October  10,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
341 
Death  of  Mr.  Martin  Hope  Sutton. 
By  the  decease  of  Mr.  Martin  Hope  Sutton,  which  took  place 
upon  Friday,  October  5,  both  horticulture  and  agriculture 
recognise  the  loss  of  a  conspicuous  personality,  and  the  town  of 
Reading  mourns  the  absence  of  one  who  figured  not  merely  as  a 
promoter  of  its  wealth  and  industries,  but  as  an  active  agent  in  all 
local  undertakings  of  benevolence.  Mr.  Sutton,  who  was  born  in 
1815,  had  attained  to  the  age  of  eighty-six.  His  long  life  was 
one  of  the  ideal  old-English  type,  in  which  energy,  usefulness, 
enthusiasm,  and  calm  beneficence  were  blended  with  the  sound 
business  instinct  from  which  all  great  enterprises  spring. 
It  was  Mr.  Sutton’s  love  of  botany  and  Nature  that  first  led 
him  to  induce  his  father  to  combine  the  business  of  a  corn 
merchant  with  that  of  the  nursery.  This  happened  in  the  year  of 
the  accession  of  Queen  Victoria  (1837).  Five  years  later  John 
Sutton  and  Son  were  joined  by  the  second  brother,  Alfred,  when 
the  firm  took  the  title  of  John  Sutton  and  Sons,  which  it  has 
since  borne,  and  which  is  sufficiently  well  known  not  only  among 
readers  but  in  many  places  where  the  “Journal  of  Horticulture”  is 
never  likely  to  penetrate.  Mr.  Sutton’s  father  had  made  an 
unlucky  start  in  life  owing  to  the  loss  in  a  bank  failure  of  the 
fortune  left  him  by  his  father,  but  none  who  know  Reading  and 
the  neighbourhood  can  doubt  that  in  the  end  he  was  amply  com¬ 
pensated  by  his  sons  for  his  early  trials  and  disappointments. 
Amid  much  else  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Martin  Sutton  were  especially 
directed  to  the  improvemnt  of  root-crops  and  the  development  of 
pasture-lands  by  the  amelioration  of  grass-seeds,  for  which  the 
country  is  greatly  indebted  to  him.  He  was  the  recipient  of 
repeated  recognition  from  Prince  Albert  and  members  of  the 
Royal  Family,  and  in  December.  1890,  having  then  retired  from 
active  business  for  some  two  years,  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  a 
visit  from  King  Edw'ard  VII.,  accompanied  by  the  Dukes  of 
Cornwall  and  Connaught. 
Societies. 
National  Chrysanthemum,  October  8th,  9th,  and  10th. 
The  opening  exhibition  of  this  society  was  held  on  the  middle 
days  of  this  week  (Tuesday,  Wednesday,  and  Thursday)  within 
the  Royal  Aquarium,  London.  The  fact  of  the  Crystal  Palace 
Fruit  Show  falling  on  Thursday,  the  10th  inst.,  did  not  appear  to 
have  in  any  way  lessened  the  success  of  this  Aquarium  meeting. 
Collections  of  fruit  were  staged  both  by  Messrs.  J.  Laing  and 
Sons,  and  by  Mr.  H.  Berwick,  of  Sidmouth  Nurseries,  Sidmouth. 
Most  of  the  Chrysanthemum  specialists  had  exhibits,  as  our 
brief  report  denotes  ;  while  the  usual  local  growers  supported  the 
competitive  classes.  Mr.  H.  Deverill,  seed  merchant,  Banbury, 
on  this  occasion  offered  substantial  prizes  for  exhibits  of  his 
pedigree  Onions  and  other  choice  vegetables,  which  induced  the 
best  growers  in  the  kingdom  to  enter  the  lists.  All  the  vegetables 
were  handsome,  and  particularly  so  was  Mr.  E.  Beckett’s  first 
prize  collection.  The  decorative  classes  in  the  Chrysanthemum 
exhibition  seemed  stronger  than  heretofore. 
Competitive. 
Class  1  was  a  group  of  Chrysanthemums  and  foliage  plants 
arranged  for  effect  over  a  superficial  area  of  72ft.  Here  Mr.  E. 
Dove,  gardener  to  E.  J.  Wythes,  Esq.,  of  Bickley  Hall,  Kent, 
beat  Mr.  W.  Howe,  who  superintends  the  gardens  of  Lady  Tate, 
Park  Hill,  Streatham  Common.  There  was  nothing  remarkable 
about  either  of  the  groups,  though  the  plants  were  of  average 
quality. 
