274 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  16,  1897. 
Henry  Somerset,  Ledbury,  was  second ;  and  Mr.  J.  McHattie,  Strath- 
■fieldsaye,  third. 
Foreight  dishes,Mr.  Harris  was  first  with  Black  Hamburgh,  and  Muscat 
of  Alexandria  Grapes,  Barrington  Peach,  Lady  Sudely  Apple,  Lord 
Napier  Nectarine,  and  Pitmaston  Duchess  Pear  as  the  leading  dishes  ; 
Mr,  D.  Kidd  was  second,  and  Mr.  Martin  White  third. 
For  six  bunches  of  Grapes,  Mr.  Lunt,  gardener  to  A.  Stirling,  Esq., 
Keir,  won  with  Gros  Maroc,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  Black  Ham¬ 
burgh  ;  second,  Mr.  White  ;  third,  Mr.  J.  Leslie,  Pitcullen  House. 
For  four  bunches,  IMr.  D.  Kidd,  gardener  to  Lord  Elphinstone, 
Musselburgh,  was  placed  first  with  superb  bunches  of  Muscat  of  Alexan¬ 
dria,  Mrs.  Pince,  Gros  Maroc,  and  Muscat  Hamburgh.  Messrs.  D.  and 
W.  Buchanan,  Kippen,  were  second  ;  and  Mr.  D.  Airdrie,  gardener  to 
J.  H.  A.  Graham,  Esq.,  Larbert,  third.  There  were  five  entries,  and 
either  good  enough  for  a  first  place. 
Mr.  D.  Kidd  was  also  first  for  two  bunches  of  Muscat  of  Alexandria  ; 
Mr.  R.  Cairns,  Balruddery,  was  second  ;  and  Mr.  W.  Rutherford,  Anthony 
■Castle,  third.  Mr.  J.  Matthison,  gardener  to  Messrs.  Craig  of  Currie,  was 
first  for  two  bunches  of  Black  Hamburghs  ;  second,  Mr,  J.  Menzies,  Duni- 
pace ;  third,  Mr.  Sutherland,  gardener  to  T.  Learmouth,  Esq.,  Polmont.  For 
one  bunch  of  black  Grapes  Mr.  J.  Day,  gardener  to  Earl  of  Gallowa}', 
Garlieston,  was  first  with  Gros  Maroc;  second,  Mr.  McLean,  Alloa, 
with  Madresfield  Court ;  third,  Messrs.  Murray  &  Son,  Orchard  Park, 
Polmont,  with  Gros  Maroc.  Mr.  McLean,  Alloa,  won  for  the  best  bunch  of 
white  Grapes  with  Buckland  Sweetwater.  Mr.  T.  Sutherland,  Polmont, 
had  the  finest  flavoured  black  Grape  in  Madresfield  Court.  Mr.  D. 
Murray,  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of  Ailsa,  Maybole,  had  the  finest 
flavoured  white  in  Muscat  of  Alexandria. 
Vegetables. 
These  were  very  fine.  ^Mr.  J.  W aldie,  Dollar,  was  placed  first  for  a 
collection  of  twelve  varieties,  showing  splendid  Leeks,  Onions,  Celery, 
and  Carrots  ;  Mr.  A.  Dickson,  Glenmoriston,  was  second  ;  and  Mr.  W. 
Harper,  Perth,  third.  Leeks  are  always  a  feature  of  the  hldinburgh  Show. 
For  twelve  Mr.  J.  Hood,  gardener  to  Miss  Baillee,  Dryburgh  House,  St. 
Boswells,  was  first  with  splendid  specimens,  blanched  over  16  inches. 
Mr.  S.  Ormiston,  Jedburgh,  was  second.  Mr.  J.  Gibson,  Chiswick,  won 
with  six  Parsnips.  Turnips,  Cabbages,  and  other  vegetables  were 
exhibited  in  large  quantities. 
Trade  Exhibits. 
Of  course  in  such  a  large  show  the  trade  was  well  represented,  and 
their  exhibits  alone  would  have  made  a  splendid  exhibition.  Messrs. 
Dickson  &  Co.,  Waterloo  Place,  had  Vines  in  fruit  and  other  plants  ; 
Mr.  J.  Downie,  Prince’s  Street,  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  ;  Messrs. 
