in 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 16, 1905. 
but I would suggest the use of hardy evergreen 
Ferns, such as the common Hartstongue, etc. ; 
the Pteris Fern will also stand an amount 
of frost. Then Primroses, Polyanthus, the 
hardy Primulas could be potted up, also 
Pansies, Christmas Roses. All these would 
bloom early, as the glass will protect them 
from snow and rain, although the frost will 
not be kept out. Snowdrops, Crocuses, and 
Scilla Sibefica would also make an early show 
if potted up now. A. F. Ltjnk. 
Rose Cottage, Sutton Common, 
Sutton, Surrey. 
Mildew on Crimson Rambler. 
May I commend “ Climax Mildew De¬ 
stroyer” to the notice of “A. D. Roberts?” 
I have used that preparation on Roses that- 
were very badly infested with mildew, and it 
certainly has worked a most remarkable 
change in the appearance of the plants. A 
The metropolitan exhibition of the N.D.S., 
held at the Crystal Palace on the 7th and 8th 
of September, was a very notable exhibition, 
and greatly admired by the large crowds who 
visited it during the two days it was open. 
Said Mr. Brousson, the lion, secretary of the 
society, to a Gardening World representa¬ 
tive : “ It is, to use a somewhat hackneyed 
phrase, a record show, both as regards num¬ 
ber and quality of exhibits. There has been 
absolutely nothing equal to it before. A 
highly pleasing feature of the exhibition is 
the strong muster of amateurs; there are 
almost fifty per cent, more amateur exhibitors 
this year than there were last. This is one of 
the most remarkable things about the show.” 
The exhibits were arranged in the central 
transept, and provided a rich feast of colour, 
and a display of blooms of a size and beauty 
never before brought together, and which were 
a source of astonishment to those who were 
unaware of the progress made of late years in 
the cultivation and development of the Dahlia. 
Altogether there were sixty-five exhibitors and 
three 'hundred and eighty exhibits. The 
popular Cactus Dahlia formed, as was to be 
expected, the back-bone of the show and the 
bulk of the exhibits. Here were to be seen 
the newest and most beautiful varieties of this 
charming flower, and these were most effec¬ 
tively displayed in trusses in three successive 
tiers one above the other. Show, fancy, Pom¬ 
pon, and single! Dahlias also figured pro¬ 
minently in this unique display. In the nur¬ 
serymen’s section, the Silver Challenge Cup of 
£10 10s. for eighteen varieties of Cactus 
Dahlias was won for the third time in succes¬ 
sion by Messrs. J. Stredwick and Son, Silver- 
hill Park, St. Leonards-on-Sea, and it there¬ 
fore becomes the property of this firm. As a 
matter of fact, they have won the cup four 
years in succession. 
In the amateur section, which, as we have 
said, was uncommonly strong, the Silver 
Challenge Cup for the best nine varie¬ 
ties of Cactus Dahlias set up in bunches 
was won by Mr. H. Brown, 174, North 
Street, Luton, Beds; while the Gold 
Badge, presented by Messrs. Dobbie and Co., 
florists to the King, Rothesay, fell to Mr. J. 
large plant of Climbing Niphetos in a green¬ 
house was completely smothered with mildew, 
and a few shower-baths of the destroyer 
{mixed with water warmed to 80 deg. Fahr.) 
has quite redeemed it. Heather Bell. 
Earwigs on Dahlias. 
Should “ J. C. R.” still be worried by the 
earwigs lie should get some hollow Canes or 
Bamboos about six inches long and stick them 
in around the Dahlia plants. Look over them 
early each morning and drop the insects into 
a pan of boiling water. Bits of sponge which 
have a little moist sugar sprinkled in the 
holes make excellent traps. If possible late 
at night look over the plants by aid of a cycle 
or other lamp, and shake the stems over a 
wide-mouthed pan or vessel of hot water; 
thousands can be caught in this way, but it is 
troublesome and really requires the help of 
two people. D. Y. E. 
Portland Lodge, Worthing. 
Bryant, Salisbury. A curious coincident was 
that Messrs. I. Stredwick and Son, St. 
Leonards-on-Sea, were awarded the Silver 
Medal (presented by Mr. E. Mawley, the pre¬ 
sident of the society) for the best bunch of 
Cactus Dahlias in Classes 6 and 7, the variety 
being J. B. Riding ; whilst Mr. F. McGrath, 
of Huddersfield, took a similar Medal for a 
bunch of Miss F. N. Stredwick Cactus Dahlias, 
which was judged to be the best in the ama¬ 
teur classes. 
In the open classes a Silver Medal was taken 
by Mr. J. Emberson, Walthamstow, for a 
basket of Dahlias arranged for effect," embel¬ 
lished with foliage, etc. ; and Mr. W. C. 
Pagram, Weybridge, captured the Silver 
Medal for the best vase of Pompon Dahlias, 
arranged in a similar manner. The Bronze 
Medal and a money award for the best six 
varieties of fancy single Dahlias was captured 
by Messrs. J. Cheal and Son. 
