September 4, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
13 
Cut flowers were well shown in this division. Mr. 
H. Glasscock had the best six fancy Dahlias, good 
blooms of Wizard, a charming bizarre flower, Professor 
Fawcett, Flora Wyatt, Mandarin, Duchess of Albany, 
and Miss Browning ; second, Mr. Petfield. Mr. Ape- 
thorpe had the best twelve show Dahlias, the Rev. 
E. S. Fellowes, Wirnpole Rectory, Royston, being 
second. Hollyhocks, Gladioli, Asters of all types, 
Pentstemons, Zinnias, African and French Marigolds, 
and Phloxes were all numerous and very fine. E. B. 
Lindsell, Esq., Hitchin, had the best twenty-four 
Roses, the Rev. Dr. King, Madelev, Cambridge, being 
second. Mr. W. French had the best twelve bunches 
of stove and greenhouse cut flowers, a very good lot 
indeed, while twelve bunches of outdoor flowers made 
a great display. A very interesting exhibit was put up 
by Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, not for competition. 
It consisted of six boxes of cut blooms of Dahlias, of 
Cactus, single, and Pompon types, and they were very 
highly commended by the judges. They formed a very 
attractive feature. 
The best collection of eight dishes of fruit: A very 
good lot came from Mr. Tilbrook, gardener to Bateman 
Brown, Esq., St. Neots, Mr. G. R. Hallis, Old Warden 
Park Gardens, being second. Mr. W. H. Murfin, 
Great Houghton, had the best six dishes. Mr. G. 
Warberry, gardener to Mr. Medland, St. Neots, had the 
best two bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes ; the 
name of the second prize winner was not given. The 
best two bunches of any other blacks were Gros Maroc, 
from Mr. James Topham, Thorney Park, Peterborough, 
and the same variety was placed second. Mr. G. D. 
White, gardener to Captain S. Stanley, Loqgstowe Hall, 
Cambridge, had the best two bunches of Muscat of 
Alexandria. Mr. G. R. Allis rvas first with any other 
white, staging good bunches of Golden Champion. 
Hardy fruits were decidedly good. Peaches and 
Nectarines had to be out-door growth, and they were 
decidedly good. Plums were largely shown, the leading 
dessert sorts were Greengage, Jefferson’s, Transparent 
Gage, and Prince Englebert; the best culinary varieties, 
Diamond, Victoria, and Yellow Magnum Bonura. 
There were some good dessert Apples, such as Red 
Astrachan, Irish Peach, and Juneating. Kitchen 
Apples were very fine, the best Lord Derby, Lord 
Suflield, and Hawthornden. The best dessert Pears 
were Bon Chretien, Jargonelle, and Windsor. Morello 
Cherries were both numerous and fine ; so were black, 
white, and red Currants. But space will not admit of 
giving the names of the winners. 
Vegetables were a remarkable feature, both numerous 
and of high quality. This was, perhaps, to be expected 
in such an important market gardening district as that 
of Sandy. The best collection of twelve varieties came 
from Mr. H. Bourne, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, 
who had an excellent lot; Mr. C. Ellis, of Bedford, 
being second. Potatos made an interesting feature, 
but it should be a requirement of the schedule that the 
tubers be all washed, as dirt hides defects. The best 
six dishes came from Mr. IP. Ridgwell, who had Glad¬ 
stone, white round ; Adirondack and Vicar of Laleham; 
Chancellor, Beauty of Hebron, and Mr. Bresee. 
Second, the Rev. J. D. Hawkesley, The Chaplaincy, 
Baldock, Herts, with Lady Truscott, Queen of the 
Valley, Reading Russett, Victor, Salmon Kidney, and 
International. All other vegetables were equally good. 
The display of produce by market gardeners and 
farmers, by housewives and children, was in all cases of 
a very interesting character ; and it is satisfactory to 
know that there was a good taking of gate money. 
Such a show deserves to be well supported. 
READING. 
The autumn exhibition of the Reading Horticultural 
Society, took place as usual in tho Abbey Ruins on 
August 25th. The entrance to the show is through 
the Forbury Gardens, which are maintained by the 
Corporation of Reading for the benefit of the town, and 
they are admirably kept by Mr. Phippen, of the Oxford 
Road Nursery. Here the band is stationed, and the 
gardens afford an excellent promenade for visitors. 
