Floral Fete at Shrewsbury.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 October 1910, Page 38

Floral Fete at Shrewsbury.

FINEST SHOW IN THE WORLD. 80,000 VISITORS IN ONE DAY. On the 17th and 18th of August the Shropshire Horticultural Society held its thirty-sixth annual floral fete in the Quarry at Shrewsbury. For some years past the exhibition has held unchallenged a supreme position, and again and again the question is put, “Why thi<s extraordinary prosperity at Shrewsbury?” Finding the public responsive to every effort made to eater for them—which proved that they understood their wants—the promoters used to the full the experience gained year by year, and expended their funds freely in developing their organisation on lines which results have always shown were the right ones.

The old town is known to thousands for its cherished relics of the past, but to how many more, it may well be -asked, is it known almost solely for its floral fete? It forms a wonderful object lesson. It makes impressions upon the mind that are well nigh ineffaceable,' and : the beauty and glory of it all seem never to disappoint, even where the most fertile imagination has been engaged, so that over and over again one hears the confession that the real picture outclasses all that has been conceived of it. As the crowds pass through the “Pavilions of Flora” before bewitching groups and row after row of flowers, in colour more gorgeous than the rainbow, al] abandon themeelves to their grateful in-

fluence. Here they see what in their season are the choicest products of the magic art. of the hybridist, the latest response of Nature to man’s gentle and patient treatment of her, for both gentle and patient must he be if she is to yield up to him her marvellous secrets. "Fixity” of form and of colour in flowers can only be obtained after years of skilful attention, yet it is astonishing how many are the novelties which the experts introduce year after year. The travellers of the great firms ransack the earth in search of new varieties and species, with much success, but one may ask whether the hybridist at home does not ac.neve equally satisfactory results by skilfully mixing the colours in which he works, as a painter does his pigments, to produce something new. ft is no wonder, then, knowing what they have done hitherto, if the blue rose has at last taken its place among the queen of flowers, and of a good yellow sweet pea it will perhaps not be long l>efore we hear something from one or other of the great specialists. What has been done in the improvement of the sweet pea within a comparative short period naturally recalls the lead given in that direction in England itself. But the fruit and the vegetables and the flowers, though constituting the chief feature which draws 80,000 visitors to Shrewsbury annually from far and near, are by no means the only attractions of the show. The fine music that England’s greatest military bands discourse in the Quarry on these occasions accounts for a very large proportion of the vast number of people who assemble there on the two days of the fete. With regard to the entries, the judges are unanimous in saying that in the value of the exhibits the society has never had such a splendid show. On the 18th, 80.000 people were in the Quarry, some from as far south as Oxford, and as far north as Aberdeen, from South Wales the miners, from North Cambria the hardy farmers of the hills, the Lancashire lads and lassies, the Yorkshire “folk”—people indeed from all the shires of England. It was interesting to listen to the various dialects, and difficult to believe that a

people who dwell in so small an isle should speak in such diverse ••tongues.” Excursion trains were run from all parts of England, Scotland, and Wales. The Takings. On both days the takings were over £3,000. Only on three occasions have the takings on the lirst day exceeded this year's, namely, in 1900, when they were £1,107; in 1907, £1,203; and in 1908, when they reached the record of £1,221. In four successive years, beginning in 1904, over £2,000 was taken at the gate on the second day, but in 1908 they fell to £1,788, and last year were £1,815. The record for the second day was in 1907, when the amount received was £2,282 Is 3d. The Groups. The arrangement for the group display was similar to that of previous occasions, but the increased number of exhibits necessitated more accommodation, and two of the largest tents on the ground were occupied by them. The groups have always been one of the most fascinating features of the show, but this year they were unusually attractive. As on many former occasions, Messrs Cypher and Sons were again prominent with transcendent displays of brilliant blooms and exquisite foliage, which were so assorted as to elicit the utmost admiration of the thousands who passed through the tents. The Cut Flowers. To give an adequate description of the cut flowers, and to convey to the mind by words an idea befitting the wondrous beauty which they presented, is an impossible task. There they were, arranged in their myriads on stage after stage, 'occupying some four or five huge tents, each of them holding sufficient to make up a flower show itself, which would bring credit to any district. As the eye fell upon each succeeding collection of choice roses, of exquisitely curled and coloured cactus dahlias, which seemed to be shown in greater perfection than ever before, upon gorgeous gladioli, and gay gaillardia, and then on the floral triumphs represented by bridal bouquets and harps adorned with flowers like dia-

