10 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ July 2, 1685. 
the best, was held in Ashley Park, Walton-on-Thames, the seat of J. S. 
Sassoon, Esq. The Tudor mansion is an interesting, even an historical old 
building, for it was once occupied by the famous Cardinal Wolsey. At 
present one side of it is clothed with venerable Magnolias, and the pleasure 
grounds and park are well timbered with trees old and young, and the entire 
surroundings of the mansion kept in beautiful order by Mr. Sutton, the 
gardener. 
The Exhibition was held in three marquees in the Park—one, very large, 
accommodating the specimen plants, another wholly occupied with groups 
arranged for effect, a third containing fruit, cut flowers, and vegetables, and 
the competition was highly creditable in every department. No pretence 
will be made to give anything like a detailed report of the Show, a glance 
at its leading features being all that is practicable. 
In no section was the interest keener than in the effect groups, for which 
special prizes were offered, and in no classes did the Judges experience 
greater difficulty in granting the awards. Two classes were provided, one 
for semicircular groups 14 feet by 7 feet, the other for similar groups 10 feet 
by 5 feet, arranged on the ground. In the former class the first prize was 
won by Mr. R. Caute, gardener to J. P. Robinson, Esq., Brookleigh, Esher, 
with a bright, light, and beautiful arrangement. Associated with Palms and 
other foliage plants were Lilium auratum and umbellatum, Tuberous 
Begonias and Campanulas, with graceful Humeas drooping over all, the 
front being well finished with Ferns, Gloxinias, and Panicums, not a pot 
being visible, yet no semblance of overcrowding. Mr. Sutton, gardener to 
J. S. Sassoon, Esq., was a close second with a similar arrangement, in which 
some scarlet Pentstemons had a pretty effect; and Mr. Wakefield, gardener 
to E. Pettit, Esq., Bowater, Oatlands Park, third, with a rich floral mass, 
but somewhat crowded. In the smaller groups, in which the first and second 
prizes were given by the President of the Society, G. F. Wilson, Esq., the 
competition was even more keen. After a deadlock, only relieved by the 
retirement of a Judge, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Plowman, gardener 
to C. L. Lavers Smith, E^q., Oakfield, Walton, with a well-finished arrange¬ 
ment of good plants; a groundwork of Ferns with healthy Dracaenas and 
Palms rising above them, the back brightened with scarlet Liliums and the 
front margined with Lobelias and Isolepis. Mr. Millican was placed second 
with a charming arrangement, and but for the weak margin and visible pots 
of Lobelias he must have had a higher place. Mr. Frankis, gardener to 
J. W. Wilson, E;q., Oatlands Park, was third with an extremely pretty 
arrangement of Saxifraga pyramidalis, Canterbury Bells, and Palms ; Mr. 
Reeve, gardener to W. Hewitt, Esq., Templemore, having the fourth place 
with a highly meritorious assortment. 
In the large tent a brilliant feature was a collection of plants from 
Messrs. T. Jackson & Sons, Kingston, which included splendidly flowered 
Orchids, Heaths, and other hardwooded plants and a few choice Gloxinias. 
The best six stove and greenhouse plants were staged by Mr. Wakefield. 
Erica ventricosa alba, fresh and good ; two Azaleas, Stephanotis, very fine ; 
a Rhynchospermum, and Dracophvllum. In the class for four plants Mr. 
Plowman was to the fore with a Kalosanthes, Clerodendron, Rhynchosper¬ 
mum, and Stephanotis, all in splendid condition. Mr. Reeves had the best 
specimen flowering plant, a bright and healthy example of Erica Caven- 
dishiana. Mr. Caute secured the first prize for four Ferns, excellent 
examples of culture ; and he staged a brilliant example of Acalypha 
tricolor. Mr. Child had the best Fuchsias — columnar plants 6 feet 
high, with pendant sprays of fine flowers and clean foliage ; also the 
best Begonias and Achimenes. Caladiums, very fine indeed, won first 
honours for Mr. Reeve. Mr. Carpenter staged admirably grown Gloxinias ; 
Mr. Millican, Liliums ; Mr. Reed, Orchids ; and Messrs. Bennett & Reeves, 
Pelargoniums. Most or all of the exhibitors named also secured prizes in 
other classes. 
