4G8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ June 10, 1886. 
SELECTIONS OP VIOLETS POR OUTDOOR CULTURE. 
I. Large growers for planting in rows 18 inches apart and 15 inches 
asunder in the rows. All have single flowers. 
Victoria Regina. —Purple ; the finest autumn, winter, and spring 
bloomer. 
Odoratissima. —Blush violet, spring bloomer; the most floriferous, 
best shaped, and in every respect finest of its season. 
White Czar. —White ; the best of the single white Violets. Autumn, 
winter, and spring flowering. 
II. Medium growers for planting in rows 15 inches apart, and 12 
inches in the rows. 
Single-flowered varieties :— 
Argentewflora. —White tinted rosy purple ; spring. 
Revoniensis. —Purple ; autumn and spring. 
LavUiana. —Lavender, white eye ; spring. 
Double-flowered varieties :— 
Rubra plena. —Pink; spring. 
Queen of Violets (Belle de Chatenay).—White, tinged purple ; spring. 
Queen of Violets var. ccerulea. —Light purple ; spring. 
IIT. Dwarf and close growers for planting in rows 12 inches apart 
and 9 inches asunder in the rows. 
Single-flowered varieties :— 
Russian (Scotch. London, floribunda, &o.).—Blue ; spring. 
White Russian (albiflora).—Spring. 
Rubra. —Pink ; spring. 
Double varieties :— 
Rouble Scotch. —Bluish purple ; spring. 
Rouble White (compacts).—Spring. 
Russian. —Deep purple ; spring. 
White Russian. —Spring. 
Parmaensisplena. —Semi-double, white striped rose ; spring. 
Ring of Violets. —Indigo blue ; spring. 
Patrie. —Purple violet, slightly streaked red ; autumn, winter, and 
spring. 
The preceding are perfectly hardy ; but the following are tender, yet 
when they survive the winter, as they do with protection as indicated 
before, they afford a quantity of flowers in spring, and some useful ones 
in autumn. Covered with frames they are best seen to advantage, 
flowered from September to April. 
IV. Plant 15 inches asunder from row to row, and 12 inches apart in 
the rows. 
New York (odorata pendula, Venice, Marguerite de Savoie, Count 
Brazza’s Neapolitan, Marie Louise of some).—Deep mauve, streaked red, 
white eye. 
Re Panne. —Deep lavender, white eye. 
White Neapolitan (Swanley White, Count Brazza’s White Neapoli¬ 
tan).—Pure white, sometimes semi-double only. 
VIOLET FLORIBUNDA. 
I AM obliged by Mr. Boothby’s correction. Reference was not made 
to his variety, but the many synonyms of Russian, floribunda as generally 
grown being only a development of Russian by cultivation. Giant was 
also omitted, as it was only a magnified Ru3 ian, but I did not consider 
it cnuld be put down as a synonym, being apparently a seedling develop¬ 
ment of Russian. 
I omitted floribunda (Boothby) for the same reason as Prince Consort 
and Princess of Prussia, both Mr. G. Lee’s raising—viz., because they 
■were not, as far as I am aware, in commerce, and it is tantalising to 
readers to name varieties that cannot be had. Prince Consort and 
Princess of Prussia are the finest single Violets I have seen, and I hope 
to refer to them later on. Floribunda (Boothby), if I remember rightly, 
is very closely allied to Devoniensis, which probably originated from 
Giant, and Mr. Boothby has placed it beyond question that floribunda 
originated from Giant. This is very interesting and valuable information, 
as it shows Violets improve by cultivation, and seedlings of the highest 
•cultivate ! forms are decided improvements on the parents, and goes to 
prove that much of the credit taken by hybridists is more due to cultiva¬ 
tion and selection than anything else. I cannot determine the origin of 
Devoniensis. It is the first purple Violet with large blooms that flowers 
in autumn. If I remember rightly, Mr. Lee does not know its origin, 
and I i nly surmise it came from Giant, albeit the foliage is more after 
Wilsoni. This is a most curious flower—very narrow petals, white eve, 
and very sweetly scented. Devoniensis is very sweetly scented, and the 
foliage is more glaucous and pointed than in Giant, which certainly is the 
parent of Czar, and then we get Whi'e Czar, which has even more pointed 
■foliage than Devoniensis and paler in colour, with a tendency to sparseness 
of reproduction ; but this does not hold with White Czar, which is a 
great seeder. Czar has coriate foliage, so has Prince Consort.. Victotia 
Regina, Odoratissima, and Princess of Prussia have pointed foliage, and 
much less hairy than either Czar or Prince Consort, so that we have two 
types, originating, as I think, from R is-ian or suivis, and I think the still 
dess hairy, more glaucous, and more pointed f Rage of Neapolitan to have 
originated from the same stock, being an albino form of suavis, the 
foliage bronzing under powerful sun. S ngle Neapolitan, if not white, is 
a pale lavender, white eye—due, I think, to the long cultivation of the 
Russian Violet in Italy and Greece, for ihe Violet is of great antiquity, 
being used as tiaras by belles at the Olympian games, Patrie I think 
pure Grecian, the oldest double Violet ex'ant; anywise, I have had it 
from the Levant, and it is certainly of the Crimean type. 
