cottagers’ tent w T as, as it deserved, a chief point of 
interest. Large specimen plants were not invited, and the event proved 
that an excellent, diversified, and most enjoyable Show could be provided 
without them. Of primary import was the competition in the open class 
for miscellaneous groups of plants arranged for effect, each occupying 
space not exceeding 300 square feet. The first prize was £15 and a work 
of art value 10 guineas, the second prize £14, third £10, and fourth £8. 
This is the way to bring out the best efforts of the best men. It should 
be said that Mr. P. Blair did not compete, but left the field open to 
others. There was a splendid response, and when Mr. Bruce Findlay 
and Mr. F. Sander proceeded to adjudicate none of the many experi¬ 
enced gardeners and judges who were present envied them of their task. 
They proved, however, equal to the occasion, and though their verdict 
at first took some by surprise, all on closer examination freely admitted 
the decisions were correct. The fortunate winner of the great prize, 
value £25, was Mr. G. J. Edmunds, gardener to the Duke of St. Albans, 
Bestwood Park, Notts. The group is difficult to describe, but an idea 
may perhaps be given of its character. It comprised a series of floral 
mounds, supporting elegant Palms and other appropriate fine-foliaged 
plants, with intervening curving mossy dells, in which dwarf flowering 
and foliage plants were disposed with great judgment and taste. The 
taller back plants were Palms in mounds of Selaginella cassia, Caladium 
argyrites, and other suitable plants. As front elevations two corner 
plants of Cordyline indivisa variegata were conspicuously attractive, 
with a centre plant of Pandanus Veitchi, and a base of dark Caladiums, 
small Crotons, and a Begonia of the Eex type. The intermediate tall 
plants comprised narrow-leaved red Dracaenas and single-stemmed 
Crotons about 4 feet high, C. volutus being particularly effective. The 
groundwork was of living, not dead, moss, and in it were dotted in the 
most informal manner small Crotons and Dracaenas, bright Masdo- 
rallias, with variegated Ophiopogons, Eulalias, and the slenderest of 
Sedges, Carex variegata. The group also contained a few tall plants of 
Lilium Harrisi, and a pair of Humeas in the background. The charm of the 
arrangement consisted in its freedom, yet total absence of weediness. 
Every plant could be seen, each appearing to lend a charm to the other, 
It was a masterpiece in its way, and if it had not been must have 
lost the position against the formidable competitor Mr. J. McIntyre, 
gardener to Mrs. Gurney Pease, Darlington, who was an excellent second 
with a charming association of bright and healthy plants, which the 
brown dead moss did not display to the best advantage. Mr. A. Webb, 
gardener to J. H. Manners Sutton, Esq., Kelham Hall, Newark, was third 
with a heavier yet rich arrangement; and Mr. J. Cunie, gardener to 
Lieut.-Col. Pepper, Salisbury, fourth. It was a great and noteworthy 
contest, and the next of the same nature may be expected at Shrewsbury 
on the 18th of next month. The prizes for the local groups at Trentham, 
which were too smooth and packed, were awarded to Messrs. W. W. 
Dobson, Tittensor ; R. Clark, Stone ; and F. Williamson, Normacott. 
Roses. —Considering that the National Provincial Show was being 
held at Hereford the display was surprising—six lots of forty-eight and 
eight of thirty-six blooms being placed in competition, and it was 
much the same throughout the classes. Mr. H. Turner of Slough, a 
guest of the Duke, was one of the Judges, and it was apparent by the 
awards that freshness, quality, and uniformity of excellence were not 
overlooked. In the class for forty-eight blooms the contest was 
exceedingly close, and, as after a critical examination, the least number 
of faults could be found in the stands of Mr. H. Merryweather, he was 
accorded first honours, though the second and third prize stands were 
decidedly heavier, yet several of the blooms too advanced. Mr. Merry- 
weather’s varieties were — Madame G. Luizet, Le Havre, Marie 
Baumann, Harrison Weir, very fine; Madame Montet, Due de Rohan, 
Captain Christy, Lady A. Hill, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Alphonse 
Soupert, Mrs. J. Laing, very fine; Mons. E. Y. Teas, Baroness 
Rothschild, Susanne Marie de Rodocanachi, La France, Ulrich Brunner, 
very fine ; Xavier Olibo, Marguerite Boudet, A. Carriere, Souvenir de 
S. A. Prince, fine; Baron N. de Rothschild, The Bride, very fine; 
Dupuy Jarnain, Dr. Andry, Fisher Holmes, Madame Hoste, very good ; 
Catherine Mermet, E. Levet, Princess Beatrice, Earl of Dufferin, 
A. Rigotard, Yiolette Bouyer, Charles Lefebvre, Miss E. Gifford, 
Countess of Rosebery, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Marie Rady, very fine ; 
Marguerite de St. Arnand, Sir G. Wolseley, Madame Lacharme, 
Francisque Reve, Viscountess Folkestone, Duchess of Bedford, Madame 
Cusin, Gdndral Jacqueminot, and Victor Verdier. Messrs. Cooling and 
Son, Bath, were awarded the second prize ; and Mr. F. Cant, Colchester, 
the third. 
