460 
Journal  of  horticulture  and  cottage  gardener. 
November  11,  1897. 
BRIXTON. — November  3ed  and  4th. 
Another  successful  show  was  held  on  the  above  dates  at  the  Town 
Hall,  Streatham.  Chrysanthemums  were  the  chief  feature,  but  in  addition 
there  were  splendid  exhibits  of  fine-foliage  plants,  Orchids,  Palms,  and 
Ferns  ;  also  vegetables,  remarkable  for  quality,  and  excellent  fruit. 
In  the  class  for  a  group  of  Chrysanthemums  arranged  for  effect  the 
competition  was  very  good,  that  staged  by  Mr.  How-e,  gardener  to  Henry 
Tate,  Ksq.,  Park  Hill,  Streatham,  being  considered  to  be  the  best  ever  put 
up  in  the  district.  Mr.  Mursell,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Burton,  Leigham  Court 
Road,  was  second,  followed  closely  by  Mr.  Poulton,  gardener  to  C.  T. 
Caley,  Esq.  The  first  prize  for  six  untrained  plants  was  awarded  to  IMr. 
Mursell.  For  six  trained  specimen  plants  Sir.  J.  Weston,  gardener  to 
1).  Martineau,  Esq.,  Clapham  Park,  was  first, _but  was  beaten  in  the  class 
for  four  trained  Pompons  by  Mr.  Gedner.  For  three  trained  plants 
(I’ompons  excluded)  Mr.  F.  Gilks,  gardener  to  A.  IMorris,  Esq.,  was  first, 
having  good,  well  bloomed  plants  of  Colonel  W.  B.  Smith  and  Viviand 
Morel. 
For  twenty-four  Japanese  cut  blooms  Mr.  Mursell  secured  first  prize 
with  a  splendid  collection  of  good  and  even  blooms,  which  included  the 
leading  varieties.  Mr.  Poulton,  and  Mr.  Millsom,  gardener  to  G.  A. 
Payne,  Esq.,  were  second  and  third  respectively.  For  an  equal  number 
of  incurved  blooms  the  competition  was  not  nearly  so  keen,  and  Mr. 
Ho\ve  easily  took  the  lead.  Mr.  Mursell  was  first  for  six  blooms  of  Lady 
Byron,  also  for  a  similar  number  of  Modesto. 
For  twelve  .Japanese  cut  blooms,  distinct,  Mr.  W.  Gray,  gardener  to 
L.  Hansard,  Esq.,  was  first,  and  Mr.  Farrow,  gardener  to  G.  R.  Peerless, 
Esq.,  secured  first  for  six  varieties.  For  twelve  blooms  of  incurved, 
Japanese  varieties,  Mr.  Mursell  was  again  first.  There  was  a  strong 
competition  for  the  prizes  offered  by  Miss  Sherwood  for  a  basket  of 
Chrysanthemums  arranged  with  foliage,  Ferns,  and  Grasses,  Mrs.  Strug- 
nell,  Brixton  Hill,  gaining  first  with  a  pretty  arrangement  of  yellow 
blooms  of  various  shades,  closely  followed  by  others  of  merit. 
Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Sons  had,  “  not  for  competition,”  a  large  group  of 
Chrysanthemums,  also  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  besides  choice 
bouquets,  crosses,  and  sprays,  and  some  good  blooms  of  their  new 
Chrysanthemum  Lady  Freake.  Mr.  T.  E.  Knights  had  also  some  good 
arrangements  in  cut  flowers. 
DUBLIN. — November  3rd  and  4th. 
The  advance  shown  on  this  side  of  the  Channel  in  Chrysanthemum 
culture  is,  so  far  as  big  blooms  are  concerned,  more  noticeable  in  the 
direction  of  refinement  than  in  that  of  mere  size  ;  for  instance,  the  run 
made  upon  Etoile  de  Lyon  has  diminished  and  our  growers  have  practically 
relegated  anything  so  coarse  to  obscurity.  In  a  look  round  the  large 
hall  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society’s  premises  upon  the  second  day  we  were 
agreeably  surprised  with  the  freshness  of  both  cut  blooms  and  plants. 
