The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-30 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1881.

HALESOWEN AND HAGLEY FLOWER

SHOW.

The above show was held in Hagley Park, on
Tuesday last, but unfortunately the weather was
bad tor out-door pleasure. The beautifully wooded
undulating park which surrounds Lord Lyttelton's
residence is famed throughout the Black Country
as an agreeable neighbourhood in which to ruraliz,s.
The flower show is also very well known as an
annual event, and as it was this year supplemented
by several extra attractions, including a bazaar, and
the opportunity of inspecting the pictures in Hagley
Hall, a summery day such as usually favours the
promoters was all that was requisite to make the
meeting one successful enough to atone for the
financial falling off of last year. There were, how-
ever, several heavy showers, and one or two ominous
claps of thunder during the day; and the ground
becoming early soaked with wet promenading upon
the greensward became divested of much of its
pleasure, and not a little inconvenient to the many
ladies who had donned summer costume. As
regards the show itself, the promoters and com-
mittee, v, ho number most of the leading residents
of the two districts of Hal sowen and Bagley, had
no reason to regret a falling off as comparea with
former years. Some trifling diminution in extent
was noticeable, but none in the quality of the ex-
hibits, which was in fact, exceptionally good in
several departments On the plan of former years,
the exhibits of the general classes were shown in
one large blue-and-white marque, and those of the
cottagers in a smaller one. In the former the large

stove and greenhouse plants, plants iu pots,
occupied the centre ground of the tent, where they '
presented a very attractive well-arranged combina •
tion of colours and foliage. Facing the entrance
were the exhibits which gained a silver cup in what
was the chief competition of the show—that for the
best ornamental plants in or out of flower, eight
dishes of English-grown fruit, and a collection of
cut flowers, shown by gentlemen's gardeners.
There was but one prize and but one exhibitor,
Mr. Th,nets Hall, of Worley Hall, Birmingham
(gardener, Herne), who exhibited a ctpital collection
of Wants and cut flowers and equally good fruit, in
which white grapes were specially meritorious.
The exhibits of orchids and of new and rare plants,
which were shown upon a side-stand, were conspicu-
ous fr‘r the admirable flowers from the gardens of
Mr. C. -Winn, of zSelly Park, who it is well known
' ;las one of the finest collections of orchids in the
country, Mr. Winn carried off fir-t prizes for six
orchids and for a single specimen ; the two gentle.
men who were respectively second in these classes
were Mr J. Jackson, Blakedown, and Mr. C. E.

Mathews, Edgbaston. Mr. Mathews, whose ex—
hibits in other classes formed one of the features

