Royal Isle of Wight Horticultural Show – June 1863

The first flower show of the season in connection with the above society, took place on Wednesday last, in the beautiful grounds attached to Buckingham Villa, kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by J B Daubuz, Esq.

Four tents were erected and the stands upon this occasion were crowded with specimens. The show was larger and of better quality than it has been for several years. The fuchsias, begonias and geraniums were exceedingly fine, and the variety and richness of the foliage plants almost exceeded the most brilliant beauty of their flowering companions, while the unobtrusive loveliness and variety of the ferns and mosses attracted as much attention and excited as much admiration as the more commanding qualities of the plants just named.

The fruit was of a very high order, and there was, among the whole display, nothing exhibited that was subject of more commendation than some orchard house trees, exhibited by Mr Charles Colenutt. This newly introduced system of cultivation of fruit for Anglicized orchard house trees, are fruit trees in pots, and the healthful appearance of those exhibited on Thursday last will probably induce others to devote themselves to this style of cultivation, which is now becoming the fashion. The most delicately elegant things in the tents were the epergnes, of which there were six and three fancy baskets arranged with equal taste and judgment. These ornamental columns are composed of the choicest blossoms from the choicest plants, and the ladies who threw them together judiciously arranging contrasts of colour and foliage, were evidently gifted with great genius in the combination of floral productions.

Among the contributors were Col. V Harcourt, who carried off the lion’s share of the prizes, our excellent and respected townsman, Sir Augustus Clifford, Bart., who was also very successful, Miss Johnson, J B Daubuz, G Young, Esq., B Simonds, Esq., E L Bowlby, Esq., Sir Henry Oglander, J E Legh, Esq., Lord Burleigh, P Mahon, Esq. &c., &c.

The cottagers’ tent was well supplied with very good specimens of fruits and vegetables, with some devices in wild flowers, which, for their simple beauty, were equal to anything in the show. The excellent band of the 55th regiment, by permission of Colonel Hume, was present and discoursed most excellent music.

The attendance, as usual upon these occasions, included the beauty and fashion of Ryde and its vicinity, with a small sprinkling of the gentry from the more distant parts of the Island. The day was remarkably fine, and it would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful scene than the charming grounds, the glittering sea, the refreshing coolness wafted from its surface, and though last, no least, the brilliant company presented on Wednesday last at the show of the Royal Isle of Wight Horticultural Society. The following is a list of the prizes.

J B Daubuz, Esq. (Mr G Williams, gardener), first for eight stove and greenhouse plants, eight fuchsias, single specimens, six cockscombs, scarlet flesh melon; second for six pelargoniums, single specimen clarodentron.
Mr George Young, Esq. (Mr Dawson, gardener), first for eight orchids, twelve lycopodiums, twelve ferns, dish of white-heart cherries, brace of cucumbers; second for eight begonias, black and white grapes.
Sir Henry Oglander (Mr Henley, gardener), second for twelve verbenas.
Col F V Harcourt (Mr Meehan, gardener) first for eight ornamental-foliaged plants, eight begonias, six balsams, six gloxinias, six achimines, four fuchsias, eight cut variegated pelargoniums, twenty-four cut roses, box of cut flowers, dish of strawberries; second for eight stove and greenhouse plants, twelve lycopodiums, twelve ferns, black grapes.
Miss Johnson (Mr Thompson, gardener), first for six stove and greenhouse plants, four fuchsias, twelve cut roses; second for eight ornamental-foliaged plants, eight cut variegated pelargoniums, box of cut flowers, brace of cucumbers.
B Simmonds, Esq. (Mr Hall gardener), second for dish of cherries.
Sir Augustus Clifford, Bart, (Mr Marsh, gardener) first for twelve verbenas, eight fuchsias; second for eight calceolarias, eight pelargoniums, six fancy ditto, six French spotted ditto, six gloxinias, twenty-four cut roses, twenty-four pelargoniums.
E S Bowlby, Esq. (Mr Burt, gardener), first for eight pelargoniums, six fancy ditto, six French fancy ditto, six French spotted ditto, six cockscombs, six achimenas.
Mr Charles Colenutt, extra prize for six orchard house trees.
P Mahon, Esq. (Mr Hales, gardener), first extra for twenty-four cut pelargoniums; second for twelve cut roses.
J P Legh, Esq. (Mr Drover, gardener), first for two bunches black grapes, ditto white.
Lord Burleigh (Mr Mew, gardener), second for dish of strawberries.

COTTAGERS’ CLASS
George West, first for peas; third for kidney beans, potatoes and lettuce.
George Bagwell, first for beans and lettuce; second for cauliflower and carrots; third for rhubarb.
Jacob Newnham, first for raspberries, gooseberries, currants, rhubarb, carrots, cabbage, and herbs; second for onions, potatoes, and strawberries.
Jane Burton, first for strawberries and cherries; second for red and white currants; third for raspberries and gooseberries.
George Frampton, first for red and white currants and potatoes; third for black currants and onions.
Daniel Dash, third for cabbage; extra for beans, rhubarb and cherries.
Charles Woodmore, first for box of wild flowers and device ditto.
Edmund Smith, second for device of wild flowers.
Joseph Hall, first for cucumbers, onions, and cauliflowers; second for potatoes, rhubarb, gooseberries, and raspberries; third for cabbage.
Ann Prangnell, second for cabbage; third for carrots, extra for onions and potatoes.
Hannah Barton, third for collection of wild flowers, device ditto, and herbs.
Fanny Prangnell, second for collection of grasses, extra for device ditto.
Isaac Attrill, second for red currants; third for potatoes.
Stephen Thompson, second for collection of herbs and box of wild flowers; third for white currants; extra for rhubarb and gooseberries.
Henry Butcher, second for lettuce and peas; third for strawberries, cherries and cauliflowers.

Source: Hampshire Telegraph & Sussex Chronicle 27 June 1863