514 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  . 
November  28,  1895. 
who  has  df  ne  so  much  good  work  in  the  improvement  of  the  parks  and 
open  spaces  of  London  since  he  has  been  the  Council’s  saperintendent. 
To  mention  in  detail  the  whole  of  the  275  varieties  that  comprise  the 
3000  plants  grown  would,  while  occupying  a  great  amount  of  space, 
serve  no  useful  purpose,  so  a  few  have  been  selected  that  are  above  the 
very  high  average  of  merit.  These  are  Louise,  Silver  King,  Mdlle. 
Th^rese  Key,  Chas.  H.  Curtis,  Col.  W.  B.  Smith,  Rose  Wynne,  Chas. 
Davis,  Miss  Violet  Tomlin,  Good  Gracious,  W.  Seward,  Mrs.  R.  C. 
Kingston,  G.  C.  Schwa  be,  with  Hairy  Wonder,  Enfant  des  Deux  Mondes, 
Mrs.  Alpheus  Hardy,  and  W.  A.  Manda,  the  last  four  being  of  the  hairy 
petalled  section,  which  finds  much  favour  with  the  public  at  most  of 
park's. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM  SHOWS. 
SHEFFIELD. — November  15th  and  16th. 
The  eighteenth  annual  exhibition  of  the  above  Society  was  held  as 
■usual  in  the  Corn  Exchange,  Sheffield,  on  the  above  dates,  and  the 
•opinions  generally  expressed  of  it  as  a  whole  was  that  it  was  superior  to 
any  previous  exhibition  held  by  the  Society.  The  very  large  building 
i(one  of  the  best  for  such  a  purpose  to  be  found  in  the  provinces)  was 
well  filled  in  every  part.  The  “  Sheffield  Daily  Telegraph,”  commenting 
upon  this  in  its  issue  of  the  16tb,  says,  ”  Spacious  as  is  the  Corn 
Exchange,  it  is  hardly  large  enough  for  a  proper  display  of  all  the 
blooms,  and  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  more  space  than  at  present 
will  be  required.” 
The  numerous  stands  competing  for  the  principal  prizes  in  the  open 
class,  “cut  blooms,”  twenty-four  Japanese  and  twenty-four  incurves, 
sufficed  to  fill  a  table  reaching  the  entire  length  of  the  large  building, 
and  few  indeed  have  been  the  provincial  shows  this  leason  where  all  the 
classes  for  incurved  blooms  have  been  so  strongly  contested,  and  the 
quality  of  the  exhibits  so  good  throughout.  We  are  frequently  being 
told  that  this  once  most  popular  class  of  Chrysanthemums  is  losing 
favour  with  exhibitors  and  the  public,  but  a  visit  to  the  Sheflield  show 
tends  to  dispel  this  belief. 
In  the  open  class  for  twenty-four  incurved  cat  blooms,  not  less  than 
eighteen  varieties,  Mr.  C.  Crookes,  gardener  to  the  Dowager  Lady 
Hindlip,  Hadsor  House,  Droitwich,  was  first ;  Mr.  H.  Broomhead, 
Sheffield  (the  much  esteemed  Hon.  Treasurer  of  the  Society),  second  ; 
Messrs.  J.  R.  Pearson  &  Sons,  Chilwell,  third  ;  and  Mr.  P.  Blair, 
Trentham  Gardens,  fourth.  For  twenty-four  Japanese  blooms,  distinct 
— first,  Messrs.  C.  Crookes;  second,  P.  Blair;  third,  J.  R.  Peirson  &  Sons; 
and  fourth,  J.  Heaton,  gardener  to  R.  P.  Houston,  E.-q.,  M  P,,  Liverp  ol. 
For  twelve  incurved  distinct — first,  Messrs.  J.  Vaughan,  gardener  to 
T.  Brocklebank,  E-q.,  Liverpool ;  second,  P.  Blair  ;  and  third,  C.  Smith, 
gardener  to  C.  P.  Newell,  E-q.,  Stourbridge.  For  twelve  distinct 
Japanese — first,  Messrs.  P.  Blair  ;  second,  G,  W.  Drake,  Cardiff  ;  third, 
J.  Heaton.  In  the  competing  groups  of  Chrysauthemums  and  foliage 
piants,  occupying  a  space  of  86  feet,  semicircular,  a  most  beautiful 
group,  arranged  by  Mr.  C.  Green,  gardener  to  Sir  H.  Watson,  Shirecliffe, 
was  awarded  first  prize. 
All  the  district  and  cottagers’  classes  for  cut  blooms  were  keenly 
contested.  Numerous  entries  in  each  class,  and  the  quality  of  the 
blooms  shown  came  but  little  below  those  in  the  open  section.  Amongst 
the  numerous  high  class  exhibits  not  for  competition  Mr.  H.  J,  Jones, 
Lewisham,  was  awarded  a  gold  medal  for  a  very  artistic  and  elaborate 
display  of  cut  flowers.  Ferns,  and  foliage  plants.  A  replica  of  the  display 
which  obtained  for  him  a  gold  medal  at  the  Aquarium  show  of  the  N.C.S. 
