52 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GA.RDENER. 



t July 19, 1877. 



pure, smooth, sweet, and altogether good, and for which a first- 

 class certificate was awarded. Mr. Noble exhibited his new 

 Rose Queen of Bedders, one truss of which was composed of 

 twenty bnds. 



Mr. J. Croucher, gardener to J. Peacock, Esq., Sudbury House, 

 Hammersmith, exhibited Echinocactus grandicornis, globular- 

 shaped and about 8 inches in diameter, boldly ribbed and covered 

 with extraordinary hooked spines 4 inches in length. A first- 

 class certificate was awarded ; and Messrs. Croucher & Boiler, 

 73, South Row, Kensal New Town, staged several examples of the 

 Old Man Cactus (Piloceris senilis), and received a vote of thanks. 



Mr. Parker, Tooting, received a first-class certificate for La- 

 thyrus latifolius splendens, a fine hardy perennial Pea with 

 purplish-crimson flowers. Mr. Parker also exhibited blooms of 

 the York and Lancaster Rose, and some Liliums. Mr. John 

 Reeves, nurseryman, Acton, exhibited a collection of Balsams 

 of an excellent strain. The plants were extremely sturdy and 

 well flowered, and the flowers were large, perfectly double, and 

 in distinct colours. The strain was highly commended, and a 

 vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. James Puttick, florist, Acton, 

 staged about a hundred "market plants " — well-grown examples 

 of Lycopodiums, Fuchsias, Kalosanthes, and other plants in 

 season, and received a similar award. The thanks of the Com- 

 mittee were also awarded to Mr. Cannell for collections of cut 

 flowers of fine varieties of double and single Geraniums ; also a 

 plant of a variety correctly named Half-and-Half, half ef the 

 pips being rosy crimson and the other pale salmon ; also for a 

 Geranium half Zonal and half Ivy-leaf, and for cut blooms of 

 Mimuluses and Sweet Williams. A similar mark of recognition 

 was made to Messrs. Downie & Laird, Edinburgh, for a col- 

 lection of Pansies. 



NATIONAL CARNATION and PICOTEE SOCIETY'S 

 SOUTHERN SHOW. 



KOYAL AQUAEITJM, JULY 18th. 



A well-aekanged schedule, numerous and liberal prizes, a 

 tolerably fortunate date for holding the Show, a place where it 

 could be seen to advantage, also a fine day, combined to render 

 this field day of southern florists, or rather of florists in the 

 south, a successful one. Possibly if the season had not been 

 so late more blooms would have been staged, but they could 

 Bcarcely have been finer. The finest flowers in the Show — 

 those from Mr. Douglas and Mr. Turner — had been advanced 

 under glass. Splendid blooms were staged by both those 

 growers, and it is no small honour to Mr. Douglas that he was 

 placed equal first with Mr. Turner in the class for twenty-four 

 Carnations, while he fairly beat the great Slough champion in 

 the corresponding class for Picotees. 



The claims of florists' flowers to special patronage are great ; 

 their intrinsic beauty will always command admirers and able 

 and ardent cultivators ; but for some time past flowers for 

 massing — flowers of brilliant hues, of rapid increase, easy cul- 

 ture, and quick display have been fashionable, while those of 

 slower growth and requiring closer attention and greater skill 

 to bring them to perfection, have suffered a certain and too great 

 an amount of neglect. Roses it is true have not been neglected, 

 but much of their popularity — that is, the popularity of blooms 

 of high quality, is due to the special efforts which have been 

 made by the specialists, now known as rosarians. The Carna- 

 tion, next to the Rose, ought to be the most popular of English 

 garden flowers. It possesses the same attractive qualities as 

 the Rose, while it is even more lasting in its beauty than the 

 queen of flowers, as will be doubtless proved by the condition 

 of the blooms during the second day of this real English Show 

 of real British flowers. It is gratifying, therefore, that a few 

 friends of the Carnation are still left in the south, and none 

 having a real love for the flowers which they cherish can do 

 otherwise than rejoice to find success attending what must be a 

 work of considerable labour— pleasant labour, nor cease to hope 

 that the efforts now made will give a stimulus to other culti- 

 vators, and result in adding new recruits to the florists' ranks, 

 and to a Society whose object is so laudable as the Society 

 which is in session to-day. 



