June 15, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
487 
ringdove, however, has redeeming points, its plaintive coo, roo, coo, coo, 
is'a pleasant sound at early morning in spring woodlands, and in the 
winter it is a real sporting bird, and excellent eating. 
The injury done by rooks has often been much exaggerated by 
farmers and others. If we put aside those periods of the year when 
it levies contributions on the newly sown corn, especially when badly 
covered, the time when the corn is ripening, injury done to stacks and 
Swede Turnips in severe weather—we have pretty well enumerated all 
the charges brought against him. All the rest of the year he is ridding the 
pastures of injurious grubs, such as the larvm of the cockchafer (Melo- 
lantha), and of the cranefly (Tipula). In recent years rooks, in those 
districts where they are too many, or short of food in a drought, have 
been accused of developing egg-stealing propensities, and harrying the 
nests of game birds and wild fowl, and killing the young, and we are 
afraid he is not altogether guiltless in this respect. 
The starling, considered from an agricultural point, is the greatest 
possible friend both of farmer and gardener, its food during the whole 
of the year consisting of grubs, small molluscs, worms, and insects, and 
only very occasionally fruit and berries. In the autumn immense 
flights of migrating starlings come to us from the Continent ; these are 
an Eastern race, distinct from our common bird, and have purple 
heads and green ear coverts, and they leave the country in the spring. 
In conclusion, to sum up the evidence both for and against, as 
placed before us by the able ornithologists in Mr. Watson’s book, it 
is abundantly apparent that the case for the prosecution falls very far 
short of the defence, and that the verdict must be an acquittal for the 
birds, both as regarding individual species and in the aggregate, with 
an admission that the benefit they confer upon man is far in excess of 
the injury. There is one exception to this, and that is the ubiquitous 
and all-devouring sparrow. 
“ 0 wretched set of sparrows, one and all.” 
Perhaps no greater mischief is done than by that large class of senti¬ 
mental writers who are ever ready to exaggerate the good qualities of 
their feathered favourites and to minimise the evil. It must, however, 
be apparent to the dullest intellect that no wild bird is able to draw a 
line between the natural production of the soil and those seeds and fruit 
which are the results of man’s industry.— John Coedeaux (in Natural 
Science'). 
PANSY SHOW AT THE MOSELEY BOTANICAL 
GARDENS, BIRMINGHAM.— June 6th and 7th. 
The Exhibition of these flowers on the above date, although not a 
large one, brought out a number of very fine new varieties, and these 
were well arranged in the handsome library of the College. For forty- 
eight blooms, open to all, Messrs. Pope & Sons, Kings Norton Nurseries, 
Birmingham, was first with a stand of good flowers, Tom Travis, Henry 
Eckford, Mrs. Mark, Mi.ss Hudson, James Campbell, George Anderson, 
and Kate McArthur especially good blooms. There was no other com¬ 
petitor in this class. 
In the class for twenty-four blooms of Fancy Pansies, open, Mr. 
Irvine, florist, Tighnabruaich, N.B., was first with grand blooms of 
Arthur Eaton, Mrs. M. Cuthbertson, Mrs. James Brown, Tom Travis, 
John Knox, Miss Cullens, Mrs. T. Ritchie, Dr. Bostock, and others. 
Messrs. Pope & Sons, King’s Norton Nurseries, were second, and in this 
stand iwere excellent blooms of John Morris, a rich coloured bright 
seedling of great merit; David Rennie, Henry Eckford, Tom Travis, and 
Mrs. Hugh Weir. Messrs. Kimberley & Son, Stoke Nursery, Coventry, 
were third ; and Mr. T. M. Eglington, Birchfields, Birmingham, fourth. 
For eighteen blooms, open, Mr. Irvine was first; Mr. A. C. Christie, 
Shifnal, second ; Messrs. Pope & Sons, third ; and Mr. Wm. Fletcher, 
Shifnal, fourth. In the open class for twelve seedling Pansies Mr. 
Irvine was first, and some of them were very fine. Messrs. Pope & Sons 
second, and their seedling John Morris was good in this stand. Mr. 
