January 18,18^4, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
47 
out of place amongst the refined and delicate coloured Teas. When the 
late Mr. Henry Bennett introduced Viscountess Folkestone and Grace 
Darling, and Guillot transferred La France from the Hybrid Perpetuals, 
in which section it had existed for many years, it assumed a new aspect, 
and it was asked where these were to be exhibited. It was proposed by 
some to form a separate class for them ; this for some years I resisted to 
the best of my ability, but in an evil hour, as 1 think, the Catalogue 
Committee of the N.K.S., influenced mainly, I think, by one strenuous 
advocate, introduce! into their new catalogue a section for Hybrid Teas, 
and this, as I think, retrograde movement interferes with its usefulness. 
Of course, as loyal members of the Society we shall bow to its decisions, 
but this does not hinder us from advocating a return to the old path ; 
nor do I think that because I am one of its secretaries I am hindered 
from adopting this course. Our committee is not a cabinet whose 
members are supposed to be all of one mind and who are bound to keep 
secret its deliberations and decisions—we are rather a committee of the 
whole House, where full freedom of opinion and speech is allowed and 
its proceedings are open. Your correspondents Mr. C. J. Grahame and 
“ Practice ” have already given most of the reasons against the arrange¬ 
ment, and I desire only to accentuate them, not in a position of 
secretary carrying no official weight, but simply as a member of the 
N.R.S. 
Let us take an example. The Rose La France was sent out by Guillot 
in 1867 as a Hybrid Perpetual. He afterwards put it in amongst the 
Hybrid Teas ; but by the great majority of exhibitors it is still regarded 
as a H.P., and now see what the action of the N.R.S. has done for it. It 
and its three sports—Augustine Guinoisseau, Duchess of Albany, and 
Danmark—cannot be shown in any class of Hybrid Perpetuals. It is 
true, as “ Practice” says (page 12), that very few classes, even at pro¬ 
vincial shows, are arranged for H.P.’s alone, but when they are these 
Roses are excluded. They cannot be shown, of course, amongst Teas 
and Noisettes, and I do not think when we consider the smallness of the 
number included in this class that we are likely to get much of an 
exhibit of them alone ; indeed, when you look through the list included 
in this section you are surprised how short it is—there are only eleven, 
and of these four must be referred to one Rose, for Augustine Guinoisseau, 
Danmark, and Duchess of Albany are merely sports of La France, and 
are oftentimes found to revert to the original type. Then there are 
our old friend Captain Christy and its sport. Climbing Captain Christy, 
which accounts for six out of the eleven, and it is for the allocation of 
these that all this fuss has been made. Surely never was there more 
“ ridiculus mus” brought forth. Surely it is not contended that these 
are the only exhibition H.P.’s which have Tea blood in them ; and if 
not, why has not the list been extended ? Just because if you mention 
any one Rose as belonging to this section there are the most diverse 
opinions as to whether it does so or not. What, then, is the remedy ? I 
would propose that which has been already brought forward by Mr. 
Grahame (page 577, last vol.)—viz., that of including Hybrid Perpetuals, 
Hybrid Teas, and Bourbons under the one heading of Hybrid Perpetuals. 
I say Bourbons advisedly, for I see little distinction between them and 
H.P.’s. Take for example Mrs. George Paul; is not this best described 
as a blush white form of Madame Isaac Perriere ? but that Rose when 
first sent out was called a H.P., and it was afterwards transferred to the 
limited list of Bourbons. By this arrangement I think a great deal of 
trouble and confusion would be avoided, and questions of disqualification 
would not be likely to occur, while that which is most desirable in all 
such matters—simplicity—would be attained. 
I cannot, however, agree with your correspondent “Practice” 
(page 12) in wishing to include in one class not only these but the 
Hybrid Bourbons and Hybrid Chinas. He asks what difference there 
is between Charles Lawson, and others which he names, and many of 
the H.P.’s. There are two very material ones ; in the first place they 
never by any chance give a second bloom, and in the second place they 
are all essentially pure Roses, and are out of bloom before our exhibi¬ 
tion season commences. They are no doubt many of them very beautiful, 
and possess that characteristic of delightful fragrance in which so many 
of our H.P.’s are wanting. 
I daresay these suggestions will be regarded as revolutionary and 
impracticable. There are some people who have a mania for minute 
classifications, and would shrink from taking their part in the composi¬ 
tion of an amalgam such as I have recommended, but none the less do 
I believe that this idea will gain ground. I consider that the idea of 
separating the Hybrid Teas is so utterly unsound that it will not bide 
the test of experience. I have several times during the course of my 
long secretariat found myself in opposition to the majority of our Com¬ 
mittee, and never, except in me case, that of Mr. Grahame’s classifica¬ 
tion of exhibitions, have I had cause to regret the position that I took 
up. As a non-exhibitor I cannot be biassed by any interested views in 
that direction. I may be wrong, but at the same time I can truthfully 
say that I have but one object in view, the welfare of the Society and 
the convenience of exhibitors, and I look forward to the time when 
these views will be accepted by the great mass of our growers and 
exhibitors.—D., Beal. _ 
Are not your correspondents upon the above matter distressing 
themselves unnecessarily ? Through all their letters there runs a minor 
tone which seems to imply that these flowers have on the one hand been 
deposed from some position of honour, and on the other saddled with a 
disqualification. Surely this is not so, but rather the contrary is the fact. 
Hybrid Teas may now be shown in all classes in which they were ever 
eligible, and in addition they have a class or classes provided expressly 
for themselves. Where is the hardship in this I There has always been 
a ceHam amount of difficulty in deciding the exact parentage of some of 
our Roses, and always will be except when seedling raising is conducted 
strictly upon the careful lines laid down by the late Mr. Bennett and by 
Messrs. D.ckson & Sons; but all that the list in the N.R.S catalogue 
does 18 to specify which Roses may be shown as Hybrid Teas in the 
special classes provided for this section. 
