?40 
THE GARDENING WORLD; 
July 21, 1894. 
FliORICUliTOI^E. 
Pinks in the Midlands. 
The Pink, roasted by the great heat of last year 
almost to nothingness, has certainly given a good 
account of itself this season, favoured by the cool 
moist weather of the early part of the present 
month, which not only helped the plants to make a 
free growth, but added fineness to the blossoms and 
perfection to the lacing. Last week the Midland 
Show at Wolverhampton enabled visitors to see 
some very fine laced Pinks of Midland growth, and 
I think it is perfectly safe to predict that the 
Midland Society is fated to hold the best exhibition 
in the year. What record was made at Manchester 
on the 14th I cannot say, probably some details will 
reach you in due course. It was gratifying to see the 
president of the Midland and Southern Societies, Mr. 
J. Thurstan, at Wolverhampton, never so happy as 
when at a Pink show, and never so completely 
occupied as when, with a Pink bloom in his left hand, 
and tweezers in his right, he is operating upon it, 
not putting anything into the flower not there 
already, but bringing out by dexterous manipulation 
of the petals, undreamed of possibilities hitherto 
hidden from view. A well-dressed Pink, provided 
the ground is pure, the petals solid, broad, smooth, 
and round, the lacing regular and vivid, is perhaps 
more attractive than that of a Carnation ; the con¬ 
trasts are startling, and the bloom always has what 
the Carnation rarely possesses—an exquisite per¬ 
fume. I have seen over-dressed Carnations, the 
petals tortured into an unnatural shape and size, but 
very rarely an over-dressed Pink. John Ball, of 
Slough, and Joseph Lakin, of Oxford, j'udged the' 
flowers, and Matthew Campbell came down from 
the north to help the show. It was so extensive, 
having regard to the limited number of growers, and 
the flowers so good in quality, that John Ball 
beamed with delight all over his person. It was a 
reminder of the time, long ago, when Pink shows 
were numerous, and many a stiff fight for the 
supremacy went on. John Ball is like an old flori- 
cultural war horse—the trumpet-call to the floral 
battle comes as the echoes of auld lang syne, and 
then the limbs, stiffen than of yore, and the sight less 
keen than of old, throw off something of the stiffness 
and dimness as the call to arms sounds. Alas ! the 
old floricultural prophets are gradually being trans¬ 
lated, but their successor.s, eager to catch the falling 
mantles—Where are they ? 
One feature of the show was the presence of a 
few new varieties raised by Mr. James Thurstan. 
It is sometimes said that one Pink is exactly like 
anoiher, and there is no improvement discernable in 
the latter day novelties ; but these are the expressions 
of non-observant and flippant writers. The trained eye 
of the florist can see marked differences where the 
casual observer detects onlj’ mere similarity; the clear 
vision of the seer is not given to him, he has no part 
or lot in unravelling the hidden mysteries in the 
flower’s nature, and so the florist—patient, alert, and 
keen—who raises and introduces new varieties, may 
safely go on his way. 
" New is the world at every hour. 
New runners, fine new races ; ”— 
And new developments in flowers are as illimitable 
as space. 
Mr. A. R. Brown, Handsworth, Birmingham, was 
in good form, and he took the first prizes with a 
stand of very good blooms on the whole, barring the 
presence of two or three weak ones. Princess 
Louise was very fine, and so was Minerva ; Arthur 
Brown, a fine new purple-laced, was seen in ex¬ 
cellent character (it took the first and second prizes 
in the class for purple-laced flowers, and also a 
certificate of merit, which it well deserved) ; Captain 
Kennedy, Ernest La stre, Harry Hooper, Bessie, 
Bertha, Emmeline, Amy, and Empress of India. 
Mr. C. F. Thurstan, the Hon. Secretary to the Mid¬ 
land Society, came second, and a very good second 
too, though not without its weak spots; he had 
Robert Houlgrave (Thurstan), a heavy red-laced 
flower of great power, large, full, excellent in ground, 
petal, and lacing, it was also the best red-laced 
flower in its class, it was was selected as the pre¬ 
mier flower in the exhibition, and it also received 
a certificate of merit; Modesty, Princess May 
(Thurston), pale purple-laced, very good ; also 
awarded a certificate of merit; Duke of York, Mr. 
Richards, Amy, Dr. Braide (Thurstan), a light 
edged, reddish-laced Pink, quite novel and distinct 
in character ; John Dorrington, Empress of India, 
and Boiard, with two seedlings. Mr. C. H. Herbert, 
Spark Hill,Birmingham,haeffine flowers of TheRector 
Mrs. Dark, Ada, Louisa, Minerva, Mr. F. Hooper, 
G:dfrey, and Bertram, distinct from the foregoing. 
