248 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  9,  1897. 
also  had  the  best  three  dishes  of  Plums ;  Mr.  Bowerman  took  second 
place,  and  Mr.  Osborn  third. 
Dessert  Apples  were  good.  For  the  best  three  dishes,  Mr.  Turton 
won  with  Irish  Peach,  Miller’s  Seedling,  and  Worcester  Pearmain  ;  Mr, 
Ross  second,  and  Mi’.  Fyfe  third.  For  culinary,  Mi-.  Ross  scored  with 
Stirling  Castle,  Warner’s  King,  and  Ecklinville  Seedling  ;  second,  Mr. 
AVebb,  and  Mr.  Osborne  third.  The  best  scarlet  Melon  was  staged  by 
Mr.  Booker,  and  the  best  green  flesh  by  Mr.  Mortimer,  a  delicious  fruit 
named  Sutton’s  Perfection.  For  three  dishes  of  dessert  Pears  Mr. 
Taylor  ivas  successful,  and  Mr.  Chamberlain  a  good  second. 
All  the  lions  of  the  vegetable  kingdom  were  at  this  show,  and  the 
produce  staged  made  a  most  imposing  display.  For  the  seven  valuable 
prizes  offered  by  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  for  twelve  dishes,  in  not  less 
than  nine  distinct  kinds,  there  were  fifteen  competitors.  Mr.  Lye, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Kingsmill,  Sydmonton  Court,  was  a  splendid  first  with 
Autumn  Mammoth  Cauliflower  (grand  in  every  way).  Best  of  All  Bean 
(splendid),  fine  Prizetaker  Leek,  superb  Carrots  and  Beet  (Blood  Red), 
with  Snowball  Turnip,  Autocrat  Pea,  Satisfaction  Potato,  Sulham  Prize 
Celery,  Perfection  Tomato,  Student  Parsnip,  and  Selected  Ailsa  Craig 
Onion.  Mr.  Bowerman,  gardener  to  C.  Hoare,  Esq.,  Ilackwood  Park, 
was  second  with  a  very  fine  lot.  Beet,  Carrots,  Beans,  Potatoes, 
Turnips,  Leeks,  and  marvellous  Onions  being  his  best  dishes.  Mr.  Fyfe, 
gardener  to  Lord  AVantage,  was  third,  his  Beet,  Cauliflower,  Celery. 
Onions,  and  Peas  being  very  fine.  Mr.  C.  Foster  fourth;  Messrs.  AVaite, 
Best,  and  Pope  following  in  the  order  given.  Messrs.  Bastin  and 
T.  AVilkins  were  awarded  prizes  equal  to  the  seventh.  Only  two  lots 
staged  in  Messrs.  Webb’s  class,  Mr.  Kneller  winning  with  good  produce. 
Vegetables  at  the  Reading  Show. 
No  doubt  you  will  ere  now  have  received  from  your  reporter  an 
account  of  the  high-class  show  held  on  September  1st  at  Reading,  under 
such  deplorable  weather  aspects.  Good  all  round  as  the  exhibition  was, 
there  was  no  question  but  that  the  vegetables  arrayed  by  the  best  growers 
and  exhibitors  of  the  day  in  competition  for  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons’ 
valuable  money  prizes  was  not  only  the  great  feature,  really  the  dominant 
one,  and  were  universaUy  admitted  by  all  who  saw  them  to  be  the  very 
finest  in  quality  and  general  excellence  ever  seen  in  the  country. 
A  competition  of  fifteen  collections  was  indeed  good,  making  a  total  of 
180  dishes.  Out  of  these  six  lots  were,  though  nominally  excellent,  yet 
not  good  enough  to  point. 
That  the  highest  excellence  was  looked  for  was  natural,  having  regard 
to  the  reputations  of  the  leading  competitors.  Still  farther,  it  has 
for  years  been  the  case  that  the  best  average  quality  in  vegetables  found 
anywhere  has  always  been  at  Reading.  Then  there  is  the  fact  that  the 
com})etition  is  for  prizes  offered  by  the  great  Reading  seed  firm. 
