November 28,1850. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
473 
SHEFFIELD AND WEST RIDING.— November 22nd and 23rd. 
The fifth annual Show of this Society was held on the above dates 
in the spacious Corn Exchange, than which a more suitable building for 
the purpose of such a display could scarcely be found. The Show was 
in all respects superior in general effect, as well as in both quantity 
and quality of the plants and cut flowers exhibited, to any- of those 
previously held by the Society, and reflected most creditably upon the 
energy and tact which has been displayed in carrying it to so successful 
an issue by the officials and Committee, and especially the indefatigable 
and courteous Secretary, Mr. W. Housley, and the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. 
H. Broomhead. A most comprehensive and liberal schedule had been 
provided, an aggregate sum of close upon £200 being offered in prizes. 
In the opem classes for cut flowers exceptionally liberal prizes were 
offered viz., a silver cup value £10 10s. and £5 in cash for twenty-four 
incurved flowers, and a like silver cup and cash prize for twenty-four 
Japanese cut flowers. These prizes brought together five competitors in 
each class, most of them well known men in the Chrysanthemum world, 
as Mr. Parker, Impney; Mr. Lambert, Onslow Hall, Shrewsbury ; Mr. 
Cox, Wavertree, Liverpool ; Mr. Goodacre, Elvaston Castle, Derby ; and 
Mr. Green, Shirecliffe Hall Gardens, Sheffield. In the class for twenty- 
four incurved, not less than eighteen varieties, Mr. John Lambert, 
gardener to Col. Wingfield, was placed first with smooth, solid, fresh 
blooms, the varieties being similar to those in his Leicester stand. The 
second prize in this class was obtained by Mr. R. Parker, and the third 
by Mr. B. Cox. Very little disparity in merit existed between these 
stands or between the corresponding stands in the Japanese class, and 
the Judges found considerable work in justly apportioning the prizes. 
In the class for twenty-four Japanese blooms, not less than eighteen 
varieties,_ Mr. Parker was placed first, his blooms having a little the ad¬ 
vantage in size and weight over those of his opponent’s. His varieties 
were much the same as he staged at Birmingham. In the open class for 
twelve incurved blooms Mr. Lambert was again first, his blooms being 
excellent. Twelve Japanese, distinct.—First, Mr. A. R. Cox, with Sun¬ 
flower, Meg Merrilies, Japonais, Comte de Germiny, Madame J. Laing, 
Charlie Sharman, Mdlle. Lacroix, Madame C. Audiguier, Val d’Andorre, 
Boule d’Or, Jeanne Ddlaux, and Ralph Brocklebank. In this, as in his 
stand of twenty-four, Mr. Cox’s Japanese flowers were exceedingly 
young, fresh, and brightly coloured, but not quite of the largest size. 
In the district classes, open to growers residing within a radius of 
twenty miles from Sheffield, there was good competition, and the flowers 
shown by several exhibitors were but little inferior to those shown in 
the open classes. Mr. Green, Shirecliffe Hall Gardens, and Mr. James 
Harrison, Walkley, were the most successful exhibitors with very large 
and good blooms. In the amateur and cottager classes, “ open only to 
those who do not employ a gardener,” there was an immensely keen 
competition, and numbers of very good flowers staged. In the smaller 
classes, for six and three flowers in each, there were -upwards of twenty 
competitors, as many as eight prizes being awarded in each class. 
Striking improvement was manifest in the general quality of the flowers 
shown in these classes over the exhibits by the same growers in 
previous years. 
In the classes for plants and groups again a decided improvement 
was noticeable over previous years’ exhibits. Groups were especially 
well shown, both those for Chrysanthemums and those for miscellaneous 
plants. In the class for a group of Chrysanthemums, occupying space 
of 64 square feet, Mr. Pidsley, gardener to Mrs. H. Wilson, West¬ 
brook, was placed first, Mr. Green second, and Mr. J. Harrison third. 
In the class for miscellaneous groups Mr. Pidsley was again first with a 
beautiful arrangement, which elicited much admiration. Mr. W. Collier, 
gardener to Mr. J. Eaton, Sharrow Bank, was placed second with an 
excellent group, but rather too closely packed. Amateurs’ groups (mis¬ 
cellaneous plants) were numerous and good. In these Mr. M. Taylor 
was first, Mr. G. S. Stocks second, Mr. R. Gascoyne third, and Mr. J. 
Swinden fourth. 
