June 23 , 1890 . ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
538 
presiding. He was supported by Sir John D. T. Llewelyn, Bart, the Revs. 
E. Handley, W. Wilks. F. H. Gall, T. R. Burnside, and F. Page Roberts, 
Capt. Christy, Messrs. Paul, Haywood, Crowley, J. D. Pawle, A. F. Barron, 
W. J, Jeffries, A. Marsland, Marshall, Fison, Spenlings, and a large 
a1 tendance of members. The date of the dinner had been altered from 
December, when it has hitherto been held, to this date, as being a more 
suitable time, and the change was justified not only by the attendance 
but by the appearance of the tables, for it was a veritable feast of Roses 
and Strawberries, which had been kindly supplied by Messrs. Turner, 
i’aul. Rivers, and Prince. Besides the vases filled with Roses, each 
guest was supplied with a buttonhole Rose, so that honour was done to 
the Queen of Flowers. 
The Chairman having in happy terms proposed the usual loyal toasts, 
said I have now the honour of proposing the toast of the evening, “ Con¬ 
tinued Success and Prosperity to the National Rose Society.” I have 
Lad many happy hours in connection with the Society. I number 
amongst its members some of my dearest friends, and I have for many 
years, as yon have, done my best to encourage the growth and exhibi¬ 
tion of the Rose. You will agree with me that the prosperity of the 
Society is largely due to the energy and steady perseverance of its 
founder, who has gone on in his earnest way without being frightened by 
difficulties, and to him is owing in a great measure the present condition 
of the Society. Then turning to Mr. D'Ombrain he said. You and I, 
my dear brother, have had much happy intercourse together for a long 
period of years, and I think I have not had nor shall have a happier one 
than this evening. Some of your rosarian friends had heard that you 
had met with a loss in having your watch stolen. Well, we thought it 
well that you should have a little time to meditate on your—well, shall I 
eay want of caution ; but as you have been sufficiently punished for it 
we desire to repair your loss, and I have therefore the pleasure of 
presenting you, on behalf of the rosarians of England, with this gold 
watch and chain, and hope that you may long live to use them. 
The Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, in replying, said :—My dear friend, 
Dean Hole, and you, my good brother rosarians, you will readily 
believe that it is difficult for me to express rightly my feelings at 
this unexj>ected and undeserved mark of your kindness. I thank you 
all from the depth of my heart; it is an evidence, at any rate, that 
you do not share the sentiments of a dear old inmate of the Union 
House of which I am chaplain, who, when I told him of my loss, said. 
Then I am afraid, sir, you were where you oughtn’t to have been 1 ” I 
desire to say, too, that I very much question the truth of what is sometimes 
said. That as we grow older we make acquaintances, not friends ; for 
some of the warmest, kindest friends, I have ever had have been those 
I have made in the later years of my life. You have spoken of my 
work in the Society, but I should have done very indifferently but for 
the careful painstaking work of my co-secretary, 5Ir. Mawley. We have 
worked together for many years, no cloud has ever come between us, 
and I cannot say how much I am indebted to him. I again thank you 
most heartily for your kind gift. 
The Chairman then proposed “ The Health of Jlr. Mawley,” and the 
Rev. E. Handley proposed “ The Health of the Chairman,” who responded 
in his usual happy and genial style. Other toasts were proposed, and 
the party broke up, feeling that a most pleasant and successful meeting 
had been held. 
SEDUMS AS EDGING PLANTS. 
The increasing demand for hardy plants capable of taking the 
places of tender ones in the flower beds has been the means of bringing 
into notice more than one of the favourites of bygone years as well as 
fresh subjects not hitherto employed in the flower garden. The plants 
up to this time most sought after have been those of a dwarf compact 
habit of growth, and producing a long continuance of flowers, or remark¬ 
able for their foliage. The Saxifrages, Violas, Gentians, and other 
genera have furnished recruits to the army of bedding plants. Not a 
few likewise have contributed materially in producing the equally 
important spring display. There are, however, some low-growing plants 
of whose existence many may not be fully aware, and as their easy 
culture places it within the means of everyone to grow them, they can¬ 
not be too well known. Those which I shall mention are all dwarf, 
quite hardy, and interesting to the lover of plants as well as to the 
botanist; and I am not sure but that those who delight in high flaring 
colours will find a relief in contemplating the sober yet far from dull 
hue of the plants about to be described, and which are not by any means 
new. 
Sedum californienm .—This fleshy-leaved Houseleek differs from the 
kind so often met with on the tops of low buildings and other places 
where it is grown for its supposed medicinal properties, as the Cali¬ 
fornian Sedum is of more sturdy habit, and the leaves are all deeply 
tipped with purplish brown. The plant seems to thrive well in most 
situations, but likes a dry and sunny one, increases freely, and bears 
transplanting at any season. It forms an admirable edging to a small 
bed, and for places where a permanent edging is required it is extremely 
suitable. Occasionally it flowers, but not frequently, and when it does 
the sturdy stem bearing a head or corymb of flowers is not without 
beauty. It is less disposed to flower than either of the following two 
species. In habit of growth it much resembles the common Houseleek, 
the thickly clustered heads pushing each other out of place, and by 
degrees rising into a sort of mound. As already stated, it is not particular 
as to soil, but likes the sun. 
