September 13, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
Namaqualand or the Ceres district. The variety sulphurea is not so 
beautiful as the type, the flowers being pale sulphur. U. anthemoides is 
a near ally of the above, differing in having a deep purple colour on the 
underside of the rays, smaller flowers, and more finely cut foliage. 
This is a very old plant, having been cultivated in 1795, and figured in 
the “ Bot. Mag.,” t. 544, under the name of Arctotis anthemoides.—D. 
MESSRS. ALEXANDER DICKSON AND SONS, NEW- 
TOWNARDS AND BELFAST. 
NEW HYBRID PEDIGREE ROSES. 
I have just returned here from a few weeks’ run through Ireland, 
north and south, and Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the 
Lake district, commonly called “ The Trossachs.” Perhaps I should here 
say that any of your readers who go as far as Edinburgh with gardening 
tastes should not miss the chance of seeing the Duke of Buccleuch’s 
palace gardens at Dalkeith, half an hour’s run from Scotland’s beautiful 
capital. However, I hope to have an opportunity of referring occasion¬ 
ally, as time permits, to notes taken en route , so with your permission I 
commence with Messrs. Dickson’s Newtownards nurseries. These 
nurseries are assuming a world-wide reputation as the home of Hybrid 
Pedigree Roses. Rather curious that these hybrids seem to do admirably 
in the United States, and already Messrs. Dickson have large orders 
from Brother Jonathan, but have not so far been as lucky as Mr. 
Bennett, the only other Hybrid Pedigree Rose raiser in the empire, 
who secured £1800 from Mr. Evans, of Philadelphia, for Her 
Majesty. 
I propose specially to note those new Roses, but before coming to 
them I would like to transcribe a few casual notes made in my walk 
round with the energetic head of the firm, who now leaves the nursery 
business proper and Rose hybridisation to his son, who bears his 
name, and Mr. George Dickson, while he interests himself in high class 
farming and the breeding of a pure strain of Shorthorns on an adjoin¬ 
ing estate of his. 
The residence, booking, stores,and despatch offices are at the west end 
of the town, and although there are four nurseries, some distance 
asunder, stocked in the customary manner with Conifer®, ornamental 
shrubs, fruit trees, Roses, deciduous trees, &c., I shall merely ask space 
for notes of that in which the glass structures are situated. These 
structures number about a dozen, ranging from 50 to 150 feet 
in length, and provided with all modern improvements in heating, 
ventilating, watering, &c. Some of these are very ingenious as well 
as economical. There is a large range of pits, at times heated by 
stable manure or other fermenting material, but with a series of piping 
to maintain the requisite temperature in case of need. Most people 
know how slow the work is of removing the sashes to empty and fill 
the hotbed stuff, and how handicapped the man with the fork is down 
in the pit. 
Here the sashes can be removed from scores of pits or frames in five 
minutes, and not only that but the supporting framework which fits 
into grooves, one man emptying or filling with ease and comfort, can 
thus do the work of at least five. So on in every department, the object 
to be attained and the best method of securing it seems to be constantly 
studied. The heating arrangements seem almost perfect. Two large 
saddle boilers, much praised for their good points some years ago, had to 
be discarded for a large one of Witherspoon’s “ Red Rose ” patents, 
which gives greater satisfaction, and consumes less than half the former 
fuel. 
Messrs. Dickson grow enormous quantities for cut flower purposes 
to meet the demand at their large seed and general warehouse, 
Royal Avenue, Belfast, under the immediate supervision of Messrs. 
Watson and Hugh Dickson. They have developed in a surprising degree 
also the trade—the demand and supply—for ornamental and flowering 
window and small conservatory plants. Let me give a few illustrations 
that may be instructive. Narcissi, Hyacinths, Tulips, Anemones, and all 
flowering bulbs that keep and “ travel ” well come in usefully in 
season. I am glad to say they found an enterprising gentleman farmer, 
Mr. Mossop, in the Queen’s Co., to grow several acres of the former for 
them very satisfactorily, to meet not only the Irish but American trade. 
For the whole twelve months of the year their demand for cut Roses, 
Tea, Bourbon, or Hybrid Perpetual never flags. This seems more or less 
common to all manufacturing towns. So of Carnations, Pinks, and 
Picotees. Gloire de Nancy is the favourite white Carnation, but it 
too splits the calyx. Fisher’s W. P. Milner comes papery and poor 
here. Would you or any reader name a white Carnation as vigorous as 
Gloire de Nancy that does not split the calyx ? Another showy outdoor 
favourite useful for cutting are Gladioli, including the hybrids of 
Gandavensis and Lemoine’s. I have seen them here as fine as the best 
from salubrious Langport—enormous spikes—many raised locally. Cut 
the spikes as the first flowers open, and every bloom on the spike will 
fully expand and keep fresh for nearly three weeks even in summer. 
Although the climate here is on an average 4° or 5° colder than in 
the south, their Hybrid Tea Roses, possibly from being budded on the 
Manetti, and subsequently rooting from the junction into the soil, are 
never killed in the winter ; in fact, I observed a week since splendid 
blooms thus in the open. Here I may digress to say most of this firm’s 
; 100,000 Roses I observed were on the Manetti stock ; and in a pretty 
long experience—Mr. Gilmour, junior, notwithstanding—I certainly 
never saw at the end of August such wonderful Roses, and, I may add, 
such vigorous growth. I was not surprised therefore to find on my 
return from Scotland some days afterwards this firm had first prizes in 
every class open to them, against all comers, in Dublin. Possibly the 
close proximity to the sea at Strangford Lough has also a modifying 
influence on the temperature. Thus far I have referred to the outdoor 
stock for supplying cut flowers, without mentioning two of Messrs. 
