836 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZlNfi. 



November 2, 1912. 



by the extension of the operations of the 

 firm^ Mr. G. Dickson did not at any period 

 of his active business life lose sight of his 

 responsibilities as a citizen, and^ as a con- 

 sequence, ho took a very prominent part in 

 local affairs. As evidence of the high esti- 

 mation in which the public services that he 

 so willingly rendered were held by his 

 neighbours, it may be mentioned that he 

 was chairmati of the Newtownards Horti- 

 cultui-al Society for fifty years, and on the 

 occasion of the jubilee of his chairmansliip 

 in 1905, he was entertained at a public 

 diiiner and presented with his portrait in 

 oils. He was also for a long period a 

 member of the Board of Guardians for the 

 town, and five years its chairman, and on 

 his retirement in 1906, in consequence of 

 his advancing years^ he was presented with 

 his portrait in oils at a public luncheon 

 given in his honour. The following year 

 the Council of the Koyal Horticultural 

 iSociety fx)nferrtHl upon him the well- 

 merited distinction of the Victoria Medal 

 of Honour, a distinction that gave plea- 

 sure not only to his immediate friends, but 

 to ^11 who were acquainted with the re- 

 cipient and his work. Although no longer 

 able, owing to his great age, to take an 

 active part in the management of the busi- 

 ness, w^hich has now devolved on his 

 talented sons, he continues to take a keen 

 interest in what is being done. 



As so well-known to all who are in any 

 way acquainted with what has been ac- 

 complished at Newtownards in the develop- 

 ment of the rose, Mr. Alex. Dickson has 

 from the first devoted special attention to 

 this branch of the firm's activities, and the 

 success has Ixhmi achieved by him in con- 

 junction with Mr. (i. Dickson, jun., is little 

 short of niii I \ ('ll()n>. During the period 

 over which tlir raisinjj; of seedling roses has 

 extended^ In^t wfcn 1 1*0 and 130 varieties 

 have heen introducrd t'> <'ultivation, and if 

 every oiuv df this number has not been abb* 

 to hold its own in its particular class and 

 shade of colour, a surprisingly large propor- 

 tion of them have maintained a very promi- 

 nent position among the leading varieties, 

 new and old. The most conclusive proof of 

 the staying powers of the Newtownards 

 roses is perhaps to be found in the cata- 

 logue of the National Rose Society for the 

 current year. This catalogue contains 600 

 varieties selected by rosarians who are well 

 acquainted with the distinctive character- 

 istics and merits of the roses, well nigh in- 

 numerable, now in cultivation, and of 

 th 



fifty were raised by Messrs. A. Dick- 

 son and Sons. This fact is of special in- 

 terest as showing that, while a full share of 

 attention has bt-^n devoted to the produc- 

 tion of varieties renin rkahle for the fine 

 foi'm ami attractive c<)louring of the 

 flowers, the importance of a good constitu- 

 tion and free and continuous flowering has 

 l>een constantly kept in mind. 



In giving attention to the roses that have 

 been introduced within the past three 

 years, it was interesting to see how great 

 is the demand for novelties, this demand 

 being undoubtedly stimulated by the know- 

 ledge that the seedling roses raised by the 

 firm are subjected t-o a long and thorough 

 test, esi>ecially with regard to constitution 

 and freedom and continuity of flowering 

 before they are selected for distribution. 

 As mentione<:l by that distinguished rosa- 

 rian. Mr. H. E. Molyiioux. in our issue of 



Octobed 19, 20,000 st<u ks }ia\e bee?) w(u*ked 



with that remarkaltly <listinct and highly 

 efFf-ctive single rose Fireflame, which ob- 

 tained the award of a ^old medal at the 

 SfHithampton exliibition of the National 

 Rosi^ Sotnety in June last. So large a num- 

 ber of stocks worke<l Avith one variety is 

 enough to fill one with astonishment, and 

 w^ouUl probably have done so had not the 

 glorious display of colour produced by the 



breadths of maidens of the variety diverted 

 attention from them. The flowers are larger 

 in size and simila^r in shape to those of Irish 

 Elegance^ but the colour is an effective 

 shade of old gold. It ciinnot well fail to 

 rank high as a garden rose, and for decora- 

 tive purposes in a cut state the flowers will, 

 unless my judgment is at faulty far surpass 

 in popularity those of Irish Elegance, high 

 as that vmquefitionabiy is. 



