1034 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 12, 1903. 
lead was taken by Mr; W. Howe, gardener to Lady Tate, 
Park Hill, Streathami Commi-on, who had Chrysanthemums, 
Poinsettias, Begonia Gloire cle Lorraine, etc. He was follow©! 
by Mr. Robert Forster, superintendent Numhead Cemetery. 
' In a class for’ six flowering Begonias broadly conical specimens, 
with richly-coloured flowers of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, were 
exhibited by Mr. H. Perkins, gardener to W. F. D. Smith, Esq., 
Green lands, Henley-on-Thames. Mr. W. Howe came in second, 
with good plants but paler flowers. 
Mr. W. ITowe also took the lead for a collection of flowering, 
berried, and foliage plants, showing the same variety of 
Begonia, Roman Hyacinths, Lily of the Valley, etc. 
Division II. (Ui>en). 
The first prize for six bunches decorative, spidery, and thread - 
petaled or plumed Chrysanthemums was taken by Mr. Charles 
Brown, gardener to R. Heaity, Esq., Langley House, Abbots 
Langley. He was followed by Mr. W. C. Pagrarn and Mr. A. 
Taylor, 5, Vernon Terrace, East Finchley, in the order named. 
Mr. W. C. Pag ram was the only exhibitor of small-flowered 
Pompon Chrysanthemums, having very pretty hunches of Snow¬ 
drop, Miss G. Waterer, both tiny flowered white varieties. 
He also secured the leading award for a vase of Pompons 
arranged with any kind of foliage. Mr. A. Taylor was second. 
In the class for a hand-basket of Chrysanthemums with any 
kind of foliage the lead was taken, by Mrs. Crosby Smith, Beet¬ 
hoven College of Music, Loughborough Road. She was fol¬ 
lowed by Mrs. A. Taylor. 
Amateur Classes. 
For six Japanese varieties the lead was taken by Mr. TI. 
Pestoll, gardener to F. S. Wygrarn, Esq., Elstow, Bedford, who 
had some very decent blooms. 
He also took the lead for a vase of Chrysanthemums arranged 
with foliage, grasses, or berries, his vase being tall and very 
boldly arranged. Mr. W. C. Pagrarn was second. 
In another class for six Japanese varieties the lead was taken 
by Mr. W. G. Prudden Clark, who had fine blooms of Mrs. J. C. 
Neville, Mrs. Paul Pernett, and Mme. G. Debrie. He was fol¬ 
lowed in this instance by Mr. Ernest E. Horsey, Goff’s Oak, 
Cheshunt, who was a good second, and Mr. George Moorman, 
Hampton Coirrt Palace, Middlesex, third. 
Mr. W. J. Prudden Clark took the lead for six bunches of 
any varieties, heating Mr. E. E. Horsey. In the class for one 
vase of Chrysanthemums he beat Mr.. A. Taylor. 
Miscellaneous. 
Messrs. J. Peed and. Soil, Roupell Park Nurseries, W. Nor¬ 
wood, exhibited a large collection of flowering and foliage plants; 
including fine groups of Begonia Julius and B. Myra, fine winter 
flowering varieties. Some of their best Chrysanthemum! blooms 
were Mme. R. Cadbury, Duke of Devonshire, and Etoile de 
Lyon, and a tine golden thread yellow, one that was named Mrs. 
Filkins. The group was set off with Crotons, Asparagus, and 
Palms. (Silver Gilt Medal.) 
Mr. Robert Forster, Nunhead Cemetery, had a pretty group 
of interesting plants, consisting of Chrysanthemums, witli a 
plant of Cycas revoluta in the centre and a group of Begonia 
Gloire de Lorraine on either end. Along the margin was a fine 
lot of Cypripedium insigne. (Silver Gilt Medal.) 
Mr. H. Perkins, gardener to W. E. D. Smith, Esq., set up 
a magnificent group of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, with a few 
specimens of Turnford Hall, all grandly flowered. A few other 
plants were intermixed with the group. (Gold Medal.) 
Messrs. Clibran and Sons, Altrincham, set up a collection of 
single Chrysanthemums, amongst which fine varieties were 
Blodwen Jones, Miss E. Leigh, Sissie, Miss Beatie Rowden, 
and many seedlings, some of which were very pretty. An in¬ 
curved named Souv. de ffm. Clibran, with white blooms, would 
have been fine if shown earlier in the year. (Silver Gilt Medal.) 
Mr. Norman Davis, Chrysanthemum Nursery, Framfielcl, 
Sussex, exhibited a. splendid group of Chrysanthemums on the 
floor mixed with Palms, Ferns, Crotons, etc. Some of the finest 
blooms in the show were in this exhibit, including Gen. Hutton 
with blooms 10 in. across, and varying from yellow to deep 
bronze; also J. R. Upton and Mme. P. Radaelli. Other grand 
blooms were Countess of Harrowby, Mme. Carnot, and G. J. 