For thirty-six distinct, single blooms, Mr. Hy. Merryweather was 
distinctly ahead of all, and was awarded the first prize for a fine box of 
Roses, comprising La France, Comte Raimband, very fine ; Violette 
Bouyer, E. Levet, Merveille de Lyon, Gustave Piganeau, a splendid 
bloom ; Mrs. J. Laing, very fine ; Ulrich Brunner, Baroness Rothschild, 
Horace Vernet, Marguerite de St. Amand, Louis Van Houtte, very fine ; 
Marie Finger, Madame Hausmann, fine ; Madame Hoste, very fine ; 
Marie Baumann, Madame G. Luizet, Camille Bernardin, Marie Van 
Houtte, Dupuy Jarnain, Countess of Nadaillac, Ducde Wellington, fine ; 
Catherine Mermet, very fine ; Mons. A. Dumesnil, Miss E. Gifford, Marie 
Rady, Lady M. Fitzwilliam, Dr. Andry, The Bride, very fine ; Earl of 
Dufferin, Duchesse de Vallombrosa, Duke of Edinburgh, Silver Queen, 
Sir Rowland Hill, Susanne M. de Rodocanachi, and Charles Lefebvre. 
Messrs. Perkins & Son, Coventry, were second ; and Messrs. Cooling 
and Son, Bath, were third with very good collections. 
In the class for twenty-four distinct triplets Messrs. Perkins & Son, 
Coventry, were decidedly first with fine blooms of Mrs. J. Laing, Duchess 
of Bedford, Heinrich Schultheis, Annie Wood, Capt. Christy, E. Y. Teas,. 
Due de Wellington, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Pride of Waltham, 
Catherine Mermet, Victor Hugo, Miss E. Gifford, La France, Mrs. 
Laxton, Madame E. Verdier, Ulrich Brunner, Francis Michelon, Emilie 
Laxton, Etienne Levet, Pride of Waltham, Horace Vernet, Viscountess 
Folkestone, A. K. Williams, and Merveille de Lyon. Messrs. Harkness and 
Sons were awarded the second ; and Dicksons, Limited, the third prize. 
The first prize for twelve Teas and Noisettes was well won by Mr. 
Frank Cant with charming examples of Francisca Kruger, Innocente 
Pirola, Catherine Mermet, Madame Cusin, Souvenir de S. A. Prince, 
Hon. E. Gifford, Countess de Nadaillac, Nipheto3, Jean Ducher, and 
Marie Van Houtte. Messrs. Burch were second ; and Cooling and Sons 
third in this class. 
For twelve blooms of any Tea or Noisette, Messrs. Burch were first 
with Innocente Pirola ; Mr. Frank Cant second, with Madame de Watte- 
ville ; and Messrs. Cooling & Sons third, with Devoniensis. For twelve 
blooms of any dark Rose, Messrs. Perkins & Son were first with Charles 
Lefebvre ; Messrs. Cooling & Sons second, with A. K. Williams ; and 
Dicksons, Limited, third, with Rosieriste Jacobs. Messrs. Perkins &Son 
were first for twelve white or light Roses, with Mrs. J. Laing, very fresh ; 
Messrs. Cooling & Sons second, with Lady Mary Fitzwilliam ; and 
Messrs. Burch third, with Niphetos. In the class for twelve blooms of 
any colour, Mr. Frank Cant was first with Her Majesty ; Messrs. H. 
Merryweather and Cooling & Sons following in that order, both staging 
Mrs. John Laing. Messrs. Perkins & Sons secured the chief prize for a 
basket of Roses, also for bridal and buttonhole bouquets. Exhibited with 
the Roses was a stand of beautiful Carnations from Mr. Turner of 
Slough, which were greatly admired by the visitors. 
