124 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 9,1894. 
the right way to perform the various operations connected with their 
business. 
There is nothing to surpass a thorough training in a well-kept 
garden where a youth can be taught to properly use the scythe, the 
hoe, and the spade, so that when he is placed in such a position he 
may be able to train those under him. I am fully aware of the assist¬ 
ance and education a young man can render himself by careful and 
diligent attention to the work performed by those above him, whether 
it be potting, watering, or tying. These and similar operations are the 
stepping-stones to young gardeners. Suppose examinations were held 
for young gardeners ; how many per cent., with the limited education 
some have had, would be able to answer the scientific questions that 
would be required of them 1 Take, for instance, botany, chemistry, 
drawing, and Latin. These are all essential to a thorough practical 
man; but what occupation is a man to follow supposing he should fail to 
pass these requirements, when at the same time he would be quite as 
capable of supplying his master’s needs in the way of producing flowers, 
fruit, and vegetables ? 
I quite agree with Mr. Dean that some men are naturally born 
gardeners. I know cases myself in this locality of men who follow 
quite a different vocation, and yet who can compete successfully at our 
shows with Chrysanthemums. Koses, aye 1 and vegetables. My opinion 
of gardeners is, that as a body they are intelligent men who follow the 
work through ardent love of it. Of course they are not all like this. 
Would that it were so I But we see daily one gardener trying to be 
equal to, if not better than, his neighbour in the art, hence the value of 
horticultural shows. I quite concur, too, with Mr. Dean that to judge 
a man by the work of his hands is by far the most reliable course of 
examination. It is a well-known fact that a man who takes no interest 
in the work will never make a first-class gardener. He is the one that 
wants weeding out. Young gardeners should think and study when at 
work, finding out other ways and means of doing it. This is the 
education in gardening that I recommend. Do not depend entirely 
upon what you may read. Think for yourselves. There is no better 
practice for young men than to write short notes in their leisure hours 
upon the various plants with which they are connected, their cultivation 
and requirements. I have derived much benefit from it myself. This 
is the way to assist in making a good gardener and one worthy of the 
calling.—J. S., Grimston. 
CARNATIONS AT THE WARREN, HAYES. 
The name of Hayes is now celebrated throughout the florists’ section 
of the horticultural world as being the home of Mr. Martin R. Smith. 
For some considerable time past he, with his gardener Mr. Blick, has 
been working unceasingly in the cross-breeding of Carnations and 
Picotees, and how successful they have been may be gleaned by a glance 
at any list of these plants in which the raiser’s name is given, for there 
are now scores of varieties, almost without a blemish, which have 
emanated from The Warren, as this beautiful home of the Carnation is 
called. Numbers of seedlings are tried, only to be consigned to the 
rubbish heap, which would be welcomed in more gardens than one in 
this country, simply because they do not reach the high ideal of 
excellence that has been laid down. 
Year by year the number of sorts retained grows less. Not because a 
smaller collection of plants is grown, but to such beauty Lave they been 
brought that it is extremely difficult to find many better. If the work 
is followed as energetically in the coming years as it has been in the 
past—and there is no reason to suppose that it will not be—it is impos¬ 
sible to imagine what will be the ultimate result. Each year we 
conclude that the highest pinnacle has been reached, and each suc¬ 
ceeding year brings us something a little better, either in shape, colour, 
or refinement. By this we can only conclude that twenty years hence 
we shall see Carnations and Picotees even better than those of the 
present day. It is to be hoped that Mr. Smith will long be spared 
to carry on his great work, for he has already earned the gratitude 
of the present generation of Carnation admirers. 
The essential points of a Carnation in Mr. Smith’s opinion are 
shape, colour, and an upright habit of growth, so that the flowers 
may look one straight in the face. Upwards of 30,000 plants are culti¬ 
vated, these, of course, including seedlings, both those grown in pots and 
in the beds. The system of testing the variety is an excellent one, all 
the seedlings being tried both in pots and out of doors, and the ordeal 
through which they have to pass is, as has already been said, a very 
severe one before they meet with the approval of the owner. Of course it 
is impossible for the whole of the 30,000 varieties to be mentioned in 
detail in the columns of the Jouvnal of TIoTticuXture, so we must be 
contented with a reference to a few only, and these are the most distinct, 
and certainly amongst the best. 
Let us start with The Day, a variety of the utmost beauty, the 
ground colour being clear yellow with purplish rose markings. A clear 
yellow kind of dwarf habit and great floriferousness is a seedling named 
the Phantom. Another very beautiful seedling is Sadek, which is very 
bright rose in shade, while Horace Trelawney is among the best of the 
rich pinks. Two grand whites are Mrs. Eric Hambro and Lady Ridley, 
the former of which is pure in colour and the latter slightly creamy! 
Both are very large in size and perfect in shape, and make splendid 
growth. Cardinal Wolsey is a fine yellow and red Fancy, and Miss 
Jekyll a good clear yellow. A grand scarlet is found in King Arthur, 
and a chastely beautiful flower is the Water Witch. A free flowering 
rose-hued kind is Queen Anne, and another good white is Miss Ellen 
Terry. The best of the bright scarlets is Hayes Scarlet, while as a 
dark crimson Mephisto is not easily surpassed, A grand border variety 
with large yellow flowers is Corunna, while Sea Foam, Eudoxia, and 
Lord Sefton have many good points. No more can be named, and 
although these seem very few out of many thousands they must 
suffice, as justice cannot be done to the collection in such brief notes 
as these. 
