714 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 10, 1897. 
wings. Duchess of York is rather a striking light 
variety, the standard being suffused with blush and 
the wings paler. A distinctive feature of it is the 
ridges or undulations at the base of the standard. 
Very pretty also is Alice Eckford, having a pale 
salmon standard and white wings. 
A new variety raised here has just been named 
Cottage Maid, which has a rosy-pink standard, and 
blush wings. The buds are lemon and charmingly 
marked or blotched with carmine. The old and 
young flowers mixed give a blending of harmonious 
colours that are very charming. The variety is very 
early, for half of the seed pods were set bj the time 
we saw it. The great size of the flowers and their 
profusion will make this a standard variety for some 
years to come. Bronze King is a small-flowered 
Continental variety, having a bronze standard, white 
wings, and very pretty. We do not admire striped 
varieties as a rule, but Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain is a 
showy and striking variety, striped and flaked with 
purplish-rose. A seedling selected from it is even 
finer on account of the huge flowers, striped and 
flaked carmine. The standard of Daybreak is washed 
with red on a white ground, and the wings are white. 
A showy and taking variety is Lady Beaconsfield 
with lilac-pink standards and lemon wings. Princess 
Beatrice re-selected is a beautiful pink variety, a 
shade or two darker than the original, and a profuse 
bloomer. Little Dorritt is a dwarf and very showy 
variety with a scarlet standard and purple wings 
marbled with white. 
Here again we came across several new and un¬ 
named varieties of great merit. One had standards 
measuring if in. across, and presented a charming 
combination of salmon-pink and soft creamy wings. 
The buds are of a dark rose, and the blooms of great 
size. Another was of a soft rosy-pink of great size, 
and almost always bearing three flowers on a 
peduncle. It is a giant amongst its kind. A third 
variety worthy of note had rose standards, paler 
wing?, and the blooms were of great size, and 
abundantly produced. In a word it maybe described 
as a glorified Apple Blossom. The latter is of some 
years standing and still very showy and useful. It 
carries three, four, and five flowers on a stalk. The 
finest scarlet has yet to be put into commerce, for it 
has not been named. It occurred as a sport amongst 
plants of another variety, also new and of course not 
yet fixed. It is very much larger than Brilliant 
Scarlet and Cardinal, two of the most brilliant and 
glowing colours here. 
Very handsome is Duke of York with scarlet 
standards and blush wiDgs suffused with lemon. 
Empress of India is a great improvement upon 
Painted Lady which is a popular and showy old sort, 
still cultivated. A double form of Empress of India 
is a curiosity in its way for those who like flowers 
with a multiplicity of standards. Slightly darker 
than Mrs. Gladstone is Prima Donna. The Mikado 
is salmon-pink, very floriferous, and of great size. 
Novelty is orange-scarlet with rich carmine wings 
and well-deserving of cultivation. The rich carmine- 
rose flowers of Her Majesty, and the brilliant pink of 
Lady Penzance are always of the first water and 
peculiarly handsome. A late variety is Gaiety, 
having purplish flowers flaked with scarlet. A chaste 
and charming light variety is Butterfly, having white 
flowers edged with heliotrope on the upper edge of 
the wings, and shading the standard to a much greater 
extent. Amongst the very dark kinds we made notes 
of only a few of the most distinct and striking. 
Dorothy Tennant is rich purple; Madame Carnot, 
blue and purple ; and Boreatton, the well-known, 
rich wallflower-purple, all of which serve to give 
variety, either in the garden or in the cut state. 
Both Cupid and Pink Cupid are grown here, the 
plants of the former being more profusely flowered 
than we have hitherto seen them in the open air. Pink 
Cupid is a bicolor of considerable beauty, and having 
a slightly more lax habit of growth. Seeds raised of 
them in this country fcr a number of generations will 
probably give rise to varieties more suitable for the 
climate of Britain. The varieties mentioned above 
are only a few of the more salient which we noted at 
Reading. The extensive character of this collection 
of Sweet Peas at Reading serves the purpose of 
comparing the varieties and selecting the best. 
For such an object lesson the general public and 
gardeners in particular, ought to be truly thankful. 
Rice is cultivated over one-half of the arable land 
of japan. 
SOCIETIES 
ROYAL OXFORDSHIRE HORTICULTURAL.— 
June 29th. 
