272 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Se;  tcnibcr  17,  1903. 
Penicuik,  oxhib'itecl  a  nice  .stand  of  liis  beantifnl  new  form  of 
('hrysantliemum  maximum  King  Edward,  for  which  he  was 
awarded  a  Certificate  of  Merit. 
The  attendance  of  the  public  during  the  two  days  was  very 
large,  the  drawings  at  the  .styles  amounting  to  nearly  £430.  This 
is  a  very  large  sum  wlien  the  number  of  meinbers  and  sub.scribers, 
who  all  get  a  number  of  free  tickets,  is  taken  into  account.  The 
cash  drawings  were  £45  ahead  of  last  year.  Mr.  Thomson,  the 
energetic  secretary,  deserves  great  credit  for  the  admirable  way 
in  which  all  the  work  was  arranged  and  carried  out,  as  well  as  for 
his  praiseworthy  courtesy  and  obligingness  in  what  is  often  rather 
irritating  circiimstanceLS. 
The  liorticultural  public  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  at  a  meet¬ 
ing  held  on  Saturday  la.st  of  the  Council  of  the  I’oyal  Caledonian 
Horticultural  Society,  it  was  resolved  to  hold  a  great  inter- 
national  exhibition  of  fruit  and  flowers  in  autumn  of  1905. 
Immediate  preparations  are  to  be  made  to  carry  this  out  on  a 
.scale  of  greater  magnitude  than  any  of  the  previous  international 
exhibitions  successfully  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Old  Cale¬ 
donian.  The  last  International  took  place  in  1891. 
National  Dahlia,  Northern  Division. 
The  National  Dahlia  Society  held  its  second  show  of  tho 
season  at  the  Poyal  Botanical  Society’s  Gardens,  Manche.ster,  on 
Friday  and  Saturday  last ;  and  considering  the  terrible  storms  of 
the  past  few  days  the  show  rvas  unusually  attractive,  few  soiled 
flowers  being  found  in  the  stands.  The  general  arrangement 
throughout  was  of  more  than  ordinary  )nerit.  Mr.  Weathers  and 
Mr.  Paul  did  all  in  their  power  tO'  cater  for  the  visitors  by  pro¬ 
viding  good  music  and  plenty  of  promenading  space.  Many  of 
the  classes  were  lacking  in  competition,  but  the  quality  was  most 
even  throughout. 
For  thirty-six  Show  Dahlias,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  of  Slough,  was 
■first  with  excellent  flowers.  Mr.  S.  Mortimer  (who  had  suffered 
most  severely  froin  the  storm)  was  a  very  good  second,  the  flowers 
being  smaller.  Mr.  J.  Smellie,  Busby,  was  a  fine  third.  For 
twenty-four  Show  and  Fancy  varieties,  Mrs.  M.  V.  Seale,  Vine 
Nur.seVies,  Sevenoaks,  was  tlie  only  exhibitor.  Only  two  staged 
in  the  class  for  twelve  ditto,  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons  winning 
with  capital  blooms. 
The  class  for  twelve  varieties  of  Cactus,  six  flowers  of  each, 
brought  out  a  charming  set;  and  Me.ssrs.  Stredwick  and  Son, 
Silve'rhill  Park,  St.  Leonards,  took  the  lead.  Messrs.  Keynes, 
Williams,  and  Co.,  were  a  splendid  second  with  telling  blooms  of 
Minnie  AVest,  liaymond  Parks,  Imperator,  and  Mrs.  H.  J.  Jones  ; 
third.  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Son.s.  For  the  twenty-four  Cactus, 
Keynes,  Williams,  and  Co.  .scored,  and  Mr.  J.  Smellie  was  a  smart 
second.  The  grand  class  in  the  show  was  undoubtedly  that  for 
twelve  vases  of  Cactus  Dahlias,  arranged  for  effect,  brought  out 
some  really  good  work  on  the  part  of  Mrs.  M.  V.  Seale.  Me.s.srs. 
Keynes.  Williams,  and  Co.,  for  second  place,  displayed  good 
treatment  in  their  work.  Beliance  (salmon,  gold  centre,  a  seed¬ 
ling).  Gladiator,  J.  H.  Jackson,  Pink  Pearl,  and  Mrs.  Clarke  rvere 
their  best  blooms.  Mr.  W.  Treseder  was  third. 
The  pompon  Dahlias  attracted  much  attention,  Mr.  C.  Turner 
taking  honours  with  pretty  flowers.  Mrs.  Seale  second,  and  a 
very  dangerous  third  were  Messrs.  Keynes,  AWlIiains,  and  Co., 
the  flowers  not  being  quite  so  large.  The  single  Dahlias  possessed 
a  fascination  for  all,  Messrs.  Cheal  were  the  winners. 