The foregoing class gives a good idea of the varie¬ 
ties staged on this occasion. 
Bunches of miscellaneous Pinks, which I expected 
would have proved a leading feature, brought but 
two collections. Mr. C. H. Herbert was first with 
the following three-laced varieties : Bertram, Amy, 
and Boiard, and in addition to the following : Mrs. 
Lakin, Ernest Ladhams, and Lord Lyon. Mr. M. 
Campbell was second, having Miss Touroy, a laced 
variety, and another of the same character. Souvenir 
de Sale, Lord Lyon, and Her Majesty. Mr. C. H. 
Herbert had the best bouquet of Pinks, a very 
pretty one.— R. D. 
Wolverhampton Pink Show. 
The Midland Section of the National Pink Society 
was held in connection with the great Wolverhampton 
Flower Show, August 10, ii and 12th, and in the 
opinion of such men as Messrs. John Ball, Lakin, 
Thurstan, and others, was the finest display of 
Pinks even seen. The Midland growers were in form 
and had the field chiefly to themselves, for the 
Southern flowers were past their best, and the 
Northern flowers were not in. Mr. Campbell, of 
Blantyre, could muster only a very few blooms. 
It was a surprise to many of the Midland growers 
even to find blooms in such fine forms, as there had 
been a general outcry as to lacing being so imperfect 
generally with the early blooms, that fine variety 
Empress of India, which as a rule laces so well, 
coming so bald in all collections. It is a Boiard 
year as it has been so remarkably fine everywhere, 
whilst Modesty, a very fine variety, generally so good, 
has fallen short this year. 
Another surprise was in the four or five seedlings of 
such unquestionable merit as were shown on this oc¬ 
casion and obtained certificates, viz.; Robert Houl¬ 
grave, a very heavy laced, bright red, with large sized 
fine petal, a superb flower of great size and good build, 
and entirely distinct : Princess May, purple laced, a 
beautiful refined flower of first class quality, and these 
two superb varieties were raised by Mr. Thurstan, of 
Cardiff, and exhibited by his son, Mr. C. F. 
Thurstan, Wolverhampton. Another of Mr. 
Thurstan’s seedling. Dr. Braide has a clear white 
ground colour with a very fine Picotee red edge, 
rather small petal, but a lovely flower, but a certi¬ 
ficate was not awarded it. A Certificate was 
awarded to to a very fine purple laced flower, 
named Arthur Brown, raised by Mr. George Chaundy 
Jun., Oxford, and exhibited by Mr. Arthur Brown 
Florist, Handsworth, Birmingham, who holds the 
stock of it. It has a broad smooth well-formed petal, 
of good build and is a large grand flower. 
In the class for twelve dissimilar Pinks Mr. Arthur 
Brown was first with Minerva, Princess Louise, 
extra fine; Ernest Lustre, Captain Kennedy, 
Fellowes’ Bessie, Arthur Brown, very fine; Harry 
Hooper, Amy, Emmeline. Bertha, and Empress of 
India ; second, Mr. C F. Thurstan, Wolverhampton, 
with Robert Houlgrave, Modesty, Princess May, 
very fine ; Amy, a fine bloom ; Mrs. Richards (seed¬ 
ling). Dr. Braide, John Dorrington, Empress of 
India, Boiard, and two seedlings; third, Messrs. 
Thomson & Co., Birmingham, their flowers being 
The Rector, Boiard, Ada Louisa, Mrs. Dark, 
Minerva, John Ball, Duke of York, very fine ; Mr. 
F. Hooper, Godfrey, Amy. Bertrand, and Empress 
of India. 
For twelve blooms, not less than six varieties, 
first, Mr. A. Brown, with Boiard, Bessie, Minerva, 
Arthur Brown, Princess Louise, fine ; Amy, Empress 
of India, and Godfrey ; second, Mr. C. F. Thurstan' 
with Modesty, Duke of York, Blackbird, John 
Dorrington, Robert Houlgrave, Dr. Braide, Boiard, 
Princess May, and a Seedling ; third, Mr. Robt. 
Sydenham, Birmingham, with Ne plus ultra, very 
fine; Amy, Boiard, Duke of York, Minerva, James 
Thurstan, The Rector, Harry Hooper, and Mrs. 
Dark; fourth, Messrs. Thompson; fifth, Mr. J. 
Jester, West Bromwich. 
For six distinct Pinks, first, Mr. C. F. Thurstan, 
with a fine stand of Robert Houlgrave, Duke of 
York, Princess May, Amy, Dr. Braide, and another; 
second, Mr. Arthur Brown, with William Paul, 
Godfrey, Arthur Brown, Ernest, Bessie, and Princess 
Louise; third, Mr. R. Sydenham ; fourth, Messrs. 