A. C. Christie was third. In the classes respectively for eighteen and 
twelve bunches of Violas Mr. W. H. Gabb, Small Heath, was first, 
amongst his varieties being Annie King, Lady Amory, Bridesmaid, 
Master of Arts, very fine ; Spotted Gem, William Neil, Gipsy Queen, 
Mrs. Charles Turner, Sir Joseph Terry, Duchess of Albany, Dorothy 
Tennant, Dean’s Golden Gem, Mrs. Wm. Frater, Dean’s May Queen, 
and Duchess of Fife. 
Mr. J. Egginton, Wolverhampton, sent (not for competition) a fine 
display, including a superb bloom of James Swan, and fine blooms of 
George Henderson, J. D. Irvine, Lord Hamilton, and Mr. T. Crosby. 
Mr. Wm. Sydenham, Tam worth, also contributed a very fine display 
of Fancy Pansies, for which a first-class certificate was awarded. 
Amongst these Arthur Eaton, Tamworth Curate, John Lamont, Tam- 
worth Yellow, Rev. C. Grossly, Mrs. C. L. Carnegie, Mrs. J. D. Crooks- 
bone, John Allen, Mrs. W. Prater, Emmie Stuart, James Campbell, 
Victory, and Dr. Harrison were very fine. 
Mr. Andrew Irvine, Florist, Tighnabruaich,. N.B., contributed some 
very grand seedling Fancies for exhibition, but as there were not the 
required three blooms of each only three first-class certificates were 
awarded to his new varieties—viz., Mrs. Spence, a grand white self with 
superb blotch, an extra fine flower ; to English Yellow, a medium sized, 
very refined fiower of exquisite quality, golden yellow with perfect blotch; 
and to John Black, a grand bronzy crimson self of large size and 
the finest quality. First-class certificates were also awarded to Mr. 
T. D. Stuart, Malone, Belfast, for Emmie Stuart, a grand rosy pink- 
tinted flower, distinct and of the finest quality ; and to H. W. Clark, rich 
golden yellow with superb blotch and dark top petals and very fine. A 
first-class certificate was also awarded to Mr. J. Smellie, Florist, Busby, 
Glasgow, for Mrs. Wm. Watson, an improved Mrs. John Downie. 
Mr. Irvine had some more splendid seedlings, amongst them Dora 
Dean (Stuart), a flower of the finest quality ; Nellie Gabb, a beautiful 
yellow with clean blotch, which is continued in the upper petals ; Mrs. 
Sherrard, carmine tinted flower ; Maggie Lockhead, light flower with 
large blotch ; Mr. R. Stark, very bright ; Mrs. T. Morton, fine ; William 
Hill, a grand rich flower of great substance, and extra fine ; Mrs. 
Herbert, of Archie Buchanan style, but finer, with shoulders high and 
close ; Annie Hill, a rich flower with superb blotch, and of the finest 
form ; and C. H. Herbert, a very distinct rich coloured flower and extra 
fine; Mr. E. D. Martin, white tinted with lilac and large blotch, 
Mr. I, D. Stuart, Belfast, sent several blooms each of some beautiful 
seedling Violas, many of them being so distinct and of such fine 
quality that first-class certificates were awarded to Carissima, veined 
rosy lilac and white ; Erin, a very fine rich violet, striped and clouded 
flower ; Diva, snow white, and entirely rayless, small flowers; Hibernia, 
rich purple striped, distinct and fine form ; Commodore, pale blue 
lavender, a most pleasing shade of colour, and an acquisition ; Mary 
Stuart, white of fine form, and entirely rayless ; Mrs. Joseph Chamber- 
lain, suffused rose and lilac ; Con. O’Neil, white striped with rich violet 
purple, very bright; Lady Dufferin, white, clouded and striped with 
lilac ; Lovelight, white, with a Picotee edging of lavender. Mr. Stuart 
has evidently a fine strain of seedling Violas, and he is equally fortunate 
in seedling Fancy Pansies, being the raiser of some of the fine seedlings 
shown by Mr. Irvine, and such flowers as Mrs. T. D. Stuart, Emmeline, 
and many others, 
A tray of very fine Mushrooms grown under the arches on which the 
college is built was shown by Mr. Ross, 
EARL’S COURT ROSE SHOW. 
