August  22,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
185 
form  opinions  the  decision  of  the  judges  should  have  been  exactly 
reversed,  the  first  named  being  exceedingly  formal,  though  the  plants 
were  fresh  and  of  nice  colour  and  quality.  The  last  named  exhibitor 
displayed  more  artistic  skill  in  his  arrangement.  Mr.  T.  King,  gardener 
to  E.  H.  Atchley,  Esq.,  Rcdwell  Hall;  Mr.  Strugnell,  gardener  to 
Col.  Vivian,  Rood  Ashton  ;  and  Messrs.  Cole,  Bath,  took  the  prizes  in 
the  lesser  group,  where  keener  competition  prevailed.  Begonias  were 
splendidly  staged  by  Messrs.  Tucker,  Fishlock,  and  Chislett,  both 
double  and  single.  Ferns  in  twelve  varieties  were  a  good  feature,  Mr. 
Mitchell,  gardener  to  A.  P.  Stanccmb,  Esq.,  coming  in  well  for  first; 
Mr.  Tucker,  the  former  champion,  taking  second  place.  With  nine 
foliage  plants  Mr.  Matthews  proved  invincible,  Messrs.  Cole  &  Son  and 
Mr.  Strognell  following.  Mr.  Chislett  showed  the  best  Caladiums  ; 
Messrs.  Cray  &  Son,  Frome,  the  finest  Coleus  ;  and  Mr.  G.  Tucker  finely 
bloomed  and  well-traired  Zonal  Pelargoniums. 
In  the  cut  flower  classes  there  were  ample  variety  and  good  quality, 
though  Roses  displayed,  by  the  absence  of  familiar  faces,  the  effeots  of 
the  past  summer  weather.  Messrs.  Cooling,  Bath,  were  the  only 
representatives  with  twelve  triplets,  and  Messrs.  Townsend  &  Sons, 
Worcester,  that  for  twenty-four  distinct  blooms,  local  growers 
accounting  for  twelve  and  six  varieties.  A  new  class  for  garden  Roses 
brought  but  one,  though  a  very  good  entry,  Messrs.  CooliEg  &  Sons, 
Bath,  who  make  this  section  a  speciality.  Dahlias,  like  the  Roses, 
showed  a  falling  off,  due  entirely  to  past  weather,  Messrs.  Cray  &  Sons, 
Frome  ;  Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.,  Salisbury ;  and  G.  Humphries, 
Chippenham,  being  the  principal  exhibitors  in  the  several  classes. 
Messrs.  Stokes  &  Sons,  Hilperton,  staged  excellent  herbaceous  flowers 
in  bunches,  Mr.  Humphries  beautiful  Gladiolus.  Asters  Comet, 
German,  and  flat-petalled,  brought  cut  keen  competition  and  an 
excellent  display  of  good  blooms,  mostly  from  Bath  growers. 
The  entries  in  the  fruit  classes  were  numerous,  and,  on  the  whole* 
the  quality  good,  the  greatest  falling  cff  being  in  the  Grape  classes- 
For  a  collection  of  ten  dishes  Mr.  Strugnell  was  a  good  first  with  Black 
Hamburgh  and  Musoat  Grapes,  fine  Sea  Eagle  Peaches,  Pineapple 
Nectarines,  Brown  Turkey  Figs,  Oullins  Golden  Gages,  Late  Duke 
Cherries,  Apricots,  Melon,  and  Pears.  Mr.  Hall,  gardener  to  Lady 
Louisa  Ashburton,  Romsey,  took  second  prize  with  fine  Black  Hamburgh 
Grapes,  a  huge  Royal  Jubilee  Melon,  and  nice  Brunswick  Figs  as  his 
best  dishes  ;  third,  Mr.  Herbert  Jones,  Bath.  For  six  dishes  Mr.  Hall 
won  first,  Mr.  Strugnell  second,  and  the  Frome  Fruit  and  Flower  Co. 
third,  five  competing.  Messrs.  Hall,  Jones,  and  Strugnell  staged  the 
best  black  Grapes,  the  last  named  winning  with  Muscats,  and  Mr. 
Clack,  gardener  to  E.  Colstcn,  Etq.,  M.P.,  Devizes,  showed  the  best 
black  Muscats,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines  in  single  dishes. 
Vegetables  are  always  a  large  item  of  the  Trowbridge  sho^vs,  and 
despite  the  drought  which  the  district  has  so  long  been  suffering  from, 
they  were  on  this  occasion  not  much  less  numerous  than  in  other  years, 
and  the  quality  proved  surprisingly  good.  There  is  an  absence  of 
special  priz.es  for  vegetables  usually  presented  by  leading  seedsmen, 
which  is  perhaps  the  fault  of  the  management.  Messrs.  Toogood  give 
their  medals  and  certificates  for  those  obtaining  highest  points  in  the 
several  divisions,  and  which  meet  with  just  recognition  from  recipients. 
Taunton  Deane,  August  15tli. 
This  is  the  most  extensive  exhibition  held  in  the  West  of  England. 
