August  29, 1895, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURF  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
203 
was  a  good  first  with  very  large  fruit  ;  T.  Meares,  Esq.,  second  ;  Mr. 
J.  H.  Goodacre  third.  In  the  class  for  six  dishes  o(  hardy  fruits, 
Apricots,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Plums  excluded,  open  to  the  county 
of  Salop  only,  T.  Meares,  Esq.,  Clive  Hall,  was  first ;  Colonel  R.  T, 
Lloyd  second  ;  J.  B.  Wood,  Esq.,  third.  Classes  for  hardy  fruits  were 
also  provided  for  amateurs, 
Vegetables, 
Whilst  there  may  be  divers  opinions  as  to  whether  vegetables  were 
seen  at  this  great  show  in  their  highest  excellence,  at  least  there  could 
be  no  question  as  to  their  quantity,  for  they  were  legion.  Generally  the 
tendency  here  seems  to  be  in  favour  of  size  tending  to  coarseness, 
which  is,  of  course,  chiefly  due  to  the  annual  judging,  because  it 
is  evident  that  exhibitors  soon  learn  to  cater  for  the  prevailing  judging 
tastes,  and  give  size  the  preference  to  what  is  commonly  termed 
quality.  Yet  even  at  Shrewsbury  it  was  easy  to  find  that  there  was 
some  occasional  gleams  of  sanity  in  regard  to  quality,  as  now  and  then 
what  would  generally  be  regarded  as  quality  apart  from  mere  size  came 
to  the  front,  but  then  again  there  would  be  a  lapse  to  the  other  aspect, 
so  that  it  was  difficult  sometimes  to  determine  just  which  element  most 
widely  dominated.  Whenever  the  long-delayed  Royal  Horticultural 
Society’s  code  of  judging  is  complete  and  published,  perhaps  then  if 
studied  and  made  a  guide  to  show  awards,  someJapproach  to  national 
■consistency  in  judging  may  be  possible. 
The  premier  class  was  one  for  twelve  distinct  vegetables,  in  the 
schedule  mistermed  “  varieties,”  but,  of  course,  should  be  and  was  by  all 
•competitors  read  as  ”  kinds.”  There  were  four  collections,  the  first 
place  being  taken  by  that  well-known  exhibitor,  Mr.  Wilkins,  gardener 
to  Lady  Theodora  Guest,  Henstridge,  Dorset,  This  grower  had  huge 
and  rather  burst  Cauliflowers,  fine  Ailsa  Craig  Onions,  Pink  Perfection 
■Celery,  Globe  Artichokes,  large  Intermediate  Carrots,  Runner  Beans, 
Satisfaction  Potatoes,  Telegraph  Cucumbers,  not  very  handsome ;  Duke 
of  Albany  Peas,  Regina  Tomatoes,  rather  large  Beet,  and  Colossal  Leeks, 
Mr.  W.  Pope,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Carnarvon,  Highclere  Castle,  was 
second  with  a  collection  of  distinctly  high  merit  and  evidencing  superior 
quality.  He  had  the  best  six  Cauliflowers  in  the  show — firm,  white, 
solid,  and  of  medium  size ;  capital  Student  Parsnips,  good  Intermediate 
Carrots,  clean  Satisfaction  Potatoes,  Duchess  Peas,  Pink  Perfection 
Celery,  superb  Cranston’s  Excelsior  Onions,  handsome  Pragnell’s  Beets, 
good  Ne  Plus  Ultra  Runner  Beans,  Colossal  Leeks,  Polegate  Tomatoes, 
and  nice  Telegraph  Cucumbers.  Mr.  R.  Milner,  gardener  to  Miss  Talbot, 
Penrice  Castle,  was  third. 
A  similar  class,  confined  to  the  County  of  Salop,  brought  seven 
entries,  the  best  collection  being  that  from  Mr.  J.  Birch,  gardener  to  Mrs. 
Watkins,  Shelton  Hail.  He  had  huge  redCeleryand  Beet,  small  Cucumbers 
and  Tomatoes,  rather  poor  Potatoes,  good  Carrots,  Turnips,  and  Onions, 
very  good  Peas,  but  rather  coarse  Cauliflowers.  Mr.  R.  Townsend, 
gardener  to  Colonel  R.  T.  Lloyd,  Oswestry,  was  second  with  a  collection 
of  appreciable  merit ;  Mr.  J.  Abbott,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Guise,  Hadnal, 
was  third . 
