JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
30 
- Zonal Pelargoniums.—I am endeavouring as far as 
possible to form a complete list of all Zonal Pelargoniums now 
in culture. Will you permit me through the medium of your 
columns to ask all nurserymen who feel disposed to assist me to 
send their catalogues to me as soon as possible ?—C. C. Ewbank, 
The Vicarage, Langford, Biggleswade. 
THE OXFORD ROSE SOCIETY'S SHOW. 
On Tuesday last the twenty-ninth annual Exhibition of Roses of 
this Society was held in the beautifully picturesque grounds of 
Headington Hill Park, a charming position for a flower show, for 
which the Society is indebted to the kindness of George Herbert 
Morrell, Esq. The exhibits of Roses were not quite so numerous as 
usual, and in consequence the two large tents devoted to them were 
not nearly filled, several of the stages being comparatively bare. It 
is to be regretted that the Society has reduced the value of the prizes, 
for when these were of a more liberal character the Exhibition was 
not only extensive, but the collection could be very favourably com¬ 
pared with those seen at the more pretentious London shows or else¬ 
where. After nearly thirty years’ experience the Society must be 
aware that the only way to induce exhibitors to come forward freely 
is to offer substantial prizes, and no doubt were the original system 
returned to the results would be equally satisfactory. 
Although, as we have indicated, the entries were not quite so 
numerous as could be desired, yet there was some compensation for 
this deficiency in the general good quality of the blooms. Several 
handsome collections were staged containing blooms of great sub¬ 
stance, fair size, symmetrical form, and bright clear colours ; indeed, 
in the latter respect, taking the average of the blooms, they have 
been scarcely excelled at any Show this season. The weather un¬ 
fortunately proved most unfavourable, rain falling frequently during 
the afternoon ; notwithstanding, however, a large company of visitors 
assembled, being doubtlessly as much attracted by the opportunity of 
a promenade in Headington Park as by the Show itself. All the 
arrangements were quite satisfactory, and reflect much credit upon 
Mr. Greenaway, the Secretary. 
Taking the open classes first, the principal one was that for forty- 
eight triplets, only two exhibitors entering in competition. The 
premier position was accorded to Messrs. Cranston & Co., Hereford, 
for four boxes of handsome blooms that were scarcely inferior to their 
seventy-two at the Crystal Palace ; indeed some of the varieties were 
even better represented. The second prize was obtained by Mr. 
Charles Turner, The Royal Nurseries, Slough, with blooms that were 
chiefly inferior to the others in substance and size, but they were 
very neat and fresh. Louis Yan Houtte, Beauty of Waltham (good), 
Devienne Lamy, La France, and Dr. Andry were the best in quality. 
Por forty-eight single trusses Messrs. Cranston & Co. were again 
first with a similarly handsome collection, including fine examples of 
Duchesse de Vallombrosa (neat), Mons. E. Y. Teas, Horace Vernet, 
Le Havre, Marie Baumann, and John Stuart Mill. Mr. Turner fol¬ 
lowed with the only other collection in the class, staging neat and 
fresh examples of well-selected varieties. The best thirty-six single 
trusses were from Messrs. Cranston, who thus carried off the three 
chief prizes in the open classes, the quality of the blooms being similar 
to that distinguishing the other exhibits of that firm. Mr. George 
Prince, Oxford, was a good second with compact brightly coloured 
blooms, Mr. Charles Turner taking the third place with fair specimens. 
In the class for twelve blooms of a Hybrid Perpetual Messrs. Cranston 
were first with Lord Macaulay, excellent colour ; and Mr. G. Prince 
second with good examples of Duchesse de Vallombrosa. Mr. G. 
Prince staged the best twelve Teas or Noisettes, followed by Messrs. 
Cranston and Mr. John Mattock, Bath Nurseries, Headington. Two 
collections of Mr. Bennett’s new pedigree Roses were staged, the 
first prize being secured by Mr. George Prince with fair examples of 
the Honourable George Bancroft, Duchess of Connaught, Jean Sisley, 
Duke of Connaught, Beauty of Stapleford, and Pearl. The second 
prize was obtained by Mr. John Tranter, Upper Assenden, Henley-on- 
Thames, with Duchess of Westminster, Beauty of Stapleford, Vis¬ 
countess Falmouth, Duchess of Connaught, and the Hon. George 
Bancroft, small but fresh. 
In the open classes for amateurs some good collections of blooms 
were shown. The finest collection of thirty-six single trusses was 
staged by Mr. C. M. Davies, Grammar School, Aynhoe, Banbury. His 
blooms were exceptionally fine and fresh, and the varieties well chosen. 
George P. Hawtrey, Esq., Aldin House, Slough, followed with a col¬ 
lection of great merit. For twenty-four single trusses J. T. Strange, 
Esq., Aldermaston, Berks, the Rev. E. L. Fellowes, and Mr. C. M. 
Davies carried off the prizes with excellent blooms in fine condition. 
For twelve Teas or Noisettes Mr. G. P. Hawtrey was an excellent 
first, followed by Mr. C. M. Davies and the Rev. E. L. Fellowes, all 
staging fair specimens. 
The most important amateur class was that for twenty-foirr varie¬ 
ties, single trusses. The chief position was awarded to the Rev. C. 
