May  8,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
415" 
Polyanthuses. 
Clas.s  15,  three  black  ground  Polyanthuses. — First,  Mr. 
Stringer,  with  James  Turner,  Tiny,  and  Mrs.  Brownhill ;  second, 
Mr.  Stelfox,  with  Tiny,  Trilby,  and  Mrs.  Brownhill. 
Class  16,  three  red  ground  Polyanthuses. — First,  Mr.  Stringer, 
with  Sidney  Smith,  George  IV.,  and  Middleton  Favourite ; 
second,  Mr.  Stelfox,  with  Sidney  Smith,  George  IV.,  and  ivxiddle- 
ton  Favourite. 
Cla.ss  17,  single  plants,  black  grounds. — First,  Mr.  Stringer, 
with  Mrs.  Brownhill,  and  second  with  Trilby. 
Class  18,  single  plants,  red  grounds. — First  and  second,  Mr. 
Stringer,  with  Sidney  Smith  and  Middleton  Favourite. 
Premier  Polyanthus,  Mr.  Stringer,  with  Mrs.  Brownhill. 
— J.  W.  B. 
National  Auricula— Midland  Section. 
The  third  annual  exhibition  was  held  in  Edgbaston  Botanic 
Gardens,  on  April  30,  during  cloudy  weather.  The  show  was 
opened  bj’  Alderman  Lawley  Parker,  of  Edgbaston,  who  is  him¬ 
self  passionately  fond  of  the  Auricula.  There  was  a  fair  atten¬ 
dance  of  visitors,  considering,  too,  the  recent  Daffodil  Show. 
Had  the  Auricula  Show  been  held,  as  previously,  in  conjunction 
with  the  former,  extra  provision  would  have  had  to  be  made 
for  the  Auriculas  by  laying  one  of  the  other  plant  structures  or 
a  marquee  under  contribution,  so  numerous  were  the  entries ; 
whilst  for  general  quality  there  was  a  concensus  of  opinion 
amongst  experts  that  it  was  one  of  the  finest  exhibitions  of  the 
kind  ever  known.  In  a  few  instances  there  was  observed  a 
slight  roughness  of  the  flower,  apparently  attributable  to  the 
prevailing  cold  and  sunless  weather  during  the  latter  half  of 
April,  and  Auricula  flowers'  love  a  certain  degree  of  warmth  and 
sunshine.  The  names  of  the  prize  list  of  exhibitors  is  sufficient 
guarantee  that  the  newest  and  best  varieties  extant  might  have 
been  expected  from  the  south,  north,  and  midlands. 
There  is  evidently  a  growing  tendency  around  Birmingham 
towards  the  revival  of  this  olde.st  of  florists’  flowers,  and  the 
recent  exhibition  ought  materially  to  aid  in  the  consummation. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  remark  that  in  the  aftenioon  the 
majority  of  the  exhibitors,  judges,  and  others,  were  persuaded  to 
have  their  ifliotographs  taken  in  a  group  in  the  grounds  adjacent 
to  the  Alpine  rock  garden,  and  it  is  intended  to  announce  in  the 
Journal  of  Horticulture  ■^vhen  copies  may  be  had  by  friends  of  -^le 
cult,  in  case  they  maj"  desire  to  possess  a  memento  of  such 
veteran  flori.sts  as  Messrs.  Ben  Simonite,  Rev.  F.  D.  Homer, 
Gordon  (Manchester),  R.  Dean,  Tom  Lord,  J.  W.  Bentley,  H. 
Midgley  (Halifax),  Richard  Goi'ton,  W.  B.  Latham,  John  Pope, 
J.  Clements,  and  others ;  whilst  the  veteran  J.  Douglas  was 
represented  by  his  son,  and  not  forgetting  A.  R.  Brown,  A.  W. 
Jones,  and  the  courteous  secretary,  R.  Holding. 
Show  Auriculas. 
In  the  class  for  six  varieties  there  were  ten  competitors.  Mr.  J. 
Douglas  won  the  first  prize  with  grand  examples  of  Mrs.  Dodwell, 
possessing  very  large,  but  somewhat  rough,  pips;  Mrs.  Henwood, 
very  fine ;  Olympus,  George  Lightbody,  Ruby,  and  an  exquisite 
Chloe,  resembling  Mrs.  Heiiwood  in  colour.  This  was  also 
selected  as  the  premier  plant  in  the  Show  class.  The  second 
prize  fell  to  Mr.  Tom  Lord,  Todmorden,  for  excellent  repre¬ 
sentatives  of  Mrs.  Henwood,  Ruby,  Abraham  Barker,  George 
Lightbody,  Richard  Headly,  and  Acme ;  the  third  to^  Mr.  J. 
Stokes,  Harbome  ;  fourth,  Messrs.  Phillips  and  Taylor,  Brack¬ 
nell  ;  and  fifth,  Messrs.  John  Pope  and  Sons,  King’s  Norton. 
For  four  Auriculas,  dissimilar,  Mr.  Tom  Lord,  Todmorden,  was 
accorded  the  first  honours  with  a  superb  coterie,  comprising  Mrs. 
