157 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 6, 1897. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM MUTUAL FRIEND. 
Before the "fever” rages, and before The Garden¬ 
ing World is beseiged with descriptions of the 
shows, I should like to note a very fine variety— 
particularly fine, in fact, as grown by Mr:. Jas. Gib¬ 
son, of Devonhurst Gardens, Chiswick. Mr. Gibson 
is a well-known and successful cultivator of the 
Chrysanthemum, and this year he has, undoubtedly, 
excelled himself. Among, however, the many fine 
varieties which are already—October 24th—far ad¬ 
vanced, I could not help admiring Mutual Friend, a 
very fine pure white, with a good strong dwarf 
habit; a plant with a character, and, I believe, alike 
suitable for exhibition or for decoration—a plant for 
the amateur as well as the professional. Mr. Gibson 
possesses several specimens of the plant in question, 
each carrying three blooms, which are pure white, 
and of great size and substance, the quality being 
indicated by the fact that the average dimensions are 
about 10 in. in diameter, with a depth and solidarity 
of about 6 in. One bloom that was measured ex¬ 
ceeded these figures, and, I think, certainly tended 
to prove that Mr. Gibson's skill as a cultivator is as 
apparent in this direction as in any others. Mutual 
Friend, therefore, is well named; it well repays 
the cultivator for his care; it responds to his atten¬ 
tions in a generous spirit; it acts according to the 
treatment it receives; and thus, in a way, it may be 
said to be " mutual,” and a ” friend,” indeed.— 
C. B. G., Acton, W. 
CHRYSflNTHEmUin SHOWS. 
BATTERSEA. — Oct. 29 th. 
This Show opened on Friday 29th ult., and attracted 
a great deal of local attention during that and the 
succeeding days. We were pleased to note better 
groups even than last year, and it is a matter of 
much suprise that in so dense and low lying a 
neighbourhood there should be a supply of the 
autumn flower equalling what we have seen at many 
a place with better surroundings and conditions. 
The premier award was taken by Mr. W. H. Rid¬ 
dle, 75, Montholme Road, Wandsworth Common, 
with an exceedingly fine group occupying 30 sq. ft. 
with a circular front, containing clean well-grown 
plants. 
Amongst the amateur growers, Messrs. A. W. 
Bolton, 11, Eversleigh Road ; W. H. White, 121, 
Latchmere Road; and J. Daniel, 50, Washurst 
Road, took prizes for groups, and certainly deserved 
them. We noticed some very pretty Pompons, and this 
class must have caused some little difficulty to the 
judges, who awarded the honours to Mr. C. Awberry, 
13, Avenue Road, Clapham ; Mr. A. A. Stewart, 86, 
Clifton Street, Battersea ; and Mr. J. J. Green, 127, 
Latchmere Road. 
For 6 blooms, incurved, Mr. J. French, Ambleside, 
Wandsworth Common ; and Mr. J. Portbury, Ripon 
House, Putney, were first and second respectively, 
whilst the latter exhibitor took firsts for dishes of 
Apples and Pears, followed by Messrs. J. J. Green 
and A. A. Stewart as second and third. Mr. Port¬ 
bury again succeeded with his group of miscellane¬ 
ous plants, but had to yield first place to Mr. Carter, 
Woodlands, Streatham Hill. Some very pretty baskets 
were arranged by Mr. Youl, 148, Eversleigh Road, 
and Mr. W. G. Bond, 17, Frances Street, Battersea, 
whilst they again scored for bouquets, but were 
beaten by Mr. C. Hemshead, 26, Wilson Street. 
Mr. Youl secured first for a vase of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, and was followed by Mr. J. O. Langrish 
167, Elsley Road. 
For six blooms of Japanese, Mr. A. A. Stewart, 
Mr. A. R. Geale, 11, Geddes Road, Wandsworth, 
and Mr. J. Youl were successful. Mr. W. Forth, 
40, Westover Road, Wandsworth, Mr. G. J. Ninnes, 
57, Montholme Road, Wandsworth Common, and 
Mr. W. T. Underwood, 13, Dighton Road, Wands¬ 
worth, also staged six Japanese blooms that received 
awards under the conditions laid down. Mr J. 
French, Mr. J. Portbury, and Mr. A. J. Povey, Field 
House, Larkhall Lane, each staged eighteen blooms, 
Japanese, in twelve varieties, and scored in this 
order. Mr. French further led with twelve blooms, 
Japanese, in eight varieties, and was seconded by 
Mr. J. Brown, 55, Norman Road, Wimbledon, whilst 
Mr. Portbury was third. The Ryecroft Silver Gilt 
Medal for six blooms of white Japanese, was awarded 
to Mr. J. J. GreeD, and second and third places to 
Mr. J. O. Langrish, and Mr. C. Hemshead. Messrs. 
