July  18,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
63 
speaker  that  he  might  soon  find  himself  in  paradise — a  paradise  of 
fiowers  under  the  great  array  of  canvas  in  the  green,  clean,  and  beautiful 
park. 
As  an  indication  of  the  extent  of  the  exhibition  it  may  be  said  that 
five  large  and  lofty  marquees  were  requisitioned,  the  central  one, 
200  feet  long,  and  some  4.0  feet  wide,  and  the  others  not  much  less  in 
dimensions.  All  were  filled,  and  filled  well,  with  grand  specimen 
plants,  picturesque  groups,  splendid  displays  of  Roses,  Pinks,  Violas, 
and  other  cut  flowers,  supplemented  with  collections  of  fruit  and 
vegetables  of  the  first  order  of  merit,  the  whole  forming  in  the  aggregate 
a  show  of  great  magnitude,  and  of  which  its  promoters  had  reason  to 
be  proud,  and  especially  so  when  in  age  the  present  organisation  is  only 
half  way  on  to  its  “  teens  in  other  words,  it  was  only  the  seventh 
floral  f^te  of  the  series.  The  schedule  was  admirably  arranged  in 
compact  divisions  appropriate  to  the  means  of  different  sections  of 
exhibitors,  and  not  broken  up  into  a  bewildering  number  of  small 
classes,  consequently  the  resources  were  concentrated,  and  the  prizes 
good.  In  addition  to  the  Society’s  prizes  the  popular  Mayor,  C.  T. 
Mander,  Esq.  (who  will  shortly  enter  on  the  fourth  consecutive  year  in 
that  position),  gave  £12  159.  in  the  leading  class  for  Roses,  and  Paul 
Lutz,  Esq.,  a  handsome  gold  medal  for  the  most  decorative  arrangement 
of  Violas  and  Pansies.  Alderman  Dickinson  patronised  hardy  flowers, 
while  general  and  local  seedsmen  provided  substantial  prizes  in  the 
vegetable  classes.  The  general  character  of  the  show  being  indicated, 
only  brief  reference  can  be  made  to  the  competition  in  some  of  the 
principal  classes. 
Plants  and  Flowers, — Class  1,  sixteen  stove  and  greenhouse 
plants. — These  were  fairly  shown,  but  we  have  seen  the  flowering  plants 
better.  Mr.  Cypher  won  the  £20  somewhat  easily,  his  principal  flowering 
plants  being  Ixora  Williamsi  and  Pilgrimi,  with  Ericas  ferruginea 
major,  Parmenteri,  and  kingstonensis,  Anthurium  Scherzerianum  and 
Bougainvillea  glabra.  Mr.  Finch,  gardener  to  J.  Marriott,  Esq., 
Coventry,  was  a  creditable  second  (prize  £15)  in  this  class.  In  the 
next  class  for  six  Ferns  H.  Lovett,  Esq  ,  Wolverhampton  (gardener, 
Mr.  Sharpe),  won  easily  with  fairly  good  specimens.  In  class  3,  six 
plants  in  flower,  the  first  position  was  well  won  by  Mr.  Cypher,  who 
showed  fresh  and  good  Ixora  Pilgrimi,  Bougainvillea  glabra.  Ericas, 
and  a  good  Allamanda  ;  second,  Mr.  Finch  ;  third,  Mr.  Vause,  Leaming¬ 
ton.  In  the  class  for  six  foliage  plants  the  competition  was  close 
between  Messrs.  Finch  and  Cypher,  the  former  winning  premier  honours 
by  a  point  or  so  ;  third,  Mr.  Vause,  Leamington  ;  and  Messrs.  Cypher, 
Finch,  and  Vause  were  adjudged  the  prizes  for  Palms  in  the  order 
named.  With  eight  Orchids,  first,  Mr.  Cypher,  with  fresh  plants, 
Cattleya  Trianae  and  gigas  being  very  fine  ;  second,  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co.,  Bradford.  These  were  the  only  exhibitors. 
Group  of  plants  450  square  feet. — These  generally  form  the  principal 
feature  of  the  show.  There  were  five  entries,  the  first  prize  (£20)  being 
easily  taken  by  Mr.  Cypher,  whose  group  was  attractively  arranged  with 
good  Orchids  and  foliage  plants  in  a  series  of  mounds  ;  second  (£15). 
