496 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
November  26,  1903’. 
Chelmsford  (Essex),  Nov.  10th  and  11th. 
Tho  third  show  and  first  attempt  at  a  two  days’  exhibition 
was  held  in  the  Corn  Exchange,  and  proved  eminently  successful. 
Fruit  was  much  below  tho  average:  groups  of  Chrj'santhemums 
were  especially  well  done.  Mr.  Rixon,  gr.  to  Captain  Cruick- 
shank,  Springfield,  Lyons,  worthily  won  the  Mayor’s  Cup  with 
a  well  set  up  arrangement  of  fine  fresh  Chry.santhemums  and 
foliage  plants,  nicely  finished  off  in  front.  He  was  closely 
pressed  by  ]a.st  year’.s  winner,  Mr.  T.  Brazier,  gr.  to  Mrs.  W. 
Gray,  Phoenix  Hou.se ;  3,  Mr.  Symonds,  gr.  to  C.  E.  Ridley,  Esq., 
The.  Elms:  and  4,  Mr.  A.  E.  Lockyer,  gr.  to  Mrs.  Jupp, 
Margeretting.  In  the  small  group  class,  Mr.  E.  Searles,  gr.  to 
Mrs.  H.  Gray,  Laurel  Grove,  was  easily  Lst  ;  Mr.  Ellcock,  gr.  to 
Colonel  Tufnel  Tyrrel  2;  and  Mr.  J.  Burrell,  gr.  to  W.  W. 
Huffield,  Esq.,  3. 
Amateurs. — The  C'ruickshank  Cup  was  mo.st  deservedly 
awarded  to  Mr.  Reed,  Roman  Road,  with  a  most  creditable 
display;  Messrs.  C.  W.  Woodward  and  W.  E.  Belcher,  both  of 
Mildmay  Road,  were  a  good  2nd  and  3rd  respectively.  Mr.  S. 
Pragnell,  gr.  to  H.  C.  Wells,  Esq.,  D.L.,  Broomfield  Lodge, 
staged  a  very  large  non-competitive  group  of  Chrysanthemums 
right  across  the  hall,  set  up  in  serpentine  style,  terminating  in 
two  huge  .semicircular  mounds  at  the  ends,  the  whole  being  faced 
with  small  bright-coloured  Crotons,  Dracsenas,  Orchids,  and  Ferns, 
and  banked  up  behind  with  large  specimen  Palms  and  other  fine- 
foliage  plants.  This  exhibit  won  high  encomiums,  both  from  the 
judges  and  the  general  public.  A  large  collection  of  fruit  and 
vegetables  staged  by  the  same  exhibitor,  not  for  conq^etition, 
was  very  highly  commended. 
Cut  blooms. ^ — Open  classes  :  Mr.  C.  J.  Simpson  led  away  with 
24  Japanese,  which  for  size,  depth,  freshness,  and  colour  were 
grand.  This  exhibit  also  gained  the  N.C.S.  certificate  for  best 
.stand  in  the  show,  and  the  monster  F.  S.  Vallis,  14in  across,  was 
the  premier  Jap.  The  set  comprised  Mafeking  Hero,  F.  S. 
Vallis,  Mermaid,  Mrs.  W.  Mease,  Godfrey’s  King,  Elsie  Fulton, 
Madame  Carnot,  and  Australie:  mid  row:  Mrs.  J.  Bryant, 
Godfrey’s  Ma.sterpiece,  Mrs.  Barkley,  M.  Louis  Remy,  Chenon 
de  Leche,  Edith  Tabor,  W.  R.  Church,  and  Yiviand  Morel; 
front  row:  Madame  Herrewege,  Mr.  T.  Carrington,  Loveline.ss, 
George  Carpenter,  Mrs.  G.  Mileham,  George  Lawrence,  N.C.S. 
