230 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  4,  1902. 
Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and  Sons  were,  as  usual,  an  easy  first,  their 
Palms,  Crotons,  Statice,  Heaths,  &c.,  being  excellent.  W.  J. 
Mann,  Esq.,  Trowbridge  (H.  Mathews,  gardener),  second;  and 
J.  B.  Wood  and  Son  third.  Messrs.  Cypher  and  Mathews  won 
with  six  flowering  specimens;  and  Messrs.  E.  S.  Cole  and  Son, 
and  G.  Hallett,  with  foliage  plants.  Messrs.  Cypher’s  group 
arranged  on  a  space  of  200ft  was  disposed  in  their  well  known 
style,  Orchids  in  variety,  the  Butterfly  Oncidium  in  particular 
being  a  prominent  feature,  and  single-stemmed  Crotons  in  good 
variety,  were  grouped  and  dotted  in  a  pleasing  manner.  R.  B. 
Cater*  Esq.,  Bath,  was  a  very  creditable  second,  and  E.  S.  Cole 
and  Son  third;  artistic  taste  and  good  quality  of  plant  being 
alike  present.  In  the  single  specimens,  and  with  a  collection  of 
Orchids,  Messrs.  Cypher  also  won,  a  grand  Croton  Andreanus 
in  a  lOin  pot  winning  the  prize  for  a  specimen  foliage  plant. 
Mr.  George  Tucker’s  nine  Fuchsias  were  finely  grown  and 
flowered,  but  some  other  exhibits  were  not  up  to  the  standard 
of  former  Bath  shows.  The  last-named  exhibitor  was  also 
successful  with  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  Ferns  and  Begonias. 
Roses  in  twenty-four  varieties  staged  by  Messrs.  Perkins, 
Coventry,  were  beautifully  fresh,  bright  and  heavy.  Mr.  J. 
Mattock,  Oxford,  and  Messrs.  Cooling,  Bath,  following. 
Mr.  J.  Mattock  scored  with  twelve  Teas  and  twelve 
varieties  shown  in  vases ;  Messrs.  W.  T.  Mattock,  and 
Perkins  and  Sons  being  also  successful.  Beautiful  Gladioli, 
thirty-six  spikes  and  twelve  spikes,  were  staged  by 
the  'Messrs.  J.  and  W.  J.  Mattock,  Mr.  G.  Humphries 
and  Mr.  F.  Hooper  also  taking  prizes.  Dahlias  were  not  so 
good  or  so  numerous  as  is  customary,  Messrs.  J.  Cray  and  Sons, 
Frome ;  W.  Treseder,  Cardiff;  T.  Hoskins;  T.  Carr,  Esq.,  and 
G.  Humphries  being  representative  names  among  winners. 
Herbaceous  flowers  were  really  marvellous,  both  in  wealth  and 
variety,  Bath  growers  excelling. 
Floral  table  decorations  proved  a  most  attractive  class,  both 
alike  among  the  public  and  competitors,  and  perhaps  greater 
criticism  is  evoked  from  this  phase  of  floral  competition  than 
any  other  connected  with  flower  shows.  Needless  to  say,  there 
were  several  disappointed  ones  on  this  occasion,  and  the  judg¬ 
ment  of  the  censors  gave  rise  to  eloquence  in  their  praise  or 
otherwise  from  many  voices.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  none 
of  the  Bath  ladies  'figured  among  the  prizewinners.  Messrs. 
Cypher  won  with  an  epergne,  and  with  buttonhole  bouquets ; 
and  with  an  arrangement  of  one  kind  of  flower  in  a  vase,  Mr. 
Mattock  was  the  victor  in  a  hard  fight,  his  vase  of  Sunset 
Roses  being  very  chaste. 
Fruit  at  Bath  is  always  an  attractive  portion  of  the  show, 
and  though  in  extent  there  was  a  lesser  competition  than  usual, 
high  quality  was  none  the  less  a  predominant  element.  Mr. 
Mitchell,  gardener  to  J.  V.  Fleming,  Esq.,  Romsey,  was  a  good 
first  for  eight  bunches  of  Grapes  in  four  varieties,  his  Madres- 
field  Court,  White  Muscats,  Black  Hamburghs,  and  Gros 
Maroos  being  very  superior  in  colour,  weight  and  finish.  Mr. 
W.  Marsh,  Bath,  was  a  very  good  second.  A  collection  of  eight 
dishes  brought  out  a  spirited  entry  of  seven.  In  this,  Mr. 
Mitchell  won  by  the  excellence  of  his  Grapes,  Madresfield  and 
Alexandrian  Muscats  being  extra  good,  as  also  were  Sea  Eagle 
Peaches  and  Pineapple  Nectarines.  Mr.  Strugnell,  gardener  to 
Colonel  Vivian,  Rood  Ashton,  was  second,  Hamstead  Park 
Melon,  Sea  Eagle  Peaches,  and  Alicante  Grapes  being  his  better 
dishes.  Mr.  Hall,  gardener  to  Lady  Louisa  Ashburton,  was  an 
excellent  third ;  bis  Grapes  and  Melons  being  extra  fine.  The 
latter  was  first  with  White  Muscats,  good  in  bunch,  colour  and 
berry ;  and  Mr.  Mitchell  staged  wonderfully  coloured  Black 
Hamburghs  in  a  class  for  that  variety. 
