September 8,188S. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
209 
of bad taste we have yet seen was in a mixed bed of dark-leaved Beet 
and Centaurea ragusina. Yellow and black might prove even worse, but 
the addition of a few pink or red Pelargoniums would help the last named, 
whereas in the other case they would not. Purple and yellow in com¬ 
bination may either be a failure, or, on the other hand, prove a most 
striking success. If the purple he deep, as in Tory Viola, and yellow of 
the golden hue of Pansy Golden Queen of England, one might hope for 
success, but if either the purple or the yellow were light in shade, then 
they would be vulgar. And so a light yellow in combination with 
Vesuvius Pelargonium would be offensive, while a deep yellow with a 
crimson variety like II. Jacohy would be extremely effective. An illustra¬ 
tion of an insipid bed would be Christine Pelargonium with a light yellow 
Viola. If the Viola used were a deep yellow its character for insipidity 
would be removed, while were a deeper shade of pink used with the 
deeper yellow, a really effective mixture would be the result. A very 
light shade of blue in combination with white gives a bed without cha¬ 
racter, but if the white is produced by a white-leaved red-flowered Pelar¬ 
gonium, then the result is completely changed for the better. 
Before giving some examples of good combinations, it may be noted 
that the bands and edgings to beds alter the general tone of the arrange¬ 
ments considerably. Not only may the general effect be improved, but, on 
the other hand, a really effective arrangement may be entirely nullified by 
its setting. This is true in all kinds of bedding, but holds with increased 
force in the kind under discussion. The most pleasing of all combina¬ 
tions in mixed beds are produced by soft colour shades and white. Per¬ 
haps one of the very best is composed of a groundwork of Koeniga varie- 
gata dotted rather thickly with Pelargonium Flower of Spring. The 
Koeniga is pegged down so that the Pelargonium is just a little taller when 
the little heads of the former make their appearance. A band of Iresine 
Lindeni or Coleus Verschaffelti, with a white-leaved plant for a edging, 
help to make a pretty and effective bed. Dwarf Ageratum with the 
same Pelargonium planted rather widely apart, a band of white enclosing 
the central mass and a deep blue outside the white, with an edging of 
grey, makes a good bed. Viola Duchess of Sutherland substituted for the 
Ageratum is perhaps even better. Vesuvius Pelargonium pegged down, 
mixed with Viola Alpha, with a grey or white edging, forms a rich 
combination. 
We have this season, in a set of four beds, the two Calceolarias Kayi 
and General Havelock in mixture. The yellow Kayi should be planted 
as one to three of the above rich brown variety. The band in this instance 
is Lady Macdonald Lobelia and grey Sedum for an edging. General 
Havelock and Master Christine in equal number with a band of Viola 
Sovereign, deep yellow, makes a very good bed. Mangle’s Variegated 
Pelargonium and Wave of Blue Lobelia together, the latter in the pro¬ 
portion of five to ten for one of the former. The same Lobelia and L. 
Lady Macdonald in equal number thinly dotted with single plants of 
Chamajpeuce diacantha and banded with the striped-leaved Polemonium. 
Either of these Lobelias planted in small intersecting circles with a good 
plant of Lass o’Gowrie Pelargonium as a dot plant in each circle will 
make thoroughly good beds. Numerous modifications may be carried 
o.it, especially by employing decorative plants, standard Fuchsias, 
Abutilons, &c., as centre plants, or dotted thinly about over the beds 
according to their size or the taste of the cultivator. For the past year 
or two we have found a few of the best dwarf single Dahlias very useful 
for mixed bedding. These must not be planted closer than 2 yards apart, 
and the groundwork may be any flower or flowers which will harmonise 
well with the shades of yellow, red, and rose, and of white, which pre¬ 
vail in these. Of course they are suitable alone for very large beds or 
long borders. 
Old specimen Fuchsias, double Pelargoniums, Humea elegans, Tube¬ 
rous Begonias, &c., dotted thinly over any very poor bed at once effects a 
complete transformation. The only matter of consequence to be kept in 
mind is to use these very sparingly, so that each can be seen all round, 
and further, not to mix Pelargoniums with any of the others, but to keep 
each kind in a bed by itself. —B. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
TROWBRIDGE. 
