700 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 4, 1891. 
FROffidifRWS^. 
Pinks and The National Pink Society. 
It was from no fault of the promoters of the National 
Pink Society that there were practically no Pinks at 
the Royal Aquarium on the 24th. In a season when 
Tulips and Roses are late, Pinks are certain to be so, 
and all the ingenuity of man cannot enable him to go out 
into lanes and roads and gather Pink blossoms from 
the hedgerows as he would Dog Roses. When writing 
the other day, Mr. Samuel Barlow stated it was most 
unusual for Roses grown in the open, and Tulips, to be 
shown together as they were at the last meeting. I 
think Carnations and Pinks will be pretty well in 
together this season. But the Pinks are coming on 
with a great rush, and if a show of Pinks could have 
been held on Wednesday of this week a very good 
representation of flowers would have been seen. As it 
is, I think Mr. Turner will be able to stage some fine 
blooms at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society at Chiswick on the 7th of July. 
Mr. Fred. Hooper, of Bath, sent in a few good laced 
flowers of Pinks to the Royal Aquarium on the 24th, 
and he was able to stage six blooms in three varieties, 
having Modesty, which is one of the prettiest of the 
light-laced varieties, Boiard, and George Hodgkinson. 
1 was able to stage six hunches of border Pinks ; Mr. 
F. Hooper a bunch of white Pinks ; and Messrs. 
Laxton Brothers, of Bedford, sent six bunches of 
seedling white Pinks of a promising character. There 
was, therefore, a Pink show—restricted in quantity 
and modest in display—but it was the very best the 
growers could do, and the best could do no more. Mr. 
J. Gibson, Erleigh Road, Reading, brought up some 
bunches of Mrs. Sinkins, and though all the flowers 
staged could have been stood upon a table 4 ft. square, 
yet the exhibition of the National Pink Society was 
not quite a failure. 
When at the Royal Nursery, Slough, on the 27th, 
I found Mrs. Sinkins and Clifton White in full bloom. 
A bed filled to the extent of one-half with each of 
the foregoing varieties was a perfect carpet of white 
blossoms. The flowers of each are much alike. I 
think those of Clifton White are rather the purest, and 
I take it to be a seedling from Mrs. Sinkins, but the 
foliage is essentially distinct. It will be interesting to 
see the former and Her Majesty planted out side by 
side. There are several white seedlings from Mrs. 
Sinkins about; Mr. Joseph Lakin has two or three, 
but all have a burst calyx. 
The earliest of the laced Pinks to flower at Slough 
is Modesty, a charming variety with a finely formed 
petal and regular edging of pale rose. The petals lie 
well one over the other, and a good bloom needs but 
little dressing. A seedling red-laced, at present un¬ 
named, raised by the Rev. C. Fellowes, is early also. 
Zoe is a rosy red variety, and Empress of India, laced 
with dark red, is unquestionably a very tine pink ; 
indeed, Boiard, George Hodgkinson, John Bull, Henry 
Hooper, the Rector, and others will be in good bloom 
by the time these lines appear in print. 
Clark’s Lord Lyon, with its rosy red ground and 
dark lacing, is a very fine variety, with a well-formed 
flower of smooth petals. Mr. Harry Turner says “it 
is very scarce indeed, and there are but few plants of 
it at Slough.” It would be a great pity were it to 
become altogether lost; therefore, if any one will take 
care of it, propagate it, and work up a good stock, it 
will save a good thing from the danger of dying out, 
and be also doing a real service to floriculture.— E. D. 
The Florists’ Tulip. 
The fine collection of florists’ Tulips exhibited at the 
Drill Hall on June 23rd. by Mr. Barlow, of Stakehill, 
was in several ways worthy of notice, and perhaps I 
may be allowed to draw attention to some of its points 
of interest. To begin with, the Tulips were staged 
alongside of Roses in the latter part of June, thus 
disposing most effectually of the dogmatic assertions of 
a few of our southern friends who are fond of telling us 
up in the north that “the Tulip is a May flower,” and 
that June shows are a great mistake. We, however, 
find that, in four seasons out of five, the Tulip is a 
June flower, and that May shows are quite out of the 
question—in fact, this year, although the National 
Society’s Exhibition was held on June 6th the growers 
of this district were obliged to show small partly opened 
flowers, over a week short of growth. 
Mr. Barlow’s exhibit was also an educational one, 
and was intended (in response to requests from eminent 
florists in the south) to show our London friends what 
the Tulip really is, and to illustrate in some degree 
what the Tulip grower’s aims and aspirations are. It 
seems strange that London should have to learn of 
Lancashire in this matter, but it i3 unfortunately true 
that the flower is now almost unknown in the south, 
where forty years ago it was greatly valued, and largely 
cultivated. It is, however, a matter of much satis¬ 
faction that signs of a revival of interest in the fine old 
flower are apparent ; that the time will soon arrive is 
the earnest wish of— J. IF. Bentley, Castleton. 
