524 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jane 17, 1889U 
open oafc and re-establish themselves. The specimen I show was three 
weeks in my portmanteau, but a few hours’ soaking restored it absolutel/ 
to life and verdure. When the family habits are considered, and its close 
kinship to Ferns, this adaptation to alternate drought and soaking is very 
singular. At Fort Worth railway station, where we arrived in the evening, 
I was much puzzled by what I took to be a constant rather musical 
whistle, which, however, seemed to fill the air and ear even more than 
that, and since, moreover, the American steam whistle has a deep base 
voice, we were forced to seek some other solution, and on inquiry found 
that the sound proceeded from a multitude of bullfrogs which tenanted 
a large reservoir adjoining the station. Shortly after, as the dusk 
deepened, the air seemed full of sparks from the engine, a not uncom¬ 
mon occurrence, but as this phenomenon appeared on both sides of the 
line, and as the motion, moreover, was very eccentric, again we had to 
have recourse to inquiry, and found that these darting lights were fireflies. 
In the night I had a curious opportunity of seeing simultaneously the 
said fireflies mingled with real sparks from the engine, and two or three 
shooting stars, the similarity of which to the eye was very remarkable. 
Continuing the journey we passed myriads of Struthiopteris pennsyl- 
vanica fringing the swamps bordering the railway, also a species of 
Pteris, much smaller than our common brake, but I think a variety. 
Other Ferns I saw rising, but it was too early to discriminate their 
family at a distance. 
Niagara I will not attempt to describe. One of its greatest peculiari¬ 
ties to me was its utterly unexpected appearance. One goes rolling, 
and rolling, and rolling through a country as flat as a pancake, and 
apparently about as likely to afford a magnificent view, much less a 
stupendous waterfall, as the flattest part of Essex ; suddenly, however, 
the train slackens speed, pulls up on the edge of a precipice, and there 
in an instant appears the awful gorge of Niagara, with its world of 
tumbling water ; above it the mighty river itself, stretching away to 
the horizon, across a seemingly boundless plain, and below the green 
whirly mass of foam and flood, pulling itself as it were together out of 
the chaos of its fall for its second mad rush through the rapids below, 
which in all their fury are seen fighting their way along the deep 
channel, bounded by the tall cliffs, through which the raging water has 
cut its headlong way. 
The sight formed a fitting climax to my journey, though by no 
means the end of it. In these days of travel, however, I need not 
enlarge upon the ocean trip homeward, except to say that I came in the 
“ City of New York,” the largest passenger vessel existing—indeed, a 
floating palace, which would, I opine, have surprised Columbus consider¬ 
ably had he met it on his first outward voyage of discovery. 
THE CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW. 
We are requested by the Secretaries of the National Rose Society 
to state that iu consequence of His Majesty the Shah of Persia 
(who will be accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince 
and Princess of Wales) having intimated his wish to visit the metro¬ 
politan Show of the Society on Saturday, July 6th, at the Crystal 
Palace, the Exhibition will be held in a tent adjoining the north end of 
the Palace, from which it will be entered. As His Majesty cannot 
arrive at the Palace before ha f-past. six it is hoped that exhibitors will 
consent to allow their boxes to remain for the inspection of the Royal 
party. Some inconvenience having been experienced as to private view 
tickets, they will on this occasion have a piece torn off them at the 
turnstiles, the remainder to be given up at the entrance of the tent. 
SOUVENIR DE S. A. PRINCE. 
Me. G, Prince of Oxford has favoured us with blooms of this 
beautiful white Rose. They are as large as the best we have seen 
of Souvenir d’un Ami, from which the variety originated, and in form 
difficult to excel. The foliage is large and of a dark green colour, 
and there can scarcely be a doubt that the new white Rose will 
become a general favourite. 
FRAGRANT ROSE?. 
The first prize for six fine-scented Roses at the Summer Show of the 
Royal Botanic Society was awarded to a stand composed of the follow¬ 
ing varieties:—Catherine Mermet. Comtesse de Nadaillac, Innocente 
Pirola. Princess of Wales, Marechal Niel, and Lady Mary Fitzwilliam. 
These are all Tea-scented.—I’. 
THE OLD DOUBLE YELLOW PROVENCE ROSE. 
We received from Mrs. Barsham of Fincham. Djwnham, Norfolk,, 
some most exceedingly fine flowers of the old double yellow Provence 
Rose, and we wrote to her to ask how and where the plant was growing- 
We enclose her reply, if you think it will be of service in the culture of 
this rather scarce Rose. Here we have flowered it for the last two or 
three years, planted over our chalk down at the foot of a small granite 
rock. We notice Mrs. Barsham’s soil is loam on granite or chalk.— 
George Paul. 
“ I am pleased to tell you all I can about giy yellow Provence Rose. 
