October 7, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
323 
peerless, is Her Majesty Queen of the Belgians. I have sunk this in 
pots outside in my beds this summer, and of all others similarly treated 
the white has remained pure. Snowball is said to do the same, but 1 have 
not tried. Of rose colours Edith George finds it difficult to displace in 
pnblic favour the fine pleasing older beauty, Kate Greenaway; and 
similarly of pink shades, Mrs. Strutt only comes second to Eurydice. 
Of salmons, there is no hesitation in placing Lady Chesterfield first and 
best, though Fanny Catlin is still an old and good variety. The blush 
and oculated section has many representatives, such as Edith Little, 
Mary Caswell (dwarf habit), and perhaps best of the class, Norah, violet 
blush, very large truss. Lastly, the most numerous section was the 
scarlet and magenta scarlet, all with blooms perfect circles, and in most 
cases with flat overlapping petals. I noted only Dante, magenta purple ; 
Plutarch, scarlet, white eye; Scarlet Cloth, Swanley Gem, crimson 
shaded salmon ; and lastly, Mr. H. Cannell, grand truss. 
Double Ivy-leaved Zonals. —A short time since this class was 
very limited, now they require a separate house. Madame Thibaut, the 
prima donna of last year, has to yield this to Fiirstin J. Yon Hohen- 
zollern ; and so grand strides are being made every year. A capital 
half-dozen doubles, would be Le Printemps, rosy pink; Hanoi, reddish 
salmon, best noted ; Daniel Brothers, magenta ; Emille Lemoine, orange 
scarlet; Mignon, salmon ; and Abel Carrifere, magenta maroon; but I 
must add that beautiful light-coloured variety Jeanne d’Arc. These 
evidently have a bright future, and wherever we found them bedded 
—and the instances were numerous, the tall-growing being pegged down— 
they added immensely to the effectiveness of the arrangements, and 
caught the eye at once— e.g., in the London parks, Hampton Court, 
Phoenix Park, Dublin, and numerous private gardens. Their great fleshy 
leaves make them indifferent almost to dry weather outdoors, so that 
owing to their adaptability (I am including the singles), their culture is 
likely to be much extended in the future. 
Double Tuberous Begonias. — If Swanley has hitherto been 
remarkable for Pelargoniums in their several sections, judging by present 
appearances, Tuberous Begonias will be the flowers of the future there. 
So great is the improvement, and so steady the demand, that Messrs. 
Cannell devote eight houses to their growth, with numbers of heated pits 
for propagation, while two large houses alone are devoted to growing for 
trial. What would have been considered splendid blooms a few years ago 
are ruthlessly “ rogued out ” and consigned to the waste heap now. Anew 
seedling must have some special quality to recommend it, either in size, 
habit, or colour, and be a distinct advance on older varieties, or away it 
goes. A special hybridist, with a numerous staff, is here employed, 
having this for a primary object. I have extreme hesitation in naming 
any varieties, as others almost equally good are here by the hundred, and 
in the ease of some favourites, as the beautiful Rosamonde, rosy pink, 
large and very double, for which the demand is great, may be counted by 
the thousand. However, I must ask you to allow me to note a few that 
particularly struck me. Among the newer introductions, Susanna 
Hachette, of Crousse, comes as one of the best rosy pinks—of erect habit. 
Perhaps I should have placed first, Hon. Mrs. Plunket and Picotee—this 
last receiving a first-class certificate, and that all Begonia connoisseurs 
should have as one of the best novelties—raised here. Eupon Von 
Erfurt, new, crimson orange, fine shape. Gloire Claremont, peculiar in 
not being merely double but treble, a splendid rose crimson. Dr. Baillon, 
deep rich salmon, had a dozen large erect blooms on a small plant that 
had been in flower for two months. Of much the same character were 
two more of Crousse’s, M. Paul de Yicq and Louise de Goussaincourt, 
light salmon and rosy carmine respectively. Coming to those of longer 
established reputations, M. Malet and Eugenie Lequier are fine among 
orange scarlets; while very curious, with notched and serrated edges, are 
Clovis and Esther, the guard petals of the latter being rosy crimson. 
Before passing from the orange scarlet, Louis Bouchet must be re¬ 
commended as a very free bloomer, with erect flowers and fine habit; 
furnished all over. Major Studdert (new), orange rose, deserves notice. 
Yellows, like whites, that are really good, are still few. The newest and 
best seemed to be Pavilion Jeanne ; after that, Gabrielle Legros. The 
last is one of the gradually increasing class with several centres ; in fact 
half a dozen doubles rolled into one. As I mentioned whites, Octavie, 
pure white, first-class certificate (if I remember rightly), deservedly comes 
first, then Fleur de Thd and Lucie Lemoine, and for habit and floiiferous- 
ness, Yirginalis. If two more are desired Madame Yincenot and Antoi¬ 
nette Guerin, creamy white, are capital. Of deep red or crimson I 
cannot remember seeing anything yet finer or so large as Goliath. We 
were assured the enormous blooms had been on the plants five weeks, and 
are fresh still. Fine for a basket would be M. Duvivier, rose ciimson. 
The rosy pinks are much esteemed, and one of the best we saw seemed 
Madame Castaignez, virtually hid with bloom. I have already mentioned 
Rosamonde, and will but add Madame Arnoult and Flamme de Punch. 
Lastly, of salmons, I would place first Mr. Poe, with a shade of china 
rose, and then the better known Marie Crousse, Jules Lequin, and then 
Madame Galle, more recently introduced, concluding with M. Truffaut. 
