172 
JOURNAL  Ob  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  23,  1900, 
Shrewsbury  Floral  Fete. 
August  22nd  and  23rd. 
The  superb  horticultural  spectacle  which  has  come  to  be  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  important  events  in  gardening  circles  has  once  more 
to  be  reported,  and  the  stereotyped  phrase  of  “a  magnificent  success’’ 
must  again  be  employed.  Never  in  the  entire  history  of  the  Shrews¬ 
bury  Floral  Fete  has  a  better  gathering  of  all  that  is  beautiful  and 
useful  in  the  gardens  of  Britain  been  brought  together,  and  the  hum 
of  conversation  in  the  Quarry  told  nothing  but  praise  for  the  exhibition, 
its  managers,  and  its  supporters.  Never  was  there  a  more  enter, 
prising  committee  than  this,  and  never  were  there  two  honorary 
secretaries  who  excelled  in  zeal,  energy,  and  ability  than  Messrs.  H.  W. 
Adnitt  and  W.  W.  Naunton  ;  they  are  the  spirit  of  the  whole  affair, 
and  too  much  praise  (though  they  seek  none  of  it)  could  not  possibly 
be  accorded  to  them  for  the  work  they  have  done  and  are  still  doing. 
We  do  not  purpose  on  this  occasion  to  draw  any  invidious  distinc¬ 
tions  as  to  the  best  features  ;  where  there  are  examples  of  perfect 
culture  in  every  department  of  the  show  such  a  course  bristles  with 
difiiculties,  and  might  not,  when  decided,  coincide  with  the  views  of  all 
leaders  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  Let  them  read  carefully  and 
form  their  own  conclusions — that  is  to  say,  those  who  did  not  find  their 
vvay  to  Shrewsbury  to  be  hustled  in  what  is  probably  the  biggest  crowd 
that  honours  a  horticultural  show  with  its  patronage.  Sufiice  it  then 
to  say  that  the  most  artistic  groups,  the  most  splendid  plants  and 
flowers,  the  most  handsome  fruit,  and  the  cleanest  and  most  shapely 
vegetables  haunt  Shrewsbury  year  after  year,  and  give  delight  to 
thousands  of  critical  visitors.  They  do  even  more  than  this,  for  they 
fulfil  the  highest  object  of  a  flower  show,  which  is  to  provide 
lessons  for  cultivators,  and  form  for  them  ideals  that  they  strive 
strenuously  to  attain  to  and  to  excel.  Our  time  and  space  are  both 
limited,  but  the  best  report  obtainable  is  appended  herewith  for  the 
readers  and  supporters  of  our  Journal. 
The  weather  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday  was  far  from  being  pro¬ 
mising  for  the  show  on  the  following  day,  as  a  heavy  thunderstorm 
passed  over  the  district ;  rain  fell  heavily  during  the  night.  This  down, 
pour  made  locomotion  over  the  long  grass  of  the  Quarry  particularly 
unpleasant,  and  if  the  powers  that  be  could  have  the  grass  scythed 
on  future  occasions  it  would  be  advantageous  in  any  case,  and  espe¬ 
cially  so  if  it  should  again  be  wet.  The  whole  of  Wednesday  was  a 
day  of  sunshine  and  showers,  and  the  latter  were  sufficiently  heavy 
to  drive  the  visitors  into  the  tents  in  crowds.  We  trust,  however 
that  it  will  not  have  prejudiced  the  attendance,  and  that  to-day 
(Thursday)  [will  have  been  fine  in  the  town  that  is  celebrated  alike 
for  its  fiower  shows  and  its  cakes. 
Plants  and  Groups. 
Shrewsbury  has  always  been  noted  for  its  stove  and  greenhouse 
plants,  and  while  the  society  continues  to  offer  £60  for  twenty  plants, 
not  less  than  twelve  in  bloom,  we  may  expect  a  grand  show  as  made 
on  this  occasion.  There  were  four  competitors  entered  the  lists,  and 
one  might  say  the  whole  of  the  plants  were  of  the  best  quality.  The 
veteran  exhibitor,  Mr.  Jas.  Cypher,  Cheltenham,  proved  to  be  a  splen¬ 
did  first.  The  plants  were  all  giants,  the  foliage  plants  being  grandly 
coloured,  while  the  flowering  subjects  were  staged  in  the  pink  of  condi¬ 
tion.  In  the  foliage  section  Crotons  angustifolius  and  Warreni  were 
clothed  well,  while  Queen  Victoria  and  Sunset  were  simply  magnificent 
in  colouring.  The  Balms  were  Kentia  australis,  Kentia  Belmoreana, 
Latania  borbonica,  and  Kentia  Fosteriana,  all  immense  plants.  The 
flowering  subjects  were  Bougainvilleas  glabra  and  Cypher!,  both  grandly 
flowered ;  hlricas  Austiniana,  a  grand  piece ;  Aitoniana,  Irbyana,  and 
a^mula,  a  grand  plant ;  Rondeletia  speciosa  major,  Phoenocoma  prolifera 
Barnesi,  about  6  feet  in  diameter ;  Statice  intermedia,  a  glorious  plant ; 
a  well  flowered  specimen  of  Allamanda  nobilis,  with  Ixoras  Duffi  and 
Williams!.  This  exhibit  made  a  flower  show  in  itself,  and  was  in  every 
way  worthy  of  the  prize.  Mr.  B.  Cromwell,  gardener  to  T.  S.  Timmis, 
Esq.,  Allerton,  Liverpool,  made  a  good  second,  his  plants  of  Ixora 
Williamsi,  Lapageria  rosea.  Crotons  Queen  Victoria  and  Countess  being 
excellent ;  while  Mr.  W.  Finch,  Coventry,  was  a  good  third  with  some 
fine  specimens. 
