208 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  30,  1900, 
them  away  if  not  destroy  them.  Many  may  be  destroyed  by  baits  of 
■Carrots  or  Potatoes  buried  in  the  soil  1  to  2  inches  deep,  which  should 
be  examined  daily,  and  the  wireworms  that  have  penetrated  the  baits 
destroyed,  re-inserting  them  in  the  soil.  If  the  baits  have  a  stick 
thrust  through  them,  so  as  to  serve  as  a  handle,  they  are  more  readily 
taken  up  and  examined. 
I{orticultnral  Shows. 
Shrewsbury  Floral  Fete,  August  22 ad  and  23rd. 
Pfl  'R,'Ek'D'E's,soii}:ie  Journal  of  Horticulture  would  observe  that  we  omitted 
any  reference  (page  185)  to  the  vegetables  and  non-competitive  exhibits 
owing  to  lack  of  space.  These  two  sections,  as  was  the  case  with  those 
already  adverted  to,  were  of  exceptional  excellence.  Amongst  non- 
•competitive  exhibits  were  some  of  the  handsomest  arrangements  of 
flowers  and  plants  that  have  ever  been  seen,  that  of  Messrs.  J.  Veitch 
and  Sons  being  superb.  In  the  vegetable  tent  Mr.  E.  Beckett  made 
his  bow  to  the  Shrewsbury  public,  and  secured  three  first  and  three 
second  prizes  with  six  exhibits — a  fine  performance  when  the  prowess 
of  several  other  growers  represented  is  taken  into  consideration.  We 
would,  too,  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  introductory  paragraphs 
in  the  fruit  section  referring  to  the  decorative  dessert  table  and  the 
collection  of  twelve  kinds  of  fruits  (page  184)  became  transposed  in 
making  up  the  pages  for  press  at  a  late  hour  on  the  day  of  (.he  show. 
Readers,  therefore,  who  may  have  been  somewhat  mystified  in  reading 
the  report  will  find  everything  clear  if  they  will  make  the  necessary 
transposition  in  the  paragraphs. 
Vegetables. 
It  would  not  be  easy  to  overpraise  a  large  proportion  of  the 
vegetables  that  were  shown  on  the  present  occasion.  Practically  all 
the  most  redoubtable  growers  were  represented.  Messrs.  J.  Carter  and 
Oo.,  High  Holborn,  offered  six  prizes  for  a  collection  of  nine  kinds,  and 
the  premier  award  went  to  Mr.  B.  Beckett,  gardener  to  Lord  Aldenham, 
Aldenham  House,  Elstree,  who  showed  in  magnificent  condition  Celery 
Standard  Bearer,  Leek  Holborn  Model,  Cauliflower  Extra  Early  Autumn 
Giant,  Onion  Ailsa  Craig,  Tomato  Duke  of  York,  Potato  Snowball, 
Runner  Bean  Carter’s  Jubilee,  Pea  Model  Telephone,  and  Carrot  Scarlet 
Perfection.  Mr.  D.  Gibson,  gardener  to  J.  B.  Johnstone,  Esq.,  Coombe 
Cottage,  Kingston,  was  second ;  and  Mr.  T.  Wilkins,  Henstridge, 
third. 
Messrs.  Jones  &  Sons,  Shrewsbury,  offered  four  prizes  for  a  collec¬ 
tion  of  eight  distinct  kinds,  open  to  growers  in  Salop,  Herefordshire, 
Cheshire,  and  Wales.  There  were  only  two  exhibitors,  and  Mr. 
H.  Taylor  was  first,  with  Onions  and  Cauliflowers  as  his  best  dishes  ; 
and  Mr.  W.  Dawes  second. 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading,  offered  six  prizes  for  a  collection  of 
nine  distinct  kinds,  and  the  premier  position  was  assigned  to  Mr. 
E.  Beckett  for  a  perfect  stand,  comprising  Cauliflower  Magnum  Bonum, 
Onion  Ailsa  Craig,  Leek  Sutton’s  Prizetaker,  Ideal  Potato,  Pea  Duke  of 
Albany,  Tomato  Perfection,  and  Bean  Best  of  All.  Mr.  J.  Gibson, 
gardener  to  R.  W.  Hudson,  Esq.,  Danesfield,  Marlow,  was  second  ;  and 
•Mr.  W.  Pope,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Carnarvon,  Highclere,  third. 
Mr.  E.  Murrell,  Shrewsbury,  offered  four  prizes  for  twelve  distinct 
varieties,  and  three  prizes  for  six  distinct  varieties.  In  the  larger 
class  the  prizewinners  were  Messrs.  S.  Bremmell,  E.  Walker,  and 
B.  Philpott,  gardener  to  D.  Robinson,  Esq.,  Habberley  Hall,  in  the 
order  named.  For  six  sorts  Mr.  J.  Birch,  gardener  to  Capt.  H.  L. 
