November  16,  ls99. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
43'.i 
Chrysanthemum  sprays.  Trade  exhibits  of  high  quality  came  from 
Messrs.  Dickson,  Brown,  &  Tait,  and  Dickson  &  Robinson,  both  oi 
Manchester. 
LEICESTER. — November  10th  and  11th. 
The  fine  exhibition  held  in  the  Temperance  Hal)  on  the  above  dates 
was  a  decided  success.  The  best  of  the  cut  blooms  wero  fully  equal  to 
those  of  last  year,  and  the  quality  was  far  more  uniform  throughout, 
the  competition  in  every  class  being  extremely  keen,  the  victors  in 
several  cases  winning  by  only  a  few  points.  Specimen  plants  showed  a 
marked  improvement  on  former  years.  Table  groups  of  plants  and  cut 
flowers  were  a  distinct  feature,  and  table  decorations  composed  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  and  foliage  supplied  many  pleasing  arrangements.  Fruit 
was  well  shown. 
For  eighteen  Japanese,  distinct,  the  coveted  award  went  to  Mr.  J, 
Smith,  Derby  Road  Nursery,  Loughborough,  who  staged  a  stand  of  fresh 
clean  flowers  containing  many  fine  deep  blooms.  The  varieties  were — 
Back  row  :  Yiviand  Morel,  Mrs.  Mease,  tine  ;  Eva  Knowles,  Lady  Clara, 
Harman  Bayne,  Phoebus,  grand.  Middle  row  :  Mrs.  Palmer,  good  ; 
Pride  of  Madford,  fine  ;  Madame  Carnot,  General  Roberts,  Julia 
Scaramanga,  Mrs,  W.  Popham.  Front  row  :  N.C.8.  Jubilee,  fine;  Le 
Grand  Dragon  ;  Mr.  Coombes,  Mons.  Chonon  de  Lechd,  Lady  Byron,  and 
W.  Cursham.  The  second  prize  was  well  won  by  Mr.  Frank  Clarke, 
The  Gardens,  Wistow  Hall,  Leicester.  The  Rev.  Montague  Bird, 
Walton  Rectory,  was  a  good  third. 
For  twelve  incurved,  distinct,  Mr.  Clarke  proved  the  victor,  staging 
fine  deep  blooms  of  the  following  varieties  :  Mbs  V.  Foster,  Duchess  oi 
Fife,  Globe  d’Or,  Madame  Ferlat,  Mrs.  N.  Molvneux,  grand  ;  Lord 
Wolseley,  Mr.  R.  C.  Kingston,  Emily  Dale,  Mdme.  E.  Roger,  extra  good  ; 
C.  II.  Curtis,  and  Madame  Daricr.  Mr.  J.  Smith  was  second.  The 
third  award  went,  to  Rev.  M.  Bird.  For  twelve  .Japanese,  Mr.  Clarke  was 
again  to  the  front,  staging  fine  blooms.  The  Rev.  M.  Bird  was  an 
exceedingly  close  second,  and  Mr.  Smith  a  good  third.  Mr.  Bird  scored 
in  the  class  for  six  incurved  wi,h  blooms  of  very  even  quality  throughout, 
Mr.  Clarke  being  a  very  close  second,  and  F.  Sharpe,  E»q„  Lileby, 
Leicester,  third.  For  a  similar  number  of  Japanese  the  prizes  went  to  Mr. 
Smith,  Mr.  G.  Brown  (gardener  to  H.  Simpson  Gee,  Esq.,  Knighton  Frith), 
and  the  Rev.  M,  Bird,  in  the  order  named. 
For  six  blooms  of  any  one  variety,  shown  on  long  stems,  the 
chief  award  was  secured  by  F.  Sharp,  Esq.,  with  fine  blooms  of  Ma 
Capucine  ;  Mr.  A.  Bell,  Holmdale,  Stonegate,  Leicester,  being  second, 
and  Mr.  W.  Whait  (gardener  to  G.  Coates,  Esq.,  Quenly  Hall),  third. 
For  three  bunches  of  Chrysanthemums,  each  containing  six  blooms,  Mr. 
Bell  was  a  good  first,  Mr.  Whait  second,  and  Mr.  Brown  third. 
