September 25, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
01 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL — September 21 st. 
Hardy plants and outdoor subjects generally were in 
strong force on Tuesday last, Michaelmas Daisies, 
Dahlias, Gladioli and Roses being conspicuous by 
their quantity and variety. Stove and greenhouse 
plants and large flowering Chrysanthemums were 
also staged in good form. Orchids are beginning 
again to fill their wonted positions. Fruit was repre¬ 
sented by Melons and Apples ; and vegetables by 
Onions. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, exhibited an 
interesting and showy group of Orchids, including a 
number of plants of Vanda caerulea, bearing richly 
coloured flowers, Handsome also were the numerous 
specimens of Cypripedium Charlesworthii, Odonto- 
glossum grande, O. crispum, O. luteo-purpureum 
sceptrum, and Oncidium jonesianum. Very hand¬ 
some was the new variety named Cattleya hardyana 
Lowae, both sepals, petals and lip being handsomely 
coloured. Houllelia brocklehurstiana may be de¬ 
scribed as both handsome and pretty. Cycnoches 
chlorochilon, Cattleja schofieldiaDa, Oncidium 
unguiculatum, O. varicosuro, and Odontoglossum 
harryanum added much to the general effect and 
conspicuous character of the group (Silver Flora 
Medal). 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Alban’s, staged a 
small group of Orchids containing a large and 
grandly flowered piece of Odontoglossum grande. 
They also had good pieces of Laelia dayana, Dendro- 
bium Farmeri aureo flavum, Miltonia moreliana, 
M. lamarcheana and M. lubbersiana. 
Very pretty and distinct was Vanda amoena 
exhibited by Messrs. Linden, Parc Leopold. 
Brussels. Miltonia peetersiana, a hybrid, was exhi¬ 
bited by R. I. Measures. Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. J. 
Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell. W. S. 
McMillan, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. S. Robertson), 
staged a plant of the beautiful Cattleya aurea Mrs. 
Fred. Hardy. Lycaste denningsiana was brought 
over from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 
Cattleya Harrisoniae major and Oncidium Papilio 
were exhibited by D. M. Grimsdale, Esq., Kent 
Lodge, Uxbridge. Very pretty were the flowers of 
Laelia praestans Gatton Park var., exhibited by J. 
Coleman, Esq., Gatton Park, Reigate. 
On the right hand side of the entrance to the hall 
just inside the door, Mr. J. H. Wittey, Nunhead 
Cemetery, staged a large semi-circular group of early 
Chrysanthemums. For early flowers some of them 
were of great size, although white predominated. An 
edging of Maidenhair Fern imparted a finish to the 
group (Silver Flora Medal). 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, 
N. , made a brave display with Dahlias, of Cactus 
varieties chiefly. The flowers were large and very 
bright. In the centre of the group, in the background, 
some fine flowers of Lilium nepalense and L. walli- 
chianum were very conspicuous (Silver Gilt Flora 
Medal). 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, 
Norwood Road, S.E., set up a nice lot of stove foliage 
plants in a very tasteful manner. They included 
finely variegated pieces of Dracaena sanderiana, the 
pretty Leea amabilis, several late Caladiums and 
some nicely coloured Crotons and Dracaenas (Bronze 
Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., 
staged a lot of capital stove foliage plants. Dracaena 
massangeana, D. Doucettii and D. indivisa rubra 
were represented by some handsomely coloured 
specimens. Crotons in variety were also bright and 
attractive. A box of the pretty Saxifraga sarmentosa 
tricolor superba occupied a position in the front rank 
(Silver Banksian Medal). 
Roses in capital condition considering the advanced 
season were shown by Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross, Herts. Baskets full of the new 
apricot-hued China Rose Queen Mab were very 
noteworthy here. Some capital examples of 
Enchantress, Niphetos, Mrs. John Laing and Sylph 
were also on view. The blooms all through were 
remarkably fresh (Silver Gilt Banksian Medal). 
A very effective decorative exhibit came from 
Messrs. Jones & Sons, Shrewsbury. It was composed 
entirely of Dahlias, chiefly of the Cactus section, 
arranged wiih suitable greenery. The hardy autumn 
flower appeared to great advantage in the large 
pyramidal bunches and shower bouquets that found 
a place in the back of the exhibit. There was no 
semblance of stiffness in the arrangement, great taste 
and judgment being displayed throughout. The 
front ranks displayed stands of cut blooms of both 
show and Cactus sections. Of the latter Cycle, Miss 
Webster and Mrs. Turner were some of the most 
striking novelties (Silver Flora Medal). 
