818 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 25, 1894. 
FllORICUliTUt^E. 
The Viola Conference. 
That the recent Viola Conference at the Edgbaston 
Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, was of a decidedly 
practical character there can be no doubt. It was 
true the attendance of those interested in the culture 
of the Viola was not great, but it was representative 
in that it brought together raisers and cultivators of 
the Viola from the North, the Midlands, and the 
South, men who were quite competent to deal with 
the various matters coming before the conference, 
and as seedlings were invited, it was a happy 
thought which induced Messrs. Bobbie & Co. to 
send from Rothesay a collection of some one hundred 
varieties of Violas arranged alphabetically for 
reference, as it supplied standards by which the 
new varieties presented for certificates might be 
tested, and a goodly number of these came, and a 
good proportion of them were of a character claiming 
attention. 
The flowers staged, a committee of leading growers 
was formed, and it was gratifying to find that 
certificates were awarded with due caution and not 
without full consideration of their merits. The 
“ Violaists,” to coin a word, differ a little in their 
estimates of flowers, but proper conclusions were, I 
think, reached on the whole. The seedlings selected 
for certificates included two unnamed varieties 
raised by Captain J. A. King, Lennoxtown, Scotland, 
viz., one, creamy-white with a margin of blue 
running round the flower, but broken up into short 
flakes ; the other having a pale ground with flakes of 
claret-purple. Lizzie Thornley, from Mr. J. Smellie, 
Busby, Glasgow, pure white centre, with a broad 
edging all round of pale rosy-purple, a good sized 
flower of excellent shape and substance ; Olivetta, 
from Mr. A. J. Rowberry, Woodford, a small, stout, 
finely-formed, bright lilac-blue self, one of the 
Violetta or miniature type, and apparently a decided 
acquisition ; Rose Queen, from Mr. G. McLeod, the 
Hon. Sec. of the National Pansy Society, who 
resides at Chingford, white flushed with delicate 
pink, very pleasing; Charm, from Mr. Samuel 
McKee, Strand Town, Belfast, delicate lavender, 
with edging of silvery white, and of excellent shape; 
Gem, from Messrs. Bobbie & Co., Rothesay, a 
yellow Viola, the lower petals deeper in tint than 
the upper; and to Ethel Hancock, from Mr. B. B. 
Crane, Archway Road, Highgate, silvery-white, 
with a distinct golden eye, novel, and attractive. 
Mr. J. Smellie also submitted some new fancy 
Pansies, and to two of these—Mahogany and John 
Smellie—Certificates of Merit were also awarded. 
The awards made, the way was opened for the 
conference, which was commenced by Mr. W. 
Cuthbenson, of Messrs. Bobbie & Co., being 
elected chairman, and Mr. W. Bean, secretary. 
After a brief address from the chair, and a few 
words of welcome from Professor Hillhouse as re¬ 
presenting the Botanical Society, Mr. W. Bean read 
a paper on large-flowered violas as bedding plants, 
contending that it was most useful in the flower 
garden in spring when planted in autumn, and also 
in the summer garden in association with other 
plants. What is required to doit full justice is a 
somewhat tenacious soil with manure below the 
roots to furnish them with coolness and sustenance. 
He then ran over a list of varieties he thought best 
for the purposes, dwelling upon their characteristics, 
and in conclusion said it was very essential the 
dwarf, compact, persistent habit of the Viola should 
be maintained, freedom of bloom and fragrance 
being essential qualities. As self colours are pre¬ 
ferred in bedding, the rayless Violas are to be pre¬ 
ferred for the purpose. A useful discussion ensued, 
Mr. H. A. Needs, Horsley, near Woking, referring to 
a remark made by Mr. Bean that the Viola does 
not need the assistance of artificial manures, said 
that in his light sandy soil he was able to keep 
decay and death of the plants at bay by using sul¬ 
phate of ammonia and sulphate of iron either dis¬ 
solved in water or sprinkled over the plants in the 
form of powder. 
At the invitation of the chairman, the conference 
next proceeded to make a selection of the best 
bedding varieties grouped in colours, naming two of 
each as follows ;—White, Countess of Hopeton and 
Sylvia; deep yellow. Bullion and Lord Elcho; 
pale yellow, Ardwell Gem and Lemon Queen ; dark 
blue or violet, Archie Grant and True Blue; pale 
blue or mauve. Blue Gown and Bessie Clark ; blush 
and rose, W. Niel and Blush Queen ; edged flowers, 
Buchess of Fife and Blue Cloud ; fancy, blotched, 
or shaded. Countess of Kintore and The Mearns ; 
purple. Acme and Crimson King. 