Dixon’s specialties for the same purpose—Chrysanthemums and Dahlias. 
Both, in their several sections, are grown by the thousand. As to the. 
former—curious, the demand is chiefly for white flowers—incurved, 
Anemone, reflexed and Pompon, and the supply is selected accordingly. 
At Dublin Royal Horticultural Society’s Show a few days since those 
Dahlias I see had also premier honours. Coming to the indoor depart¬ 
ment the stock is grown on commercial principles. Take the warm 
Adiantum house—there are but two of A. farleyense or A. Pacotti (very 
dense) to 1000 A. cuneatum, because the latter will “ travel ” and keep- 
while the former will not. Another house has hardy Palms in small 
pots for table or room decoration. Another again similarly 2000 dwarf 
Tree Ferns, Lomaria gibba, handy seedlings in 34-inch pots. So of 
Asparagus plumosus. Of this and Ferns an average of 500 fronds are 
required per week. The next long house was devoted to Eucharia 
amazonica, in splendid health. Very singular, neither Mr. Dickson 
nor any of the firm believe in the existence of the so-called Eucharis 
mite. “ They never saw it,” and think what passes as such is generated 
naturally after the bulbs have begun to decay, from a low temperature, 
or too much water, or both combined. Their enormous stock was 
certainly a picture of health. Again we come to a Fern house ; this 
time the very handsome Pteris serrulata major, Athyrium Goringianum, 
and Lastrea cristata, being chiefly the tenants. Lapagerias, w hite and 
rose, are largely required, as well as Stephanotis, Hoyas, Hibbertias, and 
Mandevillas. Lastly, passing over the customary greenhouse occupants, 
and a large stock of Bouvardias, Tuberous Begonias, Pelargoniums of all 
classes, Cistuses, Fuchsias, Gloxinias, Cyclamens, &c., we come tooneof the 
longest houses for forcing and early-flowering Tea Roses, for which the 
demand in the early months of the year seems insatiable. Here Marshal 
Neil comes first, then Messrs. Dickson’s own seedlings—Pedigree, Miss 
Ethel Brownlow, and Lady Castlereagh, both very vigorous and free 
flowering ; the former bright salmon pink, shaded yellow ; the latter an 
effective rosy yellow. It is remarkable that this last, Lady Castlereagh, 
is one of the few Roses never attacked with mildew—a fact worth 
noting. 
Before exhausting your space, or your patience, I conclude with 
naming three sets of Dickson’s new Hybrid Pedigree Roses. The first 
sent out in 1887 consisted of Earl Dufferin, Lady Helen Stewart (specially 
complimented in my hearing by the Lady Lieutenant of Ireland, the 
Dukes of Abercorn and Leinster, and a brilliant suite a few days since 
at the Dublin R.H.S. Show), and Miss Ethel Brownlow, now to be found 
described in all the Rose catalogues. This year Messrs. Dickson 
introduced for public favour Caroline D’Arden, H.P., a cross between 
A. K. Williams and Marie Baumann, and if possible superior to either 
parents—a pure, massive, soft rose colour. The other was Lady 
Castlereagh, a Tea already referred to. Both had first-class certificates 
in Dublin, Glasgow, &c. This enterprising firm hope to exceed their 
former triumphs next season with Lady Arthur Hill, peculiar pyramidal 
shape, vigorous, and in constitution and perfume faultless ; Jennie 
Dickson, a wondrously promising beauty, and T. W. Girdlestone, all 
H.P.’s ; and probably Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. James Wilson, Teas. As 
your correspondent I have to thank this enterprising firm for the 
facilities and courtesy extended to me on the occasion of my visit to 
their establishments in Belfast and Newtownards.—W. J. Murphy, 
Clonmel. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
RUGBY.— September 4th and 5th. 
In conjunction with the Warwickshire Agricultural Society’s Show 
for the present year, a Horticultural Exhibition was held at Rugby on 
Tuesday and Wednesday, September 4th and 5th. A comprehensive 
schedule was provided, and the exhibits were numerous in most of the 
classes, three large tents being filled with Grapes, plants, fruit, cut 
flowers, and cottagers’ productions. The latter were unusually good, 
and most creditable to the district. Specimen plants were not so 
numerous as in previous years, but the groups in competition possessed, 
unusual merit. That from Mr. J. Parker, Victoria Nurseries, Rugby, 
gained the premier award, and deserved the highest commendation for 
the good taste displayed in the arrangement. The foundation was 
chiefly Adiantums, with a background of Palm and Lilies, a few Dipla- 
denias, Lilium lancifolium, and Ixoras being scattered about, with 
abundance of Francoas, the tall graceful spikes of which had a 
charming effect. Mr. T. B. Thomson was a close second with a well 
finished group, and Sir R. Moon was third for the brightest group of 
the three, but a trifle too flat, and wanting in finish at the margin. 
J. Marriott, Esq., had the best specimen foliage plants, including grandly 
coloured examples of Crotons Andreanus, angustifolius, and morte- 
fontainensis. Cut flowers, fruit, and vegetables were all well shown, 
and the Committee, with their courteous Chairman, Mr. Linmeus 
Cumming, and the Secretary, Mr. Arthur Mason, must be congratulated 
upon the success which attended their efforts to provide a satisfactory 
and representative exhibition. 
BATH FLORAL FETE.— Seftember 5th and Gth. 
A MOST satisfactory Exhibition of plants, fruits, cut flowers, and 
vegetables was held in the Sydney Gardens, Bath, on Wednesday and 
