September  5,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
229 
Sandy  Horticultural,  August  29tli. 
The  Sandy  Flower  Show  is  unique  in  its  way.  It  is  doubtful  if 
there  is  another  gathering  like  it  in  the  kingdom.  A  more  compre¬ 
hensive  schedule  of  prizes  can  scarcely  be  imagined.  There  are 
twenty-six  classes  for  plants,  fifty -three  for  cut  flowers,  five  for  table 
decorations,  thirty  for  fruit,  and  eighty-seven  for  vegetables.  In 
addition  there  are  classes  for  needlework,  stuffed  animals,  carving, 
specimens  of  photography,  honey,  butter,  eggs,  trussed  fowls,  dogs, 
poultry,  pigeons,  rabbits,  cats,  Ao.,  something  almost  of  everything 
which  can  interest  country  people.  Sandy  is  in  the  centre  of  an 
extensive  market  gardening  district.  It  is  but  a  large  village;  there  are 
no  great  centres  of  population  near  it,  and  yet  thousands  of  people  come 
in  from  all  parts  to  see  the  show,  by  road  as  well  as  by  rail.  It  is  the 
district  holiday,  and  all  are  happy  if  the  weather  is  fine.  A  crack  military 
band  is  engaged,  and  there  are  other  entertainments.  The  work  of 
organising  must  be  enormous,  but  everything  goes  smoothly.  A  large 
number  of  judges  have  to  be  engaged.  A  prolific  study  of  the  habits  of 
country  people  is  afforded  at  a  Sandy  Flower  Show. 
There  are  fine  specimen  plants  from  Cypher  of  Cheltenham.  Finch 
of  Coventry  and  Yause  of  Leamington  compete  with  twelve  specimens 
in  flower,  and  the  prizes  went  in  the  order  of  their  names.  Local 
plants  were  fairly  good.  Mrs.  Axtell,  of  Sandy,  is  a  leading  exhibitor. 
Mr.  T.  Lockie,  The  Gardens,  Diddington  Hall,  had  some  very  fine 
Cockscombs,  a  plant  he  ‘‘cultivates.”  Cut  flowers  are  a  leading  feature, 
for  there  are  some  keen  florists  about  Sandy.  There  are  classes  open 
to  all  comers,  and  they  are  good  enough  to  attract  to  Sandy  some  of 
the  leading  growers  of  the  day.  Harkness  A  Sons  were  there  with 
Roses  from  Bedale  ;  they  were  first  with  forty-eight  varieties,  and 
also  with  eighteen  Teas.  The  following  were  good  in  the  forty-eight 
class  : — Caroline  Testout,  Horace  Yernet,  Maman  Cocbet  and  its  white 
variety,  La  France,  Helen  Keller,  Marie  Verdier,  Yiotor  Hugo,  Mrs. 
J.  Laing,  Duke  of  Teck,  Madame  J.  Cointet,  White  Lady,  Bessie 
Brown,  Mareohal  Niel,  and  Ernest  Meiz.  The  Brothers  Burch,  of 
Peterborough,  were  second,  also  with  some  good  blooms.  The  best 
Teas  from  Bedale  were  Maman  Cochet,  Niphetos,  Mareohal  Niel,  White 
Maman  Cochet,  Bridesmaid,  Madame  de  Watteville,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Ac. 
Messrs.  G.  &  W.  Burch  were  again  second.  The  best  twenty-four 
Roses  in  the  amateurs’  division  came  from  Mr.  W.  Kingston,  Bedford. 
Gladioli,  in  collections  of  eighteen  spikes,  were  very  fine,  Messrs.  Hark¬ 
ness  A  Soub  being  in  fine  form ;  and  Mr.  C.  Bright,  Cambridge,  was  a 
very  good  second. 
The  Dahlia  classes  attract  some  of  the  leading  southern  growers, 
and  so  good  quality  reigns.  Mr.  Geo.  Humphries,  nurseryman,  Chip¬ 
penham,  was  first  with  thirty-six  Show  and  Fancy  varieties;  there  were 
well-finished  blooms  of  Rebecca,  Shotesham  Hero,  R.  T.  Rawlings, 
Shirley  Hibberd,  Ethel  Britton,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Prince  of  Denmark, 
Muriel  Hobbs,  Thos.  Pendered,  Dorothy,  Geo.  Hobbs,  Victor,  Ac. 
