August 27, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
183 
On the evening of the 18th rain threatened, but the morning of the 19th 
was bright and promising, and the very important subject of weather, as 
well as the innumerable details connected with this magnificent Show, 
passed off without a hitch. The exhibits were arranged in numerous capital 
tents supplied by Mr. C. R. Clark, Stoke-on-Trent. One of them was 200 
feet in length and 80 feet in width. Another was 290 feet in length, and 
40 feet in width. Everything was seen and arranged to the greatest 
advantage. 
Taking the classes in the order of the schedule the following were the 
most important. 
PLANTS. 
The principal of these were arranged along the centre of the first noted 
tent, the tall Palms being along the middle, and choice rich flowering and 
foliage plants near the side, which produced an excellent effect. The first 
class was twenty stove and greenhouse plants, with prizes of £25, £20, and 
£15, and they were all taken, Mr. Cypher, Cheltenham, being placed first 
with superb specimens, amongst which the following were extremely good— 
Statice profusa, finely bloomed ; Croton Queen Victoria, C. Prince of Wales, 
C. Sunset, all very rich in colour ; Allamanda nobilis, Ixora Pilgrimi, 
Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesi, 6 feet through, in fine health and grandly 
bloomed ; Rhododendron Duchess of Edinburgh, full of orange scarlet 
trusses, beautiful ; Dasylirion acrotrichum ; Saccolabium Blumei majus, 
Erica kingstoniensis, E. Irbyana, E. obbata purpurea, and several fine large 
healthy Palms—evidently one of Mr. Cyphei’s best efforts, but he was 
followed remarkably close by the twenty from E. C. Glover, Esq., Highfield 
Hall, Leek (gardener, Mr. C. Roberts), who turned his plants out in fine con¬ 
dition, especially Dipladenia amabilis and D. splendens, both profusely 
bloomed and of a capital colour ; Ixora Williamsi, very large ; Croton 
majesticus, C. angustifolius, large and fine ; Cycas revoluta, Allamanda 
Hendersoni, Ixora coccinea, Asparagus plumosus nanus, large, fresh and 
graceful ; Anthuxium Schertzerianum, with fifty spathes ; and fine Palms. 
Mr. Tudgey, Waltham Cross, was third, his plants being smaller, but neat. 
Anthurium Andreanum was conspicuous there. In the class for nine stove 
and greenhouse plants Messrs. Pritchard & Son, nurservmen, Shrewsbury, 
were first with highly creditable specimens, amongst which we noted a fine 
Lapageria alba, Erica Eweriana superba, very beautiful ; E. Marnockiana, 
wonderfully bright; Croton Queen Victoria, finely coloured; Latania 
borbonica.a Bmall healthy plant; and a grandly bloomed Bougainvillea glabra. 
Mrs. Juson, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury (gardener, Mr. Farrant), came 
second with plants only a very few points behind the first, the best being 
Ixora coccinea superba, Clerodendron Balfourianum, Dipladenia superba, 
Ixora amabilis, and Croton pictus. In the class for six stove and greenhouse 
plants E. C. Glover, Esq., was first with a fine Allamanda Hendersoni, 
Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesi, Dipladenia amabilis, Latania borbonica, 
Croton Queen Victoria, and Erica Shannoni. The plants were smaller than 
in this gentleman’s group of twenty, but finely grown. Mrs. Juson was 
placed second with larger plants than the first, but not in such good con¬ 
dition. J. 8. Burton, Esq., Longner Hall (gardener, Mr. Thursle) was 
third, his best plant being a very fine Bougainvillea glabra, extra well 
bloomed. 
Mr. Cypher was first for six exotic Ferns with a fine Gleichenia Mendeli, 
Adiantum cardiochlaena, Microlepia hirta cristata, a grand plant; Alsophila 
aus ralis, Thamnopteris Nidus, excellent ; and Alsophila elegantissima. 
E. C. Glover, Esq., followed closely, his best plants being Cibotium Ba- 
rometz, Davallia solida, D. polyantha, and Todea superba. Messrs. 
Pritchard was third with capital plants. In the corresponding class for 
six exotic Ferns, open to gentlemen’s gardeners, Mrs. Juson came to the 
front with large healthy plants. J. S. Burton, Esq., was second, and 
Colonel. Wingfield Onslow (gardener. Mr. J. Lambert), third. A fourth 
prize might very well have been awarded there, as the Rev. J. D. Corbet, 
Sundorne Castle, Shrewsbury (gardener, Mr. R. Milner), exhibited half a 
dozen excellent plants, which we preferred to either the second or third. 
Another good half-dozen came from J. Beattie, Esq., Overley (gardener, Mr. 
