The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-10-11 00:00:00

BEAMINSTER.

BRAMINSTER COTTAGE GARDEN AND LA ROUIRERti
FRIEND Soctcry.—The first annual meeting of the
above society was held on Thursday last, in the
National Schoolroom, Beamnurter. The weather was
all that could be desired, and no one could, be kept
from visiting the show from any unwelcome freaks of
wind or rain. A large number of the gentry and
inhabitants visited the exhibition in the course of the
afternoon. The school-room, in which the exhibi-
tion was held, presented a very gay appearance. On
entering, the first thing that struck the eye were two
large pumpkins, sent for exhibition by Mr. Webb, of
&ammeter, which lay surrounded by all sorts of
vegetables; one of these weighed 941 be., and mea-
sured in circumference 641 inches; the other weighed
5.31ba, and measured 51i inches in circumference.
Some fine bunches of grapes were hanging, or rather
lying upon the sides of the larger one in beautiful
relief. These were placed on a table at one side of
the building. On the same side of the room, Mr.
&always, seedsman, of West-street, Bndport, had a
quantity of roots, and near these were placed a variety
of vegetables, including some fine potatoes, exhibited
by Ur. George Good, and which received the first
prize. Here also was exhibited a pretty device in
flowers, seat by Mr. John Good, of Broadwinsor.
On the opposite side of the room was to be seen a
quantity of children's needlework, contributed from
the various schools in the neighbourhood, and which
commanded • considerable share of attention from the
lathes. On a table near to this the Rev. Edward
Drury Butts exhibited some very fine mangold wart-
sal and carrots, as well as some North China sugar
cane. Along the centre of the room, the cottagers'
productions were placed, and thew were, upon the
whole, of a very fine description, the parsnips, car-
rots, and turnips, deserving especial notice. Con.
spicuous upon the table was a basket containing a
variety of vegetables, decorated with flowers. The
onions in this basket looked exceedingly fine, and we
searched upon them for a ticket of award; but there
appeared to be only eleven onions, and the rules re-
quired an exhibition of twelve, and this possibly may
have accounted for the whole sample receiving merely
a commendation, which, we must say, it richly de-
served. This was sent by Mr. John 'Way, of Stoke
Abbas. One end of the room was entirely filled with
flowers sent by Dr. Gilbert, and these contributed in
no small degree to the charms of the exhibition, some
excellent specimens of dahlias, fuschias, French and
German asters being among them. Some bunches of
grapes occupied a prominent position. We noticed
here, too, some flowers of Pam Flora Bonapartia,
and the ICarmasina, the surpassing beauties of which
could only be distinguished by aid of a magnifying
glass, which was provided. Some other beautiful
Bowers were here shown, among them the Alamanda
Scotii, the Catasetum Semipartum, the Draocena
Terminalis (three specimens), the Aspidistia Loci&
Variegate, the Bigona, &c. The ferns were magnifi-
mot ; and a beautiful orange tree graced the centre
of the entire group of flowers. At the opposite end
of the room, a number of ladies and gentlemen had
contributed some excellent devices in flowers, which
added considerably to the beauty of the scene.
Among these we noticed some by Miss G. Cox, Mrs.
Edwards, Rev. P. Compton (two baskets of rows), ,
Miss Coombs, Miss C. E. Keddle, the Misses Rus-
sell, Miss M. Russell, Miss M. A. Keddle, and
ethers. There was a very neat device by Mr. S.
Koddle, another by Miss Noddle (autumn fruit over-
balancing summer flowers), and a large and taste.
fully arranged basket of verbenas, dahlias, &c.,
sent by Lieut. Cob Marryatt. The walls of the
room were profusely studded with flowers and mot-
toes. Wreaths and garlands hung on all sides;
while the recesses of the windows were hung with
baskets of every variety of flowers. Over the door
leading to the playground was a very pretty device
in flowers, tracing the words "industry rewarded,"
This was contributed by Mr. John Good, of Broad-
winsor. Opposite this, on the other side of the
room, was the word "Welcome" surrounded by
small ivy leaves. At another place was to be seen
the letters "V. R." traced in flowers; at another, a
small banner bearing the inscription, "Success to
our endeavours," at another, a small crown with the
motto beneath, "Then et mon droit." At one end
of the room was a very neat banner, bearing the
inscription in blue letters on a white ground, "Sue.
to the Reminder Cottage Garden and labourers'
Friend Society." At the opposite end was another
banner, upon which was traced a crown, and the
motto "God save the Queen." Altogether the ap-
pearanoe of the room did infinite credit to the mana-
gers of the affair. The prizes were given away in
the course of the afternoon, on the wound at the
back of the school, in the presence of the assembled
visitors. At one time there were nearly 200 persons
present on the ground. The suoceeshil exibiters re-
ceived the rewards with evident marks of satisfac-
tion—not only for what they had received, but also
in having earned the esteem and good wishes of those
who held a higher position than themseives in the
social scale. Mr. Samways, of Bridport, officiated
as judge. As soon as the award was completed, the
=emeriti competitors, as well as 'many of the gentle-
men present, adjourned to the lied Lion Inn, where
those who had received prizes were supplied gratui-
tously with an excellent dinner, served up by Mr.
Squire, the landlord. Roast beef, plum pudding,
and ale ad libitum were served up, and the men ap-
peared thoroughly to enjoy themselves, as they di..
cussed, in pleasant chat, the proceedings of the day.
About 60 sat down to dinner; and notwithstanding
the number, which was considerably larger than was
anticipated, the excellent arrangements of the land-
lord met the requirements of all most satisfactorily.
MARERWOOD AGRICELTUR•L SOCIETT.—The first
annual meeting of the above society took place on
Tuesday last. Considering that the society is but in
its infancy, the gathering was a most successful one.
The farmers of the neighbourhood assembled in force,
to witness the ploughing matches, which took_ place
on land in the occupation of Mr. James Hann,
situate about smile and a half from the Shave Croft
Inn, where the prises were awarded. Mrs. Stoodley
and the Mims Hedditch were present. The land
selected
field, called "Sweet's Close," for the men- and a
piece of f:lrsArohurteathtpree matchesTs t 1 61:scalipdcmaisrealedev.risat:draFthtlieifrtirr "Fourteen .acres,"
tor the
heavy, eo that the skill of the labourers was fully
approbation of the way in which the work was
executed; and the judges (Mr. Linton, of Nether-
bury, and Mr. Fowler, of Hawkchurch) had a very
pleseant task to perform in recommending the
candidates whom they considered sucoessful. After
the ploughing was over, a dinner was provided at
the Shave Cross Inn, two marquees being erected—
one for the farmers and friends, and the other for the
ploughmen and boys. In the latter those who had
been engaged in the toil of the day entered upon a
new field of labour with an inconceivable degree of
earnestness; and the stock of good things piled upon
the festive board were quickly made to disappear.
In the former a number of the farmers, who had been
present at the ploughing, assembled with their
friends to the number of about 60.