August 13, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
785 
THE SILVER WEDDING 
OF MR. & MRS. H. J. VEITCH. 
On Saturday last, August 6th, Mr. and Mrs. Harry 
J. Veitch celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 
wedding, and the happy event was made memorable 
by the tokens of esteem and goodwill which in vari¬ 
ous forms were literally showered upon them in the 
course of the day. As a thank-offering for the many 
blessings that have been vouchsafed to them during 
their twenty-five years of happy wedded life, Mr. and 
Mrs. Veitch sent cheques for £500 each to the Gar¬ 
deners’ Royal Benevolent Institution and the Gar¬ 
deners' Orphan Fund, and one for £\oo to the United 
Horticultural Provident and Benefit Society. The 
employees of the firm of Messrs. James Veitch & 
Sons were also not forgotten, every one receiving a 
suitable souvenir of the auspicious occasion, accom¬ 
panied by an expression of the feelings of goodwill 
and friendship which Mr. and Mrs. Veitch entertain 
for all members of the staff of the Royal Exotic 
Nursery, and with many of whom it has been Mr. 
Veitch’s pleasure to work harmoniously during so 
many years. 
When it became known, but a few weeks ago, that 
the silver wedding celebration was so near at hand, 
a large number of the gardeners of the United 
Kingdom, and many other of Mr. Veitch's friends, 
determined that the event should not be allowed to 
pass away without some recognition on their part of 
the innumerable acts of kindness which Mr. Veitch 
has conferred upon members of the craft, old and 
young, and the extremely generous manner in which 
he has supported the gardening charities. Of the 
steps taken to attain the end in view, nothing need 
be said here, suffice it to record the fact, and it is a 
most gratifying one to all concerned, that the appeal 
privately made in support of the movement met with 
a spontaneous response in all directions, the tangible 
result being that on Saturday morning, in addition to 
many other beautiful presents from private friends, 
Mr. and Mrs. Veitch were the receipients of a solid 
silver dessert service of seven pieces, and of elegant 
design ; a case of one dozen silver dessert knives and 
forks ; and a case of one dozen silver fish knives and 
forks from the gardeners of the United Kingdom, who 
will also add to this gift shortly a portrait of Mr. 
Veitch (to be painted), which will be presented to 
Mrs. Veitch. The employees of the firm gave a solid 
silver tea and coffee service of Queen Anne pattern, 
with a solid silver kettle and tray, and an illuminated 
address. The Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution, of which Mr. Veitch is the 
treasurer, sent a beautiful cloisonne enamel clock 
and ornaments. The business friends of Mr. 
Veitch gave a large solid silver centre piece or 
epergne of very elegant design, accompanied by a 
solid silver toilet set for Mrs. Veitch. From Mr. 
Veitch’s horticultural friends in Belgium came a 
handsome bronze figure representing " Orestes," a 
large sheaf of Orchids for Mrs. Veitch, and an 
illuminated address. From France, the horticultural 
friends sent a beautiful bronze bust of Diana, with 
an illuminated address ; and a large sheaf of flowers 
came also from the family of M. Van Houtte. 
Mr. and Mrs. Veitch also received a large Bible 
bound in Russian leather and lined with silk with 
the following inscription beautifully illuminated :— 
" Presented to Mr. and Mrs. Veitch on the occasion 
of the celebration of their silver wedding, by 
members of the Bible Classes, Temperance Society, 
and Clubs in connection with the Lackland Hall, 
Chelsea, in recognition of their Christian kindness 
and sympathy with the work of the Gospel carried 
on there.” The Lackland Flail Youths’ Slate Club 
sent an umbrella ; and the managers and staff of the 
Park Chapel Schools a silver inkstand with inscrip¬ 
tion ; and those who know Mr. and Mrs. Veitch will 
not need to be told how deeply they felt, or how 
warmly they appreciated the goodwill which 
prompted their friends to remember them on the 
occasion of the celebration of their silver wedding 
in so gratifying a manner. 
-- 
Geranium argenteum. — The silvery leaved 
Crane’s Bill is amongst the dwarfest of its kind, 
and is therefore best suited for rockwork. The 
leaves are deeply lobed, much cut, and hoary or 
silvery as the specific name implies. The flowers 
are relatively of large size, and pink netted with 
purple veins, and produced on slightly leafy stems, 
about 6 in. to 8 in. high. In these respects the species 
may be compared to G. sanguineum lancastriense, 
but is quite distinct. 
FLORICULTURE. 
The Carnation and Picotee Union. 