Messrs.  Keyres,  Williams  A  Co.,  Salisbury,  were  second.  With  twenty- 
four  varieties  Mr.  J.  B.  Tranter,  Henley-on-Thames,  was  first;  he  had 
good  blooms  of  R.  T.  Rawlings,  Diadem,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Victor,  John 
Walker,  Ac.  Mr.  Geo.  Humphries  was  second.  Cactus  Dahlias  were  a 
fine  feature;  with  twenty-four  varieties  shown  on  boards  Messrs. 
Keynes  &  Co.  were  placed  first  with  excellent  blooms  of  Rosine,  Ajax, 
Green’s  White,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Lyric,  Magnificent,  Elsie,  J.  W. 
Wilkinson,  The  Clown,  J.  T.  Hudson,  W.  Jowett,  Ac.  Mr.  Geo.  Humphries 
was  second  ;  he  had  in  good  character  Island  Queen,  William  Treseder, 
Lucius,  Innovation,  J.  F.  Hudson.  Ac.  CactuB  Dahlias  shown  in  twelve 
bunches  of  blooms  made  a  very  fine  display.  Messrs.  Keynes  &  Co. 
were  first  with  Columbine,  new,  white  and  scarlet;  Cornucopia,  Mrs. 
Carter  Page,  J.  W.  Wilkinson,  Prince  of  Yellows,  Lord  Roberts, 
Centurion,  Ac.  They  were  the  only  exhibitors.  With  twelve  bunches 
of  Pompon  Dahlias  Messrs.  Keynes  A  Co.  were  first ;  they  had  in  good 
character  Little  Jack,  Nellie  Bromhead,  Tommy  Keith,  Sunny  Day. 
break,  Lilian,  Douglas,  Darkest  of  All,  &o.  Mr.  C.  Bright  was  second. 
Hardy  herbaceous  and  bulbous  flowers,  in  twenty-four  bunches, 
were  a  very  fine  feature,  the  bunches  large  and  very  striking.  Messrs. 
Harkness  A  Sons  were  first  with  Montbretias  in  variety,  Gaillardias, 
Phloxes,  Galtonia  candicanp,  Liliee,  Gladioli,  Ao.  Second,  Messrs. 
A.  W.  Young  &  Co.,  StevenBge.  In  the  gardeners’  and  amateurs’ 
division,  subjects  such  as  Dahlias,  Gladioli,  Asters,  Marigolds,  Phloxes, 
Zinnias,  Ac.,  were  numerous  and  good.  The  best  twelve  bunches  of 
stove  and  greenhouse  cut  flowers  came  from  Mr.  T.  Lcckie,  who  had 
some  old-fashioned  subjects  of  an  interesting  character,  and  twelve 
bunches  of  hardy  herbaceous  and  bulbous  subjects  made  a  good  class. 
Fruit  was  a  good  feature.  The  best  collection  of  eight  distinct  kinds 
came  from  Mr.  J.  Barson,  The  Gardens,  Hinchingbrook,  Huntingdon, 
who  was  placed  first  with  Gros  Maroo  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  Grapes, 
Sea  Eagle  Peaches,  Pineapple  Nectarine,  Moor  Park  Apricot,  &o.  Mr. 
H.  Folkes,  Hemel  Hempstead,  was  second.  With  six  kinds  of  fruit 
Mr.  Carlile,  gardener  to  E.  H.  Gribble,  Esq.,  Henlcw  Grange,  was  first ; 
he  had  Foster’s  Seedling  and  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes,  Dymond 
Peaches,  Ac.;  Mr.  A.  Lockie  was  second.  Mr.  Carlile  had  the  best  six 
dishes  of  Apples,  staging  excellent  fruits  of  Peasgood’s  Nonesuob, 
Warner’s  King,  and  Emperor  Alexander,  Irish  Peaob,  Lady  Sudeley, 
and  Beauty  of  Bath ;  Mr.  Barson  was  second.  Mr.  Carlile  had  the  best 
two  bunches  of  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes.  With  any  other  blaok  Mr. 
