28 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 14, 1889. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Crystal Palace Autumn Fruit Show. 
A remarkably fine show was the verdict of the 
exhibitors and visitors who put in an appearance at 
the annual autumn gathering at the Crystal Palace on 
Friday and Saturday last, and it was indeed such a 
display as would have done credit to any place or 
season. The collections and Grape classes were 
singularly good all through, and we do not remember 
having at any other show seen so much first-class 
produce thrown out, or the recognised champions so 
well beaten by younger hands. The premier prize of 
the exhibition—that for a collection of not less than 
twenty dishes—was well won by Mr. H. W. “Ward, 
gardener to the Earl of Eadnor, Longford Castle, 
Salisburj', with perhaps the finest all-round collection 
he has ever staged, and which included very fine 
samples of Muscat of Alexandria, Foster’s Seedling, 
Gros Maroc, and Alnwick Seedling Grapes ; Smooth 
Cayenne Pines, Melons, Eed Gooseberries, Eed Currants, 
and Easpberries, all wonderfully fresh ; Citrons and 
St. Michael’s Oranges, Guthrie’s Late Gage and Trans¬ 
parent Gage Plums, Goshawk and Sea Eagle Peaches, 
Pine Apple andElruge Nectarines, Cob Nuts, 'Williams’ 
Bon Chretien Pears, Moorpark Apricots, Brunswick 
Figs, Worcester Pearmain Apples, Mulberries, and 
Morello Cherries. Mr. Goodacre, Elvaston, and Mr. 
Mclndoe, Hutton Hall, were second and third with 
first-rate lots that would have been first at many 
another show. There were seven competitors with 
twelve dishes, and not a poor lot among them ; indeed, 
the strength of the class may be imagined when we say 
that such growers as Mr. Ward, Mr. Mclndoe, Mr. 
Goodacre, and Mr. Edmunds, Bestwood, all failed to 
get awards. The winner of the leading prize was Mr. 
Parker, gardener to J. Corbett, Esq., M.P., Impney 
Hall, Droitwich, who put up a grand lot, consisting of 
Muscat and Alicante Grapes beautifully finished, a 
very fine Pine, Williams’ Bon Chretien Pears, Kirke’s 
Plums, Eoyal George Peaches, a Melon, Brown Ischia 
Figs, Victoria Nectarines, Worcester Pearmain Apples, 
and Morello Cherries. Mr. A. Miller, gardener to 
W. H. Long, Esq., M.P., Eood Ashton, was a good 
second, his Grapes—Alicantes and Muscats—being 
specially fine ; and Mr. Coomber, The Hendre, Mon¬ 
mouth, was a close third, his leading dishes being grand 
Grapes and Pines. The smaller class for eight dishes 
brought Mr. Dawes, Ledbury Park Gardens, Ledbury, 
to the front, Mr. Goldsmith, Kelsey Manor, Beckenham, 
coming in second, and Mr. A. Oeock, Havering Park 
Gardens, Eomford, third, all staging first-rate samples. 
The Grape classes, as a whole, were unusually 
good. The leading collections did not run so large in 
the bunch as we have seen them, but perfect style and 
finish characterised the lot. Here again the excellence 
of the competition in the class for ten kinds, two 
bunches of each, may be inferred from the fact that 
Mr. Mclndoe, Mr. Wallis, of Keele Hall, and Mr. 
Allan, of Gunton, all failed “to catch the judges’ eye.” 
Mr. Goodacre was able to hold his own, taking the 
highest award with beautifully even, well-finished 
examples of Madresfield Court, Muscat Hamburgh, 
Foster’s Seedling, Lady Downes, Gros Maroc, Alnwick 
Seedling, Muscat of Alexandria, Alicante, Black Ham¬ 
burgh, and Mr. Pince’s Black Muscat. Mr. J. Dawes 
was a good second, and Mr. Ward a close third. With 
five kinds, two bunches of each, Mr. W. Taylor, 
gardener to W. Chaffin, Esq., Bath, asserted his old 
supremacy with superb samples of Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, Madresfield Court, Alicante, Gros Maroc, and 
Alnwick Seedling, his nearest competitors being Mr. 
