414 
■JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  7,  1901. 
during  the  season.  At  Portsmouth  adherence  is  still  con¬ 
tinued  to  the  combination  class  of  incurved  and  Japanese  as 
the  leading  item  in  the  schedule  -of  twenty-four  classes 
devoted  to  the  flower.  A  first  prize  of  £7,  with  a  second  of 
£5,  is  the  chief  inducement  for  exhibitors,  and  as  a  rule  such 
a  class  as  twenty-four  incurved  blooms  in  not  less  than 
eighteen  varieties  and  twenty-four  Japanese  distinct,  does 
not  fail  to  bring  a  spirited  competition.  For  a  group  of 
Chrysanthemums  and  foliage  plants  of  60  square  feet  £4  is 
the  first  prize  offered.  Amateurs  are  well  provided  for  at 
this  show.  Nine  classes  are  set  apart  for  them,  and  as  a  rule 
they  make  a  creditable  display. 
At  Croydon  a  Challenge  Cup,  value  25gns,  and  £5  is 
offered  for  thirty-six  blooms,  distinct,  of  Japanese  and 
incurved  varieties,  and  is  quite  an  easy  class  to  fill,  being, 
therefore,  one  that  should  be  productive  of  keen  competi¬ 
tion.  The  Kent  County  Society  hold  their  show,  as  usual, 
in  the  Rink,  at  Blackheath.  No  less  than  thirty  classes  are 
provided,  which  are  thoroughly  representative  of  the  flower. 
Here,  also,  a  combination  class  of  both  Japanese  and  In¬ 
curved,  in  thirty-six  varieties,  is  the  leading  feature. 
Both  Derby  and  Halifax  Shows  are  held  on  November  1 
and  2.  At  Derby  the  leading  classes  are  for  twenty-four 
Incurved,  in  not  less  than  eighteen  varieties.  Similar  con¬ 
ditions  prevail  for  Japanese  varieties  also.  Both  are  easy, 
and  should  produce  brisk  competition.  Many  classes  are 
provided  for  decorative  Chrysanthemums  set  up  in  epergnes, 
vases,  and  baskets  filled  for  effect.  At  Halifax  twenty-four 
classes  are  provided  for  Chrysanthemums  alone,  which  is 
sufficient  to  make  a  bold  display.  Here,  also,  the  sections 
are  divided.  A  Silver  Cup  value  £5  5s.  is  offered  for  twelve 
Japanese  varieties,  distinct.  Classes  are  also  provided  for 
twenty-four  Japanese,  and  the  same  number  of  Incurved, 
in  not  less  than  eighteen  varieties. 
Tuesday,  November  5th,  is  a  busy  day.  The  shows  of 
the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  Southampton, 
Plymouth,  and  Cardiff  are  all  being  held.  The  former,  as 
usual,  is  centred  in  the  Royal  Aquarium,  London,  but  con¬ 
sidering  the  excellent  report  the  Journal  contains  of  this 
exhibition  no  comment  need  be  made  by  me. 
The  Southampton  Show  is  held  a^s  usual  in  the  Skating 
Rink,  quite  one  of  the  best  sites  in  the  provinces,  affording 
ample  space  and  light.  The  Queen  Victoria  Memorial 
Challenge  Trophy,  value  £40,  is  the  leading  prize  here,  and 
a  handsome  one  it  is,  while  the  conditions  of  competition 
are  quite  easy.  Twelve  Japanese  distinct,  three  blooms  of 
each  on  stems,  with  foliage.  At  Plymouth  a  grand  exhibi¬ 
tion  is  usually  held.  All  the  best  of  West  County  exhibitors 
meet.  £10  is  offered  for  forty-eight  Japanese,  in  not  less 
than  twenty-four  varieties — quite  an  easy  class  to  fill.  Mary 
local  classes  are  provided,  which  produce  spirited  competi¬ 
tion.  At  Cardiff  £6  is  offered  for  twenty-four  Japanese 
distinct,  a  class  that  should  produce  keen  competition.  No 
less  than  thirty-five  other  classes  are  provided. 
