May 36, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
891 
early spring, especially the double forms. I do not recollect 
observing the pale double, called here Sulphur Crown ; but the 
flowers of Orange Phoenix and Butter and Eggs are abundant 
everywhere for sale, coming in about the end of February. They 
are grown in the villa gardens and the peasants’ vegetable grounds, 
as well as in all the nurseries ; and next to the large double yellow 
seem to be the commonest of the genus in cultivation, and the 
greatest favourite with the French. But the natural history of the 
species is rather obscure. It occurs single in two or three forms, 
and is found in meadows, borders of vineyards, and such-like 
places, but never, like the pseudo-Narcissus, in woods. It is 
thought by French botanists to be a natnralised plant, and not 
indigenous, even if it is a true species at all. About two miles to 
the north of Bayonne is a peasant’s plot, at the edge of which is a 
steep rough bank, not suited for cultivation, and this is crowded 
with several kinds of Narcissus, probably none of them native to 
the spot, though no one can remember the time when they were 
not there ; at any rate, they live under protection, and I believe 
this is the case wherever N. incomparabilis occurs plentifully— 
namely, that it may not be gathered without leave of the proprietor 
of the farm. 
The single form which grows on the bank I have mentioned 
has the crown deeply stained with orange. Mr. Barr says that it is 
identical with the variety to which he gives the name of Titan. 
I was told that the same grew at other places near Bayonne. The 
common single form was frequent in the market, and what were 
not from cultivated ground were said to be brought chiefly from 
meadows near Peyrehorade. I observe that Willkomm, in his 
“Flora of Spain,’’ treats this species only as a hybrid form, 
and some other botanists have held the same opinion about it. 
—C. WOLLEY DoD. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTES ON HARDY FLOWERS. 
Gentiana acatjlis. 
Gentians are among the most beautiful of hardy flowering 
plants. G. acaulis is the most common and generally grown, but is 
still none the less beautiful, having flowers of a deeper and more 
intense blue colour than can be found in almost any other genus. 
As an edging to beds and borders it is exceedingly attractive, form¬ 
ing a dense green carpet of foliage which makes a pleasing contrast 
to the bright blue flowers. These are produced in great profusion 
at the present season of the year. All Gentians are extremely 
sensitive of the root disturbance caused by their being divided or 
transplanted, consequently any that are established should be 
allowed to remain, unless their removal is an absolute necessity. 
Doronicum plantagineum excelsum. 
This is, I think, one of the best hardy herbaceous plants. It is 
seen to the greatest advantage when planted in fair sized clumps at 
intervals on the herbaceous borders. It grows to a height of about 
3 feet, producing its bright large yellow flowers freely during the 
month of May. It is also very useful for cutting purposes, lasting 
a long time in water. 
Fritillaria imperialis. 
This plant is very handsome and well worthy of a place in 
every mixed border, making a very effective display during the 
months of April and May. The flower stems rise to a height of 
2 or 3 feet from the ground, and support at their summits a circle 
of bell-shaped flowers, about the size of ordinary Tulips, varying 
in colour from yellow to crimson, which are surmounted by a ciown 
of leaves. F. meleagris (or the Snake’s-head Lily) is also very 
attractive at this season of the year. 
Arabises and Aubrietias. 
Most members of the genus Arabis are well adapted for rock- 
work and the Alpine garden, both from their natural hardiness and 
their early and profuse flowering. They are of the easiest possible 
culture in any dry soil. For a permanent edging or spring bedding 
they are amongst the best plants in cultivation. The Aubrietias 
are a comparatively small genus of beautiful hardy evergreen 
trailers. Being only about 4 inches in height, and of a creeping 
habit, they are admirably adapted for planting on rockwork. I 
think A. Leichtlini is far the most beautiful of them, and its rich 
crimson flowers are produced in such abundance at this season of 
the year as almost to conceal the plant. Where a stock of old 
plants exist layer the long slender shoots any time after flowering 
in sand and leaf soil ; they will root freely and establish themselves 
in time for spring blooming, for which purpose, when grown in 
masses, they are most useful. 