Eddy for admirable blooms of good substance and colour, Marie 
Baumann being particularly fine. Mr. William Freeman closely 
followed the Rev. E. Renwarne Wellings, Stamford Vicarage, Far- 
ringdon, Berks, and Mr. Alfred Evans, Marston, Oxford. For eighteen 
varieties Mr. Davies easily obtained the chief award with good and 
[ July 8, 1880. 
fresh blooms. Mr. J. Bradley, Christchurch College, Oxford, was 
second with a neat collection, the two remaining prizes being secured 
by Mr. J. Freeman and Mr. J. Tranter. Six entries. Mr. A. Evans 
had the best twelve single trusses, followed by Mr. J. Wheeler, the 
Rev. E. L. Fellowes, Mr. Freeman, Mr. A. Callcutt,and Mr. H. Poulter, 
Oxford. For six trusses of one variety there were seven entries, the 
prizes being obtained by the Rev. E. Renwarne Wellings, Stamford 
Vicarage, Farringdon, Berks, first with La France, very fine ; Mr. 
C. Callcutt, Holywell Street, Oxford, second with Louis Van Houtte, 
fair ; Mr. W. T. Barnes, Cowdey Road, Oxford, third with Marquise 
de Castellane ; and the Rev. E. L. Fellowes, Wimpole Rectory, 
Royston, Cambridgeshire, fourth with Baronne de Rothschild. 
For six triplets Mr. Callcutt and Mr. Henry Poulter, George 
Street, Oxford, were the prizetakers with fair examples. The best 
twelve triplets were from the Rev. C. Eddy, Bramley Rectory, 
Basingstoke, who staged a very neat fresh collection, including 
good blooms of Duke of Edinburgh and Marquise de Castel¬ 
lane. The Rev. E. L. Fellowes was a close second, the Rev. E. 
Renwarne Wellings third, and Mr. W. Freeman, Queen Street, Oxford, 
fourth, there being five entries. Six single trusses were well shown 
by Mr. F. Harris, Walton Crescent, Oxford ; Mr. Way, Jesus College ; 
Mr. F. Collins, and Mr. W. Harris, all of Oxford, who obtained the 
prizes in the order named. The prizes for six Teas or Noisettes were 
obtained by Mr. Alfred Evans, Marston, Oxon; Mr. J. Wheeler, 
Kingston Road, Oxford; and Mr. J. Tranter with small blooms. 
Strawberries were shown by Mr. G. Prince, Mr. C. Callcutt, Mr. 
E. Collins, and Mr. C. Taylor, who gained the prizes in the order 
named with fine fruits of President and James Veitch. Collections 
of Roses ■were also exhibited by Messrs. Cranston & Co. and Mr. 
George Prince, not for competition. 
PRIMROSES AND POLYANTHUS. 
The Polyanthus. —Having shown, I hope satisfactorily, that 
the Primrose, the Cowslip, and the Oxlip are quite distinct from 
one another, I shall now proceed to an account of the most im¬ 
portant of the varieties which have emanated from them, and 
which has been called the Polyanthus. 
Like many other plants that are subjected to cultivation, the 
Primrose, the Cowslip, and the Oxlip sport into various forms and 
colours widely different from those of the wild types when grown 
in gardens or raised from seeds of cultivated plants, and the Poly¬ 
anthus is one of them. It is supposed by some to have originated 
from,the Oxlip. There is, however, no good ground for this 
belief. I have no doubt that the form which we call Polyanthus 
has originated from all three. After considerable experience in 
raising large numbers of seedlings annually I am convinced that 
the Polyanthus comes as much from the Primrose as from the 
Cowslip or Oxlip, although from its blooming in the form of an 
umbellate scape it may be supposed that it comes from the two 
latter. These seedlings when they bloom produce all the three 
normal forms, and there are frequently many of the Cowslip while 
there are few of the Primrose and Oxlip. 
In speaking of the Polyanthus it must be borne in mind that I 
am alluding to the border Polyanthus in any remarks I am about 
to make. I have not had any experience with that form of the 
flower which is called the florists’ or laced Polyanthus, yet I have 
no doubt that its origin is the same as that of the border varieties. 
There are therefore two distinct sections of the Polyanthus, one 
represented by the florists’ or laced Polyanthus, and the other by 
the border flowers, or such as are grown for garden decoration. 
The laced Polyanthus is a plant of comparatively modern origin. 
I can find no account of it in the works of the old florists of the 
seventeenth century, nor even in those of the early part of the 
eighteenth. The early editions of Miller’s Dictionary make no 
mention of them, nor does Bradley appear to have known them, 
though he was a constant visitor among the nursery gardens of 
London in his time. In the last edition of the Dictionary edited 
by himself Miller speaks of the Polyanthus having been much 
improved during the last fifty years ; but this improvement, I 
suspect, refers to the border varieties, and not to the prize flower 
of the florists. It was not till towards the end of the last century, 
when a standard of merit was set up by the Lancashire florists, 
that the characteristics of a prize Polyanthus were fully set forth, 
and a strain selected in accordance with this standard, which has 
remained distinct to the present time. The most distinguishing 
character of the prize Polyanthus is the smooth laced edge of the 
corolla, and hence they are called laced Polyanthuses. 
Of the border Polyanthus there are two distinct forms which were 
recognised by the old florists, and which are equally well marked 
now as they were long ago. These are the Primrose Polyanthus 
and the Cowslip Polyanthus. I herewith furnish illustrations 
representing both of these ; fig. 6 (page 25) being that which has the 
Primrose for its original, and fig. 8 (page 31) that which comes from 
the Cowslip. On referring to these it will be seen that the Prim¬ 
rose Polyanthus has the calyx tubular with long sharp teeth, and 