dems, the visitor felt there need Ih* set no bounds to his admiration, for there could be no extravagance of praise. Every collection possessed high merit; indeed, without such qualities it were altogether useless exhibiting at Shrewsbury. Many of them, of course, were superb and unsurpassable, and in some of them one looked almost in vain for an imperfect bloom. Among a rich exhibit of first prize roses shown in strong competition were those of Messrs. A. Dickson and Sons, of Newtonards, who showed the rose of sterling worth, Dean Hole, in particularly fine form. Brilliant, a red one, also attracted attention, among other lovely sorts. Of early flowering chrysanthemums there were many which justified the high claim made for these delightful flowers. Mr. W. A. Ballard. Leicester, included in his twelve prize winning blooms Champ d’or, a lovely yellow, and a fine curled variety, Soleil d’Octobre. Golden Glow was another which struck the eye as a particularly fine specimen. From chrysanthemums, one passed with equal pleasure to the stand of violas exhibited by Mr. W. L. Pattison, of Shrewsbury, and those of Mr. Campston, Macclesfield, who staged many fine sorts, including Kate Cochrane, with dark blue edging shading to mauve, and Lizzie Wallace, heliotrope. Many of them were remarkable for their size and great substance. Dahlias were one of the finest features of the show, the beauty of the cactus kinds predominating over all others. Here was found an infinite variety of magnificent blooms, faultless in form and representing almost (‘very conceivable colour. Notable among them were, in Mr. IL Peerman’s (Nantwich) collection, E. C. Wilkins, a very fine pink, and F. Gunsted, a brilliant variety. 'l’he hardy flowers were given, as usual, an enormous space, and were an immense attraction. Many of them were as rich in colour and beautiful in form, and as fragrant, as not a few of those specimens which call for skilful treatment under more favoured conditions. Messrs. W. Artindale and Son, of Sheffield, in the class for 18 bunches of hardy flowers, exhibited some remarkably well-grown scabious phlox and chrysanthemums, and Mrs. F. Alderson, Welsh Frankton, showed dainty montebretias. gaillardias, and penstemons, which do not seem to be nearly enough grown. In the next tent were as many good things, among the chief of them being a display of hardy flowers by Kings Acre, Ltd., Hereford, who among a thousand choice subjects showed the montebretia Feu d* Artifice. a charming variety; the sidalcea Rosy Gem; and a choice collection of roses, of which none were more

