798 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 13, 1887. 
Gardeners’ Classes. —In this division, one of the 
principal classes was for eight stove and greenhouse 
plants, in or out of bloom, Mr. W. Lauchburry, gar¬ 
dener to C. Watkin, Esq., 'Wellingborough, being first 
with a good lot, unnamed ; second, Mr. W. L. Bird ; 
third, Mr. G. Hillburn. Mr. Lauchburry also had the 
best group arranged for effect, Mr. Hillburn coming in 
second. Foliage plants formed a very good feature, 
Mr. Lauchburry having the best six, staging capital 
specimens of Cycas revoluta, Alocasia metallica, 
Phyllanthus nivosus, Zamia Vroomii, Theophrasta im- 
perialis, and Caladium esculentum. No address was 
on the collection awarded the second prize. Mr. D. 
Percival, gardener to W. Blott, Esq., Wellingborough, 
had the best specimen plant, staging a good Latania 
borbonica ; Mr. W. Lauchburry coming second with a 
fine Nepenthes Rafflesiana ; third, Mr. W. L. Bird 
with Thamnopteris nidus. Mr. D. Percival had some 
good Gloxinias. The best six Fuchsias came from Mr. 
Hillburn ; while Mr. Percival had the best six Ferns, 
setting up good specimens of Asplenium formosum, 
Thamnopteris nidus, Blechnum occidentale, Adiantum 
formosum, A. cuneatum, and A. gracillimum ; second, 
Mr. W. L. Bird. Messrs, Percival and T. G. Butler, 
gardener to N. P. Sharman, Esq., Wellingborough, 
had the best collection of six Coleus. Messrs. Hillburn 
and J. Knightley, gardener to Sir Henry Wake, 
Bart., Courteen Hall, Roade, were first, the former 
with six single, and the latter with six double, zonal 
Pelargoniums. Mr. Butler' had the best six foliage 
Begonias; but none produced the flowering types, 
though two classes were devoted to them. Mr. W. L, 
Bird had the best six plants for table decoration. 
Cut Flowers. —The Rev. W. Jackson had the best 
twelve Roses, Mr. G. Watt being second. Mr. J. 
Knightly was first with twelve bunches of cut stove 
and greenhouse subjects, Mr. Watt being second and 
Mr. Lauchburry third. Messrs. Knightly and Watt 
were severally first and second in the two classes for 
cut flowers of double and single Zonal Pelargoniums. 
The Rev. W. H. Jackson had the best twelve bunches 
of garden flowers, Mr. Knightly being second. Mr. W. 
Toseland had the best wreath ; and Mr. E. Lewin, 
Wellingborough, the best bouquet. 
Fruit. —Of this there was rather a poor show, if we 
except Grapes. Mr. Beach, of Castle Abbey Gardens, 
had the best three bunches of Black Hamburgh ; Mr. 
D. Percival being second ; and Mr. T. Hare third. 
Mr. Hare had the best three bunches of White Grapes, 
staging Muscat of Alexandria ; Mr. W. L. Bird being 
second with the same. Melons, Peaches, Apples, dessert 
and culinary Pears, Strawberries, Apricots and Rasp¬ 
berries were sparely represented. Mr. H. Beach had 
the best basket of fruit ; Mr. T. Hare being second. 
Mr. W. Farr had the best six dishes ; Mr. Giles Watt 
being second. 
Vegetables. —There was a very brisk competition 
in the class for eight varieties of vegetables : Mr. John 
Abbott, of Wellingborough, being placed first with 
Cauliflowers, Marrows, Tomatos, Potatos, Peas, French 
Beans, Celery and Artichokes; second, Mr. Giles Watt, 
Mr. W. L. Bird had the best tray of salad in six 
varieties; Mr. T. G. Garfirth, Allington, Northampton, 
being second. 
Amateurs’ and Cottagers’ Classes.— We regret 
that the limit of space prevents some extended notice 
of the exhibits in these classes. Plants, cut-flowers 
and vegetables were especially fine, and made a good 
exhibition in themselves. Potatos especially were 
clean and good, much better than we could have 
expected to have seen them after such a hot dry 
season. 
Acton Horticultural.—The twentieth annual 
exhibition of this society took place, on July 27th, in 
the grounds of the Manor House, East Acton ; and 
seeing that the operations of the society are of a purely 
local description, the members are to be congratulated 
on the fine form and splendid condition of many of the 
subjects staged for competition, the judges specially 
remarking the excellence of the cottagers’ productions, 
the fine-foliaged plants, table decorations, Petunias, 
and Balsams. The latter plants were exhibited in 
grand condition—fine, well-flowered, stocky subjects, 
the premier award going to Mr. W. Jennings, the 
secondary place being occupied by Mr. S. ParneR, who 
followed closely upon the heels of his rival, Mr. T. 
