201 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Xovember 26, 1887. 
charming appearance than it did on Friday last, when 
the rows of tables were laden with delicious fruit 
and lovely flowers, and groups of fine plants filled up 
every foot of available space. Many of the blooms 
had done duty elsewhere, as the exhibitors included 
several growers who had successfully competed at 
Exeter, Tiverton and Taunton, amongst the number 
being Wilfrid Marshall, Esq., of the Elm, Staplegrove, 
Taunton (gardener, Mr. W. Thomas) ; W. L. Collard, 
Esq., Abbotsfield, Wiveliscombe (gardener, Mr. C. 
Cooper) ; P. C. Daniel, Esq., Stoodleigh Court, Tiver¬ 
ton (gardener, Mr. G. J. Barnes) ; Sir G. Stuckley, 
Bart., Moreton House, Bideford (gardener, Mr. B. 
MaeMillar); and Mr. R. Richards, Stapleton, Bristol. 
But the whole of the plants were grown in the town, 
by C. H. Fox, Esq., Shute Leigh (gardener, Mr. J. 
Denner); Dr. Meredith (gardener, Mr. G. Cruise) ; 
Mr. J. Cutler ; and T. Fox, Esq., The Court (gardener, 
C. S. Pyne). 
Moreover, one of the most interesting features of the 
show was the gallant and successful fight of C. IP. Fox, 
Esq., who made his dibut as an exhibitor, and carried 
off many prizes, with about a dozen trays of grand 
blooms. There were some excellent bouquets sent by 
Misses Elworthy, Clarke, Morgan, and Bubear, of 
Wellington ; Miss Poynter and Mrs. Dyer, of Taunton ; 
and Mrs. Pyne, of Bindon, some of whom also sent 
charming arrangements of autumn foliage and berries. 
Grapes made a fair show, grand bunches of Black 
Alicante being sent from Abbotsfield and The Court. 
There were several hundred dishes of Apples and Pears, 
including over a hundred of the best dessert and 
culinary sorts. Messrs. R. Yeitch & Son, Messrs. 
Lucombe, Pince & Co., and Messrs. Stevens & Cann, of 
Exeter, sent large collections of fruit and flowers, as 
did Mr. W. G. Clarke, nurseryman, of Wellington. 
Mr. Godding, nurseryman, of Taunton, also sent some 
trays of fine Chrysanthemums. Altogether, the show 
was a great success, and afforded much pleasure to the 
hundreds of persons who visited it. 
HUDDERSFIELD. — November 11th and 12th. 
The fourth exhibition, held in the Town Hall, proved 
a gratifying success, notwithstanding that doubts were 
at one time entertained that the date was too early for 
the season. The bright sunny days of the previous 
fortnight, however, brought on the blooms wonderfully, 
and with one exception the result was an excellent 
show. The tables, groups and stands of miscellaneous 
plants were arranged as in previous years. In the open 
class for forty-eight cut blooms, Mr. Cox, of Liverpool, 
was the only exhibitor, thus gaining the £10 prize 
without any opposition, and leaving some £12 to 
remain in the society’s coffers. The late season, too 
many shows near at hand for all to be represented, 
or that forty-eight blooms was too large a number, were 
the excuses made, but the other classes were well 
contested, and the blooms staged were in superb form. 
The first prize for a group was deservedly awarded to 
Mr. Hatch, gardener to J. F. Briggs, Esq., Greenhead 
Hall, who had large, solid and fresh blooms, chiefly 
crown buds ; the plants and colours were well arranged, 
and the habit of the plants being good and the foliage 
stout and leathery, they had a fine effect. The second 
prize went to Mr. Bubb, gardener to Mrs. J. W. Taylor, 
Crossland Moor, who had grand blooms, but too many 
dark ones. The forty-eight cut blooms shown by Mr. 
Cox would have been hard to beat anywhere ; his best 
blooms of incurved varieties were Lord Alcester, Mr. 
