September 19. If89. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
taste. Informality and naturalness are required, but not slovenliness, 
and exhibitors occasionally seem unable to distinguish between these 
extremes. Some also start well ; they get the framework of the 
group worked out capitally, but when it comes to the filling in all is 
spoiled ; other perhaps give their greatest attention to the front or the 
back and the other portion having quite a distinct appearance and look¬ 
ing as if the plants had been huddled together in a hurry, which is 
usually the case if the time to be occupied is not carefully considered 
before starting and the work arranged accordingly. Examples of all 
these defects have quite recently come under notice, all from good ex¬ 
hibitors. who with a little more forethought might have readily avoided 
them. Then, too, when classes are provided for groups in which quality 
and effect have both to be considered, exhibitors are sometimes puzzled 
and rely too much upon the excellence of the plants they employ, 
neglecting the arrangement proportionately. The fact is, that any¬ 
thing approaching to what are termed “ specimen plants ” can seldom 
be employed with good effect in a group of moderate size, and even in 
the largest they usually have a heavy and disturbing appearance. At 
the same time weakly or insect-infested plants with discoloured foliage 
or with few, poor, or fading flowers should never be placed in a group 
for effect, even to “ fill up they are certain to be noticed by any care¬ 
ful judges, and should reduce the chances of the exhibitor’s success. 
In the class at Brighton noted above the second prize was awarded to 
Mrs Armstrong, who had a group of which Crotons, Lilium lanci- 
folium. Palms, Ferns, Acalyphas, and Asparagus plumosus were the 
leading features ; and though some of the plants were rather large they 
were well and effectively arranged. Mr. G. Miles, Victoria Nursery, 
Dyke Road, was third, also for a good style of group, white Lilies and 
Ferns predominating, but a little more colour would have improved it. 
The groups of Ferns always constitute a charming feature at this 
Show, and we have frequently commended the class and exhibits as 
worthy the attention of other societies. In so many gardens Ferns are 
now extensively grown for cutting purposes that it is not difficult to 
obtain sufficient for a group of fair size, and with comparatively few 
plants a most pleasing effect can be produced, particularly where some 
of the bolder looking broad fronded sorts are employed. Mr. Offer had 
the best exhibit, a diversified and fresh group with Tree Ferns at the 
back, a groundwork of Adiantums, and prominent raised corners of 
Neottopteris with rich green substantial fronds, and a few other distinct 
Ferns were scattered through the group. Mr. W. Miles, West Brighton 
Nursery, was a close second, having a large central specimen of Nephro- 
lepis davallioides furoans, with smaller- plants of Adiantum grouped 
around it. Mrs. Duddell, Queen’s Park (gardener, Mr. Spottiswood) 
was third for a collection of Adiantum cuneatum. 
Cut flowers have numerous classes devoted to them, and the exhibits 
produced an admirable display, proving how valuable these classes are 
in late summer and early autumn shows. With twenty-four bunches of 
stove and greenhouse plants Mrs. Gibson, Hill House, Saffron Walden 
(gardener, Mr. W. Archer), was awarded premier honours for excellent 
fresh and bright flowers of Rondeletia major, Dipladentas, Ixoras, Alla- 
mandas, Lapagerias, Anthuriums, Statices, and Tuberoses. Messrs. 
Knight & Co. were second, also with good specimens. Dahlias, Roses, 
Asters, Gladioli, and hardy flowers were all good, Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheal & Son, Piper, Balchin, and R. Miller being the leading exhibitors. 
For three stands of flowers Mr. Rupert Miller, Shoreham, won the first 
prize for far the best contribution of the kind in the Show. A tall 
central stand was lightly filled with white Anemones, Coreopsis, vshite 
Sultans, tall Grasses and Ferns, the base consisting of yellow and white 
Sultans, white and scarlet Cactus Dahlias, Coreopsis, and foliage. The 
side stands were much smaller, chiefly containing Lilium lancifolium 
and yellow Sultans. Mr. G. Miles and Mrs. J. Lewis, Preston Park 
Avenue, followed. Messrs. Perkins & Son. Coventry, were the chief 
exhibitors of wreaths and bouquets, showing their usual tasteful pro¬ 
ductions. * 
Fruit was well represented in numerous classes, and though some of 
it was probably seen at the Crystal Palace Show recently, and conse¬ 
quently had a slightly “ travel stained ” appearance, there was 
abundance of fresh exhibits. Some of the most successful exhibitors 
were Dr. Withers Moore (gardener, Mr. Godby), Mr. C. J. Goldsmith, 
Beckenham, Mr. Spottiswood, Mr. Osman, and Mr. Duncan. Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading, offered prizes for vegetables, which induced 
good competition, and there were also numerous non-competing exhibits 
of plants. 
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.— September 11th, 12th and 13th. 
The Durham, Northumberland, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Botanical 
and Horticultural Society held their autumn Exhibition on the above 
dates in the Leazes Park, Newcastle. The Show was held nearly two 
months later this year in order to take place during the meeting of the 
British Association, and the latter behaved most handsomely to the 
Society by offering £100 for special prizes, which made a most sub¬ 
stantial schedule. The officers of the Society were most hopeful of 
securing excellent weather, a9 September in the north up to the very 
morning of the Show was all that could be desired, but then rain came 
down in torrents nearly all day, to the disappointment of the Committee, 
exhibitors, and general public alike. The Committee and the Secretary, 
Mr. J. J. Gillespie, who is hard-working, painstaking, and courteous to 
all whom he comes in contact with, were much sympathised with. The 
weather improved before the close of the Exhibition, but was dull and 
threatening on Friday, and the Society are stated to have lost upwards 
of £200. 