C. Warden, Clarendon Park, Salisbury, and Mr. T. 
Osman, Ottershaw Park, Chertsey. 
The single dish classes were one and all of the most 
meritorious character ; but the pride of place must 
certainly be given to the Alicantes, than which we 
have seldom seen a greater number of really high-class 
examples shown together. The awards went to Mr. 
W. Taylor, Mr. J. Hollingworth, Woodseat, Uttoxeter ; 
Mr. C. Griffin, Coombe Bank, Kingston-on-Thames; 
and Mr. T. J. Wright, gardener to C. Lee Campbell, Esq., 
Glewston Court, Boss, the last pair being bracketed as 
equal third. Mr. Taylor also staged the best Muscats, 
the other winners in this class being Mr. Goldsmith, 
Kelsey Manor, and Mr. J. W. Eeed, Broadwater, 
Weybridge. In the other classes the awards went as 
follows :—Black Hamburgh: First, Mr. J. Bury, 
Tewkesbury Lodge, Forest Hill; second, Mr. J. Gibson’ 
Draycot Gardens, Chippenham ; third, Mr. C. Griffin. 
Gros Maroc : First, Mr. J. Hollingworth ; second, Mr. 
W. Allan ; third, Mr. J. Wallis, Keele Hall. Madres¬ 
field Court: First, Mr. J. Gibson; second, Mr. J. 
Taverner, Liphook, Hants ; third, Mr. J. Bury. Any 
other White: First, Mr. W. Allan ; second, Mr. H. W. 
Ward ; third, The English Fruit Company, 1, Duke 
Street, Grosvenor Square, W. Any other Black : 
First, Mr. A. G. Hookings, Hurst Side, West Moulsey ; 
second, Mr. J. Bury ; third, Mr. J. Mclndoe. Mr. 
Peter Kay, Finchley, had the best basket of white 
Grapes, an unusually fine lot of Canon Hall Muscat; 
and in the corresponding black class, Mr. J. Timms, 
Brookhill Eoad, New Barnet, was first. 
Peaches and Nectarines were not quite so numerously 
shown as usual, but were good for the season. In 
these classes Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall, Stamford, 
secured three out of the four first prizes offered, and 
was only beaten by a few points in the class for a single 
dish by Mr. G. Duncan, Warnham Court, Horsham. 
Among Peaches, Barrington, Crimson Galande, Dy- 
mond, Princess of Wales, and Prince of V ales ; and of 
Nectarines, Pine Apple, Victoria, Dryden, and Spencer 
were the leading sorts staged. The two Melon classes 
brought out some forty-five specimens, and the bad char¬ 
acter of the season for these fruits was well maintained, 
for there was really not a first-rate one among them, 
and the bulk were of dreadfully inferior flavour. 
Plums were not plentiful, but those staged were very 
good, the leading varieties being the white and red 
Magnum Bonum, Jefferson’s, Washington, Green Gage, 
Pond’s Seedling, Goliath, Kirke’s, Belgian Black, and 
Prince Englebert. The winners of first prizes were 
Mr. Ward, Mr. Goodacre and Mr. T. N. Penfold, 
Beddington. Mr. Wallis had the best Figs in a small 
competition. Mr. Goldsmith was first in an exceed¬ 
ingly good competition with six varieties of Tomatos, 
in which Mr. Saunders, Charlewood Park, near Crawley, 
and Mr. C. J. Waite, Glenhurst, Esher, were second 
and third, with little to choose between the lot. It 
was a grand class, but we pity the novices who took 
the names, among which the changes were rung in a 
delightfully audacious fashion. The Apple and Pear 
classes call for little comment, as though there were a 
fair number of samples shown, they were all wanting 
on the score of ripeness. 
