September 9, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
19 
Purple Prince. —The long and pointed florets of 
this Cactus variety are maroon when they first 
expand, and retain that hue for a long time in the 
centre of the bloom, but the outer and older ones 
fade to purple. It is a large sized flower. 
Scarlet Perfection. —The blooms of this variety 
are single, concave—a very unusual condition—and 
intense scarlet. This and the two previous varieties 
were exhibited by Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry. 
Beauty of Wilts.— The large blooms of this 
Cactus Dahlia have long, narrow, pointed florets, 
revolute at the tips, and of a soft orange-scarlet, 
faintly reticulated with a deeper hue. The exhibitor 
was Mr. H. R. N. Pictor, Box, Wilts. 
The following varieties were certificated by the 
Floral Committee of the R.H.S. at the Agricultural 
Hall on the egth ult. 
Lady Penzance. —The blooms of this beautiful 
Cactus variety are of medium size, with long pointed 
florets, revolute at the sides, and of a clear yellow. 
Chancellor. —The blooms of this sort are also 
of the true Cactus type, and of very large size, with 
broad petals narrowed to a point, revolute at the 
sides towards the tip, and of a bright crimson. 
Gloriosa. —Here again the blooms are very large, 
with long and broad, suddenly pointed florets, which 
are erect or ascending, with a recurved tip, but ulti¬ 
mately revolute at the sides. They are bright scarlet 
with a pale reverse, and tinted with purple in the 
centre. All the three received Awards of Merit when 
exhibited by Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., 
Salisbury. 
Ernest Cheal.— This Cactus variety has medium 
sized blooms, flat in the centre, recurved at the sides, 
with long, pointed florets, revolute at the tips, or 
sometimes twisted, and bright scarlet with a purplish 
tint in the centre. Award of Merit. The exhibitors 
were Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex. 
Mrs. Mortimer.— This is a fancy variety of large 
size, measuring 4J in. to 5 in. across, flat on the top, 
or ultimately convex, very full and neat. The florets 
are yellow, with purplish-red edges, more or less 
fading, and always deeper in the centre of the bloom. 
Award of Merit. The exhibitor was Mr. S. Mortimer, 
Rowledge, Farnham, Surrey. 
Rowena. —For description of this pompon variety 
see p. 7. Award of Merit. The exhibitor was Mr. 
C. Turner, Slough. 
FLOWERS FOR DRY 
SOILS. 
To the list of plants suitable for dry soils, which 
appeared in your last issue, and which is particularly 
apropos to the present season, I should like to add 
Rudbeckia speciosa (Newmanni), one of the cone 
flowers, and the various forms of the dwarf 
Tropseolum, but especially T. minus Vesuvius. The 
former, viz., Rudbeckia speciosa, has been with me, 
during the last six weeks, and still is a host in itself, 
a golden glory, a veritable immorteUe. Its bright, 
deeply-coloured orange flowers, set off against the 
raised purplish-black discs, and the persistency with 
which they retain their colours, have produced the 
liveliest satisfaction—have indeed been the one re¬ 
deeming feature in my light, dry, sandy soil. They 
(the Rudbeckias) have, of course, had a little water 
from time to time, otherwise they would probably 
not be here to enlist our admiration. 
Other things have also received the same hydro¬ 
static attention ; but this attention has been mainly 
directed to keeping the plants alive, whereas these 
beautiful golden cone flowers have repaid their owner 
a hundred-fold. 
What a lot of labour has been uselessly thrown 
away this year in our parched-up gardens! What 
might we not have accomplished in other directions 
had we but have known ? 
But who should say when the history of the 
present season will be repeated ? The Tropaeolums, 
however, but especially T. minus Vesuvius, have 
simply revelled in the the sunshine, have quite out- 
rivalled, on sandy soil, the ordinary summer 
bedders. 
On passing round No. 3 Museum at Kew Gardens, 
towards the great Palm stove, a brilliant flash of 
colour is projected on the retina, which on inspection, 
and after many conjectures, turns out to be the 
aforesaid Tropseolum. These beds, set in their 
carpet of green, have been the admiration of numer¬ 
ous visitors ; and doubtless, if another such a summer 
could be assured, well, this class of giant would find 
patrons throughout the length and breadth of our 
garden-loving land.— C. B. G., Acton, W. 
NATIONAL DAHLIA 
SHOW. 
