June 3,1899. 
63i 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
EXHIBITORS AT THE TEMPLE SHOW. 
On this occasion we propose mentioning a number 
of the leading exhibitors at the twelfth great annual 
exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society, in 
the Inner Temple Gardens, on the Thames embank¬ 
ment, the spot to which the eyes of all horticulturists, 
whether amateur or professional, are for the time 
directed. Two years ago we gave the portraits of 
fourteen of the leading exhibitors; and on this 
occasion we give another fourteen, though a number 
of them are younger members of firms previously 
represented. Their names at least will be familiar 
to most of our readers; but for the benfit of those 
who live at a distance from London, we accompany 
this notice with portraits of the exhibitors in 
question. 
Mr. Richard C. Smith Carrington, M.A., 
F.R.H.S., is the managing partner in the firm of 
Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., Worcester. If our 
memory serves us right this firm has exhibited at 
every Temple Show since its commencement in 1888. 
The great establishment at Worcester carries on a 
general nursery business, but ornamental trees and 
shrubs of all sorts constitute the leading features of 
the nursery. The giant specimens of Clematis in 
pots, exhibited by this firm, have been unique in 
their way at every Temple Show, eliciting the 
surprise and wonder of visitors. Not only have the 
plants been matvels of cultivation, but some of the 
finest and most valuable of the triumphs of the 
hybridist have been included amongst the varieties 
of Clematis put up at this, the leading metropolitan 
show. The accompanying portrait will acquaint our 
readers with the features of the managing partner of 
the famous Worcester firm, which has figured so 
largely and long in the annals of the " Faithful City.” 
He also interests himself greatly in agricultural 
affairs, and takes a deal of interest in the shows in 
connection with the same. We may here also state 
that Mr. Richard Smith Carrington, the head of the 
firm,was Mayor of Worcester in 1890, being the only 
horticulturist elected as mayor for that year. 
Mr. J. William Hewlings Barr, F.R.H.S., is the 
youngests on of Mr. Peter Barr, whoses fame as a 
horticulturist has spread over the wide world. He is 
equally a member of the firm of Messrs. Barr & 
Sons, Covent Garden, and Long Ditton, Surrey. He 
is an enthusiastic plantsman, as anyone can prove 
for him or herself who visits the nurseries at the last 
named place, where Mr. J. William Barr takes 
charge of everything cultivated by the firm. The 
visit may be made while the Daffodils are in flower, 
or later on, when early, late, Darwin, or florists' 
Tulips expand in succession, to be followed by 
Pyrethrums, Irises, Delphiniums, Paeonies, and 
hosts of other hardy herbaceous plants. In any 
case, Mr. William Barr is almost sure to be there 
and full of all sorts of information on every con¬ 
ceivable subject pertaining to flowers, thus proving 
how aptly the man and his duties fit one another. 
Notwithstanding incessant study and observation of 
the subjects under his care he manages to snatch a 
few days occasionally to visit other notable collec¬ 
tions in the Channel Islands, and on the Continent, 
as well as in this country. He is also a member of 
the Floral Committee of the R.H.S., and attends 
frequently. As an enthusiastic hardy plantsman, the 
mantle of his father seems to have fallen upon him. 
The accompanying portrait of him was taken a few 
years ago. 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch, F.L.S., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., 
F.R.H.S., is the senior director of the firm of Messrs. 
James Veitch & Sons, Ltd..Royal Exotic Nurseries, 
King's Road, Chelsea. Besides the above societies 
of which he is a Fellow, he is also treasurer and 
chairman of the committee of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution; a member of the Council, 
a member of the Scientific Committee, and Chair¬ 
man of the Orchid Committee of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society ; a trustee of, and chairman ot the 
directors of the Hailstorm Insurance Corporation, 
Ltd.; and holds various other positions of responsi¬ 
bility, so that altogether he is a most useful member 
of society and a most capable business man outside 
of and independently of the business of the famous 
firm at Chelsea. His natural talent and long 
experience in all matters pertaining to horticulture 
in its various ramifications, and his great ability in 
organising exhibitions, committees of management, 
&c., put him head and shoulders above multitudes of 
his fellow men. His, therefore, is a busy life, devoted 
largely to the welfare of others as well as himself. In 
the small space at our command it is impossible to 
mention the specialities of the firm of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., for they extend to all branches 
of horticulture, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. 
