August 17, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
809 
Mr. Joseph Brutton, Yeovil; a green-fleshed Melon by 
Mr. F. Nicholas, Upleatham, Yorks ; Gunton Park 
Scarlet by Mr. W. Allen, Gunton Park, Norwich; 
Basing Park Melon by Mr. W. Smythe, Basing Park, 
Alton, Hants ; and Ketton Gem, a white-fleshed 
variety, by Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall, Stamford. 
Mr. Smythe also showed the Peach Tomato, a peculiar 
red-coloured variety. 
Leicester Abbey Park. 
The fourth show promoted by the Abbey Park Com¬ 
mittee of the Leicester Corporation was held on August 
6th, and was in every way a most gratifying success. 
The arrangements were perfect, and the splendid con¬ 
dition of the park in which the show was held rendered 
it a strong additional attraction. No town in the 
United Kingdom is favoured with a better place for the 
recreation of the public than Leicester. What a change 
it was to me to see the show so well patronised, coming 
fresh from Liverpool, where the annual exhibition, I 
regret to say, was again very poorly attended ! On the 
first day only £15 was taken at the gates, and on the 
Monday also the return was very poor. This is greatly 
to be regretted, as the Liverpool Horticultural Associ¬ 
ation has worked hard to establish a show attractive to 
the public. The exhibitions there are always good, 
but the attendance is not what it should be in a town 
like Liverpool. At Leicester nearly £500 was taken at 
the gates on the one day, and Mr. Burn, the promoter, 
under whose superintendence the show is held, deserves 
the highest credit for his admirable management. The 
show was opened by the Mayor, Mr. Alderman Wood, 
who, in his opening address, referred to the success 
which had attended their previous exhibitions, and 
spoke encouragingly of the future. I understand it is 
the intention of the committee to increase their prizes, 
and to offer substantial awards for table decorations 
another year. 
Taking the show all round it was a very good one, 
but specimen plants were not numerous. The cut 
flowers were, however, good, and the fruit and vege¬ 
tables excellent. The principal prize for a collection 
of fruit was taken by Mr. Edmonds, Bestwood Hall, 
Nottingham ; and he was also first for two bunches of 
Muscats and for two bunches of black Grapes other than 
Black Hamburgh. Mr. Ward, Alfreton, was first for 
the latter variety. Mr. Blair, Trentham ; Mr. 
Crawford, Coddington Hall, Newark; and Mr. J. 
Lambert, Onslow Hall, Shrewsbury, were among the 
prize winners in other classes. 
The vegetables were a very fine lot, and for a collec¬ 
tion of twelve Mr. Lambert was first in his usual 
admirable style. 
Of cut flowers the Roses were fair only, the heavy 
rains having had a marked effect upon them. For 
thirty-six distinct varieties in the open class Messrs. 
Harkness & Son were first in a good competition. For 
bouquets, both bridal and ball, also for button-hole 
flowers and sprays, the invincible firm of Messrs. 
Perkins & Son, of Coventry, secured the whole of the 
first prizes. Mr. P. Blair, of Trentham, secured 
second honours for bouquets. Picotees and Pinks were 
good, and the collections of cut hardy flowers superb. 
For a collection of cut stove and greenhouse flowers, 
Mr. Blair, of Trentham, was easily first, showing one 
of the best boxes I ever remember to have seen. The 
cottagers showed well, and are to be congratulated 
upon the quality of their exhibits. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, of Holloway, sent, not for com¬ 
petition, a beautiful collection of stove and greenhouse 
foliage and flowering plants, amongst which were many 
fine Orchids; these were beautifully arranged in a group, 
and proved to be one of the principal features of the 
show. This collection was unanimously awarded a very 
high commendation by the judges. Several special 
prizes were offered for various things which brought 
forth some splendid competition, especially for the 
prizes offered by Mr. Williams for table plants, Messrs. 
Warner & Son for herbaceous flowers, and Messrs. 
Harrison & Son for vegetables.— Rusticus. 
St. Neots Horticultural. 
The twenty-fifth annual exhibition took place in 
Priory Park, close to the town, on Bank Holiday, and 
proved very successful indeed, something like £80 being 
taken at the gates. Under the management of Mr. 
William Ratchelous, the popular acting secretary, this 
show has become one of the best in the county of 
Hunts, and as the various tastes of the country people 
are met in the schedule, large numbers of them are 
attracted to see it. 
In the plant classes, the best groups came from Mr. 
Thomas, gardener to Lord Esme Gordon, Paxton Park ; 
Mr. Redman, gardener to J. H. Goodgames, Esq., 
Eynesbury, being placed second. Mr. Redman had the 
best six plants in bloom, staging very good specimens 
of Statice profusa, Dipladenia amabilis, Stephanotis 
floribunda, Bougainvillea glabra, Ixora javanica, and 
Clerodendron fallax. He also had the best specimen, 
staging a fine piece of Stephanotis floribunda. Mr. 