Messrs,  Fisher,  Son  &  Sibray,  Sheffield,  had  a  meritorious  exhibit  of 
Orchids  and  foliage  plants,  very  bright  and  pleasing.  Messrs.  H.  Cannell 
and  Sons,  Swanley,  had  a  bright  display  of  new  Zonal  Pelargoniums  and 
Japanese  Chrysanthemums.  Mr.  S.  W.  Seagrave,  Norfolk  Market  Hall  ; 
and  Messrs.  Crossland,  Richmond  Nurseries,  exhibited  large  and  fine 
groups  of  Chrysanthemums,  foliage,  and  general  decorative  plants. 
Messrs.  Artindale  &  Son  had  a  very  artistic  display  of  cut  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums,  wreaths,  crosses  and  bouquets.  Messrs.  J.  &  R.  Pearson  &  Sons 
also  set  up  a  large  collection  of  the  best  varieties  of  Apples,  large,  clean, 
handsome  specimens  of  high  colour. 
The  Show  was  formally  declared  open  shortly  after  one  o’clock  on 
the  15th  by  Lady  Edmund  Talbot  (sister-in-law  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk), 
to  whom  a  bouquet  was  presented,  composed  of  Orchids  (Cattleyas)  and 
Lilies  of  the  Valley,  with  trailers  of  Smilax  and  Asparagus  plumosus, 
in  the  presence  of  a  very  large  and  influential  gathering,  the  largest 
■which  has  ever  graced  the  opening  ceremony  of  this  exhibition.  The 
■weather  was  unpropitious  each  day,  rain  falling  during  most  of  the  time, 
but  in  spite  of  this  the  Show  was  attended  by  its  thousands  of  visitors, 
and  particularly  in  the  evening  of  each  day,  it  was  unduly  crowded,  so 
that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  a  sight  of  the  principal  exhibits  could 
be  obtained.  We  are  informed  that  in  spite  of  the  unfavourable 
weather  the  balance  standing  to  the  credit  of  the  Society  from  last 
year  will  be  increased  rather  than  diminished,  showing  unmistakeably 
the  hold  the  Show  now  has  upon  the  affections  and  goodwill  of  Sheffield 
cutlers  and  artisans. 
A  flower  stall  for  the  sale  of  flowers  in  aid  of  the  Sheffield  Gardeners’ 
Benevolent  Fund  realised  about  £8,  to  be  handed  over  to  that  worthy 
institution. 
CHESTER. — November  19th  and  20th. 
The  two-days  show  of  this  Society  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall, 
Chester,  on  the  19th  and  20th  inst.,  and  wss  in  ivery  way  one  of  the 
beet  the  Society  has  yet  held.  Since  the  first  exhibition  six  years  ago 
the  show  has  wonderfully  improved,  and  this  year  the  entries  exactly 
doubled  that  of  last  year.  The  Society  has  for  several  years  been  doing 
a  good  work  among  the  horticulturists  and  agriculturists  of  Cheshire  and 
North  Wales  in  advocating  the  systematic  culture  of  vegetables  and 
hardy  fruits,  especially  those  adapted  to  the  Society’s  district,  and  as 
one  result  of  the  efforts  the  annual  show  is  held,  which  is  highly 
creditable  to  the  Society,  and  must  be  very  gratifying  to  the  Hon. 
Secretary,  Mr.  G.  P.  Miln. 
In  the  class  for  a  group  of  plants  arranged  for  effect  there  were 
seven  competitors,  and  the  Judges  in  placing  Mr.  Hudson,  Sache 
Hall,  first  had  a  very  difficult  task.  Mr.  J.  Taylor,  Hoole  Hall,  was 
second  with  a  splendid  group,  well  arranged,  the  one  defect  being  a 
weakness  in  foliage  among  his  front  plants.  Mr.  Charles  Wigg,  Hoole 
Bank,  was  third.  In  the  large  class  for  cut  blooms  the  competition 
was  keen  and  the  quality  much  above  that  of  last  year.  Mr.  J. 
Mosaford  was  first,  Mrs.  Bloomfield  second,  and  Mr.  Threlfall  third.  In 
the  competition  for  an  arrangement  of  single  trusses  of  naturally  grown 
Chrysanthemums  for  effect  there  were  nine  competitors,  and  the  display 
made  was  effective  and  striking. 
The  Apples  and  Pears  formed  quite  an  exhibition  in  themselves,  and 
were  without  doubt  the  feature  of  the  show,  for  fruit  grown  so  far  north  the 
average  of  excellence  was  very  high  throughout  the  whole  of  the  classes. 
For  a  collection  of  fifty  dishes  of  Apples  in  the  open  class,  Mr.  Watkins 
of  the  Pomona  Farm,  Hereford,  was  an  excellent  first  with  faultless 
dishes  of  the  leading  varieties.  Mr.  Oldfield,  of  Chirk  Castle  Gardens, 
was  second.  For  a  collection  of  dessert  Apples,  Mr.  Sanderson  was  first, 
and  Mr.  Taylor  took  leading  honours  in  the  large  class  of  kitchen 
Apples. 
