SYDENHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2685, 15 November 1882, Page 3

SYDENHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Spring Show of the above Society is "being held this day, in the Selwyn street schoolroom, Addington, and the members are to be congratulated on the general excellence of the exhibits in the various classes, which are all noticeable for many ■well-grown specimens. In Class A Messrs X). Nairn and Sons took first prize for four ericas, one of which, a yellow variety was much admired. Mr J. HepwortlTs collection of six stove or greenhouse plants, ■varieties, in flower, were very good, a feature in this exhibit being a beautiful Lophespernum Grandiflorum, studded with rich purple ■ lake blooms. The second honors for this exhibit fell to Mr E. Line, and in his six plants were shown a grand erica intermedia with long pendant wax like blooms. The azaleas and cacti in this collection were also rare plants and well grown. The pelargoniums sent by Messrs D. Nairn and Sons took a well merited first, as also did their geraniums, both zonale and double, although they had -to rest content with second honors for -variegated geraniums, Mr. J. Hepworth taking first prize ; whilst for zonales and doubles he was awarded a second prize. His calceolarias wore magnificent plants, and would be hard to beat even at the Metropolitan Show. Quite a feature was presented by the ornamental hanging baskets of ferns. Of these that sent by Mr G. Starkiss was for exhibition only, the first and second prizes going to Messrs Line and Hepworth respectively. For the best collection of ferns—green-house or hardy—Mr J. Hepworth was the only exhibitor, and it contained a large number of choice varieties. The two spireas shown by Mr E. Lino were awarded a first, and he -was the only exhibitor in this class. Jn the cut flowers. Class A., Messrs

D. Naira and Sons sent a magni- , ficent stand of six pelargoniums. Air R. Line secured first prize for a general collection of cut blooms, whilst for hand bouquets, wired and unwired, the prizes fell to Messrs D. Nairn and Sons and B. Line respectively. The vegetables in Class A. were but a limited exhibit, all the prizes falling to Mr B. Unwin, for rhubarb, new potatoes (round and kidney), cabbages and lettuces, all of which reflected credit on the grower. The pot plants in Class B also redounded to the credit of the exhibitors. For begonias, and geraniums, both double and variegated, Mr J. Beattie was first, Mr G. Starkiss taking the first rank for zonales. The calceolarias were very good, Mr A. Cant being first and Mr G. Starkiss second prize-takers with really fine varieties. The cut flowers in this class were also up to the mark, Mr J. Beattie taking first prize for six, and also for three roses; Mr W. Griffith coming next with three well formed blooms. This gentleman also staged six varieties of verbenas, and took first honors. The general collection of cut blooms were four in number —Mr J. Hill took first prize, whilst to the others ah equal second was given. Mr Cant’s exhibit was rather badly dressed. Mr Griffiths’ stand contained many valuable flowers, which gave evidence of careful culture. The show of vegetables in this class was but limited, the round potatoes sent by Mr Hill taking first prize. Mr Cant showed some nice lettuces. The pot plants were a credit to the cottagers, Mr G. Green being awarded first prizes for double-varie-gated and ivy-leaved geraniums, that for zonales being secured by Mr J. Taylor. These were all excellent exhibits. Mr G. Green also took a first prize for two calceolarias. The vegetables in C. class ran the others very close ; Messrs G. Downing and G. Green’s fifty pods of peas being very good. Several special prizes were given, those by Mr J. T. Brown for the best hand bouquet being taken by Messrs A. Cant and A. J. Hill ; Mr W. Pratt’s prizes for the best six greenhouse plants falling to Messrs A. Cant and J. Beattie j whilsttbat of the Mayor of Sydenhamfor the best twelve pansies was secured by Mr C. Brooks. Quite a feature was displayed in the competition for Mr H. W. Packer’s prizes (four in number), for the best hand bouquets, made up in the room by young ladies under fifteen years of age. These were very artistically made up, alike as to harmony of color and proportion, the prizes falling to Misses L. Brooks, J. Green, C. and E. Starkiss. Mr W. Gimblett contributed a magnificent stand of rhododendrons, for exhibition only, comprising twelve varieties, of which the most noticeable were : —Mrs John Waterer, a rich crimson lake with chocolate spots ; Lady Eleanor Cathcart, a pretty pinkr tinted flower, speckled with crimson; Countess of Bruce, a very fine white ; Queen Victoria, a deep purple ; Everestianum, a delicate lilac,fringed; Album grandiflorum, r a fine white with yellow blotch ; Ne Plus Ultra, a lilac-tinted white: Duchess of Orleans, a beautiful rich carmine with ■ white centre; Elfrida, a delicate rose, spotted black; Minnie, a delicate white, edged with pale carmine ; and his stands i of pansies were also replete with many new varieties. [The prize list will appear in our issue of to-morrow. ]