The August exhibition is necessarily less bright as 
regards flowering plants, owing to the season ; but this 
year there was a distinct falling off in pot plants, 
through accidental, and we trust temporary causes, 
though cut flowers, fruit and vegetables were rather 
above the average. From various reasons several of 
the usual large exhibitors did not compete this year, 
among them being Mr. W. Lees, gardener to Mrs. 
Marsland, The Wilderness ; Mr. Parham, gardener to 
H. J. Simonds, Esq. ; Mr. Pearce, Southampton ; Mr. 
Ross, gardener at Welford Park; Mr. Tudgey, Waltham 
Cross ; and Mr. James. The season, also, owing to 
the rapid alternations of temperature, has been a very 
trying one to gardeners, so that altogether the thin 
entry of plants is not to be wondered at. The 
exhibits were staged under the direction of Mr. Baskett, 
gardener to W. I. Palmer, Esq., who was assisted by 
Mr. Phippen. 
There was but one entry—nine stove and greenhouse 
plants—from Mr. J. F. Mould, nurseryman, Pewsey, 
who, however, thoroughly deserved the prize ; the 
collection included a choice Dipladenia amabilis, and 
some good Allamandas. The same exhibitor was 
allowed a walk over in foliage plants, among them 
being some very nicely coloured Crotons, and a splendid 
specimen of Cycas revoluta. Stove or greenhouse Ferns 
were decidedly below the mark as regards size ; Mr. 
Dockerill, gardener to G. W. Palmer, Esq., Reading, was 
first; and Mr. Mould second. In specimen stove or 
greenhouse plants, Mr. Mould again secured the ribbon 
with a handsome Heath—Erica Austiniana, second 
honours being awarded to Mr. Goodman, gardener to 
C. Hammersley Esq., of Bourne End, for a well-flowered 
pot of the charming Eucharis amazonica. The class for 
plants for table decoration produced some healthy and 
clean young stuff of the usual order ; and Lycopodiums 
showed a distinct advance on late years, Mr. G. W. 
Palmer’s gardener showing some very clean and beauti¬ 
fully trained specimens. Fuchsias were also above the 
usual Reading stamp, andit would be difficult to find four 
better trained and flowered specimens than those with 
which Mr. Bright, gardener to Mr. Karslake, White 
Knights, Reading, took the first prize. Mr. Booker, 
gardener to C. Littledale, E9q., Twyford, Berks, had 
some very nice Cockscombs, Liliums were really good, 
and Coleuses produced a large entry of rather small but 
especially bright specimens. Three groups of plants 
were shown, all bad enough ; Mr. Phippen was placed 
first, his being decidedly the best arrangement ; Mr. 
Sumner, gardener to J. H. Millard, Esq., Reading, 
being second. Mr. DockeriU’s tuberous-rooted Begonias 
were good ; Mr. Sumner being a good second. The 
last-named had the best six variegated Pelargoniums. 
The wealth of cut flowers atoned in some measure 
for the poor display of plants ; but the turf banks of 
the abbey ruins are much better adapted to show off 
plants with advantage than they do cut flowers, which 
are placed too low to be scanned with pleasure. 
Dahlias were a prominent feature, the best eighteen 
show varieties came from Mr. John Walker, Thame ; 
Mr. J. Tranter, Upper Assenden, Henley-on-Thames, 
being second. Mr. Tranter had the best twelve fancy 
varieties, Mr. Walker taking second place. As the 
National Dahlia Society’s Exhibition is so close at 
hand, it is hardly worth while giving the names of any 
of the flowers shown at Reading. Messrs. J. Cheal & 
Son, nurserymen, Crawley, had the best twelve bunches 
of single Dahlias, set up in their usual effective style ; 
Mr. Jackson, nurseryman, Kidderminster, being second. 
The best eighteen blooms of Roses came from Mr. T. 
W. Girdlestone, Sunningdale ; Messrs. Perkins & Son, 
nurserymen, Coventry, being second. Asters were very 
fine, Mr. Walker, Thame, being first, both with twelve 
quilled and twelve flat-petalled varieties ; Mr. Tranter 
being second with quilled ; and Mr. Maskell, gardener 
to C. S. Slowcock, Esq., Donnington, being second 
with French. Mr. Tranter had the best twelve cockade 
Asters, a class that should be struck out of the schedule. 
Mr. W. Owen, nurseryman, Maidenhead, had the best 
twelve spikes of Gladioli, a very fine lot indeed ; Mr. 
