246 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 29,1394 
Clashing of Rose Shows. 
Rbfebbino to my recent remarks on a remedy for these unfortunate 
■occurrences, and “ D,, Beal's ” reply and criticism on my statements, I 
would now call attention to the “Times” of March 23rd, page 10, 
wherein there is an article on “ The Coming Cricket Season.” A list of 
the best matches alone are given, those from May to August, mostly 
arranged under the supervision of the M.C.C, The list is of 264 separate 
events. Of these 103 are classed and specified in capital letters by the 
■“ Sportsman ” as “ first-class matches,” the others being public school and 
county matches. Our Rose fixtures, so far, amount to twenty-five in all. 
1 would call attention to these comparative figures as a further proof of 
the absurdity of “ D., Deal's " argument, and his erroneous statement 
of figures in support thereof. The fact is we do not, as a society, try to 
avert the evil of clashing ; as it is nobody’s business in particular, we 
abut our eyes, let the whole subject remain as an annual annoyance, and 
trust to chance to bring matters right. In no other class of amusement 
do the authorities who are supposed to preside allow matters to shape 
their own course. 
National Rose Society—The Habkness Silveb Cup. 
I have much pleasure in informing you that Messrs. Harkness and 
Son, of Bedale, Yorkshire, have most generously offered a silver 
cup, value 25 guineas, for competition at the N.R.S. metropolitan 
Show, Crystal Palace, this year and in following years. The cup is 
given to growers of under 1000 exhibition Roses, is to be competed for 
in a cla s for twelve varieties, is to be won thrice (not consecutively) 
before becoming the property of the winner, and is to be called the 
“ Harkness challenge cup.” I may mention that, in addition to this 
oup being the handsomest prize ever given by an individual or firm to 
the National Rose Society, it is also a new departure, in its being the 
first important recognition of the smaller growers, who constitute the 
mainstay of our Society’s finances. It should give a decided impetus to 
the smaller growers, and I trust may be another source of encourage¬ 
ment to them to persevere in Rose growing and exhibiting. I am 
certain that the members will cordially join me in acknowledging the 
generosity which has prompted the great Yorkshire firm to give such a 
splendid gift to our Society.— Chables J. Geahame. 
[The spirited action of Messrs. Harkness and their splendid gift 
cannot fail to gladden the hearts of existing amateurs who cannot 
devote acres of ground to Roses, while it is bound to increase the 
number of growers and stimulate them to adopt the best means in their 
power for the highest possible development of the Rose. Bravo 1 
Yorkshire.] 
Pbospects of the Coming Season. 
Nevbe in my recollection have our Roses shown better promise than 
at present. From correspondents in various parts of the country I hear 
a similar report, and unless we get a sharp frost from now up to the end 
of May there is every prospect of a most successful break into new 
growth. At one time, during the opening of this year, the extra severe 
weather threatened to do considerable injury. Not only was it colder 
than usual, but the frost was accompanied by a most searching east and 
north wind. Thanks, however, to the excellent ripening of last autumn, 
almost all the wood has come through the ordeal unscathed. 
We have three important periods in the cultuie of Roses—a ':ood 
growth and thorough ripening, exemption from severe winter injury, 
and freedom from sharp spring frosts after new growth has commenced. 
Satisfaction as regards one or two of these is of no use whatever with¬ 
out the third. We have realised the two former fairly well, and now 
all depends upon the present spring and early summer. After the 
experience of 1893 it is well to add early summer, for the excessive heat 
and drought had quite as much to do with the general failure of that 
year as the two or three sharp frosts of late spring. It is the May and 
early June frosts which do so much injury to young growth. With 
exemption from these, we are almost certain of a good Rose season. 
I have now almost completed my pruning, and find the wood of 
all varieties and classes in an exceptionally sound condition when I 
bear in mind their exposure to a frost ranging between 20’’ and 32°. 
Teas and Noisettes have stood the test remarkably well, and again proved 
how hardy the bulk of the.se grand classes are. Ma Capucin, 
Madame Cusin, Madame de Watteville, Niphetos, and La Boule d’Or 
were the most injured in the former class; Celine Forestier, Mar4chal 
Niel, Narcisse, and Solfaterre faring worst among the Noisettes. I did 
not notice any injury among the Hybrid Perpetuals except to a few of 
the notoriously tender kinds. 
It is always cheering to be able to look forward to a successful season 
among one’s favourite flower, and the prospects for 1894 are remarkably 
good as far as established plants are concerned. 
When we turn to the buds which were inserted during the previous 
summer the outlook is not so satisfactory. Many of them are black and 
dead. Some of this is no doubt due to the drought and excessive heat, 
the little sap there was being dried up much more than usual. We also 
had some difficulty in inserting the early summer buds, as the bark 
lifted worse than I have noticed for many years. Those which were 
budded later, after the few early autumn showers, have taken much 
better, and thanks to the mild weather at the clcse of the jear set in a 
most satisfactory manner. 