The eighth annual festival took place in Mr. Dod- 
well's garden, Stanley Road, Oxford, on August 2nd ; 
and there was as usual a show of Carnations and 
Picotees of great extent and beauty. A large com¬ 
pany -of friends came from many parts of the 
country ; many a veteran, as well as many a youth 
who has begun to worship at the shrine of I'lora, was 
there. Mr. Dodwell's Carnation garden, which has no 
equal in the United Kingdom, was aglow with flowers 
in every part of it. Our old friend seemed to have 
renewed his youth in the fact of his friends gathering 
about him ; and his children were there, and their 
children also, for does not the year of grace, 1892, 
represent the jubilee of his happy married life ? and 
advantage was taken of the occurrence by a few 
friends to present to Mr. and Mrs. Dodwell some 
mark of respect and esteem as well as congratulations 
upon so auspicious an event. 
The weather was fine on the whole, though dull 
and threatening. Two spacious tents were filled with 
flowers, and a third accommodated the large party 
who sat down to enjoy Mr. Dodwell’s hospitality 
after the awards were made. 
Those who make a point of being at Oxford at one 
of these early August gatherings regard it less as a 
competitive exhibition, and more as a social reunion, 
and would not refrain from taking a part in it if 
possible. There is exciting competition: a keen 
struggle for the mastery; there is the ambition 
which stirs nerve and pulse to excel ; and happy is 
he who comes out from such a race carrying upon 
his brows the victor's crown. All these are there ; 
but there is fraternal intercourse, cordial hand¬ 
shakings, the communion of friend with friend ; 
men meet here who do not meet at any 
other time in the year, and never would meet at all 
perchance, were it not for the annual pilgrimage to 
Oxford, and so there is gain. Men are led to tempor¬ 
ally forget the strife of parties, the war of tongues, 
the turmoil and bustle of town and city life, the 
pressure of business and the anxieties which press 
upon every son of Adam, and because this is so let 
us hope these Oxford gatherings may be continued 
so long as Heaven permits them 
Eight stands of 12 Carnations competed, and Mr. 
M. Rowan, Clapham, gained the 1st prize with 
superb blooms of Gordon Lewis, P.F. ; Thalia, R.F. ; 
Fred, S B. ; George Melville, P.F". ; William Skirving, 
P.P.B ; Robert Houlgrave, S B.; Jessica, RF. ; 
Sportsman, S.F. ; Robert Lord, S B. ; Oscar Wilfred, 
P.F. ; E. Rowan, P.P.B.; and John Brunton, R.F. 
Mr. W. Read, gardener to E. S. Dodwell, Esq , 
Stanley Road, came second, also with a fine lot of 
blooms, having Master F'red, C.B. ; John Cliff, C.B. ; 
Florence Nightingale, P.F. ; Sarah Payne, P F”. ; 
Robert Houlgrave, S B.; Rifleman, C.B. ; and some 
good seedlings. Mr. C. Phillips, Reading, was 
third, and five other prizes were awarded. That is 
an excellent feature at the Oxford Carnation Shows ; 
instead of multiplying classes in which one man can 
take a number — in the light of London experience 
we might say an inordinate share of prize money— 
Mr. Dodwell has few classes and seven prizes in 
most of them. There were seven collections of six 
blooms, and here Mr. F. Hooper, Widcombe 
Hill, Bath, was first with good flowers, 
though it must be said the flowers generally 
in this class were rather weak. The Picotees were 
superb, and the 12 blooms which gained the 1st 
prize for Mr. W. Read, left little to be desired. 
He had Norman Carr, M.Ro. ; Little Phil, H.Ro ; 
Mrs. Coleridge, M.Ro. ; Nellie, L.Ro. ; Annot Lyle, 
L.P. ; Favourite, L.Ro. ; Imogen, H.Ro. ; Mrs. 
Sharp, FI.Ro. ; Payne's Amelia, M.P. ; and fine 
seedlings. 2nd, Mr. M. Rowan, with Little Phil, 
H.Ro. ;. Amy Robsart, H.P. ; Favoprite, L.Ro. ; 
J. B. Bryant, H.Red. ; Clara Penson, L.P. ; Nellie, 
L Ro., a beautilul variety which Mr. Rowan grows 
to perfection ; Mr. Payne, L.Ro. ; Calypso, H.P. ; 
Edith D’Ombrain, H.Ro. ; Mary, L.P. ; Mrs. Dod- 
well, H.Ro.; and Miss Gorton, L.Red. Mr. Geo. 
Chaundy, Oxford, was 3rd, and Messrs. Thomson & 
Co., 4th. With six blooms, Mr. Wm. Bacon, Derby, 
was 1st with excellent flowers oi Her Majesty, L.P. ; 
Norman Carr, M.Ro. ; Little Phil, H.Ro. ; Nellie, 
L.Ro. ; and Miriam, H P. Mr. R. Sydenham, Bir 
mingham, was 2nd ; Mr. J. Rebbeck, Southampton 
3rd ; and Mr. J. J. Keen, Southampton, 4th. 
