Jnne SI, 1894 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
493 
National Eose Society's Meteopolitan Exhibitions. 
I have much pleasure in sending the accompanying short table in 
reply to Mr. Grabame’s inquiries in the last issue of the Journal of 
Horticulture :— 
Year. 
■WEATHER. 
No. of Blooms 
(“Garden” Roses 
not included). 
MAT. 
JUNE. 
1837 
Very cold and rather wet 
Very warm and very dry 
6430 
1888 
( Average temperature and 1 
( very dry.J 
Cold and rather dry 
5560 
1889 
Very warm and very wet 
Very warm and very dry 
5650 
1890 
■Warm and very dry 
Co'd and rather wet 
6100 
The description of the weather may be taken as of that prevailing 
in the neighbourhood of London.—E. M., Berkhamsted. 
New Rose Mrs. W. J. Grant. 
I DID not know, when writing last week, that Messrs. Dickson were 
unable to send out this Ro.se this year. It is a pity that we cannot obtain 
it yet; but it will give an opportunity for an expression of opinion at 
the general meeting of the National Rose Society as to the suggested 
change of name, and I hope a strong one will be forthcoming.— 
W. E. Raillem. 
Rose Safrano. 
It would indeed be difficult to name a Rose that is more appreciated 
for the early buds that it gives us from the open wall than this variety. 
In the majority of catalogues the colour is described by one word— 
fawn—which barely does it justice. There is a certain bronzy hue 
which seems to brighten the half-opened buds as to render them so 
distinctly pleasing. I am surprised more plants are not grown against 
low walls or screens, where the slightest protection is sufficient to give 
good returns.—E. M. 
The Early Rose Shows. 
It is somewhat unfortunate that two of our chief early Rose Shows 
—Windsor and Richmond—should fall on the same day, Wednesday, 
the 27th inst. The latter Show, which is perhaps one of the easiest of 
access, and held under the most enjoyable of conditions in the old Deer 
Park, was for some time the leading first early Rose Show in the south. 
It would have been an easy arrangement for the National Rose Society 
to have incorporated its early Show with Richmond, and thus have made 
one specially grand display rather than have divided the attraction. 
It is now too late to amend the defect, but I cannot doubt but that 
the Richmond authorities would gladly welcome the National Rose 
Society another year. The place is singularly convenient of access for 
rosarians generally. Those now who want to have a good Rose feast 
may if they choose do both Windsor and Richmond, as both lie on the 
South-Western Railway. The Richmond ground is just five minutes’ 
walk from the Railway Station. The Show will be opened by 
H.R.H. the Duchess of Teck, and there is certain to be, as is always 
the case, not only a fine company, but also a most attractive Exhi¬ 
bition.—A. D. 
Roses at York. 
As I was not present at that exhibition it may perhaps be asked 
why should I mention it. I might perhaps, indeed, “ evolve out of my 
own inner consciousness” a vivid description of the exhibition, knowing 
who were the exhibitors and what are the varieties they especially 
favour. I might tell what splendid blooms there were of this or that 
Hybrid Perpetual, how grand were the Teas of such and such an exhi¬ 
bitor, and so on, but I forbear. I have, however, one especial object in 
referring to it. For some time I have warned our “ big men ” in the 
professional class who had been carrying off the triumphs of victory 
for so many years that there was a “disinherited knight” of whom 
they would have to take account in the future tournaments that are 
held in honour of the queen of flowers. I do not think they believed 
me ; they had only seen small exhibits coming from him, and while 
they had seen many large growers with double and treble his number of 
plants still holding back and only exhibiting in the smaller classes they 
smiled contemptuously at the thought of a little knight like that 
entering the lists with them. However, far sooner than I anticipated, 
my predictions have been realised. 
At the York Show Mr. George Mount, of whom I write, suddenly 
leaped into the front rank, for the first time he exhibited in seventy- 
twos and in that class and also in those for forty-eights, twenty- 
fours, and eighteens he literally swept the board, carrying off all 
the first prizes in those classes. But then, it may be said he had 
no competitors worthy of his steel. “Hadn’t he, though 1” He had 
two champion growers—Mes-rs. Harkness & Son' and Mr. Frank 
Cant, beside others. Now I look upon this as a fact unprecedented in 
the annals of Rose showing. I mean this : never do I recollect an exhi¬ 
bitor for the first time entering in these large classes and carrying off 
everything before him. We must bear in mind, too, that they were 
beaten—two at least—in their own county, while Mr. Mount had to 
bring his Roses from the far South of England. We well know what an 
advantage it is to be able to gather flowers close at home and to bring 
them only a few miles instead of having to subject them to a night’s 
travelling by rail and all the other disadvantages attendant upon a long 
journey. I did not think when I wrote the other day my notes on Mr. 
Mount’s garden I should so soon have to congratulate him on his wonder¬ 
ful success, and for his sake and for the honour of the old city I heartily 
rejoice. There is one more pleasant thought connected with it, namely, 
that I believe this feeling will be shared by all rosarians, and that even 
those whom he has beaten will be among the first to congratulate him.— 
D., Beal, 
Roses at the Colchester Show. 
