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THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 13, 1890. 
The National Dahlia Society's Exhibition. 
Despite the frost of a few days previously, chill, cold 
weather, with an absence of sunshine, the National 
Dahlia Society made a brave display at the Crystal 
Palace on the 5th and 6th inst. The blooms were 
generally large and full, clean and bright in colour ; 
though some, and especially those varieties which put 
on the best condition during a hot, dry summer, showed 
some signs of coarseness. On this occasion the flowers 
were arranged in the concert hall, but they failed to 
show to such good advantage as when under the 
stronger light of the central transept in the past. The 
exhibitors were confined to the south ; possibly the 
northern growers were holding back for the Manchester 
Show, which takes place this week. IVe were pleased 
to see the practice of exhibiting the show and fancy 
varieties together is continued. The presence of the 
bright-coloured fancies gives a life to many of the 
stands, and relieves them of that formality they dis¬ 
play when confined wholly to show varieties. 
The leading awards were made as follows : Seventy- 
two blooms, Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, 
first; Mr. M. V. Seale, Vine Nursery, Sevenoaks, 
second ; and Mr. C. Turner, third. In the class for 
forty-eight blooms in which the finest quality of bloom 
is found, Mr. Charles Turner was first with a very fine 
lot indeed. The names of the leading flowers were 
as follows: William Rawlings, Agnes, Harry Keith, 
Maud Fellowes, John Standish, Perfection, Royal 
Queen, Clara, Mrs. Hodgson, Rebecca, Glowworm, Mrs. 
Langtry, Harry Turner, Flag of Truce, Sunbeam, 
Richard Dean, Jas. Bennett, Constancy, Lustrous, 
James Yick, Mr. Saunders, James Cocker, Prince Bis¬ 
marck, R. T. Rawlings, Diadem, J. B. Service, Gold- 
finder, Perfection, Mrs. Langtry, Nellie Tranter. Messrs. 
Keynes & Co. were second, and Mr. M. V. Seale was 
third. Mr. George Humphries, Kington Langley, 
Chippenham, had the best thirty-six blooms, staging 
in fine condition Maud Fellowes, Nellie Cramond, R. T. 
Rawlings, Harry Keith, Crimson King, Mrs. Gladstone, 
T. S. Ware, Mrs. D. Saunder, Countess of Ravens- 
worth, Earl of Ravensworth, General Gordon, George 
Barnes, Willie Garratt, Agnes, Colonist, Ovid, Henry 
Walton, Harry Turner, Miss Cannell, Rosetta, Mrs. 
Saunders, Lustrous, George Barnes, Yice President, 
James Stephens, and Matthew Campbell. Messrs. 
Heath k Son, Cheltenham, were second ; and Mr. 
John Walker, Thame, was third. The last named had 
the best twenty-four blooms ; a very good lot indeed. 
Messrs. J. Saltmarsh & Son, Chelmsford, were second ; 
and Mr. G. Humphries, was third. Messrs. J. Gilbert 
k Son, St. Margaret’s Nursery, had the best twelve 
blooms ; Mr. S. Mortimer, Swiss Nursery, Farnham, 
was second ; and Mr. J. R. Tranter, nurseryman, 
Henley-on-Thames, was third. 
In the amateurs’ division the best twenty-four 
blooms, show and fancy intermixed, were exhibited by 
Mr. Thomas Hobbs, Lower Easton, Bristol, who had a 
very fine lot indeed. Mr. J. T. West, gardener to 
W. W. Keith, Esq., Corn walls, Brentwood, was 
second, and Mr. H. Glasscock, Bishops Stortford, 
third. Mr. S. Cooper, Chippenham, had the best 
twelve blooms of show Dahlias, staging T. J. Saltmarsh, 
Willie Garratt, George Barnes, a Fancy in Self char¬ 
acter, R. T. Rawlings, Maud Fellowes, Crimson King, 
Goldfinder, Harry Keith, Thomas Hobbs, Vice- 
President, Mrs. Gladstone, and Harry Turner. Mr. 
