819 
August 22, 1896. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
was agreed that the Doctor should give them a 
chance. The Doctor, I may here mention, told us 
next day that he actually lost four patients through 
that balloon trip. He did not explain how he had 
lost them, yet he said they had not died. It was 
hinted that they had recovered. 
Well this waiting to sight the earth began to get 
monotonous. A pack of cards was produced, and to 
while away the time we indulged in a game of 
“ nap,” at the same time keeping a sharp lookout. 
Our aeronaut, who is experienced in this business— 
ballooning, not "nap”—said he had never had a 
game in a balloon before nor heard of it being played, 
still he joined in. Of course, Mr. Editor, your 
correspondent was the victim. Strict watch, how¬ 
ever, was kept on the instrument that indicated our 
altitude. We were slowly descending, and suddenly 
emerged from the clouds to find stretched imme¬ 
diately below us a gigantic wood. 
To avoid it seemed impossible. " Now, gentle¬ 
men,” said Mr. Shipley, " hold on for your lives." 
It is not necessary to say we did hold tight. The 
prospect of dropping on the top of a wood was not 
cheerful. Luck, however, favoured us, and only by 
3 ft. or 4 ft. did we miss the edge of the wood, for to 
rise was impossible, all our ballast having been 
thrown out. We landed once again safely, though 
we had very narrowly escaped being " up a tree.” 
For a minute or two it was necessary to remain 
quiet in the car until the gas had escaped. Suddenly 
the car gave a lurch and fell on its side. Of course, 
I was at the bottom, and the other two seemed to be 
making a kind of mattress of me. 
By this time we were observed by the people at a 
farm hard by, who came running to our assistance. 
First question, “ Where are we ? " Then the captain 
asked how far was the nearest telegraph office. 
" Three miles,” a youth replied. " How far from 
the nearest public house,” demanded the Doctor. 
" Three miles.” “ My stars, is it ? ” said the Doctor. 
“ No, its the Half Moon,” was the youth’s answer. 
I then enquired the distance to the nearest railway 
station. Twelve miles, we were informed. Here we 
found we had entirely changed our course and 
drifted up twelve miles north-west of Morpeth. We 
had dropped on the farm of Mr. Riddell, of Long 
Horseley. 
When you go a ballooning, Mr. Editor, just drop 
there, you will be well treated. Mr. and Mrs. 
Riddell, with their two charming daughters, enter¬ 
tained us to a thoroughly enjoyable repast, while 
the farm-hands packed up our balloon and procured 
us a horse and trap to convey us to the station. 
After a cigar and an excellent drop of whiskey with 
our host we had reluctantly to say " good-bye ” 
with a hearty invitation to visit them again. 
After a dreary drive of twelve miles, for it had 
began to rain, we arrived at Morpeth just in time to 
catch the night mail to Newcastle. In all I suppose 
we had travelled about fifty miles. We had a most 
enjoyable trip throughout, and I am pleased to say 
we returned to earth safely and as sound as a new— 
Flower Pot. 
«» < ■ —* 
TOMATO TRIALS AT CHISWICK. 
One of the most valuable trials that have been con¬ 
ducted at Chiswick of late has been that of Tomatos. 
Seeing that there are now so many varieties upon 
the market, many of which can scarcely be acknow¬ 
ledged as distinct, as well as a number of but second- 
rate quality, it is obvious that a fair and impartial 
trial was needed to demonstrate the relative value of 
these numerous varieties. During the past summer 
:oi sorts in all have been put to the test, of which 
twenty-seven have been grown for the sake of com¬ 
parison only. The remainder, seventy four, are either 
new sorts, or such as have not up to the present come 
prominently before the public. 
All the plants have been grown in pots under 
glass, and thus have been placed under precisely the 
same conditions as each other. They have also 
been put to the further test of being planted out of 
doors, so that nothing has been neglected that could 
possibly have assisted in demonstrating the relative 
values of varieties. 
Of the seventy four sorts grown for the sake of trial 
only three have received Awards of Merit at the 
hands of the committee, a fact that speaks volumes 
concerning the strictness and severity of the test 
examination. These three are as follows :—Young's 
Eclipse, sent out by Messrs. Young & Dobinson, 
Stevenage Nurseries, Herts. This variety is a heavy 
cropper, and the growth is short jointed and sturdy. 
