484 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  21, 1895. 
black  Grapes  ;  and  J.  Eankin,  Esq.,  M.P.,  the  same  for  white  Grapes, 
with  very  large  bunches  of  Mrs.  Pearson.  In  the  Apple  classes  nearly 
all  the  leading  honours  went  to  C.  Lee  Campbell,  Esq.,  whose  fruit 
was  large  and  well  coloured.  Mrs.  Williams,  Tenbury,  was  the  best 
exhibitor  of  Pears,  her  fruit  being  remarkable  for  size,  colour,  and 
cleanliness,  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey  being  particularly  well  developed. 
In  the  class  for  the  best  flavoured  Pears,  Doyenn^  du  Comice  took  the 
post  of  honour,  followed  by  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey.  Vegetables  were 
well  staged,  Mr.  W.  J.  Clayton,  Moor  Court,  Ludlow,  being  first  for 
a  collection,  admirably  grown  and  arranged.  Second,  J.  Rankin,  Esq. 
Mr.  J.  Watkins  and  the  English  Fruit  and  Rose  Co.  put  up  some 
magnificent  collections  of  Apples  and  Pears,  not  for  competition.  We 
would  like  to  suggest  to  this  thriving  Society  that  it  would  be  an 
improvement  to  put  the  name  of  the  gardener  on  the  prize  cards  in 
future  ;  at  present  they  are  not  mentioned. 
RUGBY. — November  13th  and  14th. 
In  such  a  celebrated  scholastic  town  as  Rugby  it  is  especially  fitting 
that  the  art  of  floriculture  should  be  freely  encouraged,  and  so  we  find 
that  under  the  presidentcy  of  Linnaeus  Camming,  Esq.,  M.A.,  of  the 
Rugby  Schools,  the  local  Society  has  obtained  considerable  support 
during  the  nine  years  of  its  existence,  and  now  holds  a  prominent  place 
amongst  the  best  in  the  Midlands.  With  a  continuance  of  the  good 
management  which  has  guided  the  Society  so  well  until  now,  still 
further  progress  may  be  confidently  looked  for,  and  such  useful  work  is 
worthy  of  substantial  aid  from  all  concerned  in  the  improvement  of 
horticulture  in  the  locality.  For  the  maintenance  of  interest,  however, 
fresh  features  should  be  occasionally  introduced,  and  one  department 
might  be  extended  at  Rugby  with  advantage,  for  it  already  furnished  a 
great  and  increasing  feature  at  many  shows.  This  is  the  development 
of  classes  to  indicate  the  value  of  Chrysanthemums  for  floral  decorations 
at  this  time  of  year.  Open  classes  (in  addition  to  those  already  in  the 
schedule)  for  bouquets  and  baskets  with  better  prizes  would  soon  raise 
the  standard  of  competition,  while  a  class  for  vases  of  Chrysanthemums, 
or  for  an  arrangement  suitable  for  the  centre  of  a  table,  would  form  a 
most  interesting  addition  to  the  attractions.  We  have  judged  at  shows 
where  it  is  usual  to  have  from  twelve  to  twenty  entries  in  similar 
classes,  and  no  part  of  the  show  is  viewed  with  greater  interest. 
The  cut  blooms  were  arranged  on  tables  in  the  upper  apartment  of 
the  Town  Hall,  and  included  some  fresh  and  good  specimens,  especially 
amongst  the  Japanese,  which  were  admirably  represented  in  nearly  every 
case.  The  first  class  in  the  order  of  the  schedule  was  for  eighteen  cut 
blooms,  nine  each  of  incurved  and  Japanese,  in  not  less  than  six 
varieties.  This  is  an  easy  class  for  exhibitors,  and  with  cash  prizes,  in 
addition  to  the  silver  challenge  cup,  value  £7  10s.,  the  competition 
ought  to  improve.  The  cup  has  to  be  won  three  times,  not  necessarily 
in  consecutive  years,  and  this  season  it  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Newman, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  M.  Molesworth,  Bilton  Road,  Rugby,  who  had  neat, 
even,  and  fresh  blooms.  Mr.  B.  Robinson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Caldecott, 
The  Lodge,  Rugby,  followed  very  closely  ;  and  Mr.  McKay,  gardener  to 
E.  Edwards,  Esq.,  Horton  Crescent,  Rugby,  was  third.  The  best  class 
in  the  show,  as  regards  the  quality  of  blooms,  was  that  for  thirty -six  in 
twenty-four  varieties,  with  which  Mr.  Blakeway,  gardener  to  P.  A. 