Henw’ood,  George  Lightbody,  Abraham  Barker,  and  Acme ; 
second,  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Homer,  with  Loveliness,  Favourite,  Rev. 
F.  D.  Homer,  and  Bellerophon;  third,  Mr.  James  Douglas, 
fourth,  Mr.  \V.  H.  Midgley,  Halifax ;  fifth,  Mr.  J.  Stokes.  There 
were  ten  entries  for  two  plants.  The  Rev.  F.  D.  Homer  w^as 
victorious  with  Eurydice  and  Beauty ;  second,  Mr.  W.  H. 
Midgley,  with  James  Hannaford  and  Letitia ;  third,  Mr.  R.  C. 
Cartwright ;  and  fourth,  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley,  Castleton.  There  w^ere 
nine  exliibitors.  For  a  single  plant,  green  edge,  there  were 
twenty  entries,  and  Mr.  T.  Lord  scored  with  Abraham  Barker, 
and  Siiii'ley  Hibberd  for  the  second  prize  ;  third,  Messrs.  Phillips 
and  Taylor;  fourth,  ditto;  fifth,  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley.  For  a  grey 
edged,  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham  was  the  victor  with  a  refined  George 
Lightbody:  second,  Mr.  J.  Douglas,  W'ith  the  same  variety;  and 
third,  Mr.  H.  Midgley,  with  George  Rudd.  White  edged  sorts 
w'ere  strongl3r  shown,  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner  leading  the  way  with 
Modesty,  which  bore  its  honours  well ;  second,  Mr.  J.  Douglas, 
■with  Moma  (very  fine) ;  third,  Messrs.  Pope  and  Sons,  with 
Heatherbell ;  fourth,  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham,  with  Acme ;  and  fifth, 
Mr.  Midgley,  out  of  nineteen  entries. 
The  Selfs  were  a  formidable  lot,  numbering  twenty-four 
entries.  Tlie  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner  again  asserted  his  supremacy 
Avith  a  grand  example  of  Challenger  ;  second,  Mr.  Tom  Lord;  wjtli 
Gerald  (veiy  fine);  third.  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner;  fourth,  Mr.  R.  C. 
CartAA-right,  both  Avith  Mrs.  Potts ;  fifth,  JMr.  J.  Clements,  Ayith 
Gerald.  For  seedling  ShoAv  Auriculas  there  were  tAvo  prizes  y 
ofl^red,  and  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner  AA  as  placed  first  Avith  Nigella,. 
a  beautiful,  deep  purple  Self,  Avith  fine  paste ;  second,  the  same 
exhibitor  Avith  Erebus,  Avith  a  variety  similar  to  the  foregoing. 
Alpines. 
These  Avere  also  strongly  represented,  and  much  admired  by 
the  visitors.  There  AA-as  no  restriction  as  .to  the  number  of 
trusses,  and  rightly  so,  considering  their  floriferousness.  For  six 
dissimilar  varieties  there  Avere  eight  exhibits,  and  Mr.  J.  "W . 
Bentley  led  Avith  Coronet,  a  seedling,  a  shaded  purple  ;  Mary' 
Bentley,  a  seedling;  Olivia,  a  seedling;  Mrs.  Lord,  a  seedling: 
Attraction,  a  seedling,  and  Aglaia.  Second,  Mr.  J.  Douglas ;  and. 
third,  Mr.  A.  R.  BroAvn  (Hand.SAvorth).  For  four  plants,  uis- 
similar,  there  Avere  ten  entries,  and  Mr.  J.  Douglas  proved  the 
victor  Avith  Ziska,  Dean  Hole,  Firefly,  and  Duke  of  York.  Second,. 
Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley.  For  tAvo  plants  dissimilar,  ten  exhibits  faced 
the  judges,  and  the  local  Crimean  War  veteran  Dragooni.st,  Mr. 
J .  Clements,  AA'as  to  the  front  Avith  Winnifred  and  Mrs.  Martin^ 
Smith.  Second,  Mr.  J.  Godson  (HandsAvorth) ;  and  third,  Mr. 
F.  T.  Poulson  (Stafford).  There  were  no-  less  than  tAventy-six 
exhibits  in  the  class  for  a  single  plant  with  gold  centre.  Mr. 
R.  Holding,  the*  secretary,  led  Avith  Mrs.  Gorton  ;  second,  Mr. 
A.  C.  BroAA’n,  AAdth  Duke  of  York;  third,  Mr.  R.  Holdino-  Avith 
the  same  variety;  fourth,  Mr.  A.  R.  BroAvn,  Avith  Ziska; 
and  fifth,  Mr.  R.  C.  CartAvright,  Avith  Firefly.  It  Avas  altogether 
an  excellent  complement.  There  Avere  nineteen  entries  for  a 
single  plant  with  light  centre,  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley  secured, 
first  honours  Avdth  Modesty;  second,  Mr.  H.  E.  Burbidge,  with. 
Mrs.  H.  Turner;  third,  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley,  AA’itli  Blue  Bell; 
fourth,  Mr.  R.  C.  CartAvright ;  and  fifth,  Mr.  R.  Holding. 