For once the Carnation has priority over the Rose — the 

 Roses exhibited btiag a supplementary branch, and not an in- 

 appropriate one — a powerful ally, but only an ally, of a show of 

 the Carnation. It was an opportunity for Roses being brought 

 to Westminster, where surely they must be welcome — for one day 

 at leaBt ; and for the sake of that one day of enjoyment to many, 

 the few who can only view a faded or imperfect Rose with 

 feelings of pain, must endure whatever share of disappointment 

 falls to the lot of those who are " martyrs to circumstances." 



But we must refer to the Show. We pronounce it without 

 any reservation good — such a show of these hardy garden 

 flowers that has certainly not been seen in Westminster before, 

 if anywhere else; and the promoters of both sections of the 

 Show — Mr. Dodwell of the Carnation department as the zealous 

 Hon. Sec. of the National Society, and Mr. Bennett of the Rose 

 department, the Aquarium Company's Floral Manager — are to 

 be congratulated on the arrangements and results. 



The boxes were arranged on two tables, and the plants in pots 

 from Mr. Turner and Mr. Douglas added greatly to the effect of 

 the Show. They were in 7-inch pots, each plant carrying six to 

 twelve exhibition blooms. 



CAENATIONS AND PICOTEES. 



Carnations. — Four classes were provided, and forty-four 

 prizes. 



Class A, twenty-four blooms in not less than twelve varieties, 

 brought out five competitors. The prizes were 70s., 50s., 30s., and 

 20s., and the winners of them were — first, Mr. Turner, Slough, 

 and Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, 

 equal; second, Mr. E. S. Dodwell; third, Mr. T. S.Ware, Totten- 

 ham; fourth, Mr. Hooper, Bath. Mr. Turner staged Sybil 

 (Holmes), Eccentric Jack (Wood), James Douglas (Simonite), 

 Mary Ann (Fletcher), Ajax (Hextall), Duke of Edinburgh (Aber- 

 crombie), Merrimac (Woods), John Bailey (Dodwell), John Keet 

 (Whitehead), Florence Nightingale (Sealey), Sportsman (Hed- 

 derly), Flora's Garland (Holmes)^ Mr. Hextall (Simonite), Squire 

 Trow (Jackson), Annihilator (Jackson), and Admiral Curzon 

 (Easom). Mr. Douglas had James Douglas, Admiral Curzon, 

 Lovely Ann, J. D. Hextall, Rose of Stapleford, Mr. Battersby, 

 Samuel Newman, Rifleman, Premier, Dreadnought, Falcon- 

 bridge, True Briton, John Keet, Earl of Stamford, Mars, Sarah 

 Payne, John Bailey, Juno, James Taylor, Lord Raglan, The 

 Clipper, and Marshal Ney. 



In Class B, for twelve bloom?, the six prizes offered were 

 awarded as follows : — First, Mr. Douglas ; Becond, Mr. Dodwell ; 

 third, Mr. John Hines, Ipswich; fourth, Mr. S. Bertram, Wood- 

 bridge; fifth, Mr. J. Buxton, 32, Wandsworth Road, London; 

 sixth, Mr. Catley, Bath. Mr. Douglas Btaged grand blooms of 

 John Keet, Marshal Ney, Admiral Curzon, James Douglas, 

 True Briton, J. D. Hextall, The Clipper, Rifleman, Sportsman, 

 Mary Ann, Satisfaction, and Premier. Mr. Dodwell's blooms 

 were rather smaller, but most of them were highly finished, 

 especially James Merryweather, Troe Briton, John Keet, Sports- 

 msD, and Mrs. Dodwell, rose flake, very beautiful. 



