tHE gardening world. 
August 11,1894. 
786 
Sanders, gardener to Miss Shelley-Bontein, Paul- 
ton’s Park, beat him for three of white. Mr. R. C. 
West was first for two bunches of black, and Mr. T. 
Wilkins for two of white. Six dishes of fruit (out¬ 
door growth), found Mr. R. C. West and Mr. J. 
Evans in front; Mr. Fellows and Mr. F. M. Yokes 
being first and second for a similar number from 
amateurs. 
Vegetables were very good, and some extra 
close competition resulted. In the open class for 
nine varieties Mr. Wilkins just beat Mr. Pope, 
gardener to the Earl of Carnarvon, Highclere 
Castle, Newbury; and Mr. A. R. Bone, Portswood, 
and Mr. W. Batten, Old Basing, were first and 
second for a collection of six varieties. Special prizes 
of considerable value were given by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, where Mr. J. Hughes beat Mr. W. Pope, but 
the latter was first in Messrs. Webb & Son’s class, 
the same position being occupied by Mr. W. Wilt¬ 
shire. junr., Westend, for the prizes offered by 
Messrs. Toogood & Sons, of Southampton. 
We cannot possibly append a complete list of this 
grand show, but a few of the non-competitive ex¬ 
hibits deserve a word. Messrs. Toogood had a 
special stand and tent of seeds and horticultural 
sundries ; Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, a 
good collection of choice plants and Carnations; 
Messrs. Keynes & Co., Salisbury, Roses ; and Mr. E. 
Hillier, Winchester, Shrubs and Herbaceous cut 
flowers. The Carnations and Picotees from Mr. J. 
Douglas, Great Bookham, were especially good, and 
F.C.C.’s were awarded to Ellen Terry, Mephistoles, 
King Arthur, Miss A. Campbell, and Pride of the 
Garden.—Y. 
---f*- 
ON CLIMBING PLANTS. 
Our English homes, whether the dwellings of the 
opulent, or the cottages of artisans and labourers, in 
suburban and country districts, are pretty generally 
draped, to some extent, with one or other of the 
many plants we have adapted for the purpose, and 
evidence of the same love of climbing plants is 
frequently to be found in the heart of many large 
towns, where, with the exception of such things as 
can be grown in window boxes or in pots on window 
ledges and balconies, they are often the only form 
of vegetation the dwellers in town houses can find 
space for. It has often surprised me when passing 
through the streets and squares of London to see 
the use that is made of the most unpromising corners 
for the introduction of one or other of the climbing 
plants that are found to succeed in such situations. 
The Virginian Creeper and Ivy are most commonly 
met with, and not unfrequently the common 
Laburnam may be found trained to the walls of 
some area. It looks well, too, when in flower, and 
at the first sight of it under these unusual conditions 
it looks rather strange to those who only know it as 
a tree. The foliage being light and sparse, whilst 
the young shoots are readily trained in any direc¬ 
tion, it is a good subject for training in front of close 
growing Ivy. The yellow flowers show up to great 
advantage against the dark green of the Ivy. 
There are few buildings so well designed that they 
cannot be rendered more attractive by a judicious 
use of climbing plants for their further embellish¬ 
ment ; at the same time, dwellings with balconies 
and verandahs afford the best opportunities for 
forming an effective display because of the facilities 
they present for the introduction of more variety 
than do plainer edifices. Some of our old ruins owe 
much of their present beauty to the Ivy, which 
clings to the crumbling walls and festoons the 
broken windows and doorways. Most of the plants 
used for this purpose will do well in any ordinary 
good garden soil, but one precaution to take in 
planting them is to ensure that no drip will fall on 
them, as this is often fatal to the most hardy plants 
we have. I recently saw a good illustration of this 
where, to hide a bare wall, it had been planted with 
Ivy, which did well for a time, covering up some 
25 ft. of wall, till from neglect the guttering sur¬ 
rounding the building, the roof of which was of 
considerable size, fell down, when the drip made 
comparatively short work of the Ivy, which com¬ 
pletely perished. 