Fruit. —Of this the display was both extensive and excellent, 
probably the best of the year up to date. The prizes of £10, £6, and 
£3, for a collection of nine dishes were well contested for by five 
exhibitors. The first prize fell to Mrs. Meynell Ingram, Temple 
Newsam (gardener, Mr. Dawes), who showed a fine Queen Pine, 
Bellegarde Peaches, Negro Largo Figs, Madresfield Court and Foster’s 
Seedling Grapes, Lord Napier Nectarines, a Melon, and White Marseilles 
Figs. The second prize was awarded to Mr. J. Thorpe, Coddington Hall, 
Newark, in whose collection were fine Foster’s Seedling Grapes and 
James Veitch Strawberries. The third prize went to the Duke of 
St. Albans (gardener, Mr. J. Edmonds), who, as usual, showed very fine 
Peaches and Nectarines. In the class for six dishes of fruit, Pines 
excluded, only two collections were staged, the first prize being won by 
Lord Bagot, Blythfield (Mr. T. Bannerman, gardener), who showed fine 
Black Hamburgh Grapes and Lord Napier Nectarines. The second prize 
went to Lord Carnarvon, Bretby Park (Mr. Read, gardener), whose best 
dish was high-coloured Buck land Sweetwater Grapes. 
The class for four bunches of Grapes, two varieties, the prizes given 
by Mr. Wm. Thomson, Clovenfords, was keenly contested for by seven 
exhibitors. The first prize went to Edward Miller Mundy, Esq., 
Shipley Hall (Mr. W. Elphinstone, gardener), who showed Madresfield 
Court and Black Hamburgh Grapes in admirable condition. Second, 
Lord Hotham, Dalton Hall, Hull (Mr. J. Allsop, gardener), Muscats 
fine, and Alicantes not quite ripe. Third, Lord Carnarvon, Bretby 
Park, for Black Hamburgh and Buckland Sweetwater. Three bunches oi 
Black Hamburgh Grapes : First, Mr. T. Bannerman, excellent berries 
and finish. Second, Mr. A. Webb, gardener, Kelham Hall. Third, 
J. T. Harris, Esq., Stone (gardener, Mr. J. Bates) ; nine exhibitors. Three 
bunches of any other black Grape : First, Mr. W. Elphinstone, with 
Madresfield Court superbly finished, perfect models of this fine Grape- 
Second, Lord Carnarvon, Bretby, 'With the same variety. Third, Mr. 
Bannerman ; eight exhibitors. Three bunches of any white Grape r 
First, Lord Hotham, for Buckland Sweetwater, magnificently finished. 
Second, Mr. J. T. Harris, Stone, with two green Foster’s Seedling. Third, 
Mr. Bannerman. 
With a dish of six Peaches Mr. Gilman, gardener to Lord Shrewsbury, 
Ingestrie Hall, was first with very fine Violette Hatives. Second, Mr. 
Dawes with Bellegardes. Third, Mr. Basil Herbert. Eight exhibitors. 
Tomatoes.—First, Lord Hotham. Second, Lord Shrewsbury. Third, 
Mrs. Meynell Ingram. Melons, Green Flesh.—First, Mr. Gilman with 
Hero of Lockinge. Second, Mr. Webb, Kelham Hall. Third, Mr. J. 
Edmunds, Bestwood Park. Scarlet Flesh Melon.—First, Mr. J. 
Edmunds with Read’s. Dish of Cherries.—First, Mr. Gilman with 
very fine Black Tartarian. Second, Mr. Dawes. Strawberries.—First, 
Lord Aylesford, Packington (Mr. A. Elphin-tone, gardener), with 
remarkably high coloured Sir Joseph Paxton. Second, Mr. J. Thorpe. 
Third, Mr. Gilman. 
Of the vegetables we can only say that both produce and competi¬ 
tion was good, that the prizes offered by the Society for nine dishes 
were won by Mr. Thorpe, Lord Carnarvon’s gardener, and Mr. Gilman ; 
that Messrs. Sutton’s prizes were adjudged to Lord Carnarvon and 
Messrs. Harris and Fitzherbert ; and that Messrs. Webb’s prizes were 
won by Messrs. Harris and Meakin. Many other exhibits must be 
passed, but a strong word of approval must be recorded for the cottagers,’ 
produce both in respect to vegetables and flowers. 
The Show was opened by the Duke of Sutherland, who, with the 
Duchess and guests, closely examined the exhibits. A largely attended 
luncheon was held on the ground, at which speeches were deliver d 
