782 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 12, 1903. 
CHARD FLOWER SHOW. 
The annual flower show at Chard, Somerset, was held under 
very unfavourable conditions, as it rained incessantly all day, 
and some of the tents were considerably damaged. The entries 
were greatly in excess of last year’s, and the arrangements ad¬ 
mirable, but visitors very few. The secretarial duties were 
carried out by Mr. A. M. Gibbs and Mr. A. W. Yeomans. 
A large number of classes were set apart for plants, cut 
flowers, fruit, vegetables, and industrial products. 
Some of the principal prize winners were Mr. F. Turner 
(Chard), Mr. G. Harris, gardener to Mrs. Loader Brown (Hall- 
field Chard), Mr. J. Stacey, gardener to J. W. Gifford, Esq. 
(Chard), Mr. A. M. Gibbs (Chard), Mr. G. Horner, gardener to 
A. D. Paul, Esq. (Snowdon Hill House, Chard), Mr. S. Kidley, 
gardener to Colonel Sandford (Nynehead Court, Wellington), 
Mr. J. Stuckey, gardener to B. C. Sheppard, Esq. (Bridgwater), 
Rev. H. A. Cartwright (gardener, Mr. C. Rowley, Whitestaun- 
ton), Mr. J. W. Baker (Axminster), Mr. W. HelTiar (Donyatt), 
Mr. Thomas Read (Chard), Mr. C. E. Small (Chard), Mr. Lionel 
Patten (Yarcombe), Mr. W. Aplin (Chard), and Mr. H. Parker. 
Decorative dessert tables, devices for table decoration, and 
SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 
At the monthly meeting of the above association, held on 
Tuesday evening, 8th inst., there was a good attendance of mem¬ 
bers to hear a lecture on “Vegetable Culture by Mr. James 
Gibson, Danesfield, Marlow, Bucks. In his lecture, which was 
freely illustrated with limelight views, Mr. Gibson remarked on 
the advancement of vegetables during recent years, both as 
regards the quantity and quality of varieties. 
Dealing with general principles, the lecturer advocated deep 
culture. For strong growing varieties of Potatos Mr. Gibson 
recommends a distance of 3 ft. by 3 ft. between the sets. In 
preparing ground for Peas Mr. Gibson advocates trenching 3 ft. 
deep. Dealing with Cauliflowei's, he thinks that autumn sow¬ 
ing is now unnecessary with the quick maturing varieties we 
now possess. He laid great stress upon the advantage of re¬ 
peated top dressings for Tomatos. The lecture was listened to 
with great attention, and was favourably criticised. 
Among the exhibits on the table were the following : —From 
Messrs. Methven and Sons, Edinburgh, a collection of early 
flowering Chrysanthemums (21 varieties), seedling Border Car¬ 
nations, and Margaret Carnations. From Messrs. Todd and 
Copyright G. Carter & Co. 
Bedding Hyacinths in Hyde Park. (See p. 769.) 
hand bouquets were a feature of the show. The principal win¬ 
ners in this class of exhibit were Miss Grace Cliaffey, of Chard, 
Miss Florence Spicer, Miss M. Powne, and Mrs. F. W. Baker, 
of Axminster. 
Miss Evans (gardener, Mr. John Crook), Forde Abbey, Chard, 
set up a fine collection of flowering and foliage plants and fruit, 
not for competition ; the plants had been grown either in frames 
or in the open air. 
Messrs. Jarman and Co., Chard, exhibited a collection of 
Dahlias and other plants. 
STIRLING FLOWER SHOW. 
The Stirling Horticultural Society Flower Show was held on 
the 27th and 28th ult. Considering the very unfavourable 
season, it was a creditable display. Against expectations, cut 
flowers showed well, and pot plants there were the principal 
features. Fruit and vegetables were behind in quantity, vege¬ 
tables being of average quality and fruit below the average 
standard. There was a felt absence of the Keir Grapes (Mr. 
Lunt did not show them). The show was well patronised, espe¬ 
cially in the evenings of both days. Owing to the pressure on 
our space we shall give the principal awards in our next number. 
By the way, this society was instituted in 1812. The Secre¬ 
tary writes us that he would like to know how many societies 
in Scotland are older, and thinks the Stirling Society is the third 
oldest. 
Co., Shandwick Place, a collection of very fine Montbretias, 
Asters, and Chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemum “ Carrie ” was 
awarded a First-class Certificate. From Mr. McHattie, The 
City Gardens, a collection of the newer herbaceous Lobelias. 
From Mr. Comfort, Broomfield, Davidson’s Mains, Montbretia 
“Vulcan” and Candytuft Rose Cardinal. From Mr. James 
Fraser, Kili^Lvock, Edinburgh, plant of Hydrangea, with truss 
5 ft. circumference. From Mr. Smale, Blackford Park, collec¬ 
tion of Streptocarpi. From Mr. John Downie, collection of 
seedling Carnations of 1902 and 1903. 
Nymthaea gigantea. —Mr. W. Watson, of Kew, mites to say 
that N. gigantea is not easily managed, and the flowers it pro¬ 
duces under cultivation are generally small and poor, because 
the plant is weak. The Botanical Magazine, t. 4647 (1852), shows 
the flowers to be a foot in diameter. That was rather before our 
time, and we might be excused for speaking of the flowers we 
have seen and which may be regarded as a fair measure of the 
species under cultivation. Nicholson’s Dictionary of Gardening 
has evidently also been guided by the size of the flowers as 
generally seen in cultivation. N. gigantea Hudsonii, we were 
given to understand, was a seedling raised by Mr. Hudson at 
Gunnersbury House, and it is just possible that plants so raised in 
this country would prove more amenable to cultivation than 
imported tubers. The leaves, in the early days of N. gigantea, 
were stated to be 2ft. across. Hybrid Orchids are in many cases 
more easy of cultivation than their parents. 