Muntz,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Dunamore,  Rugby,  won  the  first  place,  showing 
excellent  blooms  of  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Eda  Prass,  Princess  May,  Mrs. 
E.  W.  Clarke,  C.  Shrimpton.  Silver  King,  International,  G.  C.  Schwabe, 
Good  Gracious,  Condor,  Stanstead  White,  Sunflower,  W.  Seward, 
Florence  Davis,  Niveus.  Viviand  Morel,  and  G.  C.  Schwabe.  Mr.  Tustin, 
gardener  to  C.  James,  E^q.,  Coton  House,  was  second  ;  and  Mr.  F.  J. 
Blake,  gardener  to  G.  Singer,  Esq.,  Coundon  Court,  Coventry,  was  a 
good  third. 
Twenty-four  incurved,  in  eighteen  varieties,  were  well  shown  by 
Mr.  Blake,  who  easily  won  premier  honours  for  neat,  even,  not  large  but 
refined  blooms  of  the  following,  arranged  in  the  order  named.  Back 
row  ;  Golden  Empress,  Violet  Tomlin,  C.  H.  Curtis,  Camille  Flammarion, 
Lord  Alcester,  Madame  Barrier,  Globe  d’Or,  and  Princess  Teck.  Middle 
row :  Jeanne  d’Arc,  Mrs.  N.  Davis,  Princess  Teck,  Mrs.  Coleman,  Lord 
Rosebery,  Mrs.  N.  Davis,  Brookleigh  Gem,  and  Lady  Dorothy.  Front 
row :  Violet  Tomlin,  Mrs.  Heale,  Lady  Dorothy,  Hero  of  Stoke 
Newington,  Brookleigh  Gem,  D.  B.  Crane,  Hero  of  Stoke  Newington, 
and  M.  P.  Martignat.  Mr.  Tustin  was  second,  also  with  a  creditable 
stand.  Two  classes  were  provided  for  twelve  Japanese,  one  open  to  all 
exhibitors,  in  which  Mr.  Knights,  gardener  to  D.  Brownlow,  Esq., 
Lutterworth,  was  a  good  first,  followed  by  Mr.  Blakeway  ;  while  in  the 
local  class  Mr.  Kilbourn,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Bridgman  Simpson,  Bilton 
Hall,  was  the  most  successful,  showing  very  bright  and  handsome  blooms, 
Mr.  Newman  and  Mr.  Robinson  were  second  and  third  respectively. 
Only  tw’O  groups  were  shown  in  Class  1  ;  both  were  extremely  good 
and  close  in  merit  in  the  three  points  enumerated  in  the  schedule — i.e., 
“  number  of  varieties,  quality  of  bloom,  and  general  effect.”  Mr.  New¬ 
man’s  group  was  placed  first,  a  very  bright  tasteful  display  of  well- 
grown  plants,  and  Mr.  Kilbourn  was  second  with  a  handsome  arrange¬ 
ment,  but  losing  a  point  or  two  in  the  quality  of  the  blooms.  The  plants 
in  the  other  classes  generally  showed  an  improvement  as  compared  with 
previous  years,  especially  those  which  gained  the  prizes  for  Messrs. 
Newman,  Kilbourn,  Fenley,  and  Tew.  A  fev/  good  baskets  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  were  shown,  Mr.  W.  J.  Hipwell  and  Mrs.  Molesworth 
having  the  two  best  arrangements  in  the  order  named. 
The  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Bryant,  ba.s  conducted  the  affairs  of  the 
Society  admirably  for  some  years,  and  has  deservedly  earned  the  con¬ 
fidence  of  the  Committee  and  members  generally. 
BIRMINGHAM. — November  13th  and  14th. 
