472 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ June 23, 1892. 
Thomas Garrett, distinct and fine ; Mrs. Hanbury, a fine promising 
grower ; Earl of Warwick, a light flower with dark top petals and 
solid clean rich blotch ; Home Rule, a claret-shaded flower, with dark 
blotch and good form ; and Mrs. J. D. Stuart, a light flower with a 
very dark, almost black, clean-cut blotch. 
In the general collection I noticed some which will be discarded 
and must make way for finer sorts. But there are a great number 
of beautiful flowers, the following amongst them—viz., David 
Rennie, very fine ; James Binning, Lord Hamilton, Royal Sovereign, 
very bright in the rich gold colour ; Conqueror, a fine flower ; 
Neil Leitch, Mrs. John Downie, Lord Bute, John Lament, Mrs. 
Duncan, Mrs. Hugh Weir, extra fine ; Donald Morrison, J. S. 
Irvine, Mrs. John Ellis, Pilrig, Edith Ellis Brown, James 
Alexander, Kate McArthur, Maggie A. Scott, Maggie Lauder, bright 
and fine ; Mrs. Freeland, Mrs. Mark, William Evitts, Arthur 
Folkarde, Robert Stobbie, Weir’s Hugh, Tom Travis, a grand 
flower ; Miss Helen Hunter, Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs. Lister, Agnes 
Mabel, Henry Eckford, Mary Sydenham, and many others. 
Amongst so many it is difficult to select only a dozen or two, but 
from the sorts I have named first-class flowers can be selected. 
Of course watering in dry weather has to be seen to, but the 
river runs close by, so that water is very accessible, and a little 
mulching of decayed manure will be used should dry hot weather 
set in. One most essential point in the successful cultivation of 
the Pansy should be borne in mind, but unfortunately is not 
generally, and that is early planting. Pansies should be planted 
if possible not later than the beginning of May, earlier if possible, 
so that they may get established before hot dry weather sets in. 
Many are purchasing now, but if failure follow the fault rests 
with the buyer, for newly planted out Pansies and Violas cannot 
resist safely the influence of hot dry weather and sunshine, and 
small unsatisfactory flowers follow even if the plants make head¬ 
way. Those who wish to have Pansies in their full beauty of size, 
form, and colour, should purchase in the autumn, and give them 
a little protection in very bad weather. The Pansy is quite a 
hardy plant, but suffers from blustering winds and an excess of 
wet and dampness in bad weather.—W. Dean. 
BRITISH FERNS. 
Under the auspices of the Brighton and Sussex Horticultural 
Improvement Soeiety, Mr. J. Lewis of Preston Road, Brighton, read an 
able and interesting paper in the Imperial Hotel, Brighton, on “ British 
Hardy Ferns.” There was a large attendance of members. The chair 
was at first taken by the President (Mr. C. W. Catt), and later on by 
Mr. W. Balchin. Mr. Lewis said that in his opinion the Ferns of Great 
Britain were equal, if not superior, to those of any other country for 
gracefulness and beauty ; besides, all being hardy, they might readily 
be cultivated by the humblest grower. British Ferns were especially 
adapted for cultivation in large towns, in places where almost all 
flowering plants refused to grow. Most persons in the most thickly 
^populated districts had some space at the back of their houses, and with 
very little trouble or expense these could be made to look very attrac¬ 
tive for several months in ».he year, and many a window from which the 
prospect was only a blank wall might be made to look cheerful and 
comfortable by training a fernery of the hardiest species around it. 
Again, how often they saw in various papers devoted to horticulture 
questions asked as to what were the best Ferns for rooms. Several of 
the varieties of British Ferns were admirably adapted for this purpose, 
more especially the Scolopendriums and Polysiichums. 
Altogether there were forty-two species of British Ferns—he was 
referring of course to those found wild in the United Kingdom and the 
Channel Islands. He partieularly drew attention to this as, although 
there were only forty-two species, there were upwards of 2000 varieties, 
some of them of the most lovely description, and so utterly and entirely 
different from the normal form, that if asked to assign some of these to 
their partieular speeies very few persons would be able to do so. Mr. 
Lewis proceeded to lucidly explain a large number of species of Ferns 
and some of their many varieties, illustrating his observations with a 
considerable number of very flne specimens, and with drawings, sketches, 
and photographs. 
Coming to the propagation of Ferns and the wonders of the spore, 
he said the reproduction of Ferns from spores was one of the most 
interesting studies the botanist could follow. There was an essential 
difference between the Fern spore and the seeds produeed by flowering 
plants. In the case of flowering plants the seed was the product of a 
fertilised flower, and, when sown, the immediate offspring was a plant, 
like the parent, and eapable of producing flowers in its turn. It was 
not so with the Fern spore, which was not the product of fertilisation, 
nor did it produce directly a plant anything like the parent, but another 
kind of plant, a kind of small green scale called a “ prothallus.” Upon 
this, on the under surface, there were then produced certain organs akin 
to flowers,which,in a second germination, became fertilised and the young 
Fern was produced. Many of the beautiful varieties of British Ferns 
that were now extant were hybrids, but it had been only during the last 
few years that botanists would admit that Ferns eould be hybrids. There 
was no doubt that if spores of different varieties of Ferns were mixed, 
there was every prospect of obtaining several new and beautiful Ferns. 
