August  22,  1901 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
177 
Mr.  Edmund  Murrell,  Portland  Nurseries,  Shrewsbury,  staged  Tea 
Roses  in  boxes,  and  quite  a  number  also  in  pots,  backed  with  foliage 
plants  and  fronted  with  Ferns. 
Mr.  John  Wood,  nurseryman,  Penrith,  had  cut  Dahlias  and  Sweet 
Peas,  and  also  a  tine  dish  of  his  new  dwarf  golden  French  Bean  named 
“  Centenary.”  From  Messrs.  Dicksons  of  Chester  came  a  large  collection 
of  Phloxes,  including  such  fine  varieties  as  Avalanche,  Fedora,  rose- 
pink  ;  L’ Avenir,  Alex.  Shearer,  Felibre,  reds  ;  and  Iris,  violet  ooloured. 
Amongst  other  cut  flowers  they  had  Liliums,  Romneya  Coulteri, 
Tritonias,  Hydrangeas,  Gladioli,  Papavers,  CEnotheras,  and  a  number  of 
choice  foliage  plants.  The  group  was  extensive  and  carefully  arranged. 
Mr.  H.  Deverell  from  Banbury,  not  far  off,  had  sent  a  very  fine  assort¬ 
ment  of  cut  herbaceous  flowers.  Rudbeckia  purpurea  and  others  were 
prominent,  together  with  Lythrum  Salicaria  rosea,  Phloxes,  Erigerons, 
Liliums,  Acanthus  or  Bear’s  Breech,  Hypericum  calycinum,  Veronica 
clethroides,  Asclepias  tuberosa,  Helenium  autumnale  striatum,  and  such 
other  showy  subjects. 
Pentstemons  were  set  up  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay,  N.B., 
including  in  all  fifty-three  varieties,  covering  a  space  of  25  feet  by 
5  feet  broad.  The  exhibit  was  something  new,  or  at  least  had  freshness 
about  it  even  for  a  Shrewsbury  Show.  The  spikes  were  long  and  well 
flowered,  having  wide,  open,  bell-like  flowers  of  great  brilliancy.  Of 
the  more  distinctive  varieties  was  Auguste  Cain,  Legende,  Dr. 
Chantemesse,  Ambroise  Thomas,  M.  Donnett,  W.  Cuthbertson,  Miss 
Willmott,  Baden  Powell,  President  Carnot,  Aubur,  Captain  Marohand, 
Tom  Burnie,  and  Loregon  Larohy.  Relieved  by  the  gracefully 
reonrving  foliage  of  Cocos  and  Eulalia,  and  fringed  in  front  with 
Statice,  the  exhibit  was  highly  attractive.  Mr.  Geo.  Towndrow, 
Malvern  Link,  staged  an  immensely  effective  table  bearing  a  new 
variety  of  Zonal  Pelargonium  named  Beauty.  The  flowers  are  brilliant 
scarlet,  an  excellent  bedder,  good  for  winter  flowering,  and  very 
robust  and  free  in  growth.  It  is  a  real  good  sort. 
A  tasty  group  consisting  of  Sweet  Peas,  Pompon  Dahlias,  Liliums, 
and  Hydrangeas,  with  Adiantums  between,  were  arranged  by  Messrs. 
Jones  &  Sons,  Sweet  Pea  and  Dahlia  specialists,  Shrewsbury.  Needless 
to  say  the  newest  and  finest  varieties  were  included. 
What  were  denoted  “  the  wonderful  Japanese  Pigmy  Trees,”  from 
Messrs.  Pritchard  &  Sons,  florists,  Shrewsbury,  were  forward,  and 
created  a  deal  of  attraction.  Further  south,  where  these  have  been 
repeatedly  seen,  their  novelty  and  attractiveness  has  passed,  yet  for 
some  purposes  they  may  lend  a  useful  presence.  The  collection  in  this 
instance  was  more  varied  than  we  have  formerly  seen  suoh  exhibits. 
