June C, 189S. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
493 
or their graceful habit, as well as those that are subject to the 
attacks of red spider and thrips. 
^ Both the damping of houses and the syringing of plants—prac- 
tfce of the greatest utility when carried out under the right 
conditions—have by many been greatly abused ; but I for one fail 
to see why this led to a wholesale condemnation of the practice 
such as some writers indulge in, because it is well nigh impossible to 
mention any gardening operation which, if conducted without the 
exercise of intelligent judgment, will not lead to disastrous results. 
In this matter of atmospheric moisture our course is so clearly 
defined that nothing but downright thoughtlessness or indifference 
can lead to failure. We know perfectly well that with a dry, hot 
atmosphere in the open air regular damping of plant houses most 
be resorted to, so that the extremes between aridity and a continual 
state of dampness be avoided. When under the influence of-bright 
sunshine and high temperatures moisture dries up quickly, the 
time for the free use of water is apparent, and just as clearly 
ought it to be understood that with a lowering temperature and 
less rapid evaporation the distribution of moisture ought to be 
proportionately lessened. 
Through the summer months many of the occupants of green¬ 
houses are placed in the open air, and other plants intended for 
flowering under glass during the autumn and winter are also grown 
with only the canopy of heaven above them. Syringing once or 
twice daily is quite necessary in such instances to keep them in a 
healthy condition ; indeed a free use of the syringe in hot weather 
with many of them makes all the difference which is apparent 
between vigorous, healthy plants and “ starvelings,” while the 
present hot weather continues. Young gardeners cannot have too 
strongly impressed on their minds the necessity of applying 
abundance of water to the roots of plants, and of using every effort 
also to surround the leaves with atmospheric moisture.—H. D. 
VIOLAS IN THE MIDLANDS. 
Foe the present purpose Pansies are included in the above heading, 
for the suflScient reason that all Pansies are Violas, though all Violas are 
not Pansies. Last year a very successful show of Violas, large and 
small, was held in Birmingham, and in conjunction therewith a con¬ 
ference of gardeners. The proceedings of this conference were printed 
in the form of a neat pamphlet, illustrated with several portraits, and 
as a few copies are left persons who are interested in the flowers would 
find 6d. well^ spent in obtaining a copy from the President, Mr. 
W. Cuthbertson, of Eothesay, for it contains much information and 
selections of the best Violas in cultivation. There has been another 
show and conference—namely, on Thursday last, the 29th ult., and in 
the same place, the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham, and 
both are eminently worthy of notice. 
The Gaedens. 
Edgbaston is a western suburb of the great city—the Viola city we 
had almost said—of the Midlands, and a beautiful suburb it is, the main 
roads passing as it were through avenues of trees which shield many 
mansions and villas. The gardens are not extensive—about 12 acres— 
but so undulated, disposed and diversified as to appear much larger. 
They were formed and planted by Loudon, are supported by subscriptions 
mainly, and have been managed (culturally) by Mr. W. B. Latham for the 
last twenty-seven years, and the managers are also fortunate in having 
as Hon. Secretary the genial and accomplished Professor Hillhouse. The 
glass ranges are substantial, well arranged and excellently furnished, 
and the grounds, as just indicated, picturesque. In one of the houses a 
number of Schizanthuses in 6-inch pots displayed myriads of daintily 
pencilled flowers ; such plants would add a charm to private gardens, 
and might be had in hundreds, as they are simply raised from seeds 
sown in September. In other structures decorative Pelargoniums, Calceo¬ 
larias, Lilium Harrisi, Gloxinias (very fine), and Streptocarpuses were 
admirably represented, besides Orchids and various fine-fcliaged plants 
in excellent condition. In the grounds beds of Violas were masses of 
beauty, notably those occupied by that effective bedder Dean’s True 
Blue ; and a new Alpine garden, opened on Thursday by G. Kenrick, 
Esq., will prove a valuable acquisition. It has been formed, and is in 
the course of being planted by Messrs. Backhouse & Sons, under the 
superintendence of Mr. R. Potter. A commemorative tablet informs 
us that it is to be known as the “ Hugh Nettlefold Alpine Garden ” in 
recognition of the worth of a gentleman who was chairman of the 
Gardens Committee, and in all respects an estimable man. Rocks, dells, 
bogs, and water are represented, and the entire work is of considerable 
magnitude. 
The Show. 
The Pansy and Viola show was displayed in the “ Exhibition House,’’ 
a glass-covered structure, which was fully too hot for, the blooms on 
the brilliant sunny day. It was mainly a competitive display, and 
famous growers entered the lists. Fancy Pansies were extensively and 
finely represented, and Violas delightfully imposicg. but Show Pansies 
not equal to exhibitions of them a quarter of a century ago, and it 
would almost seem as if the flowers were on the down grade. A great, 
and indeed a glaring fault, in the competitive stands of Pansies was 
the general absence of names of the varieties, and this in spite of one of 
the printed regulations, that “all Pansies and Violas must be legibly 
and correctly named not should be, but “ must.” Yet not one bloom 
in a hundred had a name attached when the Judges made their awards. 
The ignoring of the rule is inexcusable, and it ought to either be 
enforced, expunged, or modified in future, but by all means enforced, 
as the absence of names deprives the show of half its interest, complete¬ 
ness, and instructiveness. That naming can be done was evident by 
the large collections of Violas from Messrs. Dobbie & Co. and Mr. Pye, 
as well as competitive stands by Mr. Rowberry ; and further, when 
Professor Hillhouse made it known that medals would be given to some 
competitive stands of Violas if names were attached, these were added 
forthwith, as they might have been, and ought to have been, in every 
stand competing for a prize. Here endeth the merited grumble, and 
perhaps some of the exhibitors mav add “not before time.” 