Messrs.  Dicksons,  Limited,  was  well  represented  by  a  tastefully 
arranged  group  of  Orchids,  foliage  plants.  Ferns,  and  a  fine  collection  of 
hardy  fruit  from  their  nurseries.  A  collection  of  Apples  and  Pears,  not 
for  competition,  was  sent  from  Eaton  Gardens.  The  Duke  of  West¬ 
minster  in  declaring  the  show  open  referred  to  the  proposal  of  holding  a 
large  summer  show  at  Chester,  and  said  he  would  be  very  pleased  to  aid 
and  supplement  any  effort  in  this  direction. 
WOKING. — November  19th  and  20th. 
The  second  annual  Chrysanthemum  show  in  connection  with  the 
Woking  Horticultural  Association  was  held  on  the  above  dates,  and  it 
was  gerierally  considered  a  marked  improvement  on  the  first,  both  in  the 
quality  and  quantity  of  exhibits.  It  was  well  attended  too,  and  it  is 
certain  that  floral  exhibitions  will  advance  with  the  rapid  rate  in  which 
the  town  is  extending.  Groups  were  good,  and  for  so  late  a  date  the 
blooms  were  also  excellent,  whilst  fruits  and  vegetables  were  of  an 
equally  high  standard. 
The  first  prizes  for  both  miscellaneous  plants  and  Chrysanthemums 
alone  were  won  by  Mr.  Seabrooke,  gardener  to  N.  Stevens,  Eiq.,  Wood- 
ham  Hall.  This  group  contained  very  fine  blooms,  but  the  arrangement 
might  have  been  a  trifle  less  flat.  Twenty -four  Japanese  blooms  was  the 
chief  class  for  cut  flowers,  and  the  first  prize  was  won  by  Mr.  H.  Pad  den, 
gardener  to  Col.  Ricardo,  Bramley  Park,  with  an  even  stand,  containing 
the  ’oest  exhibition  varieties.  There  were  five  stands  in  the  class.  For 
twelve  incurvid  Chrysanthemums  the  same  exhibitor  was  placed  first 
with  an  exceptionally  clean  and  even  exhibit. 
In  the  open  class  for  twelve  Japanese  blooms,  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs, 
Heath  View,  Woking,  an  amateur,  took  the  first  prize.  This  stand 
contained  the  finest  flowers  in  the  show,  Mdlle.  Th^ieae  Rey,  G.  C. 
Schwabe,  Charles  Blick,  International,  E.  Molyneux,  and  Niveus  being 
exceptionally  fine.  The  first  prize  in  the  open  class  for  six  distinct 
blooms  fell  to  Mr.  E.  K.  Wilson,  Send  ;  second,  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs.  The 
last-named  exhibitor,  however,  was  first  in  the  class  for  six  Japanese 
blooms  of  one  variety  with  magnificent  flowers  of  Louise.  These  were 
particularly  handsome  and  well-coloured.  Second,  Mr.  H.  Padden, 
with  Mdlle.  Thei^se  Rey. 
Non-competitive  exhibits  added  materially  to  the  interest  of  the 
exhibition.  Mr.  H.  Shoesmith,  Claremont  Nursery,  Woking,  staged 
sixty  well-developed  Japanese  Chrysanthemum  blooms.  These  con¬ 
tained  many  of  the  more  recent  novelties.  Six  handsome  flowers  of 
Phoebus  were  much  admired.  Half-a-dozen  blooms  of  Golden  Gate  in 
the  same  exhibit  were  especially  rich  in  colour.  Messrs.  Jackman  and 
Son  and  Mr.  Baxter,  both  of  Woking,  also  staged  cut  blooms.  Mr. 
Nottage  of  the  Goldsworth  Nursery  had  a  group  of  well-grown 
Chrysanthemums. 
BIRMINGHAM  AMATEURS’  SHOW.— November  20th. 
The  Birmingham  District  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association  held  its 
first  exhibition  of  Chrysanthemums  at  the  rooms  in  Colmore  Row,  on 
Wednesday  evening  last.  The  exhibits  were  numerous  (in  some  of 
the  classes  there  were  as  many  as  six  or  seven  exhibitors),  and  the 
blooms  were  of  excellent  quality  throughout.  The  success  of  the 
exhibition  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  the  Committee, 
and  it  will  act  as  a  great  incentive  to  make  it  an  annual  event.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  prizewinners  : — For  six  Japanese  blooms— 
first,  W.  A.  Sarsons,  Moseley  ;  second,  J.  H.  Burton,  Coleshill ;  third, 
W.  England,  Lozells.  For  il  ree  incurved — first,  W.  A.  Sarsons  ;  second, 
H.  Lathwood,  Balsall  Heath  ;  third,  W.  England.  In  the  class  for 
three  blooms  (various) — first,  W.  H.  Peake,  Handsworth  ;  second, 
S.  Smith,  Aston  ;  third,  W.  H.  Crabb,  Saltley.  For  one  specimen 
Japanese — first,  \V.  H.  Crabb  ;  second,  W.  A.  Sarsons  ;  third,  J.  H. 
Burton.  For  one  specimen  incurved— first,  W.  H.  Peake  ;  second,  not 