This show which, as an annual fixture, is on the 
Tuesday in Commemoration Week, derives its dis¬ 
tinguishing title from this circumstance; and the 
present one is, we believe, the sixty-eighth of a con¬ 
secutive series. Those who are familiar with the 
most extensive of the college gardens of Oxford 
know how admirably they are adapted, and how en¬ 
hanced thereby are the choice and interesting dis 
plays that are always presented at the flower shows 
that are held within them, and those of Worcester 
College, in which this year's exhibition was located, 
furnish conditions that make them especially suit¬ 
able for the purpose. The long stretch of well kept 
lawn afforded ample space for the erection of the 
two large marquees that accommodated the classes 
for plants, flowers and fruit, while beneath the shade 
of surrounding trees were conveniently arranged 
stands for the numerous exhibits of vegetables. 
In turning into the larger of the marquees, we at 
once noticed the pleasing effect produced by the large 
groups of plants occupying the centre, and on closer 
examination the artistic manner in which they were 
severally arranged. That of Mr. J. Cypher, Chel¬ 
tenham, which gained the premier award in the open 
class, was not only an attractive grouping, but the 
majority of the plants in themselves were note¬ 
worthy as skilfully cultivated specimens of their 
respective kinds. Mr. W. Vause, who was second, 
had a very meritorious group, but more massive in 
its arrangement; and that of His Grace the Duke of 
Marlborough (gardener, Mr. T. Whillans), in which 
Carnations and Orchids were conspicuous, helped to 
form an exceedingly pretty tout ensemble. The prize 
groups of Begonias of Messrs. Mattock, Woolton, and 
Johnson were well arranged and embraced some of 
the best double and single named varieties. Densely 
flowered specimens of Fuchsias were shown by Mr. 
Jno. Mattock and Miss Greswell; and Mr. Johnson 
staged good examples of exotic Ferns. 
Orchids were all the rage, and a prize group, staged 
by Mr. Cypher on nearly 100 feet superficial, con¬ 
tained a choice lot of Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Cypri- 
pediums, Odontoglossums, Epidendrums, etc. A 
very nice group of Orchids was put up, not for com¬ 
petition, by (Mr. E. A. Bevers, Broad Street, the 
twenty-seven plants being very showy, and a First- 
class Certificate was awarded to this exhibit. A 
similar honour was conferred on a group of Begonias, 
Gloxinias, Caladiums (in sixteen new varieties), 
Streptocarpus, etc., arranged by Messrs. John Laiog 
& Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., the quality of the exhibit 
securing that firm a well deserved First-class Certifi¬ 
cate. A very showy collection of Malmaison Carna¬ 
tions (pink and yellow) was staged as an extra by 
Mr. Whillans, gardener to His Grace the Duke of 
Marlborough, a First-class Certificate being 
awarded ; a similar honour was conferred on a new 
white Antirrhinum "Truce,” staged by Mr. J. E. 
Jefferies, Queen Street, and quite a large amount of 
space was filled by a display of herbaceous flowering 
plants, and vegetables, grown specially for Messrs. 
Webb & Sons by their experts for exhibiting pur¬ 
poses. A stand of plants and flowers, grown by 
Ichthemic Guano, prepared at Ipswich, completed 
the extras, save and except a most attractive 
"shower ” bouquet, staged by Mr. P. J. Perry, The 
Nurseries, Banbury. In cut blooms the roses were 
bay excellence, the “ display ” in the open class by Mr. 
Mattock being very taking, and altogether superior 
to the arrangement from Leamington, Mr. Mattock’s 
being choice bouquets of Tea, scented, garden, and 
Brier forms, mixed with Ferns, etc. The tables 
“ decorated and laid as for dinner ” proved a centre 
of attraction, the premier being a simple arrange¬ 
ment of tiny Cocos Palms and Cyperus alternifolius, 
with vari-coloured Iceland Poppies and white Sweet 
Peas, Ferns, and grasses. There was a good show 
of herbaceous perennials, the twelve distinct Dunches 
being very fine and showy. Florists’ Pinks and 
Pansies were a pretty, though a somewhat limited 
feature, and the number of boxes of Roses suggested 
being a miniature special exhibition, the flowers being 
full-sized and immensely fresh. 
Fruit was grand Fine ripened clusters of Foster’s 
Seedling and Black Hamburgh Grapes; Royal 
George and Abec Peaches ; Lord Napier Nectarines; 
James Veitch Strawberries ; Golden Perfection and 
Lockie's Scarlet-flesh Melons ; Sutton’s Perfection, 
Polegate, and Best of All Tomatos ; Royal Windsor 
Cucumbers; Elton Pine and May Duke Cherries 
found favour with the judges, and secured the cards 
in their several classes. 
