Sept.nib’r 10, 1*85. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
235 
tion; Mr. Combie, Greenock, having the prize for the single specimen 
Orchid. Mr. John Mathieson had first prize for foliage plants, his Croton 
Weismanni and Cycas circinalis being in splendid condition. The foliage 
plants filled a large table and made a splendid show. 
The first prize for twenty-four Dahlias was gained by Mr. M. Campbell 
of Auchenraith. Prominent in his collection were finely finished examples 
of the following varieties :—Statesman, Hon. Mrs. Percy Wyndham, 
Gaiety, W. H. Williams, Earl of Ravensworth, Prince Bismarck, Mrs. Glad¬ 
stone, Mrs. Langtry, Lottie Eckford, and a most perfect bloom of Harrison 
Weir. A silver medal was awarded for these blooms. Messrs. Jas. Cocker 
and Son, Aberdeen, had first place for twenty-four blooms of Roses. Some 
of the best in this collection were Merveille de Lyon, White Baroness, 
Duke of Teck, Pride of Waltham, Countess of Rosebery, John Stuart Mill, 
Marie Baumann, and A. K. Williams. Pansies were well represented, Mr. 
John Sutherland taking the lead with a stand of perfect blooms, remarkable 
for substance, Bize, and smoothness of texture. Single Dahlias were well 
shown by Messrs. John Lamont & Son, Musselburgh, some of the best 
being Beauty of Cambridge, White Queen, Zulu Improved, B. S. Williams 
(new), Warrior (new), White Paragon, Paragon, Robert Fleming, Walter 
Ware, the Clown, James Cocker, and Negress. Mr. E. Boyes, Uddington, 
had fine specimen Ericas, his E. Marnockiana gaining the prize for the most 
meritorious plant in the Exhibition. Mr. A. Niven, gardener, Loch Brae, 
showed a fine specimen Tree Fern, Cyathea dealbata, very handsome. 
The vegetables formed a remarkable show, the chief prizetaker being 
Mr. D. McBean, gardener to A. Cunningham, Esq., Craigends, Johnstone. 
His vegetables were superb and easily gained the first position. Mr. McBean 
had also first for Leeks, Onions, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Savoys, Parsley, and 
Parsnips, his Onions and Leeks being marvels of high cultivation. Mr. 
Alexander Bogie, gardener, Auchans House, Kilmarnock, showed the best 
Potatoes, his Village Blacksmith being very fine. 
Fruit was not largely shown. The bunches of Alicante and Black Ham¬ 
burgh Grapes were particularly well done. White Grapes were not so well 
shown, a want of finish being apparent in some of the best bunches. The 
principal competitors for fruit were Messrs. Alexander Crosby, Buchanan 
Gardens; J. Procter, Glenfinnert, Greenock; and Wilson, Ayr; James 
Mitchell, Newmains ; Donald McBean, Robert Strathdee, John Maul, and 
Henry Andrew.—G. R. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
September 8th and 9th. 
All available space in the conservatory at South Kensington was fully 
occupied with exhibits on Tuesday and Wednesday last, the Grapes, Plums, 
miscellaneous fruits, Dahlias, Gladioli, and other flowers together forming 
one of the largest and best shows held there this season. Throughout 
Tuesday afternoon and evening the building was crowded with visitors, and 
there was no part of the International Exhibition attracted so much atten¬ 
tion as this. The important series of shows held there this year are now 
drawing to a close, as only two more are announced, which take place next 
month. 
GRAPES. 
The schedule provided no less than twenty-seven classes for Grapes, 
two bunches of each, and three prizes were offered in each class of 30s., 20s. 
and 10s., or a total of £81, probably the largest amount ever contributed for 
Grapes at one exhibition in London. Classes were specially devoted to 
twenty-six varieties, and with those not in competition there must have been 
over forty varieties represented, though someof these were only curiosities, and 
the relative popularity of the different sorts was well shown by the number 
of entries. The competition was not quite so keen as might have been 
expected, but in all the leading classes fruit of excellent quality was staged, 
and the weakest and least satisfactory samples were found in the classes for 
varieties that are not considered as standard Grapes, but rather as super¬ 
numeraries, to vary the supply. Black Grapes were decidedly superior to 
the white varieties if we except Muscat of Alexandria, which was admirably 
shown by several competitors, but especially by the successful exhibitor at 
the recent Crystal Palace Show, who was again victorious at Kensington. 
