730 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 15, 1899. 
an exhibition they can be compared with others of 
the same kind. Then perhaps there is a fairly level 
uniformity, with an advantage inclining slightly in 
one or other direction. Still, when all is said, I have 
the impression the flowers Mr. Sturt showed me, 
and there were a great number of them, were the 
finest I have seen anywhere this season. The name 
by which the rosy-pink variety is here known is 
Rangemore Blush. Other names are used in some 
establishments, Princess May being one of them ; 
but whichever is used the variety is a most charming 
one, and the flowers at Round Oak of great size, ful¬ 
ness, and splendid colour. The plants are in splendid 
health and vigour, no sign whatever of any disease 
upon them; and as the plants are placed on the 
stages, their uniform height, freedom of flower, and 
superiority of the individual blooms is certainly of a 
most pleasing character. Other varieties are grown, 
among which I noticed Nell Gwynne, Churchwarden 
(a deep glowing scarlet), Princess of Wales, and a 
capital lot of Uriah Pike, rich in colour and free in 
blooming. 
Some Dendrobes in one of the stoves had just 
passed their flowering stage and were placed where 
heat, light and moisture could be given without 
stint. Here they were already pushing up stout and 
plump growths, and as the season advances and 
similar conditions prevail, the growths I opine will 
exceed those of last year both in length and stout¬ 
ness. Cattleyas were equally good, but these were 
not quite so forward in growth. A few Masdevallias 
and Odontoglots are grown ; Calanthes also occupy, 
even as they have for many years, a good share of 
space, since they are found most useful for display 
in the town residence during the Christmas and New 
Year season. A Peach-house was just at its best. 
Muscats had a fine crop on them, the berries about 
the size of round Peas. Black Hamburgh and 
Foster's Seedling were in the finishing stages, with 
good bunches, plenty of them, capital berries, and 
good colour. The various crops in the kitchen 
garden were all that could be wished. The Straw¬ 
berry beds show also abundance of fruit.— S. 
- - I - - 
CARNATIONS AT EDENSIDE. 
During the next fortnight or so the glasshouses of 
Mr. James Douglas, Edenside, Great Bookham, 
Surrey, will be bristling with flowers and buds as 
they have been for some time past. Various of the 
choicest and best of the florists’ flowers are grown 
here, but the Carnation reigns supreme, at this 
season of the year particularly. So many beautiful 
varieties, and rich and varied colours, have been 
raised within the last few years that one is puzzled 
to know which to admire most. The constitution of 
the plants and their vigour of growth is now such 
that no one experiences any difficulty either in pro¬ 
pagating or growing them. We had the pleasure of 
inspecting them when the first batch of border 
Carnations, fancy and yellow ground Picotees were 
in prime condition ; and seeing that there was such 
a galaxy of colour in the general collection, the new 
varieties just being sent out and the promising new 
ones under trial, we confined our attention chiefly 
to the grand new sorts being put into commerce 
for the first time. That gave us sufficient about 
which to speak. Several houses are filled with them 
in the pink of condition, and though now under 
glass they were grown in the open till recently, and 
the dwarfness of those that have just been housed is 
a noticeable feature. Only a few plants are shaded, 
the rest being left exposed to sun and air. There 
are between 14,000 and 15,000 pots of plants, and, 
many of them being crowded out, have to take their 
chance in the open air. Two plants were put into 
each 24-size pot, and three into each 16-size, the 
two sizes being about equal in number, which will 
give an idea of the actual total of plants in pots. 
These include about 200 of the magnificent varieties 
raised by Mr. Martin R. Smith, and 50 raised by 
Mr. Douglas himself. 
New self and fancy border Carnations.— 
Under this heading we include all those about to be 
distributed during the forthcoming autumn and 
spring. There is a great run upon Cecilia, which 
has clear yellow flowers about the size of a Malmai- 
son, and which secured the “ Premium ” as the best 
Carnation of any colour at the exhibition of the 
National Carnation Society at the Crystal Palace last 
year. It also received a First-class Certificate from 
that body, and an Award of Merit from the R.H.S. 