In  days  gone  by  exhibitors  at  this  great  Midland  show  have  achieved 
many  cultural  triumphs,  but  the  general  opinion  expressed  by  com¬ 
petent  judges  is  that  for  extent  and  high  quality  of  the  exhibits  no 
previous  show  at  Birmingham  has  surpassed  the  thirty-fifth  annual 
exhibition  held  in  the  Town  Hall  on  the  above  dates.  I  question  if 
anywhere  in  England  such  magnificent  groups  of  Chrysanthemums  can 
be  met  with.  The  specimen  plants  also  were  extremely  good,  but 
blooms,  as  usual,  were  numerously  shown,  the  competition  being 
wonderfully  keen,  and  a  great  amount  of  careful  scrutiny  was  necessary 
to  determine  the  relative  positions  of  the  prizewinners.  To  win  in  any 
of  the  classes  was  a  great  honour  ;  to  lose  no  disgrace. 
Quality  of  the  highest  excellence  characterised  the  vast  array  of 
fruits  and  vegetables,  and  the  contests  were  keen ;  indeed,  in  some  of  the 
classes  were  many  giants  met  to  defeat  or  be  defeated,  and  not  a  few 
younger  aspirants  to  fame  learned  how  sweet  is  victory  when  the 
vanquished  are  foemen  worthy  of  their  steel.  To  deal  with  the  exhibits 
in  the  exhaustive  way  their  merits  deserve  would  require  many  columns 
of  the  Journal,  so  I  trust  none  will  feel  slighted  if  their  successes  are 
apparently  unheeded.  In  condensing  my  report  I  shall  keep  steadily 
in  view  this  principle — viz.,  that  Chrysanthemums  must  have  the 
prominence  of  these  autumn  shows. 
Specimen  Plants  and  Groups. 
For  nine  large  flowering  Chrysanthemums  (Japanese  excluded)  £5- 
was  offered  as  first  prize.  This  was  well  won  by  Mr.  J.  Maldrem,  gar¬ 
dener  to  G.  Cadbury,  Esq.,  Northfield,  with  examples  from  4  to  5  feet  in 
diameter  carrying  very  fine  blooms.  The  varieties  were  White  Venus, 
J.  Salter,  Guernsey  Nugget,  Barbara,  Golden  Empress,  Lord  Alcester. 
Mr.  C.  Brazier,  gardener  to  Lady  Martineau,  came  in  second,  and  Mr.  G. 
Cryer,  gardener  to  J.  Kendrick,  Esq.,  Edgbaston,  third.  For  six  Mr, 
Maldrem  again  led,  Mr.  Brazier  second,  and  Mr.  Cryer  third. 
The  class  for  three  Japanese,  dissimilar  varieties,  was  a  good  one. 
Here  Mr.  Brazier  came  to  the  front  with  grand  plants  of  Viviand  Morel 
(5  or  6  feet  through),  C.  Davis,  and  W.  Seward,  Mr.  Maldrem  being  a 
good  second.  The  latter  exhibitor  won  first  honours  for  a  single  speci¬ 
men  (Japanese  excluded),  with  J.  Salter,  Messrs.  Brazier  and  Cryer 
following  in  the  order  named.  Mr.  Cryer  came  to  the  front  for  three 
Pompons,  with  good  plants,  and  was  also  first  for  three  single  varieties, 
and  for  one  Japanese  specimen,  in  the  latter  class  Mr.  Maldrem 
followed. 
The  handsome  prize  of  £10  is  offered  for  the  best  group  of  plants, 
arranged  in  a  space  not  exceeding  100  square  feet.  This  was  well  won 
by  Mr.  Thomson,  gardener  to  J.  Whittfield,  Esq.,  Moseley,  who  had  grand 
blooms,  good  enough  for  e.xhibiting  in  a  cut  state.  The  arrangement 
was  also  unique  and  beautiful,  the  surface  presenting  a  series  of  glowing 
curves,  light  Grasses  springing  up  here  and  there  between  the  plants. 
Mr.  Brazier  was  a  good  second,  and  Mr.  H.  Jones,  gardener  to  T. 
Jenkins,  Esq.,  Olton,  third,  each  showing  splendidly. 
