PETERSFIELD.—The second annual show of vegetables, fruits, flowers, &c. took place on Tuesday last, in the National School Rooms, and in a spacious tent erected for the occasion in the adjoining lawn. This tent was appropriated to the cottagers’ show, and it was highly gratifying to see from the goodly array of excellent vegetables, &c. that the institution of this society is fully appreciated by those for whose benefit it was chiefly intended. It was quite evident in comparing this show with that of last year (creditable as that was for a first exhibition) that the cottagers had set to work during the past season with a determination to do their best, and the result was a spirited competition in almost every department. Passing from the tent to the school-room, the attention was forcibly arrested, and admiration called forth, by the rich and beautiful display of green-house plants, cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables. To these a separate class of prizes was awarded, under the head of ‟extra prizes,” for gardeners, gentlemen’s gardeners, and amateurs. Besides which there were contributions from many of the gentry in the neighbourhood, sent in not for competition, but to add to the interest of the scene. Among these foremost place must be assigned to the splendid array of choice ferns, orchids, and rare exotics, sent by Lady Dorothy Nevill, of Dangstein House, viz.:
Ferns—Phlebolium sporodocarpum, polystichum capense, Davallia tennifolia, adiantum cuneatum, adiantum trapeziforme, adiantum machrophyllum, Dicksonia antarctica, asplenium Belangeri, gymnogramma chrysophylla, sitolobium Davalliodies.
Lycopods—Selaginella circinalis, sel. flexuosa, sel. formosa, sel. stotonifera, sel. cordifolia, sel Wildenovii.
Fine foliage and Variegated Plants —Crecopia pettata, ficus Leopoldi, pictuiatum, cal. pocilc, cal. pictura, thcophrasta jussieni, coleus picturatum, cal. pocile, cal. pictum, theophrasta jussieni, coleus blumei, col. pectinatus, jatropha pinnatifida, begonia picta, beg. zanthina marmorea, beg. zanthina, maranta sanguinea, thrinax argentea. Dracæna terminalis rosea, croton pictum, elais guiniensis, sonerila Margaritacea, grasstophyllum pictum.
Orchids—Oneidium lencochilum, Stanhopea venusta, Stanhopea occulata, zygopetalum maxilare, nepenthes anissullacea, sarracenia purpurea, aphelandia Leopoldi,
J. Martineau, Esq. of Basing Park, contributed a variety of very superior fruit, including some superb specimens of plums, peaches, and grapes. Among other contributors, not for competition, were W. Green, Esq. Ditcham Park; Rev. D. Willis, Elsted; J. Mason, Esq., Mr. Jouning, and H. Atkinson, Esq. Petersfield. A group of coniferæ, (comprising compressus Skinnerii, funebris, goveniana; taxodium patagonia, juniperus compressus, recurva dueta, thuga aurea, chiliensis; araucaria excelsa, Wellingtonia, cedrus devoara), exhibited by the latter gentleman, was much admired, as was a singular plant of musandra frondata. The Rev. W. H. Hawker presented specimens of anacharis alsinastrum, taken from the river Cam; among the cut flowers was a beautiful device of a heart in verbenas of various tints, contributed by the Rev. J. M. Sumner, which was greatly admired. But space will not admit of our enumerating a tithe of the articles that deserve notice; we can only say that the whole, both for quantity, quality, and arrangement, was admirable, and we heard it repeatedly remarked that it might fairly challenge comparison with any similar exhibition in the county. The following is the list of prizes awarded :—
Cottagers’ Prizes.—Valley District.
∙ Beans, broad—1st. Thomas Budd, Sheet; 2d. H. Prior, Harting;
ditto, scarlet—1st, H. Prior; 2d. Joseph Head, Petersfield
∙ Cabbage—1st. Henry Wells; 2d. H. Prior; 3d. T. Budd;
ditto, red or Savoy—T. Budd.
∙ Carrots—1st. Joseph Oliver, Harting; 2d. George Fly, Weston; 3d. John Prior; 4th. Thos. Loten, East Harting
∙ Celery—Henry Harris, Petersfield
∙ Parsnips—1st. W. Fly; 2d. Thos. Loten; 3d. Eliea Eade, Sheet; 4th. H. Harris
∙ Potatoes, kidney—1st. Nicholas Kille, Eastmeon; 2d. James Bowles, Harting; 3d. James Ansell, Harting; 4th. George Woodyer, Liss
ditto, round—1st. N. Kill; 2d. H. Luxford, Weston; 3d. J. Prior; 4th. John Fisher, Weston.