Jubilee,  and  Mrs.  Coombes.  2,  Mr.  Rixon.  Mr.  Simpson  was 
again  1st  in  the  district  24  Japanese  with  another  magnificent 
set  of  blooms,  almo.st  duplicates  of  the  preceding.  Mr.  Watmore, 
gr.  to  E.  Bristowe,  Esq.,  Baddow  Park,  2;  Mr.  W.  Wright,  gr. 
to  Gerald  Ridley,  Esq.,  The  Limes,  Broomfield,  3.  Mr.  Brazier 
wa.s  1st  for  12  incurveds,  .showing  neat  blooms.  Mr.  Simpson 
was  1st  for  6  incurved.s;  2,  Mr.  A.  Reeve,  gr.  to  Lady  Alice 
Howard,  Woodham  Walter.  Both  singles  and  pompons  were 
well  shown,  and  Mr.  Simpson  led  in  the  former  and  Mr.  Brazier 
with  the  latter.  In  the  amateur  open  elas.ses,  12  Japanese,  Mr. 
Reed  was  Lst.  Mr.  Reed  led  also  with  12  incurveds;  C.  H. 
Curtis  in  this  stand  was  awarded  for  best  incurved  in  the  show. 
Mr.  Rippon  had  much  the  best  12  Japanese  grown  in  the  district. 
This  stand  was  adjudged  the  best  stand  shown  in  thei  amateur 
classes,  and  gained  the  N.C.S.  certificate.  It  comprised  fine 
blooms  of  George  Lawrence,  W.  R.  Church,  Bessie  Godfrey, 
Mrs.  Greenfield,  Lily  Mountford,  Godfrey’s  King,  Lord  Ludlow, 
and  Alice  Byron. 
Mr.  Searles  showed  the  best  collection  of  fruit;  Messrs.  Sitch, 
Falconer,  Searles,  and  J.  Tunbridge  the  best  vegetables.  A  long 
table  of  ladies’  floral  decorations  was  a  good  feature.  Mrs.  Leech 
1,  Miss  A.  Marriage  2,  Miss  Luckin  3,  were  winners. 
Nottingham  and  Notts.,  Nov.  13th  and  14th. 
This  society  held  its  annual  .show  on  November  13  and  14. 
The  number  and  quality  of  the  exhibits  marked  it  as  the  best 
.show  yet  held.  This  was  exceedingly  gratifying,  as  local  growers 
had  an  immense  number  of  exceptionally  good  blooms  destroyed 
before  being  fully  developed.  TKe  judgas — Mr.  Weeks,  gr.  to 
Lady  Byron;  Mr.  Tallack,  gr.  to  E.  M.  Mundy,  Esq.,  of  Shipley 
Hall ;  and  Mr.  C.  Mee,  of  Nottingham — were  occtTpied  five  hours 
in  making  their  awards,  which,  by  the  wmy,  gave  complete  satis¬ 
faction.  The  opening  ceremony  was  graciously  undertaken  by 
Mrs.  John  Robin.son,  of  Work.sop  Manor.  The  president,  Mr. 
Alderman  Bennett,  took  the  chair,  and  was  supported  by  John 
Robinson,  E.sq.,  the  Mayor  (Councillor  A.  Page),  and  the  Sheriff 
(Councillor  Fleeman),  of  Nottingham,  together  with  numerous 
aldermen,  councillors,  ladies,  and  gentlemen  of  the  city  and 
county.  In  his  opening  remarks  the  president  made  the  welcome 
announcement  that  John  Robinson,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of  Mrs. 
Robin.son,  had  promised  an  exceedingly  handsome  donation  to  the 
society.  . -  - 
Tho  exhibits  were  most  artistically  arranged,  under  the  skilful 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Arthur  Staton,  and  the  hall  was  trans¬ 
formed  into  a  veritable  bower  of  floral  beauty.  The  centre  of 
the  hall  was  occupied  by  a  gigantic  Palm,  lent  by  Mr.  C.  Mee, 
and  was  encircled  by  bouquets,  epergnes,  and  .sprays,  the  whole 
being  surrounded  by  exhibits  of  fruit,  the  quantity,  quality,  and 
appearance  of  which  caused  people  to  Avonder  if  the  year  1903 
had  really  been  the  bad  fruit  .‘-eason  it  has  been  proclaimed. 