Mr. Martin Smith's Special Prizes for 
Carnations. " 
Some time since I was taken sharply to task for stating 
that the special prizes offered by Mr. Martin Smith for 
blooms of Carnations grown in the open air all the 
winter, would be at the mercy of the large growers, and 
them only. It is only from a large collection any one 
can be expected to cut a dozen bunches of distinct 
varieties of self Carnations, and eighteen bunches of 
any type, also distinct. At Slough, Mr. Turner has some 
six or so good-sized beds of plants, which he is growing 
on for these prizes, and it is necessary he should do so. 
Not only is it necessary to have several plants of each 
variety to ensure getting a good bunch, but there is 
a necessity for growing several varieties in order to 
ensure having a sufficient number in bloom at the time. 
This is the substance of the statement I made at the 
time the prizes were announced. I said then that so 
far from encouraging the amateur grower of small 
collections, it was practically subsidising the large trade 
and private growers ; and what I saw at Slough of the 
number of plants put out into beds specially for this 
purpose, confirms me in my belief. I am further told 
it is impolitic to criticise these prizes, as criticism 
might induce Mr. Martin Smith to withdraw them. 
No great loss to floriculture would result if they were 
withdrawn altogether ; but I do not fear that. I do, 
however, hope that Mr. Martin Smith may see his way 
to recasting them another season.— E. D. 
Self Carnation, Iver White. 
This fine white self which Mr. Turner exhibited at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 
23rd inst. is a remarkable addition to the valuable 
group of new white seifs of previous years. What with 
Mrs. Muir, Annie Lakin, Emma Lakin, Dodwell’s Mr. 
Fred, which caused such a sensation last year, and now 
Iver White, there is no lack of fine white seifs. We 
shall look anxiously for their reappearance during the 
present month.— E. D. 
- o - X - c -- 
THE MIDLAND COUNTIES 
PANSY SHOW. 
The first exhibition of the New Midland Counties Pansy 
Society was held in Birmingham on June 24th. The 
entries] were very heavy, but some of the exhibitors’ 
plants and blooms suffered so much from the sultry, 
fiot weather of a few previous days, that several dis¬ 
appointments occurred in filling classes ; still, there 
was a wonderful display, far exceeding the expectations 
of the committee. The Scottish growers came out well 
and brought a lot of very fine blooms, and the “open 
to all ” classes were of great interest. In the class for 
forty-eight fancy Pansies the awards were as follows :— 
First, Mr. John Smellie, Bushby, Glasgow; second, Mr. 
A. Bailey, Junr., Sunderland; third, Mr. Campbell, 
Blantyre ; fourth, Mr. A. Irvine, Tighnabruaich. For 
twenty-four show Pansies: first, Mr. Bailey; second, Mr. 
Smellie ; third, Mr. Campbell; fourth, Mr. A. Lister, 
Rothesay. For twenty-four new fancy Pansies, dis¬ 
similar : first, Mr. Smellie ; second, Mr. Irvine. For 
six new fancy Pansies of autumn 1890, or spring 
1891 : first, Mr. Smellie ; second, Mr. Irvine. 
The society was started with the view to its confining 
its operations to Warwickshire and seven adjacent 
counties, and classes were arranged for this. In Sec¬ 
tion 1, open to trade growers and amateurs, for 
twenty-four fancy Pansies, Messrs. Pope & Sons, Bir¬ 
mingham, were first ; Mr. W. Pemberton, Walsall, 
second ; Mr. George East, Leicester, third. In Messrs. 
Pope’s stand were fine blooms of Evelyn Bruce, Neil 
McKay, David Rennie, Maggie A. Scott, Mrs. Hugh 
Weir, James Simkins, May Hynd, and others. 
For twelve new fancy Pansies sent out in the autumn 
of 1889 and subsequently, Messrs. Pope & Sons were 
first with a fine lot of blooms ; second, Mr. W. 
Pemberton. For six blooms of any one variety, first, 
Messrs. Pope & Sous, with Neil McKay ; second, Mr. 
W. Pemberton, with Mr. Scott. For twenty-four 
show Pansies, first, Mr, Pemberton. For six seedlings, 
own raising, not sent out, first, Mr. H. Hughes, Bir¬ 
mingham. Best seedling raised in 1889, first, Mr. 
W. Pemberton, with Stanley Pemberton. For twelve 
varieties of Violas, twelve blooms of each, the premier 
award went to Mr. W. H. Gabb, Small Heath, Bir¬ 
mingham. 
