Juiie 27, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
563 
SOCIETIES. 
WIRRAL AND BIRKENHEAD SHOW. 
June I7th and Idth. 
This exhibition, which is connected with the Agricultural 
Show, has for many years been held under most unfavourable 
climatic conditions, but has succeeded in getting three fine days, 
resulting in a record gate and attendance. The date being 
much earlier, the number of entries were much less, this espe¬ 
cially in the fruit and vegetable classes, and in the latter divi¬ 
sion the vegetables were in many cases only half grown. 
In the plant classes Mr. J. Bracegirdle, gardener to W. H. 
Watts, Esq., Elim Hall, Wavertree, was fairly in the running, 
winning in the following classes: Group not exceeding 60ft., 
having°wel 1-coloured Crotons, fresh Palms, Caladiums, Orchids, 
etc. ; ^ten stove and greenhouse plants, five to be in bloom, 
staving good Aralia, Croton, Palm, Alocasia, Pelargoniums, etc. ; 
three plants in flower with a well-flowered Hydrangea and two 
Orchids ; one greenhouse plant in flower, a well-bloomed Hy¬ 
drangea ; stove plant in ilower with Anthurium Andreanum, 
foliage plant a good Alocasia; one Orchid with Oncidium mar- 
shallianum and three exotic Ferns. 
For three table plants and one Fern, L. Cookson, Esq., 
secured the leading awards. One Fuchsia, George Longley, 
Esq. ; three Coleus, James Birch, Esq. ; one Liliuni auratum, 
John Lee, Esq. ; and three Begonias, Mr. E. Stokes, gardener 
to J. H. Ke-nion, Esq. 
In the cut bloom section Mr. H. Ogden, West Derby, won 
for the hand bouquet and 12 bunches cut flowers, including good 
Bouvardias, Ixoras, Amaryllis, etc. Mr. J. Williams, gardener 
to C. J. Proctor, Esq., for the table decoration. Mr. S. Bell, 
vardener to J. U. Hodgson, won for two classes of cut Roses of 
tair quality. Three ladies’ sprays, Messrs. Smith and Mather 
won with charming lots. 
Fruit was only moderate, Mr. J. Jackson (gardener to R. T. 
Richardson, Esq.) winning in the two classes for Grapes with 
good examples. J. Lee, Esq., won for Peaches, and T. Brockle- 
bank for Strawberries. 
For Vegetables, which at the last show were exceedingly heavy, 
the later date being more suitable in this case, many were only 
half grown. For six kinds T. Brocklebank, Esq., won., having 
nice Cauliflowers, Potatos, Peas, Globe Artichokes, etc. This 
exhibitor also scored for Leeks, Cos Lettuce, autumn Onions, 
Carrots, Vegetable Marrows, Peas, and Cauliflowers. C. J. 
Proctor was successful for collection of Salading, French Beans, 
Cabbage, Lettuce, and Kidney Potatos. J. Weston, Esq., had 
the leading spring Onions and Cabbage ; and James Birch, Esq., 
Cucumbers. 
The following exhibits were awarded the society’s silver 
medals:—Mr. H. Middleihurst, Liverpool, for well-grown 
Liliums, Spanish Iris, Verbena- Miss Wilmott, etc. ; Mr. J. 
Webster, Wavertree, for his new patent boiler “ Eclipse,” which 
is complete in itself, and capable of heating a large amount 
of piping, greenhouses, frames, etc. ; Mr. W. H. Shilton, West 
Derby, for small greenhouses and frames suitable for amateuis 
and small growers. 
Certificates of Merit were awarded to Messrs. Dicksons, 
Chester, for Ferns, Palms, and cut flowers; Messrs. Thomas 
Davies and Co., Wavertree, for collection of cut floiwers, in¬ 
cluding Gladiolus, Lily of the Valley, Spanish Iris, etc. ; and 
W. H. Lever, Esq., for a tastefully arranged group of plants. 
[ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
June 23rd to 27th. 
The Royal Agricultural Society of England have now acquired 
a permanent show-ground, namely, Park Royal, close by the 
- 1 station of that name, and easily reached by rail from Paddington 
and other stations. The ground is part of the estate of Twyford 
Abbey, on the western outskirts of London, and exends to 160 
acres. The soil was very wet, owing to the heavy rains the 
previous week, but the opening day of the first meeting in the new 
grounds was one of the most summer-like days we have had during 
June. 
The attendance was fair the first day, but if the weather keeps 
fine during the remainder of the exhibition the people may be 
expected to turn out in large numbers. The show was visited in the 
afternoon by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. We were interested 
only in the horticultural part of the exhibition, and found a 
number of well-known exhibitors there. 