Next came a paper by the Chairman on Exhibi¬ 
tion Violas, and he contended there were two types 
of the flower adapted for the purpose, one repre¬ 
sented by Lemon Queen, the other by Ardwell Gem. 
He preferred the latter for freedom, gracefulness and 
real beauty. Size is necessary in an exhibition Viola, 
but it should not be too large; form, substance and 
colour, or harmonious inblended colours were all 
essential. As representing substance he instanced 
such flowers as Countess of Wharncliffe among 
whites, Prince of Orange among Yellows, Archie 
Grant among the dark flowers, and among those 
which are striped, H. W. Stewart. Want of sub¬ 
stance is lacking in some of the edged varieties, of 
which Buchess of Fife is the type, but that will 
appear in further improvements. He instanced as the 
best exhibition varieties. Countess of Hopeton, Count- 
tess of Wharncliffe, Gipsy Queen and Sylvia among 
the whites ; Mary Gilbert, Bullion, George Muirhead, 
Ardwell Gem and Lemon Queen among the yellows ; 
Buchess of Sutherland, Archie Grant and W. Niel 
among the mauve and blue ; and among the bordered, 
striped and edged, Buchess of Fife, Goldfinch, Blue 
Cloud, Countess of Kintore, Iona, Princess 
Beatrice, Bawn of Bay, Columbine and York and 
Lancaster. 
The last paper was by Mr. George Steel, Etal, 
N. B., on the miniature or Violetta type, and in this 
Mr. Steel recommended the absorption into the 
large flowered violas of the Sylvia section and 
recommended two divisions ; one as representing 
the large flowered, the other a miniature section. 
He contended that all the varieties included under 
the latter heading should be characterised by form, 
colour, fragrance, and suitable size. This proposal 
of two divisions, together with the standard of 
qualities were adopted by the Conference, and it 
was understood that the proceedings would be pub¬ 
lished in pamphlet form. Votes of thanks were 
passed to the chairman and secretary, and during 
the afternoon a photograph was taken of the members 
of the conference as a souvenir of the gathering.— 
R.D. 
-- 
A GARDENERS’ OUTING. 
The sixth annual outing of the members and friends 
of the Ealing and Bistrict Gardening Society is now 
a thing of the past, but it is one of those things 
which will take some considerable time to become 
effaced from the memories of those who took part in 
it.' The weather—the principal factor, perhaps, in 
gatherings of this description—was all that could be 
desired. It was, in fact, one of those superb days 
which completely takes every one by surprise, and 
which calls forth encomiums of the most compli¬ 
mentary character. The early morning of Tuesday, 
the 14th inst., however, was anything but hopeful; 
but on reaching Richmond, the starting point, old 
Sol shone out in all his glory. There the party^ 
which numbered ninety-five, including a large per. 
centage of ladies, found Mr. Burgoine’s new and 
splendidly fitted up steam launch awaiting them, and 
we think that that gentleman was well advised when 
he decided to christen the boat “ La Burgoine,” for 
we feel sure that it is destined to obtain for him an 
extended reputation. About g.20 a.m. the signal was 
given, and away went the beautiful boat towards 
Kingston, the residence of its worthy owner. As it 
gracefully glided over the watery way, past Eel Pie 
Island and Twickenham’s classic shores, we all felt 
that there are, of course, far larger rivers, but 
scarcely one lovelier than 
"The Crystal Thames wont to glidej in silver 
channel, down along the Lee.” 
Pope’s Villa, or the modern erection which does duty 
for it, necessarily attracted much notice, and com¬ 
mendable praise, for the gardens between it and the 
fortunate observers, were not only attired in all their 
summer sheen, but were in verdure clad. The princi¬ 
pal interest, perhaps, in Twickenham, outside its 
pretty river-side residences, lies in its literary 
associations. It was here that Pope lived and died, 
and it was here that Plorace Walpole made a name. 
But Strawberry Hill, like Pope’s Villa, has under¬ 
gone much modification, for Chronos, the deity of 
time, does not spare even his own offspring. 
