August  1,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
Ill 
Nottingham  Horticultural,  July  24th  and  25tl{. 
The  Notts  Horticultural  and  Botanical  Society  held  their  annual 
exhibition  and  garden  party  on  the  24th  and  25th  July,  in  the  Arboretum, 
under  the  patronage  of  the  Mayor,  Sheriff,  and  Corporation,  and  the 
leading  horticulturists  of  the  county,  with  the  Duke  of  Portland  as 
president.  It  was,  without  a  dissenting  voice,  pronounced  to  be  the 
finest  exhibition,  taken  as  a  whole,  of  plants,  flowers,  fruit  and 
vegetables  that  the  society  has  held,  ItB  success  was  marred,  by  reason 
of  the  heavy  and  continuous  rain  of  both  days,  and  a  heavy  financial 
loss  will  result  to  the  society.  It  was  a  pity,  as  far  as  the  show  was 
concerned,  that  the  drought  should  break  up  just  at  that  time,  and  that 
the  much-needed  rain,  which  was  gladdening  the  hearts  of  all  gardeners 
aDd  husbandmen,  should  bring  to  the  officers  of  the  society  such 
saddening  experiences. 
The  decorative  side  of  the  show  was  its  great  feature,  the  groups  of 
plants,  specimen  plants,  Roses,  and  other  cut  flowers  being  of  the 
highest  quality.  The  first  prize  group,  on  a  200-feet  space,  was  a  model 
group,  well  grown  plants  most  artistically  arranged.  They  worthily 
won  the  £10  prize  and  the  silver  cup  offered  by  Lord  Henry  Bentinck, 
M.P.  for  South  Nottingham.  The  winner  was  the  gardener  to  Mr.  G.  H. 
box  of  Caroline  Testout,  each  and  all  fully  maintained  their  reputations, 
and  some  of  them  were  the  recipients  of  gold  medals.  H.  Low  &C<vr 
Enfield;  S.  Harvey,  Nottingham;  J.  H.  White,  Worcester;  W.  L. 
Pattison,  Shrewsbury  ;  Hinton  Bros.,  Warwick  ;  Dicksons,  Cheeter  ;  and 
C.  J.  Mee,  Nottingham,  for  a  group  of  greenhouse  plants.  One  feature 
of  the  Nottingham  exhibition  is  a  class  for  decorated  fireplaces,  or,  as 
it  is  described  in  the  schedule,  “  The  best  floral  decorated  fireplace  and 
mantleshelf ;  a  sham  fireplace  and  mantleshelf,  with  mirror  at  the  back, 
will  be  provided,  and  2  feet  space  in  front  allowed  ;  drapery  may  be 
use  to  cover  the  woodwork.”  Three  or  four  were  so  decorated  with 
really  delightful  effeot,  showing  most  exquisite  taste  in  disposing  of 
both  plants  and  drapery.  This  is  quite  a  feminine  class,  and  is  much 
appreciated. 
The  show  was  opened  by  his  Worship  the  Mayor  in  a  very 
sympathetic,  appreciative,  and  encouraging  speeoh.  At  the  close  the 
Mayoress  was  presented  with  a  lovely  bouquet  by  Miss  Edna  Mee,  the 
daughter  of  the  secretary.  At  the  luncheon  in  the  refreshment  rooms,, 
which  was  presided  over  by  the  ohairman  of  committee,  Mr.  Councillor 
Charles  Smith,  the  usual  loyal  and  local  toasts  were  proposed  and 
responded  to,  and  many  words  of  encouragement  were  said  to  the 
officers  on  the  adverse  character  of  the  weather  and  its  depressing 
MESSRS.  DOBBIE’S  GROUP  AT  SWEET  PEA  SHOW.  (See  Repoit.) 
Turner  of  Derby.  The  secondary  groups,  on  a  120-feet  space,  were 
also  charmingly  set  up,  and  Mr.  R.  Halford  secured  the  first  prize  of 
4  guineas,  and  a  silver  cup,  value  5  guineas,  offered  by  the  Mayor,  Mr. 