W. G- Bond, J. J. Green, and C. Awberry, ran each 
other very close for two blooms Japanese, two 
blooms incurved, and two bunches of Pompons 
(three blooms to each bunch) with foliage. 
The best incurved blooms were shown by Mr. W. 
G. Bond and Mr. J. J. Green. Mr. G. Rock, 5, 
Porson Street, followed Mr. A. A. Stewart in the 
classes for six Japanese. Messrs. Hemstead, Bond, 
& Forth took the awards for six blooms of the variety 
Japanese. 
A very fine board of twenty-four cut blooms was 
sent ” not for competition ” by R. Garton, Esq., 
Worplesden Place, Guildford. Mr. W. Pearson, Jr., 
34, Ashbury Road, sent two plants Viviand Morel, 
which appeared to have been grown entirely in the 
open, and had not received sufficient of the culti¬ 
vators’ attention to warrant the judges in giving it 
a Certificate. Mr. Robert Neal, Trinity Nurseries, 
Wandsworth Common, greatly assisted the show by 
loans of well-grown groups of Palms, &c. Mr. 
Norman Davis and Mr. H. J. Jones sent some fine 
specimen blooms, and the Ichthemic Guano Company 
also testified to their existence. 
Another year we hope to see more nurserymen 
exhibiting, as we can assure them a hearty welcome 
by Mr. Coppin and Mr. Langrish, the president and 
secretary, besides the appreciation of a good and 
enthusiastic attendance. 
BY TELEGRAM, 
DORCHESTER.— November 3rd. 
The annual show of the Dorchester Chrysanthemum 
and Horticultural Society opened in the Corn 
Exchange, Dorchester, on Wednesday, November 
3rd. A considerable amount of merit was shown by 
the various competitors, who, though small in num¬ 
ber, made up in quality what was lacking in quantity. 
A tradesmans' exhibition was held in the Town Hall, 
resulting in an interesting addition to the show. 
We give some of the principal awards.—A. B. 
Sheriden, Esq., got a first prize for forty-eight 
Japanese blooms, Miss Burt was second, and Miss 
Church third. Miss Burt took first for twelve 
Japanese ; J. Groves, Esq., was second, and 
the Rev. W. M Anderson came in third. 
For the best six Japanese blooms shown 
in a vase with foliage, the first award was 
taken by Miss Burt ; second came A. B. Sheriden, 
Esq., and in the third position came Captain Sutton. 
A. B. Sheriden, Esq. had the best Japanese bloom in 
the show. For twelve incurves, J. Groves, Esq. was 
first ; A. B. Sheriden, Esq. second ; and Miss 
Church came in third. For a group of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, Captain Sutton was first ; second came Mr. 
W. J. Bibben ; third, Miss Ashley. For a group of 
miscellaneous plants, A. B. Sheriden, Esq. scored 
first ; second came Major Parry ; and third Miss 
Ashley. Captain Hounslow and Miss Ashley took 
first and second for the best three Japanese specimen 
plants, and also for the best single specimen. 
The class for the best six pots of Violets brought 
up a good number of entries, and the competition 
was very keen. Primulas and Solanums had classes 
to themselves ; and some very handsome dishes of 
Apples and Pears were staged in the fruit classes, 
the entries in which were more numerous than usual. 
A handsome group of Chrysanthemums and Foliage 
plants was exhibited by W. E. Brymer, Esq , M.P., 
not for competition, who filled up one end of the 
Corn Exchange. 
DUBLIN. — November 3rd and 4th. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland held 
their winter exhibition of Chrysanthemums and 
fruit at Ball’s Bridge, Dublin, on Wednesday and 
Thursday, November 3rd and 4th. It was a grand 
all-round show in every department. In the class 
for a group of Chrysanthemums, not to exceed thirty 
pots, staged for effect, first came Mrs. M’Cann, 
Simmon’s Court Castle, Dublin (gardener, T. Goff) 
for the leading award ; Mrs. Pearce, Willow Park, 
Dublin (gardener, J. McKenzie) came second. Fora 
group occupying 50 superficial feet, arranged for 
effect, first came Mr. M’Cann ; second, Mrs. Mac- 
taggart, Ousell House, Rathgar (gardener, Mr. 
Sullivan) ; third, Mrs. Pearce. In Class III, for four 
pots of incurved Chrysanthemums, each different, 
the first prize was taken by Mrs. M'Cann. In the 
Class IV, four plants, any varieties, not to exceed 
8 ins. in diameter, Mr. M'Cann was first ; H. B. 
White, Esq., Bullinguile, Donnybrook (gardener, J 
Finegan), came second. 
