88 
THE HARDENING WORLD 
October 12, 1889. 
A New Grand White Self Carnation, Mrs. Muir 
(Muir). 
Of all the sections of Carnations, none is more sought 
than the white self. It divides the admiration of 
lovers of the flower even with the gorgeous richness of 
the yellows themselves. Two years since Emma Lakin, 
raised by my neighbour, Mr. Lakin, of Temple Cowley, 
was produced at the Union Show in glorious character, 
and accompanied by a second white, Annie, named after 
another daughter of Mr. Lakin, well did it maintain 
its repute in the season just past. But Mr. Lakin, 
wisely, no doubt, from a pecuniary point of view, 
resolves to withhold his beautiful flowers from commerce 
until he is the holder of a largely augmented stock, and 
the many eager aspirants for their possession must 
await at least another season before their desires may 
be realised. 
I have great pleasure, therefore, in directing the 
attention of my fellow lovers to another white self of 
the very highest order, and which I feel sure will 
give the fullest satisfaction wherever grown. Just 
twelve months ago, in the last days of September, I 
received from Mr. John Muir, joiner, of Carluke, in the 
far off Isle of Skye, six blooms of a white self, as to 
which I at once wrote, “ I know of nothing to surpass 
it.” Subsequently six plants came to me for trial 
growth, and well indeed did the flowers sustain my 
anticipations. It is fine in form, of high quality, great 
substance, and a most robust grower. Unhappily Mr. 
Muir is since dead ; but the stock is in the hands of 
Mr. M. Campbell, Auchenraith Nurseries, Blantyre, 
N. B., one of the best growers of the north, who is 
desirous of serving the interests of the bereaved widow 
and family by the sale of the produce. So lovers of 
the white self Carnation may, at a small cost, purchase 
a genuine enjoyment, and aid a worthy philanthropic 
purpose by the same act. May it be largely resorted to ! 
— E. S. Dodwell, Oxford. 
Carnation Notes. 
As an old gardener, I thank Mr. Dodwell very much 
for his courteous notice and review of my Carnation 
Notes (p. 37), and although I am not what is technic¬ 
ally known or described as a florist, it has been, perhaps, 
my good fortune to have known nearly all the leading 
growers—some personally, others by good report—and 
have met vast numbers of them at the annual gatherings 
that used to take place upwards of forty years ago. 
At that time the leading men gathered around the 
festive board from all parts of the country, and the 
Dahlia began in earnest to assume that perfect form 
which rendered many of the blooms almost faultless in 
contour. I am happy in being able retrospectively to 
take, step by step, a rteumi of the past, and to vividly 
see, with the mind’s eye, all the progress that has been 
made during the most important period of this 
country’s history, as regards the development of all her 
resources of industry. More especially, so far as my 
interest has been concerned, have horticulture and 
floriculture, in all their various branches, made great 
strides ; and although I have made some plants special 
favourites, none of the great and wonderful works of 
the Creator has failed to attract my notice and ensure 
my intense admiration, the “wee, modest, crimson- 
tipped flower ” included. 
Carnations and Pinks are, as may be assumed, 
some of my oldest familiar friends and acquaintances, 
and I have no hesitation whatever—with all due and 
proper respect to your highly-esteemed correspondent— 
in stating that these plants were more generally grown 
fifty and more years ago than even now. I refer to the 
time when no gardening paper was in existence, not 
even the Gardeners' Gazette, first published on January 
7th, 1837. 
Towns, villages, and hamlets had each and all their 
cultivators of these hardy gems, and growers banded 
themselves together with praiseworthy efforts to amuse 
and instruct each other, as well as to improve nature’s 
great gifts. But at this early date where was to be found 
the paper, or even the reporter to chronicle the thousands 
of happy floral associations that took place in the days 
long numbered with the past, and of which we know 
comparatively very little indeed ? 
Our whole machinery at the present time is of the 
most stupendous and gigantic character and description. 