Four  classes  are  provided  for  Melons,  two  of  them  by  Messrs. 
Sutton,  which  brought  together  a  quantity  of  variable  fruit. 
Messrs.  Wilkins,  gardener  to  Lady  T.  Guest,  of  Henstridge ; 
Strugnell,  Somerville,  and  Mrs.  Greaves  were  the  most  success¬ 
ful  names.  Mr.  Strugnell  won  from  Mr.  Mitchell  with  Peaches, 
fine  Sea  Eagles  in  each  case;  and  Mr.  Hall  was  successful  with 
Nectarines.  Pears  were  numerous,  also  dessert  and  cooking 
Apples,  but  generally  the  fruits  were  below  the  average  in  size 
and  colour.  Filberts  were  good,  as  also  were  Plums,  Cherries, 
and  Tomatoes. 
Honorary  exhibits  from  Messrs.  Blaekmore  and  Langdon — 
Begonias  and  Carnations — were  most  attractive.  Messrs.  I. 
House  and  Son  for  hardy  flowers  and  Sweet  Peas  were  given 
certificates  of  merit,  as  also  were  Mr.  Fowle,  Teignmouth,  for  a 
group  of  Carnation  Devonia.  Messrs.  Blackmore’s  Begonias 
were  well  deserving  of  a  higher  award  of  merit,  the  collection 
being  both  extensive  in  flower  and  variety,  well  displayed,  and 
intensely  interesting.  Messrs.  House’s  Sweet  Peas,  too,  were 
fine  in  colour  and  variety. 
To  the  secretaries,  Messrs.  Pearson  and  Jeffery,  much  praise 
is  due  for  the  business-like  tact  which  is  brought  to  bear  upon 
their  arduous  duties.  They  are  supported  by  an  excellent  com¬ 
mittee  and  chairman  (R.  B.  Cater,  Esq.),  the  latter  an  expert 
in  matters  horticultural  as  in  his  other  high  official  capacities. 
In  short,  there  is  an  ideality  in  the  officers,  and  not  less  so  the 
show  ground — the  Sydney  Gardens — which  dispenses  abundant 
tree  shade,  ample  accommodation  and  natural  seclusion. 
Bristol  Gardeners'. 
The  usual  meeting  of  this  association  was  held  at  St.  John’s 
Rooms,  on  Thursday  evening  last,  under  the  phairmanship  of 
Mr.  E.  Binfield,  The  Gardens,  Old  Sneyd  Park.  The  lecturer  for 
the  evening  was  Mr.  H.  Kitley,  of  Messrs.  Garaway’s  Nurseries, 
Clifton,  his  subject  being  “  Seed  Testing  and  Saving,”  with  which 
he  dealt  in  a  very  able  and  practical  way.  He  impressed  on  his 
audience  the  absolute  necessity  of  obtaining  the  very  purest  seeds 
possible,  which  was  of  the  utmost  importance  for  successful 
gardening.  The  best  methods  for  testing  the  germinating  power 
of  seeds  Mr.  Kitley  fully  explained,  which  was  practised  by  all 
of  our  leading  -seedsmen,  who  were  thus  enabled  to  recommend 
their  seeds  with  the  utmost  confidence.  He  also  advised  the 
Conference  Pear.  (See  r^c  218.) 
gardener  to  test  his  seeds  before  sowing  the  general  lot.  Every 
well  appointed  garden,  the  lecturer  remarked,  should  be  fitted 
up  with  a  suitable  seed  room,  wherein  to  keep  the  surplus  seeds 
till  the  time  for  sowing,  which  would  keep  them  free  from  damp 
and  insects,  and  thereby  save  many  failures.  Referring  t-o  seed 
saving,  Mr.  Kitley  strongly  advised  saving  only  from  the  most 
perfect  forms,  and  from  those  first  maturing.  He  also 
gave  a  list  of  those  which  retain  their  vitality  for  any  length  of 
time,  as  also  those  of  short  duration.  Ilis  paper  was  much 
appreciated  by  all  present,  and  he  was  cordially  thanked  for  his 
effort.  Prizes  were  awarded  as  follows  :  The  first,  being  given 
by  Mr.  Chas.  Kemp,  was  won  by  Mr.  A.  Baker  (gardener,  Mr. 
Orchard):  the  second  going  to  Mr.  J.  B.  Brain  (gardener,  Mr. 
Atwell),  for  six  bunches  perennials.  For  twelve  spring  sown 
Onions  of  mammoth  size,  Mr.  Young  was  awarded  a  Certificate  of 
Merit,  Mr.  Garnish  obtaining  one  for  some  very  fine  Asters. 
Messrs.  Ambrose  and  Son  being  also  awarded  one  for  some  excel¬ 
lent  seedling  Carnation  blooms. 
