473 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  20,  1902 
classes  are  provided  by  the  society  for  blooms  in  vases,  both  for 
large  blooms  and  decorative  kinds,  which  does  much  to  relieve 
the  monotony  generally  apparent  in  Chrysanthemum  exhibi¬ 
tions;  but  the  committee  might  advantageously  pay  more  atten¬ 
tion  to  arranging  the  vases  so  as  to  produce  a  better  general 
effect. 
Cut  Flowers.— In  the  premier  classes  for  twenty-four  Japa¬ 
nese  Mr.  G.  H.  Smart,  gardener  to  W.  R.  Seago,  Esq.,  Oulton 
Hall,  Lowestoft,  was  placed  first,  with  a  good  stand,  which 
included  excellent  flowers  of  Princess  Alice  de  Monaco,  J.  R. 
Upton,  Mafeking  Hero,  Attraction,  Madame  G.  Henry,  Madame 
P.  Radaelli,  and  Lord  Ludlow.  Mr.  A.  Haynes,  gardener  to 
Colonel  Browning.  C.B.,  Branthani  Court,  Manningtree,  was 
second,  having  Cal  vat’s  99  and  Mrs.  J.  Bryant,  in  good  condition. 
For  twelve  Japs  there  was  a  strong  competition,  the  first  prize 
going  to  Mr.  A.  Creek,  gardener  to  Sir  C.  Domville,  Bart.,  The 
Chantry,  Ipswich,  for  an  excellent  stand,  the  best  blooms  being 
Mrs.  Mease,  W.  R.  Church  (Silver  Medal  N.C.S.  for  best  bloom 
in  open  classes),  Mons.  Hoste,  Pride  of  Exmouth,  Alice  Byron, 
and  Mrs.  Barkley.  Mr.  A.  Haynes  was  second  with  a  good  stand, 
and  Mr.  Smart  third.  For  six  of  any  white  variety,  Mr.  W. 
Bui  lam,  Mutton  Hall,  Wetherden,  scored  with  Madame  Phillipe 
Rivoire;  Mr.  Heath,  Hamilton  House,  Newmarket,  coming 
second  with  Nellie  Pockett.  In  the  corresponding  class  for  any 
other  colour  Mr.  A.  Creek  was  first  with  Phcebus,  Mr.  Haynes 
second  with  Australie. 
The  class  for  six  vases,  five  blooms  of  each  variety,  brought 
four  competitors.  Mr.  Smart  was  awarded  first,  having  good 
sets  of  Lord  Ludlow,  Madame  Phillipe  Rivoire,  Mr.  T.  Carring¬ 
ton,  and  Kimberley ;  Mr.  Haynes  came*  second,  his  best  being 
The  Princess,  Mrs.  Barkley,  and  Viviand  Morel ;  Mr.  Heath 
third. 
Much  attention  was  attracted  by  the  class  for  six  blooms 
arranged  for  effect  with  any  foliage,  the  exhibits  thoroughly 
demonstrating  the  adaptability  of  large  flowers  for  decoration. 
Mr.  Messenger,  Woolverstone  Park  Gardens,  was  awarded  first 
for  some  massive  blooms  of  white  and  yellow  varieties,  charm¬ 
ingly  arranged  with  the  foliage  of  the  scarlet  Oak,  Brake,  and 
Asparagus  SprCngeri.  Mr.  Creek  was  second  for  an  arrangement 
of  yellow  and  bronze  varieties  with  similar  foliage. 
Groups  are  never  a  strong  feature  at  Ipswich,  and  on  the 
present  occasion  were  only  moderate.  For  a  group  of  Chrysan¬ 
themums  with  foliage  plant  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt,  Broughton  Road 
Nursery.  Ipswich,  was  first;  Mr.  Strutt,  gardener  to  W.  P. 
Burton,  Esq.,  second;  and  Mr.  Southgate,  St.  Helen’s  Nur¬ 
series,  Ipswich,  third.  The  foregoing  exhibitions  occupied  the 
same  order  for  a  group  of  miscellaneous,  plants. 
Fruit  and  vegetables  were  of  good  quality  (with  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  Grapes),  and  competition  was  keen.  The  principal  prize¬ 
winners  were  Messrs.  J.  Lindsay,  Scott,  Messenger,  Kettle, 
Sweet,  Trewer  Bros.,  Stowmarket,  Andrews,  &c. 
Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt,  The  Nursery,  Woodbridge,  showed  a 
representative  collection  of  Apples,  not  for  competition,  and, 
likewise,  a  large  collection  of  Cactus  Dahlias,  the  latter  certainly 
an  uncommon  feature  at  a  Chrysanthemum  showq  and  a  striking 
proof  of  the  mildness  of  the  season. — E.  C. 
Birmingham  Chrysanthemum,  Nov.  it,  \l,  and  13. 
