480 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Decern Der 3, 1891. 
sufficiently good to bear critical examination. The only dark velvety 
crimson Rose in my collection which comes sufficiently near this standard 
is Louis Van Houtte, which unfortunately in many localities is looked 
upon as but a miffy grower. 
This year, almost in despair, I inserted Prince Camille de Rohan 
as being at all events more reliable than most dark Roses, although in 
other respects much below the above standard. And now “ W. R. R.,” 
in his good humoured way, pounces down on this poor dernier ressort 
of mine, with the cutting remark that “ Prince C. de Rohan is lucky to 
find a place.” If we only had a number of Roses in different colours as 
sound in constitution and as vigorous in growth as Ulrich Brunner, 
bearing flowers as freely as La France and as perfect as A. K. Williams, 
all our difficulties would at once disappear, and anyone with the least 
knowledge of the subject might be entrusted with the task of drawing 
up a select list which would satisfy even so practical and experiencd a 
rosarian as W. R. Raillem himself.—E. H., Berlchampstead. 
THE VALUE OF HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 
A meeting was held on the 18th inst. in the Guildhall, of the 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association. Mr. 
G. D. Cann was unanimously voted to the chair, and he was supported 
by Messrs. A. Hope and T. E. Bartlett (Joint Secretaries), Franklin, 
J. E. Ebbutt, W. Vicary, W. Andrews, A. George, S. Radley, G. B. 
Lansdale, W. Webber, J. Gidley, F. Stone, J. Beazley, McCormick, 
James, &c. 
The Chairman said that he had great pleasure in acceding to the 
request made to him that evening. No one was more capable of reading 
a paper on “ Horticultural Shows ” than Mr. Bartlett, who was a practical 
gardener, had been a large exhibitor, and now rendered great assistance to 
the Horticultural Society. The Gardeners’ Improvement Association 
was greatly connected with the Horticultural Society, and this fact gave 
him (Mr. Cann) great pleasure in supporting the former. 
Mr. T. E. Bartlett then read a paper on “ The Value of Horticultural 
Exhibitions.” He said Exhibitions, or flower shows as they are more 
commonly called, provide great pleasure and instruction to great 
numbers of people. The lovers of plants and flowers look forward to 
the show as the great event of the season. I wonder how many, when 
they go to these Shows, consider the value and benefit of them to the 
people of this country and its commerce. I hope, in this paper, to show 
a few of the benefits and advantages derived from exhibitions. Take, for 
example, the Chrysanthemum. Could they have attained their present 
state of perfection without the annual shows held in almost every town 
in the country 1 It is the same with the Rose, in fact everything, no 
matter whether flowers, fruit, or vegetables ; since exhibitions have 
become so popular the improvement is truly amazing. Mr. Powell has 
given us a very able paper on the Apple and its culture, and I feel sure 
it will be a stimulant to every member of this Association. There are 
many things we know all about, or think we do, but we are so liable 
to be indifferent and careless, we want quickening up sometimes. I feel 
sure that next year we shall see the result in the way of finer fruit, 
better quality, and more exhibitors. The “ Apple and Pear Fairs,” held 
in the Lower Market, did a great deal of good in the classification of 
fruits and in showing the grower how necessary it is to keep the different 
varieties separate, and send to the market unmixed fruit. 
To be successful at an exhibition should be the aim of every gar¬ 
dener. It is the stepping-stone to success in this life. If a man wishes 
to be a judge at some neighbouring show, what greater recommendation 
can he have than that he has been a successful exhibitor ? He will soon 
be wanted. He must make a name for himself before he can expect to 
be placed in a position of confidence. It is no slight matter to judge 
between competitions, for there will be much judging going on after¬ 
wards by visitors, when every man will consider himself a good judge, 
and talk largely, if not wisely. Woe betide the judge if he has made a 
mistake. Public opinion will be against him, which no man can stand 
against, and is a very difficult thing to live down, and then there is the 
feeling of having wronged someone. But to gain a name requires great 
ambition and perseverance, and what is there to equal a show in foster¬ 
ing ambition ? 
The old order of things is fast passing away, but people must still 
be amused. The old-fashioned country fairs are now almost a thing of 
the past—and a good thing, too, for the morals of our young people. 
Now exhibitions take their place in a great measure, and where would 
the dividends of the railway companies be without them ? All through 
the summer months they are running excursions to some exhibition or 
other, and I will venture to say that if you stop exhibitions the railways 
will cease paying such big dividends, and shareholders, in turn, will 
stop paying gardeners, and gardening would stand still to a certain 
extent. 
From a gardener’s point of view the advantages derived from exhi¬ 
bitions are very great, especially the prize money. As a rule, gardeners 
are very poorly paid considering the ability, Bkill, and tact that has to 
be brought to bear in the discharge of their duties. The prize money 
means a good deal; sometimes a new dress, a new bonnet for his wife, 
some new boots for the children, a trip to the seaside, or, perhaps 
(which I hope doesn’t happen very often), to pay a doctor’s bill. What 
chance would a man have of seeiDg the different parts of the country 
without exhibitions, for then there would be no cheap excursions or 
prize money to pay the necessary expenses. 
