The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-08-08 00:00:00

FLOWER AND VEGETABLE sem

About a month ago, Mr. Churchill, of the Portland
(Keaton) Elucation.l Institut.), conceived the happy
lea of • hortiaultaral and floricultural show for Port-
land. Tho matter was at first pooh-poohed, for inch •
thing was no.. to the 6141111, mid who oottlil expeet
such a novelty te sucmzd? Nut Kr. Churchill was
enoourag• al by Mr. E. J. Pearce, and joined by an
enirgetio baud ti! workers, including Mr Bunker, Mr.
Rea, Mr. E. Norwood, Mr. F. P. Marwood; and Mr. W,
WAWA, and Mr. Ebert Pearoe, whose activity in
matters affecting the welfare of top o'-the-hill is well
known, was appointed secretary. From this time all
went w, 11, although our friend' had hardly as much
amurame ai they might Novo shown, and in cocci-
micecongaed their exertions to a narrower sphere
than they might have attesup ed. The flower show
was cautiously end almost timidly announced; but no
less than 151 inhabitants of the island contributed
either by esu.lin II yaws, vegetoblin), or fruit. The
Church and Weideyan Sunday School Committees lent
maktioli and staging was crested nearly the whole
Lngth o tho National school room. Tais was soon
tilled with beautiful flowers in pots, nosegays, Ito,
more than 200 in number. G. Clifton, Esq., governor
of the prison, Dr. Beaker, and Mr. Driver, steward,
cent many pot 11,1,011, bouquets, and fine specimens of
vegetables, not for competition, and thus immensely
moulted the committee without embarrassing
_their

funds. Whou the show was opened on Tuesday, •
besutiful sight met the ey., the room was decorated
with festoons of ivy, and on the groat stage bloomed ;
lilies, fuchsias, gorgeous calceolarias, petunias, gene- ,
Mous, verbena., and others whose names we shan't
attempt. At the end. Iles a very interesting collection
of wild flower bouquets, gathered mostly by children,
and evincing very groat taste, and . there was also a
pleasing variety, in a pretty little collection of fruit.
The vegetable" were ranged all round the walls, and
oh I the monster potatoes and oabbag.• Some greet
specimens of the " Tiohborne surprise ' kidney, and
Webb's linicerial kidney, weighed from lib each to
llb six., and one of the trot-prize cabbage' ldilb. Mr.
W. Diode showei • plate of very pretty —apricot"
potatoes, moat rogular in their growth though rather
Tie carrots were handsome, an the parsnips
well grown, thought it is rather early to show them,
beans were nothing remarkable, but peas were very
fair, and there was an exoellent chow of French beans.
For turnipi, too, it was rather early, but some were
shosm of I in. diameter, and of good quality. The Ned
onions iitro very fine, aOl well deserved • prize, had
the colutuitie, funds ' • shalets from the prison garden
measure! About 8 or 9 inches round, and the under-
ground onion class was very good indeed. Some very
tine brocoli were "out not foroompetionby Dr Bigler. Mr
G.Parsona, of the Devonshire Inn, kindly sent • case of
buttertlies to vary the dower show, ant the committee
made a lituidsowe bscle.gronnd for the Sowers with an
impious() mass of ferns. There were about 400 visitors,
including G. Clifton, Esq., and family, Rev. A. Hill
and (minty, °apt e3alloi, Rev. Father Poole, Ilt. Bishop,
ex-iusyor ul Dorchester, &c.

The judgcs wers Mr. Driver, of Portland Prison, and
Mr. G. E. Anirews. of Fortune's Well, end the follow-
ing were their swards :

itAwriu.

Best Window Flower in pot, Isl, Mrs J. J.. Holmes,
lily; 2ud, Mr John Couch, double ger &MUM ; very
highly commended, Mrs Mitchel, fuchsia; and G.
Clifton, Rah double geranium (not for competition).
Mat Collection of four Window Plants—lst, Mn
Robert Smith; 2nd, Mr William Willis.
Beat Bouquet Cut Garden Flowers-Ist, Mrs Robert
W. Wallis; 2ad. Elissiseth ream ; very highly com-
mended, G. Clifton, Ecru, for two bouquets (not for
competition); highly com.mended, Mr George Parsons.
limit curler:Mau of Wud Flowers—jut, Miss Mary
Wallia; 2ad, Rebecca Stone. Tne whole of this class
very highly conmended.
Potatoes. —Best twelve Kidneys—lit, Mr H. S. P.
Collins; very highly commended, Mr ltiehard Pearce,
Mr William Richardson, and Mr John White; highly
commended, Mr Edwsrd Pearls). Best twelve Round—
let, Mr J. R. Otter; highly commended, Mr John
Couch. Best twelve of any sort—Mr Churchill. very
highly commentled, Mr W. H. liinde.
But time mak/el.-Ist, Mr George Parsorui; very
highly commended, Mr itobort Pearce (Weston) ; own-
wended, Mr risrdy.
e,rrols. —lst, Mr J. 11. White; very highly com-
mended, Mr Robert Plane.
Parships.—let, Mr Edward Lynham ; highly corn.
mended, -Mr li-then Flan°.
Peas, —ht, Mr Eiwsrd Pearce ; very highly com-
mended, Mr R. W. Willis; highly commended, Mr
Churchill.
Protch or Meru/ knits.—lst, Mrs William Attwooll
(Easton Square); very highly commended, Wm. Stevens
(Easton).
Boat{ ihaits.-10, Mr Robert Mann ; highly coin'
: mewled, Mr Churchill.
Turnips.—lht., Mr Frederick Andrews.
eurauttrcrs.—lat. Mr Richard Pearce ; very highly
commended, Miss S. T. &riven (one).
Dr. E. 11,
lira rot4.—Very highly commended,

Chtions.-Id, Mr Abraham roam (Wahsbain)* vary
highly outimiendod, bit E. Attwooll (Straits) ;
commended, Mr lisohard Tisord.
Art colkeliox of Frail. —lst, Mr Edward Pearoo
(E.atuu); very highly oommeodoJ, Mr Edward J.
Pearce.

So succes,ful wee the show that it was determined to
re-open on the following day, and the committee are
so encouraged that they hope their attempt may lead
to the establishment of a regularly constituted horti-
eultaralsommy for Portlaad, and perhaps the show will
be on a mush larger scale next year. The eannsitteit
deserve all praise, and every ommoorsaeottet to Wimp.
still motet Wags;