Bunn, Empress of India, Mrs. Heale, Prince Alfred and 
Princess of "Wales ; and of Japanese, Madame C. 
Audiguier, Val d’Andorre, M. Tarin, J. Delaux, Belle 
Paule, Meg Merrilies, Ralph Brocklebank and Criterion. 
For twenty-four varieties, Mr. J. P. Leadbeater, 
gardener to A. Wilson, Esq., Hull, came in first ; and 
Mr. Cox was a good second. For twelve Anemones 
Mr. Cox was first, as also for reflexed varieties. Mr. 
Bubb secured the first prize for twelve bunches of stove 
and greenhouse blooms ; and the best bouquet came 
from Mr. J. T. Sharp, florist, Almondbury. 
In the local class the competition was keen, and the 
flowers excellent. The chief honours fell to Messrs. 
Daniels, Stockes, Smith, Senior, Walker, Nettleton, 
Henderson, and Frank, and the best bouquet of Chry¬ 
santhemums again came from Mr. J. T. Sharp. The 
Chrysanthemums in pots, threes and single specimens, 
were far superior to those shown last year, though the 
Pompons were decidedly late. Mr. Hatch had again 
the lion’s share of the awards, his Empress of India, 
Queen of England, Golden Empress, James Salter, 
Mdlle. Lacroix, and La Nymphe, being very fine, 
especially the latter, a superb specimen 5 ft. across, 
with upwards of 200 blooms. The special prizes offered 
for cut flowers for ladies’ wear brought out good compe¬ 
titions, and the various efforts of the exhibitors proved 
very attractive. Mr. Stokes was first for plants for 
dinner table decorations ; Mr. J. T. Sharp for 
Bouvardias; Mr. Bubb for Mignonette; and Mr. 
Henderson for Eucharis amazonica, with a fine specimen 
5 ft. across, and well-flowered. Primulas were ex¬ 
ceedingly good, and required some judging, but the 
highest award eventually went to Mr. A. G. Wilson, 
gardener to Mrs. H. Edgerton. The cottagers’ classes 
were excellent. 
Stands of plants and various devices in flowers were 
exhibited by Messrs. Armatage and Hillman, of Hud¬ 
dersfield and Almondbury. Mr. M. Smoult, florist, 
Trinity Street, Hastings, showed two stands, one a 
dinner-table arranged for fourteen persons, the centre¬ 
piece, epergnes, finger-glasses, &c., being ornamented 
with seaweed and flowers. The visitors lingered long 
over the novel production, which was certainly very 
pleasing.— B. L. 
BIRKENHEAD. — November 16 th. 
The first show of the Birkenhead and Wirral Chry¬ 
santhemum Society was held on the 16th inst. in the 
new Town Hall. The executive deserve great credit 
for the admirable manner in which the details of the 
exhibition were carried out, the society having only 
been formed two months ago under the presidency of 
Captain Cotton, with Mr. R. C. Shore as chairman, 
Mr. J. Gould as treasurer, Mr. F. Johnson as assistant- 
treasurer, and Mr. Austin Houghton as secretary. 
The schedule embraced twenty-two classes, and in the 
open cut bloom section for thirty-six blooms, eighteen 
incurved and eighteen Japanese, Mr. T. Carling, 
gardener to G. Cope, Esq., Dove Park, Woolton, was 
first with bright fresh flowers ; the best being Jeanne 
d’Arc, Mr. Howe, Boule d’Or, Alfred Salter, Belle 
Paule, Yal d’Andorre, Triomphe de la Rue des Chalets, 
F. A. Davis, Japonais ; second, Mr. J. Wilson, gardener 
to J. E. Reynolds, Esq., West Derby ; third, Mr. W. 
Heaney, gardener to H. G. Schultz, Esq. For twelve 
incurved varieties, Mr. C. Osborne, gardener to H. J. 
Robinson, Esq , Woolton, was first; Mr. C. Broadey, 
gardener to W. H. Jones, Esq., second, and Mr. G. 
