August 14, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
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had the best twenty-four varieties of Roses. Messrs. 
J. Perkins & Son, Market Square, Northampton, 
followed ; and Messrs. T. Perkins & Sons, The 
Drapery, Northampton, took the third place. The 
latter came to the front for twelve Tea Roses. Mr. 
S. Mortimer, Swiss Fursery, Rowledge, Farnham, 
took the lead for twenty-four Dahlias. 
Open to Gentlemen and Their Gardeners.— 
Mrs. Phipps (gardener, Mr. J. Copson), Collingtree 
Grange, had the best six stove or greenhouse 
plants. Earl Spencer showed the best eight table 
plants, followed by S. Loder, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
W Pearce), Floore, Weedon. The latter took first 
for exotic Ferns. Mrs. Phipps had the best Coleus, 
Pelargoniums, Cockscombs, and took other prizes. 
The Marquis of Northampton took several other 
prizes. The Rev. Dr. King, Gayton, had the best 
twelve Roses. Mr. F. Beard was first for Fuchsias 
and twelve Dahlias. 
There was a fair display of fruit. The first prize 
and the Silver Medal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society for a collection were taken by the Marquis 
of Northampton. Mrs. Middleton (gardener, Mr. J. 
R. Wilson), Hazelbeach Hall, put up the best black 
Grapes. Lord Annaly (gardener, Mr. A. V. Jordan), 
Holdenby House, took the same place for white 
Grapes F. Bostock, Esq. (gardener, Mr J. Holland)i 
Springfield, Northampton, took the lead for Peaches; 
aod Mrs. Middleton for Nectarines. Prizes were 
also awarded for Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Rasp¬ 
berries, and Currants. 
Considering the dryness of the season Vegetables 
of excellent quality were staged. Sir H. Wake, 
Bart , J.P., took the first prize and the Bronze 
Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society for a 
collection of nine kinds. S. Loder, Esq., secured the 
leading prize for three dishes kidney Potatos. W. 
Dunkley, Esq., was first for round varieties. The 
Marquis of Northampton bad the best Onions ; Earl 
Spencer, the best Cauliflowers ; and Mrs. Phipps the 
best Peas. 
Numerous classes were also set apart for amateurs 
throughout the county, and competition, generally, 
was good for plants, cut flowers, fruit and vegetables. 
There was a division for cottagers, another fcr the 
town and county, and for artisans and cottagers of 
the borough. There was a fair number of non¬ 
competitive exhibits. 
Special prizes were offered by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, Reading, for a collection of vegetables. B. V. 
Vernon, Esq., Sir H. Wake, Bart., Mrs. Phipps, and 
W. Dunkley, Esq., took the prizes in the order 
named. Messrs. E. Webb & Sons, Stourbridge, also 
offered prizes for vegetables. B. V. Vernon, Esq , 
was again first, followed by F. Douglas, Esq., 
Collingtree. Messrs. T. Perkins & Sons and Messrs. 
Pearman & Co., also offered special prizes. 
MIDLAND CARNATION AND PICOTEE. 
August $th and 6th. 
As might have been supposed most of the leading 
lights of the Carnation and Picotee world fore¬ 
gathered at the Botanic Gardens, Edgbaston, 
Birmingham, on the occasion of the annual show of 
this progressive and energetic body. So consider¬ 
able indeed has been the progress of the last twelve 
months that the membership has substantially 
increased and the business yield in the matter of 
numbers of exhibits and exhibitors were proportion¬ 
ately greater. Of the latter there were seventy-three 
or seventy-four separate growers represented, as 
against fifty odd last year, and it is only fair there¬ 
fore to surmise that the Midland society, and those 
connected with its working, are doing a really sound 
and progressive work in developing interest in these 
choice and pretty flowers. 
The society is fortunate in having a suitable site 
for their show at the Botanic Gardens—the con¬ 
servatories of which form a really very suitable 
place for a show of a special form of culture such 
as the Carnation and Picotee. Not only within 
these houses was there a veritable floral feast both 
in the way of the permanent specimens of plant life 
— as well as the exhibition proper—but the surround¬ 
ing gardens out of doors, with the lovely grassy 
slopes to the valley grounds below, all helped to 
enchant the visitor and the lover of the beautiful in 
nature. The out-door beds were many of them 
exclusively planted with Carnations, a very fine bed 
of Uriah Pike just below the memorial rock garden 
being specially worthy of note, whilst a little further 
on was an equally fine batch of the yellow 
Germania. 
Within the conservatory the entries generally were 
of wonderful quality considering the exceptionally 
dry and scorching season through which we have 
been passing; it was said, however, that the fixture 
being a week later than usual, coupled with the 
potent factor in the matter of weather, had to some 
extent missed the zenith of the blooms grown round 
about Birmingham. Be that as it may, however, 
the local growers gave an excellent account of them¬ 
selves. 