Mr.  Norman  Davis,  Chrysanthemum  Nurseries,  Framfield, 
Sussex,  secured  the  premier  position  for  twenty-four  Japanese 
blooms,  in  eighteen  varieties.  His  flowers  were  massive,  and,  on 
the  whole,  even,  including  Sir  H.  Kitchener,  Lily  Montford, 
Edith  Pilkington,  Mrs.  Darby,  Madame  Gustave  Henry,  Scottish 
Chief,  Snowflake,  Phoebus,  Baden  Powell,  Charles  Langley, 
Soleil  d’Octobre,  Mutual  Friend,  Mrs.  G.  Mileliam,  Edith  Tabor, 
Madame  Von  Andre,  Henry  Weeks,  and  Florence  Molyneux. 
The  seoond  prize  was  won  by  Mr.  Charles  Penford,  gardener  to 
Sir  H.  Fitzwygram,  Leigh  Park,  Havant,  with  a  set  of  splendid 
blooms.  Edith  Tabor  was  notably  fine.  Alice  Byron  also  stood 
out  prominently,  as  did  Florence  Molyneux  and  Mrs.  Coombe. 
Mr.  W.  Meredith,  Stanstead  Park  Gardens,  Emsworth,  led  in 
class  3  for  twelve  distinct  Japs.  Mr.  W.  Ring,  gardener  to  J. 
Warren,  Esq.,  Capel  House,  Waltham  Cross,  followed  as  a  close 
second  ;  and  third,  Mr.  A.  MacKay,  gardener  to  F.  H.  Bowden 
Smith,  Esq.,  Danesbury,  Bengeo,  Hertford,  also  with  fair  blooms, 
though  not  quite  expanded.  Mr.  J.  Brookes  led  for  the  half- 
dozen  blooms,  distinct,  beating  Mr.  G.  Impey  and  Mr.  S.  Foster, 
who  followed  in  this  order.  For  twelve  bunches  of  early-flowering 
pompons  in  at  least  eight  varieties,  the  premier  award  was 
annexed  by  Mr.  L.  Turk,  whose  collection,  however,  was  far  from 
impressing  one  with  delight.  For  a  similar  entry,  but  with  half 
as  many  varieties,  the  winners  in  order  were :  Messrs.  E.  F. 
Such,  D.  B.  Crane,  and  L.  Turk.  In  class  8,  Mr.  J.  Kirkwood, 
Grass  Park  House,  Finchley,  secured  the  lead;  as  did  Mr.  J. 
Brookes  in  the  succeeding  class,  which  sought  for  one  vase  of 
yellow  Japanese  blooms.  For  a  like  exhibit  of  a  white  variety, 
Mr.  J.  Impey  took  first,  and  Mr.  Norman  Davis  second. 
In  the  two  classes  (13  and  14)  for  early-flowering  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums  the  foremost  prizemen  were  Mr.  J.  II.  Prince,  11,  Fennel 
Street,  Loughborough,  for  the  twelve  bunches,  distinct,  followed 
for  the  second  place  by  Mr.  E.  F.  Such,  of  Maidenhead.  The  first 
set  here  was  exceptionally  fresh  and  strong.  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane, 
a  London  amateur  cultivator,  led  in  class  14  for  six  ditto  ;  second, 
Mr.  J.  Brookes,  from  Totteridge  Park.  The  decorative  classes 
we  have  already  referred  to  as  being  very  cheerful  and  a  most 
welcome  adjunct  to  the  show.  The  practice  of  using  berried 
plants,  such  as  Asparagus,  Symphoricarpus  racemosus,  Iris 
foetidissima,  Crataegus  pyracantha,  and  other  subjects,  along 
with  plants  possessed  of  highly  coloured  foliage,  as,  for  instance, 
Ghent  Azaleas,  Acers,  and  Golden  Elder,  also  the  hairy  seed- 
vessels  of  the  Traveller’s  Joy,  is  becoming,  or  has  already  become, 
very  popular.  When  tastefully  arranged  there  is  nothing  but 
encouragement  to  be  advanced  for  these  efforts.  The  chief 
winners  here,  without  going  into  details,  were  Miss  C.  B.  Cole, 
F.  W.  Seale,  E.  F.  Such,  and  D.  B.  Crane.  Messrs.  Turk, 
4  oster,  and  Brookes  stood  so  in  class  21,  for  a  vase  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  suitable  for  table  decoration.  Azalea  foliage, 
berried  Asparagus,  and  Ferns  (Maidenhair  and  Nephrolepis)  were 
utilised  in  Mr.  Turk’s  vase. 