The varied forms of Ivy, both variegated and 
green, are so extensively used that the mention of 
them seems to be unnecessary ; but there are also a 
few other evergreen climbers and wall plants of 
which freer use might often be made with advantage. 
for instance, the Photina serrulata. I know a fine 
specimen of this in front of a house which excels in 
appearance a fine Magnolia grandiflora on the same 
wall as a foliage plant, yet how seldom is this fine 
old plant used for the purpose. Crataegus 
Pyracantha and Cotoneaster microphylla are better 
known and most extensively used, but in some 
places it unfortunately happens that the birds strip 
the Pyracantha of its berries almost before they 
are ripe. Then among Evergreens we may justly 
place the Banksian Roses, which should have ample 
room to tower upwards. I once had a plant of the 
yellow Banksian Rose covering a large wall space, 
the remembrance of which often makes me regret 
that a freer use is not made of it for this purpose. 
The common white Jasmine is another special 
favourite with me, and although really deciduous, 
owing to the green of the young growths, it has a 
semi-evergreen appearance. 
Among deciduous plants suitable for the purpose, 
Roses occupy a first place, many of the cluster 
varieties are exceedingly beautiful, and some of the 
Noisettes and Teas are quite at home against walls. 
Gloire d’Dijon and others of which it is the parent, 
such as Lamarque, Cloth of Gold, and William 
Allan Richardson. This yields for a lengthened 
period a supply of the most exquisite buttonhole 
Roses any one can wish for. One of the most hand¬ 
some deciduous trailing plants is the Wistaria 
chinensis. This may often be noticed flowering at 
the same time as Clematis montana, and when so 
mixed together the effect is very pretty. 
Among fine-foliaged deciduous climbers, Aristo- 
lochi Sipho is most noble. The flowers, although 
small, are very interesting, and I should like to know 
if any attempt has been made to procure crosses 
between this and the larger-flowered stove species. 
Something worth having would surely reward the 
painstaking hybridist who will take them in hand. 
Jasminum nudiflorum and Forsythia suspensa, both 
yellow flowered, are capital things to grow in front 
of Ivy or Cotoneaster microphylla, their dark glossy 
foliage showing up the slender sprays of flower to 
great advantage. For the pillars of verandahs the 
various types of Clematis are well adapted, the pro¬ 
fuseness with which they flower and their hardiness 
placing them in the front rank. Those who delight 
in sweet odours should find room for Clematis 
flamula, which, in comparison to most members of 
the family, is a tame-looking subject. In cold dis¬ 
tricts w'here protection is necessary for it, Chimon- 
anthus fragrans thrives well under a verandah. 
Another most deliciously scented climber is Lonicera 
fragrantissima, which is seldom out of flower during 
mild weather in winter, and a free use may well be 
made of some of the summer-flowering species. 
Bignonia radicans major, one of the finest-flowered 
wall plants we have, is not so often seen as its great 
merits entitle it to be. 
The varieties of Ceanothus are again admirable, 
the sprays of blue flowers and interesting foliage of 
some, such as C. rigidus, lending both variety and 
distinctness to a collection of wall plants. The mis¬ 
fortune is that they are rather tender, so require 
some protection during severe frost, but they are 
well worth the trouble. Clianthus puniceus and 
Mandevilla suaveolens,where they will succeed, do far 
better outside as wall plants, because they are then 
less susceptible to red spider. Escalonia macrantha 
can only be used in the home counties as a wall or 
verandah plant, because severe frost plays havoc 
with it, yet, singular to say, large bushes of it may 
be met within the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, at 
least, I saw some there a few years back. Solanum 
jasminoides is one of the best climbers I know for 
verandahs, the quantities of bloom which may be 
gathered from a good plant of it is surprising, and 
most useful it is for flower glasses and epergnes. 
Another most beautiful half-hardy climbing plant is 
the common Passion flower, Passiflora coerulea. 
Although plants of it often survive several winters 
in the neighbourhood of London till they cover a 
large space, a severe winter is fatal to it. I have 
often seen them loaded with fruit late in the autumn, 
and beautiful as they are when in flower, the rich 
golden fruit imparts a beauty to them which rivals 
that which they present during the flowering 
period. 
Where plants of only annual duration are used 
to make a display during the summer months there 
are plenty of things to choose from which for the 
time make a more gaudy display than those of a 
more permanent character. The Nasturtiums alone 
with the great variety of colours to be had among 
them, from pale primrose to bright scarlet and rich 
maroon, will give variety enough to meet the re¬ 
quirements of very many. Then there are Cobea 
scandens, Maurandia Barclayana, Eccremocarpus 
scaber, Mina lobata. Convolvulus major in variety, 
the single and double Calistegias which are hardy 
perennials are great favourites among cottagers, 
costing nothing when once planted, and doing well 
in towns. The varieties of Euonymus are often used 
with good effect as wall plants, but most of them 
being somewhat tender are liable to suffer during a 
severe winter. The broad-leaved one with the best 
white variegation according to our own observation 
is the most hardy of all tall growing ones. I know 
a large plant which suffered but little during the 
severe winters we had in recent years, which almost 
killed other kinds in the same locality.— JV B.G. 
