September 1, 1906 



HORTICULTURE 



231 



British Horticulture 



AX INTEKNATION \|, GATI I ICKINC. 



'J"he iiiti'rnational congn>> of hybridists recenlly ;ir- 

 riinjred in Loudon by the li'oyal Horticultural Society 

 was a decided success. At the opening conver-aziimc 

 there was an instructive array of exhibits, from the 

 animal world as well as horticultural subjects, in illus- 

 ti'atiou of the ^lendeliau law of hybrids and crosses. 

 The inaugural address of President W. Bateson, F. K. 

 S., dealt with the gratifying progress made in genetic 

 research since the first eonferencfi assembled in 1898 

 at Chiswiek. As a hopeful sign Mr. Bateson alluded 

 to the fact that in the United States the Carnegie In- 

 stitution has equipped a station for the experimental 

 study of evolution. He commented on the fact that in 

 England where, through Darwin's genius the stady of 

 evolution first became a reality, no such opportunity 

 exists. At the succeeding sessions, papers weri; read 

 from the pens of Professor Davenport. Washiiigton; 

 Prof. McFarland. Philadelphia; Dr. Erwin Smith, 

 Washington: Prof. C. A. Zavits, C. E. Saunder, H. H. 

 Groff, Canada; C. H. Kerslake, Sydney; C. Willis 

 Ward and John H. Troy, Xew York; Prof. X. e. 

 Hansen, South Dakota, and others. There was a good 

 display of flowers at the fortnightly show of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society on July 31st, when many 

 of the delegates were present. Some of the American 

 visitors were very much impressed with the admiralde 

 collection of tree carnations shown by English florists. 



SWEET PEA NOVELTIES. 



The late ilr. Henry Eckford was famed for the 

 leading part he had taken in the development of the 

 sweet pea. and his services in this direction were recog- 

 nized by a national testimonial made prior to his death. 

 The work of raising new- varieties is being continued 

 at Wem by his son, whom I recently visited. There 

 were about four acres devoted to seedlings, among 

 which were to be seen a number of promising varieties 

 destined to secure future honors in the leading shows. 

 There will be no lack of novelties for some time to 

 come. ^[r. Eckford considers that there are still great- 

 er develo])ments in store, and that there is no such 

 thing as finality in the remarkable evolution which is 

 taking place. It might even be possible, he thinks, to 

 secure, in course of time a good deep yellow sweet pea, 

 towards which many raisers have been striving for 

 years. From a close inspection of the trials I should 

 say it would be difficult to improve on the orchid form 

 which is so popular on lioth sides of the Atlantic, 

 whatever may be the changes in the tints. Some of 

 these are very difficult to describe, owing to the blend- 

 ings of new and delicate colors. It is surprising how 

 even experts differ in describing the colors of scnie of 

 these new-comers. 



As to the novelties to i)e placed on the market tiext 

 year, 5Ir. Eckford informed me that he has several 

 good things which are likely to become sought after. 

 For instance, there is the Queen of Spain, of tin tint 

 of Her Majesty rose. The blooms are of a clear text- 

 ure, and the flowers arc liorne on stout stems. Earl 

 Cromer is crimson lake in color, the back of the stand- 

 ard being overlaid with a pleasant rich chocolate tint, 

 the inside of the standard- and wings being shaded 

 with soft lilac. The graceful flowers are well expfiuded. 



Agnes Eckford is a great advance in pinks, being of a 

 lovely soft sliade. '{'he flowers arc of perfect form, and 

 imiiosmg size, usually borne three on a stem, the latter 

 being strong and of good length for decorativt pur- 

 l)oses. Horace Wright is an entirely new darK blue, 

 and it is of such brightness that for garden eflect it 

 will lie very telling, whilst for show purposes i- will 

 lie indispensable. The flowers are of the giant type, 

 whilst the plant is a strong and vigorous grower. It 

 is certaiidy an advance amongst the lilue section. JIaude 

 Guest, which was very much admired at the Nutional 

 Society's show, is of a beautifully waved form, and 

 pure white with the exception of "a delicate buff tint 

 towards the edges and the ajxix, after the Countess of 

 Spencer form — a type which is now in great vogue. 

 ■Mr. Kcktord is making his custonuiry excellent display 

 tliis month at the great show at Shrewsbury. 



>t)v. CiM^i^, 



New Roses at Newtonards 



As the result of three meuiorable davs spent at the 

 nurseries of Messrs. Alexander Dickson & Sons at 

 Xewtoniirds, County Down, Ireland, I do not hesitate to 

 express the firm conviction that the rose world is on the 

 threshold of a comi)lete revolution. The thorough and 

 scientific work done by that enterprising firm has borne 

 fruit in the thousands of new seedlings now growing in 

 their nurseries. 1 had the good fortune to see sixcy-five 

 unnamed varieties of hybrid tea in bloom, every one 

 of which is as fine and many much finer than any that 

 we know in America, while several from their" great 

 vigor and beautiful form and color give good promise 

 for \vinter forcing. One Red Killarney makes quite 

 as good canes and is (piite as fidl as American Beauty, is 

 much riclier in color and a wonderful keeper. Full- 

 blown flowers lasted two days in an e.xposed vase with- 

 out ])erceptibly changing color, and the wealth of 

 bloom on the plants was glorious. 



Sir Henry Irving is one of the most beautiful, a 

 warm cerise, very floriferous, and a great grower; one 

 of the most promising. 



Elizabeth Barnes, also a vigorous grower, is shaded 

 after the order of Sunset, but much darker, ven- full 

 and free bloomer. This rose constantly reminded me 

 of a beautiful Spanish woman from the rich color and 

 shading. 



There are also a number of fine yellows of good sub- 

 stance and color, one resembling Perle des Jardins. but 

 larger and fuller and very much better canes. Another 

 is a brilliant sulphur yellow, and yet another about the 

 color of William .\llen Richardson, but very much 

 larger and finer, with most beautiful foliage. 



It would tie impossible in a short sketch such as this 

 to give even a faint idea of the glories to be ?een at 

 Xewtonards. Should these rcses do even moderately 

 w-ell in the American climate our rose growers, both 

 anuiteur and professional, will revel in a jirofusion of 

 growth, fragrance and color that they had never 

 dreamed of. 