Taking the classes in the order named in the schedule, the following 
were the awards :— 
Alicante .—The seven competitors in this class all staged good bunches, 
and the three prizewinners’ contributions were remarkable for their dense 
•even bloom. Mr. Howe, gardener to H. Tate, Esq., Park Hill, Streatham, 
was awarded first honours for large well-developed bunches, one being par¬ 
ticularly handsome, and all that could be desired in colour. Mr. J. J. 
Lowry, gardener to J. Macandrew, Esq., Belmont, Mill Hill, followed very 
closely, being but few points behind, and Mr. Hollingworth, gardener to 
J. T. Campbell, Esq., Woodseat, Uttoxeter, was third with smaller bunches, 
but of handsome shape and colour. 
Alnwick Seedling .—This was a remarkable class, for although there 
were only five entries, the Judges deemed the Grapes so meritorious that a 
prize was awarded to each exhibitor—namely, a first, two seconds, and two 
thirds. The examples were all good, and io bloom and general finish there 
was very little difference between them, but the bunches varied slightly in 
size, and this seemed to be the chief guide to the awards. The premier 
honours were accorded to Mr. H. J. Clayton, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, 
for handsome bunches and berries superbly coloured. Mr. Wallis, gardener 
do the Rev. W. Sneyd, Keele Hall, Newcastle, was second with smaller but 
compact, even, and beautiful bunches. Mr. Roberts, gardener to Messrs. 
Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, Acton, was equal second with finely 
coloured examples. Mr. J. Hudson, gardener to H. J. Atkinson, Esq., M.P., 
Gunnersbury House, Acton, and Mr. Goodacre, gardener to the Earl of 
Harrington, Elvaston Castle, Derby, were equal thirds, both showing highly 
•creditable bunches. 
Black Hamburgh .—Of the five exhibitors Mr. J. Roberts had decidedly 
the best specimens of this variety both in size of berries and colour. Mr. 
J. Vert, The Gardens, Audley End, was second with good bunches and 
berries, but slightly wanting in colour. Mr. J. Read, Moat Mount, Mill 
Hill, was third with bunches and berries of medium size, but slightly 
rubbed. 
Black Prince .—Only two pairs of bunches of this variety were exhibited, 
Mr. Baird, gardener to C. A. Daw, Esq., Homefield, E vling, taking the lead 
with the characteristic long bunches of good colour. Mr. C. J. Goldsmith, 
gardener to C. H. Hoare, Esq., Kelsey Manor, Beckenham, was placed 
second with smaller but good examples. 
Buckland Sweetwater. — With large handsome bunches and berries, but 
not highly coloured, Mr. J. Roberts was the most successful amongst five 
exhibitors, Mr. S. Castle, West Lynn, Norfolk, being second with smaller 
bunches but equally fine berries ; Mr. G. R. Allis, Old Warden Park Gardens, 
Biggleswade, following with well-ripened but smaller bunches. 
Duke of Buccleuch. —None of the exhibits in this class could be con¬ 
sidered perfectly satisfactory, though the premier bunches from Mr. W. 
Allan, gardener to Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, Norwich, were large, the 
berries fine, and one of them very clean. Mr. G. Tucker, gardener to J. L. 
Lovibond, Esq., Starts Hill, Farnborough, was second with large but rather 
irregular bunches and fine berries ; Mr. Baird being third with similar but 
smaller bunches. 
Dutch Hamburgh. —Though a very handsome Grape when well grown 
this does not appear to be a favourite with exhibitors, for there was only 
one entry, Mr. J. Read gaining the first prize for bunches of medium size, 
the berries fine and colour excellent. 
Dr. Hogg. —This fine-flavoured variety was also only represented by one 
exhibitor, Mr. E. Hill, gardener to Lord de Rothschild, Tring Park, Tring, 
who was awarded the first prize for a fine bunch of medium-sized berries and 
well coloured. 
Foster's Seedling. —Seven pairs of good bunches of this variety were 
shown, Mr. Allan leading with particularly good samples, very notable for 
the size of the berries. Mr. G. T. Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, 
Wycombe Abbey, was second with good-sized bunches well ripened ; and Mr. 
J. Horsefield, gardener to Lord Heytesbury, Heytesbury, Wilts, was third 
with highly coloured examples, rather smaller in bunch and berry than the 
preceding. 