8. Bremmell), and on the whole this was an extra well-filled class. 
The prizes for six plants in bloom in variety brought out a showy 
muster, Mr. Cypher being first with Allamanda grandiflora, very fresh; 
Dipladenia amabilis, rather soiled; Erica Irbyana, capital; Ixora regina, 
Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesi, and Erica asmula, the whole arranged in one 
row down the middle of the tent to the pathway, and very effective. Messrs. 
Heath of Cheltenham were plaoed second with a group which many judges 
would have placed first, as it was wholly composed of Orchids in bloom, 
and first-rate plants—Pilumna nobilis, Cattleya Gaskeliana, grand; Dendro- 
bium formosum giganteum, Cattleya crispa, Saccolabium Blumei majus, 
and Me-iospinidium sanguineum. E. C. Glover, Esq., was third with fine 
young plants. In Palms Mr. Cypher was first, E. C. Glover, Esq., second, 
and Messrs. Pritchard third; but as the specimens had been distributed 
along the middle of the tent and were a little mixed we will not venture to 
name them. 
The Dracmnas, always a strong class there, were not so numerous this 
time, but fine in quality. The Misses Bannerman, Roden Hall, Shrewsbury 
(gardener, Mr. E. Shepherd), being first, and Colonel Wingfield second. 
Caladiums were grand and attractive. Mrs. Juson was first for six plants 
with large finely coloured specimens, and Messrs. Pritchard was second and 
third with good plants. These had been exceedingly well managed. With 
Coleu-es the Misses Bannerman were first for large pyramidal plants, 
beautifully coloured ; Mr. Laing, Cherry Orchard, being second with very 
small plants; and the Rev. J. D. Corbet third with plants of the’same stamp 
as the first. The Judges were a little inconsistent there. 
The class for six Fuchsias were well filled, Messrs. Pritchard being far 
ahead with magnificent plants, about 5 feet high, as much in diameter, the 
branch s touching the ground, spotless, and profusely bloomed. These 
plants deserved a more prominent position in the tent. H. Owen, Esq., 
The Cedars, Shrewsbury, was second with creditable specimens, and Mrs. 
Juson was third with small plants. Tuberous Begonias were scarcely first- 
rate. Messrs. Pritchard had the best, Misses Bannerman second, and the 
R ,j v. J. H. E. Charter, Severn Villa, Shrewsbury, the third. Hardy Ferns 
were well represented from Mrs. Juson; Mr. J. M. Harding, The Square, 
Shrewsbury ; and Mr. C. Clarke, Belmont, Shrewsbury. In double-flowering 
and Zonal Pelargoniums Messrs. Pritchard had it all their own way, and 
staged some dozens of grandly grown and abundantly bloomed p’auts. 
The next class completed the large t°nt, and it is an important one, 
being a collection of miscellaneous plants to occupy the space of 100 square 
feet, arranged for effect, and in this Messrs. Pritchard were again to the 
fore with a truly charming group, in which Maidenhair Ferns, Crotons, 
graceful Palms, and Liliums figured attractively. Messrs. Jones & Sons, 
nurserymen, Shrewsbury, were second and third with well-arranged groups, 
but Crotons predominated too much in both. .An unnoticed bed from J. S. 
Burton, Esq., was much too stiff and closely packed, but not without merit, 
and all were very much admired. 
In coming to the amateurs’ plants we find H. Owen, Esq., first for six 
stove and greenhouse plants with specimens which would hold their own in 
the open classes at many pretentious shows. Lapageria rosea was very fine, 
and so was Pandanus Veitchi, Allamanda nobilis, and Clerodendron Bal¬ 
fourianum. J. Barker, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. McReadie), was second, and 
Dr. E. Burd, Newport House, Shrewsbury, third. W. E. Mansell, Esq., 
Wellington, was first for four exotic Ferns with Adiantum cuneatum, 
A. gracillimum, Lomaria gibba, and Adiantum formosum. These were in the 
finest possible health, and attracted much attention, being extra good for 
the class. H. Owen, Esq., was second, and Mr. George Burr third. Mr. R. 
J. Niven, Wellington, also showed well. Coleus were excellent from Mr. L. 
Burd, Mayfield, J. Barker, Esq., and Mrs. Wace,_and the same exhibitors 
secured most of the prizes for Fuchsias, Begonias, and double and zonal 
Pelargoniums. The Begonias were finer in individual blooms here than in 
the open class. Balsams were poor, and the Petunias were not particularly 
meritorious. The prizes offered for twelve table plants brought out some 
c ipital exhibits from Messrs. Jones, Messrs. Pritchard, and Colonel V ing- 
field. In fifty miscellaneous plants Messrs. Pritchard were first and third, 
and Messrs. Jones second, both showing what we may term a very choice 
selection of nursery stock. Altogether inferior specimens were remark¬ 
ably few, and high quality predominated everywhere. 
