July  25,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
79 
two  of  these  persons’  papers  be  published,  that  readers  generally  might 
thus  discern  how  far  they  were  posted  in  practical  as  well  as  in  theo¬ 
retical  gardening.  I  do  not  for  one  moment  complain  of  what  the 
ladies  have  done.  Far  from  it.  I  rather  complain  that  out  of  thousands 
of  gardeners,  and  especially  of  young  ones,  so  few  should  have 
entered  for  the  exam.  There  can,  however,  he  no  doubt  but  that  fully 
another  hour  should  be  allowed  for  the  task  of  answering  the  needful 
number  of  questions.  The  most  ready  of  students  wants,  on  first  seeing 
a  question,  some  little  time  to  think  it  out,  so  as  to  give  a  precise  and 
concise  answer. 
No  doubt  many  candidates  because  hurried  flounder  about  somewhat, 
and  especially  those  who  have  little  practice  at  composition.  Probably 
another  year  an  effort  will  be  made  to  have  the  time  extended  for  the 
exam  unless  the  number  of  questions  be  reduced,  but  after  all  eight  is 
not  so  very  many.  All  that  relates  to  practical  gardening  under  the 
term  of  cultivation  seems  to  need  more  clearly  defining  and  separating 
from  the  purely  theoretical  or  physiological. 
I  found  capital  work  done  in  answer  to  many  of  the  papers  of 
questions  set  in  Surrey,  that  would  have  entitled  the  writers  to  higher 
positions  than  they  occupied  at  the  R.H.S.  examination,  but  then  many 
of  the  writers  want  more  time  to  think  out  what  the  questions  require 
than  the  two  and  a  half  hours  allotted  affords.  For  that  reason  it  is 
difiScult  to  make  this  all  tob  brief  examination  a  fair  presentation  or 
test  of  a  candidate’s  knowledge.  The  result  fairly  looked  at  seems 
hardly  worth  so  much  trouble,  but,  still,  that  may  be  a  matter  of 
opinion. — A.  D. 
[Some  of  the  most  successful  candidates  have  told  us,  that  in  their 
opinion,  the  time  allowed  for  answering  the  questions  is  inadequate.] 
The  National  Rose  Society’s  Derby  Show. 
The  northern  exhibition  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  which  was  held 
at  Derby  on  the  17th  inst,,  was — if  we  except  that  at  Birmingham  in 
1892,  when  there  were  150  more  blooms  staged — the  largest  provincial 
show  the  Society  has  yet  held.  The  number  of  exhibition  Roses 
amounted  altogether  to  4100,  or  rather  more  than  1000  blooms  in  excess 
of  the  average  for  the  previous  six  northern  shows.  As  regards  the 
general  quality*  of  the  flowers  this  Rose  show  must,  I  think,  be  also 
regarded  as  having  been  the  best  of  the  season.  Taking  the  three 
exhibitions  of  the  Society  together  the  total  number  of  blooms  staged 
comes  out  as  13,200,  which  makes  1895,  as  regards  the  aggregate  number 
of  flowers  exhibited,  a  record  year. — E.  M.,  Berlihamstead. 
The  Herepoed  Rose  Show. 
“  Herefordshire  Incumbent  ”  upbraids  brother  rosarians  for 
not  attending  the  Hereford  and  West  of  England  Rose  show  held  this 
year  at  Great  Malvern.  There  were  two  reasons  why  some  of  us  did  not 
attend. 
1,  The  Clashing  of  Rose  Shows. — Great  Malvern,  Bath,  Worksop, 
Woodbridge,  and  Helensburgh  all  on  the  same  day.  We  went  to  Bathi 
The  second  Thursday  in  July  has  been  the  Bath  fixture  for  some  few 
years.  Why  did  the  authorities  select  this  date  for  Great  Malvern 
show  ? 
2,  The  Train  Service. — If  I  am  not  mistaken  the  last  train  from 
Paddington  to  Malvern  is  6  50  p.m.  Imagine  the  hour  at  which  Essex 
rosarians  must  cut  and  stage !  Will  “  Herefordshire  Incumbent  ” 
kindly  point  out  another  train  or  another  route  free  from  changing,  and 
at  a  more  reasonable  hour?  If  there  was  a  little  more  enterprise  on  the 
part  of  the  G.W.R.  to  bring  their  train  service  up  to  the  level  of  the 
service  of  other  companies  t  will  warrant  him,  with  such  a  good  prize 
list  as  was  provided  at  Malvern,  a  grand  gathering  of  rosarians.  Might 
T  suggest  that  next  year  they  take  the  second  Saturday  in  July  for  their 
show,  as  it  has  been,  with  the  exception  of  two  small  shows,  a  free  day 
for  some  years  past  ? — J.  H.  P. 
Observations  on  the  N.R.S.  Metropolitan  Show. 
Your  special  reporter’s  full  and  accurate  account  will  have  been 
read  with  much  interest  by  those  who  were  not  present  at  the  above 
show.  As  I  have  done  in  recent  years,  I  should  like  to  give  my  own 
general  views  upon  the  exhibition,  taking  such  salient  points  as  may 
seem  to  me  most  calculated  to  interest.  I  do  not  write  officially,  and 
my  opinions  may  be  taken  for  what  they  are  worth.  Some  will  doubt¬ 
less  differ  from  me,  but,  at  any  rate,  as  far  as  I  know  my  judgment  is  an 
honest  and  unprejudiced  one. 
