774 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 6, 1892. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
Choice Plants in Flower. 
Geranium pratense flore pleno. — The value of 
the double variety of the Meadow Crane's Bill 
becomes apparent after the single varieties have gone 
out of bloom. The same applies to the semi-double 
form (G. P. semipleno), for they are both late in com¬ 
ing into bloom and last well. The flowers are purple 
shaded with blue, quite full with the petals gradually 
smaller to the centre. Sometimes the inner ones 
are mixed with small sepals, but that is probably of 
rare occurrence. The semi-double variety has fewer 
petals and less neatly arranged. Division is easily 
effected in spring. 
Lythrum virgatum. —The general aspect of this 
European species is very similar to that occurring on 
the banks of our native streams, and the purple 
flowers are nearly as large ; but in all other respects 
the plant is smaller, with slender, twiggy and much- 
branched stems. The dry season has no doubt con¬ 
tributed much to keep it dwarfer than it would other¬ 
wise be. 
Campanula lactiflora. —The typical form of 
this has milk white flowers tinted with blue, but it is 
rare in British gardens, although introduced from 
the Caucasus in 1814. The bright blue variety C. 1 . 
coerulea is the greatest favourite and really a fine 
thing. The stems vary from 2 ft. to 6 ft. in height 
according to soil and culture, bearing a panicle of 
erect, medium sized, bell-shaped flowers. It should 
be planted in the back line of the border if the soil is 
at all good, for it is a showy plant. 
Lysimachia clethroides. —This Loosestrife still 
remains the best of the white flowered species, on 
account of its long and terminal stout raceme of 
bloom. It usually grows about 18 in. high in the 
open border, but could probably be grown much 
stronger by having it planted in a damp situation, for 
it delights in plenty of moisture. 
Lathyrus tuberosus. —The stems of this climber 
are shorter than those of several of the more popular 
species of Lathyrus, but it is nevertheless a pretty 
herbaceous subject with deep rose flowers, borne in 
a short raceme of four to five together. The 
leaves are small and consist of a single pair of small 
obovate-elliptic leaflets. A few branching stakes 
about 2 ft. to 3 ft. high will be quite sufficient to 
support it. 
Coronilla Varia. — Most of the Coronillas, 
whether dwarf or tall and shrubby as in Coronilla 
Emerus and C. glauca, have yellow flowers but those, 
of the herbaceous species under notice are entirely 
different. The standard is pale purple, the wings 
blush and the keel tipped with deep purple. The 
flowers are produced as in the other cases in a 
circular whorl, and are suitable for border decoration 
or to cut from. Propagation may be effected by 
careful division in spring. 
Veronica virginica. — The flowers of this North 
American species are pale purplish blue, sometimes 
white and produced in a long raceme terminating 
the stem or in shorter racemes terminating the few 
short side branches. The leaves are lanceolate and 
are borne in distinct whorls not merely pairs as in 
most of the other species. In good soil the stems 
attain a height of 3 ft. to 5 ft., so that the back line 
of the border is the most appropriate place for it. 
SPIR.EA Ulmaria flore pleno. —Our native 
Meadow Sweet is as deserving of a place in gardens 
as many of the more pretentious but less showy 
exotics. The double flowered form like that of S. 
filipendula has even more recommendations, as each 
individual flower consists of a globular ball of petals 
that remain in position till they wither. 
Aster pyren^eus. — The succession of Asters is 
kept up by the species under notice, and which is a 
native of the Pyrenees. The stems seldom much 
exceed a foot in height, and the pale purple flowers 
are produced in a terminal cluster. One good 
feature of this Aster is that no suckers or stolons are 
produced from the rootstock, which therefore 
increases very slowly. Division may be effected in 
spring, and it should be done carefully, but not with 
a spade, otherwise many of the young crowns will 
be severed from the roots. 
Achillea Ptarmica The Pearl. — There are 
evidently several double forms of this and closely 
allied species or varieties. That sent out under the 
name of the Pearl has larger flowers than those of 
A. P. flore pleno, but equally pure in colour, and 
therefore well adapted for cut flower purposes. 
Propagation by division is easily effected, but in 
case a large stock should be required for any purpose, 
cuttings of the moderately firm shoots or those 
proceeding from the rootstock in spring may be 
taken. 