-- 
FliORlCODTLlt^E. 
The Carnation and Picotee Union. 
The annual exhibition by the members of the 
Carnation and Picotee Union took place as usual in 
the Stanley Road, Oxford, on the 31st, and proved an 
unqualified success, for the entries were numerous, 
the flowers very good, and the weather all that could 
be desired. The garden was, as usual, aglow with 
Carnations, for at the present time there are to be 
seen between 6,000 and 7,000 pots, and they were 
extremely gay, though the perfection of the bloom 
had been passed by a week. As is usual the exhibi¬ 
tion and luncheon tents were erected in the garden, 
and the Mayor of Oxford presided at the luncheon, 
at which a considerable number were present. But 
one and all missed the presence of the master-hand; 
that unique personality no more guided the events 
of the day ; and many references—kindly, sym¬ 
pathetic, and mournful—were made to the loss the 
Carnation growing devotees, and the Oxford Union 
in particular, had experienced by Mr. Dodwell’s 
death. The arrangements of the day were planned 
and well carried out by Mr. Arthur Medhurst, the 
present secretary ; old friends gathered about him. 
A great desire was expressed that the Union shculd 
be maintained to the level of its past prosperity, and 
there is every probability this happy condition of 
things will result. 
There were seven stands of twelve dissimilar 
Carnations. Mr. R. Sydenham, Tenby Street, 
Birmingham, taking the first prize with admirable 
blooms of P. B. J. D. Hextall, this old favourite 
being in fine character, and was selected as the 
premier bizarre or flake Carnation; P. B. Sarah 
Payne, P. B. Charles Phillips, S. B. Robert Lord, 
P. P'. Gordon Lewis, C. B. Master Fred, R. F. 
Thalia, P. F. Agricola, C. B. Lord Salisbury, S. F. 
Sportsman, S. B. Dr. Hogg, and S. F. Clipper, 
Second, Messrs. Thomson & Son, Nurserymen, 
Birmingham, with S. F. Guardsman, R. F. 
Tonilwood, C. B. J. D. Hextall, C. B. James Merry- 
weather, P. F. Mayor of Nottingham, and S. B. 
Robert Houlgrave : third, Mr. C. Phillips, Reading. 
There were eight exhibitors of six blooms, Mr. F. 
Hooper, Bath, taking the first prize with capital 
examples of S. B. Edward Adams, P. F. James 
Douglas, P. B. W. Skirving, P. F. C. Henwood, 
C. B. Mrs. Barlow, and a seedling ; Mr. Jos. Brockle- 
hurst, Moston, was second; and Mr. Joe Edwards, 
Manchester, third. 
With twelve picotees, Mr. R. Sydendam was again 
first, having excellent blooms of H. Red E., Mrs. 
Lovett, H. Ro. E., Norman Carr, L. Ro. E. 
Favourite, H. P. E., Amy Robsart, H. P. E., Miriam, 
L. P. E. Mrs. Kingston, H. Red E., Brunette, L. 
Ro. E., Rosie Sydenham, H. Ro. E., Little Phil, H. 
P. E. Wm. Openshaw, L. P. E. Diana, and H. Ro. E. 
Heroine. Mr. A. W. Jones, Birmingham, was 
second, and Messrs. Thomson and Co. third. There 
were eight competitors. With six varieties, Mr. F. 
Hooper was again first, out of eleven competitors, 
having H. Red E., J. B. Bryant, L. Red E. Mr. 
Bower, H. Ro. E., Edith Dombrain, L. P. E. Nellie, 
H. P. E., Amy Robsart, and H. Red E., Brunette. 
IMr. W. Spencer, Jr., Birmingham, was second, and 
Mr. H. Haslett, third. 
Selfs, fancies and yellow grounds were very good 
also, and Mr. R. Sydenham, was first with twelve 
out of eleven competitors ; Mr. Read, The Cottage, 
