112 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
August  1,  1901. 
The  Leamington  Nurserymen  and  Florists’,  Ltd.  (manager,  Mr. 
Harper)  won  the  £10  offered  as  the  first  prize  for  a  grouD  of  plants, 
quality  and  effect  to  be  the  leading  features.  In  this  exhibit  there  was 
a  variety  of  choice  materials,  plenty  of  colour,  and  good  taste  and  finish 
in  the  arrangement.  In  the  centre  a  large  and  shapely  Cocos  Wed- 
delliana  was  elevated  on  a  pyramid  formed  of  cork,  the  latter  being 
tastefully  draped  with  creepers,  and  dotted  here  and  there  with  Orohids, 
Codiseums  (Crotons),  and  other  plants.  Pedestals  topped  with  well-coloured 
Codioeums  were  also  arranged  on  either  side.  Mounds  were  formed  at  the 
corners,  and  surrounded  with  light  feathery  Palms.  The  groundwork 
was  formed  of  moss,  from  which  sprung  many  attractive  plants,  while 
others  were  elevated  on  small  pedestals,  and  in  the  foreground  well- 
flowered  plants  of  Epidendrum  vitellinum  majus  were  conspicuously 
displayed.  Mr.  Yause,  Leamington,  was  second.  In  this  group  a  four- 
cornered  arch  formed  the  centre ;  this  was  topped  by  a  spreading 
Kentia,  the  sides  of  the  arches  being  dressed  with  creepers,  Odonto- 
glossums,  Ivy-leaved  Geraniums,  and  other  suitable  plants.  Beneath 
the  arch  a  highly  coloured  but  rather  large  Codiaeum  was  arranged. 
Mounds  at  the  corners  and  at  other  conspicuous  plaoes  rise  from  a  ground¬ 
work  of  moss.  The  idea  was  a  good  one,  and  if  a  little  more  time 
had  been  bestowed  in  giving  finishing  touches  here  and  there  it  would 
have  run  the  premier  group  closer  than  it  did.  Mr.  Finch,  Coventry, 
was  a  good  third.  In  his  group  a  beautiful  and  lightly  arranged  mound, 
topped  by  a  Phoenix,  formed  a  fine  centre.  The  corner  mounds  were 
also  well  arranged,  and  the  groundwork  throughout  was  well  finished, 
but  as  a  whole  it  needed  more  colour,  and  choicer  materials  at  various 
points,  to  give  it  that  amount  of  attractiveness  whioh  we  often  see  in 
this  veteran  exhibitor’s  groups. 
For  six  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  distinct,  prizes  of  £6,  £1,  and 
£2  were  offered.  Mr.  Yause  won  with  good  specimens  of  Allamandas, 
Ixoras,  Stephanotis,  and  a  fine  Cycas  revoluta;  Mr.  Finch,  Coventry, 
being  second.  Mr.  Yause  again  won  for  one  specimen  plant  in  bloom 
with  a  fine  Ixora,  Mr.  Finch  being  second  with  a  beautiful  flowered 
Stephanotis,  and  the  Leamington  Nurserymen,  Ltd.,  third.  For  one 
specimen  foliage  plant  Mr.  Finch  won  with  a  grand  Cycas,  Mr.  Yause 
being  second  with  a  fine  Codiseum  Warreni,  and  the  Leamington  Nursery¬ 
men,  Ltd.,  with  a  large  Kentia. 
,  Cut  Flowers. — Messrs.  Perkins  &  Sons,  Coventry,  were  first  for 
twelve  Tea  Roses,  and  also  for  a  similar  number  of  H.P.’s  ;  being 
followed  in  each  case  by  the  Leamington  Nurserymen,  Ltd.,  and  Mr. 
Yause  in  the  order  named.  For  the  best  arrangement  of  Sweet  Peas, 
to  cover  a  space  not  exceeding  6  feet  by  3  feet,  Mr.  H.  Liney,  gardener 
to  W.  Low,  Esq.,  Wellesbourne  House,  Warwick,  received  the  first  prize. 
He  staged  good  flowers  of  ohoice  varieties  in  a  most  pleasing  style. 