June 14th and 15th. 
A supplementaky Show of Roses was held at the Gardening 
and Forestry Exhibition, Earl’s Court, on the above dates. This was 
practically the first Rose Show of the season, and notwithstanding the 
prolonged drought the blooms staged were of first-rate quality. Both 
the open and amateurs’ classes were well filled, and in some instances 
the competition was very keen. 
In the class for thirty-six Roses, distinct, single trusses, Mr. B. R. 
Cant, Colchester, secured the leading prize. The blooms were very fine 
and freshly coloured. The best of the varieties shown included Gustave 
Piganeau, A. K. Williams, La Havre, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Prince 
of Wales, Horace Vernet, and Sultan of Zanzibar. Mr. Frank Cant, 
Colchester, was a close second, the blooms in this stand being perhaps a 
little smaller, but of excellent form. Grace Darling, J. D. Pawle, 
Prince Arthur, A. K, Williams, and Etienne Levet were very good in 
this contribution. Messrs. G. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
were third with flowers that would in some instanees have taken a 
premier position. 
For twenty-four, distinct, single trusses, Messrs. D. Prior & Son, 
Myland Nurseries, Colchester, were awarded the first prize. The flowers 
were fresh and well coloured, especially Victor Hugo, Gustave Piganeau, 
Annie Wood, and Abel Carri^re. Mr. G. Mount, The Nurseries, Canter¬ 
bury, was second with excellent flowers ; the third prize going to Messrs. 
G. Cooling & Sons, Bath, for a stand of fresh blooms. _ The competition 
in this class was very close, there being no less than eight exhibitors. 
In the class for twenty-four Roses, distinct, three trusses of each, 
there were six competitors, including some of the leading growers in 
the country. Mr. B. R. Cant, however, proved the winner after a keen 
contest, staging flowers of medium size, but remarkable for their colour. 
Mr. F. Cant was a close second. The third prize went to Messrs. D. Prior 
and Son, Bath. 
The Tea and Noisette Roses were very fine. In the class for eighteen 
varieties, three trusses of each, Messrs. D. Prior & Sons, Colchester, were 
awarded the first prize. The best blooms in this stand were Catherine 
Mermet, Marie Van Houtte, Madame Lambard, Jean Ducher, Innocente 
Pirola, and Ernest Metz. Mr. Frank Cant was second with a stand of 
neat blooms, the third prize going to Mr. George Prince, Oxford. The 
latter’s stand included some grand blooms of Princess of Wales. Mr. 
B. R. Cant was awarded an extra prize in this class. Messrs. D. Prior 
and Sons were also first with eighteen Teas and Noisettes, distiiict, 
single trusses. The flowers were excellent, the best being Catherine 
Mermet, Adam, Rubens, Marie Van Houtte, and Jean Ducher. Mr. 
G, Prince was a good second, the third prize going to Mr. J. Bradbury, 
gardener to S. P. Budd, Esq., 8, Gray Street, Bath. 
In the amateurs’ class for twelve trusses of any Teas or Noisettes 
C, J. Grahame, Esq., Coombe Road, Croydon, was awarded first prize, 
showing neat blooms of Hon, Edith Gifford, A. H. Gray, Esq., Beaulieu, 
Newbridge, Bath, was second with well coloured Mardchal Niels, Mr. J, 
Bradbury being third. R. L. Knight, Esq., Bobbing, Sittingbourne, was 
awarded first prize for twelve Teas or Noisettes. This stand comprised 
Souvenir d’Elise Vardon, Ernest Metz, Mardchal Niel, Comtesse de 
Nadaillac, Catherine Mermet, Scipion Cochet, Madame Cusin, Hon, 
Edith Gifford, The Bride, Jules Finger, Anna Ollivier, and Souvenir de 
Paul Neyron. Mr. J. Bradbury was second ; and Mr. Mease, gardener 
to A. Tate, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, third. For twelve trusses of 
any Tea or Noisette (open) Messrs. D. Prior & Sons were first with 
fine blooms of Marie Van Houtte ; Mr. Frank Cant was second with a 
box of Hon. Edith Gifford ; and A. H. Gray, Esq., being third with 
Mardchal Niek 