Especially interesting to me in walking 

 through the quarters in the nurseries that 

 are devoted to the most recent of the new 

 varieties^ were the great breadths of 

 George Dickson (H.T.), H. Vessey Machin 

 (H.T.), and Edward Bohane (H.T.), a trio 

 of crimson roses of such high merit as to 

 render it difficult to speak of them in mea- 

 sured terms. George Dickson is in every 

 way woi'thy of the distinguished name it 

 bears, and will unquestionably attain to a 

 high degree of popularity among exhibi- 

 tors. The flowers are large and splendidly 

 built, and the colour is a rich velvety crim- 

 son. In 1911 this variety received the 

 award of a gold medal at the National Rose 

 Society's exhibition at Ulverston^ the 

 silver medal for the best rose in the show 

 at Bath on July 12, the silver medal for 

 the best H.T. at Helensburgh on July 14, 

 the first prize for the best H.T. at Gou- 

 rock on July 22, and the silver medal for 

 a new rose at the Yorkshire Agricultural 

 Society's Show, July 22. This year it was 

 awarded the silver medal for the best H.T. 

 shown in trade collections at the exhibi- 

 tions held by the National Rose Society in 

 London and Belfast on J uly 9 and 19 re- 

 spectively, and on September 24 an Award 

 of Merit was made in its favour by the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's Floral Com- 

 mittee. Greater distinction a new rose 

 could not well obtain. As in the case of 

 the variety immediately preceding it, H. 

 Vessey Machin bears the name of a distin- 

 guished rosarian who is held in the highest 

 estimation, and is in every way worthy of 

 it. The flowers are of large size with stout 

 and reflexed petals, and the colour is rich 

 crimson. It received the award of a 

 gold medal at the National Rose Society's 

 exhibition at Belfast on July 19. Edward 

 Bohane (H.T.) is a grand crimson flower, 

 large in size, of superb form, and delight- 

 fully fragrant. This has yet to win its 

 gold medal, but when the time comes it 

 IS not likely to prove a difficult task. It 

 was exhibited for the first time at the 

 exhibition held by the Royal Horticultural 

 Society on September 24, when it unani- 

 mously received an Award of Merit, 



Very distinct in character and colour to 

 the three fine roses referred to in the pre- 

 ceding paragraph is Mrs. Mackellar (H.T.), 

 which the firm submitted to the Floral 

 Committee of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society on September 24, when it received 

 an Award of Merit. When at Newtown- 

 ards this variety greatly impressed me, for 

 it has a vigorous habit, and is free in 

 flowering, and of much promise as a 

 garden rose, while the blooms are of so 

 high a quality as to be able to render good 

 service in a competitive gathering. The 

 flowers are of large size, fine form, and 

 delightfully fragrant, and the colour is a 

 soft yet bright shade of yellow. Especially 

 attractive, also, were the breadths of the 

 exquisitely beautiful decorative rose, Queen 

 Mary, w^hich received the award of a silver- 

 gilt medal from the National Rose Society 

 on July 9. It has a free branching habit, 

 the flowers are borne in great profusion' 

 nnd the blooms as thov < ()nimence to o])en 

 are bright red, and wIhmi fullv expanded 

 the petals aro rich yc^llow with a broad 

 margin of brilliant rose. 

