184 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Auanst  23,  19  0. 
Shrewsbury  Floral  Fete. 
CONTINUED  FROM  PAGE  173. 
The  Cactus  varieties  made  a  brave  show'  in  the  class  for  twelve 
vases  of  six  blooms  each,  there  being  three  competitors.  Again  Mr.  S. 
3Iortimer  won  easily,  the  varieties  all  being  of  the  true  Cactus  form. 
They  were  Chas,  Woodbridge,  Britannia,  Mary  Service,  Lucius, 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Mrs.  Carter  Page,  Emperor,  Mayor  Tuppenny, 
Starfish,  Countess  of  Lonsdale  and  Exquisite.  Mr.  Jas.  Davis  followed 
with  a  weaker  display,  and  Messrs.  M.  Campbell  &  Sons,  High 
Blantyre,  third.  In  the  smaller  class  for  six  vases  of  three  blooms  each 
(nurserymen  excluded)  there  were  three  entries.  Mr.  Jas.  Davis  here 
carried  off  the  first  prize,  while  Mr.  Roe,  gardener  to  E.  W.  Cuddick, 
Esq.,  followed,  and  Mr.  J.  Cooke  came  third. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  bunches  of  Pompon  Dahlias,  ten  blooms  each, 
the  competitors  numbered  two.  The  first  prize  was  taken  by  Mr. 
W.  Roe  for  blooms  rather  too  large  in  type,  while  Mr.  J.  Cooke  brought 
up  the  rear.  The  boxes  of  cut  Begonias  were  excellent,  Mr.  J.  B. 
Blackmore  winning  first  place  with  a  grand  box  of  double  flowers 
tastefully  arranged  with  Maidenhair  Fern  and  moss.  Messrs.  B.  R. 
Davies  &  Son  were  a  capital  second,  and  Mr.  H.  Cliff  came  in  third. 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  see  Asters  staged  without  their  fancy  frills  or 
•collars,  which  detract  so  much  from  the  beauty  of  the  flowers.  Here 
Messrs.  Clark  &  Son  won  well  with  some  capital  Victorias  ;  Mr.  Jas. 
Davies  was  second  with  a  mixed  collection,  and  Mr.  R.  Morrow, 
Leominster,  made  a  good  third  with  a  capital  box  of  Comets.  The 
county  class  for  twelve  bunches  of  hardy  flowers  was  a  fine  one,  and 
contained  some  good  collections.  The  first  position  was  captured  by 
Mr.  G.  J.  Squibbs,  who  staged  Romneya  Coulteri,  Phlox  Aurora, 
Statice  latifolia,  and  Echinops  Ritro  well ;  Mr.  E.  Haycock,  gardener  to 
the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of  Shrewsbury,  made  a  worthy  second,  as  did 
also  Mr.  G.  Davies  for  third  place. 
A  smaller  class  was  also  provided  for  six  hunches  of  a  similar 
character,  and  there  were  six  good  exhibits,  but  Mr.  G.  J.  Squibbs  won 
with  ease,  the  bunches  being  fresh  and  bright.  Mr.  A.  Jones  was 
second  with  flowers  well  displayed,  and  Mr.  E.  Haycock  was  third. 
Annuals  were  represented  by  twelve  bunches,  and  there  were  three 
exhibits.  Here  Messrs.  Gunn  &  Sons,  Olton,  Birmingham,  were  first 
with  good  bunches  of  Sweet  Pea  Mars,  Nigella  hispanica.  Larkspur, 
Shirley  Poppies,  and  Comet  Asters.  Mr,  G.  J.  Squibbs  was  second,  and 
Mr.  J.  Langley  third. 
For  six  trusses  'of  single  and  a  similar  number  of  double  Zonal 
Pelargoniums,  distinct,  Mr.  A.  Myers  scored  easily,  while  Mr.  H. 