Some first-class Dahlias were shown by Mr. J. 
Hudson, Gardener to Leopold de Rothschild, Esq,, 
Gunnersbury House, Acton, Middlesex, which in¬ 
cluded Cactus, single, pompon, and the so-called 
single Cactus varieties. The narrow florets of the 
last-named are very distinct and striking, particularly 
in the case of such varieties as Novar, Meg Merri- 
lees, Sir Walter, Ivanhoe, Brenda and Queen Mary, 
which were all shown in excellent condition (Silver 
Flora Medal). 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, were 
well to the fore for cut Dahlias. The blooms were 
staged in the fashion generally adopted by the 
Messrs, Cannell, viz., in large flat pyramidal bunches, 
with sprays of Asparagus. A layer of hardy Fern 
served for a ground-work. Cactus forms were 
chiefly in evidence, very choice being Miss Irene 
Cannell, Gloriosa, Major Haskins, Mrs. W. Noble, 
Fusilier, Robert Cannell, The Czar, and Mrs. H. 
Cannell. A few bunches of pompons were also 
staged. These, too, were all choice (Silver Flora 
Medal). 
A grand batch of the e»rly-flowering Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Lady Mary Fitzwigram was sent by Mr. Geo. 
Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, Syon House, 
Brentford. The plants were marvellously floriferous, 
and in addition to the expanded flowers were carry¬ 
ing a heavy crop of buds (Silver Flora Medal). 
Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton, showed a nice 
batch of the grand Salvia splendens grandiflora. 
The plants were arranged in a semi-circular group, 
and edged with a broad band of Maidenhair Fern 
(Silver Banksian Medal). 
Mr. Hudson likewise showed some magnificent 
specimens of the Salvia, the racemes of flower being 
much larger and finer than in the first named group. 
The plants indeed literally blazed with scarlet (Silver 
Flora Medal). 
Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge, Farnham, Hants, 
received a Silver Flora Medal for a superb display 
of show and fancy Dahlias. Duchess of York, Per¬ 
fection, Arthur Rawlings, John Hickling, Shotsham 
Hero, Majestic, Shirley Hibberd, Jas. Cocker, Jas. 
Stephen, Burgundy, Eldorado, Duke of Fife, and 
Rebecca were some of his strongest forms. In the 
background of the show and fancy blooms was a row 
of flat pyramidal bunches of Cactus and Pompon 
sorts. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. J. 
T. West, Tower Hill, Brentwood, for a capital dis¬ 
play of cut Dahlias. Arthur RawliDgs, Maude 
Fellowes, Virginale, William Powell, Hero, Willie 
Garrett, Mrs. Jchn Downie, and Nellie Cramond, 
were some of the best of the show and fancy forms 
and were all represented by superb blooms. Pom¬ 
pons, and Cactus varieties were likewise shown in 
excellent form. 
Stands of pompon, Cactus, show, and fancy 
Dahlias were contributed by Mr. Geo. Humphries, 
Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wilts. (Bronze 
Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Howe House Nurseries, 
Cambridge, sent cut Dahlias, conspicuous amongst 
which were some superb Cactus flowers. Charles 
Woodbridge, Harmony, Falka, Cassilda. Lady Pen¬ 
zance, Beatrice, Regulus, Mrs. Wilson Noble and 
Fusilier were the pick of the collection. A grand 
display of cut spikes of Gladioli was forthcoming 
from the same firm. Many of the leading varieties 
were on view, together with a host of very fine seed¬ 
lings. The flower spikes and the individual flowers 
were of great size throughout, and the colours were 
both rich and varied (Silver Gilt Flora Medal). 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, weighed 
in strongly with a comprehensive collection of pom¬ 
pon, single, and Cactus Dahlias. The pompons 
were especially fine, and such forms as Jessica, 
Bacchus, Ruy Bias, and Erica were splendid sam¬ 
ples of their kind (Silver Flora Medal). 
A Silver Flora Medal went to Mr. Chas. Turner, 
Slough, who showed Cactus Dahlias in a novel and 
effective fashion. Instead of being done up in 
bunches the stems of the flowers were inserted in 
baskets filled with moss, pots of Adiantum being in¬ 
terspersed between the baskets. Mrs. Beck, Tonga, 
Earl of Pembroke, Fusilier, Mrs. C. Turner, 
Gloriosa, and Mrs. Barnes were in particularly good 
condition. 
