November BO, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLDS 
This remarkable variety is further said to be 
'excellent in quality, and prolific in quantity”— 
a “ fact ” no one will deny—while “ from a single 
acre on Mr. S wan’s farm last year 430 bushels of 
Potatos were obtained." 
An illustration of this particular and peculiar 
phenomenon is reproduced from a photograph in No. 
1 ,595 of The English Mechanic and World of Science, 
and, therefore, must be true. But the E. M. W. S. 
gives the information with some reservation, and is 
desirous of shielding itself behind its " respectable 
and careful contemporary," the Scientific American 
from whose columns the extract is derived. Truly, 
then, size is merely a relative condition ; and it may 
just happen that, though both accounts bear the 
apparent impress of authority, our “little" tuber 
may turn out to be the “ biggest ” after all —C.B.G., 
Acton, W. 
-- 
PEOPLE I HAVE MET. 
The custom adopted by the more important horti¬ 
cultural societies by which there is a recognised 
headquarters and rendezvous during show time, is 
nowhere better exemplified than at Edinburgh, and 
Mr. Charles Clark, who controls the destinies of 
the Royal British Hotel, is not merely a host in the 
Mr. Charles Clark. 
sense in which that term is usually accepted ; he is a 
lover of flowers, delights in and appreciates the men 
whose skill is directed to their advancement and 
perfection. 
In ministering to the needs of his visitors, Mr. 
Clark fully merits the selection of the various public 
bodies which have fixed upon the Royal British as 
the official house for their public functions. The 
result is that within its walls in September and 
November, very many names and faces, familiar to 
the horticultural world, are to be met with ; on a 
recent occasion practically the whole of the extensive 
apartments were utilised for the judges and princi¬ 
pal exhibitors at the Chrysanthemum Show. The 
annual banquets of the Royal Caledonian and the 
Scottish Horticultural Societies are held here, and 
probably very few hosts are better known to horti¬ 
culture than Mr. Charles Clark. 
Under his roof many a traveller has after a long 
day's journey found himself actually at home. It 
was in 1885 he first assumed the reins of government 
and as proprietor and director of this extensive 
business he has elicited golden opinions as a caterer 
of first rank. First the Scottish Horticultural 
adopted the Royal British, then came the Caledonian; 
besides which there are various other bodies of 
equal importance. But horticulturists particularly, 
throughout the British Isles, who visit the Edin¬ 
burgh Shows, will, in reading these lines, readily 
grant that to Mr. Clark they owe a word of 
211 
gratitude and thanks, not only for the homely care 
he bestows upon them, but for the real personal 
interest he takes in all their objects and aims. 
A man of middle life, Mr. Clark possesses a genial 
presence and countenance with a fund of humour 
which blossoms readily into life if a good " flower 
show " story happens to be going. 
The Royal British Hotel is about to undergo re¬ 
construction. The frontage already extends along 
a considerable space in Princes Street; but some 
important alterations are contemplated both 
architecturally and internally which, when com¬ 
pleted, will compare favourably with its greatest rival, 
t tbe projected North British Railway Hotel.— Gyp. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
West of England, Not/. 12th and 13th. 
The unanimous opinion of those who visited the 
West of England Chrysanthemum Show in 
Plymouth Guildhall, was that it eclipsed all previous 
exhibitions in the long history of the society, and 
that this year’s collection of blooms held its own 
with the best of its kind outside of London. There 
are few functions for which the Guildhall is not 
suited, but this is one, the coloured windows lending 
to the bloom in some cases an artificial light. 
Exhibitors in the West are gradually being educated 
in the art of grouping, though much still remains to. 
be learnt respecting this important feature of all 
Chrysanthemum shows. % There were ten groups 
this year, each occupying one of the arches of the 
hall. There was little fault to be found with that 
arranged by Mr. S. Cholwill, gardener to Mr. C. 
Watts, of the Globe Hotel, Plymouth. The variety 
was great, the blending clever, the grouping effec¬ 
tive, and the distribution of foliage well studied. 
Its neighbour, which took second prize in the same 
class, and which was shown by Mr A. Groombridge, 
of Tothill Nurseries, Plymouth, contained some 
better and brighter blooms, but the grouping was 
defective—a fault which applies to every other 
group in the show. On the whole, however, a vast 
improvement is noticeable in this class of exhibit. 
The cut blooms made a really fine collection, and 
gave the judges some difficult work. This was un¬ 
questionably the strongest feature of the show. 
Fruit, too, was well shown, and the classes included 
some rare specimens. It would, perhaps, be wise in 
future years to distinguish the classes for market 
gardeners from those for gentlemen’s gardeners 
An attractive department was that devoted to floral 
designs, and the four entries amply justified the 
experiment. The display of Mr. W E. Jordan, of 
Plymouth, was admired by everyone. 
In the big class for Japanese and incurved blooms, 
open to Chrysanthemum and horticultural societies 
within the counties of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, and 
Cornwall, the premier award was secured by the 
Teignmouth Gardeners' Mutual Improvement 
Society. The Newton Amateur Chrysanthemum 
Society took the second position. Mr. C. Page, 
gardener toJ.B. Fortescue, Esq., Boconnoc, out¬ 
distanced all other competitors in the class for 
twenty-four varieties of Japanese blooms, taking the 
first prize with magnificent blooms that were rich in 
colour, perfect in form and flesh. Mr. G. Foster, 
gardener to H. Hammond Spencer, Teignmouth, 
was sacond. Mr. G. Hawkins, gardener to W. H. 
Fowler, Esq., Taunton, came in third ; and Mr. 
