The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-02 00:00:00

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1884

HALESOWEN AND HAGLEY FLOWER I
SHOW.

The twenty-eighth annual exhibition in connec-
tion with the Halesowen and Hagley Floral and
Horticultural Society was held on Tuesday in
Haden Hill Park, old Hill. This annual event is
always looked forward to with great interest by the
people of the surrounding districts, as many as
15,000 persons having visited the show last year,
and an equally large number in the preceding year.
But for the dull and unpropitious weather no doubt
the attendance on Tuesday last would not have
been far chart of those occasions. In spite of the
threaten ng aspect of the skies
,and the counter at-
tialtions at West Bromwich cud elsewere, however,
seveial tho isands of persons visited the show and
enjoyed t.,etrselves in the picturesque park and
grounds of Mr. Haden Best. Though not so sue-
cessfut from a financial point of view as its two
predecessors, still the results of the show will be
such as to encourage its continuance in the future.
As to the exhibits in the various departments, teken
collectively, they were certainly not inferior to
those of former shows of the society, though
psrhaps there were fewer specimen plants and new
varieties. Several rare specimens that would have
been furnished by the nurserymen were kept away
owing to the occurrence of the West Broinsuch
show on the same day, and the latter exhibition also
will necessarily have suffered in consequence of the
division of the floral collections. Possibly the re-
spective committees will endeavour to avoid the
clashing of the two shows in the future, and by so
doing they will consult the convenience of the
nurserymen, gentlemen garclersers, the general
exhibitors, and also the pubiic. As on previous
occaAon., the exhibits of plants and flowers in the
open classes, and the various contributions of tie
cottagers, were arranged in seperate marquees, both
collections being very extensive. In addition to
the competitive exhibits there were in the first
marquee several magnificent contributions for ex-
hibition purposes by Mr. It. H. 17ertegam, Messrs.
T. Hewitt and Co., of Solihull, Messrs. Perkins snd
S n of Coventry, Mr. Walter Bass.ano, &c. Un-
duuttdly the most attractive feature of the show is
the magnificent group of flowers and foilage plants,
in psts, contributed by Messrs. Hewitt and Co.,
fully sustaining the reputation which has been ac-
quired throughout the country by this well-known
firm. The collection contained some remarkable
examplf s of double and single begonias, tuberous
rooted. These plants, which are admirably diver-
sified in colour, are this years seedling, and the
speciality has only been introduced into this
country a couple of seasons ago. There was also in
this group an exquisite specimen of the pancratiun
fragrans, which gave forth a delicious odour. The
remainder of the collection included palms, ferns,
grasses, liliums and miscellaneous plants, all of
which elicited admiration. Mr. R. H. Vertegans, of
the Chad Valley Nurseries, Edgbaston, had a small
but handsome and representative assortment of
plants and flowers. The most notable were the
hardy herbaceous flowers, among them being fine
specimens of the Gailiardid " Grandiflora," which
have not been exhibited in collections before this
year. A box of "Countess of Sefton" phlox at-
tracted attention from the suberb developement and
beauty of the specimens, which will grow in any
garden all through the year. The Telekia
"Speciosia," embraced in the group is one of the
hardiest of the flowers, and is particularly adopted
for shrubberies and parks. Mr. Vertegans also
showed a splendid collection of "Baroness Rotts-
childs" roses. Among the exhibits not for com-
petition were twelve gloxinias in pots shown by
Mr. T. W. Webb, of Hagley, the uniform excellence
of which were so remarkable as to induce
the judges to grant a certificate of merit.
There specimens reflect great cre'At on the gardener
end they are certainly equal to anything shown in
ihe Midland districts this year. Mr. Walter Bas-
Fano exhibited six fruit trees— apple, pear, peach.
nectarine, and plum trees—and gained a certificate
of merit. With reference to the competitive classes
the most admired and beautiful specimen was a
litium Auratuiaa, or a Japan lily fully eight feet in
height in an eight inchpot. This wand example
had no fewer than thirty-three blooms growing
upon a single stem. There was nothing in the show
to compare with this beautiful specimen and the
judges accordingly awarded Mr. Strawson the first
prize. The same gentleman also carried off the
first prize for coxcombs. A special prize was given
to Mr. H. Lowe, of Edgbaston, for six seedling
petunias, which were exceedingly fine and well-cul-
tivated. The first prize for six variegated foliase
zeraniume was awarded to Mr. J. Boughton, of
Edgbaston, the example being extraordinary for
size and beauty. One of the specimens was fully
seven feet in circumference, thickly covered with
foliage. The collection of six Zonate geraniums for
which Mr. 11. Elkington, of Harborne, was awarded
the first prize, were very well grown, and the
flowers exceedingly rich in colouring. The show
of roses was very good, considering the wet weather
there has been of late. The cottagers' exhibits
were commendable throughoat, and the competition
was so keen that the judges had some difficulty in
selecting the prize. The collection of flowers in-
cluded window plants, pansies, pinks, roses, mostly
cut specimens, dahlias, and nosegays of wildflowers.
The fruit was exceptionally good, surpassing the
exhibits of many other local cottagers' shows. In
the vegetable classes also the contributions were
very meritorious, the onions, peas, turnips, cucum-
bers, and salad being very fully developed; but the
potatoes were scarcely up to the average. The
Warwickshire Bee Keepers' Association had a tent
in proximity to the horticultural tents, and gave an
illustration of the process of hiving and other man-
ipulation of bees. Prizes were awarded to success-
ful exhibitors in this department. The band of the
First Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers, under the eon-
ductership of Mr. Ffrench Davies, and Hey's
Orchestral Band played selections of music during
t',e afternoon and evening.

in the chancel a flora cross had been placed. The
eimir sang one of the palms forming part of the
s-rvice, and th,, \V,trdn ~f Keble road ir an im-
pressive, Inaant r the iesArn from Corinthians. After
this the hymn "Through the night of doubt and
sotrow" was sung, and the coffin was borne from
the church, the organ playing the Dead March frOin
"Saul.' as the mourners left. The Bishop of Wet-
cester read the concluding part of the service at 'she
grave, and after the hymn" For ever with the Lord"
had been bung by the choir, many of the spectators
joining in it, his lordship pronounced the benedic—
-001. While the hymn was being sung, a bird in
the trees above was moved into song, and the notes
of the N; arbler, interpolated with the solemn strain
of tho3e, whe stood around the grave, had a most
peculiar effect. A last look was taken at the coffin,
and the mourners returned to the ball. Many of
the sFtctaters came to the grave side to look in,
ard a. great quantity of flowers were thrown upon
theicoffin by the parishioners, who had lost the
I kindy-hearted clergyman so long moving among
them, and who has:mourned with them when they
maurnEd and rejoiced with them when they have
rejoiced.