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110 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
A.uguit , 1894. 
28th July, I left London on the previous morning, in order that I might 
be able to see at leisure their now famous nurseries. The run down to 
Bedale is well arranged by the G.N.R.; both the train service and the 
timing are admirably managed. Amongst other advantages one has 
the opportunity, by a stop of forty-five minutes at York station, of 
seeing the Minster. No one should pass York City without spending at 
least half an hour in this famous cathedral. Of course this is a very 
limited and too short a time, but in it a good idea can be obtained of 
the beauty of this vast and beautiful building. On arriving at Leeming 
Lane, the station for Messrs. Harkness’ nurseries, which are within three 
minutes of the railway, I was cordially received by these hospitable 
Yorkshiremen, and during my stay, which broke into the best part of 
two days, I was treated “en Prince.” There is no double entendre 
meant, although no doubt it would equally apply to the gentlemen who 
bear that Royal appellation and live at Oxford. Messrs. Harkness took 
me that evening to see both their nurseries, which I may say are 
utilised by them in two distinct ways, one being devoted principally to 
the cultivation of maiden Roses and herbaceous plants, of which species 
they grow a very large and fine stock, amongst which I specially 
noticed grand plants of Delphiniums of many varieties, Scabiosa 
caucasica, Eryngiums, Gladioli, Poppies, Pyrethrums, Liliums, and 
other plants too numerous to specify; in the second nursery is kept 
their large stock of cut-backs, and here also Dahlias are largely and well 
grown. I have never elsewhere seen a finer lot of Dahlias, principally 
of the double varieties, than those at Leeming Lane. 
The season has not been propitious to Messrs. Harkness in 1894 as 
regards their exhibiting power, but the growth of their plants seems 
most satisfactory and healthy. It would be a mere repetition of the 
names of the best flowers known to rosarians if I were to specify the 
large numbers of good plants and varieties which are here well grown, 
but I especially noticed amongst them Gustave Piganeau (a very good 
exhibition Rose, but one I am not partial to), Comtesse de Lndre, Maid 
of the Mist (a very pretty white Rose), Horace Vernet, and Earl of 
Dufferin. I might almost say, however. Ex vno disce omnes, and that 
these were but a very few noticed amongst many of the best varieties. 
Judging from the enormous number of stocks standing in thousands by 
serried lines of 100 each, with tallies placed to show what varieties were 
to be shortly budded, I would venture on a forecast that this Yorkshire 
nursery is preparing for another great season in 1895 if the fates be 
only propitious in the weather. Like myself and others of more 
importance Messrs. Harkness will not be sorry to turn their backs on 
1894 as a season for exhibiting, it has been a sadly disappointing one to 
all but a very limited few. The latter no doubt have fully availed 
themselves of the chances open to them. 
To those who have never seen a big country sports’ meeting with its 
varied entertainments, a visit to the “ Vale of Mowbray Sports ” would 
be a revelation—it seemed to me to be a combination of Stamford 
Bridge, a Forester’s fSte at the Crystal Palace, and Donnybrook Fair 
^without the broken heads), to which entertainments a Rose meeting 
and choral contests are attached as the refining influences. I should 
not advise anyone to go who is sensitive to noise, which can only be 
compared to a hundred barrel organs and German bands let loose, with 
an occasional shriek like that of an infuriated locomotive interspersed. 
The scene, however, was amusing and interesting, and one saw Yorkshire 
folk thoroughly enjoying themselves, and in an orderly manner, which 
was very creditable. The Rose show was evidently secondary in interest 
to the singing contests, which were listened to by the large crowd with 
rapt attention ; doubtless each of the numerous choirs competing had a 
large number of friends. But the Rose tent also attracted a constant 
throng throughout the day. Nor were the flowers unworthy of close 
scrutiny, as, considering the season and the lateness of the date, there 
were many good flowers staged. The competition was not very great, 
but in each class there was a fair entry, those who showed best being 
Messrs. Mack, Mr. Lindsell, Messrs. Harkness, and Messrs. Prior ; these 
rosarians, representing the north and the south, divided the honours of 
the show. There were eight classes, open to all England, four limited 
to amateurs, and four reserved to local growers. 
In the All-England class for forty-eight Roses, Messrs. Harkness, 
Mack and Perkins, of Coventry, staged a fairly good lot of flowers, and 
were placed as named, there was nothing of exceptional note amongst 
them. For thirty-six varieties there was a larger competition, and the 
flowers in this class (as it is always I think in that for moderate 
numbers) were of a much higher standard. Messrs. Mack and Harkness 
here changed places, and Mr. Perkins was again third. In Messrs. 
Mack’s box were some exceptionally good flowers, Horace Vernet and 
Victor Hugo being each considered worthy of a N.R S medal (given with 
other prizes by Messrs. Harkness). Messrs, Harkness’ box was only 
very slightly inferior. In an unplaced box of Mr. May in this class 
■was found the best professional Tea Rose, Mar(ichal Niel. For eighteen 
Teas, Messrs. Prior staged a very nice clean set of flowers, Innocente 
Piroia being their best Rose. Messrs. Harkness were a fairly close second, 
and Messrs. Croll of Dundee third. For twelve dark Roses, Messrs, 
Mack were first, Messrs. Perkins second, Mr. Lindsell third, the first two 
staging A. K. Williams (a Rose which has not hitherto been shown well 
in 1894), and Mr. Lindsell Alfred Colomb. There were six boxes. For 
light Roses there was also a good competition, the Rose of 1894, Mrs. John 
Laing, taking first and second for Messrs. Mack and Messrs. Prior, and 
a beautiful box of White Baroness, which were showing weakness in the 
centre, staged by Messrs. Croll being third. Whilst referring to this 
class I wish to notice the fact that a writer in one of your contemporaries 
who has referred this week to the Roses of the season has not even 
mentioned Mrs. John Laing I As an incontrovertible fact it has been 
shown more frequently and better than other varieties in 1894, and it 
has been staged by many growers, both amateur and professional, in a 
way which would have made its reputation, if it were not already 
considered the leading exhibition Rose. It is worth mentioning here 
also, that Messrs. Harkness have a sport, partly pure white, of which 
they have great hope. Everyone would like to see such a valuable 
acquisition as a white Mrs. John Laing. 