The Exhibition of this very eld Society continues to be surprisingly 
attractive, not less than 15,000 people having paid for admission, many of 
these coming a considerable distance by road or rail from the surrounding 
country. For thirty-six years this Society has been established, and, as one 
very old exhibitor remarked, but very slight alterations have been made in 
the prize schedule for several years past. As a consequence, the Show is 
more remarkable for the quantity rather than the quality of the plant ex¬ 
hibits ; and, why when there are so many much better shows held m the 
neighbourhood, the Trowbridge Show continues so exceptionally attractive 
remains a mystery. Fuchsias are always shown in splendid condition, 
being in fact second to none in the country, and for these fairly liberal 
prizes are offered. The specimens are all very tall and floriferous, there 
being nothing stiff or formal about them. Mr. J. Lye, gardener to the Hon. 
Mrs. Haye, Lavington, who for a long time has made Fuchsias a specialty, 
had this year to be satisfied with the third prize for both six varieties and 
four varieties ; Mr. J. Matthews, gardener to W. R. Brown, Esq., Trow¬ 
bridge, and Mr. H. Pocock, gardener to J. P. Haden, Esq., Trowbridge, being 
respectively first and second with six varieties ; and J. Matthews and G. 
Tucker, gardener to Major W. P. Clark, Trowbridge, first and second with 
four plants. 
Owing to the smallness of the prizes offered, the classes for stove and 
greenhouse plants, though well filled, attracted nothing from a distance, 
and as a consequence the quality was somewhat inferior. There were 
medium sized and fairly well flowered specimens of Allamandas, Cleroden- 
drons, Ixoras, Dipladenias, Bougainvilleas, and Ericas in competition, and 
the principal prizewinners were Messrs. G. Tucker, II. Pocock, J. Matthews, 
H. Clack (gardener to C. E. H. A. Colston, Esq., Devizes), G. Pymm, 
gardener to Mrs. Gouldsmith, Trowbridge, W. G. Drummond, Bath, and J. 
Lye. Ferns and Mosses are always well shown at Trowbridge, the groups 
being more noteworthy on account of the healthy state of the plants than 
for their size. All the best show varieties of Adiantums, Gymnogrammas, 
Davallias, Dicksonias, and other popular kinds were well represented ; and 
the prizewinners were Messrs. G. Tucker, first, Henry Clack and G. Coke 
(gardener to A. P. Stancombe, Esq., Trowbridge), equal seconds, and H. 
Pocock third. There were also various other classes for Pelargoniums, 
Heaths, Coleus, Achimenes, Cockscombs, Begonias, Balsams, Verbenas, and 
Petunias, many of which might safely be cut out and the prize money 
diverted to the other classes. 
Cut flowers are always largely shown at Trowbridge, and this year, not¬ 
withstanding the unfavourableness of the season for several kinds, the 
competition was even better than ever. Messrs. Cooling & Son, Bath, and 
Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, divided the honours for cut Roses; Mr. 
J. Mattock, Oxford, being a good third in both cases, all showing a really 
excellent lot of blooms. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. were first in both 
large classes for Dahlias, and they also obtained certificates for three 
novelties, but on the whole the blooms were scarcely up to their well-known 
form. Other successful exhibitors of Dahlias were Messrs T. Hobbs, Bristol. 
G. Humphries, Kingston Langley; and G. Horsall, Bath. Asters, Verbenas’ 
Pelargoniums, and other cut flowers were also well shown. Vases for table’ 
decoration were particularly well done, the arrangement of the choice 
flowers employed being generally light and tasteful. Mr. E. S. Cole, Sneyd 
Park, Bristol, was again a good first, and was followed by Messrs. E. T. Hill, 
Westbury-on-Trym, and M. Hookings, Clifton. Mr. W. C. Drummond was 
first for both hand bouquet and memorial wreath; Messrs. E. S. Cole, M. 
Hookings, and J. Matthews also exhibiting successfully in these classes. 
Fruit, especially choice kinds, was shown in great quantities, and the 
quality, considering the insignificance of many of the prizes, was much 
better than might have been expected. With a collection of ten dishes Mr. 
A. Miller, gardener to W. H. Long, Esq., Rood Ashton, Trowbridge, took the 
lead, having fine Foster’s Seedling and good Black Hamburgh Grapes, 
Barrington Peaches, Moor Park Apricots, Pitmaston Orange Nectarines, a 
Melon, Plums, &c. Mr. W. Rye, gardener to James Derham, Esq., Sneyd 
Park, Bristol, was a good second, his collection including very fine Ford’s 
Seedling Peaches, Hero of Lockinge Melon, Morello Cherries, Red Astrachan 
Apples, Hamburgh and Muscat Grapes. Mr. T. Smith was third and G. 
