200 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 25, 1893. 
The groups of Chrysanthemums were much above 
the average, the quality of the blooms all through 
being good. The first prize lot was staged by Mr. 
S. Cooke, whose group contained splendid blooms of 
the white Beauty of Exmouth : second, Mr. J. Smith, 
with a splendid bank of fresh blooms, which, how¬ 
ever, was not so dwarf as the first prize lot; third, 
Mr. E. Hughes, wonderful blooms of Lord Brooke 
being noticeable in this group In another class for 
gardeners with not more than one assistant, Mr. W. 
Read, gardener to Admiral Miller, was first with a 
well-grown lot of plants; second, Mr. A. harmer, 
gardener to J. S. Norman, Esq., with taller plants ; 
third, Mr. T. Feaver, gardener to.—Foster, Esq. 
Miscellaneous groups also good, and as for once the 
judges did not allow the quality of the plants to 
outweigh the taste displayed in the arrangement, as 
the schedule distinctly states, “ Arranged for effect,” 
their decision must have given satisfaction to most 
of the competitors. The first prize group came 
from Mr. Hilling, gardener to H. E. Gordon, Esq., 
Ightham, a judicious use of bronze and white Chry¬ 
santhemums with a ground work of Ferns having a 
telling effect; second, Mr. W. Read, whose groups 
contained some well-grown .Calanthe Veitchii, C. 
Vestita rubra, Oncidium crispum, and Cattleya 
labiata; third, Mr. S. Cook, who had a good front 
with Oncidium tigrinum, Laelia Perinii, and 
Cattleya labiata, but the back was dull and un¬ 
interesting. Poinsettias was well shown by Mr. G. 
Latter, gardener to F. Tooth, Esq., as were Pelar¬ 
goniums and Primulas. 
Some good bouquet sprays and table decorations 
came from undergardeners, of which Mr. A. Reeves 
was the most successful, followed by Messrs. 
Magness, Bolton, and Hills. 
Fruit was a "great feature, the only drawback 
being the limited space in which they had to be 
staged. Mr. R. Edwards, gardener to G. Field, 
Esq., had the best kitchen Apples, amongst which 
we noticed a really grand dish of Prince Bismarck ; 
second, Mr. R. Potter, gardener to Sir Mark Collett, 
with good dishes of Lord Derby and Anne Elizabeth. 
In the class for dessert Apples the order was 
reversed, Mr. R. Potter being first with high- 
coloured fruit; second, Mr. Edwards. Mr. J. Buck- 
land was easily first in the class for two dishes of 
kitchen and two dishes of dessert Apples. Mr. 
Potter had the best four dishes of Pears, a dish of 
Uvedale’s St. Germaine being grand. Mr. A. 
Hatton, gardener to Mrs. Swanzy, was second. 
Black Grapes was well shown by Mr. G. Latter. 
Vegetables was exceptionally good for the year, 
the best collections coming from Messrs. Buckland, 
Gibson, Fox, Heath, Farmer, and Wolfe. 
Croydon. 
This show was held in the Public Hall an the .13th 
and 14th inst., the two halls being well filled with a 
fine display of Chrysanthemums, both cut flowers 
and plants, as well as a goodly array of vegetables. 
In the open division. Class i, for a group of Chry¬ 
santhemums arranged for effect, edged with foliage 
plants, at the discretion of the exhibitor, Mr. Carr 
took the first prize, Mr. Padly the second, and Mr. 
Lane third, but we think that if ” effect ” had had 
due weight with the judges the position of the first 
and second prizes would have been reversed, 
although the flowers in the first prize lot were some¬ 
what better than the others. In the open class for 
six trained plants, large flowered kinds, Mr. Carr 
was a good first, as also in the class for six dwarf 
trained pompons, Mr. Cooper being second. For 
thirty-six cut blooms, eighteen Japanese and eighteen 
incurved, Mr. Shoesmith was first, and as this 
collection included fine specimens of most of the 
best varieties in the show we give the names. The 
Japanese were—Col. Smith, Mrs. H. Payne, Mrs. 