The cut-flower classes brought out a very good 
display of Asters, quilled and French, Gladioli, and 
stove and greenhouse flowers. Messrs. Burrell & Co., 
Howe House, Cambridge, were the only trade ex¬ 
hibitors of Gladioli, but they staged a most meritorious 
lot of spikes, and were awarded the first prize. In the 
amateurs’ competition, the Eev. H. H. D’Ombrain 
took the highest award, Mr. Linsell, Bearton, Hitchin, 
being second, and Mr. C. G. Walters, Caine, Wilts, 
third. The last-named exhibitor was more successful 
with his quilled Asters, beating Mr. Walker, of Thame, 
and Mr. W. J. Jones, Larkhall, Bath. Messrs. Webb 
& Brand were the only trade exhibitors of Hollyhocks. 
A class for a collection of early-flowering Chrysan¬ 
themums brought out very bright and showy groups 
from Messrs J. Laing & Sons, Messrs. Davis & Jones, 
and Mr. W. Piercy, who took the awards in the order 
named ; and the Messrs. Laing also had First Class 
Certificates for two new varieties—viz., Grace Attick, 
a very neat variety, about 18 ins. high, and the first 
of the long, white, thread-petalled Japanese section 
to come in with the earliest bloomers ; and Madame 
la ComtesseFoueher de Cariel (Phoebus, what a name !), 
a very good reddish bronze flower, with broad petals 
showing a tendency to assume the incurved form. 
Amongst miscellaneous exhibits may be noted an 
exceedingly fine collection of Apples, backed up with 
Gladioli, Boses, African Marigolds, &c., from Messrs. 
G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone ; a large collection of 
Apples and Pears from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons ; a 
smaller one from Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons ; a mag¬ 
nificent group of Lilies, mainly Eubrum vittatum, from 
Mr. W. Gordon, Twickenham ; hardy fruits, Chry¬ 
santhemums, &e., from Messrs. J. Peed & Sons ; and 
very fine groups of Begonias from Messrs. J. Laing « 
Sons and the Messrs. Cannell. 
Bath Floral and Horticultural. 
The autumn show of this society was held in the 
Sydney Gardens on September 4th and 5th. It was 
without doubt the finest late exhibition ever seen in 
Bath, and was attended by thousands of admiring 
visitors. In the open class for twelve foliage and six 
flowering stove or greenhouse plants in bloom, Mr. J. 
Cypher was easily first, showing large examples of 
Latania borbonica and Cycas circinalis, a fine Cordyline 
indivisa, good Crotons Queen Victoria and Sunset, a 
large Phcenocoma prolifera Barnesii, quite 6 ft. in 
diameter, good Ericas Austiniana and Eweriana, &c. ; 
second, Mr. Currie, gardener to Colonel Pepper, Milford 
Hall, Salisbury ; third, Mr. W. C. Drummond, nursery¬ 
man, Bath. For eight ornamental-foliaged plants, Mr. 
Currie was first with a good even lot, and Mr. J. 
Channing Doherty, second. In the class for six 
flowering stove or greenhouse plants, the premier award 
went to Mr. Arthur Taylor, gardener to C. W. Mac- 
killop, Esq., Eoyal Crescent, Bath, for a fine and even 
lot, well done, Ixora Westii being especially noticeable 
for its fine pink trusses ; Erica Eweriana, large and 
fine; a good Ixora Pilgrimii, a bright Dipladenia 
amabilis, &c. Mr. George Tucker, gardener to Major 
Clarke, Trowbridge, was second with fine examples of 
the red and white Lapagerias, a well-bloomed Stepha- 
notis floribunda, &e. ; third, Mr. J. F. Mould, Pewsey. 
