Chrysanthemums and celery shows

With huge thanks to the flower lady in Tylers, Loughborough's independent department store,  for providing such beautiful props! (and to the other half for venturing into town on such a hot Saturday!) 

With the summer well and truly here, the sun shining, gardens blossoming with colour, and allotments ripe with fruit, let’s have a look at the chrysanthemum and celery shows of the early 1880s.

The Loughborough Chrysanthemum Show – which actually included displays of other flowers, and some fruit – was held on Thursday 17th November 1881, and was reported upon in the “Nottinghamshire Guardian” the next day.

“Loughborough chrysanthemum show

The 7th annual exhibition in connection with the Loughborough Chrysanthemum and Fruit Society was held yesterday at the town hall, and proved unusually successful. In consequence of the prizes offered for competition, there was an unusually large number of entries, and the exhibits for the most part were equal to, even if they did not surpass, those shown at any of the previous six shows. Of course, the chrysanthemums occupied the largest share of attention, and not without reason, for a more perfect collection of blooms of almost all varieties it would be difficult to find.

The Reverend J. Bird succeeded in taking most of the first prizes for chrysanthemums, but he was run very close by W. Peachy, gardener to Mrs Hole; and in the class for untrained chrysanthemums he had to be satisfied with second honours. The show of pompones was a fine one, and resulted in a keen competition, but the prize for the best group of plants was deservedly gained by J. Cullen.

Among the fruit were some exceedingly fine apples and pears, and it was not without trouble that the judges were enabled to give their awards. This they did, however, in a way which gave general satisfaction, both to the competitors and the public. The names of the judges were as follows; Mr H. Gadd, gardener at Wollaton Hall; Mr G. R. Faire, Leicester; and Mr. T. Robert, gardener to Mr Hussey Packe.

The various exhibits had been carefully arranged around, and in the centre of the room, and with a number of primulas, and other plants lent for the occasion by Mr. J Smith, made up a very attractive show. A fine brace of cucumbers were also staged by Mr E. Warner, not for competition. During the afternoon and evening, a large number of persons visited the hall, and credit is due to the Secretary (Mr. F.H. Rowbotham) for the manner in which he, with the committee, has carried out the whole of the arrangements. The following is the prize list:”

Another Loughborough chrysanthemum and fruit show was held on 17th November 1883, and the “Nottinghamshire Guardian” carried the following report of the event:

“Loughborough chrysanthemum and fruit show

On Saturday the ninth annual exhibition in connection with the Loughborough chrysanthemum and Fruit Society was held in the Corn Exchange town hall. The show was small, there being scarcely a dozen exhibitors.

In chrysanthemums the Reverend J. Bird, of Walton, carried off all the principal prizes, securing as he did the first prize in each class. Mr Maxted, gardener to Mr J. Griggs, was awarded the first prize for four pompones (distinct varieties), while Mr. J. Smith secured the first prize for two pompomes.

The most attractive feature consisted of three groups of miscellaneous plants arranged in the centre of the room. Two of these groups were shown by Mr Hussey Packe, of Prestwold, and Mr B. Paget, of Loughborough, not for competition: while the third was exhibited by Mr Maxted in competition for the prize offered for the best group of plants not to exceed 4 yards in diameter. This exhibit secured the second prize.

In the department of cut flowers, the Reverend J. Bird was again the prize-taker. There were some splendid exhibits in the fruit department, the apples and pears commanding considerable attention. For the collection of four dishes of dessert apples (four varieties), and for a dish of desert apples, Reverend J. Bird secured the first prizes, while Messrs J. and H. Hickling, and Mr McLean were awarded the second prizes respectively. For the collection of four dishes of cooking apples, Mr R. Shaw was first, and the Reverend J. Bird second. The dish of six cooking apples shown by Reverend J. Bird were truly magnificent, and just gained the first award. For the collection of four dishes of dessert pears, the first prize was given to Messrs J. and H Hickling, while the prize for the six heaviest pears was received by Mr. J Smith. There were some good exhibits of white and black grapes, the most successful competitors being Mr A. Squires and Mr R. Shaw.”

The same show was reported on in the “Gardeners’ Chronicle” of 24th November 1883, under the heading “Loughborough chrysanthemum”:

This, the ninth annual show in connection with this Society, was held in the Corn Exchange on the 17th of the month. The various productions exhibited were of that generally meritorious character for which the Society has become noted; many of the blooms, especially in the section for Japanese varieties, were the largest ever seen in Loughborough, and many of the incurved class measured 5 inches in diameter and nearly as much in depth. The competition in all classes was of the keenest, making the work of the judges one of some difficulty. Many of the gentleman's gardeners in the neighbourhood took part in the contests. The President of the Society, the Reverend John Bird, Walton Rectory, was most successful in the first four classes for pot-grown specimens, being first in each.

In the pom pom classes the most successful competitors were Mr. J Smith and Mr. J. Maxted. In cut blooms Mr Bird was awarded first for 18 incurved distinct varieties; second Messrs. J. and H. Hickling; third Mr. J Smith. For 12 incurved Mr Bird was again first; Mr H. Smith, gardener to Sir W.H. Salt, Bart, second; Messrs. J. and H. Hickling third. In the competition for 12 blooms, Japanese varieties, first Mr H. Smith, second Mr Bird. In that for six blooms, Japanese, the results were similar - first Mr H. Smith, second Mr Bird.

