792 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 16, 1890. 
- ~t~ - 
Carnation Show at Manchester. 
The annual show of the Northern Section of the 
National Carnation and Picotee Society was held, as 
usual, at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday last ; but 
owing to the unfavourable season, it was a very poor 
show indeed, and had it not been for the Birmingham 
contingent coming up in pretty strong force it would 
have been practically a failure. 
Mr. Tom Lord, of Todmorden, who usually shows so 
well, had hardly a Picotee in bloom, and was unable to 
compete, and this may be said of most of the other 
northern men. The competition lay principally between 
Mr. Herbert, Birmingham, and Mr. It. Sydenham, whose 
exhibits are generally of about equal merit ; but the 
former, being the manager of Messrs. Thomson & Co.’s 
nursery, can generally give more time to selecting and 
dressing his flowers. 
The weak point of this show always seems to be the 
want of a good outside judge. The judges being 
selected from the committee, seems to cause more or 
less dissatisfaction in the result, and spoils what should 
be a pleasant and agreeable meeting—a feature so much 
appreciated by those who attended the Oxford gather¬ 
ing a few days before. 
Mr. Herbert again showed his new scarlet bizarre, 
C. H. Herbert, to great advantage, and which bids fair 
to rival Robert Houlgrave, raised by S. Barlow, Esq. 
Mr. Edwardes exhibited a grand new rose-edged Picotee, 
named Mrs. Edwardes, and it worthily received a Cer¬ 
tificate. Mr. Turner, of Slough, sent two fine boxes of 
his choice yellow grounds, such as were shown at 
Oxford and London ; and although a Certificate was 
granted to one or two, they hardly received that warm 
welcome they so richly deserved. 
There seems to be a strong feeling and hope that this 
section may hold its show in Birmingham next year 
instead of Manchester, and all think if such a step 
were taken it would be the means of doing much good. 
"We have to regret that there were no outside exhibits, 
such as have been staged in previous years, when 
Messrs. Ryder, of Sale, and Messrs. Dickson, of Chester, 
have usually sent some very interesting things. 
Altogether, the show could not be called a success, 
although it was visited by a much larger number of 
visitors than usual. The following is the prize list :— 
Twelve Carnations, Dissimilar. —In this class 
the three first were of very equal merit, opinions 
varying as to which stand was the best, but the judges 
finally awarded the prizes as follows First, Sir. Tom 
Lord, Todmorden, with Master Fred (Premier Carna¬ 
tion), Jas. Douglas, Thalia, J. D. Hextall, Edwd. 
Adams, R. Bealy, Unexpected, Alisemond, Tim Bobbin, 
Wm, Skirving, R. Dean, Robert Lord ; second, Mr. C. 
H. Herbert, Birmingham, with C. H. Herbert (8. B.), 
Richard Thompson (R. F.), William Skirving, 
Robert Lord, Jas. Douglas, Rifleman, Alisemond, F. 
Nightingale, Harrison Weir, Thalia, J. Merry weather, 
R. Houlgrave ; third, Mr. Robt. Sydenham, Bir¬ 
mingham, with Jas. Douglas, Arthur Medhnrst, Rob 
Roy, J. Harrison (good), Wm. Skirving, Matador, 
Sarah Payne, F. Nightingale, Thalia, Due d’Aumale, 
Alisemond, Robt. Lord; fourth, Mr. B. Simonite, 
Sheffield. This stand contained a fine new crimson 
bizarre named H. Pomroy, for which a Certificate was 
given. 
Twelve Picotees, Dissimilar. —In this class the 
two first were about equal again, the other two stands 
being far behind. The judges’award made Mr. C. H. 
Herbert first, wdth J. B. Bryant, Campanini, Favourite, 
John Smith, Princess Louise (good) Mrs. Sharp, 
Juliette, Mrs. Payne, Zerlina, Thomas Wiliam, 
Mrs. Ricardo, Mrs. Chancellor; second, Mr. Robt. 
Sydenham, with Dr. Epps, .Favourite, Mrs. Sharp, 
Seedling (R. edged), Mrs. Gorten, Hilda (good, H. 
Purple), Silvia, Morna, Mrs. Chancellor, Lady Helmes- 
dale, John Smith, Ethel ; third, Mr. E. Shaw, Man¬ 
chester ; fourth, Mr. Geggie, of Bury. 
Twelve Carnations, Nine Dissimilar.— These 
were well shown, and the awards were:—First, Mr. 
A, H. Brown, Birmingham, with Fanny Hudson, 
Thalia, Edward Adams, Squire Whitbourn, Alfred, 
Alisemond, Robert Lord, and Tim Bobbin ; second, 
S. Barlow, Esq., Stakehill, with Robert Houlgrave, 
E. S. Dodwell, Sir Garnet, Squire Llewellyn, J. D. 
Hextall, Squire Meynell, Master Fred, Robert Houl¬ 
grave, William Skirving, Dan Godfrey, and 
Crista Galli; third, Mr. J. Edwards, Blackley, Man¬ 
chester ; fourth, Mr. J. Bleakley; fifth, Mr. J. 
