812 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
August 20, 1898. 
and then, perhaps, find them in such a state as will 
take him a loDg time to get them into proper work¬ 
ing order, all through the carelessness of the one 
who had been working with them previously, by 
neglecting to clean them and put them in their pro¬ 
per places when he had finished The time it would 
have taken him then would have been nothing to the 
time wasted now, not only in looking for them, but 
also in the quality of the work now performed. 
No one can do work in a businesslike and proper 
manner without having all his tools in thoroughly 
good working order. When this is attended to no 
slovenly work should be tolerated. It should always 
be borne in mind that if a job is worth doing at all 
it is worth doing well. It should always be seen to 
by the head gardener or foreman in the different 
departments that the younger men, especially 
apprentices, are thoroughly initiated into the proper 
way of working all the different tools ; for this is un¬ 
doubtedly another feature in garden scenery, to see 
the work being gone about in a neat and businesslike 
way, with everyone alike interested and determined 
to do his share in the best manner possible. Every 
job should be done thoroughly as you go along. For 
instance, in digging over a piece of ground it is a 
common practice with slovens to throw weeds, 
stones or other extraneous matter on the alley or 
walk adjoining, to be raked up afterwards. As this 
keeps these places untidy all the time >ou are at the 
job it is a much better plan to have a basket or 
barrow beside you to put them into as you pick 
them out of the ground. When the digging is 
finished, should it be a border requiring an alley 
made up, it should be done at once, and then the 
job is finished and looks quite tidy, although it may 
have to wait some time before any crop is put in. 
By thus performing every part of an operation as we 
go along we can leave it at any time, should occasion 
arise, and it will still have a finished appearance as 
far as we have gone. Should it happen that any of 
the other men be sent to finish it he will see at once 
what is done and what is not. 
(To be continued.) 
SOCIETIES. 
EATON, CHESTER .—August 5 th. 
The annual flower show of the Eaton Estate Society 
was held in Eaton Park The show was a very good 
one and the cottagers of the estate are to be con¬ 
gratulated on the quality of their vegetables, which 
showed considerable improvement over those of pre¬ 
vious years. Particularly well represented were such 
things as Carrots, Cauliflowers, Celery, Lettuce, 
Onions and sweet herbs. On the other hand Potatos 
we e scabby, and Peas and Vegetable Marrows were 
not up to former standards. 
The amateurs took precelence of the cottagers in 
the flower and fruit classes, which were fairly well 
shown, all things considered. The most attractive 
exhibit of the show was a decorative table set up by 
Mr. N. F. Barnes, gardener to the Duke of 
Westminster, Eaton Hall, and which had been 
arranged with exquisite taste. The principal features 
of it consisted of Nectarines, Peaches, Plums and 
other luscious hot-house fruits, beautifuily set off 
with Asparagus, Fern fronds and beautiful varieties 
of Carnations. 
In the cottagers’ section the greater number of 
classes were set apart for vegetables, fruit, plants and 
cut flowers not being by any means neglected, though 
the classes were fewer. Vegetable classes were 
equally numerous for amateurs, and they also did 
credit to the fruit prizes offered for competition. 
Prizes were also offered for annuals and other cut 
flowers, as well as for bread, butter and honey. The 
competing tenants were classed according to the 
number of cows they kept. 
The prizes were distributed by the Duchess of 
Westminster, the Duke also being present, and read 
out the reports of some of the judges. He congratu¬ 
lated the... prize-winners and hoped the unsuccessful 
competitors would not b discouraged. The Duke 
and Duchess were accompanied by Lady Lettice 
Grosvenor, Lord Arthur Grosvenor, Lady Mary 
Grosvenor, Lord Hugh Grosvenor and others. The 
Dukeheldan” AtHome,” lowhich the leading tenants 
and a number of Cestrians were invited, including 
the Mayor of Chester (J. Goodie Holmes, Esq.) and 
Miss Holmes, both of whom attended. 
BIRMINGHAM CARNATION SHOW.— 
August 5 th and 6 th. 
The annual exhibition of the Midland section of the 
National Carnation and Picotee Society was held in 
the Edgbaston Botanical Gardens on the above 
dates, and demonstrated in no small degree the pro¬ 
gress that has been made in this popular flower. 