Geo. Arnold, seed merchant, Leighton Buzzard, was 
second, and Mr. A. Ocock, Havering Park, Romford, 
third. 
Mr. J. T. West had the best twelve fancy Dahlias, 
staging the following in fine condition :—Mrs. Saunders, 
Dorothy, T. W. Girdlestone, Duchess of Albany, 
Frank Pearce, Gaiety, Salamander. Mrs. N. Halls, 
Henry Eckford, George Barnes, John Forbes, and 
Willie Austin. Mr. S. Cooper was second, and Mr. 
H. Glasscock third. The best six show Dahlias came 
from Mr. H. Heremans, Jun., Chippenham ; Mr. 
G. Hurst, Enfield Highway, was second, and Mr. 
J. Gilbert, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, third. There 
were ten competitors in the class for six fancy Dahlias, 
Mr. H. Heremans being first, Mr. Thomas Hobbs 
second, and Mr. W. Seaman third. 
My selection of the best show Dahlias on this occasion 
is as follows:—Agnes, Alice, Emily, Clara, Colonist, 
Crimson King, Diadem, Glowworm, Goldfinder, Har¬ 
rison Weir, Harry Keith, Henry Bond, Henry Walton, 
H. A. Ward, Illuminator, Imperial, James Cocker, 
James Service, James Stephen, James Yick, John 
Hickling, J. N. Keynes, J. B. Service, Lady G. Herbert, 
Lord Chelmsford, Maud Fellowes, Mr. G. Harris, Mr. 
Glasscock, Mr. T. Foreman, Mrs. Gladstone, Mrs. G. 
R. Jefferd, Mrs. Langtry, Mrs. Shirley Hibberd, Mrs. 
W. Slack, Prince,Bismarck, Purple Prince, Queen of the 
Belgians, Richard Dean, Rosetta, R. T. Rawlings, 
Royal Queen, Seraph, Shirley Hibberd, T. J. Saltmarsh, 
Thomas Hobbs, Vice President, W. H. Williams, and 
William Rawlings. The best fancies are Chorister, 
Dorothy, Duchess of Albany, Erie Fisher, Fanny 
Sturt, Flora Wyatt, Frank Pearce, Gaiety, General 
Gordon, George Barnes, Henry Eckford, Hercules, 
James O’Brien, John Forbes, Lottie Eckford, Madame 
Soubeyre, Matthew Campbell, Mrs. H. Halls, Mrs. 
Saunders, Parrot, Peacock, Prince Henry, Professor 
Fawcett, Rebecca, Rev. J. B. M. Camm, and T. W. 
Girdlestone. 
A fine selection of eighteen show varieties, judging 
from this year’s form at the Crystal Palace, will be 
Clara, Crimson King, Glowworm, Harry Keith, Henry 
Walton, Imperial, James Cocker, James Vick, J. T. 
West, Maud Fellowes, Mrs. Gladstone, Mrs. Langtry, 
Prince Bismarck, Richard Dean (which is very good 
indeed this year), R. T. Rawlings, Shirley Hibberd, T. 
J. Saltmarsh, William Rawlings, and Willie Garratt— 
one over. A selection of twelve fancies will give 
Chorister, Duchess of Albany, Fanny Sturt, Flora 
Myatt, Frank Pearce, Gaiety, General Gordon, George 
Barnes, Mrs. Saunders, Parrot, Prince Henry, and the 
Rev. J. B. M. Camm. 
The decorative Dahlias made a fine show of them¬ 
selves, though a few weak collections were staged. The 
best eighteen varieties, six blooms of each, came from 
Mr. Charles Turner, who had grand bunches of Zulu, 
Professor Baldwin, Empress of India, Amphion, King 
of the Cactus, Mrs. Hawkins, Picta formo3issima, 
Henry Patrick, Panthea, William Darvill, Mrs. Rayner, 
Honoria, J uarezi, Constance, Sir J. Lawrence, Beauty 
of Brentwood, Cochineal, and Asia. Messrs. J. Cheal 
& Son, nurserymen, Crawley, were second, showing 
distinct from the foregoing, Marchioness of Bute, Duke 
of Clarence (new and very fine), Mrs. Douglas, Robert 
Mayher, and Sidney Hollings. Mr. M. V. Seale had 
the best twelve, Messrs. Paul & Son being second. In 
the amateurs’ division, the best six bunches, six blooms 
of each variety, came from Mr. J. T. West, who had 
excellent bunches of Honoria, Empress of India, 
Marchioness of Bute, Panthea, Mrs. Hawkins, and Mrs. 
