176 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Shrewsbury  Floral  Fete. 
August  20th  and  21st. 
Tlie  show  yard  again!  The  show  yard?  Ah,  well,  no,  that 
smacks  too  much  of  the  agriculturist’s  competitions,  where  well- 
groomed  shorthorns,  pedigreed  stallions,  and  fat  swine  are  the 
objects  of  all  the  stir.  Horticultural  exhibition  grounds  are 
equally  as  bustling  as  agricultural  show  yards,  and  the  subjects 
of  competition  incite  quite  as  much  of  interest  and  admiration. 
Such  a  show  as  that  held  this  week  at  Shrewsbury  is  of  great 
educational  value  to  those  many  gardeners  whose  outings  are 
all  too  rare,  and  who  have  few  chances  of  seeing  the  products 
of  other  gardens  outside  their  own  county.  Such  practitioners 
are  doubtless  apt  to  fix  a  wrong  standard  of  excellence  in  their 
minds  which  a  visit  to  such  a  show  as  we  now  report,  if  only 
made  once  in  a  while,  is  pretty  sure  to  correct. 
J  lie  exhibition  this  year  maintains  the  record  of  success,  and 
so  many  as  200  more  entries  than  last  year  were  received  on  this 
occasion.  The  general  impression  gained  in  a  cursory  look 
round  before  judging  commenced  was  that  lack  of  sunshine  and 
long-continued  cold  weather  over  these  islands  seems  to  count 
for  little  against  the  strength  of  purpose  and  ability  of  the 
British  gardener.  Muscat  Grapes  were  many  times  staged  rather 
green,  and  there  may  liavei  been  less  profusion  of  blossom  on 
some  of  the  specimen  flowering  plants,  Dahlias  and  early 
Chrysanthemums,  too,  being  backward,  and  Roses  few;  but  on 
the  whole  the  show  was  admirable,  and  highly  creditable  in  all 
departments. 
New  features  cannot  very  well  be  expected,  but  some  of  the 
trade  firms  display  a  commendable  spirit  in  their  efforts  at 
novelty,  and  in  introducing  “something  new.”  The  executive 
of  the  Shropshire  Horticultural  Society,  too,  are  certainly  not 
apathetic.  This  year  they  have  lighted  the  largest  marquee  with 
electric  lamps,  so  that  the  workers  could  continue  with  the  best 
possible  convenience  all  the  night  long,  if  they  had  a  mind  to. 
Another  point  worthy  of  notice,  though  not  novel  here,  is  the 
facility  for  competitors  to  find  the  exact  spot  whereon  to  stage 
their  various  entries.  At  the  edges  of  the  tables  in  all  the  tents 
are  printed  cards  bearing  the  numbers  and  description  of  the 
class,  these  cards  being  neatly  tacked  down,  and  one  is  provided 
for  every  entry  that  has  been  booked.  Could  anything  better 
be  devised?  There  is  absolutely  no  chance  for  confusion  or  mis¬ 
takes. 
The  eve  of  the  show  was  calm  and  pleasant,  with  full  moon¬ 
shine,  and  the  Wednesday  morning  opened  in  bright  sunshine, 
and  with  a  brisk  breeze.  Prognostications  for  rain  were  made 
by  some,  but  for  the  sake  of  those  who  s'o  much  deserve  success 
it  was  hoped  the  weather  would  hold  fine. 
The  London  complement  of  competitors,  visitors,  judges,  and 
journalists  must  have  felt  satisfaction  in  noting  the  freshness  of 
the  country  throughout  the  route.  Corn  crops  are  heavy,  and 
harvest  in  all  the  counties  southward  is  general.  Potatoes  are 
being  lifted,  and  even  some  of  the  cornfields  are  again  being 
ploughed. 
Plants  and  Groups. 
This  section  was,  as  usual,  represented  in  great  force,  nearly 
all  the  champion  plant  growers  taking  a  part.  The  huge  speci¬ 
men  plants  and  groups  filled  two  enormous  marquees.  The  colour¬ 
ing  of  the  Crotons  was  truly  remarkable  after  such  a  dull  season, 
and  the  majority  of  the  flowering  plants  were  in  the  pink  of 
condition.  They  were,  without  doubt,  a  triumph  to  the  gar¬ 
dener’s  art. 
The  class  for  twenty  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  is  always  a 
strong  one  here,  but  on  this  occasion  there  were  no  less  than 
four  entries,  a  gigantic  show  in  cue  class,  the  prizes,  £25,  £20, 
and  £15,  being  enough  to  attract  exhibitors  from  all  parts.  Mr. 
