July 28, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
75 
Large and Small Rose Groavers. 
Remembering my correspondence of last year as to the 
desirability that each exhibitor should show only according to the 
number of plants he grows, it is pleasant to read that through 
the influence of Mr. Graham and Mr. Bateman their efforts and 
exertions have had such satisfactory results, and they, with others 
who assisted in so desirable an end, are entitled to the thanks of 
all the small Rose growing exhibitors (myself among the number) 
for surmounting the difficulties attending their task, and I now 
hope the affiliated societies will follow the good example set, and 
with the same satisfactory results.— An Exhibitor. 
Notes on tiie National Society’s Show at Chester. 
In a climate so variable as ours, and in a month which has 
of late years shown an unpleasant tendency to wear more the 
character of April than of its own traditional bright warm suns, 
everything that depends on weather is doomed to experience 
vicissitudes, and consequently the National Rose Society, which 
holds its annual Provincial Exhibition in the month of July, has in 
its record of fifteen years to tell of bright and fine days, as at 
Hereford last year ; but it has also had very frequently to tell 
of leaden skies, and damp, and unpleasant experiences. I am 
convinced that amongst our records the day at Chester will ever 
hold a prominent place for the utterly unpleasant and miserable 
state in which the members found themselves. From morning 
until late in the evening there was an unceasing downpour of rain, 
and as the Exhibition was held in a tent in a field where the grass 
was long, it may be readily imagined in what discomfort exhibitois 
found themselves. It was not possible to set up the flowers (as is 
generally done) in the open under the lee of the tent, all had to be 
done under cover, and it may consequently be imagined that there 
was no little difficulty. Thursday, the day originally fixed, was 
fine, and, as is generally the case when dates are changed, it turned 
out that it would have been better to have adhered to the original 
day, had that been possible, but apparently that could not be, and 
as in all such matters the Society submits to the guidance of the 
local authorities, the day was changed. 
Having thus looked at the disagreeable side of the picture 
let us look at the Exhibition from the Rose lover’s point of view ; 
and here I have no hesitation in saying that it was the grandest 
Exhibition of the year, and I think also the very best both in 
extent and quality that the Society has ever held. It is of course 
always difficult to carry in one’s mind the shows of former years, 
but I think my verdict is a correct one. When the season was 
about to open I had various letters on the subject, and my own 
opinion was not a very favourable one, and also even now it is very 
difficult to say ; but this I venture to affirm, that Roses have been 
shown of such surpassing excellence that it would be hard indeed 
to say it was not a good Rose year. As usual some flowers were 
shown of such a quality as perhaps they had never been seen 
before. Ethel Brownlow, which had been so well shown at 
Hereford, was also exhibited in great beauty at Chester, and will 
certainly take a high position in its beautiful class, which it need 
hardly be said was seen in great perfection. It is a good 
Tea year, and when we have contests between such redoubtable 
growers as the Rev. F. R. Burnside, Mr. Hill Gray, and others 
amongst amateurs, and Mr. George Prince, the two Cants, and 
Messrs. Paul & Son amongst nurserymen, it may safely be 
concluded that the battle was pretty fierce and the contest very 
sharp. Madame Cusin was shown in excellent condition, and so 
also was Marie Van Houtte, some of the blooms with the exquisite 
lemon shading, and the pink edge to their petals were most lovely. 
Comtesse de Nadaillac also asserted herself, although I question 
whether in point of colour it was equal to what I have seen in 
other years from the same growers ; neither did Anna Ollivier 
stand . out so prominently, although it was very fine in Mr. 
Burnside’s stand, who gets a colour into it one does not see 
elsewhere. 
Comte Raimbaud as shown by the Rev. J. H. Pemberton was 
very fine, mer ting the distinction it obtained of the National Rose 
Society s medal, while the Gustave Piganeau for which Mr. Merry- 
weather obtained the like award was a splendid flower; but there was 
one flower in the same stand to which I should have been inclined 
to give the aAvard,a glorious bloom of Gloire de Margottin. It was 
the most brilliant coloured Rose I ever saw, as near scarlet as any¬ 
thing could well be. Hitherto we have looked upon this flower 
more in the light of a garden Rose than of an exhibition flower, 
but here it was fully up to this character, being full, deep, and large 
petalled, while the colour was magnificent. A stand of twelve of 
Gustave Piganeau, for which Messrs. Merryweather & Son obtained 
the first prize for the best twelve dark Roses of one sort, was very 
fine ; but in truth there were so many grand blooms that it is 
difficult to particularise. One cannot omit, however, Her Majesty 
as shown by Mr. Frank Cant. Never has this Rose been shown to 
such perfection. It was large without being coarse, and its exquisite 
shade of colour made it very taking, but then one wonders how 
many plants there were and how many of the blooms were of this 
standard of merit. 