Lyon, gardener to J. H. Kenion, Esq., third. For 
twelve Japanese, Mr. E. Broadey was first ; Mr. T. 
Wink worth, gardener to R. Brocklebank, Esq., Chilwell 
Hall, second, and Mr. G. Lyon, third. The local 
classes were well contested, Messrs. C. Burden, D. 
Mason, H. Robinson, J. Hayes, W. Lawton, and W. 
Porter being the chief prize takers. 
For six dishes of fruit (Pines excluded), Mr. M. 
Hannaghan, gardener to R. C. Naylor, Esq., Hooton 
Hall, took the lead, followed by Mr. E. Gregg, gardener 
to W. 0. N. Shaw, Esq., and Mr. M. Quirk, gardener 
to W. Porter, Esq. For two bunches of black Muscat 
Grapes, Mr. G. T. Raynes, gardener to J. Barker, Esq., 
had the best; Mr. J. Lindsay, gardener to Sir T. 
Edwards Moss, showed the finest two bunches of -white 
Grapes ; and Mr. E. Gregg was first for two bunches 
of Grapes, any variety. Hardy fruits were well shown ; 
likewise Primulas and table plants. The show was 
well patronised by visitors, and we trust a good balance 
will be left to carry on the good work next year. 
STAINES AND EGHAM. — November 11th. 
A very cold, frosty morning, with fog prevalent, was 
not conducive to the welfare of plants being brought 
any distance from their greenhouses to the shows, and 
some tender things got frost-bitten ; but the harm 
done was trifling. The sun broke out later upon a very 
pretty show, arranged with much effect in the Staines 
Town Hall, a very light, roomy, and handsome 
building. The sides of the hall were brightly dressed 
with the usual decorative groups ; the best of which 
came from Mr. Thatcher, gardener to H. C. Leigh 
Bennett, Esq., Thorpe, whose blooms were of excellent 
quality ; Mr. Cox, gardener to W. Hack wood, Esq., 
Staines, being second ; and Mr. Hutchings, gardener 
to C. Ashby, Esq., Staines, third. In trained plants, 
which were, on the whole, remarkably well shown, a 
second prize was given to the only four staged of the 
large-flowered section ; but in the pairs Mr. Proudfoot, 
gardener to B. C. Marshall, Esq., Thorpe, had capital 
specimens of Bertha Rendatler and Mrs. G. Dixon, 
Mr. Thatcher coming second with very good Pink 
Christine and King of Crimsons. With four standard 
large-flowered, Mr. Hutchings was invincible, having 
Lord Wolseley, Peach, Pink, and Golden Christine, all 
first rate; Mr. Proudfoot coming next with Lord 
Wolseley also, and the three Rundles, rather too hard 
tied, but full of bloom. Mr. Hutchings was also first 
with a pair of excellent pyramids ; whilst the best 
dwarf specimen came from Mr. Thatcher, who had a 
remarkably well-flowered plant of Yal d’Andorre. A 
fine standard of Golden Christine placed Mr. G. 
Riddich a good first in the single class ; Pink 
Christine coming second. In the Pompon classes 
Mr. Hutchings was again in fine form, having 
the best pair of standards in admirable heads of 
Fremy and Golden Cedo Nulli ; Mr. Proudfoot 
was second with Mdlle. Marthe and Antonius. Mr. 
Thatcher had the best four dwarf Pompons, and Mr. 
Hutchings the premier pair, also the finest brace of 
pyramids. This same able exhibitor also staged the 
best six Zonal Pelargoniums, which included broad 
well-flowered plants of Mrs. Gordon, Wonderful, Dr. 
Orton, Vesuvius, F. V. Raspail, and Madame Thibaut. 
Mr. Cox, who was second, had good plants of H. Jacoby, 
Caxton, King of the Doubles, &c. A fine feature was 
found in the seven half-dozens of Chinese Primroses, 
the best reaUy good compact plants coming from Mr. 