The fruits are borne six to a truss on an average, 
and vary from medium to large size. They are 
bright scarlet in colour, smooth skinned, and with 
solid flesh of first-class flavour. Chiswick Dessert 
is the result of a cross between Comet and The 
Peach, and is sent out by the Royal Horticultural 
Society. The habit is everything that could be 
desired. The trusses carry about eight, rather small, 
round, smooth fruits, fiery scarlet in colour. The 
flesh is solid and of superior flavour. This is a very 
desirable variety, and as it invariably crops well will 
doubtless receive a good deal of favourable attention. 
Nield’s Seedling is the third variety that receives the 
coveted Award of Merit. It is sent out by Mr. 
Nield, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. Like the other 
two varieties this is an exceptionally good cropper, 
with short jointed, sturdy growth. The trusses 
carry on an average six medium-sized, round, smooth 
fruits, which are a rich dark red in colour. The 
solidity of the flesh is remarkable, and the flavour 
above reproach. These three varieties should prove 
noteworthy additions to our list of reliables. 
Of older and standard varieties grown for the sake 
of comparison many have fully maintained their high 
standard of excellence, and justified the popularity 
accorded them in various parts of the country. 
Conference, which received a First-class Certificate 
at the hands of the Royal Horticultural Society in 
1889, is still to the fore. The trusses bear six fruits 
on an average, which are conspicuous for their great 
size and solidity. Chemin, which received the high 
cultural recommendation of XXX in 1895, has six 
medium-sized, round fruits to the truss. Ham 
Green Favourite, which received a similar recom¬ 
mendation in the same year, is a fair cropper. Some 
five or six fruits go to a truss. The individual fruits 
are large, smooth, and rather flattened in shape, 
Corbett's Excelsior, andFrewer's Incomparable have 
also been marked XXX; the first named in 1894, the 
second in the following year. Frogmore Selected, 
sent out by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, 
was also honoured thus in 1895. This is a heavy 
cropper, some four or five large fruits going to a 
truss. Perfection, which was awarded a First-class 
Certificate in 1886, is a well known sort, exemplifying 
one of the very best types of Tomatos in cultivation. 
Tennis Ball, which brings to a close the list of 
varieties that have obtained honours, is a very heavy 
cropper of sturdy habit. The fruits are round, and 
rather small, seven going to a truss on an average. 
Coming to the newer varieties which have been 
sent in by various cultivators for trial, but which 
have not yet succeeded in distinguishing themselves 
sufficiently to warrant Awards of Merit being granted 
them, there are some very promising varieties. Of 
these we may mention Glewston Court, a seedling 
raised by Mr. S. T. Wright, flow the superintendent 
of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at 
Chiswick. It crops heavily, and the fruits are large, 
solid, deep red in colour, and slightly corrugated. 
Sutton's Flambeau (Messrs. Sutton & Sons) is a 
rather strong grower, but a first-rate bearer, with 
red fruits of fair size. Soliel d'Or (Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons) has rather long-jointed growth, 
although it crops wonderfully well. The fruits are 
of a rich golden-yellow hue, with solid flesh, weighty, 
and of a most pleasant flavour. It is one of the best 
yellow sorts procurable. Another variety of the 
same section, Golden King Humbert (Messrs. Dobbie 
& Co. Orpington, Kent), is well worthy a place in 
gardens where yellow fruits are required. In habit 
the plant is very short-jointed, strong, and a most 
abundant bearer. Barr’s Early Ruby (Messrs. Barr 
& Sons) has deep red and very weighty fruits that 
are slightly corrugated. All the Year Round, and 
Prince of Naples have also done fairly well, and 
may possibly show up to even greater advantage 
another year. 
---#•- 
WEST MALVERN FLOWER SHOW. 
The tenth show of the West Malvern and Mathon 
Horticultural Society was held on Tuesday, August 
nth, in Mathon Park, West Malvern, by permission 
of C. H. Cock, Esq. The exhibits were staged in 
one large tent, and although not so numerous as 
usual many meritorious exhibits were put up. Many 
of the classes, however, were represented only by 
one or two entries, and the prize-takers were few in 
number, one gentleman alone taking over thirty 
prizes. 
The first prize for a collection of plants was 
awarded to Mr. D. Honeyman. The first prize for 
eighteen Rose blooms was awarded to Mr. Chas. 
Smith, gardener to R. C. B. Cave, Esq. W, F. 
Harris, gardener to Lady Henry Somerset, Eastnor, 
staged a meritorious collection of fruit not for com¬ 
petition, comprising Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, 
Cherries, Melons, and Grapes, for which he was 
awarded a Certificate of Merit. 