Groups  of  miscellaneous  plants  to  occupy  a  space  of  300  square  feet 
are  not  met  with  every  day,  but  here  they  formed  a  grand  feature. 
The  schedule  states  that  they  must  be  arranged  to  produce  the  best 
effect,  while  a  special  clause  is  added,  that  the  judges  are  instructed 
to  regard  an  original  and  artistic  arrangement  as  a  great  feature ; 
exhibitors  could  hardly  go  wrong  with  such  precise  instructions. 
The  prizes  of  £25,  £17  10s.,  and  £10  necessarily  attract  a  high 
standard  of  excellence,  and  on  this  occasion  there  were  three  groups  all 
of  them  very  fine.  The  space  at  the  disposal  of  the  exhibitors  is  certainly 
made  the  m^vst  of.  Mr.  Jas.  Cypher  again  proved  the  victor,  hi& 
group  as  a  whole  was  beautifully  light  and  elegant.  Cocoa  Weddelliana 
and  Bambusae  with  a  few  well  coloured  Crotons,  Caladiums,  Aralias,. 
and  Ferns  were  used  as  dot  plants,  while  Ferns,  Asparagus  plumosa. 
Begonias,  and  Dracrenas  constituted  the  chief  of  the  foliage  plants. 
Orchids,  Liliums,  Francoas,  and  Begonias  were  the  chief  flowering 
plants  employed,  but  the  Orchids  were  used  with  great  effect.  Mr, 
W.  Finch,  Coventry,  was  a  good  second  with  a  light  arrangement.  The 
Crotons  were  particularly  handsome,  while  the  whole  exhibit  was  well 
finished.  The  third  prize  fell  to  Mr.  W.  Vause,  Leamington  Spa,  for  a- 
very  creditable  exhibit,  though  it  was  not  finished  quite  so  well  as  its 
predecessors. 
A  similar  class  for  ornamental  foliage  plants.  Palms,  Ferns,  &c., 
with  all  flowering  plants  excluded,  produced  a  grand  effect.  The  prizes 
were  of  the  same  substantial  character  as  in  the  preceding  class. 
There  were  four  exhibits,  and  a  grand  show  they  made  too,  all  of  them 
worthy  of  a  first  place.  Mr.  Cypher  was  again  invincible  with  a 
beautiful  exhibit,  and  one  would  hardly  imagine  a  more  tasteful  arrange¬ 
ment  of  foliage  plants.  The  Palms,  Crotons,  and  Aralias  formed  the 
chief  feature,  while  the  smaller  plants  were  all  choice  and  well  grown. 
Miss  Wright,  Halston  Hall,  Oswestry,  was  second  with  a  somewhat 
similar  arrangement',  but  it  lacked  the  finish  so  notable  in  the  firsfi 
prize  group,  while  Mr.  W.  Vause  was  third  with  a  beautiful  exhibit. 
A  most  interesting  and  highly  satisfactory  class  was  that  for  thirty 
stove  or  greenhouse  plants  in  pots  not  exceeding  10  inches,  with 
Orchids  excluded,  not  less  than  twelve  in  bloom.  Again  there  was  the 
special  clause,  “  effective  staging  to  be  considered  by  the  judges.” 
Needless  to  say,  such  a  class  brought  out  some  grand  plants,  while  the 
majority  of  the  exhibitors  had  paid  marked  attention  to  their  staging. 
The  prizes  also  were  worthy  of  note — £20,  £15,  and  £10.  The  exhi¬ 
bitors,  three  in  number,  made  a  grand  collective  display.  Mr. 
T.  Lambert,  gardener  to  Lord  Harlech,  Oswestry,  was  first  for  a 
splendid  collection,  which,  however,  was  unnamed  at  the  time  of 
judging.  The  most  notable  plants  were  the  Dipladenias,  Statice, 
Ixoras,  Calatheas,  and  Crotons.  Mr.  Jas.  Cypher  made  a  capital  second 
with  good  plants  of  Statice  intermedia,  Anthurium  Wardi,  Erica 
obovata  purpurea,  and  E.  Austiniana ;  while  Mr.  B.  Cromwell  came 
in  third  with  good  specimens  of  Gloriosa  superba  and  Ixora  coccinea. 
