6 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September, 1, 1894. 
SHREWSBURY FLORAL FETE. 
The Shropshire Horticultural Society's Fete of 1894 
will take rank as one of the most remarkable of the 
long series of successes which have been achieved 
in the far-famed Shrewsbury Quarry, than which 
place as a site for such a gala there is no equal in 
England. It was remarkable as being one of the 
finest displays of horticultural produce that has 
taken place during recent years in this country, but 
it was much more remarkable in regard to the 
attendance and the important matter of “ the gate," 
which, under the circumstances was quite phenomenal. 
The opening day, Wednesday, August 22nd, was all 
that could be desired in regard to the weather, and 
the total amount taken at the gates was ^583 ns. 3d. 
as against £524 15s. 8d. taken on the corresponding 
day of last year, which was the largest amount ever 
taken on the first day up to that time. But the 
second day, Thursday, the morning opened wet, and 
with but few brief intervals, rain continued to fall 
steadily until nightfall—where did it not rain on 
that dreadful day ?—and yet the receipts show that 
about 35,000 people visited the show, the amount 
taken being £1,262 8s. gd. or a total for the two 
days of £1, 846, eloquent testimony assuredly of the 
popularity of the show and the excellence of the 
management. 
From the gardening visitor's point of view it 
would be hard to say which feature of the show 
stood specially prominent above the others, but if 
the point is given in favour of the plants and cut 
flowers, and everything else is characterised as being 
of very high class, the situation will be fairly 
summed up. It was a grand show all round, and 
again illustrated the importance of giving liberal 
prizes if yoii want to draw the best things. The 
liberal rewards offered for a 300 ft. group brought 
out four grand displays of the art of grouping, and 
a close fight for premier honours between Mr. 
Edmonds, gardener to the Duke of St. Albans, 
Bestwood, and Mr. J. Cypher, of Cheltenham, the 
former eventually securing the verdict, the third 
award going to C. H. Wright, Esq., Halston, and 
the fourth to Messrs. Jones & Sons, Nurserymen, 
Coton Hill, Shrewsbury. Mr. Cypher was in his old 
position as first with twenty stove and greenhouse 
plants, having among his flowering subjects exceed¬ 
ingly fine examples of Erica Austiniana, E. obbata 
purpurea, E. Aitoniana, Ixora Regina, I. Pilgrimii, 
Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesii, Stephanotis flori- 
bunda, &c. Mr. Finch, gardener to J. Marriott, 
Esq., Coventry, was a good second. In the class 
for six, open only to local gardeners, the first prize 
went to Mr. T. Samber, gardener to Lord Harlech, 
Brogynton, Mr. J. Howard, gardener to Mrs. Juson, 
Shrewsbury, being second, and Mr. G. Burr, 
Shrewsbury, third. Mrs. Juson’s gardener had the 
best half-dozen F'erns, in an open class, and in a 
corresponding competition confined to the county, 
the highest honours fell to Mrs. J. H. Slaney, 
Sunnycroft, Wellington. 
Mr. Cypher had the best six plants, Orchids ex¬ 
cluded, Mr. Finch being again second, and the 
Cheltenham grower also had the best group of 
twenty Orchids in a competition with Messrs. 
Charlesworth, Shuttleworth & Co., of Heaton, 
Bradford, both showing good plants very tastefully 
arranged. The first prize in the local class for four 
went to A. E. W. Darby, Esq., Little Ness, 
Shrewsbury. Mr. Cypher, Mr. F'mch, and Mr. C. 
H. Wright, all showed fine groups of tall Palms, 
taking the awards in the order named. The best 
half-dozen Dracaenas came from Lord Harlech’s 
gardens, and the best Caladiums from Mr. J. R. 
Greatorex, Mytton Hall, Shrewsbury. In excellent 
competitions, Mr. Albert Myers, Sutton Lane, 
Shrewsbury, came out first for four pyramidal 
Coleus; Mr. W. J. Scott, Shrewsbury, for four 
Fuchsias, and the Hon. W. H. Herbert, for four 
Begonias. The last-named gentleman also secured 
Mr. T. S. Ware's special prize for a group of 
Begonias. 
The cut flower classes were superb all through 
and with collections of hardy border flowers there 
was a spirited competition between Messrs. Hark- 
ness of Son, Bedale, Messrs. Dickson's, Limited, 
Chester, and Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Howe 
House, Cambridge, who took the awards in the 
order named. The Messrs. Dickson also secured 
the premier award for a collection of hardy bulbous 
and tuberous rooted plants. The Rose classes were 
very good, and the local nurseryman, Mr, Edwin 
Murrell, secured the highest award for a collection 
beating the Messrs. Harkness and Messrs. Perkins 
& Son, of Coventry. The Bedale growers, however, 
were not to be denied with twenty-four single blooms, 
in which competition the Messrs. Perkins were 
second, Mr. Murrell, third, and Messrs. Proctor & 
Son, Chesterfield, fourth, an extra prize. Premier 
honours for twenty-four Dahlias went to Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, and to Messrs. 
