THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 8, 1908. 
5M 
Carnations at Westminster. 
Annual Exhibition of the N.C. and P S. 
The annual exhibition ol the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern 
Section) was held in the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Hall, Vincent Square, Westminster, 
on July 22nd. It was the thirty-second 
show of the society and was rather larger 
than usual. There were miscellaneous 
as well as competitive exhibits of Carna¬ 
tions, while the hall also found room for 
exhibits of other flowers. Classes were 
instituted for dressed and undressed 
flowers, and no doubt those who prize 
the decorative value of Carnations will 
agree that the stands of undressed flowers 
are necessary to show the true value of 
the Carnation, though we still think that 
only dressed flowers are capable of dis¬ 
playing the individual beauty of flower 
and markings to the fullest extent. Some 
of the non-competitive exhibitors also set 
up border Carnations in vases on long 
stalks, showing that they may be utilised 
in the same way with which we are now 
getting familiar in connection with win¬ 
ter-flowering tree and American Carna¬ 
tions. There is one complaint in con¬ 
nection with the show, namely, that the 
cards bearing the names of the flowers in 
the winning stands are lifted too early 
in the day, so that visitors who arrive late 
are unable to see the^names of these fine 
winning flowers. 
Dressed Flowers. 
In order to do justice to Carnations, 
classes are set apart for stands belonging 
to different sections, so that each type can 
be judged upon its own merits. In the 
class for eighteen Carnation blooms of 
the show bizarres and flakes, the leading 
award was taken by Mr. A. R. Brown, 
King's Norton, who had a number of 
bright colours in his stand. He was fol¬ 
lowed by Martin R. Smith, Esq. (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. C. Blick), Hayes, whose blooms 
were somewhat paler in the markings, 
but otherwise excellent. Mr. Hayward 
Mathias, Medstead, took the third place. 
The last-named came to the front for 
eighteen seifs, displaying remarkably 
beautiful crimson, scarlet, purple, pink, 
yellow and white blooms. In this case 
Martin R. Smith, Esq., was again second 
with smaller blooms, but containing the 
premier self Miss .Willmott in his stand, 
Mr. A. R. Brown took the third place 
here. 
Martin R. Smith, Esq., had the best 
eighteen fancy Carnations in a glorious 
stand of blooms of large size, and notable 
for the number or density and rich colours 
of the markings. Mr. A. R. Brown took 
the second place with flowers of fine size, 
but scarcely so bright in the way of scar¬ 
let and crimson colours. Mr. H. Mathias 
was third. 
The leading place for eighteen white 
ground Picotees was taken by Martin R. 
Smith, Esq. Here might have been seen 
this type of Carnation in all its delicate 
beauty of white, with a distinct and bright 
edsring either light or heavy. The flowers 
with heavy edges were notably bold. This 
class has been practically perfect for the 
last hundred years, but the new varieties 
have brought into existence plants of 
stronger constitution. He was followed 
by Mr. A. R. Brown. 
Martin R. Smith, Esq., has been very 
largely instrumental in bringing the 
yellow-ground Picotee to perfection within 
the last twenty years or so, and it rightly 
fell to him to lead off in the class for 
eighteen of this particular type. He had 
a judicious distribution of heavy-edged 
varieties amongst the light ones on a 
clear and clean yellow ground. It is of 
great importance that this section has now 
been brought to such perfection ; the chief 
difficulty for a great many years has been 
the delicate constitution of the varieties 
which were liable to die off in the course 
of a few years. This difficulty has now 
chiefly been got over by the plants of 
splendid constitution which Mr. Smith 
has raised. He was followed by Mr. H. 
Mathias and Mr. A. R. Brown in this 
order. 
Undressed Flowers. 
While the dressed flowers are exhibited 
on boards and circular cards of white 
paper, the undressed flowers had to be 
shown with foliage in bottles or vases. 
For eighteen seiis the lead was taken by 
Mr. James Douglas, Edensitle, Great 
Bookham, Surrey, and those who saw his 
flowers had no room to doubt that an 
immense improvement has been effected 
amongst border Carnations during the 
last twenty years. Set up in this way the 
flowers were very effective from a decora¬ 
tive point of view, and would command 
the respect of those who admire Carna¬ 
tions chiefly for their decorative value, 
independently of exhibitions. Each 
variety must be confined to one distinct 
colour. Anyone, though not expert, can 
grow this class of Carnations in the open 
garden. The second and third prizes re¬ 
spectively were taken by Mr. A. R. Brown 
and Mr. C. Turner, Slough. There were 
five entries in this class. 
