4G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 19, 1883. 
of warm crimson, with much in common, similar to La France, Duchess of 
Edinburgh, and Capitaine Christy; hut with a deep satin hue, as the soft 
rain drops, sparkled on it to-day, far superior to any of them, not only in 
colour hut in shape. The form seemed a3 perfect as A. K. Williams, which 
I have had very fine.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
WINTER LETTUCES GROWN ON RIDGES. 
It is many years since we recommended the system of growing 
Lettuces on ridges about 4 feet high and 6 feet wide at the base, 
running north and south. They are planted thickly on both sides 
during September and October, and when they do well, as we have 
always experienced, they may be thinned out in March, the surface 
of ridge neatly broken over, and the thinnings planted on a rich well- 
prepared border for a succession crop. Last autumn we planted about 
2000, and those which stood best were Hardy Hammersmith, Hicks’ 
Hardy, and Bath Brown Cos. The latter kind is rarely found true, 
but when it can be procured it is of great value for winter, and 
blanches white and solid, and the flavour is nutty and pleasant. It 
has lasted long in use with us this season, and has not readily gone 
to seed. A succession of various kinds of Lettuce raised in a frame, 
and when well hardened were planted out in deeply drawn drills, in 
which was placed previous to planting a quantity of leaf soil. The 
plants took quickly to the soil and grew with great rapidity. They 
received shelter in the drills, and are now of the best quality. Rich 
free soil and plenty of moisture are essential requisites to finely blanched 
summer Lettuces.—M. T. 
FANCY PANSIES.—No. 1. 
Those of your readers who have not yet learned to look 
with favour upon the Fancy Pansy would scarcely have felt at 
home at the Scottish Pansy Society’s thirty-ninth Show, held at 
Edinburgh on the 22nd ult., while those who have lost the 
prejudice would have found ample cause for confirming them in 
their new faith. Thousands of beautiful flowers of every con¬ 
ceivable hue were staged in about ninety classes, of which nearly 
sixty were confined wholly or in part to Fancies. Some of the 
combinations of colour were exceedingly harmonious, while in 
quality and form there was nothing to be desired. Size, too, 
although last in the Scottish standard of properties, was also 
there, some of the blooms measuring over 3 inches in diameter, 
and quite dwarfing their orthodox relatives the Show varieties. 
When their endless variety, robust habit, continuous flower¬ 
ing, and hardiness are considered, it is no wonder that they are 
popular with gardeners, nurserymen, and amateurs. This in¬ 
creased favour is reflected in the catalogues, where the list of 
Show kinds is being rapidly cut down, while the Fancies are 
being cultivated in largely increasing numbers. I took pains 
to get to know from some of the leading florists at the Exhi¬ 
bition in what proportion the Show varieties are sold now com¬ 
pared with the Fancies, and the result is, that where one of the 
former is ordered three of the latter will be sold. This result 
has been obtained by steady improvement in the flowers them¬ 
selves, which may be taken as the most reliable basis of favour. 
Some of the best kinds have undoubtedly come from promis¬ 
cuous hybridisation, but systematic crossing is now being largely 
practised, and astonishing results may be confidently expected. 
Certain it is that by the latter course the proportion of rubbish 
is minimised, and the chance of obtaining what is wished 
increased. 
I had the pleasure of a long conversation with Mr. John 
Downie, whose name is inseparably connected with Fancy 
Pansies, and he was good enough to give me some details of 
their introduction to Scotland and London. Above thirty 
years ago he obtained from France the first Fancy Pansy he 
ever saw, and he called it Dandie Dinmont. From this he 
raised one which he named Frapeola, and ultimately succeeded 
in getting six distinct varieties, inclusive of old Magpie, which 
latter, I have heard on reliable authority, was found by the late 
Mr. Fox, of Wetley Rocks, Staffordshire, growing in a hedge- 
bottom near his nurseries. Of these he took great care, but so 
much was he laughed at for his pains that he was compelled to 
hide them away to escape the ridicule of his friends, some of 
whom hesitated not to say that he was mad. Undeterred, how¬ 
ever, he took his unique flowers to London, and exhibited them 
about 1852 at the Botanical Gardens. The judges, wedded, 
doubtless, to the old sorts, vouchsafed them no notice whatever. 
Not so the ladies, who crowded about the little strangers all day. 
The next morning Mr. Downie found himself complimented by 
the Times on his extraordinary exhibits, and other criticisms on 
the first tand of Fancy Pansies ever shown in London were also 
favourable. Encouraged by the press comments and the favour 
his flowers received from the visitors, Mr. Downie persevered, and 
laid the foundation of a bright future for one of the most popular 
flowers we have either for exhibition or bedding purposes. 
Even after this the Scotchmen would not have them, good 
florists like Mr. George Ross of Laurencekirk fighting shy for 
many years. The above-named gentleman, however, has so far 
changed his views that he is now one of the most successful 
raisers and exhibitors of his whilom bete noir. Messrs. Dickson 
aud Co. of Edinburgh soon recognised the worth of the new 
flower, and have since done a great work in its improvement. 
