124 



IRISH GARDENING 



in some of the gi'oui)s towards diii)licatiou, and 

 some weak vases were unnecessarily introduced 

 which considerably detracted from the merit of 

 the groux)s. Romneya Ooulteri was shown in 

 yrand condition by one exhibitor, and a very 

 l>retty vase of (iillenia trifoliata was much com- 

 mented on, and it was unfortunate that the flowers 

 were imnamed. The lirst i)rize winners in the 

 two classes in this section were Mrs. George 

 Mitchell, Ardlui. Blackrock, and W. C. Murphy, 

 Deepwell, Blackrock. 



A novel class introduced for the first time was 

 that for 24 vases of cut flowers of Al])ines grown 

 in the open without protection. The winning 

 group, exhibited by Mrs. Mitchell. Blackrock, was 

 of high merit, honestly representing the class of 

 ])lant scheduled. 



For a collection of flowering shrubs in six 

 distinct varieties Captain Lewis Riall, Old Conna 

 Hill, Bray, was awarded the premier prize, with 

 Mrs. Keith next. Exceptionally good were the 

 trusses of single and double Zonal Pelargoniums 

 shown by Alderman Bewley and Judge Bird. 



The exhibits in the frviit section were not quite 

 so numerous as usual, though the high quality was 

 well maintained: grapes especially were excellent, 

 some large and well shaped bunches being shown. 

 In the case both of black grapes and Muscat of 

 Alexandria it seemed rather a i)ity to have cut 

 sonxe of the fine bunches exhibited before they 

 were quite rii)e, when these bunches could, with 

 advantage, have been reserved for a later show. 

 The first prize stand of white grapes was shown 

 by Lady Emily Bury, with F. V. Westby a 

 good second ; for black grapes the same exhibitors 

 were in similar order of merit, with Sir James 

 Dougherty third. Melons, especially those shown 

 by Alderman Bewley, were very good ; currants 

 also good ; strawberries were sparingly exhibited ; 

 while the first prize dish of ]jeaches, shown by 

 Lady Emily Bury, were of splendid quality, as 

 indeed were most of the peaches shown. Alder- 

 man Bewley led with a dish of nectarines of 

 exceptional merit, and in tomatoes the first prize 

 went to Mrs. Mafifett. These last were well shown, 

 and it is satisfactory to note that quality rather 

 than mere size is being adojjted as the standard 

 by exhibitors. 



The vegetables shown were very good, and here 

 again it is satisfactory to .see exhibitors are 

 improving. The exhibits were clean and of 

 excellent quality, both in single dishes and in the 

 collections, the first prize in the large collection 

 being an admirable exhibit. We trust judges will 

 continue to encourage the standard of quality and 

 cleanliness. For the collection of vegetables, 

 nine distinct kind.s, Nathaniel Hone, St. Dolough's 

 Park, Raheny (Mr. Reid, gardener), led with a 

 meritorious collection ; R. Stephenson, Cranford, 

 Stillorgan Road (Mr. Buggie, gardener), being 

 awarded second prize. In the class for a collec- 

 tion of vegetables, six distinct kinds, Col. Claude 

 Cane, St. Wolstans, Celbridge (Mr. Horton, 

 gardener), was best. 



The trade tent was, as usual, well filled. 

 Messrs. Jameson & Sons, Sandymouut, had a 

 large group which occupied the whole centre and 

 ground space of the tent ; it was a very effective 

 and tasteful display, well worthy of the gold 

 medal awarded to it. There were fewer of heavy 



cumbersome and. to flower lovers, mcauiugles.s 

 designs; it would have b<!en better if there had 

 been none. Their Carnations were ])articularly 

 good. 



Mes.srs. Watson »S: Sous, Cloularf Nui-series. 

 Dublin, occu])ied one side of a tent with a stand 

 of Alpines and hardy flowers Hd feet in lengtli, for 

 which they were awarded a gold medal. There 

 were over 70 varieties oi sumiuei'-flowering 

 Alpines, chiefly grown in pans, including Cam- 

 panula garganica W. H. Paine, which received an 

 award of merit when shown the previous week in 

 London by Messrs. Watson. The major form of 

 Thymus Serpyllum coccineum was very distinct 

 and rich in colour, Mesembryanthemian falci- 

 forme was very bright. 



Amt)ng the hardy flowers Lavatera Olbia, the 

 handsome pink bush Mallow, drew attention, 

 also a noticeably good form of Scabiosa caucasica. 

 A selection of Messrs. Watson's real border 

 Carnations was also shown, and a group of the 

 dwarf })uik Polyantha Rose Orleans, which is a 

 very useful bedder. 



Holland House Show. 



June 30th to July 2nd, 1911. 



One of the most lasting impressions carried 

 away from this year's great Summer Show of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society was that of the heat. 

 No one was very comfortable with a temperature 

 of 90" in the shade on the second day, and, 

 although on the opening day the thermometer 

 stood somewhat lower, it was pitiable to see the 

 Roses, wliich wilted before the show was long 

 open to the ])ublic. This was peculiarly unfor- 

 tunate for the Irish exhibitors who brought such 

 fine blooms so far. 



Well over one hundred novelties were placed 

 before the Floral Committee, but less than a 

 tithe of these received recognition, and of the 

 latter two came from Ireland. Messrs. Bees 

 showed Hypericum leeve rubrum, which gained a 

 first class certificate. The flowers are liery orange, 

 and it was one of the most interesting novelties 

 in the show, but, coming from Asia Minor, will 

 need further testing as to hardiness. Messrs. 

 Alexander Dickson & Sons, Belfast, received an 

 award of merit for their new Sweet Pea, The 

 President, so named, presumably, from the fact 

 that their Mr. Hugh Dickson is Pi'esident of the 

 N. S. P. S. this year. The variety is especially 

 brilliant in colour — rich orange scarlet — and of 

 good size, much sujierior to Thomas Stevenson. 

 The other Irish novelty to receive the distinction 

 of an award of merit was Campanula garganica 

 W. H. Paine, shown by Messrs. Watson & Sons, 

 Clontarf Nurseries, Dublin. It is already known 

 to many growers of Al])ines in Ireland, and is a 

 very beautiful and extremely vigorous variety 

 with blue rays and a very shar))ly-defined large 

 white centre. It was photogra]ihed and rei)ro- 

 duced by the Ciardcners' Chroiiiclc and Gdrdciwrs'' 

 Magazine, the former describing the exhibit as 

 " a wonderful pan." 



Messrs. Alex. Dickson's Rose exhibit was com- 

 ])osed chiefly of their latest novelties, including 

 Red Letter Day, with its wonderful colour ; H. V. 

 Machin, a grand crimson H. T. ; Queen Mary, a 