Thomas had the best foliage plant in Alocasia metal- 
lica, Mr. Redman coming next with Croton Weis- 
manni. Mr. Redman had the best six Fuchsias, 
staging plants much better finished than we usually 
see at country shows, the varieties being Daniel Lam¬ 
bert, Alexandrine, Venus de Medici, Fairest of the 
Fair, and two others. Mr. Redman had the best four 
Ferns, staging excellent plants of Platycerium alcicorne, 
Adiantum Williamsii, A. cuneatum, and A. gracil- 
limum ; second, Mr. Smith, gardener to Miss Cheire, 
Papworth Hall, St. Ives, with some good plants also. 
Some very finely grown and flowered tuberous-rooted 
Begonias were staged by Mr. R. L. Towgood, a local 
grower who was exhibiting for 'the first time. Some 
good plants were also shown by amateurs and cottagers. 
Roses were a leading feature among cut flowers. The 
best twenty-four came from Mr. E. B. Lindsell, 
Hitchin ; he also had the best twelve, and also twelve 
Teas and Noisettes. Mr. Redman had the best twenty- 
four bunches of cut flowers, a very good selection 
indeed ; while bunches of hardy flowers were a very 
fine feature. Some really magnificent blooms of 
African Marigolds came from Mr. Gifford, Hemingford. 
An excellent stand of Dahlias, and also of Carnations 
and Picotees, was staged, not for competition, by 
Messrs. Wood & Ingram, nurserymen, Huntingdon. 
Of fruit Mr. Smith had the best six dishes, staging 
Black Hamburgh and White Muscat Grapes, very fine 
Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries and Melons. Black and 
White Grapes were shown in single bunches, Gros 
Maroc being well finished. Melons, Peaches, Apricots, 
Nectarines, Apples, Pears and Plums were all well 
represented. 
Vegetables were numerous and very fine generally. 
Mr. Myers, gardener to the Earl of Sandwich, Hinching- 
brook, had the best ten varieties of vegetables of the 
best quality ; Mr. P. Franklyn, of Barfield, being 
second. Mr. Myers had the best six dishes of Potatos, 
having fine, bright, and clean samples of Schoolmaster, 
Reading Russet, Vicar of Laleham, Satisfaction, 
Abundance, and Snowdrop. Mr. Carter, gardener to 
Captain Duncombe, Waresley, was a close second, 
having Beauty of Hebron, Mr. Bresee, Snowdrop, 
Vicar of Laleham, M.P., and Reading Russet. All 
other vegetables were numerous and very fine. 
At the luncheon to the judges hearty testimony was 
borne to the services rendered to the society by Mr. W. 
Ratchelous, who in addition to acting as collector, also 
manages the exhibitions. The present position of the 
society is largely due to Mr. Ratchelous, and it is 
hoped that at the end of the year a very substantial 
balance will he carried forward to 1890. 
Mansfield Horticultural. —Avgust 5th. 
The annual exhibition in connection with this society 
took place on the above date, and was considered the 
best the society has yet held, nearly all of the classes 
being closely contested, and the produce shown by the 
cottagers and amateurs proving how great is the in¬ 
terest taken in gardening by those who labour in cotton 
mills, iron foundries, &c., in manufacturing towns, 
where allotment gardens are procurable. A heavy 
thunderstorm accompanied by hail and rain spoilt the 
chance of taking many shillings at the gate, but the 
sun shone brightly late in the afternoon and induced 
several thousands to visit the show and add their six¬ 
pences to the society’s exchequer. 
Mr. Clements, gardener to Col. Coke, again secured 
the leading position for a group of plants arranged for 
effect ; Mr. Parks, gardener to G. H. Hibbert, Esq., 
was second, and Mr. Shaw, gardener to W. Bryan, Esq., 
was third. The leading prize for fine-foliaged plants 
went to Mr. Clements ; for Begonias and Gloxinias to 
Mr. Shaw ; and for Ferns, Fuchsias, zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums (double and single), and Ivy-leaved Pelar¬ 
goniums to Mr. Parks. For a collection of fruit 
Messrs. Clements, Shaw, and Daws stood in the order 
named, and Mr. Parks had the best Peaches. For 
Dahlias, Mr. Phillips was first, and Mr. Clements had 
the best Roses, while the best bouquet came from Mr. 
Parks, and he also had the best stand for dinner-table 
decoration. In the amateurs’ division Mr. R. Gunthorpe 
had the best group of plants, Mr. Jackson being second, 
and Mr. Wharmby third. Mr. Gunthorpe had also 
the best Fuchsias and Ferns, while Mr. Buckland had 
the best Begonias, Verbenas, Coleus, and zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums. Vegetables were very well shown in this 
division. Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Messrs. Webb & 
Sons and Messrs. Pearson offered prizes for collections 
of vegetables, and there was a good competition in 
each case. 
The cottagers’ produce was well up to the usual high 
standard seen at this show in past years, and proves 
again that North Notts can produce vegetables (as 
well as cricketers) which are not easily beaten.— IV. P. 
Longford Valley Horticultural. 
