November 16, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
173 
Mr. C. Osman, South Metropolitan District Schools, 
Sutton, Surrey, came in fourth ; and Mr. E. Cherry 
was fifth. For six dishes, of English origin, Mr. J. 
Hughes was first; Mr. E. S. Wiles second; Mr. C. 
W. Howard, Canterbury, third ; and Mr. George 
Goldsmith fourth. Messrs. James Carter & Co., High 
Holborn, also offered prizes for Potatos. For two 
dishes the prizes were taken by Mr. J. Hughes, Mr. C. 
Howard, and Mr. E. S. Wiles, respectively. For 
six dishes, the following was the order of merit— 
namely, Mr. J. Hughes, Mr. E. S. Wiles, Mr. C. 
Howard, and Mr. J. Pannell, gardener to McDonald 
Smith, Esq., Caterham. Mr. C. Fidler, Reading, 
offered prizes for Potatos. In the class for six dishes 
Mr. J. Hughes, Mr. E. S. Wiles, and Mr. H. Ridgewell, 
Histon Eoad, Cambridge, took the prizes in the order 
named ; and for three dishes Mr. J. Hughes was first, 
followed by Mr. C. Osman. 
There was a number of miscellaneous exhibits, 
amongst which was a large collection of Potatos from 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Eeading. Sutton’s Abundance, 
an oval, flattened, and handsome disease-resisting 
Potato, taking the place of Magnum Bonum, was shown 
in quantity. Mr. C. Fidler, of Reading, also exhibited 
Potatos largely, Fidler’s Eeading Giant being shown 
amongst others in quantity. It is being highly appre¬ 
ciated by the public as a Potato of good quality, great 
size and a heavy cropper. Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, had an exhibit of over fifty dishes of 
Apples and Pears. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Swanley, Kent, had a large variety of Gourds, and 
some stands of Japanese and other Chrysanthemums 
done up in trusses. Messrs. J. Carter & Co., Forest 
Hill, had a table of Chinese Primulas, amongst which 
were Holborn Blue, White, Carmine, Vermilion, Queen 
(blush), and Elaine, plain and Fern-leaved varieties. 
Several First Class Certificates were awarded for Chry¬ 
santhemums, and are noted in another column. 
Kent County. — 6th and 1th November. 
The annual show of this society was held in the Rink, 
Blackheath, on the above dates, when a splendid exhi¬ 
bition was got together, far exceeding that of last year, 
both in the number and quality of the exhibits. The 
finest group of Chrysanthemums, not to occupy more 
than 50 square feet, was that of F. Williams, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. Payne), Oatlands, Lewisham Park. 
It was in the form of a half cone, with the plants at 
the back, raised on pots. It consisted mostly of in¬ 
curved and Japanese kinds, and was very effective. 
The second prize was awarded to F. P. Preston, Esq. 
Southbank, Blackheath ; and the third to J. L. 
Hemmerde, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Barker), Eliot Place, 
Blackheath. For a group of flowering and foliage 
plants, F. W. Prior, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Iludd), 
Gordon House, Blackheath, took the first prize ; J. L. 
Hemmerde, Esq., was second, and W. Strang, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. Mullins), Blackheath, was third. 
W. C. Pickersgill, Esq. (gardener, Mr. F. Moore), 
Blendon Hall, Bexley, had the best standards. The 
liveliest competition was in the class for eighteen 
Japanese and eighteen incurved varieties, as there was 
an award of £10 as a first prize, and this was taken by 
D. B. Chapman, Esq. (gardener, Mr. M. Sullivan), 
Downshire House, Roehampton. He had some splendid 
blooms of both kinds, including the best Miss M. A. 
Haggas in the show. Mrs. M. Tomlin (gardener, Mr. 
J. Doughty), Angley Park, Cranbrook, was second, and 
C. E. Shea, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. Packman), The 
Elms, Foots Cray, came third. There were nine 
entries, and the best incurved bloom in the show— 
namely, Golden Empress—occurred in the stands of 
J. Aird, Esq., M.P. (gardener, Mr. J. Skinner), East 
Sutton Park, Staplehurst. The best twelve incurved 
sorts were shown by Alfred Tate, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
W. Mease), Downside, Leatherhead. The first prize 
for twelve Japanese went to John Scott, Jun., Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. Blackburne), Chislehurst. A. Tate, 
Esq., had the best reflexed kinds ; Mrs. Arbuthnot 
(gardener, Mr. J. Mitchell), Bexley, was first for large 
and Japanese Anemones; Mr. J. J. Hillier, Wandsworth, 
had the best Pompons; Mr. M. Tomlin took the 
leading award for twelve blooms of the Queen family ; 
F. W. Prior, Esq., had the best white Japanese ; while 
the best-coloured Japanese came from W. C. Pickersgill, 
Esq.; and the finest six incurved kinds from J. Scott, 
Junr., Esq. All of the above were open classes, but a 
number were reserved for gentlemen’s gardeners. J. 
