794 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 14, 189? 
margined w.th blood on a white base, and are the 
darkest of this particular type, that is, of those 
having a white ground. A smooth and good shaped 
flower is Sarasate, the colour being scarlet, with a 
maroon flake. Daybreak is white with a fine scarlet 
edge, and very pretty. A singular and even pleasing 
flower is Lorna Doone, being rose with a white flake, 
and quite contrary to the usual arrangement in a 
florists’ flower, the ground colour of which is white, 
or should be, with darker flakes or markings. The 
variety in question grows strongly and flowers freely. 
Sarah Grand is a white flower with a few rose 
stripes. 
An old and well-known border flower is Alice 
Ayres, with a few carmine stripes on a white ground. 
It is of strong constitution, and has stood the test of 
border culture for 15 years. Germania is still one 
of the most refined of florists’ flowers, and is very 
dwarf when grown as a border flower, but carries the 
blooms well up. Corunna is another yellow which 
does best in pots, but even outside grows 2$ ft. high 
and flowers very freely. Other well-known sorts 
are grown here, but being highly refined florists’ 
flowers they do not grow very strongly in the open 
ground. 
The nursery lies on a slope, all the upper portion 
consisting of gravelly soil overlying London clay. 
The Carnations are entirely confined to the gravelly 
soil, upon which they thrive remarkably. The lower 
portion consists of the ancient bed of a stream, and 
here the gravelly soil has all been carried away 
leaving the London clay of the coarsest description 
exposed at the surface. Very little of this is culti¬ 
vated, for few things would grow upon it unless 
ameliorated by the introduction of good loam. Some 
other plants are grown in the nursery, both herba¬ 
ceous and shrubby, but chiefly the former, so that as 
we stated above, the Pinks and Carnations are the 
speciality here. Needless to say they are well done, 
for Mr. Gifford is a florist of long standing. His 
men were busy layering the Carnations ; and we 
were surprised that the layers were being so lightly 
covered, but were assured that they like the sun, and 
root better by beiDg near the surface, if watered In 
dry weather. 
- 
CULTIVATION OF THE CARNATION. 
1. Time for Planting. —From the middle of 
September until the end of October is the best time. 
In the spring, whenever the weather is favourable, 
is also suitable for this work. When Carnations 
are planted too early in the open ground they some¬ 
times suffer from the effects of drying winds. 
2 Preparation of the Ground. —This should 
be done in September, or sooner, by trenching it to 
the depth of 15 or 18 in., working some decayed 
manure in during the process. A good medium clay 
loam is best, and one rather inclined to be heavy 
than light; but I have grown Carnations admirably 
on light sandy soil—in this case some clayey loam 
mixed with leaf mould and decayed manure was 
placed round the roots. 
3. Planting.— This should be done as soon as 
the plants are received, the ground having been 
previously prepared. Carry the box containing the 
plants to the bed, and plant them out as they are 
removed from the moss and papers. The plants 
should be 6 in from the edge of the bed and 15 in. 
asunder in the rows. Plant to the first pair of leaves; 
the roots should be well into the ground, and some 
fine soil worked in amongst them, pressing it in with 
the fiDgers. After planting, mulch the surface of the 
soil amongst the plants with decayed manure ; this 
arrests evaporation from the soil, and acts as a pro¬ 
tective agent in winter. 
4. Treatment after Planting. — The plants, if 
well put into the ground, do not usually require any 
support; but slender, tall plants may require a slight 
stick to hold them upright. Any plants that may 
become loosened, or even thrown out of the ground 
by alternate frosts and thaws during winter, must 
be pressed in with the fingers when the soil is soft. 
5. Pot Culture. — All the successful exhibitors 
of Carnations grow a considerable number of plants 
in flower pots The layers are potted up in the 
autumn in small flower pots, large and small sixties, 
two in the larger size and one in the smaller. The 
pottiDg soil ought not to be too heavy ; a good com¬ 
post is formed of four parts loam, one of leaf-mould, 
and one of decayed manure, with sand to keep the 
material in a porous condition. After potting them, 
place in a garden frame, kept rather close for a few 
days; and if they are potted up early it may be 
necessary to shade from bright sunshine.— James 
Douglas, F.R.H.S., Edenside, Great Bookliam, Surrey. 
-- 
SOCIETIES 
GLOUCESTER. — July 27th, 28 th and 2Qth. 
