July 12,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
27 
timber trade from both America and Norway are the seats of 
continued involuntary experiments in naturalisation, an instance 
of which is the Small-flowered Melilot (M. parviflora) on the Grand 
Junction Canal. The Orange Balsam (Impatiens fulva), a North 
American species, only a few years ago was confined to the Wey. 
It has since leaped across the Thames, and may be found a 
marked feature of the shore herbage of the northern affluents. 
On the Ciane, particularly where its waters pass through private 
lands, the rich tones of its handsome foliage, and the pendulous 
ruddy tinted flowers, are quite a characteristic feature towards the 
end of summer, and is a distinct acquisition. 
A cursory glance through an English Flora will show to what 
an extent our list of wild flowers has been enriched by escapes and 
survivals from and of the old priory gardens when the monks of 
the mediaeval ages grew collections of plants for medicinal 
uses. Quite recent illustrations are to hand of the same process. 
The Sweet Coltsfoot or Winter Heliotrope (Tussilago fragrans) 
is an instance. On the bank which separates Kew Gardens from 
the Thames a plant is found which does not grow wild nearer 
than Cornwall or Northumberland, Chives (Allium schoenoprasum). 
Who can doubt that this firmly established locality is due to the 
cultivation of the plant in the neighbouring gardens ? But a still 
stronger case is that of Galinsoga parviflora. Originally grown in 
the herbaceous grounds at Kew as an exotic, it jumped the walls, 
and has established itself in the arable land surrounding it on the 
east. Notwithstanding its tender habit—the first frost kills it—its 
growth is so rapid that if unchecked it romps over all other crops, 
and appears to be the only occupant of the field. Instances of the 
kind might be indefinitely continued. If man unconsciously and 
unintentionally is the means of introducing weedy and objectionable 
exotic species to the detriment of agriculture, it seems unreasonable to 
debar him from the intelligent anddeliberateintroductionof the more 
attractive forms. The difficulty is to foresee the results. 
The New Zealand colonist, to use an instance most readily to hand, 
has experimented in this direction much to bis own disadvantage. 
An enthusiastic Scotchman introduced the first Thistle ; now the 
down may be seen floating through the air in clouds, and drifts a 
foot deep of the pappus and seed is sometimes seen, the plant 
forming formidable bushes 5 feet high, and even flowering in the 
forks of trees 40 feet above the ground, so well does the climate 
suit it. The Dandelion, Sow Thistle, and the Hawkweed take just 
at kindly to the new soil. Gorse, only recently introduced, finds the 
fat soil so much to its liking that it actually turns the streams out 
of their beds, while the Musk and the Watercress flourish the whole 
year through, monopolising and choking up the beds of the lesser 
watercourses. The Broom is spreading rapidly too. But perhaps 
better illustrations of the point are the way in which the Sweet 
Briar has taken possession of the land. It grows to enormous 
bushes, and is impossible to extirpate and very expensive to keep 
down. Who would have expected the sweet smelling Rose of our 
gardens to have acquired such a character ? It was impossible to 
predicate it. The true Blackberry Briar is becoming a much more 
formidable enemy, for it not only occupies the newly opened ground, 
but is developing into a sheep-catching plant. Even now sheep 
passing within touching distance, or eating the ripening berries, are 
entangled in the great hooked annual shoots. In their struggles to 
escape the wool is twisted into ropes, and they die after ineffectual 
efforts to disentangle themselves.—J. A., Ktv). 
[We believe our correspondent was the originator of the 
Selborne Field Club, with the objects of which many of our 
readers will sympathise. We observe by the prospectus of the 
Lower Thames Valley branch that field meetings are held on 
Saturdays during the summer, and papers are read after some of 
the explorations. The annual subscription, we note, is only Is.] 
Rose Show Fixtuees in 1894. 
July 12th (Thursday).—Bath, Harleston, Vvoodbridge, and Worksop. 
„ 14th (Saturday).—New Brighton. 
„ 17th (Tuesday).—Helensburgh. 
,, 18th (Wednesday).—Newcastle-on-Tyne (show lasting three days). 
„ 19th (Thursday).—Halifax (N.R S.), Halesworth, and Trentham. 
„ 2l8t (Saturday).—Manchester. 
„ 24th (Tuesday).—Tibshelf. 
„ 26th (Thursday).—Southwell. 
„ 28th (Saturday).—Bedale. 
Aug. Ist (Wednesday) —Chesterfield. 
Rose Congress at Antwerp. 
A Congress was held at the Antwerp exhibition in connection with 
the special show of Roses on the Ist and 2nd inst. Among the subjects 
for discussion was that of the formation of an International Rose Society. 
M. Ketten, of Luxembourg, in a paper which he read, advocated the 
formation of a society of this kind. He stated that as “ Belgium, 
Germany, England, Holland, and France had its societies of rosarians 
it appeared to him that it was desirable to form an international 
society with a view to secure a greater unformity in various matters 
appertaining to the world of rosarians. More especially was a society 
wanted to deal with such questions as the number of novelties intro¬ 
duced annually, the number of varieties in catalogues, synonymous 
Roses and classification. He also thought it desirable that international 
exhibitions should be held periodically in various countries.” 