beautiful than the well-known Madame C. Testout and Madame Ravary. Near by were the cactus dahlias of Messrs. Keynes, Williams and Co., of Salisbury, whose decorative taste was a feature of the collection. One could hardly imagine art carrying form and colour to greater degrees of perfection, and it is difficult to name the best among so many sorts of almost equal merit. But Bridal Robe, Debutante (pink and white), and Glory of Wilts (a delicate yellow), were certainly amongst the most distinctive and striking in the collection. Countess of Lonsdale, a salmon pink, showed up remarkably well in the collection of Mr. E. Knight, of Wolverhampton, and from North Britain, staged by Messrs. M. Campbell and Son, came another fine show of dahlias of different varieties. Bakers, of Wolverhampton, had an exhibit occupying sonic 85 feet, consisting of sweet peas, dahlias, water plants, and hardy flowers, and over their stand appeared the gold medal award. Their sweet peas, as was indeed everything else of theirs, wen* shown in excellent form, none being more beautiful and attractive than the new Aurora Spencer. Gladys I’nwin. Flora Norton Spencer (a pretty shade of blue), and the chaste Evelyn llemus. which has been described as the finest sweet pea in existence. Nothing was more original and striking in the show than the display of geraniums by Mr A. Myers, of Shrewsbury. whose specimens were of giant size and of the loveliest shades of colour, ami to their own intrinsic merits was added a beauty lent by the exhibitor’s gifts in decorative skill. A perfect triumph of this character was seen at the stand of Messrs Sutton, of Reading, who seem to be veritable magicians in raising vegetables without spot or blemish, of wondrous uniformity, immense size, where size is required, and perfect shape. Innumerable specimens, possessing every good quality, with flowers, were staged with marvellous effect. Hard by. in the bay of the marquee. was a paradise of roses, which gained for Messrs Hobbies a gold medal, while Messrs Dobbie. of Edinburgh, exhibited a tine lot of sweet peas, some of the early flowering cosmos, and antirrhinums, for which they are famous; tin* beautiful godetia schamini. quite a unique variety and verv beautiful; as well as the new hardv South African daisy. “Star of the Veldt”; and numberless other kinds of high merit. Messrs Webb received a gold medal for a remarkably fine exhibit of fruit and flowers, magnificently displayed. and another gold medal went to Mr E. Murrell, of Shrewsbury. for his large ami superb collection of roses. Messrs

G. Gibson and Co. and Messis Gunn and Sons, of Olton, were contributors to the exhibition, notable in the collection of the latter being some campanula pyramidalis of an exquisitely blue tint, and others of pure white. “laidy Rollinson,” a pure yellow gaillardia, showed up prominently on the stand of Messrs Artindale and Son, and Mrs Melvill, of Meole Brace, sent some herbaceous phloxes, which attracted much attention. Beautiful carnations were staged by Messrs Cutbush, of London. In another tent was a superb display of perpetual carnations by Messrs Young and Co., of Cheltenham, among the best of them being “Mrs H. Burnett,” pink; ami a fine mauve, “Mrs G. Williams.” One tent was given up entirely to sweet peas, where many of the best-known growers exhibited all the kinds worth growing The general effect was magnificent in the extreme. The Fruit Classes. In the midst of a riot of richest hues of countless Howers, in a large marquee near the main entrance gates of the Quarry, the grapes and other fruit were exhibited. The delicacy of the bloom of these tempting fruits drew from all who saw them spontaneous expressions of wonder and delight. Here in perfection were exhibited apple and pear, peach and plum, gooseberries and raspberries, the luscious strawberry, the dainty nectarine. and then the magnificent grapes—the acme of the horticulturist’s art. shown to advantage by skilful staging. The Vegetables. To many the vegetable section of the show is, perhaps, of subsidiary interest, but to the keen horticulturist, it is a display of considerable value, as it enables him to see the possibilities of his art. Here in this section the amateur learns much from the professional gardener’s exhibits and from the very fine displays made by the nurserymen. The season for vegetables lias been distinctly good, and in the opinion of good judges the collection of vegetables was the best that has ever been exhibited at Shrewsbury, the handsome prizes offered by the society having attracted large entries. The ehampion prize of £lO for a collection of vegetables (12 distinct kinds), was won by the Hon. Vicary Gibbs of Elstree (Hants.). The Cottagers' Exhibit. The cottagers’ section was a complete little show in itself, and proved very interesting. The society through this section has done much to promote cottage gardening, for the ambition to win at Shrewsbury has created a healthy rivalry that stimulates the cottager to obtain the best that his means will afford, and the result is that many of the exhibits would not be far behind in point of merit from those shown in the other sections of the show. Messrs. W. W. Naunton and 11. W. Adnitt have filled the offices of bon. secretaries for many years, with marked success. — (“Shrewsbury News.”)