September  17,  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
273 
London  Dahlia  Union,  Sept.  16th  and  17th. 
The  annual  exhibition  of  Dahlias  under  the  aegis  of  the  Dnion 
was  held  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday  of  the  present  week  at 
Karl’s  Court,  London.  Mr.  R.  Dean,  as  secretary  and  superin¬ 
tendent,  had  seen  to  the  proper  furnishing  of  the  Prince’s  Hall 
with  Palms  for  the  tables  and  green  cloth  for  the  walls,  and  the 
area  was  screened  off  from  the  public  entrance.  It  was  a  good 
show,  and  competition  was  brisk. 
Special  Prizes  (Open  Classes).— For  a  display  of  Dahlias  in 
a  space  12ft  by^  6ft  (“Hobbies,”  Ltd.,  R.  Dean,  and  W.  Stevens 
giving  the  prizes),  there  was  only  one  competitor  (Mrs.  M.  Y. 
Seale,  of  Sevenoaks),  though  two  had  entered.  She  certainly 
deserved  the  prize,  even  if  alone,  for  the  arrangement  was  a  lead¬ 
ing  feature  of  the  show.  Eulalia  gracillima,  golden  Elm,  Asparagus, 
and  Berberis  Darwini  were  used  along  with  the  flowers,  these 
being  raised  on  bamboo  tubes,  6ft  high  in  the  centre. 
Three  vases  of  Cactus  Dahlias  (Wm.  Marshall’s  prizes). — Mr. 
Stephen  Walker,  High  Street,  Thame,  with  excellently  dressed 
Cactus  Dahlias  (Open  Classes). — For  twelve  varieties  in 
bunches  of  six  (Class  8),  the  first  prize  fell  to  Stredwick  and  Son, 
Silverhill  Park,  St.  Leonaids-on-Sea,  with  a  set  of  varieties 
many  of  them  new.  Messrs.  Burrell  and  Co.  ivere  second;  Mr. 
M  alker,  Thame,  third  ;  and  C’heal  and  Sons  fourth  ;  there  being 
five  good  exhibits.  For  twenty-four  blooms,  distinct,  the  fore¬ 
most  place  was  taken  by  Burrell  and  Co.  ;  second.  J.  Stredwick 
and  Son;  and  Keynes,  Williams,  and  Co.,  third,  out  of  seven 
entries.  For  twelve  blooms  Mrs.  Seale  led  with  sweet  flowers, 
Stredwick  and  Son  second,  Keynes,  Williams  and  Co.  third,  ami 
S.  Mortimer  fourth. 
Class  11  (Amateurs). — The  “Hobbies”  Challenge  Cup,  value 
ten  guineas,  and  4Us.,  for  nine  bunches  of  Cactus  blooms  in 
trebles,  was  won  by  H.  A.  Needs,  of  Horsell,  Woking,  and  Mr. 
W.  Peters  came  .second.  Both  lots  were  very  moderate  in  quality. 
For  the  six  varietie.s,  Mr.  M.  H.  Brown  beat  Mr.  Mawley.  and 
third,  Mr.  lY.  C.  Pagram.  For  twelve  blooms,  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs 
was  first:  W.  Stephen,  Isleworth,  second;  Mr.  H.  Brown,  third; 
and  Mr.  Peters,  fourth.  Mr.  E.  West,  jun..  The  Laurels,  Hen- 
Hyacinths  in  Hyde  Park,  London.  (See  page  266.) 
vases,  beat  Burrell  and  Co.,  Cambs.,  and  third  Keynes,  Williams, 
and  Co.,  Salisbury.  Five  entered.  Mr.  lYalker  had  six  flowers 
in  each  of  his  vases,  and  used  grasses,  Snowberry,  purple  Prunus, 
and  Golden  Honeysuckle. 
Six  bunches  of  pompon-Cactus  Dahlias. — The  pompon-Cactus 
ma}'  be  defined  as  Cactus  varieties  of  a  small  type,  about  4in  in 
diameter.  For  sprays  they  are  useful.  Keynes,  Williams,  and 
Co.  were  first  with  Dolly,  Fairy,  and  Coronation.  Mrs.  Seale 
was  second,  and  Burrell  and  Co.  third. 