Jackson, Kidderminster, being second. Zinnias were 
very fine, and they should be shown with a little 
foliage, and raised higher on the stands. The best 
came from Mr. Benham, Bognor, Newbury ; Mr. 
Walker, nurseryman, Thame, being second. Mr. 
Jennings, gardener to J. Freeman, Esq., Farnborough, 
had the best eighteen bunches of cut flowers ; Mr. 
Phippen being second. Mr. Booker had the best 
twelve bunches ; Mr. Howe, gardener to Sir R. Sutton, 
Bart., Benham Park, Newbury, being second. Messrs. 
Perkins & Son, Coventry, had the best bridal bouquet; 
Mr. Phippen being second ; and they occupied the 
same position with three button-holes. Says the 
Beading Mercury :—“The absurdly-styled ‘Amateurs’ 
Division ’—which ought to be removed from the 
schedule, and the prize money appropriated either to 
the increase of awards in the other classes, or to the 
encouragement of a genuine division for bond fide 
amateurs—was, as usual, meagrely filled, and the 
winners were all professed gardeners ; ” and so say we, 
for it simply means that nurserymen cannot show in 
the amateur division. 
Table decorations are always nicely done at Reading, 
though they were not so numerous as usual; the prizes 
are too low we think to bring many competitors. It 
would be a good plan to take the money from the 
amateurs’ division, and add to and extend the prizes in 
that for ladies. Miss Phillips, of Reading, had the 
best three pieces ; Miss Simmonds, Caversham, being 
second. Miss L. Cole, Reading, had the best three 
ieces of wild flowers ; Miss M. Taylor, Cravenhurst, 
eing second. Miss L. Phillips had the best basket of 
sweet-scented flowers; Miss S. Cole, Reading, being 
second. 
Fruit was a great feature, for it was both numerously 
and finely shown. The leading class was for eight dishes, 
and here Mr. Goodman, gardener to C. Hammersley, 
Esq., Bourne End, was first with a remarkably good 
lot ; second, Mr. Ashby, gardener to W. Farning, Esq., 
Whitchurch ; Mr. Howe, Benham Park, being third. 
Mr. Richards, The Gardens, Somerley Park, Ringwood, 
was first with six dishes ; second, Mr. T. Lockie, gar¬ 
dener to the Hon. G. 0. Fitzgerald, Oakley Court, 
Windsor ; third, Mr. Jennings, Farnborough. 
The Grapes were very nicely coloured, and there was 
a large competition, all the entries being clear and 
bright. Mr. Ashby, who used to win regularly, was 
this year beaten by the Hackwood Park gardener and 
also by Mr. John Hargreaves’ gardener, in Black 
Hamburgh Grapes. In the class for other black kinds, 
Mr. Cakebread, gardener to Sir P. Rose, won with'some 
splendid bunches of Madresfield Court, and also took 
the first prize for white Muscats with some charmingly 
coloured fruit. Mr. Wyndham Portal’s gardener 
secured the ribbon in the class for other white kinds 
with some rich looking bunches of Buckland Sweet¬ 
water. The Peaches shown were generally either unripe 
or over-ripe. Nectarines were very fine. There was a 
splendid show of culinary Apples. In miscellaneous 
fruits, Mr. S. Mortimer, of Rowledge, Farnborough, 
(and who was formerly a large exhibitor at these shows), 
staged a basket of twenty-four finely netted Melons of 
the variety known as Sutton’s Imperial Green-flesh, 
which not only took the first prize, but also gained the 
honour of a First Class Certificate. This new Melon, 
which was raised by Mr. Mortimer last year, is a hybrid 
between Blenheim Orange and Eastnor Castle, and is 
the richest flavoured green-fleshed Melon we ever tasted. 
There was a large and good competition in this class. 
The vegetables were all good, including specially fine 
Cucumbers and Tomatos, the latter being remarkably 
fine. There were several entries in competition for 
Messrs. Sutton’s extra prizes for collections of Potatos, 
and throughout the quality w r as exceptionally good. 
There were a dozen or more competitors for Messrs. 
Sutton’s Melon prize. The same firm’s prizes for col¬ 
lections of vegetables produced one of the best compe¬ 
titions in the whole show, all the entries being 
extremely good. Some wonderful Tomatos were staged 
in the winning exhibit, and all the other vegetables 
were remarkably clean and handsome. There was a 
good entry competing for Messrs. Webb’s prizes, and all 
the vegetables were good. Messrs. Carter’s and Mr. 