A complete revolution has taken place in all apper¬ 
taining to garden practice, and, in fact, the whole 
routine of every branch of gardening has been brought 
to the highest state of perfection, so far as we are able 
to conceive. “Excelsior !” however, is the talismanic 
incentive that urges us on our still unbeaten track 
that leads to new objects of discovery. All my life I have 
observed that there have been periods of spasmodic- 
like manias. Just as with babies, one toy is thrown 
aside after a time to be replaced by another, be they 
Auriculas, Tulips, Carnations, Pinks or Dahlias. With 
regard to the Carnation being more generally grown 
and exhibited, permit me to trot our good Carnation 
friend back to the year 1840, the time when the Florist 
Journal made its appearance, to which I, for one, 
at once became a subscriber, and which subsequently 
was edited by a very old friend, long since gone to that 
land where beauties never fade or the mind become 
satiated by their everlasting presence. At the time to 
which I refer, just upon the eve of half a century ago, 
Tulips were largely grown and exhibited, as were the 
Carnation, Picotee and Pink, as well as the Auricula. 
By reference to my long-kept reminder, the journal, I 
am enabled to give exact information with reference to 
some of the shows or exhibits of Carnations and Picotees 
in particular, at that time, to which I have the pleasure 
of directing Mr. Dodwell’s attention, and which I 
trust may not be deemed superfluous, should he be 
familiar with the doings of florists fifty years ago. 
The Leicestershire Floral and Horticultural Society’s 
show of Carnations, Picotees, &c., took place on the 
29th July, 1840, when Mr. Smalley took the first award 
for a pan of nine blooms—viz., Smalley’s King, 
Cartwright’s Rainbow, Smalley’s Fair Helen, Malpas’s 
Lady Grey, Hufton’s Drusilla, Palmer’s Flora, Smalley’s 
Victoria, and Prince Albert, &c. The classes in this 
instance, andexhibits, were numerous. Wolverhampton 
was represented later by a goodly number of exhibitors, 
Chester following on the 5th August, York on the same 
date, Grantham on the 6th, and on the 9th September 
Carnations were shown by the northern growers in 
Perthshire. These enumerations are only a very few, 
comparatively speaking, as kindred shows were taking 
place amongst the amateur and more humble classes 
of growers. Of the latter no record was ever given, 
they being purely localised and in the coaching days of 
old, when communications were few. The postage of 
letters formed a somewhat serious item, and newspapers 
were equally expensive, so that the sphere of nearly all 
individual societies was, to a very great extent, limited, 
as they had no gardening paper to publish and circulate 
their proceedings. I think the first time that I saw 
Carnations exhibited was in 1833 or 1834, at a time 
when all hardy plants were necessarily cultivated and 
extensively grown. 
I have several seedlings from Pride of Penshurst just 
coming into flower that seem to promise well. These 
were sown on August 27th, 1888, the seed being sown 
as soon as I got it well ripened. New seed germinates 
readily. That which I sowed this summer was put in 
on August 30 th. The seedlings made their appearance 
on the 5th of September following, and are now sturdy 
little plants with second growth. Having pricked 
them into 5-in. pots, nine in each, with thumbs 
inverted for drainage, I have not in my small 
way ever failed to succeed in getting seedlings to 
flower in less than twelve months, and should very 
much like to hear that Mr. Dodwell has done so. One 
thing I feel bound to state, and that is, if care be taken 
in fertilising flowers of good quality, they can, as a 
rule, be relied upon, and colours reproduced ; but to 
bring about this result the greatest care is necessary, so 
that no intruder takes part in the operation. 
It must not be assumed that I have been a large or 
successful grower of florist flowers. I, about forty-four 
years since, exhibited Pinks, and was awarded the first 
prize, there being six competitors. Here I left off, and 
have only, like many other gardeners, grown these 
flowers because it has afforded me much pleasure 
in doing so. Nearly all kinds for decorative purposes 
can be easily raised from seed, and when judiciously 
saved give good returns for the trouble, or I ought to 
say, pleasure. Every variety of colour is obtainable, 
and the form of flower can be produced perfect in 
contour. —Man of Kent. 
A Glimpse at the Hollyhock. 
