Angnst 6, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
119 
Mr. H. Mercer third. The exhibits in the class for one vase or epergne 
were not extra good, and need no special mention. 
Miscellaneous exhibits were numerous. The Horticultural Company 
(John Cowan), Garston, contributed largely to the effective display of one 
tent by staging two large circular groups of Tea Roses in bloom in 5-inch 
pots, and a similar group of varieties of Lilium lancifolium, while two 
others were composed of a general assortment of foliage plants, such as 
Crotons and Ferns, with large Dendrobium Dalhousiana and D. Parishi 
profusely flowered, arranged in the centre. A collection of Petunias and 
pot Vines were also on view. Messrs. R. P. Ker it Sons staged an imposing 
assortment of flowering and foliage plants, which included many new and 
rare kinds. Messrs. F. and A. Dickson & Sons also contributed a similar 
collection of plants ; Messrs. Perkins it Sons, Coventry, plants of Pelar¬ 
gonium Volontd Nationa’.e alba; and Mr. J. R. Pearson, Chilwell, Notting¬ 
ham, a collection of Zonal Pelargoniums. The Horticultural Company also 
staged Lagerstremia indica in small pots, well bloomed, with pretty neat 
small pink flowers. Messrs. R. P. Ker it Sons were awarded certificates of 
merit for Davallia faeniculosa, Vriesia hieroglyphics, Adiantum Caledonite, 
and Plumaria odoratissima (Frangipani), very rarely seen in flower, and 
produces a sweet white Tabernsemon tana-like flower. 
FRUIT. 
The display of fruit was remarkably good, especially the collections in 
the open classes and those devoted to Grapes, while there was a slight falling 
off in the number of Peaches and Nectarines. In the open class for eight 
dishes, distinct, Mr. J. Edwards, gardener to the Duke of St. Albans, Best- 
wood, Nottingham, took the lead with examples of Muscat of Alexandria 
and Black Hamburgh Grapes, good in every respect except size of berry, 
being rather small; Bellegarde Peaches remarkably fine, Elruge Necta¬ 
rine good, Brown Turkey Figs, Cherries, a good Queen Pine, and a scarlet 
Premier Melon. Mr. J. Ward, gardener to T. H. Oakes, Esq., Biddings 
House, Alfreton, was the only other competitor in this class, and was 
deservedly placed second, having good Biacn Hamburgh Grapes, Cherries, 
Bellegarde Peaches, Transparent Gage Plums, and a good Melon, the same 
variety as in the previous collection. In the class for six dishes, Pine 
excluded, six collections were staged, Mr. T. Elsworthy, gardener to A. R. 
Gladstone, Esq., Court Hey, Liverpool, took the lead with good Black 
Hamburgh and fair Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, Bellegarde Peaches good 
Pine Apple Nectarine, very fine ; Negro Largo Figs, and a fair Melon. Mr. 
J. Edwards was a close second, having remarkably large fruits of 
Chancellor Peaches, Elruge Nectarines, and Best of All Melon; Mr. W. 
Mease being third with good Grapes, Muscats being scarcely ripe, large 
Brown Turkey Figs, and a very fine netted fruit of Hero of Lockinge Melon. 
Pines were not numerous, and the fruits staged were scarcely up to the 
average. The finest in the class for two were staged by Mr. J. Bennett, 
gardener to the Hon. C. H. Wynne, Rug Corwen, North Wales; Mr. M. 
Hartwell, gardener to Lord Newborough, being second. For one fruit the 
first-mentioned exhibitor was again first, and Mr. J. Edmonds second. 
Grapes on the whole were wonderfully good, being large in the bunch, 
well coloured, and with berries of a remarkably large size. Six or seven 
collections were staged in the class for four bunches, two white and two black 
varieties. Mr. C. Young, gardener to J. Evans, Esq., Hurst House, Prescot, 
gained the premier award with large bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, 
Madresfield Court, Black Hamburgh, and Foster’s Seedling. Mr. G. Middle- 
ton, gardener to R. Pilkington, Esq., Rainford Hall, was placed second, and 
had good Black Hamburgh, Madresfield Court, and Buckland Sweetwater. 
Mr. J. Edmonds was awarded the remaining prize, having good Trebbiano. 