The specimen plants shown were throughout better than last and 
preceding years, Messrs, C. Green and E. Pidsley being the principal 
prizewinners. Excellent groups, not for competition, were staged by 
Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray, Handsworth Nurseries ; Messrs. H. Shaw 
and Son, Richmond ; Mr. B. Crossland, Richmond ; Mr. D. B. Fellowes, 
Pitsmoor ; and Mr. S. Seagrave, nurseryman, Gleadless. Primulas were 
numerous and of high quality. The same may also be said of Ferns, 
British and exotic, Mr. John Eadon—a name well known to growers of 
British Ferns, being the most prominent prizewinner, with large plants 
of choice and rare varieties, all in the most vigorous health. 
Certificates were awarded to Mr. S. Coleman, a pleasing bronze sport 
from Princess of Wales (incurved), exhibited by Mr. R. Owen ; and to 
Mr. R. Hartland for a patent method of holding tubes in flower boards 
immoveable. 
The Show was opened to the public at 1 p.M. on the 22nd, by the 
President of the Society, Mark Firth, Esq., assisted by Sir H. E. Watson, 
Sir H. Stephenson, and other gentlemen. There was a crowded attend¬ 
ance on the evening of the second day, but only a moderate one during 
the first day. 
LOUGHBORODGH.— November 23rd. 
The fifteenth Show was held in the Town Hall, when, considering the 
lateness of the date, the blooms were in good condition. The groups 
of Messrs. J. Smith and J. & H. Hickling were especially good, and 
worthy of a higher prize. Messrs. F. J. Rowbotham and E. Whelland 
were the most successful exhibitors of specimen plants. In the class for 
eighteen blooms, incurved, distinct, Mr. J. Beeby, gardener to the Rev. 
J. Bird, was first with Lord Alcester, Alfred Salter, Emily Dale, Lord 
Wolseley^ Empress of India, Queen of England, Bronze Jardin des 
Plantes, Jeanne d’Arc, Princess of Wales, John Salter (good), Empress 
Eugdnie, Mr. W. Shipman, Lady Slade, Barbara, Princess of Teck, Lady 
Hardinge, Eve, and Prince of Wales. Second, Mr. J. Smith, who had a 
very good Hero of Stoke Newington. Third, Messrs. J. & II. Hickling. 
Twelve blooms, incurved.—Rev. J. Bird was first with Empress of India, 
Alfred Salter, Lord Alcester. Queen of England, J. Salter, Emily Dale, 
Lord Wolseley, Princess of Wales, Lady Hardinge, Mr. Shipman, Jeanne 
d’Arc, and Barbara. Second, Mr. J. Smith. Third, J. & H. Hickling- 
Six blooms, incurved.—Rev. J. Bird was again first with a good stand, 
Messrs. J. Smith and A. Squires following. Twelve blooms, Japanese.— 
First, Mr. W. S. Botton, gardener to Major O’Neal, Ratcliffe Hall, who 
had Boule d’Or, Avalanche, Ralph Brocklebank, Meg Merrilies, Baronne 
de Prailly, Japonais, Val d’Andorre, Gloriosum, Golden Dragon, J. 
DJlaux, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Criterion. Second, Mr. J. Smith, 
Third, Rev. J. Bird. Mr. Bolton was also first with six blooms, Rev. J, 
Bird second, Mr. J. Smith third. 
Bouquets of Chrysanthemums, with Grapes, Apples, and Pears were 
well represented, but cannot be more particularly referred to. 
BIRMINGHAM.—Nov. 20th and 21st. 
The twenty-ninth annual Exhibition is now a thing of the past, and 
the Committee were fortunate in having two days of mild dry weather, 
and an enormous crowd of visitors on each day. Of the Exhibition we- 
must speak in the highest terms of praise, and this opinion was universal- 
amongst the visitors. The Society has a large body of subscribers, some¬ 
where about 350, and a large number of tickets are sold beforehand, so- 
that the actual income of the Society for 1889 cannot yet be told until 
the accounts are made up, but some idea may be formed of the great 
increase this year from the following statement. The money taken at 
the doors for admission amounted in 1887 and 1888 to just about £170 
each year, whilst for the current year the takings at the doors at the 
recent show amounted to close upon £280 ; and at times during the 
evening, such was the great pressure in the crowd of the visitors, the 
doors had to be closed, and a great many either left the Hall very soon- 
after going in, or could not go in at all. 
