166 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ August 2\ 1885. 
after this year’s Exhibition that he knew of no summer show that could 
compare with that which has been annually held at Taunton, as there is 
certainly no place where a show is regarded in a more important light than 
in this beautiful county town of Somerset, where all sorts and conditions of 
men, from the aristocratic county families to the humblest cottager, con¬ 
sider themselves interested in it, and do their best to make the Show a 
success. This year was no exception to the rule, nor to that which has, 
happily for the Society, prevailed for many years—a fine day for the 
Exhibition. The day before was as bad as well could be—a gale of wind 
with heavy driving showers of rain; but towards evening it cleared off, 
the glass rose, and with it the spirits of the Committee and Secretary, and 
Thursday turned out to be as fine a day as anyone could wish, the per¬ 
fection of a day for a'show—the sun not too hot, a slight breeze and not too 
much of it, and hence a large and fashionable attendance filled the Vivary 
Park, where the Exhibition has always been held. 
The Exhibition was contained in five tents, one for the open classes of 
plants and flowers, another for the nurserymen’s classes, one for fruit and 
vegetables, one for cottagers, and one for table decorations, &c. With one 
exception these tents were all well filled. The Committee had made some 
alterations in the open classes, and they do not seem to have answered; for 
although in quality nothing could be finer there were not the same number 
of exhibitors as in former years—notably last year, when there was an 
exceptionally grand show. In all other respects the character of the 
Exhibition was fully maintained. The excellence of some of the plants was 
remarkable, while unbounded surprise was expressed that in Buch a season 
as we have passed through the hardy fruits and vegetables should have 
been exhibited in such profusion as they were and of such first-rate quality. 
Especially does the cottagers’ tent call for admiration. Not only were there 
some very pretty designs of flower gardens well worked out, but the vege¬ 
tables were surprisingly fine and clean. There never were finer indoor 
fruits exhibited at this Show, while the table decoration of Miss Cypher 
was, I think, the very best I have ever seen from her, and I have seen a 
great many of her exquisite arrangements. 
In giving an account in detail of the Show, it is impossible that I can do 
more than note the principal exhibits, and such as I think possess general 
interest. 
In the open class for twelve stove and greenhouse plants in flower, 
W. Cleave, Esq., of Crediton was first with a very fine group of well- 
flowered plants, consisting of Erica semula, Allamanda Ilendersoni, Ixora 
Duffi, Lapageria alba one mass of bloom, Erica Marnockiana, Dipladenia 
amabilis, Stephanotis floribunda, Phosnocoma prolifera, Lapageria rosea, 
Eucharis amazonica, Erica Farriana, and Ixora Prince of Orange. Mr. 
James Cypher was second, but I imagine his large plants were doing duty 
elsewhere. In the class for six stove and greenhouse plants in flower Mr. 
Cypher was first with Erica Irbyana, Allamanda nobiliB, Ixora Pilgrimi, 
Phcenocoma prolifera Barnesii, Erica Thompsoni, and Statice profusa. Mr. 
Cleave was second with Allamanda nobilis, Erica Irbyana, Dipladenia 
amabilis, Clerodendron Balfourianum, Erica ampullacea, and Bougainvillea 
glabra. In the class for eight fine-foliage and variegated plants Mr. Cleave 
was the only exhibitor. He showed some grand plants of Kentia Belmore- 
ana, Croton Weismanni, Cycas revoluta, Croton Warreni, Latania borbonica, 
Croton Williamsi, and Areca lutescens. In the class for four Orchids in 
bloom Mr. Cypher was the only exhibitor, and had good plants of Sacco- 
labium Blumei major, Cattleya superba, Dendrobium Dearii, and Lselia 
purpurata. In the class for new plants in flower the Rev. H. Dusantay was 
first with a plant unknown to me—an Amaryllid from the Cape having 
large drooping flowers of salmon-orange, apparently of the same class as 
Belladonna, as the flowers are produced before the leaves. Mr. Cleave was 
first with Alocasia Sanderiana, a very remarkable variety with very deeply 
cut leaves veined with white. 
Zonal Pelargoniums are always exhibited in good form at Taunton ; the 
plants are compact and full of bloom, and do not show so much of the 
framework by which they are supported as in many places. One exhibitor, 
however, Mr. H. Geddings, swept the board in both the open and amateur 
classes. In the class for eight Zonals he showed Leviathan, Lord Gifford, 
White Vesuvius, De Lesseps, Pioneer, Mr. McIntosh, and Madame Vaucher. 
In the class for Nosegays he showed Emily, Bonfire, Lizzie, David Thom¬ 
son, Minnie Dobbs, and Wellington. In the class for six double Pelar¬ 
goniums he had Mons. Tangier, Wonderful, Mill, Rambler, and C. H. 