Scott, Junr., Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Blackburne), took 
the first prize for eighteen Japanese varieties, including 
Etoile de Lyon, which was the best of that class in the 
show, and was too large for the stand. J. Aird, Esq.> 
M.P. (gardener, Mr. J. Skinner), took the first prize 
for twelve incurved blooms ; R. Smith, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. C. Blick), The Warren, Hayes, had the best twelve 
Japanese kinds, and A. Tate, Esq., took the leading 
prize for six incurved sorts. The best Violet Tomlin 
shown was that of M. Hodgson, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
H. Shoesmith), Croydon. In the miscellaneous class a 
large group of Chrysanthemums, of all sections, was 
shown by Messrs. Davis & Jones, Camberwell. A 
group of stove and greenhouse plants, and some 
Cyclamens were shown by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, 
Kent, exhibited a collection of twenty-four fine blooms 
of Etoile de Lyon. 
East Grinstead. 
This fast-improving town was quite en fete on Thursday, 
the 7th inst., when the annual Chrysanthemum show 
was held. The day being beautifully fine, visitors 
flocked in from all quarters, much to the delight of the 
anxious and enterprising hon. secretaries, Messrs. 
Jenks and Beck, whose arrangements reflect the greatest 
credit on them. The show of specimen plants was not 
quite so good as usual, but the fine group from Mr. 
Dunn, gardener to Sir F. Truscott, the increased 
number of cut-bloom exhibitors, the non-competitive 
display from Mr. Wallis, florist, and the fine collection 
of Pears and Apples from the Messrs. Cheal, Lowfield 
Nurseries, together with many other fruit exhibitors, 
made up, as was acknowledged on all sides, the grandest 
autumn show ever seen in the town. For six specimen 
plants, Mr. Boland, gardener to Sir C. Blount, was 
first, and Mr. Dunn second. In the amateurs’ class, 
Mr. Marden was first, and Mr. R. Dawe second. The 
best group came from Mr. Dunn. The competition for 
cut blooms was very keen and close. For twenty-four 
incurved varieties, distinct, Mr. Heasman, gardener to 
Mrs. Oxley, came in first ; Mr. Budworth, gardener to 
H. Hill, Esq., Rockhurst, second ; and Mr. Boland 
third. For twelve blooms, incurved: First, Mr. 
Roberts ; second, Mr. Heasman ; third, Mr. J. Brine, 
gardener to the Hon. P. C. Glyn, Rook’s Nest, 
Godstone. For twelve Japanese : First, Mr. White ; 
second, Mr. Heasman ; third, Mr. Friend. For six 
Japanese : First, Mr. Heasman ; second, Mr. White ; 
third, Mr. Boland. The best Anemone-flowered 
varieties came from Mr. Boland ; second, Mr. Heasman ; 
third, Mr. White. Mr. Heasman, Mr. Woodfine, and 
Mr. White had the best reflexed flowers, Mr. Budworth 
and Mr. Friend the best bouquets, and Mr. Friend the 
finest spray. In the fruit classes, Mr. Prentice, gar¬ 
dener to C. Whitehead, Esq., Paddockhurst, was first 
for black and white Grapes, also for Apples and Pears. 
St. Neots. 
Well done, St. Neots ! That was my exclamation as 
I went into the Corn Exchange of this town on the 
morning of the 11th inst. A very pretty and attractive 
show had been provided by Mr. W. Ratchelous, the 
active honorary secretary, and while arranging the 
various exhibits so that they could be seen to the best 
advantage, he yet allowed as much space as possible 
for locomotion. The groups were very bright. That 
which took the first prize came from Mr. Myers, gar¬ 
dener to the Earl of Sandwich, Hinchingbrook, and the 
plants were both well grown and flowered. Mr. 
Redman, gardener to G. J. Goodgames, Esq., Eynesbury, 
was second. Plants were somewhat poor. There was 
a good specimen of Dr. Sharpe and one of Hiver Fleuri, 
but beyond these there was scarcely anything worthy 
of mention. 
