26 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 9, 1891. 
MAIDSTONE.— June 29th. 
An early fixture at such a season as the present has been was in 
itself a discouraging element, hut more especially was this the case 
where the frosts had been unusually severe, and such had been the case 
with Maidstone ; not only had the winter frosts and snow told severely, 
but that cruel one of Whitsunday, which will ever make this year a 
memorable one for horticulture, had done immense damage—the trees 
were severely crippled, and some exhibitors were unable to put in any 
appearance, consequently the Show was both moderate in extent and in 
quality. This is always to be regretted, especially where the Society is 
a struggling one, as here ; and because on this occasion it had the 
honour of the Dean of Rochester acting as one of the Judges, and one 
would have wished that he had more and better Hoses to criticise ; but 
he is not one to despise the day of small things, and perhaps the fact 
that be acted as Judge may be a fillip to the Society. Colonel Pitt is 
evidently anxious to keep up the traditions of Turkey Court, but the 
fates— i.e., the weather—were against him this year ; we must only 
hops that he may be more happy another year. 
As the Maidstone Club is exclusively an amateurs’ one we see none 
of those large classes which so help to fill up and add beauty to an 
exhibition. The room where it was held (the Corn Exchange) is a well- 
lighted one, and on a dull day is excellent; but, as on this occasion, 
there was after the early morning bright sunshine, it streamed down 
the large skylight, to the great detriment of the flowers, which very 
soon began to expand under its genial influence, and even to cast 
their eyes to it. 
In class 1, for twelve Hybrid Perpetual s and twelve Teas (a very 
pretty class), the first prize was awarded to R. L. Knight, Esq. of Bobbing 
Court, Sittingbourne, for La France, Duke of Wellington, Madame 
G. Luizet, Charles Levebvre, Le Havre, Madame Hippolyte Jamain, 
Marie Baumann, Hon. Edith Gifford, Souvenir d’un Ami, A. K. Williams, 
Catharine Mermet, Grace Darling, Mardchal Niel, Reine Marie Henriette, 
Madame Lambard, Marie Van Houtte, Souvenir de Thdr&se Levet, 
Innocente Pirola, Souvenir de Gabriel Drevet. Colonel Pitt was second, 
and Mr. P. R. Burnand third. In the class for eighteen distinct Mr. 
F. Warde was first with Madame Victor Verdier, A. K. Williams, La 
France, Prince Arthur, Duchesse de Vallombrosa, Louis Van Houtte, 
Senateur Vaisse, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Camille Bernardin, Charles 
Lsfebvre, Dr. Andr4, Reynolds Hole, Dupuy Jamain, Ulrich Brunner, 
Edith Gifford, Earl of Pembroke, and Marie Baumann. Mr. R. W. 
Knight was second, and Mr. R. E. West of Reigate third. 
In the class for twelve distinct, Mr. F. Warde was again first with 
Louis Van Houtte, Baroness Rothschild, Prince Arthur, Ulrich Brunner, 
La France, Abel Carriere, Beauty of Waltham, Madame Cusin, Camille 
Bernardin, Marie Fougit, Marquise de Castellane, Reynolds Hole. Mr. 
R. L. Knight was second, and the Rev. H. B. Biron third. For twelve 
Teas, Noisettes, the Rev. H. B. Biron was first with Souvenir d’Elise 
Vardon, Innocente Pirola, Com'esse Panisse, Anna Ollivier, Madame 
Bravy, Francisca Kruger, Madame Hoste, Souvenir d’un Ami, Devoni- 
ensis, Marie Van Houtte, Souvenir de Mons. Pernet, Princess Beatrice. 
Mr. R. L. Knight was second, and Colonel Pitt third. In the class for 
six trebles, Mr. F. W. Warde was first with Xavier Olibo, Violette 
Bouyer, Duke of Wellington. La France, La Havre, Lady Mary Fitz- 
william. In the class for six Teas Dr. Ashurst was first with Jean 
Ducher, Niphetos, Souvenir d’un Ami, Jules Finger, Madame Hoste, 
Madame de Watteville. Mr. H. Murton was second. 
For six varieties Dr. Ashurst was first with Star of Waltham, 
Marquise de Castellane, Antoine Ducher, Heinrich Schulthies, Crown 
Prince, and Horace Vernet. For six Teas Mr. H. Monkton was first 
with Francisca Kruger, Madame Caroline Kuster, Madame Bravy, 
Souvenir de Th^rese Levet, and Homere. In the class for bouquets 
Mrs. Biron displayed her usual taste, and carried off the first prize. 