Warren. Mr. Tollie was an equal first. He also took the prize for the only 
set exhibited of those now almost obsolete plants the variegated-leaved 
Pelargoniums—obsolete as far as exhibition plants are concerned, and yet 
what a furore there was for them at one time. Such are the caprices of 
fashion. At one time collections in large numbers used to be shown every¬ 
where, but now one rarely sees one put up. Some excellent plants of 
Begonias were exhibited by Mr. Gedding—viz., Vesuvius, Lady C. Stack- 
pole, Mrs. W. Marshall, Beaulieu, De Lesseps (double), Snowdrop (white), 
Wonderful (very fine), Mrs. Perm. A high-coloured variety called Lady 
Chesterfield in the second-prize lot was very fine and deservedly admired. 
There was as usual a goodly lot of Petunias, Phloxes, Cockscombs, Azaleas, 
&c., hut these do not call for any particular remark, save that they were 
wonderfully fine considering the drought and the scarcity of water, and 
pass on to those classes which are of more general interest—notably Roses, 
which were very good, considering the time of year and the excessive heat, 
and were chiefly remarkable for the fact that Messrs. Mack <fc Son came all 
the way from Yorkshire to compete. This is reversing what has been the 
case, the southern growers going northwards, and it is a fair return 
for them to come south. Of course they were at a disadvantage, as Messrs. 
Keynes& Co. were so much nearer home, but their exhibits were none the 
less excellent. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. were first in the class for 
forty-eight varieties with Comtesse d’Oxford, Madame Nachury, Ma> ichal 
Vaillant, John Hopper, Comtesse de Serenye, Abel Carriere, Star of 
Waltham, Black Prince, Baroness Rothschild, Charles Darwin, Franqois 
Michelon, Alfred Colomb, Eugene Verdier, Duke of Connaught, Madame 
Hippolyte Jamain, Charles Lefebvre, Marquise de Castellane, A. K. Wil¬ 
liams, Louis Van Houtte, Madame Eugene Verdier, Madame Victor Verdier, 
Catherine Soupert, Horace Vernet, La Reine, Camille Bernardin, Mar¬ 
guerite de St. Amand, Etienne Levet, Marie Rady, Reine du Midi, Sdnateur 
Vaisse, Wilson Saunders, Ferdinand de Lesseps, Madame Marie Verdier, 
Prince Camille de Rohan, Barthelemy Joubert, Edouard Morren, Dr. Andry, 
Queen of Queens, Wilhelm Krelle, Nipheto3, Baron Hnusmann, La France, 
Madame Cnarles Wood, Merveille de Lyon, and Xavier Olibo. Messrs. Mack 
and Sons were second. In the class for twenty-four trebles Messrs. Keynes, 
Williams & Co. were first, and Dr. Budd of Bath and Messrs. Mack & Son 
equal second. 
Dahlias were not largely but well shown, Messrs. Keynes, Williams and 
Co. keeping well up the old reputation of the Salisbury firm. In the class 
for twenty-four they were first with Mrs. Langtry, Imperial, Miss Cannell, 
seedling, Mr. J. C. Reid, John Hinton, Buttercup, Prince Bismarck, Mrs. P. 
Laird, seedling, Hope, Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Randle, Henry Weston, Lord 
Chesterfield, F. .J. Saltmarsh, James Huutly, Clara, seedling, Mrs. Freeman, 
Henry Austin, Joseph Ashby, Michael Saunders, and Mr. J. Downie. Mr. 
Latimer of Staplemore was second. In the class for twelve the same gen¬ 
tlemen took prizes in the same order. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co.’s 
blooms were Miss Cannell, James Oldhis, Mrs. Sefford, seedling, Mrs. Free¬ 
man, John Henshaw, Joseph Ashby, Charles Wyatt, Mrs. Dodds, Henry 
Walton, Hope, and Falcon. In the class for twelve Fancies the same ex¬ 
hibitors occupied the same position. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co.’s 
flowers were Peacock, seedling, Rev. J. M. B. Camm, seedling, 
Madame Joubert, Gaiety, Professor Fawcett, Chorister, Charles Wyatt, Mrs. 
Saunders, and Henry Eckford. 
Gladioli are always a grand feature of the Taunton Show, for the greatest 
of Gladioli growers liVe in the neighbourhood—Messrs. Kelway & Son, 
facile princeps of all professional growers; in fact there is no one in Eng¬ 
land that comes within a long distance of him both in the extent of his 
culture; and Mr. Dobree of Wellington, who is without doubt the largest 
and most successful amateur that we have and the raiser of a number of 
good seedlings. Messrs. Kelway & Son exnibited a grand stand of 100 
blooms not for competition, amongst which were some new varieties, for a 
few of which certificates were awarded—notably Earl of Iddesleigh and 
Prince Henry. Mr. Dobree was the only competitor in the class for twenty- 
four, and he besides exhibited a beautiful collection of 100 varieties. How 
very much more forward, by-the-by, are they in Somerset to us in the east of 
England. I have not got a dozen in bloom in my own garden. As Mr. 