The yellow grounds, fancy, and self varieties were 
especially rich, many of the blooms being charac¬ 
terised by perfect development of form and exquisite 
colouring. White grounds have suffered a good deal 
from adverse weather conditions, and were much 
inferior as a whole, to the yellow grounds. AmoDg 
Picotees, the varieties most in favour appeared to be 
" Voltaire," a delicate yellow, with magenta fringe ; 
and " Golden Eagle," with its dainty edging of rosy 
purple. Border Carnations were shown in great 
numbers, but in some instances were not up to show 
form. The bouquets, sprays, and table decorations 
formed a charming feature, the graceful arrangement 
and delicious blending of colours marking high 
artistic attainment. Mr. A. W. Jones and Mr. R. 
Sydenham were the winners of the cups offered to 
the growers who achieved the greatest success in the 
general competitions. Both these growers gained the 
distinction for the second consecutive year, and the 
trophies now become their absolute property. Mr. 
Sydenham has announced his intention of replacing 
the Cup he has won with another in the competition, 
for which he himself will not take part. The follow- 
were among the chief awards; — Twelve flakes or 
bizarres: first, J. Edwards, Manchester; second, 
T. Lord, Todmorden. Six ditto : first, C. F. Tbur- 
stan, Wolverhampton; second, A. R. Brown, 
Handsworth. Twelve Picotees : first, R. Sydenham, 
Birmingham ; second, T. Lord. Six ditto : first, 
A. W. Jones, Handsworth; second, F. W. Good- 
fellow, Walsall. Twelve yellow grounds or fancies : 
first, A. W. Jones; second, R. Sydenham. Six 
ditto : first, C. F. Thurstan; second, R. C. Cart¬ 
wright, Birmingham. Six yellow-ground Picotees: 
first, A. W. Jones; second, Thomson and Co., Bir¬ 
mingham. Twelve seifs: first, A. R. Brown; 
second, R. Sydenham. Six ditto : first, A. W. Jones ; 
second, C. F. Thurstan. Twelve seifs, fancies or 
yellow grounds : first, Thomson and Co; second, 
A. W. Jones. Six ditto : first, G.Chaundy, Oxford ; 
second, R. C. Cartwright. Six flakes or bizarres 
and six Picotees: first, R. Sydenham ; second, J. 
Edwards. Three flakes or bizarres and three Pico¬ 
tees : first, D. Walker; second, W. Bellamy. Six 
Carnations or Picotees (amateurs) : first, G. F. 
Spittle, Edgbaston; second, H. Hunter, Walsall. 
Single blooms—scarlet bizarres : first, R. Sydenham ; 
second, Thomson and Co. Crimson ditto : first and 
second, J. Edwards. Pink and purple ditto: first, 
A. R. Brown; second, R. Sydenham. Scarlet 
flakes : first, D. Walker ; second, J. Edwards. Rose 
flakes : first, J. Whitham ; second, T. Lord. Purple 
flakes : first and second, R. Sydenham. 
Heavy red-edge Picotees: first, R Sydenham; 
second, A. R. Brown. Light ditto ; first, A. W. 
Jones; second, R. Sydenham. Heavy purple-edge 
Picotees : first, A. R. Brown; second, R. Sydenham. 
Light ditto : first and second, A. R. Brown. Heavy 
rose-edge Picotees: first, A. W. Jones; second, T. 
Lord. Heavy scarlet-edge Picotees : first, C. Head, 
Hebden Bridge : second, R. Sydenham. Light rose 
or scarlet-edge Picotees: first, T. Lord; second, 
Thomson & Co. White or flesh seifs: first and 
second, C. F. Thurstan. Yellow, buff, or terra-cotta 
seifs: first and second, A. R. Brown. Pink, rose, or 
scarlet seifs : first and second, T. Lord. Dark seifs: 
first, A. R. Brown ; second, J. Brocklehurst, Man¬ 
chester. Yellow-ground Picotees : first, R. Syden¬ 
ham ; second, F. W. Goodfellow. Fancy Carnations: 
first and second, A. W. Jones. Twelve border Car¬ 
nations, or Picotees; first, G. Lindop, Longport; 
second, J. Walker, Thame. Six varieties, border 
Carnations: first, H. W. Weguelin, Torquay; 
second, W. Barsby, Leicester. Twelve varieties 
border Carnations; first, M. R. Smith, Hayes; 
second, Thomson & Co. Six varieties border Car¬ 
nations : first, H. W. Weguelin ; second, W. Barsby. 
Six pot Carnations : first, Thomson & Co.; second, 
R. Sydenham. Shower bouquets; first, M R. 
Smith; second, W. F. Gunn, Oltcn ; third, Miss B. 
Mayell, Acock's Green. Sprays: first, M. R. 