 ^ The novelties of 1911 form a large and 

 important group, and in making a critical 

 mspection of them in going through the 



breadths in tke nurseries, note was made 

 of the following as being of quite excep- 

 tional merit : Alexander Hill Clray(T.)^an 

 important addition to its class, the blooms 

 of large size^ superb form, and of so rich 

 a shade of yellow as to suggest the colour- 

 ing of Marechal Niel; Carine (H.T.), a 

 beautiful decorative rose that is highly 

 effective in the garden, the flowers being 

 of fine form, and borne on stout stems 

 while the colouring is a delightful combina- 

 tion of blush, carmine, fawn and salmon; 

 Duchess of Westminster (H.T.) is a distinct 

 variety, bearing large, finely-formed 

 flowers, the colour rose-madder ; an excel- 

 lent exhibition rose, and described as espe- 

 cially suitable for pot culture. Ferniehurst 

 (H.T.) is an attractive variety, of value 

 both for exhibition and the garden, the 

 flowers of good size and fine form, and the 

 colour fawn suffused with rose-iDink, deepen- 

 ing to copper colour in the centre. Lady 

 Barham (H.T.), a grand exhibition rose. 



o " ^ — 



ful shade of coral pink. 



the blooms large, and the colour a beauti- 



Lady Greenall 

 (H.T.), a superb addition to the rich 

 orange-yellow roses now becoming so popu- 

 lar, and will be found of special value to 

 exhibitors. Lady Margaret Boscawen 

 (H.T.) is a valuable garden rose with fawn- 

 pink flowers, which are produced in the 

 most profuse manner; and Melody (H.T.), 

 a beautiful garden rose, remarkably free 

 in blooming and very effective, the colour 

 being saffron-yellow passing to primrose at 

 the edges of the petals. 



One of the oldest of the Newtownards 

 roses that have a place in the National Rose 

 Society's catalogue is Margaret Dickson 

 (H.T.), which was introduced in 1891, and 

 is one of tlie best of the strong-growing 

 blush-coloured roses for the garden, mak- 

 ing a fine standard. The others include: 

 Avoca (H.T.), a distinct and effective 

 variety, suitable both for the garden and 

 t'xhibition stage, the flowers rich scarlet- 

 crimson, and reniaikable for their fra- 



grance , 



Charles J. Grahame (H.T.), a 

 richly-coloure<l rose, useful both for ex- 

 hibition and the garden, the floweis large, 

 fragrant, and of a bright crimson hue; 

 Countess of Annesley (H.T.), a vigorous 

 garden rose, with fragrant flowers of a 

 pleasing rose^salmon hue ; Countess of 

 Derby (H.T.), also a fine garden variety, 

 the flowers soft rose coloured and very 

 freely produced ; Dean Hole (H.T.), a valu- 

 able variety, suitable for t*he garden and 

 exhibition stage, the blooms large, fra- 

 grant, and of fine form, and the colour 

 soft rose; Dorothy Page Roberts (H.T.), a 

 beautiful pink bedding rose; Dr. J. Camp- 

 bell Hall (H.T.), rose, shade^l white; and 

 Dr. O'Donel B rowne (H.T.), carmine, are 

 two excellent garden varieties, the second 

 of the two being also of much value for 

 exhibition ; Duchess of AVellington is a 

 distinct gai'den rose, strong in growth, and 

 bearing saffron-yellow flowers that have 

 the additional merit of being fragrant. 



Prominent among the varieties that are 

 equally valuable for exhibition and the 

 garden is Florence Pemberton (H.T.), ^ 

 charming rose with cream-white flowers suf- 

 fused at the margins with pale rose, and 

 one of the best of its colour for standards ; 

 G. C. Waud (H.T.), one of the varieties 

 distributed by the firm four years since, 

 is of special excellence, the colour an effec- 

 tive shade of red-rose, and the blooms are 

 of fine form^ possessing the delicate per- 

 fume of the tea-scented varieties ; while an 

 excellent exhibition rose of its colour, it 

 possesses much value for garden decora- 

 tion ; Harry Kirk (T.). is a vigorous grow- 

 ing variety with sulphur-yellow flowers, 

 that has 1)1"ov<h1 of much value as a bed- 

 ding rose, and should be largciv ]>lanted; 

 Hu2:h AVatson (H.P.) has j)roved a useful 

 addition to the crimson hvbrid oernetuals, 