Rose Show Fixtures in 1892 
June 23 (Thursday).—Ryde. 
„ 28 (Tuesday).—Maidstone. 
„ 29 (Wednesday).—Brighton*, Farningham, Ipswich, King’s Lynn*, 
and Richmond (Surrey). 
„ 30 (Thursday).—Canterbury, Eltham, and Winchester, 
July 2 (Saturday).—Crystal Palace (N.R.S.) 
„ 5 (Tuesday). — Bagshot, Hiss, Earl’s Court*, Gloueester, and 
Sutton. 
„ C (Wednesday).—Brockham, Croydon, Farnham, and Hitchin. 
„ 7 (Thursday).—Bath, Lee*, Norwieh, Windsor, and Woodbridge, 
„ 9 (Saturday).—Reigate. 
„ 12 (Tuesday).—Hereford and Wolverhampton.f 
,, 13 (Wednesday) Tunbridge Wells. 
„ 14 (Thursday).—Helensburgh. 
„ 16 (Saturday).—Chester (N.R.S.), 
„ 19 (Tuesday).—Mo.seley* (Birmingham), and Tibshelf. 
„ 20 (Wednesday).—Christleton. 
,, 21 (Thursday).—Trentham and Worksop. 
„ 23 (Saturday).—Bedale and New Brighton. 
„ 28 (Thursday).—Halifax and Southwell. 
„ 30 (Saturday).—Ripley. 
* Rose Shows lasting two days, f Rose Show lasting three days. 
—Edward Mawdey, Rosehanh , Berhhamsted , Herts . 
Ipswich Rose Show. 
As will be seen by advertisement this Show will be held on June 29th. 
Varietal Characteristics. 
I HAVE not a word to say against the N.R S. removing Duchesse 
de Caylus out of the list of exhibition varieties, but all the same I 
should estimate a well-grown and really good bloom of that variety 
more highly than an ill-grown and obviously faulty Charles Lefebvre, 
or any other Rose. It is clearly desirable to discourage the growth of 
inferior and promote that of superior varieties ; but I hold firmly to the 
idea that superior eultivation in whatever variety represented should be 
recognised. As a matter of faet, it is recognised by all the best 
judges with whom I have been associated, not in Rose classes alone, 
but in everything exhibited. 
It is not often that the “premier” prize is adjudged to the largest 
example in competition, but if it is of full size aecording to the variety 
and is remarkable for the combination of other properties—namely, 
colour, symmetry and substance, it then stands higher, and justly so, 
than does another example, be it Rose or Apple, that in its nature is 
larger, but is marked by defects in other essentials that go to make up a 
perfect specimen. 
If floral and horticultural societies do not recognise superior 
cultivation as well as improved varieties they only do half their duty, 
and I am not sure it is the best half. The most skilful cultivators and 
exhibitors may safely be trusted not to overlook improved forms ; they 
are quick to see and secure them, and the relatively inferior are discarded 
with little compunction. 
If a judge does not know he ought to know the typical standard of 
excellence of each variety of flowers, fruit, or vegetable brought under 
his notice. In Roses it is easy enough to keep the ideals in mind, and 
so far from my regarding Mr. Raillem right in his views, as weighing 
the matter from a “twelve blooms of a sort” test, I hope he will not 
mind my saying I think just the reverse ; moreover, I am almost, if not 
quite, convinced that if he were judging a number of “twelves” he 
would grant the awards on the principle w'hich he does not appear to 
approve. He would do this, unconsciously perhaps, but do it all the 
same, because from what I have seen it prevails in all well judged 
exhibitions. 
It is all very well in theory to have a one-size standard for all 
varieties, but in practice it will not work, and the greatest combination 
of points of excellence represented in individual varieties is bound to 
turn the scale in their favour. Therefore it is that we see so many 
stands of large bloom varieties at the tail end of the prize lists beeause 
better examples of naturally smaller varieties force their way to the 
head. 
My ideal of excellence when judging is the most perfect representa¬ 
tion of highly finished cultivation and arrangement at the moment of 
adjudication. What is Mr. Raillem’s ?— An Old Showman. 
Catherine Mermet. 
This Tea-scented Ro^e is admirably adapted for training underneath 
gla'S roofs or round pillars in a greenhouse. One growing in a narrow, 
well-drained border in the conservatory here and trained to wires at 
the west end of the house has grown and flowered freely during the 
last twelve years. It is in fine condition, and is now showing a second 
crop of blooms this year, the first being produced early in spring, 
continuing to flower until the end of the first week in the present 
