September  19,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
27.’> 
Aqnarinm  Datjlia  fcljow,  Sept.  17th,  18th,  aqd  19th. 
A  Dahlia  show,  arranged  and  carried  through  principally  by  Mr. 
Richard  Dean,  Y.M.H.,  of  Ealing,  was  held  within  the  Royal  Aquarium, 
London,  on  Tuesday  and  the  two  following  days  of  this  week.  There 
was  a  strong  turnout  of  trade  growers,  and  amongst  those  staging 
Dahlias  were  Messrs.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley  ;  W.  Cutbush  &  Son  ; 
“Hobbies,”  Ltd.  (Mr.  J.  Green),  H.  J.  Jones  (who  also  staged  perennial 
Asters  in  pots)  ;  Eric  F.  Such  ;  Jones  &  Sons,  Shrewsbury  ;  M.  V. 
Seale,  Sevenoaks;  Dobbie  &  Co.;  J.  Surman,  Beckenham;  T.  S. 
Ware,  Ltd. 
Hardy  flowers,  pure  and  simple,  were  staged  by  Messrs.  Young  and 
Co.,  The  Nurseries,  Stevenage,  and  a  handsome  collection  of  Gladioli 
spikes  came  from  Messrs.  J.  Burrell  &  Co.,  Cambridge.  Blooms  of 
tuberous  Begonias  picked  from  the  open  air  were  liberally  staged  by 
Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Son,  forming  a  very  brilliant  feature.  Mr.  J.  Walker, 
Thame,  Oxon,  staged  Zonal  Pelargoniums  and  Show  Dahlias,  while 
from  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons  came  a  group  of  early  flowering 
Chrysanthemums  and  beautiful  cut  Roses.  Lawes’  Chemical  Manure 
Co.  staged  samples  of  their  specialities. 
Another  chief  centre  of  interest  lay  in  the  vegetables  brought 
forward  in  competition  for  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.’s  valuable  money 
prizes.  Leeks  and  Onions  alone  were  staged,  and  of  the  latter  there 
were  thirty-four  entries,  while  so  many  as  fifty-four  lots  of  Leeks 
were  laid  down.  Only  the  finest  samples  weie  here.  The  prizes  for 
six  International  Leeks  were  annexed  as  follows  : — First,  Mr.  Wm. 
Liddell,  Newburn ;  second,  Mr.  A.  McYinish,  Beau  Manor  Park 
Gardens,  Loughborough ;  third,  Mr.  Geo.  Cole,  Torrence  Castle 
Gardens,  East  Kilbride,  N.B. ;  fourth,  Mr.  J.  Howe,  Little  Haywood, 
near  Stafford  ;  and  fifth,  Mr.  Robert  Weir,  Rock  Alnwick.  Onions 
were  good,  but  decidedly  below  par,  even  at  that.  First,  Mr.  E. 
Beckett;  second,  Mr.  Chap.  Drew,  Chilton  Foliat,  Hungerford,  Berks; 
third,  Mr.  John  Bond,  gardener  to  W.  E.  S.  Earle  Drax,  Esq.,  Olantigh 
Towers  Gardens,  Wye,  Kent ;  fourth,  Mr.  James  Hunt,  Alton  St. 
Pancras,  near  Cerne,  Dorset ;  fifth,  Mr.  G.  H.  Copys,  Holnest  Park 
Gardens,  Sherborne,  Dorset. 
Tne  first  prize  half  dozen  Onions  weighed  lojlbs.,  and  the  heaviest 
bulb  individually  weighed  2f  lbs.  The  first  prize  Leeks  averaged 
13£  inches  blanched  length,  with  a  circumference  of  6J  inches.  Messrs. 