B.  Cromwell,  gardener,  to  T.  Sutton  Timmis,  Esq.,  Allerton, 
Liverpool,  secured  the  blue  ribbon,  with  three  gigantic  Kentias, 
Crotons  Queen  Victoria,  Aurea,  and  Marantas,  Countess  Monte- 
fontainensis,  and  Williamsoni.  These  were  quite  remarkable  for 
their  huge  size  and  perfect  colouring.  The  flowering  section  was 
well  represented  by  Ixoras  Williamsi  (two  plants),  Coccinea 
superba  (two  plants),  Duffi,  and  Pilgrimi,  Rhododendron  Taylori, 
superb  plants  of  Lapagerias  alba  and  rosea,  Allamanda  Hender- 
soni,  Statice  profusa,  and  Stephanotis  floribunda.,  in  good  con¬ 
dition. 
Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and  Son,  Cheltenham,  were  a  capital 
second,  the  best  plants  being  Statice  intermedia,  a  grand  plant, 
Bougainvilleas  Cypheri  and  Sanderiana  were  in  excellent  condi¬ 
tion.  Crotons  Queen  Victoria  and  Sunset  made  a  splendid  display. 
The  Allamandas  were  also  good.  There  could  not  have  been  very 
much  between  these  exhibitors,  while  Mr.  W.  Vause,  Learning- 
ton,  was  third,  with  large  plants,  which,  however,  were  consider¬ 
ably  behind  the  others  in  development  and  finish. 
For  a  group  of  miscellaneous  plants,  foliage  and  flowering, 
arranged  for  effect,  in  a  space  of  three  hundred  square  feet,  with 
prizes  equal  to  those  in  the  first  class,  four  competitors  faced  the 
iudges,  all  of  them  making  a  fine  display.  Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and 
Sen  were  placed  first,  the  arrangement  being  artistic,  and  the 
August  21,  1902. 
material  employed  of  the  best.  The  chief  foliage  plants  were 
Cocos  Weddelliana,  Bamboos,  Aralias,  Crotons,  Asparagus, 
Dracaenas,  and  Ferns.  The  “  dot  ”  plants  were  very  striking.  The 
flowering  plants  were  chiefly  Orchids,  Begonias,  Ixoras,  and  Lan- 
tanas.  The  whole  groups  were  quite  fairylike,  and  quite  up  to 
the  Shrewsbury  standard. 
The  second  position  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  V.  McDonald,  gar¬ 
dener  to  G.  H.  Kenrick,  Esq.,  Edgbastcn,  and  it  was  in  every 
way  worthy  to  do  so.  The  plan  followed  was  well  carried  out,  the 
whole  of  the  ground  being  covered  without  undue  crowding.  The 
Orchids,  Crotons,  Liliums,  Humeas,  and  Palms  were  the  chief 
features.  Mr.  W.  Finch,  Coventry,  was  third,  with  a  different 
design,  made  of  arches  and  mounds.  The  white  Liliums,  with  a 
quantity  of  silvery  foliage,  were  most  conspicuous,  and  gave  quite 
a  separate  character  to  the  group. 
Class  3  was  for  a  group  of  plants,  foliage  only,  of  the  same 
size,  and  the  same  prize  money  as  in  the  previous  class.  This 
attracted  three  competitors.  Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and  Son  were, 
however,  easy  winners,  the  Palms  and  Crotons  being  remarkably 
well  coloured,  while  the  arrangement  left  little  to  be  desired,  the 
groundwork  being  especially  good.  Mr.  J.  Thompson,  gardener 
to  G.  H.  Turner,  Esq.,  Derby,  was  second,  with  a  distinct  arrange¬ 
ment  of  choice  stove  plants,  the  Crotons  and  Alocasias  being  note¬ 
worthy  ;  while  third  honours  went  to  Mr.  J.  V.  McDonald  for  a 
pretty  arrangement  of  plants,  the  copper  shading  being  quite  a 
feature  throughout  the  group. 
Class  4  was  for  thirty  stove  or  greenhouse  plants,  not  to 
exceed  ten  inches,  Orchids  excluded.  These  made  a  brave  show, 
Mr.  T.  Lambert  leading  well  with  some  remarkably  fine  plants 
for  the  pots.  The  most  noteworthy  were  CTerodendron  fallax, 
Ixora  Pilgrimi,  Bougainvillea  glabra,  Dipladenia  amabilis,  Alla¬ 
manda  Hendersoni,  and  a  few  Crotons,  beautifully  coloured. 