The annual exhibition of the National Dahlia Society 
was held as usual at the Crystal Palace on the ist 
and 2nd inst. under favourable auspices as to weather, 
notwithstanding the fact that it had been raining 
during the previous night. Owing to the absence of 
the fruit show, which formerly accompanied it on 
this occasion, some of the tables did not look wel] 
filled, but the general opinion was that the Dahlias 
were as numerous as in previous years, and the 
quality as good except that the flowers were more 
perishable owing to the dry weather. Some of the 
older flowers, even in the best of the exhibits, began 
to show this state of matters before the first day was 
over. The first award for sixty blooms in the 
nurserymen’s classes was taken by Mr. Charles 
Turner, Slough. The blooms were moderate rather 
than of large size but very neat, and in all but very 
exceptional cases, very fresh. Good blooms were 
Maud Fellows, John Walker, Jas. Vick, John 
Hickling, Wm. Keith, Seraph, James O’Brien, 
Richard Dean, Diadem, Flag of Truce, Rev. Camm, 
Dazzle, and Matthew Campbell, the last three being 
fancies. The second prize was taken by Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams & Go., Salisbury, who certainly 
had larger blooms, though considerably coarser in 
many cases. Gloire de Lyon, Eclipse, Mr. Glass¬ 
cock, Dorothy, and Harry Keith were, however, 
handsome blooms. Mr. M. V. Seale, Vine Nurseries, 
Sevenoaks, took the third award with considerably 
smaller blooms. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
came to the front with forty-eight blooms, and, 
although the exhibit included some coarse blooms, 
there were fine samples of Harry Keith, Nellie 
Ciammond, Robina, Mr. Glasscock, Willie Garret, 
Gloire de Lyon, William Rawlings, and others. Mr. 
C. Turner was a good second, showing many fine 
blooms, while a few were suffering through the 
effects of the dry season. Mr. M. V. Seale was again 
third. Mr. John Walker, Thame, Oxon, had the 
best thirty-six blooms, which were notable for their 
great size throughout, and the really coarse blooms 
were very few. He was followed by Mr. Geo. 
Humphries, Kington Langley, Chippenham, whose 
blooms were a size smaller, but fresh. Mr. S. 
Mortimer, Rowledge, Farnham, Surrey, took the 
third place with a very good exhibit. The first 
award for twenty-four blooms was taken by Mr. J. 
Walker, whose blooms were almost up to the same 
standard as in the former class. Duke of Fife and 
Joseph Ashby were particularly fine blooms. Mr 
G. Humphries was a good second, but his blooms 
were a size smaller. Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son, The 
Nurseries, Chelmsford, took the third position ; and 
Mr. S. Mortimer was fourth. Mr. A. Rawlings, Old 
Church, Romford, Essex, took the first position for 
twelve blooms, most of which were large and fresh. 
Mr. H. Harris, Writtle Road, Chelmsford, was 
second; and Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, 
Sussex, were third. A good display was produced 
by the Cactus and decorative Dahlias, set up in 
bunches and well elevated. The first prize was 
taken by Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, who had attrac¬ 
tive varieties in Delicata, Robert Cannell, Sir Roger, 
Bertha Mawley, etc. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & 
Co. were second, showing numerous decorative sorts. 
Mr. C. Turner took the third prize. The first award 
for twelve varieties of Cactus and decorative sorts were 
taken by Mr.G. Humphries, who had many of the best 
type. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, were second 
with mostly decorative sorts. Mr. J. Stredwick, Silver 
Hill, St. Leonards-on-Sea, was third. For twelve 
varieties of Cactus Dahlias, Messrs. Keynes, 
Williams & Co. took the premier award with an 
attractive exhibit. They were followed by Messrs. 
J. Cheal & Sons, whose flowers were also fine, but 
had fewer of the more interesting types. The 
exhibit was, however, a good second. The entries 
of pompon and single Dahlias, especially the former, 
were very numerous, and set up as they are, in a 
sloping position, they had far more effect than the 
flat tables of the show and fancy _kinds. The first 
prize for twenty-four bunches of pompons of ten 
blooms each was awarded to Messrs. J. Cheal & 
Sons, who had beautiful and fascinating varieties in 
lolanthe. Whisper, Lady Blanche, Phoebe, Cecil, 
Isabel, Rosalie, Eurydice, and others. The second 
prize was taken by Mr. C. Turner, who had likewise 
some very interesting sorts, and all in the best con¬ 
dition. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. took the 
third place with several of the best sorts already 
mentioned. An extra prize in this class was awarded 
to Mr. M. V. Seale. The first award for twelve 
bunches of pompons, similarly set up, was awarded 
to Mr. Geo. Humphries, whose blooms were all very 
small and neat. He was followed by Messrs. Paul 
& Son, while Mr. E. F. Such, Maidenhead, was third. 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons took the leading award for 
single Dahlias, of which Eclipse, Miss Glasscock, 
Lowfield Beauty, Amos Perry, Yellow Satin, and 
Gulielma were beautiful and attractive varieties. 