Dobbie  themselves  set  up  Parsnips  and  Carrots  of  great  length  and 
superior  quality.  They  also  staged  an  interesting  collection  of  Gourds, 
Pumpkins,  and  Squashes.  In  a  note  on  page  215,  last  week,  we 
referred  to  the  Kew  collection  of  the  above,  and  there  stated  that  we 
thought  seeds  could  only  be  got  from  Parisian  nurserymen.  It  is 
pleasing  to  know  that  Messrs.  Dobbie  have  some  thirty-four  varieties. 
Nurserymen’s  Competitions. 
Show  and  Fancy  Dahlias. — In  the  first  schedule  class  for  two 
dozen  distinct  blooms,  as  above,  Mr.  John  Walker  of  Thame  led  off, 
beating  Mr.  Chas.  Turner ;  and  third  Mr.  G.  Humphries,  Chippenham, 
all  with  first-rate  blooms.  Mr.  J.  R.  Tranter,  Henley-on-Thames,  stood 
first  for  the  dozen,  Mr.  C.  Turner  following. 
Cactus  vars. — Five  fine  lots  of  twelve  vars.  in  six  blooms  each  were 
staged.  Messrs.  J.  Burrell  repeated  their  Crystal  Palace  success  by 
winning  first ;  the  other  prizes  fell  respectively  to  Messrs.  J.  Stredwick 
and  Son,  Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.,  and  Mr.  M.  Y.  Seale. 
For  twelve  bunches  of  pompons,  in  tens,  Mr.  C.  Turner  stood 
foremost,  Mr.  Seale  second,  Messrs.  J.  Stredwiok  &  Son  third ;  and  for 
the  twelve  varieties  of  singles,  in  bunches  of  six  blooms  each,  Mr.  J. 
Walker  beat  Mr.  Seale,  each  with  fine  lots. 
Amateurs. 
Some  tasteful  exhibits  were  staged  in  the  section  devoted  to  Cactus 
varieties.  H.  L.  BroussoD,  jun.,  Esq.,  Sidcup,  Kent,  led  in  class  8  for 
nine  vars.,  three  blooms  each,  having  Uncle  Tom,  Yiscountess  Sher- 
brook,  J.  W.  Wilkinson,  Loyalty,  Charles  Woodbridge,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe, 
Rosine,  and  Mayor  Tuppenny.  The  second  award  fell  to  H.  A.  Needs, 
Esq.,  and  third  to  F.  W.  Sharpe,  Esq.,  Great  Martins,  Twyford.  Eight 
collections  were  arranged.  H.  A.  Needs,  Esq.,  won  tor  a  vase  of  a 
dozen  blooms  ;  Ed.  Mawley,  Esq.,  second,  and  Astley  Yigers,  Esq., 
Walton-on-Thames,  third. 
Certificated  Varieties. 
In  the  class  for  three  vases,  each  containing  nine  blooms,  arranged 
with  any  kind  of  foliage,  the  first  prize  was  accorded  to  Mr.  W.  V.  Seale, 
the  second  to  Mr.  J.  Walker,  and  other  well  known  growers  secured  the 
other  awards. 
Certificated  varieties  were  as  follows,  most  of  them  have  been 
previously  described  :  Cactus — Mrs.  H.  J.  Jones  and  Spotless  Queen, 
both  from  Mr.  J.  T.  West;  Sailor  Prince  from  “Hobbies  Ltd.”  (Mr. 
J.  Green);  Mrs.  Edward  Mawley,  Lottie  Dean,  Clio,  from  Messrs. 
Burrell  &  Co. ;  John  Burn,  from  Mr.  S.  Mortimer;  Ringdove,  Gabriel, 
Ophir,  from  Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams,  &  Co. ;  Ant.  Chloe,  Althae, 
Goldfinch,  Clara  Stredwick,  G.  W.  Tullock,  Mrs.  Winstanley,  Lilao,  and 
Rufus,  all  from  Messrs.  Stredwick  &  Sons. 
Show  Dahlia  Merlin  came  from  Mr.  C.  Turner. 
Pompon  varieties. — Mildred,  from  Mr.  C.  Turner;  Beauty  of 
Sevenoaks,  from  Mr.  M.  V.  Seale ;  Irma  and  Minna,  both  from  Turner. 
