July 23, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
749 
Nelson, Esq., Hanger Hill House, Ealing (gardener, 
Mr. E. Chadwick), was third. E. H. Watts, Esq., had 
it all his own way for a group of plants not to exceed 
60 sq. ft. The stove and greenhouse plants always 
produce a lively contest, and on this occasion Mrs. 
Meek, Poulett Lodge, Twickenham (gardener, Mr. 
Bates), carried off the first prize ; E. M. Nelson, Esq., 
the second ; and E. H. Watts, Esq., the third. E. M. 
Nelson, Esq., secured the first award both for fine- 
foliaged plants, exotic Ferns and Caladiums ; while 
E. H. Watts, Esq., was a good second for Ferns. 
Coleus, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums in their several 
classes, Achimenes, table decorative plants, Gloxinias, 
Cockscombs, and tuberous-rooted Begonias, were all 
tolerably well represented, H. Little, Esq., The Barons, 
Twickenham (gardener, Mr. F. G. Hill), securing the 
first prize in both cases for six and nine Begonias, and 
E. H. Watts, Esq., the Wood Jubilee Memorial Silver 
Medal for the three best grown specimens. Mrs. Meek 
had the best Cockscombs, which were grand specimens 
of cultivation. E. H. Watts, Esq., had by far the best 
and largest specimens of Selaginellas. Col. the Hon. 
W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher (gardener, Mr. C. J. 
Waite), had the. best twelve Gloxinias, and H. G. 
Lake, Esq., Fairlawn House, Chiswick (gardener, Mr. 
H. Davis), had the best six. The cut blooms, including 
Boses and hardy herbaceous plants, were not equal to 
former years so far as outdoor stuff was concerned. 
F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley House, Hammersmith 
(gardener, Mr. Cowley), had a very good exhibit of cut 
flowers, chiefly Orchids, and was awarded the first prize. 
Mr. J. K. Chard, Brunswick Nurseries, Stoke Newington, 
was awarded the first prize for three bouquets. The 
first prize for one bouquet was secured by F. G. Tautz, 
Esq. ; and the first for six button-hole bouquets by 
IP. J. Atkinson, Esq., M.P. (gr., Mr. Hudson), Gunners- 
bury House, Acton. Orchids were well shown by 
H. Little, Esq., who secured the first prize for six ; 
while F. G. Tautz, Esq., came in second. The former 
also secured the Silver Banksian Medal for the best 
specimen plant in flower, with Cattleya Gaskelliana. A 
fine group of Orchids not for competition was also staged 
by the same exhibitor. 
The best black and white Grapes were exhibited by 
L. J. Baker, Esq., Ottershaw Park, Chertsey. The 
best two dishes of Strawberries, the best collection of 
vegetables, the best Potatos, and the best Peas were 
exhibited by Col. the Hon. W. P. Talbot, who likewise 
gained the first prizes offered both by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons and Messrs. J. Carter & Co. for the best collections 
of vegetables. H. J. Atkinson, Esq., exhibited the 
premier dish of Cherries, and E. H. Watts, Esq., the 
premier dish of Kaspberries out of seven entries. 
E. M. Nelson, Esq., had the best dish of Gooseberries 
out of ten entries ; the best Currants came from J. T. 
Lancaster, Esq., Heatherfield Cottage, Chiswick ; and 
~W. F. Hume Dick, Esq., Thames Ditton, sent the best 
Melon. There were twelve entries for the prizes 
offered by G. H. Jupp, Esq., for vegetables, and Mr. J. 
J. Stickler, High Boad, Chiswick, secured the first 
prize. 
Beautifully arranged groups of useful decorative 
plants, not for competition, were sent by The Messrs. 
Bothschild, Gunnersbury Park, Acton (gardener Mr. J. 
Boberts), and the Marquis of Bute, Chiswick House 
(gardener Mr. M. T. May), and which were highly 
commended by the judges. Messrs. Chas. Lee & Son, 
Hammersmith and Isleworth, sent a fine group of 
hardy ornamental shrubs, trees, and seven boxes of 
cut Boses. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, staged 
eight boxes of cut Boses, and Messrs. Carter & Co., 
High Holbom, sent a showy collection of annuals and 
grasses; both the exhibits were highly commended by 
the judges. Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, staged a collection of hardy plants, one of 
which, namely, Lilium Brownii odorum,was certificated. 
Boston Floral and Horticultural. —This 
society held its annual exhibition on July 5th and 6th. 
It is one of those societies that, existing in a purely 
agricultural district, combines a good deal so as to 
secure as large an attendance as possible. In addition 
to the flower show, there was an exhibition of horses, 
dogs, and poultry, together with a brass band con¬ 
test. The show took place, as usual, in the grounds of 
Mr. Charles Smith, almost in the heart of the town, 
and they are spacious enough to admit of everything 
being arranged so as to be seen to the best advantage. 
