382 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 5,1891. 
The following are the dates of the chief Chrysanthemum Exhibitions 
to be held during November of which we have received schedules and 
advertisements:— 
Thursday, Nov. 5th.—Dalston and District (second day). 
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5th, and Gth.—Portsmouth and Ascot. 
Thursday, Nov. 5th.—Chiswick. 
Friday and Saturday, Nov. Gth and 7th.—Crystal Palace, Sydenham. 
Monday, Nov. 9ch.—St. Neots. 
Tuesday, Nov. 10th.—East Grinstead, 
Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10th and 11th.—Kingston-on-Thames, 
Horsham, Leeds, and South London. 
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Nov, 10th, 11th, and 12th.— 
National Chrysanthemum Society, Royal Aquarium, Westminster. 
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 11th and 12th.—Birmingham, Bourne¬ 
mouth, Northampton, Swansea, and Croydon. 
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12th and 13th.—Teddington, Wimbledon, 
and Ware. 
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 12th, 13th, and 14th.—Belfast. 
Friday, Nov. 13th.—Cheshunt and Hitchin. 
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13th and 14th.—Eccles, Leicester, Sheffield, 
Tooting, and Monmouth. 
Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 17th and 18th.—Liverpool, Salisbury, 
Twickenham, and Diss. 
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 18th and 19th.—Spalding. 
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 18th and 19th.—Hull and Rugby. 
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Nov. 18th, 19th, and 20th.—York. 
Thursday, Nov. 19th.—Wantage. 
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 19th, 20th, and 21st.—The 
Scottish Horticultural Society, Edinburgh. 
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20th and 21st.—Stirling, Chorley, Bolton, 
and Stockport. 
Saturday, Nov. 21st.—Batley. 
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 25th and 26th.—South Shields. 
The South Shields Chrysanthemum Show. 
Arrangements have been made for holding a Chrysanthemum 
Show in the Royal Assembly Hall, South Shields, on November 25th 
and 26th next, and we learn from a schedule just to hand that sub¬ 
stantial prizes, ranging from £5 downward, are offered for cut blooms, 
specimen plants, groups, and miscellaneous exhibits. A particularly 
strong local Committee has been formed, with Messrs. Bernard Cowan 
and H. Hinde as Hon. Secretaries, and the list of patrons and 
patronesses includes the Mayors and Mayoresses of South Shields and 
Darlington, with numbers of the principal residents in Durham. This 
is the most northern Show held in England, and it is rather strange 
that Newcastle, Alnwick, and Darlington have all tried the experiment, 
but failed to continue. There is every prospect of a better fate being 
in store of the South Shields Show, as it is under capital management, 
and much interest is being awakened in the district. The hall is said to 
be a spacious one, and is lighted by electricity. 
Notes on Exhibition Prize Schedules. 
The autumn exhibitions, which are mainly intended for the 
encouragement of Chrysanthemum cultivation, have fairly begun; 
no less than three southern towns had their fixtures in October. 
Until the last half a dozen years Chrysanthemum shows in that month 
were a rare occurrence, but now these southern fixtures are not found 
to be at all too early ; whether it is owing to the earliness of the 
seasons generally, or the method of cultivating the plants, or to the 
introduction of early flowering kinds, it is difficult to say. One useful 
purpose these early fixtures serve—that of lessening somewhat the clash¬ 
ing of dates, which is bad enough now, as the time over which the 
Chrysanthemum lasts in its perfection is too short. Something over 
one hundred shows have to be crowded into the small space of one 
month, which proves what a hold the Chrysanthemum has upon the 
public, or so many societies could not exist, and it is seldom that one 
collapses owing to lack of patronage. 
I do not perceive any falling off in the interest in the coming 
campaign amongst the large army of cultivators of all classes. Ample 
prizes are offered at most of the leading shows, the bulk going to the 
cut bloom classes, owing, I presume, to the greater interest taken in 
this section by the subscribers and the general public. The ball was 
set rolling at Southampton, October 27th, in the Victoria Hall, a 
capital site for an exhibition of this kind, abundance of light being 
obtainable. For the last few years this Society has not held an autumn 
exhibition, which is to be regretted, for at one time the annual gathering 
there was anxiously looked forward to by all concerned. The schedule 
contained several substantial prizes in the cut bloom department, five 
guineas being offered for twenty-four blooms, half incurved and the 
remainder Japanese, with proportionate second and third prizes also, 
and good competition resulted. 
The Kent County Society held their Exhibition in the Rink at Black- 
heath, November 3rd and 4th. Although this Society is but young in 
years it is regarded as one of the best of the metropolitan meetings fixed. 
As it is just before other leading gatherings some of the best blooms in 
the neighbourhood of London find their way to it. Prizes of £8, £6, 
£4, and £2 were offered for thirty-six blooms in the usual divided way of 
incurved and Japanese kinds. The schedule contained no less than 
thirty-seven classes, which provided abundance of scope for both large 
and small growers, and gave considerable variety to the Exhibition. 
