Iijee-nV- 20, 1S77. ] 



JOTR'J^Tj OV HORTICULTURE AVD COTTAGE GiRDENER. 



4G9 



I am upon a delicate and vexed subject, and will only say 

 .generally that it appears to me desirable in this matter to 

 strive for a happy medium between the florid embellishments 

 of an extreme ritualism and the vulgarity of a certain old 

 sexton, whose highest efforts never reached beyond sticking 

 branches of Holly into holes made in the tops of the partitions 

 and doors of certain old-fashioned square pews, and in throw- 

 ing a few pieces more Holly upon the window-sills. 



Most pulpits are panelled, and I know of no better way of 

 treating them than to put a neat wreath of evergreens around 

 each panel with a Bacred symbol or monogram upon the panel 

 itself. I have seon some very pretty wreaths composed of 

 Holly, Laurustinus, sprays of Conifers, various berries, and 

 white and yellow Everlasting Flowers. The best shrubs for 

 Teally choice wreaths are berried Holly and the rich golden 

 yellow variegated variety Golden Queen, Cotoneaster Simondsii, 

 <*arrya elliptica, Laurustinus, Arbutus, Ivy, Berberis, sprays 

 of the scarlet Dogwood, Osmanthus, Skimmia japonica, Per- 

 nettya angustifolia, Euonymus radicans variegatus, and Box. 

 Moss may also be used and Fern fronds, such as Blechnum 

 Tioreale and the common Oak Polypody, so pretty at this sea- 

 son of the year with its yellow fructification, and Iris fostid- 

 issima may also be turned to account for this purpose. There 

 is an indescribable charm about a well-made and skilfully- 

 arranged wreath which can only be imparted when the makers 

 possess refined and cultivated tastes ; and I would counsel 

 those who are sensible of a deficiency in this respect to avoid 

 all ambitious attempts at startling effects or elaborate embel- 

 lishments Rather let your materials be few and simple, and 

 ;also let that be the characteristic of your decorations, for then 

 you will probably suoceed in pleasing in a matter wherein yon 

 fiannot reasonably hope to do more. — Edwabd Luckhubst. 



JUDGING ROSES. 



In the peculiarly interesting report of the meeting of the 

 National Rose Association on December 6th allusion is made 

 to the desirableness of formulating rules for the guidance of 

 judges. It is much to be desired. Every man fancies he is a 

 judge of wine, a judge of theology, and able to judge Roses. 



Judging from complaints in print, the office is sometimes 

 accepted somewhat lightly and unadvisedly. At the large 

 shows, however, and where well-known names are in office, it 

 is more than foolish to make any question. I do not write as 

 a judge. "I am not the Rose," as the French proverb says, 

 "" but I have lived near it." I have often been adjudicated 

 npon, and I can only recollect two or three instances in which 

 tny partial opinion and that of two or three friends differed 

 from the decision, and then the doubt was at once removed 

 on asking for an explanation. After a certain time the faculty 

 becomes almost an instinct. It is not often that boxes run 

 each other very close; if so, I have observed one way is to 

 pick oit the weak points first of all. Whoever has fewest 

 inferior flowers wins. Another plan is to give marks, and this 

 J apprehend, in connection with the other, is the one generally 

 adopted. 



Mr. Shirley Hibbnrd, in his "Amateur's Rose Book," lays 

 down the Cinon, "No new Rose ought to be certificated unless 

 it is 1st, distinct ; 2nd, of perfect form ; 3rd, of good substance 

 :0f petal ; 4th, each petal shell-shaped and egg-shaped." The 

 same principle will apply when compared in close competition. 

 Form, colour, size, are the three necessary qualities according 

 to Mr. Michel. Canon Hole, in his royal " Rose Book " decrees 

 much the same. " Show Roses require beauty of form, beauty 

 of colour, and that the Rose having both these qualities shall 

 be exhibited in the most perfect phase of its beauty and in the 

 fullest development to which skill and care can bring it." 

 " An exhibition Rose should have," writes Mr. A. H. Kent 

 (a name which many have missed of late from the Rose pages 

 of our Journal) — " 1, Richness or delicacy of colour; 2, Sym- 

 metry in form ; 3, Size, in connection with 4, Vigorous habit ; 

 5, Free-blooming qualities." 



But perhaps Mr. T. Moore, F.L.S., in an interesting paper 

 " On Judging New Plants " has given the fullest directions of 

 all. Taking one hundred marks as indicating the highest 

 degree of excellence, he would assign : 1, Form, 15 points ; 

 •2, Substance, 15 ; 3, Smoothness, 15 ; 4, Colour, 10 ; 5, Fixity 

 of colour, 10; 6, Proportion, 10; 7, Size, 10; 8, Distinctness, 10; 

 .9, Novelty, 5. 



I do not myself attach much importance to the idea that 

 ^ven first-class judges have their hobbies and sometimes ride 

 Aiiem rather fast. There are three judges in most cases, and 



two mxy be always trusted to keep tb» third straight. The 

 puggestion is certainly goo 1 that the N Uioaal Rise S iciety's 

 Committee should be aiked to codify some rules on the eubjaot. 

 Lord's lays down laws for cricket ; croquet and lawn tennis 

 have both their national club rules ; how much more should 

 that which is rapidly becoming one of the fine arts ? Only let 

 those most competent consult together. As Sidney Smith 

 said to the London Corporation when doubting about putting 

 down the first wood pavement, though far be it from me to 

 apply it in his irreverent spirit, " Gentlemen, you have only 

 to put your heads together and the thing is done." — A. C. 



IBERISES. 



Mb. Habding's remarks on page 453 and the note appended 

 thereto are opportune, as undoubtedly much confusion exists 

 regarding the nomenclature of these attractive spring-flower- 

 ing plants. Iberises are yearly increasing in popularity, and 



Fig. 88.— Iberis Tenr3ana. 



certainly few plants have a more cheering effect on rocks and 

 in borders in spring and early summer. Their bold yet chaste 

 masses of snowy whiteness are extremely conspicuous, and 

 when the flowers have faded and the plants are neatly trimmed 

 they are yet even attractive by their fresh cushions of greeD. 



There can be little doubt but that the plant alluded to by 

 Mr. Harding is I. coriacea, a synonyms of correfefolia; but the 

 synonyme ought certainly to be accepted as the name of this 

 very fine variety, and much coufusioa would be avoided by 

 two names so similar as corifolia and corrf sefolia being attached 

 to two Buch dissimilar plants. The name of coriacea is with 

 the more appropriate of the two, for tne foliage of the plant to 

 which it is applied is decidedly coriaceous, and its flowers are 

 less flimsy than those of moat others of the family. The 

 foliage of the plant certainly bears a resemblance to that of 

 some of the Correas, but it is not particularly striking, and 

 no harm would be done, but, on the contrary, mistakes would 

 be avoided, by accepting coriacea as the distinguishing name 

 for the fine Iberis that Mr. Harding doubtless alludes to. 



A few years ago a well-known correspondent of the Journal 

 sent me plants named I. corifolia. TheBe were greatly admirea, 