Golden Queen. —There was nothing in the appearance of the two pairs of 
bunches staged to excite much admiration, for all the “ golden” to be seen 
was in the name, and they both had a rather green,or whit some might term 
a “ dirty ” appearance. Mr. H. Folkes, gardener to T. F. Halsey, Esq., M.P., 
Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, and Mr. Wallis were the prizetakers 
in that order. 
Gros Colman. —With the exception of the first-prize bunches from Mr. 
R. Dawes, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Meynell Ingram, Temple Newsome, 
the exhibits in this class were not so good as we sometimes see at later 
shows; those just named were, however, large in bunch and berry, and 
admirably coloured. Mr. A. Smith, gardener to W. H. Sewell, Esq., Warren 
Hill, Loughton, was second, very large bunches, medium size berries, and 
slightly wanting in colour ; Mr. Tucker being third with small well-coloured 
bunches. 
Gros Guillaume. —Under the general but erroneous name of Barbarossa 
two huge bunches of Gros Guillaume were staged by Mr. Dawes, and were 
adjudged the first prize. The bunches were not only large, but well pro¬ 
portioned and of good colour. 
Gros Maroc. —As at the Crystal Palace, this very promising Grape was 
capitally represented, and it appeared to well deserve the opinion expressed 
by an experienced grower, that it is “ a first-rate variety, and one which is 
fast gaining favour.” Mr. J. Roberts had the best of the five pairs entered, 
the bunches being compact and well formed, the berries large and the colour 
beautiful. Mr. G. T. Miles and Mr. J. Wallis followed very closely, there 
being few points between them and the first. 
Lady Downe’s Seedling. —This thoroughly useful late Grape was shown 
by six competitors, Mr. Hollingworth leading with large handsome bunches 
of fine colour much ahead of the others. Mr. Wallis was second with smaller 
bunches, and Mr. Allis third with similar but well-coloured examples. 
Madresfield Court. —All the bunches staged by the five exhibitors were 
even and well set, but two or three were slightly deficient in colour. Mr. 
Hudson won first honours with large bunches bearing a splendid bloom. 
Mr. Goodacre and Mr. Vert following closely. 
Mrs. Pearson. —Two of the contributions in this class—namely, the first 
and second from Mr. Allan and Mr. Horsefield, were remarkable for their high 
colour, the second bunches differing only in being rather smaller. The third- 
prize bunches from Mr. Wallis were somewhat green, and the same remark 
applies to the two bunches that did not take a position amongst the prize¬ 
winners. 
Mrs. Pince. —The competition was good in this class, there being seven 
entries, but except the first-prize bunches from Mr. Pratt, Longleat Gardens, 
Warminster, they were not so well coloured as this variety should be when 
at its best. Mr. Pratt’s bunches were solid and handsome, and bore a fine 
dense bloom. Mr. Smith was second also with good bunches, and Mr. 
Wallis third, the last named samples being rather red. 
Mill Hill Hamburgh. —Two good examples of this Grape were exhibited, 
but neither were quite up to the character of the variety as regards size of 
berries. J. McIntosh, Esq., Duneeven, Oatlands Park, secured the first 
place with good bunches and berries, Mr. J. Read being second with smaller 
b rries but rather better colour, though this variety is rarely seen first-rate 
in this respect. 
Muscat Hamburgh.—First honours were obtained by Mr. Goodacre with 
even well-proportioned bunches of satisfactory colour. Mr. Horsefield 
followed closely, and Mr. Allan was third with large bunches, but rather 
wanting in colour. 
Muscat of Alexandria. —The keenest competition in all the classes was 
that for this favourite Muscat, nine pairs of fine bunches being staged; but, 
repeating his success at the Crystal Palace last week, Mr. J. J. Lowry was 
again accorded premier honours for the handsome bunches which are duly 
praised elsewhere. Mr. Pratt and Mr. Roberts followt d in that order, the 
second having large bunches not so well coloured, and the third smaller but 
well ripened bunches. 
Various. —In several classes there was little competition, and they can 
be disposed of in a few lines. Of Royal Muscadine Mr. Read had the only 
examples, and was awarded the third prize. With West’s St. Peter’s Mr. 
Baird was first. Many good bunches of capital colour, but there was no 
competition. Messrs. Hollingworth, Edmonds, and Vert were the prize¬ 
winners with Trebbiano, all showing large bunches. Messrs. Roberts and 
Hollingworth were first and second respectively with White Tokay, both 