The chief feature of the show laid in the classes open 
to all, and the fact that a handsome Silver Cup was 
being contended for in the leading class for thirty-six 
blooms—eighteen incurved and eighteen Japanese— 
caused no little excitement among local growers. The 
Cup was won last year by Mr. Adams, gardener to 
G. B. Hudson, Esq., Frogmore Hall, Hertford. Ho 
made a determined and successful effort to secure it on 
this occasion, and it is now his property. Against him 
he had Mr. R. Petfield, gardener to A. J. Thornhill, 
Esq., Diddington Hall, Huntingdon, whose Japanese 
were equal to those of Mr. Adams, but his incurved 
fell a few points behind. Mr. Adams’ incurved were 
finely finished, and consisted of Lord Wolseley, Queen 
of England, Empress of India, Golden Empress, Bronze 
Queen, Lord Alcester, Golden Queen, Alfred Salter, 
John Salter, Princess of Wales, Miss M. A. Haggas, 
and Violet Tomlin. His Japs were Baronno de Prailly, 
Avalanche, Japonais, Triomphe de la Rue des Chalets, 
Ralph Brocklebank, Carew Underwood, Mrs. H. 
Cannell, Meg Merrilies, Madame J. Laing, and Mdlle. 
Lacroix. In both cases duplicates were allowed. In 
the class for twelve incurved Mr. Adams was again 
first. Mr. Petfield had the best twelve Japs, which 
were a remarkably good lot, and Mr. Myers was a good 
second. Mr. Myers had the best twelve reflexed, Mr. 
Thomas, gardener, Paxton Park, St. Neots, being 
second. Mr. Thomas had the best twelve large- 
flowered Anemones, and also the leading twelve 
Pompons. 
There were other classes for Chrysanthemums, and 
also for bouquets, table decorations, &c., but knowing 
the demands on your space, I must pass them over, 
and likewise any notice of the fruit and vegetables 
shown. 
After the judging was over, the judges and exhibitors 
were'entertained at luncheon in the Public Hall, the 
Rev. Dr. Mee, Vicar of St. Neots, in the chair, when 
the Cup was presented to Mr. Adams in due form, 
then filled with champagne and passed round in loving 
fashion.— It. D. 
- •>*<- - 
Gardeners’ Improvement Societies. 
Manchester. 
The opening meeting of the winter session of this 
society was held on the 7th inst., Mr. Bruce Findlay, 
the president, presiding. Professor W. C. Williamson, 
Owen’s College, delivered an (address on “ Plant 
Nutrition ; especially on the supplies of nitrogen to the 
vegetable kingdom.” Having spoken of his own 
interest in all horticultural matters, he pointed out that 
even practical men had much to learn from a study of 
science. Thinking that some of the remarks as to the 
scientific principles that underlie the question of plant 
nourishment might be acceptable to some at all events, 
he might tell them something they had not had 
occasion to look into before. We had gained wonderful 
knowledge in the structure of all plants, and in what 
took place during the life history of the plants, but he 
would impress upon young gardeners especially the 
importance of acquiring a little knowledge of chemistry. 
Even gardeners were not independent of such knowledge; 
they would be much better for it, and certainly be none 
the worse. Chemistry lay at the foundation of the 
study of plant life taken in connection with the study 
of certain physical forces which belong to natural 
philosophy, though closely allied to chemistry. What 
was the fundamental point in the life history of plants ? 
Let them take a moss or other plant which had a lower 
organisation than that of moss, and they would find 
it consisted solely and entirely often of a single cell. 
This was the active instrument of life in plants as well 
as in all animals. Speaking of the value of liberal 
manuring, he said the Lothian farmers of Scotland 
understood better than their southern brethren the 
principle of proper manuring, and so knew how to get 
the greatest amount of money out of their land. He 
advised gardeners to keep in mind the fact that the 
more manure there was in the soil, the more nourishment 
would the plants obtain, and so thrive better. There 
might be more manure than the plant really required, 
but this was shown to be rather an advantage than 
otherwise. Plants could take up no nourishment that 
was solid ; it must be reduced to a fluid, or it would 
be of no use to the plant. But provision was made for 
everything, and they must all wonder at the marvellous 
works of nature. A vote of thanks was passed to 
Professor Williamson for his address. 
-->S<—- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Caladium.s.— Some growers find difliculty in keeping 
the tubers of this class of plants alive during the long 
winter months. The chief causes that induce the 
tubers to rot, is that when the leaves cease to be 
ornamental, or are no longer required, the plants are 
forthwith dried off, and stored away in some hidden or 
out-of-the-way corner till they are required for starting 
again ; secondly, that they are kept too dry for a 
lengthened period ; and thirdly, they are kept at too 
low a temperature, which is altogether prejudicial to 
them, and not such as they are accustomed to in their 
native haunts. All these dangers could be avoided to 
some extent by keeping them moderately moist, and in 
a temperature where the younger leaves would be 
maintained in a tolerably fresh condition till the turn 
of the year, when the worst of our weather, that is, the 
dullest and dampest, would be past. Then by more 