J. Burrell & Co. for a collection of Gladioli, very 
fine. Messrs. Thomson & Co., Sparkhill, Birming¬ 
ham, had the finest collection of Carnations and 
Picotees, naturally shown in bunches, the other 
prizes going in the order named to Mr. M. Camp¬ 
bell, Blantyne, Messrs. Laing & Mather, Kelso, and 
Messrs. Dickson's. With twelve Carnations and 
the same number of Picotees, Mr. A. R. Brown, 
Handsworth, Birmingham, was to the front, while 
Messrs Thompson & Co., Birmingham, had the 
best dozen yellow grounds, seifs and fancies. 
The fruit classes as usual, were of a very high 
order, exceedingly fine all round, with perhaps the 
exception of Muscats. Mr. Goodacre, Elvaston 
Castle, carried off the first prize for a collection of 
twelve dishes, to include two dishes of black and 
two of white Grapes, with a most meritorious lot. 
Mr. M. Gleeson, gardener to C. E. Keyser, Esq., 
Warren House, Stanmore, was a very close second ; 
and Mr. Bannerman, Blithefield, Rugeley, a good 
third. In the County class, for nine dishes, the 
highest award went to Mr. Beilis, gardener to Sir C. 
H. Rouse-Boughton, Bart., Downton Hall; the 
second being taken by Mr. C. Roberts, gardener at 
Halston, and the third by Mr. Langley, gardener to 
the Rev. T. M. B. Owen, Tedsmore. In capital 
Grape classes, Mr. Craven, gardener to J. Grant 
Morris, Esq , Allerton Priory, Liverpool, had the 
best six bu.iches of black, in three varieties, very 
fine Alnwick, seedling, Madresfield Court and 
Alicante ; Mr. Brownhill, gardener to J. C. Sinclair, 
Esq., Rock Ferry, the best Black Hamburghs ; Mr. 
Craven, the best Madresfield Court; and the best 
four bunches and the best two bunches of white 
Grapes, with Mr. Elphinstone, Shipley Hall, a good 
second, in both classes; while Lord Harlech, The 
Rev. T. M. B. Owen, and Mrs Donaldson Hudson 
took the lead in the local classes. 
Vegetables were also of the best, and here Mr. 
Wilkins, Inwood, Blandford, again came to the front, 
with a collection of twelve varieties, Miss Talbot, 
Penrice Castle, Swansea, coming in second, and Mr. 
Pope, Highclere Castle, third. Mr. Inwood also 
secured Messrs. Webb and Sons’ first prize for eight 
dishes; Mr. Pope, being a good second, Mr. C. J. 
Waite, third, and Mr. Hathaway, gardener to the 
Earl of Lathom, fourth. Mr. Waite, went for Messrs. 
Sutton and Sons’ premier and secured it, Mr. 
Wilkins, coming in second, and Mr. Hathaway, 
third. Messrs. James Carter and Co's, first prize 
went to Mr. Abel Jones, Donnington Wood, and Mr. 
Waite, and Mr. Jones, Bryn Penylan, took the 
prizes for six dishes offered Dy Messrs. Johnson and 
Wheeler, Chesterfield. In the Miscellaneous class. 
Gold medals were awarded to Messrs. Veitch and 
Sons, Chelsea, for groups of new Caladiums and 
Nepenthes; and to Messrs. Pritchard and Sons, 
Shrewsbury, for Liliums, Begonias, etc., Silver 
medals were awarded to Messrs. John Laing and 
Sons, Forest-hill, London, for Begonias and Cala¬ 
diums ; to Messrs. Kelway and Sons, Langport, for a 
collection of choice Gladioli; to Messrs. H. Cannell 
and Sons, Swanley, for a collection of Cactus 
Dahlias; to Messrs. J. Peed and Sons, Norwood 
Nurseries, London, for a group of Caladiums ; to 
Messrs. W. Cutbush and Son, Highgate Nurseries, 
London, for a collection of hardy flowers; to Messrs. 
Dobbie and Co., Rothesay Nurseries, N.B., for 
Violas, Sweet Peas, etc.; to Messrs. B. S. Williams 
and Son, Holloway, London, for new and rare plants; 
to Mesrss. W. J. Birkenhead, Sale Nurseries, near 
Manchester, for collection of Ferns; to Messrs. 
