316 



HORTICULTURE 



March 17, 1906 



obtained the gold medal of the National Rose Society 

 (the highest possible award) at the autumn exhibition 

 in 1904. 



On the same occasion the gold medal was awarded to 

 a new rose called Irish Harmony. This is a lovely 

 single rose, a creamy white flower; the foliage is bronze- 

 colored and associates with the large creamy-white 

 flowers very effectively. Shown by Alex. Dickson and 

 Sons, Ltd., Newtownards, Ireland. 



Hugh Dickson is another grand new rose, a Hybrid 

 Perpetual; it has also obtained the gold medal of the 

 National Rose Society. Sent out by Hugh Dickson, 

 Belfast. It is a flower of large size and exquisite form, 

 of deep crimson, scarlet-coloring. It also has the merit 

 of being delightfully fragrant; one cannot unfortun- 

 ately say this of all the new roses. In July, 1905, only 

 two new roses obtained highest honors and both were 

 shown by Alex. Dickson and Sons, Newtownards, Ire- 

 land. One of them was Betty, a large tea rose of some- 

 what loose form, very vigorous, blush tinged with buff- 

 color in the centre and with rose outside. It is fragrant, 

 and on account of its bold appearance and soft coloring 

 will doubtless soon become a favorite. The other gold 

 medal rose is Mrs. Myles-Kennedy, a large and attrac- 

 tive flower (Hybrid Tea) of good form, of pale blush 

 coloring tinged with a deeper shade in the centre. This 

 rose is also sweetly scented. On this occasion an award 

 of merit was given to a new rambler rose called Mrs. F. 

 W. Flight, exhibited by Cutbush & Son, Highgate, Lon- 

 don. The flowers which are so freely produced as to 

 be closely packed on the shoots, are very bright rose, 

 fading to light pink with age. 



Three new roses received recognition at the autumn 

 show of the National Rose Society in September last. 

 Two received the gold medal, namely, Irish Elegance 

 and Countess of Gosford. 



Irish Elegance is a very beautiful single rose; the 

 large flowers are soft salmon pink and the buds and 

 flowers are richly tinted with red and apricot. This 

 lovely garden rose was shown by Alex. Dickson & Sons. 



Countess of Gosford is a handsome seedling Hybrid 

 Tea rose, of good form, the petals being elegantly waved. 



The color is deep salmon pink. Shown by S. Mc- 

 Greedy & Son, Portadown, Ireland. A card of com- 

 mendation, an award inferior to the gold medal was 

 given to rose Dorothy Page Roberts. This is a beautiful 

 Hybrid Tea. a large flower with reflexing petals; color 

 rich rose pink, which fades to a lighter shade as the 

 blooms age. Alex. Dickson and Sons. 



Among new rambler roses the favorite was the new 

 Lady Gay, so finely shown, growing in pots by William 

 Paul & Son at the Temple Show. The large free pillar 

 plants were masses of the lovely rich pink flowers and 

 attracted much attention. It will no doubt soon become 

 a feature of English gardens, for with the pergola now 

 commonly seen in many gardens, rambling and climb- 

 ing roses have become very popular. 



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British Horticulture 



NOTED ROSARIANS. 



Among the leading exhibitors of roses the names of 

 Messrs. G. and W. H. Burch occupy a prominent posi- 

 tion. Their list of awards totals 896, including several 

 medals from the National Rose Society. At their nur- 

 sery at Peterborough they have 16 houses devoted to 

 rose culture. The great majority are grown in pots, 

 including 10,000 Niphetos. Questioned as to the 

 methods of culture adopted, the head of the firm re- 

 cently stated: "Our chief aim is to produce a good, 

 bold flower instead of a flimsy, flabby one, and we 

 rather pride ourselves that our roses are easy to distin- 

 guish by the stiff petals. One reason for that is that 

 they are not driven, but only moderately forced. The 

 importance of moderate forcing cannot well be exag- 

 gerated. For instance, by keeping our roses at a mod- 

 erate temperature only they last in bloom for six months 

 instead of for two or three." The cutting of bloom 

 commences in earnest in January, and when this is in 

 full swing from 6000 to 7000 are cut in a week. 

 Among the newer varieties being cultivated are Lady 

 Gay, Hiawatha. Wedding Bells. Debutante, Minnehaha, 

 Sweetheart, Carissima, J. S. Fay and J. B. Clark, the 

 last named being a companion rose to the popular Frau 

 Karl Druschki. 



THE OUTDOOR SECTION. 



Many acres are devoted to the standards, dwarfs and 

 climbers. Thousands of standards are cultivated from 

 which the best exhibition blooms are obtained, a great 

 point being made in keeping the stems perfectly clean. 

 There is a large stock of dormant buds, the great ma- 

 jority of which are on the seedling brier. Mr. Burch 

 is a strong advocate of this method, because of the last- 

 ing quality of the flower produced and the longer life 

 of the tree. The wood is much harder than that of 

 roses grown on other stocks, whilst they more effectively 

 resist the frost. Asked as to the changes in the system 

 of modern planting, Mr. Burch replied: "This has 

 changed very much even during the last ten years. For 

 example, in the formation of roseries, the modern cus- 

 tom is to plant beds of individual varieties. We have 

 just supplied a very fine rosery of 18 beds, each con- 

 taining 24 trees of one variety. This not only gives a 

 very pleasing effect, but it is also exceedingly useful in 

 these days of economizing time for (aide decorations, 

 where only one color is used. The idea may be carried 

 out in various designs, with arches and pergolas intro- 

 duced to break up the monotony. A recent novel de- 

 sign in a garden not far from here is a centre bed of 

 Caroline Testout to represent a table, and 13 beds of 

 various colors to represent 13 chairs." 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET EXTENSIONS. 



The steady increase in the flower trade has necessi- 

 tated another extension to Covent Garden Market. 

 Sometime ago a new block of buildings was added to 

 accommodate the foreign section. Now the home trade 

 is to receive additional space. A substantial new build- 

 ing is now in course of erection on the site previously 

 occupied by some ancient property. This will be about 

 75 feel by 95 feet, and will give additional space for 90 

 stands. There are many of the existing tenants who 

 are desirous of obtaining more room, whilst it will also 

 be possible to admit several florists who have hitherto 

 been left out in the eold owing to the want of space. 