Huxter  was  a  fair  second.  In  the  three  classes  for  Carnations  and 
Picotees  the  schedule  states  that  neither  dressing  nor  manipulation  is 
allowed.  For  twelve  flakes  or  bizarres,  three  blooms  each,  Messrs.  M. 
Campbell  &  Son  were  the  only  competitors,  and  were  deservedly 
awarded  the  first  prize  for  a  good  box.  The  class  for  twelve  Picotees, 
trebles,  the  competition  was  again  limited,  Messrs.  M.  Campbell  &  Son 
being  first,  and  Messrs.  Pemberton  &  Sons  second. 
For  twelve  trebles,  to  include  seifs,  fancies,  or  yellow  ground  varie¬ 
ties,  there  were  seven  entries,  and  a  fine  show  they  made.  Messrs. 
M.  Campbell  &  Son  were  again  placed  first  with  a  capital  exhibit. 
Mr.  W.  B.  Vernon  was  a  good  second  with  clean  fresh  flowers,  and 
Messrs.  Pemberton  &  Sons,  'Walsall,  were  third.  The  exhibits  of  twelve 
cut  double  Begonia  blooms  brought  out  five  entries,  Mr.  J.  B.  Black- 
more  staging  a  splendid  box,  that  secured  the  premier  prize  for  him  ; 
Mesrrs.  B.  R.  Davies  &  Sons  were  second  with  a  capital  box,  and 
Mr.  J.  V.  Macdonald,  gardener  to  G.  H.  Kenrick,  Esq.',  Edgbaston, 
was  third. 
Gaillardias  were  represented  by  six  bunches  of  six  blooms  each, 
and  made  a  pretty  exhibit.  The  first  prize  fell  to  Messrs.  Gunn  and 
Sons,  who  staged  them  in  fine  style  ;  while  Mr.  T.  B.  Grove,  Sutton 
Coldfield,  was  second,  and  Mr.  G.  Gilbert,  gardener  to  Capt.  T.  A.  M. 
Dickin,  Wem,  third.  The  class  for  eighteen  spikes  of  Gladioli,  Messrs. 
Harkness  &  Sons,  Bedale,'were  a  grand  first ;  the  spikes  were  clean  and 
well  developed ;  and  Mr.  R.  Morrow  followed  with  weaker  spikes.  In 
the  county  class  for  twelve  spikes  there  was  only  one  exhibitor,  Mr. 
G.  Gilbert,  who  was  awarded  first  prize  with  a  moderate  display. 
The  Sweet  Peas,  of  which  there  are  twelve  distinct  varieties 
arranged  in  vases,  with  any  Grasses  or  foliage,  made  a  grand  display, 
while  the  quality  was  admirable.  Mr.  T.  Aldersey  came  first  with  an 
exhibit  full  of  quality  and  beautifully  arranged,  the  colours  being  clean 
and  bright.  Mr.  T.  B.  Grove  was  a  good  second,  and  Mr.  Watkin  Jones, 
gardener  to  W.  L.  Chew,  Esq.,  Market  Drayton,  was  third. 
Fruit. 