J.  Sharp,  Esq.,  also  won  for  six  vases  of  Chrysanthemums,  each  contain¬ 
ing  three  blooms,  being  followed  by  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Bell  in  the  order 
named.  Six  vases  small  decorative  Chry  santhemums,  first  Mr.  Bell  ; 
second,  Mr.  Barsley,  Leicester  ;  third  Mr.  Tarry. 
The  prizes  offered  for  table  decoration  to  be  composed  of  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums  and  foliage  brought  out  a  good  competition,  the  premier  position 
being  won  by  Mr.  E.  Carnal),  Essex  Road  Nursery,  Leicester,  whose 
stands  were  beautitully  arranged,  but  the  tracing  weak  and  scanty.  The 
Rev.  M.  Bird  was  a  close  second  ;  the  blending  of  the  various  shades  of 
coloured  leaves  in  this  arrangement  was  exquisite,  but  the  arrangement 
of  the  flowers  somewhat  stiff  and  heavy.  Mr.  J.  Tarry,  Stone  Bridge 
Street,  Leicester,  was  third.  Four  good  exhibits  were  staged  in  the  class 
for  a  table  group  of  plants  and  cut  flowers  arranged  tor  effect.  The 
premier  award  was  easily  won  by  Mr.  H.  Dunkin,  Victoria  Nurseries, 
Leicester,  wh  >se  arrangement  was  composed  entirely  of  Chrysanthemums 
cut  with  long  stems,  and  arranged  in  a  groundwork  of  Ferns.  Fine  deep 
blooms  of  C.  II.  Curtis,  Australia,  and  E.  II.  Wood,  were  especially  con¬ 
spicuous.  Mr.  E.  Carnall  was  second  with  an  arrangement  of  Ferns, 
foliage  plants.  Chrysanthemums,  Roman  Hyacinths,  and  Lily  of  the 
Valley,  and  Mr.  Clark  a  dangerously  close  thinl  ;  his  group  contained 
grand  plants  of  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Palms 
and  Ferns.  Specimen  p'ants  were  well  shown  by  Messrs.  G.  Brown  and 
D.  Lewis,  gardener  to  —  Tyler,  Esq.,  Stonegate,  Leicester. 
Messrs.  Harrison  &  Sons,  Leicester,  staged  a  fine  collection  of  vege¬ 
tables  ;  Mr.  R.  Pringle,  Leicester,  a  large  collection  of  highly  coloured 
Apples;  Messrs.  Isaac  House  &  Son,  Westbury-on-Trym,  Bristol,  a 
beautiful  collection  of  Violets  of  great  size  ;  and  Mr.  Scott  Letts,  London 
Road,  Leicester,  a  showy  exhibit  of  Apples.  To  each  of  the  above  the 
Society’s  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded. 
SHEFFIELD. — November  10th  and  11th. 
The  fifteenth  annual  Show  of  the  Sheffield  Society  was  held  in  the 
Corn  Exchange,  Sheffield,  on  Friday  and  Saturday,  and  in  point  of 
exhibits  was  lar  ahead  of  any  previous  exhibition  held  by  the  Society. 
The  cut  blooms,  both  in  the  open,  district,  and  cottagers’  classes,  were 
excellent,  the  latter  in  many  instances  equalling  those  grown  by  the 
professionals.  This  section  is  usually  very  strong  at  Sheffield,  and  it  is 
not  saying  too  much  when  it  is  stated  that  they  are  the  best  grown 
by  any  cottagers  in  the  country.  The  decoration  of  the  hall  was  much 
to  be  admired  ;  the  introduction  of  large  and  small  Palms  was  a  vast 
improvement  on  other  years. 