Mr. John Green, Dereham, showed a number of 
bunches of miniature Cactus Dahlias. 
Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, Devon, showed four 
dozen large fine blooms of Chrysanthemums. W. 
R. Prince, Barbara Forbes, Milano, M. Hoste, Lady 
Esther Smith, Lady Kennaway, Madame Gustave 
Henry, Miss Emily Silsbury, Miss Oxenhara, and 
In Memoriam were the varieties shown. 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Sons, Highgate, N., had 
a small group of cut hardy flowers, including samples 
of the Poke Plant, Phytolacca decandra A fine 
array of cut hardy flowers came from Messrs. Jas. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. It included a bright 
patch of the shovy Tritoma hybrida, Anemone 
japonica, A. j. alba, Helenium autumnale. Helianthus 
strumosus, H. multiflorus plenus, and perennial 
Asters in variety (Silver F'lora Medal). 
Messrs. Paul & Son, the Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
received a Silver Banksian Medal for a bright and 
varied collection of cut hardy flowers. 
Mr. Eric F. Such, Maidenhead, was awarded a 
Bronze Banksian Medal for a collection of cut early 
Chrysanthemums. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, had 
samples of Pbysalis Franchetti. Messrs. Sander also 
had an exhibit of similar material. A stand of Cactus 
Dahlias came from Messrs. Keynes Williams & Co., 
Salisbury. Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., sent 
samples of the tuberous rooted Begonia Lafayette. 
At a meeting of the fruit and vegetable committee 
a Silver Knightian Medal went to Mr. Empson, 
gardener to Mrs. Wingfield, Ampthill House, Ampt- 
bill, Bucks, for a collection of Onions. There were 
some grand bulbs here—large, sound, and weighty— 
and many varieties were represented, including 
Ailsa Craig, Giant Rocca, Holborn, Barnet Hero, 
and Excelsior. There were eleven dishes of Pears 
staged for the Veitch prizes. Mr. C. Herrin, Drop- 
more, was first with Souvenir du Congres. Mr. 
Geo. Wythes was second with Autumn Nelis. 
Eleven dishes of Apples competed. Mr. Wythes 
won the first prize with Ribston Pippin. Mr. King, 
gardener to Col. Coleman, Reigate, was second with 
Worcester Pearmain. 
Several Melons were shown, but none of them 
gained an award. Mr. W. Kemp, The Gunyah, 
Barnes, showed a dozen Melons, and a dozen Cucum¬ 
bers. A Cultural Commendation was given to Mr. 
G. Woodward, gardener to Roger Leigh, Esq, 
Barham Court, Maidstone, for a fine dish of Pear 
Beurre Martillet. 
-- 
OBITUARY. 
Mr. James Cocker. 
Though aware of the illness of the senior partner of 
the firm of Messrs. James Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen, 
we were pained to hear of his death at 12.35 on the 
morning of Wednesday, the 15th inst., at his resi¬ 
dence, Sunnypark Nursery, in the sixty-fourth year 
of his age. He has been known to us by reputation 
for more than twenty years, but we made his personal 
acquaintance at some of the big shows of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, while still at South Kensing¬ 
ton. 
Mr. Cocker had been ailing for the last two years, 
and for some time past was unable to attend to 
business. He was borne at Corse, in the parish of 
Forgue, on the north-west borders of Aberdeenshire, 
in 1832. His father was the founder of the firm at 
the Sunnypark Nursery, and the deceased commenced 
his gardening career with his father at Sunnypark. 
After a time he went as a journeyman to Cloncaird 
Castle, Ayrshire. Sometime afterwards he found 
his way to London, where he spent a number of 
years studying the various branches of the nursery 
business. About 1871 he went into partnership with 
his father and brother, and this partnership con¬ 
tinued till the death of his father in 1881, about 
which time we made his acquaintance, recognising 
him as an ardent florist. At this time he started 
business on his own account, taking into partnership 
his three sons, James, William and Alexander. His 
eldest son James died about three years ago, but the 
two younger are still carrying on the business with 
energy and courage, as the recent reports of the 
Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and other shows in 
our pages testify. 
For many years past Mr. James Cocker was an 
enthusiastic and successful cultivator of Dahlias, 
Pansies, Pinks and Carnations. The Dahlia James 
Cocker, a show variety is still one of the best of its 
class and to be found in every representative collec- 
