152 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 8, 1890. 
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Mr. Martin R. Smith's Special Prizes for 
Border Carnations. 
I am afraid the publication of this prize list by Mr. 
Martin R. Smith will come as a sore disappointment to 
many small amateur cultivators who take pride in 
growing a select collection. Class 1, in which four 
prizes are offered, is for the best bunch of not less than 
twelve blooms of the best border variety of a self- 
coloured Carnation, the flowers to be shown in a bunch 
or bouquet, with its own foliage and buds. In this class 
a large number will, no doubt, be found competing. 
The two following classes appear to be cast solely in 
the interest of the large growers, to the great consterna¬ 
tion of the cultivators of small collections. 
Class 2 is for the best collection of twelve varieties 
of self-coloured border Carnations. Mark that! Twelve 
varieties of self-coloured border Carnations ! It is only 
from a large collection that this number of twelve 
distinct seifs can be cut. There must not be less than 
six blooms of each variety. Had this class been for 
six bunches of six varieties, growers of small collections 
might have stood a chance ; but they are not in it 
under such a requirement. 
Class 3 is for the best collection of eighteen varieties 
of flaked bizarre or fancy Carnations or Picotees, and 
as before, not less than six blooms of each variety. In 
both classes the flowers are to be shown in bunches or 
bouquets, with their own foliage and buds. Then 
follow the regulations. The blooms to be staged in 
bottles, tins or glasses, and not in boxes. The stems 
in all instances to be not less than 9 ins. in length. 
No bands or ties round the calyx are allowed, nor are 
paper collars or wire supports to be used. Unfortun¬ 
ately there is no restriction against shading. This is 
unfortunate, because while one person’s flowers may be 
exposed to all weathers, another may shade his, and by 
doing so gain much in purity and refinement. There 
is no doubt but that Mr. Smith’s desire is to have 
flowers just as they are grown in the open, without 
shading ; but it can be employed over the flowers with¬ 
out disqualifying. It is not difficult to perceive that 
Mr. Smith placed himself in the hands of the large 
growers, with the usual result that they look more after 
their own interests than after those of the bulk of 
Carnation growers. 
Every exhibitor shall be called upon to sign the 
following declaration :—“ I certify that all blooms 
shown by me for the prizes of Mr. Martin Smith have 
been cut from plants which have been wintered without 
protection in the open garden, have been grown without 
bands or ties round the calyx, and that they are staged 
without ‘ dressing, ’ and exactly as they were cut from 
the plants.” 
I have called Mr. Smith’s attention to the fact 
that in the cases of classes 2 and 3 he is simply 
subsidising the large growers, and not doing what I am 
sure he has so much at heart—encouraging the growth of 
hardy border Carnations generally, and especially 
among the amateur element. But I do not confound the 
amateur pure and simple, with the professional gardener 
with his means and assistance in the way of labour.— 
E. D. 
The National Auricula and Carnation So¬ 
cieties (Southern Section). 
The annual meeting of the members of the above 
societies took place at the Hotel Windsor, on Tuesday, 
October 28th, the Rev. H. D’Ombrain presiding, and 
afterwards Martin R. Smith, Esq. The accounts of 
the two societies are kept distinct, and the committees, 
together with the presidents, are different, but only one 
meeting is held, and the business of the annual meeting 
is transacted by the same body. There was a fairly 
good attendance, but composed mainly of the members 
of the committees of the societies. The minutes of the 
last meeting having been read, some discussion took 
place as to the expediency of calling a meeting of the 
committee to consider their report and balance sheet. 
Then followed the reading of the reports by Mr. -J. 
Douglas. That of the Auricula society declared there 
was no lack of interest in the cultivation of the Auricula, 
and though the early months of the year were 
characterised by weather of an ungenial nature, a large 
number of plants were staged of show varieties, among 
them some of very fine quality, and all of good 
character. The alpine varieties were particularly fine, 
and never before was such an attractive display made 
by them. The Fancy Polyanthus and Primroses were 
shown in fine condition, and were very attractive and 
much appreciated. 
