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Nov. 5, 1903 _ 
SHOWS. 
|—-— . 
Every town in Australia of any dimen- 
sions larger than a small village can boast 
of a flower show during the months of 
October or November. It would be an 
jnvidious task to attempt a reference even 
to a fractional number of them. Suffice 
it to say that the press reports contain 
strong evidence that floriculture is gaining 
in popularity, and that competition 
amongst growers in the country is very 
keen. While the displays may not be 
quite up to date in the matter of varieties, 
there is nevertheless always an indica- 
tion that fanciers are ever on the ‘alert, 
even. in out-of-the-way places, for the best 
they can get for staging. Coming nearer 
the city there is no doubt some of the 
suburban shows had many exhibits that 
would have competed well with the pro- 
fessional displays at the metropolitan ex- 
hibition. In fact, the show at Norwood 
claimed, with much justification, to have 
the finest exhibits of Roses of the season. 
The exhibitors were more fortunate than 
those who competed at the S.A. Horticul- 
tural Society’s Show. 
The October Rose Show in the Adelaide 
Town Hall is looked forward to with keen 
interest both on the part of growers and 
of the public. It is the one month of 
the year when the queen of flowers is at 
her very best for a royal reception of ad- 
miring patrons. Her levee was carefully 
planned for a week earlier than last: year 
in order to dodge the fickleness of ‘the 
weather, but the fates were against the 
officials. The few days preceding the show 
could not have been spitefully worse had 
they been ordered by the most malicious 
designer. It must have been very galling 
to the exhibitors to see hundreds of their 
carefully nursed favorites fit for exhibition 
on one day and then on the next—the day 
of the show—not to be able to cut half-a- 
dozen decent blooms. South Australians 
have not yet awakened to the idea of grow- 
ing Roses under cover, and the result is 
that the bushes are an easy prey to every 
wind that blows and every turn of heat and 
cold that comes. The climate is notorious 
at this time of the year, particularly for 
severe climatic changes, and it is rather 
surprising that some of the fanciers have 
not struck the notion of providing shelter. 
The weather was responsible for a very dis- 
appointing show of Roses, and the poor 
blooms in every exhibit were readily ex- 
cused. Adversity, however, is a good 
school master, and possibly the results of 
this show may have one good effect at 
least. This should be the fashion of ex- 
hibiting. Even up till late in the evening 
Mr. A. H. Scarfe’s prize twenty-four and 
Mr. H. Kemp’s prize forty-eight, held up 
their heads bravely. This was entirely 
due to the way in which they were staged 
~-the English fashion of the Douglas case, 
which provides plenty of water and wire 
supports for the blooms. These exhibits 
THE AUST<ALIAN GARDFNER. 
were in marked contrast to those flowers 
alongside with their heads flopping about 
in all directions on their weakened necks. 
The old fashion method of staging exhibits 
is abominable. There is neither style, 
taste, nor any other redeeming feature in 
it. Visitors go to see the flowers, and if, 
in their desire to see the beauty of a good 
Rose they attempt to touch it, they are 
promptly forbidden “‘not to touch.” There 
would be no necessity for this peremptory 
demand if the exhibits were properly 
staged. 
Yet another fault is most provoking. 
The flowers, being subjected to ill-treat- 
ment, fall over and hide their names. And 
well they might, not only for their own 
sakes, but for shame of the slipshod fashion 
in which the names are written. It was 
most irritating to watch those people in- 
terested in the flowers struggling to get 
a glimpse of their names. Bits of paper, 
which might have been torn off the edge 
of a newspaper, with a name scrawled 
across it in lead pencil is every inch Aus- 
tralian. No style nor finish, anything 
will do so long as it complies in some mea- 
sure with a not too exacting rule. In this 
case a regulation, which reads as follows: 
——“All exhibits to be named. where prac- 
ticable.” Here is another regulation bear- 
ing on the point:—‘“Only the society’s 
cards ‘to be placed on exhibits, except for 
naming.” Why in the name of common- 
sense should the latter clause be put into 
that sentence. Rather should it be that 
only the society’s cards to be used for nam- 
ing. Why cannot the society supply cards 
properly printed for each section of Roses. 