Mr.  B.  Cromwell  was  second,  with  good  specimens  of  C'rassula 
coccinea,  Ixora  Duffi,  Alooasia  Sanderiana,  and  Lapageria,  rosea 
superba ;  while  Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and  Sons  occupied  third  place. 
The  single  specimen  flowering  plant  only  brought  out  three 
plants,  Mr.  W.  Vause  being  placed  first  with  a  good  plant  of 
Erica  eemula,  which  lacked  freshness.  Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and 
Son  followed  with  a  well  flowered  plant  of  Statice  intermedia  ; 
while  Mr.  W.  Finch  brought  up  the  rear  with  the  same  variety. 
This  was  a  weaker  class  than  one  Avould  expect  here. 
In  the  class  for  four  Ferns  there  were  five  competitors.  Here 
Mr.  B.  Cromwell  won  first  place  easily  with  good  specimens  of 
Microlepia  liirta  cristata,  Nephrolepis  rufescens,  a  grand  plant, 
Nephrolepis  davallioides  furcans,  and  Adiantum  cuneatum.  Mr. 
J.  Stevenson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  J.  IL.  Slaney,  Wellington,  was 
second,  and  Mr.  J.  Carter  third. 
For  six  Dracaenas  there  were  only  two  competitors,  the  first 
prize  going  to  Air.  T.  Lambert  for  large  well-coloured  plants. 
Mr.  R.  Lawley  was  second  with  good  coloured  plants  but 
smaller. 
Coleuses  were  rather  sparsely  represented,  only  two  exhibits 
being  staged,  the  first  prize  going  to  Mr.  H.  Worrell  for  four 
moderate  specimens;  Mr.  T.  Stevenson  being  second  with  smaller 
plants. 
The  beauty  of  the  Caladiums  was  destroyed  by  being  staged 
on  a  table  without  covering.  Air.  B.  Cromwell  led  off  with  six 
w’ell  coloured  and  developed  plants.  Mr.  S.  Bremmell  followed 
with  rather  soft  plants,  and  Air.  W.  Ashwood,  gardener  to  R.  A. 
Newill,  Esq.,  Admaston,  was  third. 
Class  10  represented  four  Fuchsias,  for  which  there  were 
three  entries,  Mr.  J.  Jenks,  Castle  Fields,  being  first  with  six 
moderate  plants.  Air.  A.  Bateman  was  second  with  a  good  fresh 
exhibit,  but  rather  smaller;  while  Air.  J.  Farrant  made  a  good 
third. 
Air.  H.  Clift,  gardener  to  R.  Taylor,  Esq.,  was  the  only 
exhibitor  of  six  single  Zonals,  and  was  awarded  second  prize; 
rather  hard  luck.  For  six  double  Zonal  Pelargoniums  there  were 
three  entries,  and  Air.  H.  Clift  was  placed  first  with  nice  fresh, 
plants.  Mr.  W.  Payne,  gardener  to  E.  S.  Godsell,  Esq.,  Stroud, 
followed,  and  Air.  Jas.  Farrant,  brought  up  the  rear. 
Class  14  was  for  six  Begonias,  and  there  were  three  entries, 
but  Messrs;  B.  R.  Davis  and  Sons,  Yeovil,  were  handsomely  first 
with  six  splendid  plants,  the  scarlet  W.  Sparsliot  being  excellent. 
Air.  H.  Clift  followed  with  larger  plants,  and  Air.  J.  Farrant 
came  third. 
Gloxinias  were  represented  by  five  entries,  the  first  prize 
going  to  Air.  J.  Carter,  gardener  to  W.  J.  Scott,  Esq.,  Berford 
House,  for  a  splendid  exhibit  ;  Mr.  Chas.  Yeoman,  gardener  to 
A.  Darby,  Esq.,  Baschurch,  made  a  good  second  ;  and  Air.  Jas. 
Farrant  third. 
Table  plants  were  good  throughout,  Air.  B.  Cromwell  win¬ 
ning  with  capital  Crotons  and  Palms.  Air.  A.  H.  Hall,  gardener 
to  J.  C.  Waterhouse,  Esq.,  Prestbury,  Alacclesfield,  followed,  and 
Mr.  F.  Jordan,  gardener  to  T.  Corbett,  Esq.,  Impney  Hall, 
Droitwich,  was  third. 
Class  17,  for  a  collection  of  thirty  plants  in  5in  pots,  not  less 
than  twenty  in  bloom,  made  a  good  show.  The  first  prize  was 
awarded  Air.  T.  Lambert,  gardener  to  Lord  Harlech,  Brogyntyn, 
for  a  good  collection;  the  best  were  Ixora  Prince  of  Orange, 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Acalypha  Sanderiana,  Alocasias, 
