The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-09-10 00:00:00

HORTICULTURAL FETE AT BLANDFORD.

"Who loves a garden. loves a greenhouse too.
Taking up Cowpees sentiment—" Who levee •
flowret, loves a flower-show too," and looking at
the number of these szbibitimis that have already
taken place this season, and the others that are
announced to come off shortly, we may fairly
conclude that their name is legion who are imbued
with a taste for these competitive displays. To say
that we live in an age of intense competition is so
stale and palpable a common-place that every one
admits the fact. We run races against each other
on all occasion.; and the doings of the whole social
mass are nothing more than an increasing struggle
~ • Neile r e.,r sea is exempt
in :
t lit one mal-•• le,a4 Lit lie 01 per trill Wale-
thing out of the corn on, tool an opponent starts up
with rapidity of the armed men *lto leapt into
existence before the gaze of Cadmus. Blontlin can-
not crow, Niagara, but an intrepid amazon Inuit
essay • similar feat on the Thames ; and your neigh-
bour does not tell you of his fine stock of geraniums
but you are immediately filled with a wish to retort I
with your dahlias. Speaking of geraniums and
dahlias reminds us that we are wandering, as our
present purpose is not to discuss the respective merits
of tight rope performers, but rather to chronicle the
leading features of the floral exhibition at Blandford
on Thursday; Do, withuat more ado, ix mediae res.
At an early hour—a very early hour—were those
on whom devolved the management, busying them-
selves in their respective departments; and • super-
ficial observer would have been led to suppose, in
looking round, that everything bad been done that
could possibly be done to render the affair such that
nothing could' be complained of. Certainly every-
thing was placed so as to show to the greatest
advantage; everything was arranged to appearance
with mathematical precision. But it was in appear-
ance only. To make up the toad easemUe for
pleasing the eye, the *operation of the classes was in
some instances forgotten. so that without a key,
which we were unable su find, to unravel the mystery,
it was impossible to tell whether the specimens were
exhibited by gardeners, amateurs, or cottager's.
This, not only caused grestconfusion with the judges,
who, notwithstanding every other facility plaoed at
thew disposal, in OlSTerld instances had to go over
the work again, but it rendered it • work all but
impossible for the reporters to get anything like a
correct list of the prises, while the secretaries books
were so arranged as to afford no assistance either in
adding to or in correcting the hit. We confess that
after three hours' anxious exertion we were obliged
to give the matter up in despair. The society, how-
ever, is young, and has not grown so far into • bad
habit as to be beyond remedy, and we consequently
throw out the hint that the committee, having their
error pointed out, may remedy it in future. But
enough of faultfinding, which to us is always a dis-
agreeable taak,and let us return to the moralcongenial
one—that of briefly describing the exhibition.
The dowers on show were in every respect worthy
of admiration, sud if not superior in quantity
and quality, were, at least, equal to any previously
exhibited. Rode of every shade and variety of
colour were flanked by dahlias aud asters, the
largest, we think, we have ever seen, and of the
richest and brightest hues. There was a large col-
lection of stove and greenhouse plants, beside' a
miscellaneous collection of the choioest, productions
of the dower garden. These were all tastefully di..
played, and the table, were otherwise handsomely
set off with basketa, garlands, nosegays. and other
floral device. of cut flowers, reflecting the gris.teet
credit to the industry and taste to, in numerous
instances, the fair exhibitors.
The rich fruits—ripe and luscious—which were
laid upon the show tables were equally deserving of
, admiration. The collection included grapes, peaches,
and nectarines, melons and rigs, plums, pears and
apples of various kinds. The youngsters, who
gazed admiringly us those dainties, were deserving
of special commiseration.
Nor in ra-y department of the exhibition did the
specimens excel more that. in the vegetables. In
many things the competitors were numerous, and as
is generally the case in such circumstances, the com-
petition was most severe, and gave the judges much
anxious oonsideration in arriving at their decisions.
The weather was most auspicious for the event,
and the company to witness the exhibition was
numerous. Indeed we might say that the whole of
the Mile of the town and neighbourhood were present.
Among others we n d.iced —Lord Portman. the Hon.
Mines Portman, .1. J. Fa-qrshanion. Eq., J. Far.
quharson, jun., Esq., and Mies Farquharson, Rev.
R. Farquharson, Mrs. Farquharson, and family;
Rev. E. and Mrs. Protber ; F. T. Johns, Esq., and
Mrs. Johns; Rev. F. Redclyffe ; Rev. J. Mansfield
and family; Mrs. St. John and nattily; W. Smith,
FIN., and Mrs. Smith; Miss Uashwood ; Mrs. H.
Bower; Rev. W. Churchill and family; E. A.
Smith, Fag., and Mrs. Smith; T. H. Bastard. Esq.,
and Mrs. Bastard; Mrs. C. Parke; Mimeos Peach,
Rev. J. Penny and family, dm., ko. To add to the
interest of the proceedinga. Eyere's celebrated band
was in attendance, and during the afternoon per-
formed the following selecti-n :
Grand March
Selection
Pas Redouble
Grand Selection from the Opera of Enunii Verdi
Quadrille
Grand Selection from "La Prophete "... Mayereter
Soottische
VON,
Grand Selection
Quadrille
Pas Redouble
CioD SATZ TIM Quits.

LIST OF PRIZES.
ALL CLASSICAL
3.3. Farquharson, Esq.-81t Stove Plant., beat Omen-
Isnee PI .nis, beet Miecellemeous Collection of Plante, wood
beet Bp.clmmi Plena, Nima md beet Aston. but Collo ti.di of
Ferns, but Melon, but Cucumber', extra prim for Cucumber,

poen In pot
Sir .1. J. Smith, Bert. -Second best Stove Plants, emensid
best C 014,140.1 .4 Plants, beet Coxcombs, beet Balsa na, ash nd
bed Black Grapes beet Shama apples, second best Demert
Apples
T. Doeee. re.q. -Beg Spedona Plant, in bloom, second
beet Collection of Ferns
The Heron Hasubvi -Beet Collection of Debase, second beet
Basket of Cut Flowers, best Peso is, best Pearl
Sir J. H. IrOyly -Second best Melon
Ilis Michel-Bast Ornamental Ba-ktit of Cot Flowers, beet
Nectarines, beet Damao Apples second best Iltieben Apples,
toes Aden. mooed beat Melon;secood best Cucumbers, second
best Peaches
T'b• Lord Portman -Bret Black Grapes, third beet White
Ow., bra Ligba quires, bra Dark Plums, best Pears, second
best Dahlias. third beet Asters
Mrs C .Miramo -Boit White Grapes, second best Nectarines
Mrs Okeden-Extra prize for Asters
Rey. F. Paddy/is-Ben Collectkai of Cut Roses
J. S. W. S. Druz, Zeq.-Second beet White drapes, third
best Basket Cut Flowers
All ATZUII3.