In  the  class  for  a  single  specimen  stove  or  greenhouse  plant  in 
flower  there  were  three  entries,  Mr.  Jas.  Cypher  being  first  with  a 
grand  plant  of  Erica  Marnockiana  in  the  best  of  condition.  Mr.  W- 
Finch  was  second  with  a  much  poorer  example  of  the  same  plant, 
and  Mr.  W.  Vause  was  third  with  a  poor  plant  of  Allamanda.  The 
exotic  Ferns,  six  in  number,  only  brought  one  exhibitor  from  Mr.  T. 
Stevenson,  who  was  deservedly  awarded  the  first  prize,  for  the  pi  ants 
were  large  and  well  grown,  though  unnamed. 
Six  specimen  Dracaenas  brought  two  entries,  some  of  the  specimens 
being  fine.  Mr.  T.  Lambert,  gardener  to  Lord  Harlech,  was  first  with  good 
plants  of  norwoodensis,  Thomson!,  amabilis,  and  Baptisti.  Mr.  J.  Birch 
was  a  capital  second  with  well  grown  plants  of  similar  build.  For  four 
Coleuses,  pyramid  trained,' there  were  three  competitors.  The  type  of 
plants  demanded  by  the  schedule  made  a  capital  show,  and  are  more^ 
natural  than  the  low  flat  trained  plants  one  so  often  sees  at  flower 
shows.  The  exhibits  were  not  large  but  a  good  colour.  Mr.  T.  Carter 
was  first,  with  clean,  well  coloured  plants  ;  Mr.  T.  Stevenson,  gardener 
to  Mrs.  J.  H.  Stanley,  Wellington,  came  next  with  rather  smaller  plants, 
while  Mr.  Ed.  Burd,  Newport  House,  was  third. 
The  lovely  foliage  of  the  Caladiums  with  the  green  turfy  carpet 
beneath  them  was  much  appreciated.  Here  again  there  were  thre& 
contestants,  and  Mr.  B.  Cromwell  won  handsomely  with  fine,  well 
coloured  plants.  The  best  were  candidissima,  Marie  Mitzama,  and 
Souvenir  de  Madame  Burnaert.  Mr.  S.  Bremmell,  gardener  to  H.  H. 
France  Hayhurst,  Esq.,  Wellington,  followed  with  pretty  plants,  while 
Mr.  T.  Stevenson  was  third.  Fuchsias  are  always  grown  well  in  the 
west,  and  the  exhibits  on  this  occasion  did  not  injure  the  reputation, 
but  rather  added  to  it.  Only  two  exhibitors  staged;  the  first  prize 
plants  were  excellent,  and  Mr.  T.  Carter  isjto  be  congratulated ;  Mr.  A. 
Bateman  was  second  with  weaker  plants. 
For  six  double  Geraniums,  for  which  substantial  prizes  were  offered  , 
there  were  three  exhibits,  Mr.  A.  Myers  winning  in  fine  style  with  six 
fresh,  bright  plants.  Mr.  A.  Bateman  was  a  fair  second,  and  Mr.  H. 
Cliff  brought  up  the  rear.  The  class  for  six  Zonal  Geraniums  was  a 
good  one,  there  being  three  good  entries.  The  first  prize  was  awarded 
to  Mr.  A.  Myers,  Sutton  Lane  Nursery,  for  six  grand  plants.  Mr.  A. 
Bateman  followed  at  a  respectful  distance,  and  Mr.  R.  Taylor  made  a 
poor  third  compared  with  the  others. 
The  Begonias  were  good,  and  the  competition  fair,  there  being  three 
entries.  Messrs.  B.  R.  Davies  &  Sons,  Yeovil,  being  a  grand  first  with 
double  varieties  ;  Mr.  A.  Bateman  was  second  with  weaker  plants,  and 
Mr.  H.  Cliff  third.  For  twelve  Gloxinias  two  entries  were  made,  but 
the  class  must  be  described  as  weak.  The  judges  awarded  Mr.  A. 
Jones,  gardener  to  G.  Burr,  Esq.,  Oaklands,  second  prize,  and  Mr.  H. 
Cliff,  gardener  to  R.  Taylor,  Esq.,  Abbey  Foregate,  third. 
The  class  for  twelve  table  plants  was  well  filled  by  three  competitors, 
the  majority  of  the  plants  being  above  the  average.  Mr.  B.  Cromwell 
was  a  grand  first  with  beautifully  coloured  Crotons,  and  Dracaena 
Jamesi,  Cocos  Weddelliana,  and  Aralia  Veitchi.  The  second  place  was 
awarded  Mr.  A.  H.  Hall,  gardener  to  J.  C.  Waterhouse,  Esq.,  Macclesfield, 
for  a  good  collection,  though  not  quite  so  bright  as  the  preceding  dozen,.. 
