November 19, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
455 
excellent products. There remained one other collection, that of Mr. Kneller, 
which included splendid Onions, Cauliflowers, and large Brussels Sprouts, 
and other vegetables so good that the Judges were constrained to put their 
hands in their pockets and in that way provide an extra prize. The Com¬ 
mittee are to be congratulated on their Show, and the Secretary, Mr. A. E. 
Holdaway, on its good management. 
FINCHLEY.— November 13th and 14th. 
In addition to the usual summer Show the Finchley Horticultural Society 
this year held an autumn exhibition of Chrysanthemums, fruit, and vege¬ 
tables on the date above given. Tne exhibits were not very numerous, and 
two small school-rooms sufficed to hold them without the slightest approach 
to crowding, and but for two or three cont 1 ibutions tne Show would have 
been very unsatisfactory, and much inferior to what should be expected from 
nuch a district. As a Chrysanthemum Show it was far surpassed by the 
Lambeth Amateurs’ Exhibition and it will be necessary to take some steps to 
procure a more thoroughly representative display before the Finchley 
Autumn Show can claim a good place amongst the suburban productions of 
a similar kind. 
The leading stands of cut blooms were contributed by Mr. J. J. Lowry, 
gardener to J. MacAndrew, Esq., Belmont, Mill Hill, who secured the 
premier prize with incurved, Japanese, and Anemones, the blooms being 
similar to those which he had at the Westminster Aquarium on the preceding 
days. Mr. H. Oliver, Alexandra Green, Finchley, and Mr. H. Mobbs, gardener 
to W. T. Linford, Esq., Elm Grange, Church End, also showed blooms in 
several classes. But the most interesting exhibit was, however, a group of 
Pompon Chrysanthemums from Mr. W. T. Stapleton of Finchley, which 
included some of the prettiest little plants we have ever seen. They were 
all in 48-size pots, bushy specimens about 1 foot high, and bearing two to 
three dozen blooms of the C do Nulli varieties. The decorative value of 
such plants could not be over-estimated, and either on the Btag ; of a con¬ 
servatory or on a margin to groups of plants they would be invaluable. 
Groups of Chrysanthemums, not for competition, were staged by Messrs. 
Cutbush, Williams, and Dixon; Mr. Mobbs also having two tasteful 
groups. 
In the fruit classes the Grapes were the principal exhibits, Mr. P. E. 
Kay, Long Lane, Finchley, leading in the black Grape class with beautiful 
examples of Gros Colman, the berries large, the bunches well proportioned 
and finely coloured. Mr. T. Stapleton was second with Alicantes of excellent 
colour, and Mr. G. B. Shonlts, Oakley Nursery, Finchley, was third with 
Gros Colman, very large, but not quite so well finished as the first. Mr. 
P. S. Kay also had a basket of grand bunches of Alicantes and Gros Colman. 
not for competition. Mr. J. J. Lowry was first with white Grapes, showing 
Muscat of Alexandria well ripened. Apples were numerous and Pears were 
well represented, the principal exhibitors being Messrs. G. Dyke, gardener 
to H. C. Stephen, Esq., Avenue House, Finchley ; J. J. Lowry; H. Jarvis, 
gardener to H. M. Bishop, Esq., Hendon Park, Mill Hill; Berse, gardener to 
J. H. Lermitte, Esq., Knightons, Finchley, and J. Pulling. Two clean col¬ 
lections of vegetables were staged by Mr. G. Agate, gardener to A. Taylor, 
Esq., Priory House, Southgate, and Mr. Mobbs, who secured the first and 
second prizes as named. 
LINDFIELD. 
This Show was held on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12th and 13th, 
when there was a grand display of the Autumn Queen, the groups, both 
gardens and amateur, being exceptionally good, there being some very fine 
flowers in the first and second-prize lots. The competition for cut 
flowers was very good ; also for extra prizes offered for Apples and Pears, 
vegetables, &c., by some of the well-known nurserymen. We must not 
forget the collections of Potatoes staged by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, which 
were much admired ; also numerous other exhibits were sent by the 
gardeners of the district not for competition. The Show reflected great 
credit on the Committee and the Hon. Sec. for the arrangements. 