The  Ascot,  Sunninghill,  Sunningdale,  and  District 
Society  hold  their  annual  show  in  the  Grand  Stand, 
November  6th,  where  there  is  usually  a  good  display. 
Separate  classes  are  provided  for  Japanese  and  incurved 
blooms  in  twenty-four  varieties.  In  these  and  in  the  open 
class  for  Chrysanthemums  mixed  with  foliage  plants 
encouraging  prizes  are  offered.  In  addition,  no  less  than 
seventeen  local  classes  are  provided. 
In  the  Guildhall  the  Winchester  Chrysanthemum  Society 
hold  their  annual  meeting  on  the  7th,  and  which  is  usually 
one  of  the  best  of  provincial  shows.  The  general  quality  of 
the  exhibits  is  a  remarkable  feature  here.  The  combination 
class  of  forty-eight  incurved  and  Japanese  distinct  bloonn 
is  one  of  the  leading  features  here,  and  so  are  the  Chrysan¬ 
themum  plants  in  separate  colours  as  grown  for  con¬ 
servatory  decoration.  Nowhere  can  better  groups  of 
Chrysanthemums  only  be  seen.  In  all,  twenty-eight  classes 
are  provided.  Windsor  and  Leicester  commence  their  shows 
on  the  8th.  The  former  is  usually  favoured  with  good 
quality  exhibits,  the  site  being  really  too  small  for  the 
number.  The  Leicester  Society  issue  a  thoroughly  repre¬ 
sentative  list  of  prizes,  without  any  startling  items  in  the 
way  of  big  rewards. 
The  week  opening  with  Tuesday,  November  12th  is 
indeed  a  busy  one.  In  Bingley  Hall  the  Birmingham  Society 
opens  its  show  as  usual,  and  is  perhaps  the  most  representa¬ 
tive  meeting  of  any,  as  it  embraces  so  thoroughly  all  sections 
of  horticulture.  Nowhere  can  so  many  trade  exhibits  be 
seen,  and  which  add  so  much  to  the  interest  and  beauty 
of  the  show.  Fourteen  classes  are  provided  for  cut  blooms. 
The  principal  classes  are  those  for  incurved  and  Japanese- 
in  twenty-four  varieties,  for  which,  in  both  classes,  no  less 
than  six  prizes  are  offered,  ranging  from  £8  downwards. 
Specimen  plants  are  largely  encouraged  and  thoroughly  well 
represented,  nine  classes  being  provided.  A  first  prize  of 
£10  is  offered  for  a  group  to  which  Ferns  and  foliage  plants 
may  be  added.  Fourteen  classes  are  arranged  for  fruit, 
many  for  vegetables,  and,  what  has  been  for  many  years  a 
feature  here,  the  magnificent  Primulas,  of  which  the 
cultivators  in  and  around  this  city  may  well  be  proud. 
In  the  Public  Hall  the  Ipswich  Show  opens  on  the  same 
date,  and  is  steadily  asserting  itself  as  one  of  the  foremost 
societies  in  the  Eastern  counties.  For  the  general  good  quality 
of  its  groups  of  Chrysanthemums,  specimens  and  cut  blooms, 
Brighton  has  long  held  a  prominent  position.  No  less  than 
four  semicircular  groups  are  provided.  <£5,  a  Silver  Chal¬ 
lenge  Bowl,  and  the  Society’s  Silver  Medal  are  offered  as 
the  premier  award  in  the  leading  class.  Pyramid,  standard 
and  dwarf-trained  Chrysanthemum  plants  are  here 
encouraged,  substantial  prizes  being  offered.  In  the  cut- 
bloom  department  the  principal  class  is  that  for  thirty-six 
Japanese  not  less  than  twenty-four  varieties. 
