July 9, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
29 
occasion by J. S. Balfour, Esq., M.P. This Show was a great success both 
as a display and also financially, and extra space had to be provided to 
accommodate the large number of entries. As a rule the classes were well 
filled, the extraordinary quantity of Roses testifying to the popularity of 
the queen of flowers in the Croydon district, and local exhibitors being well 
to the front. There were no less than 120 feet run of tables occupied by 
stands and boxes of Roses, besides many detached lots for display and com¬ 
petition. In the open class for Roses, forty-eight blooms, distinct, the first 
prize went to Cheshunt, Messrs. Paul and Son’s lot including extra good 
blooms of Senateur Yaisse, Marquise de Castellane,S. Reynolds Hole, Madame 
Gabriel Luizet, Xavier Olibo, La Duchesse de Morny, La France, Merveille 
de Lyon,. Frangois Levet, Maurice Bernardin, Sultan of Zanzibar, and 
Abel Carriere. The second prize was taken by Mr. AY. Rumsey, Waltham 
Cross, with, amongst others, excellent samples of Madame Gabriel Luizet, 
Pnncess Beatrice, Heinrich Schultheis (grand), Marguerite Brassac, Madame 
Sophy Fropot, Julius Finger, Edouard Morren ; and the third prize by G. 
Bunyard it Co., Maidstone, with a very even lot, including most of the 
above. In the class of twenty-four H.P.’s, Messrs. Paul, Bunyard, and 
Rumsey stood in the rotation given ; whilst for twelve Teas, distinct, Mr. 
G. W. Piper, Uckfield, stepped into the first place with excellent blooms of 
Jean Pernet, Madame Bernard, Belle Lyonnaise,Annie Ollivier, Souvenird’un 
Ami, Catherine Mermet, and others ; Messrs. Bunyard taking second with, 
amongst others, good blooms of Jean Ducher, Perle des Jardins, La Boule 
d Or, Comte de Paris, and Madame Willermoz. For twelve Roses, one 
variety, Messrs. Bunyard secured the premier place with splendid blooms 
of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, a grand light flesh Rose, rather after the style 
of old Baroness Rothschild: Messrs. Paul being second with a good even 
stand of A. K. Williams. 
For the National Rose Society’s silver medal for the best Rose bloom in 
the Show exhibited by gardeners or amateurs, a perfect bloom of Etienne 
Levet was selected for the much-coveted honour, in the stand of twenty- 
four set up by Mr. H. Simmons, gardener to Rev. H. C. Hales, Woodman- 
court ; whilst the Society’s bronze medal was gained by Rev. W. Wilks, of 
Shirley, with a magnificent bloom of La France, in each case another bloom 
of the same variety running the winner very close. 
In the open class competion for a group of plants staged for effect, Mr. 
H. James, Lower Norwood, took the first prize with a fine group of Orchids, 
including some very rare specimens of Cattleyas and Masdevallias, Palms, 
Crotons, Dracmnas, &c.; Mr. T. Butcher, South Norwood, whose staging 
was very neat, running very close for second place, and only wanting in 
Orchids to have exchanged with Mr. James; Mr. Chaff, Park Hill 
Nursery, being a good third, but displaying rather too much 
colour for effect. Mr. James also took the first for six Orchids, 
which included a rare plant of Epidendrum vitellinum, carrying 
upwards of 100 blooms, a very fine Aerides odoratum purpurascens, and 
an equally good Odontoglossum cordatum aureum. The second six Orchids 
were highly creditable to Mr. Penfold, gardener to Canon Bridges, Bedding- 
ton House, and included a rare plant of Vanda tricolor, extra good for the 
season, and a fine Phalienopsis amabilis ; whilst Mr. A. Luff, gardener to 
**• . _Wy a tt, Esq., Streatham, showed for third prize a good Cypripedium 
Panshii, a fair Cattleya Warneri, and some others. 
The contest for nine stove and greenhouse plants in flower was an easy 
walk over for Mr. James, and his group had in it a very well-bloomed 
Stephanotis that would be bad to match, and excellent specimens of Kalo- 
santhes coccinea, Erica ferruginea, Anthurium Schertzerianum, Ixora Wil- 
Itamst, &c. For the nine foliage plants, Mr. W. King, gardener to P. Crow- 
ley, Esq., Waddon House, was a good first with healthy clean specimens of 
Crotons, Dracmnas, Asparagus tennissimus (the latter a grand specimen), 
Palms, Ac. Second, with very large specimens, was Mr. Penfold with a 
fine Cycas revoluta, Pandanus, Anthurium crystallinum, and other well- 
grown plants; and Mr. James here had to content himself with the third 
prize, though setting up a really good group, including a grand plant of 
Dracaena Baptisti, Croton Wiesmanni, and a fine old plant of Macrozamia 
Denmsoniana. In Dracmnas there was a strong contest amongst district 
gardeners and amateurs, Mr. W. King being placed first for excellent speci- 
D. Baptisti, D. amabilis, D. recurva, D. vivicans, and D. Gladstonei. 
I. N. Penfold second with several of the above, only wanting size to quite 
equal them ; and Mr. A. Luff third, his group having D. Lindeni and D. 
