56 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  16,  1897. 
ideal  one  for  a  flower  show  on  a  fine  day — a  sort  of  grassy  dell  sur¬ 
rounded  by  luxuriant  trees,  suggestive  of  the  famous  Shrewsbury  site  in 
miniature,  the  visitors  reminding  also  of  the  Shrewsbury  enthusiasm — 
as  fine  a  company  as  could  be  imagined  in  a  town  of  much  larger 
dimensions.  The  enterprising  Great  Eastern  Railway  provided  special 
trains,  with  the  result  that  the  show  grounds  presented  a  highly  animated 
appearance. 
Only  the  general  character  of  the  Show  will  be  indicated,  as  seeing  that 
the  schedule  contained  no  less  than  17fi  classes,  a  detailed  report  is  out 
of  the  question.  The  products  were  arranged  in  five  large  marquees,  one 
being  devoted  to  plants,  a  second  to  Roses  and  cut  flowers,  a  third  to 
floral  decorations  mainly,  a  fourth  to  fruit,  and  a  fifth  to  vegetables. 
The  plant  tent  was  better  furnished  than  it  has  ever  been  before. 
Tuberous  Begonias  made  a  splendid  display,  both  as  arranged  in  groups 
with  Ferns  and  in  the  form  of  specimen  plants,  and  the  prizewinners. 
General  Farren,  Mr.  J.  A.  Burness,  the  Rev.  T.  Hanscroft,  Mr.  W.  H. 
Crisp,  Mr.  T.  Grimwood,  and  Major  Howey,  with  their  respective 
gardeners,  are  deserving  of  warm  congratulations  on  the  high  excellence 
of  their  products.  In  Major  Howey’s  group  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Sowman), 
from  Melton  Grange,  a  double  salmon  pink  variety,  was  very  striking, 
and  named  Melton  Beauty.  Groups  of  Gloxinias  with  Ferns  were  also 
very  charming  as  arranged  by  the  gardeners  to  Miss  Walford,  Mr.  A. 
Hayward,  and  Mr.  Webster  Adams.  Fuchsias  also  were  attractively  pro¬ 
minent,  relieved  by  remarkably  fine  specimens  of  exotic  Ferns 
The  Rose  tent  contained  many  beautiful  stands  of  blooms,  also  a  fine 
group  of  decorative  Roses  arranged  by  Messrs.  F.  Cant  &  Co.  In  this  group 
a  new  climbing  variety  with  large  semi-double  rich  maroon  flowers  may 
be  expected  to  have  a  great  future  before  it.  Mr.  “W.  R.  Riillem  ” 
obliges  with  the  following  notes  on  the  competitive  section  : — In  the 
trade  classes  Messrs.  Frank  Cant  &  Co.  were  first  for  the  25-guinea 
challenge  cup  of  twenty-four  Roses,  this  being  the  second  time  they  have 
won  it.  Horace  Vernet,  Niphetos,  and  Marchioness  of  Dufferin  were 
among  the  best  examples,  and  the  new  Rose,  Mrs.  Frank  Cant,  was 
fairly  well  shown.  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant  was  a  good  second  with  a  very  fine 
bloom  of  Le  Havre  and  a  capital  Horace  Vernet.  Messrs.  D.  Prior  and 
Son  were  third  with  a  splendid  Mar^chal  Niel,  rather  dwarfing  the 
quality  of  the  other  blooms.  With  thirty-six  blooms  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant 
was  first,  the  sheen  of  old  gold  on  a  rather  damaged  bloom  of  Luciole 
being  conspicuous  in  the  centre.  Messrs  Frank  Cant  &  Co.  were  second, 
but  first  in  the  next  class  of  twelve  Teas  with  Bridesmaid  and 
Catherine  Mermet  (a  good  deal  alike)  in  fine  condition.  Messrs.  D. 
Prior  &  Son  were  second,  Madame  Cusin  being  their  best  bloom,  and 
Mr.  B.  R.  Cant  third.  In  trebles  Mr.  Frank  Cant  was  again  first,  a 
good  triplet  of  Captain  Hayward  being  in  his  stand  ;  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant 
second,  and  Messrs.  D.  Prior  &  Son,  who,  perhaps  from  a  misconception, 
showed  nothing  but  Teas,  third. 