For eighteen fancy Carnations Mr. 
James Douglas again led the way, and 
for size of flowers and distinct colour he 
was easily first. The flowers of Martin 
R. Smith, Esq., were very boldly set up, 
though somewhat smaller. Mr. H. 
Mathias was third. 
Martin R. Smith, Esq., again led the 
way for eighteen yellow-ground Picotees. 
The flowers were neatly arranged, and in 
order to make them hold their heads 
erect it is permissible to stiffen the stalks 
by means of a wire. The same exhibitor 
had the best twelve seifs, fancies and 
yellow-ground Picotees, shown in vases 
and in triplets. He was followed by Mr. 
James Douglas. 
Second Division. 
There were smaller classes than the 
preceding set apart for similar arrange¬ 
ments of flowers as in the preceding. 
The dressed flowers were arranged on 
boards in the usual way, and in this divi¬ 
sion leading prizes were taken by H. R. 
Taylor, -Esq. (gardener, Mr. B. Nash), 
Cheam ; Mr. R. G. Rudd, King’s Nor¬ 
ton : Mr. C. H. Herbert, Acocks Green, 
Birmingham: and Messrs. Phillips and’ 
Taylor, Bracknell. 
In the class for undressed flowers the 
lead for twelve seifs arranged with fo¬ 
liage in bottles or vases was taken by R. 
Morton, Esq., Woodside Park. Although 
an amateur, his flowers were of fine siz< 
richly coloured and neatly staged. M 
H. R. Taylor and Mr. R. G. Rudd wei 
second and third respectively in a cla 
having seven entries. 
Nearly the same order in winning w; 
observed in the class for twelve fane 
Carnations, R. Morton Esq., taking tl 
lead. He also took the premier positic 
for twelve yellow-ground Picotees 
vases. 
For nine seifs, fancies and velloi 
ground Picotees the premier honour w 
secured by H. Lakeman, Esq., Thorntc 
Heath. 
Martin R. Smith, Esq., had the be 
group of pot plants of Carnations on tl 
floor. For a smaller group Mr. C. Turn 
took the first prize. 
Miscellaneous. 
A non-competitive exhibit of Americ; 
and Malmaison Carnations was staged 
Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., Bush H 
Park, Middlesex. They were set uo 
tall vases and on mossed pillars. Ye 
fine flowers were Lady Bountiful, Wh: 
Perfection, Mrs. Burnett, etc. They ah 
had a vase of seedlings of this type raisi 
in their own nurseries, including a ve: 
handsome pink one. 
Mr. James Douglas had a fine group i 
border Carnations with a few Malmaisoi. 
Very choice flowers were Reve d’Or, An: 
Hathaway, Unique, Miss Willmott, Pu- 
tan and Mrs. Robert Morton, a dark hf 
orange variety. 
Messrs. W. Cutbush and Son, Hi;- 
gate, London, set up an extensive groi 
of Carnations in tall vases, beneath wh 1 
were Carnation plants on the floor. 
Mr. W. Sydenham, Tamworth, set u;a 
group of border Carnations in vases. 
Mr. A. F. Dutton, Iver, Bucks., hata 
large group of American Carnations n 
vases. 
Messrs. Phillips and Taylor also ham 
group of Carnations set up with flows 
of Gypsophila. 
-- 
Cabbages for Autumn Sowin; 
This homely vegetable is appreciad 
by the majority of people when it first > 
pears on our tables in spring, and gr- 
deners everywhere endeavour to havt it 
as early as possible. 
The time for sowing the seeds, sois 
to secure best results, varies very o- 
siderably. In the southern counties ,ie 
middle of August is quite early enouh. 
whereas in many parts of Scotland to,e 
fer sowing until after the middle of Jly 
spells failure. In this high, late distet 
experience has taught me to sow ntier 
later than July qth. This year I sold 
on the 6th and I have no doubt the e- 
sulting plants will be all right. 
One of the mam points m me succ^s- 
ful cultivation of early Cabbages i-to 
choose the proper variety suitable to he 
locality. I have tried quite a numbeof 
sorts, with rather varied results., d- 
lam’s Dwarf is a good Cabbage, but lie 
it is apt to bolt. I have entirely dis¬ 
carded this and all other varietiesin 
favour of Sutton’s Flower of Sprig. 
After six years' trial of this sterling prt 
I find that it practically never be s. 
remains in condition a remarkably lug 
time, is of excellent quality, and jry 
early. 
C. Blair, 
Preston House, Linlithgo’ 