Singles — Robin  Adair  and  Royal  Sovereign,  both  from  Mr.  M.  Y. 
Seale. 
Medals. 
Large  gold  to  “  Hobbies,”  Ltd.  (Mr.  J.  Green).  "!T““ 
Gold  medals  to  Messrs.  Jones  &  Sons,  Shrewsbury ;  Cannell  &  Sons, 
Swanley ;  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay,  N.B. ;  M.  V.  Seale,  Sevenoaks  ;  and 
Burrell  &  Co.,  Cambridge.  .  .J 
8ilver-gilt  medals  to  Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Son,  South  ^Norwood; 
J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill. 
Silver  medals  o  Mr.  E.  F.  Such,  Maidenhead;  Messrs.  Cutbush  and 
Sons,  Highgate  ;  and  J.  Surman,  Beckenham. 
Edinburg  Fower  Show,  September  lit!]  aqd  12th. 
( Concluded  from  page  248.) 
The  following  awards  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society, 
Edinburgh,  were  not  published  last  week  at  time  of  forwarding  report 
of  show.  Silver-gilt  medal  and  special  award  to  Mr.  John  Downie, 
Murrayfield,  and  144,  Princes  Street,  Edinburgh.  Silver  medal  and 
special  award  to  Messrs.  R.  B.  Laird  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Pinkhill  Nurseries. 
Small  silver  medals  and  awards  to  Messrs.  Cunningham,  Fraser  &  Co  , 
Comely  Bank,  Edinburgh;  Messrs.  Cuthbertson,  Rothesay;  Forbes, 
Hawick  ;  Irvine,  Jedburgh  ;  Eckford,  Wem  ;  and  Cocker  &  Sons, 
Aberdeen.  Special  awards  to  Messrs.  J.  Methven  &  Sons,  Edinburgh  ; 
Kerr  Bros.,  Dumfries;  James  Grieve  &  Sons,  Pilrig ;  A.  Lister  &  Sons, 
Rothesay  ;  M.  Campbell  &  Sons,  Blantyre  ;  and  Mr.  Philips,  Granton. 
The  Floral  Committee  awarded  a  first  class  certificate  to  Messrs.  Laing 
and  Mather,  Kelso,  for  Carnation  Sir  R.  Waldie  Griffiths,  and  to  Mr. 
C.  Freeland,  Larkhall,  an  award  of  merit  for  Carnation  Gala  Day,  a 
round-petalled  white  variety. 
Grapes. 
It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  while  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Gros 
ColmaD,  and  Ladv  Downe’s  were  scarcely  so  good  or  so  largely  shown 
as  usual,  Black  Hamburgh  was  presented  in  not  only  a  large  number  of 
bunches,  but  also  in  a  condition,  as  regards  quality,  seldom  seen  quite  so 
good.  Mr.  James  MeDzies,  Larbert  ;  Mr.  Cains,  Balruddery ;  Mr. 
Buchanan,  Girvan,  Ayr  ;  and  Mr.  Potter,  Whitehall,  Cumberland,  ard 
some  of  the  more  prominent  exhibitors  of  this  grand  old  Grape.  Then 
we  had  one  or  two  examples  of  Appley  Towers,  notably  those  from  Mr. 
D.  Kidd,  Carberry  House,  Musselburgh,  which  proves  this  to  be  a 
variety  of  handsome  appearance.  Madresfield  Court  was  another  Grape 
of  the  year,  the  examples  from  Mr.  Lunt,  Keir,  being  especially  good 
and  well  finished.  White  Grapes,  though  an  improvement  on  those 
shown  at  Glasgow,  were  generally  not  up  to  the  average. 
Pears  and  Apples. 