Messrs.  Perkins  &  Sons,  Coventry,  won  for  a  hand  bouquet,  and  also  for 
a  basket  of  flowers.  In  each  case  the  finish  and  blending  of  colours 
was  executed  in  their  usual  noteworthy  style.  The  Leamington  Nursery¬ 
men,  Ltd.,  also  exhibited  a  beautiful  basket,  angled  with  Odonto- 
glossums,  Cattleyas,  and  Asparagus,  and  were  awarded  the  second 
prize;  and  Mr.  Vause  was  third.  The  Leamington  Nurserymen,  Ltd.,  were 
second  for  a  hand  bouquet.  Mr.  Vause  secured  a  good  win  by  occupying 
the  post  of  honour  for  dinner  table  decorations  with  an  arrangement  of 
Raby  Castle  Carnations,  associated  with  Ferns  and  trailing  shoots  of 
Lycopodiums;  the  Leamington  Nurserymen,  Ltd.,  being  second,  and 
Messrs.  Thornton  &  Sons  third. 
Fruit. — Mr.  H.  Liney  was  first  for  black  Grapes  with  well  coloured 
examples  of  Black  Hamburgh.  The  same  exhibitor  won  for  a  dish  of 
Nectarines.  For  two  dishes  of  Gooseberries  Mr.  W.  Wright,  gardener 
to  Mr.  Lucas,  was  first,  and  Mr.  W.  Draper,  gardener  to  R.  C.  Milne,  Esq., 
staged  the  best  Tomatoes,  a  grand  dish  of  Perfection. 
Non-Competitive  Exhibits. — Mr.  Martin,  gardener  to  Lord  Leigh, 
The  Gardens,  Stoneleigh  Abbey,  Kenilworth,  staged  an  excellent 
collection  of  fruit  and  plants  in  a  most  attractive  manner,  and  was 
awarded  a  certificate  of  merit.  Similar  awards  were  also  given  to 
Mr.  Crump,  Leamington,  and  Mr.  Wagstaff,  Leamington,  for  attractive 
collections  of  fruit.  Hinton  Bros.,  Warwick,  were  awarded  a  certificate 
of  merit  for  a  highly  meritorious  collection  of  8weet  Peas,  and  similar 
awards  went  to  Deverill,  Banbury,  Perkins  &  Sons,  Coventry,  and  the 
Leamington  Nurserymen,  Ltd.,  for  collections  of  herbaceous  plants. 
— H.  D. 
Kuytoi|  aijd  Roby,  July  25  tR. 
Although  very  welcome  for  all  kinds  of  crops,  the  rain  was 
detrimental  from  a  visitor’s  point  of  view,  and  the  show,  which  was 
opened  in  the  grounds  of  the  Public  Offices,  must  to  some  extent  have 
suffered  financially.  In  the  absence  of  many  of  the  larger  stove  and 
greenhouse  plants,  it  must  be  admitted  that  never  in  the  history  of  the 
society  has  such  a  beautiful  and  choice  lot  of  greenhouse  plants  and 
cut  flowers  been  seen,  the  centre  of  the  large  marquee  being  a  blaze  of 
varied  colour,  the  display  being  much  enhanced  by  the  splendid 
circular  group  of  Campanulas  edged  with  Ferns,  and  placed,  not  for  com¬ 
petition,  by  Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker&  Sons,  Aigburth  Nurseries.  A  sumptuous 
collection  of  the  best  named  and  grand  own  seedling  Carnations 
was  staged  by  Mr.  C.  A.  Young,  West  Derby,  whilst  the  Sweet  Peas 
from  Mr.  Henry  Middlehurst,  and  those  together  with  the  Roses  from 
Messrs.  Caldwell  of  Knutsford,  were  generally  admired.  The  vicar  of 
Roby,  the  Rev.  S.  A.  K.  Sylvester,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Sylvester, 
opened  the  show  and  made  one  of  his  usual  practical  speeches.  He 
rejoiced  at  the  progress  of  the  society,  and  hoped  that  the  work  of  the 
cottagers  would  be  even  more  advanoed  than  at  present. 
