May 23, 1839. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
425 
BATH SPRING SHOW. 
May 15th, 
The Spring Show is always popular, not merely with the citizens of 
Bath, but also with the flower-loving inhabitants of the country for 
many miles round. All that is wanted is fine weather to make it a 
success, and at last the spell has been broken, no rain having fallen on 
the Show day. The Sydney Garden where it is held is always very 
beautiful at this time of year, and is admirably adapted for the purpose 
to which it is frequently put. Most of the tents were well filled, and if 
some of the older classes were somewhat thinly filled, new features 
more than compensated for this. Especially noteworthy were the dis¬ 
plays of Orchids, Roses, and Pansies, all, it should be added, very 
popular at Bath, and choice flowering plants were as usual exceptionally 
well shown. Mr. Benjamin Pearson is the Secretary of the Society, and 
with him are associated a Committee of town gentlemen who arrange 
everything with great ability. 
Azaleas occupy a prominent position in the schedule, but each year 
fewer large specimens are shown. Mr. W. Long, gardener to C. Gar¬ 
diner, Esq., Brislington, was well first for nine plants, all about C feet 
high, of pyramidal form, and beautifully flowered. The best varieties 
were Iveryana, Duchesse de Bale, Charmer, Due de Nassau, and Souvenir 
du Prince Albert. Mr. C. H. Keel, gardener to Col. Landon, was 
second, and a third prize was awarded to Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham, 
who had rather small informally trained plants, covered with brightly 
coloured flowers. Messrs. G. Tucker, gardener to Major Clark, Trow¬ 
bridge, W. C. Drummond, Bath, A. Taylor, gardener to C. W. Mackillop, 
Esq., Bath, and H. Jones, gardener to J. Canning Doherty, Esq., Bath, 
were successful in the other classes for Azaleas, but their exhibits call 
for no special comment. 
In the class for nine stove and greenhouse plants in flower the com* 
petition was exceptionally close, a new exhibitor, Mr. A. Taylor, running 
Mr. J. Cypher hard for first place. The last named had a grandly 
flowered specimen of Erica ventricosa magnifica upwards of 6 feet 
across, Hedaroma tulipifera still larger and well flowered, Anthurium 
Schertzerianum with forty-five fine spathes, a good Erica Cavendishiana, 
Azalea Ducde Nassau, Aphelexis spectabilis, Authurium Schertzerianum 
\\ ardianum, Franciscea calycina major, and a large but poor Azalea 
Cedo Nulli, the last named nearly spoiling his chance for the first prize. 
Among Mr. Taylor’s generally good plants were beautifully flowered 
specimens of Bougainvillea glabra, Erica Victoria Regina, and Erica 
ventricosa alba tincta. In the classes for flowering plants, from 
which the exhibitors just mentioned were excluded, the exhibits did not 
call for comment. 
Mr. Cypher was first with sixteen plants, ten of which were to 
be of ornamental foliage, this noble group comprising several good 
Palms, Ericas, and other valuable plants. The second prize was well 
won by Mr. J. F. Mould, Pewsey, and Mr. W. C. Drummond was third. 
Mr. Curry, gardener to Colonel Pepper, Salisbury, was first for nine fine- 
foliaged plants, among these being large and fairly well coloured 
specimens of Crotons Countess, Weismanni, and Queen Victoria. Mr. 
H. Jones was a fairly good second. Mr. G. Tucker was as usual 
first for a group of Ferns, and Mr. Jones second. 
Orchids occupied the greater portion of a tent, and quite a grand 
display was made. The premier prize for a group of Orchids, arranged 
for effect, on a space l&feet by 6 feet, Ferns and foliage plants allowed, 
was won by Mr. S. Kerslake, gardener to the Rev. E. Handley, Bath ; 
Mr. R. B. Cater, Bath, being a very creditable second. Both had pleasing 
arrangements, in which Cattteyas, Dendrobes, Oncidiums, Masdevallias, 
Laelias, Cypripedium«, and other choice Orchids were seen to good 
advantage with Palms and small Ferns. The Rev. E. Handley was 
first fur six Orchids, these consisting of Cymbidium giganteum with three 
strong spikes, Trichopilia suavis with five spikes, Aerides Fieldingi well 
flowered but past its best, Cypripedium barbatum, and Odontoglossum 
Halli. In the class for four Orchids the Rev. E. Handley took the lead, 
having Cattleya Skinneri with eight strong spikes, Dendrobium Devo- 
nianum with four beautifully flowered pseudo-bulbs, Lselia purpu- 
rata with five spikes, and Cypripedium caudatum scarcely developed. 
