IRISH GARDENING. 



Roses. 



By O'DONEL BROWNE, M.D. 



THE National Rose Society held its annual metro- 

 politan show in Reg'ent's Park, London, on July 

 3rd, and to us in Ireland it will be a memorable 

 one for many years to come. At the commencement of 

 June it was a very doubtful point if anyone from Ireland 

 would be able to give a g'ood account of himself. How- 

 ever, Nature turned on heat at such a pace that by the 

 second or third week it was a question here, at any 

 rate, if blooms would ever last. Those that came were 

 rushed, and had not time enous^h to swell, and all the 

 dark reds — and they were precious few — were burnt at 

 the petals' edges. However, on ihe evening of July the 

 2nd six of us met, all bent on winning. Before we had 

 got on the mail-boat one of us had his hopes shattered, 

 as those careful porters at Kingstown Pier had turned 

 one competitor's boxes all upside down ; and, of course, 

 they were mine ! Such a mess in five seconds ! I 

 sincerely hope those men may be rewarded by their 

 officials ! With a kindness I can never forget — and who 

 can show kindness like a brother rosarian? — my fellow- 

 travellers did their best to put matters right ; but I felt 

 I was done for, and so it proved to be. Out of over 

 sixty-five blooms I could only stage twelve decent 

 flowers next day. 



Turning now to the show, cne heard on every side 

 complaints of drought and excessive heat. In the 

 championship class our firm of rose-growers from 

 Newtownards should have been first — by everyone I 

 met I was told so — still they only were fourth. In 

 the largest class (forty trebles), however, they were 

 second, whilst in the twelve vases (seven blooms 

 to a vase) they were away first, and the rest of the 

 competitors were placed, as racing men say, amongst 

 the "also ran." For twelve new roses the same firm 

 (Messrs. Alex. Dickson) got an easy first for their 

 twelve " William Shean," and in this box was found the 

 best hybrid Tea in the show (silver medal). It was a 

 treat to see the raiser showing his own seedling so 

 well ! Messrs. Hugh Dickson, of Belfast, did well in 

 their several classes — I think they deserved more- -but 

 it cannot be helped. But what pleased me most of all 

 was to see my friend Dr. Campbell Hall on the war- 

 path. I thought I would be competing against him — 

 but, oh ! dear no — he had better ideas in his head than 

 ordinary showing. He was going for the gold medal — 

 the highest trophy a rosarian can win —for a brand new 

 seedling rose raised and cared for by his own brains 

 and hands, and he got it. It was a triumph we were 

 all delighted at. I do not think that throughout all the 

 show there was a more popular win. Last 3'ear he had 

 bad luck in not hitting the day, but he did not miss this 

 year. " Mrs. Campbell Hall," for so the worthy doctor 

 calls this new rose, is a pure Tea rose— a very large, 

 stately-shaped flower ; colour, a rich cream suffused 

 with copper and peach. The edges of the petals in the 

 half-expanded flower reflex in a charming manner, 

 making the bloom most beautiful when looked into. 

 When he intends sending it out I know not, but when 

 Messrs. Dickson themselves state that it is the finest 

 Tea rose ever grown you can imagine what you are 

 to get in the future. He has many more seedlings 

 coming. 



In the decorative section I considered Messrs. 

 Hobbies stand of 100 square feet glorious. Nothing 

 but weeping standards reaching up to the top of the 

 tent and showers of roses such as Dorothy Perkins 

 coming down to your feet. Messrs. Paul & Sons were 

 second, having in their stand some lovely new seed- 

 lings — one a distinct new break of rose called " Amber," 

 a result of crossing the Wichuriana section with, 

 I think, a Tea. They purpose calling this class a 

 "Wichytea." It was a tiny single rose — the un- 

 opened bud a deep rose, the expanded flower pale. 



yellowish pink. The ladies' classes for baskets, sprays, 

 &c., were beautifully done, and the dinner tables were 

 all mostly decorated with single roses, the first prize 

 being done with " Irish Elegance." Dry-weather roses, 

 such as Bessie Brown, William Shean, Mildred Grant, 

 Dean Hole, where shown at their best — the weather 

 was much against dark-red flowers. The only unfortu- 

 nate part of the show was the heat ; one had to be there 

 to see how the roses were fleeting, and by five o'clock 

 every bloom was a mass of wilting petals. The bench 

 for new roses, not yet on the market, was entirely 

 filled by our Irish nurserymen. Messrs. M'Gredy, of 

 Portadown, showed four new varieties, winning a card 

 of commendation. Messrs. Hugh Dickson, of Belfast, 

 had three varieties — they also got a card of commenda- 

 tion. Both of these firms will give a better account 

 of themselves before long. Messrs. Alex. Dickson, of 

 Newtownards, got a gold medal for " Meta." (Should 

 be Meta Weldon.) They also showed four other varieties. 

 It was too late when I reached this class to make notes 

 for a criticism. I was sorry they did not show their 

 seedling called after me, but they have time enough. 

 It would have gone a long way to pacify me. But, 



oh ! those Kingstown porters, I shall remember 



them next year ! 



Dr. J. Campbell Hall. 



Dr. J. Campbell Hall has for many years been our 

 champion rose grower. In his two little gardens at 

 Rowantree, Monaghan, a visitor can wander among his 

 beloved flowers, and see there the rose in all its beauty. 

 The worthy doctor does practically all the work himself, 

 not to mention the huge amount of additional work he 

 has imposed upon himself now that he has been bitten 

 with the fever of hybridizing. When I visited him I 

 found a great portion of his vegetable garden eaten up 

 with seedling roses. This was two years ago, and I often 

 wonder how much more has been sacrificed since. This 

 year must ever be his best, as, at last, he has gained 

 that coveted gold medal for his new Tea rose — "Mrs. 

 Campbell Hall." To show against him I always feel I 

 am fighting a stern foe — for he will not spare you — but, 

 winner or loser, he is always the same — kindly, genial, 

 and good natured. Ow behalf of Irish Gardening I 

 congratulate him most sincerely on his winning the gold. 

 It only shows what I have pointed out before in this 

 paper — that the love for roses can be enjoyed by a busy 

 man. As he himself once remarked to me, " No matter 

 how tired I am, if I can only get five minutes at my roses 

 I am fresh again." Mav he ever remain fresh ! 



O'D. B. 



^5* c^^ ^5^ 



The Clare Horticultural Society. — The exhibi- 

 tion of this society, announced for August 19th, has been 

 postponed to August the 26th. This society seems to 

 be doing very good work in the west. According to 

 the annual report of 1907 there were in all 350 exhibits 

 at the last show, being 104 over the number of the pre- 

 vious year. There is one particularly interesting com- 

 petition arranged by this society for children attending 

 the national schools. Seeds are distributed (we presume 

 as gifts) and prizes awarded for the best plants grown 

 from these seeds. Last year 400 children entered for 

 the competition. We commend this idea to other 

 societies as a simple, inexpensive, and effective method 

 of inculcating a love for gardening among the younger 

 generation. To induce 400 children to at least try to 

 successfully grow a few plants from seedling to flowering 

 stage is work well worth the doing, and, if these com- 

 petitions are continued, they cannot fail to create in time 

 a considerable influence upon the extent and character 

 of cottage gardening throughout the county. Mr. H. 

 Bill, Liff'ord, Ennis, is the hon. secretary. 