Miss E. Bensted was second, and Miss Amies third. For buttonhole 
bouquets Miss Bensted was first, Mrs. Biron second, and Miss Bryant 
third. For shoulder-knots Miss Bryant was first, Miss Davy second, and 
Miss Cutbush third.—D., Deal. 
CANTERBURY.— June 30th. 
It is sometimes said that cricket is the most uncertain game in the 
world, but I am not at all sure that Rose showing will not equal it in 
this point, and for the same reason—both depend so much on the state 
of the weather. A bad wicket puzzles the batsman, and bad and cold 
weather especially baffles the Rose grower. I have never seen a greater 
proof of this than in the Maidstone and Canterbury Shows of this j ear. 
Anyone attending the former would have said, “ I shan’t trouble myself 
about going to Canterbury as there cannot be any Roses,” yet so far was 
this from being the case that I think it was one of the best shows I have 
seen during its thirteen years of existence, so great a difference had the 
twenty-four hours of genial weather made in the character of the 
flowers, for it must be noted the exhibitors and the chief prizewinners 
were the same, as a comparison of the two lis's will show. Mr. Knight, 
Mr. Warde, and Mr. Biron were in both places, but in very different 
form. 
The Show was held in the Foresters’ Hall, which is a somewhat dark 
room, but as the day was bright this was not of so much consequence, 
although I think it a pity that the three best stands of amateurs’ Roses 
were in the darkest corner of the room, where it was almost impossible 
to see the full beauty of the flowers exhibited, nor, I may add, their 
defects, if they had any. Here the contest was a very keen one between 
Mr. R. L. Knight of Bobbing and Mr. Wacher, the former, however, 
securing the first prize, while Mr. Wacher obtained the silver medal 
for the best H.P. in the Show out of his box. Mr. Knight’s flowers 
were Duke of Teck, Marie Finger, Duke of Edinburgh, La France, 
A. K. Williams, Mrs. John Laing, Ulrich Brunner, Marie Van Houtte, 
Eugene Fifrst, a very fine flower; Mad. Gabriel Luizet, Earl of Dufferin, 
Maurice Bernardin, Marie Baumann, Gloire Lyonnaise, Duke of Welling¬ 
ton, Mardcbal Neil, Xavier Olibo, a very fine flower, and Etienne Levet. 
Mr. Wacher had some remarkably fine blooms in his second prize lot, such 
as the La France which obtained the National Society’s silver medal as 
the best H.P., and a fine bloom of Tea Souvenir de Thdrese Levet, which 
very nearly did the same for the Teas. Mr. F. Warde was third. In the 
class for twelve distinct varieties, Mr. R. L. Knight was again first with 
La France, Mad. Gabriel Luizet, Louis Van Houtte, Marie Rady, Duke of 
Edinburgh, Mrs. John Laing, Souvenir de S. A. Prince, Caroline Kuster, 
Camille Bernardin, A. K. Williams, Violette Bouyer, Duke of Wellington, 
and Xavier Olibo. Mr. F. Warde was second ; the Rev. H. B. Biron 
third. 
In the class for twelve Teas or Noisettes Mr. R. L. Knight was again 
first with a box of fine blooms consisting of The Bride, Souvenir d’un 
Ami, Marechal Niel, Princess of Wales, Innocente Pirola, Caroline Kuster, 
Hon. Edith Gifford, Madame Cusin, Catherine Mermet, Marie Van 
Houtte, Souvenir de Gabriel Drevet, and Francisca Kruger. Mr. 
Wacher was second and the Rev. H. B. Biron third. In the class for six 
trebles Mr. Warde was first with good bloom3 of Le Havre, La France, 
Louis Van Houtte, Violette Bouyer, Marie Rady, and Marguerite de 
St. Amand. The Rev. H. B. Biron was second in class 5 for twelve 
varieties. The first prize, a cup value £2, given by the Mayor, was awarded 
to Mr. Packham, of Reigate, for good blooms of Therkse Levet, 
Marquise de Castellane, La France, Mad. Gabriel Luizet, Dupuy Jamain, 
Marie Van Houtte, Souvenir de Therese Levet, Capitaine Christy, A. K. 