J.  Grieve  &  Sons,  foliage  plants  and  cut  flowers  ;  Messrs.  Methven  and 
Sons,  fine-foliaged  jJants  ;  and  Mr.  Phillips,  Araucaria  excelsa.  All  the 
above  are  Edinburgh  nurserymen. 
Messrs.  Bunyard  &  Co.,  Maidstone,  exhibited  fruit ;  Messrs.  Laing 
and  Mather  Carnations  and  single  hybrid  Chrysanthemums  ;  Mr.  Eck- 
ford,  W em,  his  famous  Sweet  Peas.  Messrs.  Cocker  &  Sons,  Aberdeen, 
ihad  a  fine  collection  of  herbaceous  flowers,  arranged  in  a  huge  bank  ; 
Mr.  John  Forbes,  Hawick,  showed  herbaceous  flowers  and  Carnations. 
Alessrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay,  occupied  250  feet  with  300  varieties  of 
Dahlias  arranged  in  sprays,  interspersed  with  Ferns  and  backed  with 
Palms — a  glorious  show  ;  ilr.  Kerr,  Dumfries,  also  had  Dahlias.  Mr.  A. 
Lister,  Rothesay,  exhibited  Pansies,  Dahlias,  and  herbaceous  flowers. 
Mr.  M.  Cuthbertson,  Rothesay,  staged  a  table  of  herbaceous  flowers.  The 
show  was  well  managed,  and  better  use  made  of  the  vast  space  at  the 
disposal  of  the  Council  than  in  former  years. 
WELLIN  GBOROU  GH. — September  11th. 
The  second  exhibition  of  the  Wellingborough  and  Midland  Counties 
Dahlia  Society  took  place  in  the  Corn  Exchange  on  the  11th  inst.,  and 
Mr.  T.  Rendered  (the  President)  and  the  Committee  must  be  compli¬ 
mented  upon  the  remarkable  success.  Several  6f  the  southern  growers 
and  exhibitors  of  Dahlias  came  with  their  flowers,  and  so  numerous  were 
the  entries  that  the  capacities  of  the  Corn  Exchange  were  tested  to  the 
utmost,  and  some  of  the  vegetables,  which  were  numerously  shown  by 
cottagers  and  gardeners,  had  to  be  accommodated  in  an  ante-room. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  an  important  exhibition  of  Dahlias  can  be  main¬ 
tained  at  Wellingborough,  if  only  the  inhabitants  will  give  it  a  proper 
measure  of  support.  It  is  a  centre  readily  reached  from  all  parts,  as  well 
as  in  a:  district  which  appears  to  admirably  suit  the  Dahlia. 
Several  classes  were  open  to  all  England.  The  leading  one  was  for 
twenty-four  blooms,  and  there  were  nine  entries.  Some  exhibitors  had 
large,  coarse,  ungainly  blooms,  as  if  size  would  rule  with  the  Judges  above 
every  other  consideration,  and  they  can  now,  no  doubt,  see  how  illusory 
was  any  such  expectation.  The  stands  from  Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Swiss 
Nursery,  Farnham,  and  Mr.  Geo.  Humphries,  Chippenham,  came  so  close 
together  in  point  of  merit  that  the  Judges  awarded  them  equal  first  prizes. 
The  former  had  very  fine  blooms  of  John  Hickling,  J.  B.  Service,  Mr. 
Gladstone,  Shottesham  Hero,  Glowworm,  Arthur  Rawlings,  Duke  of 
Fife,  Walter  H.  Williams,  Frank  Pearce,  and  Lord  Chelmsford.  Mr. 
Humphries  leading  blooms  were  John  Hickling,  Glowworm,  Mrs. 
Langtry,  William  Rawlings,  Miss  Cannell,  Florence  Tranter,  James 
Stephens,  Henry  Walton,  and  Miss  Fox.  Mr.  .1.  T.  West,  Cornwalls, 
Brentwood,  was  second  ;  IVIr.  ,L  R.  Tranter,  Henley-on-Thames,  was 
third.  With  twelve  blooms  Mr.  Mortimer  was  placed  first,  having  in  fine 
^aracter  J.  B.  Service,  Thomas  Goodwin,  John  Hickling,  Duke  of  Fife, 
Perfection,  Shirley  Hibberd,  Glowworm,  and  J.  T.  West.  Mr.  West 
was  a  good  second,  and  Mr.  Tranter  third. 