Fruit was of good average quality. The prizes for black Grapes were 
won respectively by Messrs. Osman, gardener to L. J. Baker, Esq., Otter- 
shaw Park ; Sparrow, gardener to Rev. A. Bramwelt, Barrow Hills ; and 
Frankis, gardener to J. W. Wilson, Esq., Oatlands Park. Mr. Osman was 
first with white Grapes, very fine Buckland Sweetwater; Messrs. Sparrow, 
and Frankis being second and third with Foster’s Seedling, ripeness, not size, 
being favoured by the Judges. The last-named exhibitor staged the best 
Melon in the Show—Read’s Scarlet-flesh—the best green flesh being Hero 
of Lockinge from Mr. Child. Mr. Sparrow had the best Peaches, apparently 
Gros Mignonne ; and Mr. Wakefield the best Nectarines—Lord Napier. By 
far the finest Strawberries in the Show were exhibited by Mr. T. Sharpe, 
Knole Hill, the variety being Marguerite ; and Mr. Sutton won the prize 
for a collection of fruit. 
Very good stands of Roses were staged by Messrs. Sparrow, Carpenter, 
and Bennett, who were awarded the prizes respectively. Mr. Millican out¬ 
distanced all competitors with dining and drawing-room epergnes. Trusses 
of ripe Strawberries with Deutzias rising from the base of the former, 
purple Sweet Peas at the top, the latter being finish- d mainly with scarlet 
Sweet Peas, White Roses, and pink Begonias. The successful exhibitors of 
table plants were Messrs. Caute, Sutton, and Reed. 
Vegetables were in great force, Mr. J. Waite, gardener to Col. Hon. W. 
P. Talbot, Esher, securing the first prize with a collection comprising 
splendid dishes of Onions, Artichokes, Asparagus, Cauliflowers, Potatoes, 
Carrots, and Tomatoes, Messrs. Child and Sparrow following with most 
creditable produce. 
A good deal more might be said about this excellent Show if space per¬ 
mitted, but a line must be found to record a presentation—an article of 
silver at the luncheon to Mr. Thomas Rawlings in recognition of his 
valuable services as Secretary to the Society since its formation in 1865. 
PRUNING ORCHIDS. 
The remarks recently made in your column? by Mr. Prinsep and 
“ A Thinker” anent the pruning system are supremely ridiculous. They 
both exclaim because the opponents of that system, and particularly 
Mr. Baines, required that a pruned Dendrobe should be exhibited in 
London before they could accept Mr. Prinsep’s assertions as conclusive. 
Personally I fail to see any just cause for complaint. London is not only 
the largest and richest city in the world, but is the capital of this kingdom, 
and, I might add, of Europe. London holds the same position in this 
nineteenth century which Paris held in the eighteenth, and everyone who 
wishes to advance a new theory or make a name must come here to have 
his pretensions investigated by experts in his department of human 
intelligence. 
When Mr. Crookes startled the scientific world with the announcement 
of his discovery of the radiometer, many sceptics arose, yet I never heard 
that he considered himself aggrieved when asked to exhibit his extra¬ 
ordinary little instrument before the Royal Society. Again, were the 
Australian cricketers offended at being invited to show us their quality on 
our metropolitan ground ? Quite the reverse, they were delighted at the 
opportunity afforded them of proving that they were as good, if not better, 
men than ourselves. 
Every innovator and every discoverer must be prepared to encounter a 
certain amount of incredulity until time has proved the soundness of 
their views, and there is not the least reason why Mr. Prinsep should be 
any exception to this rule. He has stumbled upon a discovery which is 
opposed to all the teachings of Nature ; so opposed indeed, that had he 
lived in old days under the Inquisition and dared to propound his new 
theory, he would probably have found himself in durance vile. As it is, 
he need now only wait a few months until Orchid growers have had an 
opportunity of testing his practice, when, if it succeeds, one and all will, 
I am sure, be quite ready to accord to him the honour which is his due. 
Of course if others cannot make the pruning system answer it must be 
relegated to that large lumber room where hundreds of other fads have 
gone before.—B. D. Knox. 
MAIDSTONE ROSE SHOW. 
The annual Exhibition of the Maidstone Rose Club was held in the 
Concert Rooms on Monday, and although not equal in extent to the Canter¬ 
bury Show, owing mainly to the fact that there are no prizes open to all 
England, and consequently the large growers, Messrs. Paul, Cant, and 
Prince, who showed so strongly at Canterbury, were not there, yet a very 
good collection of Roses from amateurs was shown, and the competition 
was keen and spirited; but taken altogether I do not think that the quality 
of the flowers was as good as in the Cathedral City. The devices were 
better, and the prizes for shoulder knots brought together a good competi¬ 
tion, while the prize for garden Roses introduced a novelty which was very 
pleasing, and which I hope to see still more largely shown at the National 
on the 7th. 