The horticultural show was scarcely up to the usual 
mark—an experience that, with rare exception, is 
general this season. The leading exhibitors were Mr. 
Butler, gardener to T. C. Garfitt, Esq., Louth ; Mr. 
Jacques, gardener to Mrs. Oldred, Boston ; Mr. T. B. 
Dolby, nurseryman, Boston ; Mr. A. Jarnall, Mans- 
ridge, Boston ; Dr. Clegg, West Street Boad, Boston ; 
and a few others. The entire show is well managed by 
Mr. J. G. Killingworth, the energetic hon. secretary. 
One leading feature in the schedule of prizes is the 
groups arranged for effect. Here wire-work, &c., is 
allowed, and a good deal of festooning is done at the 
back, and that being, in most cases, at a considerable 
elevation, the plants in the foreground have to he 
packed close to bring them up to the level of the back 
arrangement. Mr. Butler was first with a group 
showing much more tasteful arrangement than the 
others, being freer and more artistic, but spoiled, to 
some extent, by the inharmonious festooning at the 
back. Had there been a nice background of Palms, &e., 
instead of this, a little less crowding in the foreground, 
and the specimens allowed to display their individuality 
of character a little more, the grouping would have 
come much nearer to what is seen at Manchester, for 
instance. 
The hest collection of six Ferns came from Mr. 
Butler, who had Adiantum Farleyense, A. cuneatuni 
and A. gracillimum, with Pteris cretica albo-lineata in 
good character. Mr. Dolby had the best six Fuchsias, 
Mr. Butler being second. Tuberous-rooted Begonias 
were a good feature ; Mr. W. Greenfield, Boston, had the 
best six, Mr. Butler coming second. Mr. Dolby was 
the only exhibitor of six large-flowered Pelargoniums, 
taking the first prize with creditable plants. Mr. 
Butler had the best six Gloxinias, Mr. Dolby taking 
second honours ; while the latter had also the best 
six Petunias, Mr. Jacques coming second. Coleus 
were a good feature shown in sixes, Mr. Jacques being 
first, and Mr. Dolby a good second. The latter had 
the best three Lilies, staging a good L. auratum and 
two of L. longiflorum. Mr. Butler had the best 
specimen plant, showing a good piece of Acalypha 
Wilkesiana ; Mr. Jacques coming second, with a good 
example of Hydrangea Thomas Hogg. 
Fruit was sparingly shown. The best black Grapes 
came from Mr. A. Jarnall, Mr. Jacques being second. 
Gooseberries, shown for the heaviest fruit, were unripe, 
and Currants only imperfectly so. Strawberries were 
well shown. Vegetables were pretty numerous, but 
exhibited signs of having suffered from the drought. 
Mr. J. W. Leighton, Boston, had the best collection of 
nine vegetables, having good Asparagus, Tomatos, 
Peas, Potatos, French Beans, Onions, Carrots, Cabbage, 
and Turnips ; Mr. T. B. Dolby being second. Special 
prizes offered by Messrs. W. Johnson & Sons, seed 
merchants, Boston, for Peas, and in some classes for 
Potatos, were fully well competed for, having regard 
to the season. 
The best design for table decoration came from Mr. 
Dolby, Mr. A. Clegg being second, both of which were 
done in good taste. Mr. T. B. Dolby had the best 
stand of twenty-four cut Boses. Mr. Clegg was first 
with twelve varieties, and Mr. Dolby second. Mr. 
Clegg had the best six, Mr. Z. Inglis being second. 