Mr.  Finch,  gardener  to  J.  Marriott,  Esq.,  a  pleasing  arrangement,  but 
lacking  the  brightness  of  the  former  ;  third,  Messrs.  J.  Dobbs  &  Co., 
Wolverhampton  (£10)  ;  fourth,  Mr.  V/ilkins,  gardener  to  Lady  Theodore 
Guest,  Henstridge  (£5).  The  groups  shown  by  the  local  gardeners  in 
this  class  (400  square  feet)  were  good,  first  going  to  J.  A,  Kenrick,  Esq., 
Birmingham  (gardener,  Mr.  Cryer)  ;  second,  H.  Lovatt,  Esq.,  Wolver¬ 
hampton  (gardener,  Mr.  Sharpe).  Stove  and  greenhouse  fiowers  were 
grandly  shown,  and  so  were  the  bouquets,  the  prizes  in  the  former  class 
going  to  Messrs.  Cypher  and  Marriott ;  while  in  the  latter  Messrs. 
Perkins  &  Son,  of  Coventry,  carried  all  before  them  in  a  masterly  style, 
their  bouquets  as  usual  being  a  very  graceful  and  well-arranged  com¬ 
bination  of  choice  flowers. 
Roses. — There  was  a  very  considerable  display,  and  close  competition ; 
but  though  several  grand  blooms  were  staged,  the  majority  showed  the 
effects  of  the  exhausting  weather.  In  the  class  for  seventy-two  blooms 
Mr.  B.  R.  Cant  added  one  more  to  his  many  high  honours  by  winning 
the  premier  position  with  effective  stands,  his  Teas  weighing  heavily. 
Second,  Messrs.  Harkness  &  Son  ;  and  third,  Mr.  H.  Merry  weather,  who 
followed  closely  in  order  of  merit.  Messrs.  Harkness,  Merryweather, 
and  Perkins  were  the  respective  winners  with  forty-eight  blooms  ;  with 
thirty-six,  Messrs.  Harkness,  Perkins,  and  Mattock  ;  with  twenty-four, 
Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Harkness.  With  twelve  blooms  of  any  dark 
Rose,  Messrs.  Townsend  and  Perkins  were  placed  in  the  order  named, 
both  staging  A.  K.  Williams.  In  the  corresponding  class  for  light  Roses 
Messrs.  W.  D.  Prior  &  Sons  were  first  with  Her  Majesty,  and  Messrs. 
Townsend  second  with  Mrs.  J.  Laing.  The  prizes  for  twelve  Teas  fell 
to  Messrs.  Mattock,  Prior,  and  Croll  respectively  in  excellent  compe¬ 
tition.  The  premier  blooms  in  the  show  were  in  light  Roses  Marchioness 
of  Londonderry,  reds  A.  K.  Williams,  rose  coloured  Her  Majesty. 
A  class  for  the  most  decorative  arrangement  of  Roses  in  a  space 
of  tabling  not  exceeding  12  by  5  feet,  small  Palms  and  Ferns  permissible, 
brought  out  pleasing  associations.  Messrs.  Perkins  <&  Son  were  first  for 
a  mossy  bank,  occupied  with  baskets,  glasses,  and  boxes  of  Roses,  inter¬ 
spersed  and  fringed  with  Smilax  and  Ferns,  against  a  background  of 
Palms.  Second  and  third,  Messrs.  Mattock  and  Townsend  respectively, 
with  generally  heavier  arrangements. 
Pansies  and  Violas.  —  Mr.  Lutz’s  class  for  the  most  tasteful 
arrangement  of  Pansies  and  Violas  on  a  space  not  exceeding  10  feet  by 
3  feet  was  a  great  success.  The  conditions  were  that  the  Violas  must 
be  shown  arranged  in  glasses  of  water,  and  not  as  sprays  on  sloping 
boards  in  the  usual  manner.  The  intention,  and  a  very  laudable  one, 
was  to  maintain  the  freshness  of  the  flowers  over  the  three  days,  as  well 
as  to  show  their  decorative  adaptability.  There  were  several  com¬ 
petitors.  The  gold  medal  was  well  won  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Sons, 
Rothesay.  The  stage  was  covered  with  black  velvet,  on  which  about  a 
hundred  glasses  of  Violas  and  Pansies  in  leafy  sprays  were  arranged 
most  pleasingly.  Fine  fronds  of  the  Royal  Fern  rose  above  the  back 
of  the  stage,  and  drooping  from  the  front  were  sprays  of  Asparagus 
plumosus  and  Ferns.  This  was  altogether  a  free,  fresh,  diversified,  and 
attractive  combination,  admirably  fulfilling  the  objects  which  the 
originator  of  the  class  had  in  view,  and  both  he  and  the  exhibitors  are 
to  be  congratulated  on  the  success  achieved.  Other  successful  com¬ 
petitors  were  Messrs.  Smellie,  Campbell,  and  Lister. 