Single Begonias. —Having been tempted to note double Begonias 
so fully, less space remains for singles, more especially as Messrs. Cannell 
have now such enormous numbers, and in most instances of such 
superior quality that naming becomes impossible except some great 
novelty. Hybridising is constantly going on, one of the objects aimed 
at being rotundity and massiveness of flower, so that almost circular 
flowers are being gradually attained. Narrow side petals are now 
discarded, and petals of thin papery texture are rarely met. I must not 
forego noting the following new introductions — Earl and Countess of 
Bessborough, shades of yellow, and so distinct as to receive first-class 
certificate ; H. and Mrs. H. Cannell, rose scarlet and rose respectively ; 
King of Begonias, Midson’s Favourite, and W. E. Gladstone, all distinct 
advances, and that when in commerce all will so admit. While we 
visited one of the best whites yet introduced, of immense size and sub¬ 
stance, was named Helena Malcomson, a fair lover of flowers near this 
town, while a lovely rose-pink of wondrous size was associated with the 
name of one of your correspondents. 
Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks— These are all specialties, and 
the extent of the growth may be inferred from two acres being full of 
plants layered, most of them even rooted then, while for cutting one 
house was full and in bloom of the beautiful new yellow Carnation Pridj 
of Penshurst. This blooms freely outdoors, and indoors can be had in 
quantity at Christmas. All the newest and best varieties, especially those 
raised by Mr. Dodwell, are here in fine condition, besides the old kinds, 
the trees, and those best suited for borders. 
Miscellaneous. —We next reach the Verbena house, and I took 
notes of the newest varieties, and was very much struck with the size 
of the trusses and the grand colour arrangements. Then in succession 
came the Fuchsias, single and double, finished blooming with few excep¬ 
tions, and containing all the recent introductions, such as Generals 
Gordon and Roberts, Ixion, &c. Of Lee’s newer varieties, among the darks 
was James Welch, Mr. F. Bright, and Emperor; of the lighter corollas 
conspicuous were Diadem, Lee’s Excelsior, and Nellie, all likely to be much 
grown by-and-by. Oae of the most important houses for autumn bloom¬ 
ing was the Salvia, just coming to be brilliant. The colours varied from 
rose to scarlet, from blue to purple, striped, and curiously intermixed ; 
some tall and others dwarf, and subsequently, when we went out into the 
nursery proper, numbers were planted out to retard for late blooming. 
Then in a house Bouvardias, single and double, were most refreshing, a 
peculiarity of their culture here being that they are grown rather as cold 
greenhouse than stove plants. The Petunias seemed to be declining, 
some of the best and most distinct being marked as seed bearers, while 
others had been hybridised to secure a desired point of excellence. We 
were next ushered into perhaps the most brilliant houses of the whole, so 
far as richness of foliage, deep delicate rich tinting of blooms, and the 
surprising size and forms and numbers of flowers can testify—I mean the 
Gloxinia houses, of which there are three. No word painting could give 
an adequate description, so after a hurried run through the propagating 
houses, the two new Chrysanthemum houses building for show purposes, 
and a peep at the numerous pits and frames, we are in the open air with 
acres of flowers on every side. Any one square would require a page of the 
Journal, but as I have already exceeded my most sanguine intentions in 
reference to this intrusion I merely name the thousand odd varieties, 
distinct, of Chrysanthemums, all the Dahlias worth growing, new and old. 
Mr. Rose and Lady E. Dyke (new) had first-class certificates I see within 
past month. Antirrhinums, Asters in variety, splendid ; Gladioli, several 
acres of Roses ; Lilies, Pansies and Violas, Violets, Pentstemons, and the 
whole Primula family, especially Polyanthuses, &c. Feeling the inade¬ 
quacy of this reference, yet conscious of the demands on your space, 
I here finish, expressing our acknowledgments for the great courtesy 
of Mr. Cannell, his family and staff.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
THE NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
During the past season (of which I hope to give my usual review 
very soon) one subject was frequently brought before me in the 
north by both amateurs and professional growers—viz., the offering 
of a challenge cup or trophy for the Provincial Exhibition. It has 
now become recognised that the intention of that Exhibition was to 
give northern growers the opportunity of exhibiting with some hope 
of success, and their complaint is that they are virtually excluded 
from any hope of obtaining that coveted prize. It may be replied 
that the amateurs’ prize was once taken by Mr. Whitwell from 
Darlington. True, but that is a thing which is not likely to occur in 
a lifetime, and anyone who knows anything of northern Roses knows 
that it is a forlorn hope which a grower has to lead when he enters in 
the first week of July into competition with the Rose growers of 
Essex, Hertford, Berkshire, or Devonshire, and that some oppor¬ 
tunity should be given to him later in the day to try his mettle. The 
nurserymen’s trophy has been always awarded to southern growers, 
having been taken every year except one by Mr. B. R. Cant of 
Colchester. The amateurs’ has never gone farther north than Essex 
except in the one instance named, having gone to Devon, Hereford, 
and Essex. I would therefore suggest, in accordance with the 
requests made to me that I should ventilate the subject, that 
endeavours should be made to provide subscriptions from each section 
of exhibitors, and I can only say if it will facilitate matters that I 
shall be very happy to receive names or contributions. It should 
be, I think, understood that it is only to be competed for by those 
living beyond the centre of England. A line should be drawn across, 
defining what is to be considered northern, and I suppose it would be 
necessary to make a special class for it; but these details might be 
left to after consideration, and I suppose the correct thing would be 
to offer the cups or trophies to the Committee of the National Rose 
Society in the same way as was done with the present trophies or 
with cups given by individuals. I do not in this instance write as 
Secretary of the 'Society, but simply in my private capacity as a 