Witham, 
Twelve Picotees, Nine Dissimilar. —Here the 
first and second were good, the southern showing 
advantage on account of the season ; first, Mr. A. R. 
Brown, with Imogen, Favourite, Jessie, Campanini, 
John Smith, Mrs. Sharp, Clara Penson, Lady 
Louisa, John Smith, Thos. William, and Morna ; 
second, Mr. J. Witham, Hebden Bridge, with Gertrude, 
Clara Penson, Thos. William, Brunette (very fine), Ann 
Lord, Fanny Helen, Becky Sharp, Favourite, John 
Smith, Miss Flowdy, and Dr. Epps; third, 
Mr. J. Edwards ; fourth, Mr. J. Bleakley ; this stand 
contained two blooms of a lovely new heavy Red Picotee 
Mrs. Edwards, which well earned the Certificate given it. 
Six Carnations. —These were shown well, and, as 
a rule, were good flowers :—First, Mr. J. Hallewell, 
Todmorden, with Robert Houlgrave, Sybil, J. D. 
Hextall (very good), Master Fred, Squire Whitbourn, 
and Sportsman ; second, Mr. J. Thornley, with Robert 
Lord, Sybil, Mr. Reed, Alfred, Squire Trow, Seedling ; 
third, Mr. Wm. Bacon, of Derby, with good seedlings ; 
fourth, Mr. J. Whittaker. 
Six Picotees. —Here were very fine blooms. Mr. 
A. W. Jones was well ahead of all others, and here, as 
also with singles, showed very careful growing and 
dressing :—First, Mr. A. W. Jones, Birmingham, with 
John Smith, Marvel, Silvia, Edith Dombrain, Mrs. 
Payne, Mrs. Sharp; second, Mr. J. Hallewell, with Ann 
Lord, Brunette, Fanny Helen, Clara Penson, Favourite, 
Mrs. Niven; third, S. Barlow, Esq. ; fourth, Mr. 
J. Taylor; fifth, Mr. Wm. Bacon, of Derby. 
Twelve Seles and Fancies. —These were shown 
well, but owing to some misunderstanding as to whether 
it was to be all seifs or seifs and fancies, some only 
showed seifs. Mr. Herbert, of Birmingham, was well 
to the front with Terra Cotta, Almira, Blushing 
Bride, Annie Douglas, Gladys, Seedling Bizarre (very 
pretty, on yellow ground; a very effective flower), 
Alfred Grey, Germania, Herbert, Ruby, Dodwell’s 167; 
second, Mr. T. Lord, with mostly seifs ; third, Mr. 
A. H. Brown ; fourth, Mr. J. Edwards. 
Six Seles and Fancies. —Apart from the first 
stand, these were all very indifferent. First, Mr. 
A. W. Jones, with Dodwell’s 166, Germania, Dodwell’s 
202, Dodwell’s 167, Mrs. Alfred, Agnes Chambers ; 
second, Mr. J. Beswick ; third, Mr. W. Taylor ; fourth, 
Mr. G. Thornley. 
Single Blooms were very strongly shown, there 
being about 405 flowers staged — a very unusual 
number, which shows how desirable it is to limit the 
number of blooms from any one exhibitor. — Carnations, 
Scarlet Bizarres : First, S. Barlow, Esq., with Robert 
Houlgrave ; second to fifth, Mr. Herbert, with C. H. 
Herbert, a bloom very similar to a large and well- 
grown Robert Houlgrave. Crimson Bizarres : First, 
to fifth, Mr. Lord, with Master Fred. Pink-purple 
Bizarres: First, Mr. Herbert, with Sarah Payne; 
second, Mr. Herbert, with a seedling ; third, Mr. 
T. Lord, with Wm. Skirving. Scarlet Flake : First, 
Mr. Lord, with Henry Cannell; second, Mr. Geggie, 
with a seedling ; third, Mr. Hallewell, with Sportsman. 
Rose Flake : First and second, Mr. Lord, with Thalia ; 
third, Mr. Bacon, with the same. Purple Flake : 
First, Mr. Simonite, with President ; second, Mr. 
Herbert, with Geo. Melville ; third, Mr. Sydenham, 
with the same. 
Picotees, heavy red: First, Mr. Jones, with John 
Smith ; second, Mr. Brown, with Dr. Epps ; third, 
Mr. Sydenham, with Dr. Epps. Light Red : First, 
Mr. Lord, with Mrs. Douglas ; second and third, Mr. 
Jones, with Thomas William. Heavy Purple : First 
and third, Mr. Jones, with Muriel ; second, Mr. 
Herbert, with Mrs. Chancellor. Light Purple: First 
and second, Mr. Jones, with Silvia ; third, Mr. Shaw, 
with Clara Penson. Heavy Rose: First, Mr. Sydenham, 
with Princess Louise ; second, Mr. Brown, with Prin¬ 
cess Louise ; third, Mr. Herbert, with Campanini. 