This  being  the  winter  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Ireland 
the  popular  flower,  if  predominating,  does  not  monopolise  attention,  and 
although  fruit,  outside  of  trade  exhibits,  w’as  not  a  strong  feature,  one 
may  safely  say  that  so  far  as  vegetables  are  concerned  at  this  season 
exhibits  both  in  quality  and  quantity  made  a  record. 
Any  drawback  previously  experienced  by  city  folk  in  reaching  the 
rendezvous,  situated  on  the  southern  outskirts,  is  now  bridged  by  the 
electric  tram  service,  and  although  the  huge  building  may  not  be  perfect 
for  an  exhibition  in  which  the  largest  amount  of  staging  is  done  upon  flat 
tables,  the  advantage  of  room  is  not  to  be  overlooked,  there  being,  as  a 
worthy  old  gardener  remarked,  “  lashins  of  room  and  to  spare.’  On 
entering  the  hall  one  could  not  but  feel  how  much  of  the  good  effect 
noticeable  was  due  to  the  large  plant  groups  set  up  at  the  far  end  by  eome 
of  the  leading  local  trade  growers,  and  these  being  in  competition  in  a 
special  class  may  commence  our  critical  surveys. 
Group  1,  to  the  right,  and  to  which  the  premier  honour  of  the  Society’s 
silver  medal  was  awarded,  was  set  up  by  Messrs.  Chas.  Ramsay  &  Sons, 
of  the  Ball’s  Bridge  Nurseries.  Nothing  could  be  finer  than  the  highly 
finished  background  of  Palms  used  in  the  staging  of  this  exhibit.  Among 
the  lesser  things  sloping  down  to  a  bold  fringe  of  Maidenhair  Ferns  were 
plants  of  Latania  aurea,and  having  said  that  it  is  a  novelty,  there  is  but  little 
more  to  be  said  of  it ;  not  so.  however,  with  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine, 
which  was  liberally  used,  and  appears  to  be  a  winter  flowering  plant  of 
sterling  merit.  Various  Orchids  completed  the  brightening  up  of  this,  the 
premier  exhibit  in  its  class.  Turning  to  group  No.  2,  set  up  by  Mr.  R. 
Jameson,  of  the  Sandymount  Nurseries,  there  was  no  question  but  what 
his  bronze  medal  was  well  earned  ;  the  margin  between  this  and  the  first 
prize  group  w  as  so  narrow  that  one  felt  the  happier  in  not  having  to  bear 
the  onus  of  the  judgment.  The  third  group  at  this  end  of  the  hall  was 
contributed  by  the  Messrs.  Browett  of  Kingstown  ;  this  chiefly  consisted  of 
the  greenery  of  Palms,  brightened  up  by  crimson-tinted  Dracaenas.  Totally 
different,  yet  equally  good  in  its  way,  was  a  well-filled  corner  of  hardy 
shrubs  and  Coniferse  grown  in  pots,  staged  by  Mr.  Watson,  of  the  Clontarf 
Nurseries,  being,  if  more  modest,  both  suitable  and  seasonable. 
Coming  to  what  is  now  the  chief  end  and  aim  of  a  winter  show — the 
Chrysanthemum  — plants  were  not  so  largely  represented  as  usual.  In 
Class  1,  for  a  group  not  to  exceed  thirty  pots,  but  in  which  Palms  or 
other  foliage  plants  are  admissible.  Lord  Ardilaun’s  prize  was  easily 
taken  by  Mr.  Goff,  gardener  to  Mrs.  M'Cann  of  Simmonscourt  Castle,  the 
veteran  Mr.  M‘Kenzie  of  Willow  Park  Gardens  having  to  be  content  with 
second  place,  Mrs.  M'Comas  (gardener,  Mr.  Coghlan)  being  third.  For 
a  group  of  well  grown  plants  arranged  on  a  space  of  50  superficial  feet 
Mrs.  M‘Cann  was  again  to  the  front,  showing  up  well ;  also  in  the  smaller 
plant  classes,  to  which  no  disparagement  is  intended  in  passing  at  once  to 
the  possibly  greater  attraction  of  cut  blooms.  The  Waterhouse  cup  for 
thirty-six  in  twenty-four  varieties,  half  incurved  and  half  .Taps,  was  carried 
off  by  Mr.  J.  L  IMTvellar,  gardener  to  Lord  Ashbrook,  whose  strength 
laid  in  his  incurved  blooms,  amongst  which  a  superb  bloom  of  C.  H. 
