July 26, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
89 
products indicated in some of the leading classes. To enumerate them 
all would amount to preparing a catalogue of names only of local 
interest. 
The effect groups claim the first attention. These were, as usual, 
arranged in what may be paradoxically described as irregular squares ; 
space, 300 square feet. The premier prize of £20, and a silver cup value 
10 guineas, was won without any doubt by Mr. J. Edwards, gardener 
to the Duke of St. Albans, Bestwood Lodge, Notts, and was perhaps his 
best effort in this direction. The group was rich yet free, composed 
mainly of Palms, Bamboos, Alocasias, and Crotons as foliage plants, in 
the best of health, relieved with light touches of fiowers—Orchids, 
Anthuriums, Liliums, Francoas, and Gloxinias, with tufts of scarlet- 
fruited Nerteras nestling in the mossy margin. If there was a fault in 
the group it was in a slight overcrowding at the base of the central 
mound, but there was not much the matter. The group won, and we 
heard of no one questioning the verdict. Mr. Finch, gardener to 
W. Marriott, Esq., Birmingham, was second, winning the £20 prize 
with an arrangement similar in design (as indeed they all were)—a 
central mound and fine Palm, corner mounds smaller, with isolated 
plants between and dwarfer under and around them. The group was 
lightened by gauze-like Gypsophilas, but was not improved by tufts of 
blue Lobelias. Mr. A. Webb, gardener to J. H. Manners Sutton, Esq , 
Kelham Hall, was third, winning £13. a free and effective association 
of well grown foliage plants, and fine tufts of Nertera, but a few 
more flowers were needed for producing the best effect. Mr. J. Roberts, 
gardener to C. A. Wright, Esq., secured the remaining prize of £9, the 
central mound of Malmaison Carnations under a lofty Palm forming 
the chief feature, and was perhaps a little overdone. The total value 
of the prizes in this class was £72 10s. Another year the floral artists 
who compete for such substantial prizes must try and originate a new 
idea in arrangement. With the same materials a Mr. John Wills would 
have improved any of these groups in half an hour; for beautiful as 
they were, it cannot be denied that they bore the stamp of formality in 
that they were all based on the same idea, as if borrowed from some 
former prizewinning collection. Two local exhibitors, Mr. B. Smith, 
gardener to J. T. Maddock, Esq., and J. Williamson, Esq., arranged 
two creditable groups, and secured prizes of £5 and £3 respectively, 
but the former used too many blue Lobelias, the colour rarely 
harmonising well with others in the best floral arrangements, and 
Lobelias are best in the flower garden. 
Roses occupied a large extent of space, and though many excellent 
blooms were staged the stands were not, on the whole, so heavy as those 
of last year ; indeed, they could not be expected to be so on the day of 
the National Rose Society show at Halifax. Messrs. Perkins (Coventry), 
The Hereford Fruit Company, Townsend (Worcester), Merryweather 
(Southwell), and Rev. W. H. Jackson (Stagsden Vicarage) appeared to 
be the chief prizetakers. In the class for forty-eight distinct varieties 
there were four competitors, Messrs. Perkins securing the premier posi¬ 
tion, prize £6 and a special value 6 guineas, with a meritorious contri¬ 
bution, the Hereford firm being second, and Mr. Townsend third. The 
same number of exhibitors staged thirty-six distinct blooms, and the 
competition was close. Here Mr. Townsend was first, winning £5 and 
the National Rose Society’s gold medal with fresh but not large blooms, 
followed in close order by Messrs. Perkins and Merryweather. Messrs. 
Perkins were first with twenty-four blooms, and Mr. Jackson with twelve 
Teas and Noisettes, followed closely by Mr. Merryweather. In the class 
for twelve blooms of any dark velvety Rose Messrs. Perkins was first 
with what appeared to be Horace Vernet, Mr. Townsend being in a 
similar position in the corresponding light class with Catherine Mermet, 
Mr. Jackson a dangerously close second with Merveille de Lyon. 
