July 23, 1385. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
73 
fourth, R. Ramsden, Esq. For six blooms of one variety, H.P.—First, Mr. 
E. Thorne ; second, Mr. C. Collcutt; third, Mr. Wm. Narroway ; fourth, 
Rev. E. Penwame-Wellinga. For six distinct varieties, Tea or Noisette.— 
First, Mr. F. Freeman; second. R. Ramsden, Esq.; third, Mr. C. Collcutt. 
For one bloom, H.P.—First, Mr. Wm. Narroway; second, Mr. C. Colcutt; 
third, Rev. G. R. Downes, Begbroke, Oxford. For one bloom, Tea or 
Noisette.—First, Mr. C. Collcutt; second, Mr. F. Freeman ; third, Rev. G. R. 
Downes.—J. B. E. 
[The publication of this report was delayed by our correspondent in¬ 
advertently omitting to address it to the “Editor.” See notice on page 
78.1 
BIRMINGHAM ROSE SHOW.— July 15th and 16th. 
The first Exhibition of Roses in connection with the Botanical and 
Horticultural Society was a success, very fine blooms being staged, the 
competition close, and the entries good. The display was admirably staged 
in the new Glass Hall, and Mr. Latham created an excellent effect by a 
judicious arrangement of Ferns, Palms, and other plants. In class 1, for 
thirty-six trusses, the Cranston Nursery Company was first with a capital 
collection, the finest blooms being Deborah, Marquise de Castellane, a grand 
Duchesse de Morny, A. K. Williams, very fine; Merveille de Lyon, and 
Mons. E. Y. Teas. The second prize fell to Messrs. Perkins & Son, nursery¬ 
men, Coventry, in whose lot were fine blooms of Due de Rohan, Yiolette 
Bouyer, Mrs. Laxton, Charles Darwin, and a lovely bright-coloured Tea, 
Souvenir de Thdrese Levet, which was very much admired. Third, Messrs. 
Paul & Son, Cheshunt Nurseries, who had fine blooms of A. K. Williams, 
Marshal P. Wilder, Madame Alphonse Lavallee, Queen of Queens, Lady 
Sheffield, and Duke of Tec-k. An equal third prize was also awarded to Mr. 
CharleB Turner, Slough, the stand containing fine blooms of Marguerite 
D’Ombrain Merveille de Lyon, Comtesse de Nadaillac, A. K. Williams, and 
Ulrich Brunner. 
For thirty-six blooms there were six entries. Messrs. Paul & Son were 
first, including splendid blooms of Madame Alphonse Lavalle, Star of 
Waltham, Countess of Rosebery, E. Y. Teas, Marshal P. Wilder, and A. K. 
Williams ; second prize to the Cranston Nursery Company, Hereford, their 
finest blooms being Comtesse de Morny, Madame Caroline Kuster, Comtesse 
de Nadaillac, Prince Arthur, and Madame Willermoz. Third, Mr. Charles 
Turner, and a fine bloom of King of Bedders was especially noticeable in 
this stand, also good blooms of Caroline Kuster, Franqois Louvat, and Marie 
Verdier. 
With twenty-four single trusses Messrs. Cranston & Co. were first, and 
in their stand A. K. Williams, Antoine Ducher, Merveille de Lyon, Duchesse 
de Morny, Lady Sheffield, Horace Yernet, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, and 
Reynolds Hole were all of very fine quality. Messrs. Perkins & Son, 
Coventry, were a good second, Louis Van Houtte, Mons. E. Y. Teas, Alba 
Rosea, Etienne Levet, and Merveille de Lyon particularly good. 
For twenty-four single blooms the Cranston Company were to the front 
with Madame Ferdinand Jamain very fine ; Lady Sheffield, Duke of Edin- 
hurgh, and Horace Yernet and other kinds. Second, Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, Merveille de Lyon, Souvenir d’Elise Vardon, and Marie Baumann 
very fine. Third, Mr. H. Frettingham, Nottingham. 
In the class for twelve Teas and Noisettes, first, Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, with a beautiful lot, consisting of Alba Rosea, Madame Cusin, 
Marshal Niel, Niphetos, Catherine Mermet, Souvenir d’Elise Yardon, 
Souvenir d’un Ami, Perle des Jardins, Innocente Pirola, La Boule d’Or, 
Caroline Kuster, and _ the Hon. R. Giffard. Second, the Cranston Nursery 
Company, with Marie Yan Houtte, Madame Therese Levet, Innocente 
Pirola, Jean Ducher and others, a fine lot. Third, Mr. Charles Turner, 
including a grand bloom of Comtesse de Nadaillac and a very fine Madame 
Lambard. 