Messrs.  Rivers  &  Son,  the  noted  fruit-growers  from  Sawbridge- 
worth,  Herts,  were  forward  with  a  very  handsome  exhibit  of  fruit 
trees  in  pots.  These  were  shown  as  bush-trained  specimens,  and 
included  Degmar  and  Crimson  Guillaume  Peaohes,  Dryden  Nectarine, 
Transparent  Crab,  loaded  with  fruit,  pot  Vines,  heavily  laden,  together 
with  Cherries,  Plums,  Pears,  and  a  splendid  specimen  of  Peasgood’s 
Nonesuch  Apple  in  a  12-inch  pot,  bearing  eight  huge  and  well-coloured 
fruits.  Special  attention  was  directed  to  a  central  specimen  Peach  of 
Crimson  Guillaume  in  a  15-inoh  pot,  and  standing  fully  9  feet  high  ; 
the  tree,  a  finely  shaped  young  specimen,  upwards  of  a  hundred  fruits 
over  average  size  and  perfectly  finished.  In  front  of  the  pot  plants 
were  trays  of  Apples  and  other  fruits,  and  some  splendid  speoimen 
bunches  of  Muscat  and  other  Grapes.  The  whole  feature  was  one  of 
the  most  attractive  in  the  whole  Bhow.  The  King’s  Acre  Nurseries, 
Ltd.,  King’s  Acres,  Hereford,  had  an  honorary  exhibit  of  Apples  and 
other  fruits,  with  Tea  Roses  in  the  background. 
Mr.  J.  H.  White,  F.R.H.S.,  Worcester,  set  up  a  very  worthy  group 
of  hardy  cut  flowers  and  fruit.  The  Strawberry,  Raspberry,  and 
Japanese  Wineberry  were  also  shown  laden  with  fruits.  He  also 
staged  Petunia  Brilliant,  a  dwarf  and  proliferous  bedding  plant. 
Many  varieties  of  Apples  were  shown  in  front,  and  boxes  of  selected 
Cactus  Dahlias  had  also  a  place.  The  hardy  flowers  were  all  seleot,  and 
proved  to  have  been  carefully  taken  in  the  beds  or  borders. 
Hobbies,  Ltd.  (Mr.  J.  Green),  of  Dereham,  made  a  very  fine  display 
of  Sweet  Peas,  Dahlias,  Gloxinias,  and  other  popular  flowers.  That 
beautiful  Sweet  Pea  Miss  Wilmott  was  represented  by  a  large  number 
of  bunohes  arranged  in  pyramidal  form,  as  were  one  or  two  others  of 
the  newer  varieties.  Some  hundreds  of  bunches  separately  named  were 
also  shown.  Two  large  pyramidal  mounds  of  Gloxinias,  set  up  with  a  pale 
blue  Statice  and  Gypsophila,  were  very  striking  and  pretty,  and  the 
Dereham  strain  of  this  popular  plant  is  evidently  an  excellent  one. 
Chrysanthemums  appear  to  be  very  early  this  season,  and  these,  with  a 
number  of  hardy  herbaceous  flowers  and  Roses,  were  also  included. 
Rosa  rubrifolia  has  very  pretty  reddish  foliage,  and  should  be  a  fine 
thing  for  cutting  for  bouquets.  The  quaint  R.  viridiflora  was  shown 
here,  and  a  number  of  Tea  and  hybrid  Roses  in  fair  condition, 
considering  the  season.  The  main  feature  was  the  magnificent  display 
of  Cactus  and  other  Dahlias  for  which  the  firm  are  noted.  Scores  of 
handsome  varieties  were  shown  in  the  usual  pyramidal  bunches,  and  it  is 
pleasing  to  note  how  few  of  the  heavy  petalled  sorts  are  now  brought 
forward.  Nearly  all  have  the  fine,  thread-like  petals,  slightly 
incurving  at  the  ends,  while  the  colouring  in  all  is  superb.  Lord 
Roberts  is  a  magnificent  creamy  white  variety,  shading  to  yellow  in 
the  centre.  Flamingo  is  a  remarkably  bright  scarlet,  while  Floradora, 
J.  W.  Fife,  Baden  Powell,  Artus,  Gaillard,  and  J.  W.  Wilkinson  are  all 
excellent  in  their  respective  colours.  Small  plants  and  Ferns  were 
prettily  arranged  between  the  flowers,  the  back  being  finished  with 
Cocos  Weddeliana,  altogether  a  charming  and  creditable  exhibit. 