The  forty-second  annual  exhibition  was  held  in  the  Bingley 
Hall  on  the  above  dates.  As  regards  the  quality  of  the  exhibits, 
as  a  whole,  it  was  on  a  par  with  that  of  any  previous  event. 
Regarding  the  groups  for  effect,  it  was  a  matter  of  regret  to 
observe  at  least  a  numerical  falling  away  of  this  ever  attractive 
class.  The  foregoing  refers  to  class  9,  where  the  group  was  to 
be  arranged  in  a  space  20ft  wide  at  back  by  12ft  deep.  Upon 
this  occasion  there  were  but  two  exhibits,  otherwise  Mr.  Oliver 
Brasier  (a  former  old  exhibitor)  vTas  debarred  competing  at  all, 
by  reason,  as  a 'matter  of  prudential  delicacy,  of  his  employer 
(Mr.  E.  Martineau)  being  president.  As  usual,  however,  lie  ex¬ 
hibited  a  superlatively  excellent  group  of  specimen  plants  of 
Chrysanthemums,  and  other  plants  and  flov7ers,  not  for  com¬ 
petition;  hence,  leaving  the  competitive  honours  to  Mr.  W. 
Thomson,  gardener  to  J.  W.  Whitfield,  Esq.,  Moseley,  and  Mr. 
Alfred  Cryer,  gardener  to  J.  A.  Kenrick,  Esq.,  Edgbaston,  who 
won  as  in  order  named  with  highly  creditable  displays.  For  a 
group  in  a  space  12ft  by  8ft,  there  were  five  exhibits,  the  suc¬ 
cessful  winner  being  Mr.  J.  Maldrem,  gardener  to  Geo.  Cadbury, 
Esq.,  Northfield  ;  Mr.  C.  Kelland,  gardener  to  A.  H.  Griffiths, 
Esq.,  Edgbaston;  Mr.  H.  Davis,  gardener  to  F.  Mantle,  Esq., 
Beechlands ;  and  Mr.  S.  Coster,  gardener  to  Mrs.  T.  H.  Smith, 
Handsworth,  placed  so.  On  the  whole  there  was  to  be  observed 
a  more  than  usually  good  display  in  quality  of  blooms  and  taste 
in  arrangement  throughout. 
The  Birmingham  specimen  Chrysanthemum  plants  have  long 
been  noted  for  their  excellence,  but  they  were  hardly  so  good 
this  year.  In  the  class  for  nine  plants  (Japanese  excluded), 
Mr.  J.  Maldrem  was  to  the  fore  as  the  only  exhibitor.  For  six 
large  flowering  plants,  Mr.  Maldrem  won  against  his  formidable 
rival,  Mr.  A.  Cryer;  third,  Mr.  C.  S.  Sheppard,  gardener  to  Mrs. 
T.  Simpson,  Edgbaston. 
Special  mention  must  be  made  of  Mr.  James  Austin’s  group 
of  Chrysanthemums  from  Alder  Road,  Sparkbrook,  a  brasswork 
operative  (and  whose  fine  group  of  Chrysanthemums  of  last  year 
were  figured  in  the  Journal  of  October  16  last).  Apart  from  the 
excellence  of  the  group  in  question,  it  was  rendered  additionally 
interesting  to  a  numerous  lot  of  admirers  as  being  the  product 
of  a  mechanic  who  works  at  the  rate  of  fifty-four  hours  a  week, 
two  miles  from  his  home.  Mr.  Austin,  too,  exhibited  on  the 
front  of  his  group  a  copy  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  for 
visitors  to  note  the  photogravure,  for  the  two  remaining  days 
of  the  show.  At  the  judges’  luncheon  the  president  of  the 
society  paid  a  high  compliment,  in  the  course  of  his  speech,  to 
Mr.  Austin’s  ability  and  effective  group  ;  and  a  similar  compli¬ 
ment  was  accorded  Mrs.  E.  Pitt,  florist,  Acock’s  Green,  in  recog¬ 
nition  of  her  artistically  arranged  dinner-table  floral  display  of 
Source  d’Or  Chrysanthemums,  defeating  the  remaining  ‘nine¬ 
teen  competitors  in  a  very  keen  contest,  the  greatest  yet  pro¬ 
duced  at  the  Birmingham  exhibitions. 
In  the  honorary  exhibits,  Messrs.  Perkins  and  Sons,  Coventry, 
added  to  their  fame  by  exhibiting  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
of  their  artistic  floral  “concoctions”  yet  contributed  by  them, 
and  a  cunningly  devised  floral  “  grandfather’s  clock,”  with  a  real 
“  Greenwich  time  ”  clock,  and  the  figures  composed  of  Holly 
berries.  Messrs.  Lohrmann  and  Co.,  florists,  Birmingham,  also 
contributed  a  large  and  grand  display  of  bouquets  and  other 
floral  devices,  though  it  left  considerable  room  for  improvement, 
as  numbers  of  the  exhibits  were  too  much  hidden  by  the  bolder 
ones.  Messrs.  Perkins  were  placed  first  (in  the  class  for  nur¬ 
serymen  only)  for  a  hand  bouquet,  whilst  Messrs.  John  Pope  and 
Sons  w’ere  second;  Air.  W.  Finch,  Coventry,  was  placed  third. 
