112 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 9, 1383. 
easy to determine, and cannot, in fact, be properly determined 
without considering the time the shows are held. On the score 
of utility Potatoes stand before all vegetables; and on the same 
principle, if White and Red Cabbages were staged of equal 
excellence in collections, the majority of judges would probably 
give the greater number of points to the former. Similarly, 
too, we presume, they would place Peas before Beans, and 
Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, and Turnips before Celery; except, 
perhaps, in August, when tine Celery always scores well, because 
of the labour and attention that have been involved in producing 
it. Really good Caulillowers would, we presume, be quite on a 
level with Cabbages, and Leeks would rank before Beet. In 
judging produce from gentlemen’s gardens the same relative 
value of the dishes would not obtain. Collections of vegetables 
are so numerous at cottagers’ shows, and the judging occasion¬ 
ally so erratic—that is, not founded on any established rul 3— 
that it is no wonder competitors are perplexed and anxious for 
information that will enable them to stage their produce to the 
best advantage. Local gardeners also, and occasionally clergy¬ 
men, who award the prizes at the shows in question, would not 
find their labours more difficult if they had a few general rules 
to guide them in their adjudications. 
We by no means desire any of our correspondents to simply 
confirm what we have said on this subject, but would prefer that 
they consider the matter on its merits, and express their views, 
whether they are in accordance with our own or n t.] 
GOOD CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
Selections of good varieties of these beautiful flowers are always 
being wanted, especially by those who have not had the privilege of 
inspecting the shows or examining large collections of flowering plants. 
The following are very good :— 
CARNATIONS. 
Scarlet Bizarres. I 
Admiral Curzon.(Easom). 
Edward Adams .(Dodwell). 
Ered .(Dodwell). 
Lord Napier.( 1 ay lor). 
Mercury.(Hextali). 
William Spoor.(Adams). 
Crimson Bizarres. 
Harrison Weir.(Dodwell). 
John Harland.(Adams). 
J. D. Hextali .(Simonite). 
John Simonite.(Simonite). 
Master Fred.(Hewitt). 
Lord Milton.(Ely). 
Pink and Purple Bizarres. 
Falconbridge .(May). 
James Taylor .(Gibbons). 
Unexpected.(Turner). 
Sarah Payne.(Ward). 
Stanley Hudson.(Dodwell). 
William Murray.(Adams). 
Purple Flakes. 
Dr. Foster.(Foster). 
Juno .(Baildon). 
James Douglas.(Simonite). 
Mayor of Nottingham .. (Taylor). 
Squire Meynell.(Brabbins). 
Squire Trow.(Jackson). 
Scarlet Flakes. 
Annihilator...(Jackson). 
Clipper .(Fletcher). 
Dan Godfrey.(Holmes). 
John Bayley.(Dodwell). 
Sportsman.(Hedderley), 
Thomas Tomes.(Dodwell). 
Rose Flakes. 
Apollo .(Fletcher). 
James Merry weather... .(Wood). 
John Keet.(Whitehead). 
Mrs. Dodwell .(Lord). 
Sibyl .(Holmes). 
Sporting Lady.(Fletcher). 
PICOTEES. 
H, heavy-edged ; L, light-edged ; and those not marked medium-edged. 
Bed Picolees. 
Brunette (Kirtland). h. 
Clara (Bower). L. 
Dr. Abercrombie (Fellows), n. 
Elsie Grace (Dodwell). L. 
J. B. Bryant (Ingram). H. 
John Smith (Bower). H. 
Master Norman (Norman). H. 
Mrs. Fuller (-—-). H. 
Mrs. Gibbons (Taylor). 
Thomas William (Flowdy). L. 
Violet Douglas (Simonite). L. 
Winifred Esther (Dodwell). 
Rose and Scan 
Charles Williams (Norman), n. 
Edith D’Ombrain (Turner). H. 
Ethel (Fellows). L. 
Fanny Hellen (Niven). H. 
Lady Louisa (Abercrombie). H. 
Lady Holmesdale (Schofield). H. 
—Geo. Rudd, Undercliffc, near Br 
Purple Picolees. 
Alliance (Fellows). H. 
Alice (Lord). 
Ann Lord (Lord). L. 
Her Majesty (Addis), l. 
Isabella (Matthews). H. 
Mary (Simonite). h. 
Minnie (Lord), r,. 
Mrs. A. Chancellor (Turner). II. 
Master Nichol (Schofield), l. 
Rev. J. B. M. Camm (Fellows). II. 
Tinnie (Dodwell). 
Zerlina (Lord), u. 
f -edged Picolees. 
Louisa (Addis). H. 
Miss Horner (Lord). H. 
Miss Wood (Wood). 
Mrs. Adams (Adams), h. 
Mrs. Allcroft (Turner), r,. 
Mrs. Payne (Fellows), u. 
dford. 
Best Double Ivy-leaved Pelargonium. —There must be a number 
of your readers who are fond of basket plants for suspension in conser¬ 
vatories, sunny windows, open verandahs and corridors. I have tried 
quite a number of the above plants in this way, single and double, with 
plain, variegated, and zonal foliage, but find Comtesse Horace de Choiseul, 
raised by Lemoine and issued by Messrs. Cannell last year, the best. The 
colour of the flowers is soft crimson-rose, produced in large trusses, and 
of wonderful staying powers. My trusses are fresh after three weeks ; 
but they have been slightly shaded during the midday sun and suspended 
in a sitting-room window, which is not closed at night when the tem¬ 
perature is above 60° Fahr. Many of the drooping Begonias do wel 
similarly.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
NOTES ON PEAS. 