In  the  amateur  classes  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  won  the  challenge 
cup  for  twenty-four  for  the  second  time  in  succession,  but  the  blooms 
were  hardly  up  to  his  usual  standard.  He  took  the  medal  with  Marshal 
P.  Wilder,  but  it  was  not  an  extra  good  bloom.  Mr.  Orpen  was  second, 
showing  some  splendid  Teas,  only  twelve  of  which  were  allowed  by  the 
schedule.  Maman  Cochet,  a  slightly  damaged  bloom,  took  the  medal, 
and  he  had  also  all  the  other  well-known  members  of  the  Mermet  family, 
Mermet  herself.  Bridesmaid,  The  Bride,  and  Muriel  Grahame.  He  was 
also  first  in  twelve  Teas,  but  these  were  not  so  good.  Mr.  Foster-Melliar 
was  second,  showing  Maman  Cochet  and  Madame  Cusin  well.  Mr. 
Orpen  was  also  first  in  six  H.P.’s  of  a  sort  with  S.  M.  Rodocanachi,  and 
with  six  Teas  of  a  sort  with  Maman  Cochet,  and  in  six  trebles,  all  of 
very  fine  Teas.  He  had  practically  no  opposition  in  these  classes.  In 
twelve  Roses  Mr.  Parsons  showed  a  good  stand,  two  of  his  blooms, 
Horace  Vernet  and  Duchess  of  Bedford,  being  taken  into  competition  for 
the  medal  H.P. 
The  fruit  tent  contained  wonderful  collections  of  the  smaller  kinds, 
such  as  Currants,  Gooseberries,  Raspberries,  all  in  fine  form  ;  also  a 
grand  display  of  Strawberries,  and  out  of  the  whole  great  display 
Gunton  Park  was  adjudged  the  chief  prize  for  flavour.  With  a  collec¬ 
tion  of  fruit  Mr.  W.  Messenger,  gardener  to  C.  H.  Berners,  Esq., 
Woolverstone  Park,  won  the  premier  prize  with  good  Black  Hamburgh  and 
Buckland  Sweetwater  Grapes,  fine  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Waterloo  Straw¬ 
berries,  Cherries,  Figs,  and  a  Melon.  Mr.  Rogers,  gardener  to  Lord 
Rendlesham,  and  Mr.  Andrews,  gardener  to  the  Hon.  W.  Lowther, 
followed  in  close  order  with  excellent  produce.  They  were  also  successful 
in  many  other  classes. 
The  competition  for  the  prizes  offered  for  collections  of  vegetables  by 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Carter  &  Co.,  and  Daniels  Bros,  were  great  and 
good,  the  results  being  creditable  to  all  concerned. 
The  marquee  devoted  to  floral  decorations  was  a  source  of  great 
attraction.  More  than  a  dozen  tables  were  placed  in  competition,  and  it 
was  no  small  triumph  for  Mrs.  Orpen,  West  Bergholt,  to  have  won  first 
honours  in  the  open  cla^s.  The  dainty  Garland  Rose  was  employed  with 
much  taste  in  association  with  Ma  Capucine  and  Madame  C.  Guin- 
noi  eau.  relieved  with  light  touches  of  Gypsophila  and  Fern.  In  the 
local  class  Miss  W.  Carter  was  the  premier  exhibitor  with  a  bright  and 
light  association  of  Iceland  Poppik  and  Ferns,  There  was  a  great 
display  of  Sweet  Peas,  baskets  of  Roses,  and  other  ornaments.  Mr.  R.  C. 
Notoutt  was  the  chief  prizetaker  with  hardy  border  flowers,  and  Messrs. 
R  Wallace  &  Co.  had  a  charming  display  of  choice  Liliums  and 
Calochorti. 
From  whatever  point  of  view  regarded  the  show  was  a  great  success, 
thanks  to  an  efiScient  Committee,  good  supporters,  and  the  genial  and 
zealous  Secretary,  Mr.  John  Andrews. 