The  amateur  section  was  moderately  filled,  but  there  were 
many  striking  flowers  amongst  them.  The  Show  and  Fancy 
Dahlias  were  quite  equal  to  those  in  the  professional  classes.  For 
twenty-four  Show  and  Fancies,  Mr.  T.  Jones,  Bryn  Penylan, 
Ruabon,  led  with  typical  flowers;  Mr.  E.  T.  Matthews,  Derby, 
second.  Mr.  E.  T.  Matthews  carried  the  honours  for  twenty-four 
Cactus,  and  Mr.  J.  Pilling  was  second.  Mr.  F.  H.  McGrath, 
Huddersfield,  won  for  the  twelve. 
Messrs.  Stredwick  gained  five  certificate.S!  for  new  varieties, 
some  of  wliich  did  not  appear  to  be  any  improvement  on  existing 
sorts.  Comet,  a  deep  heliotrope,  striped  crimson;  Rainbow,  rich 
rose  but  very  thin;  Hereward,  warm  creamy  purple,  and  violet 
.striped  ;  George  Gordon,  yellow  ;  and  Mary,  a  Fancy  Cactus. 
Tuade  Exhibits. — “Hobbies,”  Limited,  Dereham,  had  a 
staging  of  .sixty  feet  filled  and  arranged  in  the  best  style.  A 
large  gold  medal  was  awarded. 
Mes.srs.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  Rothesay,  sent  of  their  best.  Dahlias, 
Gladioli,  herbaceous  and  florist  flowers;  in  fact,  everything  for 
wliich  they  are  famous  was  shown  to  perfection.  The  arrangement 
of  colour  was  of  the  finest,  and  the  large  gold  medal  well  deserved. 
Yet  another  sixty  feet  was  admirably  filled  by  J.  H.  AVhite  and 
Son,  AVorce.ster.  Phloxes,  Scabious,  early  Chry.santhemums, 
Montbretias,  amongst  which  was  a  handsome  new  seedling,  yellow, 
with  crimson  blotch.  Lobelias,  Gladioli,  Althieas  in  variety,  and 
double  Gypsophila.  They  exhibited  a  grand  Tomato,  AVhite’s 
Majestic,  one  bunch  of  seven  fruits  weighing  3Jlb.  The  gold  medal 
was  well  deservmd. 
Mr.  John  Robson,  Bowdon,  secured  the  gold  medal  in  com¬ 
petition  for  the  best  collection  of  herbaceous  plants.  They  also 
secured  the  silver-gilt  medal  for  a  most  beautiful  collection  of 
Dahlias  in  the  best  of  varieties. 
Messrs.  Dickson  and  Robinson,  Manchester,  caused  quite  a 
sensation  with  their  interesting  display  of  Lettuces  planted  in 
cocoa  fibre,  quite  a  show  in  themselves.  Their  display  of  Dahlias, 
Gladioli,  &c.,  were  staged  in  extra  choice  variety. 
On  the  opposite  side  the  same  degree  of  excitement  was  caused 
by  the  magnificent  shoiv  of  Tomatoes  from  Me.isrs.  Dickson, 
Brown,  and  Tait,  Manchester,  consisting  of  70  plates  in  50 
varieties  and  baskets,  a  ver3'  fine  object  lesson  for  connoisseurs, 
so  well  were  the,y  grown.  AVorth  recording  were;  Invincible. 
Queen  Alexandra,  seedling,  very  free  and  handsome.  C’rimson 
Iving,  exti'a  good.  Bunn’s  Superlative  and  Best  of  All  in  reds,  and 
Golden  Jubilee  and  Sunbeam  in  .yellows.  All  the  Fancy  varieties 
were  well  represented.  The  highest  award  was  granted  to  both 
firms.  Mr.  Edwards  was  well  to  the  fore  with  his  table  dcora- 
tions. — R .  P.  R. 
North  Middlesex  Dahlia. 
This  was  held  on  September  9  and  10,  and  was  the  third  exhibi¬ 
tion  of  this  growing  sccietjq  and  it  took  place  as  last  year  in  the 
large  hall  of  the  Alexandra  Palace,  rather  more  than  one  half  of 
it  being  filled  with  exhibits.  The  arrangements  of  the  exhibits 
were  considerably  enhanced  by  a  number  of  large  specimen  plants, 
and  also  groups  of  Ferns  contributed  b.v  Mr.  G.  Hemming,  the 
superintendent  of  the  Palace  Grounds.  Certificates  of  merit 
were  awarded  to  a  promising  new  white  Cactus  Dahlia  named  Mrs. 
D.  B.  eVane,  white,  with  primrose  centre;  and  single  Queen 
Alexandra,  of  charming  heliotrope  pink  tint. 
A  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded  to  Mr.  J.  T.  AA^est,  for 
Cactus  Dahlia,  Charing  (pale  orange,  rich,  the  clawlike  florets 
tipped  with  blush,  one  of  the  prettiest  and  most  distinct  of  the 
tipped  Fancj'  Cactus). 
Messrs.  AV.  Cutbush  and  Sons,  Highgate  Nurseries,  had  a  bold 
collection  of  bunches  of  Cactus  Dahlias  and  foliage  plants. 