Goldieana, hoth very distinct and effective, and all being clean and bright, but 
rather small. 
collection of twenty-four bunches of cut flowers went to Mr. A. 
Alderman, gardener to C. Czarnikow, Esq., Mitcham, consisting of fine 
bunches and trusses of Gloxinias, Orchids, and other stove and greenhouse 
mooms. The dinner table was safe in the hands of Mrs. Butcher, South 
Norwood, who has been very successful this year in cut-flower decorations 
at first-class shows. 
The show of fruit was rather small, but Strawberries, MelonB, and Grapes 
were very commendable for the season, and Mr. A. Alderman staged Black 
Hamburghs, very neat, shapely, well-coloured bunches that would have held 
their own in a much stronger competition. His six Royal George Peaches, 
too, were even, well coloured fruits of excellent quality. Cucumbers were a 
very strong class, the first prize pair—Mr. Penfold’s—being Al. For the 
collection of vegetables Mr. J. Radbourne, gardener to Baroness Heath, 
came in well first in a strong class. Mr. J. Laing’s special prize for six 
Tuberous Begonias was also keenly contended for, the first prize going to Mr. 
± enfold with even well-grown plants in fine bloom, Mr. Brice taking second 
with a nearly equal half-dozen. 
Mr. T. Squibb, gardener to Alderman Cooper, Mayor of Croydon, set up 
S u- 6 !?" k at >dsome group of flowering and ornamental plants for decoration, 
which the Judges very highly commended. Mr. J. Laing, Forest Hill, also 
made a very fine display with examples rarely equalled at a local show, his 
Begonias fully sustaining their world-wide reputation, and were greatly ad- 
Tnir ® ■ Messrs. Cheal it Sons, Crawley, also sent for decoration a very fine 
group of herbaceous plants (cut spikes and trusses), and a first-class stand of 
Boses; Messrs. H. Coppin it Son had a good group of Begonias, &c. ; Mr. T. 
Butcher, a neat group of flowering plants, Palms, and Ferns ; and the 
westerham Nursery and Seed Company a choice collection of cut flowers. 
-the management reflected great credit on Mr. A. C. Roffey, the Secre- 
v ry, who was ably seconded by an active and very courteous Committee, 
who all thoroughly appreciate their work, and do it well. The staging was 
entrusted to Messrs. J. Fewell, T. Kemsley, W. Neale, H. Pinyon, and G. 
Belton, and the results showed their high qualifications for that office. The 
Judges included Messrs. J. Laing ; J. Peed, Tulse Hill; Legge, Wimbledon ; 
W. Jordan, Crawley, for the open class. Rev. A. Cheales, and Messrs. 
Ridout, and J. Brown, Reieate, for cut flowers ; and Mr. E. Morley, Mr. 
W. Rumsey, and Mr. G. W. Piper for gardeners’ and amateurs’ classes. 
During the day, which was fine and warm, though not sultry, the ground 
waB thronged and the tents filled with a great and fashionable company, in¬ 
cluding all the elite of the neighbourhood and many strangers. Everything 
passed off most harmoniously, and the Show was altogether very enjoyable. 
TUNBRIDGE WELLS. 
One of the most extensive and beautiful shows in Kent is that which 
annually attracts so many exhibitors and visitors to Tunbridge Wells, and 
which as regards the quality of the contributions is entitled to rank amongst 
the best provincial shows in the home counties. There is a freshness about 
all the produce that is most pleasing at midsummer, and each section of 
classes, plants, flowers, fruit, and vegetables are invariably well represented, 
so that a most diversified Show is provided. The site chosen is also a very 
suitable one, and this is a matter of considerable importance in the success 
of a flower show. The Calverley Hotel grounds are pleasantly situated, 
and in them the tents were placed that were devoted to the plants, groups, 
and vegetables, while the large Public Hall contained the fruit, Roses, mis¬ 
cellaneous cut flowers, and floral decorations. In a few classes the competi¬ 
tion was not quite bo k-en as at some previous shows, but this was chiefly 
notable in the fruit section, except the black Grapes and Peaches. 
Plants. —Stove and greenhouse plants are always an interesting feature 
at the Tunbridge Wells Show, and that now being noted was no exception 
to the rule. The largest prizes are offered in the open class for eight distinct 
varieties—namely, £3, £6, and £1 as the first, second, and third prizes 
respectively. First honours were accorded to Mr. A. Gibson, gardener to 
T. F. Burnaby Atkins, Esq., Halstead Place, Sevenoaks, who had beautiful 
fresh neat specimens, not of great size, but compact, healthy, and well 
flowered. They comprised Clerodendron Balfourianum, Ixora Williamsi, 
Dipladenia regina, Dipladenia amabilis, Anthurium Schertzerianum, ana 
Clerodendron fallax, with twenty panicles of its brilliant scarlet flowers. 
