Our most important fête day was that upon which the Badsey, Aldington,
and Wickhamford Flower Show was held. The credit, for the original
inception and organization of this popular festival, is almost
entirely due, I think, to the public spirit and determination of my
old friend and co-churchwarden, Mr. Julius Sladden, of Badsey, and it
gives me much pleasure to record the debt of gratitude which the three
villages still owe him.

The Show is held as nearly as possible on the day of the ancient
Badsey wake, in most parishes still celebrated on the day of the
patron saint. In the case of Badsey the anniversary of the wake is the
25th of July (St. James's day). As a wake Badsey's observance is a
thing of the past; it was formerly a time of much cider-drinking, a
meeting-day for friends and relations, and for various trials of
strength and skill, though I believe the carousals outlasted the
sports by many years.

Nothing happier, in the way of a revival, and more civilized
enjoyment, could have been devised than a flower show, and it is now
one of the most popular fixtures of the neighbourhood with exceedingly
keen competition. Besides fruit, flowers, and vegetables, the exhibits
include such produce as butter and eggs, and my wife was very
successful with these, but on one occasion was rather disappointed to
find a beautiful dish of Langshan eggs, almost preternaturally brown
and rich-looking, disqualified. The judges were not acquainted with
the peculiarities of the breed--then a new one--and the reason for
disqualification, as we afterwards discovered, was "artificially
coloured." I believe exhibitors have been known to use coffee for this
purpose, and the judges, who had not the exhibitors' names before
them, fancied this to be an instance.