Me.ssrs.  AA^ells  and  Co..  Limited,  Earlswood  Nurseries,  had  a 
choice  collection  of  earl.v  flowering  CTirysanthemums. 
Me.ssrs.  R.  Emberson  and  Son,  Fakenham,  Norfolk,  had  a 
collection  of  Sweet  Peas  and  other  hardj'  flowers. 
The  Cactus  Dahlia  dominated  throughout  the  .«how,  and  the 
best  thirt.y  Cactus  were  shown  by  Mr.  AV.  Locker,  of  New  Bainet. 
Mr.  G.  Stevens,  Hornse.y,  was  second.  The  best  twenty-four  blooms 
came  from  Mr.  H.  Brown.  Luton;  Mr.  Stilwell,  Finchley,  was  a 
close  second.  Mr.  A.  Brown,  Luton,  had  the  best  twelve  Cactus. 
York  Dahlia,  September  9tb. 
The  first  of  A^ork  Dahlia  shows  was  held  cn  September  9th,  in 
the  large  hall  of  the  Exhibition  building,  and  was  as  successful 
as  the  promoters  could  have  wished.  The  Ancient  Society  of  York 
Flori.sts.  in  addition  to  the  Chrysanthemum  fixture  in  November, 
hold  what  are  known  as  minor  shows,  and  have  this  jmar  made  a 
new  deiiarture  in  connection  with  these  smaller  exhibitions  by  in¬ 
corporating  with  the  Dahlia  Show  the  fourth  of  these  minor 
fixtures;  so  that,  in  addition  to  the  Dahlias,  there  were  large 
numbers  of  classes  devoted  to  other  cut  flowers  and  plants. 
Classes  Nos.  1  to  78  inclusive  were  open  to  members  of  the  society 
onhu  and  the  remainder  open  to  all. 
Open  Class,  Dahlias. — In  the  class  for  thirtt^-six  blooms  of 
Show  and  Fancy  varieties  intermixed,  there  were  five  entries, 
Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Farnham,  Surre.y,  being  placed  first  with  a  first- 
rate  stand  of  bright,  even-.sized  blooms.  Messrs.  Cray  and  Son, 
of  Frome,  .second;  and  Air.  B.  Stringer,  Leeds,  third.  There  was 
a  splendid  show  cf  Cactus  Dahlias,  there  being  six  entries  for 
forty-eight  blooms,  in  twent.y-four  varieties.  Premier  honours 
were  awarded  to  Air.  AA’’.  Baxter,  The  Nurseries,  AAMking ;  Air.  S. 
Alortimer  second,  and  Alessrs.  Clark  and  Son,  Rodley,  third. 
For  twelve  varieties  of  pompon  Dahlias  in  bunches  of  six  blooms 
each,  AIe.ssrs.  Cra,y  and  Son  were  fir.st,  Air.  AA’^.  Hutchinson,  Kirlyy 
Aloorside,  second;  and  Alessrs.  Clark  aiid  Son  third.  For  single 
varieties  only  two  entered. 
Groups. — For  a  group  of  mi.scellaneous  plants  and  cut  flowers. 
Air.  Cottam,  of  Cottingham,  led,  and  the  Rev.  G.  Amats,  of 
Heworth  Aucarage,  came  second.  For  a  similar  table  of  Gladioli 
Alessrs.'  Harkness  and  SYn,  of  Bedale,  had  a  very  fair  exliibit, 
setting  up  good  spikes.  Air.  AA'.  Hutchinson  was  second.  Alessrs. 
Harkness  and  Son  were  also  placed  first  for  a  table  of  herbaceous, 
or  annual  flowers,  interspersed  with  summer  flowering  Chiysan- 
themums.  AIe.ssrs.  Kelwaj-  and  Son  gave  a.  large  silver-gilt  medal 
and  7s.  6d.,  and  a  bronze  medal  and  5s.,  for  the  best  collection  of 
cut  flowers  and  herbaceous  perennials  found  in  tbeir  “Manual” 
of  1903.  Air.  Cottam  had  the  best  collection.  Air.  AA’^.  Hutchinson 
second. 
The  same  exhibitors  who  won  in  the  open  section  were  again 
in  the  running  in  the  member.s’,  and  the  popular  varieties  were 
on  view. 
Amongst  non-competitive  exhibitors  were  “Hobbies,”  Limited, 
Dereham,  with  a  capital  stand  (gold  medal),  Alessrs.  I.saac  House 
and  Son,  AA'estbury-on-Trvm,  Bri.stol,  had  a  large  collection  of 
herbaceous  flowers,  for  which  they  received  a  silver  medal.  The 
same  award  was  also  given  AIe.ssrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  AA’i.sbech, 
for  a  stand  of  Cactus  and  pompon  Dahlias  and  herbaceous  flowers. 
Alessrs.  James  Backhouse  and  Sons,  Limited,  decorfited  the 
orchestra  with  Chnifers,  Palms,  and  other  plants. — J.  S-  XL 