The Gloucester Flower Show Committee held their 
show this year, in connection with the Agricultural 
Society’s show. This is only the second year of the 
society, which aims at quality rather than quantity, 
and confines the competition to flowers and foliage 
plants. Fruits and vegetables are excluded, but 
there are differences of opinion as to the advisability 
of this course. Numerous smaller parish shows are, 
however, held for the exhibition of other garden pro¬ 
ducts. The exhibits were arranged in a spacious 
marquee decorated with gaily-coloured bunting, 
where everything could be seen to the best advantage. 
The classes were mostly all open. 
The most striking and effective feature of the ex¬ 
hibition were the groups of miscellaneous plants, 
arranged for effect in a space not exceeding 200 sq. ft. 
Six competitors entered the field for the valuable 
prizes offered, and such a magnificent display, it was 
admitted, had never before been seen in Gloucester. 
Mr. James Cypher, Queen’s Road Nursery, Chelten¬ 
ham, secured the premier award for a tastefully 
arranged group of choice Orchids, Crotons, Ferns, 
Tuberoses, and various other subjects, surmounted 
by arches of cork containing Orchids and other exotics 
in bloom. Visitors were immensely pleased with the 
novelty of the exhibit. Mr. Wm. Vause, Somer’s 
Place, Leamington, was a close second. T. P. W. 
Butt, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. W. Marsh), Arle 
Court, Cheltenham, took the third place ; and Mr. 
H Whitehead, Heathfield Nurseries, Gloucester, was 
fourth. 
Mr J. Cypher again took the lead for twelve stove 
or greenhouse plants, as well as for six Palms, easily 
holding his own against his competitors. He also 
had the best floral display. Mr. W. Vause and 
Messrs. Roberts & Starr, Gloucester, were his keenest 
competitors. The last named had the best Ferns. 
Messrs.D.&W.Croll, Dundee, had the best twenty-four 
Roses. Mr. A. W. P. Pike, Windsor Place, Cardiff, 
had the finest collection of Carnations and Picotees. 
Mr. H. Miller, Quedgeley, Gloucester staged the 
best collection of Sweet Peas. Mr. John E. Herbert 
F.R.H S., Wootton, Gloucester, showed the best six 
Begonias. 
The show was opened by Lady Dorington, accom¬ 
panied by Sir John Dorington, in the presence of a 
large and fashionable gathering of county and city 
folk. Her ladyship was welcomed by Alderman 
Estcourt, and being heart and soul in love with horti¬ 
culture, made a very appreciative speech at the open, 
ing ceremony. 
LIVERPOOL. — July 31 st and August 2nd. 
Owing to pressure upon our space last week, only 
some of the exhibits at this show were noticed, and 
we again revert to the matter. Last year the 
summer fixture was omitted with the hope that the 
diminished exchequer might be somewhat restored ; 
that was done to some extent, and in respose to the 
desire of many of the subscribers, the old order of 
things was arranged, but with the unsatisfactory 
result of a diminutive entry, the numbers for the 
present year being about 300 against 400 two years 
ago. The exhibits were staged in a T shaped mar¬ 
quee of some 400 feet in length the upper parts 
being 300 feet. 
For a single Palm, J. Waring, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
J. Pattison) won with a noble plant. The same 
exhibitor took the lead for six exotic Ferns, not 
named. For single tree Fern, J. A. Bartlett, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. T. Gowan) won with a fine Dicksonia 
squarrosa. For a single Fern, not tree, Mr. 
Cromwell scored with a grand Davallia fijiensis. For 
three Ferns, J. W. Wilson, Esq. (gardener, Mr. F. 
Field) took the lead. 
For one Orchid, Mr. T. Gowan won with Saccola- 
bium Blumei majus ; for the pair (cool house) O. H, 
Williams, Esq (gardener, Mr. Thos. Wilson) won 
with Lycaste Skinneri Cowan’s Variety, and Onci- 
dium crispum. For four varieties, E. Prior, Esq., 
was first ; and Mr. J. Bracegirdle was second. Pelar¬ 
goniums, Fuchsias and similar plants were well 
represented. 
For twenty-four Roses (amateurs) Mrs. Cope, 
Woolton (gardener, Mr. T. Carling) secured first 
honours with small bright blooms. Mr. McColl was 
second. For twelve varieties Mr. T. R. Bulley, New 
Brighton, took the lead. For six light and six dark 
varieties, Messrs. A. Dickson & Sons, were first. 
