30 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 12,1889. 
near South Street, for there is a little plot of land that offers a 
veritable rus in uric. Apparently this strip is no proper portion 
of the park, and so it has been left pretty much to Nature, 
except the planting of a line of evergreens, probably done when 
the park was formed. Some large but loosely grown examples 
of the Box, the Rhododendron (this will not flower as a rule so 
near London), the Portugal Laurel, the Evergreen Oak, and a species 
of Euonymus, and running amongst these were such creepers as the 
common Clematis, the wild Convolvulus, and the Goose Grass (Galium 
aparine). Rising above the grass which filled up most of the space 
around the shrubs were a variety of native plants, indicating what 
Kennington Common may have yielded to the herbalists of the olden 
time. Tallest, perhaps, was the Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), by 
which, and a neighbouring Thistle (Carduus arvensis) the sparrows 
seemed to be attracted. Nearly as conspicuous were the crimson tops 
of the familiar Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), and spreading heads of the 
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). The prevalence of moisture was shown 
by a clump of Rushes, and there were Trefoil, the Hedge Mustard, and 
Hedge Garlic, the wild Chamomile, the Bitter Yetch, and other species, 
but there is no modern Curtis to label them for the public benefit, and 
a high fence renders specimen-picking difficult. Kennington Park 
itself is a space of about 17 acres, calling for no special remark, and 
having an unattractive aspect.—J. R. S. C. 
ROSE SHOWS IN 1858. 
July 12th.—Birmingham, Carlton-in-Lindrick, and Winchester, 
„ 14th.—Eltham, Manchester, and New Brighton. 
„ 16th.—Christleton and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 
„ 17th.—Leek and Ulverstone. 
„ 18th.—Birkenhead. 
„ 19 th.—Helensburgh. 
„ 20th.—Darlington (National Rose Society). 
„ 24th.—Tibshelf. 
„ 25th.—Louth. 
The above list of Rose show fixtures is the last I propose issuing this 
season.— Edward Mawley, Rosebank, Berlthamsted, Herts. 
ROSES AT GUNNERSBURY PARK. 
Now so much is seen of exhibition Roses, it is a pleasant change to 
meet with old favourites of bygone days. Several of them are grown in 
large masses, and others are arched over flower beds. ChbnedoK, Baronne 
Prevost, Maiden’s Blush, Brennus, Paul Ricaut, and others in that 
form, make the garden sweet and gay. There in large masses are G6ant 
des Batailles, Jules Margottin, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Coupe d’Hbbb, 
with several more old favourites, such as Acidalie and Mrs. Bosanquet. 
There are many beds of the old Monthly China, and a glowing mass of 
Cramoisie Superieure, also many beds of Teas. This suburban home of 
the Rothschilds is crowded with Roses, which Mr. Roberts grows well, 
as he does Grapes and all other kinds of fruit and flowers in his exten¬ 
sive charge; but we can only now allude particularly to the Roses. 
SEEDLING BRIAR STOCKS. 
May I be permitted to state a fact respecting the hardiness of the 
seedling Briar as a stock for Roses ? Last November I had cause to 
move a quantity of Roses in dormant bud which were on seedling Briars. 
By some mistake, when all the plants were dug up and tied in bundles, 
three plants of Gloire de Dijon were left root upwards on the bare 
ground, and there they remained exposed to very severe frost for three 
weeks and a day, when I happened to go and find them. As an experi¬ 
ment I brought them home from the farm where they were and planted 
them, never thinking they would live, but to my astonishment they are 
the best maiden plants 1 have. Give me the seedling Briar as a stock 
for Roses.— H. I. Machin. 
THE PERSIAN YELLOW ROSE. 
I was pleased to road the note on the Persian Yellow Rose. In the 
garden of the Rev. Lewis Jones at Elford there is a very fine specimen 
of that lovely Rose. The clump is about 8 feet in diameter, 6 feet high, 
and forms a huge bouquet of green and gold every summer. The 
branches touch the ground at its circumference, and altogether it is a 
floral treat never to be forgotten. We have a good bush of it in the 
kitchen gardens here, but it will not compare with Mr. Jones’. The 
Persian Yellow should not be pruned if it is to be seen in its glory. I 
may say in regard to its lasting properties when cut that I gathered a 
handful of blooms on the 23rd ult., and I threw them away on the 
28th. The flowers retained their colour, but they were withered ; they 
thus lasted five days in water. I only gathered those flowers that were not 
more than half expanded. I forward a few for test of durability.— 
J Udale. 
[The flowers arrived as fresh as possible, the buds expanding in 
water, and looked well several days after they arrived.] 
ROSE3 IN WINTER. 