In  the  class  for  maiden  growers  Mr.  R.  C.  CartAvright  Avon 
with  Dean  Hole  and  Firefly  ;  second,  Mr.  H.  E.  Burbidge,  Avitn 
Bella  Ainslee  and  Mrs.  P.  Campbell;  tlfird,  Mr.  G.  D.  Callom 
(Aston).  In  the  class  for  a  seedling  AA'ith  gold  centre,  Mr. 
R.  C.  Cartwright  Avas  first,  and  Mr.  R.  Holding  .second.  For  a 
seedling  Avith  light  centre,  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley,  Avith  Blue  Peter, 
a  promising  floAver;  and  the  second  prize,  the  .same  exhibitor,  Avith 
Clio. 
The  gold  laced  Polyanthus  AAas  shoAvn  in  more  than  u.sual 
strong  force,  and  Messrs.  John  Pope  and  Son  Avere  placed  first 
with  compact  foliaged  plants  of  George  IV.,  Exile,  and  Iavo  of 
Cheshire  Beauty;  second,  Mr.  J.  Stokes.  Very  bright  and 
attractive  Avere  the  groups  of  Alpine  kinds  of  plants  exhibited  m 
a  box  or  basket  not  exceeding  3ft  either  Avay.  Messrs.  Pope  and 
Son.s  Avere  placed  first  Avith  a  brilliant  complement  of  Primulas,. 
Auriculas,  and  Polyanthus ;  second,  Mr.  R.  C.  CartAvright;  and: 
third,  Mr.  J.  Clements ;  and  Mr.  R  .  Holding  deserved  recogni¬ 
tion  for  a  nice  assortment. 
Certificates  of  Merit. 
Mr.  J.  Douglas,  for  stage  Auricula  Chloe,  green  edge :  i*j.r. 
W.  H.  Midgley,  for  Letitia,  AA'hite  edge;  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  for 
Favourite,  a  Self ;  Nigella,  a  Self ;  and  Erebus,  a  Self.  To  Mr. 
J.  W.  Bentley  for  respectively  Aglaia,  Attraction,  and  Mrs. 
Lord.  In  addition  to  the  first  prize  for  six  ShoAV  Auriculas,  me 
silver  medal  of  the  society  Avas  also  aAA'arded  to  Mr.  J.  Douglas, 
and  the  bronze  medal  to  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  in  adcliuon  m 
the  first  for  six  Alpine  Auriculas. 
A  short  conference  of  groAvers  and  exhibitors  Avas  held  in  the- 
afternoon  after  the  luncheon,  and  it  AAas  resolved  that  the  long 
established  and  vexed  question  regarding  the  non-recognition  of 
“pin-eyed”  blooms  of  Auriculas  and  Polyanthuses  should  be 
definitely  settled  at  once,  resulting  unanimously  that  the  “  pin¬ 
eyed  ”  be  considered  a  defect. — W.  G. 
Scottisli  Horticultural. 
The  May  meeting  of  this  association  Avas  held  on  Tuesday  last, 
the  6th  instant,  in  5,  St.  AndrcAv’s  Square,  Mr.  Comfort,  presi¬ 
dent,  in  the  chair.  There  Avas  a  very  large  turnout  of  members. 
Thirteen  neAV  members  Avere  elected,  and  seven  Avere  proposed  for 
election  at  next  meeting.  Mr.  J.  H.  Cumming,  The  Gardens, 
Grantully  Castle,  Aberfeldy,  read  a  paper  on  “  (hardens  and  the 
Gardening  Profession.”  Mr.  Cumming  for  fully  half  an  hour  kept 
the  audience  spellbound  Avith  his  Amry  beautifully  Avritten  and 
suggestive  paper  on  the  gardens  and  gardeners  of  the  present  day. 
He  compared  present-day  gardening  Avith  that  of  the  past,  and 
the  many  changes  that  have  taken  place,  and  pointed  out  that  it 
was  greatly  to  the  credit  of  practical  gardeners  for  the 
adaptability  they  had  shoAvn  in  keeping  abreast  of  the  times,  and 
being  able  to  meet  the  more  exacting  demands  of  their  employers 
in  the  development  of  gardening.  Mr.  Cdmiming’s  paper  AA'as 
pregnant  with  sound,  sensible  adAuce  to  gardeners,  especially  the 
young.  Take  one  sentence  as  an  instance :  “  A  good  address 
and  intelligent  manner  in  intercourse  Avith  employers  tends  much 
to  a  gardener’s  success.”  A  very  animated  and  interesting  di.s- 
cussion  folloAved,  and  Mr.  Cumming  Avas  aAvarded  a  very  hearty 
vote  of  thanks.  The  exhibition  table  Avas  A'erj'  gay  Avith  most 
interesting  exhibits,  the  most  prominent  being  a  veiy  beautiful 
exhibit  of  Hippeastrums  from  INIr.  Cairns,  gardener,  Balruddery, 
Forfarshire.  They  Avere  all  seedlings  of  most  brilliant  colours  and 