Exhibitions are of great advantage to cottagers ; not so much for 
the value of the prizes fof which they compete as the better cultivation 
of their gardens. When I have been judging “allotments and gar¬ 
dens” I have always found that those of the competitors are far better 
in every respect than their neighbours who do not compete. To a 
cottager nothing is more profitable ; it takes up a deal of time, we 
know, tut would he be doing anything else during the summer evenings 
which would be half so profitable 1 Moreover, it gives him something to 
think about, keeps him out of bad company, and gives him greater self- 
respect, and enables him to do well in life. 
I have endeavoured to show the value of exhibitions in a few ways, 
and c’aim for it the lead of most of the industries of the country, and 
will now proceed to show the advantages gained by employers. Their 
gardeners go to the show and learn many things, make comparisons 
between different exhibits, and go home and look over the gardens under 
their charge. They see whether they could compete with those things 
at the show, with the result that when they are behind they work the 
harder to pull up, and try to grow things equal to those at the shows, 
which must be a great gain to their employers. I think I cannot close 
my essay without adding the Hon. H. G. Eastman’s very excellent 
advice to the students of Eastman’s Business College :—“ My students, 
you are the architects of your own fortunes. Rely on your own 
strength of body and soul. Select some specialty for your life’s work, 
and adhere to Paul’s precept, ‘ This one thing I do.’ Let your star be 
industry, self-reliance, faith, and honesty, and inscribe on your banner 
* Luck is a fool, and Pluck is a hero.” Earnest effort in one direction is 
the surest road to health and high position. Don’t take too much 
advice, keep at the helm, steer your own ship, and remember that the 
great art of commanding is to take on yourself the largest share of the 
work. Don’t practise too much humility. Think well of your own self. 
Strike out. Assume your own position. It is the jostlings and joltings 
of life that bring great men to the surface. Turn a raft of logs down a 
millrace and the largest come to the top. Put Potatoes in a cart over 
a rough road and the small Potatoes go to the bottom. Rise above the 
envious and jealous. Fire above the mark you intend to hit. Energy, 
invincible determination, with a right motive, are the levers that move the 
world. Don’t drink, don't chew, don’t smoke, don’t swear, don’t deceive, 
don’t read novels. Be in earnest, be self-reliant, be generous. There are 
two sides to every balance, and favours thrown in on one side of the 
scales are sure to be reciprocated on the other. Be civil, be a gentle¬ 
man. It a foolish man that does not understand that molasses will 
catch more flie3 than vinegar. Read the papers, they are the educators 
of the people ; advertise your business. Make money and do good with 
it. Lore God and your fellow men. Love truth and virtue. Love 
your country and obey its laws.” 
A VISIT TO SLOUGH. 
A few days ago I had the pleasure of going round the Roya 
Nurseries, where good things of many sorts are always to be seen well 
grown. The popular Chrysanthemum is there in great numbers, three 
large houses being devoted to the plants. Many varieties are grown, the 
object being not particularly large blooms, but dwarf sturdy plants with 
a profusion of flowers. The collection contains all the leading sorts, but 
I will name a few of the best only. The well known and much 
appreciated Avalanche was to be seen in splendid form ; Belle Paule 
looked charming. Of the yellows Mr. H. Cannell and Mrs. Norman 
Davis were undoubtedly the best. Mons. Freeman was one of the most 
beautiful, the silvery rose coloured flowers being very striking amongst 
such darker varieties as Edwin Molyneux, Mons. Bernard, Mons. 
Gamier, Mons. W. Holmes, all of which are too well known to need any 
description here. 
One of the houses, a long span-roof, was filled entirely with Princess 
Teck planted out in the border, and, though later than the other groups, 
the plants were showing some thousands of fine buds, and the blooms 
will be valuable in due time. Another variety very largely grown is 
Mons. Viviand Morel, the flowers of which are large and almost white ; 
it is at Slough considered one of the very best for cutting purposes. A 
striking variety is Louis Boehmer, but these hairy-petalled sorts do not 
appear to be very popular, though they are effective when introduced 
into a group. 
The Pelargoniums were next visited. They were in the best of 
condition, and will no doubt uphold the high reputation the firm has SO' 
deservedly gained as growers of them. 
Of the Carnations and Picotees, there were many of the perpetual 
flowering sorts to be seen just now, amongst them Andalusia, one of the 
best for winter flowering, the primrose yellow-fringed flowers being very 
beautiful. Herald, a crimson, is a charming variety ; as also is A. H. 
Kennedy, bright scarlet. Amongst the pure whites it would, I imagine, 
be difficult to find one superior to Vesta. Germania is one of the best 
of the yellows, and is consequently in great demand. Mrs. Reynolds 
Hole has also many admirers. All the plants are looking remaikably 
healthy, a credit both to the firm and to Mr. John Ball, the able and 
genial grower. 
The Auriculas are also in excellent condition, and promise an 
abundance of splendid flowers. The Ivy-leaf Pelargonium Souvenir de 
Charles Turner arrested attention. For bedding, or in fact any other 
purpose, it stands pre-eminent; its very deep rose-coloured flowers, orr 
each petal of which is to be seen a dark blotch, are very large, 
double, and freely produced, having a most pleasing effect. 
Out of doors, amongst the thousands of fruit trees, all was bustle 
and life ; enormous packages and bundles being sent away daily. After 