Veronica incana. —This species is frequently 
extensively propagated from seeds, and by that 
means some amount of variation has arisen. All 
have foliage of a more or less hoary aspect and 
some are quite white. Those are usefully employed 
for bedding purposes, more particularly in carpet 
bedding. The ordinary forms are pretty and useful 
however for the front lines of the herbaceous border. 
Matricaria inodora flore pleno. —The double 
white flowers of this double Matricaria are very 
useful for cutting, and seeing that they are produced 
during the greater part of the summer, the plant 
should find its way into many gardens. The blooms 
are nearly the size of those of a Pompon Chrysan¬ 
themum. The plant must be propagated from 
cuttings, as no seeds are produced. 
--i-- 
THE COTTAGERS’ SHOW 
AT EARL’S COURT. 
" A much better show than we anticipated,” was the 
general verdict of the experts on Monday, after 
closely examining the display of cottage garden pro¬ 
duce at Earl’s Court. Considering that the day was 
a Bank Holiday, and that Monday of all days in the 
week is the worst for holding a flower show, it was, 
indeed, a very creditable display, and in some sec¬ 
tions an exceedingly meritorious one; and that 
nearly 30,000 persons visited the grounds at Earl's 
Court spoke volumes for the attractiveness of the 
programme. 
The exhibition was held as usual in the large hall 
in the western gardens, and a few of the leading 
nurserymen sent groups which largely made up for 
the lack of specimen plants among the cottagers’ 
productions. Thus Messrs. Wills & Segar sent two 
grand groups of their large and handsome Palms, 
which splendidly set off the ends of the two great 
bays. In front of one of them Messrs. John Laing 
& Sons put up a large and exceedingly effective group 
of Caladiums and other fine foliaged plants, which 
was flanked on either side by semi-circular collec¬ 
tions of stove and greenhouse flowering and 
fine foliaged plants from the same firm, who 
were deservedly awarded a Gold Medal. 
Messrs. Edward Shuttleworth & Co. also con¬ 
tributed a couple of groups of Palms. Messrs. 
Barr & Son took a Silver Gilt Medal for a very 
imposing array of cut hardy flowers ; and a similar 
award went to Messrs. Dobbie & Co., of Rothesay, 
for a mixed stand of vegetables and flowers, among 
which were finely grown examples of their Champion 
Leeks, white and red Celery, curled Parsley, African 
and French Marigolds, Violas, etc. 
Mr. T. S. Ware had a large and showy collection 
of Gaillardias and Carnations put up in bunches, 
and which gained a Silver Medal. A similar reward 
was also made to Messrs. Jarman, seedsmen, of 
Chard, for a collection of vegetables tastefully 
arranged. The Carnation Show was limited in 
extent, the amateur growers mostly holding back for 
Mr. Dodwell’s feast on the Tuesday, and with a few 
notable exceptions the blooms staged were of very 
poor quality. Mr. Turner of course was in rare 
form, and won in all the classes in which he com¬ 
peted ; Mr. F. Hooper, of Bath, being the next best 
trade grower ; and Mr. Blick, gardener to Martin 
R. Smith, Esq., the best among the gardeners. The 
stands of these exhibitors would have done honour 
to any show. 
The cottagers' vegetables were admirable through¬ 
out, and the entries fairly numerous in most of the 
classes. For a collection of six distinct kinds, there 
was a very spirited competition, and the honour of 
being placed first fell to Mr. A. Farmer, of Gunners- 
bury, a railway signalman, whose Onions, Turnip- 
rooted Beet, Potatos, Canadian Wonder Beans, Peas, 
and Vegetable Marrows, any grower might have 
been proud to own. The second best lot came from 
Mr. R. Watson, of Lanark ; Mr. H. L. Sell, of Luton, 
being third ; and Mr. G. North, of Buckingham, 
fourth. So good was the competition, that Mr. 
Milner wisely decided to give five extra awards, and 
these went to Mr. J. May', South Ealing; Mr. C. 
Sharp, West Norwood ; Mr. W. Peasey, Ealing ; Mr. 