Sedum glaucum .—Differing widely from the preceding, this low- 
growing spreading plant quickly occupies its allotted space, and unlike 
many others may easily be kept to that line. It is of a pale whitish 
green colour, and looks well all the year round. About the middle or 
end of May it flowers abundantly, the bloom being of a greyish tint, 
not by any means unsightly, but rather the reverse when viewed from 
a distance. The plant prefers a dry situation and grows very fast, so 
that when once it has established itself it quickly covers the given 
space, and it does not seem to die off when it becomes old. Although I 
have had it in use for several years I have never known the centre or 
old portion of the plant die off or grow into an unsightly lump ; on the 
contrary, it would preserve its original height of about 2 inches, and the 
flower does not rise more than 2 inches higher. The plant appears to 
accommodate itself even to the most prominent point of rockwork 
where there is only a very small quantity of soil. 1 have used it occa¬ 
sionally in winter gardening, and the grey hue of the plant was seen to 
advantage when the soil was dark-coloured with moisture. For a per¬ 
manent edging it is all that can be desired in habit. 
Sempervivum gloMfemm .—In habit this is more like Sedum califor- 
nicum, but is less robust, and the whole plant is of a deep emerald 
green, the opening foliage looking like a partially opened Rose bud. In 
most respects it resembles Sedum californicum, excepting that it flowers 
more freely, and the individual flower stems are remarkably sturdy for 
so small a plant. I believe it is less plentiful than either of the first- 
mentioned two, but I have had it for several years, and the hardest 
winter does not take any effect upon it. Like the other members of its 
family it delights in sunshine and a dry situation, yet with me it is 
grown in many instances as a permanent edging around small circular 
beds containing a young specimen Pinus or other tree, and for such a 
purpose it, as well as the other two Sedums, is admirably adapted. It 
may be admired every day in the year, which is not the case with many 
ornamental objects.—L. P. 
YORK SHOW. 
June 18th, 19th, and 20th. 
York horticultural shows have become famous by their magnitude 
and excellence, as well as by the extraordinary interest they excite in 
the ancient city and adjacent towns. The last Exhibition, held on the 
above dates, fully maintained the high character of its predecessors, and 
was, both by its extent and diversified nature, admirably representative 
of English horticulture in its varied branches. It w’as, in truth, a great 
national Show of garden produce, the equal of which has not been seen 
elsewhere during the present season. It is not suggested that it equalled 
the Royal Horticultural Society’s Show as held in the Temple Gardens 
for Orchids, or the Manchester Show of these and some other specimen 
plants, or the Royal Botanic Society’s exhibitions for picturesque 
arrangement; but it excelled all these in the variety of the exhibits and 
the superiority of some of them, notably Pelargoniums, cut flowers, in¬ 
cluding Roses, and fruit. Some idea of the magnitude of the Show may 
be formed from the provision that was made for exhibits, and the tent 
room was really insufficient for their most effective display. A lofty 
circular marquee 100 feet in diameter was mainly occupied with speci¬ 
men stove and greenhouse plants and Ferns ; a tent 170 by 60 feet was 
provided for, and the central stage quite filled with. Pelargoniums; 
another of the same length and 60 feet wide was furnished with groups of 
plants arranged for effect; a fourth, 140 by 60 feet, was devot^ to 
Roses, Pansies, and various cut flowers; a fifth, of the same size, for 
miscellaneous plants ; and a sixth, also of the same dimensions, but not 
large enough, was crowded with Orchids, fruit, flowers, and very good 
vegetables. 
In respect to the quality of the exhibits it will be admitted that 
specimen stove and greenhouse plants were good, when it is stated that 
Mr. Letts put forth his strength and left Mr. Cypher farther behind than 
he is wont to be in the race for supremacy, though he might have 
brought better examples; also it will be conceded that Orchids were 
the reverse of weak when Cheltenham and Trentham about balanced 
each other. Pelargoniums were beyond comparison with those at other 
shows, and nothing approaching them has been seen, or will be seen, till 
the next York Show comes round again. Roses were a surprise to most 
persons, five collections of seventy-two’s being staged. Tea Roses were 
magnificent, and it is questionable if one of Mr. Prince’s stands did not 
contain the premier bloom of the year in Comtesse de Nadaillac. It was a 
bloom to be remembered, and will not be soon forgotten by those who saw 
it for its size, substance, contour, and colour. The show of fruit was un¬ 
questionably by far the best that had been seen this year. Some of the 
groups of plants were strikingly beautiful, and hardy herbaceous plants 
were of commanding excellence. The officials of the Show were almost 
overwhelmed with produce, and yet, to their great credit be it recorded, 
all was in readiness for the Judges at the appointed time. 
The York Horticultural Society is managed wholly by the leading 
men of the city, who work zealously, voluntarily, and effectively for the 
public good. There are neither nurserymen nor gardeners on the Com¬ 
mittees, of which there are three—Floral, Finance, and Entertainment, 
and the members of these constitute the Council of the Society. It is 
under the patronage of the Prince of Wales; the Sheriff of the city 
(Thomas Ciayton, Esq.) is the President; and Alderman Sir Joseph 
Terry (thrice Lord Mayor of York) is the Chairman, and surely no 
Society can have a better, and no one could be more highly esteemed 
than he is by his fellow citizens. Of the busy workers of the Show it was 
impossible to overlook the activity of Mr. Councillor Mil ward. Mr. T. G. 
