November 12, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
919 
CROYDON CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
October 25th and 26th. 
The seventeenth annual show of the above society was held 
in the large Public Halls, Croydon, on the above dates. The 
Croydon show is always popular with the citizens, who patronise 
it in large numbers. In some of the sections the entries were 
not so numerous as previously, but mo doubt that was due to 
so many other important shows being held in the immediate 
neighbourhood. Ail the same, the quality and character of 
the exhibits of Chrysanthemums, flowers, fruits, and vegetables 
left little to 'be desired. Gardeners are very numerous in the 
districts immediately surrounding Croydon, and the exhibition 
was largely patron s?d by them either as exhibitors or visitors. 
The large hall was insufficient to display the exhibits, and two 
other apartments of the building had to be utilised for fruits 
and vegetables. 
The leading feature of the show was the cut blooms staged in 
vases instead of on boards. As at all other shows, the Japanese 
section far outnumbered the incurved or any other type. The 
groups also were very attractive, and two or three of them of 
superior merit. The show was formally opened on the 25th by 
Alderman Sir Frederick Edridge, the president. It, was his 
opinion that the show was the very best held by the society, 
and would have been a credit to any town in England. The 
general arrangements of the show were under the direction of 
Mr. W. B. Beckett, whose energy is irrepressible and his ser¬ 
vices indispensable to the society. He is also well supported 
by an assistant and the committee. 
Oden Classes. 
As stated above, the class for 15 Japanese and 15 incurved 
varieties, to be staged in vases with their own foliage, formed 
the leading feature of the exhibition. The premier award for 
this class was a Challenge Cup (value 25 gs.) and a money prize. 
The leading award was secured by Mr. F. Bible, gardener to 
Prince Hatzfeldt, Chippenham, who had an excellent exhibit 
of large and attractive blooms. The second award went to Mr. 
C. J. Salter, gardener to Mrs. Haywood, Woodhatch Lodge, 
Reigate, a specialist of long standing, thus guaranteeing the 
quality of the first prize exhibit. 
For 25 blooms of Japanese varieties shown in vases the Silver 
Cup, presented by Mr. Alderman and Mrs. Allen, was won by 
Mr. C. J. Salter, who was followed by Mr. C. Lane, gardener 
to E. H. Coles, Esq., 'Caterham, and by Mr. C. J. Ellis, gar¬ 
dener to L. Bischoffsheim, Esq., Stanmore, Middlesex. 
The first prize for four plants of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine 
was secured by Mr. G. Mileham, gardener to A. D. Miller, Esq., 
Emlyn, Leather head. 
A greater amount of interest was created in the group for 
Chrysanthemum plants, to be shown in pots not exceeding 16 
size. The finest group was that of Mr. W. Collins, gardener to 
Alderman R. Y. Barrow, Engadine, Park Hill Road. He had 
a strong rival in Mr. W. H. Cook, gardener to Col. Simpson, 
Shirley, who made a very good second. The third prize went 
to Mr. W. Bentley, gardener to Mr. G. Curling, Addiscombe. 
For nine foliage plants suitable for table decoration in 
48-size loots the lead was taken by Mr. C. Lane, who had very 
neat and well-grown specimens. He was succeeded by Mr. 
M. E. Mills, gardener to Frank Lloyd, Esq., Coornbe Road, 
Croydon. The second award went to Mr. W. Lintott, gardener 
to Walpole Greenwell, Esq., Marden Park, Caterham. 
The above open classes for Chrysanthemums were followed 
by a number of fruit. For 12 dishes of Apples the first prize 
was secured by Mr. F. Bible, followed by Mr. J. D. Simmons, 
gardener to Max Michaelis, Esq., T'andridge Court, Oxted, and 
by Mr. William Jones, gardener to J. Brougham, Esq., Car- 
shalton, in this order. 
Mr. F. Bible was again to the fore in the class for six dishes 
of Pears. Mr. W. Jones here took the second place, and was 
followed by Mr. William Mancey, gardener to A. Benson, Esq. t 
Upper Ca.tton Park, Reigate. The latter came to the front for 
three bunches of white Grapes, and was followed by Mr. W. 
Lintott, who came to the front for three bunches of black 
Crapes. Mr. J. R. Ball, gardener to A. I). Klaber, Esq., 
Norhyrst, South Norwood, was second, and Mr. W. A. Cook -was 
third. 
For a collection of 12 kinds of vegetables shown upon a tray 
of given dimensions the lead’was taken by Mr. F. Bible, who 
was followed in the order given by Mr. W. Lintott and Mr. J. 
Friend, gardener to the Hon. P. C. Glyn, Esq., Rooksnest, 
Godstone. This class created a considerable amount of in¬ 
terest, as the experts who competed in it were a guarantee for 
the quality of the produce. 
Gardeners in the Borough of Croydon. 
For a group of miscellaneous plants, arranged for effect in any 
shape or design, the lead was taken by Mr. E. Mills, who was 
followed by Mr. W. A. Cook and Mr. Lewry, gardener to Miss 
Blake, of Duppas Hill, Croydon. The last named came to the 
front for six foliage plants, and was followed by Mr. W. A. Cook. 