There cannot be any reasonable objection to a Society devoted to 
the especial care of the Rose providing for all the well defined branches 
of the subject. H.P.’s exist and classes are provided for them. Teas 
and Noi^ttes are grown, and they are provided for in the schedules. 
Garden Roses are with us and have their own classes ; and for Moss 
Roses provision has been made. Then why not for the Hybrid Teas 
which, as a family, are rapidly increasing, and already contain some of 
freest bloomers and most chastely beautiful flowers? And if they are 
to be shown it must be (in the present undecided position of some 
varieties) a convenience and benefit rather than otherwise to have an 
authoritative declaration as to which may be included. 
_ I believe that in the course of another season or two the classifica¬ 
tion and cataloguing of the Hybrid Teas will result in a considerable 
increase in their culture, for while the rosarian pure and simple has 
grown and will grow them for their essential beauty, the exhibitor will 
feel that he also can spare room for them now that there is an oppor¬ 
tunity for the display of his skill in their cultivation. The fact that 
the class did not fill in the first year of its introduction (and such a 
year !) signifies nothing.—-J. B. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
January IGth. 
The first meeting of the current year was held at the Drill Hall 
James Street, Westminster, on the above date. There was a fine display 
of bloom. Orchids being specially well represented. Fruit and vege¬ 
tables were also shown in good condition. 
Fruit Committee. —Present ; Philip Crowley, Esq. (in the chair) 
with Dr. Hogg, and Messrs. John Lee, Harrison Weir, G. W. Cummins 
C. Herrin, J. H. Veitch, J. Cheal, G. Taber, T. J. Saltmarsh, A. Dean 
H. J.Laing, J. Hudson, W. Bates, G. Wythes, G. Sage, F. Q. Lane 
H. Baldersop, G. T. Miles, J. Smith, and J. Wright. 
The Chairman gave his colleagues a pleasant greeting, and expressed 
a hope that the meetings of the year would be as agreeable and useful 
as those of the past. The first fruit placed on the table was in the 
form of a dish of a new Apple, Jenny Brewster, sent by Rev. 
H. C. Brewster, Kelsey Rectory, Caistor, Lincolnshire. It is said to be 
the result of cross fertilisation, but the letters explaining the parentage 
were the reverse of clear, and the writer had evidently made a mistake 
in one of them. The fruits were not tempting in appearance, through 
probably in the first instance having been gathered too soon and then 
affected^ by frost, but the flavour was such as to induce the expression 
of a desire to see specimens in good condition in the spring of next year. 
The fruit is said to keep till May. Mr. W. C. Leach, Albury Park Gardens, 
sent a seedling Apple, named Warksworth Castle. It closely resembled 
Grange’s Pearmain, and though no doubt a useful late cooking Apple, 
was passed. A dish of Albury Park Nonesuch was also sent. It was- 
described as an excellent cooking Apple, and was granted an award of 
merit last year. Mr. H. Bannister, Cote House Gardens, Westbury-on- 
Trym, sent a dish of a new Apple, Standard Bearer. It resembles the 
Cobham, a good form of the Blenheim, with which it is to be compared 
on a future occasion. 
Mr. J. Dumble, gardener to Sir Charles Philipps, Bart., Picton 
Castle, Haverfordwest, sent a dish of the Bahia Navel Oiange, very fine 
specimens grown on a tree carrying two dozen fruits in a 15-inch pot. 
The Oranges were very large, oval shaped, seedless, and sweet. A 
cultural certificate was awarded. 
The Chairman placed on the table a sample of “Taro” prepared 
from the root of Colocasia esculenta, as used by the natives of the 
Sandwich Islands. Samples were shown in the form of powder, like 
silver sand, also in a cooked state. It resembled a starch pudding, but 
not flavoured with anything. A vote of thanks was accorded. A bronze 
medal was awarded to Mr. Leach for Lady Downe’s and Mrs. Pearson 
Grapes. Messrs. Osman & Co. exhibited a simple contrivance for 
trapping wireworms. It is in the form of a sharp-pointed tin ex¬ 
tinguisher full of large holes ; Carrots or other baits are placed inside, 
the appliance thrust down in the soil, and drawn out with a wire handle 
provided for the purpose. Vote of thanks. 
Floral Committee.— Present: W. Marshall, Esq. (in the chair). 
Rev. H. H, D’Ombrain, Messrs. J. Fraser, 0. Thomas, H. Herbst, 
R Dean, H. B. May, J. H. Fitt, G. Stevens, W. C. Leach, C. F. Bause, 
C Jeffries, J. Jennings, P. Barr, G. Nicholson, J. Walker, C. E. Pearson, 
C' J. Salter, E. Beckett, H. J. Jones, H. Cannell, T. Baines, R. Owen, 
J.' T. Bennett Pcii, G. Paul, H. Turner, G. Gordon, and H. Selfe Leonard. 
Mr. Sturt, gardener to N. L. Cohen, Esq., Round Oak, Englefield 
Green, staged two magnificent baskets of Freesia refracta alba. The 
plants, in IS-pots, were perfect examples of high culture (silver Flora 
medal). Messrs. E. D. Shuttleworth & Co., Albert Nurseries, Peckkam 
Rye, arranged an effective group of foliage and flowering plants, promi¬ 
nent in which were some excellent pots of Lily of the Valley. The 
same firm also showed specimens of Palms grown in an ordinary sitting- 
room, and which formed an interesting and instructive exhibit (silver 