Thomson; fifth, Mr. IM. Campbell, Blantyre. For 
six Pinks, not less than three varieties, first, Mr. C. 
F. Thurstan, with Robert Houlgrave (two blooms), 
Amy, fine; Modesty, and two seedlings; second, 
Mr. A. Brown, with a fine Princess Louise, Arthur 
Brown (two). The Rector, Minerva, and Bertha; 
third, Mr. Robert Sydenham, with Boiard. Ne plus 
ultra. The Rector, and James Thurstan; fourth, 
Messrs. Thomson & Co.; fifth, Mr. J. Jester, 
Single blooms, red-lacedFirst and third, Mr. 
C. F. Thurstan, with Robert Houlgrave; second 
and fifth, Mr. R. Sydenham, with Ne plus ultra; 
fourth, Mr. A. R. Brown, with Minerva. 
Purple-laced First and second, Mr. A. Brown, 
with Arthur Brown ; third and fourth, Mr. C. F. 
Thurstan, with Princess May, and fifth with 
Minerva. Premier Pink :—Mr. C. F. Thurstan, fora 
grand bloom of Robert Houlgrave. 
Six bunches of border Pinks;—First, Mr. C. H. 
Herbert, manager of the Spark Hill Nurseries, for 
Bertram, Amy, Mr. Welch, a fine white self. Lord 
Lyons, the finest rose colour, Boiard, and Edward 
Ladhams; second, Mr. Campbell, who had in this 
lot a Snowflake, a good white. For the best bouquet 
of Pinks Mr. Herbert was well first. 
Amongst the newer varieties shown Amy was 
conspicuous by its fine qualities; John Dorrington 
was rough ; Duke of York is a large showy flower 
and bright in colour, but inferior to Boiard when at 
its best, as it is this year; William Paul, pale 
purple-laced, is a good exhibition variety ; Ne plus 
ultra is a bold fine flower with plenty of petals and 
of good size; James Thurstan, as shown, is poor in 
quality ; Princess Louise (Fellowes) purple-laced, is 
a very refined beautiful flower, with good smooth 
petal and exquisitely laced, beating The Rector by 
its side, and it is a very great acquisition. 
Mr. Thurstan, Senr., of Cardiff, may well be 
proud of his three very fine seedlings, Robert 
Houlgrave, Princess May, and Dr. Braide; and 
his son, Mr. C. F. Thurstan, deserves the hearty 
thanks of all lovers of the Pink, for organising so 
successful an exhibition, as honorary secretary.— 
W.D.— 
--i-- 
LAELIA GRANDIS TEN£- 
BROSA. 
It has been my good fortune to inspect from time to 
time several forms of this new and choice Orchid, and 
I have to confess that whilst there is considerable 
variety both in growth and blooms, there are at the 
same time some forms of very superior merit. Even 
such as have as yet appeared to be somewhat 
inferior by comparison may perhaps by better treat¬ 
ment prove to be better than the first flowers may 
have led their ovvners to expect. I consider this a 
most beautiful and desirable addition to theCattleya 
house, and recommend that it be secured as freely, 
and treated in every respect with just the method of 
culture that is proved to be best for Laelia purpurata. 
In manner of growth I have observed at least tw'o 
distinct forms, here remarking that when first im¬ 
ported those distributed by a Southern firm were 
much stouter and massive looking than those that 
were sold by a northern establishment. The finest 
flowers so far as I have had an opportunity of 
inspecting them, are certainly amongst the stout and 
vigorous Laelia purpurata looking section, whilst for 
comparison I might describe the others in size and 
general appearance more like the less robust Li 
Perrinii. This is how it has appeared to me so far, 
others may have noticed no departure from the 
former type. 
Both forms, however, are now in flower at 
Miramar, Exmouth, the seat of J. Gordon, Esq., 
and the gardener, Mr. W. Ide, is much pleased with 
them. The stronger form is most beautiful, the 
flowers very large, colours very dark and of good 
substance ; the weaker-looking form, whilst much 
more floriferous, is, nevertheless, lacking in size, 
colour and form. Still, apart from its rival, it is a 
charming variety. Some Laelia purpurata were also 
in bloom, one with over twenty flowers was distinct 
and a very superior variety, the sepals and petals 
were clear white, the lip of a deep purple, the colour 
rather lighter in the centre and tip of the labellum, 
whilst the whole of this limb of the flower is beauti¬ 
fully margined with conspicuous strip of clear white. 
The Laelias and Cattleyas which are mostly grown 
here are making vigorous growth. I noticed Mr. Ide 
admits air most freely, using very slight shading, the 
general feeling in the houses being much drier than 
is the case with most growers.— IV. Swan, By stock 
