August 20, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
813 
the best Pears and Peaches ; while the best Nectarines 
came from Mr. T. Pegler, gardener to E. Kimber, Esq. 
Vegetables were fairly well represented. Mr. W. 
Blackwell took the first prize both for three dishes of 
round, and for three dishes of kidney Potatos, as well 
as for six Parsnips. Mr. G. Bastin secured the first 
award for a plate of Broad Beans, a collection of 
vegetables, and likewise for six heads of Celery. The 
best kidney Beans, the best Cauliflowers, the best 
basket of salad, and the best collection of herbs, were 
those exhibited by Mr. W. Driver. On the other 
hand the best Carrots, and the best twenty-four pods 
of Peas came from Mr. A. Edmonds. The most 
successful exhibitor of Tomatos was Mr. C. Mayo. 
Special prizes were offered for a collection of vegetables 
and salads by Messrs. J. Jefferies & Son, Cirencester. 
The first award went to Mr. W. Driver ; and Mr. C. 
Mayo had the second. 
Luton Horticultural. — Aug. 10/A.—This society 
held their fourth annual summer show on Wednesday, 
in the grounds of Bedford House, New Bedford Hoad. 
Encouraged by the success and popular satisfaction 
which attended their exhibition last year at Holly 
Lodge, the residence of their President, G. C. G. 
Lockhart, Esq., the committee resolved to again hold 
their show outdoors, and on J. J. Kershaw, Esq., J.P., 
being approached, he kindly acceded to their request 
that permission might he granted for the display to 
take place in the grounds attached to his house. 
The committee had prepared a very comprehensive 
schedule, which was placed in the hands of the public 
in ample time ; and nearly £100 was offered in prizes. 
The competition for the best decorated dinner-table is 
always a popular feature in connection with the society’s 
shows, and it was probably the one which secured most 
attention from the general visitors on this occasion. 
This year it was divided into two classes —one open to 
subscribers and the other for amateurs only. There 
were in all seven tables laid. In the open class the first 
honours were awarded to Mrs. Beckett, Aldenham Park, 
whose arrangement was certainly very chaste. The 
second prize table was the handiwork of Miss Higgins, 
Malvern House. Though much plainer, it also was 
very pleasing. In the amateurs’ class the first prize was 
awarded to Mr. H. L. Snell; his conception was effective, 
but in the eyes of some it had rather too “glassy ” an 
appearance. Mrs. W. Weatherhead, Princess Street, 
was given second place for a table which might have 
stood higher had it been properly arranged. 
Among the flowers, the collections of stove and 
greenhouse plants staged for effect were the most 
attractive. The Lilium auratum and Ferns included 
in Mr. Kershaw’s first-prize group were especially fine. 
Mr. James Higgins, Malvern House, had the second. 
The collection of six foliage plants exhibited by Mr. 
W. Phillips, The Laurels, were good ; Mr. H Gibbons, 
of Park Street, being second. Coleus were finely shown 
by Mr. J. J. Kershaw, who was first. Messrs. Gibbons 
and Coupees were respectively first and second with 
foliage Begonias. Gloxinias were a capital display, 
those of Mr. Blundell well deserving the first prize. 
Pelargoniums in this division—A, that open to all sub¬ 
scribers—were likewise good, showing a wonderful 
improvement upon those to be seen last year. Ferns 
were one of the best things in the exhibition. The 
Begonias competing for a special prize offered by 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co., seedsmen, Forest Hill, were 
very poor. Messrs. Wood & Son, Wood Green, gave 
a Silver Medal for the best specimen plant in bloom in 
the show. This was awarded to Mr. W. Butcher, 
Cardiff Road, for a beautiful Lilium lancifolium roseum. 
In the amateur division the display was restricted, but 
what there was of it was exceedingly creditable. The 
collection of plants belonging to Mr. W. Tarment, 
Hastings Street, was well worthy of first honours. 
On the side tables were several excellent collections 
of wild flowers, botanically named, the best of them 
comprising some 150 varieties collected in this district. 
George Underwood, of High Firs, Harpenden, took 
the first prize, the second being awarded to James 
Bloomfield, of Luton. Baskets and bouquets of wild 
flowers were numerously shown, the first prize going 
to an enormous trophy sent by Joseph Brown, and 
the second to a very tasteful arrangement by George 
Underwood, jun. There were some pretty button¬ 
holes and sprays of wild flowers, and a charming 
wreath composed of white or delicately-tinted varieties 
was shown by Miss Healy. There was a small col¬ 
lection of cut flowers. Mr. W. Wardill’s Carnations 
and Picotees were amongst the best things shown ; and 
there was also a notable collection of hardy perennials 
from Mr. R. Cooke, in which there were many varieties 
of very high merit. 
