182 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Manoh 2, 1893, 
fig. 37 shows well prepared and weakened Potato sets with resulting 
crops. 
The Primer will be useful for distribution amongst cottagers and 
allotment holders, and not less so to young gardeners ; also to some who 
are not very young, as well as to amateurs, while it contains points for 
dilation by lecturers. Copies can bo bad from booksellers, not from the 
author. 
National PvOse Society—Teas in Mixed Classes. 
This is a subject which is often discussed with bated breath at com¬ 
mittees, and referred to in other places as a matter that must be set 
right, but so far I think those who see some grievance in the fact of 
an unlimited number of Teas being allowed to be shown in the mixed 
classes have a following which has hitherto been small, and in the 
future is likely to entirely disappear. 
It would in an early year be a very dangerous rule for our Society 
to enforce the exhibition of nothing but H.P.’s in the mixed classes, 
and our champion amateur rosarian practically settled the question 
recently, when he gave it as his decided opinion that it would never do 
even to limit the proportionate number of Teas an amateur should 
exhibit in a mixed box, as he might find it difficult to put up forty- 
eight varieties. 
There can be no question that a few Tea Roses lighten up a box 
made up principally of H.P.s. There can be no contrast so effective as 
that of a good yellow such as Marechal Niel or Madame Iloste with 
reds like Charles Lefebvre, A. K. Williams, or Victor Hugo, and the 
white Teas also give a refining tone to a mixed box which adds to its 
beauty without iletracting from its merit. Moreover, “J. B.” should 
bear in mind as a sound and experienced judge that no special merit or 
weight is now attached at any good Rose show to the fact of Teas being 
in a mixed box, as the Teas must be of a size and finish quite on an 
equality with the H.P.s shown in the same class. 
The only people who are likely to demand or have spoken of such 
restrictions as “ J. B.” thinks necessary (and even their cry from being 
“ mezzo-forte” sometime back is now becoming decidedly “piano”) are 
rosarians who hardly grow any Teas. As, however, the culture of Tea 
Roses is extending rapidly there will before long be very few non¬ 
growers of this the most desirable class of all. It would be a bad day 
for the N.R.S. if they ever place any such restriction as the one now 
being discussed. It would, as far as I can see, help no one, and it would 
seriously militate against the effective appearance of our large exhibitors’ 
boxes, which would look most monotonous if only shades of reds and 
pinks predominated. However, from a recent slight trial of strength on 
the question, one could see that at present the opinion against “ J, B.’s ” 
proposition is overwhelming, and such being the case it is not in the 
least likely at any time to be carried.— Charles J. Grahame, Croydon, 
The National Rose Society’s Metropolitan Show. 
Your correspondent, “ W. E.” page 131, asks why the Royal Botanic 
Society has not been approached on the subject of holding the Metro¬ 
politan Exhibition there. Now in my previous communication I said 
that everything had been tried in London for that purpose, and when 
the break up occurred at South Kensington I was deputed by the 
Committee to approach this Society, and I may say of all the impracti¬ 
cable bodies I had to do with this was the most so, and after a long 
consultation with its Secretary, I left, and reported to the Committee 
that nothing could be done ; they would give no subsidy, no privileges 
to members, and, in fact, would do nothing to meet us ; and so this, 
like many other proposals of a similar character, fell to the ground.— 
D., Deal. 
The Rose Derby.” 
I HAVE no wish to continue this discussion, the weight of argument 
and the trend of public opinion in general with regard to all societies 
which call themselves “ National ” is towards a more national policy 
than at present prevails. But as my veracity on one point—viz., the 
length of Mr. Grahame’s membership of the N.R.S.—has been challenged 
by him (he would have rrs conclude he is a very old hand), and although 
I have offered to apologise if I am wrong, he has done nothing to 
explain away the fact that his name does not appear in the lists of 
members of the N.R.S. for the years 1885, 188G, 1887, and 1888, nor, for 
aught I know, in any preceding year. It is an easy matter to correct 
this if it is wrong. 
The argument from length of membership taken by itself may be 
nothing, but becomes something when taken in conjunction with other 
limitations which have been previously noted, together with the fact (if 
I am inaccurate he will kindly enumerate other shows) that Mr. 
Grahame has no personal acquaintance with Rose shows north of the 
Trent, except in the case of Chester last year.—J. H. P. 
Roses v. Lilies. 
High treason ! The Lily put forward as not inferior to the Rose. 
And this in the very home of the Queen of Flowers, for it is Dr. Wallace 
of Colchester (page 128), where the finest Roses in the world are grown, 
who raises the standard of revolt. Well, a loyal subject as I hope I 
am, must needs do battle for the Queen, so forward with all courtesy 
to the fray. 