Last year's show was held by many competent 
judges to have been the best in England; the 
exhibition just opened was practically its equal in 
number of exhibitors, if not altogether so in regard 
to quality. " Selfs " and " yellow ground ” varieties, 
indeed, could scarcely be surpassed, and the observ¬ 
ant visitor examining the number of and perfection 
in which these beautiful varieties were shown will 
easily discover that the trend of public fancy is in 
their direction, to the exclusion of " flakes ” and 
“bizarres.” It is not that the two latter branches 
of the Carnation family were not largely represented, 
nor that the high standard of quality associated with 
the Birmingham show were not maintained. Far 
from it. They are still as striking and beautiful in 
colour as heretofore ; but the tendency of the age is 
unquestionably towards the more simple and delicate 
tones of the yellows and seifs. The season has been 
a fairly good one for cultivation, and it was the 
general subject of conversation among the many 
experts gathered from various parts of the country 
that the exhibition could, on the whole, scarcely be 
surpassed. 
The committee were fortunate in securing the 
support of Mr. Martin R. Smith, of Hayes, Kent 
—the chief raiser of seifs and yellows in the country 
—and it is perhaps needless to say that he won in 
most of the classes in which he exhibited. At the 
same time it is satisfactory to know that a Birming¬ 
ham amateur, Mr. R. C. Cartwright, of Selly Park, 
Edgbaston, ran him very close, and in the competi¬ 
tion for the “ Sydenham Amateurs' Challenge Cup,” 
for the most successful exhibitors in Classes I. 
to XXXVIII., was only beaten by ten points— 
Mr. Smith securing 141 points to Mr. Cartwright's 
131. The Midland Counties Challenge Cup, open to 
the trade—the competition in which, it may be re¬ 
membered, Mr. Robert Sydenham, of Bristol Road, 
having last year won the previous Cup outright, 
promised not to compete—was carried off by Messrs. 
Thompson & Co., of Sparkhill, with 119 points, Mr. 
R. Brown, of Crompton Road, Handsworth, being a 
good second with sixty-eight points. Mr. A. W. 
Jones, also of Handsworth, who won the Amateurs' 
Cup last year, but who has in the meantime joined 
“ the trade,” was third with fifty-two points. 
Mr. Sydenham, however, although not taking part 
in the challenge competition, won in many of the 
classes in which he competed, and had a splendid 
aggregate of 194 points. Mr. Martin Smith won the 
first prize in Class I.—for twelve self Carnations— 
his most prominent biooms being Cecilia, a very 
fine yellow seedling, which also won at the recent 
show at the Crystal Palace; Conqueror, a rosy- 
salmon of perfect shape; and Comet, a deep 
crimson. Mr. Robert Sydenham was a capital 
second, showing amongst a well-balanced collection 
a perfect specimen of Regina, a new yellow self, 
having much in character with the ever-popular 
Germania. Mr. A. W. Jones, of Handsworth, 
who was first in the class for six self Carnations, 
showed a very fine flower of the dark maroon 
Mancunian, and a dainty white, Mrs. Eric 
Hambro. The competition in this class was ex¬ 
ceedingly close, and there was not much to chose 
between Mr. Jones’s stand and that of Mr. R. C. 
Cartwright, of Selly Park, who was second, the 
blooms being amongst the choicest seen out this 
season, notably a wonderfully good Regina, 
which won the first prize also in the class for single 
blooms. Mr. Martin Smith had to be content with 
third prize here, but in Class III.—twelve yellow- 
ground Picotees—the Kent grower scored compara¬ 
tively easy, his exhibits including some of the 
choicest varieties sent out for some years. Lady 
Bristol, a deep yellow ground, with heavy rose edge, 
which gained a First-class Certificate at the Crystal 
Palace, and Gazelle, an entirely new flower of 
the same character, but with a deeper edge, being 
amongst the most notable. Mr. James Douglas, who 
was second in the class, was best represented by 
Stanley Wrightson, a choice primrose, with deep 
red edge. Mr. R, C. Cartwright was first in the 
class for six yellow Picotees, Mr. Nigel, primrose 
ground with heavy maroon edge, being his best 
flower; Mr. Brown, of Handsworth, who was 
second, also showing a Mr. Nigel, though a little 
loose in formation in comparison with that of Mr. 
Cartwright. 