This very handsome plant is rarely seen so well shown as at this Exhibition, 
and it is rather surprising that so effective a plant for the summer exhibi¬ 
tions should be neglected, as it invariably attracts much attention when in 
good condition, though it would not perhaps possess the same value as a 
good Erica, Statice, or other hardwooded plant. Mr. T. Gilbert, Hastings, 
secured the second place with plants of similar size and freshness, and but 
few points behind the first. He had Erica Cavendishiana, Clerodendron 
Balfourianum, Aphelexis macrantha rosea, excellent; Allamanda grandiflora, 
Dipladenia amabilis, Statice profusa, Allamanda Hendersoni, and Erica 
Exquisite. Mr. Rann, Handcross Park Gardens, Crawley, followed, two of 
his best specimens being Hedaroma tulipifera and Statice Gilberti. There 
was also another open class for four plants, in which there were five com¬ 
petitors, Mr. Gibson being again the most successful, having Ixora Fraseri 
with large trusses, Dipladenia amabilis, Anthurium Schertzerianum, and 
Allamanda Hendersoni. Mr. Samuel Pope, gardener to J. F. Barran, Esq., 
Holmewood, Tunbridge Wells, was placed second, his best specimen being 
Allamanda Hendersoni with numerous large and handsome flowers. Mr. 
Rann’s plants were good, but not quite so fresh as the preceding, Stephanot s 
floribunda of globular form and freely flowered. In the local classes Mr. 
Moorhouse was first with six specimens, staging well-grown plants ; Mr. S. 
Pope also taking first with four specimens in the same section. 
Foliage plants were shown by many exhibitors, and in the class for eight 
specimens there was only one entry—namely, from Mr. Rann, who won the 
premier prize for magnificent plants in exceedingly healthy condition. 
They comprised the immense Cycas revoluta which has so frequently taken 
a prominent place at exhibitions; Croton angustifolius, about 6 feet high 
and beautifully coloured ; Beaucarnea recurvata, Thrinax elegans, an 
enormous Phoenix tenuis, and Croton Prince of Wales well coloured. Mr. 
Rann was also first, showing his magnificent plants of Gleichenia Mendeli, 
Cyathea Smithi, Gymnogramma chrysophylla, Thyrsopteris elegans, Cya- 
thea dealbata, Gleichenia rupestris gigantea, and G. flabellata; the large 
Gleichenias from Handcross Park are well known, and seldom are such 
specimens seen so fresh and healthy as they were at Tunbridge Wells. 
Mr. S. Pope took the second place, Dicksonias antarctica and squarrosa with 
Leucostegia immersa being uncommonly good in his collection. Mr. Moor¬ 
house, gardener to J. W. Temple, Esq., Leyswood, Groombridge, was third, 
Leucostegia immersa being one of his best plants. Two admirable collections 
of hardy Ferns were shown by Mr. H. Scammell, gardener to C. Kilby, Esq., 
Nevill Park, and Mr. J. Allan, gardener to G. H. Fielding, Esq., Ashurst 
Park. In the first named the most notable species and varieties were 
Struthiopteri3 germanica, Osmunda gracilis, Onoclea sensibilis, Onychium 
japonicum, Athyrium Filix-fcemina Fieldise, and Polystichum angulare pro- 
liferum, all very graceful. Mr. Allan had Polystichum plumosum, Asplenium 
marinum, and Lastrea grandidens in excellent condition. Caladiums were 
represented by moderate-sized plants, but well selected distinct varieties 
brightly coloured. Mr. Shoobridge, gardener to W. Edwards, Esq., Fern 
Bank, Tunbridge Wells, took the lead with Chantini, Houlleti, Discolor, 
Whitei, and Tricolor, very beautiful. Mr. J. Allan followed with smaller 
but neat examples of Belleymei, Beethoven, and ltubricaulis, Mr. Turner 
beiDg third with Meyerbeer, Herald, and Houlleti. Foliage Begonias were 
well shown by Messrs. Scammell and Beilby. 
The contributions in the smaller classes for Pelargoniums, Begonias, and 
Achimenes added materially to the beauty of the exhibition, forming a 
margin near the sidps of the tent. The principal prizes were secured by 
Messrs. Allan, Beilby, Turner, Wilkins, and Shoobridge. 
Groups invariably constitute an important feature in the Tunbridge 
Wells Show, one tent being entirely devoted to them. On this occasion 
there were six competitors, all of whom had tasteful groups, differing 
chiefly in the lightness with which the plants were arranged, as in choice 
of materials and combinations of colours there was little to favour any of 
them specially. Premier honours were awarded to Mr. G. Fennell, gardener 
