496 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 17, 1905. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
Great Horticultural Exhibition, 
JUNE 7th, 8th, and 9th. 
On Wednesday, the 7th inst., the gardens 
of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, 
London, did something to recall olden 
times, when the gardens used to be the meet¬ 
ing grounds of exhibitors from all parts of the 
country with splendid exhibits of hard-wooded 
subjects, herbaceous plants, fruits, and vege¬ 
tables. Hard-wooded plants were fairly well 
represented, though not by the old-time 
trained specimens that used to come up year 
after year to win prizes. The opening day 
of the show was more or less wet throughout, 
but that had no effect in holding back ex¬ 
hibitors, and visitors were fairly plentiful 
throughout the day. 
As the president (Mr. Brinsley Marlay) said 
at the judges’ luncheon, their exhibition was 
all under cover, so that people need not fear 
to come out whether it rained or was bright. 
Mr. Marlay, in discussing the aims and 
objects of the society, averred that they did 
not conflict in their interests with any other 
society, but were engaged making experiments 
in their gardens with a view of testing what 
plants were really capable, without trouble, 
of living and thriving in the sanoke of 
London. They were also engaged in instruct¬ 
ing students in the art of gardening, and in 
that he thought they were acting a useful 
part in developing a love of horticulture in 
this country. 
Instead of the old circular and huge mar¬ 
quee, the same space of ground is now devoted 
to a number of tents, all connected with one 
another, so that visitors simply pass from one 
to the other. Flowering and foliage plants 
were the mainstay of the exhibition, although 
fruits and vegetables were also represented 
in smaller quantity. The machinery and 
garden appliances were also abundantly re¬ 
presented. 
Roses were a feature of the exhibition, as 
last year, and a fine exhibit at the end of one 
tent was made by Messrs. William Paul and 
Sons, Royal Seed Establishment, Waltham 
Cross. Here they had a collection of Rambler 
and other Roses in pots, including several 
new ones. Very handsome were the Rambler 
Roses, Lady Gay and The Farquhar, both 
very tall specimens, with massive drooping 
clusters of rosy-pink flowers. 
Messrs. Paul and Son, The Old Nurseries, 
Cheshunt, had a semi-circular group of Roses 
in another tent representing IT. P., H. T., 
Tea, and Rambler Roses. A very handsome 
new H. T. Rose is David Hamm, with large 
pink flowers. Dorothy Perkins and Crimson 
Rambler stood 10ft. and 18ft. high respec¬ 
tively. 
Mr. George Prince, Longworth, Berks, had 
a bank of cut flowers of Roses, the garden 
kinds being set up in bunches and exhibi¬ 
tion blooms in boxes. 
Herbaceous and alpine plants were abun¬ 
dantly represented by a large number of the 
leading growers. Messrs. Barr and Sons, King 
Street, Covent Garden, London, had a large 
exhibit of Irises, Paeonies, Pyrethrum, 
Lupins, and herbaceous plants in general. 
They also staged a large collection of 
Japanese Pigmy trees, ranging from ten or 
twenty to 140 years old, and growing in orna¬ 
mental Japianese vases. 
Messrs. Watkins and Simpson, 12, Tavi 
stock Street, Covent Garden, London, had a 
collection of annuals in pots, including Chry¬ 
santhemums, Candytuft, Mignonette, Gode- 
tias, Schizanthus, etc. 
Mr. Amos Perry, Hardy Plant Farm, Winch- 
more Hill, London, had a very attractive col¬ 
lection of herbaceous plants in the cut state, 
including Irises, Poppies, Eremurus, Red Hot 
Pokers, etc. 
Messrs. John Laing and Sons, Forest Hill, 
had a fine collection of Caladiums, includ¬ 
ing Silver Cloud, Garston Shandon, Excel¬ 
lent, B. S. Williams, Candidum. Rose Laing, 
and many others. 
The Guildford Hardy Plant Nursery, 
Guildford, Surrey, had an exhibit of her¬ 
baceous and alpine plants, including many 
interesting species. In the exhibit was a 
pretty and interesting piece of rockery. 
The Agent-General for Western Australia, 
15, Victoria Street, London, had an exhibit of 
Western Australian Apples and grains to 
show the resources' of the country. Apples 
were represented by Jonathan, Dunn’s Seed¬ 
ling, and Cleopatra. 
Mr. C. W. Breadmore, 120, High Street, 
Winchester, had a very 7 extensive collection of 
Sweet Peas, including the latest novelties. 
Very handsome was the new variety named 
Geoi’ge Herbert, with orange standard, rose 
wings, and excellent for size, substance, and 
quality. 
Messrs. T. S. Ware, Limited, Ware’s Nur¬ 
series, Feltham, Middlesex, as usual, had a 
splendid display of herbaceous plants, both in 
pots, pans, and in the out state. Very fin© 
were the spikes of Eremurus Elwesii, E. 
Bungei, Delphiniums, Poppies', etc. 
Messrs, Hugh Low and Co., Royal Nur¬ 
series, Bush Hill Park, Middlesex, had one 
of the few groups of Orchids, including 
Cattlevas, Laelias, Cymbidiums, etc. They 
also had a fine lot of Carnations and some 
beautiful new Holland plants, remarkably 
well flowered. 
