Fepteniber 13,1891, 
243 
:>OURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
show grounds. The really wondeiful thing is that anything approaching 
£1200 could be taken during a twelve-hours rain. It is phenomenal. 
Small and unpretentious in its beginnings, as will be observed by 
the record, the annual show has for some years past assumed colossal 
magnitude, and still goes on increasing, its unbroken record of un¬ 
qualified success has this year been crowned by the greatest and most 
complete display of horticultural produce which has probably ever 
been seen at an autumn show in Europe. Below we give an interesting 
statement, showing how the Society has disposed of its profits year by 
year :— 
LIST OP DONATIONS, &C., GIVEN BY THE SOCIETY SINCE ITS FORMATION. 
1878— Donation to Shrawsbury Corporation for Improvements to Quarry 
Grounds .. .. .. . 
1879— Erection of Band Stand in Quarry.", 
1881— Erection of Gates Kt Quarry Entrance .. ., ., .. 
,, —Donation to Salop Infirmary .. .. .. .. .. .. 
1882— Donation to Fund for Purchasing Grammar Schools 
1883— Gates in Quarrv Place, and Seats and New Music Stand in Band Stand 
1886—Building Lodge at Quarry Entrance. 
1837—Presentation of Books to Free Library . 
„ —Railings and Fittinws at Quarry Entrance .. 
„ —Enlarging and Painting Band Stand. 
,, —Donation to Building Ladies' 0 oak Room in Quarry, and \ 
1888—Painting Inside of Lodge and Band Stand.1 • • 
£ s. d. 
10 0 0 
223 5 2 
216 9 3 
105 0 0 
105 0 0 
155 8 8 
486 6 5 
105 0 0 
112 13 4 
304 12 3 
68 8 0 
months, had induced this moisture-loving Tropteilum to exhibit 
its best form. The shoots along the greater part of their length 
were wreaths of brilliant scarlet flowers, which could have no 
better foundation on which to display their charms than the 
deep green foliage of the plant and the white wall beneath and 
around. No stranger could pass that cottage without giving its 
brilliant creeper more than a passing notice, but for that fact, I 
think, the good housewife whom I saw within would have been 
inclined to regard my glaring admiration as an unwarrantable 
display of inquisitiveness. 
Later in the day I saw several other plants of this Tropaeolum 
growing on wayside cottages, but none was so vigorous and attrac¬ 
tive as the one already alluded to. It is evident, however, that 
the climate of North Wales is well adapted for its culture, other¬ 
wise so many thoroughly established plants would not be met 
with there. 
Thousands of English people go each year to other lands to 
enjoy the invigorating breezes and diverting scenes of mountainous 
regions ; but until they have been to Bettws-y-coed, and along 
the valley that runs from it to Llangollen, they have not seen the 
best their native land can show, and who, having seen, would not 
FIG. 35 —MR. H. W. ADNITT. 
1838—Donation to Shrewsbury Severn Angling Society for Construction of 
Rearing Ponds in Dingle .. .. .. 50 0 0 
—Donation to Shrewsbury Public Baths Fund .300 0 0 
1890- Donation to Mayor’s Fund for Clearing Off Debt on Free Library .. 300 0 0 
1891— New Se.ts in Qu rry. 77 0 0 
„ —Alterations R mnd Band Stand .. .. .. .. .. .. 157 10 0 
„ —Improvements to Bank of River in the Quarry. Contract .. .. 486 16 1 
„ —Grass and Lawu Mowers, Rollers, &c., Presented to the Corporation.. 53 8 0 
18801 ( 
to V Donations to Band Fund and Small Local Subscriptions .. < 219 2 0 
1893 ) I 
1892) f 
and > Purchase of Land for Future Extension of the Quarry Grounds < 5310 0 0 
1893) f 
It will be granted that this is a wonderful record, and that the 
interesting town has largely benefited by the generous yet prudent policy 
of its much-cherished Horticultural Society. In recognition of their 
splendid services over a period of twenty years we have pleasure in 
giving the portraits of the two Honorary Secretaries—the horticultural 
twins of Shrewsbury—Messrs. Adnitt and Naunton. 
TROP^OLUM SPECIOSUM. 
When seen in really good condition it is well nigh impossible 
to describe in too glowing terms the beauty of this grand perennial 
climber. In Scotland, I believe, it invariably grows and flowers 
splendidly, but in the drier atmosphere and more sunny climate of 
England it is seldom seen in a thriving state. 
It was my good fortune a few days ago, while leisurely enjoying 
the romantic scenery of North Wales, to come unexpectedly in 
front of a luxurious plant in all its gorgeous beauty. This was 
growing in wild profusion over the walls of a whitewashed cottage, 
situated on a terrace-like ridge at the base of one of the numerous 
mountains in the neighbourhood of Bettws-y-coed. The aspect 
was a northern one, and the numerous trees around the cottage 
rendered the position particularly shady. These favourable con¬ 
ditions, combined with the dull wet weather of the last few 
FIG. 36.— MR. W. W. NAUNTON. 
be delighted with the mountain peaks, fairy glens, shady vales, 
rock-bound waterfalls, and broad sparkling lakes of Wales ?— 
H. Dunkin. 
MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA GRAPES. 
That Mr. E. Molyneux is a good Grape grower there is no 
disputing, and whit he has to say on the subject (page 194) is 
well worthy of close perusal and study. I am yet of opinion, 
however, that his remarks on colouring the Muscat of Alexandria 
do not affect the position taken up by me on page 167. With 
strong main rods only 3 feet 3 inches asunder, and the spars at the 
average distance apart, an insufficiency of light would reach the 
bunches to effect early colouring, and the way out of the difficulty 
may be exposing to direct sunshine, but I do not like it. 
My contention is that the colouring thus artificially brought 
about is most imperfect, there is too much “ face ” to the bunches. 
I have frequently spent hours in carefully slinging up the bunches 
in order that the points as well as the shoulders should improve in 
colour, and to accomplish this either wires or wooden skewers had 
to be passed through the centres, but have never yet been satisfied 
or even compensated by the results. Where the sunshine struck 
full the greenness in the berries was less apparent, but the colour 
was far from being of a rich golden or amber hue, and spots were 
the order of the day. The bunches when hanging do not show 
their defects so plainly. It is when cut and placed on show-boards 
that the patchiness and disfigurements are most apparent. They 
may compare favourably with some on the show-table that have 
been similarly treated, but figure badly when more naturally 
coloured, and therefore clear-skinned, better finished samples come 
in contact with them. Mr. Molyneux’s bunches at Southampton 
may not have been any better coloured than those shown along- 