In Section 2, open to amateurs and gentlemen’s gar¬ 
deners only in the midland counties, there was a large 
number of exhibits. For twenty-four fancies, first, 
Mr. A. C. Christie, Shifnal, with Maggie A. Scott, 
James Alexander, Lawrence McCormack, Mrs. Lister, 
and Archie Buchanan, all very fine blooms; second, 
Mr. J. Egginton, Wolverhampton ; third, Mr. Bullock, 
Moseley; fourth, Mr. T. Willoughby, Bilston. Eighteen 
fancy Pansies, dissimilar : first, Mr. Christie (a good 
bloom of Lord Bute in this stand); second, Mr. 
Egginton ; third, Mr. Field, King’s Heath ; fourth, 
Mr. Bullock. Twelve fancies : first, Mr. H. Hughes; 
second, Mr. W. Fletcher, Priors Lee Farm, Shifnal ; 
third, Mr. G. East; fourth, Mr. Fowler, Tamworth. 
All the other classes were well filled. 
Special classes were reserved for amateurs in the 
midland counties who had never won a prize for 
Pansies, and the principal winners were Mr. Fowler, Mr. 
Woodward, Coventry, and Mr. H. Hill, Small Heath. 
A handsome Cup for six fancy Pansies and six Violas 
in pots was won by Mr. W. H. Gabb. Mr. Wm. 
Sydenham’s prize of 1 guinea for three blooms of 
Duchess of Portland sent out by him was won by Mr. 
Smellie, Bushby, Glasgow. The Gardeners’ Magazine 
Silver Medal and Certificate was won by Mr. James 
Simkins, King’s Norton, with a seedling named 
Baccarat, an Allen Ashcroft style of flower but distinct; 
and Mr. Henry Hughes almost won a certificate for a 
seedling named Mr. R. Niven. Messrs. Hewitt & Co., 
Solihull Nurseries, exhibited twelve blooms of a very 
pretty bedding fancy Viola named Peacock, to which 
a Certificate was awarded. It is really a Pansy, and a 
beautiful decorative kind, but wanting in form for 
exhibition work. It has a rich blue violet shade of 
colour running through the other colours. 
Mr. Irvine, Mr. William Sydenham, and Mr. Henry 
Brooke, florist, Durham, also sent large non-competing 
stands. 
Messrs. Dobbie & Co., florists, Rothesay, set up a 
very extensive display of 100 sprays of Violas (quite 
sixty varieties), and over 200 blooms of fancy Pansies, 
and amongst the latter were several very fine blooms of 
Miss Hudson, a first class variety, good throughout the 
exhibition ; also fine blooms of Lord Hamilton, David 
Rennie, George Anderson, Donald Morrison, Maggie 
A. Scott, and man)' others. Amongst the Violas were 
two new' varieties which obtained Certificates, Lass 
o’Gowrie and Annie King, and both will be welcomed. 
Other leading varieties were Countess of Elgin, Gold¬ 
finch, Columbine, Lucy Ashton, Duke of Sutherland, 
Mrs. Bellamy, Bullion, Evelyn, Duchess of Fife, Gipsy 
Queen, Abercorn Beauty, Mrs. Grant, Minnie Baxter, 
Ada Adair, and The Mearns. 
A great many new varieties of great merit were shown 
in the various stands, among them being Teenie 
Mitchell, Maggie A. Scott, Helen Christie, Miss 
Hudson, Tom Travis, very fine everywhere ; Mrs. Hugh 
Weir, Wm. Ross, George Anderson, Mrs. J. McConnell, 
John Taylor, James Simkins, F. R. McDonald, Mrs. 
W. Dean, Mrs. Tonland, Mrs. Lister, Lord Bute, Mrs. 
Archer, Lord Hamilton, Kate McArthur, Miss 
Henderson, Alexander Ollar, J. T. Ashton, Donald 
Morrison, and several others. Of new ones to come out, 
Lizzie Forest is a fine yellow, with superb blotch ; 
John Morris, Nellie Cook, May West, W. H. Gabb, 
Mrs. A. Irvine, Minnie Tate, John Cook and Lizzie 
Irvine are all fine new, sorts. 
Messrs. Thomson, nurserymen and seedsmen, 
Birmingham, contributed handsome groups of plants 
and floral arrangements ; and Messrs. Hewitt & Co., 
Solihull Nurseries, a quantity of plants for the centre 
of the tables and other places, and a fine display of cut 
herbaceous plants. Messrs. .Vertegans & Co., Chad 
Valley Nursery, showed several plants of the lovely 
new broom Genista Andreana, a plant in bloom of 
Romneya Coulteri, with a very large fragrant white 
flower, and other plants. The Imperial Hollow-ware 
Company, Birmingham, sent a large assortment of their 
new Pansy boxes, which are finding much favour with 
exhibitors. 
The committee received hearty'congratulations on all 
sides, and preparations for an exhibition on a larger 
scale will be at once proceeded with. Friends from 
Scotland and the north, who also officiated as judges, 
and joined the committee at dinner, expressed the 
pleasure they felt at the extent of the exhibition and 
the excellent arrangements. 