Teddington Lock is now reached, and the party 
have, so to speak, time to look about. The scene 
here is, at least foliaceous ; and the “ Anglers,” in 
fact, and in fancy, may be discerned through the 
leafy umbrage of the verdant trees. At this spot one 
is reminded of Bushey Park, and a host of other 
things, the Chestnut Avenue, perhaps, being upper¬ 
most in the thinker’s mind. Having navigated the 
first lock in a perfectly satisfactory manner, we 
again go forward, noticing on our way, the admirably 
arranged recreation grounds of the busy town of 
Kingston. The public spirit here displayed is 
worthy of imitation, judging by the numbers who 
come to spend their leisure hours, and enjoy the 
beauties of Nature and Art. Now we shoot under 
the handsome stone bridge, and observe the pro¬ 
prietor of our noiseless " barque,” scanning with a 
keen eye, the graceful motions of his favourite child. 
A signal is given and returned; and we soon plunge 
ahead between lovely banks of verdure ; for, on our 
right, the trees of Hampton Court Park come down 
to the water’s edge, while on the opposite bank, the 
the gardens and villas of sunny Surbiton enchant 
the eye. The great palace of Cardinal Wolsey is 
now in full view, and many are the recollections, 
historical and otherwise, which a sight of that 
suggests. 
Just beyond the bridge another lock is encountered, 
and again we have to undergo the same process of 
watching and waiting. Hereabouts the “ silent 
Mole which runneth underneath ” empties itself into 
the larger river, and gives the origin to the straggling 
little hamlets of East and West Molesey. 
Sunbury Town and Lock, Walton, Halliford, and 
Shepperton are each and all out-distanced, although 
near the latter place, in a sharp curve, two of the 
party had to submit to the playful caprices of 
Zephyrus and Auster, who, singly or conjointly, 
most unceremoniously relieved them of their 
chapeaus. After a quarter of an hour’s delay they 
were recovered, and the journey pursued without 
further incident until nearing our destination, when 
another member received the same discourteous 
treatment, much to the merriment of his other 
comrades. Shortly after this we pulled up at 
Chertsey Bridge—just after i p.m.—and by 2 p.m. 
we were busily engaged on the excellent repast which 
host Winder, of the Bridge Hotel, had provided for 
us. Mr. Geo. Cannon occupied the chair by " virtue 
of his office,” he said, although he delegated all the 
credit for the admirable arrangements to Mr. Green, 
the secretary, Mr. Harding, and the executive com¬ 
mittee. 
After dinner there was no set programme—every¬ 
one went as they pleased until five o’clock, when 
the return journey was commenced. This, like the 
up one, was enlivened with music, instrumental and 
vocal, and everything went smoothly on until the tea 
was about to be served. Then it was discovered 
that, although the milk had been ordered and paid 
for, it had not arrived. Incidents, however, of this 
character are generally pleasantly taken, and those 
who could not sip the fragrant cup without ” adul¬ 
teration,” withheld their patronage until some 
" Simpson ” was obtained. 
The principal wild flowers which call for observa¬ 
tion were the Great Willow Herb, the Purple Loose¬ 
strife, and the fragrant Meadow Sweet. All were in 
abundance and gave much tone and colour to the 
fairy banks. The Sagittaria sagittifolia, or common 
Arrow Head, was there, and the Menyanthus 
trifoliata, the Bog Bean or Water Lily, lent its 
floating aid. 
As to cultivated plants, they, of course, were en 
evidence, as becometh the time and place and whole¬ 
some rivalry which the action of riverside gardens 
necessarily demands. Begonias, Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias, etc., produce so much richness and 
variety of colour that no artists’ palette could 
approach, while above in the lofty trees or the 
variegated shrubs colours of the deepest hue add 
their quota to the view. Of all the ornamental 
trees, perhaps, which rendered themselves con¬ 
spicuous, none were so generally admired as the 
huge Catalpas, for C. bignonioides was, in several 
instances, a mass of flower. 
As, however, the sun declined and we were nearing 
our journey’s end, the opinion was freely expressed 
that the trip had been such a delightful one that 
words could not convey its import. Richmond was 
recovered by 8.30 p.m., where the party dispersed. 
Thus came to an end a red-letter day in the history 
of the Society which it will doubtless take some 
seasons to eclipse .—One of the Party. 