Stanley. Mr. J. G. Fowler, Woodford, was second ; 
and Mr. W. Mist, Ightham, Kent, third. In the class 
for six bunches, three blooms of each, Mr. H. Glass¬ 
cock was first, and Mr. W. S. Cooper second. 
Pompon Dahlias made a great display also, and 
especially the collection shown by nurserymen. The 
best twenty-four bunches, twelve blooms forming a 
bunch, a very fine lot, came from Messrs. Keynes k Co., 
who staged Lady Blanche, Whisper, Favourite, 
Darkness, Red Indian, Dora, Golden Gem, E. F. 
Jungker, Isabel, Hector, White Aster, Phcebe, Rosalie, 
Fairy Tales, Grace, Little Duchess, Gem, Eden, Leila, 
Little Ethel, Little Darkie, Achilles, Janet, and 
Admiration. Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons were second 
with a very fine lot also ; and Mr. C. Turner third. 
The best twelve came from Messrs. J. Burrell k Sons, 
nurserymen, Cambridge, who had Grace, Karl Golden- 
berg, Mabel, White Aster, Favourite, Isabel, Whisper, 
Henriette, Fanny Weimar, E. F. Jungker, Fairy Tales, 
and Darkness. Second, Mr. G. Humphries ; third, Mr. 
M. V. Seale. In the amateurs’ division for six 
varieties, Mr. H. Glasscock was first, and Mr. J. T. 
West was second. In 6 that for the same number of 
varieties, three blooms forming a bunch, Mr.W. Harris, 
Broomfield, Chelmsford, was first, and Mr. R. West 
second. 
Single Dahlias were as usual a very fine feature 
indeed, and Messrs. Cheal & Sons, who appear to be 
invincible in the exhibition of these, were placed first 
with glorious bunches of W. C. Harvey, Miss Linniker, 
W. Kennett, Albert Victor, Mrs. J. Conninck, Mrs. 
Bowman, Jas. Scobie, Marian Hood, Miss Henshaw, 
Marie Lenden, Miss Roberts, Amos Perry, Duchess of 
Fife, Eclipse, Alba Perfecta, Cetewayo, Victoria, Hugo, 
Guilelma, Formosa, Duchess of Westminster, Miss 
Ramsbottom, Duchess of Albany, and Northern Star. 
Second, Mr. M. V. Seale ; third, Messrs. Paul k Son. 
Messrs. J. Burrell & Co. were the only exhibitors of 
twelve bunches, mainly similar in variety to those 
shown by the Messrs. Cheal. In the amateur division 
the best six bunches came from Mr. H. Glasscock, who 
had Duchess of Fife, Mikado, A. J. Harris, James 
Scobie, Miss Jefferies, and Duchess of Albany. He 
was the only exhibitor in this class, as Mr. E. Mawley, 
Berkhamsted, was in the class for six varieties, six 
blooms of each, having Enchantment, Amos Perry, 
Marian Hood, Miss Henshaw, Gertrude, and Sunning- 
dale White. It would appear from this as if amateur 
cultivators of Dahlias cared but little for the single 
varieties. 
The open classes for show and fancy Dahlias in 
colours are always among the most interesting. The 
best six blooms of any dark Dahlia were those of Willie 
Garratt, staged by Mr. T. Hobbs; Mr. T. Anstiss, 
Brill, was second with James Cocker ; Messrs. Keynes 
& Co., third with Harry Keith ; and Mr. H. Glasscock, 
fourth with Prince of Denmark. In the class for six 
blooms of any light Dahlia, only Mrs. Gladstone was 
staged; it is without exception the most beautiful 
light Dahlia of our time, and in all probability will be 
grown for fifty years to come. Mr. J. Walker came 
first, Mr. Seale second, Mr. J. T. .West third, 
and Mr. T. Anstiss fourth. In the class for six blooms 
of any two yellow Dahlias, three of each, Mr. J. T. 