The seifs, yellow grounds and fancies were superb, 
also, numerous and very fine ; some of them really 
startling in their beauty. Here Mr. Read was again 
1st. with wonderful blossoms, having Germania, 
Van Dyck, a kind of bluish-slate, with flakis of rosy- 
carmine, Madame Van Houtte, Schlieben, Theodore, 
pale lavender blue very fine and distinct; Stadtrath 
Bail, pale yellow, beautifully striped with several 
colours; Gentle Jackie, a very delicate pink self and 
seedlings. 2nd Messrs Thomson & Co., with 
Partrene Liccea, a bright rose self; Brockhaus, 
Mrs. J. Chamberlain, Germania, Van Dyck, Fire 
fly; Mrs. Fred., Negress, Klopstock, etc. 3rd. 
Mr. M. Rowan. Mr. W. Bacon, took the 1st prize 
for the best six blooms ; Mr. F. Nutt was 2nd ; and 
Mr. Rebbeck 3rd. 
There were two classes of yellow ground Carna¬ 
tions, one for Kilmurry’s, six blooms of each being 
shown. The best six of Kilmurrys came from Mr. 
W. Read, who had Patricia, Queen of Hearts, Tour¬ 
nament, Gretchen, and two seedlings ; Mr. Rebbeck 
was 2nd ; and Mr. W. Bacon 3rd. With six yellow 
grounds, Messrs. Thomson & Co. were 1st, with 
Terra Cotta, Victory, Mrs. R. Sydenham, Rachel, 
Madame Van Houtte, and A. W. Jones ; 2nd, Mr. 
W. Read ; 3rd, Mr. F. Hooper. 
Space does not admit of giving the names of the 
flowers which won in the classes for single blooms. 
The Premier Carnation was Dodwell's 722, R.F. 
The Premier Picotee, Little Phil, both shown by 
Mr. E. S. Dodwell ; the premier fancy, Van Dyck, 
shown also by Mr. Dodwell, who also had the premier 
yellow-ground. 
Certificates of Merit were accorded to Mrs. 
Burnett, H., Ro. E. ; Claudian, S.F., a very fine 
flower of the best quality ; Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain, 
a beautiful soft pink self; Negress, a rosy-maroon 
self; Miriam, H.P.E., Picotee, fine petal and very 
bright; Princess May, a soft pale pink self, in the 
way of Gladys ; and Duke of Portland, a fancy white 
ground, flaked with pink.— R.D. 
The Midland Carnation and Picotee 
Society. 
On Saturday last the second annual show of this 
society was held at the Botanical Gardens, Edgbas- 
ton. Both in number of exhibits and quality of 
blooms the show presented a marked improvement 
on that of last year, and, indeed, in the eyes of 
many competent judges, the exhibition was regarded 
as one of the best seen in the country. Altogether 
there were thirty-eight classes in competition, and, 
in addition, several stands of Begonias, Dahlias, 
Sweet Peas, Herbaceous Plants, &c ., sent for ex¬ 
hibition purposes only, so that the show was both 
extensive and charming enough in variety, especially 
remembering that the exhibits were shown in the 
large pavilion of the Botanical Society, which in it¬ 
self, with its wealth of bloom and graceful Ferns 
and Palms, presented quite a picture of horticultural 
beauty. Seven boxes were shown in the class for 
twelve dissimilar Carnations, and the first prize 
went to Mr. Sydenham, his blooms being all very 
bright and fresh, and particularly a very fine Master 
Fred. There were eleven boxes in the class for six 
Carnations, the best new variety being a crimson 
bizarre Richard Bearley, shown in the winning stand 
by Mr. A. R. Brown. Mr. Charles Turner, of 
Slough, was 1st for twelve Picotees, and had no less 
than four F'remiers out of six, one especially fine 
one being the light rose-edged F'avourite. Mr. 
Lakin, of Oxford, took second honours for the 
twelve Picotees, his blooms being very little inferior 
to those of Mr. Turner. Twelve stands were shown 
in the class for six Picotees, the winner being Mr. A. 
W. Jones, of Handsworth, whose exhibits were a 
wonderfully good lot. The yellow-ground Carna¬ 
tions, too, produced a lively competition, and 
though chief honours went to Mr. Turner there were 
not a few good judges who thought most highly 
of Mr. Dodwell’s blooms. The latter had a fine 
specimen of Richard Tryan, a new yellow ground 
fancy, raised by Mr. Benary, of Erfurt. Mr. George 
Chaundy was the winner of the six yellow ground 
Picotees, his seedling Annie Ross being a finely 
developed flower. Mr. Turner was again to the 
front in the class for twelve self Carnations, and he 
took the premier prize for the best self in the show 
with a magnificient Germania. The single bloom 
classes showed some very fine flowers, Mr. Sydenham, 
Mr. Lakin, and Mr. Turner being amongst the chief 
winners. Mr. Turner won another premier prize 
with his purple flake Charles Henwood ; whilst Mr. 
