220 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  2,  1897. 
MEMENTOES  OF  SHREWSBUBY. 
On  page  188  of  our  last  issue  we  called  attention  to  two  medals  that 
were  being  presented  by  Lord  Kenyon,  the  President  of  the  Shropshire 
Horticultural  Society,  to  the  two  gardeners  winning  the  largest  amount 
in  prizes — one  in  the  open  section,  and  the  other  confined  to  Shrewsbury. 
These  were  taken  by  l\Ir,  J.  Mclndoe  and  Mr.  C.  Roberts  respectively. 
Of  this  medal  we  are  now  enabled  to  give  a  photographic  reproduction 
(fig.  80),  showing  both  the  obverse  and  the  reverse.  As  no  others  will  be 
cast  from  this  die,  Avhich  was  designed  by  the  Countess  Feodore  Oleichen, 
the  medals  will  be  the  more  highly  valued  by  the  recipients.  On  the  page 
facing  this  appears  a  representation  (fig.  31)  of  an  epergne,  two  similar 
to  which  were  purchased  by  horticultural  friends,  and  presented  to  the 
lion.  Secretaries,  Alessrs.  Adnitt  and  Naunton.  These  were  very 
beautiful  and  elegant  in  design. 
We  are  glad  now  to  be  able  to  state  that  rather  over  £160  was  taken 
in  the  two  days,  more  than  has  been  taken  on  any  previous  show. 
Though  rain  fell  heavily  after  4  I'.M.  on  Wednesday,  the  receipts  wei-e 
£25  above  the  previous  best.  The  second  day  was  fine  on  the  whole, 
only  slight  showers  falling,  and  these  not  sufficient  to  mar  the  proceed¬ 
ings.  About  60,000  persons  passed  the  turnstiles  on  the  second  day. 
By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  show  was  a  record  in  more  ways  than  one. 
the  Society  he  loves  and  cares  for  with  such  anxious  care  ;  and  of 
this  kindred  Salopian  Society  which  had  so  astonished  him  by  its 
vigorous  life  and  the  glorious  beauty  of  surroundings.  And  there  was 
the  deputation  itself,  notable  in  character  and  person,  every  member 
of  which  is  an  expert  in  some  of  the  many  phases  of  gardening. 
The  speech  of  the  Dean  of  Rochester  was  admirable  in  every  way, 
and  characteristic  of  the  man,  both  as  a  Dean  and  a  gardener.  It  was 
full  of  w’it  and  humour,  “gay  wisdom,”  and  cheery  optimism,  with  under¬ 
lying  tones  of  the  higher  things  which  concern  all  men.  It  sparkled 
with  gems  of  thought  as  vvell  as  scintillations  of  wdt  and  humour,^  and 
lifted  gardening  into  that  high  position  it  ought  to  occupy  in  men  s  minds. 
The  municipality  of  Shrewsbury  w'as  well  represented  by  Licut.-Col. 
Courcy  Peele,  with  his  patrician  face  and  cheery  speech,  who  most 
heartily  and  courteously  welcomed  the  deputation  from  the  R.II.S.  and 
all  other  visitors  to  the  town  and  the  show.  Then  the  Committee  ot  the 
Society  with  its  two  efficient  and  ubiej^uitous  Hon.  Secretaries  (Messrs. 
Adnitt  and  Naunton),  composed  as  it  is  of  every  section  of  Shrewsbury 
people,  from  the  town  clerk,  aldermen,  councillors,  magistrates  downwards, 
all  w'orking  unitedly  and  heartily  to  make  the  show  a  success,  d  hen  the 
Judges,  representing  every  position  in  the  horticultural  w'orld,  from  Mr. 
Owen  Thomas,  who  2:)resides  over  the  gardens  of  the  Queen  ;  iSlr.  Mclvellar, 
who  is  head  gardener  to  ll.R.ll.  the  I’rince  of^Yales  ;  Mr.  S.  1.  M  right, 
the  present  Superintendent,  and  IMr.  A.  F.  Barron,  the  late  Superinten¬ 
dent,  of  the  gardens  of  the  R.H.S.  ;  Mr.  .John  M  right,  the  editor  ot 
Fig.  30.— lord  KENYON’S  MEDAT.. 
SHRKWSBUltY  ShOAV  NoTNS. 
Tjieke  was  much  to  draw  out  the  observatory  power’s  of  every 
visitor  to  the  great  show  on  the  t^uarry,  Shrewsbury,  much  on  the 
surface,  but  much  more  here,  there,  and  everywhere  not  specially 
prominent,  which  was  suggestive  of  consideration,  as  “A.  D.”  has  shown 
in  his  “  Comments.”  If  the  oiiserver  were  a  thouglitful,  ruminant  sort 
of  man,  fond  of  noting  little  things,  the  side  views,  these  inconspicuous 
things  would  be  very  likely  to  set  him  a  thinking  much  more  deeply  than 
would  those  which  stood  out  and  compelled  attention.  Such  is  the 
opinion  of  the  writer  Avith  respect  to  one  function  which,  though  the 
pencil  of  the  reporter  brought  it  to  the  notice  of  all  in  its  salient  features, 
was  yet  somewhat  of  a  semi-private  character  ;  that  Avas  the  luncheon 
Avhere  the  officers  of  the  Society,  the  deputation  from  the  R.II.S.,  the 
.Judges,  and  other  invited  guests  were  assembled. 