Exhibits from Chelsea are seldom absent from the 
leading shows about London, and the fortnightly 
meetings of the R.H.S. The firm also send 
magnificent displays to all the leading provincial 
shows as well as the more important foreign ones. 
It needs only to mention the hybrid Orchids, 
Rhododendrons, Nepenthes, Streptocarpus, Begonias, 
the hardy fruits, flowers, vegetables, the magnificent 
Caladiums, the ornamental trees and shrubs, &c., 
which emanate from Chelsea, to remind our readers 
of the perennial displays kept up by the famous 
Chelsea firm. The photograph of Mr. Harry J. 
Veitch on our supplement will be recognised all over 
the country and beyond it. 
Mr William Atkinson, F.R.H.S. is the manag¬ 
ing director of the well-known Yorkshire firm of 
Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray, Ltd., Royal Nurseries, 
Handsworth, Sheffield. We have on a former 
occasion spoken of Mr. Atkinson as a “ man of the 
road,” when he used to be traveller for the firm of 
which he is now the managing director, and has 
been for some years past. Two years ago he made 
his appearance at the Temple Show with a magni¬ 
ficent group of Japan Maples, some of them of great 
size, and causing surprise amongst visitors to the 
show, that they should be hardy and attain such 
development in the open ground in the far north. 
The firm was also well represented at the Conifer 
Conference held at Chiswick, on October 7th and 8th, 
1891, so that in spite of distance, Messrs. Fisher, 
Son & Sibray may be classed amongst exhibitors at 
the more important of the London shows. Their 
leading specialities are Conifers and ornamental 
trees and shrubs generally, both evergreen and 
deciduous. Two years ago, or slightly over, 
they carried out extensive decorations at 
Sheffield, with both hardy and tender subjects on the 
occasion of the visit of the Queen to witness the 
rolling of armour steel plates on the premises of a 
Sheffield firm. The extensive character of the Royal 
Nurseries, Handsworth, enables decorative work of 
this nature to be carried out on a gigantic scale. 
Many will recognise the features of Mr. Atkinson 
in the accompanying supplement. He has now been 
connected with the firm he represents for a period 
of twenty-eight years, first as traveller,and latterly as 
managing director. Previous to that he had some 
schooling with the late Mr. B. S. Williams, of Upper 
Holloway. He comes of an old Nottingham family ; 
and is possessed of grit and business capacity. 
Mr. William H. Cutbush is the younger of the 
two sons now conducting the business of Messrs. Wm. 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate, London. Like his 
brother, Mr. Wm. H. Cutbush is frequently in evidence 
at the various London and other shows, so that many 
will recognise him by the accompanying portrait. The 
firm has occupied the same corner of the large tent at 
the Temple Show since its commencement, in our 
recollection. Those who have observed the compli¬ 
cated group put up in succeeding years can hardly 
have failed to notice the vast advancement that has 
been made in artistic arrangement, as compared 
with the first one in 1888. Last year’s group was 
particularly fine, and practically presented a lesson 
in evolution, as compared with those that preceded 
it. The firm gives special attention to Malmaison 
and other Carnations, particularly tree varieties, 
which are sometimes shown abroad as well as at 
home. Hard-wooded plants, such as Boronias, 
Heaths, Epacris and other New Holland subjects 
receive particular attention. Palms are also largely 
grown,together with bulbs. Hardy ornamental trees 
and shrubs, such as Hollies, Pernettyas, Ivies and 
Conifers in great variety constitute leading features of 
the cultures of the Highgate firm. 
Mr. Robert Cannell is the eldest son of Mr. 
Henry Cannell,who is well known as the founder and 
senior partner of the firm of Messrs. H. Cannell & 
Sons, well known throughout the length and breadth 
of this country. Many years ago this firm was 
prominently brought into notice in every corner of 
the land by the system of sending small parcels of 
plants by post, thereby placing their specialities 
within reach of every gardener and amateur. 