Garraway, Bath, highly commended. Mr. Miller was awarded a first prize 
for a fairly good Queen Pine Apple. There were several classes for Grapes, 
and the competition was good in every case. Messrs. A. Young (gardener 
to B. Thomas Esq., Clifton), George Hodges, Bath, H. Clack, J. W. Shelton 
(gardener to W. K. Wait, Esq., Bristol), F. Smith, Salisbury, A. Miller, were 
all successful. Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Apples, and 
Pears were all shown extensively. Of vegetables there were immense 
quantities shown, and the quality generally was surprisingly good. The 
best collections were Btaged by Messrs. T. Evry, G. Garraway, and A. 
Miller. 
FROME. 
The second attempt at holding a summer show at Frome was a decided 
success, and there is no reason why the Society should not have first-class 
exhibitions. Following closely on the Trowbridge Show a considerable 
number of exhibits came from the latter place. However, there was no 
mistake about the quantities brought together or the great advance made 
in the number of entries, and the numerous visitors appeared to be well 
satisfied with the display. There were no classes provided for trained 
plants, the principal prizes being offered for groups. Mr. E. Wilcox, 
gardener to Mrs. Simkins, Frome, was first, his neatly arranged group 
comprising a great variety of serviceable plants; and the same remark 
applies to the second prize group, arranged by Mr. B. Hopkins, gardener to 
' John Baily, Esq., Frome. Mr. G. Tucker, gardener to Major W. P. Clark, 
Trowbridge, competed in this class with a number of trained specimens, 
but these did not find favour with the Judges, and were commended only. 
The latter exhibitor was a good first with a collection of Ferns, and waa 
followed by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Edwards, gardener to A. Haley, Esq., Frome, 
was first for Fuchsias, the second prize going to Mr. G. Taylor, gardener to 
A. R. Baily, Esq., Frome. Mr. Wilcox was first for Coleus, and Mr. 
G. Taylor second, both staging creditably. Begonias were well shown by 
Messrs. A. A. Walters, Bath, and E. Wilcox ; variegated Pelargoniums by 
B. Hopkins and E. Brown, Chapmanslade; Gloxinias by A. A. Walters; 
flowering Zonal Pelargoniums by G. Tucker and E. Wilcox; and Petunias 
by E. Wilcox, who received the prizes. 
With cut Roses, Messrs. G. Cooling & Son, Bath, were easily first, Mr. 
G. Garraway, Bath, being a good second. Mr. G. Taylor was a good first 
with twelve bunches of choice cut flowers, and Mr. Wilcox second. Several 
good wreaths were shown, but Mr. M. Coombe, foreman, Marston Gardens, 
was easily first, and he also displayed great taste in the arrangement of his 
first-prize epergne. Mr. Garraway was first for hand bouquets, and Mr. 
M. Hookings, Clifton, was second in these classes. 
Fruit was shown in great quantities, and in the competing collections 
of both fruit and vegetables the Bath professionals had extra larg^ piles of 
each sort. Mr. T. Smith, Bath, was first for a collection of six dishes of 
fruit, and Mr. G. Garraway second. Mr. G. Taylor was first with three 
bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes, these being fairly well shown, and Mr. 
Garraway was second. The best Melon was staged by Mr. W. Thomas, 
gardener to J. F. F. Horner, Esq., Mells Park, and Mr. S. Andrews, gardener 
to A. G. Hayman, Esq., Frome, Hapsford, Frome, was second, both showing 
fruit of good quality. Messrs. G. Cooling & Son had the best dish of dessert 
Apples, a very handsome dish of Beauty of Bath, and in the class for culinary 
sorts Mr. J. Cray, Frome, was first with a fine dish of Lord Suffield. 
Vegetables were shown in large quantities, both the gardeners’ and 
cottagers’ productions being most praiseworthy. In the open class Mr. Gar¬ 
raway and Mr. T. Ebrey, Batheaston, were equal firsts with collections, and 
Mr. C. Chedzey, Croscombe, third. The best brace of Cucumbers was staged 
by Mr. Cray, who had a fine brace of Carter’s Model, and Mr. Hopkins was 
first in the class for Tomatoes with a fine dish of Sutton’s Perfection. Col- 