It was my privilege to have a run through the nurseries 
of Mr. Forbes, at Hawick, the other day, chiefly on 
purpose to see his Hollyhocks at home, as I had been 
greatly charmed with the noble spikes he exhibited at 
some of our leading shows. The earliest batch I found 
were past, but the huge spikes and healthy leaves 
showed what they had been. I was fortunate, however, 
in finding upwards of 200 in all their glory, of all 
shades of colour, from the pure whites and clear yellows 
to the richest crimsons. Alba superba, Cygnet, and 
Queen of the Whites were among the best whites, while 
Queen of Yellows, Bullion, and Gem of the Yellows 
were really splendid yellows. Noticeable also were 
Acme, crimson ; Conquest, a fine red ; Excelsior, 
salmon, a really grand flower and spike ; Hercules, 
yellow, also extra fine for exhibition; J. M. Lindsay, 
a fine cherry-red ; Candour, French-white, a fine bold 
flower ; Standard Bearer, creamy white, also a splendid 
variety ; F. G. Dougall, bright purple, enormous 
spike, with large well-formed flower ; Purple Prince, 
Nelly Grieve, and Mrs. Dawson, very fine purples ; in 
fact, out of so many varieties, and all alike good, it 
was no easy matter to single out one as being better 
than another. The spikes were cut back to 8 ft., but 
my courteous conductor told me that some of them 
were from 10 ft. to 11 ft. before being cut. At present 
they certainly average 8 ft., and are clothed with fine 
healthy leaves from top to base, showing that the 
Hawick climate and the Buccleuch mode of cultivation 
certainly agree with the Hollyhock. Better ones I 
have never seen, and I shall not forget my visit to this 
home of the Hollyhock for some time to come.— A. 
The Perfume of the Rose. 
“ARose by any other name would smell as sweet.” 
Ah ! but the writer is not of the present generation, or 
the quoted words might not have been written. How 
many of the Roses of the present time can be said to 
smell sweetly, or, rather, I might say, how few of our 
exhibition Roses possess the delightfully sweet aroma 
of the old Cabbage Rose? Naturally, when I present 
a Rose to a lady, she carries it to the nose, that she 
may delight the sense of smell as well as the sense of 
sight ; but how rarely is the expectation gratified ! 
Now, in this day there is a tendency to return to the 
culture of the old-fashioned flowers, and likewise a 
desire to enjoy the delicate aroma of the garden. I 
have thought that at this season, when the amateur is 
overhauling his stock of Roses with the intention of 
further planting, it would be a great boon if some of 
those who love the Rose for its sweetness would give 
the names of such varieties as possess the scent of the 
old attar of Roses. 
How often do we hear the remark, “ The Dahlia is 
a beautiful flower, but it has no scent.” I should like 
to go in for a new plantation of Roses, but I should 
like the Rose which would gratify the nose as well as 
the eye, and I have no doubt but that there are many 
of your subscribers who would be equally pleased to 
do the same. Then, with the Pink, the Carnation, 
the Rose, the Violet, and that quite unobtrusive little 
gem, the Mignonette, how very delightful, at the close 
of the summer day, would be retirement to such a 
garden !— IV. IV. 
Alpine Auriculas. 
Now is the time for lovers of spring flowers—those who 
have a little back garden, or a front one either for that 
matter—to obtain a pinch of seedfrom some trustworthy 
source, and sow it. Take a seed pan or a 7-in. pot, 
half fill it with crocks, fill up to within an inch of 
the top with coarse siftings of loam and leaf-soil, surface 
it with the finer particles, and press it down, water 
well, and sprinkle the seed thinly on the surface. 
Cover thinly with sand or sandy loam, and then put a 
sheet of glass over the top. Set the seed-pot in a pan of 
water and let it stand in a cool place for a little time. 
If the seed is new it will speedily begin to germinate, 
but if old it may lay in the earth for three, six, or 
twelve months. Above all things never let the soil 
get dry during the period of germination. When the 
little plants are sufficiently large to handle prick them 
out into the same quality of compost until fit to plant 
in a shady position, and in due time such a treat will 
be provided as will delight the eyes of any true lover of 
flora. 
1 mention the Alpine Auriculas advisedly, for the 
reason that they are amenable to culture under almost 
any circumstances and by any person. The delightful 
diversity of colour in every tint, the charming golden 
or lemon-tinted eye contrasting with the dense body 
colour, which varies from black to white, or edged with 
a blended or delicate lacing, combined with their 
coming into bloom in the early summer, constitute 
these little floral gems a treat for the gods. I have now 
a lar^e bed and an east border of emerald green rosettes 
dotted with charming blooms. Of course I ought not as 
a florist to allow of autumn bloom ; I should pick them 
off and only permit them to flower in spring, but as I 
sow in autumn and spring I keep up such an abundant 
supply that I can afford to allow nature to take its 
course. Besides, it gives me an opportunity to select 
the finest for special care and culture, whilst those 
which may not be equal to my standard may be rele- 