An  exceedingly  well-coloured  exhibit  of  cooking  Apples  attracted 
special  attention,  but  it  failed  to  gain  an  award  owing  to  some 
of  the  fruit  having  been  bruised  in  transit.  The  front  of  the 
orche.stra  was  beautified  by  a  number  of  florally  decorated  fire¬ 
places,  one  of  the  new  features  of  this  year’s  schedule.  Tho 
attractivene.ss  of  the  show'  was  enhanced  by  a  splendid  non¬ 
competitive  collection  of  fruit,  vegetables,  and  floAvers  staged  by 
Mr.  Weeks,  gr.  to  Lady  Byi’on,  and  for  Avhich  collection  the 
committee  aAvarded  a  special  gold  medal.  Mr.  Hemstock,  gr.  to 
A.  Orgill,  Esq.,  of  Nottingham,  assisted  in  adding  to  the  floral 
beauty  by  putting  up  a  fine  collection  of  resplendent  Orchids. 
The  attendance  was  a  capital  one,  the  gate  constituting  a  record, 
and  altogether  the  secretai'y,  Mr.  G.  E.  Skelhorn,  is  to  be  con¬ 
gratulated  on  the  success  attending  his  first  year  of  official  con¬ 
nection  Avith  the  society. 
Of  the  competitors,  the  gr.  to  W.  A.  H.  Ba.ss,  E.sq.,  of 
Burton  (Mr.  Richard  Nisbett,  Avho  has  met  Avith  such  constant 
.success  at  the  vmrious  proA'incial  shoAvs  recently),  Avas  A'ery  suc¬ 
cessful.  Entering  in  three  classes,  he  secured  tAvo  Ists  and  one 
2nd,  and  also  the  aAvard  for  the  champion  Japanese  bloom  Avith 
Princess  Alice  de  Monaco.  In  addition,  he  gained  the  National 
Society’s  certificate.  The  winner  of  the  prize  for  the  champion 
incurved  bloom  Avas  Mr.  W.  Whitehead,  a  local  arti.san.  IMr. 
J.  H.  Goodacre,  gr.  tO'  the  Earl  of  Harrington,  Avas  extremely 
successful,  gaining  eight  Ists,  two  2nds,  and  tAvo  3rds.  Mr.  G. 
Wright  gained  three  l.sts  and  six  2nd.s.  Mr.  R.  J.  Walters,  gr. 
to  Mrs.  Leavers,  of  Nottingham,  gained  one  1st,  five  2nds,  four 
3rds,  one  4th,  and  carried  off  the  Championship  Shield  offered 
by  Messrs.  Toogood  and  Sons,  of  Southampton  ;  Avhilst  Mr.  V/. 
Parkin,  a  local  arti.san,  and  exhibitor  for  the  first  time,  gained 
the  Toogood  bronze  medal,  and  also  the  National  Society’s  certi¬ 
ficates  Avith  three  Ists,  tAvo  2nds,  five  3rds,  and  one  6th.  Mr. 
Yarnell,  gr.  to  Mr.  Turner,  of  Nottingham,  entering  in  six 
classes,  gained  four  Ists  and  one  4th.  Mr.  John  Burley,  another 
local  artisan,  gained  tAvo  Lsts,  four  2nds,  tAvo  3rds,  and  three 
4ths,  and  Messrs.  Toogood  and  Sons’  certificate.  Mr.  T.  Barratt, 
a  local  fl.orist,  tAvo  Ists,  tAvo  2nds,  and  three  3rds,  and  there  Avere 
a  feAV  other  prizeAvinners. — S.  D. 
Sparkhill,  Nov.  14tti. 
The  first  Chrysanthemum  ShoAV  of  the  Sparkhill  and  District 
Amateur  Horticultural  Society  was  held  in  the  hand.some  Street- 
ford  Road  Council  Schools  on  the  above  date,  AA'lien  a  really 
meritorious  exhibition  Avas  presented.  The  shoAv  Avas  under  the 
management  of  the  urbane  and  energetic  hon.  sec.,  Mr.  W.  W. 