In reference to the Carnation Society, the report 
set forth that the interest in all sections of this flower 
materially increased during the year, as was shown by 
the fine exhibition held in the Chiswick Gardens of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, and by the conference 
proceedings, both of which were well attended. The 
show varieties were seen in very fine character. The 
yellow. grounds, seifs and fancies were conspicuously 
fine. The treasurer’s balance sheet of the National 
Auricula Society showed an income of -£83 11s. 3d., 
and an expenditure of £72 3s. 3d., including £6112s. 6 d. 
paid away as prize money, leaving a balance of 
£11 8s. in the hands of the treasurer. It was also 
stated that ten new members had been added during 
the year. The balance sheet of the National Carnation 
Society showed receipts amounting to £77 4s. 11 d., the 
disbursements £67 10s. 9 d., a balance of £9 14s. 2 d. 
being carried forward for the next year. The reports 
and financial statements were unanimously adopted, 
and hearty votes of thanks were passed to Mr. J. 
Douglas, hon. secretary, and Mr. T. E. Henwood, hon. 
treasurer, for their services during the year. The 
presidents, vice-presidents, and members of the com¬ 
mittee were re-elected, the name of Mr. J. James 
being struck out from that of the National Auricula 
Society, he having recently died. The name of Mr. 
Martin R. Smith was added to the vice-presidents. 
It was then gravely proposed that it was not necessary 
the reports and financial statements should be submitted 
to the committee previous to being laid before the 
annual general meeting of members, though the rules, 
as revised last year, state distinctly ‘‘the report of the 
committee.” For years past the committees have been 
little else than dummies, the business having been 
transacted by the secretary and treasurer. Some new 
blood having been elected on the committee, it was felt 
by the new members that the office of committeeman 
should become a reality, and with that view the rules 
were amended. It need scarcely be stated that the 
proposal to submit the report and balance sheet direct 
to the members without the intervention of the com¬ 
mittee was speedily squelched, and the matter of 
revising the schedules was proceeded with. 
In the case of that of the Auricula exhibition the 
amounts of the prizes for six, three, and one specimen 
of gold-laced Polyanthuses were reduced, and a first 
prize of 20s. apportioned to each of the classes for fancy 
Polyanthuses and Primroses, making four prizes in 
each of these classes. The schedule of prizes of the 
Carnation Society was passed unaltered. Mr. Douglas 
reported that the Council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society would contribute the same sum as last year 
towards the prize list of the two societies. The dates of 
the two exhibitions will, as usual, be meeting days of the 
Royal Horticultural Society—the Auricula Show at the 
Drill Hall, on April 21st, and the Carnation and Picotee 
Society’s show on July 21st, also at the Drill Hall. 
The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to 
the chairman. 
-- 
M. OROUSSE’S NEW DOUBLE 
, BEG-ONIAS. 
We have a goodly array of these from Nancy this year 
—no fewer than ten—and as the flowering season is now 
well over, some of us probably have formed an opinion 
of their merits. It may be useful to those of your 
readers who are intending to purchase this winter if I 
describe these flowers as I have found them here, 
merely premising that a single plant of each variety is 
not always to be accepted as a fair test, especially when, 
as is commonly the case with new sorts, the tubers 
sent are small. 
The first on the list is Aline Adam, a sulphur-white 
flower in the way of Melanie Soupert(Crousse), but with 
stiffer flower stems, stronger habit, and darker foliage. 
This is a lovely variety, and a great acquisition. 
Jeanne Majorette has flowers of a fine deep rose 
colour. The flowers are well carried, but the plant is a 
trifle leggy in habit, and not quite one of the best in 
the batch, though sufficiently remarkable in colour to 
command attention. 
Rose Laing, a rosy pink with deeper shades, having 
fine round Camellia-shaped flowers, on upright stems 
and with large round petals. This is a first-rate 
variety, and well worthy of bearing a name so long 
associated with the Begonia. 
Augusta Holmes. A large rose-coloured flower, which 
is only poorly supported by its stem, and though pretty, 
can hardly be described as a success here this season. 