The fruit section of the show contained some excellent samples of grapes by several exhibitors, those of Mr Shaw and Mr Squires being adjudged the best, Messrs. Hickling, Mr. Smith, Mr McLean, Dr. Palmer, and Mr Bird taking prizes in the competition for apples and pears, as well as in the grape classes. The attendance of visitors was very good throughout the day.”

Of course, flower, fruit and vegetable shows were common across the land, not just in Loughborough. With the headline Chrysanthemum and celery exhibition, the “Leicester Chronicle” of 1 st December 1883, covered the chrysanthemum and celery show for Leicester and Leicestershire in the following report, in which several Loughborough folk took part and are mentioned in the report (my bold):

“The fourth annual exhibition of the Leicester and Leicestershire chrysanthemum and celery Society was held at the Freemans Arm’s Hotel, Aylestone Road, on Saturday last [24 November 1883]. The exhibits were staged in the handsome new club room of the hotel, which added considerably to the success of the show. The exhibits were decidedly finer and more numerous than last year, the first and second prize boxes being exceptionally fine blooms, and the judges had some difficulty in deciding to which they should give the palm.

The tables were decorated with some fine specimens of statice halfourdi, tarfugium, variegated aloes, and other plants kindly lent by Mr. J. Yates, and also other plants by Mr H. Jordan and Mr. J. Sargent. A splendid basket of chrysanthemums were sent for non-competition by Mr W.C. Burder (1) and Mr. J. Sargent, and a box of 12 fine blooms were sent through the secretary, Mr L.V Heathcote, by Mr. J. Wright, gardener to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, London.

A fine collection of apples, onions, and leeks were also staged for non-competition by Mr. E. Clayton, Mr W.J. Iliffe, and Mr W. Bell. A box of six Japanese chrysanthemum blooms was awarded a special prize by the judges to Mr. S. Collett, the exhibit being of exceptional merit. Mr. J. Burn, of the Abbey Park, and Mr. Forster, of the cemetery, acted as judges, and their rewards gave great satisfaction. Credit is due to the secretary, Mr L.V. Heathcote, for the arrangements of the show and the staging of the exhibits, and the committee are to be congratulated on the success attending their efforts.

The following is the prize list:

Chrysanthemums –

Class 1 (open to all England), 12 blooms distinct varieties, 1 st the Reverend J. Bird, Walton Rectory Loughborough; 2 nd Mr. A Parks, Bosworth Hall gardens, 3 rd Messrs. J.&H. Hickling, Loughborough (2).

Class 2 (amateurs), 12 blooms, distinct varieties, 1 st S. Collett, 2 nd W.J. Iliffe, 3 rd H. Jordan.

Class 3 six blooms, distinct varieties, 1 st S. Collett, 2  nd Charles Day, 3 rd H. Bell.

Class 4 three blooms, one variety, 1 st H. Bell, 2 nd S. Collett, 3 rd W.J. Iliffe.

Class 5 three specimen plants, 1 st John Sargent, 2 nd W.J. Iliffe.

Class 6 premier plant, 1  st W. J. Iliffe.

Class 7 bouquet of chrysanthemums, 1 st John Yates, 2 nd John Sargent, 3 rd A. Main.

Class 8 celery (three sticks) 1 st John Yates, 2 nd John Wiggington, 3 rd W.J. lliffe.

Class 9 beat stick, 1 st W.J. Illiffe.”

Later, in 1887, Loughborough began a dedicated celery show, and the second of these in 1888 took place in the Rose and Crown pub on Baxter Gate. However, it wasn’t actually just dedicated to celery, and there were also prizes given for leeks, red cabbage, cauliflower and collections of vegetables. The third annual show was held at the Station Hotel (now a funeral parlour and flats) on the corner of Station Street and Derby Road (I thought I'd blogged about this building, but I've now remembered I wrote about it in "Secret Loughborough").

Thanks to the stallholders on Loughborough's 800-year-old market for the props (and to the other half for venturing into town on such a hot Saturday!) 

I wonder if these groups were in any way associated with the Loughborough Agricultural Association, which was set up in 1838? There is certainly an element of flower, fruit and vegetable shows held as part of larger shows, like the Leicestershire Show (at one time held in the field at Dishley) and the Sutton Bonington Show (short report tops, and a few pictures tail this post about the cemetery chapels), alongside, things like the showing of animals, handicrafts, baking and various events. Hoping these will soon make a return to our calendar.  

Notes

(1) in 1881 Walter Chapman Burder, horticultural builder employing 65 men and 10 boys, was living at 153 Park Road. He was the owner of Messengers, and would later move to Field House.

(2) John and Henry Hickling are listed in a trade directory for 1887 as being seedsmen and nurserymen at 14 Bedford Street.  

Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 18 July 2021

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Dyer, Lynne (2021). Chrysanthemums and celery shows. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2021/07/chrysanthemums-and-celery-shows.html  [Accessed 18 July 2021]

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