6 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 1, 1888. 
GardenmNotes from Ireland. 
Autumn Show of the Royal Horticultural 
Society of Ireland. 
This exhibition was held in the grounds of Sir E. C. 
Guinness, off Harcourt Street, Dublin, on Thursday, 
2-3rd ult., but the weather, which to a great extent 
makes or mars all floral displays, was on this occasion 
xtremely unpropitious. Storm and rain prevailed 
to such a degree that at one period of the day the 
bandsmen were obliged to take shelter under one of the 
tents, and from thence discourse their music ; con¬ 
sequently promenading, which is much indulged in on 
these beautiful grounds on . such occasions, had to be 
abandoned. 
Want of Competition. 
The most careless observer could hardly avoid noticing 
how deficient and weak the competition was in the 
various exhibits placed on the tables. This is a feature 
that I fear is becoming permanent with the shows of 
this society, but has been more noticable during the 
present year. Perhaps the chief exception to this 
statement was in the various classes of Grapes set up, 
and these, except in a couple of instances, were all fine 
and the competition good. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. 
In these classes the prizes awarded lay between Mr. 
Flynn, gardener to L. G. Watson, Esq., Newstead, 
Black Rock, and Mr. Coughlan, gardener to Richard 
Pim, Esq., Stradbrooke Hall. The first prize was 
given to Mr. Flynn for a group of six plants with 
variegated or singular foliage, and another for six plants, 
same as the latter, only grown in pots not over 10 ins. 
across. For stove or greenhouse plants in flower there 
was no competition, but for a group of nine mixed 
foliage and flowering plants Mr. Coughlan received a 
special first prize. Mr. Flynn also exhibited a fine 
group of exotic Ferns, most of which were lately 
noticed in these columns. In Mr. Pirn’s group of nine 
there were two well-grown and finely-bloomed plants of 
Yinca alba, Y. rosea, and a fine plant also in flower of 
Lapageria rosea. 
Fuchsias. 
In this class there were three competitors, Mr. Hatton, 
gardener to George McMasters, Esq., M. A., Brookville, 
Donnybrook, being first with a group of six plants. 
The whole were so evenly grown that it would be no 
easy matter to say where one differed from the other 
either in height or shape. They were exceedingly well 
grown, perfect in bloom, and on the whole remarkably 
well done. The second prize went to Mr. Hand, 
gardener to Mrs. Donnelly, Auburn, Malahide. 
Pelargoniums. 
Fop. zonal Pelargoniums in flower, Mr. Hatton was 
again first with a well-bloomed lot, and Mr. Hand 
second. In the class for tricolors, the first prize fell to 
Mr. Hatton, and the second to Mr. Merrigan, gardener 
to J. E. Burke, Esq., Tullamaine House, Dublin. 
Tuberous Begonias. 
Those grown in pots gave evidence of very poor 
cultural skill, as the two lots exhibited were neither 
well grown nor well bloomed. The first-prize lot of 
six was made up of some good doubles and singles, 
hut deficient in the merit which should qualify them 
for exhibition. In cut blooms, a very fine stand of 
singles and doubles was put up in trusses, and having 
twenty-four varieties, by Mr. Porter, gardener to Lord 
Ashtown, Woodlawn, co. Galway. There was no 
competition, but the stand well deserved the first 
prize awarded to it. In this class, W. E Gumbleton, 
Esq., of Queenstown, Cork, contributed a very fine 
lot of new Begonias, not for competition, and for which 
he was highly commended. 
Florists’ Flowers (Amateurs). 
With the exception of the cut blooms of Begonias 
alluded to above, and the few entries for the special 
prizes, florists’ flowers were a very poor lot. In single 
Dahlias of twenty-four blooms, each different, the 
entry was scratched, and in the class for twelve varieties, 
three blooms of each, J. E. Burke, Esq., was first, and 
Mrs. Donnelly second. There was no entry for 
Pompons. The stand of thirty-six Dahlias entered for 
the special prize—the society’s Cup—was au exceedingly 
fine lot, and wa3 staged by Laurence McCormick, Esq., 
Eowlestown, co. Dublin, being in form, substance and 
freshness as near perfection as could be. Roses were a 
poor lot, and the classes badly filled. Gladioli, that 
used to form so attractive a feature at autumn shows, 
were, with one exception, entirely absent. This one 
was a lot of thirty-six, sent in by James F. Lorn 
bard, Esq., Southhill, Upper Eathmines (gardener, 
Mr. Tobin). This stand was awarded the society’s Gup, 
and considering the storms and general backwardness 
of the season, it was well won by this splendid lot. 
