July  26  1900 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
79 
Asparapus  plnmopus,  and  A.  Sprengeri  (small  silver  medal).  Messrs. 
Fidler  &  Sons,  Reading,  had  an  extensive  exhibit  which  was  somewhat 
crowded,  but  the  quality  and  variety  of  the  flowers  left  little  to  be 
desired  (large  silver  medal).  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  &  Son,  Upper 
Holloway,  also  had  a  capital  display,  the  bunches  being  arranged  to 
advantage,  in  fact  they  were  beautifully  set  up,  while  the  collection 
was  most  comprehensive  (large  silver  medal). 
The  Swanley  firm  of  Messrs.  H.  Oannell  &  Sons  contributed  a  large 
table,  which  included  nearly  all  the  old  and  new  forms.  Needless  to 
say  they  were  well  arranged,  though  it  was  a  p'ty  the  exhibit  had  to  be 
split  up  into  so  many  groups  ;  at  the  same  time  the  exhibit  deserved  in 
every  respect  the  gold  medal  bestowed.  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Ryeoroft 
Nursery,  Lewisham,  had  a  large  semicircular  group  at  the  extreme  end 
of  the  nave,  the  back  being  composed  of  a  series  of  arches,  all  tastefully 
arranged.  The  centre  was  occupied  with  a  unique  collection  of  varieties 
in  pots,  all  dwarf  and  in  good  condition,  being  flanked  on  either  side 
with  masses  of  flowers  in  vases,  the  whole  group  being  well  arranged 
display  of  hardy  flowers.  Sweet  Peas,  and  a  good  collection  of  Carnations 
(large  silver  medal).  Mr.  J.  Aplin,  gardener  to  W.  M.  Baxter,  Esq , 
Hasfield 'Court,  Gloucester,  had  a  pretty  collection  of  Sweet  Peas,  for 
which  he  was  awarded  a  large  silver  medal.  Messrs.  Dicksons,  Chester, 
had  a  huge  table  of  Sweet  Peas  in  a  large  number  of  varieties,  that 
were  staged  in  first-class  condition  (silver-gilt  medal).  Messrs.  E.  W. 
King  &  Co.  Coggeshall,  staged  126  varieties  ai  ranged  with  their  own 
foliage,  and  a  fine  display  they  made  (large  silver  medal). 
Mr.  B.  Ladhams,  Shirley,  Southampton,  had  a  pretty  collection  of 
hardy  flowers,  in  which  the  new  Coreopsis  grandiflora  Eldorado,  formed 
a  shining  light ;  the  Gaillardias  were  also  conspicuous  (silver-gilt 
medal).  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Dysons  Lane  Nurseries,  Upper  Edmonton, 
was  represented  by  well  grown  plants  of  Campanula  isophylla  Mayi, 
which  were  much  admired.  Mr.  Henry  Eckford,  the  Sweet  Pea 
veteran,  was  accorded  a  place  of  honour,  and  worthily  did  he  fill  it 
with  a^  grand  collection  of  varieties  arranged  in  tall  specimen  glasses, 
for  which  he  was  awarded  a  gold  medal. 
Fig.  21.— the  ROBERT  SYDENHAM  CLASS 
with  Ferns  in  variety,  with  a  few  Palms  and  variegated  Acers  (gold 
medal).  A  good  collection  was  that  staged  by  Mr.  L.  J.  Ching,  Forty 
Hill,  Enfield  ;  the  bunches  were  prettily  displayed,  and  the  collection 
comprehensive  (fig.  24,  page  87). 
As  might  have  been  expected,  Messrs.  Hurst  &  Sons  made  a  grand 
display  of  Sweet  Peas,  arranged  in  Hyacinth  glasses,  in  which  they 
were  well  displayed.  The  bunches  were  large  and  in  the  pink  of 
condition.  It  is  unnecessary  to  enumerate  the  varieties,  for  all  the 
most  prominent  in  commerce  were  represented  (gold  medal).  Messrs. 
Harrison  &  Sons,  Leicester,  contribu'^ed  a  good  collection  of  Sweet 
Peas,  and  also  staged  a  fine  collection  of  culinary  varieties  (small  silver 
medal).  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  arranged  a  grand  exhibit 
of  hardy  flowers,  the  Lilinms,  Coreopsis,  Gaillardias,  Pentstemons,  and 
Poppies  contrasting  well  with  the  rest  of  the  exhibition.  The  same 
film  also  staged  culinary  Peas  and  Butter  Beans  (large  silver  medal). 
Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons,  Stourbridge,  had  a  charming  exhibit  ot  Sweet 
Peas  arranged  with  Smilax  and  Asparagus  Fern.  All  the  best  varieties 
of  Sweet  Peas  were  to  be  seen,  and  the  award  of  a  silver-gilt  medal  was 
richly  deserved.  Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Sons,  Norwood,  had  an  extensive 
MR.  THOS.  ALDERSEY’S  PRIZE  EXHIBIT. 
Xiondon  Colonies  — Lord  Rosebery  has  a  pretty  idea  for  relieving 
the  congestion  of  London.  He  suggests  that  the  Council  should 
make  a  workmen’s  colony  out  in  the  country,  where  the  skies  are 
blue,  the  grass  green,  the  air  fresh,  and  eggs  twenty. four  a  shilling. 
The  artisan  is  to  come  to  London  for  his  day’s  work,  and  return  iu 
the  evening  to  tend  the  Cabbages  and  feed  the  pig  and  discuss 
politics  at  the  local  tavern.  His  family  will  have  the  benefit  of  country 
air,  he  himself  the  peaceful  quiet  of  the  rustic  evenings.  The  trains 
are  to  be  so  quick  that  ho  will  lose  no  time  to  speak  of,  and  so  cheap 
that  he  will  save  the  cost  of  them  out  of  the  rent  and  the  household 
bills.  So  that  he  shall  remain  a  Londoner,  the  colony  is  to  be  attached 
to  the  County  Council  area.  The  colonist  will  be  a  sort  of  country 
member  of  the  metropolis,  with  his  house  in  the  green  fields  and  his 
name  in  the  London  voters’  list.  It  is  idyllic,  and  sounds  impracticable. 
But  the  scheme,  or  something  like  it,  may  be  tried  in  course  of  time. 
Tne  City  has  driven  out  its  sleeping  population,  and  parts  of  London 
county  may  follow  suit.  If  the  workers  cannot  live  within  London 
they  must  live  outside.  Necessity  will  settle  the  transit  difficulty, 
as  it  has  settled  so  many  others. 