Butler,  Shotton  Hall,  Shrewsbury,  was  first ;  Mr.  G.  Chaunt,  gardener 
to  Sir  C.  Scotland,  Chilton  Grove,  second;  and  Mr.  J.  Abbotts 
third. 
Messrs.  E.  Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley,  offered  six  prizes  for  a  collection 
of  eight  distinct  kinds ;  and  Mr.  J.  Gibson  was  first  with  Cauliflower 
Early  Mammoth,  Celery  Mammoth  Red,  Carrot  Prizetaker,  Onion  Ailsa 
Craig,  Pea  Autocrat,  Tomato  Jubilee,  Runner  Bean  Exhibition,  and  a 
kidney  Potato.  Mr.  E.  Beckett  was  a  splendid  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Pope 
third.  The  same  firm  also  offered  three  prizes  for  a  dish  of  Tomatoes 
selected  from  certain  specified  varieties.  Mr.  W.  Pope  was  first ;  Mr.  J. 
Martin,  gardener  to  T.  W.  Swinburne,  Esq.,  Corndean  Hall,  Glos., 
second  ;  and  Mr.  T.  Wilkins  third. 
Messrs.  Pritchard  &  Sons,  Shrewsbury,  offered  three  prizes  for  a 
collection  of  six  varieties  of  vegetables,  and  the  premier  position  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  J.  Abbott,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Guise,  Hadnall.  Mr.  J. 
Durnell,  gardener  to  R.  L.  Kenyon,  Esq.,  Pradoe,  Oswestry,  was 
second. 
Mr.  Robert  Sydenham,  Birmingham,  offered  special  prizes  in  classes 
for  Peas,  Runner  Beans,  Cauliflowers,  Carrots,  Parsnips,  Onions, 
Turnips,  Tomatoes,  Celery  and  Potatoes.  Amongst  the  most  successful 
exhibitors  were  Messrs.  J.  Read,  Bretby,  W.  Pope,  E.  Walker,  W.  Leith, 
Ross,  T.  Wilkins,  and  W.  Roe.  In  these  classes  Mr.  Sydenham  also 
offers  a  15-guinea  challenge  bowl  to  the  winner  of  the  highest  aggregate 
of^  points.  This  was  secured  by  Mr.  W.  Leith,  gardener  to  Col. 
Middleton,  The  Chase,  Ross,  with  36  points  out  of  a  possible  50. 
For  a  collection  of  nine  distinct  kinds  of  vegetables,  open  only  to 
the  county  of  Salop,  Mr.  H.  Huxter,  gardener  to  J.  B.  Wood,  Esq., 
Ludlow,  was  first  with  Solid  White  Celery,  Ailsa  Craig  Onions,  Autumn 
Mammoth  Cauliflower,  New  Red  Intermediate  Carrot,  Satisfaction 
Potatoes,  Best  of  All  Runner  Beans,  Cucumbers,  Tomatoes  and  Peas. 
Mr.  J.  Birch  was  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Dawes  third.  There  were  five 
most  creditable  collections  in  this  class. 
In  the  several  other  vegetable  classes,  in  which  the  prizes  were 
furnished  by  the  committee,  there  was  some  excellent  produce  staged, 
but  lack  of  space  precludes  the  possibility  of  our  giving  detailed  notes. 
Prominent  on  the  prize  cards  were  the  names  of  Messrs.  T.  Wilkins ; 
G.  Risebrow,  Shif nal ;  S.  Bremmell;  T.  Steventon,  Wellington;  G.  H. 
Chaunt;  J.  Read;  B.  Ashton;  J.  Davis,  Leominster;  H.  Huxter; 
W.  Leith ;  W.  Pope;  G.  Grimmer;  J.  Abbott;  B.  Philpott ;  J.  Birch; 
H.  Taylor ;  W.  Jones,  Market  Drayton ;  E.  Beckett ;  J.  Stalker, 
Build  was;  J.  Titley  ;  J.  Durnell;  J.  Clowes;  and  A.  H.  Hall. 
A  Judge’s  Comments  on  the  Vegetables. 
These  products  are  always  seen  at  Shrewsbury  in  great  abundance, 
and  of  the  best  that  the  art  of  gardening  can  well  produce,  subject 
to  the  divergent  natures  of  the  seasons.  I  was  both  somewhat  amused 
and  surprised  on  being  told  by  an  esteemed  gardener  friend  that  my 
previous  efforts  in  favour  of  obtaining  less  size  and  higher  quality 
in  vegetables  would  have  to  be  repeated.  I  do  not  think  that  was 
just  criticism.  Of  course  there  was  more  size  in  some  directions 
than  is  pleasant  to  see,  but  so  far  as  the  open  or  leading  classes  were 
concerned  it  found  no  favour  with  the  judges,  and  there  can  be  no 
question  but  that  quality  is  so  far  improved  generally  that  there 
seems  to  be  little  room  for  advance  by  the  best  exhibitors ;  certainly 
there  has  been  great  progress  as  compared  with  the  vegetable  exhibits 
of  a  few  years  since.  But  such  is  garden  cultivation  that  it  is  quite 
impossible  to  overlook  its  effects  on  vegetable  production.  The  entire 
tendency  has  been,  not  only  in  culture  but  in  raising  varieties,  to  secure 
greater  average  size,  combined  with  the  best  quality. 
