biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-07-18

WINDOW GARDENING IN LONDON.

On Saturday two of the metropolitan societies for
the encouragement of window gardening held their
annual exhibitions. The earlier of the two was held
in the rooms of the Portobello-road Board School,
Notting-hill, the centre of a densely-populated neigh-
bourhood, and was promoted by the Workmen's
Flower Show and Home Encouragement Society.
That this society has accomplished much good work
during the 11 years of its existence is demonstrated
by the fact that while the exhibitors have in number
enormously increased the aggregate value of the prizes
given has advanced from £34 in 1883 to £7O this year,
all of which has been distributed in small sums
amongst a large number of competitors. It had been
generally anticipated that the Princess Mary Adelaide,
who had promised to distribute the prizes, would be
able to attend, but at the outset of the proceedings
Dr. Gladstone, the president of the society, announced
that owing to the death of the Duke of Teck's father
her Royal Highness would be compelled to absent her-
self. After the more formal proceedings, Dr. Gladstone
addressed a few observations to those present, express-
ing his belief that the cultivation of flowers by the
working classes did much to increase the moral sense
of the people, and to refine and brighten their every
day life. The second of the exhibitions took place at
the St. Pancras Vestry-ball, at which the Marquis of
Lorne was present. This show, which is promoted
by the members of the Aldenham-street Sunday-
school, consists of exhibits contributed by the
scholars. The chief prize of the show, a medal given
by the Royal Horticultural Society, originally
awarded for a sweet pea to a boy named Allen, out
of 500 exhibitors, but who was afterwards disqualified,
was finally carried off by a small child of seven. The
Rev. Oswald Dykes, who presided, on opening the
proceedings, said it was the ninth year of the show,
and its success aince the period of its inauguration had
been most marked. Last year the number of children
who had brought up their plants for exhibition had
been 404; this year the number was 562. The num-
ber of plants exhibited had grown from about 400
last year to 800 at the present exhibition. The pro-
ceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
Marquis of Lorne for his attendance.