Besides encouraging local horticulture by means of an 
annual exhibition, and the awarding of prizes for the 
best kept cottage gardens in the Nailsworth, Minching- 
hampton, and Avening district of Gloucestershire, this 
society, which was established some four years ago by 
Arthur T. Playne, Esq., Longfords Hall, also combines 
an industrial branch, and at the annual show gives 
prizes for butter, honey, needlework, cookery, &c. 
The exhibition held on the 8th inst., in Mr. Playne’s 
beautiful grounds at Longfords, was attended with 
great success, the weather being fine, the attendance 
large, and the show the best that has yet been held. 
Among the most successful of the exhibitors was Mr, 
Playne’s gardener, Mr. W. Driver. 
-- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Death’s Head Moth.— A correspondent is desirous of pro¬ 
curing some of the caterpillars of the Death's Head Moth, which 
are often found on the foliage of Potatos in the early autumn in 
southern counties. We should be greatly obliged to any of our 
readers who can favour us with a few specimens on his behalf. 
Fruits for Exhibition.— Stackpool: Dessert Plums: The 
Czar and Reine Claude d'Oullins. Pears: Beurre Gifford and 
Jargonelle. Apples : Red Astrachan and Irish Peach. 
Fuchsias for Exhibition. — Staclcpool: Singles—Charming, 
dark; and Emily Lye, light. Doubles—Avalanche, dark ; and 
Kingsburyana, light. 
Globe Artichokes.— Can any of your readers assist me with 
advice as regards Globe Artichokes. Mine grow well, are pro¬ 
tected in winter with loose litter, but do not crop well. What 
should be done to make them produce fruit abundantly as in 
former years?—A Constant Reader. 
Bulbs to Flower at Christmas. — Omega: You might 
possibly get some Roman Hyacinths in bloom at Christmas in 
your unheated house, if you potted them up at once, and put 
them under ashes or coco-nut fibre for a few weeks, but much 
will depend upon the season, and your own management of 
them. 
Carnation. —IF. Dowell: We do not recognise the flower, which 
may be an unnamed seedling. We should like to see a perfectly 
fresh bloom if not too late. 
Cattleya and Odontoglossum.— Alex. Chalmers: The blooms 
of Cattleya Dowiana are very fine specimens of their kind, both 
as to cultural treatment and colour, that labelled No. 1 being 
the best. The nankeen-yellow of the sepals and petals is deeper 
and the lip larger and more plentifully streaked with golden 
lines than in the other. It approaches the variety named C. D. 
aurea, but is not identical. The blooms of Odontoglossum Harry- 
anum are also very fine. Here again No. 1 is the best, with 
intense velvety brown sepals and petals, and strongly fragrant, 
more so than No. 2, which has chocolate-brown sepals and 
petals. The first has also a darker violet-purple base to the lip. 
Catasetum Bungerothii in good specimens bears about ten 
flowers on a scape, but we do not recollect seeing more than one 
scape from a pseudo-bulb, although there is no reason why this 
should not be the case as occurs in other species of Catasetum 
and Mormodes. But when there is a plurality of scapes from 
one pseudo-bulb, the flowers are generally less numerous. 
Yours are no doubt good samples. The small-flowered Orchid 
is a species of Trichopilia that we shall endeavour to determine 
before next week. 
Names of Plants. — Omega: 1, Sneezewort or Achillea Ptar. 
mica; 2, Polygonum lapathifolium (has no common English 
name); 3, the Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas). 
Roses. — T. B. P.: 1, It would do the plants good to lift 
and re-plant them after the bed has been liberally enriched with 
well-rotted farmyard manure. If you can add some good fresh 
loam at the same time so much the better. 2, Not to any appre¬ 
ciable extent, perhaps not at all if their roots are in fail order. 
3, Early in October, the sooner the better, and it would greatly 
help them if you mulched the ground with littery manure after 
planting. 4, If you do not want to lift them, give the bed a 
heavy mulching of manure before winter sets in, and renew it 
when the plants commence growth in spring. Fresh planting 
would be the most satisfactory in the end. 
Tomatos.— J. B. : We hardly understand your question, but 
may remark that the flowers of the Tomato are hermaphrodite 
—that is to say, the male and female organs exist in the same 
flower. 
Communications Received.— R. B.—M. R.—Barr & Son. — 
G F —J. W.—D. B.—R. S.—J. H.—D. P. L.—J. Birkenhead.— 
J. H. 
--*3=<-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
James Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.— Hyacinths 
and other Bulbous Roots. 
John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E.—Bulbs, Seeds, Trees 
and Shrubs, Begonias, &c. 
Ewing & Co., Sea View Nurseries, Havant.—Roses in Pots, 
and for Autumn Planting. 
Harrison & Sons, Leicester. — Spring-flowering Bulbs and 
Roots. 
Dicksons & Co., 1, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.—Imported 
Flower Roots, Seeds for Autumn Sowing, &c. 
W. Drummond & Sons, Stirling.—Bulbous and other Flower 
Roots. 
B. L. Coleman, Sandwich.—Vegetable Seeds for Summer and 
Autumn Sowing. 
Charles Allen, Red House Nurseries, Mildenhall, Suffolk.— 
Short List of Dutch Bulbs, &c. 
