September  17,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
2S3 
Antirrhinums  take  the  next  place  in  point  of  usefulness.  These  have 
been  most  glorious,  and  the  improvement  in  every  way  which  has  been 
carried  out  within  the  past  ten  years  is  marvellous.  They  can  be 
depended  on  to  come  true  to  colour,  which  are  of  the  most  satisfactory 
shades,  and  to  one  can  grumble  at  the  number.  Then  again  we  can 
have  them  in  heights  varying  from  6  inches  to  36 — a  margin  no  one  can 
complain  of.  “  Geraniums,”  of  course,  have  been  a  gorgeous  sight. 
The  past  summer  has  suited  all  kinds,  whether  they  have  been  double 
Zonals,  single  fancies,  or  the  ordinary  bedding  kinds,  as  well  as  the 
lovely  Ivy-leaved  varieties. 
Carnations  have  never  been  better,  only  their  duration  was  short,  but 
they  amply  repaid  for  the  work  bestowed  on  them.  Fuchsias,  or  at 
least  some  kinds,  have  been  marvellous.  The  two  varieties  which  have 
given  the  best  satisfaction  have  been  Charming  and  Mrs.  Rundle.  The 
first-named  was  planted  in  a  setting  of  ”  Harrison’s  Musk,”  and  the 
latter  in  a  light  coloured  Ivy -leaved  '■  Geranium”  pegged  down,  and  both 
proved  most  interesting.— -T.  A. 
CAMPANULA  NITIDA  ALBA. 
C.  NITIBA,  or  C.  planiflora  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  has  been  in 
cultivation  for  more  than  a  century.  It  is  a  North  American  species, 
and  differs  considerably  in  habit  and  appearance  from  most  of  the 
European  species.  The  short  stiff  leaves  are  arranged  in  dense  rosettes. 
From  these  rise  the  spikes,  6  to  9  inches  high,  of  large  salver-shaped 
flowers.  The  latter,  which  open  one  at  a  time,  are  about  2  inches  in 
diameter,  and  of  a  fine  violet  colour  with  a  smooth  shining  surface. 
The  plant  is  peculiar  for  the  rigidity  of  all  its  parts.  It  succeeds  well 
as  a  pot  plant  when  grown  in  a  mixture  of  good  loam  and  leaf  soil 
with  a  few  pieces  of  soft  sandstone  intermixed.  In  many  places  it  can 
be  grown  successfully  in  the  open  border  or  rock  garden,  but  some 
growers  have  a  difficulty  in  keeping  it  in  these  positions.  C.  nitida  alba 
(fig.  56)  differs  only  from  the  type  in  having  white  instead  of  violet 
flowers. 
HORTICULTURAL  SHOWS. 
BANBURY  ONION  SHOW.—Sbptembek  3rd. 
The  annual  show,  held  on  the  above  date  by  Mr.  Deverill,  as  usual 
proved  a  great  attraction  to  the  many  visitors  who  come  to  Banbury 
on  a  market  day.  Some  alteration  was  made  in  the  prize  list.  Hitherto 
prizes  had  been  offered  for  globe-shaped  bulbs  and  for  the  flat  types, 
with  an  extra  class  for  Wroxtons.  This  year  Mr.  Deverill  offered  two 
prizes  in  each  class  for  each  of  his  pedigree  varieties,  so  that  every 
variety  might  stand  on  its  merits,  and  from  the  weights  given  below  no 
globe-shaped  variety  can  compete  with  Ailsa  Craig  successfully.  Of  the 
flat  types  Anglo-Spanish  is  undoubtedly  the  best  variety  for  exhibition, 
it  being  a  much  improved  variety  of  that  popular  Onion  Rousham  Park 
in  that  it  is  much  better  at  the  base,  in  fact,  an  altogether  deeper  and 
heavier  Onion  with  the  same  coloured  skin. 
Only  one  prize  was  offered  in  the  champion  class  for  six  largest  and 
handsomest  of  any  one  variety,  which  Mr.  Bowerman  of  Hackwood 
Park  won  rather  easily  with  Ailsa  Craig,  weighing  15J  lbs.  The  same 
exhibitor  won  this  prize  last  year,  his  six  specimens  then  weighing 
lbs,,  which  I  believe  is  a  record. 
For  twelve  specimens  of  Deverill’s  Challenge  Mr.  Lye  was  the  only 
exhibitor,  and  was  awarded  the  first  prize.  This  is  a  new  Onion  sent 
out  this  year  ;  the  outer  skin  is  very  bright  in  colour,  but  the  flesh  is 
quite  white. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  Ailsa  Craigs  Mr.  R,  Lye,  The  Gardens, 
Sydmonton  Court,  was  first  with  bulbs  weighing  28 J  lbs.  Second,  Mr. 
J.  Masterson,  gardener  to  the  Countess  Camperdown,  Weston  House, 
Shipston-on- Stour,  his  exhibit  weighing  26f  lbs. 
Mr.  Lye  was  again  first  for  twelve  Cocoa  Nuts,  weighing  20^  lbs. 