Foster coming in third. Petunias were in excellent 
form, and in the class for six the prizes went to Mr. 
H. Davis, gardener to H. Lake, Esq., and to the Rev. 
A. H. Dunn. Other soft-wooded plants were well 
represented in the form of Fuchsias, Coleus, zonal 
Pelargoniums, and Begonias. The awards for Fuchsias 
were made to Mr. S. Beech, Mr. Davis, and Mr. 
S. Parnell, in the principal classes. Coleus were 
largely shown, and evinced great skill in their manipu¬ 
lation, as the specimens staged were well-coloured and 
highly satisfactory. Mr. W. Ford, gardener to E. H. 
Pollard, Esq. ; Mr. J. Fidler, gardener to Mrs. Sibson ; 
and Mr. S. Parnell, gardener to Mrs. Walker, were the 
successful competitors in the order named. Begonias, 
both of the tuberous and ornamental-leaved section, 
were fairly good, the first place in each section being 
occupied by Mr. W. Polley, gardener to A. Hubbard, 
Esq. Other winners were Mr. T. Wheeler and Mr. 
S. Parnell. The latter exhibitor was also very suc¬ 
cessful with six Gloxinias, although he had to take the 
second place, Mr. W. PoRey receiving the highest 
award. 
Groups of plants arranged for effect were not so 
largely represented this year as last, but the quality 
was first class, and the arrangement remarkably good. 
Mr. J. A. Morris, Church Road, was the only com¬ 
petitor in the florists’ department, but his exhibits 
were of a high order, and his selection of plants was 
characterised by much good taste. In the matter of 
bouquets, wreaths, and table decorations he was well 
to the fore, especially with a bouquet of yellow flowers 
and maidenhair Fern. Other groups were well 
displayed and tastefully arranged, and prizes were 
awarded to Mr. W. Ford, Mr. W. Davis, and Mr. H. 
Aylward, respectively. Large specimen plants of 
different descriptions were well shown, and in the class 
for a single specimen plant of ornamental foliage equal 
first prizes were obtained by Mr. Ford and Mr. Aylward, 
so difficult was it to decide their respective merits. The 
former exhibited a beautiful example of Gymnogramma 
Parsonsi, and the latter a fine Chamaarops humilis. In 
the amateurs’ and cottagers’ classes, for which the 
society nominally exists, there was an extremely 
interesting display of fruit, flowers, plants, and 
vegetables. Mr. W. Swale carried off nearly all the 
first prizes in the class for specimen plants and Ferns ; 
his examples of Adiantum cuneatum being particularly 
good. His Agapanthus umbellatus was very fine, and 
also his Agave americana variegata. A very spirited 
contest amongst the amateurs was observable in the 
cut-flower, vase, and basket departments. In the 
class for a vase or epergne of cut-flowers artistically 
arranged, Mrs. C. B. Green was first, closely followed 
by Mrs. Athawes ; and for the best arranged basket of 
flowers suitable for the table, Mrs. Athawes took the 
first place, Mrs. Holland being second, both ladies 
having a tastefully disposed array. In hanging-baskets 
the interest was keen, Mr. Holland being first and Mr. 
Green second. Cottagers’ productions were — the 
season considered—exceptionally good, the main prizes 
going to Messrs. Jennings, Roberts, Matthews, Venn, 
Haggis, and Lovell. Fruit was plentiful and good 
both in the cottagers’ and gardeners’ classes—in fact, 
the show was most successful, from a horticultural 
point of view ; the financial aspect only according the 
officers any degree of unrest.— C. B. G. 
Hounslow Horticultural.— July 27th ,—The 
second summer show of this newly-formed suburban 
society was held in the grounds of G. H. Barber, Esq., 
Bath Road, on the above date, in fine but blusterous 
weather. The plants were numerous, but as exhibition 
specimens they were weak, and a lot of education 
in the production of show samples is needed. Some 
very good Begonias and Gloxinias were staged. The 
decorative groups were of a somewhat elementary 
order, and, though gay with flowers, were merely 
flat masses in arrangement—there was ample material, 
but grouping for effect needs development. In this 
way the two wonderfully fine groups of hardy trees 
and shrubs, interspersed with Roses, Yuccas and other 
hardy-flowering plants from Messrs. C. Lee & Sons, 
'Wood Lane Nurseries, and arranged by Mr. Webb 
with much taste, were really admirable models. A 
group of a new double white-fringed Petunia, named 
White Beauty, from Mr. W. Cole, Feltham, set in 
some maidenhair Ferns, attracted much attention and 
fitly received a Certificate of Merit. Mr. W. D. 
