August  8, 1895, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
139 
Miscellaneous  Exhibits. — These  were  even  of  greater  interest 
than  in  former  years.  Messrs.  Dicksons,  Limited,  Chester,  put  up  a 
stand  of  herbaceous  cut  flowers,  which  were  the  admiration  of  all  pre¬ 
sent.  Messrs.  Eckford  &  Son  staged  about  flfty  vases  of  Sweet  Peas, 
which  produced  a  charming  effect.  Messrs.  Ker  &  Sons  had  a  splendid 
selection  of  Caladiums  and  plants  of  their  new  Gloxinia  Aigburth 
Scarlet.  Messrs.  Jno,  Cowan  &  Co.,  Limited,  Garston,  staged  new  and 
rare  plants,  Orchids,  and  some  flne  Gloxinia  types,  also  a  splendid  group 
of  Tea  Roses  in  pots,  which  was  much  admired.  Mr.  Chas.  A.  Young, 
Floral  Nnrsery,  West  Derby,  had  a  stand  of  choice  Carnations,  also 
of  other  miscellaneous  cut  flowers.  Mr.  J.  Forbes,  Hawick,  staged 
Carnations,  Picotees,  and  Violas  in  superb  condition.  To  all  the  above 
firms  certificates  were  granted. 
CARSH ALTON.— August  5th. 
This  usually  quiet  Surrey  village  presented  a  more  lively  appearance 
on  Bank  Holiday  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  was  the  occasion  of  the 
Beddington,  Carshalton,  and  Wallington  Horticultural  Society’s  show. 
No  more  suitable  place  could  have  been  chosen  for  a  flower  show  and 
gala  than  the  park,  kindly  lent  for  the  occasion  by  J,  W.  F.  B.  Taylor, 
Esq.,  and  though  the  weather  was  not  altogether  favourable,  owing  to 
the  periodical  downpours  of  rain,  there  was  a  good  attendance.  The 
show  was  divided  into  classes  for  gardeners  and  amateurs,  and  cottagers 
residing  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  though  the  former  showed  some  little 
signs  of  falling  off,  this  was  counterbalanced  by  the  increase  of  exhibits 
in  the  cottagers’  section,  and  especially  amongst  the  vegetables  was  the 
competition,  both  in  point  of  numbers  and  quality  of  the  exhibits,  more 
than  usually  keen.  The  ladies  were  also  in  evidence,  and  for  the  prizes 
offered  for  a  dinner-table  decoration  there  were  no  less  than  eight 
competitors.  Awards  were  also  given  for  home-made  jams,  preserves, 
jellies,  pickles,  bread,  and  honey,  and  also  for  the  best  dinner  produced  at  a 
given  cost  sufficient  for  a  family,  the  whole  of  these  classes  arousing 
much  interest. 
In  the  principal  class,  open  to  gardeners  and  amateurs  in  the  district, 
the  first  prize  for  a  group  of  plants  arranged  for  effect  was  won  by  Mr. 
J.  H.  Stevens,  gardener  to  E.  G.  Coles,  Esq.,  Carshalton.  For  six  table 
plants  Mr.  J.  Slater,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Hulse,  Carshalton,  was  first  with 
compact  specimens ;  Mr.  J.  Wright,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Bridges,  Beddington, 
was  second  ;  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens  third.  Mr.  J.  Slater  was  an  easy 
first  for  six  tuberous  Begonias  with  excellent  specimens,  the  second 
prize  falling  to  Mr.  A.  Etheridge,  gardener  to  A.  Z.  C.  Cressy,  Esq., 
Wallington.  Gloxinias  were  well  shown,  the  prizes  falling  to  Mr. 
J.  Slater,  Mr.  J.  Wright,  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens  in  the  foregoing  order. 
First  honours  for  three  Fuchsias  were  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Slater,  and  for 
four  flowering  greenhouse  plants  Mr.  J.  Wright  claimed  the  premier 
prize.  The  last  named  exhibitor  was  also  first  for  three  Coleus,  staging 
■good  specimens  ;  Mr.  A.  Etheridge  following  with  second,  and  Mr. 
J.  Slater  third.  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens  was  a  good  first  for  six  exotic 
Ferns,  Mr.  J.  Slater  taking  the  second  place. 
In  the  fruit  classes  Mr,  H.  Shoebridge,  gardener  to  M.  Beddington, 
Esq.,  Carshalton,  was  first  for  three  bunches  of  black  Grapes,  Mr,  J. 
Slater  being  second.  For  a  scarlet- fleshed  Melon  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens  was 
first,  Mr.  A.  Etheridge  second,  and  Mr.  H.  Shoebridge  third,  Mr.  W. 
Clayson,  gardener  to  A.  Dry,  Esq.,  Carshalton,  took  the  premier  place 
for  a  green-fleshed  Melon.  For  a  dish  of  Tomatoes  Mr.  Dann, 
Wallington,  was  first,  Mr.  J.  Wright  second,  and  Mr,  J,  Slater  third. 