Vegetables proved an extensive feature, there being 
no less than eleven competitors for the prizes offered 
by the Reading and Wordsley seed firms, the best 
known cultivators having entered the lists with high 
quality exhibits. In the single dish classes Sutton’s 
Early Giant Peas secured the highest awards. The 
grandest dish of kidney Potatos in the show came 
from Bletchington Rectory, the variety being Inter¬ 
national, which for exhibiting is At, but for cooking 
and eating is nearly worthless. The amateurs' and 
cottagers’ productions demonstrated the advance of 
horticultural science in the district, one result being 
an abundant supply of good quality products. 
In the classes open to all members of the society 
Mr. J. Mattock was first for a group of stove and 
greenhouse plants. The Rev. W. D. B. Curry, New 
Hincksey Vicarage, (gardener, Mr. T. Carpenter) 
took the leading prizes for a specimen stove plant in 
flower, six Orchids, and six Gloxinias. Mr. George 
Jacob, Witney, had the best greenhouse specimen, 
and took other prizes for plants. Mr. J. Johnson, 
Garsington, had the best exotic Ferns, and nine and 
six Pelargoniums; and Mr. John Walker, Thame, 
had the best British Ferns. Mr. Montague Wootten, 
(gardener, Mr. J. Clarke), Cross Ways, set up the 
best group of Begonias. His Grace the Duke of 
Marlborough, Mr. J. Johnson Mr. J. Mattock, and 
Mr. J. Walker, figured largely for cut flowers. 
Mr. S. Brown, Aynho Park Gardens, staged the 
best black and white Grapes and Peaches ; but was 
beaten by the Duke of Marlborough for Nectarines. 
Mr. T. Lockie, Diddington Hall Gardens, Hunts., 
had the best Melon. The Rev. the Provost of 
Worcester College, (gardener, Mr. J. Holton) took 
the leading prizes for Cauliflower and Peas. Aubrey 
Harcourt, Esq., (gardener, Mr. A. G. Nichols) staged 
the best Cherries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Cu¬ 
cumbers, Tomatos, Carrots, Cabbages, and round 
Potatos. The Rev. R. F. Dale showed the best 
kidney Potatos. Special prizes for nine dishes of 
vegetables were offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading; and Mr. G. Neale, gardener to P. Southly, 
Esq. ; Mr. C. J. Waite, gardener to ’Col. the Hon. 
W. P. Talbot; Mr. C. Brock, gardener to C. D. 
Batt, Esqr.; and Mr. R. Wadham, gardener to 
Admiral Bradshaw, Steeple Aston, took the awards 
in the order named. Messrs. Webb & Sons, 
Wordsley, Stourbridge, offered prizes for six dishes 
of vegetables; and the prizes were taken by Mr. 
Thomas Lockie, Mr. G. Neale, and Mr. C. J. 
Waite in that order. _ 
The judges for plants, flowers, and fruit, were Mr. 
A. Turner, Slough ; and Mr. W. G. Baker, Botanic 
Gardens. Oxford. The amateurs' and cottagers’ 
productions were judged by Mr. A. G. Nichols, 
Nuneham Park Gardens; and Mr. T. Doherty, 
Wroxton Abbey Gardens. Mr. W. Greenaway 
proved an efficient secretary. 
FARNHAM ROSE.— June 30 th. 
The Rose show held at Farnham last week was 
considered the best ever held by the society, and the 
management is to be congratulated upon the strength 
of the exhibits as a whole. 
In the 1 Cup ' class for twelve blooms, the premier 
award was well taken by Mr. Edwards, gardener to 
Mrs. Knight, Leigh House, Farnham. Mr. Edwards 
does his Roses well, and his board evoked consider- 
\ 
abiminterest from both cultivators and visitors. 
Amongst other principal exhibitors, Mr. Gamer, 
of Waverley Abbey Gardens, sent some extensive 
exhibits of both fruit and flowers, whilst outside the 
tent, owing to the limited staging under canvas, 
several non-competitive groups were contributed by 
Mr. Samuel Bide, of Alma Nursery, Farnham. 
Diversity of colour and a well-grown lot of plants, 
handled and arranged with excellent skill, gave a 
very pretty effect. 
In the open class for 24 Roses, Mr. Will Taylor 
secured " first " in a very close competition, whilst 
Mr. Bide also shewed a handsome exhibit of the new 
Rose, " Kaiserin Augusta Victoria,” not for com¬ 
petition. This exhibit, as may be supposed, was 
also one of considerable interest. A committee of 
fourteen members govern the affairs of the Associa¬ 
tion and Mr. C. C. Knight is secretary. 