Clarke, Hounslow, staged a pretty arrangement of 
White Lilies in Ferns, which was much admired. Mr. 
C. Turner, of Slough, sent flowers of his grand 
Carnations and Picotees, which received the highest 
commendation ; as also did a fine collection of cut 
Gloxinias, a grand spotted strain, from Messrs. Hooper 
& Co., Twickenham. Mr. W. Tayler, Hampton, had 
fruit trees in pots, and carrying good crops ; also some 
boxes of cut Roses. Local flowers were chiefly 
represented in the ladies’ table and basket arrange¬ 
ments, which were all very pretty in their way, and 
secured the usual amount of attention. 
Fruit generally was excellent, especially from the 
market-growers. Messrs. W. and E. Wells,, through 
their excellent gardener, Mr. {Thompson, were strong in 
Grapes, showing fine Madresfield Court and Black 
Hamburgh, also good Peaches, Nectarines, &c. ; Mr. 
John Graham, of Cranford, taking second place with a 
collection. A curious competition was that for six 
dishes of the old red-ribbed Tomato, grown only in 
Heston parish, Messrs. Wells and Mr. John Graham, 
the donors of the prize, being the only competitors ; 
but Messrs. Wells were an easy first with grand 
samples, showing the high-class culture of these fruits. 
Those gentlemen were also placed first with a fine lot 
of Sutton’s Perfection Tomato in the single dish class ; 
Mr. Graham took his own prize for six Melons. Some 
very fine Black Hamburgh Grapes came from Mr. 
Walton, gardener to A. Richards, Esq., Hounslow, but 
these did not compete; other fruits, especially Currants, 
Gooseberries and Cherries, were excellent. Vegetables 
were also very good for the season, cottagers’ especially, 
although not numerous, showing admirably. The show 
will, no doubt under good management, grow into a 
large one, as the neighbourhood is extensive and only 
needs well working. That the townspeople closed 
their shops at 2 p.m. on the show day, is evidence that 
the society is held in popular esteem. 
Moseley and King's Heath Horticultural. 
—August 1st .—Bank Holiday is a great day for flower 
shows about Birmingham, and the above-named society 
held its annual meeting on that day in the grounds of 
The Henburys, Moseley. In the groups Mr. Cooper, 
gardener to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, was 
first with an excellent group, and throughout the 
exhibition was a most successful exhibitor in fruits, 
bouquets, plants, &c, wdnning a handsome Silver Cup, 
given by a lady, as the exhibitor who staged the greatest 
number of wdnning exhibits. Excellent Coleuses were 
exhibited, large well-formed and superbly-coloured 
plants, which would be hard to beat anywhere. 
Caladiums also were very fine, and some good stove 
and greenhouse plants and Ferns were exhibited. Mr. 
Evans, gardener to F. Everett, Esq., and the gardener 
to J. Cartland, Esq., were most successful exhibitors. 
A few very fine black Grapes were staged, Mr. 
Robinson, gardener to J. Cartland, Esq., being first, 
each for three and two bunches of Black Hamburghs, 
and equal first with two well-coloured bunches of 
Buckland Sweetwater. The fruit department was 
fairly well filled, with some good Melons, collections of 
fruits, and well-coloured Peaches and Nectarines. 
The vegetable department of the three divisions of the 
schedule was well represented, but a want of size was 
apparent, and no wonder ; what with burnt-up lawns, 
&c., the want of rain is so terribly apparent about 
Birmingham. 
Taking the exhibition all round, it was a good one, 
and on Bank Holiday there are other exhibitions in 
the district. The local nurserymen helped the ex¬ 
hibition also by groups of plants and flowers. 
Mr. Hans Niemand sent a fine stand of good standard 
varieties of Picotees and Carnations in good form ; 
Mr. Spinks, the manager, having taken these flowers 
well in hand. Messrs. Pope & Son contributed a 
handsome group of Cattleyas and other plants, and the 
lovely bright rose-coloured double Ivy-leaf Pelargonium 
Madame Crousse No. 2. Messrs. Thomson, a very 
large handsome funeral cross of "Water Lilies and other 
flowers ; Mr. R. H. Yertegans, cut herbaceous plants. 
The amateurs of the district who do not employ a 
gardener exhibited well. 
We repeatedly meet with garden implements and 
appliances at these exhibitions, and it is refreshing to 
get hold of something new and really useful. Mr. 
George Johns, Moseley, near Birmingham, exhibited a 
neat, light, and most useful hand-barrow on wheels 
with springs, which a lady could easily work, and he 
named a very moderate price for it; and his collection 
of garden barrows were considered by the judges and 
others to be some of the best they had seen. 
