468 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANL  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  21,  1901. 
hoyal  Horticultural  of  Ireland,  Nov.  6th  and  7th. 
The  winter  show  of  the  above  was  held  on  the  6th  and  7th 
of  the  present  month,  in  the  central  hall  of  the  Royal  Dublin 
Society’s  quarters,  Ballsbridge. 
Plants. — For  a  stand  of  Chrysanthemums,  not  to  exceed 
thirty  pots,  the  first  prize  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Goff,  gardener  to 
Mrs.  McCann,  Simmonscourt  Castle,  Donnybrook.  The  Lord 
Ardilaun  Challenge  Cup,  value  £10,  for  a  group  of  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums,  not  more  than  thirty-six  pots,  becomes  the  property  of 
Mr.  R.  Geoghegan,  gardener  to  John  Miller,  Esq.,  Baggotrath 
House,  Sandymount,  who  has  led  for  the  past  three  successive 
years.  For  three  well-grown  Chrysanthemums,  Mr.  Cavanagh, 
gardener  to  R.  W.  Booth,  Esq.,  Victoria  House,  Dalkey,  easily 
out-distanced  his  competitors ;  the  second  award  went  to  Mr. 
J.  Goff,  gardener  to  Mrs.  McCann,  Donnybrook,  with  fine  bushy 
plants.  Mr  C'avannagh  again  wrested  the  premier  place  with  ease 
for  the  three  pots  of  pompons,  the  plants  of  Sceur  Melanie  and 
Mrs.  Bateman  being  profusely  flowered;  while  for  second  place, 
Mr.  Tinegar,  gardener  to  Miss  Cotton,  Hollywood,  Dundrum, 
showed  some  nice  medium  plants. 
Cut  BL90MS. — The  society’s  Silver  Medal,  and  £5,  for  a  stand 
of  thirty-six  Japs,  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Mitchison,  gardener  to 
Hon.  Colonel  Crichton,  Mullaboden,  Ballymore-Eustace,  with 
an  even  lot  of  blooms.  For  second  place,  Mr.  Andrew'  Porter 
followed  closely ;  whilst  Mr.  A.  E.  Bennett,  Warrenscourt,  -was 
third.  The  classes  for  the  twelve  vases,  in  a  similar  number  of 
varieties,  consisting  of  three  blooms  of  each,  did  not  evoke  con¬ 
siderable  competition.  The  premier  prize  is  a  Silver  Challenge 
Cup,  value  ten  guineas,  known  as  the  Waterhouse  Cup,  and  is 
supplemented  by  a  money  prize  of  £5.  The  collection  of  Lord 
Ashtown,  staged  by  Mr.  A.  Porter,  was  an  unquestioned  first, 
with  good  well-built  flowers  of  Australie,  Mr.  J.  Carrington, 
Lady  Ridgway,  Nellie  Pockett,  W.  R.  Church,  and  J.  Moly- 
neux;  second,  A.  Pirn,  Esq.,  Bellevue,  Blackrock  (gardener,  Mr. 
J.  O’Connor) ;  and  third,  Mr.  Tyndall.  For  a  collection  of  twenty- 
four  cut  blooms,  distinct,  Mr.  Mitchison  again  led  with  an  even 
box.  He  was  closely  followed  by  Mr.  Bradshaw.  In  the  class 
for  twelve  cut  blooms,  comprising  not  less  than  six  varieties,  the 
box  of  blooms  staged  by  Mr.  P.  Harper  was  an  unquestioned 
first ;  Mr.  J.  Cavanagh  was  a  very  close  second,  his  bloom  of 
Madame  Gustave  Henry  was  by  far  the  best  bloom  displayed. 
For  six  white  Japs,  the  box  of  Madame  Gustave  Henry  staged 
by  Mr.  Bradshaw  was  placed  first.  For  a  similar  stand  of  Japs, 
yellows,  Mr.  Webster,  Oldconna,  Bray,  was  first  with  good  sub¬ 
stantial  blooms  of  Edith  Tabor.  For  twelve  Japs  in  same  num¬ 
ber  of  varieties,  first  prize  went  to  Mr.  Thomas  McDonald, 
Greenhills,  Drogheda,  with  choice  blooms  of  Mrs.  C.  H.  Payne, 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Palmer,  and  Princesse  B.  de  Bramcovan  ;  and  second, 
Mr.  Bradshaw.  For  a  stand  of  twelve  varieties  of  incurved,  the 
box  of  Mr.  Webster,  Bray,  was  first.  The  following  were  choice 
flowers,  though  medium  sized:  C.  H.  Curtis,  Lady  Isabel, 
Madame  J.  Ferlat,  J.  Agate,  and  Duchess  of  Fife.  Mr.  M. 
