July 12, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
R. Young, Sefton Park, Liverpool, had a spray of Cattleya Warscewiczi, 
and Mr. Stevens, Stone, sent Cattleya Gaskelliana Nellie, for which an 
award of naerit was adjudged. Odontoglossum vexillarium Highbury- 
ensis came from the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., and Phaius 
Henryi from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, but no awards 
were made. Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. secured a botanical certificate 
for Vanda Rolblingians, Rolfe’s variety. 
Certificates and Awards of Merit. 
Begonia Lord Dunraven (J. Laing & Sons).—A good double variety, 
with rich crimson flowers (award of merit). 
Begonia Laing's Fringed White (J. Laing & Sons).—A medium 
sized bloom, pure white, deeply serrated at the margin (award of merit). 
Begonia Neatness (J. Laing & Sons).—A very bright cerise, the 
flowers being neat in form (award of merit). 
Bougainvillea glabra, Coker Court variety (S. Kidley).—This variety 
has been previously described in these pages. The colour is very rich, 
and an improvement on the type, being also deeper than B. glabra 
Sanderiana (award of merit). 
Calochortus venusius Vesta (G. F. Wilson).—This is a fine variety 
from 3 feet high. The flowers are large, creamy white, with yellow and 
brown throat (award of merit). 
Calochortus venustus purpurascens (G. F. Wilson).—The floweis of 
this variety are large and attractive, being creamy white with yellow, 
reddish brown and purple in the centre (award of merit). 
Carnation Winifred (Martin R. Smith).—A good variety, with 
large flowers of a rosy terra-cotta shade (award of merit). 
Cattleya Gaskelliana Nellie (Stevens).—This is a distinct form, the 
sepals and petals being white, as is the lip, with the exception of a 
purplish blotch in the centre, and orange yellow in the throat. 
Chrysanthemum maximum Maurice Prichard (M. Prichard).— 
A large flowered form of C. maximum (award of merit). 
Clematis Lady Ashcombe (J. Ivery & Co.).—An attractive variety, 
with pale blue flowers of a fair size (award of merit). 
Lcelio-Cattleya Timora (J. Veitch & Sons).—This is a beautiful 
bigeneric hybrid, being the result of a cross between Cattleya Ludde- 
maniana and Lmlia pumila Dayana. The sepals and petals are bright 
rosy mauve, the lip being a rich purplish crimson (first-class certi¬ 
ficate). 
Lilium Thunbergianum Horsniani (Wallace & Co.).—This is a very 
rare and distinct form, the flower being exceedingly dark, approaching 
a deep maroon red with black spots (first-class certificate). 
Pentstemon Jean Mace (Sir T. Lawrence).—A distinct variety with 
large flowers of a deep red colour and white centre (award of merit). 
Rubus japonicus tricolor (J. Veitch & Sons).—A small-leaved form 
with rose, white, and green foliage (first-class certificate). 
Sonerila Mrs. II. Walter (F. Sander & Co ).—This is a hybrid, the 
result of a cross between S. orientalis and S. Henderson! elegans. 
The leaves are pale brown, thickly covered with grey spots (award of 
merit). 
Sweet Pea Comitess of Powis (H. Eckford).—A pleasing rosy cerise, 
medium sized flowers (award of merit). 
Sweet Pea Salopian CH. Eckford).—A distinct variety, with dark 
brick red flowers, suffused purple (award of merit). 
Thunia Veitchi superba (J. Veitch & Sons).—This is a hybrid, 
the result of a cross between T. x Veitchi and T. Bensonise, the 
former being the pollen parent. The sepals and petals are pale purplish 
rose, with the lip of a deeper shade (award of merit). 
At the afternoon meeting a paper on “ Cactaceous Plants ” was read 
by Mr. W. Singer. Dr. Masters, F.R.S., presided, and a good audience 
was present. In opening the subject Mr. Singer said that his attention 
was first drawn to Cactaceous plants whilst travelling on the Continent. 
He subsequently turned to English works on the matter, and there 
found the advice that Cactuses should be grown in rather poor soil. 
With this his experience did not agree, and moreover he noticed that 
the growers abroad cultivated their plants in much richer soil, with the 
result that they were fresher and greener in appearance. An American 
grower also recommended a fertile compost, and for the genus Cereus 
fertilisers might be used with advantage. A temperature of 50° was 
favourable to the majority of Cactaceous plants, abundance of air being 
necessary. The insect pests liable to attack the plants were referred to, 
and methods of eradication detailed. In conclusion Mr. Singer said 
these plants were much more popular about thirty years ago, and there 
were only about twenty-three really good collections in this country—a 
small number compared with those in America. 
Dr. Morris, in opening the discussion which followed, said he thought 
for English purposes the word “succulent” would be more appropriate 
than Cactaceous plants. There were no plants that strike the visitor 
in America more than these. In some parts of Jamaica, too, many of 
these plants were used for hedges, but in other districts, where rain fell 
heavily, they failed to grow. Much may be said in favour of them, the 
smaller kinds being adapted for small greenhouses. 
Mr. Watson observed that it was easy to keep Cactuses alive, and they 
would stand much more moisture than many persons believed. It was, 
however, absolutely necessary to keep the plants dry for a certain period 
to induce them to flower. He believed that they would flower better in 
this country and be more popular if we had more sun. This was the 
reason of their popularity on the Continent and in America. Other 
gentlemen recorded their experiences in regard to Cactus plants, and a 
vote of thanks to Mr. Singer for his interesting paper concluded the 
proceedings. 