It  was  an  interesting  and  impressive  scene,  and  a  thorough  gardeners’ 
reunion.  Let  us  loolc  at  it  closely  :  it  w'ill  bear  it.  Take  first,  as  is  riglit 
and  fitting,  the  Chairman  of  the  Society,  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Kenyon, 
who  presided.  A  county  nobleman,  inheriting  generations  of  courtly 
manners  and  gentle  breeding,  with  a  deep-seated  love  for  all  tilings 
connected  with  the  county  and  neighbourhood  and  its  iicople,  he  presided 
Avith  easy  grace  and  quiet  dignity ;  not  saying  too  much,  but  saying  it 
Avell,  he  struck  the  key-note  of  the  gathering  in  just  the  right  Avords  to 
malce  everymne  feel  at  home  and  comfortable,  and  that,  by  the  Avay,  is 
the  secret  of  a  happy  meeting.  Then  there  was  the  genial,  happy-faced, 
and  pleasant-spoken  Bishop  of  Shrewsbury,  the  Right  Rev.  Sir  imvelace 
Stamer,  with  Dean  Hole,  and  the  Rev.  M".  Wilks,  the  clerical  Secretary 
of  .the  R.II.S.,  re])resenting  the  interest  taken  liy  the  Church  in  horticul¬ 
tural  matters.  Then  the  courtly  President  of  the  R.II.S.,  Sir  Trevor 
Lawrence,  Bart.,  speaking  with  dignified  elo(iuence  on  many  things 
liertaining  to  horticulture,  what  it  has  done  and  Avhat  it  can  do,  and  of 
“  our  Journal,”  doAvn  tlirough  ducal  gardeners,  trade  gardeners,  private 
gentlemen’s  gardeners,  to  tlie  “  spade  and  AvheelbarroAV  ”  gardener,  the 
Avriter  of  this  note,  and  Avhen  they  stood  up  together  Avhilst  Mr.  Owen 
Thomas  was  returning  thanks  for  them  after  the  toast  of  “the  Judges,” 
the  present  writer  thought  they  looked  a  very  reliable,  capable,  practical 
body  of  men,  most  of  them  greybeards,  having  a  life  experience. 
The  ladies  present  must  not  be  left  out,  as  by  their  presence  they  lent 
an  additional  charm  to  the  gatliering  ;  the  Hon.  IMiss  Kenyon  (sister  of 
i  the  CJiairman)  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  Hole  (Avife  of  the  Dean  of  Rochester), 
;  Avith  others,  by  their  smiles  and  animated  conversation  most  excellently 
^  supp'orted  the  Chairman,  and  added  a  liveliness  very  acceptably  recognised, 
i  ( )ne  toast,  and  a  very  important  one  in  the  opinion  of  the  present  writer, 
'  was  omitted,  and  that  Avas  the  “  Press.”  What  would  gardening  and 
gardeners  be  or  do  Avithout  the  gardening  Press?  the  literature  of  Avhich  is 
excelled  by  none  in  the  whole  of  the  professions  or  trades  of  the  country. 
.  The  great  feature  of  the  function  Avas  its  happy,  free-and-easy 
’  character,  and  its  opportunity  for  chat  Avith  old  friends  ;  Avith  intercourse 
with  magnates  in  the  gardening  Avorld  by  those  Avho  only  kncAV  them  by 
names,  but  Avho  found  them  pleasant,  genial,  chatty,  ready  to  speak  to 
any  (even  to  the  “  spade  and  AvheelbarroAV  ”  gardener),  and  to  be  spoken 
to.  In  this  respect  the  time  Avas  all  too  short,  but  it  will  long  remain  a 
pleasant  memory  Avith  one  person  at  least,  Avho  also  thought  it  deserved 
chronicling  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of  J1  orticulture  by  a  sjtecial  note. — 
An  Oed  Proa'incial. 
P.S. — 'The  very  interesting  part  of  the  proceedings  at  the  luncheon  of 
the  presentation  of  tAA'O  beautiful  epergnes  to  the  Avorthy  Hon.  Secretaries 
of  the  Shropshire  Horticultural  Society  ought  not  to  have  been  left  to  a 
P.S.,  but  so  it  is.  Of  that  presentation  no  more  need  be  Avritten  than 
Avhat  Sir  Trevor  LaAvrence  so  fitly  said,  that  the  recipients  AA'ere  so 
Avorthy  to  receive  them  that  the  gifts  might  have  been  more  Avorthy  to 
receive. — An  0.  P. 