The  fruit  section  of  this  magnificent  exhibition  is  invariably  of  the 
first  excellence,  and  the  committee  does  everything  in  its  power  to 
encourage  the  champion  growers  to  bring  of  their  best.  On  the  present 
occasion  the  piece  de  resistance  was  for  a  collection  of  twenty-four 
dishes  of  British  grown  fruit  to  occupy  a  space  of  10  feet  by 
4  feet  6  inches.  Pour  prizes  were  offered,  of  the  respective  values 
of  £25,  £20,  £15  and  £10,  and  the  judging  was  done  wholly  by  points  ; 
in  this,  and  in  fact  in  all  fruit  classes,  the  judges  being  specially 
instructed  to  regard  quality  before  size.  It  was  essential  that  each 
table  be  decorated  with  non-flowering  plants,  loose  foliage  and  cut 
flowers  at  the  exhibitor’s  discretion,  and  special  awards  of  £3,  £2,  and 
£1  were  offered  for  the  decorative  arrangements  only.  A  list  of  fruits 
from  which  a  selection  could  bo  made  was  given  in  the  schedule 
together  with  the  maximum  points  obtainable  by  each.  There  were 
five  competitors,  of  whom  Mr.  J.  H.  Goodacre  was  first  both  for  the  col¬ 
lection  of  fruit  and  also  for  the  floral  decoration.  The  Grapes  were 
Canon  Hall  Muscat,  fine  in  berry  ;  Madresfield  Court,  well  finished ; 
Muscat  of  Alexandria,  large  in  berry  but  rather  green  ;  and  Black  Ham¬ 
burgh  in  splendid  condition.  Melons  Hero  of  Lookinge,  Countess  and 
Victory  of  Bath,  Peaches  Bellegarde  and  Roval  George,  Nectarines 
Stanwick  Elruge  and  Pitmaston  Orange,  Pig  Brunswick,  Apple 
Worcester  Pearmain,  Plum  Jefferson,  and  Pears  Souvenir  du  Congr^s, 
and  Triomphe  de  Vienne.  The  total  number  of  points  awarded 
was  157|. 
Mr.  J.  Mclndoe  secured  the  second  place  both  for  the  fruit  and  for 
the  decoration.  It  had  not  the  clean  finish  of  the  premier  stand,  but 
the  Black  Hamburgh  and  Lady  Downe’s  Grapes,  Stirling  Castle 
Peaches,  Spencer  Nectarines,  Lady  Sudeley  and  Gascoyne’s  Apples,  and 
Souvenir  du  Congres  and  Pitmaston  Ducbess  Pears,  were  particularly 
creditable.  Mr.  G.  Mullins  was  third  for  fruit  with  Bellegarde  Peach, 
Stanwick  Elruge  Nectarines,  and  Black  Alicante  Grapes  as  his  best. 
The  points  were  128^.  Mr.  Mullins  was  also  third  for  decorations. 
Mr.  R.  Dawes  was  fourth  with  121j  points.  Mr.  S.  Bremmell  was 
awarded  a  special  prize. 
A  sum  of  £40  was  offered  in  four  prizes  for  a  dessert  table, 
decorated  with  plants  (in  pots  not  exceeding  5  inches),  cut  flowers 
(Orchids  excluded),  and  foliage,  table  10  feet  by  4  feet  6  inches.  Not 
more  than  fifteen  dishes  of  fruit  selected  from  the  printed  list.  Each 
table  was  to  be  covered  with  a  white  cloth ;  silver,  electro-plate,  wine 
glasses,  and  decanters  excluded ;  epergnes  and  vases  for  cut  flowers, 
and  plates,  dessert  dishes,  or  other  receptacles  for  fruits,  had  to  be 
provided  by  the  exhibitors,  of  whom  four  faced  the  adjudicators. 
The  much-coveted  premier  position  was  secured  by  Mr.  J,  Jones, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  F.  Need,  York  House,  Malvern,  with  Madresfield 
Court,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  Gros  Maroc  in  superb  form ;  Melons 
Best  of  All  and  Ne  Plus  Ultra,  Peaches  Violette  Hative  and  Stirling 
Castle,  Nectarine  Stanwick  Elruge,  Apricot  Moor  Park,  Pig  Brown 
Turkey,  Apple  Beauty  of  Bath,  and  Plum  Grand  Duke.  The  fruits 
were  all  of  good  average  quality.  The  second  special  prize  for  the 
decorations  went  to  Mr.  J.  Jones.  Mr.  T.  Bannerman  was  second  with 
Grapes  Gros  Maroc,  Madresfield  Court,  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria ; 
Melons  Golden  Perfection  and  Trentham  Hybrid,  Nectarines  Lord 
Napier  and  Violette  Hative,  Peaches  Barrington  and  Royal  George,  Fig 
Brown  Turkey,  Apricot  Moor  Park,  and  Cherry  Morello.  The  Gros 
Maroc  Grapes  made  the  best  feature.  Mr.  R.  Dawes  was  third  both 
for  fruit  and  for  decorations.  Mr.  J.  H.  Goodacre  received  no  prize  for 
fruit,  but  secured  the  premier  award  for  decorations.  He  was  disqualified 
in  the  fruit  class  for  showing  three  varieties  of  black  Grapes  instead 
of  two. 