Williams, Catherine Mermet, and Viscountess Folkestone. Mr. Stanley 
was a good second, Mr. R. E. West third. In the class for nine Teas 
and Noisettes Messrs. Hawkins & Co. were first with Marie Van Houtte, 
Souvenir d’un Ami, Madame de Watteville, Rubens, Catherine Mermet, 
The Bride, Jules Finger, and Innocente Pirola. Captain Lambert ran a 
very close second, in fact a neck and neck race. Mr. H. Foster of 
Ashford was first in the class for nine distinct varieties with excellent 
blooms. In the class for six Teas Mr. Collard was first with Catherine 
Mermet, Marie Van Houtte, Edith Gifford, Niphet03, Souvenir de S. A. 
Prince, and Souvenir d’Elise. In the class for twelve Mr. Packham 
was first for six varieties. Teas.—Mr. Laslett was first with Anna 
Ollivier, Madame Berard, Souvenir de Paul Neyron, Madame Lambard. 
In the class for six blooms of any one Hybrid Perpetual Mr. Knight 
was first with good blooms of Duke of Edinburgh. 
The N.R.S.’s silver medal for the best H.P. was awarded to Mr. 
Wacher, as I have here already said for La France, and that for the best 
Tea to the Rev. J. R. Buchanan for a fine bloom of Madame Willermoz. 
Table decorations, bouquets, &c., are always a feature at this Show, and 
some excellent ones were shown, the first prize being awarded to- 
Mrs. George Mount for a very graceful arrangement, the second to Mrs. 
Wacher, and the third to Miss Watson. 
The nurserymen’s class brought, as usual, a number of fine flowers 
together, Messrs. Mount, F. Cant, Prince, and Paul & Son being the 
exhibitors. As Mr. Mount was at home he had of course an advantage, 
but his flowers deserved the high awards which he obtained, and being 
first in thirty-six and in twelve trebles. His flowers in the former case were 
in the back row—Charles Lefebvre, Mrs. John Laing, General Jacquemi¬ 
not, Marquise de Castallane, Gabriel Luizet, Dupuy Jamain, Duke of Edin¬ 
burgh, FranQois Michelon, Maria Baumann, Etienne Levet, Souvenir 
de la Malmaison, Ulrich Brunner. The middle row flowers were La 
France, Duke of Teck, Souvenir d’Elise, Madame Cusin, Baroness 
Rothschild, Duchess of Bedford, Dr. Andry, Louis Van Houtte, Violette 
Bouyer. The front row consisted of The Bride, Mardchal Niel, Eugene 
Fiirst, Marie Van Houtte, Fisher Holmes, Anna Ollivier, La Rosiere, 
Black Prince, Duke of Wellington, and Senateur Vaisse. Messrs. Paul and 
Son were second, and Mr. Geo. Prince third. In twelve trebles Mr. 
Mount was again first. The varieties were A. K. Williams, Mad. Gabriel 
Luizet, Marie Baumann Mrs. John Laing, Duke of Edinburgh, Ulrich 
Brunner, The Bride, Fisher Holmes, La France, Eugene Fiirst, very 
fine; Gdndral Jacqueminot, and Edith Gifford. Mr. Geo. Prince wr 8 
second, and Messrs. Paul & Son third. In the class for twelve Teas Mr. 
Geo. Prince of Oxford was first with some of his fine blooms, consisting 
of Comfesse de Nadaillac, Souvenir de S. A. Prince, Catherine Mermet, 
Mons. Furtado, a very sweetly coloured but seldom seen Rose ; Princess 
Beatrice, Hon. Edith Gifford, Madame Cusin, Marechal Niel, Souvenir 
d’un Ami, Anna Olivier, and The Bride. Mr. Frank Cant was second ; 
Mr. Geo. Mount third. 
The Canterbury Rose Society may well be congratulated on having 
in such an uncertain year so excellent a Show.—D., Deal. 
BROCKHAM.— July 1st. 
In the early morning of July 1st, as I was making my way in the 
pouring rain to Burford Lodge under Box Hill, where, at the invitation 
of Sir Trevor and Lady Lawrence, the Brockham Rose Show was held 
this year, I saw a solitary goose making the most of his opportunities 
and enjoying the goods the gods had provided for him, and feasting on 
the luscious grass. It seemed to me that I was a greater goose than he 
to be thinking of judging Roses on such a day. How could any Roses 
be staged and shown in such a downpour of rain ? On reaching the place 
of exhibition, and proceeding to business along with my fellow Judges, 
Mr. George Paul and Mr. Herbert Bensted (Hon. Sec. of the Maidstone 
Rose Association), it was surprising indeed to find not only a tent well 