ROSE AND IIORTICULTCJRAL SHOWS. 
NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
Great Show at the Crystal Palace.—July 7th. 
But few events in the gardening world create so much interest 
among any particular section of horticulturists as does the great show of 
Roses which is held annually at the Crystal Palace, under the auspices 
of the National Rose Society. To rosarians, and all persons interested 
in the culture of Roses for exhibition, this is the principal incident of 
the year. Such it has been for a long period, and that which took place 
on Saturday last proved no exception to the rule. Growers from all 
quarters have for many years met in friendly contest at Sydenham, and 
at times the interest thus evinced has almost reached the stage of 
enthusiasm, especially in regard to the trophy classes. Nor does the 
feeling decrease in any way, for on taking a preliminary view of the 
leading exhibits at the meeting now under notice, many voluntary 
opinions as to the merits of the hlooms staged were to be heard. Thus 
the work of exhibiting Roses becomes exciting to the participants, whilst 
even casual observers cannot be other than interested in what they see 
and hear in respect to this matter. 
The results of this exhibition to many of the noted growers depend, 
to a certain extent on the season. Those who can look back for the 
past decade will realise the correctness of this statement. It has been 
shown how in unusually early seasons, as for instance 1893, the southern 
growers are practically out of the running, to use a sporting phrase, 
whilst in such cases the northerners carry all before them. It may 
therefore be interesting to take a retrospect of the trophy classes for the 
past ten years. In 1884 Messrs. Paul & Son secured the nurserymen’s 
challenge trophy; but have never since recovered that position, Mr. 
B. R. Cant being the winner in 1885 and 1886. Then came the victory 
of Messrs. Harkness & Sons, the northern growers, in 1887, a season that 
will be remembered for its earliness and heat, and when the southern 
Roses were hurried on with rapidity. The succeeding year, however, 
was cooler, and gave Mr. Frank Cant an opportunity of winning the 
trophy, but only for a short period, as the Yorkshire growers wrested it 
from him in 1889, another warm and early season. In 1890 the young 
rosarian of Essex was again to the front, followed by his namesake, Mr. 
B. R. Cant, in 1891. The next year, 1892, saw Mr. Frank Cant once 
more the winner; but the abnormally hot season of 1893 proved too 
much for the southern growers, and consequently Messrs. Harkness and 
Son, with other north country rosarians, secured the leading awards. 
Two or three months ago many persons were inclined to prognosticate a 
repetition of this, but the climatic influences decided it otherwise, and 
again Mr. Frank Cant gained the premier award of the exhibition so 
far as nurserymen’s blooms were concerned. The flowers in the class 
for seventy-two distinct blooms which won him this honour were 
worthy of the grower, being beautifully fresh and on the whole faultless 
in colour and finish. The others, too, were in many cases quite up to 
the average, and creditable to the exhibitors. 
As regards the amateurs’ challenge trophy, this has been only 
won by southern growers during the past decade, and it would 
seem that but few or no northern rosarians compete for it. 
In 1884 Mr. T. B. Haywood of Reigate secured this prize, while 
the Rev. J. H. Pemberton took the trophy to Essex in the two 
following years. Jubilee year, 1887, saw Mr. \V. J. Grant taking it to 
Hereford, but Mr. R. N. G. Baker won it for Devonshire in 1888, only to 
be recaptured by Mr. Grant in 1889. For the four following years 
Mr. E. B. Lindsell of Hitchen conquered, being apparently indifferent 
to the weather up till the end of 1893. But time has truly had its 
revenge, and those who saw, as the writer did, the results of the May 
frosts in respect to Mr. Lindsell’s Roses can do no other than sympathise 
with him in being thus prevented retaining the position he has held 
against all comers for four consecutive years. Dr. Budd, however, has 
frequently proved a formidable opponent, and the present year saw him 
to the front, this exhibitor having won the challenge trophy and 
numerous other prizes, as the report will show. 
Considering the fickleness of the season, the show was an average 
one as regards merit. Most of the classes were well filled, whilst in 
many there were more entries than usual, thus rendering the competi¬ 
tion keen. Mr. Mawley, one of the honorary secretaries, says it was, 
with the exception of 1892, the largest show the N.R.S. has yet 
held. Hybrid Perpetuals were, as a rule, good and well coloured, 
although a thinness of petal could be occasionally noticed. Teas it was 
thought were fairly good taken on the whole, with a few occasional 
exceedingly fine blooms. Mr. Prince was this year to the fore with 
his noted Teas, and the Rev. Hugh A. Berners succeeded in winning the 
challenge trophy in this section with a stand of excellent flowers. The 
exhibits were arranged better this year, affording more diversity to the 
visitors. We append the names of the prizewinners with the varieties 
shown in the leading stands. 
Nurserymen’s Classes 
There were five competitors in the clars for seventy-two singles, 
distinct, with the first prize of which went the champion trophy, and 
some magnificent examples were staged. The premier position was 
accorded to Mr. Frank Cant with an almost faultless exhibit. This 
stand comprised examples of the following varieties—Alfred Colomb, 
Marchioness of Londonderry, Reynolds Hole, Margaret Dickson, 
Suzanne Marie Rodocanachi, Duke of Albany, Marie Verdier, Frangois 
Levet, G^n^ral Jacqueminot, Pride of Waltham, Charles Darwin, Mrs. 
John Laing, Earl of Dufferin, Merveiile de Lyon, Marie Baumann, 
