August  25,  1K98. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
149 
The  class  for  three  Fuchsias  was  not  strong,  hut  Mr.  Myres  obtaineil 
the  first  prize.  £3  was  offered  as  the  first  prize  for  s:x  double  “Geraniums 
the  same  exhibitor  was  again  successful  in  this  instance,  also  staging  fin  • 
plants,  and  being  followed  by  Mr.  A.  Bateman.  For  half  a  dozen 
Zonals  the  prizes  went  to  Messrs.  Myres,  Bateman,  and  Taylor  in  the 
order  named.  Mr.  Davies,  Yeovil,  won  for  six  Begonias  with  plants 
which  were  not  large,  but  carried  fine  flowers.  J.  Parson  Smith,  Esq., 
Abbotsmead,  won  for  a  like  number  of  Gloxinias  with  profusely  flowered 
plants;  second,  Mr.  H.  Cliff;  third,  R.  Townsend,  gardener  to  Col. 
Lloyd,  Aston  Hall,  Oswestry.  For  twelve  plants  suitable  for  table 
decoration,  the  premier  award  went  to  Mr.  Edmonds.  Mr.  R.  C.  Towns¬ 
end  won  for  a  collection  of  thirty  miscellaneous  plants  in  pots  not 
exceeding  5  inches  in  diameter  ;  Mr.  .J.  Birch  being  second,  and  Mr.  A. 
.Tones  third. 
Open  to  County  of  Salop  Only. 
The  prizes  offered  for  six  stovo  and  greenhouse  plants,  in  bloom  or 
foliage,  not  less  than  four  being  in  bloom,  were  t-6,  £4,  and  £3  respec- 
superb  exhibit,  then  drop  back  again,  while  the  veterans  of  old  weather 
the  storm  like  a  sturdy  British  Oak.  If  beaten  sometimes,  they  still  press 
onward,  and  blot  out  the  defeats  of  one  year  by  victories  the  next. 
Whenever  a  good  prize  is  offered  for  fruit  the  tug-of-war  usually  rests 
between  a  few  old  hands. 
Decorative  Dessert  Table. 
In  this  class  the  tables  supplied  are  10  feet  by  4  feet  6  inches.  Plants, 
cut  flowers,  and  foliage  may  be  used,  and  not  more  than  sixteen  dishes  of 
fruit  are  allowed,  the.e  to  be  selected  from  the  printed  list  given  below. 
The  sum  of  £45  was  offered  in  five  prizes,  in  exact  accordance  with  the 
point  value  of  each  collection  as  awarded  by  judges  under  R.H.S.  Code. 
Only  three  collection  were  staged.  The  winner  proved  to  be  Mr. 
J.  Mclndoe,  who  fought  hard  for  victory  last  year.  His  plan  of  arrange¬ 
ment  was  worked  out  in  the  following  way  : — Two  tall  trumpet-shaped 
glasses  were  placed  near  the  centre  of  the  table,  a  few  smaller  ones  being 
arranged  round  the  sides.  The  glasses  were  lightly  arranged  with 
Montoretias,  Acacias,  and  Oncidium,  Asparagus  plumosus  being  used  as 
tively.  The  first  prize  was  well  won  by  Mr.  T.  Lambert,  who  staged 
beautiful  specimens  of  Croton  Warreni,  Kentia  Belmoreana,  Ixora 
Pilgrimi,  Ixora  Williamsi,  and  Dipladenia  amabilis.  £10,  £6,  and  £3 
were  the  substantial  amounts  offered  for  three  prizes  in  the  class  for  a 
miscellaneous  group  of  plants,  in  and  out  of  bloom,  to  occupy  a  space  of 
150  feet  (Orchids  excluded).  The  premier  award  went  to  Mr.  F.  Tug- 
wood,  gardener  to  F.  Kinersly,  Esq.,  Leighton  Hall  ;  Mr.  C.  Roberts 
being  second,  and  Mr.  Bremmell  third. 
FRUIT. 
In  the  fruit  classes  the  “  decorative  dessert  tables  ”  formed  a  feature 
which  was  greatly  admired.  The  great  Jubilee  class  of  last  year  was,  of 
course,  missed,  and  the  fine  season  was  more  favourable  than  the  present 
one  for  having  many  things  “up  to  the  mark  ;”  consequently  the  weakest 
point,  when  compared  with  last  year,  was  in  the  collections  taken  as  a 
whole.  Black  Grapes  were  magnificent,  and  although  white  ones  were 
in  many  instances  large  in  bunch,  they  lacked  the  “  golden  amber  ” 
colour  so  much  to  be  desired.  How  is  it  that  in  the  classes  set  apart  for 
collections  of  fruit  we  see  so  few  new  men  making  any  lasting  stand 
against  the  older  ones  l  Some  come  to  the  front  occasionally  with  a 
greenery,  and  trailing  Lycopodium  traced  upon  the  cloth.  The  Grapes 
were  arranged  in  baskets,  and  consisted  of  the  following  varieties  : — 
Crasselas  Napoleon,  shapely  bunches,  large  clear  well-coloured  berries  ; 
Black  Duke,  a  seedling  from  Gros  Guillaume,  crossed  with  Duke  of 
Buccleuch.  It  is  a  variety  of  very  imposing  appearance,  having  berries 
which  greatly  resemble  Gros  Colman  in  appearance  and  texture,  but  the 
flavour  is  decidedly  better  ;  unfortunately,  however,  the  constitution  of 
the  variety  is  not  good.  Muscat  of  Alexandria  and  Madresfield  Court, 
one  bunch  of  each,  were  the  other  Grapes  staged.  Best  of  All  J  and 
Yorkshire  Beauty  Melons  made  a  good  pair  ;  Spencer  and  Pineapple 
Nectarines  were  large  and  finely  coloured  ;  Yiolette  Ilative  and  Stirling 
Castle  Peaches  good  ;  Brown  Turkey  Figs  fine  ;  and  Gascoyne’s  Scarlet 
Apple,  Pears,  and  Plums  excellent. 
The  second  prize  went  to  Mr.  J.  Goodacre,  gardener  to  the’  Earl  lot 
Harrington,  Elvaston  Castle,  Derby.  His  floral  arrangements  were  light 
and  pretty,  choice  flowers  being  thinly  displayed  in  glasses,  the  table 
being  delicately  traced  with  Orchids  and  Lycopodium.  His  best  dishes 
of  fruit  were  Gros  Maroc,  Alnwick  Seedling,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and 
Canon  Hall  Muscat  Grapes  ;  Humboldt  Nectarines  ;  Goldenf  Eagle  and 
Royal  George  Peaohes  ;  and  Transparent  Gage  Plums.  The  third  prize 
