782 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 18, 1896. 
average quality, and in many cases belowthe 
quantity exhibited last year notwithstand¬ 
ing the severity of the previous season. 
The fact is that, as with everything else, so 
with Roses, the measure of success is largely 
due to the nature of the weather during the 
growing season immediately preceedingthe 
advent of the Rose harvest. Probably we 
should have to go back to 1887 to find another 
droughty season to match the present. 
Queen’s weather, notwithstanding its re¬ 
putably agreeable character, is by no means 
favourable to the well-being of the “ Queen 
of flowers.” 
Rose shows as usual have been very 
numerous, and a number of them have been 
reported in our pages, but space forbids 
anything but an announcement of a large 
number of them. The National Rose 
Society’s show at Reading was the first in 
which Roses were the dominant feature. The 
Colchester Rose growers were as usual much 
in evidence at all the leading shows of this 
character; but their measure of success has 
been largely tempered by the quality of the 
Roses brought from more northern districts, 
thus proving that the sunny south is not 
always suitable to the best interests of 
Roses. Mr. B. R. Cant well deserved the 
premier award for forty-eight blooms at 
Reading, for his stands were amongst the 
few best in the exhibition. The Rev. J. H. 
Pemberton’s stand which won the Sutton 
Prize or Silver Cup, in a remarkably keen 
competition, was also noteworthy. These 
facts prove that fairly good Roses may be 
grown even in exceptionally dry seasons ; 
but it is equally noteworthy that no variety 
was sufficiently fine to beat the record ; so 
that some varieties may be regarded as 
holding their own against drought, though 
not in any way much favoured by it. The 
great show of the National Rose Society at 
the Crystal Palace, was much in keeping 
with other shows held in the south. The 
quantity shown was smaller than usual, and 
the quality generally inferior, though quite 
as good as might have been expected under 
the circumstances. The Champion Trophy 
and the Gold Medal were taken northward 
to Yorkshire by Messrs. Harkness & Sons, 
who were equally successful for forty-eight 
varieties in trebbles. The premier honour 
for forty-eight distinct blooms was retained 
in the south by Messrs. D. Prior & Son, 
Colchester. When Newcastle became the 
centre of interest, Messrs. Harkness & Sons 
were beaten on their own ground by Messrs. 
D. & W. Croll, Dundee, in the leading class 
for seventy-two blooms in thirty-six 
varieties, thus proving to some extent that 
the show was too late at Newcastle to give 
local growers the best chance. Report has 
it, however, that the Roses there were re¬ 
markably fresh, though fewer in number 
than usual. Some connoisseurs were of 
opinion that the blooms in the leading stands 
were too large and coarse; but others thought 
differently. At all events both English 
and Scotch grown Roses at Newcastle were 
silent witnesses of the fact that a cool and 
relatively moist climate is more suitable for 
Roses than a hot and dry one. In average 
seasons it is also a fact that Roses are not 
grown better anywhere than in Britain. 
The much belauded Roses of Persia and 
other eastern countries would have little 
chance as exhibition flowers in this coun¬ 
try. The leading awards both for seventy- 
two blooms and forty-eight varieties came 
from Juteopolis, notwithstanding the fact 
that the same exhibitors at the Crystal Palace 
the previous week had to take a much lower 
position. The several other Rose shows, 
that take place during the present month, 
cannot have very high prospects with a 
continuance of the drought. 
A review of the Silver Medal Roses dis¬ 
closes the fact that at the two shows of the 
National Rose Society, the light varieties 
came most into prominence. The well- 
known A. K. Williams, shown at Reading, 
was the only dark one considered worthy of 
a medal, and well deserved it, for it was very 
fine. This Rose annually appears in great 
numbers at the different shows, but with 
this solitary exception A K. Williams does 
not seem to have pressed itself much on the 
notice of either judges or visitors, for it was 
not at all prominent in the numerous stands 
at the Crystal Palace. This medal bloom 
was shown by a nurseryman. Maman 
Cochet was the best Tea Rose in the nur¬ 
serymen’s classes at the same show. The 
hybrid Tea Rose.Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, 
and Madame Hoste amongst Teas were 
the medal Roses shown by amateurs. At 
the Crystal Palace, Duchess de Morny and 
Innocente Pirola, the former being a hybrid 
China Rose, were the medal Roses shown 
at the Palace, and neither of them excelled 
in any particular respect. Amateurs brought 
forward The Bride and Her Majesty, the 
latter being a hybrid Perpetual. Seven out 
of the eight medal Roses were, therefore, 
light coloured varieties, giving one the im¬ 
pression that pale coloured varieties succeed 
better than dark ones in droughty seasons. 
The greater portion of these successes 
might, however, be accidental rather than 
valid evidence of their superiority under 
adverse circumstances. 
The chief faults, when grown in the south, 
were their lack of size, substance, and fresh 
ness. The small size of a great many was no 
doubt owing to their not being the first and 
most vigorous blooms produced on the 
bushes, owing to the relatively early 
character of the season. The lack of sub¬ 
stance was undoubtedly due to the dry 
weather and east winds ; and that would 
account for their soon falling to pieces or 
opening out during the afternoon of the day 
on which they were staged. Another 
reason for the lack of freshness was due to 
the bad usage they received while yet in 
bud from cold winds and stormy weather 
which occurred not long before the shows. 
The outer petals were discoloured or beaten 
about and actually damaged in many cases. 
Notwithstanding all these facts, they af¬ 
forded a considerable amount of pleasure to 
visitors and exhibitors alike so that pre¬ 
parations will be made, with a light heart for 
next year’s tournament. 