Cactus  and  Decorative  Dahlias  are  shown  at  Wellingborough  on 
stands  in  the  same  way  as  the  Show  blooms,  and  they  are  decidedly 
effective,  being  less  formal  and  uniform  in  appearance.  Mr.  Mortimer 
came  in  first  with  twenty-four  varieties,  having  blooms  of  fine  quality, 
the  leading  ones  being  J.  E.  Frewer,  Princess  Ena,  Gloriosa,  William 
Stredwick,  Starfish,  Mrs.  L.  Seymour,  Matchless,  Delicata,  Cycle,  Mrs. 
Gordon  Sloane,  and  the  spider- like  Fantasy.  Mr.  J.  T.  West,  who  ran 
Mr.  Mortimer  very  close  indeed  for  first  place,  had  excellent  examples 
of  Caesar,  J.  E.  Frewer,  Mrs.  G.  Sloane,  Ruby,  Island  Queen,  Ethel, 
Octopus,  and  Beatrice.  These  two  stands  proved  of  great  interest  to  the 
company,  especially  as  they  contained  so  much  novelty.  With  twelve  blooms 
the  same  exhibitors  were  first  and  second,  again  staging  capital  flowers. 
For  twelve  bunches,  three  blooms  of  each,  Mr.  W.  Baxter,  Woking 
Village,  was  first,  and  furnished  an  admirable  object  lesson  to  the  Mid¬ 
landers  in  setting  up  Cactus  Dahlias  for  exhibition.  He  had  in  fine 
character  Fusilier,  Mrs.  L.  Seymour,  Beatrice,  Lady  Penzance,  Miss  A. 
.lones,  and  Mrs.  F.  Fell. 
Pompons  were  shown  in  twelve  bunches,  three  blooms  in  each,  and 
Mr.  J.  Wright,  nurseryman,  Leicester,  was  placed  first  with  fresh  and 
bright  flowers,  rather  larger  in  size  than  we  are  accustomed  to  in  the 
South.  Chief  among  them.  Tommy  Keith,  Darkness,  Favourite,  Salmon 
Queen,  Little  Frank,  and  George  Brinckman.  Messrs.  Yarde  &  Co., 
Northam])ton,  were  second.  In  all  the  foregoing  classes  there  was  a  most 
encouraging  competition. 
Some  oi)en-to-all-England  prizes  for  amateurs  were  also  offered.  The 
best  twelve  blooms,  which  were  repetitions  of  those  already  named, 
came  from  Mr.  R.  Burgin,  St.  Neots  ;  Mr.  F.  ^Middleton,  Althorp,  was 
second,  and  they  occupied  similar  positions  with  six  cut  blooms.  The  best 
twelve  blooms  of  Cactus  came  from  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs,  Horsell,  Woking, 
fine  examples  of  varieties  already  given  and  admirably  set  up.  Mr.  .1. 
Y"ork,  Desborough,  was  second  ;  and  they  were  also  first  and  second 
with  six  blooms,  and  also  with  six  bunches  of  Pomjyons,  Mr.  Needs 
having  nice  neat  blooms  well  set  up.  There  were  classes  also  for  Dahlias 
grown  by  cottagers. 
Prizes  were  also  offered  for  fruit,  the  best  collection  of  siv  dishes 
coming  Irom  Mr.  Hayes,  Castle  Ashby  Gardens.  For  Grapes,  Apples, 
Pears,  Mr.  T.  Rendered,  the  President,  taking  the  first  prize  in  the  class 
for  culinary  Apples  with  a  fine  dish  of  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  Cucumbers 
and  Tomatoes  ■,  and  there  were  various  classes  for  vegetables,  which  were 
largely  exhibited,  and  generally  of  good  quality. 
Certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  to  the  following  new  varieties  of 
Dahlias  :  Show  Dahlia  .J.  R.  Tranter,  from  Mr.  .T.  R.  Tranter  ;  Show 
Dahlia  Mr.  Pitt,  a  deep  rosy  lilac  self,  from  Mr.  G.  Humphries  ;  Cactus 
Dahlias  Eastern  Queen,  very  dark,  and  E.  .1.  Deal,  bright  red,  from  Mr.  S. 