It  should  here  be  remarked  that  Alessrs.  Pope  and  Sons  also 
contributed  a  very  attractive  floral  device  in  the  shape  of  a  large 
gate  composed  of  white  Chrysanthemums,  arched  with  autumn- 
tinted  foliage. 
Mr.  H.  Wliately,  Kenilworth,  were  responsible  for  a  fine 
and  large  display  of  Orchids.  Mr.  Thomson,  of  Sparkhill,  had 
a  very  striking  trophy  of  plants  in  variety,  the  principal  feature 
being  the  large  mass  of  Salvia  splendens  superba. 
Mr.  Walter  Child,  nurseryman,  Acock’s  Green,  distinguished 
himself  by  a  large  collection  of  herbaceous  and  Alpine  plants, 
flowering  and  berried  dwarf  plants,  suitable  for  the  rockery,  most 
effectively  arranged. 
Mr.  R.  Greenfield,  jun.,  Leamington,  put  up  a  fine  lot  of 
his  newly-introduced  Asparagus  myriocladus.  Alessrs.  Webb 
and  Sons,  Stourbridge,  as  usual,  made  a  fine  and  representative 
display  of  vegetables.  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Cyclamens, 
&c.  Messrs.  R.  Smith  and  Co.,  Worcester,  had  a  very  fine 
collection  of  Apples,  Pears,  and  vegetables.  Messrs.  Hewitt 
and  Co.,  Birmingham,  were  distinguished  by  a  fine  arrangement 
of  plants  in  variety. 
Messrs.  John  Peed  and  Son,  West  Norwood,  sent  a  remark¬ 
ably  fine  and  highly  creditable  collection  of  Apples  and  Pears. 
Messrs.  W.  Wells  and  Co.,  Earlswood,  Surrey,  sent  a  large 
assortment  of  seedling  and  other  cut  Chrysanthemums.  Messrs. 
House  and  Son,  Westbury,  staged  a  fine  collection  of  Violets,  of 
blue,  white,  and  sulphur  hues. 
Messrs.  C'libran,  Manchester,  were  represented  by  a  splendid 
group  of  Celosias  and  Chrysanthemums  in  variety.  The  King’s 
Acre  Nurseries  Company,  Limited,  Hereford,  had  one  of  their 
notable  displays  of  Apples  and  Pears.  Mr.  H.  Deverill,  Bank¬ 
way,  contributed  a  striking  display  of  Pelargoniums  in  bunches; 
Air.  Pewtress,  Hereford,  had  an  extraordinary  fine  display  of 
Apples;  Mr.  Hamill,  of  the  Arineries  Company,  Limited,  Acoek’s 
Green,  had  an  attractive  group  of  Chrysanthemums;  and  Air. 
Udale’s  (Droitwich)  collection  of  vegetables,  grown  under  the 
influence  of  animal  and  chemical  manures,  experimentally,  of 
which  further  reference  may  be  made  at  an  early  date.  A  large 
assortment  of  dried  fruits  were  included  in  this  economic  con¬ 
tribution. 
Considering  the  very  considerable  effectiveness  rendered  to 
the  exhibition  by  the  non-competitive  trade  growers,  we  deem 
it  but  just  in  having  so  far  drawn  special  attention  to  them, 
comparatively  brief  though  the  descriptive  notes  are,  and  the 
committee  signified  their  appreciation  of  the  contributions  by 
awarding  medals  and  special  certificates  at  the  discretion  of 
the  judges. 
A^egetables  formed  a  feature  of  the  show,  and  for 
quality  were  never  excelled.  Space  will  not  allow  of 
a  detailed  list  of  the  whole  of  the  prizes  awarded. 
The  principal  awards  were  for  the  collections  of  nine 
kinds,  and  Air.  E.  Beckett  (gardener  to  Lord  Aldenham, 
Elstree)  led,  and  Mr.  A.  G.  Gentle  (gardener  to  Mrs.  Dennison), 
Berkhampstead,  second.  The  liberal  special  prizes  offered  by 
the  trade — such  as  by  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading; 
R.  Smith  and  C’o.,  Worcester;  Webb  and  Sons,  Stourbridge: 
and  Pope  and  Sons,  Simpson  and  Sons,  Thomson  and  Co.  all  of 
Birmingham — were  liberally  responded  to;  whilst  Mr.  R. 
Sydenham’s  numerous  prizes  were  also  potent  in  effecting  a 
strong  competiton.  His  open  silver  challenge  bowl  was  awarded 
to  Mr.  H.  Folkes,  gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  T.  F.  Halsey, 