Triteleia uniflora, 
the spring Star-flower as it is more commonly called, is deserving of 
notice, its lovely bluish white star-shaped flowers being very effective 
during April and May. It is well adapted for planting in sheltered 
corners amongst short grass, and as the foliage dies down early in 
the summer the mowing is in no way interfered with ; but although 
very pretty for a season or two it does not permanently hold its 
own under such conditions. It forms a good bulbous plant for 
pots, flowering profusely in the early spring. The flowers open in 
brisht and remain nearly or quite closed in dull weather.— 
G. Parrant, AsJihy St. Leger Lodge, Rugby. 
exhibitors, or Etse exhibitions, bad such a difficult year to contend 
against as that of 1891. Taking the country throughout, very great 
injuries were inflicted on Kose plants generally, and especially upon the 
Teas, by the severity of last winter, and the aggregate losses must have 
been considerable. The spring and summer also proved unseasonably cold 
and backward ; in fact, so much so, that none but the earliest districts 
were well represented at either the Tea and Noisette Show at West¬ 
minster, or at the Metropolitan Exhibition. The flrst of these Shows, 
although a small one, contained several stands which were surprisingly 
good considering the season. The Crystal Palace Exhibition proved as 
extensive as usual, but, from the causes referred to above, the general 
quality of tbe flowers was necessarily below the average. On the other 
hand, the Exhibition held at Hereford nearly a fortnight later proved in 
every way a great success, and was, with one exception, the largest pro¬ 
vincial Show the Society has yet held.’’ Tbe financial statement is very 
satisfactory, there being a balance of upwards of £40 on the year’s 
working. The Tea and Noisette Exhibition will be held at the Drill 
Hall on June 2l8t; the Metropolitan Exhibition, at tbe Crystal Palace, 
on July 2nd ; and the Provincial Exhibition, at Chester, on July 14th. 
Judging Roses. 
I AM very sorry that, as I said at first, Mr. Biron and I cannot 
understand each other. I cannot make out the relation of his last 
letter to our former ones at all ; but I should, be glad to see a little 
discussion on another point in the subject of judging, of which I am 
reminded by the question, “Are we to give a point or points to such a 
Rose as a Charles Lefebvre, the size of Duchesse de Cajlus?” I 
should say, “ Treat it just as if it was a Duchesse de Caylus ;but 
believe some would not agree with me in this. They would say the 
Charles Lefebvre is undersized, but a Duchesse de Caylus of the same 
bulk would not be. This would not be judging all the hi oms in one 
box by the one chosen standard, but having a separate s andard for each 
variety ; and this would be against the rules, which further hint that 
such a system should not be pursued by saying that no special favour 
should be showm to Teas. 
I called attention to this subject two or three years ago in the 
Journal by relatir g that, when judging triplets of Teas on a certain 
occasion with a well-known judge, he gave a certain amt unt of points 
to a triplet of Jules Finger, whicb had passed to the horrid livi 1 hue so 
characteristic of that variety. On my pointing out that the colour was 
positively ugly, while form and size were not first class, he replied “ Oh, 
that is the nature of the beast 1 ’’ And what I asked then without 
response, and now ask again, is, Are we to judge by our own chosen 
standard or are we further to consider “ the nature of the beast V I 
have heard it remarked in judging, “ Oh, it is a good bloom for the 
sort,” or, on the other hand, “ Being the sort it is it ought to be bet er,” 
and I think that such considerations ought to have no weight, and that 
beyond seeing there are no duplicates, and that the blooms are correctly 
named, we should in giving points pay no further heed to the varieties. 
We have chosen our standard, and if a bloom falls short of it it must 
take the consequences, whether the fault rests with the variety or the 
individual.— W. R. Raillem. 
Faded Roseb. 
Mr. Geo. Paul, writing from High Beech, Leighton, says : “ If 
you think any of my opinions of sufficient value, by all means use 
them. Tbe ‘ Pear Book’ is not here to hand, but I do not think that 
in my paper there I at all valued colour too highly. The question is 
this : A flower to be fit to be shown should be as far as possible perfect 
in some more or less degree in kll three points—form, colour, and size. 
If it be defective in any of tbe "three points it is a bad flow'er, and 
should count as such. Surely a fiowerout of shape (misshapen) of that 
particular sort is bad, surely a.much undersized flower of a variety is 
bad—ergo, a flower of which the true colour is faded is bad. Some 