Nottingham Horticultural .—July 13 ih .— 
A successful gathering of the members and friends of 
this society was held on the above date at the 
Mechanics’ Hall, when the lecture hall was very 
prettily decorated with plants. Owing to the Jubilee 
demonstrations, the committee decided not to hold 
their annual July show this year, but to make the 
usual monthly meetings as attractive as possible, 
hence a special effort was made this month, and a 
very creditable lot of both plants, Boses, fruits, and 
vegetables, were brought together. Mr. Alderman 
Lambert, of Mapperly Hall (gardener, Mr. Massy), had 
a well-finished group in the centre of the hall, consist¬ 
ing of Crotons, Dracaenas, Palms, &c., brightened up 
with Liliums and other flowering plants. A. Page, 
Esq., Forrest House, Bui well (gardener, Mr. Davis), 
sent a beautiful lot of decorative stuff, mostly in pots 
of not more than 5 ins. in diameter, covering a stage 
10 yds. long, and among which we noticed some nice 
healthy bits of Orchids, pitcher plants, &c. On the 
opposite side of the hall three semi-circular groups 
were set up by different gentlemen. First next to the 
entrance was a prettily arranged group sent by J. Booth, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. Balph). In the centre was a 
beautiful Araucaria excelsa, 4 ft. high—just the right 
size to be effective. Next came a well-arranged lot 
sent by Mr. Mee from Wollaston Hall Gardens, who 
also filled up the stage next to Mr. Page’s with a first- 
rate collection of eight dishes of fruit, consisting of 
Grapes and Peaches. His three bunches of Madresfield 
Court were first-rate, evenly matched, 11 ins. long, 
and finished off beautifully, showing what a really 
grand Grape it is when its cracking propensity can be 
overcome. The next group following Mr. Mee’s came 
from C. J. Cox, Esq., Bock House, Old Basford 
(gardener, Mr. J. Meadows), and prominent here were 
some well-coloured Crotons and Dracaenas, and very 
fine Cockscombs. W. H. Farmer, Esq., Alexandra 
Park (gardener, Mr. Atterboro), sent some larger stuff, 
among which were some very good tree Ferns, a pair 
of hanging baskets, in which was the very beautiful 
Hoya bella in flower. From the Borough Asylum 
came a splendid table of vegetables, and also some 
exceptionally fine Strawberries ; and a very fine lot of 
Boses from Messrs. Frettingham, Beeston, Messrs. 
Lowe, Beeston, Mr. J. Howe, and several local 
amateurs.— J. R. M. 
-- 
LAW NOTES. 
Important to Seedsmen: — Richardson v. A. II. 
Clarke A Co. In the Selby County Court, on June 
22nd, Mr. J. Bichardson, of Staynor Hall, Selby, 
brought an action against Messrs. A. H. Clarke & Co., 
King Street, Covent Garden, to recover the loss which 
he had sustained in consequence of defendants 
supplying him with a quantity of seed which turned 
out to be defective. In May, 1886, the plaintiff ordered 
of the defendants a quantity of Turnip seed called 
“Hartley’s Short Top.” After the seed had sprung 
up and partly developed itself, it was noticed that it 
was growing into a very peculiarly-shaped plant, 
which, when full grown, resembled something like a 
small berry tree. The plaintiff, who is also a seed 
merchant, had sold some of the seed to his customers, 
and had thereby lost their custom. The damages 
charged were A50. Mr. Danckwerts, for the defendants, 
contended that Turnip seed often - times turned 
into what were called “runners,” and when they 
were in that state they resembled the specimens 
produced in court. Messrs. Clarke & Co. had also had 
printed on their invoices and catalogues a protective 
clause, which stated that they would not hold them¬ 
selves responsible either as to the quality or 
production of their seed. It was a customary thing 
with all seed merchants to print a clause of this kind 
on all their invoices and catalogues. Part of the 
plaintiff's land only produced these plants, and the 
other part on which the same seed had been sown had 
produced good Turnips. It was impossible to tell 
Swede Turnip seed from Bape seed ; no person could 
tell the difference between the two, therefore it was 
an impossible condition to guarantee. The evidence 
of the plaintiff, and several farmers having been given, 
Mr. F. Smith, seed merchant, Selby, stated that the 
specimens produced in court would not grow from 
Turnip seed at all, neither would any neglect in the 
cultivation make it turn out in that way. As to the 
protective clause, seed merchants, he said, always 
printed something similar on their catalogues and 
invoices. He admitted that it was impossible to 
distinguish Swede Turnip seed from Bape, unless by 
the size ; where the size was the same there was no 
other distinction. 
His Honour, Judge Bed well, in giving judgment, 
said that he could not but take notice of the fact that 
Mr. Smith had admitted that it was the general 
practice amongst seedsmen to print such a clause as 
the one referred to on all their invoices and circulars. 
In the face of the evidence which had been submitted, 
he could not think it was an unreasonable qualification, 
and should, therefore, non-suit the plaintiff, with costs 
for the defendants. 
-- 
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS. 
Iris K-empferi Failing. — A. C. B.: From what you say, the 
deterioration of your plants and the small size of their bloom is 
due to the drought. In the neighbourhood of London they 
seldom succeed in the open border, except when the summer is 
an unusually wet one. In Japan, its native country, it is grown 
as an aquatic ; but in this country it should be grown where it 
can get an abundant supply of water in summer, and be kept 
rather dry in winter. If grown on the banks of a lake or stream, 
where the roots can dip into the water and obtain a supply of 
moisture, they cannot fail to succeed and produce large blooms. 
American Horticultural Societies.— J. C., Liverpool: New 
York Horticultural Society ; Western New York Horticultural 