But to return to the subject in hand. In the amateurs’ division Mr. 
Lindsell showed well. He was placed first with a good twenty-four, 
Mr. Hutchinson being second, and Mr. Boyes of Derby third. For 
eighteen varieties, Mr. Findlay, who seems a comparatively new 
exhibitor, staged good flowers, and won first place, Mr. Lindsell being 
second with a fresher lot, but his best flowers were disposed of in his 
twenty-four, Mr. Whitton was third. Like Messrs. Harkness, this 
Yorkshire amateur’s Roses are not up to his 1893 form. There were two 
other competitors in this class. 
The prettiest box in the show was in the class for twelve Teas, and 
the best lot of Teas also, Mr. Lindsell winning with a very good dozen, 
amongst which was the medal bloom Jean Ducher. The flowers stood 
the heat of the tent throughout the day, being in this respect in marked 
contrast to the bulk of the flowers exhibited. Mr. Whitton was second 
with a very nice box, but of smaller Roses; and Mr. Boyes of Derby 
was third. 
In the division open to local growers the principal interest centred 
in the cup class. The local amateurs are keen rosarians, and take con¬ 
siderable pride in showing well in their friendly competitions. Mr. 
R. G. King, one of the Honorary Secretaries of the Society, won with a 
very good box, I hope this gentleman, if he be not already a member 
of the N.R.S., will allow me to have his name enrolled on our list, as if 
he showed equally well at the Crystal Palace, and next year be an early 
season, he would have more than a good chance of carrying off all the 
first prizes reserved for new members of our Society. 
After the work of judging was done, the Judges and exhibitors were 
very hospitably entertained at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John 
Harkness, and in the afternoon we all had the opportunity of seeing and 
hearing the numerous contests provided for the excursionists. The 
courteous President of the Vale of Mowbray Society (Mr. W. J. Plews) 
and his energetic colleagues may be congratulated on a very satisfactory 
meeting, and be assured that we one and all greatly appreciated the 
kindness we received from everyone at their gathering.— Chaeles 
J. Grahams. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Scientific Committee, July 24th—Present: Dr. M. T. Masters 
(in the chair) ; Dr. Morris, Mr. Blandford, Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Photographs. —Dr. Masters exhibited photos of the “ Lily Pond ” at 
Trelissiek, Truro, on the property of C. D. Gilbert, Esq., showing great 
quantities of Richardia aethiopica bordering the pond, together with 
Nuphar. Large clumps of Gunneramanicataand a fringe of tall-growing 
Primula japonica occur on the higher ground. Another view illustrated 
fine masses of Benthamia fragifera in flower. 
Carnation Sports. —He also showed several varieties of colours in 
Carnations (flaked, self, «&c ), the flowers having been all gathered from 
one and the same seedling plant. 
Poppy., Monstrous. —He also showed a drawing by Mr. G. W. Smith 
of a field Poppy in which two normal flower buds had issued from the 
axils of opposite petals. 
Vine Diseased. —He also showed a fragment of a bunch which was 
described as being of an extraordinary size, tbe flowers of which were 
aggregated into minute woolly balls. The petals remain closed, but 
without having any stamens or pistil within them. The hairs (ribbon¬ 
like and twisted, resembling cotton hair) grow mainly from the margins 
of the petals. It has been suggested that it is caused by a phytoptus ; 
but as no insect or fungus is present, Mr. Henslow observed that it may 
be the result of atrophy of the essential organs, accompanied by an 
excess of hair as a compensatory process, according to a theory of 
M. Mer. 
Gentiana acaulis, Diseased. —Dr, Morris exhibited a specimen, and 
observed that if it be sprayed with Condy’s fluid at an early period the 
fungus may be kept in check ; but large masses must be burnt if they 
be badly attacked, as the disease is due to Puccinia Gentianae, and if 
the plant be not destroyed the resting spores will get into the soil and 
reproduce the disease in the following year. 
Products of the Banana. —Dr. Morris also exhibited a collection of 
various products obtained from the Banana, exhibited by the “ Stanley 
Syndicate” at the Universal Exhibition at Antwerp, 1894. Mr. Stanley 
had called attention to the great value of this fruit in his “ In Darkest 
Africa,” and the investigation was carried out by Mr. Hartogh, Engineer 
at Amsterdam, to discover for what uses the Banana was available. Its 
chief value lies in the great quantity of starch (80 per cent, of the dried 
pulp), hence it proved to be a very good source of spirit, as “ the quality 
of the alcohol may be considered good.” It was found to be especially 
available for the manufacture of glucose, while the meal mixed with 
one-third ordinary Wheat flour makes a very nourishing material for 
bread, cakes, «Scc. Among other uses, gruel, puddings, marmalade, syrup, 
&c., may be mentioned ; while the dried peel, and flour of the peel, 
would be useful for fattening pigs. Lastly, the fibre can be used for 