Yellow varieties are now fairly common ; but in our 
opinion Midas is a decided innovation, being of a 
rich orange, suffused with scarlet. It is certainly a 
large, beautifully formed and decidedly striking 
flower. The pinky-blush of Blushing Bride makes a 
charmingly delicate flower. Those who desire a 
decidedly dark flower of beautifully refined form 
will find it in Boreas, which is of an intense maroon- 
crimson. A large and full flower is Banner, of rich 
scarlet and fine form. It has been honoured with an 
Award of Merit by the R.H.S. A First-class Certi¬ 
ficate was accorded to the clear yellow Blondin by 
the National Carnation Society. 
The orange-red flowers of Prince of Orange are 
decidedly handsome for border work. Trojan shows 
what an advance has been made on white Carnations, 
for undoubtedly it takes a leading place in its class, 
the beautifully refined flowers having broad petals of 
a pure white, shining in the sun with a satiny lustre. 
The long stalks make it useful for cutting. By re¬ 
ferring to our pages about two or three weeks back 
it will be seen that it was accorded an Award of 
Merit by the R.H.S., this being the highest award 
for a florists’ flower. A strong growing variety is 
Paragon, with large and handsome flowers of a clear 
yellow. A good yellow ground border variety is 
Yolande, having rich yellow flowers heavily edged 
with crimson and the petals variously marked 
with the same hue. 
For garden decoration, variety of colouring, and 
the strangeness of the combination, the fancy Car- 
na tions are certainly pre-eminent, as they entirely bid 
adieu to the canons of the florist. The best of all of 
them according to competent authorities is Hidalgo. 
It is a rich yellow ground, heavily marked with deep 
red and maroon; indeed the yellow is almost 
obscured and overpowered by the dark colour. It 
has had several honours, including a First-class Cer¬ 
tificate and the " Premium ” as the best fancy from 
the National Carnation Society. In the same 
category and scarcely if any inferior to it is Queen 
Bess. The Apricot ground is heavily variegated with 
rose-lilac and rose-red flakes. Sweet Lavender is a 
very distinct type, being intricately marked with 
lavender on an apricot ground. In our opinion, 
however, it is excelled by Elf King, which may be 
described as a dark purple lavender or rich blue- 
heliotrope flaked with scarlet. The blooms are also 
of fine form, and certainly a charming fancy flower. 
All of the above new varieties were raised by Mr. 
Martin R. Smith. 
A very distinct self is that named Majestic, raised 
by Mr. Douglas and to be sent out by him during next 
autumn. It is a rich and very dark purple of refined 
form. There are very few good purples in cultiva¬ 
tion, and this is both first-class of its kind and 
worthy of extended cultivation. A fancy yellow ground 
named Zingara is a year older, but still a showy and 
meritorious form; it is heavily flaked and barred with 
maroon and red on a yellow ground. A lovely 
colour is represented by Cinnamon (Martin R. 
Smith), having dark reddish-cinnamon flowers of 
handsome form. It is a favourite with many 
connoisseurs on account of its distinct and lovely 
hue. 
Yellow-Ground Picotees. —This type is dis¬ 
tinguished by having the body colour of the petals 
of some shade of yellow, margined with a different 
colour. The latter is not always strictly confined to 
the margin as in a white-ground Picotee, but may 
form slender stripes or lines running down the petal. 
The edging, however, is generally a very distinctive 
feature. The petals of the new Heather Bell (M. R. 
Smith) are edged with bright rose, and the flowers 
of handsome size. Professor (M. R. Smith) is also 
a beautifully refined flower, margined with a light 
scarlet edging on a clear yellow ground. The 
bright yellow flowers of Borderer are margined with 
a lively red. Day Dream is another fine thing, 
having a scarlet edging, and some lines of the same 
hue running down the petals. The above four were 
raised by Mr. Martin R. Smith, and are new for 
this year. Varieties of one, two, or three years’ 
standing are very numerous, for great improvements 
amongst them have quite recently been effected. 
Mohican is one of last year’s varieties, and is notable 
for its deep yellow ground, lightly edged with rosy- 
red. These lovely flowers have only to be seen to be 
appreciated and understood, for description can only 
convey but a faint idea of their beauty, subtle tints 
of colouring, and the infinity of arrangement of the 
same. 
