388 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October T9, 1885. 
being very heavy. I grow about a dozen varieties, including Ashleaf and 
Early Regent, which is the best second early I have got, the crop and 
quality being first-class. From half a pound of the latter planted for 
trial on 9th April I lifted 119 lbs. on August 17th, all sound. For the 
main crop I grow Reading Hero, Magnum Bonums, and Reading Russet, 
the former being the chief one, the quality being so good. From sixty 
perches planted in the middle of March, we lifted at the end of September 
over four tons of good Potatoes, three tons of Hero and one of Magnum, 
with about 3 cwt. of small ones over the four tons. I cannot come up 
to some of your correspondents in weight of tubers, but there are plenty 
weighing about 1 lb. each. I may say that Potatoes in this neighbourhood 
have not done well this season in general, the produce being small, with 
second growth in many cases.— W. Whittaker, Manor Home, Stock- 
land, Bridgwater. 
JROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 27th and 28th. 
The concluding Show of the series of twelve provided at South Ken¬ 
sington since the beginning of May this year was devoted to Vegetables 
and Chrysanthemums, and was as satisfactory as those which preceded it. 
The entries were very numerous in all the classes, and the competition 
remarkably keen in consequence of the uniform good quality of the 
exhibits. During these six months a wonderful quantity of horticultural 
produce has been brought to the exhibitions, and there can be no doubt 
that the prizes offered have induced much healthy rivalry, which has 
imparted an invaluable stimulus to horticulture generally. It is to be 
hoped that a similar series of shows will be provided next year. 
VEGETABLE AND CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 
Collections. —The competition was exceedingly strong with collec¬ 
tions of eight kinds of vegetables, no less than eighteen exhibitors entering, 
and their produce was as fine and clean throughout as anyone could desire. 
Mr. G. F. Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, gained the 
premier award with a grand collection, one of the best he has shown for 
some time,_ and including admirably grown examples of Veitch’s Autumn 
Giant Cauliflower, Sutton’s New Intermediate Carrot, Walker’s Exhibition 
Onions, Veitch’s Exhibition Sprouts, Stamfordian Tomato, Leicester Red 
Celery, Chancellor Potatoes, and Lyon Leeks. Mr. R. Phillips, gardener 
to Dr. Baker, The Deodars, Meopham, and Mr. S. Haines, gardener to the 
Earl of Radnor, were second and third, their vegetables being very few 
points behind the first in quality. 
Potatoes. —There was an extensive display of Potatoes, and the majority 
of the exhibits were of fine appearance. With thirty varieties Mr. J. Hughes, 
gardener to Colonel Cartwright, Eydon Hall, Byfield, took the lead amongst 
four other exhibitors, and showed handsome even tubers of Beauty of Hebron, 
Pride of Eydon, London Hero, Cardinal, Reading Russet, Schoolmaster, 
Queen of the Valley, Cosmopolitan, Woodstock Kidney, Edgcote Purple, 
Vicar of Laleham, Chancellor, Snowdrop, Prizetaker, Lord Rosebery, The 
Dean, Fidler’s Prolific, Rufus, The Captain, M.P., Crimson Beauty, The 
Colonel, Red Fluke, Adirondack, Sutton’s Early Regent, Purple Perfection, 
Myatt’s Prolific, Favourite, and Magnum Bonum. Mr. E. S. Wiles, Edgcote, 
Banbury, and Mr. William Kerr, Dargavel, Dumfries, were second and third, 
each with good specimens. Ten competitors staged twelve varieties. Mr 
William Ellington, West Row Gardens, Mildenhall, Suffolk, taking the first 
place for excellent tubers of Grampian, Chancellor, Beauty of Hebron, The 
Doctor, Vicar of Laleham, Adirondack, Edgcote Purple, Magnum Bonum, 
Lee s Defiance, Lord Beaconsfield, Lifeguard, and Snowdrop. Messrs. E. S. 
Wiles and J. Hughes followed closely. Mr. W. Robins, gardener to E. D. 
Lee, Esq., Aylesbury, had the best six varieties of the fourteen lots staged, 
the varieties being Mr. Bresee, Radstock Beauty, Schoolmaster, Reading Hero, 
International Kidney, and Vicar of Laleham. Messrs. E. S. Wiles and William 
Ellington were second and third respectively. 
. Messrs. Sutton’s Prizes. —Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, contributed 
prizes in two classes for Potatoes, the principal being that for nine varieties 
selected from eighteen sent out by that firm. Mr. J. Donaldson, The 
Gardens, Keith Hall, Inverurie, was awarded the premier honours amongst 
twelve competitors with capital clean tuberB of Lady Truscott, Magnum 
Bonum, Fifty fold, Woodstock Kidney, Favourite, Prizetaker, Reading 
Russet, First and Best, and Reading Hero. The other awardB were secured 
by Messrs. Haines, gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Coleshill, Highworth, 
Berks ; C. W. Howard, Bridge, Canterbury; and Mr. C. Ross, Welford Park 
Gardens, Newbury. In the other class for two varieties, Early Eclipse, a 
white round, and Reading Ruby, a long red handsome kidney, Mr. J. 