Maiden dwarfs upon the Manetti are pushing strongly and forward, 
while those on the seedling and hedge Briar are only swelling. Of the 
two I prefer the appearance of the latter at present, but it is much too 
early yet for any definite forecast of the coming Rose season. At 
present we can only rejoice in having got over the results of an excep¬ 
tionally unfavourable summer, and we look for some little compensation 
for the disappointments of 1893.— Peactice. 
OLIVIAS AT FOREST HILL. 
It would be impossible at any season of the year to go to Messrs. 
J. Laing & Sons’ Nurseries at Forest Hill without seeing something 
which tends at once to instruct and to interest. The name of Laing is 
renowned in the Begonia world, for has not the respected head of the firm, 
Mr. John Laing, striven for years to place these plants on the high 
pinnacle of excellence and popularity that they now enjoy ? And what 
able assistants and co-workers he has in his two sons. Then see to what 
a state of perfection the Caladium has been brought, and here again 
let credit be given where it is undoubtedly due, for assuredly this firm 
has done its share, and perhaps more in this advancement. A third 
instance of the firm’s enterprise and perceptive powers in recognising 
a flower which must become popular may be found in the Olivia, or as 
they were once called, and doubtless still are by many persons, Imanto- 
phyllums, but the former is correct, and certainly the easiest to write 
and speak, so to that let us cleave. 
The advance that has been made of late years is really marvellous. 
The Olivia of to-day is a truly handsome plant, carrying symmetrical 
trusses of flowers and having rich dark green strap-shaped leaves, some 
of which are erect while others possess a graceful pendulous habit, 
which sets off the flowers admirably. The individual blooms are large 
and shapely, forming at the head of a stout stalk a cluster of from 
thirty to forty. After the flowers have gone the grower can watch the 
development of the seed pods, which are somewhat slow in reaching 
maturity, taking rather more than twelve months ; these eventually 
turn crimson scarlet in colour, and form ai additional attraction to an 
already beautiful plant. The colouration of the flowers is not yet very 
greatly diversified, ranging in various shades of orange red, but these 
are of that exquisite softness to which justice can rarely be done in 
writing. A few will, however, be mentioned and described as well as 
possible, and to all, whether satisfied or not, the advice is tendered to 
make the journey to Laing’s and see for themselves, and the sooner they 
find the opportunity to do so the better, for they are sure to derive 
satisfaction from the visit. 
A variety which at once claims attention owing to the intensity of 
the colour is Harry Laing. The flowers are large, and the truss on the 
young plant noticed was of medium size ; the colour is a bright orange 
scarlet, the effect of which is much accentuated by the pale yellowish 
white throat. It is an acquisition, of which more will be heard later 
when a stock of plants has been secured. In direct contrast to the 
former is the much older Sulphurea, which is, as its name would lead 
one to suppose, a pale sulphur yellow of a peculiar soft and pleasing 
shade. Mrs. Laing bears handsome trusses of orange-red flowers, the 
throat of which is lemon in colour. Another variety of great merit is 
Lord Rosebery, the sepals and petals of which are broad, and of a deep 
orange-red shade. The blooms are excellent in form, and the truss is 
one of the most compact. Patrick Davidson has flowers of the same 
colour as the foregoing, but they are longer, and the divisions are very 
much narrower and pointed, the truss being of great size. Lord 
Wolverton is one of the finest. The blooms are very large, very deep 
orange-red in colour, and with a yellow throat. It is unquestionably 
a variety with a future. Stanstead Beauty has long, narrow petals and 
sepals, the colour of which is bright orange-red, with a yellow and w>i;,e 
throat. Many other varieties of equal merit could be mentioot ?, out 
these must suffice; let readers go and judge for themselves. 
The culture of Olivias is simple, a greenhouse temperature be'nz 
admirably suited to their requirements. If flowers are desired early 
they may be had with the aid of bottom heat, and the display where a 
number of plants are grown may be much prolonged. A compost of 
loam, leaf mould, and silver sand should be provided, and during the 
summer months abundance of water must be supplied ; while just as 
the flower spikes appear an occasional watering with liquid manure is 
usually followed by the most beneficial results. They are said to stand 
a great amount of neglect, so those amateurs who have little time to 
devote to their greenhouse would do well to procure a few Olivias to 
afford them flowers during the months of spring.—H. J. 
TABERN^MONTANAS. 
Tabeen^montana coronaria flore-pleno is a beautiful evergreen 
flowering shrub which at one time most deservedly occupied a very 
prominent position amongst stove plants. It does not, however, appear 
to be so much appreciated at the present time as its merits deserve. In 
habit and character it is very similar to the much-prized Gardenia. Its 
