The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-02 00:00:00

COTTAGERS PRIZES.

The Cottager.' Prizes were distributed to the success-
ful competitors at about half-past four o'clock, by the
Hon. C. G. Lyttelton. Before presenting them the Hon.
C. G. Lyttelton Raid he believed it was usual for the
person who distributed the prizes ti make a few remarks
before he gave them to the various recipients. He need
not state to them how glad he was to be there to dis.
tribute those nriees. When one who was a thorough
countryman like himself, had to live for a time in the
smoke and dingy atmosphere of a great town like London,
and was then called away to come down to the pure
atmosphere and green fields by which he was then our-
rounded, he was apt to see every blade of grass, every
shrub, and every flower to glow with an equal radiance.
He was, therefore, glad that his duty on that occasion
was not to act so an impartial judge to decide the rel.,
ties merits of flowers, or shrubs,—that had been pre-
viously done by those who were more competent than
hintsclf to form an opinion—but simply to distribute
the prizes amongst those who had been adjudged worthy
of them. He referred with regret to the death of Mr.
Moose, who was • great friend to that society. He
(the speaker) had for many yearn had the honour of
Mr. Moore'a personal friendship, and he was • gentle-
men who was deservedly respected by all who knew him.
N 5 ith regard to that meeting be had been informed by
Mr. Granger, that though that society had been in
exietence for 17 years, there was no falling off in the
show ; on the contrary the present was one of the
largest both in point of the quantity and quality of the
plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables exhibited that had
ever been held He then referred to the development
of a taste for the culture of flowers amongst the poorer
classes, and pointed out what • aelace and pleasure
might be derived from •dorning their squalid homes
with them. He knew that in that respect the inhabit-
ants of this district were much better off than those who
lived in large towns like London, where there WRS no
room at all for gardens ; but still he thought much more
might be done in that way than there was at present.
Most of those connected with that competition were
farm labourers, who had large gardeits of their own, and
he therefore thought there ought to be • greater
number of commti,ors than thsre were. He knew he
should be met by the objection that they were digging
and working all day, and that, therefore, they did not
want to dig end work all the evening. But, in answer
to this he would remind them that in the day they were
working for their masters, whilst in the evening they
would be working for themselves; and he knew of no
feeling that tended more to give a manly independence
than that of proprietorship. He should also like to see
that society give a prize for window gardening. In
London a large society had been formed for that par.
pose, sod it was experiencing the most beneficial resulta.
He ehould like to see • taste for flowers cultivated in
this district, and he thought a prize of that kind would
110 a good deal towards encouraging • taste for flowers
amongst those who were not fortunate enough to possess
gardens. He would admit that it required a cultivated
taste to detect the lines of beauty in • beanstalk or •
us•ingold-wurzel ; but he contended that everything in
nature was beautiful, and by cultivating a taste amongst
the poorer classe• for the beautiful in the forma and
colours of flowers they would be giving them a means
of pure and rational enjoyment, which would do mach
towards elevating and refining them. He was quite sure
that those who were competitors at that meeting would
be able whilst engaged in the field at their ordinary
work to detect the hidden beauties in the field flowers
and everything around them to a mach greater extent
than they had been able to do before they took an
interest in those matters. He concluded by stating
that if they fell is with his views in this -matter he
should be most happy to contribute his share towards
giving a prize for window gardening—(applanse).
Mr. Lyttelton then proceeded to distribute the follow-
ing prize. :

FLowsas.

Pansies, cut, collection of eix :—let. prize, Thornu
Newnham ; '2ud.Wlhsm Sbilvock.

Pinks, eat, collection of *ix prize, H. Lowe ;
2nd, T. Greece..

Roses, best sic varieties, cut :—lst. prize, Thomas
Micklewright ; 2nd, Joeeph Micklewright,
German Stocks, collection of eight :—lit. prize, S.
Dunn; 2nd, John Bradley.
Nosegay, of Flowers :—lst. prize, John Semborne ;
2nd, Widow Jordan.

Flo.wers io Design :-I.Bt prize, Joseph Micklerrright ;
2od, Thomas Nesioham.

Plants in Pots, best three varieties :—Let prize, Thos.
Westin ; 2nd, Widow Jordan.

Plant in 'pot, best single specimen :—lst prize, Henry
Howard • 20, Thomas Newnham.

.• - •
Dahlias, six blooms :-18S prize, Joseph Micklewright ;
2nd, Simeon Dann.

Beet eolleetien of Cnt Flowers prize, Thomas
Mick lewright ; 2nd, Widow Jordan.

„
Best Design of Wild Flowers :—lit prize, Joseph
Piiieklewright; 2nd, Thomas Newnham.
Best Sample of Honey in Comb :—lit prize, Thomas
Westwood ; 2nd, Noah Smith.
F/1.17.1T1L

. Apples beet sample, Baking :—let prize, William
Poole; 2nd, Widow Jordan; 3rd, Simeon DOlll2.
Ditto, ditto, Dessert :—let prize, Thomas Hinkle-
'right ; 2nd. William Poole.
Current, Red, one pound :—lit prize, George Dil-
worth ; 2nd, Thomas Seaborne ; 3rd, Benjamin Daven-
port.
Ditto, White. ditto :—lot prize, John Shilvock ; 2nd,
William Shilvock ; 3rd, John Howard.
Ditto, Black, ditto :—let prize, John Bradley; and,
William Brooks ; 3rd, John Shilvock.
IllGoomberries • Red, ono pound :-Ist prim, Benjamin
Hackett ; 2nd, Simeon Dann ' • 3rd, William Jeavona.
Ditto, Yellow, ditto :—Let John Bradley; 2nd, Wm.
Pool.; 3rd, Benjamin Davenport.
Ditto, Green, ditto :—let pleas, Jahn Bradley ; 2nd,
William Bali* ; 3rd, Jobs