Fuchsias and Pelargoniums with a host of other 
greenhouse and bedding subjects were the specialities 
in request everywhere, and the success of the firm 
in supplying the best and most improved varieties of 
these thiogs has been going on from our earliest 
recollection of them. A magnificent display of 
zonal Pelargoniums is a thing of perennial duration at 
Swanley. More recently tuberous Begonias, Chrys¬ 
anthemums, Cannas, Chinese Primulas and similar 
popular flowers have attained the character of 
specialities. Mr. Robert Cannell, though quite a 
young man, as the accompanying photograph will 
show, takes charge of the extensive nursery and 
seed farm at Eynsford, within easy distance of 
Swanley, either by road or rail. Farm seeds are 
largely grown here, but all the more popular garden 
vegetables are represented by good collections of 
Peas, Beans, Scarlet Runners, Potatos, Onions, &c. 
Fruit trees, and Strawberries are also specialities. 
Roses, Violas, hardy herbaceous plants, Paeonies 
and a host of annuals, for trial or otherwise, also 
come under the care of Mr. Robert Cannell, who 
gives great promise of being a careful and apt busi¬ 
ness man. 
Mr. James Henry Laing, F.R.H.S., is the 
second son of Mr. John Laing, of the firm of Messrs. 
John Laing & Son, Stanstead Park, Forest Hill, and 
Catford Nurseries, London, S.E. Mr. J. H. Laing is 
quite a young man, as the accompanying portrait 
will show ; but he has had time to form connections 
with various local and other bodies outside his own 
business duties. He is a member of the society of 
American Florists; of the Pennsylvania Society, 
Boston, U.S.A.; of the Societe Nationale d’Horti- 
culture de France, et de Belgique ; Life member of 
the French Horticultural Society of London ; vice- 
president of the Croydon Chrysanthemum Society ; 
committee man of the National Rose Society; 
Croydon Horticultural Society; vestryman of 
Lewisham; a founder and past-master of the Hortus 
Lodge of Free Masons, &c. It is scarcely necessary 
to remind our readers of the fame to which the firm 
erf Messrs. John Laing & Sons attained in connection 
with the evolution of the grand race of tuberous 
Begonias, suffice to say that the reputation is still 
maintained, both under glass and out of doors. 
Other specialities of the firm are Caladiums (which 
they have grown for many years) Orchids, stove and 
greenhouse plants, Clivias, Roses, Violas, hardy 
herbaceous plants, hardy fruit trees, &c., which they 
frequently bring before the public at all the leading 
shows. Mr. James Henry Laing takes an active 
part in the management of all these cultures, and is 
frequently in evidence at the shows and various 
horticultural gatherings, so that he is well known. 
Mr. William Kelway, F.R H S., is the son of 
the late Mr. James Kelway, whose decease in the 
eighty-fourth year of his age we announced in last 
week’s Issue. Previous to that sad event, however, 
Mr. William Kelway had become proprietor of the 
business of Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, 
Somerset, the title of which firm has been familiar 
to our readers for years past all over the country, in 
connection with the splendid and magnificent ex¬ 
hibits of Gladioli, Delphiniums, Paeonies, Pyre- 
thrums', Lupines, and other popular flowers put up 
at the shows and meetings of the R.H.S. and other 
societies. If we were to single out any classes of 
flowers in which the firm has been particularly 
eminent in effecting improvements we should un¬ 
hesitatingly name Gladioli and Delphiniums. The 
exhibits of both these classes of flowers, in their 
proper seasons, at a’l the important shows in the 
country have been famous for their extent and 
variety, no less than the perfection to which the 
flowers have been developed. They are all dis¬ 
played in a manner best calculated to bring out or 
expose the individual beauty of each individual 
variety to the best advantage. Mere artistic display 
is quite another thing, and all very well in its own 
place. The Delphiniums, both single and double, 
but particularly the semi-double varieties reared or 
evolved at Langport, surpass the old doubles of 
twenty-five years ago, as clearly as daylight sur¬ 
passes moonlight. Paeonies and Pyrethrums 
usually constitute the features of the Temple Show 
exhibits made by the firm. The accompanying por¬ 
trait shows Mr. William Kelway, to whom we look 
for the continued development of those useful and 
popular florists' flowers. 
Mr. A. G. Jackman, F.R.H.S., is the senior partner 
of the firm of Messrs. Jackman& Son, Woking,Surrey, 
a name that is indissolubly connected with the 