In  collections  of  Potatoes  there  were  sixteen  half  dozens  of  dishes 
in  the  larger  class,  Mr.  Pope  being  first  with  clean  bright  samples  of 
Sutton’s  Prizetaker  and  Reading  Russet  (coloured),  Supreme,  Windsor 
•Castle,  Satisfaction,  and  White  Kidney  (whites).  Mr.  Hathaway, 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Lathom,  Ormskirk,  was  a  very  close  second  with 
good  Chancellor,  Satisfaction,  Scarisbrick  Favourite,  and  General 
Roberts  (whites),  Edgcote  Purple  and  Peerless  Rose,  otherwise  Mr. 
Breesee  (coloured)  ;  Mr.  F.  Dobson,  Keele,  Newcastle,  was  third.  He 
had  Satisfaction,  International,  Colonel,  Lady  Truscott,  Peerless  Rose, 
and  Vicar  of  Laleham.  With  three  dishes,  there  being  eighteen  entries, 
Mr.  Pope  was  again  first  with  Supreme,  Windsor  Castle,  and  Satisfaction  ; 
Mr.  Hathaway  being  second,  having  Webb’s  white  round  Goldfinder 
(fresh)  ;  and  Mr.  Cumberbatch,  Silverdale,  Salop,  was  third. 
In  the  class  for  one  dish  only  there  were  thirty-si.x  lots.  Mr.  Wilkins 
came  first  with  very  large  smooth  Satisfaction  ;  Mr.  Hathaway,  with 
the  same  variety  still  larger  ;  and  Mr.  Pope  was  third  with  rounder  and 
handsome  samples,  smaller,  yet  in  the  South  would  be  esteemed  fully  large. 
Tomatoes  were  good,  Mr.  Wilkins  coming  first  with  handsome 
Sensation  of  the  Perfection  class,  Mr.  J.  Cooke.  Corner  Farm,  coming 
next  with  the  same,  Mr.  Waite,  gardener  to  the  Hon.  Col.  Talbot,  Esher, 
being  third  with  smaller  but  attractive  samples  of  the  same  variety. 
These  were  in  Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons’  class,  whilst  in  the  Society’s  class  Mr. 
Craven,  gardener  to  J.  G.  Morris,  Esq.,  Liverpool,  was  first  with  hand¬ 
some  Sutton’s  Perfection,  Mr.  Wilkins  coming  second. 
Peas  were  in  great  force  and  excellent,  the  best  dish  of  Ne  Plus 
Ultra  coming  from  Mr.  Jones,  gardener  to  G.  C.  Shorting,  Esq,, 
Broseley,  and  Mr.  J.  Roberts,  gardener  to  W.  E.  Oakley,  Esq.,  Tany- 
bwlch,  was  second  with  a  fine  podded  form  named  Alderman,  Mr. 
Townsend  coming  third  with  young  pods  of  the  same  variety.  With 
Dwarf  French  Beans  Mr.  Waite  was  first  out  of  thirty  dishes  with 
handsome  Canadian  Wonder,  and  of  Scarlet  Runners,  of  which  there 
were  thirty-six  dishes,  Mr.  E.  Walker,  Whitchurch,  was  first  with  good 
Ne  Plus  Ultra.  Cucumbers  were  very  inferior,  though  there  were 
sixteen  brace  shown.  The  first  prize  was  taken  by  Mr.  Lawley,  gar¬ 
dener  to  Mrs.  Darby,  Baschurch,  with  a  dark  unnamed  variety. 
There  were  seventeen  lots  of  three  Cauliflowers,  Mr.  Birch  being 
placed  first,  Mr.  Roderick,  gardener  to  A.  M.  Biddulph.  Esq.,  Chirk 
Castle,  second,  and  Mr.  Huxter,  gardener  to  J.  B.  Wood,  Esq.,  Ludlow, 
third,  all  having  Autumn  Giant.  Of  Celery  there  were  twenty-four 
lots  of  three,  stems,  Mr.  J.  Abbot  having  the  best  in  massive  Giant 
White,  and  Mr.  Birch  was  second  with  Giant  Red,  Mr.  Roberts  coming 
third  with  smaller  White  Plume.  There  were  sixteen  half  dozens  of 
Parsnips ;  those  placed  first  long  and  narrow,  being  about  2  feet  to  the 
points,  came  from  Mr.  J.  Edwards,  gardener  to  W.  St.  J.  Hazeldine, 
Esq.,  Shrewsbury,  Mr.  Birch  having  the  second,  also  very  long. 