Messrs.  Hinton  Bros,  of  Warwick  Nurseries,  Warwick,  had  a  very 
fine  exhibit  of  seventy-four  bunohes  of  Sweet  Peas,  all  distinct.  They 
were  all  perfect  in  colour,  not  a  weak  or  second-rate  bunch  being 
included.  Royal  Rose  is  a  superb  flower,  clear  and  well  defined  ; 
Triumph  is  also  good,  that  pretty  venation  of  the  standard  being  well 
displayed ;  F.  A.  Hinton  is  a  charming  hooded  variety,  flaked  with 
crimson  on  a  rosy  white  ground,  and  Chancellor,  Mars,  Lovely,  and 
Agnes  Hinton  are  all  worthy  of  praise.  Indeed,  in  this  group  it  is 
difficult  to  single  out  any,  for  all  are  exquisite,  and  the  effect  of  the 
flowers  is  heightened  by  the  excellent  method  of  staging  adopted  by 
Messrs.  Hinton.  Long  tubular  metal  holders,  that  oome  apart  for 
storing  or  packing  pnrposes,  kept  the  bunohes  well  off  the  stage,  this 
being  draped  with  a  yellow  material,  a  few  sprays  of  foliage  being 
placed  on  it. 
The  veteran  Mr.  H.  Eckford  of  Wem  always  shows  well  at  Shrews¬ 
bury,  and  his  fifty  or  so  bunches  of  Sweet  Peas  were  set  up  in  a  very 
light  and  graceful  way.  They  were  in  long  glasses,  and  arranged  with 
a  few  ornamental  Grasses,  not  enough  to  take  from  the  Sweet  Peas, 
but  just  sufficient  to  prevent  any  flatness.  Mr.  Eckford’s  flowers  are 
singularly  fresh  and  bright  for  the  season,  the  long  stout  stems  showing 
plainly  that  they  are  from  vigorous  healthy  plants.  The  popular 
Blanche  Burpee,  Gorgeous,  Gaiety,  Lord  Kenyon  (a  grand  thing), 
Royal  Rose,  and  Countess  of  Powis  were  among  the  best  shown.  Mr. 
Eckford  has  evidently  not  forsaken  his  old  love  the  Verbena,  some 
charming  bunches  of  this  showy  plant  being  exhibited  together  with 
some  excellent  Cactus  Dahlias. 
Messrs.  Jarman  &  Co.  of  Chard  had  a  meritorious  exhibit  of 
vegetables  and  cut  flowers.  Of  the  former,  Somersetshire  Hero  Onion 
is  well  worthy  of  note,  the  bnlbs  being  of  immense  size,  and  apparently 
very  heavy  and  firm  ;  Exhibition  Carrot,  Al  Bean,  Matchless  Potato,  and 
Improved  Hollow  Crown  Parsnip  were  among  the  best  dishes,  and  they 
were  all  attractively  set  up.  Among  the  flowers  we  noted  some  excel¬ 
lent  Dahlias,  Roses,  and  Gladioli  in  all  the  most  popular  varieties,  but  too 
much  had  been  attempted  in  the  group,  and  in  consequence  it  had  rather 
a  jumbled  appearance.  Some  very  fine  double  Begonias  were  included, 
but  they  were  rather  travel-stained. 
The  Edwardian  table  and  room  decorations,  by  Mr.  Arthur  Edwards, 
of  Arnold,  Notts,  were  very  pretty,  and  covered  some  20  feet  of  staging. 
The  vases  and  epergnes  are  very  light  and  graceful,  making  the  work  of 
the  decorator  very  much  more  simple  and  effective  than  with  the  older 
forms  of  receptacle. 