A first prize of 12 guineas was offered for the most decorative 
arrangement of Roses, occupying a space not exceeding 12 feet long by 
5 feet wide, with second and third prizes, value £5 and £3 respectively. 
Very little taste was displayed except by C. Chandos Pole, Esq., 
Wirksworth, whose exhibit represented a study in rose and white, with 
Ferns interspersed,after the manner of a decorated dinner table. If the 
donor of the chief prize, Mr. Richardson, can see his way to offer it 
again a better competition may be expected, now that the way is 
pointed out. The winners of the smaller prizes had ordinary boxes 
of blooms with a few bunches and Ferns behind them. Both of them 
can do better another time. Quality of blooms and crowded bunches 
count little in a class of this nature. 
Mr. Turner showed his Crimson Rambler Rose, around which visitors 
clustered, also a superb stand of Carnations, in which the scarlet bizarre 
Dr. Hogg and the scarlet flake Charles Turner were in brilliant con¬ 
dition. Only one other class of cut flowers can be noticed—namely, “ a 
collection of border flowers, annuals and shrubs excluded ” (this is 
explicit) to occupy space 15 feet by 5 feet. The first prize (10 guineas) 
was won by Messrs. Cutbush & Sons, Highgate, the margin of Uriah Pike 
Carnation presumably turning the scale against those formidable com¬ 
petitors, Messrs. Clibran & Son, Altrincham (second), and Messrs. 
Harkness, Bedale (third), all the collections being extremely close in 
merit, and all too crowded for showing the large and handsome bunches 
to the best advantage. 
Before leaving the floral department mention must be made of a 
splendid group of Tuberous Begonias staged by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
as fresh as if in the nursery at Forest Hill—an object lesson in good 
packing. Four of the varieties (all doubles) were certificated—namely. 
Duchess of Sutherland, pale rosy salmon ; Duke of Sutherland, glowing 
crimson; Duchess of York, warm cerise ; and Laing’s Triumph, very 
large, rosy scarlet. 
Fruit is always fine at Trentham. That the collections were of high 
merit on the present occasion is testified by the fact of Mr. J. Mclndoe 
having the second place. Many splendid bunches of black Grapes 
were exhibited, also fine white Grapes, but several of the Muscats 
required a little more time and sun for high finish. Peaches, Nectarii.es, 
and Tomatoes were admirably represented. Only a note of a few 
classes could be taken before being wedged out by the surging crowd, 
and no chance of getting wedged in again. Attempts to do so were met 
by stern looks and repelling scowls, before which the timid cockney 
quailed. In the class for nine dishes Mr. F. Gleeson, gardener to 
C. E. Keyser, Esq., Warren House, Stanmore, was the premier exhibitor, 
winning the £10 prize with a very strong collection, including a hand¬ 
some bunch of Bananas (Musa Cavendishi), excellent Black Hamburgh 
and Muscat Grapes, fine Royal George and Barrington Peaches, with 
equally good Stanwick Elruge and Lord Napier Nectarines, also a good 
Pine and a handsome Melon, the finest collection of fruit exhibited this 
year up to date. Mr. Mclndoe was second with heavy Grapes, fine 
Pears, Peaches, Nectarines, and Melons, but a rather small Pine. Mr. 
Read, gardener to the Earl of Carnarvon, Bretby, was a good third. 
Grapes and Nectarines being excellently staged. Mr. W. Elphinstone, 
gardener to E. Miller Mundy, Esq., Shipley Hall, Derby, was too strong 
for all-comers in the class for six dishes, winning well with fine Black 
Hamburgh and Foster’s Seedling Grapes, excellent Peaches and 
Nectarines, a good dish of Strawberries, and a fine Melon. Mr. Gleeson 
a good second, and Mr. Bowerman a close third. 