Prizes  of  £4,  £3,  £2,  and  £1  were  offered  for  groups  of  Chrysan¬ 
themums  arranged  with  Ferns  and  foliaged  plants,  in  a  space  not 
exceeding  40  square  feet.  This  brought  out  a  spirited  competition.  Mr. 
Toureved,  gardener  to  Mrs.  J.  Cary,  King’s  Heath,  was  declared  the 
winner,  Mr.  Maldrem  being  a  close  second,  and  Mr.  G.  Batchelor, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Armfield,  Edgbaston,  third. 
Cut  Blooms. 
For  twenty-four  incurved,  distinct,  prizes  of  £10,  £7  lOs.,  £5, 
£2  10s.,  £1  10s.,  and  a  sixth  prize  of  £1  were  offered.  Twelve 
exhibitors  entered  the  fray,  and  a  sharp  tussle  it  was,  as  seme  very 
weighty  blooms  were  staged.  Mr.  Pearce,  gardener  to  J.  Loder,  Esq., 
Floore  House,  Weedou,  was  deservedly  awarded  the  premier  position. 
His  blooms  were  solid,  deep,  and  fairly  well  finished.  The  varieties 
were — Back  row  ;  Empress  of  India  (grand),  Mrs.  R.  King  (good). 
Queen  of  England,  Lord  Alcester,  Lord  Wolseley,  J.  Lambert,  J.  Doughty, 
and  Jeanne  d’Arc  (large  and  solid).  Middle  row  :  Robert  Cannell 
(extra  good  for  variety),  Princess  of  Wales,  Mrs.  Coleman  (grand),  John 
Salter,  Violet  Tomlin,  Novelty,  Golden  Empress,  and  Lucy  Kendal. 
Front  row  :  Alfred  Lyne  (fine),  Princess  Teck,  Hero  of  Stoke  Newington 
(splendid),  Mrs.  N.  Davis,  R.  PetSeld,  Refulgens,  Brookleigh  Gem,  and 
Mrs.  Heale.  Mr.  C.  Crooks,  gardener  to  the  Dowager  Lady  Hindlip, 
Droitwich,  came  in  second  with  large  blooms,  somewhat  rough.  Mr.  B. 
Calvert,  gardener  to  Col.  A.  Houblon.  Bishops  Stortford,  was  placed 
third.  The  fourth  prize  fell  to  Mr.  N.  Molyneux,  gardener  to  J.  C. 
Gamier,  Esq.,  Wickham,  whose  blooms  throughout  were  clean,  highly 
coloured,  and  well  finished.  Fifth,  Mr.  G.  Smith,  gardener  to  Colonel 
P.  Noel,  Belbroughton  ;  sixth,  Mr.  W.  Wells,  Barlswood,  Redhill, 
For  twenty-four  Japanese,  distinct,  six  prizes  were  offered,  the 
amounts  being  respectively  the  same  as  those  in  the  preceding  class. 
Eighteen  splendid  stands  were  staged,  and  a  great  victory  was  won  by 
Mr.  P.  Blair,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Sutherland,  Trentham,  whose 
blooms  were  large,  deep,  and  highly  coloured,  the  varieties  being — Back 
row  :  Viviand  Morel  (very  deep),  Mons.  Panckoucke,  Eva  Knowles 
(grand),  Primrose  League  (very  large),  E.  Molyneux  (highly  coloured), 
T.  Wilkins,  Madame  Ad.  Chatin  (superb),  and  Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne 
(large  and  deep).  Middle  row :  Edelweiss,  Miss  Dorothy  Shea,  Rose 
Wynne,  Van  den  Heede,  Mrs.  Dr.  Ward,  Mdlle.  Th^r^se  Rev,  Col.  Smith, 
W.  H.  Lincoln.  Front  row :  Chas.  Shrimpton.  Sunflower,  Mdlle. 
M.  Ricoud,  Miss  Rose  Shotta,  Duchess  of  Wellington,  Good  Gracious, 
W.  Bolia  (grand  in  colour),  and  Niveus.  Mr.  C).  Crooks  was  a  good 
second.  Third,  Mr.  J.  Deacon,  gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  J.  Chamber¬ 
lain,  Moseley.  Fourth,  Mr.  Beilis,  gardener  to  Sir  C.  R.  Broughton, 