The Show was held in four large tents placed together and the sides- 
taken out, so that visitors could see all over the Exhibition upon enter¬ 
ing it. At night it was illuminated with the electric light, which was 
much admired, and the foliage plants, especially the magnificent 
Dracaenas and Crotons of Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, were seen to 
the best advantage. The excellence of the staging arrangements as 
regards the flowering and foliage plants added greatly to the effect of 
the Exhibition, and the staging Committee, Messrs. Balfour, Wilson,, 
and Gascoigne, who were indefatigable in the discharge of their duties, 
deserve much credit. Referring to the cultural excellence of the 
exhibits, it may be safely said that the Society has never held an 
Exhibition of a more satisfactory character ; in fact, so far as it went 
it was one of the best in the country. Cut flowers of all kinds, em¬ 
bracing Dahlias. Gladioli, Asters, Carnations, herbaceous flowers,, 
bouquets, and epergnes, were a grand display. Hollyhocks also were 
shown in great quantities, and many were pleased to see these old 
favourites again prominent on the exhibition table. 
Specimen stove and greenhouse plants were better than they are now 
seen at most southern shows, although far behind the giants which were- 
exhibited a few years ago by Messrs. Mould, Legg, Pewsey, Cipher, and 
others. The fact is, huge exhibition plants are losing popularity, and 
perhaps the time is not far distant when they will cease to be a» 
important feature of horticultural exhibitions. They are giving place to 
bright, free, and tasteful grouping of ordinary indoor stock; and 
though there is less to astonish the inexperienced in the new order off 
things there is more to please, to interest, and to instruct. It is a great 
defect in the Newcastle schedule that there is no class for groups. They 
are looked for now both by cultivators and by the public, not only at 
urban, but at country exhibitions, and if Newcastle is to be considered 
the centre of north-English horticulture it must weigh these facts before 
another Exhibition comes round. Fruit was admirably shown ; indeed,, 
culturally considered, it was the best portion of the Show. Very liberal 
prizes were offered for collections, and close competition on the part of 
nearly all the best northern growers produced a display of great extent 
and of very high quality ; indeed, with recollections of the fine display 
at the Crystal Palace on a recent occasion fresh in the mind, the- 
gardeners of the north appeared thoroughly capable of holding their 
own with their confreres in the south had it been possible to meet ia 
competition. Grapes were magnificently shown. They were as well, if 
not so extensively, staged as at the Crystal Palace, and were greatly ad¬ 
mired. There was,however, some unpleasantness caused by the decision 
of the Judges in one or two classes. 
There were no classes for vegetables, though a horticultural show can 
hardly be considered complete without them. 
PLANTS. 
For eight plants in bloom, £20 in cash and the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s silver Banksian medal were offered. The latter went with the 
first prize of £8 to Mr. F. Nicholas, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, 
Upleatham, for good, well-balanced plants, not large, but healthy, clean,, 
and profuse in bloom. They included Ericas Marnockiana, emula. 
austriaca, and grandiflora, Stephanotis, Bougainvillea glabra, and 
Dipladenia amabilis, the latter shown in excellent colour and extremely 
fresh. Mr. Nicholas is a new exhibitor, and has made a most creditable- 
and encouraging beginning. There is no doubt that at no distant date 
he will make a name in the horticultural world. Mr. T. Suffield, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Kitching, Elmfield Gardens, Darlington, was second with 
fresh good plants, including capital specimens of Allamanda Hendersoni, 
Lapageria rosea alba, Ixora Williamsi (very good), Clerodendron Balfouri- 
anum, Oncidium flexuosum (very fine indeed), Dipladenia amabilis, and 
Erica Marnockiana. Mr. J. Morris, Park Road, Felling, was third, his 
best plant being a very fine Yallota purpurea. For eight foliage plants 
the Society offered prizes of £6, £1, £2, and £1 respectively, but they 
only brought three competitors, Mr. E. H. Letts, gardener to the Earl of 
Zetland, Aske Hall, being placed first with his well-known Palms, 
Encephalartos Vroomi, Kentia australis, Cycas circinalis, and C. revoluta, 
Croton Johannis (very good in colour), Gleichtnia rupestris glaucescens 
and others. Mr. J. McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. Gurney Pease, Woodside, 
Darlington, was second with Croton interruptus angustifolius, Kentia 
Belmoreana, a grand Cycas revoluta, and Croton Sinitzianus. Mr. 
Suffield was third. For six Ferns Mr. F. Nicholas was first with Dick- 
sonia antartica leucostezia, Pteris scaberula, Lomaria zamiaefolia, and 
Gleichenia rupestris ; Messrs. McIntyre and Suffield following. Ericas 
were rather weak this year, Mr. E. H. Letts was first. Liliums and 
Tuberous-rooted Begouias were shown best by Messrs. Watson and 
Garret. 
TABLE DECORATIONS. 
Large plants were as usual an interesting display, and brought 
forth six competitors, Messrs. Suffield, McIntyre, and Johnston received! 
the awards. Many Palms and Dracaenas were shown in small pots, 
all effectively draped with Lycopods. Six competed with a vase or 
epergne for drawing rooms, and as epergnes always form a strong 
feature at the autumn exhibition, great interest was evinced in those 
staged. Mr. Jos. Turton, gardener to Thos. Hodgkin, Esq., Benwell 
Dene, was first with a neat arrangement of a Marsh stand, the top tiers 
arranged with Centaurea Cyanus, Lilium Harrisi, Ixora, &c. The next tier 
Eucharis amazonica, and the bottom Allamandas and Ixoras, all effec¬ 
tively arranged, and margined with Adiantum gracillimum, Davallia 
Mooreana, &c. This was really a very good epergne, the base, if any¬ 
thing, rather heavy for the light way the higher tiers of flowers were 
arranged. The second prize was given to Messrs. Webster, Sunderland 1 , 