The blue riband of the Exhibition was the £25 first prize for forty- 
eight blooms, twenty-four incurved and twenty-four Japanese, and it- 
brought eight exhibitors, and, taking the blooms generally, we are bound 
to say that they were fine. The first and second prize lots were ex¬ 
tremely close together in size and quality, the first to Mr. Parker, 
gardener to J. Corbett, Esq., M.P., Impney, Droitwich, with the follow¬ 
ing varieties :—Incurved—Back row : Queen of England, Emily Dale, 
Alfred Salter, Miss Haggas, Princess Teck, Empress of India, Golden 
Empress, Lord Alcester. Middle row : Charles Gibson, Lady Hardinge, 
Mrs. Heale, Lord Wolseley, Prince Alfred, Princess of Wales, Hero of 
Stoke Newington, Jeanne d’Arc. Front row : Refulgens, Mrs. Ship- 
man, fine ; Mr. Brunlees, Lord Eversley, Mrs. N. Davis, Violet Tomlin, 
Cherub, and one other whose name, we could not get. Japanese :—Back- 
row : Boule d’Or, E. Molyneux, Avalanche, Sunflower, Triomphe de la 
rue des Chalets, Gloriosum, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Madame C. Audi¬ 
guier. Middle row : Mons. Bernard, Meg Merrilies, Carew Underwood, 
Mr. Henry Cannell, Madame Laing, Mdlle. Lacroix, Criterion, Ralph 
Brocklebank. Front row : Thunberg, Ed. Audiguier, Mrs. Henry 
Cannell, Sarah Owen, Florence Percy, Duchess of Albany. Second- 
prize, £15, Mr. W. Marshall, Uttoxeter, in whose stand were especially 
fine flowers of Etoile de Lyon, Triomphe de la rue des Chfilets, Mrs- 
Norman Davis, Lady Carey, Cherub, and Princess of Teck. Third, 
Col. Wingfield, Shrewsbury (gardener, Mr. J. Lambert) a very fine lot. 
Fourth, Sir T. E. Moss, Bart, (gardener, Mr. Lindsay) ; fifth, Sir Richard 
Moore, Bart., Coventry ; sixth, Lord Heytesbury (gardener, Mr. J. 
Horsefield). There were eight exhibits in this class, and these special 
Centenary prizes had been raised chiefly by private subscriptions ob¬ 
tained by Mr. J. Hughes, the energetic Secretary of the Society. The 
sum of £54 10s. was expended in these six prizes. 
For twenty-four blooms, twelve incurved and twelve Japanese, there 
were several exhibitors. Here again Mr. Parker secured the first prize 
with a fine lot of blooms—viz,, Japanese E. Molyneux, Gloriosum, 
Madame C. Audiguier, Meg Merrilies, Sunflower, Souvenir de la rue des 
Chalets, Bouled’Or, Jeanne Delaux, Mrs. H. Cannell, Thunberg, Duchessof 
Albany, and Avalanche. Incurved.—Princess Teck, Lord Alcester, Queen 
of England, Golden Empress, Miss Haggas, Violet Tomlin, Mrs. Heale, Prin¬ 
cess of Wales, Hero of Stoke Newington, Charles Gibson, Mr. R. Davis, and 
Lord Eversley. Second, Mr. C. H. Wright, Oswestry. In this stand 
was a grand bloom of Etoile de Lyon, but almost white. In Mr- 
Wright’s stand we noticed very fine blooms of Avalanche and Madame 
Louise Leroy. Third, Mr. Austin, gardener to the Earl of Dudley, 
Witley Court. In the class for eighteen incurved Chrysanthemums Mr- 
Parker was again first with a very fine stand. Second, Mr. W. Marshall. 
Third, the Earl of Dudley. For twelve blooms, Japanese, first the 
Earl of Dudley ; second, Mr. Parker; third, Mr. Coombe. gardener- 
to the Countess of Dudley, Himley. In the class for twelve 
Anemone flowered Mr. Coombe staged a beautiful stand of flowers, 
which were much admired—viz., Monsieur Cabrol (2), Fabian de- 
Mediana (2), Miss Annie Lowe (2), the latter a lovely creamy-coloured 
flower; Souvenir de Madame Blandiniires, Duchess of Edinburgh, 
Georges Sand, distinct and good ; Fleur de Marie, Princess Louise, and 
Acquisition. In Class 14, for twelve Japanese and twelve incurved 
grown in Birmingham, Mr. O. Brasier, gardener to Sir Thomas Mar- 
