206 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 80, 1895, 
recorded. Certain seeds are also sent to Italy, 
France, Germany, Canada and New Zealand to be 
grown and bought to perfect maturity according to 
the kind. Bulbs are largely imported from Holland- 
Since the establishment of this business in 1764, 
the country has undergone great changes in many 
ways, particularly in the means of transit, and in the 
much greater needs for the garden both in the shape 
of seeds, plants and sundry requisites. The great 
age of this establishment should be sufficient proof, 
if any were needed, that Messrs. Harrison & Sons 
have advanced with the times. That they still keep 
that aim in view it is almost needless for us to 
say. In olden times, the firm, like all others, served 
the times by supplying the wants of the population, 
within, relatively, a narrow compass; but steam 
traffic by sea and land, and the conveniences of the 
parcels post, and rapid communication by telegraph 
and telephone have changed all that, and Messrs. 
Harrison have taken full advantage of all these 
changes and means for rapid transit. The result is 
that the business has been entirely revolutionised 
since its commencement, and its borders 
and influences vastly extended. The establish¬ 
ment may be said to have grown up alongside 
of Leicester, which takes rank amongst the most 
modern of provincial towns. 
-- 
ROYAL MIDLAND FARM, ROOT, AND 
VEGETABLE SHOW. 
Sir Thomas Wright opened Messrs. Harrison & 
Sons’ Annual Farm, Root, and Vegetable Show, on 
the 13th inst. Owing, it was stated, to the excessive 
tariff imposed by the Markets and Tolls Committee, 
the venue of the exhibition was changed from the 
Market Hall to Messrs. Harrison’s seed warehouse, 
on the Welford Road, There a splendid collection 
of roots and vegetables was on vievv, thanks to the 
excellent list of prizes offered by the firm. There 
were seventeen classes, and the show was open to all 
England, the chief condition being that the exhibits 
except Potatos) were to be grown from seed 
supplied by Messrs. Harrison. The entries were 
more numerous than usual, some of the specimens 
being also much finer than at previous exhibitions, 
especially the Celery, Carrots, and Mangolds. The 
Corporation Sewage Farm Committee showed some 
remarkably good samples of Mangolds, one of which 
weighed 24 lbs., while another was a yard in circum¬ 
ference. Mr. John Harrison introduced Sir Thomas, 
who, in opening the show, complimented the firm 
upon their development of public interest in that 
branch of business The exhibition was a good 
object lesson for root and vegetable growers. The 
Mayor congratulated Messrs. Harrison upon their 
enterprise and success. Mr. Harrison returned 
thanks for the remarks of Sir Thomas and his 
Worship, presenting the former with an album of 
“Leicester Illustrated '’ as a souvenir. The prize 
list is appended :—Harrison's Leicester Red Celery 
(number of exhibits, six) ; first, M. Laxton, Little 
Dalby ; second, S Burdett, County Asylum ; third, 
W. Haseldine, Little Dalby. Harrison’s Early Rose 
(nine) ; first, J. Hudson, Mostyn Street; second, H. 
Taylor, Syston Street ; third, W. Haseltine, Little 
Dalby ; special. G. Johnson, Willow Street. 
Harrison’s Early Market Carrot (thirteen)'; first, W. 
Smith, Collingham ; second, G. Gibson, Collingham. 
Harrison's Selected Intermediate (fourteen); first, H. 
Bocock, Collingham; second, W. Slingsby, North 
Scarle, Newark. Autumn Giant Cauliflower (six) ; 
first, S. Burdett; second, W. Nutt, Flitwick, Ampt- 
hill, Beds. Harrison’s Magnum Bonum Parsnips 
(eight) ; first, R. H. E'se, The Gardens, Wigston 
Grange ; second, J. Baker, Old Basford ; extra prize, 
W. Stoton, Biggleswade. Harrison’s Improved 
Drumhead Savoy (five) ; first, S. Burdett ; second, 
G. W. Hunt, South Knighton. Brussels Sprouts of 
any kind (eight); first, F. Hunt, South Knighton; 
second, G. C Jarram, Loughborough. Leeks of any 
kind (twelve) ; first, G. C. Jarram ; second, A.'-Tarry, 
Birstall Street ; third, Chas. Mee,, Loughborough. 