There were some boxes of Asters, Marigolds, &c., which, 
no doubt owing to had weather, were somewhat below 
exhibition mark. 
Nurserymen’s Classes—Roses. 
After the magnificent display of Roses which the 
Messrs. Dickson & Sons, of Newtownards, made at the 
late Bray show, one would have come to the conclusion 
it was their last effort for this year, but not so, as this 
show fully proved. The stand of forty-eight they 
staged for competition was, I believe, fully as good as 
any Roses this firm has exhibited during this year. 
Besides the stand for competition the Messrs. Dickson 
staged another box of fortv-eight Rose3 as an extra, 
and this was quite equal to the first prize lot; the 
judges recommended a H. C. Medal for the second 
stand. Such a collection of superb Roses would give 
pleasure even when they would he expected to be at 
their best, but at this time—so far beyond the regular 
period for these flowers—visitors who saw them were 
both pleased and surprised. 
Dahlias. 
Equally attractive was the thirty-six lots of Dahlias 
staged by the Messrs. Dickson, Newtownards; and 
Messrs. Henderson, of Templeogue Nurseries, co. 
Dublin. Messrs. Dickson, who obtained first prize, 
had some fine flowers of 'Willy Garrett, Mrs. Kendall, 
General Grant, Gloire de Lyon, Colonist (a fine one of 
last year’s introduction), T. G. Saltmarsh, General 
Gordon, and Crimson King. Nearly all these are new, 
and not long in the hands of the trade. Messrs. 
Henderson’s stage was awarded second prize, and a nice 
even lot they were. 
Fruit. 
Unripeness appears to have been a defect in some of 
the fruit shown, and this, with a couple of exceptions, 
refers to Plums, dessert Pears, Apples, and I might add, 
in at least a couple of cases, to Grapes. On the whole, 
however, the different classes for Grapes were well 
contested. For the best stand of white Muscats, the 
Earl of Clancarty, Garbally, Ballinasloe (gardener, Mr. 
Cobban), was first; Mr. Irwin, gardener to Mrs. 
Tedcastle, Rathfarnham, being second. For white 
Grapes of any other variety, the Earl of Wicklow, 
Shelton Abbey, co. Wicklow (gardener, Mr. Tyler), 
was first, and Lord Ashtown second. In the two 
classes for black Grapes, the Earl of Wicklow and the 
Earl of Clancarty were first and second in the order 
named. The great tug of war, however, was for 
the Hamilton prizes, and also for those offered by Mr. 
Thornton, fruiterer, of Graftou Street In both cases 
Mr. Tyler pulled through first, being very closely 
followed by Mr. Cobban, who came second. Mr. 
Irwin was third for the Hamilton prize, and Mr. 
French, gardener to John Pollock, Esq., Lismany, 
co. Galway, second for the Thornton prize. Peaches, 
Nectarines, Melons, Figs, &c , were fairly well done, 
as also two Pine Apples from the gardens of the Earl of 
Clancarty, who was awarded first prize, the Earl of 
Wicklow securing the second. 
Vegetables. 
For trays of twelve sorts of vegetables there were only 
two competitors, and one exhibitor of a tray of six. 
First prize was taken by Mr. J. Mahony, gardener to 
Mrs. Jury, Greenfield, Donnybrook, and second by Lord 
Ashtown. In Mrs. Jury’s collection there were fine 
samples of Kidney and Broad Beans, Tomatos, Cauli¬ 
flower, and even thus early, some really fine Brussels 
Sprouts. In Lord Ash town’s lot there was some good 
well-blanched Celery. 
A very remarkable contribution, consisting of three 
immense heads of Mackey’s King of Yorks Cabbages. 
These were sent in by' Mr. Cassels, by whom they were 
grown, and were splendid examples of what can be done 
by good cultivation, and having the right kind to go on 
with. The heaviest of these weighed 19 lbs., and 
although of such size, was in no way coarse in texture, 
and was of fine form. 
Contributions of Plants and Flowers. 