Others soon followed suit, and now there is a race every year 
by raisers m Edinburgh, Paisley, Aberdeen, and elsewhere, who 
shall send out the best new varieties. 
Next week, with your permission, I will try to enumerate and 
describe a few of the best varieties I saw in the winning stands. 
—M. H. Miller, Leeh. 
THE NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY’S NORTHERN SHOW. 
Sheffield.—July 12th. 
NOTHER fine Show we 
have to report. It was 
held in the Botanic Gar¬ 
dens, and there was a 
remarkable unanimity of 
expression relative to its merits, 
rosarians, both amateurs and 
professionals, regarding it as 
certainly one of the freshest 
and best exhibitions of the year. 
It was held in a capacious 
building ordinarily used as a 
tea and refreshment room, with 
a low-glazed ridge-and-furrow 
and although the space was 
nearly large enough for the Boses it was 
quite inadequate to accommodate the 
thousands of visitors who struggled to 
get even a glance at the blooms. Ic 
was under these circumstances perhaps a little 
fortunate rather than otherwise that the day 
was showery, as the greater the number who cannot see 
what they desire the greater is the disappointment. If the 
“ National ” again holds a show at Sheffield much more 
space must be provided, in case the weather should be 
favourable for a general turn-out of the inhabitants of this flower- 
loving town. At the date of this Exhibition cutback Boses in 
the south were going out of flower, while those in the north were coming 
into good bloom. This was shown by the amateur champion of the year 
(Mr. Slaughter) having, after carrying all before him at all the principal 
shows in the southern counties, to be content with third honours in the 
leading amateur class. So fine a collection of bouquets of Roses has 
seldom been seen, over 150 being exhibited for competition in the four 
classes open to them. District-grown Roses numerous and good, but as 
a rule their setting-up did not do them justice. Her Majesty again 
created quite a sensation, and will doubtless prove a great acquisition 
amongst the light Roses. The Show was •well managed by Mr. Barron ; 
and Canon Hole, the President, and the two Honorary Secretaries of the 
N.R.S. were present at the Exhibition. 
NURSERYMEN’S CLASSES. 
Class 1, seventy-two Roses, distinct.—To the first prize of £5 in this class 
was added a silver cup value ten guineas, presented by the Mayor of Sheffield, 
Michael Hunter, Esq., jun. This coveted prize was won by Messrs. Paul 
and Son, Oheshunt, with, as might be expected, a fine collection when the 
other competitors were Messrs. B. R. Cant and Cranston, who were placed 
in the order named. There was no very marked difference in the merits of 
the three collections. Mr. Cant’s blooms were very fresh, but so also were 
those from Cheshunt, while they were also generally larger, and size appears 
more and more to gain favour at Rose shows. Some of the King’s Acre 
blooms were a little injured by the weather, but the majority of them were 
worthy of the place and the man. In the cup- stands the most prominent 
blooms were A. K. Williams, Maurice Beruardin, J. S. Mill, Reynolds Hole, 
Pride of Waltham, Senateur Yaisse, Dr. Andry, Madame G. Luizet, Duke of 
Peck, Niphetos, Charles Lefebvre, E. Y. Teas, Beauty of Waltham, Marie 
Rady, and Horace Vernet, all in superb condition. In the second-prize stand 
Gloire de Bourg-la-Reine was glowing, but a trifle coarse ; Dr. Sewell, very 
rich ; Dr. Andry. Marechal Niel, the finest in the Show ; Innocente Pirola, 
also fine ; A. K. Williams, Reynolds Hole, very fine indeed ; Star of Waltham, 
Niphetos, grand; Madame Margottin, Duchesse de Morny, and Xavier Olibo, 
were the leading varieties. The majority of them were also admirably 
represented in Mr. Cranston’s collection, in which, however, the finest blooms 
were Madame G. Luizet and Due de Montpensier, both splendid. 
Class 2, thirty-six trebles.—Messrs. Paul & Son again secured the place of 
honour, staging in splendid condition among others Maurice Bernardin, 
Countess of Rosebery, Comte Raimbaud, Comtesse d’Oxford, Eugenie Yer- 
dier, Prince Arthur, Reynolds Hole, and Madame Lacharme. Mr. Cant, who 
followed closely, had A. K. Williams, magnificent, as also were Duke of 
Edinburgh, Reynolds Hole, Duke of Teck, and Duchesse de Morny. In the 
next class, twenty-four trebles, Mr. Cant was first and Mr. Prince, Oxford, 
second, the former repeating as the best blooms those enumerated in his 
other stands ; the latter having very prominent Jean Ducher, Alba Rosea, 
Alfred Colonib, Princess Mary of Cambridge. Madame Isaac Perriere, Baronne 
de Rothschild, and A. K. Williams remarkably fine. 
Class 4, eighteen Teas and Noisettes. — Mr. Prince was first with a 
grand collection, including Catherine Mermet, Madame Welch, Anna 
Ollivier, Comtesse de Naidaillac, Alba Rosea, Madame Willermoz, Jean 
Ducher, Souvenir de Madame Pernet, Rubens, Souvenir de Paul Neyron, 
