824 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 25, 1888. 
FLORICULTURE. 
National Carnation and Picotee Society 
(Northern Section). 
This annual exhibition was held on Saturday last, at 
the Botanical Gardens, Old Trafford, Manchester ; but 
although postponed for a week, owing to the extra¬ 
ordinary lateness of the season, the day which suited the 
southern and more favoured of the midland growers, 
was still too early for the northern cultivators, 
many of whom had no flowers open, while such 
enthusiasts as Mr. Simonite, of Sheffield, and Mr. S. 
Barlow, of Stakehill, could not make up stands of a 
dozen, either of Carnations or Picotees—consequently 
it was not surprising that many of the northern florists 
were not present in person. Still, the exhibition was a 
decided success, the day being fine, and over 7,000 
persons visited the show during the afternoon. Mr. T. 
Lord, of Todmorden, as usual here, was first in the 
leading classes ; but his blooms were hardly up to their 
usual high standard of excellence. Mr. Frank Law, of 
(Rochdale, was a good second in both classes. Mr. 
Robert Sydenham, of Birmingham, an enthusiastic 
amateur florist, who has only been growing these flowers 
for three seasons, came out very strong, winning both 
first prizes in the Carnation and Picotee classes for 
twelve, nine dissimilar, and showing the premier flowers 
in both sections. 
Mr. Dodwell sent from Oxford a choice collection of 
his new yellow grounds, which were much admired by the 
visitors. Messrs. Dickson & Robinson, of Manchester, 
contributed a choice collection of Roses and herbaceous 
plants, very tastily arranged, with a long row of 
Gladioli of all colours at the back. Messrs. Dicksons, 
Limited, of Chester, sent a large collection of hardy 
Carnations, with a grand lot of herbaceous plants and 
Gladioli, artistically grouped. Most of the visitors 
seemed to take a great interest in the flowers, the tables 
being crowded during the afternoon, and especially 
between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., when the 
show closed. The attractions of the exhibition 
were also much enhanced by the excellent playing 
of the Newcastle Exhibition Band, and a concert 
given in the evening in the Concert Hall. The 
garden at Old Trafford is now, perhaps, unrivalled 
in Europe for its fine suite of rooms suitable, for exhi¬ 
bitions—music, refreshments, its ample accommodation 
for all needful purposes, and its abundance of 
space for promenading, either under cover or in the 
open air, so that a visit is at all times pleasant and 
profitable. The following is as complete a list of the 
awards as the space at our disposal will permit us to 
give :— 
Twelve Carnations, dissimilar:—First, Mr. 
Thos. Lord with Master Fred, Edward Adams, J. 
Harrison, R. Lord, Admiral Curzon, J. Douglas, AY. 
Bacon, Sybil, J. D. Hextall, Mrs. Dodwell, Clipper, 
and Dr. Foster. Second, Mr. Frank Law ; third, Mr. 
G. Geggie, Bury. 
Twelve Carnations, nine at least dissimilar: — 
First, Mr. Robert Sydenham, Birmingham, with 
Matador, Master Fred, Thalia, Fred, Harrison Weir, 
G. Melville, Sarah Payne, Florence Nightingale, 
George, and Sportsman. Second, Mr. B. Simonite, 
Sheffield ; third, Mr. J. Bleachley, Whitefield ; fourth, 
(Mr. J. Whitham, Hebden Bridge. 
Six Carnations : —First, Mr. J. Lancashire, Prest- 
wich ; second, Mr. W. Bacon, Derby : third, Mr. G. 
Thornley, Middleton ; fourth, Mr. J. Whittaker, 
Royton ; fifth, Mr. S. Lord, Rochdale. 
Twelve Selfs or Fancies.— First, Mr. T. Lord ; 
second, Mr. G. Geggie. 
Single Blooms, Carnations. —Scarlet bizarres : 
first and fourth, Mr. S. Barlow with Robert Houlgrave; 
second and fifth, Mr. Lord with R. Lord and Fred ; 
third, Mr. Geggie with Edward Adams. Crimson 
bizarres : first and fourth, Mr. Bleachley with Master 
Fred and J. D. Hextall ; second and third, Mr. Lord 
with Master Fred ; fifth, Mr. Law with E. S. Dodwell. 
Piuk and purple bizarres : first, second and fifth, Mr. 
Lord with J. Harrison ; third, Mr. Geggie with Beauty; 
fourth, Mr. Lancashire with Harrison Weir. Scarlet 
flake: first, Mr. R. Sydenham with Sportsman ; all 
the other awards going to Mr. Lord with Ivanhoe, 
Bayley Junior, Ivanhoe, and Mrs. Mellor. Rose 
flakes: first, Mr. R. Sydenham with Thalia ; second, 
third and fourth, Mr. Lord with Sybil; fifth, Mr. B. 
Simonite with Crista-Galli. Purple flakes : first, Mr! 