The following were the winners of the principal prizes :—For the best 
group staged for effect.—First, Mr. A. J. Brown, gardener to W. Savill,Esq., 
Finches ; second, Mr. Venn, gardener to W. Sturdy, Esq., Paxhill ; third, 
Mr. Hodges, gardener to S. C. Gibbons, Esq., Walsted ; fourth, Mr. Hors- 
croft, gardener to R. Soltis, Esq., Ardingly ; fifth, Mr. Braysher, gardener to 
Mrs. Catt, Leete House. For the best group staged by amateur and single- 
handed gardeners.—First, Mr. Brook, gardener to Descon, Esq, Lythe ; 
second, Mr. R. Durrant. Twenty-four cut blooms, twelve Japanase 
twelve incurved (five entries).—First, Mr. Gibbons, gardener to Evans, Esq., 
The Chalet ; second, Mr. Venn ; third, Mr. A. J. Brown. Best twelve 
Japanese (five entries).—Mess«e. Venn, Brown, and Hodges in that order. 
Best twelve incurved.—Messrs. Gibbons, Venn, Hodges, as named. Best 
six reflexed, six Anemone.—Messrs. Venn and Gower, gardener to Miss 
Davis. Best single blooms, the prizes given by Mr. Davis of Camberwell 
(seven entries).—Messrs. Gibbons and Venn. Best incurved.—Messrs. 
Venn and Gibbons. Best collection of Apples, eight dishes and eight entries, 
prizes given by Messrs. Laing and other friends.—First, Mr. Venn. Best 
collections of Pears, four dishes (six entries).—Prizes given by Messrs. 
Cheal & Son. First, Mr. Kemp. Two best bunches of Grapes (three 
entries).—First, Mr. Hodges. Best collection of veg tables, prizes given 
by Messrs. Sutton it Sons, Reading (seven entries).—First, Mr. T. Venn. 
LINCOLN.— November 17th and 18th. 
The third Exhibition of the Lincoln Chrysanthemum Society opened on 
Tuesday last in the spacious Corn Exchange of the ancient city. The Show, 
though decidedly attractive, was not considered quite equal in merit to that 
of last year. Early frosts appear to have done much injury to the buds, 
for two of the leading local exhibitors, Messrs. Wipf and Caulling, left the 
field open to other competitions. The bulk of the prizes for cut blooms 
was secured by Mr. Bugg, gardener to W. Ashley, Esq., and Mr. Mitchell, 
gardener to W. J. Waverer, Esq. In the open class for forty-eight blooms 
there was only one collection, and for this Mr. Mitchell was awarded the 
second prize of £5. His Japanese b’ooms were of fair merit, but the 
incurved were very small. He was quite satisfied with the decision. In 
the class for twenty-four blooms Mr. Bugg was well ahead, followed by Mr. 
Mitchell, and they had the same positions in five other classes, while in 
three more—twelve Japanese, Anemone Japanese, and Pompons—Mr 
Mitchell took the lead. The best Japanese bloom in the Show was Fabian 
de Mediana, in Mr. Mitchell’s stand ; the best incurved flower, Empress 
of India, staged by T. C. Bourne, Esq. Groups of Chrysanthemums were 
gay, but as a rule defective in quality of flowers and in the finish of the 
front row. Groups of mixed plants were much better ; indeed, very good 
indeed, especially those of Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Foster, gardener to H. 
Greenham, Esq., who had the first and second prizes, Messrs. Harding and 
Bugg following. Mr. Pennell arranged a handsome group, not for competi¬ 
tion, which was highly commended by the Judges, and Mr. Illman was com¬ 
mended for meritorious assortment. There was a great and good display 
of Apples and Pears, and good Grapes were staged by Mr. Allis, gardener 
to Major Shuttleworth, Old Warden, Biggleswade, who had the chief prizes. 
The Show was well managed by Dr. George Lowe and his assistants, and 
the public attendance promised to be great. 
READING.— November 13th, 
A large and very meritorious Show was held in the Town Hall on the 
date named. Groups were remarkably good, the prizes going to Mr. Ba9kett, 
gardener to W. J. Palmer, Esq., and Mr. Parham, gardener to H. J. Simonds, 
Esq. Specimen plants were not of special noticeable quality. Cut blooms 
were very fine. In the class for eighteen incurved the prizes went to Mr 
Neville, gardener to F. W. Flight, Esq., Winchester; Mr. Wildsmith, Heck- 
field ; and Mr. Pope, gardener to the Earl of Carnarvon. There was great 
competition also in the Japanese class for twelve blooms, no less than 
nineteen stands being placed in position. After much deliberation the prizes 
were awarded to Mr. Holdaway, gardener to Major May, Mr. Nevill, and 
Messrs. Wildsmith and Baskett, the latter being placed equal third, extra 
prizes being further awarded to Messrs. Strong and Pop?. Anemones were 
good, Messrs. Wildsmith, Kendall, and Elliott being the prizewinners in the 
order named. Fruit was well shown indeed, the prizes falling mainly to Mr. 