Fragrance is the first point chosen, to be sure a matter of opinion ; 
but can it seriously be denied that some Lilies at least are unpleasant in 
odour to most people ? And is that true of any Rose ? The prevalent 
opinion I think is that the scent of all bulbous flowers is apt to become 
disagreeable in a close room or in large quantity, but whoever had too 
much of the fragrance of a Rose ? For lasting as a cut bloom the Lily 
must have a point, and the Rose can afford it; the Queen does not tarry 
till you tire of her. 
“Under glass you may have Lilies all the year round in bloom, not 
so Roses.” I am astonished. Not at Colchester ? then surely elsewhere. 
I forget which year it was that I gathered a Rose out of doors in Suffolk 
in each of twelve successive months, but it was duly recorded in the 
Journal of Ilortipulture. Can Dr. Wallace point to a similar reeord 
with Lilies I 
“ No comparison in grace and stateliness.” This, again, must be a 
matter of opinion ; for “high art” or ecclesiastical paintings the formal 
precision of the Lily is certainly more suited, but this style would by no 
means be considered the ne jdus ultra by many. 
Dr. Wallace admits the Lily is more difficult to grow, and will not 
suit so many positions as the Rose, but claims an absence from green fly 
and caterpillars for his prot6g6. We will admit these two points as 
cancelling one another, and indeed I do not blame insects for preferring 
to feed on Roses rather than Lilies. 
The defence is sufficient, I think, and the queen can afford to show 
her magnanimity by declining to attack in her turn. There is plenty of 
room for both flowers, and even for enthusiasm on the subject of Lilies 
without finding fault with the universal homage offered to the Rose. I 
think (was it not lately shown in the Journal ?) that the verdict of the 
poets is plainly and strongly in favour of the generally acknowledged 
queen. Why, even when Swinburne sings of 
“The Lilies anil liEgnors of Virtue 
And the Roses and raptures of Vico,” 
he chooses and cries aloud (alas !) for the latter. 
Formality at Rose Shows. 
“ W. E.” (page 131) complains of formality at Rose shows. He wants 
informal and graceful masses of decorative and buttonhole Rosea, and 
other changes. To this it must be answered that at Rose shows in 
general, and at a large part of the Metrop-olitan Show, the Rose is treated 
as a florist’s flower, and judged according to rules. All informal exhibits, 
such as bouquets, must be judged according to the individual taste 
of the Judges, which is less satisfactory to the competitors than 
acknowledged rules. Why not “the names of the Roses very much 
en evidence?" A large portion of the spectators, as may plainly be 
seen, take the greatest interest in the names, and it would be a hardship 
to them if the cards were not legible. I fear they are not so clear as 
they might be in some cases. Then there are classes for garden Roses 
and for buttonholes ; and I am sure the exhibits in the latter class of 
Mr. Mattock of Headington are masses of bloom, and very beautiful. 
I, too, have called out for “ plenty of space ; ” I wish we may get it. 
But I cannot think why “ W. E.” wants “ American ” prizes.— 
W. R. Raillem. 
STAKVED MUSHROOMS. 
It may seem somewhat of a misnomer to term Mushrooms, growing 
from a bed of manure, starved, but it is a correct definition in many 
cases. Manure utterly devoid of moisture offers very little more 
support to Mushrooms than the poorest dry soil, and not so much as 
might be derived from the latter after it has been well moistened. 
When, therefore, a very dry bed produces Mushrooms, these are poor 
and dry, though no more so than might reasonably be expected from 
such starvation treatment. Unless the manure can be kept sufficiently 
moist to be constantly, though very slowly, fermenting and decaying, 
there is nothing to support the Mushrooms, even though the spawn may 
have run well. A fairly good first crop may be obtained, then all is over. 
Instead of this comparative failure it ought to be possible to have one 
extra heavy first crop, and one or two fairly good successional supplies 
from each bed. Last November our first bed in a heated house com¬ 
menced bearing early in November and yielded freely well into December. 
Since then we had a very acceptable second crop, and a third now show¬ 
ing thiough the soil promises to be even more satisfactory. The secret 
of success would appear to be in providing enough, and only just 
enough, moisture in the bed, and a gentle heat in the house. Of 
bottom heat, that is to say, inherent heat, there is, nor has been at any 
time, next to none ; the trial sticks, whenever tried, nearly always 
feeling comparatively cold and moist. 
For some time past I have been under the impression that too much 
importance is attached to having a strong heat in the bed when spawned. 
Doubtless the spawn runs the most freely in a temperature of 85° or so, 
and experts advise spawning when the heat has declined to that figure, 
though some recommend 90° “ with a downward tendency.” Supposing 
the manure has been well prepared, and the bed formed when the 
manure is in both a sweet and semi-dry state, the heat recommended for 
spawning is safe enough as a rule; but all the same it would have been 
better that such high figures had never been reached. These high 