Special Prizes. —We have already referred to those 
offered by Messrs. J. Laing & Co., of Forest Hill, and 
Messrs. Wood & Son, Wood Green. In addition, Messrs. 
J. Carter & Co. offered prizes for six dishes of vegetables, 
Mr. J. J. Kershaw being first, and Mr. PI. Blundell 
second. Messrs. Daniels Bros., Norwich, for three 
dishes of Potatos ; Mr. J. Eaton being the fortunate 
winner. Messrs. Horton & Co., Cheapside, Luton, for 
seven dishes of vegetables ; Mr. H. L. Snell taking 
first prize, and Mr. H. Cumberland second. Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, seedsmen, Reading, for six vegetables ; 
Mr. JI. L. Snell being first, and Mr. W. Phillips 
second. Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, for twelve bunches of hardy perennials ; 
Mr. R. Cooke, Dunstable Road, being the winner. 
Messrs. R, Smith & Co., St. John’s Nursery, Worcester, 
offered a prize for a dish of Lord Beaconsfield Raspberry, 
which was awarded to Mr. T. W. Clayton. 
In regard to the general classes for vegetables—with 
the single exception of Potatos, which were remarkably 
good considering the season—they were very inferior, 
in common with those which are being shown every¬ 
where else. Peas were very fair. 
Fruit. —Of this there was a small display. Messrs. 
J. Higgins and B. Bennett, Cheverell’s Park, Dunstable, 
were first and second with black Grapes. Messrs. 
Bennett and T. A. Webster, New Bedford Road, had 
the best white Grapes. Peaches, Nectarines, and 
Apricots were poor ; while Gooseberries and Currants 
were very good generally. 
Taunton Horticultural. — August 11th. —The 
annual exhibition of this society took place as usual in 
Vivary Park on the above date, and the show fully 
maintained its high character as one of the best, if not 
the best in the west of England. Two large marquees 
were required to take the exhibits, and that in which 
the principal plants were staged was a show in itself. 
The general opinion was that the exhibition not only 
maintained its usual character of high excellence, but 
that in its leading features it was greatly in advance of 
anything in previous years. 
In the division open to all, the leading class was for 
twelve stove and greenhouse plants in bloom, and here 
Mr. Lock, gardener to B. W. Cleave, Esq., Crediton, 
was a good first, having Ixora Frince of Orange, I. 
Fraseri, and I. Williamsi, Clerodendron Balfourianum, 
Allamandas, &c.; Mr. J. Cypher, nurseryman, Chelten¬ 
ham, was second with a very good lot, but weak in 
wood or thin subjects; Mr. E. Wills, gardener to 
Mrs. Pearce, Bassett, Southampton, was third. Mr. 
Cypher had the best six plants, staging capital 
specimens ; Mr. E. Wills was second. In the class 
for eight fine-foliaged plants Mr. Cypher came in 
first, having a very fine lot ; Mr. Lock followed, who 
showed the best eight exotic Ferns ; Mr. Wills with 
good medium-sized specimens had the second prize. 
Pelargoniums of the zonal class were a very fine 
feature. Mr. H. Godding, Taunton, had the best 
eight single-flowered. In the class for the same 
number of variegated Pelargoniums Mr. T. Tidbury, 
Taunton, was first. Mr. Godding had the best six 
tuberous-rooted Begonias, staging some admirable 
plants ; he also had the best four Fuchsias. Messrs. 
George Cooling & Sons, nurserymen, Bath, had the 
best six Cockscombs. Mr. Cypher had the best newly 
introduced plant, staging a nice piece of Cattleya 
odorata virginale ; Mr. C. Lucas, gardener to J. 
Marshall, Esq., Taunton, being second with Amasonia 
punicea. The best four Orchids also came from Mr. 
Cypher ; and Mr. Wills came in second. 
In the amateurs’ division Mr. Lock was first with 
twelve stove and greenhouse plants of the usual 
exhibition stuff ; Mr. E. Wills took second. Mr. Lock 
also had the best six plants ; Mr. Lucas being second. 
