588 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  25,  1898. 
during  the  past  few  weeks  has  been  anything  but  helpful  to  the 
production  of  first-class  flowers.  The  northern  growers  were  able  to 
appear  under  more  favourable  circumstances,  their  flowers  being  more 
stout  and  lasting.  Another  season  it  will  be  necessary  for  the  Committee 
to  select  a  cooler  place  for  the  exhibition,  for  by  mid-day  numbers  of  the 
blooms  had  hopelessly  collapsed. 
In  the  open  classes  the  competitors  were  drawn  from  a  very  wide 
field.  In  the  large  class  for  a  collection  of  Violas,  Mr.  S.  Pye  of 
Garstang  deservedly  won  the  gold  medal  of  the  Society  with  a 
remarkably  fine  exhibit.  The  lighter  form,  so  difficult  to  produce  in  dry 
seasons,  wag  admirably  shown,  but  the  stand  appeared  to  lack  bright¬ 
ness,  being  somewhat  short  of  yellows.  The  most  notable  sprays  were 
Florizel,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Gordon,  Isa  Fergusen,  Magic,  Queen  of  the  Year, 
Fancy  Pansies,  distinct,  was  a  strong  class,  Mr.  Matt  Campbell  securing 
first ;  Mr.  Smellie  of  Busby  being  a  close  second  ;  Mr.  Kay  third. 
The  smaller  classes  were  divided  amongst  the  same  exhibitors.  The 
class  for  twenty-four  sprays  of  Violas  was  keenly  contested,  Mr.  J. 
Smellie  securing  the  blue  riband  with  a  fine  even  stand,  the  flowers 
beiDg  all  fresh  and  bright.  The  most  attractive  were  Duchess  of  Fife, 
Hibernia,  Goldfinch,  Wm.  Neil,  and  White  Duchess.  Mr.  Baxter  of 
Woking  produced  the  second  prize  stand,  but  the  flowers  were  smaller. 
Mrs.  C.  F.  Gordon,  Tara,  Charm,  and  Goldfinch  were  his  best  productions. 
Messrs.  Cheal  &  Sons  of  Crawley  third  with  a  stand  of  good,  fresh 
flowers.  For  twelve  distinct  sprays  Mr.  Baxter  came  out  a  good  first, 
Messrs.  Smellie  and  Cheal  following  in  the  order  named.  In  the  classes 
for  miniature  flowers  of  the  Violetta  type  two  Btandg  were  disqualified 
for  exhibiting  the  blooms  over  the  standard  size — 
i.e„  1^  inch  in  diameter.  This  law  was  laid  down 
by  the  Viola  Conference  at  Birmingham  ;  but  it 
is  now  acknowledged  to  be  a  mistake,  for  unless 
the  plants  receive  bad  cultivation  it  is  almoBt 
impossible  to  keep  them  so  small.  In  the  amateur 
classes  the  Pansies  were  very  sparsely  exhibited. 
Mr.  Kay  secured  the  first  prize  for  twelve  Fancies 
distinct,  while  Mrs.  R.  Lovatt  was  placed  second. 
The  competition  in  the  Viola  classes  was  very 
keen.  It  is  somewhat  surprising  to  find  the 
leading  exhibitors  still  clinging  to  these  classes 
when  they  might  compete  successfully  in  the 
open  section. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  sprays,  distinct,  Mr.  H.  A. 
Needs  of  Woking  carried  off  the  prize  with  a  very 
fine  exhibit,  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane  of  Higbgate  being 
very  close  for  second  place.  Third  honours  fell  to 
Mr.  A.  J.Rowberryof  Woodford.  Six  sprays  were 
a  good  class,  Mr.  Sheldon  of  Woodford  securing 
first  honours.  In  the  smaller  classes,  Messrs. 
Rowberry,  Needs,  G.  W.  Cook,  and  Crane  were 
the  chief  prizewinners.  Great  interest  was  taken 
in  the  work  of  the  new  Floral  Committee,  who 
were  to  adjudicate  on  the  new  seedlings,  and 
great  was  the  disappointment  felt  when  it  was 
found  out  only  one  certificate  was  awarded. 
This  favour  fell  to  the  honour  of  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane 
for  a  pale  flower  called  Lavender  King.  Dr. 
Stuart  of  Chirnside,  N.B.,  sent  a  goodly  number 
of  rayless  seedlings,  but  they  arrived  in  such 
condition  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for  the 
Committee  to  form  a  proper  opinion  as  to  their 
merits.  Some  very  fine  miniature  forms  were 
exhibited  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Rowberry,  but  no  award 
was  granted.  Several  miscellaneous  exhibits  were 
noticed,  including  a  fine  collection  of  English 
Iris,  Violas,  and  other  hardy  flowers  staged  by 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Son,  Covent  Garden,  and  a  good 
exhibit  of  bedding  Pansies,  Violas,  and  Sweet 
Peas  from  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay.  The 
Committee  may  congratulate  themselves  on  the 
success  of  their  first  venture,  a  success  mainly 
attributable  to  the  unceasing  efforts  of  the  Hon. 