Barson  came  first  with  Madresfield  Court,  and  he  was  alBO  first  with 
two  bunches  of  White  Muscat  of  Alexandria.  With  two  bunches  of  any 
other  white  Mr.  Folkes  came  first  with  Golden  Queen.  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Melons,  Plums,  &c.,  were  numerously  shown,  but  time  did 
not  permit  of  notes  being  taken. 
Vegetables  were  very  numerous,  as  they  came  from  gardeners, 
market  gardeners,  and  cottagers.  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading, 
Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley,  and  Messrs.  Jas.  Carter  A  Co.,  offered 
special  prizes  for  six  kinds  of  vegetables,  all  to  have  been  grown  from 
seeds  supplied  by  the  firm.  Mr.  Lockie,  who  was  in  great  form,  won 
the  first  prizes  in  all  three  cases.  It  was  said  the  display  of  vegetables 
was  one  of  the  best  ever  seen  in  Sandy. 
There  were  some  pretty  table  deoorations.  Miss  V.  Maddison, 
St.  Neots,  was  first  with  a  furnished  table ;  and  Miss  A.  Gregson,  Old 
Woodley,  was  second.  Bouquets,  Ac.,  were  also  shown.  Messrs. 
Laxton  Bros.,  Bedford,  had  a  colossal  floral  lyre  resting  upon  a  cushion 
of  blossoms.  This  proved  a  very  attractive  feature. 
WelliDgboro'  and  Midland  Counties  Dahlia,  August  29tl|. 
The  annual  exhibition  of  this  society,  which  is  doing  so  muoh  to 
extend  the  culture  of  the  Dahlia  in  the  southern  Midland  counties,  was 
held  on  the  above  date  in  the  charming  grounds  of  Redwell,  the  residence 
of  Thomas  Pendered,  Esq.,  the  president  of  the  society,  the  whole  of  the 
private  grounds  and  gardens  being  thrown  open  to  the  public.  The  day 
being  very  fine  there  was  a  large  attendance  ;  the  tent  and  grounds  were 
lit  up,  and  after  the  show  was  closed  at  8  p.m.  there  was  dancing  on  the 
lawn  tennis  ground  until  a  late  hour.  The  president’s  garden  was  seen 
to  the  best  advantage,  and  the  fine  development  of  his  small  but  select 
and  choice  collection  of  coniferous  trees,  was  much  admired.  As  is 
usual,  some  of  the  leading  southern  growers  competed,  and  a  large 
number  of  the  amateurs  and  working  men  of  Wellingborough  also 
exhibited. 
Fourteen  out  of  the  forty -five  classes  found  in  the  sohedule  of  prizes 
were  open  to  all  comers.  The  leading  class  was  for  thirty-six  blooms 
of  Show  and  Fancy  Dahlias,  distinct  ;  the  first  prize  was  taken  by  Mr. 
John  Walker,  nurseryman,  Thame,  whose  leading  blooms  were 
ChieftaiD,  R.  T.  Rawlings,  J.  T.  West,  W.  Keith,  Jas.  Cocker,  Arthur 
Rawlings,  Frank  Pearce,  Victor,  Plutarch,  Mrs.  Every,  Colonist,  Shirley 
Hibberd,  Harrison  Weir,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Geo.  Rawlings,  Matthew 
Campbell,  Professor  Fawcett,  John  Standish,  Ao.  Mr.  M.  V.  Seale, 
nurseryman,  Sevenoaks,  was  a  close  second,  and,  like  Mr.  Walker,  he 
had  very  good  flowers,  the  season  considered.  Chief  among  them  were 
Duke  of  Fife,  Maud  Fellowes,  R.  T.  Rawlings,  Diadem,  Mrs.  Gladstone, 
Goldfinch,  Wm.  Powell,  John  Rawlings,  John  Walker,  Alice  Emily, 
Virginale,  Prince  of  Denmark,  John  Forbes,  &o.  Messrs.  Keynes, 
Williams  &  Co.,  Salisbury,  were  third.  With  twenty-four  cut  blooms 
Mr.  Seale  was  placed  first ;  he  had  in  good  character  Virginale,  John 
Forbes,  Duchess  of  York,  J.  T.  West,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Watchman,  Duke 
of  Fife,  John  Walker,  John  Rawlings,  Prince  of  Denmark,  Alioe  Emily, 
S.  Mortimer,  &o.  Mr.  G.  Humphries,  nurseryman,  Chippenham, 
had  well  developed  blooms  of  Harrison  Weir,  John  Walker,  Arthur 
Rawlings,  R.  T.  Rawlings,  Wm.  Powell,  Colonist,  Emin  Pasha,  Ac. ; 
third,  Mr.  John  Walker.  With  twelve  blooms  Mr.  Geo.  Humphries 
was  first ;  his  leading  flowers  were  Mrs.  J.  Downie,  Mrs.  Every,  James 
Cooker,  Hercules,  Ethel  Britton,  R.  T.  Rawlings,  &c.  Mr.  Seale  came 
second  with  Duchess  of  York,  Sailor  Prince,  John  Walker,  Mrs.  J. 