Fuchsias are always well done at Bath, and this show 
was no exception to the rule. Certainly a finer lot 
than the first prize collection of nine plants, from 
Mr. Tucker, gardener to Major Clarke, has never been 
exhibited; they were quite 9 ft. in height and superbly 
flowered. The varieties were:—Lye’s Favourite, 
Harriet Lye, Dod’s Favourite, Bountiful, Marginata, 
Miss Lucy Finnis, Charming, C. Eichman, and Thomas 
King. The second award went to Mr. Snell, gardener 
to Mrs. Counsell, Weston Eoad, Bath, who had large 
and fine plants of Arabella, Final, Mrs. Bright, Pink 
Perfection, &c. ; third, Mr. Lye, gardener to the 
Hon. Mrs. Hay, Market Lavington. For the best 
specimen dark and light Fuchsia, Mr. Tucker was 
again first, and Mr. Snell second. For six double 
Begonias, the premier award went to Mr. C. Eickman, 
gardener to G. H. Palmer, Esq., Trowbridge; Mr. 
Wm. Gingell, gardener to Wm. Clifford, Esq., 
Falfield, Gloucester, being a very close second. The 
same exhibitors also took the first and second prizes in 
the single Begonia class, with large plants well 
bloomed. Mr. James Weston, gardener, Turley, was 
first with six dwarf plants of Cockscombs, with heads 
from 18 ins. to 21 ins. across. 
For a group arranged for effect, Mr. J'. Cypher was 
easily first, showing a light and graceful arrangement. 
Mr. J. Cypher had also the best six Heaths and the 
finest specimen—exhibiting a large and fine Erica 
Marnockiana, quite 5 ft. in diameter—as well as the 
best single specimen greenhouse plant. Mr. Arthur 
Taylor had the best stove plant, a large and fine 
Allamanda Hendersoni. 
Only one exhibitor staged a collection of eight dishes 
of fruit, which w T ell deserved the first prize awarded to 
it. It contained fine Muscat and Black Alicante 
Grapes, Eood Ashton Melon, Bellegarde Peaches, 
Jefferson Plums, &c., and was shown by Mr. A. Miller, 
Eood Ashton. For eight bunches of Grapes, four varie¬ 
ties, Mr. W. Taylor, gardener to Jas. Chaffin, Esq., 
Bath, was easily first with superbly finished, extra large 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, Black Alicante, 
Madresfield Court, and Alnwick Seedling. Mr. Taylor 
also had the best Muscats, and Mr. J. Bury, gardener 
to C. Bayer, Esq., London, the best Black Hamburghs. 
In the cut-flower section, the finest Gladioli came 
from Mr. Walters, Caine, and Mr. E. H. Poynter, 
Taunton ; and in the open class for Dahlias, Messrs. 
Heath & Son, Cheltenham, were well ahead, Mr. Geo. 
Humphries, Kington Langley, being second, and Mr. 
Joseph Nation, Staple Grove, a close third. Messrs. 
J. Jefferies & Son, Cirencester, were first with a fine 
fresh lot of Eoses, and Mr. Walters, Caine, was easily 
first for twenty-four German Asters, Mr. W. J. Jones 
winning the premier award in the class for twenty-four 
French varieties. Messrs. Geo. Cooling & Sons, nur¬ 
serymen, Bath, had the first-prize collection of hardy 
herbaceous cut flowers, and Mr. F. Hooper, Bath, had 
the best Phloxes in twelve varieties. Messrs. Geo. 
Cooling & Sons also exhibited, not for competition, a 
collection of sixty dishes of Apples. 
Certificates of Merit were awarded to Mr. A. H. 
Gray for a collection of Tea-scented Eoses ; to Messrs. 
Geo. Cooling & Sons for a similar collection, and also 
to Mr. J. Mattock ; to Mr. E. J. Lowe, for hybrids of 
Dahlia Murckii ; and to the executors of the late Mr. 
S. Tredwell, for seedling Begonias. 
Sandy Floral and Horticultural. 
At Sandy, in Bedfordshire, a good-sized village set 
down in the midst of a large agricultural and market 
gardening district, there is held every year at the end 
of August an exhibition of a remarkably comprehensive 
character, promoted by the Sandy and District Floral 
and Horticultural Society. There were 226 classes in 
the schedule of prizes, and they seemed to include almost 
everything interesting to country people. The society 
is supported by an extensive number of subscribers— 
though the amount of subscription, in the large 
majority of cases, does not exceed half-a-crown—and 