Lancashire with Dr. Foster ; the other prizes going to 
Mr. Lord for J. Douglas, Squire Trow, and Earl of 
Stamford. 
Premier Carnation. —Mr. R. Sydenham with 
Sportsman, a very large and cleanly marked bloom. 
Twelve Picotees, dissimilar First, Mr. Thos. 
Lord with Zerlina, William Summers, Mrs. Geggie, 
Brunette, Mrs. Sharp, Daisy, Thomas William, Mrs. 
Horner, Muriel, Favourite, Mrs. Flowdy, and Mrs. 
Dodwell. Second, Mr. F. Law ; third, Mr. G. Geggie. 
Twelve Picotees, nine at least dissimilarFirst, 
Mr. R. Sydenham with Favourite, J. B. Bryant, Mrs. 
Bower, Constance Heron, Mrs. Sharp, Ethel, Dr. 
Epps, Daisy, Edith D’Ombrain, and Muriel. Second, 
Mr. B. Simonite ; third, Mr. J. Lancashire ; fourth, 
Mr. W. Taylor. 
Six Picotees :—First, Mr. Bacon ; second, Mr. 
B. Simonite ; third, Mr. J. Lancashire ; fourth, Mr. 
W. Taylor, Middleton. 
Picotees, single blooms. —Heavy-edged red : first 
four prizes, Mr. Lord for Brunette, a seedling. Dr. 
Abercrombie, and a seedling ; fifth, Mr. Bleachley 
with J. Smith. Light red-edged : first, Mr. F. Law 
with wild Douglas ; second, Mr. J. P. Sharpe with 
Thos. William ; third and fourth, Mr. R. Sydenham 
with Thos. William and Laura ; fifth, Mr. Sharpe with 
Thos. William. Heavy purple-edged : first, Mr. R. 
Sydenham with Muriel ; second, third and fourth, 
Mr. Lord with Zerlina and Amy Robsart ; fifth, Mr. 
Whitham with . Becky Sharp. Light purple-edged : 
first, Mr. Bleachley with Ann Lord ; second, Mr. 
Edwards ; third, Mr. Lancashire ; fourth, Mr. W. 
Bacon with Clara Penson ; fifth, Mr. J. Whitham with 
Ann Lord. Heavy rose-edged : first, Mr. F. Law 
with Mrs. Lord; second, Mr. Lord with Esther Minnie ; 
third, Mr. Law with Ann Lord ; fourth and fifth, Mr. 
Lord with Mrs. Sharp. Light rose-edged : first, Mr. 
Geggie with Mrs. Geggie ; second, Mr. Law with Miss 
Wood; third, Mr. Lord with Favourite ; fourth, Mr. 
Geggie with Mrs. Geggie ; fifth, Mr. Lord with 
Favourite. 
Premier Picotee. —Mr. R. Sydenham with a very 
fine flower of Muriel. 
Certificates were awarded to Mr. Tom Lord for 
his pink and purple bizarre J. Harrison, a finely 
marked flower of great promise, and much in the way 
of Douglas’s Due d’Aumale ; and to Mr. Geggie for 
Mrs. Geggie, a light scarlet-edged Picotee, very similar 
in character to Favourite, but with a lighter edge and 
rather smaller petals. 
Dahlias. 
So much rain has fallen that Dahlias, like Peas, have 
grown beyond their usual heights, and put forth 
vigorous growth. The resources of the cultivator will 
be largely drawn upon in order to have blooms worthy 
of being placed upon the exhibition table. Thinning 
out and disbudding are necessary, but as the varieties 
vary so in character, the work has to be done with 
discrimination and some knowledge of the varieties 
operated upon. Any amateur who may be growing 
new varieties for the first time, and in doubt as to the 
course to be pursued with particular ones, should 
consult a neighbouring grower, or ask questions through 
the medium of his gardening paper. Good judgment 
is particularly required in the thinning out of small 
side shoots. Such varieties'as produce small flowers 
need to be thinned out much more than those which 
produce large ones. Need I dilate upon the importance 
of keeping at bay all insects which attack and disfigure 
the blooms ? Now that some warm sunny weather 
appears to be visiting us after such a long delay, 
earwigs will get busy, and they are deadly enemies that 
need keeping in close check.—if. D. 
Showy Bordsr Hollyhocks. 
The best improvements, both of recent and earlier 
times, are undoubtedly what cultivators should strive 
to obtain if their object is a collection that will bear 
the closest inspection as to merit ; but for mere border 
decoration, a fine effect is undoubtedly produced by 
vigorous-growing specimens with large and richly 
coloured flowers. Mr. Taylor, gardener to Sir John 
Lubbock, Bart., M.P., High Elms, Kent, raises his 
plants from seeds, and at the present time has them 
6 ft. to 9 ft. in height, with from four to twelve stems 
to each. So strong are they that but little in the way 
of staking is required, although grown in the middle 
and most exposed part of the garden. After all there 
can be little doubt that they should always be grown 
in this way, instead of being planted against walls and 
in situations so sheltered that they can get but little 
circulation of air amongst their leaves to keep them 
robust. When sown early, they flower the first season 
from seed with a single stem only. The plants above- 
mentioned are only two years old, and are not only 
conspicuous above the other occupants of the garden, 
but are useful for cut-flower purposes. The blooms are 
double, but not very dense, with a very broad guard, 
all of a deep crimson-red, and when stems are cut and 
placed in water in a dwelling room, the buds continue 
to expand in the same manner as Gladioli do.— F. 