Mr. E. Mawley, who with Mr. G. Gordon represented the National 
Rose Society, did not consider the time was ripe for the formation of a 
society such as that suggested by M. Ketten, and that he did not think 
it would be practicable to hold international exhibitions likely to prove 
successful owing to the difficulty in arranging dates to suit growers in 
the several countries. Mr. Gordon concurred, as did Mr. W. Paul. 
The Croydon Rose Show—A Review. 
It may interest some, readers of the Journal if a review of the Roses 
at the show of the Croydon Horticultural Society, reported in your last 
issue, be given. It was held in the grounds of Wellesley House, lent by 
the Governors of the Whitgift Grammar School. Although not as 
convenient either by size or proximity to the principal station at 
Croydon as Mr. Prince’s garden, in which we have of late had our Rose 
shows, it is quite large enough for the purpose of an ordinary attendance; 
but the attendance this year was phenomenal, the gate money amounting 
to over £150, and must have greatly gratified Mr. A. C. Roffey, the inde¬ 
fatigable and worthy Secretary of our Society, as it places the Society’s 
finances in a most satisfactory position. The show itself was the best 
I have seen this year, being far ahead of Windsor in the number of 
Roses staged, and, as far as regards the amateurs, it was infinitely 
superior in quality, all the principal exhibitors staging high-class flowers 
and in some cases very exceptional ones. 
The professional growers seemed with one accord, and as if by 
general agreement, to have deserted the Reigate Executive, as we had 
nine of the greatest growers in England present, only one of whom had 
sent Roses also to Reigate show, and I believe that at Reigate only one 
professional put in an appearance, that show being in this respect 
on a par with Canterbury, where, I hear, Mr. Mount was also 
the only trade grower ; but I suppose other professional competitors 
were frightened away from the Cathedral city by the forecast made of 
their future inferiority to the local grower. Anyway, no one 
ventured to try a fall with “ D., Deal's" champion. “ Mais revenons a 
nos moutons;" at Croydon Mr. Frank Cant and Mr. Benjamin Cant 
renewed their tussle ; in the present instance recent decisions were 
reversed, Frank Cant being first for forty-eight and Benjamin Cant 
second ; Paul & Son third ; those not placed being Messrs. Mount, Prior, 
and Durrant Young. In the class for twenty-four trebles this order was 
reversed as regards the Cants, and Messrs. Prior took third place, 
Messrs. Mount and Paul & Son being again unplaced. In Teas Messrs. Prior 
came to the front, taking first place with a stand of eighteen varieties. 
For twelve Roses, one variety, B. R. Cant, F. Cant, and G. Mount were 
placed first, second, and third ; others competing in this class. 
Mr. Frank Cant staged twelve “ Caroline Testout,” which, to para¬ 
phrase a celebrated quotation, nearly induced me to say, '* Almost thou 
persuades! me to believe in Caroline Testoutthese Roses were pheno¬ 
menal in size and form, but I suppose the Judges of this class did not know 
this new variety sufficiently, or had not grown it, otherwise would have 
more highly valued such wonderful specimens. For twenty-four Roses, 
distinct, Messrs. Burch of Peterborough staged a fine box, and Mr. 
Will Taylor was second. 
The amateurs were in remarkably good form except in Teas, which in 
all classes but the lowest were inferior, and there was an exciting compe¬ 
tition for the thirty-six cup class. Six amateurs staged flowers, amongst 
them being Messrs. Hay wood, Gurney Fowler, Slaughter, Pemberton, and 
West; but last year’s winner, our amateur champion, had no Roses to 
stage. I think I am writing accurately when I state that it would have 
j required Mr. Lindsell to be in his usual really good form to have won 
I the cup this year, as Mr. Salter had an excellent exhibit, which I was 
pleased to see; he has had the worst of luck with his Roses in receiit 
years. Mr. Gurney Fowler’s flowers were good and well staged, this 
statement not only applying to the cup class, but to others. Mr. 
Slaughter was a good third, and Mr. West and Mr. Pemberton were not 
placed. In twenty-fours Mr. Slaughter was first, Mr. Gurney Fowler 
second, and Mr. Bethune third. The competition for twelve flowers, one 
variety, was a good one, and in this class Mr. Gurney Fowler’s gardener 
staged a splendid box of Mrs. John Laing, one of ihe flowers in this 
exhibit gaining two medals. A similar double victory was won at 
Croydon last year with a bloom of the same variety which I showed ; 
but my flower in 1893 I can honestly say would not have been “ in the 
same street” wdth Mr. Gurney Fowler’s Rose, which was the finest 
specimen I have ever seen, and which was promptly photographed for 
the benefit of posterity. In the other all-England classes I was very 
pleased to see my two friends, Mr. Edward Mawley of Berkhamsted, 
and Mr. Rivers Langton of Hendon, showing in the very finest form, 
the hot weather evidently suiting their heavy and cold ground. 
Writing as I do two days before the Palace Show, I think Mr. Lang^on’s 