The second award went to Mr. M. V. Seale, who had 
also some fine varieties in his exhibits. Mr. Geo. 
Humphries took the first award for twelve varieties 
of single Dahlias, of which Duchess of Fife, Eclipse, 
and Florrie Fisher were fine. Messrs. Paul & Son 
were a good second, and Mr. E. F. Such was third. 
In the amateurs’ classes, the first honours for 
twenty-four show and fancy blooms were taken by 
Mr. J. T. West, gardener to W. Keith, Esq., Corn- 
walls, Brentwood. His blooms were nearly all of 
large size, and models of perfection. Mr. Arthur 
Ocock, gardener to Mrs. McIntosh, Havering Park, 
Romford, was a good second. Mr. Thos. Hobbs, 
Easton, Bristol, was third. Mr. T. Vagg, gardener 
to J. Theobald, Esq., M.P., Havering, Romford, had 
the best twelve blooms, which were large. Mr. T. 
Anstis, Brill, Bucks, was second, and Mr. W. 
Hopkins, New Passage, Bristol, was third, Mr. 
Geo. Boothroyd, 17, Orchard Place, Chichester, had 
the best six blooms. T. W. Girdlestone, M.A., 
Sunningdale, Berks, took the first award for twelve 
varieties of single Dahlias. Edward Mawley, Esq., 
Rosebank, Berkhamstead, had the best six single 
varieties. Mr. J. T. West again scored first in the 
class for six bunches of Cactus and decorative sorts. 
Mr. E. Brown, gardener to M. W. Morris, Esq., 
Horley, was second. Mr. J. T, West also had the 
best twelve bunches of Cactus and decorative sorts, 
and his blooms were of large size. Mr. J. Stredwick 
took the second award. Edward Mav\ley, Esq., had 
the best six sorts in three blooms each. Mr. J. T. 
West again came to the front with six bunches of 
pompon varieties, which were very neat. Mr. Wm. 
Mist, Collingwood, Sevenoaks, was second. Mr. S, 
Cooper, Hamlet, Chippenham, had the best six 
bunches in another class. Mr. C. Osman, South 
Metropolitan District Schools, was second. Mr.T. W. 
Girdleston was the only exhibitor of six single 
varieties in bunches of ten blooms each. Mr. J. T. 
West had the best twelve fancy Dahlias, showing 
fine blooms of Mrs. Saunders, Salamander, Henry 
Glasscock, Buffalo Bill, &c. Mr. Thos. Anstis had 
the best six fancy blooms. 
In the open classes Mr. G. Humphries had the 
best six blooms of any striped Dahlia; Mr. S. 
Mortimer had the best blooms of any tipped Dahlia ; 
Mr. J. Walker had the best six bloooms of a yellow 
variety in John Hickling; Mr. J. T. West had the 
best light sort. Mr. J. Walker was first for any 
dirk variety ; Mr. Girdlestone had the best fancy 
single varieties, and Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons were 
second ; Mr. C. Turner had the best edged Dahlias ; 
Mr. S. Mortimer was first for six blooms of John 
Walker. 
In the miscellaneous class a considerable length 
of side-tabling was occupied by a collection of 
Dahlias shown by Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham. 
The centre was occupied by a semi-conical mound 
of Cactus and decorative Dahlias, then on either 
side of this came pompon varieties, while single 
sorts were arranged at the extreme ends of the table. 
All were tastefully set up with Palms, Grasses, 
Asparagus, etc. A large and effective group of 
Begonias was set up by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill. The varieties were mostly arranged in 
groups of a kind, such as Henshaw Russel, Duke of 
York, Duchess of Teck, etc. Palms occupied the 
back of the group, which was raised in a semi¬ 
circular mound, while other Asparagus and Ferns 
were worked in amongst the plants. They also 
showed a table of various stove and. greenhouse 
plants, including Bertolonias. They also exhibited 
a large collection of hardy herbaceous plants, 
including Lilies, Sunflowers, Phloxes, Gaillardias 
perennial Asters, etc. Three small tables were 
occupied by Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell 
Park Nurseries, Norwood Road. Two of them were 
filled with hardy herbaceous flowers, such as 
Heleniums, Sunflowers, Phloxes, Asters, Anemones, 
etc. The central table contained Crotons, Cala- 
diums. Palms, etc., mixed with Odontoglossum 
grande. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, 
Kent, had a showy table of decorative and Cactus 
Dahlias, set up in bunches and arranged in a sloping 
bank upon Bracken and Asparagus, backed up with 
Palms. They also had some flowers of tuberous 
Begonias, chiefly orange coloured, and Cannas. 