Plants  and  Cut  Flowers. — For  a  group  of  miscellaneous  foliage 
and  flowering  plants  Mr.  W.  Lyon,  gardener  to  A.  Mackenzie  Smith, 
Esq.,  Bolton  Hey,  Roby,  showed  excellent  work,  the  quality  of  Carnations 
and  abundance  of  well-flowered  plants  of  Oncidium  Lanceanum  beiDg 
very  marked.  A  handsome  second  was  put  up  by  Mr.  J.  Hardcastle, 
gardener  to  T.  T.  Harding,  Esq.,  Rydal  House,  Huyton.  Mr.  Lyon  had 
Oncidium  Lanceanum  very  fine  as  a  single  Orchid,  also  with  good 
Petunias  and  four  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  ;  Mr.  E.  Bridge,  gardener 
to  Mrs.  Jowett,  Greenhill,  Huyton,  second.  Statice  profusa  was  a 
splendid  premier  greenhouse  plant  staged  by  Mr.  J.  Watkin,  gardener 
to  T.  D.  Syers,  Esq.,  Huyton,  also  with  two  capital  Lilium  auratums, 
three  magnifioent  double  Bearonias,  and  one  in  a  pretty  hanging  basket. 
Mr.  Bagnall,  gardener  to  C.  F.  B  iston,  Esq.,  Charlwood  House,  Huyton, 
had  three  special  single  Begonias,  and  a  huge  pyramidal  specimen 
came  from  Mr.  Bridge. 
The  best  Caladiums  came  from  Mr.  T.  Eaton,  gardener  to  J. 
Parrington,  Esq.,  Roby  Mount;  Palms  and  Ferns  were  well  grown  by 
Mr.  Hardcastle,  and  Mr.  Bridge  had  three  Zonal  Pelargoniums.  Gloxinias 
were  a  splendid  feature  all  round,  those  put  up  by  Mr.  George  Guy, 
gardener  to  Dr.  Gaskell,  Huyton,  being  perfect  specimens  in  every 
respect.  The  prizes  for  table  plants,  Fuchsias  (good),  and  foliage 
plants,  went  to  Messrs.  Little,  gardener  to  G.  H.  Pilkington,  Esq., 
Wheathill,  Roby  ;  J.  George,  gardener  to  T.  Henshaw,  Esq.,  Whitefield 
House,  Roby ;  and  J.  Fairclough,  gardener  to  J.  Atherton,  Esq.,  Hurst 
House,  Huyton.  Table  decorations  were  not  so  pleasing  as  on  former 
occasions,  but  the  arrangement  of  colour  was  tasteful,  Mrs.  Middle¬ 
hurst  winning  with  mauve  Sweet  Peas,  pink  Carnations,  and  dressings 
of  Smilax  and  Gypsophila.  A  lovely  epergne  came  from  Miss  M.  G. 
Crippen,  a  bouquet  from  Mrs.  L.  P.  Anderton,  and  a  fine  basket  of  Roses 
from  Mrs.  H.  Middlehurst.  Roses  were  not  at  all  bad,  the  class  for 
twelve  being  secured  by  Mr.  Little,  and  the  seoond  by  Mr.  J.  George. 
In  the  first  stand  Marquise  Litta,  Caroline  Testout,  and  La  France  were 
good.  For  six  Roses,  distinct,  and  six  of  any  variety,  Mr.  J.  Burrows, 
gardener  to  W.  H.  Cook,  Esq.,  Hawthorndale,  Huyton,  was  in  fine  form  ; 
Mr.  W.  Gibbs,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Robinson,  Church  Road,  Huyton,  was 
an  excellent  seoond. 
Fruit. — For  four  dishes,  two  large  bunches  of  Madresfield  Court 
helped  Mr.  Fairclough  immensely.  The  Hamburghs  and  Bucklands 
from  Mr.  Oldham,  gardener  to  Joseph  Beecham,  Esq.,  Ewanville, 
Huyton,  were  of  extra  superiority.  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Straw¬ 
berries  from  Mr.  Eaton  were  unusually  good,  as  was  the  hardy  fruit 
from  Mr.  Little.  A  rich-looking  Melon  came  from  Mi.  McKelvie, 
gardener  to  Jno.  Stone,  Esq.,  Blacklow  House,  Roby. 