AA'^hilst  all  the  collections  pointed  had  such  primary  vegetables  as 
Onions,  these  generally  being  large  and  very  handsome  ;  Cai’rots,  chiefly 
the  New  Red  Intermediate  ;  tapering  Beets,  as  a  rule  not  (juite  up  to  the 
correct  form,  though  some  were  exceptionally  good  ;  Celery,  either  Red 
or  AA'^hite,  and  the  best  very  fine  and  solid,  and  remarkably  free  from 
stain  or  abrasion  ;  Cauliflowers,  the  best  wonderfully  white,  solid,  and 
handsome,  though  some  were  rather  large  as  others  were  a  trifle  small, 
yet  so  good  all  the  same.  Runner  Beans  were  all  of  the  new  Prizewinner 
or  Best  of  All  types,  long,  straight,  narrow,  yet  thick,  fresh,  green,  and 
tender  ;  even  the  cottagers’  dishes  all  seemed  to  be  of  this  type,  and 
were  astonishingly  fine  also.  Tomatoes,  all  of  the  Perfection  strain,  fruits 
generally  even,  rich  coloured,  fresh,  not  over-large,  and  very  effective. 
Potatoes  were  of  course  in  every  case  Satisfaction.  AA'indsor  Castle  and 
some  white  kidneys  were  singularly  good,  though  a  few  dishes  were  a 
trifle  large  ;  and  Leeks,  varying  much,  the  best  being  really  first  rate. 
Then  found  more  irregular  were  dishes  of  another  Potato  or  Carrot,  or 
perhaps  a  second  lot  of  Celery,  although  duplicates  did  not  add  to 
strength.  Peas  in  several  cases  excellent ;  Parsnips  really  first  rate, 
especially  those  from  Lockinge  ;  Globe  Artichokes,  two  lots  only,  very 
good,  though  not  highly  regarded  ;  and  Brussels  Sprouts,  found  in  three 
lots,  also  not  strong  features  yet,  as  hardly  in  season. 
That  there  was  no  collection  absolutely  perfect  is  a  matter  of  course. 
^Ir.  R.  Jjye,  who  came  first,  was  weak  in  his  Peas,  Tomatoes,  and  Celery, 
but  was  strong  with  Onions,  Carrots,  Beets,  Cauliflowers,  Runner  Beans, 
Potatoes,  and  Parsnips,  Turnips  and  Leeks  coming  pretty  good.  Mr. 
Bowerman,  who  came  second,  was  strongest  with  Onions,  very  fine  Ailsa 
Craig,  Runner  Beans,  Turnips,  Potatoes,  and  Leeks,  Carrots,  Celery, 
Tomatoes  coming  second  best.  Peas  being  his  weakest  dish.  Very  much 
in  this  way  did  all  the  pointed  collections  run,  the  points  of  the  first  five 
collections  being  covei’ed  by  a  range  of  5  only,  and  the  sixth  and  seventh, 
both  getting  prizes,  came  within  2^  points;  so  thatadifiTerence  of  7|  points 
was  all  that  existed  between  the  first  and  the  seventh.  The  eighth  and 
ninth  also  ran  these  hard,  and  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  kindly  added  two 
other  prizes  of  20s.  each.  The  first  prize  was  £10,  and  the  total  sum 
given  in  nine  prizes  was  £34,  really  a  munificent  sum. 
It  seemed  a  case  in  which,  becatise  of  the  nearness  in  merit  of  the 
res))ective  collections,  that  it  v-as  an  admirable  opportunity  for  testing 
the  plan  of  pooling  the  money,  and  dividing  it  amongst  the  competitors 
according  to  point  value.  The  Reading  firm  having  this  year  not  only 
required  a  moderate  number  of  dishes,  but  also  specified  the  exact 
numbers  to  be  shown  in  each  dish,  were  rewarded  by  a  splendid  competi¬ 
tion,  although  half  a  dozen  were  clearly  out  by  it.  It  will  soon  be  needful 
to  have  at  Reading  a  champion  class  for  twelve  dishes,  into  which  certain 
leading  competitors  should  go,  and  a  further  class  for  nine  dishes,  open 
to  all  but  the  champion  men.  That  course  would  greatly  tend  to 
encourage  smaller  men  to  compete,  whose  chances  against  the  giants,  if 
so  they  may  be  termed— Lye,  Pope,  Bowerman,  Fyfe,  Foster,  AVaite, 
AVilkins,  and  Kneller— are  so  poor  now.  It  is,  of  course,  a  question 
of  means  or  prizes,  and  there  is  ample  room  for  more  for  vegetables  at  the 
Reading  Summer  Show. — A.  1). 