The  last-named  exhibitor  was  also  first  for  both  Peaches  and  Nectarines, 
Mr.  R.  Hill  being  second  and  third  in  both  cases.  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens 
was  first  for  six  dishes  of  hardy  fruit,  staging  Red  Currants,  Apples, 
Dherries,  Peaches,  Plums,  and  Apricots  ;  the  second  prize  fell  to  Mr.  J. 
Slater,  and  the  third  to  Mr,  J.  Wright.  For  a  brace  of  Cucumbers 
Mr.  W.  Clayson  was  first,  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens  second,  and  Mr.  J. 
Slater  third . 
An  interesting  feature  in  the  Show  was  the  excellent  collections  of 
vegetables,  for  which  the  sum  of  £5  was  distributed  amongst  six 
successful  competitors  according  to  the  number  of  points  allotted  to 
-each.  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens  gained  the  highest  number — namely,  sixty- 
one,  and  took  the  sum  of  193.  4d.  ;  his  collection  included  clean  and  well- 
grown  samples  of  Peas,  Potatoes,  Kidney  Beans,  Beet,  Cabbages, 
Oarrots,  Onions,  Turnips  and  Marrows,  Mr.  J.  Slater  was  second  with 
fifty-seven  points,  taking  178.  lid.  ;  Mr.  H.  Shoebridge  third  with  fifty- 
five  points,  taking  ITs.  4d. ;  Mr.  H.  Hopkins  and  Mr.  W.  Clayson  were 
equal  fourths  each  with  forty-nine  points,  taking  158,  6d.  ;  and  the  last 
award  went  to  Mr.  J.  Davies  with  forty-six  points,  taking  148.  5d. 
Amongst  the  exhibits  not  for  competition  were  a  small  but  effective 
group  of  plants  sent  by  A.  H.  Smee,  Esq.,  of  “  My  Garden  a  collection 
of  hardy  flowers  from  Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Sons,  Norwood,  which  was 
very  effective,  and  a  group  of  plants  from  Messrs.  J.  W.  Silver  &  Co., 
Btreatham  Nurseries. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
Dicksons  &  Co.,  Waterloo  Place,  Edinburgh. — Catalogue  of  Flower 
Roots. 
Little  &  Ballantyne,  Carlisle. — Bulb  List. 
Louis  Van  Houtte,  P^re,  Ghent,  Belgium. — General  Plant  List. 
Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Royal  Exotic  Nursery,  Chelsea. — Bulb  Catalogue. 
B.  S.  Williams  &  Sons,  Upper  Holloway. — Bulbs,  Fruit  Trees,  and 
Roses. 
CLITORIA  TERNATEA. 
The  large  family  of  the  Leguminosse  yields  ns  abundant  useful 
garden  plants,  but  those  with  blue  flowers  are  not  too  frequent  in  this 
or  any  other  section  of  the  plant  world.  One  of  the  best  examples  of  a 
really  handsome  blue- flowered  plant  is  Clitoria  ternatea,  of  which  a 
specimen  is  represented  in  fig.  20.  This  is  seldom  seen  in  gardens, 
and  yet  the  brilliant  colour  of  its  flowers  ought  to  render  it  a  general 
favourite.  According  to  Paxton  “  this  handsome  plant  was  first  brought 
beneath  the  notice  of  botanists  and  floriculturists  as  long  ago  as  the 
year  1739,  From  that  period  down  to  the  present  it  has  been 
erroneously  considered  by  many  as  an  annual  species,  and  slighted 
accordingly.  Such  an  opinion  probably  had  its  rise  in  the  mode  of 
culture  which  has  occasionally  been  pursued.  Instead  of  treating  it  as 
a  stove  plant,  it  was,  from  the  facility  with  which  it  ripens  seeds,  raised 
anew  each  spring  as  a  half-hardy  annual,  and  transferred  to  the  open 
flower  border,  where  it  was  destroyed  by  cold. 
“  From  circumstances  similar  to  the  above,  this  plant  has  not  been 
an  isolated  example  of  false  notions  being  imbibed  respecting  its  habits. 
Notwithstanding  the  evident  bent  of  cultivators  rather  to  supply  a 
plant  with  too  high  a  temperature  than  to  suffer  it  to  be  too  much 
exposed,  here  is  an  instance,  out  of  several  others  that  we  might  mention, 
in  which  a  contrary  method  has  been  practised.  When,  on  the  other 
hand,  it  is  retained  in  a  stove,  to  which  a  moderate  amount  of  heat  is 
furnished,  it  assumes  quite  another  appearance.  The  stems,  instead  of 
perishing  yearly,  become  shrubby  at  the  base,  the  lower  leaves  remain 
through  the  winter  without  withering,  and  it  is  the  upper  branches 
alone  that  exhibit  any  signs  of  decay.  Its  natural  habit  is,  therefore, 
decidedly  suffruticose,  and  that  to  which  it  has  been  reduced  in  our 
gardens  is  simply  a  constrained  one.” 