There  is  a  schedule  of  prizes  of  179  classes,  and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  seven  tents  are  required  to  take  the  exhibits.  Two  of  these  are 
very  large;  one  takes  the  main  of  the  open  class  plants  and  cut  flowers, 
the  other  the  same  in  the  amateurs’  division,  and  both  tents  form  an 
excellent  exhibit  of  themselves.  The  public  park  at  the  top  of  the 
town  supplies  an  excellent  site  for  the  show ;  the  tents  are  substantial 
and  bright,  the  arrangements  as  near  perfect  as  they  well  can  be. 
From  the  judges’  point  of  view  there  seems  to  be  nothing  to  desire. 
The  day  was  brilliantly  fine,  following  a  heavy  downpour  in  the  west, 
and  the  attendance  very  large. 
Stove  and  greenhouse  plants  are  a  leading  feature  both  in  the  open 
and  amateurs’  divisions.  The  prizes  for  specimen  plants  are  large  enough 
to  attract  Mr.  James  Cypher  with  his  splendid  specimens,  and  others ; 
while  in  Mr.  Thomas,  gardener  to  Wilfred  Marshall,  Esq.,  the  society 
has  a  local  cultivator  of  great  capacity.  On  this  occasion  Mr.  Cypher 
was  placed  fiist  with  twelve  specimens  in  flower,  which  included  fine 
examples  of  Erica  aemula,  E.  Marnookiana,  and  E.  Irbyana,  Ixora 
macrothyrsa  (Duffi),  I.  Williams!,  &c.  Mr.  Thomas  was  second  with 
some  very  fine  plants,  including  Ixora  Prince  of  Orange,  I.  Ellioti, 
Epidendrum  prismatocarpum,  a  very  fine  example  Bougainvillea 
Sanderiana,  B.  glabra,  &c.  With  six  plants,  Mr.  W.  Finch,  Coventry,  came 
in  first,  but  there  was  little  to  choose  between  his  half  dozen  and  that 
from  Mr.  Cypher,  which  gained  the  second  prize ;  the  latter  was  the 
most  attractive  half  dozen.  Mr.  Cypher  was  an  easy  first  with  eight 
fine-foliaged  plants,  having  four  noble  Palms  and  the  same  number  of 
Crotons  ;  Flambeau  and  Queen  Victoria  were  very  finely  coloured. 
Mr.  Finch  came  second.  There  were  several  classes  for  specimen 
plants,  and  in  that  for  a  stove  plant  Mr.  Cypher  and  W.  A.  Sandford, 
Esq.,  Nynehead  (Mr.  S.  Kidley,  gardener),  were  placed  equal  first  One 
had  Croton  angustifolium  hispida,  and  Mr.  Sandford  Bougainvillea  San¬ 
deriana,  both  finely  grown  and  bloomed.  The  best  recently  introduced 
plant  was  Begonia  Caledonia  from  Mr.  Cypher,  the  best  newly 
introduced  foliage  plant  Croton  Reidi  improved  (?),  from  Mr.  W.  Finch. 
There  were  specimen  Ferns,  Begonias,  &c.^  '^Fuchsias  werej'shown;  in 
fours  and  as  single  plants.] 
A  class  for  four  Orchids  brougntfsomerexcellent  examples  from  Mr. 
W.  Marshall,  who  had  Cattleyas  Leopoldi,  C.  Eldorado  splendida, 
C.  Sanderiana,  and  Cypripedium  Rothschildianum.  Mr.  Cypher  also 
had  very  good  specimens  of  Cattleyas  Eldorado,  Gaskelliana  splendida, 
Oncidium  Marshallianum,  and  Cypripedium  Morgat  as.  Exotic  Ferns 
were  shown  in  collections  of  eight  by  Mr.  Geo.  Tucker,  Hilperton,  who 
was  first  with  some  admirably  grown  plants  ;  and  Mr.  H.  S.  Bailey, 
Glastonbury  (Mr.  E.  Merrett,  gardener),  was  a  very  good  second. 
Tuberous-rooted  Begonias  were  in  the  form  of  large  and  finely  bloomed 
specimens.  Mr.  W.  Marshall  was  again  to  the  fore,  followed  closely  by 
Mr.  Geo.  Tucker. 
In  the  amateurs’  division  Mr.  W.  Marshall  was  a  leading  exhibitor  of 
stove  and  greenhouse  plants.  He  was  first  with  twelve  and  also  with 
six  ;  in  the  twelve  could  be  seen  a  specimen  of  the  Malayan  Ataccia 
cristata,  now  allotted  to  Tacca,  which  Mr.  Thomas  grows  with  great 
success;  and  there  were  fine  examples  of  IxoTa,  Bougainvillea, 
Clerodendron,  with  brilliant  Crotons.  Mr.  H.  S.  Bailey  was  first  with 
four  in  flower.  Other  flowering  plants  included  Orchids,  in  which 
class  Mr.  Marshall  was  placed  first,  Fuchsias,  Begonias,  double  and 
single  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  Petunias,  Gloxinias,  Aohimenes,  &c.,  all 
shown  generally  in  good  character.  The  Cockscomb,  which  is  becoming 
a  neglected  plant,  is  done  well  at  Taunton. 