BATH. — September  1st  and  2nd. 
The  Bath  Floral  Fete  Committee  is  most  unfortunate  in  its  autumn 
fixtures.  All  they  need  to  make  their  exhibitions  successes  is  fine 
weather,  and  this  they  are  rarely  favoured  with.  On  the  occasion  under 
notice  it  rained  heavily  all  the  first  day,  and  this  completely  marred  the 
affair.  As  far  as  the  exhibition  was  concerned  nothing  but  pi’aise  will 
meet  the  case.  Entries  were  far  more  numerous  than  usual,  and  the 
quality  of  the  exhibits  in  most  instances  was  most  satisfactory.  Messrs. 
B.  R.  F.  Pearson  and  AV.  Jeffery'  are  the  Secretaries. 
Fuchsias  are  invariably  the  feature  in  the  plant  tents,  and  they  were 
numerously  and  admirably  shown.  Mr.  G.  Tucker,  Trowbridge,  was 
first  for  nine  specimens,  showing  grand  pyramids  not  less  than  9  feet 
high,  and  in  most  instances  freely  flowered.  Mr.  J.  H.  AVillcox,  Bath, 
was  a  good  second  with  smaller  pyramids.  Mr.  J.  Lye,  Sunnyside, 
Easterton,  was  third.  The  first  prize  for  six  plants  was  awarded  to  Mr. 
AV.  .1.  Mould,  Bath.  Mr.  Henry  Pocock,  Ililperton,  was  second.  For 
four  varieties  Mr.  A.  Young,  gardener  to  Lady  Pitman,  Bath,  was  a  good 
first  with  fine  well  flowered  specimens  ;  second,  Mr.  C.  Adlam,  gardener 
to  J.  A.  Martin,  Esq.,  Bath.  The  prizes  for  single  specimens  of  different 
colours  were  divided  among  the  leading  growers  named,  the  competition 
being  keen. 
For  a  collection  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  in  and  out  of  flower 
Mr.  J.  Cypher,  Cheltenham,  was  easily  first,  showing  grand  Kentias, 
Ci'otons,  large  and  highly  coloured  Allamandas,  and  Ericas.  Mr.  Vause, 
Leamington,  was  second.  The  best  bank  of  fine-foliaged  plants  was 
shown  by  Messrs.  E.  S.  Cole  &  Sons,  Bath.  With  six  flowering  plants  " 
the  competition  was  close.  Mr.  J.  Cypher  was  placed  first  for  grand 
sjiecimens  of  Erica  Eweriana,  Bougainvillea  Cypher!,  Phoenocoma 
prolifera  Barnesi,  Statice  intermedia,  Allamanda  nobilis,  and  Clero- 
dendron  Balfouri.  Mr.  Cyi)her  was  first  and  Mr.  Tucker  second  for 
Ericasi  There  was  good  competition  with  single  specimen  stove  and 
greenhouse  plants,  and  also  in  the  classes  for  Liliums  and  Coleuses.  All 
the  foregoing  were  arranged  on  turf  banks  in  one  large  tent. 
The  exhibits  in  a  second  large  tent  were  more  varied  and  equally 
attractive.  The  principal  feature  was  the  groups  arranged  for  effect  on 
a  space  not  less  than  100  square  feet.  Mr.  Cyi>her  was  well  first  with  a 
light  and  elegant  combination  of  choice  plants,  virgin  cork,  and  moss, 
which  answers  so  well  when  the  materials  emifloyed  are  perfect  and 
tastefully  arranged.  Mr.  A.  Tanser,  gardener  to  R.  B.  Cater,  Esq.,  Bath, 
was  second  with  a  very  pretty  arrangement,  lacking  a  little  in  colour, 
while  the  third  prize  went  .to  Mr.  Vause.  Mr.  Tucker  was  a  good  first 
for  twelve  Ferns,  and  Air.  T.  Truckle,  gardener  to  Thomas  Carr,  Esq., 
Bath,  first  for  six  Ferns  in  well-filled  classes.  The  side  tables  in  this 
tent  were  wholly  occupied  by  cut  flowers,  the  greater  part  of  which  were 
staged  for  prizes.  Gladioli  made  a  fine  display.  Mr.  S.  Bird,  gardener 
to  H.  Fox,  Esq.,  AV^ellington,  was  first  for  eighteen  varieties,  and  for 
twelve  spikes  Mr,  F.  Hooper  took  the  lead,  followed  closely  by 
Air.  J.  Tont. 