For the most tastefully arranged four-feet box, 
Thos. Gee, Esq. (gardener, Mr. P. Greene) won with 
a pretty combination. For twelve bunches stove 
and greenhouse flowers, Mr. Carling was first with a 
grand lot of choice varieties. 
The fruit section accounts to a considerable extent 
for the reduction of entries ; and like other shows in 
the North the quality was certainly on the unde¬ 
sirable side. 
For four bunches Grapes,two black and two white, 
Mr. T. Elsworthy won with Madresfield Court, 
Muscat of Alexandria, Black Hamburgh, and Buck- 
land’s Sweetwater. Two bunches of Black Ham¬ 
burgh, J. Bright, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Skitt) was to 
the fore. For two bunches of Muscats, Sir J. A. 
Meyrick, North Wales (gardener, Mr. J. Gray), was 
first. For two bunches of any other black, Mr. T. 
Elsworthy won with Madresfield Court, Mr. Gray 
winning for any other white with Foster's Seedling. 
For six Peaches, Peter McGuffie, Esq., Woolton 
Hall (gardener, Mr. T. Stephenson), won with large 
Royal George, and for six Nectarines, Mr. G. Lead- 
beater was in front. Mr. R. Pinnington took the 
lead for a scarlet-fleshed Melon. 
For two dishes of Peas, F. L. Bahr, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. Salisbury), had the best. For four 
dishes of Potatos, Mr. W. Lyon took the lead; and 
Mr. B. Ashton for the two dishes. For three dishes 
of Tomatos, Mr. J. Stephenson won with Perfection, 
Duke of York, and Plentiful. 
Mr. Carling won with the single dish, with Duke 
of York, and he also secured first honours for four 
pots carrying fine fruits. 
NORTHAMPTON — August 2nd and yd. 
The sixteenth annual show of the Northampton¬ 
shire Horticultural Society, was held by the kind 
permission of J. Cooper, Esq., J.P., in the Delapre 
Park. It is usually held on Bank Holiday and the 
day after, when great crowds of people are attracted 
from various parts of the country. About £300 were 
offered in prizes, and though the entries were not so 
numerous as formerly, little fault could be found 
with the quality. The judges were Mr. A J. Smith, 
Mentmore ; M. J. Hudson, Gunnersbury House ; Mr. 
J. Holland, Springfield, Northampton; Mr. H. 
Collins, Berry Wood; Mr. J. Palmer, Cliftonville, 
Northampton; and Mr. W. T. Rollings, St.John's 
Hospital. 
Open to the United Kingdom. —The class for 
twelve stove or greenhouse plants contained some 
splendid exhibits, and good prizes were offered. The 
place of honour was secured by Mr. J. Cypher, 
Cheltenham, who had splendidly flowered specimens. 
He was followed by Mr. W. F. Finch, Coventry, and 
by Mr. W. Vause, Leamington, in the order named. 
Competition was not keen in the class for a miscel¬ 
laneous group of plants arranged for effect in a 
space not exceeding 240 square feet, there being only 
two groups put up. Mr. J. Cypher took the lead, 
his opponent being Mr. W. v^ause. 
In the same open division J. A. Johnston, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. David Gibson) Coombe Cottage, 
Kingston-on-Thames, secured the premier award for 
a collection of fruit, showing grand samples of 
Black Hamburgh, and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, 
Windsor Castle Melon, Downton Nectarine, Royal 
George Peach, Lady Sudely Apple, Morello Cherries, 
and Pears. The Marquis of Northampton (gardener, 
Mr. J. Heyes) Castle Ashby, was second ; and Earl 
Spencer, K.G. (gardener, Mr. S. Cole) Althorp Park, 
had to take the third place. Prizes were offered for 
a collection of twelve kinds of vegetables in the open 
class, and the premier honours were taken by B. V. 
Vernon, Esq. (gardener, Mr. James Dymock) Stoke 
Bruerne Park, Towcester. He had grand dishes of 
Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Satisfaction Potato, 
Intermediate Carrot, Best of All Runner Bean, Per¬ 
fection Tomato, Moore’s Cream Marrow, Giant 
White Celery, Snowball Turnip, Duke of Albany 
Pea, Sutton's Peerless Cucumber, Ailsa Craig 
Onion, and Blood Red Beet. The arrangement of 
these vegetables was splendid. He was followed by 
Sir H. Wake, Bart, (gardener, Mr. J Kightley) 
Courteenball, and by Earl Spencer, respectively. 
S. S. Berger (gardener, Mr. W. Eydeo), Stevenage, 