Mortimer  ;  Cactus  Dahlia  Mr.  Moore,  maroon  and  brilliant  crimson,  from 
Mr.  .J.  Green,  Dereham  ;  Cactus  Dahlia  Island  Queen,  soft  mauve-lilac, 
and  Pompon  Nellie  Broomhead,  from  Mr.  J.  T.  West. 
A  very  ipteresting  collection  of  Cactus  Dahlias  came  from  Mr. 
.1.  Green,  and  also  of  Apples  from  Messrs.  H.  &  E.  Lack,  Wellingborough, 
and  of  Dahlias  from  Mr.  W.  Spriggs,  the  active  Secretary  of  the  Society, 
all  of  which  were  highly  commended. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Anthuriums. 
These  handsome  stove  plants  may  be  divided  into  two  sections,  the 
ornamental  foliaged  and  the  flowering  varieties.  The  former  have  large, 
handsome  leaves,  some  being  a  dark  velvety  green  with  silver  midribs 
and  veins,  while  others  are  a  rich  glaucpus  colour.  The  leaves  of  several 
are  3  feet  long,  and  present  a  bold  and  striking  appearance.  It  is  only 
in  large  structures  that  such  plants  are  seen  to  advantage,  for  they  require 
plenty  of  room  to  develop  their  foliage. 
The  flowering  varieties  are  much  smaller,  more  compact  in  growth, 
and  although  they  have  not  the  beautiful  foliage  of  the  other  section,  the 
deficiency  is  amply  made  up  by  the  beauty  of  their  flowers.  These  vary 
in  colour  from  white  to  the  darkest  shade  of  red,  while  some  are  spotted. 
They  also  vary  in  shape,  some  having  them  twisted  and  bent  backwards. 
For  cutting  they  are  invaluable,  and  when  arranged  in  glasses  with 
Asparagus  or  Fern  the  effect  is  very  graceful. 
The  plants  are  propagated  by  division,  or  if  they  have  become 
tall  sphagnum  moss  may  be  placed  round  the  stem,  just  below  the 
foliage,  and  if  this  is  kept  moist  roots  will  soon  lie  emitted  into  it,  when 
the  tops  may  then  be  taken  off  and  potted.  The  remaining  length  of 
stem  may  be  cut  off  about  an  inch  from  the  soil  into  lengths  having  two 
eyes  to  each.  Lay  these  in  pans  of  sphagnum  moss  and  place  in  a  brisk 
bottom  heat ;  keep  moist,  and  they  will  soon  commence  growth.  The 
remainder  of  the  stem  on  the  old  plant  will  also  grow  if  kept  moist. 
Another  method  of  propagation  is  by  seeds,  but  this  is  tedious,  and  requires 
patience,  as  it  is  usually  necessary  to  wait  about  three  years  before  you 
are  able  to  find  out  if  your  work  is  rewarded  with  good  varieties. 
The  material  most  suitable  for  potting  is  two  parts  fibrous  peat,  one 
part  loam  broken  into  lumps,  one  part  charcoal,  with  an  addition  of 
sphagnum.  The  pots  must  be  thoroughly  clean,  and  filled  three  parts 
full  of  crocks.  When  potting,  raise  the  plants  on  a  cone  above  the  rims 
of  the  pots,  taking  care  to  work  the  soil  thoroughly  amongst  the  roots. 
Place  them  then  in  a  moist  atmosphere,  where  there  is  a  temperature  of 
about  70^,  shading  from  the  bright  sun  and  keeping  well  syringed. 
The  best  of  the  flowering  varieties  are  A.  Andreanum,  A.  delicatum, 
A.  Louis  Fournier,  A.  albanense,  A.  Madame  E.  Pynaert,  A.  Lady 
Iveagh,  A.  Scherzerianum,  S.  Wardi,  and  S.  Rothschildianum.  Among 
the  best  of  the  ornamental  section  are  splendidum,  Warocqueanum, 
Veitchi,  and  crystallinum.  — Elveden. 