Having omitted Mr. Boothby’s fl iributida has caused its origin (o be 
known. It is not the same as Russian, but intermediate between Giart 
and Victoria Regina, about on a par as regards size of foliage and flowers 
with Devoniensis. I am glad to know it is an autumn bloomer, which I 
bad not observed to be in advance in that respect of Devoniensis. If I 
remember rightly the flowers are bluish purple, fading to rosy purple, 
similar to Russian Superb.— Viola. 
BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY. 
HORTICULTURAL SECTION.— Bristol, June, 2nd to the 7th. 
This always partakes more of the character of a loan Exhibition, the 
whole of the plants with the exception of a few Orchids bt-ing selected by 
the Steward of the section, the Hon. and Rev. J. T. BoBcawen, from 
the collection of plants growing in the conservatories and houses of 
various gentlemen living principally in the neighbourhood of the Show. 
Further, the plants are grouped entirely under the supervision of Mr. 
Boscawen, and the consequence is, instad of the formal arrangements 
necessarily the rule at all flower shows, we have here a free artistic arrange¬ 
ment on the lines of a particularly well furnished conservatory. A fine 
lofty tent with closed wooden ends painted a sombre black and not pleasing 
to all observers, who would have preferred ordinary canvas or canvas- 
draped ends, was devoted to the plants, and the two grand groups were 
very effective, creditable alike to growers, lenders, and the Steward. 
We cannot, however, speak very highly of the side benches, these not 
being so well filled as might have been expected. 
The principal exhibitors of plants were F. Tagart, Esq., Old Sneed 
Park, Bristol (Mr. C. Miller, gardener), who had in different parts of the 
tent immense specimens of Latania borbonica, Cycas revoluta, Arecas, and 
other Palms, Crotons, a grandly flowered Gardenia and other plants. Very 
fine and imposing as arranged with flowering plants were the grand speci¬ 
mens of Crotons interruptus, irregulars, Weismanni, and Challenger, 
Areca sapida, Latania borbonica, Cycas revoluta, Latania rubra, Cordylines, 
and Dracmnas. ClerodendronB, St^phanotises, and other plants lent by 
J. Derham, Esq., Sneyd Park, Bristol (Mr. W. Rye, gardener). Another 
important contribution was that by A. W. Summers, Esq. _ (Mr. A. 
Hancock, gardener), this including huge healthy specimens of Latania 
borbonica and Cycas revoluta, and good plants of Areca lutescens, 
Cocos Weddelliana, some capitally flowered trained plants of Stephanotis 
floribunda and other flowering plants and Ferns. Among the various 
plants sent by W. Pethick, Esq., Woodside, Stoke Bishop (Mr. E. S. 