Hardy  Border  Flowers. — Good  prizes  were  offered  for  the  best 
arrangement  of  hardy  flowers  in  a  space  not  exceeding  12  by  3  feet ; 
but  no  particular  taste  was  displayed  by  any  of  the  exhibitors.  The 
first  prize  was  won  by  Mr.  John  Meiklem,  Bridge  of  Weir,  with  good 
flowers  undoubtedly,  but  disposed  in  close  arrow-head  shaped  bunches, 
all  sloped  backwards  to  form  a  close  face  of  colour — a  severely  formal 
arrangement,  and  not  in  the  least  picturesque.  Still,  the  judges  could 
not  do  otherwise  than  place  the  collection  before  those  of  Mr.  John 
Salmon,  Trysail,  who  was  second  with  low  neat  bunches,  and  Mr.  J.  W. 
Coates,  gardener  to  Hon.  P.  Stanhope,  Wombourne,  who  had  a  multi¬ 
tude  of  varieties  in  his  group.  Why  cannot  our  hardy  border  flowers 
be  shown  in  glasses,  and  generally  tastefully  displayed  to  show  their 
adaptability  ,  to  vase  decoration  in  rooms,  instead  of  being  packed  and 
huddled  in  close  bunches  in  which  they  are  deprived  of  their  natural 
grace  and  beauty  1  It  may  be  added  that  excellent  collections  of  hardy 
flowers  were  arranged  by  Messrs.  Dicksons  of  Chester  and  Messrs.  Hewitt 
and  Co.,  while  Mr.  Eckford  and  Messrs.  Dobbie  staged  charming  assort¬ 
ments  of  Sweet  Peas. 
Fruit. — In  the  collections  especially,  the  fruit  exceeded  all  previous 
displays  at  Wolverhampton.  In  the  class  for  nine  dishes,  Mr.  M.  Gleeson, 
gardener  to  C.  E.  Keyser,  Esq.,  Stanmore,  won  premier  honours  with 
Muscat  Hamburgh  Grapes,  very  fine  ;  also  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Queen 
Pine  Apple,  a  splendid  Hero  of  Lockinge  Melon  ;  two  dishes  of  Peaches, 
Figs,  and  Nectarines  all  meritorious  ;  second,  Mr.  Bannerman,  gardener 
to  Lord  Bagot,  Rugeley  ;  third,  Mr.  Mclndoe  ;  fourth,  Mr.  Gilman,  all 
extremely  close  in  order  of  merit. 
Grapes,  four  bunches  of  Grapes,  distinct  varieties. — First,  Mr, 
Bannerman,  with  bunches  fine  in  berry,  colour,  and  finish  ;  varieties, 
Foster’s  Seedling,  Alicante,  Black  Hamburgh,  and  Duke  of  Buccleuch  ; 
second,  Mr.  Goodacre;  third,  Mr.  Read,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Car¬ 
narvon,  Two  bunches  of  White  Grapes.  —  First.  Canon  Coventry; 
second,  Mr.  Carter,  gardener  to  Hon.  P.  Stanhope,  Wombourne  ;  third, 
Mr.  Bannerman.  Two  bunches  Black  Grapes. — First,  Mr.  Bannerman  ; 
second,  Mr.  Gilman  ;  third.  Canon  Coventry. 
Melons,  green  flesh,  single  fruit. — First,  Mr.  Mclndoe  with  Colston 
Bassett  ;  second,  Mr.  Crooke,  gardener  to  Dowager  Lady  Hindlip, 
Droitwich  ;  third,  Mr.  Bannerman.  Scarlet  flesh. — First,  Mr.  Pope  with 
Sutton’s  Scarlet,  a  fruit  of  the  highest  quality  ;  second,  Mr.  Read  ; 
third,  Mr.  Bannerman. 