Curtis  was  judged  to  be  the  best  incurved  in  the  show.  The  Queen  and 
Australian  Gold  being  very  conspicuous  among  the  Japs  ;  Mr.  Crawford, 
for  Gertrude,  Countess  of  Pembroke,  showing  some  fine  Japs  in  this 
class,  and  obtaining  second  ;  R.  de  la  Poer,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  Fernie), 
third. 
A  10-guinea  challenge  cup,  known  as  “The  Gardener’s  Prize,”  for 
twenty-four  Japs  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Mitchison,  gardener  to  the  Hon. 
Colonel  Crichton,  whose  massive  blooms  from  Kildare  were  a  treat,  Lord 
Ashbrook  and  Lady  Pembroke  succeeding  in  respective  order.  A  big 
order  was  forty-eight  Japs,  distinct,  and  here  Mr.  Crawford  concentrated 
his  strength,  and  won  the  10-guinea  prize.  Colonel  Crichton  and  Lady 
E.  Howard-Bury  following. 
Smaller  classes  for  blooms  in  the  various  sections  were  fairly  well 
filled  with  good  fresh  blooms,  six  of  C.  II.  Curtis,  as  shown  by  Lord 
Ashbrook,  in  the  class  for  six  incurved,  being  most  captivating,  and 
one  was  pleased  to  see  that  grand  old  Jap  Edwin  Molyneux  shown  by 
Mr.  Crawford  with  six  matchless  blooms.  Class  19  was  for  a  vase  of 
blooms,  each  different,  cut  to  show  not  less  than  12  inches  of  stem  above 
the  vase.  One  can  say  but  little  about  them,  for  on  the  second  day  their 
glory  had  departed.  Thus  treated,  and  in  regard  to  their  staying  powers 
being  of  such  brief  duration,  the  utility  of  this  class  is  questionable. 
Looking  back  over  the  Japanese,  Mr.  Mitchison’s  noble  bloom  of  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Lees  was  the  premier  bloom  of  that  section. 
Messrs.  Dicksons,  Ltd.,  Chester,  were  represented  by  a  hundred  dishes 
of  Apples  and  Pears,  in  as  many  varieties,  the  most  noticeable  among  the 
former  being  fine  samples  of  Emperor  Alexander  and  Hormead’s  Pear- 
main.  Messrs.  Alex.  Dicksons  of  Newtownards  set  up  a  similar  table  of 
1 60  dishes,  having  in  the  centre  their  last  Irish  Rose  trophy  (Dublin,  1897) 
as  a  gentle  reminder  of  their  inimitable  stands  so  often  seen  here.  Horti¬ 
cultural  sundries  were  well  to  the  front,  and  helped  considerably  to  fill 
space.  A  class  for  table  decorations  was  well  entered,  but  calls  for  but 
little  comment,  autumn  tints  being  the  predominating  element. 
LEWES.— November  3rd  and  4th. 
This  was  a  surprisingly  successful  little  exhibition  when  we  remember 
that  it  clashed  with  the  neighbouring  town  of  Brighton.  Some  of  the  best 
exhibits  were  six  untrained  plants  from  Mr.  Smith,  gardener  to  C.  R. 
Kemp,  Esq.,  Bradford  Lodge,  Lewes  :  also  six  large-flowered  plants  from 
Mr.  J.  Carley,  gardener  to  R.  H.  Powell,  Esq.,  Lewes.  A  group  of 
60  square  feet  found  Mr.  Stroud,  gardener  to  F.  Verral,  Esq.,  Southover, 
well  in  front,  and  the  Society’s  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded  to  this  as 
being  the  best  group  in  the  exhibition.  Mr.  Head,  gardener  to  A.  Russell, 
Esq.,  Priory  Villa,  Lewes,  won  for  a  group  of  stove  and  greenhouse 
plants. 