Reilly,  St.  George’s,  Killiney,  was  second  with  a  nice  box,  but 
the  flowers  were  on  the  small  side.  For  a  stand  of  six  incurveds 
any  colour,  one  variety,  the  six  blooms  of  Lady  Isabel,  staged  by 
Mrs.  A.  E.  Bennett,  were  awarded  premier  honours.  They  had 
depth,  size,  and  were  compactly  built,  with  a  fine  finish,  and 
showed  the  possibility  of  incurveds  when  well  grown.  For  pom¬ 
pons,  twelve  bunches  in  at  least  six  varieties,  Mr.  J.  Cavanagh, 
Dalkey,  was  first.  Black  Douglas,  Antoninus,  and  W.  Kennedy 
were  the  best.  For  the  six  sprays  of  single  Chrysanthemums 
for  the  Wells  Silver  Bronze  Medals,  the  following  were  first  and 
second  respectively — Mr.  Rigg,  gardener  to  Lord  Cloncurry, 
Lyons,  County  Kiklare;  Mr.  Tyndall,  gardener  to  Cecil  Roche 
Burrows,  Esq.,  Gilltown,  County  Kildare. 
For  the  twelve  blooms  of  Carnations,  Malmaisons  excluded, 
Mr.  Rigg,  gardener  to  Lord  Cloncurry,  was  an  easy  first  with 
excellent  blooms  of  Belle  Lillimar,  Mrs.  Llewellan,  Cardinal 
Wolseley,  Princess  de  Monaco;  whilst  two  seedlings  deserve 
mention.  They  possessed  a  white  ground,  flaked  very  slightly 
with  purplish  rose,  the  streaks  reaching  midway  on  the  florets, 
the  blooms  of  great  substance,  the  calyx  only  splits  slightly.  Mr. 
Toner  was  first  for  tree  Carnations  with  Mrs.  Lawson,  Winter 
Cheer,  Countess  of  Warwick,  and  Madame  Therese  Franco:  he 
likewise  took  premier  place  in  the  dinner-table  decoration  with  a 
truly  artistic  group.  The  Ardilaun  Silver  Challenge  Cup,  value 
£5,  for  twelve  pots  of  Cyclamen,  for  the  stand  erected  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Davis,  Obelisk  Park,  Blackrock,  was  fine.  The  judges 
noted  on  this  stand  the  adjective  “  superb,”  which  was  a  true 
description.  He  also  took  premier  place  for  the  six  table  plants. 
The  majority  of  the  varied  classes  of  fruit  are  allotted  for 
small  exhibits.  In  the  Grape  class  for  four  bunches  of  Grapes 
Messrs.  Thompson’s  prize  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Andrew  Porter’, 
Galway  with  medium-sized  bunches  of  Muscat  of  Alexandria  and 
Black  Alicante.  The  latter  took  premier  place  for  six  dessert 
Pears.  For  the  collection  of  dessert  Pears  in  twelve  varieties 
four  of  each  variety,  Mr.  R.  McKenna  was  first,  Mr.  Hartley 
being  second;  whilst,  for  six  varieties,  Mr.  Long  was  an  easy 
first.  >  Mr.  Tyndall  was  second.  For  a  collection  of  twelve 
varieties  of  Apples  in  dishes  of  six  each — six  baking  and  six 
dessert — Mr.  Bradshaw  was  first  with  fine  fruit.  Mr.  Hartley 
was  a  close  second.  For  dishes  of  dessert  Apples,  first  went  to 
W.  P.  R.  Orr,  Esq.,  second  to  Colonel  Clements,  Killadoon, 
Colbridge;  whilst  Mr.  R.  McKenna  occupied  premier  place  for 
the  four  dishes  of  dessert  Apples. 
The  vegetables  were  all  fine,  and  embraced  a  wide  range  of 
small  exhibits.  The  Drummond  prizes,  for  a  collection  of  vege¬ 
tables,  went  (first)  to  Mr.  Nevin  Stringer,  gardener  to  General 
Sir  Robert  Palmer,  Bart,  Kenmure  Park,  Rush,  and  (second)  to. 
Mr.  Andrew  Parker.  For  smaller  collections  of  vegetables  in 
six  distinct  kinds,  first  award  went  to  Mr.  David  Kirk,  closely 
followed  by  Mr  George  Bogie. 
The  varied  nursery  exhibits  formed  a  feature.  Amongst  the- 
many  selected  for  mention,  Messrs.  Ramsay  and  Son,  Balls¬ 
bridge,  had  an  oval  embankment  of  flowers  and  foliage  plants. 
Messrs.  Alexander  Dickson  and  Sons,  Limited,  Belfast,  had  a 
comprehensive  array  of  fruits,  Grapes,  Quinces,  Medlars,  Apples, 
and  Pears,  close  on  200  dishes,  and  secured  the  nurserymen’s, 
award.  They  likewise  had  an  uncommon  exhibit  of  Conifers 
and  ornamental  shrubs,  planted  in  a  miniature  shrubbery,  con¬ 
taining  Pittosporum  Mayi,  Veronica  buxifolia,  Thuyas,  Phor- 
mium  tenax  variegata,  Retinosporas,  &c.  They  were  specially 
commended  for  high  merit. 