There  were  twenty  lots  of  C.irrots,  Mr.  Birch  being  first  with  rather 
large  and  long  New  Intermediate  ;  Mr.  Hathaway  coming  second,  and 
Mr.  Risebrow,  gardener  to  Col.  Kenyon,  Slaney,  third,  all  with  the 
same  variety.  Generally  these  Carrots  showed  a  tendency  to  become 
rivals  of  the  Long  Surrey  rather  than  to  be  true  Intermediates.  Of 
Turnips  there  were  twenty-three  lots,  the  best  clean  Snowball  coming 
from  Mr.  Townsend,  and  Mr.  Beilis,  gardener  to  Sir  C.  H.  Rouse 
Boughton,  Ludlow,  whilst  the  third  prize  was  awarded  to  a  very  clean, 
deep-coloured  sample  of  Golden  Gem  from  Mr.  Hathaway,  but  they  had 
very  concave  bases. 
We  need  not  refer  to  the  amateurs’  vegetables,  which  were  very  good, 
or  to  those  from  cottagers,  of  which  there  were  immense  quantities,  so 
many  as  sixty-three  dishes  of  Runner  Beans  being  shown  in  the  single 
dish  class.  Some  of  the  samples  were  very  good  indeed,  others 
large  and  coarse.  In  certain  cases  the  judging  here  was  erratic,  as,  for 
instance,  in  Shallots,  the  large  red  big  samples  were  selected  for  the  first, 
third,  fifth,  and  sixth  prizes,  whilst  singularly  clean  and  handsome 
proper  Shallots,  about  half  the  size,  came  second  and  fourth.  There 
ought  to  be  two  classes  for  Shallots.  In  the  class  for  three  Cauliflowers, 
heads  relatively  small,  clean,  and  solid  were  first,  third,  and  sixth,  and 
quite  big  heads  came  second,  fourth,  and  fifth. 
Special  Frizes. — There  was  a  large  entry  for  Messrs.  Sutton  and 
Sons’  class  for  nine  vegetables,  the  firm  offering  £15  in  six  prizes, 
bringing  twelve  entries.  Here  Mr.  Hathaway  was  first  with  Mammoth 
Cauliflowers,  Sulham  Prize  Celery,  New  Intermediate  Carrots,  Ailsa  Craig 
Onions,  Ne  Plus  Ultra  Runner  Beans,  Satisfaction  Potatoes,  Matchless 
Marrow  Peas,  Prizetaker  Leeks,  and  Perfection  Tomatoes.  Mr.  W.  Pope 
was  second,  having  Progress  Cucumbers,  Mammoth  Cauliflowers,  Ailsa 
Craig  Onions,  Solid  White  Celery,  New  Intermediate  Carrots,  Duke  of 
Albany  Peas,  Supreme  Potatoes,  and  Perfection  Tomatoes.  Mr.  Waite 
was  third  ;  Mr.  W.  Leith,  gardener  to  J.  R.  Greatorex,  Esq.,  Mytton  Hall, 
fourth  ;  Mr.  Wilkins  fifth,  and  R,  Milner  sixth. 
Nine  exhibitors  competed  for  Messrs.  Webb  k.  Sons’  prizes  for  a 
class  for  eight  vegetables,  Mr.  Wilkins  coming  first  here,  having  huge 
Giant  White  Celery,  Autumn  Giant  Cauliflowers,  Intermediate  Carrots, 
Ailsa  Craig  Onions,  Duke  of  Albany  Peas,  Sensation  Tomatoes,  Satis¬ 
faction  Potatoes,  and  Giant  Runner  Beans.  Mr.  Pope  was  second,  having 
almost  similar  kinds,  and  Mr.  Hathaway  third. 