Id the amateur classes for twenty-four trusses, the Rev. H. W. Watson 
■was first, having in his stand fine blooms of George Prince, E. Y. Teas, and 
Caroline Kuster. For twenty-four singles, A. H. Griffiths, a well-known 
local grower, was first, and fine blooms of Franqois Michelon, Captain 
Christy, Marie Yerdier, Due de Rohan, A. K. Williams, and Etienne Levet 
were in this stand; W. G. Mayhew, Esq., was second, and Mr. Brown of 
Elmdon Hall, third. For twelve trusses, R. Ramsden, Esq., was first; 
A. H. Griffiths, Esq., second ; Rev. W. J. Williams, third. For twelve 
blooms Mr. Griffiths was again first, including fine blooms of Marie Yerdier, 
Charles Lefebvre, Franqois Michelon, Rosieriste Jacobs, and Duchesse de 
Vallombrosa. Second, Rev. W. J. Williams. Third, J. Richards, Esq. 
With twelve Teas and Noisettes the Rev. Mr. Williams was first with 
Marie Van Houtte, Etoile de Lyon, Jean Ducher, Souvenir de Paul Yernet, 
Anna Olivier, Perle des Jardins, Madame Hippolyte Jamain, Caroline Kuster, 
Catherine Mermet, Souvenir d’Elise Yardon, Madame Furtado, and a very 
fine Madame Lambard. Second, R. Ramsden, Esq. Third, Rev. Mr. 
Watson. ’ 
A few good Rose bouquets were shown, and altogether a very good 
display was made, and it is probable that an annual Rose show will now 
take place in the Botanic Gardens. Mr. F. Perkins, nurseryman. Leamington, 
contributed a basket of Pelargonium VolunteNationale album in fine condition, 
also capital Rose bouquets and sprays. Mr. Hans Niemand set up a beautiful 
group of plants not for competition, and obtained certificates for Caladium 
candidum and Abutilon Thompsoni flore-pleno. Mr. Vertegans contributed 
a collection of alpine and herbaceous plants, and Mr. Davidson, nurseryman, 
Hereford, a box of excellent blooms of Merveille de Lyon. 
BEDFORD AND BEDS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The second annual Exhibition of this Society, which, with the exception 
of open classes for Roses and cut herbaceous flowers, is limited to exhibitors 
residing within the county, was held at Bedford on Wednesday, the 15th 
inst. As regards the Show generally, the exhibits, which chiefly came 
from amateurs and cottagers, were of fair average merit, but there were no 
dealers’ classes. The vegetable department was the best; fruits and plants, 
doubtless in consequence of the smallness of the prizes, being almost prac¬ 
tically unrepresented by good show specimens in competition. Some good 
Grapes, however, came from Mr. Landers, gardener to S. Whitbread, Esq., 
M.P., Southill Park, and some fine Tomatoes from Mr. Allis, gardener to 
Major Shuttleworth, Old Warden, and a creditable collection of fruit from 
Mr. R. Waller, gardener to Ja=>. Howard, Esq., M.P., took first prize in the 
gardeners’ clas3 for six kinds. The principal prizes for vegetables were 
well contested, Mr. Waller taking the lead with a fine tray of twelve sorts. 
He was also first with a collection of six varieties of Peas shown in good 
colour and size. Mr. G. Vyne, gardener to H. Thornton, Esq., Kempston 
Grange ; Mr. Ellis, gardener to Mrs. Orr, Pemberley, Bedford; and Mr. G. 
Robinson, gardener to F. Howard, Esq., the Abbey Close, Bedford, were well 
to the front with fine collections in various classes in this department. Mr. 
Laxton of Bedford and Girtford, exhibited a series of his new Peas, several 
of which have been certificated by the Royal Horticultural Society ; Evo¬ 
lution, Charmer, Victorious, Walton Hero, and Sensation being especially 
noticeable. 
The open classes, however, for Roses and cut herbaceous flowers con¬ 
stituted the feature of the Show, all the classes being well contested, and 
it is to be regretted that the number of classes were not more numerous, 
as Bedford, from its central position and railway facilities, would doubtless 
command a good competition. Teas especially should not be omitted in 
the open classes. On this occasion there were no less than eight stands of 
forty-eight distinct Roses staged in the dealers’classes, open to all England, 
for the prizes of £10, £5, and £3, the consequence being that several excel¬ 
lent stands had to go away entirely unremunerated, and amongst these the 
Judges had no little difficulty in discriminating, so generally good were the 
flowers. Another season the Committee would do well to add open classes 
for twenty-four blooms singles or trebles, and for eighteen Teas. 
For the open forty-eight Mr. B. R. Cant of Colchester was first with 
grand blooms, being quite up to his champion form. His finest flowers 
were Merveille de Lyon (now acknowledged to be the best of the white 
sports from Baroness Rothschild), Lady Sheffield (well shown also in several 
stands), Duke of Edinburgh, Reynolds Hole, Sultan of Zanzibar, Queen of 
Queens, Dr. Sewell, Mdlle. Prosper Laugier, Mdlle. Eugdnie Verdier, Mrs. 