Mr.  S.  Mortimer  of  Rowledge,  Farnham,  showed  Cactus  and  Show 
Dahlias  in  his  usual  inimitable  form.  From  our  report  of  the  com¬ 
petitive  classes  it  will  also  be  seen  that  the  quality  of  his  blooms  was 
high  to  have  secured  for  him  the  honours  he  captured. 
Messrs.  John  Peed  &  Sons,  West  Norwood,  had  a  very  fine  bank  of 
plants,  consisting  principally  of  their  specialities  in  Caladiums,  backed 
up  by  Bamboos  and  a  few  pieces  of  Cocos  Weddeliana.  Caladium 
Roncador  is  a  very  fine  thing,  with  immense  dark  rose  leaves,  with  deep 
green  veins.  Oriflamme  is  a  lovely  species,  the  whole  of  the  centre  of  the 
leaf  a  very  brilliant  flaming  red  with  a  green  margin.  Princess  Royal 
has  light  green  shaded  leaves,  with  bright  red  veins ;  and  Mrs.  Thos. 
Peed  has  a  red  centre,  with  shaded  green  margin.  W.  E.  Gladstone  is 
a  very  brilliant  red,  and  many  others  equally  good  may  be  named. 
About  seventy-five  plants,  all  of  specimen  size,  were  shown,  and  prettily 
grouped  with  Adiantum  cuneatum,  the  front  finished  with  Caladium 
argyrites  and  Eulalia  japonica. 
Messrs.  B.  R.  Davis  &  Sons  of  Yeovil  set  up  an  effective  group 
of  Begonias  which  fortunately  were  not  orowded,  as  is  usual  with  this 
class  of  exhibits,  as  a  consequence  each  plant  and  flower  could  be 
distinctly  seen,  and  very  good  they  all  are.  The  pure  white  Masterpiece, 
General  Baden  Powell,  scarlet,  Marchioness  of  Bath,  and  a  number  of 
unnamed  seedlings  were  the  cream  of  the  double  varieties,  and  many  of 
the  singles  were  exquisite.  Miss  Gladys  Harkness,  red  with  a  white 
centre,  is  very  distinct.  Pallas  is  a  very  bright  scarlet,  as  is  Lord 
Kitchener,  one  of  the  most  brilliant  in  the  group. 
Messrs.  R.  Smith  &  Co.  of  Worcester  had  a  very  large  and  effective 
group  of  plants  and  cut  flowers,  comprising  fine  Lilies  in  variety, 
Crotons,  Bamboos,  and  a  few  Clematises.  Fine  bunches  of  cut 
Montbretias,  Phloxes,  Delphiniums,  and  plants  of  the  Golden  Cypress 
were  shown  in  front.  Rudbeckia  fulgida  is  a  very  fine  perennial,  with 
long,  drooping,  yellow  florets,  and  a  coppery  tinted  cone.  Eupatorium 
purpureum,  Eucomis  punctata,  Rudbeckia  maxima,  and  Statice  eximea 
were  also  shown,  and  some  fine  flowers  of  Nymphsea  ohromatella, 
Ellisiana,  and  Sulphureum.  Other  and  finer  forms  were  inoluded,  but 
were  hardly  open  at  the  time  of  visiting,  a  wise  precaution,  when  the 
heat  of  the  tents  was  considered. 
Mr.  Albert  Myers,  8utton  Lane  Nurseries,  Shrewsbury,  had  an 
immense  and  imposing  display  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  in  pots  and  as 
cut  blooms,  together  with  Coleus  and  other  useful  decorative  plants. 
Messrs.  Gunn  &  Son,  Brookfield  Nursery,  Birmingham,  staged  Phloxes 
in  very  liberal  array,  together  with  handsome  Delphiniums  and  other 
hardy  border  plants. 
From  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  Hudson) 
Guunersbury  House,  Acton,  London,  came  a  very  handsome  vase  of 
the  blue  Water  Lily  (Nymphsea  gigantea),  also  Amaryllis  Belladonna 
maxima  and  Sagittaria  japonica,  fll.-pl. 
