406 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



Mat 25, 1912. 



bearing flowers from the purest white to 

 glowing crimson, and differing sufficiently 

 in growth to enable cultivators to select 

 plants that are specially adapted to the pool 

 or lake in which they are to be grown. 

 If we turn from the plants that we owe to 

 the hybridist's art to those whose develop- 

 ment has been effected hy selective culture 

 for further proof of progrej^s we have not 

 far to seek. As a notable example of evolu- 

 tion by selection and cross-feftilisation the 

 Chinese primula may well be mentioned. 

 In 1866 the varieties of this highly appre- 

 ciated plant were few, the flowers of 



^ore or less satisfactorily represented. To 

 indicate the remarkable extension in their 

 cultivation, it will suffice to say that at the 

 1866 exhibition there were two classes for 

 hardy plants, with one entry in each, and 

 that the present exhibition there are 104 

 classes, with 169 entries. While these 

 flowers have been increasing in popularity, 



de in their im- 



the past forty-six years there have been 

 immense advances in all branches of horti- 

 culture — advances that have greatly added 

 to the charm, interest, and usefulness of 

 the garden, which now forms so essentiaU 

 part of the life of this country. 



of colours 



medium size, and the range 

 limited, but now there is a wide range ot 

 colours in both single and semi-double forms 

 and flowers of immense size and superb 

 foim In addition there are the star pri- 

 mulas in various hues. Not less remarkable 

 is Primula obconica, wnich, as in the case 

 of the Chinese primrose, has had its flowers 

 increased in size and improved in form, 

 and the range of its colours greatly ex- 

 tended without having been influenced ni 

 tiie process of development by the pollen of 

 other species, ^me cultivators have dur- 

 ing the past fifteon years claimed to have 

 effected crosses between P. obconica and P. 

 sinensis, and they have been supported in 

 their views by several scientists of repute ; 

 but, failing to find the slightest proof of 

 hybridisation between P. obcHjnica and P. 

 sinensis, or indeed, any other primula, we 

 have throughout contended that its im- 

 provement is wholly due to selection, and 

 our view is now accepted as the correct one. 

 We find another remarkable example of the 

 possibilities of selective culture in plant im- 

 provement in the sweet peas wdiich are so 

 strongly represented at Chelsea. At the 

 time of the 1866 exhibition they were prac- 

 tically non-existent for competitive pur- 

 poses, and certainly none were then shown. 

 Now they not only form a delightful feature 

 of the present exhibition, but have several 

 so<^ieties wholly devoted to them, and are 

 contributed with the utmost liberality to 

 all the summer and autumn exhibitions. Tf 

 the development of the dahlia during the 

 period under review has not been equal to 

 that of the sweet pea, it is sufficiently note- 

 worthy to justify some reference to the 

 flower. The only i&ections that obtained at- 

 tention in 1866 were the show, fancy, and 

 pompon varieties, and not one of these had 

 a place in the international exhibition of 

 that year ; but now we have, in addition to 

 the older sections, the cactus, collarette, 

 p^ony-flowered and singles ; and dah- 

 lias have a place in the present exhibition. 

 Great as the progress has been in various 

 directions, it is especially marked by the 

 perpetual-flowering carnations, and their 

 creation may well be regarded as one of the 

 most important events in the progress ot 

 floriculture during the past ^f^y years 

 Their value for the production of delighttui 

 colour effects at exhibitions is proved to de- 

 monstration at Chelsea, their value tor 

 beautifying the cool plant house through- 

 out the year and the flower garden dunng 

 the summer is generally acknowledged and 

 the utility of thei flowers for floral ar- 

 rangements is indicated by the important 

 industry that has arisen for the purpose ot 

 supplying ihe markets with them. The pro- 

 gress thut has been . made with hardy 

 flowers of all kinds has been so great dur- 

 in^ the past half-cei.tury as to revolutionise 

 the methods of beautifying the flower gar- 

 den In. 1866 tender bedding plants were 

 in the ascendant, and occupied so mucli 

 space in be<ls and borders that there was 

 very little room for hardy perennials, and, 

 as a matter of fact, few were the gardens in 

 which there was a really good border ot 

 them; Now there is hardly a garden m the 

 United Kingdom in which they are not 



flower garden. 



rapid progress has been 

 provement, as evidenced by the many tine 

 varieties of delphiniums, early-flowering 

 chrysanthemums, irises, . Michaelmas . 

 daisies, narcissi, pseonies, pentstemons, 

 phloxes, pyrethrums, late-flowering tulips, 

 to mention but a few that have been intro- 

 duced and placed at the disposal of cultiva- 

 tors. As the result in a large measure of 

 the immense increase in the number of 

 beautiful hardy plants thriving under the 

 most divergent conditions, rock and water 

 gardening has undergone a marvellous de- 

 velopment, and in popularity is probably 

 11 ti Sill massed bv any other feature of the 

 The high degree of perfec- 

 tion to° which these two forms of garden 

 adornment has attained, and the great 

 diversity and beauty of the plants available 

 for growing on the ledges and slopes of the 

 rock garden, or luxuriating in the moisture 

 of the bog garden, or converting silent pool 

 or running stream into a garden of great 

 beauty is admirably represented in the ex- 

 hibition. As with hardy plant culture, so 

 with rose growing, the progress has pix)- 

 ceeded with leaps and bounds, and tiie 

 eighty collections of plants and flowers in- 

 cluded in the present exhibition present a 

 striking contrast to the few groups of giant 

 specimens that were shown forty-six years 

 ago. There is not only a difference m the 

 character of the plants shown, but also in 

 the types of flowers, for during the period 

 several classes that are wholly new have 

 been introduced, notably the hybrid teas, 

 the Penzance briars, and the Wichuraiana 

 roses, which are of special interest, as show- 

 ing that the raisers have constantly kept m 

 view the importance of a vigorous habit 

 and abundant flower production. Much 

 progress has been made with trees and 

 shrubs, more particularly with those grown 

 for the beauty of their flowers. Many of 

 great value have been introduced from 

 China and other parts of the world, while 

 considerable numbers are, as in the case of 

 the rhododendrons, lilacs, and philadel- 

 phus, the products of hybridisation and 

 cross-fertilisation. Not less remarkable has 



The Duke of Portland, K.G. 