Messrs.  McKenzie  and  Sons  had  a  choice  array  of  Apples  and 
Pears  (Award  of  Merit).  Messrs.  Tait,  Capel  Street,  had  a 
very  fine  exhibit  of  fruit;  the  collection  included  all  standard 
varieties,  and  received  an  Award  of  Merit. 
Messrs.  Watson  and  Sons,  Clontarf,  had  a  choice  group  of 
hardy  flowering  Chrysanthemums  (Silver  Medal). 
Messrs.  Rivers  and  Son,  Sawbridgeworth,  Herts,  through 
their  town  agents,  Messrs.  Edmonson,  had  a  comprehensive  col¬ 
lection.  Amongst  the  many  the  following  seedling  Pears  deserve 
note :  Magnate,  with  large  fruit,  shaped  like  the  Beurre  varie¬ 
ties  ;  St.  Luke,  an  equally  fine-looking  fruit ;  whilst  Conference, 
a  tapering  fruit,  not  unlike  a  Jargonelle  in  build,  of  dark  green 
hue,  tinged  russet,  was  also  on  view.  The  stand  was  highly 
commended. 
Messrs.  Mackey  and  Sons,  Sackville  Street,  had  a  meritorious 
group,  comprising  standard  types  of  fruit,  vegetables — Potatoes 
over  fifty  varieties — the  whole  being  tastefully  set  out  with 
Kentias  and  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  (Gold  Medal).  The 
show  was  extensively  patronised. — A.  O’N. 
Chester  Paxton,  November  12th. 
On  Tuesday  afternoon,  November  12,  the  High  Sheriff  of 
Cheshire  (Mr.  Thomas  Brocklebank)  opened  the  thirteenth 
annual  fruit  and  Chrysanthemum  exhibition  under  the 
auspices  of  this  society.  As  on  previous  occasions,  all  the  avail¬ 
able  space  at  the  Town  Hall  was  taxed  to  its  utmost  capacity 
to  accommodate  what  was  undoubtedly  a  very  delightful  display 
of  fruit  and  Chrysanthemums.  The  fruit  was  of  a  very  high 
standard  of  excellence.  Apples  and  Pears,  although  not  quite 
the  size  of  previous  years,  were  of  a  higher  colour.  The  entries 
were  quite  up  to  the  average  in  every  respect,  and  this 
was  especially  gratifying  considering  that  in  many  of  the  dis¬ 
tricts  the  dry  season  has  had  an  adverse  effect  upon  the  culture 
of  good  fi'uit.  One  of  the  principal  features  of  the  exhibition 
was  the  groups  of  Chrysanthemums.  During  the  last  few  years, 
the  much-coveted  prize  for  the  best  group  has  been  carried  off 
time  after  time  by  Mr.  Edwin  Stubbs,  gardener  to  the  late 
Mrs.  Hudson,  and  now  gardener  to  Captain  MacGillycuddy,  of 
Bache  Hall.  His  fellow  competitors  were  determined  in  a 
friendly  spirit  to  oust  him  from  his  enviable  position,  but  they 
have  failed  to  do  so,  the  judges  experiencing  no  difficulty  in 
awarding  him  once  more  first  honours.  The  three  remaining 
groups,  all  effective,  gave  the  judges  a  considerable  amount  of 
trouble.  After  weighing  carefully  all  the  points,  they  gave  the- 
second  prize  to  the  County  Asylum  (per  Mr.  A.  Ellis,  gardener), 
the  third  to  Mr.  T.  Gibbons  Frost,  of  Mollington  Banastre  (per 
Mr.  T.  Gilbert),  and  the  fourth  to  Mr.  Edward  Dixon,  Littleton 
Hall  (per  Mr.  John  Dutton).  The  judges — Messrs.  P.  Blair, 
head  gardener  to  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Sutherland,  and  Flack, 
head  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of  Cholmondeley — both  of  wide 
experience,  stated  that  they  had  never  before  adjudicated  upon 
such  excellent  groups.  They  were  loud  in  their  praise  of  both 
the  quality  of  the  bloom  and  the  artistic  arrangement. 
The  entries  for  Grapes  were  considerably  in  advance  of 
previous  years,  the  black  varieties  especially  showing  a  quality  of 
bloom  rarely  to  be  seen  at  this  late  period  of  the  year.  Captain 
MacGillycuddy  captured  the  first  prize  with  bunches  which  weVe 
not  only  the  largest,  but  showed  a  bloom  and  general  finish  that 
were  superior  to  any  others.  There  were  five  competitors  in 
the  white  Grapes  class.  Sir  George  Meyrick  carrying  off  the 
principal  award.  Turning  to  the  fruit,  in  the  gardeners’  section 
the  principal  prize  was  that  offered  for  twenty-four  distinct 
varieties  of  Apples.  Only  two  competitors  entered,  but  both 
showed  collections  ef  a  very  high  order  of  merit.  First  honours 
went  to  Mrs.  Townsend  Ince,  the  Rev.  L.  Garnett  (Christleton) 
being  second.  In  the  class  for  twelve  distinct  varieties  of 
kitchen  Apples,  Mr.  J.  Saunderson  (Bodnant)  easily  took  first. 