Onions, globe, of any kind (seven) ; first, J. Cayless, 
Loughborough , second, Chas. Hurley, Harrison 
Street ; third, Henry Taylor, Leicester. Onions, 
flat, of any kind (sixteen) ; first, E. Jackson, Syston 
Street; second, H. Taylor ; third, E. Holmes, 
Catherine Street. Beet of any kind (fourteen) ; first, 
M. Laxton; second, W. Haseldine; h,c., Messrs. 
R & J. Barnett, Blaby. Potatos, Kidney, any 
colour (twenty) ; first, W. Haseldine: second, G. 
Jennings, Church Farm, Shustoke ; third, W. Jordan, 
Barlestone. Potatos, round and oval, any colour 
(fifteen) ; first, J. Cayless ; second, F. Lockton ; 
third, M. Laxton. Normanton Globe Mangold 
(twenty-two) ; Silver Medal, R. Pick, Deeping St. 
Nicholas; Bronze Medal, Leicester Corporation 
Sewage Farm, Beaumont Leys ; Special prize for 
Seville Orange Globe Mangold to G. Rowell, Ramsey. 
Defiance Swede (eight) ; Silver Medal, Sir H. 
Fludyer, Ayston Hall, Uppingham : Bronze Medal, 
R. G. Norman, Rufford Abbey. Special prize for 
bronze top Swede to Geo. Jennings, Shustoke. Im¬ 
proved green barrel Turnip (eight) ; Silver Medal, 
G. Jennings, Shustoke ; Bronze Medal, Mrs Perry 
Herrick, Beaumanor. 
--8-- 
FLOWER PICTURES. 
On a wet, cold and characteristic November day last 
week we directed our footsteps to The Studio, 
Squire’s, 293, Oxford Street, W., feeling uncomfort¬ 
able enough, but as soon as we were inside amongst 
the pictures painted from nature by Miss Marie Low, 
the scene was immediately changed, and we felt, 
from the brightness of everything around, as if the 
sun and the season had been reversed, or else put 
forward to the leafy month of June. The transforma¬ 
tion was entirely effected by the wealth, variety, and 
brightness of the pictures of flowers so plentiful at 
that season. A brief examination, however, soon 
showed that flowers of the whole season were repre¬ 
sented from Christmas Roses, Violets, and 
“ Daffodils 
That come before the swallow dares, and take 
The winds of March with beauty," 
to Japanese Anemones, Michaelmas Daisies, autumn 
tints, and Chrysanthemums, the queen of autumn 
flowers 
Midsummer flowers were, nevertheless, very 
plentiful, and so charmingly executed and naturally 
represented that we could apply thedootanical names 
to each as far oft as we could clearly distinguish the 
colours of each respective flower. All were 
executed in water colours, which we consider best 
adapted for showing off the natural beauty and 
colours of flowers with a vividness verging upon 
reality. Needless to say, Irises, Carnations, Iceland, 
Oriental, field and other Poppies, and Roses of all 
classes were abundantly represented. Several 
pictures of Carnations were particularly attractive, 
and several of these have been lent by purchasers of 
Miss Low's pictures for this exhibition, which 
remains open for another fortnight. Poppy Ane¬ 
mones, Tulips, Stocks, Violets, Marigolds, Clematis, 
Sweet Peas, I'ansies, and Violas are other garden 
flowers which visitors that know anything at all 
about flowers would readily recognise at a glance. 
Some classes of flowers lend themselves more 
readily to artistic treatment and representation than 
others. For instance, single Roses, Michaelmas 
Daisies, and others already mentioned are beautifully 
done, and we should specially refer to two handsome 
pictures of Lord Penzance’s Brier Roses, painted in 
his lordship’s garden, particularly that one repre¬ 
senting the variety named Lady Penzance. It was 
obtained by crossing the Sweet Brier with the 
Austrian Copper, and the natural tints are charm¬ 
ingly brought out in the picture. Other beautiful 
paintings consist of Laburnum, Disa grandiflora and 
Disa racemosa, beautifully represented, as well as 
Surrey Heaths (Erica Tetralix, E. cinerea, and 
Calluna vulgaris). There is a separate picture of the 
latter, which is beautifully attractive. 
Several other representations of wild flowers are 
noticeable, including a sweet little picture entitled 
“ Berries," and consisting of the hips of Dog Roses 
and the berries of Privet. “ Autumn Leaves and 
Berriss" is pariicularly handsome, representing 
Oak, Beech, and Hazel leaves as seen in autumn, 
together with the berries of the Sea Buckthorn, the 
hips of Japan Ramanas Rose, and the cones and 
foliage of thePineand Larch, making in the aggre¬ 
gate a charmingly realistic picture. That named 
“Blackberries” would correspond to an early 
autumn picture, showing pink flowers, ripe fruit, and 
foliage. A larger picture entitled “ Brambles ” is 
even more attractive, and from the wealth of richly- 
tinted foliage accompanying flowers and fruit would 
correspond to a late autumn view. Red and other 
Agarics under the yellow leaves of Bracken is 
another very natural and phasing autumn picture. 