CRT FLOWERS. 
These were arranged on the side stages in the long tent, and were very 
attractive. The first on the list and on the boards wore the Roses, and they 
were about the worst of all the cut flowers. The 19th of August is not a 
date to expect perfect Roses to be shown by dozens, and the twenty-four 
single trusses shown by Messrs. Perkins, Coventry, and Mr. R. Vertegans, 
Birmingham, which were placed equal first, were good for the time, but not 
specially noteworthy; and the eighteens from Mr. E. Wright,Halston, Mr. 
G. H. Berrington and Mr. G. Townsend, jun., Uffington, were very poor, 
and it was a relief to get to the Dahlias, where we found an excellent dis¬ 
play. For thirty-six blooms in variety Mr. Shaw, Kidderminster, was placed 
first, his best flowers being Duke of Connaught, Monarch, Cardinal, Modesty, 
Jane Locker, George Smith, and Mrs. Dodds. Messrs. Heath of Cheltenham 
were second with a stand which contained larger and more perfect blooms 
than the first-prize one, their blooms being extra good and in fine condition. 
Here General Gordon was greatly admired as a new one of much beauty, 
and amongst many fine varieties we may name Gaiety, Henry Bond, Prince 
of Denmark, James Service, and George Dickson. The class for twenty- 
four Dahlias in variety brought out the best competition, and there Messrs. 
Heath were easily first with a stand better than in the other class. They 
were fresh grandly formed blooms, well set up, and we noted Chorister, 
John Bennett, Mrs. Gladstone, Joseph Ashby, Condor, and George Rawlings 
as desirable varieties. C. Wright, Esq., Halston Hall (gardener, Mr. H. 
West), was second with large blooms, and Mr. Shaw was third. Single 
Dahlias were poor on one stand. 
With Gladiolus Mr. Shaw secured first and third prizes, Colonel Wingfield 
being placed second with a stand we admired for its freshness. 
The Asters in all classes were of no special merit, and Carnations and 
Picotees might have been better. The twelve bunches or trusses of stove 
and greenhouse flowers were very beautiful, Messrs. Pritchard being first 
there and E. C. Glover second. Both exhibits were exceedingly showy. 
In the class for twelve bunches of hardy herbaceous flowers Mr. Vertegans, 
nurseryman, Birmingham, was first with a magnificent stand, the flowers 
being finely developed, very showy, and beautifully set up. Messrs. Jones 
and Sons were second, and Messrs. Pritchard third, with blooms considerably 
behind the first. Phloxes were numerous, but not high in quality, the 
majority of the spikes being small. The best came from Miss Emily Cotes, 
Bicton. French Marigolds were very small, but the African Marigolds were 
extra large and very fine, especially from Mr. T. S. Minton and Mr. W. 
Jones, Montford. Pansies had evidently suffered from the drought, and the 
Stocks were deficient in size of spike and distinct colours. Verbenas, too, 
were poor, and this section was the weak point of the Show. 
The bouquets were splendid. For a ball or hand bouquet Messrs. Perkins 
were first with a finely formed one, but we thought the dark Rose leaves had 
been used too freely amongst the white, and one lady who is a very good judge 
asserted that the colour was entirely unsuitable for many dresses. Mr. Cypher 
was second with a very choice arrangement, the majority of the flowers being 
white with a delicate piece of Cattleya here and there. Messrs. Jones and 
Sons were third. The buttonhole flowers were chiefly Orchids. The first 
prize for a stand of cut flowers was won by Messrs. J ones & Sons with a very 
graceful arrangement, the base being filled with Orchids, Dipladenias, and 
Water Lilies, and the top was light and elegant. Mr. Cypher was second 
with a pretty stand, and Messrs. Jones were third. Messrs. Cypher, Perkins, 
and Jones were the winners for the bridal bouquet, and this section was 
very attractive. The amateur cut flower stands were mostly spoiled by the 
glasses being too clumsy. 
For Wild Flowers there were three classes, and each was well filled ; 
indeed, the show of these was a good one, and the principal winners were 
Miss M. M. Goyne, Shrewsbury; Miss Moore, Ellesmere ; Miss M. Harrison, 
Millington’s Hospital; Mrs. Jones; and Miss It. James, Wynn’s Cottage, 
Shrewsbury. 
FRUIT. 
The show of this was excellent in every respect, the entries being more 
numerous and the quality much in advance of that at any previous show. 
The bulk of it was arranged along the centre table in the long 290 feet tent, 
and found many admirers. As soon as judging was over the officials put 
up a wire netting fence along the front of the Grapes and other fruits, and 
where the sightseers become such a multitude this plan is very necessary. 
