2 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 5, 1893. 
call it the rage ?—for Orchids, the most notable event in connec¬ 
tion with which has been the sale of the large collection at 
Blenheim, of which the death of the Duke of Marlborough caused 
the dispersion towards the close of the year. It was more 
remarkable for its extent than for the rarity of the plants, 
although some fetched high prices, and the whole realised about 
£5000. But while one grower thus passes out of our view others 
come in to fill the gap, and there does not seem at present any 
/ikelihood of the love for them waning. Many of them are so 
exquisite for personal and house adornment that in this direction 
there is an ever-increasing demand. 
Amongst other fiowers the Chrysanthemum, Begonia, and 
Dahlia still maintain their popularity, while the Carnation as a 
border flower has advanced considerably. The new productions 
in border Carnations, raised by Mr. Martin Smith at home and 
Mr. Ernest Benary abroad, have enriched us with many beautiful 
varieties, and I think we may reasonably hope for better things 
to come. The advance has been most noticeable, especially in 
the yellow grounds, and those who, like myself, can remember 
when some half-dozen of these constituted our whole supply, may 
well be astonished at the wealth of varieties we now possess. 
The Chrysanthemum, especially the Japanese section, may be 
said, I think, to be the most popular flower of the day. Easily 
grown ; coming into flower at a time when, except to the com¬ 
paratively rich, flowers are scarce ; accommodating themselves to the 
back garden of the artisan as well as to the conservatory of the 
wealthy, it is no wonder that its votaries are so many and their 
enthusiasm so great ; and then so wonderful are its capabilities 
that we cannot say where we may stop as to either size or colour. 
Indeed as to the former I fear we are in danger of running into 
excesses in this matter. Mhen you get a flower like Etoile de Lyon 
some 15 or 18 inches across, one may fairly say that size has 
been obtained at the expense of refinement. 
I fancy there is a lull in the taste for Begonias, except perhaps for 
bedding out; and in truth it is difficult to see what more remains 
to be done In size we have I believe exceeded both in singles 
and doubles ; in fact, I do not see the beauty of these immense 
flowers. What we do want to see, and what I hope we may get, 
is a race that will, like the Gloxinia, hold itself erect, as does 
that most exquisite double flower of Cannell’s, Rose-bud. We 
have also an amount of striped or flaked flowers, and this will 
probably make them of increased interest. The lovers of the 
Dahlia, too, are still energetic in its cultivation, and if the 
production of novelties does not keep pace with that of former 
years it is probably from the same cause—that it does not seem 
likely we can advance much further. There seems to be a limit in 
these things. The Show Pelargonium, the Fuchsia, the Cineraria, 
and the Calceolaria have passed through these various phases, and 
now no one looks for any novelties in these flowers. The Auricula 
still maintains its character as the florists’ flower of the few, and 
although there have been additions to the ranks of its growers, 
especially in the south, they are after all but a handful in 
comparison with those who cultivate the Rose, or the Chrys¬ 
anthemum, or the Dahlia. But few additions are made to it, and 
these additions are but the shadows that flit across us and then 
vanish away to reappear a dozen years hence. With the exception 
of seifs we rarely get any that will push the older varieties out 
of the way. The late Mr. Woodhead’s varieties, and two or three 
of Mr. Simonite’s, are desirable ; but otherwise the older sorts still 
hold the fort. 
The flowers which have been certificated during the past year 
have been as numerous, if not more so, than ever ; there have been 
altogether awarded this honour 648. This does not imply that all 
are new, for we have such plants as Fiitillaria aurea included 
amongst them, but in the case of garden varieties it does imply 
that they are novelties, and it will give some idea in which direc¬ 
tion popularity lies when I say that amongst Orchids there have 
been thirty-eight Cypripediums and thirty Cattleyas, showing that 
these are the two most popular of this gorgeous and beautiful 
class of plants. Then there have been certificated thirty-nine 
Begonias, twenty-four Carnations and Picotees, forty-six Chrys¬ 
anthemums, forty-six Dahlias, twenty Gladioli, and thirteen Roses. 
We must be prepared to find that the greater number of these 
have but an ephemeral existence, and perhaps some of them may 
never be heard of again. I do not think that there has been any such 
excitement over any new plant as we have witnessed in former 
years. A good deal of interest was aroused in a flower of the 
singular Aristolochia gigas exhibited at one of the meetings at 
the Drill Hall, but it is not a new though a most remarkable 
flower. 
The character of the past season must have rather damped the 
ardour of those who have looked to fruit-growing as the salvation 
of the British farmer, for it has been of a very varied character ; 
for while in general Plums, Apples, and Pears, and especially the 
latter, have been a failure, enormous crops have been gathered in 
some places, and those who have been thus favoured have realised 
large sums of money. The most valuable event in connection 
with this was the grand trophy exhibited to the Lord Mayor’s 
Show by the Fruiterers’ Company, and arranged by Mr. George 
Bunyard of Maidstone. It was composed entirely of British- 
grown fruits, most tastefully arranged, and formed one of the 
most attractive features of the day. 
The Gardeners’ Guild has evinced new symptoms of life, and 
is diligently aiding in the general attention given to horticulture, 
while the two societies which are intended to help the aged and 
the orphan, the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution and the 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, are in a very satisfactory condition. 
The Horticultural Club, too, which for eighteen years has played 
a not unimportant part in bringing together into social contact 
all classes of horticulturists, also had a prosperous year. Its 
meetings have been well attended, and its advantages much appre¬ 
ciated. 
And now I come to what is ever a sad thing, to call over the 
death roll and see who have dropped out of our company during 
the past year. While many good and excellent men have passed 
away, many of whom have been much valued amongst a limited 
class, there has been no very prominent name removed from 
amongst us. To me, the greatest blank is that left by my old friend 
Margottin pere of Bourg la Reine, near Paris. He was my first 
Rose acquaintance abroad some nearly forty years ago, and I ever 
retained a great regard for the honest man that he was. He had 
raised some good Roses in his time, and although many of them 
have passed out of cultivation as exhibition varieties, Jules Mar¬ 
gottin and others will, I think, long retain their position as 
garden Roses. His two latest additions, Gloire de Bourg la 
Reine and Gloire de Margottin, are two of the most brilliant 
flowers we have, and if not up to the front rank as exhibition 
Roses, will be very valuable ones for the garden. He was just my 
own age, and many a pleasant chat have I had with my old friend, 
and it is somewhat curious that when I had definitely determined 
that I would not again cross the Channel he should have passed away. 
Another name associated with my early gardening reminiscences was 
Ambrose Balfe, who died just at the close of last year, and who 
for a long period had been the admirable Secretary of the Rojal 
Horticultural Society of Ireland. In Mr. W. H. Fitch, whose 
personal acquaintance I did not enjoy, has passed away one who, 
as a botanical artist, was long employed on Curtis’ “ Botanical 
Magazine.” Many will miss the cheery countenance and pleasant 
words of Mr. John Matthews, the well-known manufacturer of 
garden pottery at Weston-super-Mare, although of late years 
increasing ill health has precluded him from joining in those 
meetings of horticulturists which he used to delight in attending. 
In garden literature there has been no change, the weekly 
journals devoted to the calling keep on their way, and I think we 
of the Journal may safely congratulate “ owr revered chief” on 
the continued vigour which has characterised it. Long may he 