Smith ; second, R. W, Proctor & Son, Chesterfield ; 
third, Thomson & Co. Three button-holes: first, 
R. Sydenham; second, Mrs. Lovatt, Newport, 
Salop ; third, R. C. Cartwright, Birmingham. Table 
decorations: frst, Miss B. Mayell; second, Miss 
Swinden, Birmingham ; third, Miss A. G. Kemp, 
Edgbaston; extra prize, Mrs, Lovatt. Six pots 
Benary’s varieties : first, R. Sydenham. 
Nine varieties Sweet Peas : first, R. Sydenham ; 
second, J. Sceaney, Harborne. Epergne of Sweet 
Peas: first, Miss A. G. Kemp ; second, Mrs. Lovatt; 
third, W. L. Sheffield, Edgbaston. Twelve varieties 
Sweet Peas: first, A. W. Hulse, Beech Lanes; 
second, V. B. Johnstone, Tettenhall. Six varieties 
Violas: first, Mrs. Lovatt. Twelve varieties herba¬ 
ceous blooms : first, J. Walker ; second, Mrs. Lovatt. 
Charles Turner Memorial Cup (for most successful 
exhibitor in first thirty-three classes) ; A. W. Jones, 
57 points. Society's Challenge Cup (for large and 
trade growers): R. Sydenham, 74 points. 
The following awards were made for non-competi- 
tive exhibits:—Silver-gilt medal: J. H. White, 
Worcester, collection of herbaceous plants. Silver 
me jals : Hewitt & Co., herbaceous and other plants ; 
B. R. Davis, Yeovil, double Begonias; H. Eckford, 
Wem, new varieties of Sweet Peas; W. and J. 
Birkenhead, Sale, collection of Ferns. Bronze 
medal: W. F. Gunn, hardy border plants. 
The premier prizes were awarded to the seven 
premier flowers in the exhibition, viz., bizarre 
Carnation, flake Carnation, heavy edge Picotee, and 
best fancy Carnation, as follows :—Bizarre Carna¬ 
tion, J. Edwards ; flake Carnatioo, R. Sydenham ; 
heavy edge Picotee, R. Sydenham ; light edge 
Picotee, A. W. Jones ; yellow-ground Picotee, C. F. 
Thurstan ; self Carnation, Thomson & Co. ; fancy 
Carnation, A. W. Jones. 
Medals were awarded as follows :—Silver, for 
highest points in Classes I., III., V., VII., VIII., X., 
and XII., won by R. Sydenham ; Bronze, for next 
highest in same classes, won by Mr. A. W. Joces ■ 
Silver, for highest in Classes XXXIV. and XXXVI. 
(this is not decided yet, two exhibitors having the 
same number of points) ; Bronze, in Classes XXXV 
and XXXVII, won by H. W. WegueliD, Torquay ; 
bronze, in single bloom classes, won by Mr. R. 
Sydenham. 
The judging was entrusted to the undermentioned 
experts :—Open classes : Messrs. J. Ball, Slough, 
and J. Whitham, Hebden Bridge ; single blooms, 
Messrs. T. S. Hedderley, Nottingham, and P. 
Simonite, Sheffield ; bouquets, sprays, and table 
decorations, Mrs. G. J. Johnson ; miscellaneous 
exhibits, Messrs. R. Dean, London, W. Spinks, and 
B. Latham. The secretarial duties were very ably 
rendered by Mr. Herbert Smith, assisted by Mr. 
Wood, whilst Mr. G. Pressly contributed yeoman 
service in various other departments, to the satisfac¬ 
tion of everybody concerned. 
In the absence of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, 
Mr. Richard Dean, of London, presided at the 
luncheon, which took place at two o’clock in a 
spacious marquee erected in the grounds, and a 
short toast list was gone through. In submitting the 
" Health of the Judges " Mr. R. Sydenham referred 
to the immense and undeniable progress their 
society had made, which had produced the very fine 
show they had that day, and created for the judges 
engaged a very hard task. Some exhibitors, perhaps, 
might be dissatisfied, but this was only natural 
perhaps, and only in keeping with the old saying, 
" that a mother always thought her own children the 
best.” So it was with growers and exhibitors, who 
had sometimes a pronounced predilection for their 
own blooms. 
In introducing the name of Mr. Ball, with whom 
he coupled the toast, he described that gentleman as 
one of the oldest and best florists in the country, one 
who could refer with just pride to a venue of fifty- 
one years in the service of the same firm. Mr. Ball 
responded, referring with evident satisfaction to Mr. 
Turner’s success at the Hamburg show, which has 
already been tully reported in last week's Garden¬ 
ing World. Mr. Whitham also responded. 
Mr. Richard Dean proposed success to the " M.C. 
and P.S.,” echoing the sentiments of every lover of 
the beautiful flower,, and expressing a great feeling 
of disappointment when he expected to find an in¬ 
ferior lot of exhibits owing to the season, instead cf 
which they had come to judge a marvellous sight, 
particularly in the yellow grounds and seifs. He 