I hardly call myself a Rose grower, only a Rose lover. The Rose is on 
a wall facing due west. The wall backs on the stable yard, and on the- 
top of it is a square pigeon house, the platform of which overhangs the 
wall on the west side about 2 feet, so the Rose has this protection. The 
wall is 10 or 12 feet high. My old gardener has great faith in liquid 
manure made from sheep’s droppings. He goes into the fields and 
collects these, then puts them in a tub with water, and after a few days 
uses it. The Rose has two or three canfuls in the course of the summer: 
Our soil is gravel on chalk, but our garden has a good depth of good 1 
loamy soil. Can the pigeon manure help the Rose ? We keep about 
thirty very tame fancy pigeons. The Rose is kept clean by the plat¬ 
form, but of course the bed receives the manure. 
“ Pruning it really has none. It grows freely, and is always clean and 
healthy. When the other Roses have green fly or mildew the yellow 
Provence escapes. It always has plenty of buds on it, but until lately 
they have burst badly, being only half a Rose and very green. If I 
should be fortunate enough to have some good blooms about the 5th of 
July may I send them to you to show at the Rose Show ? I have been 
a member of the National Rose Society since its commencement, and 
hope to be at the Crystal Palace on the 5th of July. The Rose has now 
three strong suckers thrown up. I shall take them away in the autumn.” 
[A bloom was enclosed in the letter of a rich golden colour, a shade- 
that is scarce amongst Roses, and the variety itself is now too rarely- 
seen in gardens, like many other old but beautiful Roses. We hope to. 
see some of these well represented at the National Rise Conference, 
Chiswick, on July 2nd.] 
YORK HORTICULTURAL SHOW. 
“ Fine weather and a great Show 1” was the general exe'amation on 
Wednesday the lDth inst., when -the thirty-first anniversary Exhibition 
took place. Roses were numerous; the south, represented by Mr. 
Frank Cant, and the north, by Messrs. Harkness & Sons, were pitted' 
against each other, and it was a close fight, both stands of seventy-two- 
being good. Mr. F. Cant of Colchester was first; amongst his best, 
b'ooms were fine examples of Madame Montey, Mrs. John Laing, Crown 
Prince, a beautiful bloom of Pride of Reigate, and other well' 
known varieties. Messrs. Harkness & Sons were second with fine blooms, 
which included some superb Teas—Grace Darling, Comtesse de Na¬ 
daillac, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, very fine generally; and M. Noman, 
as well as other popular kinds. Messrs. George Cooling & Sons, Bath, 
were third ; and Messrs. Burch, Peterborough, fourth. Five entries of 
seventy-two b ooms were staged in this c’ass. Both for forty-eight and 
thirty-six blooms Mr. Frank Cant was first, Messrs. Harkness & Sons 
second for forty-eight, and Mr. Henry May third. For thirty-six b'ooms, 
Messrs. Cooling & Sons were second, and Messrs. Harkness & Sons third. 
For twenty-four Roses, first. Mr. F. Cant; second, Mr. George Prince, 
Oxford ; third. Mr. S. P. Budd, Bath. There was a class for twelve white 
and yellow Roses, which was well filled. First, Mr. Geo. Prince ; 
second, Messrs. Harkness & Sons; third, Mr. H. Mav. For twelve Tea 
Roses, one variety, first, Mr. G. Princ-with superbly co'ourei blooms 
of Comtesse de Nadaillac. Second, Messrs. Harkness, with Caroline 
Kruger. For twelve blooms of any H.P., Messrs. Cooling & Sons took 
the first prize with a dozen grand b’ooms of Mrs. John Laing, which 
were very much admired. Messrs. Harkness & Sons were second 
with twelve fine blooms of Lady Alice, also a first class stand. Third, 
Mr. Henry May, with La France. The display of cut Roses was far 
away the most extensive ever seen at York, quite 2000 blooms being 
staged. Roses in pots were about as usual, not remarkable for high, 
culture. 
The two collections ef sixteen stove and greenhouse plants from Mr. 
Letts, gardener to the Eari of Zetland, and Mr. Cypher, Cheltenham, 
were in the central tent as usual, and Mr. Letts throughout the Exhi¬ 
bition maintained the position he generally occupies, high class culture 
being a characteristic. Mr. Cypher's plants and sty'e of growing are 
so well known as not to require much commendation. Mr. Letts was 
also first for six and three ornamental plants, and old growers and 
exhibitors looked with admiration upon the Aske Hall collection of six. 
The centre plant was a superb Kentia Forsteriana, 18 feet high o? 
more, in the best of health, with a handsome graceful habit of growth. 
Dion edule, with a fine head and a stout trunk, nearly 3 feet in 
length, a wonderfully fine specimen Encephalartos Vroomi, with Crotons 
Johannis and angustifolius, and Kentia Belmoreana were also note¬ 
worthy. 
Ferns were plentiful and good, and there was a good display of 
ornamental plants, stove and greenhouse plants, and Ericas in their 
various classes. Mr. Letts took the first prize for three Cape Heaths 
with fine specimens. 
Orchids were not so numerous as usual, but were good, Mr. Cypher 
taking the first prize for ten, six, and three plants. His Cypripediums, 