Downie,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Ao. ;  third,  Mr.  John  Walker.  It  yvill  thus  be 
seen  that  the  honours  in  the  three  foregoing  classes  were  fairly 
distributed  among  the  leading  southern  growers. 
Cactus  Dahlias  shown  on  boards  were  an  excellent  feature,  as  there 
were  four  collections  of  eighteen  blooms,  and  Mr.  John  Walker  was 
awarded  the  first  prize,  having  excellent  blooms  of  J.  W.  Wilkinson, 
Loyalty,  Britannia,  Minnie  Walker,  pale  yellow  tipped  with  white; 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Innovation,  Mrs.  Carter  Page,  Lord  Roberts, 
Magnificent,  Canary  (new),  delicate  canary  yellow  ;  Lyric,  &o. ;  second, 
Mr.  Seale,  who  ran  Mr.  Walker  close  with  well  developed  examples  of 
Mayor  Weston,  The  Clown,  Magnificent,  Zephyr,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Ajax, 
Britannia,  Starfish,  Charles  Woodbridge,  Ac. ;  third,  Mr.  W.  Baxter, 
florist,  Woking.  With  twelve  blooms  Mr.  Walker  was  again  first, 
having  fine  blooms  of  J.  W.  Wilkinson,  Sylph,  Lyric,  Lucius,  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Crowe,  Britannia,  Vesta,  Magnificent,  Imperator,  Ao. ;  Mr.  Seale  was 
second,  his  leading  blooms  were  Sandpiper,  Mary  Service,  Charles 
Woodbridge,  Zephyr,  Debonnair,  Ao. ;  Mr.  W.  Baxter  was  third. 
There  were  four  collections  of  twelve  varieties  of  Cactus,  thr<  e 
blooms  of  each,  shown  on  wire  frames.  Mr.  J.  Walker  was  again  first 
with  excellent  illustrations  of  J.  W.  Wilkinson,  which  appears  to  be  a 
constant  variety ;  Canary,  Imperial,  Britannia,  Mrs.  C.  Page,  Lord 
Roberts,  Lyric,  Baden  Powell,  Winnie  Walter,  Mayor  Tuppenny,  Ac.; 
Mr.  Seale  was  second,  having  Vesta,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Charles 
Woodbridge,  Keynes’  White,  Mrs.  C.  Page,  Zephyr,  Artus,  Eolipse,  Ac. ; 
Mr.  G.  Humphries  was  third. 
With  twelve  bunches  of  Pompon  Dahlias,  six  blooms  in  a  bunch, 
Mr.  Seale  was  first  with  capital  blooms  of  Doris,  Ernest  Harper, 
Sunny  Daybreak,  Douglas,  Tommy  Keith,  Lilian,  The  Duke,  Ganymede, 
Elsie  Grafton,  &o.  Mr.  J.  Walker  was  seoond  with  Sunny  Daybreak, 
E.  Harper,  Ganymede,  Phoebe,  Dr.  Jim,  Ac.  ;  third,  Messrs.  Keynes, 
Williams  A  Co. 
Mr.  Seale  took  the  first  prize  for  a  vase  of  Dahlias  ;  he  employed 
a  tall  trumpet  glass,  and  employed  Caotus  Dahlias  with  appropriate 
foliage;  it  was  admirably  executed.  Mr.  J.  Walker  was  awarded  the 