The meeting of the Colchester Horticultural Society was this year 
arranged so as to coincide with that of the fixture of the Essex Agri¬ 
cultural Association—viz., the 13th and 14fh inst. Having been 
asked to judge flowers at this meeting I willingly availed mjself of the 
invitation, more especially as I have hitherto known Colchester merely 
by the great reputation its rosariars have given to it. The day was as 
unpropitious and depressing as in contrast thereto the meeting was 
satisfactory, and the hospitality of my rosarian friends profuse and 
exhilirating. The show was held at Lexden Park, and the arrangements 
of the horticultural parts thereof were under the supervision of Mr. 
Andrews of Woodbridge, who deservedly has a great reputation in the 
county, as also in Suffolk, for his knowledge of such matters, and who 
on the present occation, and under depressing circumstances, worthily 
maintained his position as an expert. 
Roses were not shown in profus'on, but i uch as were exhibited would 
have fairly held their own at any meeting, more especially the Teas 
staged by the various winners. The competition was keen between the 
two great rivals, Messrs. Benjamin R, Cant and Frank Cant, who ran 
each other neck and neck in the three classes open to fh^m, Messrs. 
Prior & Son being third. For thirty-six varieties Mr. B. R. Cant was 
first, in his exhibit being especially good flowers of Cleopatra (which 
was awarded the medal as the best Rose), Marie Van Houtte (very 
good specimen), Madame Gabriel Luizet, La France, Madame Cusin, 
Viscountess Folkestone, Souvenir d’Elise, Susanne Eodocanachi, and 
Gdndral Jacquemirot. Mr. Frank Cant was second, his best flowers 
being Rubens, Madame Montet, Souvenir d’EIise, Marie Van Houtte, 
Crown Prince, and J. D. Pawle. 
For twenty-four varieties Mr. Fiank Cant was first, showing a very 
even, fresh coloured, and well arranged box, in which the best flowers 
were Dr. Andry, Souvenir de S. A, Piinca, Charles Lefebvre, Madame 
Montet, Crown Prince, General Jacqueminot, Prince Arthur, and 
Rubens. Mr. Benjamin Cant was a good and close second, his best 
flowers being Gustave Piganeau, Cleopatra, Gabriel Luizet, La France, 
and Madame Cusin. Messrs. Prior & Son were third, showing neat 
flowers of Souvenir d’un Ami, Marie Van Houtte, G4ndral Jacqueminot, 
Cleopatra, and Augustine Guinoisseau, 
In Teas Mr. Frank Cant was again first with Souvenir d’Elise, Madame 
de Watteville, Catherine Mermet (very good flower), Rubens, Madame 
Lambard, Marie Van Houtte, and Mardchal Niel. Mr. Benjamin Cant 
was second, showing Cleopatra, Madame Cusin, Souvenir d’Elise, 
Niphetos, Souvenir d’un Ami, and Marie Van Houtte. Messrs. Prior 
third, with neat flowers of Catherine Mermet, Niphetos, Rubens, and 
Cleopatra. 
The amateur exhibits were not of the standard which one looks 
for amongst our crack growers, but considering the weather one cannot 
criticise in the same way as if the season had not so completely changed 
in character since the 15th May, Roses showing the effects of the recent 
dismal rains and other untoward climatic difficulties. Mr. Berners, 
however, showed a very good box of twelve Teas, which although not of 
his exceptionally high standard, were still flowers which most of us 
would be proud to be able to stage in such a wretchedly disappointing 
year as this so far has proved to many of us. As in the professionals' 
boxes the best flowers were Cleopatra (which obtained the amateurs’ 
medal) and Catherine Mermet, The Bride, Niphetos, and Souvenir 
d’Elise. Mr. Tasker’s gardener brought from Brentwood some even, 
but small sized, flowers, which gained him two firsts for twenty-four 
varieties (no other competitor), and for six Teas, one variety. In the 
latter class he staged Souvenir d’un Ami, good flowers, but arranged 
with no moss, which gave rather a crude appearance to his box. Mr. 
Hareburt Landon, the new recruit to the strength of the N.R.S. Com¬ 
mittee, sent some good flowers of Marie Van Houtte, which were well 
arranged, and worthily obtained a good second. Mr. Landon also got 
first place for twelve varieties in the class of growers under 500. 
Other exhibitors worthy of special mention were Mr. George Paul, 
who sent three beautiful boxes of garden Roses, and was strongly 
recommended for a good special prize, there being, unfortunately, no 
class reserved for such flowers, an oversight which will probably be 
rectified in the future, as at this time of year garden Roses are specially 
good, and should be in all Rose schedules. 
In the same way Mrs. Arthur Cant of Reed Hall, Colchester, sent a 
beautiful box of six Teas, distinct varieties, for which there was no 
class, but which my colleague (Mr. Burrell) and I considered of the 
highest excellence, and recommended for a special prize. 
Being within easy reach of the most celebrated profes.fional growers 
in the south of England I naturally availed myself of the invitation 
given me to see both the Messrs. Cants’ Rose gardens, and I may say 
that the reality of these grounds far exceeded my anticipation thereof. 
I have been in many nurseries of various sizes and reputations, and 
was delighted with the excellent way Roses are here cultivated. 
Comparison between these gentlemen’s grounds, their methods of 