Vegetables.— Mr.  Lyon  had  eight  very  select  vegetables,  three  dishes 
of  splendid  Tomatoes,  and  the  same  number  of  Peas ;  and  Mr.  Little 
three  dishes  of  Potatoes.  Prizes  for  single  dishes  went  to  Messrs.  Hard- 
oastle,  George,  Burrows,  and  Little.  Messrs.  Daine,  Woodfall  Hall, 
Huyton,  the  well-known  Potato  specialists,  had  a  collection  embracing 
every  up-to-date  kind,  and  received  a  certificate.  The  Countess  of 
Derby’s  prize  was  won  by  Mr.  Amos  Worrall,  and  Mrs.  Farrington’s  by 
Mr.  David  Hunter.  Messrs.  W.  H.  Crook,  the  energetic  chairman; 
C.  Geddes,  vice-chairman  ;  T.  D.  Syers,  treasurer  ;  and  H.  Middlehurst, 
secretary,  assisted  materially  to  the  success  of  the  show. — R.  P.  R. 
HandswortR  Horticultural,  July  26th  and  27th. 
The  seventeenth  annual  exhibition  was  held  in  the  Victoria  Park, 
Handsworth,  by  permission  of  the  District  Council,  on  the  26th  and 
27th  of  July,  under  the  presidency  of  Councillor  A.  Price.  Owing  to 
the  reduced  financial  position  of  the  sooiety,  chiefly  accruing  from  the 
adverse  state  of  the  weather  on  the  occasion  of  last  year’s  show,  the 
committee  resolved  to  try  and  augment  its  resources  on  the  present 
event  by  offering  extra  valuable  prizes.  They  also  invited  Miss  Marie 
Corelli  to  open  the  exhibition,  and  so  far  their  anticipations  were  fully 
justified.  Unfortunately  late  in  the  afternoon  the  show  was  visited  by 
a  terrific  thunderstorm  of  bail  and  rain,  inundating  the  inside  of  the 
marquees  with  pools  of  water.  Fortunately  the  tents  withstood  the 
force  of  the  storm  without  material  damage,  excepting  one  end  of  the 
large  one  containing  the  groups  and  specimen  plants,  which  was  blown 
in,  but  fortunately  just  missed  falling  upon  Mr.  Cypher’s  group  for 
effect.  Two  or  three  collections  of  bunches  of  decorative  Roses, 
however,  did  not  escape  so  well,  as  they  were  blown  on  to  the  ground, 
but  fortunately  without  material  damage.  One  of  the  refreshment 
tents  was  completely  destroyed,  also  the  inflated  large  balloon,  just 
prepared  for  an  ascent. 
Mr.  Cypher  of  Cheltenham  was  an  exhibitor  of  plants,  and  his 
charmingly  elegant  half-circle,  30  feet  by  15  feet,  “  group  for  effect  ” 
was  an  easy  first  for  the  £15  prize.  The  second  prize  (£8)  was  annexed 
by  Mr.  W.  Vause  of  Leamington,  and  the  third  to  Mr.  G.  Hancox  for 
a  most  creditable  display.  For  twelve  stove  or  greenhouse  plants 
(first  prize  £15)  Mr.  Cypher  was  again  to  the  fore.  The  seoond  prize 
fell  to  Mr.  Yause.  Ferns  were  extensively  shown,  and  collections  of 
other  plants  by  several  exhibitors  contributed  to  make  up  an  extensive 
and  attractive  scene. 
Roses  were  extensively  and  capitally  staged  by  several  exhibitors, 
and  included  collections  from  Mr.  Hugh  Dickson,  Belfast,  but  which 
unfortunately  arrived  too  late  for  judging  ;  a  special  award,  however, 
being  granted  them.  For  twenty-four  varieties,  distinot,  first  prize 
Messrs.  Perkins  &  Sons,  Coventry,  the  varieties  being  Mrs.  John  Laing, 