Jowitt, Black Prince, Star of Waltham, Marie Yerdier, Emilie Hausberg, 
Madame Crapelet, and Madame Cusin. Mr. F. Cant was second with smaller 
but fresh flowers, including Duke of Teck, A. K. Williams, Annie Laxton, 
Lady Sheffield, and Camille Bernardin. Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Cam- 
ridge, came very close for third with well-coloured blooms, the mo3 t 
noticeable being La Boule d’Or (very fine), Marquise de Castellane, John 
Hopper, A. K. Williams, Star of Waltham, Pride of Waltham, Dr. Andry, 
Madame P. Laugier, Duke of Edinburgh, Madame V. Yerdier, and Madame 
Montet. Messrs. Paul & Son (who were also showing concurrently at Bir¬ 
mingham) ; Mr. J. House, Peterborough; Mr. George Prince, Oxford; Mr. 
W. Rumsey, Waltham Cross; and Mr. James Sheppard, Bedford, also 
staged well in this class. Mr. House also showed a beautiful box of William 
Allen Richardson, and Mr. Laxton a box of his pretty and floriferous new 
Rose Bedford Belle, as well as some good boxes of various Roses not for 
competition. 
In the class for twenty-four distinct trusses, open to amateurs of all 
England, the competition was strong and spirited, the Rev. J. H. Pemberton 
of Havering-atte-Bower, Essex, taking the cup with, amongst others, a 
splendid Nipheto3 and fine flowers of Louis Van Houtte, Ulrich Brunner, 
H. Vernet, Magna Charta, Baroness Rothschild, Madame Lambard, Beauty of 
Waltham, and Madame H. Jamain. Mr. S. P. Budd of Bath was second, 
having Princess of Wales, Lady Sheffield, Countess of Oxford, and Comte de 
Raimbaud ; Mr. Alfred Slaughter, Steyning, coming third, and the Rev. 
E. L.Fellowes, Wimpole Rectory, Royston, receiving commendation for an 
approximately fine stand. For twelve distinct trusses, open to amateurs 
of all England, the Rev. J. H. Pemberton was again first; Mr. E. B. Lind- 
sell of Bearton, Hitchin, second ; and Mr. Budd third. For twenty-four 
blooms (eighteen varieties) in the local amateurs’ class, the Rev. W. H. 
Jackson, Stagsden Vicarage, Bedford, was first, Mr. Yyne second, and Mr. 
Ellis third. For twelve ditto Mr. Jackson was again first, as also fortwelve 
Teas; and for nine blooms in the class for amateurs not employing a gar¬ 
dener Miss Thomas, The Cottage, Bletsoe, and for six ditto Mr. G. Fisher, 
Warden, were respectively first. 
Hardy herbaceous and bulbous flowers were well shown in the open class, 
Messrs. Burrell & Co. of Cambridge, who seem to be making these a specialty, 
having a very attractive display, to which first honours were awarded. 
Mr. Laxton here also had well-selected and showy blooms for second, Messrs. 
Horton and Sheppard of Bedford being respectively third and fourth with 
good displays. With more open classes a good general show would soon 
be established in Bedford. 
WIRRAL ROSE SHOW. 
This Society, which in its liberality and desire to encourage Rose-growers 
is exceeded by none and equalled by few, has never been very fortunate in 
the weather when its shows have been held, and this year it has been 
specially ; not that the day was as bad as some have been on which the shows 
have been held, but because up to this time every Rose Society that I have 
attended and whose doings I have heard of, have been favoured with fine 
weather, and it seemed especially trying to find that the rain so much 
longed for and desired by everybody, should have come on a day on which 
fine weather was so much desired. The Exhibition was held, too, this year 
in the open, under a very handsome tent erected on the grounds of Hamilton 
Square, Birkenhead. At its first beginning it was held in the Park at Birken¬ 
head, but that proved unsuccessful in a financial point of view, and so it 
was determined to remove it to Liverpool, and for two years it was held in 
St. George’s Hall, a splendid room no doubt, but where the light was 
wretchedly bad. The Liverpool people held aloof from it, and each year it 
proved a failure as far as the sinews of war were concerned, and so it was 
determined again to bold it at the Cheshire side, and to have it under a tent. 
The grounds of Hamilton Square had never before been used for any such 
purpose, and it was therefore the more to be regretted that the weather w r as 
not favourable; however, ic cleared off somewhat in the afternoon, and a 
considerable number of visitors attended. 
The Exhibition itself was an exc?llent one, and the local exhibitors 
especially are to be congratulated on the manner in which they have im¬ 
proved in the culture and setting up of the Roses. The amateur portion of 
the Exhibition was decidedly superior to the professional, and with the full 