Take  Onions,  for  instance.  In  these  products  we  now  see  what 
can  be  described  only  as  marvellous  bulbs  as  compared  with  the  earlier 
products  of  ordinary  outdoor  sowings.  But  then  the  result  is  due  to 
our  having  a  better  appreciation  of  the  Onion’s  capacity  to  produce 
large  bulbs.  When  the  conditions  of  culture  are  varied  no  one  can  say 
that  the  big  bulbs  now  seen  at  shows  are  not,  when  ripe,  as  solid  and 
mature  as  are  the  best  of  ordinary  spring  sown  bulbs,  but  are  of  four 
times  the  dimensions.  They  are  also,  because  so  fully  developed,  even 
more  handsome.  If,  then,  we  find  in  these  massive  Onions  the  very 
highest  quality  that  the  Onion  is  capable  of  producing,  how  can 
such  excellence  with  size  be  ignored  ?  But  even  in  judging  Onions  I 
should  not  allow  mere  weight  to  dominate  my  award.  We  are  entitled 
to  look  for  perfection  of  form,  for  brightness,  cleanness,  evenness,  and 
in  collections  of  vegetables  some  average  similarity  to  the  size  of  the 
other  products.  These  great  Onions  have  most  valuable  edible  uses,  for 
baking  or  stewing,  and  are  far  more  useful  in  that  way  than  are  big 
Potatoes,  Carrots,  Turnips,  Beet,  and  other  products,  all  of  which  are 
less  suited  for  their  forms  of  cooking  than  are  those  of  medium  size. 
There  was  a  small  increase  in  the  number  of  collections  of  vegetables 
staged  at  Shrewsbury  over  that  of  last  year  in  competition  for  Messrs. 
Jas.  Carter  &  Co.’s  valuable  prizes,  eight  lots  competing  in  place  of 
four  last  year.  In  the  classes  instituted  by  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  and 
Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons,  also  for  valuable  prizes,  the  former  had  nine 
competitors  each  year,  and  the  latter  seven.  Thus  in  these  three  classes 
alone  there  were  twenty-four  collections,  and  a  total  of  209  dishes, 
presenting  a  fine  display.  The  primary  kinds  shown  were  Cauliflowers, 
Carrots,  Onions,  Celery,  Runner  Beans,  Peas,  Potatoes,  Tomatoes, 
Leaks,  Cucumbers,  and  Beets. 
Taking  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Carter’s  classes  I  found  that  all 
competitors  had  Carrots,  Tomatoes,  Onions,  Potatoes,  and  Celery.  All 
but  one  had  Peas  and  Cauliflowers,  two  did  not  have  Runner  or  any 
other  Beans,  four  had  no  Leeks,  and  only  a  few  had  Beets,  Cucumbers, 
and  Turnips.  Points  as  compared  with  those  of  last  year  show  no  great 
difference  in  relative  excellence.  Thus  taking  the  first  six  who  took 
prizes  in  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons’  class,  the  total  points  last  year  was  210, 
and  this  year203J.  Taking  the  first  four  competitors  in  Messrs.  Carter 
and  Co.’s  class  last  year  they  were  139,  and  this  year  141.  I  did  not 
have  the  pointing  of  Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons’  class  this  year,  therefore 
cannot  institute  any  comparison.  But  the  general  result  in  any  case  is 
to  show  that  average  quality  in  the  exhibits  was  about  the  same. 
The  judging  maximum  of  points  for  each  dish  was  5,  and  it  is 
interesting  to  note  that  in  only  four  cases  in  each  of  the  competitions 
was  the  maximum  given,  and  that  last  year  in  both  of  these  competi¬ 
tions  the  numbers  were  6  each.  There  was  a  total  of  15  4^  points, 
showing  very  near  perfection ;  35  of  4  points,  31  of  3^  points,  39  of 
3  points,  and  about  18  had  to  2  points  each.  The  highest  number  of 
points  awarded  to  one  exhibitor  in  Messrs.  Sutton’s  class  was  36j,  as 
compared  with  40^  last  year.  In  Messrs.  Carter’s  class  the  highest 
this  year  was  39,  and  last  year  was  37,  neither  being  the  same  exhibitor 
as  last  year.  Still  the  figures  show  how  even  was  the  running,  as  the 
maximum  of  points  is  45,  and  as  the  best  six  ranged  from  39  points  down 
to  34  it  is  evident  there  is  ample  room  for  improvement  to  enable  the 
judges’  maximum  to  be  reached.  Some  time,  with  a  better  season,  that 
great  distinction  may  be  won. — A.  D. 