Taunton  always  makes  a  great  display  with  cut  flowers,  but  the 
dense  throng  of  visitors  who  filled  the  tents  immediately  the  show  was 
thrown  open  made  note-taking  practically  impossible.  In  the  open 
classes  Messrs.  J.  Townsend  &  Son,  Worcester,  took  all  the  leading 
prizes  for  Roses,  but  they,  as  might  be  expected,  were  showing  signs 
of  a  waning  season.  Dahlias  were  in  good  form  generally,  and  in  all 
the  Dahlia  classes  Messrs  J.  Cray  &  Son,  Frome,  took  all  the  leading 
prizes.  The  Cactus  Dahlias  are  already  being  seen  in  good  form.  Mr. 
A.  R.  Brown,  Handsworth,  Birmingham,  came  west  with  his  Carnations, 
and  carried  off  the  two  best  prizes  for  seifs  and  Fancies.  There  were 
excellent  bunches  of  hardy  flowers,  Phloxes,  Gladioli,  Begonias,  &o., 
and  there  was  a  similar  set  of  classes  in  the  amateurs’  division,  in 
which  the  competition  was  generally  keen.  The  section  of  decorative 
classes  brought  some  very  pretty  tables,  Messrs.  E.  S.  Cole  &  Son  of 
Bath  were  first  for  one  arranged  florally  for  dinner,  and  Mr.  J.  Cypher 
was  second.  Mr.  Cypher  had  the  best  epergne,  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Coles  of 
Bristol  was  second.  Then  there  were  hand  bouquets,  baskets,  and 
bouquets  of  wild  flowers,  &o. 
Fruit  was,  as  usual,  shown  in  good  character.  A  new  exhibitor, 
E.  Swinfen  Eady,  Esq,  K.C.,  Weybridge  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  Lock),  took 
the  first  prize  for  eight  dishes.  He  had  excellent  Madresfield  Court 
and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  Grapes,  Sea  Eagle  Peaches,  Early  Rivers 
Nectarine,  Figs,  &c.  Mr.  Hall,  gardener  to  Lady  Ashburton,  Romsey, 
was  second.  With  four  dishes,  Mr.  W.  Mitchell,  Romsey,  was  first,  and 
Mr.  W.  A.  Sandford  second.  Excellent  Grapes  were  shown  in  several 
classes,  and  there  were  *  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apricots,  Apples, 
Pears,  &c..  but  the  crowd  effectually  prevented  the  gathering  up  of 
particulars. 
Taunton  is  famous  for  its  splendid  vegetables ;  in  the  cottagers’  as 
well  as  in  the  open  classes  they  were  both  numerous  and  very  fine.  The 
special  prizes  offered  by  some  of  the  large  retail  seed  houses  gave  a 
great  impetus  to  the  competition.  Miscellaneous  exhibits  added  many 
features  of  interest.  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Exeter,  had  plants, 
cut  flowers,  &c.,  in  great  variety  and  full  of  interest.  Messrs.  Kelway 
and  Son  of  Langport,  and  I.  House  &  Sons,  Bristol,  had  collections  of 
cut  flowers,  the  former  showing  Gladioli  in  great  variety,  the  latter 
Sweet  Peas,  Dahlias,  &c.  Messrs.  White,  Barr  &  Son,  and  Jarman  and 
Co.  all  had  very  interesting  collections,  as  did  also  Messrs.  Davis 
and  Slade. 
Crystal  Palace,  August  16th  and  \lt\. 
During  the  month  of  August  in  each  year  the  Crystal  Palace  seems 
to  be  largely  given  over  to  co-operators,  who  there  have  their  festival. 
Horticulturally  the  interest  settles  upon  the  exhibition  of  fruits,  flowers, 
and  vegetables,  and  this  year  the  above  were  the  dates  chosen.  This 
was  the  sixteenth  show,  and  if  it  were  not  quite  up  to  some  of  its 
predecessors,  the  falling  off  may,  we  think,  be  rightly  asoribed  to  the 
season,  which,  for  Cabbages,  Cauliflowers,  and  Turnips,  has  been 
particularly  unfavourable.  On  the  other  hand,  Potatoes,  Onions,  and 
Marrows  were  more  than  usually  excellent,  and  represented  the  highest 
culture.  It  was  a  matter  for  some  regret  to  find  that,  in  the  section 
with  which  we  are  about  to  deal  briefly,  coarseness  in  the  Tomatoes 
encouraged  by  the  judges,  who  awarded  the  premier  prize  to  over-large 
specimens  with  immense  eyes,  practically  perfect  examples  coming 
second.  Considering  the  high  educational  value  of  the  show,  this 
judging  more  by  size  than  quality  ought  to  be  rigidly  discouraged. 
With  the  multitudinous  classes  in  what  is  termed  the  industrial 
section  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  deal.  The  growers,  it  must  be 
understood,  are  principally  of  the  class  who  do  the  whole  of  their  own 
work,  and  their  productions  are  more  than  meritorious.  .  They 
contribute  flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  and  in  every  section  the 
competition  is  keen  and  the  average  of  quality  high.  Cut  flowers,  such 