Cut  blooms  were  both  numerous  and  good.  Mr.  J.  Coles,  gardener  to 
F.  H.  Walker,  Esq.,  Highly  Manor,  Balcombe,  won  for  twenty-four 
Japanese,  staging  some  really  grand  flowers  :  Mr.  M.  Tourle,  gardener  to 
F.  Barchard,  Esq.,  Little  Horsted,  taking  first  place  for  twenty-four 
incurved,  and  also  for  twelve  ditto.  Mr.  Tourle  won  for  a  specimen 
incurved  with  C.  H.  Curtis,  one  of  the  finest  flowers  we  have  seen  ;  and 
for  a  Japanese  with  Eva  Knowles.  The  best  box  of  twelve  Japanese 
came  from  Mr.  J.  Harwood,  gardener  at  The  Court,  Seaford. 
Mr.  C.  Watkins,  gardener  to  W.  L.  Christie,  Esq.,  Glynebourne, 
Lewes,  won  for  three  bunches  of  Grapes  ;  Mr.  F.  Thomas,  Polegate,  first 
for  three  dishes  of  dessert  Apples  and  for  a  similar  number  of  culinary 
ditto.  The  best  tray  of  vegetables  (open)  came  from  Mr.  C.  Watkirs. 
This  division  was  strongly  contested,  and  contained  many  good  trays  in 
special  classes. 
WOKING. — November  Srd  and  4th. 
A  VERY  bright  and  excellent  show  was  this,  held  in  the  Public  Hall 
on  these  dates.  The  exhibits  seemed  to  be  limited  to  Chrysanthemums 
exclusively,  so  far  as  the  competing  classes  were  concerned,  except  in 
the  groups  a  few  foliage  plants  were  effectively  introduced. 
There  were  two  classes  for  groups,  the  largest  making  a  bold  show. 
The  first  place  in  this  competition  was  taken  by  Mr.  Tomlin,  gardener  to 
Mrs.  Goldingham,  Chertsey.  His  plants  and  flowers  were  good,  and 
neither  too  thickly  nor  formally  displayed.  The  second  prize  was  taken  by 
Mr.  Seabrook,  gardener  to  R.  M.  Stevens,  Esq.,  Woking  ;  rather  a  large 
one,  and  very  flatly  or  stiffly  arranged,  the  plants  being  too  crowded.  In 
the  other  class,  the  best  and  a  by  no  means  overloaded  group  came  from 
Mr.  Hoar,  gardener  to  L.  Birchara,  Esq.,  Woking.  There  were  several 
others,  and  the  various  groups  helped  the  show  materially. 
The  chief  class  for  cut  flowers  was  that  for  the  challenge  vase,  a  very 
fine  bowl,  won  on  this  occasion  by  Mr.  Jinks,  gardener  to  Edgar  Bruce, 
Esq.,  Walton.  This  comprised  twenty-four  Japanese  and  twenty-four 
incurved.  His  best  blooms  of  the  former  were  Madame  Carnot,  Viviand 
Morel,  Edith  Tabor,  Yellow  Madame  Carnot,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche, 
Beauty  of  Teignmoutb,  Phoebus,  Hairy  Wonder,  E.  Molyneux,  Modesto. 
Mdme.  A.  Chatin,  and  others  ;  and  of  incurved  there  were  C.  H.  Curtis, 
Prince  Alfred,  Major  Bonnaffon,  Rena  Dula,  J.  Agate,  Queen  of  England, 
Lord  Wolseley,  Violet  Tomlin,  and  various  others  of  very  good  form. 
Mr.  Gaymor,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Anderson,  Waverley  Abbey,  Farnham, 
was  second,  and  Mr.  Tomlin  third. 
Without  doubt  the  finest  Japanese  flowers  were  found  in  the  class  for 
twenty-four  blooms,  Mr.  H.  Paddon,  gardener  to  CoLRicardo,  Bramley  Park, 