In the class for twenty-four distinct varieties, twelve Hybrid Perpetuals 
and twelve Teas or Noisettes, the prizes were awarded to Captain Knight, 
Mr. W. H. Wakeley and Mr. John Hollingworth. The competition was very 
close between the first and second stands. Captain Knight s Roses were 
Henri Ledechaux, Marquis de Sauria, Exposition de Brie, Madame Hippolyte 
Jamin, Belle Lyonnaise, Marie Rady, Marie Van Houtte, Souvenir d’un 
Ami, Madame Furtado, Horace Vernet, Laurette, Anna Ollivier, Comtesse de- 
Nadaillac, Louise de Savoie (a very beautiful Tea, rarely seen), Duke of 
Edinburgh, A. K. Williams, La France, Catherine Mermet, Captain Christy, 
Madame Willermoz, Charles Lefebvre, Eugene Furst, and Madame Marie- 
Finger. 
In the class for eighteen, distinct, Mr. R. E. We3t was first with a beau¬ 
tiful box, containing La France, Eugene Furst, Madame Gabriel Luizet, 
Marie Baumann, Yiolette Bouyer, Francois Michelon, Marquise de Castel- 
lane, Mary Quennell, Merveille de Lyon, Alfred Colomb, Helen Paul, Duke of 
Teck, Duke of Edinburgh, Ulrich Brunner, Abel Carriere, Baroness Rothschild, 
A. K. Williams, and Duchesse de Yallombrosa. Mr. H. Foster of Ashford was 
second with a good stand, containing amongst others a bloom of A. K. Williams, 
which obtained the bronze medal of the National Rose Society for the premier 
bloom in the Show. Mr. J. Hollingworth was third in the class for twelve. 
Mr. R. E. West was again first with a perfect box, which also obtained the 
National Rose Society’s silver medal for the best box in the Show. Irre¬ 
spective of numbers it contained La France, Louis Van Houtte, Baroness. 
Rothschild, Madame Gabriel Luizet, A. K. Williams, Countess of Rosebery, 
Duke of Edinburgh, Marie Van Homte, Marguerite Brassac, Marquise de 
Castellane, Abel Carrie e, Violette Bouyer. The Rev. H. B. Biron was 
second. 
In the class for nine Mr. J. M. Fuller was first with Duke of Edinburgh,, 
Marie Finger, Prince Arthur, Madame Hippolyte Jamin, Charles Lefebvre, 
Marguerite de St. Amand, Etienne Levet, Madame Gabriel Luizet, and 
Marie Baumann. _ , _ 
In the class for six trebles Mr. W. H. Wakeley was first. His box 
contained good blooms of Abel Carriere, Louis Van Houtte, Madame Gabriel 
Luizet, &c. . _ , ... , r 
In the class for six varieties Mr. Fuller was again first with Marquise 
de Castellane, La France, Dr. Andry, Marie Finger, Madame Gabriel 
Luizet, and Marie Baumann. # 
In the class for twelve T as Mr. John Hollingworth was first with 
Caroline Kuster, Madame Welsh, Marie Guillot, Perle des Jardins, Bouquet 
d’Or, Catherine Mermet, Souvenir d’un Ami, Comtesse Parnesse, Bell& 
Lyonnaise, Anna Ollivier, Madame Jules Margottin, and Souvenir de Ban? 
Neyron. Captain Knight was second, and the Rev. H. B. Biron third. His. 
box was noteworthy for containing a very beautiful seedling raised by Mr. 
Hossack, gardener to the Marquis of Conyngham at Bifrons, called Lady 
Conyngham, but it was unfortunately too like Catherine Mermet to be 
classed as distinct from that fine flower. 
In the class for six Teas Messrs. Ashhurst & Tucker were first with Marie 
Van Houtte, a very beautiful bunch of Reve d’Or, Souvenir d’un Ami,. 
Anna Ollivier, Catherine Mermet, and Belle Lyonnaise. 
In the class for six of the same variety Mr. R. E. West was first with- 
Madame Gabriel Luizet, Mr. Wakeley second with Gabriel Luizet, and Messrs* 
Ashhurst and Tucker third with Gloire de Dijon. # 
In the class for six Teas, three of each, Captain Knight was first witn 
Madame Hippolyte Jamin, Souvenir d’un Ami, Madame Furtado, Laurette, 
Marie Van Houtte, and Madame Liabaud. # 
In the class for twelve bunches of Moss, Provence, or Hybrid China Roses 
Mr. A. J. Killick was first with York (a white Rose), Lancaster (a red), 