The exhibitors would willingly pay for the 
cards sufficient to cover their cost. Pro- 
per space could be left on the card for the 
name to be neatly written or printed by a 
clerk, and set up properly on the exhibit, 
so that “the wayfaring man, though a fool, 
could not err therein.” Why do the visi- 
tors want to know the names of the prize 
flowers if not for ordering and for educa- 
tion generally? And why should the ex- 
hibits be always unnecessarily crowded 
round while the enthusiasts are struggling 
to get a glimpse of the names. If one or 
two of the committee were to undertake 
the responsibility of seeing that the names 
of Roses, particularly at a Rose show, and 
also other exhibits, were properly named in 
‘the way indicated, it would be aj great boon 
to everybody. 
The Carnation Society did well to fall 
into line with the arrangement of an ex- 
hibition at this show, and a fine display it 
was. The exhibits were nicely set up, and 
looked well; but the fashion of naming 
will bear improvement. The constant at- 
tention paid to the display was in itself 
strong evidence of the increasing popu- 
larity of this flower, and the blooms them- 
selves were well worthy in all classes of 
the admiration bestowed upon them. 
In all classes of cut flowers the display 
was good, especially the Pelargoniums. 
The pot plants of the latter were very fine, 
though the exhibitors in these have yet 
something to learn in tying down to make 
_ the blooms show to the best advantage. 
Special mention must be made of the 
fruit, which in all classes was very fine. A 
5 a 
better collection would be difficult to find 
anywhere. 
The prize dinner-table decoration with 
Shirley Poppies was artistic enough, but 
the competition was poor, and the same re- 
mark applies to the floral designs and bou- 
quets. 
Take it altogether, the show was good, 
one of the prettiest exhibits in the lot 
being the Petunias. 
SOME REMARKABLE NEW ROSES. 
By O. Jacoxgs WEITENDORE, 
From “Die Gartenwelt,” Sept. 5, 1903. 
Amongst the thousands of garden Roses 
we find such a multitude of showy novel- 
ties that we are often forced to ask our- 
selves, “Do we require any more of them?” 
When, in the yearly offer of 30, 50, or 
more novelties, we find so much mediocre 
stuff, and so little that is really good, we 
might, on the whole, give this question a 
negative answer. 
But when, out of only a few novelties, 
a Kaiserin, a La France, or a Testout pre- 
sents itself, the raiser is startled and the 
gardener and amateur are delighted. So 
last year there burst upon us in Undine a 
novelty of such a_ brilliant orange and 
nasturtium-red color as had never been 
seen before. How-great a favorite this 
medium-sized and very strongly colored 
rose became at once may be judged by the 
fact that during last spring several nur- 
series exhausted their stock of it, and 
orders are already coming in from 
America, : 
If Undine is striking by reason of its 
color, so is Frau Karl Duschki in form and 
imposing size. ‘This latter novelty, the re- 
sult of a crossing between Merveille de 
Lyon and Caroline Testout, usually de- 
velops very strong growth; and in a few 
years will make a bush about 6 ft. high. 
The stem, with its strong branches and 
broad foliage, Supports dazzling white 
flowers of such a size that at a distance 
they may be mistaken for peonies. 
The greatest sensation of the last. two 
or three years has been the production of 
the beautiful yellow seedlings from 
Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. 
The year 1901 gave us Franz Deegen 
Friedrich Harms, and Goldelse. There 3 
still a good deal of discussion as to the 
comparative merits of these golden rivals; 
but the general opinion is that Franz 
Deegen is the best yellow Kaiserin. |The 
brownish color of the wood, the few but 
strong thorns, the fine gold color and de- 
lightaul scent of the blossom all suggest to 
us that Perle des Jardins or some similar 
Tea Rose must haye been amongst its an- 
cestors, 
As Goldelse, a sister seedling of Franz 
Deegen, has the same characters, they are 
hard to distinguish. Tf, however, you 
place them side by side you will see that 
Franz Deegen both grows and blooms with 
the greater vigor, although they are 
equally beautiful. Friedrich Harms has 
green stems and numerous fine thorns in- 
stead of a few large ones, the bloom, 
is thinner and not so lasting as 
Deegen. 
‘too, 
; Franz 
Jacob’s Perle was shown at San- 
