420 



JOUENAL OP HOBTIGULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jano 7, 1877. 



being seen. For an open place on a snnny rockery few plants 

 are more distinct and effective than this is, and for forming 

 marginal lines at the front of borders and round flower beds 

 not many plants can produce a better effect during the sum- 

 mer months. It is true the plants do not continue flowering 

 " until frost," yet their beauty is by no njcans transient, for, 

 like white flowers generally, they resist the tffects of a burning 

 BUn, and are as fresh under its inflnenceB as Daisies are in 

 spring. Where other than " bedding plants " are cherished, 

 and when flowers are appreciated in early summer as well as 

 in late autumn, then I urge the cultivation of this lovely Cam- 

 panula. Perhaps those having a email plant or see a few 

 straggling flowers open for the first time may be a little disap- 

 pointed ; but let it alone and permit it to spread, and then its 

 thousands of bells will compel admiration. It never rambles 

 nor becomes unsightly, and is one of the most manageable of 

 hardy alpine plants. It is increased by division, and flourishes 

 in any ordinary garden soil. The chief attention required 

 for preserving it in a healthy state is to prevent its becoming 

 overgrown by larger and more luxuriant plants. Afford it 

 pure air and sunshine, and it will reward with thousands of 

 lovely flowers. — Ajiateuk. 



EXHIBITING FLOBISTS' FLOWEES. 



I CAN tell " D., Deal," of two fine collections of the Eaunn- 

 culus which I saw quite recently, and where he can also enjoy 

 them. One collection is in the garden of Samuel Barlow, Esq., 

 Stakehill, Chadderton ; and the other in the vicarage garden, 

 Kirkby Malzeard, Kipon. No doubt other florists prow collec- 

 tions if we were to visit their gardens ; but, as " D., Deal," 

 Bays, though a pretty flower its bloom is soon over, and it is 

 troublesome to keep the sorts separate. In the north they do 

 not try to do this, but simply plant them out in mixture, the 

 different sorts being well known when in bloom. One reason 

 of this flower not being grown is that collections are not known 

 or seen by the public. Why does not " D., Deal," bring up 

 a etand to some of the meetings at Kensington and show them 

 to those who would appreciate them ? It is in that way that 

 florists' flowers are becoming so popular in the north. The 

 public rally round such men as the Eev. F. D. Horner, Mr. 

 Barlow, and others, who, instead of mourning about the decline 

 of florists' flowers and looking for something to turn up, work 

 away silently and steadily. What is the result ? There is at 

 Manchester an Auricula show, a Tulip, and also a Carnation 

 and Picotee show, held annually, well supported, and firmly 

 established. 



I assure " D., Deal," that he is not correct in his estimates 

 of the extent of taste for florists' flowers. Why, not more 

 than six weeks or so ago he was writing of the decline of stage 

 Pelargoniums. Where is the decline ? They are in every 

 schedule one takes up if the show is held at the right time. 

 Veitch, Turner, Fraser have houses filled with them ; and 

 when one aeks, " What do yoii grow so many for ?" the reply 

 is, " We never have enough to supply our customers." They 

 are in almost every window, and every garden, and every 

 greenhouse. 



I fancy " D., Deal," never dressed a Carnation or Picotee, 

 and the " eminent florist " must have not spoken advisedly. 

 Certainly neither of them understand dressing the flowers in 

 the sense that florists dress them. What harm can there be 

 in taking a bad petal out of a Carnation, especially if it had 

 forty-seven '.' A quarter of a hundred removed would improve 

 the flower, but no one would take out any but badly shaped 

 and badly marked petals. Such ought to be removed just as 

 they are removed from any flower of a similar character, such 

 as Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, Ac., which removal is and has 

 always been done. I consider that to flatten a Pansy and to 

 show the bells of a Hyacinth, if I understand what " 'D.,Deal," 

 means, is the very same as dressing a Carnation; but certainly 

 I do not think, as he does, that highly stimulating a Celery 

 trench is a practice like dressing a Carnation — that is, picking 

 a self petal out. Is it right to cut a pip from a Hyacinth and 

 wrong to pluck a self petal from a Carnation ? 



He tells us he is conscious of only one motive, " the advance- 

 ment of florists' flowers." Then, I say, although his motive 

 is good the means used are bad and would result (but for the 

 pluck of others who love and value flowers as ardently as " D., 

 Deal," does) in bringing about the catastrophe he dreaded. 



George Glenny had his own ideas about florists' flowers, but 

 the comparison between him and " D., Deal," is not a happy 

 one. Every grower would like flowers that do not require to be 



dressed ; some have reached that standard, and still there's 

 more to follow. 



