Inly 23, 1904 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
603 
A. G. Stark, Great Ryburgh, Norfolk, cam© in fourth with a 
■ rood lot, but the foliage was rather too plentiful for the number 
of flowers in a bunoh. There were five entries. 
The lead for 24 bunches, distinct, was taken by Mr. C. W. 
Breadmore, who had handsome bunches of ing Edward VII., 
Dorothy Eckford, Miss Willmott, Agnes Johnston, Lottie Eck¬ 
ford, Prince Edward of York, Navy Blue, Lord Rosebery, ©to. 
Messrs. I. House and Son took the second place, their bunches 
b eing well displayed, but the foliage rather bulky. King 
Edward VII. was fine. 
Messrs. Isaac House and Son had the best 12 bunches of 
Sweet Peas distinct, with grand bunches of King Edward VII., 
Miss Willmott, Lady Grisel Hamilton, Countess Spencer, Mrs. 
Walter Wright, Janet Scott, etc. Mr. C. W. BreachnoT© was 
second. 
For 24 bunches (trade excluded) the lead was taken by Mr*. 
A. F. Wootten, Croft House, College Road, Epsom, with neat 
bunches, but rather short flower stalks. Very fine were King 
Edward VII., Prince of Wales, Hon. Airs. E. Kenyon, MissAVili- 
mott, etc. Dr. Boxall, Ingleside, Abinger Common, Dorking, 
took the second place with a fine lot, generally in very fresh 
condition. Air. Silas Cole was a very good third, but Hie flowers 
were rather crowded in the vases, though the quality was ex¬ 
cellent. Air. Robert Bathurst, Dean Lodge, Iron Acton, Glou¬ 
cester, came in fourth with many handsome bunches. There 
were ten entries in this class, all being very respectable exhibits. 
Dr. Boxall took (he lead for 18 bunches, distinct, showing 
Dorothy Eckford, Jessie Cutlibertson, Salopian, Jeanie Gor¬ 
don, etc., in, good condition. Air. Hugh Atherley, J.P., took 
the second place, staging many fine bunches. Mr. Geo. David¬ 
son, Elm Lodge, Quadrant Road, Thornton Heath, came in; 
third. Air. G. Hughes, Farleigh Cottage, Penrhyn Road, Kings¬ 
ton, was a good fourth. 
Aliss Beatrice Boosey, The Pines, Bicldey, had the best 12 
bunches ; Airs. Denison, Little Gaddesdon, Berkhamsted, was 
second, Air. Silas Cole third, and Air. W. Brander, Tyersall, 
Crescentwood Road, Sydenham Hill, fourth. Competition was 
very heavy in this class. 
Mr. H. J. R. Digges, Dunkerran, Eglinton Road, Donny- 
brook, Dublin, took the premier position for nine varieties 
of Sweet. Peas, showing King Edward 'VII., Jeanie Gordon, 
Miss Willmott, and others in flowers of large size' and beautiful 
colour. Aliss Beatrice Eoosey, Mr. Arnold Steer (Oak Lodge, 
Royston Park, Pinner), Mrs. Bangs (Ellesmere Lodge, Snares- 
brook), and Air. E. T. Baker (63, Brigstock Road, Thornton, 
Heath) took the remaining prizes in this keenly-contested class. 
N ON-COMRETITIVE. 
A very large collection of Sweet Peas, set up in vases of 
neatly-arranged bunches, was exhibited by Mr. H. J. Jones, 
Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham. These included 
all the leading or standard varieties, including the new varieties 
of last year. (Gold Aledal.) 
Messrs. Baker (Wolverhampton) set up an extensive exhibit 
of Sweet Peas along one end of the transept. (Gold Medal.) 
Hobbies, Limited, Dereham, Norfolk, exhibited Roses, Sweet 
Peas, and Carnations, occupying a considerable amount of table 
i space. (Gold Aledal.) 
Hr. Chas. W. Breadmore, Winchester, exhibited a well-grown 
collection of Sweet Peas arranged in bunches. (Silver Gilt 
Aledal.) 
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, Kent, bad a collec¬ 
tion of Sweet Peas set up in leafy bunches and in a variety of 
ways. At one end of this was, a collection of choice annuals 
in the cut state. (Large Silver Aledal.) 
Messrs. J. Laing and Sons, Forest Hill, London, showed a 
: collection of Sweet Peas in many varieties. (Silver Aledal.) 
Messrs. John Peed and Son, West Norwood, London, staged 
a mixed group of Sweet Peas and tlieir fine strain of Gloxinias, 
the latter Jieing in prime condition. (Large Silver Medal.) 
Messrs. G. Stark and Son, Great Ryburgh, exhibited a fine 
collection of Sweet Peas gracefully set up. (Silver Medal.) 