Hewitt and Co., Solihull Nurseries, Birmingham, for 
hardy border flowers ; to Mr. B. R. Davies, nursery¬ 
man, Yeovil, for double and single Begonias, Bronze 
medals were awarded to Mr. E. Murrell, nursery¬ 
man, Shrewsbury, for a group of Begonias ; Mr. A. 
Myers, nurseryman, Shrewsbury, for Zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium, and other plants; to Mr. Septimus Pye, 
florist, Caterall, Lancaster, for Violas and Pansies ; 
to Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, for collection of Sweet 
Peas; and to Messrs. Pearsons and Sons, Chilwell, 
for new Zonal Pelargoniums. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
By John Fraser, F.L.S., Kew. 
The following Orchids received awards according to 
merit at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on the 14th ult.:—- 
Cattleya. Ashtoniana, Nov. hyb .—The seed 
bearer of this hybrid was C. Loddigesii 
Harrisoniae crossed with C. Warscewiczii, and the 
effect of both parents can be traced in it. The 
sepals and ovate-elliptic petals are of a soft rose. 
Externally, the tube of the lip is pale purple with 
darker lines towards the top, the lamina is deep 
crimson-purple, wavy, crisped and toothed with a 
narrow lilac margin. Towards the base of the 
lamina is a narrowly elliptic, clear yellow band, 
reminding us of what occurs in the pollen plant; 
and the interior of the lip is pale purple, but partly 
concealed by the curved column that lies close upon 
it, as in Cattleya Loddigesii and its forms. Award 
of Merit. Exhibited by Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co 
Cypripedium Excelsior, Nov. hyb .—The seed 
parent of this beautiful hybrid was C. Roths- 
childianum and was crossed with C. Harrisii- 
anum, itself a hybrid. The upper sepal is closely 
lined with dusky brown on a white ground. The 
long drooping petals are closely spotted all over with 
very dark markings, and give the flower its most 
striking feature, which it inherits from C. Roths- 
childianum. The bronzy-brown lip is also similar in 
shape to that of the last named. Award of Merit. 
Exhibited by Thos. Statter, Esq. 
Laelia elegans dulcotense, Nov. var .—The 
sepals and petals of this variety are dark purple 
tinted with green. The lip has a rich, crimson- 
purple lamina, and is the most striking feature of the 
variety. A large plant with numerous flowers w'as 
exhibited by Walter Cobb, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
Howse, Dulcote, Tunbridge Wells. Award of Merit. 
Cypripedium W. R. Lee, Nov. hyb .—The upper 
sepal of this hybrid is ovate, pale green, lined 
with brown and white at the edges. The oblong, 
pointed petals are pale yellow, fading almost 
to white at the tips, and with exception of that 
portion, heavily spotted with blackish-purple ; 
they are 3^ in. long, and render the flower conspicu¬ 
ous and showy. The large lip is laterally compressed, 
deep brownish-purple, except on the under side, 
which is greenish. The leaves are oblong and bright 
green, chequered with darker markings. The hybrid 
was raised from C. superbiens crossed with C. 
Elliottianum and is intermediate in character. 
Award of Merit. Exhibited by W. R. Lee, Esq. 
Beechlawn, Audenshaw. Manchester. 
Stanhopea inodora.— The broad, concave 
sepals and the oblong, narrow petals of this 
species are creamy-white. The curiously formed 
lip has a short, saccate hypochile, a two-horned 
mesochile and a roundly ovate spichile, all of which 
are white with exception of the hypochile or 
basal portion. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by 
Walter C. Walker, Esq. (gardener. Mr. Geo. 
Cragg), Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill. 
Epidendrum Brassavoiae. —The flowers of 
this species are borne in long racemes and have 
yellowish-brown sepals and petals. The lip 
is pale yellowish at the base, purple upwards, and 
constitutes the finest feature of the bloom. Botani¬ 
cal Certificate. Exhibited by W, C. Walker, Esq. 
Epidendrum radiatum. —The flowers in this 
case are carried in racemes arising from the 
top of a fusiform pseudo-bulb. The sepals and 
petals are creamy-white and reflexed. The lip is 
much the largest organ, shell-formed, white and 
lined with radiating purple veins. Botanical Certi¬ 
ficate. Exhibited by W. C. Walker, Esq, 
Chysis bractescens aurea.—A fine variety of 
the old Chysis bractescens has turned up in the 
nursery of Mr. P. McArthur, 4, MaidaVale, London. 
The sepals and petals are pure white, and the three- 
lobed lip is of the colour of old gold in the throat, 
and this hue is carried beyond the fleshy crest to 
the base. The plant is a fine piece, consisting of 
twelve pseudo-bulbs, each about 15 in. long, and 
possesses two leads. It was imported about two 
months ago, and is now flowering for the first time. 
It is grown in a 10-in. basket, to which it took so 
kindly that it now looks like an established plant, 