HARROW. — July  8th, 
On  Thursday  last,  in  the  grounds  of  Julian  Hill,  the  Harrow  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  held  its  annual  exhibition.  Though  there  were  open 
classes  and  others  subject  to  the  customary  restrictions  the  display  was 
not  a  very  great  success  ;  indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  the  superb  Roses 
staged  by  C.  J.  Grahame,  Esq.,  and  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant,  G.  Prince,  J. 
Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd,,  F.  Cant  &  Co,,  and  W.  Paul  &  Son,  it  would  have 
been  very  poor.  Hardy  flowers  were  splendidly  shown  by  Mr.  E. 
Beckett,  and  table  decorations  by  ladies  were  charming.  The  terrific 
hailstorm  of  some  days  ago  cut  a  considerable  amount  of  produce  to 
shreds  and  entirely  prevented  many  growers  from  competing. 
As  has  been  said  the  Roses  shown  were  of  magnificent  quality,  and 
make  by  far  the  finest  feature  of  the  exhibition.  The  chief  class  was 
for  thirty-six  distinct  single  trusses,  the  premier  award  being  taken  by 
Mr.  B.  R.  Cant,  Colchester,  whose  exhibit  was  composed  of  even,  well- 
coloured  blooms.  The  varieties  represented  were  Her  Majesty,  Gustave 
Piganeau,  Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  Fisher  Holmes,  Marchioness  of 
Dufferin,  Marquise  de  Litta,  Mrs.  John  Laing,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Helen 
Keller,  Comtesse  d’Oxford,  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman  Crawford.  Marie 
Baumann,  Duchesse  de  Morny,  Madame  de  Watteville,  A.  K.  Williams, 
White  Lady,  Mons.  E.  Y.  Teas,  Merveille  de  Lyon,  Jean  Soupert.  Lady 
Mary  Fitzwilliam,  Star  of  Waltham,  Mrs.  Paul,  Dupuy  Jamain,  Madame 
Eugene  Verdier,  Golden  Gate,  Horace  Vernet,  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria, 
Xavier  Olibn,  Marchioness  of  Downshire,  Gomte  de  Raimbaud,  Ethel 
Brownlow,  Capt.  Hayward,  Madame  Cusin.  Le  Havre,  The  Bride,  and 
Charles  Lefebvre.  Messrs.  F.  Cant  &  Co.,  C  )lche8ter,  were  second,  their 
best  varieties  being  Comte  de  Raimbaud.  Ethel  Brownlow,  Kaiserin 
Augusta  Victoria,  Maman  Cochet,  Fisher  Holmes,  Jeanie  Dickson,  and 
Madame  de  Watteville.  Mr.  Geo.  Prince,  Oxford,  was  third. 
The  only  other  class  open  to  all  comers  was  for  twelve  Teas  or 
Noisettes,  distinct  varieties,  one  truss  of  each.  Mr.  Geo.  Prince  secured 
the  first  prize,  followed  exceedingly  closely  by  C.  J.  Grahame,  Esq , 
Leatherhead.  The  winner  staged  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac  (superb), 
Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  Madame  Cusin,  Innocente  Pirola,  Catherine 
Mermet,  Maman  Cochet,  The  Bride,  Ernest  Metz,  Cornelia  Koch, 
Francisca  Kruger,  Alba  Rosea,  and  Princess  of  Wales,  the  last  two  being 
weak,  and  detracting  materially  from  the  quality  of  the  stand.  Mr. 
Grahame’s  examples  of  Maman  Cochet,  Ethel  Brownlow,  and  Muriel 
Grahame  were  superb,  the  first  named  being  perfect.  The  third  position 
was  assigned  to  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant. 
There  was  also  a  class  for  twenty-four  distinct  single  trusses,  open  to 
all  amateur  growers,  and  here  C.  J.  Grahame,  Esq.,  showed  his  strength 
in  a  most  decisive  manner.  In  the  whole  twenty-four  there  was  scarcely 
one  really  weak  flower,  though  there  were  several  as  good  as  any  we 
have  seen  this  season.  The  varieties  included  Gustave  Piganeau,  Her 
Majesty,  Charles  Lefebvre,  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman  Crawford.  Horace 
Vernet  (quite  perfect),  Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  A.  K.  Williams, 
Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  Maman  Cochet  (superb),  Le  Havre,  Mrs. 