Dish  of  six  Peaches. — First,  Mr.  J.  Gray,  gardener  to  Sir  G.  Meyrick, 
Bart.,  Anglesea,  fine  Crimson  Galande ;  second,  Mr.  J.  Wallis,  gardener 
to  —  Sneyd,  Esq.,  Keele  Hall  ;  third.  Sir  0.  H.  Rouse  Broughton,  Ludlow, 
Six  Nectarines. — First,  Mr.  Carter,  gardener  to  Hon.  P.  Stanhope; 
second,  Mr.  Wallis  ;  third,  Mr.  Gleeson,  gardener  to  0.  E.  Keyser,  Esq, 
Three  dishes  Strawberries, — First,  Mr.  Ambrose,  gardener  to  Colonel 
the  Hon,  R.  S.  Cotton  ;  second,  Mr.  Watkins,  Shrewsbury ;  third, 
Mr.  Crooke.  Single  dish  Scrawberries. — First,  Mr.  Watkins  with  very 
fine  Dr,  Hogg ;  second,  Mr.  Goodacre  with  Loxford  Hall  ;  third,  Mr. 
Wallis  with  Lord  Suffield. 
Vegetables. — Good  size  with  high  quality  rather  than  gigantic 
samples  verging  on  coarseness,  was  the  prevailing  feature  in  this 
department  of  the  show.  In  class  51,  open,  a  collection  of  not  less 
than  eight  nor  more  than  twelve  kinds,  excellent  produce  was  staged, 
the  prizes  being  awarded  in  the  order  named  to  Mr.  J.  Read,  gardener 
to  the  Earl  of  Carnarvon,  Burton-on-Trent ;  Rev.  W.  D.  Thatcher  ;  and 
Mr.  S.  Postings,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Wight-Boycott, 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons’  prize  of  £5  for  the  best  collection,  arranged 
in  a  space  of  6  by  4  feet,  was  won  by  Mr,  C,  J.  Waite,  gardener  to 
Col.  Hon.  W.  P.  Talbot,  Tomatoes,  Potatoes,  Carrots.  Vegetable  Marrows, 
Peas  being  especially  good  ;  closely  followed  by  Mr.  T,  Wilkins.  The 
prizes  of  the  same  firm  for  six  dishes,  distinct,  went— first  to  Mr.  W.  F, 
Smith,  gardener  to  Rev.  W,  D.  Thatcher,  Stourbridge  ;  second,  Mr.  S. 
Bremmell,  gardener  to  H.  H.  France,  Etq.,  Hayhurst,  Wellington  ;  third, 
Mrs.  Wight-Boycott. 
Messrs.  Garter’s  prizes  brought  a  keen  contest  between  Messrs.  Waite 
and  Wilkins,  the  former  being  victorious  with  remarkably  fine  dishes 
for  the  season,  a  fine  dish  of  Carter’s  Ashtop  Fluke  Potatoes  being  worthy 
of  especial  note. 
Messrs.  Webb’s  prizes  for  six  dishes  of  vegetables. — First,  Mr.  C,  J. 
Waite,  Webb’s  Market  Favourite  Carrot,  Stourbridge  Glory  Potatoes, 
Cauliflowers,  Vegetable  Marrows,  Sensation  Tomato,  Stourbridge  Marrow 
Peas,  all  fresh  and  fine  ;  second,  Mr.  W.  Pope  ;  third,  Mr.  Wilkins.  This 
was  the  best  contested  of  the  vegetable  classes,  the  produce  being  very 
good  and  fresh,  the  exhibitors  following  each  other  very  closely  indeed. 
In  the  class  for  three  dishes  of  Tomatoes,  open — first,  Mr.  E.  Gilman, 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  with  dishes  of  fruits  uniform  in 
size,  clear  and  bright  in  colour  throughout  ;  second,  Mr,  Goodacre, 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Harrington  ;  third,  Mr.  J.  Cypher,  Cheltenham. 
Messrs.  Webb's  prizes  for  one  dish  of  Tomatoes  were  won  by  Messrs. 
Wilkins,  Waite,  and  T,  Clayton.  Esq.,  in  the  order  of  their  names. 
The  show  was  well  managed  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Green  and  his  active 