One question, Did " D., Deal," ever hear of a grower taking 

 days to dress a stand of twenty-four blooms ? I never 

 did. What does Mr. Ben. Simonite say to this, and ,Mr. 

 R. Rudd, and Mr. Bower, who can dress such a stand in a few 

 hours ? — J. Douglas. 



BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY'S 

 SHOW. 



The centenary celebration of the foundation of the Bath and 

 West of England Agricultural Society's Show is now being 

 held at Bath in one of those commanding positions overlook- 

 ing that beautiful city, and from which some of the most lovely 

 landscape scenery of the picturesque neighbourhood may be 

 seen to the greatest advantage. The portion of it which most 

 concerns us is the hnrtieultoral tent, which is again under the 

 stewardship of the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen. This de- 

 partment is always arranged with that taste for which Mr. 

 Bnscawen is so well known ; but on this occasion he seems to 

 have excelled, for every specimen — and they are mostly all 

 specimen plants — is so placed as to exhibit it in all its beauty 

 and with an eye to harmony of colouring, which makes the group- 

 ing extremely attractive. There is no competition, and con- 

 sequently there are no prizes at this Exhibition ; but the contri- 

 butors do not go unrewarded, for Mr. Boscawen has a fund at his 

 command which enables him to compensate in some measure 

 the exhibitors for the efforts they make, and according to the 

 merit and value of tbeir exhibitions. First among the number 

 of those is Mr. Pilgrim of Choltenham, who has contributed a 

 large number of his finest specimens. Among them we specially 

 remarked a very fine one of Phormium tenax variegatum, which 

 from its decided and bright variegation and long gracefully 

 drooping leaves is a better plant for a group than the more rigid- 

 growing P. Veifohii. There are also very handsome plants of 

 Croton longifolinm variegatum, Thriuax elegans, Cordylinc 

 anstralis in flower, a splendid specimen of Acrophyllnm venosum, 

 and a fine pot of Anlhnrium Scherzerianura, the flower of which 

 had in many instances a double spathe. Among the other con- 

 tributors were Sir William Miles, Sir William Marriott, W. E. 

 Brymer, Esq., W. H. Gore-Langton, Esq., H. W. Tugwell, Esq., 

 Handel Cosham, Eeq., Col. Taylor, Mr. W. C. Drummond, &c. 



The competition for Tea and Noisette Roses was not so great 

 as was expected, for the time being between the seasons very 

 few growers could enter, their plants being out of bloom; but 

 we are informed on going to press that Mr. Charles Turner of 

 Slough was successful in carrying oS the nurserymen's cup, and 

 Mr. Chard, gardener to Sir F. Bathurst of Clarendon Park, 

 Salisbury, that of the amateurs. 



BOSES. 



I WAS a little surprised to see Mr. Jessop's remark as to 

 unamiable criticisms of anonymous writers with regard to 

 the Rose election of 1876. I presume, as I was the first to 

 criticise the lists and results, that I am the person to whom 

 your correspondent alludes. As to the criticisms being un- 

 amiable, it is the first time that I have ever heard anything 

 I have written called by that name, and I do not think that 

 even Mr. Hinton will consider that they were so, but if he 

 does I cannot but offer him my apologies. 



As to the charge of writing anonymously, I thought every- 

 one knew who your " Wtld Savage " was, but as apparently 

 Mr. Jessop does not, I had better sign my name in future. 

 The reason I adopted that pseudonym was because so many 

 people wrote to me privately, and the Editors request that no 

 one should do that to any of their correspondents, and, indeed, 

 it was partly in deference to their wish that I ceased to sign 

 my name. 



Roses aro exceedingly backward, nor is this to be wondered 

 at considering the season. I for one shall be unable to show 

 Teas at Bath next week, and I cannot help thinking that most 

 of those who do exhibit will cut almost entirely from plants 

 grown under glass. I am indeed glad to hear from " D., 

 Deal," whose letters on all subjects I for one take great in- 

 terest in reading, that our National Rose Society is doing so 

 well. My information was derived indirectly from his brother 

 Secretary. " D., Deal," says that the principal thing we shall 

 have to contend against at St. James's Hall is want of space. 

 I am afraid if this kind of weather is going to last that there 

 will be another, and that is want of light. I was at one of 

 Halle's pianoforte recitals on the Ist inst., and the room was in 

 semi-darkness under the galleries, and the light in the centre 

 of the room was far from being good. I know of no better ball 