Donald was again first, Messrs. E. S. Wiles and S. Haines being second and 
” a ", 8 “°^ ln S good samples, though the first were much the best. 
_.,, ,‘ „ Fmler, Reading, also provided a class for four dishes to comprise 
Fidler s Success, Prolific, and Enterprise, and Reading Russet. Mr. J. 
Hughes was adjudged the chief prize, and was followed by Mr. E. S. Wiles, 
Mr.. C. Osman, Sutton, and Mr. Ellington, there being in all eight ex¬ 
hibitors. & 
Onions.— These were well represented by solid handsome bulbs, twentv- 
six dishes of nine being entered in the class devoted to them, fifteen of these 
being Rousham Park Hero. Mr. G. Neal, gardener to P. Southey, Esq., 
Bampton, Oxford, was first with Deverill’s Anglo-White Spanish large 
even and handsome. Mr. E. S. Wiles followed with the same, not quite so 
large, and Mr. Aggins, gardener to the Earl of Effingham, Tusmore, was 
third with Rousham Park Hero. Mr. H. Deverill, Cornhill, Banbury pro¬ 
vided four prizes for the best dishes of the following varieties :—Rousham 
Park Hero, eleven entries, won by Mr. Henley, Banbury; Anglo White 
Spanish, six entries, Mr. G. Neal; Main Crop, seven entries, Mr. E. S. Wiles • 
F inlay s Wroxton, seven entries, Mr. Doherty, gardener to Lord North! 
Wroxton Abbey. Mr. Deverill also showed a collection of twenty-eight 
varieties that, like the preceding, were distinguished by fine quality. 
Numerous classes were devoted to vegetables, in which the following 
were the winners of the principal prizes. There were twenty lots of six 
heads of Celery, Mr. G. H. Richards, gardener to the Earl of Normanton, 
bomerley Park, Rmgwood, Hants, being first with Wright’s White, solid 
white samples, much the best shown. Sutton’s Sulham Pink, and Luck- 
hurst’s Giant White were the other winning varieties. Mr. Richards was 
also first with Parsnips amongst twenty-two exhibitors, having fine speci¬ 
mens of Elcombe’s Improved, and again with Turnips the same exhibitor 
was first with Snowball. The best of eighteen exhibits of Carrots was 
shown by Mr. W. H. Kingstaill, Newbury, clean handsome specimens of 
Sutton’s Intermediate, 14 to 16 inches long. Mr. May, gardener to Captain 
Le Blanc, Northau House, Barnet, had the finest four plants of Brussels 
Sprouts, capital examples of his well-known strain. For half a peck of 
Sprouts, Mr. R. Lye, gardener to W. H. Kingsmill, Esq., Newbury, was first 
with Sutton’s Exhibition variety, close neat sprouts. Endive was admir¬ 
ably shown by Mr. G. Bolas, gardener to H. C. P. Gell, Esq., Hopton Hall, 
Wirksworth, who had selections of Messrs. Sutton’s. The best Beet was 
Pragnell’s Exhibition from Mr. May, fine even roots. Autumn Giant Cauli¬ 
flowers of medium size gained Mr. Haines the first prize, and were preferred 
to much larger heads. The same exhibitor also had good specimens of Lyon 
Leek, and led in a class of nineteen competitors. Mr. C. Osman showed fine 
examples of Sutton’s Allheart Cabbage, and wa3 placed first, as he was also 
with Drumhead and Red Cabbages. 
Fifteen dishes of highly meritorious Tomatoes were staged, all being 
forms of Trophy. Mr. R. Farrance, Chadwell Heath, was first with grand 
even richly coloured fruits ; Mr. N. Phillips being a very close second with 
rather smaller but equally beautiful fruits; Mr. Worthing, gardener to 
A. Ross, Esq., Chadwell Heath, being third. Gourds made an interesting 
display, the fruits being most curiously formed and brightly coloured. 
Messrs. C. Osman, Glen, and J. Sharpe were the prizetakers. 
Chrysanthemums. —In the class for a group of Chrysanthemums in 
pots Mr. G. Stevens, Putney, won first honours with an exceedingly 
tasteful contribution, the plants well grown, and the blooms, chiefly 
Japanese, of good size, bright, and clean. There was a margin of dwarf 
plants in front, principally L’Africaine,which formed an agreeable finish to 
the group. Mr. A. Cuff, gardener to R. R. Hyatt, Esq., Leigham Court 
Road, Streatham, was second, his group being fairly we'l arranged, but the 
blooms were small; Mr. C. E. Smith, Silvermere, Cobham, being third with 
loosely arranged rather late plants, but bearing fine blooms of Mdlle. 
Lecroix, Mrs. Marsham, Comte de Germiny, and Queen of England. 