Malmaison Carnations.— About sixteen varieties 
of very choice and well selected Malmaison Carna¬ 
tions are now offered the public, these being regarded 
as new in contradistinction to the well-known blush 
and pink varieties now almost universally included 
in collections. They have been flowering more or 
less for a long time past, though many of them were 
still blooming profusely last week. Very large, 
brilliant scarlet flowers of handsome form are pro¬ 
duced by Trumpeter (Martin Smith). The plant is 
a strong grower, yet flowers profusely, the plants 
not being disbudded nor shaded; the flowers are 
also deliciously scented. Lady Grimston is flaked 
and mottled with bright rose on a pale rosy ground, 
and is the best striped variety in this section. Prime 
Minister (Martin Smith) is very similar in the 
general appearance of the flowers to Trumpeter, 
being of a brilliant scarlet and fine form, but it 
differs entirely in habit and the much narrower 
foliage than usually prevails amongst the Mal- 
maisons. It was derived from the Malmaison race, 
however, and is considered the finest scarlet Mal¬ 
maison in cultivation. It is certainly very hand¬ 
some, vigorous, sweet scented, and free. Equally 
choice in its way is the pure white Nell Gwynne 
(Martin Smith), being the purest white Malmaison 
that has yet been raised. Another leading type is 
Lord Roseberry, having cupped flowers of a rich, 
dark rose, and deliciously scented. It was honoured 
some time ago with the Award of Merit of the 
R.H.S. Handsome varieties also are Sir Evelyn 
Wood, salmon-pink ; The Churchwarden, crimson- 
scarlet ; Mrs. Everard Hambro, crimson-rose; Mrs. 
Martin Smith, with rosy flowers and the habit of the 
ordinary tree Carnations; and Princess May, deep, 
rich rose. 
Tree Carnations. — A general collection of tree 
Carnations is always kept in stock ; and the race is 
always being improved by additions of new and more 
perfect forms from year to year. Scilla (Douglas) 
is the finest white offered for this year, the colour 
being pure and the petals of great substance and good 
form. Its qualities are well brought out when con¬ 
trasted with the Continental variety, Deutsche Braut 
(German Bride), sent out as the best white. The 
latter lacks the refinement of the former. The other 
new one for this year is Sardis, a charming carmine 
flower of beautiful form when it first opens, gradually 
changing to a clear, rich pink. Slightly older is 
Comus, considered to be the finest white tree Car¬ 
nation in the lists. It certainly does well here, being 
vigorous, free, and carrying its blooms erect on stout 
footstalks. The rosy-pink flowers of Regalia are as 
large as those of a Malmaison, yet it was raised from 
Miss Joliffe by crossing. It is vigorous and flowers 
very freely. Alfred Grey is a soft yellow flower, 
flushed and slightly striped occasionally with pink, 
being very distinct. Those interested in Carnations 
could not do better than pay a visit of inspection, and 
see the various magnificent strains of different types 
of this popular race for themselves, and they will 
certainly be delighted with the varied display on 
view during the next week or two. 
-- 
BEARDED OR GERMAN IRISES. 
Possibly no one would dispute the statement if I 
said that Irises, at least of the taller groups, are the 
handsomest of hardy summer flowering plants. 
They are comparable to the Cattleyas or Sobralias 
of the tropics and hardy plant lovers go so far as to 
declare a preference for these beautiful flowers so 
easily secured, rather than Orchids. I do not mean 
to say which I like best, but at the same time I 
think that few sights are more enjoyable and so 
extravagantly and delicately rich, as are the groups 
of Irises growing in beds upon lawns. 
Irises are classed in two sections, bulbous, and 
rhizomatous. The first class embraces Spanish and 
English Irises of which the last named are larger than 
the others. 
Instead of having a creeping rootstock or rhizome, 
like a true Iris, the Spanish and English Irises have 
elongated bulb-like corms, so that after all they are 
not even bulbs, but corms. The rhizomatous section 
give rise to bearded and beardless Irises. The 
bearded species include Iris germanica which has 
numerous varieties with blue, purple, or white 
flowers, known also, as are all the German Irises, as 
the Flag Irises ; I. pallida, a species with numerous 
varieties, all lovely; I. neglecta, I squalens, I. varie- 