Jameson, E. D. Adams. Cornet, Mdme. Baco, 
Stanstead White, C. Shrimpton, Lord Brooke, 
Etoile d’Lyon, F. Davis, C. Blick, Viviand Morel, 
Marie Hoste, Mrs. J. Laing, Waban, E. Molyneux, 
and Sunflower. Incurved—J. Lambert, Mr. Haggas, 
Lady Dorothy, Empress of India, Violet Tomlin, 
Empress Eugene, Alfred Salter, Lord Wolseley, 
Princess of Wales. Queen of England, Princess 
Teck, Jean d’Arc, Mrs. Heales, John Salter, and 
Mrs. Parner. Mr. Shoesmith also took among 
other first prizes the special awards offered for the 
best Japanese and incurved blooms in the show, 
Elbe Morel Jap., and Jean d’Arc incurved. There 
was not so much competition in the cut flower 
classes as we have sometimes seen in Croydon, but 
the quality in most of the classes was of a high 
order, and Mr. Shoesmith probably never showed 
better blooms. 
This Society, through the liberality of some local 
residents, gives great encouragement to cottagers 
and allotment holders both for cut blooms of Chry- 
santherqums and plants, and in this division the six 
plants which took the first prize would have been 
creditable to any professional grower. The vege¬ 
table classes also were strongly contested with pro¬ 
duce which many a professional man would be only 
too glad to equal. Much of this produce was grown 
on the Corporation Allotments, and bore striking 
evidence of the wisdom and usefulness of the 
allotment movement. The Leeks, Parsnips, 
Carrots, Turnips and Celery were exceed¬ 
ingly good. There was a goodly array of hardy 
fruit, principally contributed by Messrs. Cheale, of 
Crawley, and Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, 
the specimens from both firms being about as goctd 
as they well could be. In the class for three 
bunches of white Grapes Mr. I'ilby, of Croydon, was 
first with three fine bunches of Muscat of Alexandra. 
Mr. J. M. Le Pelly, of Rusper, was first for three 
bunches of black Grapes with Alicante. Messrs. J. 
Laing & Sons showed a group of plants intermixed 
with Chrysanthemums, and Mr. Padly, of Bramley 
Hill Nursery, Croydon, had a similar group. Mr. 
Box had a few examples of his fine strain of Chinese 
Primulas. 
-- 
HEREFORDSHIRE FRUIT AND 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 
This show was held in the Shire Hall, Hereford, on 
the 15th, i6th and 17th inst., and proved in every way 
a success, and a great advancement upon last year. 
Of course, some excuse must be made for 1892, as it 
was quite late in the season when the committee was 
formed, and ” ’ Mums” cannot be grown in a month 
or two. This time matters were quite changed, and the 
battle amongst competitors raged fast and furious 
for supremacy. In competition for the cup (or 
specie) there were four groups staged all creditable. 
Victory rested as last year with With’s Food and Plant 
Co., very closely followed by Sir J. Pulley (gardener, 
Mr. Williams) second, and Lord Rodney third. 
Trained plants with the exception of the winner were 
exceedingly poor, and much more care should be 
devoted to these classes by the exhibitors. 
In cut blooms the competition was rather severe, 
and the judges were somewhat puzzled to arrive at a 
decision, so closely did the stands follow each other 
in merit, although there was scarcely one without a 
faulty bloom ; the incurved were decidedly on the 
weak side, being very deficient in depth. The Japs , 
however, atoned for the delinquency of their 
brethren and, taken all round, were good indeed. 
Fruit naturally took the lion’s share of the staging, 
something like 2,500 dishes being staged. There 
were three entries for the collection of loo varieties 
of culinary and dessert Apples, and grand indeed 
they were, more especially those of Messrs. Bunyard, 
Maidstone, and Mr. Watkins, Withington, Here¬ 
ford. It was a very close run between them, but 
after much pains taken by the judges the premier 
award fell to the Kent grower. It was a collection 
well worthy of the grower and county. Mr. Watkins’ 
collection also was highly creditable, and contained 
some notable dishes, especially of Alfriston and 
Tower of Glamis. Taken all round the fruit was 
clean, highly coloured, and of fine size. The third 
prize was taken by the Hereford Fruit Co. (Cranston 
& Co.), and was also highly creditable. 
For the best dish of Apples in the show Mr. 