Six remarkably good collections of twenty-four blooms were entered for 
such an early period in the season. Mr. J. Ridout, gardener to T. B. Hay¬ 
wood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, being awarded the leading 
prize for a dozen Japanese, exceptionally fine, and the same number of 
incurved, several of which were also good. The varieties were, Japanese— 
L’lncomparable, Mdlle. Lecroix, Dr. Macary, Madame Auguste Gautier, 
Criterion, Margot, Chang, Madame de Serin, Madame Rendatler, Madame 
C. Audiguier, Soliel de Levant, and Rubrum striatum. Incurved—Queen 
of England, Jeanne d’Arc, Empress of India, Nil Desperandum, Mrs. G. 
Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, Baron Benoist, White Venus, Mr. Bunn, Prince of 
Wales, Mr. G. Glenny, and Lady Hardinge. The second place was taken 
by Mr. J. J. Lowry, gardener to James Mac Andrew, Esq., Belmont, Mill 
Hill, who had splendid blooms of several Japanese varieties, such as M. 
Henri Jacotot, Md. Astorg, Mdme. Audiguier, M. Desbrieux, Margot, M. 
Moussilac, Daimio, Berthe Rendatler, and Magnum Bonum. Mr. C. Goode, 
gardener to G. G. Stone, Esq., Eastcote, Red Hill, was third, his best blooms 
being Madame C. Audiguier, Roseum Superbum, and Margot. 
Miscellaneous. —A silver-gilt medal was awarded to Messrs. Sutton and 
Sons, Reading, for a superb collection of Potatoes and Kales. There were 
three large heaps of Reading Hero, Magnum Bonum, and Reading Russet, all 
fine tubers. Eleven dishes of unnamed seedlings were also shown with 
samples of the produce of the Darwin Potato, Solanum Maglia. There were 
eighteen dishes of varieties sent out by the firm, and thirty-four of general 
varieties, all distinguished by their fine appearance. Of the KaleB, the Ex¬ 
quisite Dwarf Green Curled, Dwarf Purple, and Improved Variegated were 
very beautiful. Silver medals were awarded to Mr. W. Kerr, Dargavel, 
Dumfries, for 100 dishes of Potatoes, comprisin '- many varieties all superbly 
represented by clean handsome tubers. M.M. Vilmorin et Cie, Paris, showed 
an interesting collection of about 100 old and new varieties of Potatoes, some 
of which have been cultivated by them for eighty years. The Marjolm 
Hative, the Early Ash-leaved Kidney, was notable, as were also several 
forms of the Yitelotte or Fir Apple type, some of which are quite cylin¬ 
drical and long, strangely and regularly indented, which is most marked in a 
small form called Asperge. To Mr. J. Deverill for the Onions already noted; 
and to Mr. Dance, gardener to Col. Lowe, Gosfield Hall, Halstead, for eighty 
dishes of Apples and Pears, comprising many large handsome fruits. Bronze 
medals were awarded to Mr. C. Fidler, Reading, for an extensive collection 
of Potatoes ; and to Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, for a choice 
group of Carnations and Gesneraceous plants, including numerous hand¬ 
some varieties. 
COMMITTEES. 
Fruit Committee. —Harry J. Yeitch, Esq., in the chair. Present 
Messrs. Paul, Ford, Ross, Haywood, Roberts, Bunyard, Blackmore, Hogg, 
and Burnett, and Mr. A. F. Barron, Secretary. Mr. Pritchard, Queen Street, 
Sittingbourne, sent an Apple named St. Christopher; the fruit tasted of the 
packing, and it was requested to be sent again, when six fruits must be 
shown. Mr. A. Lancaster, Holkham Hall, Norfolk, sent a large handsome 
Apple named Lord Leicester. It has a very firm, crisp, and agreeably acid 
flesh, and promises to be a long-keeping kitchen Apple of great merit. It 
was placed in charge of Mr. Barron, with the request to be brought forward 
later in the autumn at a subsequent meeting. Mr. William Earl y, Ilford, 
sent a dish of a large variety of Apple from a seedling grafted eighteen years 
ago. It bears a strong resemblance to Lord Derby, and the Committee 
asked to see it in June or as late as it was in condition. Mr. Cummins, 
gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., Wallington, sent an Apple named Smee's 
Seedling, which was past. He also sent tubers of Magnum Bonum Potato, 
some of which weighed 2 lbs.; a vote of thanks was awarded. Messrs. John 
Peed & Sons sent a seedling Plum found in a hedgerow, a prolific variety 
keeping till Christmas. It was very acid, and the Committee requested that 
it be exhibited again next year. G. F. Wilson, Esq., Heatherside, Weybridge, 
sent a Pear named Beurre d’Anjou from a tree grown in a pot for the last 
twenty-eight years; a vote of thanks was awarded. Mr. Jones, Carshalton, 
sent Celery Plein blanc doree, to which a vote of thanks was awarded. Mr. 
Miles, Banbury, sent a variety of Brussels Sprouts called Edgcote, which 
’ was passed. 
