September 8,1881.3 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 229 
SINGLE v. DOUBLE FLOWERS. 
In Mr. Brotherston’s last contribution on the above 
subject he appears rather more concerned about 
having the last word than in treating me fairly, and 
as his remarks upon wild flowers verge on the infinite 
1 leave the subject, in the meantime at least. 
Mr. Hibberd must have a very short memory when 
he asserts that he in his lecture referred merely to 
“ a mythical Caliban,” which is only “an abstraction ” 
and a “ characterisation,” and not to any “ existing 
individual.” He there stated, “There are now amongst 
us, even in the bright world of flowers, those who 
profess to be aesthetics, and who propose that we 
should undo and utterly waste the work of centuries, 
and allow Nature to assert herself according to the 
original pattern of things as on the third day. Yes ; 
they dare to doom our double flowers to an igno¬ 
minious oblivion, and they fondly hope we shall 
destroy our proper garden flowers, and plant in their 
places those that Nature cultivates so nicely in the 
woodlands and on the mountains,” and so on. Mr. 
Hibberd now asks that we believe that “ they ” and 
“ those ” were nobody in particular, and this at a 
time when the subject of “ Single r. Double Flowers ” 
was being discussed, not in the Journal only, but else¬ 
where. And then to end by saying he only referred 
to a mythical personage, an “abstraction,” &c. ! 
Surely Mr. Shirley Hibberd is the incarnation of 
“abstraction ! ”— Single-handed. 
included Pines, good Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria 
Grapes, Bellegarde Peaches, Stan wick Elruge Nectarines, and Jeffer¬ 
son Plums. For the collection of six varieties, Pines excluded, Mr. 
Day took the lead. 
The President’s prize for twelve varieties of vegetables was taken 
by Mr. G. Vines, gardener to H. Thornton, Esq., Kempston Grange ; 
Mr. H. Facey, Goldington, coming in first for the eight varieties. 
For the collection of Potatoes, eight sorts, the Rev. J. D. Hawkesley, 
Arlesey Asylum, was first, and Mr. J. Richardson of Boston second. 
In the market gardeners’ class Mr. R. Simpson, Arlesey, was first for 
the collection of Potatoes and also for the collection of Onions. For 
white Spanish Onions Mr.Laxton took the first place. Ridge Cucumbers 
were remarkably well shown, several of the exhibitors staging clean, 
straight, and well-coloured specimens upwards of 18 inches in length. 
The prizes for separate dishes of Potatoes were awarded for white 
kidneys, chiefly for Myatt’s Prolific, International Kidney, and Paddy’s 
Pride, a very large and somewhat coarse flat kidney of the White 
Elephant type. In round whites Schoolmaster was in almost all 
classes the predominant prizetaker. Amongst coloured kidneys 
Beauty of Hebron and Late Rose were prominently successful in the 
prize list, and Manhattan as a coloured round. Amongst other new 
sorts Suttons’ Reading Hero and Fillbasket created a favourable 
impression, but as grown in the Girtford Garden the latter variety 
has, with the Champion and other vigorous late sorts, 
shown a tendency this season to grow out. 
The Show was altogether most successful in all de¬ 
partments, the tent of the British Bee-keepers’ Associa¬ 
tion being on the ground. The honey, too, was remark¬ 
ably good.—T. Laxton, Bedford. 
pots during the past winter and spring. It is very productive, 
and has fine pods. It is in no way superior to Osborn’s for forcing, 
but is quite distinct from Fulmer’s. I do not think anyone will 
be disappointed by giving it a trial. Those grown in the open 
ground have produced an excellent crop of good-sized pods, and 
1 have no doubt this new variety will give satisfaction to any 
who may grow it.—D. Walker, Dunorlan. 
SHADING CAMELLIAS. 
I HAVE been much interested in the controversy on this subject, 
and I fully decided last year to give it a trial when the subject was 
similarly raised in favour of shade. I grow these plants in pots, 
and since I have employed shade they have improved in health, 
and the foliage is now nearly black ; but when grown without shade, 
as I used to grow them, the leaves at the end of the season were 
rather yellow in colour. Perhaps one of the strongest points in 
your correspondent’s remarks about shading these plants is, Will 
they do without shade when in flower ? At this point Mr. Muir’s 
assertions fall to the ground. If not shaded in spring when in 
Fig. 39.—Grosse Moustrueuse de Lipari. 
flower one day’s sun is sufficient to take the colour from the flowers, 
and what good is a flower when its colour is gone ? 
The last statement on this subject from “ R. P. B.” rather puzzles 
me. Does he mean that vigorous growth is not needed in the 
successful cultivation of Camellias, or that as fine flowers are pro¬ 
duced from a plant that grows weakly as from one that has 
vigorous growth and large dark green leaves of great substance 1 
His statement appears to me much like staging a green Croton by 
the side of the same variety in good condition and well coloured. 
I think I know which would be placed first at an exhibition. 
I must maintain, notwithstanding what “ R. P. B.” has said on 
this subject, that dark green glossy foliage is much to be desired 
in Camellias. I am proud of my few plants in pots, which have 
improved wonderfully in this respect since I shaded them, and 
my brother amateurs express a wish that theirs were of the same 
beautiful colour. Those who have only a few plants for their 
small greenhouses will be on the safe side when they shade their 
GROSSE MONSTRUEUSE DE LIPARI FIG. 
A few years ago I received cuttings of a Fig under 
the above name ; and although the fruit is of great 
excellence I am extremely doubtful if the name is 
correct; and on applying to two good gardeners my 
doubt is not removed, for one of them says the 
name is correct and the other says it is not. We 
have sent a fruit for your inspection, and shall be glad if you will 
settle the point.—F. R. H. S. 
[The fruit was, as Figs usually are that we receive from a long 
distance, crushed beyond identification ; but the accompanying 
figure and description will aid you in your object, and will bring 
a good variety to the notice of our readers. Fruits large, roundish- 
turbinate, much flattened at the apex. Skin light brown or 
chestnut, shading off to dark, and with dark-coloured ribs, with 
occasional dark spots, the whole covered with a thick bloom. 
Stalk short, thick. Eye large, closed. Flesh dull red, thick, 
juicy, and pleasantly flavoured. Habit of plant robust, and very 
prolific. A very meritorious variety, and suitable for cultivation 
either in the open air or under glass.] 
Cooling’s Ne Plus Ultra Dwarf French Beans.—I n 
response to your question (page 209), I have grown this Bean in 