Amateurs receive much encouragement; a first prize of £3 was offered 
for twenty-four blooms equal in numbers of incurved and Japanese. 
Another rising Society not far from London is Watford. Their Exhibi¬ 
tion was fixed for November 3rd and 4th also. Numerous prizes were 
offered. The two sections, incurved and Japanese, are kept apart here. 
Good prizes were given in each class. 
Portsmouth, November 4th, is an important fixture in the south. 
Probably nowhere else in England can such a site be found for a gather¬ 
ing of this kind, and nowhere are the poor classes encouraged in the same 
manner that they are here; Id. only is the charge for the last three 
hours on the closing night, a treat appreciated. A very comprehensive 
schedule was issued by the Committee, containing no less than fifty- 
eight classes for Chrysanthemums alone. Nowhere do specimen plants 
receive the same encouragement as here. For eight the first prize was 
£8, and £5 for second, besides others proportionately substantial in the 
smaller classes. Cut blooms were thoroughly well provided for by thirty- 
nine classes. For twenty-four Japanese and the same number of incurved 
in not less than eighteen varieties, and not more than two of one variety, 
the first prize was a handsome piece of plate value £25, along with a 
cash prize of £8 ; second £7, third £5, and the fourth £3. It may be 
remembered that this trophy was secured by Messrs. Drover, Fareham, 
last year. Another important class was that for twenty-four blooms, 
twelve Japanese and the same number of incurved ; £5 is the leading 
prize. Single varieties receive every encouragement here, and thoroughly 
well do they deserve it, as no one can deny who have witnessed this 
exhibition of single Chrysanthemums. 
The autumn meeting at the Crystal Palace has long been well 
patronised by Chrysanthemum specialists, and is one of the annual 
events looked forward to. November Gth and 7tli are the dates this 
year. Sums of £10, £7, £5, and £3 are offered in the leading.class for 
cut blooms, no less a number than forty-eight being required, the 
wording of which renders competition easier than usual; but eighteen 
varieties in each section, incurved and Japanese, are stipulated for. 
Competition in this class is always keen. On the same dates the Brad¬ 
ford Society hold their show, which must be considered an early date 
for a town situated so far north. Experience has probably taught the 
management that it is not too early to secure satisfactory results. 
£10 is there the leading prize offered for forty-eight blooms under 
similar conditions to many other societies. 
The most important of the metropolitan meetings—that of the 
National Chrysanthemum and the Kingston Societies—are held the 
week following the Crystal Palace date. Tuesday, Wednesday, and 
Thursday are the days selected for the former. Whether the holding of 
a three-days show is to be recommended or not is a matter for future 
consideration ; but I am inclined to think that such an arrangement 
will not find favour with the majority of exhibitors, and especially 
when the small prizes compared with other years is taken into account, 
for there is a great falling off in the value. The principal class is what is 
known as the Co. class. Forty-eight blooms are required in not less 
than twenty-four distinct kinds of both incurved and Japanese, the 
entry to be made in the name of a society. The blooms can be grown 
by any number of members belonging to the society in whose name the 
entry is made, a challenge trophy and £10 being for the premier award 
in this class, the former to be retained by the President of the winning 
Society for one year, and the cash to be divided amongst the contri¬ 
butors of the blooms. This class is, in my opinion, not calculated to 
have a long existence, being too complicated. Two other classes are 
worthy of mention in the schedule—that for forty-eight incurved 
blooms in not less than twenty-four varieties; £8, £6, £4 are the 
amounts at stake. The schedule contains a similar class for Japanese 
blooms. Several good prizes in special classes are given, but the condi¬ 
tions of competition are very much against a big entry that I shall be 
much surprised if one is received. I allude to the various trade classes. 
Already 1 hear complaints from exhibitors of there being nothing worth 
going for at the N.C.S. meeting. I am pleased to see that this Society 
are offering prizes for blooms arranged in what is hoped will be an 
effective manner without the aid of the show boards, which will dis¬ 
pense with much of the dissatisfaction at present expressed by a certain 
class of would-be reformers in the manner at present practised in 
“ setting up” Chrysanthemum blooms in a cut state. 
The Kingston Society have fixed their dates for the 10th and 11th 
November. The schedule contains but few alterations from previous 
years. I have often heard the remark that a Society of this class ought 
to encourage more variety. There is but one reason why the schedule 
is not extended—viz., want of space in the Drill Hall where the Show 
is held ; the entries in the present classes quite fill the space at command. 
The leading prize is the challenge vase valued at 25 guineas, with the 
addition of £5 in cash, for forty-eight blooms distinct, half incurved 
and the remainder Japanese.. Such a class as this affords ample oppor¬ 
tunity for testing the skill of a grower. It may be fresh in the minds 