Light Rose n-First, S. Barlow, Esq.; second, Mr. 
J ones ; third, Mr. Herbert; all with Favourite. 
Premier Carnation : Mr. Tom Lord, with Master 
Fred, a rather small flower, but very bright in colour, 
and of good form. 
Premier Picotee ; Mr. Joe Edwards, with Princess 
Louise, a small flower, but grandly marked, and very 
pure white.— X. , 
Violas. 
Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, sent me recently a box 
of Viola blooms for inspection, and as the very beau¬ 
tiful varieties of this invaluable flower are rapidly 
becoming better known and appreciated, I send you 
a few words about the sorts sent to me. 
Gipsy Queen, greyish white, pencilled with lavender, 
distinct and fine. 
Duchess of Fife, shaded cream and yellow, margined 
with blue tinted lilac, a very lovely and distinct var. 
Down of Day, white, shaded with pale lavender, a 
large flower, distinct, and very showy. 
Mrs. W. Bellamy, an improved Mrs. Baxter, very 
rich violet-purple, the top petals margined with lilac 
and white very fine. 
Neptune, purple, with light blotch in each petal, very 
pretty, and of good form. 
Sunrise, rosy lilac, shaded with violet, lighter top- 
petals, fine form and distinct. 
Joy, white, shaded with very pale lilac, the top 
petals with clouded lilac and purple margin, distinct. 
Lord Elcho, rich gold self, with rayed centre, a 
grand variety. 
The Mearns, shaded rich violet, tinted purple, with 
white clouded top petals, a very fine variety. 
Columbine, white, with a margin of pale lilac. 
Skylark and Blue Cloud, both white, margined with 
bright ccernlean-blue, but in Blue Cloud the margin is 
broader and a little more intense in colour. 
Virginalis, French white, a grand flower, without 
central markings. 
Lucy Ashton, a counterpart of Columbus, but with a 
deeper tint of pink-tinted lilac colour ; very pretty. 
Most of these varieties I am growing, so that only 
two or three were unknown to me. The Mearns is a 
superb bedding variety, which I strongly recommend 
as a great acquisition, especially for bedding, and as I 
grow it extensively I can speak with confidence. I 
prefer Marchioness of Tweeddale to Virginalis—both 
superb whites, without any central blotch or rays, but 
Virginalis flushes (assumes lilac tints) in hot weather, 
and the “ Marchioness” always maintains a pure white 
colour. Mrs. Gray, an old white, is still a grand 
useful bedder, hard to beat amongst the taller-growing 
kinds, hut has a great tendency to flush in hot weather, 
and is such a bloomer, as sweet in perfume as a violet, 
and a very free and continuous bloomer. Shortly I 
shall say more about Violas, unless you say, Don’t.— 
W. Dean, Sparkhill, Birmingham. 
Lobelia speciosa. 
A large square piece of ground is occupied with this 
Lobelia at the Chiswick trial grounds of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. For summer bedding and 
similar purposes, it is very choice, owing to its dwarf 
and wonderfully floriferous habit. The stock was 
of course obtained from cuttings in spring, and 
commenced flowering soon after it was planted out 
Since then it has been a mass of deep blue, and most 
conspicuous as seen from the railway, which skirts the 
north end of the trial grounds. The leaves are few and 
dark coloured, every shoot having gone into a flowering 
state, so that a stock of cuttings has to be obtained 
from plants specially reserved for the purpose, and the 
flower stems cut off in order to encourage the develop¬ 
ment of leafy shoots. The largest plants at present are 
about 4 ins. high, and the dwarfest 2 ins., so that for 
large beds or borders it is very effective. 
Picotee, Countess of Jersey. 
The flowers of this variety are large, pale canary- 
yellow, double, and quite full, with the colours so 
arranged that it might almost be looked upon by the 
florist as an edged Picotee. The stripes are of a soft 
red, and run in from the margin only a short way. 
Selected seedlings from this would, no doubt, in a few 
generations give a florists’ edged flower of the first 
water. A yellow-ground Picotee of this character 
would be a desirable acquisition. An Award of Merit 
was granted it by the Royal Horticultural Society on 
the 12th inst., when some flowers were shown by Mr. 
C. Turner, Slough. 
Carnations at Tower House, Chiswick. 
In spite of the heavy dashing rains and cold weather a 
rich harvest of bloom has been obtained at the above- 
named place. A considerable number of named and 
unnamed varieties are grown in the open border without 
any special treatment. A very choice kind is that 
named Mrs. Muir, recently put into cultivation. The 
flowers are of medium size and pure white ; and the 
petals are broad, flat, and nearly entire. The latter 
are, however, not very numerous, so that they expand 
freely without splitting the calyx. The Governor is 
another choice kind, with large, pale blush, or almost 
white flowers. The petals are broad, flat, regularly 
disposed as in the case of Mrs. Muir, and slightly 
toothed at the margin. The flowers are fragrant, a 
quality that is wanting in many otherwise fine kinds. 
Only a moderate quantity of shoots are produced by 
