September 3, 1904. 
THE OAR DEN/NO WORLD 
707 
feotion. That represented in: our illustration was taken a,bout 
two houi’si after the judging was completed, and might be 
considered a little too much, expanded, but, all the same, we 
think it was a splendid specimen, and it retained that form 
throughout the greater portion, of the day. The very broad 
petals may be described as snow-white, more or less tinted 
with blush or cream, some say lemon, towards the edges when 
the bloom ha® been grown under natural conditions, in the open 
air. 
Since it originated it has remained constant co its colour, 
and has always proved equal to its parent in vigour, freedom 
of blooming, and the perfection of the blooms. Of course, if 
grown, merely as a, garden Rose, the bloom would, in the course 
of a day or two, become much more expanded in the centre, 
making, therefore, a, bloom of enormous size; but for exhibi¬ 
tion purposes, cultivators like to stage it when in perfection;; 
that is, when the bloom has just expanded. 
Round the Nurseries. 
The Norfolk Nurseries. 
In pre-Eeformatioo days the quiet little market town of 
East Dereham wa® well known, as it. often, figured prominently 
in connection, with its busy ecclesiastical neighbour, Norwich; 
but after the 'break-up of the religious houses it,seems to have 
been quickly forgotten. But the name is once again familiar, 
even though the town,, or’ even it® whereabouts, may not be 
familiar to many people, for it wasi here that the huge business 
known as “Hobbies” originated, and it is still the producing 
centre of this well-known firm. 
The name “ Hobbies ” often give® rise to misconception. 
There never was anyone named Hobbies connected with the 
business. The name was adopted by the company to sum 
up in one word their productions, for every branch deals with 
some popular hobby. 
Schoolboys—and older 1 boy®—connect the name readily 
with fretworking paraphernalia,; photographers with camera, 
and all up-to-date photographic appliances, and gardeners with 
Dahlias, Roses, and all the most, popular florists’ flowers. 
The horticultural business was the last to be added to the 
“ combine,” but the last has quickly been put, first, for surely 
even the tremendous output of fretworking material cannot 
compare with the productions of the many acres of nursery. 
Many acres are devoted to the cultivation of Dahlias, and 
to see every variety grown here would need almost a. day to 
itself. 
Before becoming a, branch of “ Hobbies,” the nurseries were 
in the possession of that well known Dahlia, specialist Mr. 
John Green, and he still rules this department as managing 
director. 
He is one of the leading raisers of new varieties!, and asi he 
always makes a point of securing every meritorious production 
of other raisers, the collection to be seen at Dereha,m is one 
of the best tin the world. 
The form and colour of the Cactus section is now .almost 
beyond improvement, and raisers, are now giving more atten¬ 
tion to what they terribly neglected in the rush for form, and 
colour—habit and constitution. What one looks for now in 
the Dahlia is not, new colours so much as improved habit. 
We want the flowers well above the foliage, and the flower 
stems of sufficient substance to support, the flowers in an up¬ 
right position. It is gratifying to note that, rapid advances 
are being made in this direction here, and in, the trial grounds 
no variety is marked for further trial unless it promises to 
move along these lines. 
The Cactus Dahlia, is a great advance on the old show 
Dahlia, but I always feel that therei is an unpleasant, air of 
rigid formality about, it, and I believe I am by no means, alone 
in this feeling. However, nothing is more fickle than fancy, 
and already we have the new type well above the horizon, and 
it promises to shine well during the next, few years. I never 
liked the name Cactus used in connection with. Dahlias. I did 
not like the incongruity, but the name Chrysanthemum, a® 
descriptive of the new type, is, very appropriate, for even at 
this stage it, is. difficult to distinguish between the two, flowers. 
I have before me a® I write a, bunch of a, pure white form of 
this new type'. From 'the middle of the table' it might be 
easily mistaken for Chrysanthemum Souvenir de Petite Amie. 
The petals are—well, they are just like those of a, Jap Chry¬ 
santhemum, both in their form and in their arrangement. 
Another very good form I brought, away with me is a, rosy 
carmine with white reflex, and is twisted, curled, and waved, 
just ais in the large-flowered reflexed Ja,p Chrysanthemums. 
Amongst the new Cactus, I noted two specially fine varieties, 
one a crimson-scarlet, of splendid exhibition, form, and the 
other one of those subtle shades of red and .cerise, giving way 
to a, warm orange towards, the base of the petals. The reflex 
has a sheen of silver, and this shows out very prettily in the 
Tulipa linifolia : Flowers crimson-scarlet. (Seep. 701 .) 
young petals in, the centre, of the. flower, giving the appearance 
of a, silver stripe. 
Many acres are devoted to Roses, and although it is only 
during the last few years that they have been specially favoured 
here, the collection is one of the best to be met with in, the 
country, and contains all the newest and best varieties, in¬ 
cluding the new American favourite, La Detroit. The pre¬ 
vailing colour of this is a beautiful soft shell-pink, shading to 
a, soft, rose-pink at the centre. The reverse of the outer petals 
is a, creamy flesh, shading towards tlhe base 'to whait can only 
be described as opalescent. When fully open, the soft rich¬ 
ness of the colour is very fascinating, and added to this is the 
charm of a, subtle tears cen t, reminding one of the old Bon 
Silene. The flowers are large and cup-shaped, with petals 
of a, good substance and shell-like in form. The foliage is 
rich and glossy, and the habit, seem® characterised by great, 
vigour and robustness. 
Eioile de France is not yet in commerce, but when it does 
it will have a grand reception, for it, will really be, I believe, 
the Queen of all Roses, as, it has the fragrance of La France, and 
is a brilliant, red—the red of Fisher Holme®. It has proved 
quite hardy, and has an amazing vigour, and those, who have- 
had experience with it say it will make an ideal form for 
forcing. Liberty was a, sensation, but this seems to surpass 
it, in every way. 
I spent so much time in the open that, I had little left, for 