The  exhibition  of  these  popular  fruits  once  more  proves  that  Britain 
need  not  depend  on  the  foreigner  if  she  chooses  to  exert  herself  and 
grow  her  own.  Both  fruits  were  represented  more  extensively  than  at 
Glasgow,  though  the  average  was  perhaps  not  so  high.  The  best 
Pears  shown  comprised  Beurre  Durondeau,  Beurre  d’Amanlis,  Beurre 
Superfin,  Souvenir  du  Congres,  Doyenne  du  Comice,  Louise  Bonne  of 
Jersey,  Magnate,  and  Pitmaston  Duchess ;  and  the  most  successful 
exhibitors  were  Mr.  Day,  Galloway  House,  Wigton  ;  Mr.  Galloway,  the 
new  head  gardener  in  place  of  Mr.  T.  Cook,  at  Gosford,  Longniddry ; 
Mr.  Cairns,  The  Hirsel,  Coldstream;  Mr.  Gordon,  Ewanfield,  Ayr;  and 
Mr.  Greenfield,  Kilmun.  Apples  contained  more  dishes  that  could  be 
called,  in  Scots  phrase,  “  by-ordinary.”  There  were  grand  examples 
staged,  some  in  large  numbers,  of,  among  others,  The  Queen,  Lord 
Suffield,  Ecklinville  Seedling,  Stirling  Castle,  James  Grieve,  Lady 
Sudeley,  Warner’s  King,  Loddington,  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  and  Cox’s 
Pomona;  the  ohief  prizewinners  being  Mr.  Sinclair,  Congulton,  Drem  ; 
Mr.  Whiting,  Hereford ;  Mr.  Cairns,  Mr.  Day,  and  Mr.  Beisant,  Castle 
Huntly,  Perth.  In  addition  to  Apples  in  season,  a  number  of  late 
kinds,  immature  and  out  of  character,  were  also  shown.  The  inclusion 
in  the  prize  list  of  suoh  late  sorts  as  Northern  Greening  and  Mkre  de 
Menage  has  surely  no  good  effect  on  Apple  culture,  while  the  fruits 
lessen  the  quality  of  the  exhibition. 
Plants  and  Cut  Flowers. 
Of  these  it  may  be  said  that  in  the  east  of  Sootland  plant 
growing  is  very  far  ahead  of  what  it  is  in  the  west,  as  evidenced  by  the 
Glasgow  Show.  The  Crotons  and  foliage  plants,  especially  those  staged 
by  Mr.  Lunt,  Keir  House,  being  large  and  in  first-rate  condition.  Ferns 
from  Mr.  Neil  Fraser,  Rockville,  Murray  field,  were  also  much  beyond 
the  average.  Yery  few  Orchids  were  shown,  but  of  the  class  of  plants 
commonly  grown  for  greenhouse  decoration,  such  as  double  and  single 
Begonia,  small  decorative  plants,  &c.,  there  was  a  good  show. 
The  beautiful  display  of  Sweet  Peas  has  already  been  commented 
on.  It  had  only  one  drawback  in  the  exhibits  being  crushed  together 
into  far  too  little  space.  Gardeners,  it  may  be  said,  were  quite  out  of 
the  running  for  these,  amateurs  taking  all  the  chief  prizes,  and  very 
fine  indeed  were  their  exhibits.  One  would  like  to  say  more  of  the 
Hollyhocks,  Phloxes,  and  Pentstemons,  with  Yiolas,  Dahlias  in  great 
profusion,  and  Carnations  shown  by  several  trade  growers,  and  of  the 
wonderfully  bright  display  of  herbaceous  cut  flowers,  which  are  always 
so  prominent  a  feature  at  Edinburgh,  but  space  forbids. 
The  happy  experience  of  inviting  Lord  Rosebery  to  open  the  show 
must,  however,  not  pass  without  remark,  an  addition  of  4000  visitors, 
with  a  corresponding  inflation  of  receipts,  was  largely  due  to  that 
cause.  Certainly  Mr.  P.  Murray  Thomson,  8.S.C.,  the  hard  working 
secretary,  has  cause  to  feel  satisfied  on  this  occasion. 
