866 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE, 
Novembek 15, 1913 
CHALLENGE CUP FOR 
FRAGRANT ROSES. 
In our issu-e of the 1st inst. we were able 
to announce that Messrs. Clay and Sons had 
presented to the council of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society a. silver-gilt challenge cup 
of the value of 75 guineas, for the purpose 
of encouraging the development of fragrance 
in roses; and we have now much pleasure in 
presenting our readers with an illustration 
thereof. This fine example of the silver¬ 
smith’s art is to be offered for annual com¬ 
petition at the Holland House Show, and its 
object is to encourage raisers in the endea¬ 
vour to obtain a race of roses with flowers 
of good form and colour, and posisessing the 
true old genuine rose scent, such as may be 
found in the old cabbage or Provence rose.” 
suffice to say that the cup is silver-gilt in two 
colours, and bears upon one side the inscrip¬ 
tion, Clay ” Challenge Cup (establishi^ 
1914) ; and upon the other the crest of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. The height, 
with pedestal, is 18 inches, the width 13^ 
inches, and the weight 90oz. It may be 
added that this fine cup is in every way 
worthy of the donors, the society, and Messrs. 
Elkington and Son, the makers. 
FLORAL DECORATIONS. 
I have read with great interest the cor¬ 
respondence in your paper on "Table Deco¬ 
rations.” As an exhibitor, I do not agree 
with Mr. Wise that the general style of de¬ 
coration put up in rustic vases is altogether 
easy. Has he ever used these stands? If 
SEVENTY-FIVE GUINEA CHALLENGE CUP FOR FRAGRANT ROSES, 
Presented to the Royal Horticultural Society by Messrs. Clay and Son. 
there IS m the-e tables.” And the pubic 
are the best critics. All competitors would 
welcome something new in the art of deco¬ 
rating, and I hope Mr. Wise will come for- 
ward at one of the forthcoming exhibitions 
and show competitors how to decorate a table 
fit to be seen in a gentleman’s house. He 
would do well to visit the National Rose 
Sodiety’s shbw, and see for himself that 
rustic vases share equally in the awards with 
silver vases and bowls. 
Points should be given for artistic ar¬ 
rangement, good blooms, artificial light. 
eff*ect, style, etc.; and the rules should also 
state whether the decoration is for the centre 
of a table, or for the whole of the table. 
Finally, I think the various show commit¬ 
tees w’ould do well to appoint younger judges 
with, newer ideas, and let those of twenty or 
thirty years’ experience retire. There are 
always plenty of critics at the various shows, 
but few have the plucjc to do anything new 
and original. (Mrs.) A. R. Bide. 
Highlands, Farnham. 
R.H.S. RULES F;bR ENTERING 
DAFFODILS FbR AWARDS. 
At their meeting on the 4th inst., the 
President and Council of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society adopted the following new rules 
submitted by the Narcissus and Tulip Com- 
mlittee of the Society. The rules will take 
effect from January 1, 1914. 
1.—It must be clearly stated on the entry 
form of any variety which is submitted to 
the committee for an award, under which of 
the following heads the sender wishes it to be 
(b) As suitable for garden decoration, or 
" garden.” 
(c) For growing and flowering in pots, or 
" pots.” 
(d) For cutting or market purposes, or 
"cutting.’^ 
(e) As a plant for rockwork, or "rockery.” 
N.B. Any one variety may be entered 
under more than one head. 
2.—The following conditions must be com¬ 
plied with in all cases: > 
If submitted under (a) five stems with 
bloom are necessary for an Award of Merit, 
and twelve stems for a First-class Certifi- 
If submitted under (b) and (d) for father 
Award of Merit or First-class Certificate 
twenty-five stems must be submitted in 
two vases; twelve must be bunched and 
thirteen be loose. 
If submitted under (c) and (e) two pots 
or pans must be shown, each containing not 
less than three bulbs, for an Award of 
Merit. Four pots or pans, each wntaimng 
not less than three bulbs, for a First-clas. 
Certificate. i 
3.—Official entry forms will 
and may be obtained from R.H-^-^ 
One of these forms must be prc^rly fiHed P 
by the exhibitxu: for each vaariety before 
can be placed before the cominitt^. .. 
,,4.—The words "Show,” "Garden, » 
"Cutting,’^ or "Rockery,” will in future 
added to the usual A.M. or F.C.C. 
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The perfume known a.s the " tea scent ” is, 
we learn, to be excluded from the considera¬ 
tion of the judges ki making their awards, 
and we assume the "musk scent” also will 
not be taken into account. The competitors 
for the cup will be allowed to stage a number 
of new roses, not exceeding three varieties, 
and from three to six blooms of each variety 
must be submitted. For five consecutive 
years Messrs. Clay and Son will also give 
a smaller comn]emorative cup which will 
be presented 6y tiie council of the Royal Hor¬ 
ticultural Society to the winners of the chal¬ 
lenge cup, when, at the end of twelve months, 
it is returned to the so<*iety. 
'rile accompainying illustration .so admir¬ 
ably portrays the elegant design for which 
the cup is. remarkable as to render a lengthy 
description unnecessary. It will therefore 
not, let him try, and see what he can do 
w'ith a few flowers and a little foliage. I 
consider the rustic stands have been most 
useful to the majority of competitors, and 
the tubes, which some seem to think un¬ 
sightly, can easily be hidden by a little ar¬ 
tistic arrangement of foliage. At the same 
time, I do mot favour these stands for all 
flowers, such as roses, chrysanthemums, and 
other heavy blooms ; a low decoration and 
heavier vases are much nicer. But this 
style of decoration does not suit the majority 
of judges, whom, I may safely venture to 
.say, are almost invariably gardeners. 
Another point is lieight. No restriction 
should be made in this; it would result in 
monotony. Not enough scope is given to tlie 
competitor, and the generally expressed 
opinion Of the public is, "What a sameness 
Broccoli.— The mild T .^nov 
we have experienced of late has ^ij 
growth in most of the brpsicas, and 
in particular wiU require s^ml ^ 
enable them to pass through ^ 
.safely, should it be at all severe, ine 
method of treatment is to heel o 
plants with their heads to the 
ing the stems with soil right up to 
leaves. Unless the soil covers tita , 
the bare stem, frost will do 
as that portion of tlie stem ^ ghoul^ 
leaves is most susceptible to jooe# 
tile weather be extra severe, brae r^fford 
litter ;-«c*atteired over tlie plants 
adequate protection. The , i jjjjs of 
varietios may be lifW gupp'? 
soil and planted in pits, and 
good heads up to Christmas.-W. 
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