Messrs.  Jas.  Carter  &  Co.  offered  prizes  for  Runner  Beans,  Mr.  Craven 
taking  first  place.  For  a  single  Melon  of  their  sending  out  Mr.  Waite 
was  first  with  Holborn  Favourite,  and  for  prizes  for  four  dishes  of  salad, 
Mr.  Empson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Wingfield,  Ampthill  House,  was  first, 
having  good  Perfection  Beet  and  Model  Cucumbers,  Curled  Endive,  and 
Cabbage  Lettuce.  Messrs.  Waite  and  Wilkins  were  second  and  third. 
Mr.  E.  Murrell’s  class  for  eight  vegetables,  four  competitors,  Mr. 
Birch  was  first.  Mr.  C.  Beilis  was  the  only  exhibitor  in  Messrs.  Pritchard 
and  Son’s  class  for  six  vegetables.  Mr.  Pope  had  the  best  three  lots  of 
Onions,  in  fine  bulbs  of  Lord  Keeper,  Ailsa  Craig,  and  Royal  Jubilee, 
Mr.  Wilkins  being  second.  Mr.  Crews  offered  prizes  for  single  Onions, 
Mr.  Wilkins  taking  218.  with  a  fine  Ailsa  Craig.  Mr.  R  Sydenham  gave 
a  large  number  of  money  prizes  as  extras  in  twelve  single  dish  classes, 
and  Messrs.  Clibran  &  Son*  had  special  classes  for  Tomatoes  and 
Cucumbers. 
Special  Awards. 
Miscellaneous  exhibits  were  of  great  excellence,  and  well  merited 
the  honours  bestowed.  Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons  has  a  grand 
exhibit  of  new  Caladiums,  Cannas,  and  new  forms  of  Streptocarpus, 
with  splendid  Nepenthes  (gold  medal). 
Messrs.  Birkenhead  &  Sons  arranged  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
diversified  collections  of  Ferns  they  have  ever  exhibited — a  highly 
meritorious  display  (gold  medal). 
Messrs.  Pritchard  &  Sons  had  an  immense  and  varied  assortment  of 
plants  and  flowers,  all  in  excellent  condition  (gold  medal). 
Mr.  H.  Eckford  exhibited  an  extensive  collection  of  Sweet  Peas, 
tastefully  displayed  in  a  great  variety  of  attractive  colours  (gold  medal). 
Mr.  James  Roberts,  Gunnersbury  House,  exhibited  the  collection  of 
Cape  Pelargoniums  which  he  has  grown  so  well  for  Mr.  Leopold  de 
Rothschild,  some  of  the  fan-shaped  plants  being  8  feet  in  diameter — 
altogether  about  fifty  plants,  and  a  great  contribution  to  the  show  (gold 
med  al). 
Messrs.  W.  Clibran  &  Son,  Altrincham,  staged  a  collection  of 
Cactaceous  plants,  the  varied  and  grotesque  forms  of  which  attracted 
much  attention  (silver-gilt  medal). 
Silver  medals  were  unanimously  adjudged  to  Mr.  B.  R.  Davis, 
Yeovil,  for  a  beautiful  assortment  of  tubero'us  Begonias  in  high-class 
varieties  of  varied  colours  ;  to  Messrs.  Richard  Smith  &  Sons,  Worcester, 
for  a  large  and  well  selected  assortment  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  ; 
to  Mr.  Biddles,  also  to  Mr.  Hewitt,  for  excellent  collections  of  border 
flowers  ;  to  Mr.  Murrell,  also  to  Mr.  Myers,  for  fine  assortmenrs  of 
Begonias  and  Cannas  ;  to  Messrs.  Cutbush  &  Sons  for  an  imposing  stand 
of  plants  and  flowers  ;  also  to  Messrs.  John  Cowen  &  Co.  for  a  charming 
group  of  Tea-scented  Roses,  the  plants  being  admirably  grown  in  small 
pots  and  flowering  profusely. 
A  certificate  was  awarded  to  Mr.  W.  Empson,  gardener  to  G.  Wing¬ 
field,  Esq.,  for  the  new  Grape  Mrs.  Wingfield  ;  also  to  Mr.  W.  Palmer, 
Andover,  for  Palmer’s  Triumph  Tomato. 
Such  is  a  record  of  some  at  least  of  the  prizewinning  exhibits  of  this 
greafshow.  The  weather  was  fine  throughout,  and  this  naturally  con¬ 
tributed  to  the  enormous  attendance.  The  financial  results  are  un¬ 
exampled,  the  receipts  from  all  sources  exceeding  £3900. 