Warren. Daisy Brett and Star of Honour were fine single 
varieties, while the green one was represented by Mme. E. 
Roger and the plumy ones by a grand bunch of King of Plumes. 
(Gold Medal.) 
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, Kent, had two very 
fine groups. One of these consisted of a highly-coloured col¬ 
lection of Apples, including very attractive dishes or baskets of 
Wellington, Cox’s Pomona, Bismarck, Emperor Alexander, 
Bramley’s Seedling, Gascoyne’s Seedling, and many others. 
They also had 10 massive plants of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine 
and some of B. Turnford Hall. One side of the table was filled 
with out flowers of zonal Pelargoniums in hunches. The other 
side of the table was occupied by Chrysanthemums, including 
Latest of All, G. Hunt, Rosalind, Swanley Beauty, and many 
of the plumy and spidery types. (Gold Medal.) 
Me. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham, 
had a large and bold group of Chrysanthemums on a high table. 
The blooms were cut with long stems and set up in large bunches, 
each bloom separate from its neighbour. These were mixed with 
autumn-tinted leaves and interspersed with Crotons, Bamboos 
Mahonia, single, plumy and other types of Chrysanthemums. 
(Large Gold Medal.) 
Messrs. J. Clieal and Sons, Crawley, Sussex, sent a table of 
Apples, including good dishes of Mere de Menage, Nelson Codlin, 
Newtown Wonder, Jubilee, Bramley’s Seedling, Bismarck, 
Gascoyne’s Seedling, and others. The last named weighed 19 oz. 
when gathered. (Silver Medal.) 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush and Son, Highgate, N., had a table of 
Carnations, very prominent amongst which was that named 
Wm. H. Cutbush, with brilliant rose-carmine flowers, hut other¬ 
wise in the style of Mrs. T. W. Lawson. Other fine varieties 
were Mrs. S. J. Brookes, Sir Hector Macdonald, Golden Beauty, 
etc. (Silver Medal.) 
Mr. Thomas Allman, Rowhill Nursery, Wilmington, I) art ford, 
exhibited a group of a decorative Chrysanthemum named 
Allman’s Yellow. He also had nine vases of the same variety 
on a table. The blooms would measure 2 in. to 3g in. in 
diameter, being very slightly disbudded and varied from bright 
yellow to rich golden yellow. The florets were closely imbri¬ 
cated, and the variety looked as if it would carry well for market. 
A. First-class Certificate was awarded the variety. (Silver 
Medal.) 
Mr. H. Pattisson, 1, Farm Avenue, Streatham, London, S.W., 
had a stand of the “Pattisson Lawn Boots,” showing the various 
parts of the boot for shoeing ponies while treading on lawns. 
Mr. J. Wiliams, 4a, Oxford Road, Ealing, had floral decora¬ 
tions. 
Hydrocyanic Acid Gas. 
With a view to thoroughly testing the value of this gas or 
vapour for the destruction of insect pests common in gardens, a 
series of experiments are being carried out in the lloyal Botanic 
Gardens, Regent’s! Park, in an entirely new and improved 
method. These experiments', if successful, should go a long 
way in removing the objections which have been raised against 
its general use in this country. The fumes given off being 
highly poisonous-, it is necessary to exercise great care in carry¬ 
ing out the operation, and while the gas; or vapour is present 
in an enclosed space no persons must be allowed to enter. As 
to its efficiency and economy there appears little doubt. 
“ Mealy bug,” one of the most difficult pests to eradicate under 
glass, is readily destroyed without damage to plant life. And, 
provided additional experiments in regard to; destroying ffir 
sects which -exist partially or completely in the soil prove satisi- 
factory, it is confidently hoped that a, cheap; and ready means 
will be found for eradicating this -and other pests. 
Elderbert F. Hawes. 
A Gardener Who Would Not Read Letters. —The Earl of 
Rosebery presided at the annual meeting of the Scottish History 
Society held recently in Dowell’s Rooms, Edinburgh, and, 
in quoting from a second volume of “ Miscellanies,” relating to 
the history of the Royal House of Stuart, he mention-el some facts 
concerning a gardener of that olden time. The quotation was 
from the letters of Cockburn of Ormiston to his gardener in the 
first half of the eighteenth century. The quotation was: 
“ Charles, I had yours of the 23rd. If you would read my letters 
over it would save me much of writing, as from your not reading 
of them I am obliged to repeat the same things over and over, 
and frequently the last time of writing the same thing comes too 
late, which I fear what I may now unite will do. I have in 
writing this to show you how your not reading my letters dis¬ 
concerts one, and to show you how reasonable my request is 
when I repeat my desire that you’ll read my letters.” It would 
be interesting to know what the letters related to, and whether 
the gardener really did not read them, or the contents were dis¬ 
agreeable, or the mandates impossible of accomplishment in 
those far-off times. 