Hutchings ; Mr. Collings, gardener to J. Hilgate, Esq., 
Staines, was placed second. Berried Solanums were 
excellent, Mr. Sturt, gardener to N. L. Cohen, Esq. 
Englefield Green, having the best. Mr. Riddich 
showed the finest Cyclamens, and Mr. Collings the best 
six pots of Mignonette, exhibiting good dwarf plants 
of Giant Red. 
Cut flowers were well shown also, there being two 
classes for twenty-four, both of incurved and Japanese. 
In the class for twenty-four incurved Mr. Sturt had 
the best, exhibiting very good blooms indeed, Mr. 
Thatcher coming second with small but pretty flowers. 
In the open class for Japanese Mr. Sturt was again 
first, but Mr. Hutchings was a good second ; and in 
the other class for twenty-four Mr. Riddich was first 
and Mr. Collings second, the positions being reversed 
with the twenty-four incurved flowers. Mr. Proudfoot 
had the best twelve incurved, and Mr. Thatcher the 
finest lot of reflexed—a capital class, the blooms all 
excellent; Mr. Proudfoot was second and Mr. Collings 
third. There was considerable competition in the 
class promoted by the secretary, Mr. T. Rawlings, 
for six Japanese and six incurved varieties, the premier 
flowers being very fine: Meg Merrilies and Queen of 
England from Mr. Sturt; Mr. Collings coming second 
with Madame C. Audiguier, Mdlle. Blanche Pigny, 
Lord Wolseley, and Guernsey Nugget. Mr. Hutchings 
had twelve capital Anemone flowers, and Mr. Thatcher 
the best lot of Pompons in bunches. Mr. Mareham, 
gardener to the Countess Morelia, Virginia Water, 
showed three fine bunches of Muscat of Alexandria and 
three of Barbarossa Grapes, not for competition, and 
was an easy first in the class for two bunches, having 
capital Muscats. Mr. Hutchings was second with 
small Black Alicantes, and Black Hamburghs were 
third. Pears were good, the best three dishes coming 
from Mr. J. Martin, gardener to J. Blackwell, Esq., 
Thorpe ; they were fine Beurre Diel and Duchesse de 
Angouleme. There was a large competition in the 
class for four dishes of Apples, Mr. Overall securing 
first honours with handsome Blenheims, Cox's Orange, 
King’s, and Reinette du Canada; Mr. Hutchings 
coming second with the three first-named and good 
Cat’s-head Codlins. Some very admirable collections 
of vegetables were shown ; but the amateurs’ and 
cottagers’ classes were poorly filled, these sections 
needing much development in the Staines district. 
READING. — November ISth. 
The fourth annual exhibition of this flourishing 
society was held in the Old and New Town Hall, and 
was in every way a great success, the arrangements 
especially being most perfect, thanks to the energy 
of Mr. R. D. Catchpool, the honorary secretary, who 
is anxious to do all he can for the welfare of all con¬ 
nected with the show. The groups arranged for effect 
were fair generally, but the first prize lot was very 
fresh ; the number was limited to three dozen plants. 
First, Mr. Hatch, gardener to L. B. Stevens, Esq. ; 
second, B. Simmonds, Esq. (Mr. Balchen, gardener) ; 
third, IV. J. Palmer, Esq. (Mr. Basket, gardener) ; 
fourth, Mrs. Marsland (Mr. Lees, gardener) ; fifth, J. 
Leslie, Esq. (Mr. Henton, gardener). For six speci¬ 
mens, Japanese excluded, nicely flowered plants from 
Mr. Surman, gardener to C. H. Worthington, Esq., 
were placed first, and the same exhibitor was also first 
for six Japanese, and again for six short plants in 6-in. 
pots. These were very fine, and as a class should be 
encouraged, such plants being most useful for decora¬ 
tive purposes. The standard plants were, as usual, 
stiff and formal, and looked most unnatural, 
although strictly in accordance with the wording of the 
schedule. The best came from C. Littledale, Esq., 
Twyford (gardener, Mr. Booker), whose plants were 