∙ Lettuce—Thomas Loten
∙ Leeks—John Prior
∙ Onions—1st. Joseph Oliver; 2d. Seth Fisher, Sheet; 3d. George Woodyer; 4th. John Watts, Harting
∙ Turnips—1st. Henry Pledger, Petersfield; 2d. F. Budd, Sheet
∙ Vegetable marrow or pumpkin—Wm. Glue, Harting
∙ Collection of vegetables—Wm. Pay, Rogate; 2d. Francis Pay, Rogate; 3d. George Smart.
∙ Fruit—1st Henry Mariner, Nursted; 2d. James Bowles; 3d. Thomas Poole, Nursted.
Cottagers’ Prizes.—Hill District.
∙ Beans, scarlet—1st prize, Charles Barrow, Buriton; 2d. Thos. Pink, Colemore; 3d. George Purday, Eastmeon
∙ Cabbage—1st. Frederick Stacey, Froxfield
∙ Carrots—1st. Thomas Pink, Colemore; 2d. George Purday, Bierley
∙ Parsnips—1st. Wm. Pink, Colemore; 2d. Thomas Pink, Colemore
∙ Potatoes, kidneys—1st. Charles Barrow
ditto, round—1st. Charles Barrow; 2d. F. Stacey
∙ Onions—1st. William Pink; 2d. Thomas Pink
∙ Turnips—1st George Purday
Cottagers’ Prizes.—Hill and Valley District.
∙ Pot plants—1st. Prize Henry Noyce
∙ Collection of cut flowers—1st, George Smart, Horndean; 2d. Elizabeth Walker, Petersfield
∙ Honey in comb—1st. George Gillman, Ramsdean; 2d. Wm. Emm, Buriton
∙ Extra collection—prize, Durman; Lintott, commended
∙ Allotment wheat—George Fly, Weston
Previous to the distribution of prizes, Sir W. G. H. Jolliffe, Bart. M.P. addressed the company in terms of warm congratulation on the successful establishment of such a society, remarking that although Petersfield and its neigbourhood had always occupied a distinguished position for its agriculture, it had till lately been somewhat behind hand in the matter of horticulture, but he was glad to see them taking advantage of a climate and soil not to be surpassed in the county, and turning it to good account in the production of those articles which formed so important a part of the dining requisites of the community. The prizes were then distributed by the President, the Rev. J. M. Sumner. Each successful competitor for the first prize in their respective classes being presented (in addition to the money award) with certificate of merit in the form of a richly embossed and elegantly printed card, mounted for hanging up in their cottages as a memento of their successful competition. The judges were Mr. Duncan, gardener to J. Martineau, Esq, and Mr. Vair, gardener to Lady Dorothy Nevill.
Extra Prizes.
∙ Collection of greenhouse plants—1st, W. Fuller, gardener to G. Forbes, Esq. Bereley; 2d, J. Bridle, gardener to F. Darwin, Esq. Nursted; 3d, T. Richmond, gardener to Rev. J. M. Sumner, Buriton.
∙ Cut flowers—1st, T. Richmond ; 2d, J. Blackman, gardener to J. Whicher, Esq, Petersfield; 3d, John Bailey, Petersfield.
∙ Fruit—1st, John Page, gardener to W. Mitchell, Esq. Petersfield; 2d, W. Fuller; 3d, J. Bridle.
∙ Vegetables—1st. W. Fuller, 2d, J. Bridle; 3d, Samuel Curtis, gardener to Rev. T. Floud, Petersfield.
∙ Cut flowers commended—Mr. Dusautoy
∙ Vegetables highly commended—John Smith, gardener to Sir W. G. H. Jolliffe, Bart.
The only thing wanting to render the exhibition all that could be desired was fine weather, and of this there was truly a ‟plentiful lack,” for the rain poured down in floods in the early part of the day, which of course prevented a full attendance of visitors, and threw a damp (and something more) over the proceedings, for which even the enlivening strains of the talented Haslemere Band could not wholly compensate. In the latter part of the day. however, the sun shone out at intervals, and the attendance was considerably increased.