of the show, took first in the class for three new

and rare plants with a collection which included a
fine specimen of Croton Queen Victoria, Mr. Wynn
obtaining here merely a third. The stove and
greenhouse plants formed a fairly good display.
Ms. T. W. Welsh y, of the Uplasclee Selly Oak, was
awarded first for nine varieties of these plants, four
in flower. His fine colleeion of included two con-
spicuously admirable plants, one of blue—Statice
Halfordii, and one white—Vinca alba. Mr. J.
Jackson, of 131akedown Nursery, Kidderminster,
gained a second in nines; and a first in sixes. In
sisgles, Mr. Hall was placed first for a Clerodendron
Balfoutii, the symmetrical shape of which, and tile
pure whiteness of the flower, di-tinguished it as an
exceedingly fine specimen of this plant, and
worthily gave it pre-eminence over the Statice
peonssa of Mr. C. E. Mathews, through the pretty
blue bosses of the latter no doubt recommended
themselves to the gen, ral eye. Mr. Jackson was
third. Extra prizes offersd for the best, collections
of stove or greenhouse ornainentil foliage plants,
from nine to twelve in number, brought forward
two groups, the magnitude f which demanded no
saiall share of the staging space, whilst th- ir
healthy appearance ant general beauty excited
general comment. Mr. Mathews was adjudged
owner of the best collection, but he was closely
followed by Mr. Webley. Most conspicuous
amongst these plants for excellence of condition
and appearance were a Croton Johannis, with
graceful spear-shaped leaves, brilliant in yellow;
and a beautiful Norfolk Island pine. In this class
the first prize of .25 was the gift of Mr. G. A. H.
Best, of Haden Hill, and the second of £2 that of
Mr. B. Hingley, of Cradley. After the stove and
greenhouse plants, the most admired of tho exhibits
were the f, leis, of which a large number of the
rarest varieties were staged. Thsugn ladies nowa-
days take considerable interest in fern culture, it is
seldom that at local shows one finds so good a col
'colon of these Amost delicately graceful examples
of Natures skilr in the handling ef green fillet; and
curves. In the class for twelve varieties there was
a keen competition between Mr. Webley (first) and
Mr. Mathews (second), both of whom showed some
very rare and beautiful plants. amongst others fine
specimens of Gleichania and Davallia Ms oreana.
The sixes were less remarkable. Mr. Mothews
took first, Mrs. Roberts second, and Mr. Webley an
extra prize. Neither the fuchsias nor the zonale
pelsreoniums were up to the usual stand ird of
merit, though the latter, as is alwaa s the case,
furnished a telling array of britliant colour masses
Major Williams was first in sixes of zonales, Mrs.
Roberts second. The Major took also a second in
the class for six variegated geraniums, the first
prize winner in this class being Mr. J. Gardener.
who carried off all three first prizes in the exhibits
of fuchsias. In ihe class for twelve miscellaneous
plants Mr. Mat hewssagain came to the front, taking
first with a well-grown collection of which Statice
Lialfordii was a notic, able member. Fine specimens
of Anteurium Schertzerianum, and of a seedling
tuberose-rooted Begonia, figured in the group which
gained second honours. shown by Mr. Hall. Cap-
tain Cheliineworth, of Bewdley, was awarded third.
Caladiums are always to be found exceedingly well
grown at this exhibition. This year the plants
which gained for Mr. Webley the first ptize for six
dis-similar were no jot behind the prize-takers of
preceeding shows. 'lhe second prize went to Major
Williams, and third to Captain Chellingworth. In
single specimens these two gentlemen received
respectively first and second. A word of praise
must be bestowed on the cockscombs, whose
quaintly-shaped, rich dark crimson masses att: acted
quite their share of attention, and which were
without exception well-grown plants. Captain
Chellingworth showed the best six; Mr, Gardener
second. The cut flowers, which were staged along
one side of the marquee, were fairly well repre-
sented in each of the classes. In those for carna-
tions and picotees, twelves and sixes of each, that
well-known Birmingham amateur, Mr. Samuel
Brown, of Handsworth, maintaintained the reputa-
tion he gained many years ago by carrying of all
the first prizes; the seconds falling to Mr. Jackson
and one third to Mr. Shaw. Cut roses were fairly
good, though a trifle passe. Messrs. Peikins and
Sons, the well-known nurserymen, took fist prizes
with fine blooms in all the three classes—triplets of
of twenty-four varieties, and singles of twenty-four
and twelve dissimilar. Mr. Jackson was second in
the first of these classes; Mr. Parry second, and
Mr. Jackson third in the second cla,s • and Mr.
Jackson second, and Mr. Parry third in the remain-
ing class. The epergnes shown were exceptionally
tasteful—Mr. Gardener took first, Mr. Jackson
second, Mr. Shaw third. Other prize-winners were
as follows :—Ericas : J. Jackson, W. Shaw. Ver-
benas, twenty-four : W. Shaw; eighteen: T.
Greaves 1, W. Shaw 2; twelve: T. Greaves 1, W
Shaw 2. Miscellaneous collection of cut flowers,
twenty-four bunches: T. W. Webley 1, J. Jackson
2, T. Greaves 3. Hardy flowers: J. Gardener 1,
T. Greaves 2, Major Williams 3. Eighteen phloxes:
J. Jacks in. Twelve phloxes: W. shaw 1, J.
Jackson 2. Bouquet of flowers for ball: C. E.
‘lathows 1, J. Jackson 2. Bouquet for wedding:
C. E. Mathews 1, J. Jacksen 2. .`! ix button-holes:
Perkins and Son 1, C. Winn 2. Six pots of petunias:
Capt. Chellingworih (extra prize given by Mr,
Parkes). Mr. T. Hall received an extra prize for
two specimens of the curious and interesting pitcher
plant. The show of fruit was fairly good, and
remarkable for the merit of the grapes and melons.
ord Lyttelton's black grapes, thou gli not such
large bunches as others, were awarded Ist prize for
appearance and flavour of the berry. Mr. Webb
took 2ret and Mr. Wion third. In white grapes Mr.
T. Hall was first with bunches of that finest of
white grapes—the Muscat of Alexandria • Mr. W.
Gould being second and Mr. C. Webb third with
examples of a grape of gigantic size in berry, sent
out by Mr. Thompson, of the Royal Vineyard
Nurseries, Galashiels. Prize-winners for ther-
kind sof fruit were :—Melons: T. Hall. Peaches
T Hall 1, W. Gould 2, Major Williams 3. Nester-
ines : H. Lowe 1, Majer Williams 2, W. Gould 3.
Apricots: W. Gould 1, Mrs. Roberts 2. Plume :
J. Gardener 1, W. Gould 2. Strawberries : W,
Gould 1, Major Williams 2. Gooseberries, red: J.
Jackson 1, H. Thompson 2. Yellow: H. Thomp-
son 1. J. Jackson 2. Green: H. Thompson 1, J.
Jackson 2. Best dish for flavour: H. Lowe 1, W.
Goul t 2. Collection of English grown fruit : W.
Gould 1, T. Hall 2, H. Lowe 3. The following
took prizes in the classes d voted to amateurs :
Plants in pots: Mrs. Hayes 2, Hon. and Rev. W. H.
Lyttelton 3. Fuchsias : Hon and Rev. W. H.
Lyttelton 1, Mrs. Hughes 2. Petunias : Mrs.
Hayes 1, Hon. and Rev. W. H. Lyttelton 2. Ver-
benas: Mrs. Hayes 1, T. P. Bache 2. Mrs. Hayes
took firsts, and the Hon. and Rev. W. H. Lyttelton
seconds for cucumbers, collections of fruit, black
and white grapes. Collection of vegetables : T. P
Bache 1. Mrs. Hayes 2, Hon. and Rev. W. H.
Lyttelton 3. As a consequence of the favourable
season the show in the cottagers' classes was
superior to those of former years. S. Rate, J.
Shilvock, and J. Holsday, of Halesowen ; and 11.
and B. Smith, of Stakenbridge, were the chief
prize-winners. The judges in the general classes
were Messrs. W. B. Latham (Botanical Gardens.
.Edgbaston). Brown (gardener at Elmdon
Hall), T. Hewitt (Solihull), and Green (gardener,