In Class C for six blooms there were four competitors, the 

 awards being made in the following order : — First Mr. A. Med- 

 hurst, 32, Priory Road, Wandsworth Road; second Mr. Ellis, 

 Wandsworth Road ; third Dr. Abercrombie, Cheltenham. The 

 first-prize collection consisted of James Douglas, John Bailey, 

 Admiral Curzon, Mars, John Keet, J. D. Hextall. 



Class D, single specimens. In Scarlet Bizarres Mr. Douglas 

 was first, second, and fifth with Admiral Curzon, and third with 

 Companion ; and Mr. Hines was fourth with Lord Rancliffe. 

 Crimson Bizarres. — Mr. Turner was first with Unexpected, and 

 second with Mr. Hextall; Mr. Douglas being third, fourth, 

 and fifth with Marshal Ney, John Hextall, and Graceless Tom 

 respectively. Pink and Purple Bizarres. — Mr. Turner was 

 placed first, second, and fourth with James Taylor, and third 

 and fifth with Sarah Payne. Purple Flake. — Mr. Turner was 

 first with True Blue, second and fourth with James Douglas ; 

 Mr. Hines third with Mayor of Nottingham, and Mr. Turner 

 fifth with Ascendant. Scarlet Flake. — Mr. Turner was first 

 with Sportsman and fourth and fifth with Annihilator, and 

 Mr. Douglas was second and third with Sportsman. Bose 

 Flake. — Mr. Turner was first and third with Sybil, Mr. Hine 

 was second with the same variety, and Mr. Turner was fourth 

 with Mary Ann and fifth with John Keet. 



Premier Carnation selected from the whole Exhibition. — This 

 proud honour was won by Mr. C. Turner with Sybil. 



Picotees. — The number of prizes and the amounts offered 

 were the same as in the Carnation classeB. 



Class E, for twenty-four blooms, brought out five competitors, 

 and the prizes were awarded as follows : — first Mr. Douglas, 

 second Mr. C. Turner, third Mr. Dodwell, and fourth Mr. Ware. 



Mr. Douglas's collection contained splendid blooms of Mr. 

 Price, Obadiah, Mrs. Bower, Mrs. Allcroft, Mary, John Smith, 

 Edith Dombrain, Prima Donna, Princess of Wales, Ann Lord, 

 Miss Small, Mrs. May, Mrs. Little, Lord Valentia, Ethel, Gany- 

 mede, Picco, Juliana. 



In Class F, twelve blooms, there were seven competitors, with 

 the following result : — Mr. Douglas was first again with grand 

 blooms; second Mr. Dodwell; third Mr. Buxton; fourth Mr. 

 Bertram, Woodbridge; fifth Dr. Abercrombie ; sixth Mr. Hines. 



In Class G, for six blooms, the following exhibitors were suc- 

 cessful : — First Mr. Medhnrst; second Mr. Ellis; third Mr. 

 Gibson, gardener to T. F. Burnaby Atkins, Esq., Sevenoaks. 

 The first-prize collection consisted of Leonora, Mrs. Niven, 

 Alice, Juliana, Clara, and J. B. Briant. 



Single Specimens. — Bed Heavy-edged. — Mr. Bertram was first 

 with Col. Clarke; Mr. Douglas second with Princess of Wales; 

 Mr. Turner third and Mr. Hines fourth with Princess of Wales ; 

 and Mr. Turner fifth with Rev. F. D. Horner. Bed Light-edged. — 

 Mr. E. S. Dodwell was the only exhibitor, and had the first 

 prize with Thomas William. Purple Heavy-edged. — Mr. Turner 

 was first with Leah ; Mr. Douglas second and fifth with Chanti- 

 cleer, and third with Mrs. May; Mr. Turner being fourth with 

 Cynthia. Purple Light-edged. — Mr. Douglas was first and third 

 with Mary ; Mr. Turner was second with Cynthia, fourth with 