Referring to the competition, we found in class 1, for forty-eight Fancy 
Pansies, dissimilar, six exhibits, forming, as may be imagined, a brilliant 
display, and the more so since all the stands were good, and some so 
close in merit that the Judges were compelled to examine the blooms 
with extreme care, and they were an hour in arriving at a decision. The 
first prize (which carried the silver medal) was won by Mr. John Smellie, 
Busby, N.B., with not the largest blooms, but those characterised by 
substance and clearness in colouration. Mr. Alexander Lister, Meadow- 
bank Nursery, Rothesay, was second, and as he was only defeated by 
one point, was worthily awarded a bronze medal in addition to the 
prize. Mr. Alexander Bailey, jun., Silkworth Lane, Sunderland, was 
placed third, with perhaps the largest blooms of all, some of them 
3 inches in diameter, but the colours of several were not clearly defined. 
Mr. John Sutherland, Victoria Nursery, Lenzie, Glasgow, was adjudged 
the remaining prize for stands of richly coloured blooms of moderate 
size, yet distinctly meritorious. In class 2, for twenty-four blooms, 
there were also six exhibitors. Mr. John Sutherland was the premier, 
followed by Messrs. Bailey, Lister, and Messrs. W. Paul & Co., Bridge of 
Weir,N.B., in the order named. All the stands were good, and there 
could have been few points of merit between any of them. 
In class 3, for twenty-four Show Pansies, there were five exhibitors. 
The blooms were naturally smaller than in the preceding classes, yet 
most of them clean, many very charming, though several too small. 
Messrs. W. Paul & Co. well won the first position, followed rather closely, 
however, by Messrs. Alexander Lister and John Smellie, to whom the 
remaining prizes were adjudged in the order named. In class 4 there 
were also five exhibitors, but in a class like this for six Fancy Pansies of 
one variety it is, in the absence of the names of the flowers, hardly 
worth recording the names of the exhibitors, yet we give them—Messrs. 
Lister, Smellie, and Paul, thoua-h it shows the absurdity of staging un¬ 
named flowers. It was subsequently found that the winning blooms 
were those of a fine new variety. Colonel M R G. Buchanan. In class 5, 
for twelve seedlings of Fancy Pansies, the prizes went to Messrs. Smellie 
and Lister, but the blooms were not named. In class 6, for twenty-four 
sprays of Violas, dissimilar, six blooms in a spray, two very attractive 
collections were staged by the exhibitors just mentioned, who were 
placed first and second respectively. Var eties not named. The classes 
referred to were open to all, and we now turn to the amateurs’ section. 
In the class for twenty-four Fancy Pansies, dissimilar, there were 
seven exhibitors. Mr. John McFarlane, 68, Gordon Street, Glasgow, 
secured the leading position with very fine blooms, but without names. 
Mr. Thomas Naden, 6, High Street, Elvaston. Derby, was a good second 
with properly named flowers, of which John Contts, J. Allen, J. Downie, 
Mrs. R. Thompson, Mrs. E L. Camesie, and Maggie Watson were very 
good indeed, Mr. A. C. Christie, Shifnal, Salop, third. Five exhibitors 
competed with eighteen b ooms. First, Mr. T. Naden with named 
blooms similar to those in his twenty-four stand. Second, Mr. Christie ; 
third, Mr. W. Whitehead, Churchgate, Leicester ; fourth, Mr. T. M. 
Eglington, Trinity Road, Birchlands, Birmingham. Seven stands of 
six blooms were staged. First, Mr. T. Naden with Tamworth Yellow ; 
second, Mr. A. C. Christie with D. Rennie ; third, Mr. Eglington with 
Tom Travis. In the class for twelve blooms there were nine exhibitors. 
First, Mr. J. McFarlane; second, Mr. T. Naden ; third, Mr. A. J. 
Rowberry, The Crescent, South Woodford, Essex ; fourth, Mr. Christie. 
Mr. Rowberry named his blooms, and his W. H. Clarke was one of the 
best in the show. Very good also were Mrs. Grossart, Rev. Gresley, 
Tamworth Hero, and Ceres. With six seeding Pansies, Mr. McKee, 18, 
Dougall Street, Belfast, was first, and Mrs. R. Lovatt, Chetwynd, 
Newport, Shropshire, second. 
In the class for twelve sprays of Violas, six in a spray, first Mr. A. J. 
Rowberry, with delightful sp'ays. with fo'iage, of Cottase Maid, Craigie, 
Lemon Queen, Blue Gown. Chiistiana, Countess of Hopetoun. Blush 
Queen, Princess Beatrice, William Neil, Sweet Lavender, Duchess of 
Fife, and Amazon Queen—a new variety of the Peter Barr type, colour 
golden chestnut. Second, Mrs. Lovatt. 
Certificates were awarded for the following :—Viola A. J. liou'herry, 
—A clear, smooth, soft canary yellow, without spot or streak ; a 
medium-sized flower. ExhibiGd by Mr G. McLeod. Viola Prlncf' of 
Wales —A larger flower than the preceding and of a deeper yellow, but 
with the faintest of faint rav lines Shown by Mr. Andrew Irvine, 
Tighnabruiach. Fanoy Pansy Col. M. P. G. Buchanan large bloom 
cf good substence and excellent symmetry; body coiour dense maroon, 