The class for four bunches of Grapes in two varieties brought out 
seven competitors. The contest for the premier position rested between 
Mr. Craven, gardener to T. J. Grant Morris, Esq., Allerton, Liverpool, 
and Mr. Elphinstone. The former had magnificent Hamburghs and 
handsome, but not quite so well coloured, Madresfield Courts, the latter 
splendid Cannon Hall Muscats but not exactly at their best, and good 
Hamburghs but not equal to the Allerton bunches, and Mr. Craven won, 
it was said, by “ half a point,” whatever that is. It is pretty certain no 
one ever saw such a thing, but if intangible it was worth £2 to Mr. 
Craven, as the first prize was £5 and the second £3. Mr. Frowd, gar¬ 
dener to Canon Coventry, Worcester, was third with heavy bunches of 
Black Hamburghs and Muscat of Alexandria. There was great and 
good competition in the class for three bunches of Black Hamburgh, 
Mr. Wilks, gardener to Mrs. Meaken, Cresswell Hall, being first with 
admirably finished examples, Mr. Craven a good second, and Mr. G. 
Reynold, Gunnersbury, third, good, but not perfectly ripe. Mr. W. 
Elphinstone out-distanced his competitors with Muscats, of which many 
fine bunches were staged, but as a rule more time was needed for 
perfect ripening. The best Melon came from Hutton Hall, the 
finest Peaches from Trentham Gardens, and the best Nectarines from 
Keele, and the first prize Strawberries from Gunton Park, Mr. Gilman, 
Ingestrie Gardens, exhibited half a dozen Queen Pines in superb table 
condition and worthy of a medal. Mr. T. Wilkins took most of the chief 
prizes for vegetables, and the cottagers acquitted themselves well. 
Here the timid cockney has to stop his narrative, for the crowd 
elbowed him out of the tent, and what was worse when he went to the 
luncheon marquee the crush was so great that he could not get in. A 
great event is the Trentham luncheon. It is generally attended by two 
or three Mayors and many notabilities. On the present occasion it 
appeared more popular than ever. It was said that even all the judges 
could not gain admittance (no room), and when one who had to respond 
to a toast was sought for he was found (too late) in an easy chair in 
Mr. Blair’s parlour, resting after a good luncheon all to himself in the 
pretty and hospitable residence. This judge was not a meek young 
cockney, but old enough to know his way about, and he averred that 
he did not bribe the servant in Mrs. Blair’s absence at the show, though 
he was for the time monarch of all he surveyed on a table laden with 
good things. He will have to be looked after if he is at Trentham 
another year, or he will be feasting again all alone in his glory while his 
friends are airing their eloquence in the tent, 
[NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.— July 18th, 19th, 20th. 
The above summer show was held on the dates mentioned in the 
Recreation Ground, North Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The locale a 
new departure ; hitherto the exhibition has always been held in the 
Leazes Park, The new place is much better adapted for the purpose of 
an exhibition, as other attactions can more readily be enjoyed. The 
show as a whole was very good, and in many departments equalled, 
if not surpassed, former exhibitions. Fruit was especially good. 
Table decorations were as usual one of the salient points of the exhibi¬ 
tion, and contributed largely to the pleasure of the visitors. Nursery¬ 
men’s exhibits were also an important feature. 
For a group of miscellaneous plants Mr. J. McIntyre was first. 
The arrangement was a new departure, consisting of mirrors placed 
horizontally, and Palms built up with a base of rockwork, representing 
hillocks, had a telling effect, and plenty of colouring plants, such as 
Anthuriums Schertzerianum and Andreanum, Cattleya Mossiae, Cypri- 
pediums and Dracmnas, made the whole arrangement a most artiatic 
combination, Mr, V. Allen, Blandford Street, Newcastle, was second ; 
and for an amateur a very good arrangement. 
For eight plants in bloom, Mr. E. H. Letts, gardener to the Marquis 
of Zetland, Aske Gardens, Richmond was first. Mr. John Morris, 
Felling, was second, Mr. E. H. Letts was first also with foliage plants, 
showing perfect specimens. For six exotic Ferns, too, Mr. Letts was 
first; Mr. J. McIntyre being second. For three Crotons, Mr. E. H. Letts 
received premier prize. Mr, J. McIntyre was first for Dracaenas and 