Turton, gardener to J. Hargreaves, Esq., and Mr. Perkins, gardener to 
W. H. Smith, Esq. The attendance of visitors was very large, and the 
Exhibition promised to be financially successful. 
HUDDERSFIELD. 
The second annual Show was held in the Town Hall on the 13th and 
14th inst. With the liberal prize list of over £35 devoted to four classes of 
cut blooms, open to all, it is much to be regretted that so few exhibitors 
responded. The absence also of exhibitors not for competition was felt and 
regretted ; nevertheless, as a whole the Show was an attractive one. The 
improvement that has taken place was most noticeable in the plants exhi¬ 
bited ; indeed, the first-prize group of Chrysanthemums in half a circle of 54 
square feet, shown by Mr. F. Hatch, gardener to Alderman J. F. Brigg, was 
made of really splendid examples of cultural skill The table plants and 
cut blooms of Chrysanthemums exhibited by Mr. William Daniels, gardener 
to Mrs. Cooke, Hall Croft, Mirfield, were of a high order of merit, justly 
gaining first prizes in their several classes. In the class of six table plants 
some of the exhibitors had entirely spoiled their chance of success by, as it 
were, varnishing the foliage over with what appeared to be some preparation 
of glycerine ; the Judges very properly discountenanced such malpractices. 
In the open class for best bouquet much condemnation was expressed of the 
Judges’ award. It would be well if more attention was given to this 
matter. 
The principal prizes were secured by the following exhibitors :—Mr. 
A. R. Cox, gardener to W. H. Watts, Esq.,Liverpool; Mr.F. Stoker, gardener 
to Mrs. Charles Crosland, Crosland Moor ; Mr. Mark Chambers, gardener to 
J. Yickerman, Esq , J.P., Taylor Hill; and Mr. F. Hatch, gardener to 
Alderman J. F. Brigg, J.P. 
EARLY-FLOWERING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Another season of the early- flowering Chrysanthemums has gone. 
Upon the whole it has been a good season in this part of the country, 
for though too hot and dry during the summer, where the plants have had 
water enough the sun has well ripened the wood and perfected them. 
Perhaps it will be well for me first to deal with the Show at the 
Crystal Palace, Sydenham. This time there were four competitors—viz , 
Mr. N. Davis of "the Lilford Road Nurseries, Camberwell, S.E. ; Mr. H. 
James of Castle Nursery, Lower Norwood ; Mr. A. Luff, gardener to 
R. R. Hetherset, Esq, Leigham Court Road, Streatham; and myself. It 
must be understood that the schedule offered prizes of £4, £3, and £2 for 
a collection of early-flowering “ Chrysanthemum indicum ” (to be suffi¬ 
ciently in flower for decorative purposes), not less than six varieties, 
three plants of each, and grown in pots not exceeding 8 inches—that is, 
measured across the top inside the rim. These are what are called 
24’s, and are really too small to do full justice to the plants ; still a 
rule is a law, and ought to be complied with ; but many of Mr. Luff’s 
pots were too small, and some of Mr. James’s were too large. The latter 
showed a very fine group of Madame Desgrange, but his other sorts were 
inferior plants in comparison with Mr. Davis’s and my own. If eighteen 
plants were only shown that would comply with the regulation, but Mr. 
Davis last year not only complied but did much more, and he obtained 
first prize ; and as I saw that there was no objection raised to his doing 
so, and as I only on that occasion had second prize, this year I not only 
complied with the rule, sending eighteen plants to regulation, but sent 
nearly fifty. Of course from last year's experience I thought that the 
authorities of the Palace not only were willing to give the prizes, but 
were desirous to make a good show, and if we had no pot larger than a 
24 we thought we were right, and so far we were, for I took the first 
prize ; but there was much dispute about the others, although Mr. James 
had second and Mr. Davis third. I do not know how Mr. Davis failed, 
but chiefly, I think, because the plants were not quite early enough. 
He was, however, I think the first person to publicly exhibit plants of the 
yellow sport of Madame Desgrange. It is very beautiful in its new 
colour, and deeper in the open air than under glass. The winning 
varieties on this occasion were Madame Desgrange, Mrs. Cullingford, 
Madame Jolivart, Lyon, Early Late Flora, and Nanum. We were also 
able to put up for show the new varieties La Eien Aimee, Surprise, 