Messrs. J. H. White, the well-known nurserymen 
of Worcester, exhibited 24 ft. of cut blooms, com¬ 
prising Dahlias, Roses, Sweet Peas, herbaceous 
plants and annuals, interspersed with Isolepis and 
Ferns, which had a very pleasing effect. Messrs. 
R. Smith & Co., of Worcester, exhibited a collection 
of cut blooms backed by Bambusas and variegated 
Eulalia, with Lilium tigrinum splendens intermixed, 
making a very effective exhibit. The Ipswich firm 
had a neat exhibit of Ichthemic Guano. 
This show for several years back has always had 
wet weather to contend with, but this year the ele¬ 
ments were favourable, and the weather was all that 
could be desired. The various attractions of a fair¬ 
like character provided proved a great attraction 
and were extensively patronised. Dancing took 
place after the flower show tent was cleared, and 
was extensively entered into by the younger visitors. 
-- 
SEVENOAKS SHOW. 
The twenty-ninth exhibition of the Sevenoaks 
Horticultural Society was held (by kind permission 
of the Right Hon. Lord Sackville) in Knole Park 
and Gardens, on Wednesday, August 12th, and 
proved a very great success. The weather was 
delightfully fine, which together with the ever 
increasing popularity of the show and the place of 
venue, helped to make the takings at the gate a 
record one. 
With few exceptions all the classes were well filled, 
and the quality of the exhibits was all that could be 
desired. In the class for six distinct exotic flowering 
plants, Mr. C. Sutton, gardener to Earl Stanhope, 
Chevening, was first, showing fine plants of Dipla- 
denia insignis, D. amabilis, D. boliviensis, Gloriosa 
superba, and Allamandas. Mr. A. Gibson, gardener 
to T. F. Burnaby Atkins, Esq., a well-known exhi¬ 
bitor, was a close second in this class, his best plants 
being Dipladenia insignis, D. amabilis, a huge 
Eucharis, and Ixora dixiana. Mr. A. Hatton, 
gardener to Mrs. Swanzy, The Quarry, was third, 
showing Ixora williamsiana and I. Pilgramii in good 
form. 
For six ornamental foliage plants, Mr. Mason, 
gardener to H. G. Wood, Esq., Bidborough Court, 
Tunbridge Wells, was first, Cycas revoluta, Croton 
Countess, and Kentia australis being his best plants. 
Second was Mr. A. Hatton with fresh pieces of 
Alocasia thibautiana, Crotons, &c.; third, Mr. A. 
Gibson. Mr. Hatton was the only exhibitor of 
specimen Ferns, the first prize being awarded him. 
Groups as usual were a splendid feature. For a 
miscellaneous collection of plants, arranged for 
effect in a apace 9 ft. by 6 ft., Mr. G. Tennell, 
gardener to — Cazelet, Esq., Fairlawn, Tonbridge, 
was first with a light and pretty group. Second 
came Mr. C. Sutton, whose exhibit was madeattrac. 
tive with a judicious use of Campanula pyramidalis; 
third, Mr. A. Hatton ; fourth, Mr. Hough, 
gardener to M. Lambarde, Esq., Leechmont. 
For a Fern group of similar dimensions, Mr. A. 
Hatton was again first with an excellent arrangement; 
second, Mr. Heath, who also showed well; third, 
Mr. A. Hoadley, gardener to F. L. Bevan, Esq., 
Rippington. There was a good competition for 
groups in the second division, Messrs. Francis Mist, 
Selby, and Marchant, being the prize winners in the 
order named. 
Table decorations on separate tables 9 ft. by 4^ ft. 
were a splendid feature, and brought out six competi¬ 
tors. In a close contest, Mr. Sidney Spalding, South 
Darenth, was first with an exceedingly light arrange¬ 
ment ; second, Mrs. Fennel; third, Miss E. Cooke ; 
fourth, Mr. R. Edwards. Mr. Seale, of the Vine 
Nurseries, was first for a hand bouquet, followed by 
Mr. R. Potter and Miss E. Cooke. Mr. Potter was 
first for an epergne, and Mr. R. Edwards, second. 
Miss E. Cooke had the best dress spray, and Mr. 
Potter the best button-hole bouquets. For a stand 
of wild flowers, Miss Sears was first with a very 
pleasing lot, Mrs. Fennell was second, and Mr. 
Potter third. 
