668 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 15, 1895. 
filling of vases and epergnes. The plants are fairly 
easy of culture and do very well in almost any 
common garden soil if it is not of too heavy a nature. 
Like the rest of its congeners H. sanguinea may be 
easily increased by division of the crowns in spring¬ 
time. 
--— 
MESSRS. BARR & SON’S PAEONIES. 
To those who are acquainted with the splendid 
decorative qualities and characteristics of herba¬ 
ceous Paeonies, a visit to Messrs. Barr & Son s 
Nurseries at Long Ditton at the present time will 
prove both interesting and instructive, for there this 
lovely plant is to be seen in all its gorgeousness of 
beauty, both single and double flowered sections 
being worthily represented. About an acre and a 
half of ground is devoted to their culture, and the 
blaze of colour presented by the plants baffles all 
attempts at adequate description. It must suffice to 
say that innumerable shades of colour are forth¬ 
coming, from purest white to deepest crimson, with 
all the hues intermediate between these two 
extremes. 
The comparative dwarfness of the plants is 
remarkable, a fact that is doubtless to be accounted 
for by the loDg dry period we have had, duriDg which 
no rain to speak of has fallen. Chinese Paeonies 
love a deep rich soil to grow in and an abundant 
water supply is necessary to enable them to develop 
their charms properly. Despite the drought, how¬ 
ever, Messrs. Barr's plants are in vigorous health, a 
fact amply testified to by the substantiality of the 
foliage, which in its dark greenness serves as such 
an admirable foil for the huge heads of glowing 
crimson of brilliant rose or delicate blush which 
appear above it. As the nurseries at Long Ditton 
afford accommodation for a numerous collection of 
varieties, it would be manifestly impossible within a 
limited space to enumerate all the sorts which com¬ 
prise it, and we must thus content ourselves with 
mentioning a few of the best; a task which, to say 
the least of it, is rather a difficult one, so many 
splendid plants forcing themselves upon our notice 
and claiming the attention which their charms so 
well merit. 
Double Flowered Varieties. 
These form the major part of the collection and 
occupy by far the larger portion of the ground ; and 
although at the time of our visit the display of bloom 
was yet in its infancy many beds having yet to open, 
the following varieties were exceptionally note¬ 
worthy. Lady Dartmouth produces large pure white 
flowers which are like most of the other members 
of this class of plants deliciously rose scented. Not 
less attractive is Marie Lemoine, a rather stronger 
growing variety, the flower in this instance being 
very double, almost globular in shape, and in 
colour white with a creamy centre. Her Majesty, 
another desirable white flowered sort, has the guard 
petals of especially large size and good substance the 
centre florets being tinged creamy white. Somewhat 
different to the foregoing is Mons. Ferrin with its 
dwarf compact habit and large pure white flowers 
which are occasionally laced with crimson, an addi¬ 
tional charm being thus imparted to it. Humei 
Carnea, although an old variety is yet able to hold 
its own among the newer introductions with its 
superb rose-coloured blooms which, however, change 
to blush white in the later stages. Very charming 
are the delicate flesh-tinted full-double flowers of 
Deticatissima whilst Loise Mere in which the blooms 
are of a pretty blush pink shade is not less worthy 
of mention, the plant being, moreover, of rather 
dwarf habit and attaining a height of about three 
feet in an ordinary season. A rather taller variety 
reaching a height of from four to five feet is Henri, 
the flowers of which are of a lovely peach blossom 
colour with a prettily tasseled soft yellow centre. 
Very beautiful is Rousselon, in which the guaid 
florets are of a soft primrose shade, the centre ones 
being blush white. This is a rather dwarf variety 
growing usually to about two feet six inches in 
height. Grandiflora Superba is well named ; the 
flowers being very double, rich rose in colour with 
the bases of the centre florets flesh-tinted changing 
to white with age. Although an old variety James 
Odier is yet a popular one to judge from the large 
stock of it which Messrs. Barr & Son have on hand. 
The bright rose-coloured blooms, the centres of 
which turn rather lighter in the later stages, are 
exceedingly attractive. 
A gem among its kind is Madame Raquet. Of 
vigorous habit, it generally grows to a height of 
between four and five feet, whilst its blooms are of 
a soft peach blossom colour prettily laced with rich 
crimson. One of the large anemone-flowered sorts 
is Grandiflora nivea, in which the centre florets are 
white laced with crimson, and the outer petals blush. 