Stiles, gardener to Miss Fripp, Teignmouth, took 
the fourth position. Mr. G. Foster came to the 
front for twenty-four incurved blooms ; and was 
followed by Mr. W. Brown, gardener to C. G. 
Prideau-Brune, Padstow, and by Mr. J. Stiles, in the 
order named. Mr. C. Page again led the way with 
twelve incurved varieties, beating Mr. T. Wilkinson 
gardener to Rev. Talbot Greaves, Torquay, and Mr. 
W. H. Veale, gardener to the Rev. A. H. Simons, 
Newton Abbot, who followed in the order given. 
For twelve Japanese varieties the prizes were taken 
by Mr. T. Wilkinson, Mr. W. H. Veale, and Mr. W. 
Brown, in the order named. 
For residents within fifteen miles cf Plymouth the 
premier prize for twenty-four incurved and Japanese 
blooms, was secured by Sir James Jenkins, Manna- 
mead, who was followed by Mr. G. Hawkes and Mr. 
H. Endicot, gardener to E. Allen, Esq., Ivybridge. 
Sir James Jenkins again took the lead for twelve 
Japanese varieties. Mr. G. Hawkes showed the 
best twelve incurved varieties. 
Mr. H. Endicot had the best collection of fruit 
Mr. Stiles secured the leading award for twenty-four 
varieties of Apples and Pears. G. Chamberlain, 
Esq., Blatchford, Ivybridge, exhibited the best 
Grapes. Mr. T. Cundy, Ford, had the best Apples 
and Pears, in the class for residents within fifteen 
miles of Plymouth. Mr. F. Bradshaw took the 
prize offered for vegetables by Mr. W. J. Godfrey, 
as well as that offered by Messrs. Jarman & Co., 
Chard. Lady'Walker secured the prize for 
vegetables offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Read¬ 
ing. 
Amongst trade exhibits Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, 
Exeter, had a fine group of Orchids, a collection of 
fruit in admirable condition, and some specimens of 
Physalis Franchettii. Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, 
Devon, had a showy exhibit of Chrysanthemums. 
Several other exhibits of horticultural products of 
a useful or decorative character were present, adding 
greatly to the success of the show. 
Seven oaks, Nov 12th and 13 th. 
Generally the exhibits, as far as quality goes, 
were a decided advance on previous years, especially 
so was this the case in the groups arranged for 
effect. This year the commitiee offered a twenty- 
guinea challenge cup for the best group, as an incen¬ 
tive to better culture in Chrysanthemums, and 
judging by the competition they must have been well 
pleased, there being no less than eleven groups 
staged in all. 
The first-prize lot came from Mr. A. Hatton, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Swanzy, The Quarry, and was, no 
doubt, a well-grown and well set-up exhibit. The 
plants ranged from 1 ft. in front to 7 ft. at the back, 
and comprised every conceivable colour, nicely 
blended throughout. S. Cooke, gardener to De 
Barri Crawshay, Esq., who was second, had a good 
lot of massive blooms at the back, but was a bit 
weak in the front. Mr. W. Tebay, gardener to Mr. 
Ryecroft, was third with good blooms at the back, 
but wanting low down in front. Mr. A Gibson, 
Halstead Place, came in third. For a smaller group 
in the second division, Mr. W. Read, gardener to 
Admiral Miller, was a good first with a splendid lot 
of dwarf grown plants. This exhibit secured him 
the National Society's Certificate of Merit. 
Plants. —There was some slight alteration this 
year in the style of growth of the specimens in the 
first division from last year. Instead of being dwarf- 
trained the schedule specified for bush-trained 
plants. Whether this is an improvement is purely a 
matter of opinion. They certainly do not compare 
favourably as an exhibition plant, but for home use 
after the show they are to be preferred, and on that 
account should be encouraged. Mr. E. Hughes, 
gardener to J. Dixon, Esq., was first with well- 
flowered plants of Beauty of Exmouih, W. Tricker, 
and Dr. Sharp; Mr. Hatton was second, and Mr. 
Ryder, gardener to C. Young, Esq., was third. Mr. 
S. Huntley, gardener to the Rev. S. Curteis, had 
the best three plants, incurved, Japanese, and pom¬ 
pons in the second division. He was closely 
followed by Mr. A. Farmer, gardener to J. S. 
Norman, Esq., and Mr. Heath, garden r to Mrs. 
Petley. 
The cut flower classes were not so well filled as in 
previous years, with the exception of the new class 
for twelve blooms on long stems, arranged for effect 
with foliage and plants in a splice 4 ft. by 3 ft. 
This brought a grand competition, and was one of 
the features of the show. Nothing could be more 
beautiful than the exhibit of Mr. R. Potter, gar¬ 
dener to Sir Mark Collett, Bart. Bronze foliage 
Crotons, and Maidenhair Ferns as a ground work, 
with bold flowers apparently growing up from 
amongst it, were simply delightful. Mr. A. Hatton 
was a good second with massive blooms on stems too 
short to show them off well. Mr. S. Cooke was 
third with a groundwork of Conifers and bronze 
foliage. 
In the class for twelve Japanese varieties, distinct, 
shown in the orthodox style, Mr. E. Hughes «as 
easily first with grand blooms of Edwin Molyneux, 
Mr. E. W. Clarke, G. C. Schwabe, and Mdlle. 
Therese Rey. The second prize went to Mr. A. 
Gibson, whose best blooms were Duke of York and 
G. C. Schwabe. Mr. W. A. Searing was third with 
Rose Wynne and Florence Davis. For twelve Japs., 
not less than eight varieties, Mr. S. Cooke was first, 
G W. Childs, G. C. Schwabe, and E. Molyneux 
being his best blooms. He was closely followed by 
Mr. A. Hatton, who bad good blooms of Potter 