Culverwell's Paragon and Giant Marrow, Laxton’s John Bull, 
Carter’s Pride of the Market, and Telephone have been on trial with me 
this year. Paragon is described as being from 3 to 4 feet high, but with 
me on poor gravelly soil well manured it has grown to 6 feet. The pods 
are not curved but are straight, containing about nine fine peas, which 
are of good quality. Giant Marrow is what its name implies, the pods 
being very large, containing as a rule ten or eleven fine peas of very good 
quality. It is a great bearer and first-class exhibition variety. Height 
7 feet. John Bull is a shorter variety, with good dark green pods tightly 
packed with large peas. It is fairly productive of robust growth, and 
no doubt will become a favourite with those who do not want to use long 
stakes. I consider this variety preferable to Pride of the Market, 
which is a good Pea of first-class appearance, but with me it has not been 
a good cropper. Telephone is now well known, and I need hardly 
describe it. I should like it better as an exhibition variety if the pods 
were of a deeper colour. Its rival Telegraph has a far better appearance. 
—H. S. E., Great TotJiam. 
AMERICAN WONDER. 
I have grown the above Pea with great success. It has proved a large 
cropper and of excellent quality and has required no support. Having 
cleared the crop, they would in the ordinary course of things have been 
pulled up and thrown away ; but the ground not being wanted imme¬ 
diately they were left, and in two or three weeks I found to my astonish¬ 
ment that they were breaking at every joint, and that fresh bloom was 
appearing. They have now five or six pods on every plant, and will 
supply me with abundance of seed for another year.—C. J. 
NE PLUS ULTRA. 
Notwithstanding all the improvements in Peas, is there yet one more 
useful or of better quality than this old favourite ? For late use espe¬ 
cially I have not found one to equal it, as it continues growing and bear¬ 
ing for weeks, while some others produce one great flush of pods and are 
over in a fortnight. As to quality this is very much a question of palate ; 
but lately I have been assisting in a family engaged in testing the quality 
of a few varieties of Peas when cooked. The result was as follows— 
Ne Plus Ultra first unanimously, Telephone second, Telegraph third, 
Pride of the Market fourth, Stratagem fifth, and Culverwell’s Giant 
Marrow sixth. The peas were all alike fresh, in the best condition for 
table, and all were prepared by the same cook, who did her best with 
each. Perhaps other seven judges would place some of them differently, 
but I think Ne Plus Ultra would have a high position.— An Old Fogie. 
VIOLAS. 
I notice that Pansy Blue King is still announced by several persons 
as the best blue bedding Viola or Pansy known. I have for three or 
four years past discarded this variety in favour of Viola True Blue, which 
in my opinion is in every respect the best Viola or Pansy of that shade 
of colour we have. It is not a rambling grower, but has a compact, 
sturdy, short-jointed habit, and begins flowering very early in spring, 
and is a continuous bloomer. The flower is free from a central blotch, and 
stands wet weather well. This variety when more known will be every¬ 
body’s Viola. Mrs. Gray, sent out by Mr. B. S. Williams, is at present 
our best cheap white. It is of a clear paper-white colour, and of good 
habit and a free bloomer. We have other whites—viz., Lady Polworth, 
and a new one of Downie & Laird’s—Countess of Hopetown, which are 
fine, especially the latter. Of the yellow-coloured section, Viola Queen 
of Spring is very beautiful, entirely free from blotch, and a very free 
bloomer ; but two of my seedlings from this variety—viz., Golden Queen 
of Spring and Yellow Dwarf, are improvements ; the last-named is a 
very great acquisition. In the lilac-coloured class Elegans and Duchess 
of Sutherland are both admirable. Archie Grant is a very fine blue 
violet-coloured kind, and Lord Darnley is of a rich velvety dark violet- 
blue colour. Queen of Lilacs is of a blue-lilac colour, a wonderful 
bloomer, and of good habit. Two of our finest coming popular Violas, 
which will be obtainable at cheap prices this autumn, are Countess of 
Kintore and Mrs. Dr. Hornby, two lovely varieties of a pale purple 
colour tipped with white. Violas should be largely used in all gardens, 
but planting in October or November to get them established before 
winter sets in. These can be used with Hyacinths, Tulips, &c., for 
spring blooming, so that a continuous spring bedding display can be 
kept up.— William Dean, Walsall. 
[A choice selection of Viola flowers accompanied this communication. 
True Blue quite excels Blue King, and we agree that Mrs. Gray is 
the best white for bedding. Lord Darnley, maroon shaded purple, is the 
best of that class sent, and is very fine indeed. A dwarf form of the 
useful Cliveden Purple is an improvement on the type ; and Holyrood, 
violet' and maroon, is very rich. At Hampton Court Violas are em¬ 
ployed with great effect amongst variegated Pelargoniums.] 
PARSLEY-LEAVED BLACKBERRIES. 
I have grown these for years, and they are very beautiful so far as 
foliage is concerned, but, what is much more satisfactory, loaded with 