Messrs, R. Wallace and Co., Kilnfield Gar- 
dens, Colchester, exhibited an extensive col¬ 
lection of choice herbaceous plants, including 
Irises, early-flowering Gladioli, Lilies, Mari¬ 
posa Tulips, etc. 
Messrs. John Peed and Son, The Nur¬ 
series, West Norwood, London, had a fine 
bank of Caladiums in many named varieties. 
They also had a separate group of their splen¬ 
did strain of Gloxinias in self, spotted, ana 
banded colours. 
Messrs. George Jackman and Son, Woking, 
Surrey, also had a collection of alpine and 
herbaceous plants. Columbines, Lupins, 
Pyrethrums, and Larkspurs were plentiful. 
Messrs. W. and J. Brown, Stamford and 
Peterborough, had Verbena Miss Willmott, 
Rambler and other Roses, Marguerites, etc. 
Hobbies, Limited, Norfolk Nurseries, Dere¬ 
ham, had some new Everlasting Peas and a 
new Coleus named Fascination. 
Messrs. R. H. Bath, Limited, Wisbech, 
had a collection of Irises, Lupins, Lilies 
etc. 
Messrs. Vv m. Cutbush and Son, Highgate, 
London, N., had a fine collection of Mal- 
maison Carnations, including King Oscar, 
Yaller Gal, and Dragut, all new varieties* 
Verbena The King is a splendid new variety, 
their group was staged on the ground, and 
was beautifully arranged. 
Messrs. Thomas Rivers and Sons, Saw- 
bridgeworth, Herts, had a fine collection of 
Peaches and Nectarines in pots, including 
the new Peach Peregrine. 
H. T. Pitt, Esq. (gardener, Mr. F W 
Thurgood), Rosslyn, Stamford Hill, had a 
choice collection of Orchids, consisting largely 
of Odontoglossums. s ° J 
Messrs. B. S. Williams and Son, Upper 
Holloway, London, staged flowering and 
foliage plants, including Verbenas, Rambler 
Roses, Lupins, and Carnations'. 
M- 1 '- John R. Box, the Nurseries, West 
\\ lckliam, S.O., Kent, had a bank of dwarf 
and freely-flowered herbaceous Calceolarias 
Messrs. Reamsbottom and Co., Geashill 
Knig’s County, had a collection of their won¬ 
derfully varied St. Brigid Anemones. 
Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge, Farnham, Sur¬ 
rey had a unique exhibit' of his new Cucum¬ 
ber Delicacy, Tomatos, Melons, etc. 
Mr. L. R. Ruseil, Kew Road Nursery, 
Richmond, Surrey, occupied a large amount 
of space m the corridor with a collection of 
choice, hardy, ornamental trees and shrubs. 
Messrs. John Waterer and Sons’, Ltd., Bag! 
shot Surrey, have their usual exhibition of 
Rhododendrons m a tent covering about quar¬ 
ter of an acre of ground, and this will stand 
throughout the month. 
Mr. David Russell, Brentwood, Essex, had 
a choice and extensive group of hardy irees 
and shrubs, running more than half tlm 
effeSive°ly the COrrid(>r ’ and fillill g tllat vei 7 
Messrs. George Boyes and Co., 15, Belvoir 
Street, Leicester, had an exhibit of Malmai- 
son and tree Carnations. 
Messrs. John-Laing and Sons, Forest Hill 
11 i d ry y handsome group of single and 
double tuberous Begonias, also collections of 
•J apanese Maples and Rambler Roses. 
-♦-- 
Double Form oe an Old Favourite 
(Gypsophila paniculata /lore plcno.) 
It is held by many people that a double 
flower is less beautiful than a single one, and 
it must be admitted that in many instances 
the development of centre petal* results in a 
heavy and coarse bloom, which for grace and 
elegance bears no comparison with the single 
type from which it sprang. 
Tins objection applies more generally to 
flowers of large size, but even in their case 
something must be said in favour of their last¬ 
ing qualities, which are always greater than 
m single flowers. 
T^ ds P°i n t °f merit may be claimed to the 
full by the double Gypsophila, while heavi¬ 
ness is a blemish absolutely unknown to it, 
for although each tiny blossom is closely 
packed with petals', its circumference is 
but little more than that of the single type, 
and the loose spreading habit of the in¬ 
florescence being unaltered, the only appre¬ 
ciable difference in the appearance of a plant 
of the double-flowered variety is that it shows 
more of white and less of green. 
As a border plant it is bound to become 
extremely popular, and for cutting purposes 
equally so. Even as a decorative plant m 
large pots it will be very serviceable'. The 
greatest drawback thus far has been the slow 
rate at which it could be propagated, but now 
it is being rapidly increased, so that ere long 
all will be able to obtain stock at reasonable | 
prices. Layering of young shoots when from 
4in. to 6in. long is one means of propagating, 
which should suffice to meet the requirements 
of a private establishment. 
It is of little use trying to root cuttings in 
heat,^ because although they rapidly run to a 
considerable height, they very rarely produce 
roots. Cuttings under a bell-glass on a north 
border are more satisfactory, but take time to 
ro °k Heather Bell. 