The competition in the class for fancies was ex¬ 
ceedingly keen, and here again Mr. Martin Smith 
scored, showing a grand specimen of Hidalgo —the 
finest fancy yet raised, though a bad grower—having 
a yellow ground, with crimson and maroon flakings. 
Mr. Sydenham was a good second, Little Sam—- 
primrose wiih maroon lacing—being the pick of his 
collection. Perhaps two of the closest stands in the 
show were those of Mr. Sydenham and Mr. Brown, 
staged in Class VI.—white ground Picotees—but the 
former just won, his Muriel and Mrs. Openshaw 
being remarkably good. 
In the classes for flakes and bizarres it was a 
source of satisfaction to several growers that despite 
the introduction of many new varieties, such old 
favourites as Admiral Curzon, Sarah Payne, which 
have been in cultivation for fifty years, and Sports¬ 
man—a sport started from the Curzon forty-five 
years age—still hold their own, and are shown to 
great perfection. Mr. Sydenham secured the premier 
honours in this section, some of his best blooms 
being Gordon Lewis, a purple flake, which won also 
the premier prize for specimen flakes; Richard 
Monk, a new scarlet bizarre, and John Wormald, a 
scarlet flake. Messrs. Thomson & Co. were well up 
second, their specimens including a fine Master 
Fred, which also won the premier prize for bizarres. 
The classes for undressed blooms—flowers shown 
with natural foliage and without dressing or cards — 
produced a lively competition, and were amongst the 
most interesting features of the show. Here again 
Mr. Sydenham was first, and Mr. James Douglas, 
second. Mr. R. C. Cartwright, after a keen contest, 
just beat Messrs. Thomson & Co., in the class in 
which three flowers from each of six distinct varie¬ 
ties were staged, these, with their foliage, making a 
very pretty display. Mr. Martin Smith added to his 
other successes with three premier prizes for speci¬ 
men blooms in seifs, fancies and yellow grounds, 
whilst Messrs. Thomson & Co. won in bizarres, Mr. 
Robert Sydenham, in flakes, and Mr. A. W. Jones, 
of Handsworth, in two classes of Picotees. 
The competition in single blooms was generally 
very close, the principal prizes falling to Mr. Syden¬ 
ham, Messrs. Thomson & Co., and Mr. Brown. The 
maiden classes, open to growers who had never pre¬ 
viously won, were remarkably well contested, there 
being no fewer than seventeen exhibitors—certainly 
an encouraging augury for the future success of the 
society. Mr. T. F. Dranfield, of Stoke-on-Trent, 
was the successful exhibitor. Mr. Martin Smith won 
further honours in the classes for border Carnations, 
Mr. H. W. Wyvelin, of Torquay, and Mr. A. J. 
Rowberry, of South Woodford, also showing to 
advantage. 
In addition to the Carnations sent for general 
competition there were classes for bouquets, table 
decoration, sprays, &c., whilst the honorary exhibits 
—especially the Begonias of Mr. B. R. Davis, of 
Yeovil; the herbaceous plants shown by Mr. W. F. 
Gunn, of Olton ; Messrs. Hewitt & Co., Solihull; Mr. 
J. White, of Worcester ; and the Sweet Peas of Mr. 
Eckford, of Wem, Shropshire—were of great excel¬ 
lence. The judges were Mr. T. E. Henwood, Read¬ 
ing; Mr. John Ball, Royal Forest, Slough; Mr. 
John Whitham, Hebden Bridge; and Mr. Chas. 
Phillips, Bracknell, Berks. 
HASTINGS .—August roth. 
The annual flower show of the Hastings and East 
Sussex Horticultural Society was held in the Alex¬ 
andra Park, Hastings,under very favourable auspices 
as to weather. The exhibits were fewer than last 
year, but the quality of the plants was quite up to 
the previous standard as seen at Hastings. There 
were sixty-one exhibitors as compared with seventy- 
eight last year, and the exhibits amounted to 490, 
while last year they were 533. There was consider¬ 
able competition for cut flowers, including Roses, 
and table decorations were of a high order of merit, 
great taste in the arrangements being displayed. 
Vegetables were also a good feature of the show, 
and of good quality. 
The first prize for eight stove and greenhouse 
plants was taken by J. Warren, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
A. Offer), Handcross Park, Sussex, who had some 
excellent samples of good cultivation. Sir Archi¬ 
bald Lamb (gardener, Mr. T. Portnell) took the 