Fidler’s prizes produced but few entries. 
STOKE-UPON-TRENT. 
The fifth annual exhibition of the Stoke-upon-Trent 
Horticultural Society was held on August 26th, and 
was favoured with a good attendance of visitors, which 
we trust will enable the committee to clear off their 
small outstanding liabilities, and start with a balance 
in hand on a prosperous career. The society has a most 
courteous treasurer in Mr. Broday, and a very able 
secretary is Mr. F. W. Pepper. In addition to a well 
arranged series of prizes open to all England, the society 
had the advantage of being able to offer two Veitch 
Memorial Medals, and accompanying awards of £5 
each ; the one for a group of flowering and fine foliage 
plants, and the other for a group of Orchids and Ferns. 
In the first named class the coveted award went to Mr. 
C. Roberts, gardener to A. Nicholson, Esq., Leek, who 
on a space covering 50 ft. square, put up some fine 
healthy specimens of Kentia australis, Encephalortus 
villosus, Cocos Weddelliana, Dion edule, Dipladenia 
profusa, D. amabilis, Croton Barronne J. de Rothschild, 
C. Johannis, Phcenocoma prolifera Barnesii, Erica 
Jubana, E. Everiana, Ixora Pilgrimii, Erica McNab- 
biana, Phyllotcenum Lindenii, &c. Though there was 
only one exhibitor of Orchids, Mr. W. Stevens, gardener 
toW. Thompson, Esq., Walton, Stone, he well deserved 
the prize which was awarded to him, for the group was 
the attraction of the show, all the specimens being fresh 
and in beautiful condition. Notably fine were Odon- 
toglossum Alexandra, 0. A. gloriosum, 0. gloriosum, 
0. Cervantesii, very pretty ; 0. pendulum, 0. vexil- 
larium, Masdevallia Veitchii, M. Reichenbachiana, 
M. Harryana regalis, M. Chimaera, putting out its 
curious flowers from the bottom of the basket; Pro- 
menaea stapelioides, which made one long to pick it up 
and examine it; Epidendrum prismatocarpum, Sobralia 
virginalis, Oncidium macranthum, 0. crispum, Den- 
drobium infundibulum, Cattleya Eldorado, &c. For a 
group of plants arranged for effect in a space not ex¬ 
ceeding 50 square ft., Mr. C. Roberts, took the lead 
with Cocos Weddelliana in the back ground, some 
bright Crotons, Hyacinthus candicans, Bamboos, the 
indispensable Maidenhair Fern, and a few Orchids, en¬ 
livened with Begonias, and two pretty Aralias at each 
front corner. This group was nearly square, with the 
front line slightly broken. The second prize was taken 
by Mr. J. Burns, gardener to C. S. James, Esq., Stoke, 
with a very bright and telling group, arranged in the 
form of a semi-circle, and composed of young healthy 
stuff. The ground work was principally of Adiantum 
gracillimum, above which were Asparagus plumosus 
nanus, Dracaenas, Crotons, light-leaved Caladiums, 
finely flowered Vallotas, with a front row of remarkably 
vigorous fine flowered Gloxinias, backed with Lilium 
auratum. The third group a semi-circle arranged by 
Mr. R. Miller, nurseryman, Milton, had a chaste col¬ 
lection of Eucharis, with Selaginellas, Crotons, 
Dracaenas, and Coleus, backed with Cocos Weddelliana, 
Selaginella Caesia arborea, &c. 
For a miscellaneous group of plants, Mr. C. Roberts 
was again first, with Lantana aurea, L. rubra, Maranta 
lebrina, Erica Shannonii, Kalosanthes coccinea, Croton 
amabilis, &c. ; second, Mr. J. Smith, gardener to A. 
Knight, Esq., Harthill ; third, Mr. Geo. Clay, garde¬ 
ner to T. Mintin, Esq., Fenton Manor. With Coleuses, 
Mr. Geo. Clay was first, and Mr. R Miller was second ; 
and for tuberous Begonias, Mr. J. Smith was successful. 
In the Fern class Mr. J. Smith and Mr. Geo. Clay se¬ 
cured the awards. For thirty-six Roses, nurserymen, 
Messrs. Sanday & Son, Stafford, were first; and Messrs. 
Perkins & Sons, Coventry, second : and for twenty-four 
