218 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 7, 1893. 
them, one being devoted to Shows and Fancies, another to Cactus and 
decorative, a third to Pompons, and a fourth to singles, besides borders 
of Tom Thumbs. They were in full beauty, and produced a magnificent 
effect, hundreds of thousands of brilliant flowers dazzling the eye. A 
choice dozen of the Cactus and decorative group, worth growing every¬ 
where, are Delicata, Robt. Cannell, Mrs. Peart, Ernest Cannell, Sir 
Roger, Duke of Clarence, Beauty of Arundel, Bertha Mawley, Crawley 
Gem, Edith Cheal, Countess of Radnor, and Duchess of York, The 
purely “ decorative ” varieties will soon be out of date. Twelve splendid 
Pompons, chosen from a most extensive collection, are Sunshine, Arthur 
West, Boule d’Or, Tommy Keith, Phoebe, Geo. Brinckman, H. G. Searle, 
Grace, E. F. Jungker, Whisper, Burydice, and Lady Blanche. A dozen 
beautiful, distinct, and free-flowering singles are Formosa, Gulielma, 
Northern Star, Eclipse, Amos Perry, Evelyn, Miss Glasscock, The Bride, 
May Sharpe, Aurora, Duke of York, and Kitty. The Tom Thumbs are 
flowering freely and brightly, particularly Mignon, Bantam, Houp-U, 
and Canary. 
I had wished to make some reference to the trees and shrubs, but 
must leave them for the time at least. The Dartmouth, John Downie, 
Transcendent, and Red Siberian Crabs, Prunus Pissardi, the Thorns, 
the Acers, the Golden and Cornish Elms, and the Conifers are pictures 
of health and beauty. No one need wish for a finer stock. They form 
with the fruit trees a monument to the success which has followed a long 
and arduous struggle with a stiff, unkindly, but withal fertile soil. 
Energy and determination, supported by cultural skill, have proved the 
conquerors, and a fiftyfold increase in the productiveness of the land is 
at once the reward and the justification of those who have triumphed. 
—W. P. W. 
National Rose Society, 
I AM confident that whatever other effect my circular may have 
produced, it is a pleasure to have drawn so reticent a man as Mr. 
Mawley into an active correspondence in your Journal. One would 
think from Mr. Mawley’s letter on page 201 that I had issued a series 
of questions involving charges of the most terrible character, as his 
reply contains such expressions as *• fearful crime,” “ searching examina¬ 
tion,” “ spotless record,” and other terms which are suggestive and 
certainly invite a reply. 
Let us see then how others look on the management of the Society, 
A writer in a contemporary (whose identity I am unable to fix), 
under the appropriate pseudonym of “ Lux,” says “ there is a strong 
element of conservatism in nearly all these special societies, and 
the general plan is to get everything cut and dried at a nice tea party 
sort of meeting.” I think “ Lux ” accurately describes the Committee 
meetings of “ our beloved National Rose Society ”— a stock phrase of 
endearment peculiar to “ E. M.,” who will presumably be glad to answer 
a few questions that I will put to the Secretaries, 
1, Does either of these gentlemen know of any Society of standing 
whose Committee meet to transact business once a month, and manage 
to properly discuss the affairs and current work of the Society in the 
space of about one hour ? 
2, Do the Secretaries know of any Society whose members are 
enrolled without any election, who prior to enrolment are asked no 
questions, and for whom no one is responsible ? 
3, Would the Secretaries say how many inquiries they received as to 
the “character” of my private circular, the receipt of which inquiries 
they state urged them to make the circular a subject for public notice 
and repudiation ?— Charles J. Grahame, Croydon. 
Tea Rose Ernest Metz. 
I HAVE sent some blooms of the above Rose for your inspection, 
and probably you will agree with me that it would be difficult to 
name any other kind more beautiful at this time of year.— Benjamin 
R. Cant. 
[We do agree with our correspondent in this respect. The blooms 
were beautiful, being deep, large, handsome, delightfully fresh, and 
of a delicate blush pink, shaded carmine at the edge of the petals. 
Obviously Ernest Metz, like the majority of Roses, thrives at Colchester.] 
Tea-scented Roses. 
I AM much obliged to “ D., Deal," for the information he gives me 
in your issue of last week. I have, however, been for some time familiar 
with the fact that L’Ideal is a Noisette (hybridised, nevertheless, with 
the Tea-scented class, and therefore closely allied to these) ; likewise 
that Cheshunt Hybrid—a Rose which ought, if only for its fragrance, to 
be valued more highly than it is by exhibitors—is a Hybrid Tea. I am 
interested to find that your correspondent assigns to the same category 
Gustave Regis, which is one of the most beautiful of modern Roses, 
especially when in bud. At this stage of development it rivals L’Ideal 
and William Allen Richardson. Noisette and Tea Roses succeed 
admirably in my garden (Wigtonshire) grown in the open air, and they 
require during the winter but little protection. Among these are those 
somewhat delicately constituted v® ’s\<tties of the Noisette class, Marechal 
Niel and Cloth of Gold. But then we are encircled on all sides (save 
one) by the sea, and have from the Atlantic the mitigating influence of 
the Gulf Stream.— David R. Williamson. 