Show  and  Fancy  Dahlias  (Open). — For  twenty-four  blooms 
Mr.  Stephen  Walker,  of  Thame,  Oxon,  led  with  a  fair  average  set. 
His  finer  flowers  were  Purple  Prince,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Comedian, 
John  Walker,  Shottesham  Hero,  Duchess  of  York,  Matthew 
Campbell,  Florence  Tranter,  Merlin,  Golden  Gem,  and  Maud 
Fellowes.  Second  out  of  seven  came  Mr.  C.  Turner,  and  Mr.  S. 
Mortimer  third. 
For  the  twelve  in  this  section  Messns.  Cheal  and  Sons  were 
fir.st,  Mr.  J.  R.  Tranter  second,  and  F.  Taylor  and  Sons,  Chipping 
Norton,  third.  The  latter  had  the  larger  flowers,  but  the  others 
were  of  a  bettor  colour  and  greater  refinement! 
Am.\teurs. — Mr.  Anstiss,  Brill,  Thame,  beat  !Mr.  '\Y.  Peters. 
Holmehurst,  St.  Leonards,  for  the  twelve  Shows  and  Fancies  in 
tliis  section.  For  six  blooms  Mr.  J.  West,  .inn.,  of  The  Laurels, 
Henley,  led  ;  .second,  Mr.  J.  Findley,  of  Kingham  ;  and  third, 
Mr.  W.  Wheeler,  Henley  ;  the  flower.s  all  being  fine. 
ley,  was  followed  by  Mr.  E.  Mawley,  and  third  Mr.  Pagram,  for 
the  half-dozen  varieties.  H.  A.  Needs,  E.sq,  was  foremo.'^t  ; 
Mr.  Mawley,  second  ;  and  Mr.  Taylor,  of  Finchley,  third,  for  a  va.''0 
of  twelve  blooms,  with  foliage.  In  Class  17,  for  six  of  a  sort, 
there  were  seven  good  entries,  the  place  of  honour  going  to 
Stephen  Walker,  with  Mrs.  Mawley;  Keynes,  Williams,  and  Co., 
second,  with  a  yellow  seedling  named  J.  Bryant ;  and  third  not 
discernible.  Mrs.  Seale  was  fourth  with  Mrs.  de  Luca. 
Pompons  (Open), — In  class  18,  for  twelve  varieties  in  bunches, 
the  lead  was  with  Charles  Turner,  having  Bacchus,  Nellie  Broom- 
head,  Queen  of  Whites,  Daisy,  Nerissa,  San  Toy,  Darkest  of  All, 
Jessica.  Hesperia,  Wilfred,  Minnie,  and  Silvia.  Mr.  Walker, 
Thame,  second;  third,  Burrell  and  Co.;  and  fourth.  Cheal  ami 
Sons;  there  being  .seven  entries.  For  the  six  varieties  confined 
to  amateurs.  Mr.  J.  F.  Hudson  led;  Mr.  M.  H.  Brown.  Luton, 
second  ;  and  Mr.  W.  C’.  Pagram,  The  Whin,  Weybridge,  third  out 
of  five. 
Singles  (Open  Class). — Messrs.  Cheal  beat  Mrs.  M.  Y.  Seale 
for  the  dozen  sorts,  they  having  Darkne.ss,  a  new  one  ;  al.so  Hilda, 
Princess  of  Wales  (new),  Madge,  Naomi  Tighe,  Mi^s  Morland, 
Yictoria,  Serita,  Leslie  Seale,  Yesuvius,  Columbine,  and  Amos 
PeiTA'.  Mr.  Walker,  of  Thame,  Oxon,  was  a  good  third;  and 
the  Pev.  S.  Spencer  Pearce,  of  Woodstock.  Oxon,  fourth;  five 
showing.  Mr.  J.  T.  Htulson  won  for  the  vase  of  single  Dahlias  in 
class  22.  Mr.  A.  Taylor,  s- cond ;  Dir.  Kd.  Mawley,  third;  and 
Mr.  W.  Peters,  third. 