Cole, gardener), the most noteworthy were a fine bank of Gloxinias 
interspersed with Maidenhair Ferns, several Orchids, as well as various 
flowering and fine-foliagei plants. W. E. George, Esq., Downside, 
Bristol (Mr. H. Young, gardener), also contributed numerous well- 
grown plants, including good examples of Adiantum farleyense and 
other Ferns, Cordylines, Dracaenas, Palms, &c. In addition to several large 
and good Ferns the contribution fiotn H. St. Vincent-Ames, Esq., Cote 
House, Westbury-on-Trym (Mr. W. Bannister, gardener), included several 
very flue well-flowered Marguerites, and which are still surprisingly 
popular. H. Mardon, Esq. (gardener, J. Stapleton) also sent a considerable 
number of flowering and fine-foliaged plants all in a healthy condition, and 
we believe there were a few other contributors whose names we were un¬ 
able to procure. The principal conti ibution by Mrs. Miller, Brentry 
House, Westbury-on-Trym (gardener, F. Nieholl), were four well-fruited 
pot Vines. The varieties were Black Hamburgh and Foster’s S edling, 
and as trained over arches at the end of the tent in connection with other 
fruit trees which we have yet to notice, the effect was very pleasing. 
Prizes were offered for a bank of Orchids and also for a single specimen, 
but these fail< d to attract more than one competitor—viz., H. Cruger Mib s, 
Esq., Penpole, Shirehampton (gardener, Mr. F. Perry), who was awarded the 
first prize of £10 for an attractive group, which comprised Lmlia purpurata, 
Cattleya Mendeli, Odontoglossnm Pe.-catorei, Aerides, Cypripediums, and 
other kinds in good condition. E. Saunderson, Esq., Clifton (Mr. Phillips, 
gardener), also contributed a small bank of choice Orchids, but not for 
competition. 
Of the trade growers represented the principal exhibitors were the Messrs. 
R. Smith it Co, Worcester, this well-known firm greatly beautifying the 
tent with Clematises, Rhododendrons, and other hardy flowering shrubs. 
The large trained plants of the former interspersed among the various 
fine-foliaged and flowering plants above noticed were singularly attractive, 
and many were the inquiries concerning the small well-flowered plants 
grouped in baskets. Some of the best of the Clematis s W' re Ander-on 
Henry, Fairy Queen, Gloire de Sr. Julim, Lady Caroline Nevill, Marie 
Lefebvre, Princess of Vales, Sensation, these belonging to the lanuginosa 
section; Bairillefc Descham s, Countess of Lovelace, Encbantri ss, and 
Venus Victrix, Florida s- ction ; and Miss Bateman a repres-ntative of the 
patens section. Some of the best of the Rhododendrons were Purity, Lady 
Rolle, Lady C. Neville, Mrs. J. Clifton. E zerestianum, Mrs. T. Sebright, 
Duchess of Sutherland, Pouissin, Old Port, and Mrs. Fitzgerald. Mr. 
Cuarles Turner, Slough, sent a fine group of specimen Pelargoniums, all 
fresh and well flowered; and of these the best were Decorator, Rosetta, 
Digby Grand, Duchesse de Morny, Madame C. Koling (charming, pure 
wbite), Mrs. Ashby, Maid of Honour, Countess de Cboissi-uil, Gold Mine, 
Miss Ashby, Triomphe deSt. Mandb. Bmp-ror of Ru-sia, Mons. Desmuuhn, 
Lady of tne Lake, Garibaldi, Rosy Morn, Duchess of Bedfor I, and Prince of 
Wales, altogether a good selection. From Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Stan-tead 
Park Nurseries, London, came a fine assortment of plants and cut blooms of 
Tuberous-rooted B gonias, a speciality for which this firm has deservedly 
become noted. Of the single varieties the f Rowing may be said to be a 
good and well varied selection ;—Rose Perfection, Gua'dsman, Sunrise, 
Count of Ro-slyn, Mrs. We kes, Princess of Wales, Lady Falmouth, Sir P. 
Lumsden, Prince of Wales (very fine). Primrose Queen, Blushing Bride, 
Cnarmer, am> New Colour. The doubles were not so well developed, but 
Alba plena, Marquis of Bristol, Earl of Beacousfield, Le Grande Citoien, 
Marchioness of Stafford, and Piince Albert Victor were noteworthy. 
Mes-rs. Pearson, Chilweli Nurseri s, Nottingham, exhibited three large 
stands of cut blooms of Zmal Pel 'rgoniums, and these again were much 
admired. This class of plants have long been a speciality at Chilweli, the 
late Mr. Pearson having rai-ed numerous very fine sorts, and his son still 
continues the improvement so worthily commenced. In addition to 