Dobree is so successful a cultivator I give the names of the varieties 
shown :—Glory of Plymouth, Carnation (flaky white, tinted carmine at 
edges), *Madame Dobree, *King of Scarlets (a remarkably bright flower 
with white centre), *Helen Masterman, *Pied Crow, *Mrs. Knowley, 
Adolphe Brogniart (rose-tinted orange with large white spot), Belgique, 
*Queen of Crimsons, Giffard, Orphee (rosy white flaked with carmine), 
Horace Vernet (brilliant purple, red centre, feathered red), Eugene Scribe, 
La Perle (rosy lilac, blotched violet carmine), *Vicar of Westwell (this was 
awarded a first-class certificate, as also *William Kelway, both of these are 
compact wall-formed flowers), Mecsenas, Prosper Laugier, Bellona, *Maggie 
(white, tinged at edges with purplish crimson, and distinctly marked on 
the lower petal with the same colour, a flower of great substance), and 
C. W. Bullmer, those marked * being his own seedlings. 
Passing now to the amateur tent we find, as might naturally be expected, 
that Mr. Cleave takes the first place. In twelve stove and greenhouse 
plants he had the following in admirable condition :—Ixora Prince of 
Orange, Phcenocoma prolifera Barnesi, Allamanda Hendersoni, Statice 
Holfordi, Erica ampullacea Barnesi, Anthurium Schertzerianum, Clero¬ 
dendron Balfourianum, Ixora Colei, Allamanda grandiflora, Erica Lindley- 
ana, Bougainvillea glabra, and Erica Aitoni. In the class for six stove and 
greenhouse plants Mr. Wilfrid Marshall was first with good plants of Clero¬ 
dendron Balfourianum, Ixora Mooreana, Anthurium Andreanum very good, 
Rondeletia speciosa, and Ixora Prince of Orange. In the class for four 
stove and greenhouse plants Mr. Cleave was again first with Clerodendron 
Balfourianum, Erica tricolor Wilsoni, Bougainvillea glabra, and Ixora 
Williamsi. Mr. W. G. Marshall was second. Mr. Cleave was also first 
with Allamanda grandiflora, Bougainvillea glabra, and Clerodendron Bal¬ 
fourianum. In the class for six foliage Mr. Cleave was again first. His 
best plants were Crotons Krelagei and Prince of Wales, Alocasia Lowi. In 
the class for six exotic Ferns Mr. Cleave was first with fine plants of 
Davallia Turneri, Adiantum trapeziforme, Adiantum Sanctiu Catherin®, 
Gleichenia Mendelli, Adiantum concinnum latum, Gleichenia rupestris 
glauca, and Adiantum gracillimum. In hardy Ferns Mr. Cleave 
was also first with fine plants of Lastrea cristata, Scolopendrium 
vulgare crispum, Lastrea Filix-mas cristata, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, 
Athyrium Fiiix-foeraina plumosum, Polystichum Woollastonii, and Athyrium 
Filix-foemirra Fieldi®. F. W. Newton, Esq., of Barton Grange, was second 
with excellent plants of nearly equal merit. 
In the class for tw nty-four cut Roses Dr. Budd of Bath was first with 
good examples for the time of year of John Hopper, Baroness Rothschild, 
Henrich Schultheis, Captain Christy, Countess of Rosebery, Queen of 
Queens, Madame E. Verdier, Marie Baumann, Bouquet d’Or, Duchess of 
Bedford, Ulrich Brunner, Charles Lefebvre, Comtesse de Serenye, Alfred 
Colomb, Merveille de Lyon, Dupuy Jamain, Marie Van Houtte, Duke of 
Wellington, Marie Verdier, Comtesse d’Oxford, Madame Isaac Periere, 
Avocat Duvivier, and Madame Lambard. He also was first for twelves 
with Fisher Holmes, Madame E. Verdier, Duchess of Bedford, Etienne 
Levet, Charles Lefebvre, Marquise de Castellane, Duke of Wellington, 
Madame Georges Schwartz, Marie Baumann, and Merveille de Lyon; also 
in Teas, not less than six varieties, with but indifferent examples of 
Souvenir d’Elise, Rubens, Marie Van Houtte, Caroline Kuster, Comtesse 
Riza du Parc, and Perle des Jardins. 
There were but two small entries for Gladioli, and to these were awarded 
equal first prizes, although many saw a vast superiority in Mr. Dobree’s, 
which consisted of Glory of Plymouth, Adolphe Brongniart, La Perle, 
George J. Fox, Countess, and Millie Dobree. 
Table decorations were not many in number; but although I have seen 
many of Miss Cypher’s achievements in this line, she never set up a more 
beautiful one than that which she arranged for this Show. To those who 
condemn the high stands of course it would be objectionable ; but nothing 
could, I conceive, be more elegant than this arranged (as she knows so well 
how to do it) with Francoa ramosa, Gloriosa superba, Water Lilies, 
Eucharis, &o., the other two middle pieces being Cocos Weddelliana, about 
18 inches high, with Water Lilies, &a., arranged around the base. Small 
plants of the same Palm about 8 inches high were placed in ornamental 
square pots at either end, and there were some pretty small trays of flowers 