In  the  class  for  a  collection  of  twelve  dishes  of  fruit,  twelve  distinct 
varieties,  not  less  than  nine  kinds,  and  not  more  than  two  varieties  of  a 
kind  ;  black  and  white  Grapes  were  regarded  as  distinct  kinds  of  fruit, 
two  bunches  of  each  variety.  The  space  allowed  was  6  feet  by  4  feet 
6  inches,  and  each  collection  had  to  be  decorated.  Special  prizes 
were  again  awarded  for  the  decorative  arrangement,  irrespective  of 
the  fruit. 
Mr.  J.  H.  Goodacre’s  stand  included  two  dishes  of  Apples,  Pigs,  two 
bunches  of  black  and  two  bunches  of  white  Grapes,  twu  Melons,  two 
dishes  of  Nectarines,  two  dishes  of  Peaches,  one  dish  of  Pears,  one  dish 
of  Plums,  for  which  102  points  were  awarded.  Beauty  of  flowers  and 
foliage  received  6^  points,  harmonious  blending  of  colour  8^  points,  and 
general  arrangement  for  effect  9  points,  giving  a  total  of  126  points. 
Needless  to  say,  this  was  a  superb  exhibit.  Bridal  Wreath  flowers  and 
Montbretias  were  the  only  flowers  employed.  Mr.  J,  Mclndoe  was 
second  with  Apricots,  Figs,  black  and  white  Grapes,  Melons,  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Pears  and  Plums,  these  securing  90  points.  Beauty  of 
flower  and  foliage,  7  ;  harmonious  blending  of  colour  8h  and  general 
arrangement  for  effect  8,  giving  a  total  point  value  of  113J.  Mr. 
G.  Mullins,  gardener  to  Lady  Henry  Somerset,  Ledbury,  was  third 
with  112  points,  of  which  91 J  were  for  fruit  and  the  remainder  for 
flowers  and  foliage,  blending  of  colour,  and  general  arrangement.  Mr. 
T.  Wilkins,  gardeuer  to  Lady  Theodora  Guest,  Inwood  House, 
Henstridge,  was  in  the  fourth  place  with  89  points,  of  which  73  were 
for  fruit  and  the  remainder  for  flowers,  foliage,  harmony  of  colour,  and 
general  arrangement  for  effect. 
The  succeeding  class  was  open  only  to  growers  in  the  county  of 
Salop,  and  the  schedule  requirements  were  for  a  collection  of  nine 
dishes  of  fruit,  not  less  than  five  kinds  or  more  than  two  varieties  or  a 
kind,  including  two  bunches  of  black  and  two  bunches  of  white  Grapes  ; 
Pines  were  excluded.  Each  collection  had  to  be  decorated,  and  a  table 
space  of  3  feet  6  inches  by  4  feet  6  inches  was  allowed.  Special  recog¬ 
nition  was  accorded  to  the  decorative  arrangements.  Mr.  J.  Langley 
was  first  of  the  five  exhibitors.  The  Grapes  were  Madresfield  Court 
and  Poster’s  Seedling;  Peaches  Grosse  Mignonne  and  Hile’s  Early; 
Nectarine  Early  Rivers;  Apricots  Shipley’s;  Pears  Jargonelle;  Plum 
Prince  Engelbert ;  and  Melon  Hero  of  Lockinge.  Mr.  J.  Langley  was 
