July 25, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
67 
m. Skirving, Jas. Douglas, Jessica, Fred, Eob Roy, Robt. Houlgrave, 
Sportsman, Edw. Rowan, and John Whitham, all smooth, fresh flowers. 
Mr. Douglas followed very closely with Jas. Douglas, Tim Bobbin, 
Thalia,, 3 ml John Harland as his best blooms. Mr. J. Lakin, Temple 
Cowley, Oxford, was third with a good stand, containing a very fine 
example of Lovely Mary, and a beautiful bloom of Alisemond. Mr. 
W. L. Walker, Earley, Reading, was fourth ; Mr. H. W. Headland, High 
Road, Leyton, fifth; and Mr. W. J. Nicholls, 274, Kingsland Road, 
London, N.E., sixth. These were all admirable stands, and formed a 
very interesting class. 
Mr. C. Phillips, Reading, won with six blooms, the varieties being 
Robert Houlgrave (rather weak), Jas. Douglas (a large, well-filled, and 
beautiful bloom), Rob Roy, John Harland, Alisemond (finely coloured), 
and Rifleman. Mr. T. E. Henwood, Auricula Villa, Reading, followed 
with a capital Thalia among his flowers. Mr. Startup, Bromley, Kent, 
was third ; Mr. T. Anstiss, Brill, Bucks, fourth ; Mr. J. Nutt, Ross 
Road, Southampton, fifth ; and Mr. J. J. Keen, 15, Castle Street, South¬ 
ampton, sixth. There were three other stands, so this class was excep¬ 
tionally strong. 
Single specimens were numerous. In the rose flakes Mr. Douglas 
was first and third with Thalia ; Mr. F. Hooper, Widcombe Hill, Bath, 
second and fifth with Mrs. George Cooling ; and Mr. Henwood fourth 
with Thalia. In the purple flakes Mr. C. Turner was first and second 
with Prince George of Wales, the former a magnificent bloom ; Mr. 
Hooper third and fourth with Mayor of Bath, Mr. Nicholls fifth with 
Squire Whitbourn. In the scarlet flakes Mr. Douglas was first and 
third, with Alisemond, Mr. Sydenham second with Sportsman, Mr. 
Phillips fourth with Sportsman and fifth with Matador. In scarlet 
bizarres Mr. Henwood was first with Robt. Houlgrave, Mr. Douglas 
second with the same variety, Mr. Phillips third 'with Robt. Houlgrave 
and fourth with Robt. Lord, and Mr. Turner fifth with Jas. McIntosh. 
In pinks and purple bizarres Mr. Lakin was first with a seedling, Mr. 
Turner second with Jas. Taylor, Mr. Rowan third with W. Skirving, 
Mr. Phillips fourth with the same variety, and Mr. Headland fifth with 
Miss Gorton. In crimson bizarres Mr. Rowan was first with Master 
Fred and fifth with J. T. Hextall, Mr. Douglas second with John 
Harland, Mr. Turner third with Rifleman, and Mr. Phillips fourth with 
John Harland. 
The premier Carnation was a beautiful bloom of the scarlet bizarre 
Robert Houlgrave in Mr. Turner’s first-prize stand of twenty-four, 
which was well shown throughout the Exhibition. 
PICOTEES. 
The classes in this section corresponded with the Carnations, and as 
there was plenty of competition a beautiful display was provided. Mr. 
Douglas, always very strong with Picotees, scored a meritorious victory 
from five opponents in the chief class. His flowers were in beautiful 
condition, being remarkably smooth, clean, and well finished. The 
varieties were as follows :—Back row : Jessie (2), Princess of Wales, 
Her Majesty (very fine), Calypso (first class certificate recommended), 
Mrs. Sharp, Clara Penson, and Brunette. Middle row : Mrs. Sharp, 
Mrs. Bower ( 2 ), Mrs. Payne, Liddington’s Favourite ( 2 ), Brunette, and 
Pride of Leyton. Front row: Nymph ( 2 ), Mrs. Chancellor, Mrs. 
Gorton (2), Muriel, Calypso, and John Smith. Mr. Turner had larger 
flowers than his rival, but they were less smooth, clean, and finished. 
Nevertheless they formed a beautiful stand, and easily secured second 
position. They comprised a superb bloom of Favourite, large, well 
furnished, and bright, also good examples of Duchess, Mrs. Nicholay, 
John Archer, and Exhibition. Mr. Rowan was third with small but 
clean and fresh flowers, and Mr. Hooper fourth. 