Though the chief feature of The Warren is the Carnations it must 
not be thought that other things are neglected. Fruit receives the very 
best attention, all kinds being excellently grown. Plums, Pears, Peaches, 
Cherries, and Apricots in pots under orchard house culture were pro¬ 
ducing fine crops of perfectly developed fruit. Black Hamburgh Grapes, 
too, were splendid, the berries of good size and well finished, while the 
foliage was as good as could be wished, the same being the case with 
the Muscat of Alexandria and Black Alicante. Vegetables were 
also to be seen in fine condition and goodly numbers, and the 
Chrysanthemums promise to afford fine blooms at a later period of 
the year. 
For his services in the Carnation world Mr. Martin R. Smith deserves 
everybody’s thanks, and all visitors to Hayes will, I am sure, tender the 
heartiest congratulations both to him and his able co-worker, Mr. Blick, 
for the work they have done. I hope next year to have the pleasure 
of seeing this garden, and feel sure that there will be such an abundance 
of good things to be seen as will amply repay a visit.— Wanderer. 
Carnations and Picotees at Evesham. 
Evesham is generally noted for its market gardens, its unrivalled 
crops of succulent vegetables, and marvellous quantities of Plums and 
other hardy fruits; therefore to come upon a superb collection of 
Carnations and Picotees is an agreeable surprise, especially to one who 
has a passion for these charming flowers. Mr. James Grove of the 
Cemetery, Evesham, has been a grower of the Carnation and Picotee for 
many years, and his collection comprises some of the best, both new and 
old, in cultivation. They are not grown in isolated clumps, but there is 
one bed, 60 yards long and 12 feet wide, furnished with scores of the 
best varieties in existence. There is also another bed, not so large as 
the previous one, set apart for plants of more recent introduction, in 
which we noticed some flowers of remarkable shape and brilliancy. I 
made notes of a few of the best, such as are adapted for open border 
culture, and which may be giown by any amateur or cottager who can 
command an open situation and a tolerable good garden soil. 
Amongst the best varieties, both new and old, I may mention of 
scarlet bizarres Admiral Curzon, a flower that has been before the 
public for fifty years, yet as good and as fresh to-day as in the days of 
its youth ; its colours are rich and bright, and it presents a perfect 
outline. It is to be found in every winning stand, and in giving votes 
for the best varieties it always comes very near the top. Duke of York 
is another flower of great excellence, and Robert Houlgrave, a seedling 
raised from Admiral Curzon, one of the best in the scarlet bizarre 
section. In the crimson bizarre group I noticed Thaddeus, a plant of 
recent introduction, one of the best; Master Fred, a grand flower 
of fine form, and as regards its perfection of contour it is such 
as to satisfy the most exacting florist; and J. D. Hextall, a glorious 
flower raised by our old friend, Mr. B. Simonite, more than twenty 
years ago, but still one of the best. Bruce Findley and Arline, fine 
flowers of the purple bizarres, and the Mayor of Nottingham, purple 
flake, a grand flower and good for all purposes. Being a free and 
vigorous grower it is well adapted to town gardens, and withal the flowers 
are perfect in form and of fine substance, and such as will please the 
most fastidious. Of the scarlet flakes mention must be made of Dan 
Godfrey, a plant of robust growth and a most showy flower ; also John 
Ball, a good exhibition flower, fine form, richly marked and of good size 
and quality. Nor must we omit in the rose flakes Mrs. Rowan, 
a plant that has not been long in commerce, one of the best ; also 
Miss Erskine Wemyss, a charming variety with smooth petals and 
delicate markings. 
Of Selfs I may mention Germania, finest yellow; Rose Celestial, 
beautiful rose; Mrs. Muir, pure white, free grower; Purple Emperor, 
bright purple; Mrs. Reynolds Hole, terra cotta or fawn coloured, fine 
flower and good grower; Mrs. Laird, blush ; Mary Morris and Miss 
Joliffe, pink, the latter one of the best growers in the open ground and 
the most abundant bloomer we have ever seen. Those with yellow 
grounds and conspicuous for their excellence and beauty were Mrs. 
Henwood; Countess of Jersey, heavily edged with bright rose ; Agnes 
Chambers, Terra Cotta ; Victory, heavily edged and flaked with bright 
red; Mrs. Robert Sydenbam, one of the very best, plant a free 
grower, the flower as near perfection as possible; Madame Van 
Houtte, Romulus, bright buff ground suffused with pink, a charming 
flower; Queen of Hearts, and Dodwell’s seedlings 958, 857, 971, 930, 
and 931. 
The Picotees were also well represented, including amongst the heavy 
red-edged Brunett, Dr. Epps, T. J. B. Bryant, all flowers of superb form 
and excellence ; light red-edged, Thomas William and Mrs. Garton ; 
heavy purple-edged, Zerlina, Redbraes, and Baroness Burdett Coutts ; 
rose-edged, Norman Carr and Little Phil; this latter a glorious flower, 
bright rose with broad pink edge, and of great substance. There were 
many others worthy of mention that are deserving of a place in every 
collection, and a few new ones were being grown for tbe first time. 
Mr. Grove is deserving of all praise, and we have no doubt he will be 
a prominent figure in the near future at some of the leading shows in 
the midland districts.— Quintin Read. 