Mr. G. Pymm, gardener to Mrs. Gouldsmith, Trowbridge, was second, his 
best being a good variety of Cattleya Warneri, this and the other plants 
included being somewhat disfigured by the cotton-wool covered stakes. 
Mr. J. T. Holmes, Bath, was third. For a single specimen the Rev. 
E. Handley was first with a strong piece of Laelia purpurata carrying six 
grand spikes of bloom. Mr. R. B. Cater was second with Cattleya 
Mendelli grandiflora bearing eight good flowers. Orchids were also 
principally exhibited in the class for new and rare plants. The first 
prize was awarded to the Rev. E. Handley for Cypripedium bellatulum 
with three flowers, and the second to Mr. Pymm for a good form of 
Cattleya Mendelli superba. 
Numbers of classes for flowering plants were provided, and in most 
instances the competition was good. The best four Ericas were shown 
by Mr. J. Cypher, Mr. Long being second, while the first prize for a 
single specimen went to Mr. A. Taylor. Fewer Pelargoniums were 
shown than usual. With six varieties Mr. G. Tucker was first with 
healthy well flowered specimens of Duchess of Manchester, Triomphe 
de St. Mand6, Beauty of Kingston, Rob Roy, Royalty, and Lady Isabella. 
Mr. H. Jones was second. Mr. W. Davis, gardener to S, P. Budd, Esq., 
was easily first for six Roses in pots, though some of these were past 
their best. Among these were a grandly flowered specimen of Comtesse 
de Serenye upwards of 4 feet through, and Madame Gabriel Luizet ; 
Souvenir d’un Ami and Magna Charta were also good. Mr. J. F. Mould 
was second, his group including La France in fine condition. There 
were two banks of Roses to occupy a space 12 feet by 6 feet in com¬ 
petition, and very attractive they were, though not particularly well' 
arranged. S. P. Budd, Esq., was first, his plants having finer blooms 
and better foliage than the second prize group owned by the Rev. 
E. Handley. Mr. Tucker had six good Calceolarias, and was first ; Mr. 
Marchant, gardener to Jerome Murch, Esq., Bath, being a good second. 
Many of the Cinerarias shown presented a rather weedy appearance, 
but considering the lateness of the Show the first prize plants shown by 
Mr. G. H. Simms were decidedly good. Pansies and Violas were also 
extensively shown in pots, Mr. F. Hooper being the principal exhibitor. 
There were two competitors in the new class for a group of miscellaneous 
plants to occupy a space of 150 feet square. That formed by Mr. Curry,, 
and which easily gained the first prize, was very different to the 
stereotyped arrangements usually seen at the other Bath Shows. No 
attempt to form a high bank was made, but with the exception of a 
good background of Palms and other fine-foliaged plants, it consisted of a 
low groundwork of Maidenhair and other Ferns and Lycopods on the turf, 
out of these springing various elegant Palms, Crotons, Anthuriums, 
Orchids, and other choice plants. Mr. W. C. Drummond was second, 
and the first prize for a smaller group of plants was awarded to Mr, 
T. J. Tate, gardener to W. Pumphrey, Esq., Bath. 
Cut flowers wer3 not particularly numerous, but comprised several 
noteworthy exhibits. The best twenty-four Roses were staged by S. P. 
Budd, Esq., among these being grand blooms of the new Mrs. J. Laing, 
and good Madame Willermoz, Alba rosea, and Souvenir d’un Ami: the 
Rev. E. Handley was a good second. The best twelve blooms in six varieties- 
were staged by Mr. F. Hooper, among these being very fine Niphetos,. 