Councillor  F.  R.  Radford.  Mr.  W.  Vause  of  Leamington  swept  the 
board  of  nearly  all  the  first  prizes  for  specimen  and  other  plants,  but 
the  local  rosarians  and  florists  secured  the  best  prizes  for  various 
artistio  arrangements  of  Roses  and  other  cut  flowers,  except  in  out 
Roses,  the  best  prizes  in  these  being  well  won  by  the  Messrs. 
Perkins  of  Coventry  and  Leamington.  Bouquets  were  rather  weakly 
represented. 
Fruit  was  scarcely  so  well  shown  as  usual.  Mr.  J.  H.  Goodacre, 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Harrington,  of  Elvaston  Castle,  took  the  first 
prize  for  indoor  grown  fruit,  and  Mr.  Read,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of 
Carnarvon,  of  Bretby  Park,  the  first  for  outdoor  grown  fruit,  as  also 
for  Peaches  and  Nectarines.  Mr.  Read  was  very  successful  in  the 
vegetable  classes,  as  he  took  the  first  prize  for  nine  varieties  of 
vegetables,  though  he  was  followed  very  closely  by  Mr.  Hudson  of 
Leicester,  as  well  as  for  Peas,  Beans,  Carrots,  Leeks,  and  Onions.  In 
some  of  the  vegetable  classes,  the  influence  of  the  drought  was  clearly 
seen,  notably  in  Potatoes  and  Turnips,  though  Peas  were  splendidly 
shown  generally.  Trade  exhibits  were  a  grand  feature,  and  Messrs. 
Dicksons  of  Chester,  White  of  Worcester,  Deverell  of  Banbury,  with 
herbaceous  plants,  Carnations,  &c.  ;  Hinton  of  Warwick,  with  Sweet 
Peas  and  Carnations ;  Pattison  of  Shrewsbury,  with  Violas  and 
Carnations ;  Hugh  Low  &  Co.  of  Enfield,  with  Orchids  and  Epacrises ; 
Harvey  of  Nottingham,  with  Begonias,  single  and  double ;  William 
Lowe,  Rose  Nurseries,  Beeston,  with  cut  Roses,  especially  a  splendid 
influences  and  effects.  The  judges  were :  Mr.  Roberts  of  Welbeck 
Abbey,  Mr.  Edmonds  of  Basswood  Lodge,  McVinish  of  Beaumanor 
Park,  Anderson  of  Clifton  Hall,  Webb  of  Kelham  Hall,  Pownall  of 
Lenton  Hall,  and  Parr  of  Holme  Pierrepont.  The  secretary  and  officers 
worked  hard  to  make  the  show  a  success,  and  only  the  rain  interfered 
to  prevent  it. 
Leamington  Spa,  July  24tl{  and  25ti| 
This  pretty  town,  which  may  be  aptly  termed  the  “queen  of  the 
Midlands,”  years  ago  held  an  annual  summer  show,  which,  like  many 
others  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  was  discontinued  through  lack 
of  funds.  Mr.  C.  S.  Birch,  an  enterprising  resident,  has  this  year 
made  a  determined  attempt  to  establish  another  horticultural  society  on 
a  firm  basis.  It  is  therefore  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  after  a  long 
period  of  drought  the  weather  should  have  been  wet  on  each  day  of 
the  show.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  the  energetic  promoter  and 
his  painstaking  committee  will  press  onward  in  their  endeavour  to 
establish  a  show  second  to  none  in  the  county.  C.  A.  Smith. Ryland, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  most  generous  supporters  of  horticulture  in  Warwick¬ 
shire,  opened  the  show,  which  was  held  in  the  well  known  Jephson 
Gardens,  which,  thanks  to  Mr.  Dell,  the  superintendent,  were  in  the  best 
of  condition.  The  great  feature  of  the  show  was  undoubtedly  the 
groups  of  plants,  each  to  occupy  a  space  not  exceeding  150  square  feet, 
but  bouquets,  cut  flowers,  and  non-competitive  collections  of  fruit  were 
also  well  shown.  All  the  arrangements  were  carried  out  in  a  thoroughly 
1  business-like  manner  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Nicbols,  the  popular  secretary. 