Sec.  (Mr.  A.  J.  Rowberry),  who  has  worked  till 
he  hag  now  the  management  of  a  society  com¬ 
posed  of  nearly  100  members  drawn  from  all  parts 
of  the  United  Kingdom. 
FICt.  102.— L7ELIO-CATTLEYA  PYTHO.  ( See  page  579.) 
Charm,  Douglas  Gordon,  and  Gold  Crest.  The  silver  medal  was  awarded 
to  Mr.  John  Forbes  of  Hawick  for  a  much  smaller  collection.  The 
method  of  staging  was  much  too  flat ;  the  best  sprays  were  Lemon 
Queen,  Bridegroom,  Lady  Reay,  and  Blushing  Bride.  The  bronze  medal 
fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Peter  Barr,  who  staged  his  flowers  in  bunches  in 
small  flower  pots,  a  system  that  gives  one  a  better  idea  of  the  actual 
effect  produced  by  such  varieties  than  the  popular  method  of  spraying, 
though  it  is  feared  places  the  exhibitor  at  a  disadvantage.  The  most 
striking  forms  were  J.  B.  Riding,  Lemon  Queen,  Ardwell  Gem,  and 
Wm.  Neil. 
The  large  Pansy  classes  were  competed  for  solely  by  exhibitors  from 
the  north.  Mr.  Matthew  Campbell  of  Blantyre  was  successful  in 
securing  the  gold  medal  for  a  collection  of  Pansies.  The  back  of  his 
exhibit  was  composed  of  huge  bunches  of  Pansies  with  their  own  foliage, 
which  gave  the  collection  a  fine  effect,  while  the  front  part  was  com¬ 
posed  of  t  he  stereotyped  Pansy  stands.  The  blooms  were  large,  fresh, 
and  well  coloured,  not  a  faded  bloom  amongst  them.  His  best  blooms 
were  Allan  Stuart,  Maggie  Benson,  Alfred  Johnston,  Annie  Ross,  Miss 
Stirling,  D.  G.  McKay,  Maggie  Watson,  and  Mrs.  R.  Stuart.  Mr.  Pye 
followed  with  a  very  large  and  meritorious  exhibit,  but  the  blooms  had. 
not  travelled  at  all  well.  D.  McNeil,  John  Crawford,  W.  H.  Clark,  Miss 
Stirling,  and  R.  R.  Stevenson  were  very  fine  flowers.  Twenty-four 
RICHMOND.— June  24th. 
The  show  of  the  Richmond  Horticultural 
Society,  held,  as  customary,  in  the  Old  Deer  Park, 
was  opened  on  Wednesday  in  showery  weather. 
The  exhibits  in  the  various  sections  were  nume¬ 
rous,  and  the  quality  generally  was  high.  Vegetables 
were  splendidly  staged,  as  also  were  plants,  while 
some  of  the  fruit  was  not  quite  up  to  the  mark,  though  other  specimens 
were  excellent.  The  general  effect  of  the  show  was  very  greatly  enhanced 
by  the  magnificent  groups  and  tables  of  plants  staged  by  nurserymen. 
It  is  a  matter  for  regret  that  our  space  is  so  limited  as  to  preclude  the 
possibility  of  our  making  individual  reference  to  these.  Below  we  give 
the  prizewinners  in  a  few  of  the  classes. 
Mr.  H.  E.  Fordham,  Twickenham,  was  first  for  a  group  of  plants  in 
a  space  not  to  exceed  100  square  feet.  The  arrangements  were  exceed¬ 
ingly  light  and  graceful.  Liliums,  Palms,  Orchids,  Gloxinias,  Spiraeas, 
Crotons,  Coleus,  Ferns,  Caladiums  and  other  plants  were  all 
advantageously  utilised.  Mr.  J.  McLeod,  Roehampton,  was  a  fair 
second  ;  and  Mr.  W.  Vause,  Lymington,  a  poor  third.  Mr.  J.  Portbury, 
Roehampton,  was  the  winner  of  the  prize  offered  by  the  Mayor  of 
Richmond  for  a  group  of  Begonias,  with  a  splendid  exhibit,  Mr. 
A.  Pentrey,  Isleworth,  being  a  poor  second.  Mrs.  Andrew  Pears  offered 
prizes  for  a  group  of  miscellaneous  plants,  which  were  secured  by 
Messrs.  C.  Want  and  J.  Portbury  in  the  order  in  which  the  names  are 
given. 
Roses  were  beautifully  shown.  The  blooms,  as  a  rule,  were  of  good 
shape,  size,  and  substance,  while  the  colour  left  little  to  be  desired.  For 
twenty-four  trebles  Messrs.  D.  Prior  &  Son,  Colchester,  were  a  splendid 
first,  with  best  blooms  of  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Comte  Raimbaud,  Her  Majesty, 