Among the non-competitive exhibits Hob¬ 
bies, Limited, of Dereham, staged! a very ex¬ 
tensive collection of Cactus Dahlias, inter¬ 
spersed with Ferns, branches of Conifers, 
Palms, and Kochia scoparia. The Dahlias 
were set up in half-conical groups, with bays 
between. For this display the firm were 
awarded the Silver Gilt Medal of the N.D.S. 
and the Silver Medal of. the Crystal Palace 
Company. They were also awarded a First 
Class Certificate for The Pilot, a Cactus 
seedling, a very striking creation with large 
orange bloom, and lemon-coloured base, and 
the florets lemon tipped. Mr. J. T. West, 
who had a beautiful exhibit of Cactus and 
Pompon Dahlias, was awarded a First Class 
Certificate for a Cactus seedling christened 
Nelson, and which, by the way, was certi¬ 
ficated quite recently by the R.H.S. This is 
a splendid break of a rich crimson hue, much 
incurved, and altogether a grand exhibition 
flower. The N.D. Society’s Silver Gilt Medal 
was awarded to Messrs. T. S. Ware, Feltham, 
for an admirably arranged collection of Cactus 
Dahlias, which were set up in vases. Bamboo 
stands, etc., interspersed with pot plants. 
No less than three Cactus seedlings shown by 
Messrs. J. Stredwick and Son obtained First 
Class Certificates. These were Edward Drury, 
a handsome yellow variety with large 
much incurving florets, each floret being 
tipped with white; William Marshall, an 
extra large flower of very excellent form, 
yellow with orange centre, the florets being of 
great length and very narrow; and Iris, a 
striking rose-pink flower with white cen¬ 
tre and long, very narrow and incurving 
florets. Mr. S. Mortimer took two First 
Class Certificates for a fancy seeding, 
Mariner, and a Cactus seedling Pink 
Perfection. The first-named, which also 
secured the Bronze Medal for the best seed¬ 
ling show or fancy Dahlia in Class 46, is a 
crimson flower with yellow-tipped florets, and 
of faultless form, and the second, as its cog¬ 
nomen indicates, is pink, and it fully deserves 
to be described as perfection. Mr. H. Shoe- 
smith, Worthing, was also awarded two First 
Class Certificates, one for White Lady, a fine 
pure white Cactus seedling, and the other, 
named after himself, also a Cactus seedling, 
maroon coloured of graceful form. Yet other 
two First Class Certificates were awarded for 
new varieties, namely, to Mr. F. Grinsted, 
Battle, Sussex, for Mrs. F. Grinsted, Cactus 
seedling, a large full crimson flower; and to 
Messrs. Keynes, Williams and Co., for Lady 
Fair, a fancy Cactus seedling with a butter¬ 
cup yellow base shading off to lemon ; this 
is a flower of good size, very distinct, with 
petals intwisting wildly, and a charming 
variety. 
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, for 
their extensive display of Cactus Dahlias ivere 
awarded the Silver Medal of the N.D.S., and 
of the Crystal Palace Company, and well they 
deserved the honour, for not only were the 
blooms exhibited exceptionally fine, but they 
were most effectively arranged, with an inter¬ 
mixture of Gypsophila- paniculata, and back 
ground of Palms and other decorative plants. 
New Pompons certificated were Mr. C. 
Turner’s Matador (dark red) and Thora (flesh 
colour); and Mr. J. T. West’s Kitty Barrett 
(yellow edged with crimson) and Midget 
(orange pink). No new single Dahlias were 
certificated. 
Those who saw this incomparable exhibition 
will not soon forget the remarkable beauty, 
and the striking variety in form and colour of 
these superb modern Dahlias, especially the 
Cactus Dahlias—the queen of our early 
autumn flowers. It was a show of which the 
N.D.S. have every reason to be proud. The 
society are doing a great work in holding 
these exhibitions, and thus setting models foi 
similar exhibitions throughout the country, 
and authoritively indicating to the raisers 
of new varieties the types of flowers it is advis¬ 
able to produce ; they are also placing the 
flower-loving public—that rapidly increasing 
public—under a great indebtedness for spread¬ 
ing a knowledge of the Dahlia as they ha\e 
been undoubtedly the means of doing, and 
educating the public taste in the selection of 
the best and most suitable kinds for garden 
decoration and home adornment. 
The Henry Eckford Testimonial.—Clos¬ 
ing of the Fund. —The committee closed this 
fund on the 9th inst. The subscriptions to 
the evening of Saturday, September 2nd were 
as follows :—Previously acknowledged, 
£54 8s. 9d. ; Mr. G. Brand, Is. ; Mr. C. W. 
Greenwood, 5s. ; Mr. D. May, Is. ; Saltaiie, 
Shipley and District Rose Society, £1 Is. ; 
Mr. J. Turner, Is. ; Mr. G. Waddell, Is. ; 
Mr. G. Waddell, jun., Is. ; Mr. Horace J. 
Wright, 5s. -Horace J. Wright, Dault Road, 
Wandsworth. 
THE N.D-S. 
METROPOLITAN DAHLIA EXHIBITION. 
A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY. 