There were nine stands of twelve, the best coming from Mr. Rowan. 
It was composed of Brunette, Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Sharp (a charming 
bloom), Favourite, Edith D’Ombrain, Nellie, Amy Robsart, J. B. Bryant, 
Muriel, Clara Penson (very good), Morna, and Mrs. Gorton. Mr. Hen¬ 
wood was a capital second with large but not perfectly filled flowers ; 
Mr. Douglas third with a well-finished stand ; Mr. Lakin fourth ; Mr. 
Headland fifth ; and Mr. H. Morris, Hayes, Kent, sixth. There were 
eight sixes, Mr. Phillips winning with Favourite (very good), Mrs. 
Ricards, Mrs. Payne, John Smith, Zerlina, and Ann Lord. Mr. W. L. 
Walker was a close second, with a stand of beautifully fresh and well- 
finished flowers, Mrs. Sharp and Emily both being charming blooms. 
Mr. J. Rebbeck, 5, Bevois Terrace, Southampton, was third, Mr. Keen 
fourth, Mr. Anstiss fifth, and Mr. Nutt sixth. 
There was a great array of single specimens, with some beautiful 
examples amongst them. Rose, light edge.—Mr. T. E. Henwood first 
(variety unnamed), Mr. Turner second with Favourite, Mr. Rowan third 
with Nellie, Mr. Douglas fourth with Liddington’s Favourite, and Mr. 
Phillips fifth with Nellie. Rose, heavy edge.—Mr. Turner first with 
Mrs. Payne and fourth with Edith D’Ombrain, Mr. Douglas second with 
Mrs. Payne and third with Mrs. Sharp, and Mr. Rowan fifth with Lady 
Louisa. Purple, heavy edge.—Mr. Henwood first (variety imnamed), 
Mr. Turner second with Mrs. Chancellor, Mr. Douglas third and fifth 
with Calypso, and Mr. Lakin fourth with a seedling. Purple, light edge. 
—Mr. Lakin first with a seedling, Mr. Turner second and fifth with 
Baroness Burdett Coutts, Mr. Henwood third (this exhibitor should name 
his flowers), Mr. Headland fourth with Pride of Leyton. Red, heavy 
edge.—Mr. Douglas first and second with Brunette, Mr. Turner third 
and fourth with Princess of Wales, and Mr. Henwood fifth. Red, light 
edge.—Mr. Douglas first and fifth with Mrs. Gorton, Mr. Rowan second 
with the same variety, Mr. Phillips third and fourth with Thos. William. 
Yellow grounds.—Mr. Douglas first and second with Remembrance (a 
beautiful variety, delicately edged with rose, for which a first-class 
certificate was recommended), Mr. Turner third with Agnes Chambers, 
Mr. Plenwood fourth with Agnes Chambers, and fifth with Annie 
Douglas. 
The premier Picotee in the Show was the beautiful example of Mrs. 
Payne in Mr. Turner’s second prize stand of twenty-four. It was in 
almost faultless flower, large, well filled, and finely formed. 
MISCELLANEOUS, SELFS AND FANCIES. 
This section closely corresponded with the former two. There were 
five stands of twenty-four, the best coming from Mr. Turner, a splendid 
lot of flowers, finely developed, clean, and very richly coloured. The 
varieties were:—Back row: Germania (2), Comte de Chambord, Vis¬ 
countess Down, Rose Celestial, and a purple seedling. Second row : 
Viscountess Down, Mrs. Harding, The Governor, Dazzle, a purplish 
crimson seedling, and Lady Rose Molyneux. Third row : Dazzle, Con¬ 
stance, Purple Emperor, Rose Celestial, Mrs. Harding, and Mrs. Payne. 
Front row : Lady Rose Molyneux, a purple seedling, Fred, Mrs. Payne, 
Scarlet Gem, and Purple Emperor. Mr. Douglas was second, but some 
points in the rear ; his stand was a little uneven, but contained several 
exceptionally fine flowers. Mr. F. Hooper was third ; Mr. G. Hooper, 
7, Cambridge Place, Widcombe, Bath, fourth ; and Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, 
who showed undressed seedlings from the open ground, fifth. 