The class for 10 Japanese blooms with foliage to be shown in 
vases brought Mr. M. E. Mills to the front. He was followed by 
Mr. W. Collins. 
For 12 Japanese blooms, not more than two of a sort, Mr. 
M. E. Mills again took the premier position. He was followed 
by Mr. Prebble, gardener to M. Preston, Esq., Shirley. In¬ 
curved blooms were by no means a strong class, and a second was 
awarded to M. G. Prebble. 
For six Japanese blooms the premier award was secured by 
Mr. L. Gooch, gardener to T. Wickham Jones, South Norwood. 
The second award was secured by Mr. Peat, gardener to J. 
Potter, Esq., Croydon. For three dishes of dessert Apples the 
lead was secured by Mr. 0. Jeal, gardener to N. Waterall, Esq., 
Waddon. Mr. J. Johnson, gardener to Mrs. Crowley, Croydon, 
took the second award. Mr. W. A. Cook came in third. Mr. O. 
Jeal again led the way for three dishes of Potatos, and was 
followed by Mr. G. Prebble and Mr. M. E. Mills in this order. 
Amateurs. 
Six classes were set apart for amateurs, and the awards were 
sufficiently tempting to bring forward some fine exhibits. A 
Silver Cup was offered for 10 Japanese blooms with foliage shown 
in vases. The cup was presented by James Epps, jun., F.R.H.S. 
This was secured by Mr. N. Wrightson, Addiscombe. The 
Society’s Silver Medal went to Mr. R. E. Mason, Croydon, as the 
second prize. Mr. A. Burgess, Merton, came in third, securing 
the Society’s Bronze Medal. For six Japanese blooms Mr. N. 
Wrightson again came to the front, followed by R. E. Mason and 
O. R. Clark in this order. Mr. J. Smith had a second prize for 
incurved blooms. Mr. W. Philpot secured the lead for Pompons, 
followed by Mi-. F. Smith. For six blooms of Japanese Mr. J. J. 
Pitmann took the leading place, followed by Mr. C. R. Clark and 
Mr. F. Smith. 
An innovation was a class for the most tastefully arranged 
table decoration, Chrysanthemum flowers only to be used, with 
foliage of any other subject. This brought a number of competi¬ 
tors, making the class quite a feature of the show. The first 
prize was won by Mrs. Alexander Robinson, Wallington; Miss 
Kirk, Anerley, took the second place; Mrs. Green, of Croydon, 
came in third; while two extra fourth awards went to Miss 
Robinson (Purley) and Miss Martin (Norwood) respectively. 
A number of awards were set apart for cottagers, and consisted 
chiefly of vegetables, which were of high quality and made a good 
display. 
The premier Japanese bloom in the open classes was Henry 
Perkins, shown by Mr. M. E. Mills. Mr. F. Bible had the best 
incurved bloom in a fine sample of Mine. Ferlat. In the classes 
open to Croydon gardeners Mr. G. Prebble had the best bloom in 
The Colonel. The premier bloom in the cottagers’ classes was 
Mrs. E. Thirkell, shown by Mr. G. Edwards. 
Miscellaneous Exhibits. 
A large collection of fruit, consisting chiefly of Apples, was 
exhibited by Messrs. J. Clieal and Sons, Crawley, Sussex. 
Messrs. Ambrose and Sons, Cheshunt, had an exhibit of their 
new Grape, Melton Constable. Mr. John Kaehler, 14, Elgin 
Road, exhibited Apples and Vegetable Marrows. Mr. ~T. 
Butcher, Croydon and South Norwood, furnished the platform 
decorations. Mr. Frank Brazier, Caterham, set up a group of 
early flowering Chrysanthemums. Messrs. William Cutbush and 
Sons, Highgate, London, exhibited a group of their winter 
flowering Carnations. Messrs. W. Wells and Co., Earlswood, 
Redhill, Surrey, staged a collection of Chrysanthemums. Mr’. 
W. Turney, West Croydon, also exhibited Chrysanthemums. 
Mr. A. Edwards, Arnold, Notts, staged table decorations. 
Messrs. Pascal! and Sons, South Norwood, had an exhibit of 
garden pottery. 
Silver Medal foe the Best Cottage Garden. —The Silver 
Medal given by the Royal Horticultural Society to the Surrey- 
Education Committee, as special honours for the best cottage 
garden worker in Surrey, has this year been won by H. Brown, a 
carpenter on the Clutton Estate, for his garden at Sidlow, near 
Reigate, while a similar medal for the best allotment worker in 
the county goes to Harvey Hopkins, an ex-policeman, who lives 
at Carshalton. Brown’s garden has gained the highest number 
of points of any since the competition was started, and Hopkins’s 
allotment showed that great attention had been bestowed on it. 
The former received his award on the 29th ult., at Reigate, at a 
gathering presided over by the Mayor. 