West was first, with R. T. Rawlings and James Service ; 
Messrs. J. Gilbert & Son, second, with J. C. Quennell 
and R. T. Rawlings; Mr. Seale, third, with J. B. 
Service and R. T. Rawlings. The best six blooms of 
any two tipped Dahlias, three blooms of each, came 
from Messrs. Keynes & Co., who had Peacock and Mrs. 
Saunders, both fancies ; Mr. J. Walker was second, 
with Mrs. Langtry (show) and Mrs. N. Hall (fancy) ; 
Messrs. Saltmarsh k Son, third, with Mrs. Saunders and 
Peacock ; Mr. Mortimer, fourth, with James Bennett 
and Hon. Mrs. P. Wyndham, both show varieties. 
The best six blooms of any two striped Dahlias were 
necessarily fancies. Messrs. Keynes & Co. were first, 
with Pelican and the Rev. J. B. M. Camm ; Mr. 
Glasscock, second, with unnamed ; Mr. W. Seaman, 
Brentwood, third, with Professor Fawcett and Duchess 
of Albany. 
First Class Certificates of Merit were awarded to 
Messrs. Keynes k Co. for fancy Dahlia, Comedian, 
apricot ground, striped with deep crimson, and edged 
with delicate mauve, a charming flower of the finest 
form ; to Messrs. Cheal & Sons for decorative Dahlia, 
Duke of Clarence, crimson and maroon, large and very 
striking; and to Mr. T. S. Ware for single Dahlia, 
Duchess of Fife, bright deep yellow, with side edgings of 
brownish red, medium sized and fine shape ; and 
Maude, white, with side edgings of crimson-purple. 
Several other seedlings were shown that will possibly 
put in an appearance again later. 
Among miscellaneous contributions was a thoroughly 
representative collection of cut blooms of Dahlias from 
Mr. T. S. Ware, illustrating a kind of floral Alps, but 
of an extremely formal character. A similar display 
came from Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, who had also 
hardy cut flowers, cut sprays of ornamental and 
pictorial shrubs and trees, and their excellent wire 
supports for flowers. 
G-odetia, Duke of Fife. 
The flowers of this variety, as shown at the Drill Hall 
on Tuesday last, are of medium size for a Godetia, but 
they might be greatly improved in this respect by good 
culture. The petals are of a deep shining purple, almost 
crimson-purple, except at the base, which is lilac. The 
latter is sufficiently conspicuous when looking down 
upon the flowers to give them a bi-coloured appearance. 
Cut flowers were exhibited at the Drill Hall on the 9th 
inst. by Messrs. Daniels Bros., Norwich, when an 
Award of Merit was accorded the variety. 
Seedling Carnations, &c. 
A box containing some seedling Carnations, Picotees, 
Pansies and Hollyhocks has reached us from Mr. J. 
Wright, station-master, Staniton Dale, near Scarboro’. 
One of the Carnations was a dark velvety maroon, and 
though not of great size was rather choice in its way, 
of good form, and the petals not too crowded. Another 
was a crimson bizarre. The Picotees were fancy yellow- 
ground kinds, and very choice in their way as border 
flowers. They presented three different shades of 
colour, ranging from daik crimson, almost obliterating 
the yellow ground, with exception of the stronger veins. 
A paler form was heavily striped with crimson and 
scarlet lines ; and a third form was more lightly 
marked with rose on a creamy yellow ground. The 
Pansies might be described as very choice fancies, with 
large black, and blackish violet blotches on the three 
lower petals. The Hollyhock bloom was of large size, 
deep crimson-red, and, although not very refined, was 
excellent as a seedling, and useful for garden decoration. 
The petals were wavy, and the guard unusually large 
and well pronounced. 