Hull,  York,  Bournemouth,  Bristol,  and  Reading  Shows 
are  held  on  the  13th.  For  years  the  Hull  Society  has  done 
much  to  encourage  the  cultivation  of  the  Chrysanthemum, 
and  to  display  it  afterwards  in  a  useful  manner.  This 
society  can  safely  be  said  to  have  been  the  pioneer  of  the 
combination  grouping  system  of  Chrysanthemums  and 
foliage  plants,  for  which  handsome  prizes  have  been,  and 
are  still,  offered  for  such  a  group  arranged  in  a  space  of 
100  square  feet.  An  interesting  class  is  that  for  a  drawing¬ 
room  mirror-panel  group,  which  so  well  illustrates  how 
plants  may  be  utilised  for  effect. 
Numerous  are  the  classes,  too,  for  specimen-trained 
plants  and  for  “  cut-backs,”  which  show  what  an  adaptable 
plant  the  Chrysanthemum  is  for  decoration.  Twenty-three 
classes  are  provided  for  cut  blooms,  the  principal  one  being 
those  for  twenty -four  incurved  and  Japanese  separate,  the 
former  to  be  not  less  than  eighteen  varieties  and  the  latter 
distinct.  A  first  prize  of  £6  is  offered  in  both  classes. 
Single-flowered  varieties  are  much  encouraged,  and  so  are 
the  “  Runclle  ”  type,  which  are  interesting,  but  seldom  seen 
nowadays.  . 
Table  decoration  under  artificial  light  is  here  a  feature. 
A  piece  of  Challenge  Plate,  value  £10  10s.,  with  a  sum  of 
4gns,  is  offered  as  first  prize  for  a  completely  laid  round 
dessert  table  for  six  persons,  and  as  the  competition  is  keen 
usually,  and  a  properly  darkened  room  provided,  this  class 
adds  much  to  the  interest  of  the  show.  No  society  that  I 
know  of  does  so  much  to  encourage  the  amateur  exhibitor. 
No  less  than, fourteen  classes  are  provided  for  their  exclusive 
benefit. 
At  Bournemouth  £7  is  offered  for  thirty-six  Japanese 
blooms  in  eighteen  varieties,  quite  an  easy  class  to  fill.  For 
a  group  of  Chrysanthemum  plants  interspersed  with  foliage 
plants  substantial  prizes  are  offered.  Much  encouragement 
is  given  to  local  competitors  in  both  plants  and  cut  blooms. 
Even  single-handed  gardeners  are  not  forgotten.  For  years 
the  autumn  shows  held  by  the  Reading  Chrysanthemum 
Society  have  been  a  success  and  some  of  the  best  seen,  so- 
good  are  the  prizes  and  enthusiastic  the  cultivators.  A 
Challenge  Cup,  valued  at  18gns,  is  given,  with  a  cash  prize 
in  the  group  class. 
The  Scottish  Horticultural  Association  hold  their  annual 
show  in  the  Waverley  Market,  November  14th,  and  no  doubt 
it  will  be,  as  it  invariably  is,  a  success.  Nowhere  is  so  much 
encouragement  given  to  the  staging  of  cut  blooms  in  vases  as 
here,  no  less  than  fifteen  classes  being  set  apart  for  that 
method  only.  For  twenty  vases  in  twenty  varieties,  three 
blooms  of  each,  £20  and  a  gold  medal  is  offered  for  the 
premier  award  ;  £15,  £10,  and  £5  is  also  offered  for  the 
remaining  prizes.  For  fifteen  varieties,  three  blooms  of 
each,  also  in  vases,  the  City  of  Edinburgh  prize,  valued  at 
£20,  is  offered,  with  a  second  prize,  £10.  Then,  again,  the 
Scottish  Cup,  open  only  to  Scottish  gardeners,  is  offered 
with  £10,  as  first  award  for  twelve  vases  in  twelve  varieties. 
These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  good  classes  the  schedule 
contains.  On  the  same  day  the  Devon  and  Exeter  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  hold  their  one  hundred  and  ninety-fourth 
show  in  the  Victoria  Hall,  Exeter.  Plants  in  pots  and  cut 
blooms  are  well  represented.  A  Silver  Cup  and  £5  is  offered 
in  the  latter  section. — E.  Molynetjx. 
