Joly 12, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



29 



snocesB ? Does not the industry of the Rose merit prosperity ? 

 Nine-tenths of the readers of the Journal of Horticulture will 

 answer, " Yes ;" and I know, for I have the best means of know- 

 ing, that the Editors give a similar and emphatic answer. 



Rose shows have done much and are capable of doing more 

 in increasing the industry of our national flower. An unity of 

 effort and an organisation of strength are only required to 

 achieve success. The National Rose Society affords the oppor- 

 tunity of much good being done in widening a source of 

 pleasure and in increasing an important branch of trade. To 

 what extent and in what manner the position may be im- 

 proved depends on the support that is given to local societies 

 and to the national head. Certainly the central Society is 

 capable of giving a great impetus to Rose culture, and it ought 

 to be placed in a position to provide two shows a-year, and to 

 give at least two medals annually as prizes of honour to be 

 won by members of affiliated societies. The intrinsic value 

 might not be great, but the honour of winning the Society's 

 medal could hardly fail to be appreciated, and the more per- 

 feot and extensive cultivation of the national flower would be 

 thereby stimulated.— J. Weight. 



ASPASIA VARIEGATA. 

 THE^name of Aspasia is derived from Aspazomai, I em- 

 brace, the labellnm partly embracing the column of the flower. 



Kg. 12.— Aspasia variegata. 



It ia'a'native of the tropical part of South America. Dr. 

 Lindley received specimens of it for the first time from Mr. 

 Joseph Knight of the King's Road in February, 1836, and 

 subsequently from Mr. Bateman. The flowers are deliciously 

 sweet in the morning. 



^ Mr. B. S. Williams states in the last edition of the " Orchid- 

 Grower's Manual," that Aspasia lineata superba bloomed with 

 him last year, and he describes it as being very beautiful. 

 The AspaBias are dwarf -growing Orchids of easy culture. 



MOUTAN OR TREE P^EONY. 

 We are indebted to China for the Tree Pajony, from whence 

 it was introduced in 1789. There are now many varieties of 

 this commanding flower. Sometimes in the spring I have 



known the young growth and flower buds killed bj the frost, 

 and to ensure good flowers they should have protection or a 

 very sheltered situation. They have a grand effect against a 

 wall, where they are easily protected by mats or branches of 

 fir ; but to have them in perfection they should be grown 

 under glass. They may be either planted-out or kept in 

 pots. They are termed hardy shrubs, but they are well 

 adapted for indoor work, and with care and very gentle forciog 

 they are useful for conservatory and other decoration in early 

 spring. Among the best of these Pieonies are Pasonia rosea 

 semi-plena, P. Banksii, P. carnea plena, P. albida plena, 

 P. globosa, and P. atropurpurea. They thrive in good loam, 

 peat, leaf soil, and grit. They require thorough drainage 

 when in free growth with a good Bupply of water, and are all 

 the better for weak liquid manure water. After flowering they 

 should be plunged in ashes in a rather Bhaded place. They 

 are increased by cuttings under glass, but I find the best mode 

 of increasing them is by layering. They are great favourites 

 with us, and are worthy of more extensive cultivation. — A. N. 



THE WEST OF ENGLAND ROSE SHOW. 



HEEEFOBD, JULY 6th. 



The eleventh Exhibition of this popular and, comparatively 

 with otherB, venerable Rose Show, offering for open competition 

 nearly .£200, was held at the above date in the Shire Hall of the 

 ancient city of Hereford. The building, all exhibitors and 

 visitors will allow, is exceedingly well adapted for the purpose 

 both from the shape and size ot its hall, the airiness and con- 

 venience of its corridor, side rooms, and vestibule, supplemented 

 for the occasion by a tent for dressing, and last, but decidedly 

 not least, for the glorious flood of light it becomingly sheds down 

 upon the varied hues of the legion-named family of the queen 

 of flowers. More than once, I may add, has " Wyld Savage " 

 affectionately alluded to this effect in the columns of " our 

 Journal." 



The number of exhibitors was not np to the standard of last 

 year, when almost every available inch of space had to be 

 utilised; nevertheless, the Exhibition was generally allowed to 

 be of nnusual excellence. Many first-rate judges, indeed, who 

 were present expressed their admiration, and gave their opinion 

 that — whether for form, smoothness or size, colour or freshness 

 — tbey had never seen Roses surpassed, whether in the nursery- 

 men's or amateurB' division. Doubtless the late warm thunder- 

 storms had much to do in removing the charge of irregularity 

 and a certain coarseness under which blooms have as a rule to a 

 short time ago only too apparently laboured — a marked and un- 

 fortunately only too true characteristic of the season when late 

 frosts and cold nights have unpropitiously heralded-in the Bum- 

 mer, leaving ill-conditioned results in mildewed and abortive 

 buds, except in some exceptionally favoured districts ineradi- 

 cable and permanent. 



The moBt interesting feature of the Exhibition was the meet- 

 ing of Mr. Baker of Exeter, the hero of a hundred fights and 

 holder of countless cups, and the new favourite of Dame For- 

 tune, Mr. Jowitt of Hereford, the Rose-garlanded victor of 

 Wednesday's well-foughten field in St. James's Hall. Too much 

 praise cannot be awarded to Mr. Baker, who richly deserveB his 

 nom de plume of " Hercules " for his prowess in retrieving his 

 despoiled laurels against so powerful an adversary as Mr. Jowitt, 

 meeting him as he did at home quarters on his own vantage 

 ground, although it is only fair to add that stress of weather at 

 a critical period militated doubtless against that gentleman's 

 success, as Bafe-travelling his grand Roses is one of his many 

 strong points and secrets of success. 



In the open nurserymen's division, Class 1, seventy-two single 

 trusses, in which j£85 were offered for competition, and out of 

 which Herefordshire nurserymen were excluded, Mr. Cant of 

 Colchester, mirabile dictu, was the only competitor, but happily 

 that Rose giant was a host in himself — equal to the occasion and 

 worthy of nis high reputation. Mr. Cant's exhibit, which was a 

 feast of Roses indeed, contained marvellous blooms, among 

 others almost equally good, of Horace Vernet ; Reynolds Hole, 

 not up to the mark generally (unlike its worthy prototype) thiB 

 season; Triomphe de France, a large flat Rose, which, although 

 strangely the premier seedling in its native country, has 

 already outlived its early fame, though as a charmingly sweet 

 and free-floweriDg variety it will be useful in the garden ; Hippo- 

 lyte Jamain ; Tea Madame Hippolyte Jamain, a Robo not to be 

 confounded with the good light Hybrid Perpetual of the same 

 name, and like it seemingly a promising variety ; Louise de Pey- 

 ronny, Mrs. Baker, very charming indeed, and well deserving 

 " Wyld Savage's " encomiums. 



In the open class, seventy-two distinct varieties ; first prize 

 Messrs. Cranston & Co. Tnis was a very grand exhibit, and 

 very hard it is to particularise. Attention may be called to 

 Elie Morel; Francois Michelon, finely exhibited everywhere this 

 season; Duke of Edinburgh; Sir Garnet Wolseley, a new Rose 