Rose-growing and Pressing in Saxony. 
The experimental Rose' plantations started two years ago in the 
neighbourhood of Leipzig have given such brilliant results that they are, 
the Belgian Consul states, being extended. The plants have thriven 
well through the long and severe winter of 1892-93, and their condition 
in May left nothing to be desired. It has been shown that it was a 
false idea to suppose that these flowers require Oriental heat to prosper 
and acquire a delicate perfume ; the experiments at Leipzig having 
proved that a cool temperature, and even a little damp, is the first 
condition of a good yield, whilst great heat is the enemy of Roses. A 
special factory has been established in the middle of the plantations by 
the house which made the first experiments, and it is to be put in 
operation this summer. Provision is made for dealing each day—we 
quote the Consul—•“ with 50,000 kilogs. of leaves, “ producing, at least, 
about 40 kilogs. of oil, water, and pomade of Roses, valued at 40,000 
to 50,000 marks. To start with the factory will have three boilers 
providing 300 square metres of heated surface, and the Roses will, 
immediately they are plucked, be transferred to the macerating jars, 
where, thanks to this procedure, they will deposit their perfume in all 
its freshness and delicacy. Only the quantity of leaves required at the 
moment will be collected, a few minutes sufficing to transfer the leaves 
from the plants to the machines.” “Commerce” of the 26th July 
adds : “ This expedition is favourably contrasted with the procedure 
followed in Turkey and in France, where frequently the Roses plucked 
in the morning are only distilled in the evening. As to the oil of Roses 
produced in Saxony during last year, it is claimed that not only did it 
not fall short on comparison with the Turkish product, but that it was 
better than its rival in delicacy and strength, and the lasting character 
of its perfume.”—(“ Kew Bulletin.”) 
A MELON NOVELTY. 
Enclosed herewith you will find a seedling Melon plant, respecting 
which I shall be glad to have information. Three days ago I sent to 
table a very fine looking Melon Prince Arthur ; when it was cut, the 
seeds inside were found to be germinating, and showing various stages 
of plant development. The plant sent was the most advanced, the 
stem 2 inches long, and the cotyledons well formed. What appears to be 
the most remarkable in connection with this matter is the chlorophyll 
in the leaves. How did this get there? Is it possible that sufficient 
light could penetrate the skin and flesh of the fruit to produce it ? The 
skin of this Melon was particularly thin, and the flesh very transparent. 
Would the unusual hot sun which we have had account for the seeds 
germinating inside the fruit ? I have frequently seen split Melons 
with young plants growing out of them, but this Melon was perfectly 
sound, very smooth, and of handsome appearance. It had been cut 
from the plant, and placed in a cool vinery three days previous to 
being sent to table. Any information respecting it will be accept¬ 
able to both my employer and myself.— Thos. ARNOLD, The Gardens, 
Cirencester House. 
[The Melon plant received had a stem 2 inches long, with roots in 
formation and well developed cotyledons of a pale green colour. Our 
correspondent is no doubt right in his conjecture. The requisite con¬ 
ditions for germination were present—namely, heat, moisture, and 
oxygen gas, this being an essential constituent of water, while sufficient 
light from bright sun passed through the thin rind and transparent 
flesh for the deposition of chlorophyll in the cotyledons. The seedling 
was quite healthy, and would undoubtedly have grown satisfactorily if 
established in soil under suitable cultural conditions. Just as preparing 
for press a correspondent, “ Muriel Grahame,” informs us of a similar 
instance in a Lemon, green growths from the seed nearly half an inch 
long and roots of the same length when the fruit was cut open.] 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
The last issue of the Jo7irnal of Horticulture, August 31st, con¬ 
tained a most interesting report of the Shrewsbury Horticultural Show 
(page 203), a report which I should like every individual connected with 
horticultural societies to read and inwardly digest. If societies and 
their secretaries generally would try and imitate the policy pursued by 
the Shrewsbury friends we should hear less of failure, and soon find a 
very different feeling to exist between societies and exhibitors. 
In my opinion your correspondent in his report of Shrewsbury Show 
hit the nail on the head. If societies are to be successful they must not 
only gain the confidence and good wishes of the public, but must 
endeavour by every legitimate means in their power to retain their 
supporters. It frequently occurs to me that Show Committees are 
consumed with the idea that they are conferring a boon on the horti¬ 
cultural community by providing a Show, and that exhibitors ought to 
meekly submit, “ and feel grateful ” for the niggardly treatment so 
often meted out to them by many societies. If such societies find their 
entries and funds gradually declining year by year they certainly have 
nobody to blame but themselves. Show Committees would do well to 
bear in mind that they cannot very well get on without the aid of 
exhibitors if they would, who frequently travel many miles at great 
inconvenience and expense to contribute the shows. 