J. T. Attwood, Twickenham ; and Mr. W. Edwards, 
Tunbridge Wells. The single dish classes for Peas, 
Beans, Potatos, Shallots, Marrows, Turnips, &c., 
were all exceedingly good, as were also some of the 
classes of plants in pots, and cut flowers. 
The classes confined to market growers brought 
but a limited entry, though the produce staged -was 
very good. The largest exhibitor was Mr. F. Le 
Poidevin, of Guernsey, who had Melons, Figs, 
Tomatos, and Peaches, and secured two 1st prizes. 
The best packed basket of Grapes, and the best 
shallow of black Grapes came from Mr. Featherby, 
of Gillingham, Kent ; Messrs. Parsons & Bourgaize, 
of Covent Garden, were 1st with a shallow of white 
Grapes. 
First-class Certificates were awarded to Messrs. 
John Laing & Sons for Begonia Charmer, Dendro- 
bium Schroderianum, and Bertolonia Madame V an 
Geert; and to Mr. Charles Turner for Carnations 
Rose Wynne and King of Scarlets, and Picotees 
Edith M. Wynne and Lady Emily Van de Weyer. 
-- 
THE ROSE IN AMERICA. 
" Hello, hello ! ” 
“ Is that Hotel Reynolds, Boston ? ” 
" Yes, what do you wish ? ” 
“ We want to talk with Mr. Hugh Dickson, a very 
tall young man from Belfast, Ireland. Have you such 
a party stopping with you ? ” 
“ Yes, he is right here.” 
•• Hello there, is that you Dickson? As they say 
to the actors. ' How do you like America ? ’ ” 
” As the cat said to the cream pitcher, ■ I’d like 
to stay here all the time.’ But, to tell the truth, I 
haven’t seen much of it yet, for my visits up to the 
present time have been confined to a few of the 
eastern cities. I was fortunate enough this time to 
be in Boston during the annual Rose and 
Strawberry exhibition of the Mass. Horticultural 
Society which naturally interested me very much.” 
"Well, how did you like the exhibition? Did 
it compare favourably with similar shows in 
England ? ” 
" Well, the Strawberries were very fine in appear¬ 
ance, but I really don’t think they have as good 
flavour as ours. But the Roses were what interested 
me most. Now, I must say I was greatly disappointed 
in this department of your show. In finish, colour 
and size the blooms taken as a whole were very 
weak and would not at all compare with the 
English Rose shows. This can to a certain extent 
be attributed to the very hot spell we had for the 
week before the show, but I fancy if the same atten¬ 
tion was given to your outdoor Roses that you give 
to your indoor ones you could greatly improve your 
flowers.” 
“ What would you suggest ? ” 
"Well, firstly I would be inclined to tickle the 
Rose beds with a hoe, say 2 in. deep, before the hot 
summer suns begin, then mulch the beds with a 
good dressing of rotten cow manure, say 2 to 4 in. 
deep. On this I would spread the short grass of the 
lawns, which will prevent the weeds growing and 
give the bed a neater appearance and at the same 
time prevent the hot suns taking all the moisture 
out of your manure and soil. I also think that if 
the hose was applied freely in the cool of the evening 
you would get a better growth than you at present 
do and possibly a fall bloom. I always understood 
that you showed your Roses here on very long stems. 
Now, I was very much disappointed in this too. I 
think we show our blooms on quite as long stems as 
you do and certainly in a neater way. We have a 
wire support to each bloom which keeps it setting 
erect and all of a uniform height in a row, the back 
row of the box of course being higher than the front. 
Then as to classification I think it would be a great 
improvement if you would admit hybrid teas and 
teas. Look what an improvement to the tone of a 
box a good Perle or Hoste would be when placed 
between two crimsons." 
" But you must remember, Mr. Dickson, that 
these are not hardy here. Our great object is to 
encourage the raising and planting of hardy Roses. 
"Oh, yes, some of them are hardy. There is 
Gloire Lyonnaise, sent out by Guillot as a yellow 
hybrid perpetual. He made a mistake there as it is 
a creamy yellow hybrid tea. But it is perfectly 
hardy here and will give more blooms than any 
other Rose of its colour that I know of. It looks 
almost mildew proof. I saw a three year old plant 
in Philadelphia from which Dr. Huey cut this 