In  the  open  class  for  twenty-four  cut  flowers  incurved,  not  less  than 
eighteen  distinct  varieties,  Mr.  Crookes,  Hadsor  House,  Droitwich  was  first 
with  a  very  fine  even  stand  of  good  flowers,  including  Duchess  of  Fife, 
very  fine  ;  Mr.  W.  Egan,  Topaze  Orientale,  Madame  Ferlat.  Chrys- 
anthemiste  Bruant,  C.  H.  Curtis,  Globe  d’Or,  R.  0.  Kingston,  Egyptian, 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Foster,  Hanwell  Glory,  Jeanne  d’Arc,  Lucy  Kendall, 
Mrs.  Heale,  R.  Petfield,  Mrs.  S.  Coleman,  Violet  Tomlin,  and  Bonnie 
Dundee.  Second  prize  was  won  by  Mr.  Goodacre,  Derby  ;  third, 
Mr.  Alderman,  Worksop.  For  twenty-four  Japanese,  in  not  less  than 
eighteen  distinct  varieties,  Mr.  Crookes  was  again  an  easy  first,  his  fine 
blooms  being  the  centre  of  an  admiring  crowd  during  the  whole  time  the 
exhibition  was  open.  His  flowers  were  exceptionally  fine,  nnd  included 
Madame  Carnot,  Australia,  Mrs.  Mease,  Mr.  G.  W.  Palmer,  .1.  G.  Warren, 
Madame  Gustave  Henry,  Edith  Tabor,  M.  L.  Remy,  Pride  of  Woodford, 
Mons.  Panckoucke,  LaHy  Hanhrnn,  Le  Grand  Dragon,  Secretaire  Fierens, 
Viviand  Morel,  Phoebus,  very  fine  ;  Nellie  Pockett,  Eva  Knowles,  Pride 
of  Madford,  and  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche.  Mr.  Goodacre  was  second 
with  a  good  board;  third  prize,  Mr.  Drake,  Cardiff,  with  a  nice  even 
board.  In  the  twelve  incurved  and  Japanese,  Mr.  Crookes  again  took 
the  first  prize,  with  Mr.  Goodacre  second. 
In  the  district  section,  confined  to  professional  gardeners  within  a 
radius  of  twenty  miles,  the  first  prize  in  both  classes  was  won  by  Mr.  C. 
Scott,  gardener  to  I.  Colley,  Esq.,  Worksop,  and  his  blooms  are  the  more 
commendable  from  the  fact  that  he  has  until  this  year  resided  at  Sheffield, 
and  the  surroundings  of  Worksop  are  so  much  more  favourable  that  it 
was  expected  he  would  not  be  so  successful  in  properly  timing  the  buds 
as  when  dealing  with  the  smoke  and  sulphur  of  a  manufacturing  centre. 
His  twelve  Japanese  consisted  of  Secretary  Fierens,  International,  Edith 
Tabor,  Madame  Gustave  Henry,  Mutual  Friend,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche, 
Viviand  Morel,  Mr.  G  J  Palmer,  C.  Davis,  Nellie  Pockett,  Lady 
Hanham,  and  Phoebus.  Mr.  Alderman  was  a  good  second,  and  Mr. 
Stables,  gardener  *o  Miss  Wake,  Sheffield,  third.  In  the  incurved  Mr. 
Scott’s  blooms  were  again  very  fine,  his  chief  flowers  being  C.  Curtis, 
Ernest  Cannell,  and  Lady  Isobel,  whilst  a  bloom  of  W.  Tunn  ngton  was 
exceptionally  fine  Mr.  Alderman  was  again  second,  and  Mr.  Hill  of 
Doncaster  third 
The  classes  for  groups  were  not  so  fully  shown  as  usual,  Mr.  Davis, 
Bakewel),  taking  first  for  the  district,  and  for  the  cottagers  Mr.  Glossop 
was  easily  first  with  four  other  exhibitors. 
Good  groups  not  for  competition  were  also  shown  :  the  floral  decora¬ 
tions  of  Messrs.  W.  Artindale  &  Sons  and  that  of  Mr  Seagreave  both 
being  awarded  a  gold  medal,  Messrs.  Crosland  Bros  and  Mr.  Shaw  a 
silver-gilt  medal,  whilst  Messrs.  L.  Nelson,  for  a  display  of  Apples,  and 
Mr  Bray,  for  an  exhibit  of  rcckwork,  were  awarded  bronze  medals. 
Mr.  Wells  also  showed  cut  blooms,  and  was  certificated  for  a  good  new 
variety  for  cut  blooms  named  Etoile  de  Feu  The  weather  was  again 
unfavourable,  and  militated  against  a  good  attendance. 
LIVERPOOL. — November  14th  and  15th. 
For  the  first  time  for  several  years  the  members  and  friends  of  the 
above  Association  were  honoured  by  the  presence  of  the  newly-elected 
Lord  Mayor  (Louis  S.  Cohen,  Esq.),  who  seemed  to  take  a  very  great 
interest  in  the  excellent  show  opened  in  St.  George's  Hall.  His  Lordship 
was  escorted  by  that  enthusiast  horticulturist  Alderman  W.  II.  Watts,  a 
gentleman  who  has  been,  and  still  is,  a  great  supporter  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion  There  were  also  of  the  party  Mr.  Thomas  Foster  (Chairman)  and 
Mr.  Harold  Sadler  (Secretary).  Perhaps  lacking  somewhat  in  large 
decorative  plants,  the  Show  was  fully'  up  to  the  splendid  traditions  of 
Liverpool,  and  with  a  brilliant  attendance  of  the  elite  of  the  city  the  hall 
presented  a  glorious  appearance. 