Mr.  Wyton,  The  Gardens,  Crookhey  Hall,  Garstang,  was  second.  For 
twelve  Advancer  Mr.  Waite,  Glenhurst  Gardens,  Esher,  was  first  with 
bulbs  weighing  17  lbs.,  Mr.  Lye  being  second. 
Mr.  Waite  also  secured  the  first  prize  for  twelve  Wroxtons 
(Improved)  ;  Mr.  Lye  again  second.  This  is  the  smallest  of  Mr. 
Deverill’s  pedigree  stocks,  but  a  handsome  variety,  and  one  of  the  best  of 
all  Onions  to  keep.  The  next  class  was  for  twelve  Anglo-Spanish.  Here 
Mr.  Lye  was  awarded  first  with  specimens  weighing  20  lbs.  ;  Mr. 
T.  Wyton  being  second.  This  variety  has  been  shown  much  heavier 
on  previous  occasions. 
The  best  twelve  Lord  Keepers  were  also  shown  by  Mr.  Lye,  weighing 
19f  lbs.  Mr.  Pease,  gardener  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Norris,  Salcliffe 
Park,  Banbury,  was  second,  Mr.  Lye  was  also  first  for  twelve  Royal 
Jubilee,  weighing  19  lbs.,  and  also  tor  twelve  Rousham  Park,  weighing 
18  lbs.  In  the  former  class  Mr.  Pease  was  second,  and  for  Rousham 
Park  Mr.  W,  Keep,  The  Gardens,  Faringdon  House,  Berks,  was  second. 
Cottagers  and  mechanics  were  offered  prizes  for  any  variety  mentioned 
in  Mr.  Deverill’s  catalogue,  Mr.  A.  Ellmer,  Cuckfield,  Sussex,  getting 
first  for  twelve  Anglo-Spanish,  weighing  13i  lbs.  ;  second,  Mr.  J.  Heydon, 
Watermett,  with  Red  Italian  ;  and  W.  Butcher,  of  Tysoe,  Warwick, 
third  with  Ailsa  Craig. 
For  eight  kinds  of  vegetables,  to  include  five  of  Mr.  Deverill's 
specialities,  Mr.  R.  Lye  was  first  with  a  meritorious  exhibit,  including 
Oxonian  Leeks,  being  very  good,  also  Middleton  Park  Beet,  very  fine 
Exhibition  Carrots,  Autumn  Giant  Cauliflowers,  Aylesbury  Prize  Celery, 
Glenhurst  Tomato,  Satisfaction  Potatoes,  and  Autocrat  Peas,  Mr.  Waite 
being  second  with  a  collection  little  inferior  but  not  so  fresh.  Mr,  Pease 
was  a  creditable  third. 
In  the  class  for  cottagers  and  mechanics,  for  eight  distinct  kinds  of 
vegetables,  to  be  selected  from  Mr.  Deverill’s  catalogue,  six  lots  were 
staged,  and  all  showed  most  creditably.  Having  seen  this  exhibition 
(which  is  held  on  Mr.  Deverill’s  premises')  several  years  it  is  most  grati¬ 
fying  to  see  the  improvement  in  this  class.  Especially  is  this  so  in  the 
quality  of  ihe  exhibits,  and  it  is  quite  evident  they  have  not  failed  to 
FIG.  56.— CAMPANULA  NITIDA  ALBA, 
prefit  by  seeing  the  splendid  examples  staged  at  these  shows  by  Messrs. 
Lye,  Pope,  Waite,  and  Wilkins.  Mr.  Wells  of  Tysoe,  Warwickshire,  was 
first,  Mr.  W.  Butcher  second,  and  Mr.  R.  Horton  third.  Mr.  J.  Jennings 
of  Banbury  was  awarded  an  extra. — G.  A.  I. 
DERBY. — September  9th  and  10th. 
The  above  horticultural  exhibition  was  held  as  usual  in  three  large 
tents  in  the  Holmes  adjoining  the  Cattle  Market,  and  in  connection 
with  the  agricultural  show,  on  the  above  dates.  This  show  has  been  in 
existence  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  has  made  but  slow  progress  ; 
indeed,  a  few  years  ago  it  was  almost  on  the  verge  of  collapsing,  but  it 
was  placed  under  somewhat  better  management,  and  during  the  last  few 
years  great  strides  have  been  made,  and  it  may  now  claim  to  rank  as 
one  of  the  best  in  the  country,  and  this  year’s  show  surpasses  all  past 
efforts,  especially  in  groups,  fruit,  and  vegetables,  which  wore  exceedingly 
fine.  The  groups  of  Messrs.  Jos.  Ward,  Biddings  House,  and  C.  J.  Mee, 
Daybrook,  and  W.  Finch,  Coventry,  deserve  special  mention,  as  finer 
or  more  tastefully  arranged  groups  have  never  been  shown  at  Derby,  and 
the  judges  must  have  had  a  difficult  task  in  giving  their  awards. 
Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons,  Royal  Exotic  Nurseries,  Chelsea, 
exhibited  a  wonderfully  fine  group  of  plants  (not  for  competition),  and 
