494 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Jane 6, 1895. 
upper petals shading to violet; edging bright yellow. Exhibited by 
Mr. Alexander Lister, who won t le first prize also for six blooms of it in 
class 4. 
Messrs. Bobbie & Co. exhibited in their best style a hundred varieties 
of Violas in sprays, consisting of nine blooms of each. They included 
the leading varieties in commerce, as well as upwards of thirty of their 
own raising. It may be said that all the varied hues in which the Viola 
is robed were represented in this fine collection (silver medal). Mr. 
Septimus Pye, Catterall, Garstang, had also a large collection. In this 
case twelve blooms being arranged in a spray, and being large and 
well displayed had an imposing effect (silver medal). 
An award of merit was granted to Mr. Wm. Sydenham, Tamworth, 
for beautiful table decorations of Violas, the flowers being arranged 
in rustic-fashioned zinc tubes, a similar award being granted to Mr. 
Eobert Sydenham for various designs of the same character, furnished 
with Poppies, Cornflowers, and Sweet Peas, all very beautiful; a 
bronze medal was also granted to the first-named exhibitor for his entire 
exhibit, including many fine Pansies and choice Violas. 
The exhibits were arranged on tables covered with maroon serge 
chosen by Professor Hillhouse; it had a much better effect than the 
orthodox green baize, and showed the flowers to advantage. 
CONFEEENCE. 
A Conference of Viola growers was held in the Library of the 
Gardens on Wednesday afternoon under the chairmanship of the 
President, Mr. W. Cuthbertson. Among those present were Professor 
Hillhouse, with Messrs. A. J. Rowberry, A. C. Christie, A. Ireland, 
E. Sutherland, Wm. Sydenham, James Sinkins, E. Potter, E. Bliss, 
W. Gardiner, G. Wilson, W. H. Gabb, and R. Dean, After reading 
letters of apology for inability to attend from Dr. Stuart, Mr. Needs, 
and Mr. McLeod, the President alluded in sympathetic terms to the 
lamented death of Mr. William Dean, who had made all the arrange¬ 
ments for the present show, Mr. Cuthbertson concluding by proposing 
the following resolution ;—“ That this meeting expresses its deepest 
sympathy with the widow and family of the late Mr. William Dean, 
and deplores the loss sustained by horticulture through his death.” 
The President referred to the great devotedness of Mr. Dean, his 
disinterestedness, his willingness to help others, and above all his 
greatest virtue modesty, in which he resembled the flower he loved so 
well. The resolution was seconded by Professor Hillhouse, supported by 
Mr. Rowberry, and passed unanimously. After some allusions to the 
extension of Viola culture, the Chairman stated that as nothing could 
advance the flower so much as placing before the public reliable 
information, he would ask some of the gentlemen present to read short 
papers. 
Professor Hillhouse entitled his paper “ Some Notes on the Genus 
Viola.” It was really a valuable, historical, and scientific disquisition, 
in great part oral, and was listened to with the close attention it 
undoubtedly merited. The Professor first dwelt on the wide 
geographical distribution of the species, and then with the aid of 
diagrams made clear the structural character of the flower and the 
innate obstacles provided within itself to self-fertilisation. Several 
coloured plates were also shown of the species which in more or less 
degree had exerted influence in the production of the present race of 
Pansies and Violas. He said the Pansy was cultivated by Evelyn in 
1687, and remarked that Gaspard Bauhin recorded in 1620 that 
beautiful varieties were cultivated in gardens by the curious. The 
Professor described the Pansy as a protean plant, and hence the issue 
of many forms which for want of a better expression he would call 
“ natural hybrids,” and therefore material is provided for further 
advances, which should be effected on systematic and scientific lines. 
Mr. R. Dean read a paper on “ Old Violas.” He traced the popularity 
of the Viola as a garden flower to the practice and writings of the 
late Mr. John Fleming of Cliveden about 1854. He raised Cliveden 
Yellow, Cliveden Purple, and Cliveden Blue, which were for along time 
famous. He obtained Cliveden Blue, it is said, from Russia, but now 
probably lost to cultivation. He also grew the Great Eastern, raised by 
Mr. Hooper of Bath, as well as the quaint and distinct Magpie, probably 
the oldest variety now grown, and said to have been found in a corn¬ 
field in France. Mr. John Wills’ experience with Viola cornuta about 
1863 was referred to, also the work of Mr. Grieve, Mr. Baxter, and 
others. Mr. Dean further stated that his Blue Bell, which is found the 
best dry weather Viola at Syon, came as a chance seedling in his garden 
at Ealing, in which no Violas were grown. He brought under notice 
the origin of several other once popular varieties, concluding with a 
reference to the True Blue as raised by his late brother, and which might 
be left to commemorate him for many years to come. This no doubt it 
will do, as though it partakes somewhat of the Pansy character, its 
colour and floriferousness render it effective in masses, as beautiful beds 
in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens afforded good evidence. 
” Violas in Surrey,” a paper contributed by Mr, E. Burrell of Clare¬ 
mont, embodied bis experienee, which was altogether satisfactory. His 
method of culture was to enrich the ground and plant in October, and 
then, with mulching in April, he finds the plants grow freely and flower 
continuously. He mentioned as excellent varieties Archie Grant, Crim¬ 
son King. Favourite, White Swan, Lilias, Annie King, Mrs. Bellamy, 
Violetta, and Ardwell Gem. He evidently did not favour the fanciful 
name of “ Tufted Pansies,” an opinion that met with unanimous 
approval. 
