The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-08-29 00:00:00

FETE_OF__THE_.p9,RSE:F_C9UNTY

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The floral and horticultural display, which on
Wednesday inaugurated the existence of tabs new
society, must surely have been • pleasing gratification
to the most sanguine of its ardent supporters. Blessed
with glorious weather, super-abimdent entries, and
streams of visitors it is seldom • society starts upon
Its career under such favourable auspice's. Thorough
good hard work, however, in this instance met its just
reward, and Mr. Alfred Pope, with whom we believe
the idea originated, and his indefatigable brother
secretary Mr. Charles; Parsons may be congratulated
upon having acheived • rumor. These gentlemen
were backed up by that nee qua sops, a committee
who also went into the matter con anoce. They were
the Rev. H. Everett, Mr. E. W. Williams, CaptaLD
Dymond, Mr. Burnett, Colonel Oldfield, Dr.
son, Mr. Mr. S. Hartle, Mr. W. Darden, Mr. Andrews,
Mr. Cuanlngton, Mr. Ling, and Mr. Osmond.
The show wee held in grounds known as Colliton
Park, and kindly lent for the occasion by the Misses
ChurehilL It was well adapted for the purpose, and
the management committee certainly uUU,ed it to the
bent ',avenues. Five large tents, with an additional
refreshment tent end • committee tent, were wavered
about; but even with this number the contributions
were so crowded that it is probable the visitor saw
but a portion of the specimens worthy attention.
These tents were under the superintendence of the
following gentlemen : —The Rev. H. Everett and Mr.
w. ; Captain Dymond and Mr. Cnnnington
Mr. Osmond and Dr. RoMnson ; Mr. Burnett and Mr:
H.Wliliams. and Mr. Lush. The judges were :—Plants
and flowers—Mr. Leach, gardener to Viscount Port-
man, Bryanstone ; and Mr. Mills, gardener to Lord
Hanby, Minterws. Vegetables—Mr. Beck, gardener
to Lord Alington ; and Mr. Elliott, gardener to the
Earl of Ilchester, Meibury House. Cottagers' pro-
ductions—Mr. Miller, Sherborne ; Mr. Harrbt Dor-
chester. Fruit—Mr. J. &Word, gardener to gr. w.
Brymer, M.P. ; and Mr. Uphill, gardener to Mr.
H. rrampton, Moreton House.
one of the largest tents contained the stove and
greenhouse plants, and a most beautiful display it
wait Lord Alington and Captain Williams, of
Henlne.te House, sending some splendid specimens.
gr. of The Nurseries, Dorchester, had the
beat array of fusehias ; but, taken generally, this
flower was not "in form,' the bloom being but
meagre. There were, however, in this tent some very
fine cockscombs, balsams, and achimenes, although
neither class was numerously represented.
Cro to the tent devoted to ferns the lover of
these productions must have been highly gratified
with e beauty if not the rarity of the specimens
exhibited. Perhaps the best of the flowers contained
In this tent were the dahlias, three of Mr. Keynes, of
Salisbury, being immessureablt superior to anything
else of the kind there. The season, of course, is, as
far as rows are concerned, nearly at an end, and
there was nothing remarkable to be noted in that
class. A rather curious error seems to have been
committed in the claw for twelve specimens of cut
flowers. Mr. Harris, of Dorchester, had selected
from his fine Nurseries twelve distinct varieties of
most beautiful and rare hot-house flowers; on the
other hand Mr. Christopher, of Upwey, had more
widely interpreted the reading of the schedule, and
sent is twelve bouquets—no doubt very pretty and
tastefully got up, but we doubt if they contained a
dosen distinct representatives of the flower kingdom,
and to him the prise was awarded. It was obviously
mistake, but the decision of the judges being like
the Median laws, the gentleman who sent in what the
hew, celled "such loves of bouquets," retained the
premium. The
.Gladioli were very fine although
only about half to bloom, and the eaten were also
good.
The fruit tent was throujelout first-clam, cularly
In the way of grapes; which were ip fine.
The vegetables contained here were also extremely
good, tbe potatoes being sufficient to make an Irish-
inan's heart jump.
In another tent was a collection of very beautiful
plants and flowers, the greater Portico kindly sent by
Mr. Bryzner, M.P., and Sir Horatio Shirley, but not
for competition.
Lad, but not least, was the tent of Mr. 8. R.
Herr* of the Nurseries, Dorchester. This was
positively crammed with choice specimens of palms
add/nines, Ixora, ferns, cricas, caladium, lilliu
orolons, cobra, and as the sale bills say osier thing"
too numerous to mention. The collection was largely
visited and generally admiced.
A very pretty feature in the exhibition-was the
"ad, in which the most noteworthy object warn
wed the Rev. F. Warn!, of Bare Regis. Mr.
Masai d, the rev, gentleman s butler, who takes an
Immense interest in the busy tenants of the hives, has
invented some elegant boxes with glass slides by which
instead of its Wag necessary to cut into a comb it is
taken out in slices, the bees befog taught so to build,
eneageoasat the advantages of which are obvious.