From their nurseries at Fortfield, Templeogue, the 
Messrs. Henderson & Son sent a fine collection of 
decorative and flowering plants, which were so 
artistically arranged as to attract much attention from 
visitors during the day. This group was highly 
commended by the judges. From his nursery at 
Newry, Mr. T. Smith forwarded a collection of cut 
flowers of hardy herbaceous plauts. Owing probably 
to the increasing favour with which herbaceous flowers 
are being regarded, there was nothing perhaps in the 
whole show about which visitors lingered longer than 
they did about Mr. Smith’s stand of flowers. Every 
bloom appeared to he discussed and admired, and 
from the apparent interest taken in them there ought 
to he a good time in store for such men as Mr. Smith, 
who keep these choice herbaceous plants Oat of a 
large number, here are a few well worth the attention 
of anyone wishing to have some really good things 
Chrysanthemum Precocite, Centanrea macrocephala, 
Gentiana asclepiadea, G. septemfida several species of 
Montbretia, Helianthns, Eryngium; and various other 
plants. The prizes to be given by Hamilton Drum¬ 
mond, Esq., and to which I propose alluding on some 
future occasion, ought to have the effect of stimulating 
the cultivation of herbaceous plants ; but, independent 
of that, it can hardly he denied that such a display as 
Mr. Smith brought under public notice must lead to so 
desirable an end. Another much admired stand was 
one set up by Messrs. Dobbie & Co., of Rothesay. 
The collection was a miscellaneous one, and included 
specimens of their Model White Turnip, Selected 
Golden Ball, splendid white and red Celery, enormous 
Leeks, good Parsnips, Carrots, &c. Their Pansies, 
Violas, Sweet Williams, &c.. were greatly admired, hut 
the marvellous symmetry and regular colouring of their 
French and African Marigolds excited most attention 
of all. These were really beautiful, and in this direction 
at least the Messrs. Dobhie seem to have laid the 
foundation of a good business for next season. 
A fine lot of Palms were sent in from the viceregal 
gardens, and from the gardens of Sir E. C. Guinness. 
The Glasnevin Botanic Gardens also contributed some 
fine specimens of the above, as well as a choice 
collection of flowering and variegated foliage plants. 
Among the latter were two beautifully-marked 
Crotons, named Sunshine and Jubilee ; and amongst 
the former, a good plant of Hiemanthus Katherinie, 
and a nice plant of Disa grandiflora superba. A 
very distinct object in the group was a fine plant 
of Hartingtonia californica. 
In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Nugent T. Everrard, 
of Randalstown, Navan, sent some dishes of fine 
Peaches ; Mr. Pollock, of Lismany, fine Apricots ; and 
Mrs. Lovel a basket of flowers and foliage, very taste¬ 
fully arranged. The j udges of plants were Mr. F. W. 
Moore, Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin ; Mr. D. Pressley, 
Glenarvon, Chapelizod; and ?Mr. W. Dick, White- 
field Lodge, Phoenix Park. On florists’ flowers, Mr. 
W. E. Gnmbleton, Queenstown, Cork ; Mr. F. W. 
Burbidge, University Botanic Gardens ; and Mr. C. 
Smith, -St. Anne’s, Clontarf. On fruits and vegetables, 
Mr. D. Drummond, Rathgar ; Mr. Roberts, Charleville 
Forest, Tnllamore ; and Mr. Duncan Welsh, Mount 
Merrion, Stillorgan. — TV. D. 
-- 
CLIMBING STO'VE PLANTS.—II. 
Bougainvilleas. 
Here again we have another class of plants that are 
more amenable to stove culture during their infancy, 
but which flourish well when they have attained some 
age, and are large enough to plant out in a conservatory 
or warm greenhouse, when they yield such an abun¬ 
dance of flowers that the foliage can scarcely be seen 
for the enormous quantity of bloom produced on a well- 
established plant. This remark applies more especially 
to B. glabra, which is undoubtedly the finest species 
amenable to cultivation. Plauts of this kind when 
planted out and let ramble up the end of a greenhouse, 
will keep up a supply of flowers all through the 
summer and autumn season ; the individual flowers, 
not mentioning the long sprays it will produce, will be 
much finer both in size and colour than any plant that 
was ever grown in a pot. For an exhibition plant, 
when in good order, it stands amongst the foremost, 
but being a deciduous plant it requires a certain period 
of rest during the dull months of the year, and after¬ 
wards sharp pruning out of all the weaker wood, which 
is of no further use to the plant except at the time of 
growing, when the foliage obtained from such growth 
does help to develop root action. It is easily propa¬ 
gated from cuttings from the weaker wo e l at any time 
during the summer season, an I with geod cultivation 
in a stove temperature young plants may be soon made 
into nice half-specimen flowering plants. 
Clerodendrons. 
Although the majority of this genus are stove shrubs, 
yet in Clerodendroti Balfourianum we have a good 
pillar or rafter plant, suitable for trellis-work or for 
making an exhibition plant when well flowered. 11 is 
easily cultivated in a stove heat, and easily propagated 
from cuttings, which soon make nice little flowering 