The  amateurs’  classes  were  few,  but  certainly  well  supported, 
and  capital  blooms  were  shown.  For  twelve  Japanese  blooms  in 
as  many  varieties,  the  first  honours  were  captured  by  Mr.  J. 
Childs.  In  the  next  class,  for  six  blooms  of  the  same,  Mr.  J. 
Rayment  led,  and  Mr.  J.  Childs  came  second. 
[For  lack  of  space  this  week  we  must  omit  the  succeeding 
classes,  which,  however,  were  less  important.] 
Deverill’s  Prizes. 
Annually,  Mr.  Henry  Deverill  offers  prizes  here  for 
vegetables.  The  Onions,  as  usual,  were  very  handsome,  though, 
perhaps,  better  samples  liave  been  seen  on  former  occasions.  In 
class  A,  for  six  Onions  of  the  variety  Banbury  Tankard,  the  first 
prize  was  allocated  to  Mr.  E.  Beckett.  For  the  same  of  The 
Aristocrat  Onion,  Mr.  W.  Pope,  Highclere  Castle,  secured  first 
place.  Mr.  J.  Bowerman,  Hackwood  Park,  Basingstoke,  was 
foremost  for  a  dozen  of  the  Ailsa  Craig  variety,  and  massive 
bulbs  they  were.  A  like  position  was  filled  for  six  ditto,  by  Mr. 
R-  Lye, gardener  to  Mrs.  Kingsmill,  Sydmonton  Court,  Newbury  ; 
five  entered.  For  six  Exonian  Leeks  Mr.  Beckett  beat  Mr. 
Bowerman;  and  third,  Mr.  W.  Hibbs,  Barkworth,  Newcastle-on- 
Tyne.  Messrs.  W.  Pope,  Ivneller,  and  C.  Bowerman  were 
arranged  thus  for  a  dozen  of  Scarlet  Intermediate  Carrots.  We 
have  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  a  finer  display  of  Carrots  than  that  of 
Mr.  Pope’s.  The  best  twelve  samples  of  Deverill’s  Middleton 
Park  Favourite  Beet,  shown  with  foliage,  came  from  Mr. 
R.  Lye ;  Mr.  R.  A.  Horsford,  Old  Chirk  Castle  Gardens, 
Llangotten  Road,  Ivnaton,  second;  and  Mr.  J.  Bowerman  third. 
Mr.  J.  Bowerman  beat  Mr.  C.  Brown  and  Mr.  H.  Folkes  for  six 
sticks  of  Aylesbury  Prize  Red  Celery.  Mr.  Beckett  again 
annexed  first  award  for  twelve  fruits  of  Deverill’s  Glenhurst 
Favourite  Tomato ;  and  also  for  a  collection  of  vegetables  con¬ 
sisting  of  eight  kinds.  Mr.  W.  Pope  formed  a  good  second ;  Mr. 
H.  Folkes,  gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  F.  Halsey,  M.P.,  Gaddes- 
den  Place  Hemel  Hempstead,  third;  and  Mr.  C.  Brown,  fourth. 
The  collections  were,  indeed,  splendid,  and  more  may  be  said 
about  these  subsequently.  In  a  class  open  to  amateurs,  and 
asking  for  a  dozen  Onions,  the  first  prize  fell  to  Mr.  T.  A. 
Beckett,  Bower  Farm,  Havering,  Essex;  second,  to  Mr.  S. 
Taylor,  Oxon  ;  and  third,  to  Mr.  A.  Startin,  of  Derby. 
Miscellaneous. 
Mr.  H.  Deverill  secured  a  large  silver  medal  for  an  exhibit  of 
hardy  cut  flowers.  “Hobbies,”  Ltd.  (Mr.  J.  Green),  staged' 
Cactus  Dahlias,  Roses,  and  early  Chrysanthemums  in  their  usual 
place  at  the  organ  end  of  the  building.  (Gold  Medal.)  Mr.  H.  J. 
Jones  was  forward  with  a  large  group  of  cut  Chrysanthemum 
blooms,  chiefly  Japanese  varieties,  among  which  were  beautiful 
Samples  of  Madame  Von  Andre,  Miss  E.  Douglas,  Mrs.  R.  H. 
Reid,  Rabbie  Burns,  and  the  showy  decorative  variety  Ryecroft 
Crimson.  (Gold  Medal.) 
Mr.  R.  C.  Pulling,  Monkhams  Nursery,  Woodford,  Essex,  had 
also  a  gold  medal  for  a  group  of  Chrysanthemums  in  pots.  His 
best  were  Madame  Von  Andre,  E.  Bettsworth,  Madame  Gustave 
Henry,  Rayonnante,  and  Lady  Audrey  Buller;  Messrs.  Cutbush 