The Jacobean “ Ragwort," mixed with a few other 
wildings would appeal to lovers of wild flowers 
While inspecting all these floral representations of 
garden, field, waste, and wayside we came upon a 
bunch of the “wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r," 
the Daisy, in all its native grace and simplicity, and 
quaint, familiar beauty, and remembered the bard’s 
lines :— 
“ The flaunting flow’rs our gardens yield, 
High shelt’ring wood andwa’s maun shield; 
But thou, beneath the random bield 
O' clod or stane, 
Adorns the histie stibble-field, 
Unseen, alane ” 
The background of the pictures is subdued in tone, 
and does not overpower nor obscure the flowers, as 
we have seen in the case of oil paintings particu¬ 
larly The arrangement and grouping of the 
flowers are tasteful and natural Miss Low is a 
pupil of Rivoire, a medallist and exhibitor in London 
and provincial exhibitions. Her water-colour draw¬ 
ing of a “ Group of Empress Pansies " was 
graciously accepted by Her Majesty' the Queen. She 
is also well known to a wide circle of flower-loving 
friends in various professions, and her pictures are 
much admired. She has opened classes for the 
study of flower painting from nature, in oil and 
water colour at the above address, and is highly 
deserving of patronage. 
-.4-- 
APPLE CORNISH GILLIFLOWER. 
Notwithstanding the praise and blame launched 
forth by Lindley upon this richly-flavoured Apple, it 
continues to be comparatively little known in 
gardens. It is highly esteemed, however, by —. 
Pickering, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Albert Yea), of 
Totnes, Devon, who sends us some samples of the 
fruit as grown at his establishment. The fruits were 
moderate in size, narrowly conical, and yellow, 
heavily splashed or overlaid with russet. The flesh 
was yellowish-white, slightly tinted with green under 
the skin and in the centre, saccharine, and of a rich, 
brisk, and acid, but agreeable flavour. It comes 
into use during November, and keeps good till April. 
The lack of colour is no doubt a great drawback to 
the variety, and hinders it from becoming popular 
in these days, when size and colour, independently 
of flavour, rules the market to a large extent. 
It is thus described in “ Lindley's British Fruits," 
Vol. III., p. 140.—“This is the best Apple that is 
known, if high flavour combined with a very rich, 
sub-acid, saccharine juice be the qualities we most 
desire in fruit; but it is a bad bearer. Its merit is, 
however, of so decided a character that no one who 
is aware of its excellence would wish to be without a 
tree or two, for the sake of the chance of adding so 
valuable a variety to his winter dessert. It ripens in 
November and will keep till April. The fruit is apt 
to grow from the extremities of the shoots, which 
should be remembered in pruning the trees. 
“ The first account of this sort is to be found in the 
‘ Hort. Trans.,’ Vol. II., p. 74, in a letter from Sir 
Christopher Hawkins in 1S13. It was discovered in 
a cottage garden near Truro about ten or fifteen 
years before that date; and was considered by the 
Society of so much importance that the Silver Medal 
was awarded to Sir Christopher Hawkins for his 
exertions in bringing it into notice." In another 
place Lindley says that the name was given owing to 
the pleasant perfume, like the Clove Gilliflower, given 
off by the fruit when cut. 
--4—-- 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The following Chrysanthemums were awarded First- 
class Certificates by the National Chrysanthemum 
Society at the Royal Aquarium, Nov. 20th. 
Madame Ad. Chatin.— This is a huge white in¬ 
curved Japanese variety, nearly globular in shape, 
and with particularly massive florets. Mr. E. 
Beckett, Elstree, Herts. 
Miss Elsie Teichmann.-— The blooms of this 
Japanese variety are of a lovely creamy-white shade, 
and the florets of great substance, slightly upturning 
at the apices. Mr. E. Beckett. 
Robin Adair is the latest acquisition to the ranks 
of Japanese Anemones. The guard florets are very 
numerous, much reflexed and of a charming flesh- 
pink colour. The centre is well raised and bright 
yellow. Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead. 