Immediately on the rig[ht of the main entrance was the impos¬ 
ing stand of the King’s seedsmen, Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of 
Reading. The stand is a massive and attractive structure, built 
of solid English oak and walnut, and comprises a suite of offices 
containing a valuable collection of grasses, roots, Potatos, flowers, 
vegetables, and other subjects of interest to the agriculturist and 
horticulturist, as well as to the visitors to the show. They had a 
fine case of Gloxinias representing the best of their splendid strain 
of that class of flower. Spanish Irises, early flowering Gladioli, 
Tritonias, Liliums, Lily of the Valley, Mignonette, ixias, and 
various other flowers in season, ornamented the front of the stand. 
A fine bank of Nemesias, Stocks, and other choice flowers formed 
the centre-piece in front. Along the back of this stand were 
numerous Tomato plants in full bearing, and carrying a great 
weight of ripe fruit. Indeed, these Tomatos formed a back¬ 
ground along the back wall of the stand, and gave to it a bright 
and interesting appearance. Peas in growth were also a feature 
of the stand, and termed groups at various points in the exhibit. 
Messrs. Sutton have been celebrated for the many new varieties 
of marrowfat Peas they have sent out, and visitors may see a 
collection of these Peas in actual growth and full bearing. They 
are of dwarf robust habit, and bear immense pods filled with 
large Peas, possessing the true marrowfat flavour. They also had 
collections of Melons, and Vegetable Marrows, grown in the 
gardens of R. W. Hudson, Danesfield, Marlow. 
Interesting also were the boxes of lawn grasses forming the 
basement of some of their groups of flowers. Nor can we omit 
mention of Sutton’s gold medal educational cabinet of valuable 
and worthless pasture Grasses, which are always valuable object 
lessons to students, gardeners, and all interested in Grasses, and 
the making and keeping of lawns. At various international and 
other exhibitions in different parts of the world they have been 
awarded 250 gold and other medals. We feel that we cannot do 
this fine exhibit justice in the space at our command. 
Next to them came the stand of Messrs. James Carter and Co., 
97, 237, and 238, High Holborn, London, W. C. Their stand, 
No. 2, was a lengthy one, and beautifully decorated with flowers 
and fruits. They had a case of Gloxinias set up with Maidenhair 
Ferns, Selaginellas, and Caladium argyrites. All round this 
was a panel of lawn Grasses. Another group consisted of 
Rhodanthe maculata and R. M. alba, yellow and white Mar¬ 
guerites, Mignonette, and quaking iGrassest of various sorts. 
Round the front were Spanish Irises, early flowering Gladioli, 
Ixias, Lilies, Larkspurs, Verbena Miss Willmott, Crassula 
coccinea, Fern Balls, and other garden subjects. Fruits of 
Tomato, Duke of York, were also shown. Vegetables included 
Broccoli, Potatos, Onions, Carrots, etc. 
Messrs. Webb and Sons, The King’s Seedsmen, Wordsley, 
Stourbridge, occupied Stand No. 3. Their exhibit was chiefly of 
an agricultural character, but horticultural produce was also well 
represented. The front of their stand was decorated with 
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Spanish Irises, St. Brigid 
Anemones, East Lothian Stocks, ornamental Grasses, and boxes 
of lawn Grasses in growth. They also had some Gloxinias in 
arching glass cases. Amongst collections of vegetables they 
showed Tomatos, Onions, Potatos, Peas, Carrots, Cabbages, 
Tomato plants in bearing, and seeds of the garden and farm. 
They also had collections of roots, Grasses, cereals, including 
their home-grown farm seeds. The Gloxinias had been produced 
from seed in the short space of three months. They also had 
considerable quantities of seed Potatos, many of which enjoy a 
high reputation. 
Messrs. Dicksons, the old established firm of seed merchants 
and nurserymen, Chester, occupied Stand No. 4, and with all the 
other stands above mentioned they form a fine front to the show 
grounds near the main entrance, and would seem to indicate that 
the horticulturists are more enterprising than the agriculturists. 
They had some little groups of shrubs, both hardy and tender, 
such as Boronia elatior, Japanese Maples, Nandina domestica, 
etc. Amongst their floral exhibits were Spanish Irises, Hydran¬ 
geas, Crassula coccinea, Verbena Miss Willmott, Lilies, Mar¬ 
guerites, Palms, Ferns, Calceolarias, and other garden subjects. 
They had a sample of the new pasture grass Paspalum dilatatum, 
which they are introducing from New South Wales. They also 
had exhibits of manures for agricultural and horticultural 
purposes. 
The Agricultural and Horticultural Association, Limited, 92, 
Long Acre, London, W.C., occupied the next stand, and had 
exhibits of decorative plants, tuberous Begonias in pots, Sweet 
Peas, and various seeds. 
Messrs. Dickson, Brown, and Tait, 43 and 45, Corporation 
Street, Manchester, had an extensive exhibit of farm seeds. They 
also showed hardy herbaceouss plants, Hydrangeas, Sweet Peas, 
Iceland, and other Poppies. Seed Potatos were shown in some 
quantity. 
Mr. Ernest L. Johnson, Twyford Bridge Farm, Twyford Abbey, 
Ealing, W., had an exhibit of Mushrooms and Mushroom spawn. 