Watkins was awarded first for a nice clean dish of 
Peasgood’s Nonsuch, his twelve dishes of Pears were 
worthy of any Jersey grower; Glou Morceau (first 
for best dish in the show), Chammontel, Doyenne du 
Comice, and Marie Louise, were grand indeed. In 
smaller collections of Apples (thirty dishes), we 
noticed that Mr. Wright, of Glewston, was first; 
his fruit, however, was not quite so large as usual, 
although clean and well coloured. Mr. Nash, of 
Bryngoyn, was also a winner of several prizes, both 
in the fruit and Chrysanthemum classes. Grapes, 
both in single classes and in colour of fruit (si.x 
dishes), were well shown, but the crush was so great 
that really we could not discern who were the 
winners, and if the company continued as good on 
the two following days the society wculd, I hope, 
receive the support they so much deserve, and I am 
sure the hon. sec., Mr. Ough, would feel somewhat 
repaid for his untiring energy to found what ought to 
be one of the best shows in the country. The 
judges were:—For fruit, Messrs. Coleman, Eastnor 
Child, Croome Court ; for Chrysanthemums, Messrs. 
Child and Coomber, Hendre.— Cor. 
-- 
•IaRDENING ^ISCELLANY. 
ARISTOLOCHIA GIGAS STURTEVANTII. 
This singular and gigantic flowered species seems as 
easy to manage and flower as A. Goldieana that 
other giant, is difficult. Since its introduction from 
Guatemala it has several times made its appearance 
in public, and has been open for inspection by the 
public in the Water Lily house, at Kew, as well as 
in the Victoria house previously. Quite recently 
one of its huge flowers might have been seen, sus¬ 
pended from the roof of the house in question, with 
its long tail over 2 ft. in length. The singular¬ 
looking flower is creamy externally, and heavily 
marbled and netted with purple internally on a 
similar ground colour. Where the perianth narrows 
into the throat and tube, the purple is intensified till 
it is almost black and covered with suspicious 
looking hairs, as far as insects are concerned. The 
leaves are heart-shaped and very moderate in size 
compared with the flowers ; and this discrepancy 
will be all the more evident when we think of the 
Dutchman’s Pipe (A. Sipho) with its great, shield- 
like and shade producing leaves, and small flowers. 
DAPHNE MEZEREUM. 
The flowers of this shrub are very familiar objects in 
most gardens during March, when they are indeed 
handsome as they are common. Where the plants 
have been very much exposed to the ripening 
influences of last summer, and especially in light, 
sandy soils, they cannot be expected to flower so 
freely next spring as they are wont to do, for many 
of the blooms have expanded. They are very puny, 
however, and look like those that have been brought 
into flower by too hard forcing. Under those cir¬ 
cumstances they can hardly be very welcome, not¬ 
withstanding the scarcity of out-door flowers at 
present. 
ELAEAGNUS SIMONII. 
Shrubs that prove evergreen in our climate are 
desirable for planting in prominent positions near 
the mansion house, where their presence in winter 
produces a cheerful effect when everything else 
around looks cold and bare. It is a too common 
custom to make the Common Cherry Laurel supply 
this want, until the whole shrubbery is reduced to a 
wearisome monotony. We have seen various forms, 
both green and variegated, chiefly of E. glabra, 
planted with fine effect under the windows of the 
mansion, trained to the wall and mingling with 
Jasmines, producing a fine effect even in summer. 
E. Simonii has evergreen, oblong, leathery, light 
green leaves, silvery beneath and thickly dotted 
with rusty scales. The flowers are creamy-white, 
of the usual size for the genus, and produced in 
clusters all along the old and young wood and from 
the short spurs. A large spreading bush, about 
10 ft. high, has been flowering quite profusely for 
some time past in the pleasure grounds at Kew. 
There seems little doubt about the general hardiness 
of the shrub if we are to judge from its size and 
healthy appearance at present. 
THE GREENHOUSE; OVERCROWDING. 
This is an error which amateurs are much subject 
to, and is a fruitful source of disease and dis¬ 
appointment. There is a tendency to cram many 
and various subjects thickly together, more as a 
winter protection than anything else. Now, if too 
many plants are housed it often happens that 
scarcely a good specimen can be found among the 
lot after a few weeks. The evils of overcrowding 
are more noticeable when the days turn and plants 
commence new growth rapidly. Upon the approach 
of frosty weather there is a rush to secure plants 
from injury, and they are often packed into the 
greenhouse or frame without the least regard to 
their future well being. A less number of plants, 
and these in a sturdy condition, will pass through 
the winter much ’oetter, as well as giving superior 
results in spring. Damp and decay, to say nothing 
of insect pests, have a much worse effect upon 
weakly and crowded plants. Choose out the best 