John  Laing,  Mar^chal  Niel,  Francois  Michelon,  Marchioness  of  Dufferin, 
Ulrich  Brunner,  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  Dupuy  Jamain,  Catherine 
Mermet.  Alfred  Colomb,  Lady  Sheffield,  Louis  Van  Houtte,  Madame 
Cusin,  Victor  Hugo,  and  Star  of  Waltham.  R.  E,  West,  Esq.,  Reigate, 
was  second  ;  and  J.  Bateman,  Esq.,  Highgate,  third. 
Besides  the  Roses  in  the  section  to  which  we  have  just  alluded,  there 
were  other  classes  of  minor  importance,  but  no  specimens  of  special  merit 
were  staged  therein.  Of  non-competitive  exhibits  of  Roses  there  were 
two  only,  one  from  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd..  Chelsea,  and  the 
other  from  Messrs.  W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross.  Both  of  these  firms 
sent  some  splendid  Roses,  and  in  so  doiner  added  considerably  to  the 
interest  and  beauty  of  the  show,  Messrs.  Veitch  showed  amongst  many 
others  Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  Etienne  Levet,  Bridesmaid,  Comtesse 
de  Nadaiilac,  Alfred  Colomb,  Duke  of  Wellington,  Madame  Cusin, 
Francisa  Kruger,  Catherine  Mermet,  Madame  Lambard,  and  Dr.  Andry. 
Messrs.  Paul  staged  Her  Majesty,  Pride  of  Waltham.  Merveille  de  Lyon, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Viscountess  Folkestone,  Grand  Mogul,  La  France  of 
’89,  Marquise  de  Litta,  and  the  beautiful  Waltham  Standard. 
Mr.  E.  Beckett,  gardener  to  Lord  Aldenham,  Aldenham  House, 
Elstree,  was  an  easy  first  in  the  class  for  twenty-four  bunches  of  hardy 
flowers,  distinct,  each  bunch  to  be  shown  in  a  separate  vase.  The  first 
prize  took  the  form  of  a  silver  cup,  presented  by  H.  W.  Bryans, 
Esq.,  the  Hon.  Treasurer  of  the  Society.  The  exhibit  included  amongst 
others  Galega  oflBcinalis.  Potentilla  Mrs.  W.  Rollinson.  Catananche 
coerulea.  Delphinium  exaltatum.  Phlox  Le  Soleil,  and  Chrysogonum 
virginianum,  A.  Kingswell,  Esq.,  Harrow  Weald,  was  second. 
In  the  class  for  a  group  of  flowering  and  foliage  plants,  arranged  for 
effect  in  a  space  not  exceeding  50  fquare  feet,  Mr.  W.  Smith,  gardener 
to  S.  Gardner,  Esq.,  was  first  with  a  somewhat  heavy  and  dull  exhibit 
of  Ferns,  Caladiums,  Palms,  Gloxinias  and  Begonias.  This  would  have 
looked  much  better  had  the  plants  not  been  so  packed  together.  Mr.  E, 
Hawkins,  gardener  to  J.  M.  Stuart,  Esq.,  was  second  ;  Mr.  W.  Elvey, 
gardener  to  R.  Bosworth,  Esq.,  third.  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Sons, 
Highgate,  sent  a  line  exhibit  of  Hydrangeas,  Carnations,  Liliums,  and 
Begonias,  not  for  competition,  while  Messrs,  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest 
Hill,  sent  superb  Begonias. 
In  the  several  classes  for  vegetables,  fruits,  and  plants,  the  competi¬ 
tion  was  in  no  case  particularly  keen,  and  there  was  nothing  staged  that 
called  for  special  mention  here.  Tables  and  vases  of  flowers  staged  by 
ladies  showed  much  beauty  and  taste,  but  no  notable  originality. 
Several  were  completely  spoiled  by  careless  arrangement,  whilst  others 
were  militated  against  by  the  use  of  paper  and  ribbons. 