In Class VIII for thirty-six cut blooms, eighteen 
Japanese, eighteen incurved, first, Lord Ashbrook. 
The Castle, Durrow (gardener J. L. Me Kellor); 
Countess Pembroke, Mount Merrion, Dublin (gar¬ 
dener, H. Crawford), came in second ; and R. De 
La Poer, Kilcronagh (gardener, M. Fernie), took 
third. Class IX, stand of twenty-four blooms 
Japanese, 14 distinct varieties, first, Col. C. B. F. 
Crichton Mullaboden, Ballymore Eustace (gardener, 
J. Mitchiner) ; second, Lord Ashbrook, The Castle, 
Durrow (gardener, L. Me Kellor); third, Coun¬ 
tess of Pembroke, Mount Merrion, Dublin (gardener, 
H. Crawford). Class X, stand of forty-eight blooms, 
forty-eight varieties, first, Countess Pembroke; 
second, Col. C. F. Crichton; third, Lady E. H. 
Bury, Charleville (gardener, Mr. R. McKenna). 
For twenty-four blooms not less than eighteen 
varieties, the first prize, a handsome silver cruet, 
presented by the Ichthemic Guano Co , Ipswich, 
was taken by Lord Ashbrook; second, Countess 
Pembroke; third, R. De La Poer, Kilcronagh, 
(gardener, J. Fernie). 
In Class XVI. for six white Japanese blooms all 
one variety: first, Clifford Lloyd, Esq., Victoria 
Castle, Killiney (gardener, J. Farrell); second, Mrs. 
Moore, AshtOD, Phoenix Park (gardener, Mr. Kearn); 
third, Countess Pembroke. In Class XVII. for six 
Japanese any colour except white or yellow, Countess 
Pembroke was first; C. Lloyd second ; and Lord 
Plunkett, Old Connaught House, Bray (gardener, W. 
Webster), was third. 
In the class for four bunches of Grapes in two 
varieties, first came Lady E. H. Bury, and second 
Lord Ashtown. 
For two bunches of white Grapes Lady E. H. Bury 
was first, and Lord Ashtown (gardener, Mr. A. 
Porter) Woodlawn, Dublin second. Two bunches of 
black Grapes were best shown by the Rt. Hon. J. M. 
Meade, St. Michaels, Merrion, Dublin, (gardener, 
Mr. J. Colgan), second came Lord Ashtown, and 
third, Lady E. H. Bury. 
In the class for a dish of six cooking Pears Mr. R. 
Cassels, Harrold's Cross, Dublin, led; second came 
Mrs. McCano, timmon’s Court, Dublin (gardener, 
Mr. Goff) ; third, Mr. J. B. Quin, Shannon Lawn, 
Limerick (gardener, Mr. J. Ryan). Six dessert Pears 
were best shown by Mr. J. Gubbins, Bruree House, 
Bruree (gardener, Mr. H. Morrison). The second 
prize fell to Lord Carew, Castle Boro, Enniscorthy 
(gardener, Mr. J. Kennan); and the third to Mrs. 
Myre, Ashton, Phoenix Park (gardener, Mr. Kearns). 
For six cooking Apples Mr. E. Dolier, Knockton 
Bray, Dublin (gardener, Mr. J. Harvey) was first; 
Lady E. H. Bury, second; and third, Mr. J. Gubbins. 
In Class, XXXV. six dessert Apples were best shown 
by General Sir R. Palmer, Kenure Park, Rush, 
Dublin (gardener, Mr. N. Stringer). Mrs. Moore 
was second, and Lady E. H. Bury third in this 
class. 
The finest group of foliage and flowering plants 
was contributed by Messrs. C. Ramsey & Sons, 
Ballsbridge Nursery, Dublin ; Mr. R. Jameson, the 
Nurseries, Sandymount, Dublin was second. 
Amongst the trade exhibits not for competition, 
Messrs. Edmondson Bros., Dublin, had a splendid 
lot of Apples and Pears. Mr. W. Tait, Nurseryman 
Dublin, sent a grand collection of Apples of the lead¬ 
ing varieties. A collection of plants was exhibited 
by the Ichthemic Guano Co. 
-- 5 -- 
SOCIETIES. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
November 1st. 
There was a fairly busy meeting of the Floral 
Committee of the above society at the Royal 
Aquarium on this date. A considerable number of 
Certificates was given (for which see next week), 
and there were several varieties that the committee 
desired to see again. 
Mr. W. Wells, Earls wood Nurseries, Redhill, 
Surrey, staged a quantity of fine cut blooms including 
such varieties as Mrs. G. W. Palmer, Directeur 
Liebert, and N.C.S. Jubilee. 
Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, 