Mr. Lock was again first for four plants ; and took first 
prize with six exotic Ferns, eight hardy Ferns, and six 
foliage plants. Mr. Wills had the best six Selaginellas 
and also the best four Orchids. Japan Lilies were 
capitally shown by Messrs. Thomas and Huxtable, 
Tauncon. There were classes for gold and silver 
tricolors, bronze double and single Pelargoniums, in 
which good specimens were staged. Mr. Thomas was 
first with six excellent Coleus ; Mr. Bradbeer was a 
good second. Mr. Thomas was first with a grand lot 
of four specimen Achimenes ; Mr. C. Lucas won the 
second prize with a fine lot also. Petunias, Balsams, 
Cockscombs, &c., were all good, firm, and very 
attractive. In the classes for single specimen plants 
some well-grown examjiles were exhibited, but space 
does not admit of details. 
Cut Flowers. —In the open classes Roses were a 
leading feature ; the best forty-eight in single blooms 
came from Messrs. G. Cooling & Sons, who had capital 
blooms; S. P. Budd, Esq., Bath, was second. The 
same exhibitors occupied similar positions in the class 
for twenty-four varieties. Mr. J. Nation, West 
Monkton, had the best twelve Dahlias ; he also had 
the best twelve fancies ; and the best singles. Holly¬ 
hocks were small ; German and French Asters were 
very good, the season considered ; Gladioli were in¬ 
different ; Verbenas, plentiful and bright. Mr. Lucas 
had the best twelve bunches of stove and greenhouse 
cut flowers. In the amateur division there were good 
cut flowers also. The best collection of annuals came 
from Mr. E. G. Garraway. Dr. Budd was first in all 
the classes for Roses. Asters, Verbenas, Dahlias, 
Hollyhocks, and Gladioli were in good character. In 
the cottagers’ division there was an interesting display 
of cut flowers. 
The fruit department of the show quite maintained 
its old reputation. In the class for ten varieties, Mr. 
H. W. Ward, The Gardens, Longford Castle, Salisbury, 
was first with Madresfield Court and Muscat of 
Alexandria Grapes, Smooth Cayenne Pine, &c. ; Mr. 
Pratt, The Gardens, Longleat, Warminster, being 
second. Mr. A. Daffurn, Weston-super-Mare, had the 
best four dishes. Mr. Pratt had the premier Pine 
Apple, and also the best three bunches of Black 
Hamburgh Grape. In the class for any other black 
Grape, Mr. Ward was first with Madresfield Court ; 
while Mr. Pratt had the best two bunches of Black 
Hamburgh. In the class for any other white Grape, 
Mr. Ward was first with Buckland Sweetwater. Other 
fruits consisted of Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, Pears, 
Plums, Apricots, &c., and were all in good condition. 
Messrs. G. Cooling & Sons’ new Apple—Beauty of 
Bath—was seen in its best form, and took the first 
prize in the dessert class. In the amateurs’ division 
fruit was generally tolerably well represented. 
The best dinner-table arrangement came from Mrs. 
J. R. Chard, Stoke Newington, N., as well as the best 
centre-piece and premier bouquet. 
We regret that space does not admit of full details 
of the vegetable exhibits being given. Mr. H. F. 
Manley had the best collection of ten dishes. The best 
six dishes in competition for Messrs. Webb & Sons’ 
special prizes came from Mr. Banwell. Potatos were a 
remarkably good feature, Mr. H. Moore having the 
best six dishes. The cottagers’ display throughout 
was very good indeed, and quite au interesting show 
in itself. 
A fine collection of cut spikes of Gladioli was staged 
by Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, and First Class 
Certificates were awarded to Civis, Howard Maynard 
and Hilda, likewise to Gaillardia William Kelway. A 
very interesting collection of plants and various kinds 
of cut flowers were staged by Messrs. R. T. Veitch & 
Son, nurserymen, Exeter ; also Begonias by Mr. R. B. 
Davis, nurseryman, Yeovil, and miscellaneous plants 
by Mr. R. H. Poynter, seedsman, Taunton. 
Shropshire Floral and Horticultural.— 
August 17 th and 18/A.—The Shrewsbury show is now 
one of the best in the Kingdom, and is looked forward to 
by exhibitors with keen interest, the competitions all 
round being of a spirited character, and the prizes 
offered of a liberal description. Indeed, for fruits and 
vegetables it has been recognised as one of the leading 
displays, and this year certainly merited a high meed 
of praise, for of collections of fruit, Grapes, single 
dishes of various kinds, and collections of vegetables, 
we have seldom seen a finer lot. The Grapes and the 
vegetables were indeed superb. The show was held in 
the far-famed Quarry—than which no more beautiful 
place for such a gathering of horticultural produce 
could probably be found. Unfortunately for the show 
committee and the visitors, it rained hard all the best 
part of the first day, but no one complained, so badly 
was rain wanted in the district. And again, the 
society has had many good years, and has a substantial 
reserve to fall back upon, so there need be no anxiety 
as to the finances. 