Dahlias  were  remarkably  good.  For  twenty-four  varieties,  Alessrs. 
Keynes,  AATlliams  &  Co.,  Salisbury,  were  first,  and  Air.  G.  Humphries, 
Chippenham,  a  very  close  second.  AVith  twelve  varieties  Messrs.  J.  Cray 
and  Son,  Frome,  were  first,  and  Air,  T.  Haskins  second.  The  best  stand 
of  Fancies  was  shown  by  Mr.  G.  Humphries  ;  second,  Messrs.  Keynes, 
AVilliams  &  Co.  In  the  classes  for  Roses  Air.  J.  Alattock,  Oxford,  was 
easily  first  for  twenty-four  varieties,  and  also  for  twelve  Teas.  Mr.  .1. 
Bolwell,  gardener  to  Dr.  Budd,  Bath,  and  Air.  George  Garraway  also 
showed  well  in  the  Rose  classes.  An  assortment  of  very  fine  varieties  gained 
Alessrs.  G.  Cooling  &  Son,  Bath,  the  first  prize  for  twenty-four  trusses  of 
Zonal  Pelargoniums,  Air.  G,  Humphries  being  a  good  second.  There  were 
no  less  than  six  competitors  in  the  class  for  twenty-four  bunches  of  stove 
and  greenhouse  flowers,  a  very  choice  collection  staged  by  Mr.  T.  AVilkins, 
gardener  to  Lady  Guest,  being  first.  The  second  prize  went  to  Mr. 
G.  HaUett,  Bath.  For  twenty-four  varieties  of  hardy  herbaceous  flowers 
Air.  A.  A.  AV  alters,  Bath,  was  first,  and  Messrs.  Cooling  &  Sons,  Bath, 
second,  the  (juality  of  these  two  exhibits  being  remarkably  good.  Mr.  G. 
Garraway  was  first  for  annuals,  and  Air.  F.  Hooper  second. 
Messrs.  G.  Cooling  &  Sons  arranged  a  grand  display  of  garden  Roses 
in  bunches,  not  for  competition,  with  a  view  to  showing  how  continuous 
and  free-flowering  many  of  these  old-fashioned  Roses  are.  Alessrs. 
J.  Cray  &  Sons,  Frome  ;  and  also  Air.  G.  Humphries,  Chippenham, 
exhibited  Cactus  and  other  Dahlias  extensively,  not  for  competition.  A 
third  tent  was  filled  with  vases,  dinner-table  decorations,  bouquets,  and 
wild  flowers,  and  altogether  a  very  attractive  display  was  made. 
The  tent  wholly  devoted  to  fruit  reminded  us  of  the  palmy  days  of 
the  Bath  Association.  Such  a  grand  display  of  all  fruit  in  season  has  not 
been  seen  at  Bath  for  sevei’al  years  past.  For  a  collection  of  eight  dishes 
Air.  AV.  Strugnell,  gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  AV.  H.  Long,  AI.P.,  was 
well  first,  showing  good  Alicante  and  Aluscat  of  Alexandria  Grapes, 
Hero  of  Lockinge  Melon,  Bellegarde  Peaches,  Pineapple  Nectarines, 
Brown  Turkey  Figs,  AVashington  Plums,  and  AVilliams’  Bon  Chrfitien 
Pears,  all  prettily  arranged  with  Ampelopsis  A^eitchi.  Mr.  G.  Pymm, 
gardener  to  Airs,  Gouldsmith,  Trowbridge,  was  second  ;  and  Air.  T,  AVil¬ 
kins  third.  There  were  five  competitors,  with  eight  bunches  of  Grapes 
in  four  varieties,  and  all  staged  bunches  well  above  the  average  in  quality. 
Air.  AV.  Tayloi’,  gardener  to  Alderman  Chaffin,  Bath,  was  first,  having 