There were not many seedlings exhibited, but they were of 
great interest, and it was felt by a good many that it was a great 
pity that the rules of the Society did not permit awards of first- 
class certificates to those varieties which were not deemed worthy 
of a gold medal. This coveted prize was awarded to Messrs. 
Alex. Dickson & Son of Newtownards, the raisers of Earl of 
Dufferin, Margaret Dickson, and other fine flowers, for a Hybrid 
Tea. Its mother parent Avas La France, which the late Mr. 
Bennett used to say would never bear seed. It is of a very 
beautiful shade of red, very free flowering, and likely to be a 
valuable garden Rose. It is devoid of that magenta tint which 
makes many Hybrid Teas most objectionable. There were two 
remarkable sports of Heinrich Schultheis exhibited by Messrs. 
Harkness & Son of Bedale, and curiously enough both off the same 
branch. One was an excellent white, and the other a beautiful 
striped flower, not like that dingy abortion Piide of Reigate, but 
more in the style of Village Maid, or what is ordinarily called 
York and Lancaster. This will, I have no doubt, be an effective 
garden flower if it remains constant. Mr. Swales had also a pretty 
Rose, of which we may, perhaps, hear more some day. 
Everything that could be done was carried out by those who 
had undertaken to manage the Show—the Rev. Lionel Garnett, Mr. 
Laurence Garnett, and Mr. George A. Dickson ; while the practical 
details were carried out by Mr. Taylor of Hoole Hall, with whom I 
had a pleasant chat about Auriculas, and Mr. Earlham of Christleton, 
while Mr. Jeffery carried out the Secretary’s part efficiently under 
considerable difficulties. It would be ungenerous to close these 
brief notes without alluding to the kindness of the Mayor, who 
not only allowed the Show to be held in his beautiful grounds, 
but entertained the Judges and exhibitors at luncheon in his own 
house. In fact, as I have said, there was only one thing to be 
deplored, and that was the weather, but for that all would have 
gone merry as a marriage bell.—D., Deal. 
STRAWBERRIES IN SCOTLAND. 
Now that we are in the middle of our Strawberry harvest what are 
the lessons to be deduced from the season so far as it has gone, and 
how have the different varieties succeeded ? As formerly, Garibaldi 
ripened a few days before Noble, as early as John Ruskin and 
far superior to it in quality. Garibaldi is, I consider, the best all-round 
early Strawberry in commerce for either market or private purposes. 
Noble has size enough (may not that be carried too far ?) flesh very 
coarse, flavour poor, not a good carrying berry. John Ruskin is a better 
fruit than Noble in all points except size. It i9 not required for 
market where Garibaldi succeeds ; in private use it will make an agree¬ 
able variety. Sir J. Paxton does not do in the heavy soil here. It 
grows well but produces few fruit. 
Several others which I have tried will neither grow nor produce 
fruit—viz., Hammonia, Lord Napier, McMahon, President Delacour, 
Samuel Bradley, Sir C. Napier, and Triomphe de Paris. Waterloo is 
a good late fruit, but shy informing crowns and runners; rather dark in 
colour for a market fruit. Of Marguerite I have grown a few for several 
years, but will not extend it. This and Noble, one of the retail dealers 
has told me not to increase because the fruit is so soft and the quality 
poor. President is our mainstay midseason variety, but this season the 
crop is poor both in quantity and quality. The cold, wet, stormy 
weather we experienced while the plants were in bloom has told very 
much upon the produce. Frogmore Late Pine is the best late variety I 
havetried, but israther acid. I amtestingseveralseedlingswhich,if any of 
them are prolific enough, will replace it for quality. The one I have sent 
for your opinion comes in between Frogmore Late Pine and President. 
Altogether this is the poorest Strawberry season I have had, the bloom 
appears fine but the crop is more than one-third short.—G. M. Dougall, 
Ravenna Cottage , Stirling. 
[No Strawberries accompanied the communication.] 
QUICK GRAPE GROWING. 
I AM sorry to say we cannot get Mr. Gilchrist to come forward 
and open out the discussion upon the ninety-day Grape growing 
system. As amateurs are taking the matter up, and others not conm cted 
with the Sunderland Gardeners’ Association, and as I know some 
gardeners have been told that they are burning coals and coke in 