Garden Roses single and double, came 
up smiling in all their simplicity and bright¬ 
ness in the morning and early part of the 
day, but ere the afternoon was over they 
completely succumbed to the dryness of the 
atmosphere in a great many cases, and re¬ 
called what occurred in 1887 under similar 
conditions. As it was, their season was 
practically over, for they have been flower¬ 
ing gaily for many weeks past in southern 
and western gardens. The buttonhole 
Roses lasted as well as any, owing to their 
being cut while the blooms were yet in 
the bud state. The hybrid Sweetbriers 
lent a fragrance to everything in their 
vicinity ; but they likewise are rather 
ephemeral in duration. New Roses were 
neither very new, nor particularly prominent 
with few exceptions. It is evident, how¬ 
ever, that Mrs. R. G. Sharman Crawford, 
Mrs. W. J. Grant, and Marchioness of 
Downshire, but particularly the first 
named, is to become a popular exhibition 
variety; in fact it may be said to have 
already attained that distinction, for it is a 
beautiful light-coloured varitey. Many of 
the new varieties were of Irish origin, which 
is significant, in showing who are active in 
the raising of new Roses. With the fine 
weather that prevailed generally during the 
Rose season, the various societies should 
have a good balance-sheet when that has 
been made out. 
Liiium candidum is unusually dwarf in France this 
year. The stems, as a rule, have not exceeded 16 in. 
in height. 
The Roentgen ray has now been proved to have no 
power of producing heliotropic curvature in the most 
sensitive of plants. 
The popular flower in Paris both for the buttonhole 
and the table is the Bluet, which has long been a 
favourite in court circles and elsewhere in Germany. 
Cricket: Hurst & Son v Beaumont.—This match 
was played at Crouch End on Saturday and won by 
Hurst & Son. Scores:—Hurst & Sonii3; Beau¬ 
mont 52, and 71 for 8 wickets. 
Death of Mr. David Mackie.—We regret to 
announce the death of this Ayrshire gardener on the 
7th inst. He had charge of the Montgomerie 
Gardens, and died at Middlemuir, Tarbolton, 
Ayrshire, on Tuesday morning of the above date, at 
the age of fifty-two. 
Cooking Green Peas.—It would be productive of 
excellent results if cooks could be induced to use a 
porcelain enamelled vessel, with just sufficient water 
so that it would be nearly all evaporated by the time 
the Peas are sufficiently soft. Salt with a little 
butter may be used as seasoning, and the. Peas 
should not be allowed to hang on the fire a moment 
longer than necessary to give them tbeir proper 
degree of softness. Freshly gathered Marrowfat 
Peas treated in this way would make a savoury dish 
fit for the gods. 
Royal Botanic Society.--The experimental series 
of musical promenades in the Regent's Park Gardens 
on Saturday afternoons have proved so successful, 
and have been so largely attended by the public and 
the fellows, that a resolution will be brought forward 
at the fellows’ meeting on Saturday next in favour of 
continuing the promenades until further notice. The 
suggestion made at the last meeting that recognised 
societies and institutions should be encouraged to 
hold receptions and garden parties in the gardens 
is already being acted upon. The council of " The 
Salon” arranged to give a reception on the 15th 
inst.— J. S. Rubinstein, Hon. Auditor R.B.S., 56 , West 
Cromwell Road, S.IP. July 8th, 1896 . 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms —There was a fairly 
good attendance of buyers at the Central Sale 
Rooms of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, 
on the 10th inst. A small plant of the beautiful 
Laeliocattleya Eudora (Laelia purpurata Cattleya 
Mendelii) was knocked down to H. T. Pitt, Esq., 
Rosslyn, Stamford Hill, for 16 gs. The dark lamina 
of the lip made a beautiful contrast with the yellow 
throat. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, 
Dorking, secured a Cattleya, which appeared a 
natural hybrid, probably between C. Loddigesii and 
C. schilleriana, for £7 17s. 6d. The heavily-blotched 
Odontoglossum wilckeanum Rosefield var., fetched 
5 gs.; and a similar sum secured Odontoglossum 
Uro-Skinneri, for another buyer. Both of these last 
named were handsome varieties. A very fine form 
of Cypripedium Boxallii atratum, having the dorsal 
sepal almost black, was sold for £2 10s.; it was a 
plant of several leads and very healthy. Anguloa 
Clowesii fetched a guinea for a small plant of a fine 
variety. Palm seeds found eager buyers at good 
prices. 
Lambeth Flower Show.—The eleventh annual 
exhibition of window plants and other flowers grown 
by working men, women, and children, in the parish 
of Lambeth, was held within the precincts of 
Lambeth Palace on the 7th inst., by the permission of 
the Archbishop of Canterbury. The idea of pro¬ 
moting a love for flowers amongst the working 
people of the parish, originated some nineteen years 
ago, and as interest in this sort of thing grew, a 
society was established about eleven years ago. The 
secretary, Mr. G. Masters admitted that the show 
was not quite so good as last year, but that was due 
to the unfavourable condition of the weather. There 
were, however, some well-grown window plants and 
flowers. A lamplighter showed a glass case of grow¬ 
ing Ferns, to which a rockery and an ingenious 
watermillat work were attached. Theexhibitorsnum- 
bered 500 and the exhibits about 600. Money prizes 
to the amount of £20 were distributed amongst the 
successful competitors. The show was formally 
opened by Lady Pelly, who was introduced by the 
Rev. J. Reeve, chairman ©f the committee. 