For two bunches of Black Hamburghs thirteen lots were staged for compe¬ 
tition and the successful exhibitor was Mr. J. Barker, gardener to Alderman 
Rayner, Rock Ferry, who staged faultless examples. Mr. R. Brown- 
bill, gardener to J. Hargraves, Esq., Ravenswood, Rock Ferry, and Mr. J. 
Hurst, gardener to W. B. Bowering, Esq., Beechwood, Aigburth, were the 
remaining prizewinners, both staging very fine examples. For two bunches 
of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes Mr. G. Middleton took the lead, followed 
by Mr. T. Dilworth, gardener to G. Holland, Esq., Liscard, New Brighton, 
and Mr. T. Jones, gardener to W. C. Clarke, Esq., Orleans House, Sefton 
Park, the bunches in each case being good and throughout the various 
exhibits, but scarcely ripe. For two bunches of black Grapes (Black 
Hamburghs excluded) several collections were staged. Mr. J. Barker was well 
first with large finely finished examples of Madresfield Court; Mr. J. Ward 
second with the same variety, and Mr. C. Young third, also showing the 
same kind. For two bunches of whites (Muscats excluded) the Duke of 
Buccleuch was the variety that gained the first, second, and third positions, 
and was very good in each instance, the exhibitors being Messrs. J. Bennett; 
J. Lowndes, gardener to S. S. Parker, Esq., Sudley Road, Aigburth; and 
Mr. J. Wallis, gardener to Rev. Walter Sneyd, Keele Hall, Staffordshire. 
Peaches and Nectarines were very good, the fruit being extra large in 
several instances, but was not exhibited in such large numbers as has been 
the case in previous exhibitions. For one dish of Peaches Mr. W. Hannagan, 
gardener to R. C. Naylor, Esq., Hooton Hall, was first with wonderfully 
fine fruits of Royal George ; Mr. T. Elsworthy second with good Bellegarde ; 
and Mr, Ward third with the same variety as the first-mentioned com¬ 
petitor. For one dish, from which competitors in the previous class were 
excluded, Mr. J. Edmonds was well first with Chancellor in good condition ; 
Mr. J. Storey, gardener to Sir Thomas Earle, Allerton Towers, second with 
Grosse Mignonne, good ; and Mr. Burgess, gardener to H. R. Marsden, Esq., 
Errington Lodge, Aigburth, third with Early Albert. For one dish of 
Nectarines Mr. J. Bennett was placed first with Violette Hative; Mr. T. 
Elsworthy second with Elruge, third Mr. J. Wallis. In the corresponding 
class for one dish, exhibitors in the previous one being excluded, Mr. J. 
Hurst was first with Pine Apple ; Mr. J. Edmonds and Mr. C. Copple, 
gardener to T. S. Rogerson, Esq., second and third, the former staging 
Elruge. 
For the six prizes offered for Melons the competition was very good, and 
fruits were staged better than any we have seen this year. For one green- 
fleshed variety Mr. G. Rhodes was first with The Queen ; Mr. J. Stevenson, 
The Hazels, Prescot, second with Hero of Lockinge; and Mr. T. Elsworthy 
third with Dickson’s Exquisite. For one scarlet-fleshed kind Mr. T. Fer¬ 
guson, gardener to Mrs. Patterson, Rock Ferry, took the lead with Scarlet 
Perfection; Messrs. S. Lyon and M. Hartwell being second and third 
respectively. For Strawberries Mr. T. Foster was the principal prizewinner 
with British Queen, while M r . T. Elsworthy took the lead with Cherries. 
For six dishes of hardy fruit, which was very good, and the prizes offered 
were well contested, Mr. W. Hannagan was placed second, and Mr. J. 
Wallis third. The first-prize collection contained no prize card, but we 
heard it belonged to Mr. J. Lambert. Prizes were offered by Mr. John 
Webster, horticultural builder, Wavertree, for the best basket of miscel¬ 
laneous fruit arranged for effect, Pines excluded. Only two exhibitors 
contested for the prizes offered, Mr. W. Mease being placed first with an 
effectively arranged basket, and Mr. T. Elsworthy second with better fruit 
but not so tastefully arranged. 