G.C.V.Om whose portrait we have the 

 pleasure of giving herewith, is so generous 

 a supporter of v movements that have for 

 their object the advancement of horticul- 

 ture, and, moreover^ takes so keen an in- 

 terest in all that relates to the garden, that 

 it is only fitting he sliould be the president 

 of the Royal International Horticultural 

 Exhibition that is now^ l)eing held at Chel- 

 sea. AVe have ample proof of the great in- 

 terest w^hich the Duke of Portland takes in 

 horticulture in the immense improvement* 

 that have been effected in the gardens of 

 Wei beck Abbey, since he succeeded to the 

 title and estates. The glass structures have 

 been remodelled to bring them in line with 

 modern ideas and requirements, and the 

 extensive pleasure grounds which have long 

 been regarded as an important part of 

 the environment of the f amous abbey, have 

 had their interest and attractions increased 

 at least a hundredfold. Roses in their 

 various classes and methods of training con- 

 tribute their full share to the beauty of 

 the grounds, and the magnificent borders 

 of herbaceous plants have no equals in this 

 country. These were illustrated and de- 

 scribed in the Gardeners' Magazine of 

 June 11, 1910, and it was therein men- 

 tioned that the Duchess of Portland, who 

 possesses a wade knowledge of hardy flowers 

 and taste of the highest order, had taken a 

 leading part in the designing and arrange- 

 ment of these wonderful borders. That a 

 nobleman who fully appreciates the respon- 

 sibility of his high position should take an 

 active part in the promotion of horticulture, 

 in the district of which Welbeck Abl>ey is 

 the centre, goes without saymg, but ii 

 should be mentioned that when tne 

 National Vegetable Society was formed, tne 

 Duke of Portland accepted the position oi 

 president, and thereby, conjouitly wit 

 generous financial support, has contribiU^a 

 in no small degree to the success which tnai 

 useful organisation has achieved. 



Hybridisation of <Enotheras- 



--In commencing his sw^^^d course ot 



been the progress with fruits and vege- 

 tables. As evidence of the improvement 

 that has been effected in fruits, it will not 

 be necessary to do more than to direct 

 attention to large numbers of peaches, nec- 

 tarines, phuns, and pears, with which the 

 Usts of fruits have been enriched during the 

 past fifty years. The development of fruit 

 culture, both in private gardens and com- 

 ial establishments and improvements 

 of methods of procedure have been great, 

 an outstanding feature being the develop- 

 ment of commercial establishments for the 

 supply of the markets. Vegetables have 

 shared to the full in the improvement in 

 the garden. All classes have been im- 

 mensely improved, as the result chiefly of 

 the enterprise of the leading seed firms, 

 and the methods of cultivation and of pre- 

 senting them to public notice have under- 

 gone a marked change for the better, rom 

 forty to fif tv years ago vegetables were so in- 

 differently shown as to contribute but little 

 to the attractions of an exhibition, but now, 

 as so well exemplified at Chelsea, they are 

 staged in a manner that obtains for them a 

 full share of attention. It has not been pas- 

 sible to do more than briefly refer to a few 



course 



tares on Genetics " at the R^y'-^^^^JA 

 tution, Mr. ^\ . Bateson, F.R.S dealt ^ td 

 the results of recent investigations in 

 hybridisation of plants, more partieiiiay 

 y^'ith those obtained by De Vnes, m » 



of his experiments with evening 

 primroses. Mr. Bateson said that tne t 

 mon Evening Primrose ((E. Lamarckiana^l 

 with its bewildering varieties, { 

 which have all the outward aPP«;"'";' „ 

 true species, is probably a hybnd bet^ 

 some species not yet ascertamefl. 

 found in a wild state anywhere, and 

 troduction to Europe is unkn.n\n. 



trotluction to i^^uropo is u,.^— ■ , , 

 stated the theory held by De Vries that^^^ 

 difference between species is "^'^^f \,nits. 

 difference between aggregations oi 



of the more prominent occupants of the 

 garden as evidence of progress, but suffi- 

 riPTit has been said to show tliat during 



but that l>eyond the qualities of ^h?; J,r 

 nent units, there is a distinctive cn< ^ 

 attaching to them in combination , 

 explained the discovery of the ^'^^'-^^.^ed- 

 tigator that though varieties, wtven^ 



produce segregation, the '^''°f ^.^"if f ^^m sul>- 

 results in a definite form, whi«h w ^ 



sequently breeds true. pharacWr* 

 found a constant influence ot sex ^ ' 



ill <r()ss-l>rop(lini^. Thus, ^•'^''"l^ m-ifat» 

 species of (Enothern- nainely. ^; , ^ if 



and (E. b ennis (B) he B. 

 the female M l>e fertilised hy tne ^^^^^ 

 the resulf is a form (MB) which.is 