Border Carnations, Split-pod Varieties. 
Mrs. Reynolds Hole with me is charming in colour, 
but nearly every bloom has a burst pod. I am growing 
mine where the situation is high and dry, and I am 
badly off for water. Will this cause the pods to burst, 
or is it characteristic of this variety ? What a gem 
Euphrosyne is, rich carmine-self, with a strong Clove 
perfume ! If the beauty of our border varieties were 
more generally known, and how easy they are to grow, 
no garden would be without them.— TV. B. S. 
Zonal Pelargonium, Nelly Thomas. 
This would not be considered a florist’s model of a 
good zonal variety, belonging rather to the hybrid 
class ; but if well grown in a good airy house, and 
pinched back to the foot of the flower stalks, it gives 
prodigious trusses of crimson-scarlet flowers, exceptional 
pips of which actually measure ins. across. It has a 
strong, robust, yet dwarf habit of growth.— B. L. 
The late Osford Show. 
In our report of this exhibition, at p. 808, we in¬ 
advertently named Mr. Rowan as the winner of the 
third prize for six Picotees. It was Mr. John Payne, of 
Oxford, who should have been credited with the award. 
We were also in error in attributing the origin of the 
rose flake, Lovely Mary, to Mr. Hewitt instead of to 
Mr. Joseph Lakin, of Temple Cowley. 
-->$*«- 
PLUMS AT CHISWICK. 
The collection of Plum trees was pretty extensive at 
one time in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, Chiswick, but about eight or nine years ago a 
great number of them were uprooted to make room for 
flower gardening. This was not much a matter for 
regret, seeing that Plums, of all fruits, have for a long 
time been the most unsatisfactory and unprofitable in 
the gardens. Strange' to say, and what is quite phe¬ 
nomenal, the crop is this year not only satisfactory, but 
in some cases heavy, necessitating the staking up of 
the branches of some trees for support. This is par¬ 
ticularly so in the case of some trees of Denyer’s Victoria 
and Sharp’s Emperor, both of which are synonymous 
with Victoria. Speaking generally, the trees on the 
south side of the square of ground devoted to them are 
the more abundantly and equally fruited, while on the 
north side of the square the trees have set best on 
their western aspect. This may be accounted for by 
the trees on the northern and eastern aspects being 
subject to cold and trying winds in spring from that 
quarter. 
Ripening in July and August. 
The season being a late one, few of the varieties were 
ripe when we visited them the other week; but 
Chiswick is no exception in that respect. The earliest 
were St. Etienne, a small, oval, yellow fruit, with the 
flesh separating from the stone, usually ripening in 
July; and Early Prolific, a purple sort for cooking. 
Then come the Peach Plum and Princess of Wales, 
which are large, round, bright purple or reddish 
purple fruits ripening in August, but somewhat inclined 
to rot in wet seasons like the past. The Peach is, 
however, a dessert Plum, while the other is most 
suitable for cooking, as is Early Orleans, the fruits of 
which are ripening. So heavy is the crop on this tree 
that some of the branches have snapped with the load. 
Mann’s Brandy Gage is an oval green-fruited variety of 
medium size, ripening during this month and useful 
for dessert. The same might be said of De Montfort, 
a dark purple and delicious kind. When mature, 
Morocco is dark purple, almost black, with a greenish 
yellow flesh, slightly adhering to the stone. Nectarine 
is a large purple Plum, with an azure bloom and useful 
for culinary purposes. A melting juicy Plum is Imperial 
Ottoman, roundish in shape and below the medium 
size, with a dull yellow skin when mature. It is 
useful for dessert. A good crop is also borne by 
Fotheringham, an obovate orpear-shaped fruit of a bright 
red, tinted purple on the sunny side when mature, and 
useful for the table. Small oval fruits are produced in 
clusters by Mirabelle Petite, which are of a fine yellow 
colour when ripe, and valuable for preserving. A 
heavy crop is borne by Royal Bullace, a small round 
fruit, a variety of Prunus institia. Monsieur Hatif, a 
medium-sized fruit, is also a heavy crop, bearing down 
the branches. 
Ripening in September. 
When mature, Woolston Black Gage is dark purple, 
almost black, and dotted. The fruit is small or 
medium-sized, and bears a fair crop. Two trees of 
Lawson's Golden Gage are very heavily cropped, and 