Mar6chal Niel, and Souvenir d’un Ami; Mr. G. Hooper was seconL 
Pansies were well shown by Messrs. F. Hooper, W. Meddick, and 
C. Elliott, and Tulips by Messrs. E. Hall and W. Meddick. The first 
prize for twenty-four bunches of cut flowers was awarded to Mr. IL 
Richards, Bristol, for a beautifully set up and choice collection ; the 
second prize going to Mr. E. Miller, Old Sneyd Park, who had a capital- 
lot of Orchids, but very badly arranged. Several hand bouquets were 
shown, but only that which gained Mr. C. Winstone, Clifton, the first 
prize was up to the usual excellent form. Mr. Winstone was also first 
for a vase, Mr. E. Hill being second, Mr. T. Meakins third, an extra 
being awarded to Mrs. G. T. Hobbs for a lovely stand of Marshal Kiel 
Roses. 
Not much fruit was shown. The best six pots of Strawberries were' 
brought by Mr. J. Weston, gardener to the Rev. C. C. Layard, who had 
Sir J. Paxton in fairly good condition ; the second prize going to Mr, 
M. Cole. Mr. G. Pymm was well first for a dish of Strawberries, staging 
very fine fruit of James Veitch ; Mr. Weston being second for a hand¬ 
some dish of Sir J. Paxton. Some much-shrivelled Pears were shown, but 
there were a few fairly good Apples. Mr. E. Hall was first for the latter,, 
staging well kept English Nonpareil. A considerable number of classes 
for vegetables were provided, including Potatoes, Peas, Beans, Mush¬ 
rooms, and Cucumbers, all of which were well shown. Mr. A. Miller r 
gardener to W. H. Long, Esq., Rood Ashton, was easily first for six 
varieties of vegetables, staging perfect dishes of Old Red Tomato, Model 
Broccoli, Asparagus, Sutton’s Seedling Potato, Canadian Wonder- 
Beans, and overgrown Seakale ; Mr. W. Robinson, gardener to Lord 
Justice Lopes, was a good second. 
The non-competitive exhibits were on a larger scale than usual, and 
materially added to the attractiveness of the Exhibition. The first to- 
be noticed was the group consisting principally of Orchids and fine- 
foliaged plants, occupying a space 12 feet by 6 feet, arranged by Mr. G, 
Cypher, gardener to Mrs. General Studd, Bath, which, if in competition, 
would have taken the first prize. This generally excellent group 
comprised well-flowered specimens of Lselia purpurata, Phalajnopsis 
amabilis, Cattleyas in variety, a fine form of Cymbidium Lowianum,. 
Dendrobium suavissimum, Odontoglossum Alexandra, a grandly flowered 
Dendrobium Bensoni, Cypripedium barbatum grandiflorum, and Vanda 
suavis. Messrs. R. Veitch & Son had a very showy group of flowering- 
and fine-foliaged plants, including numerous plants of the beautiful 
Japanese Maples, Orchids and Pitcher Plants, several of the beautiful 
and highly scented hybrid Rhododendrons, Indian Azaleas, of which the 
best were A. Lady Poltimore, one of the finest whites ; Helen Carmichael, 
a most serviceable semi-double white ; and Souvenir de L. Van Houtte, 
semi-double, and of a vivid rich magenta colour. A collection of 
Japanese Primulas and several large bunches of the hardy Choisya 
ternata were also shown by Messrs. R. Veitch & Son. Messrs. G. Cooling- 
and Son had a large bank of miscellaneous plants, including many of 
the best Palms, Ferns, Anthuriums, Ericas, Orchids, Indian and Belgian 
Azaleas, Japanese Maples, and various other attractive and serviceable 
plants. Intermingled among these were several stands of cut Roses, 
these being of excellent quality and remarkably well set up, or some¬ 
what after the manner single Dahlias are frequently shown, with 
plenty of pretty foliage interspersed. Especially good were the groups 
of Niphetos, Marechal Niel, Madame Falcot, Reine Marie Henriette, 
Madame Lambard, Souvenir d’un Ami, Primrose Dame, Catherine 
Mermet, The Bride, Luciole, Meteor, and Ideal, the last-named being in 
the way of W. A. Richardson, and said to be fully equal to that popu'ar- 
buttonhole variety. Mr. A. A. Walters, Bath, also had a capital assort¬ 
ment of well-grown flowering and fine-foliaged plants, and a few 
Orchids ; and Mr. F. Hooper staged a number of his new white Pink 
Her Majesty. Mr. J. H. Virgo, Clevedon, had several stands of cut- 
blooms of his beautiful new Myosotises Blue Perfection and Grandiflora. 
undulata, both of which are much superior to any of the older forms- 