The papers by Mr. Bardney become more interesting as they advance, 
but we realise that he gives his experience with full knowledge, and is 
liable to forget the learner’s difficulty of filling up the details required 
to complete the sketch. I should be much obliged if Mr. Bardney will 
inform us in our Journal—1st, How Tea Roses are to be kept at “ rest”" 
during September and October when planted out in a house with the 
roof lights removed ? for the rain would fall on them and mild growing' 
weather affect them as if quite in the open, where Tea Roses grow and 
flower freely then. 2nd, What is the composition, nature, texture, and 
composition of the soil or compost to be used for such large pots and such 
young plants 1 3rd, Will Mr. Bardney kindly say whether, in growing 
Roses for cut flowers for market in January, February, and March, it 
would be most profitable to plant out in side beds near the glass, or to- 
grow them in pots, taking into account all the labour in the latter 
method?—S. S. 
THE BANKSIAN ROSE AS A STOCK FOR MARECHAL NIEL. 
Eight years ago we had a plant about twenty years old of the white 
Banksian Rose growing in a greenhouse up a pillar and trained hori¬ 
zontally to wires, near which is a ridge-and-furrow roof. It flowered 
profusely every April, lasted a few weeks, and then was over for the rest 
of the year. It then threw out a number of vigorous shoots as stout as 
good-sized Asparagus, and in June eight years ago three buds were in¬ 
serted on three of the best placed near the roof of that fine Rose 
Marbehal Niel. We had not thought or heard of this as a suitable stock 
for the Marechal; it was done more as an experiment, and to our sur¬ 
prise within a fortnight all three buds began growing vigorously, and 
when about a foot in length all the remainder of the Banksian was cut 
clean away, several barrowloads of it. 
The three young shoots were allowed to grow without stopping, 
merely tying them to the wires, which were horizontal, as they grew, 
when at the end of three months (September) one shoot was about 
20 feet long and the other two not quite so much. It then ceased to 
grow any more that season, but in December each shoot was shortened 
about one-third, and later on in March and April fine Roses were pro¬ 
duced from nearly every eye on these shoots, which were about 14 inch 
in circumference. When it had ceased flowering the shoots were cut 
back further to a good eye that had not flowered, and during the summer 
a large number of fine shoots were made from all dormant eyes, and a 
large quantity of fine Roses the following spring. Every year since the 
tree has produced hundreds of blooms. The main stems now average 
10 inches in circumference, in the thickest part 14 inches. 
In May, after the main flowering, a good deal of the useless and past¬ 
flowering wood is cut out, a good washing of softsoap and water is given 
with the syringe. The roots, which are in a border of loam and manure- 
in the centre of the house, are well deluged with water, and new growth 
is encouraged during the summer with occasional washings of clean soft 
water. December we find is a good month for pruning, regulating, and 
tying the shoots ; only the weak wood is cut out and the strong shoots- 
slightly cut back. Two or three times in the spring months, while the 
Roses are swelling, the bed has a good soaking of weak liquid manure. 
The Marechal Niel usually throws single buds, but so vigorous have 
been some of the shoots that three buds, and in many instances five, 
have been produced, and all developed well. The Banksian as a stock 
have proved beyond our expectation, and cannot be too strongly recom¬ 
mended. I am trying Celine Forester as a stock for the Marechal, but 
with what result must be left for the future. The Rose on the Banksian 
was referred to on page 4 by “ A Londoner.” He was astonished by 
its vigour, and suggested that a few particulars respecting it would be 
interesting and suggestive.—A. Harding, Orton Hall. 
DISS.— July 3rd. 
The forty-fourth Exhibition in connection with this Society was- 
held on Tuesday, July 3rd, in the Cricket Meadow, Roydon Road, 
Notwithstanding the excessive rainfall of the previous day the Exhi¬ 
bition, as a whole, was the largest and best ever held by the Society, 
Special features were introduced this year, which had the effect of 
producing competition from a wide area. In those departments may 
be mentioned a magnificent collection of herbaceous flowers. Messrs. 
G. Paul & Son of Cheshunt carried everything before them, being 
large exhibitors; while Messrs. Gilbert & Son, Ipswich ; Mr. Burrell, 
Cambridge ; and Mr. G. Norris, Bio’ Norton, were also successful 
exhibitors. 
As usual, there was a most attractive show of Roses, for which the 
Rev. H. A. Berners carried oil the principal awards, showing two- 
boxes, and taking two first prizes for thirty-six distinct trusses and 
twelve Teas, also the National Rose Society’s silver medal for the best 
Tea. The Rev. F. Page Roberts also came out well with Roses, taking 
first prize for best twenty-four single trusses, second for twelve Teas or 
Noisettes, and the National Rose Society’s silver medal for the best H.P. 
in any collection. The Rev. A. Foster-Melliar was third in the thirty- 
six class, second for twenty-four, and second for twelve. The Rev. H. T, 
Frere took second prize for thirty-six, third for twenty-four, and first 
for twelve. The Rev. J. JI. White taking first for twelve distinct 
trusses, and the same for six Teas or Noisettes. 
Plants in pots were shown in large numbers, the chief prizes for 
Pelargoniums in bloom going to Rev. H. T. Frere and Miss Taylor, 
Owing to the late season the show of vegetables and fruit was scarcely 
equal to former years, but there was a good collection of indoor grown 
fruit. The cottagers’ show, though small, was good, and there was 
also a small show of honey. 