Somewhat like the last mentioned is Grandiflora 
carnea although a deeper shade of pink is here 
evident, the centre florets being pure white and the 
crimson blotches absent. Very showy and effective 
are the large brilliant rose-coloured flowers of 
Etendard du Grand Ilomme. On measuring some 
blooms of Madame Bernard which exhibit a vivid 
rose hue we found some of them to be fully six and a 
half inches in diameter and quite five inches in depth, 
in fact, a nosegay ready made to hand. Charles 
Verdier is both a pretty and a distinct variety, of 
dwarf and compact habit, bearing rather small 
flowers, which are, however, very neat, and of 
excellent shape and a rich glowing crimson in colour. 
Very beautiful is Madame Bourcharlat Aine also a 
rather tall growing variety, with its huge rich 
carmine hued blooms. Another equally fine sort is 
Mons. Boquil which carries deep satiny rose flowers 
which when looked at in the full blaze of a fierce 
June sun are really magnificent. Of the very deep 
crimson-flowered varieties there is a comparative 
dearth up to the present time, this section not being 
so extensively represented as are the pinks and 
blushes; Madame Charpentier is among the best, 
having very double flowers and the plant being a 
vigorous grower ; likewise Rubra Triumphans the 
blooms of the last mentioned being sweetly may- 
scented and of a rich glowing crimson shade. 
Single Flowered Sorts. 
In this section are to be found very many fine 
decorative plants, many of them at the time of our 
visit being very full of flower, and affording a par¬ 
ticularly pleasing picture. Like the double-flowered 
varieties many of them are very strongly scented, 
and this, combined with the bold, yet graceful outline 
of the flowers and the large conspicuous clusters of 
bright yellow anthers appearing in the centre, stamp 
the single flowered Paeony as a decorative plant of 
no mean value, a few examples of which should 
always be grown if only for the sake of contrast with 
the doubles, which usually monopolise so large a 
share of attention. The undermentioned plants, 
which are all varieties of P. albiflora, are especially 
worthy a place in any fairly representative collection. 
Queen of May which has large fine blooms of a lovely 
rose hue changing later to soft pink, is characterised 
by an exceedingly strong rose-like perfume. Very 
charming are the magnificent pure white flowers of 
The Bride, whilst a variety known as The Moor is 
appropriately enough one of the darkest-flowered 
single sorts in cultivation, the blooms being of a rich 
glowing crimson-maroon, of very fine form and 
almost perfect outline. Others which well deserve 
honourable mention, but upon the merits of which 
space forbids us to descant, are Duchess of Port¬ 
land, soft pink, frilled white; Gertrude, brilliant rose 
pink, of exceptionally fine form ; Beauty, bright rose, 
shading to pink; Rosy Dawn, large snow-white 
flowers, tinged blush upon first opening : and Kaiser, 
brilliant rose. 
Great praise is due to Messrs. Barr and Son for 
the labour expended by them in the improvement of 
a class of plants that have for far too long been to a 
great extent neglected, but for which, having regard 
to their high decorative value as early summer¬ 
flowering plants, we have no hesitation in prophesy¬ 
ing a brilliant future. 
- 
SOCIETIES. 
Scottish Pansy and Viola Association.—The first 
meeting of the above Society was held in the 
Religious Institution Rooms, Glasgow, on Wednes¬ 
day, 5th June, at 6 o’clock. There was a large atten¬ 
dance of members, and over 200 varieties of seedling 
Pansies and Violas were staged for the opinion of 
the judges, who expressed their surprise at the size 
and beauty of some of the varieties, especially in 
this hot, dry weather. The judging is done by 
points, 84 being the possible. List of awards and 
number of points each received :— 
Certificates of Merit were awarded to fancy 
Pansies named Mrs. Gamp (51 points); The Baron 
(62 points); a First-class Certificate to Mr. Soots 
(65 points); and a Certificate of Merit to Viola Sun- 
ray (56 points), all exhibited by Mr. S. McKee, 
Belfast. Certificates of Merit were accorded to 
fancy Pansies Lady M. Hozier (54 points) ; Jeannie 
R. Karr (47 points) ; a First-class Certificate to A. 
Struthers (64 points), exhibited by Mr. G. McPher¬ 
son, Avondale. A Certificate of Merit was given to 
fancy Pansy Mary Bennett (47 points), exhibited by 
Mr. H. Chalmers, Beith. Certificates of Merit were 
given to fancy Pansies Jessie Gillespie (47 points); 
Alex. Lister (43 points); and a First-class Certificate 
to Col. Buchanan (63 points), exhibited by Mr. 