Winter Culture of Violas. —Mr. Rowberry read a short but 
very useful paper on this subject, in which he strongly advocated 
inserting cuttings in July or August, then when rooted disposing the 
plants 3 or 4 inches asunder in nursery beds in an open yet somewhat 
sheltered position, finally transferring the plants to their flowering 
quarters as early in the spring as possible. In that way he lost few 
plants even during the severest frost, and had most satisfactory displays 
of flowers throughout the summer. Mr, Rowberry also read a paper 
from Dr. Stuart, giving the history and description of the many charm¬ 
ing varieties with which the great amateur’s name is identified. Con¬ 
siderable discussion ensued on the reading of most of the papers, and 
the Conference, which was very successful, closed by the election of 
Mr. Rowberry as President, Messrs. G. McLeod and W. Sydenham Vice- 
Presidents, Mr. Cuthbertson as Hon. Treasurer, and Mr. E, Dean as 
Hon, Secretary for the ensuing year. 
TAMWORTH SHOW. 
Following the Birmingham display a Pansy and Viola show was 
held on Saturday, June Ist, in the Town Hall of the ancient capital of 
Mercia. The hall was built nearly 200 years ago by Thomas Guy, the 
founder of Guy’s hospital in London, who represented Tamworth in 
Parliament. A portrait of the great benefactor adorns the room, as does 
one of another renowned man of more modern date, the great Sir Robert 
Peel, who also represented the borough in the House of Commons, and 
whose statue is conspicuous in the market place adjoining the Town Hall. 
Tamworth is not a picturesque, but, what is better, a prosperous town of 
some 7000 inhabitants, and of late years has become a Pansy and Viola 
centre through the enterprise of Mr. William Sydenham. It was 
through his efforts, in conjunction with the late Mr, W. Dean, that a 
show was held last year, and again this season. The present show was 
not large, nor intended to be, as Mr. Dean desired that competitive 
classes for the northern growers should be confined to Birmingham, and 
the Tamworth schedule was drafted to incite local interest more 
particularly. Especial provision appears to have been made to display 
the decorative effect of Pansies and Violas in the form of bouquets, 
wreaths, table decorations, and floral designs generally, tempting prizes 
being provided for that purpose. It would seem, however, as if a 
watching and waiting policy had been adopted, and now that ideas have 
been afforded on which action can be based brisker competition may be 
expected another year. 
Messrs. Perkins of Coventry showed the way in these decorative 
classes, and took all the chief prizes with beautiful exhibits. Their 
shower bouquet was a study in yellow and crimson, the Viola and Pansy 
blooms being relieved by Ferns, Smilax, a few Croton leaves and 
Caladium argyrites. The basket of Pansies was of a similar character, 
and this with the double triangle of yellow and purple Pansies, also 
a splendid wreath of the flowers arranged in Fern and Asparagus 
plumosus nanus, not only made a show in themselves, but demonstrated 
the charming adaptability of the flowers for such purposes. Mr. John¬ 
stone, Hunts Hall, showed a flowing bouquet, also beautiful sprays of 
Violas on velvet stands ; and Mr. E. Hannah, Atherstone, Had a pleasing 
arrangement of Pansies on a large shield tastefully associated with 
Ferns and Selaginella ciesia. This was the gentleman who won the 
silver medal for the essay which we published last week. This medal 
was on view, and elicited high approval ; it was really a novel and 
chaste design in silver and gold—one of the most beautiful medals we 
have seen, and Mr. Hannah has reason to be proud of its possession. 
Mr. Sydenham, though he did not compete for any prizes, contributed 
most effectively to the general display. His six stands of table decora¬ 
tions, some of them umbrella-shaped, others pyramidal about 2 feet 
high, as furnished with white and purple Violas, white and lilac, 
purple and gold, and pure white flowers respectively, each stand com¬ 
prising some hundreds of blooms charmingly associated with Ferns and 
Smilax, were worthy of a position on any dinner table or drawing room 
in the kingdom. They were disposed down the centre of the table, the 
sides being occupied by sixteen trays of Fancy Pansies, twelve blooms 
in each, with between seventy and eighty triplets of choice Violas across 
the ends—altogether a splendid exhibit, for which a silver medal was 
adjudged, and it was worthy of a gold one. 
A similar award was worthily granted to Messrs. Dobbie & Sons for 
a beautiful and extensive display of Violas—nearly a thousand blooms, 
these embracing the best varieties in cultivation ; but more space was 
needed for showing them to the best advantage. 
Mr. R. H. Bath, Wisbech, offered prizes for fifty plants of Violas 
grown in pots or boxes. Mr. Sydenham was the only exhibitor, bis first 
prize group of plants forming a pleasing change from the surrounding 
exhibits. If prizes were offered for say six plants, and these raised in 
July and established in 6-inch pots early in the autumn, plunged over 
their rims and grown in the open, they ought to ” lift ” and exhibit 
sheets of bloom, thus showing the adaptability of the varieties for effect 
in masses. Few growers could show fifty pots, but half a dozen would 
be no great demand. Prizes were offered for the best plant of Fancy 
Pansy and best Viola grown in pots, these being won by Messrs. Hannah 
and Pemberton, and they indicated what may be done, but done better, 
with Violas at any rate, in the future. It ought also to be possible to 
show Violas in bunches, say twelve stems, with flowers and foliage as 
grown, to form a bunch. Three, six, or twelve bunches in a class would 
afford scope for exhibitors, and bring out varieties suitable for garden 
decoration. 
In the orthodox classes for Pansy blooms in stands there was a most 
creditable display. With twenty-four blooms. Fancy, Mr. T. Nadin, 
Derby, secured the first position, staging, among others, fine examples 
of Mrs. D. Johnson, W. H. Ashford, J. Coutts, Miss Hudson, Mrs. 
Lister, Mrs, Thompson, and Tcm Travis. Mr, R. Bolton, jun., Carnforth, 