La France. M. Crousse well describes the colour of 
this variety by comparing it to that of the well-known 
Rose of the same name. The flowers are Camellia-shaped 
and upright, and the habit of the plant is dwarf and 
compact. Being a persistent bloomer, and never 
condescending to run out, it may be fairly set down as 
one of the best. 
Mons. B. R. Davis. Yellowish with a shade of buff. 
The flowers are large, with round petals, and on short 
upright flower stems—a fine variety of dwarf habit—no 
seed pods. 
Madame Champion. White, or creamy white 
flowers of excellent shape—foliage dark and contrasting 
well with the flowers, which unfortunately, however, 
hang over when expanded. 
Mada'me Ernest Tourtel. White with yellowish 
centre, a strong grower, with round Camellia-shaped 
flowers on short upright stems—a great beauty. 
Capitaine Trivier. Very deep rose, well-shaped 
flower, and fairly upright. 
Source d’Or. Bright yellow. This flower was a 
disappointment at first, but improved greatly towards 
the close of the season, when the plant became pot- 
bound, but it can hardly be placed in the front rank of 
yellows. We look for something better in this class 
from M. Crousse next season. 
Of the above, Aline Adam, Rose Laing, La France, 
and Mons. B. R. Davis appear the best, and if one be 
selected for the place of honour, it should be Rose 
Laing. —Somersetshire Rector. 
-- 
MANCHESTER BOTANICAL 
GARDENS. 
Grants in aid of Horticulture. 
Mr. Bruce Findlay recently set forth the claims of 
the Manchester Botanical and Horticultural Society to 
assistance from the public funds, and writing last week 
to the Manchester City News makes the following 
observations, which are of more than local interest : 
“The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Chaplin) has 
addressed a letter to the Duke of Devonshire, as 
Chancellor to the University of Cambridge, suggesting 
that the University might do something towards pro¬ 
moting the spread of scientific training in agriculture. 
It needed hardly be pointed out that horticulture is, 
in a sense, the parent of agriculture, inasmuch as it 
determines, upon a small scale, the value of those 
principles upon which a more extended cultivation of 
the soil depends. It is the horticultural side of the 
question which has been for several years past promi¬ 
nently set forth by some of our leading public men— 
Mr. Gladstone perhaps more than any other—also 
Lord Cranbrook, Lord Derby, Sir John Lubbock, Mr. 
Jesse Collings, and Mr. Henry Fowler. 
“That horticulture and agriculture are two of the 
most ancient industries needs no proof. Shakespeare 
makes his gravedigger declare there are ‘ no ancient 
gentlemen but gardeners.’ The gardeners’ business, 
in an ancestral point of view, has certainly the stamp 
of ancientness upon it, since it was the calling of 
the first parent of us all; and, moreover, until the days 
of the last man we shall be dependent on the gardener’s 
energies. Its business combines in itself more of the 
utile et dulce than any other calling in the world. By 
the sweat of his face mankind is fed, by the taste of 
his calling the earth is beautified ; there is a direct 
donation to the benefit of mankind in all he works : 
and besides being the two most ancient industries in 
the world, they are the two most important, inasmuch 
as they deal with the improvements, both in quantity 
and quality, of the food and floral productions of our 
country. One would have thought that this being the 
case, the dispensers of the public funds would not have 
been so slow to recognise the claims due to an im¬ 
portant subject of this kind. In France, the machinery 
provided by the State for agricultural and horticul¬ 
tural education is elaborate, and it seems to me that 
some of the energy and means which are now expended 
in this country to very little practical purpose, might 
be more usefully employed in teaching the sons of the 
soil to compete with the foreigner. 
“ At the present period, when most of the arts of life 
hitherto conducted by handicraft and routine are 
receiving a new impulse from the light let in upon them 
by the general establishment of technical schools, it is 
most desirable that similar advantages should accrue to 
horticulture by a more general combination of prin¬ 
ciple with practice, of science and art, and of rational 
experiment with pre-established fact. Certainly, to its 
perfect cultivation, there is no art that demands a 
wider range of natural and experimental knowledge 
than the practice of horticulture. The botanical estab¬ 
lishments at Kew, Edinburgh, and Dublin, receive 