Alex. Lister, Rothesay. Certificates of Merit were 
accorded to fancy Pansies John Mackie (47 points) ; 
James Smellie (43 points) ; a First-class Certificate 
to Mrs. Wm. Steele (73 points); a Certificate of 
Merit to Y. G. Busby Gem (56 points) ; and Y. S. 
T. W. Smellie (44 points); to Violas Jessie Press- 
well (50 points) ; Nellie (58 points), all exhibited by 
Mr. John Smellie, Busby. A Certificate of Merit 
was given to a seedling Viola exhibited by Messrs. 
Dobbie & Co., Rothesay. Some fine varieties were 
also shown by Messrs. J. D. Stuart, Belfast; by Mr. 
JohnForbes, Hawick, and Mr. Irvine, Tighnabruaich, 
and others, but not in sufficient number of blooms 
to gain certificates. The judges, however, expressed 
a wish that they would see them done up in sprays 
at next meeting on 26th June. 
Royal Horticultural. — June nth. —The exhibits 
were never more extensive perhaps than they were 
at the meeting on Tuesday last. There may have 
been more numerous small exhibits, but not so great 
a number of large ones. The hardy herbaceous 
plants, the collections of Paeonies and old-fashioDed 
garden Roses, including many single ones, were 
largely responsible for the fine display. Orchids 
were more numerous and in finer condition than at 
many of the previous meetings, and really constituted 
a conspicuous feature of the general display. An 
extensive collection of Orchids was staged by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, and amongst them 
were some fine masses of Miltonia vexillaria, Epi- 
dendrum vitellinum majus, Dendrobium Johnsoniae, 
a new species, Laelia grandis tenebrosa, Oncidium 
serratum, Cattleya Sanderiana, Odontoglossum 
mulus splendens, and others. Smaller plants of 
other and rarer species were less conspicuous, but 
certainly equally interesting. Amongst little-known 
kinds were Angraecum Fournierianum, Phaius 
Owenianus, Cypripedium Frau Ida Brandt, Laelio- 
Cattleya Aylingii, and many others. Interspersed 
in the group were Palms, Ferns, and a magnificent 
piece of Dracaena Sanderiana (Silver-gilt Flora 
Medal). A smaller but interesting collection was 
set up by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper 
Holloway. Here we noted Pescatorea Roezlii, P. R. 
Rosea, with fleshy flowers, also P. Lehmanii grandi¬ 
flora, with a curiously bristly lip. Several species 
now in season were also conspicuous features of the 
group. The white Utricularia montana and the 
pale blue U. Endresii though not Orchids would 
find many admirers (Silver Banksian Medal). A 
group of Laelia tenebrosa, mixed with a few plants 
of Oncidium macranthum and Odontoglossum cris- 
pum, was exhibited by Messrs. Charlesworth & Co., 
Heaton, Bradford (Silver Banksian Medal). A showy 
group of Odontoglossums, Cattleya gigas, and 
Miltonia vexillaria was exhibited by Welbore Stuart 
Ellis, Esq , (gardener, Mr. D. Masterton), Hazel- 
bourne, Dorking (Silver Banksian Medal). Laelio- 
Cattleya Aphrodite was shown by W. R. Lee, Esq. 
gardener, Mr. Billington), Manchester. Edward 
PI. Woodhall, Esq., St. Nicholas House, Scarborough, 
showed a small but well-flowered piece of Renan- 
thera Imschootiana. A h)brid Cattleya named C. 
Mrs. Harris was exhibited by Miss Harris, The 
Grange, Lamberhurst. The interesting hybrid 
Cattleya Parthenia was exhibited by M. A. A. 
Peeters, 62, Chaussee de F'orest, Brussels. Thos. 
Statter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. R. Johnston), Stand 
Hall, Manchester, showed the beautiful white 
Cattleya superba alba. A large and very showy 
collection of Orchids was set up by J. Gurney 
Fowler, Esq., South Woodford, Essex. Very fine 
were the masses of Laelia purpurata, Cattleya 
Mendelii, and Dendrobium thyrsiflorum (Silver 
Flora Medal). De B. Crawshay, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. S. Cooke), Rosefield, Sevenoaks. exhibited a 
very select lot of Odontoglossum crispum, including 
Pride of Rosefield and Princess May. He also had 
a fine piece of Oncidium Marshallianum, Crawshay’s 