Staples,  and  his  committee.  The  shoAv  Avas  opened  by  the  presi¬ 
dent,  J.  J.  Platter,  Esq.,  AA'ho,  though  blind  from  the  sixth  year 
of  his  age,  delivered  a  most  eloquent  address.  The  venerable 
gentleman  afterAvards  was  conducted  round  the  shoAV,  and 
evinced  the  greatest  interest  in  the  qualities  of  the  exhibits 
de.scribed  to  him.  The  cut  blooms  in  the  open  clas.ses  were  of 
high  quality,  e.specially  a  collection  of  Japs  sent  by  Mr.  R.  Jones, 
gr.  to  C.  A.  Smith-Ryland,  Esq.,  Barford  Hill,  WarAvick. 
Belfast,  Nov.  17tti  and 
Summary. — The  annual  autumn  shoAv  of  the  Lister  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society,  held  in  the  St.  George’s  Market,  Belfast,  proved 
most  succe.ssful,  fine  Aveather  for  once  in  a  Avay  adding  consider¬ 
ably  to  the  comfort  of  the  numerous  visitors.  The  opening  cere¬ 
mony  Avas  performed  by  the  Countess  of  Kilmorey,  a  large  and 
distinguished  company  being  present,  among  Avhom  Avere  Lord 
Newry,  Lord  Dunleath,  the  Right  Hon.  Thos.  AndreAvs,  D.L., 
Sir  Otto  and  Lady  Jaffe,  Sir  Robert  Ander.son,  Mrs.  Pirrie,  Miss 
Carlisle,  and  many  other  w'ell-knoAvn  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Con¬ 
sidering  the  unfavourable  season  for  most  things  there  Avere  a 
lai’ge  number  of  entries.  Among  the  Chrj'santhemums  (Avhich 
Avere  the  principal  feature  of  the  sIioaa’)  many  excellent  exhibits 
Avere  staged. 
Cut  Blooms. — TAventy  vases  Japanese,  12  A-arieties :  1, 
Captain  Stirling,  Keir,  Dunblane  ;  2,  John  Jamieson,  E.sq.,  D.L., 
St.  Marnock.s,  Malahide.  TAvelve  Japanese  in  vases,  12  varieties  : 
1,  The  Countess  of  Caledon  ;  2,  G.  H.  BroAvne,  Esq.,  J.P.  Forty- 
eight  blooms,  Japanese:  1,  John  Jamieson,  Esq.;  2,  Thos.  H. 
Torrens,  Esq.  TAventy-four  blooms,  Japanese,  distinct  :  1,  G.  H. 
BroAvne,  Esq.;  2,  Colonel  the  Hon.  C.  F.  Crighton ;  3,  Lord 
Dunleath.  TAventy  incurved:  1,  Thos.  H.  Torrens,  E.^.  ;  2, 
Lord  Dunleath.  'The  entries  in  all  the  classes — for  cut  floAA'ers, 
plant.s,  fruit,  vegetables,  farm  produce,  and  butter — Avere 
numerous  and  excellent, in  quality. 
The  trade  exhibits  (alAAays  appreciated)  Avere  undoubtedly 
finer  this  year  than  ever.  'The  stand  of  Messrs.  Alex.  Dick.son 
and  Sons,  Limited,  a  Avinged  screen  of  ivory-coloured  Avood  Avith 
panels  of  green  silk,  formed  a  background  for  the  arrangement  of 
a  large  number  of  exquisite  de.signs.  The  central  device  Avas 
.striking  and  ingenious.  It  Avas  the  finest  stand  in  the  shoAV,  the 
designer  of  Avhich  is  Avorthy  of  the  highest  praise  for  the  make¬ 
ups  and  arrangement. 
Lpon  Messrs.  Smith  and  Co.’s  stand  also  Avere  many  beautiful 
designs,  the  most  .striking  being  a  large  broken  column  on  a 
pedestal,  made  cf.Avhite  Chry.santhemums,  Avith  siirays  of  Ivy 