VEGETABLES 
Were staged in quantity, and on the whole were of first-class quality ; very 
rarely, if ever, do we remember having seen them in better condition at this 
Society’s Exhibition. For a collection of twelve distinct varieties four or 
five competitors staged for the prizes offered. Mr. J. Lambert, gardener to 
Col. Wingfield, Onslow Hall, Shrewsbury, wa3 deservedly placed first with 
very fine examples of Ayton Castle Leeks, Culverwell’s Green Marrow Peas, 
Early London Cauliflowers. Silver Ball Onions, Nutting’s Beet, Snowball 
Turnips, James’s Intermediate Carrots, Telegraph Cucumbers, Trophy 
Tomatoes (good), Major Clarke’s Celery, and Sutton’s Prizetaker Potatoes. 
Mr. G. Conder, gardener to W. Chambers, Esq., second ; and Mr. J. Oldfield, 
gardener to R. M. Ruddulph, Esq., Chirk Castle, Ruabon, third. In the 
corresponding class for the same number of varieties, open only to exhibitors 
within ten miles of Liverpool, Mr. W. Mease was accorded the premier 
position with Turnip-rooted Beet, Jersey Lily Turnips, Carters’ Solid Ivory 
Celery, King of the Cauliflowers, International Potatoes, Moore’s Cream 
Marrow, Globe Artichokes, Perfection Tomatoes, New Crimson Vesuvius 
Onion, Osborn’s Forcing Beans, and Duke of Albany Peas. Mr. J. Rainford 
and Mr. J. Storey being placed second and third, six collections being staged. 
For a collection of six varieties, from which competitors in the two previous 
Fig. 21. 
classes were excluded, ten collections were staged, Mr. A. R. Cox was placed 
first, Mr. J. Burgess second, and Mr. J. Elsworthy third. For six dishes of 
Peas the prizewinners were Messrs. J. Stevenson and J. Edmonds. For 
three dishes Messrs. W. Hosker, R. Haynan, and J. Rainford. For two 
dishes Mr. J. Bounds was the principal prizewinner. Potatoes were very 
fine, clean, and of a fair size. For six dishes Mr. W. Mease was placed first 
with Ashleaf Fluke, Reading Russet, Lady Truscott, Cosmopolitan, Inter¬ 
national, and Vicar of Laleham ; Mr. S. T. Turner, Woodslee, Bromborough, 
and Mr. J. Storey being second and third. For tour dishes the successful 
competitors were Messrs. J. Rainford and W. HoBker. For two Mr. J. 
Lowndes took the lead. Tomatoes were wonderfully fine, large and Bhapely, 
and the competition good. In the class for three dishes Mr. G. Middleton 
was well ahead with grand examples of Dedham Favourite, Stamfordian, 
and Hathaway’s Excelsior; Mr. T. Foster being a good second, and Mr. J. 
Lambert third. For one dish Mr. G. Middleton took the lead with Dedham 
Favourite, followed by the same exhibitors as in the previous class, and in 
the same order. Cucumbers were of fair quality, and the winners were 
Messrs. M. Hartwell, J. Lambert, and J. Davies, Bromborough Hall. 
Implements of various kinds were largely displayed. Mr. J. Bramham, 
104, Dale Street, Liverpool, exhibited his Allerton Priory boiler, a quan¬ 
tity of wirework, water-cans, iSic., a certificate of merit being awarded 
for the former, and a similar award to Messrs. F. & J. Mee, Wood Street. 
Gold medal to Messrs. Foster & Pearson for a curvilinear-roofed conserva¬ 
tory with patent ventilating gear. A certificate of merit was awarded Mr. 
J. Webster, Wavertree, for houses and a span-roofed frame ventilated on an 
improved system. Certificates of merit were also awarded to F. T. Drum¬ 
mond, Bridge North, Salop, for his turf-cutting machine, and Mr. W. E. 
Bennett, Thurston, Leyland, Preston, for Rose ligatures and a pot-washing 
machine that should be in all gardens where pots in large quantities require 
washing (see fig. 21). Messrs. W. Lowe & Sons, Edinburgh, also exhibited 
span-roofed greenhouses ; Messrs. W. Glassey & Co., Victoria Street, Liver¬ 
pool, a large display of all kinds of garden seats and chairs; Mr. P. B. 
Harkin, Dutton Street, Bamboo canes, Orchid baskets, and large teak tubs 
of various sizes. The Horticultural Company also contributed greenhouses 
and boilers to the general display. 
HAWKHURST. 
The fourteenth annual Exhibition of the Hawkhurst Horticultural 
Society was recently held in Fowler’s Park, and was in every respect a 