There were no less than fourteen stands of twelve, and they formed 
a rich display. Mr. Henwood won with a beautiful collection, the 
varieties being Colonial Beauty, Gladys, Joe Willett, Black Knight, 
Purple Emperor, Mrs. Rowan, Rose Celestial, Colonial Beauty, Ada, 
Rob Roy, Sir F. Roberts, and Marchioness. Mr. Rowan was a good 
second with a very bright and beautiful stand ; one or two blooms 
were small, but all very neat and fresh. Mr. Sydenham was third, also 
showing remarkably well; Mr. W. L. Walker fourth, Mr. Lakin fifth, 
and Mr. A. J. Sanders sixth. There were seven stands of twelve yellow 
grounds, Mr. Turner winning with a grand box, comprising Colonial 
Beauty (2), Almira (2), Dorothy (2), Agnes Chambers (2), and four 
seedlings. Mr. Douglas was second with smaller, but neat, well 
finished blooms; Mr. F. Hooper third, and Mr. Henwood fourth. 
There were ten stands of sixes, Mr. G. Hooper winning with Almira, 
Agnes Chambers, Annie Douglas, Duchess of Albany, Mrs. Little, and 
a seedling. Mr. Phillips was second, Mr. Rebbeck third, Mr. J. D. Kew, 
Southend, fourth, and Mr. Lakin fifth. 
With plants in pots (twelve, in pots not exceeding 8L inches in 
diameter), Mr. Turner won, Mr. Douglas second, and Mr. Headland 
third. Among Mr. Douglas’ plants was Ruby, a very bright and sub¬ 
stantial self, for which a first-clas3 certificate was recommended. 
Certificates were recommended for the following Carnations and 
Picotees :—• 
Ruby (Douglas).—Rich ruby-red self Carnation. Pot plant shown, 
bearing several large blooms. 
Remembrance (Douglas).—Yellow ground Picotee, lightly edged 
with rose. The best of its class in the Show. 
Calypso (Douglas).—Heavy purple edge Picotee, smooth, well-formed 
substantial flowers. 
Souvenir de Headland (Headland).—Light red edge Picotee, petals 
of great substance, bloom smooth and well formed ; a great acquisition. 
After the judging was completed luncheon took place at the Hotel 
Windsor, Dr. Hogg presiding, with Mr. J. Shirley Hibberd in the vice¬ 
chair. 
Mr. Shirley Hibberd’s Lecture. 
On the occasion of the Exhibition Mr. Shirley Hibberd gave a brief 
discourse on the origin of the Florist’s Carnation. He began by 
assuming as a starting point that Dianthus caryophyllus is a pure 
species, and the parent of all our Carnations and Picotees. It has, on 
the other hand, been assumed by certain botanists that the Carnation 
is of mixed descent and a mere mongrel of the garden. Some such 
belief must have prevailed in the days of Shakespeare, for Perdita’s 
objection to Carnations as “Nature’s bastards’’ was intended to be 
understood by the mixed audience of • the theatre, and it suggests not 
only the prevalence of the belief, but perhaps also the popularity at 
that time of the Carnation as a garden flower. The vrild forms of 
Dianthus that might by any possibility be regarded as the parents of 
the Carnation are three in number only : The Sweet William may be 
regarded as the garden form of Dianthus barbatus, the Pink may be an 
improved edition of Dianthus plumarius, and the Carnation differs in 
no essential particulars from the wild form of Dianthus caryophyllus, 
though larger, fuller, richer, and immensly various in colouring. In its 
general character it stands distinctly apart from D. barbatus and 
D. plumarius as free from any taint of other blood, and Perdita’s 
objection has no scientific truth ; it is mere sentimentalism. The wild 
Carnation is registered as occurring at Rochester, Deal, Norwich, Rouen, 
and places thence southward to the Mediterranean. Bentham ignores 
it as a British plant, and Watson reports that D. plumarius has been 
mistaken for it, which is not surprising, seeing how nearly alike they 
are under some circumstances. But D. caryophyllus is constant in its 
characters (which were described), and it never produced Pinks or 
Sweet Williams, however degenerate the seed might be, while as to 
time of flowering, it did not usually flower until the Pmks and Sweet 
Williams had finished their season, a sufficient reason for their so 
seldom appearing side by side in exhibitions. We have mule Pinks but no 
mule Carnations ; all the several forms of the flower, whether Cloves, 
Show flowers, Fancies, or “tree” Carnations, were true to the leading 
characters of the species, the limits of variation being apparently 
sharply defined by Nature. 
As to the age of this flower, we have a pretty clear history of it for 