Mr. Henry Eckford, Wem, Salop, had a beautiful exhibit of 
Sweet Peas set up m tall glass vases in his usual style, and 
not at all crowded. (Gold Aledal.) 
Air. J. W. Baratt, 5, Millais Road, Bush Hill Park, Enfield, 
exhibited “Duro” Sweet Pea surrounds, garden stakes, labels, 
and mallets, all being of his own specialities. 
i Prolific Shallots. —Mr. Percy, of the Green Man Inn, Arkes- 
aen, Essex, has dug a root of Shallots from his garden on which 
are no fewer than 53 bulbs. He has several roots on which are 
40 Shallots 
Society & Association Notes. 
Woodfoed Gardeners at Glebelands. —The members of the 
Woodford Horticultural Society and their friends had a very 
pleasant outing when, by the kind invitation of J. Gumey 
Fowler, Esq., they visited Glebelands, Woodford, Essex, and 
inspected the Orchids and other floral treasures in the houses, 
as well as the beautiful grounds. During the afternoon their 
host entertained the party hospitably, thus finishing up a very 
enjoyable outing. 
* * * 
National Rose Society.— -It may interest your Rose-loving 
readers to know that the receipts in gate-money at the National 
Rose Society’s recent exhibition in the Temple Gardens and 
from the sale of tickets exceeded those from the same sources 
last year by nearly £100, while 100 new members, in a great 
measure owing to the show being held in such a central posi¬ 
tion in Tendon, have during the last two months joined thq 
society, bringing up the total number of members to over 1,100. 
— Edwd. Mawley, lion, secretary, July 13th, 1904. 
* * * 
Ancient Society of York Florists. —The third evening drive 
for this year arranged by the above society took place on the 
12th inst. About 80 members and friends joined the outing, 
and went in char-a-bancs to Sand Hutton, the residence of Lady 
Walker, who granted them permission to inspect the gardens, 
greenhouses, and pleasure grounds. The party was received by 
Mr. J. Eolkard, the head gardener. Fruit received special 
attention, as well as the high state of cultivation and neatness 
of everything. The return journey having been made, York 
was reached after a most enjoyable evening. 
* * * 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Outing. —On the 12th inst. 
the members of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association 
had their annual outing, the goal of the railway journey being 
Launceston, in Cornwall. Hei’e they spent some time in : n- 
specting the antiquities of the place. They next mounted three 
char-a-bancs, and rode to Lifton Park, the seat of F. Bradshaw, 
Esq., whose gardener (Air. Pugh) received and conducted them 
over the place. A pleasant and instructive half hour was spent 
here, after which the journey was continued to Werrington 
Park, the residence of J. C. Williams, Esq. The gardens and 
grounds here are extensive and well kept. After being taken 
through the grounds and glass ranges of the domain by the 
gardener (Mr. Murton), the party was admitted to inspect the 
fine old drawing-room of the mansion, with its elaborately carved 
ceiling. The occupants of the greenhouses, Orchid houses and 
vineries afforded much food for reflection. After inspecting the 
slate quarries at Yeolmbridge, on the return journey, the next 
halt was made at Launceston, where a substantial meal was 
provided. The post-prandial speeches were short, but votes 
of thanks were accorded to the gentlemen whose places had 
been visited. Thanks were also tendered to Mr. W. Charley 
(hon. secretary), Mr. AY. Mackay (hon. treasurer), and Mr. 
Andrew Hope, who had done so much to make the outing a 
success. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural AIutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —The first of the new series of papers arranged 
for the present session—July to December—was given at the 
society’s rooms, Sunflower Temperance Hotel, on Tuesday, and 
Air. J. Cutler, Limes Road, Croydon, very ably discoursed on, 
“Earthworms and their Effects on the Soil.” Air. Cutler illus¬ 
trated how beneficial this lowest order of animal life is to the 
soil we cultivate. The worm is an animal, and has a mouth 
and gizzard with which it obtains its food and afterwards 
digests it. An acid similar to the gastric juices of the human 
stomach is found in its body, and all earth and decayed vegeta¬ 
tion consumed by the worm is passed off with this admixture. 
The castings considerably help to fertilise the soil, as they 
are richer in soluble plant-food than before. Air. Cutler gave 
statistics of the quantity of earth per acre consumed, which 
amounts to about 14 tons. Worms have no ears, but Nature 
has ordained a means of defence for them by an extremely 
sensitive skin, so that the slightest vibration on the surface 
soil enables them to know that their enemy is near. _ Their 
average length in this country when fully grown is 6 in., yet 
in other countries, and notably Ceylon, they grow to 24 in. 
long and ^ in. thick. In England, too, their castings penetrate 
to as much as 6 ft. to 7 ft., so we can understand the great 
help they are in aerating and creating a constant interchange 