The  great  centre  of  the  Show  was  the  large  cut  bloom  class  for 
twenty-four  incurved  and  twenty-four  Japanese,  distinct,  a  fine  cash 
prize  and  the  Association’s  challenge  vase,  value  20  guineas.  Mr. 
Townshend,  gardener  to  Co’.  Lloyd,  Aston  Hall,  Shrewsbury,  won  it 
in  1896  ;  Mr.  Geo.  Burden,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Cockburn,  L'ngdale  Lodge, 
in  1897  ;  and  Mr.  Jam^s  Heaton,  gardener  to  R.  P.  Houston,  Esq.,  M.P., 
Aigburth,  in  1898  ;  and,  as  it  had  to  be  won  twice  in  succession,  the 
issue  was  much  in  doubt.  Mr.  Burden  withdrew,  but  Mr.  Heaton  had 
Mr.  Townshend  and  three  others  to  fight  against,  and  a  glorious  victory 
he  achieved,  winning  with  such  finished  flowers  in  both  sections  as  have 
never  been  seen  here  before.  It  was  a  fitting  climax  to  winning  at 
Cressington  last  Saturday,  and  Mr.  Houston  has  generously  offered  to 
the  Committee  the  value  in  money  or  another  cup  for  next  year,  an 
offer  which  the  Committee  has  received  with  gratification.  Throughout 
the  cut  blooms  were  extra,  and  if  another  really  special  feature  ought 
to  be  mentioned  it  was  the  brilliant  Cyclamens,  Begonia  Gloire  de 
Lorraine,  and  double  Primulas  from  Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  &  Sons.  Messrs. 
Dickson,  Ltd.,  Chester,  showed  the  same  Begonia  and  other  notable 
exhibits  in  their  usual  style  ;  Jno.  Cowan,  Ltd.,  Gateaere  had  Orchids 
in  churming  variety  and  many  fine  types  ;  Mr.  Barber  showed  Begonia 
Gloire  de  Lorraine  arranged  as  pyramids,  novel  and  of  great  value  to 
all  visitors. 
Mr  Heaton's  varieties  in  the  big  class  were  Mrs.  C.  H.  Payne, 
Madame  Gustave  Henri,  Mabter  H.  'Tucker,  Viviand  Morel,  Eva  Knowles, 
Mrs.  J.  Lewis,  Lady  Ridgway,  Graphic,  Mrs  G  W  Palmer,  Mons. 
Remy,  Mons  Gruver,  Secretaire  Fierens,  Nellie  Pockett,  Mons.  Chenon 
de  Lechf;,  Mons  H.  J.  Jones.  Pride  of  Exmouth,  Mons  Iloste,  Madame 
G.  Debrie,  Charles  Davis,  Chatsworth,  Edith  Tabor,  Mrs.  II.  Weeks, 
Lady  Hanham  and  Phoebus;  incurved:  Duchess  of  Fife,  Violet  Foster, 
Mrs.  N  Molyneux,  Perle  Daupbinoise,  Chrysanthomiste  Bruant,  Madame 
Ferlat,  C.  II.  Curtis,  Lady  Isobel,  Topaze  Orientale,  James 
Agate,  Ernest  Cannell,  Miss  Dorothy  Foster,  Queen  of  England,  Mi  ns. 
Desblanc,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Egan,  Ma  Perfection,  Hanwell  Glory,  Lucy  Kendall, 
Miss  M.  A.  Haggas,  John  Salter,  Miss  M.  A  Hills,  Robert  Petfield, 
Princess  of  Wales,  and  Geo.  Haigh.  Mr.  Townshend  was  placed  second 
with  flowers  of  extra  quality  in  Japanese,  but  lacking  in  incurved.  His 
finest  Japanese  were  Mrs.  0.  H.  Payne,  Viviand  Morel,  E.  Molyneux, 
Mons,  Chenon  de  LechtS,  and  Mrs.  H.  Weeks  ;  and  incurved  C.  H.  Curtis, 