The  Arrangements. 
The  plan  which  has  been  adopted  by  Mr.  Head  the  last  two  years 
has  contributed  much  to  the  artistic  appearance  of  the  exhibition  and  to 
the  comfort  of  visitors.  Perhaps  the  long  line  of  boxes  reaching  from 
end  to  end  with  all  their  variations  of  colour  had  a  more  striking 
effect  than  when  the  exhibits  were  broken  up  as  on  Saturday  into 
compartments,  but  the  comfort  of  not  having  to  press  through  lines  of 
visitors  in  order  to  see  the  Roses,  which  were  even  then  seen  with 
difficulty,  was  so  great  that  no  one,  I  think,  regretted  for  a  moment 
the  change  which  had  been  introduced. 
A  Hundred  Exhibitors. 
The  wide  range  of  districts  from  whence  the  exhi’oits  came  was 
certainly  remarkable,  and  showed  the  enthusiasm  of  those  interested  in 
the  culture  of  the  R  ise.  From  north  and  south  and  east  and  west  they 
came,  while  Scotland  and  Ireland  both  sent  their  representatives.  One 
hundred  exhibitors  contributed  to  the  goodly  array,  and  although  the 
keen  critic  would  be  forced  to  decide  that  the  anticipations  which  had 
been  formed  of  an  exhibition  deficient  in  quality  was  to  be  expected, 
yet  on  the  other  hand  he  would  be  forced  to  allow  it  was  far  better  than 
many  had  anticipated. 
The  Trophies. 
The  Rose  growers  of  East  Anglia  again  asserted  their  predominance. 
Two  out  of  the  three  challenge  trophies  went  there,  and  three  out  of  the 
four  silver  medals  for  the  best  bloom  were  likewise  awarded  to  them, 
whilst  numerous  other  prizes  also  fell  to  their  share,  and  I  think  that 
I  have  never  heard  more  general  satisfaction  expressed  than  when  it  was 
known  that  the  challenge  trophy,  the  medal  for  the  best  H.P.,  had 
been  awarded  to  our  veteran  exhibitor,  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant.  Mr.  Frank 
Cant  ran  his  formidable  competitor  very  closely,  only  four  points 
dividing  them.  I  certainly  agree  with  the  estimate  of  the  exhibition, 
that  the  Teas  and  Noisettes  were  inferior  to  those  exhibited  at  Gloucester, 
and  that  the  H.P.’s  were  brighter  and  fresher.  As  usual  when  that 
exhibitor  is  in  his  full  force,  Mr.  E.  B.  Lindsell’s  flowers  carried  off  the 
palm.  There  is  a  freshness  and  substance  about  them  which  always 
makes  them  attractive.  In  such  a  season  as  this,  when  the  blooms  were 
not  interfered  with  by  wet  weather,  his  stand  was  especially  note¬ 
worthy.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  medals  for  the  best  blooms  did  not  go 
to  any  outsider.  Her  Majesty  is  well  known,  and  this  season  has  suited 
her  admirably,  so  that  the  two  blooms  of  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Mr.  Lind- 
sell  were  models  of  perfection.  In  the  Tea  class  the  medals  were 
awarded  to  two  fine  blooms — one  of  Marbchal  Niel,  exhibited  by  the 
Rev.  A.  Foster- Melliar,  and  one  of  Comtesse  de  Nad&illac  by  Mr.  F. 
Cant.  They  were  good  unquestionably,  but  I  am  pretty  sure  I  have  seen 
better  blooms  of  both  varieties. 
Garden  Roses. 
The  season  had  been  unfavourable  for  the  exhibition  of  garden  Roses, 
notwithstanding  one  of  the  prettiest  boxes  I  have  seen  was  exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Cooling  &  Son,  Bath,  and  in  order  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  those 
who  are  ever  anxious  to  know  what  flowers  of  this  class  to  cultivate  I 
give  their  names.  Dr.  Gull,  Triomphe  de  Noisette,  Kaiserin  Frederick, 
Abbe  Tomason,  Madame  F.  Menard,  Triomphe  de  Rennes,  Triomphe  de 
Pernet  Pore,  Bennett’s  Seedling,  Bardou  Job,  Majlame  Geo.  Bruant, 
Papillon,  Madame  H.  Defense,  Madame  Falcot,  Rugosa,  Rugosa  Alba, 
Celine  Forestier,  Gustave  Regis,  Queen  of  Bedders,  White  Provence, 
Ruga,  Renoncule.  Dr,  Searle’s  Sweet  Briar.  Pissard,  The  Pet,  Mignonette, 
Jean  Drinon.  Ma  Paquerette,  Crested  Moss,  Malmaison,  Salat  Moss, 
Miaiature,  York  and  Lancaster,  Domatell  Becard,  L’Ideal,  Lucida 
Plena,  Musk  Rose,  Opherie,  Crimson  Rambler,  Marquis  of  Salisbury, 
Madame  Charles,  Beaute  Inconstance,  Adelaide  Ballabre,  Madame  C. 
Guinnoisseau,  Madame  Falcot,  Laurettie.  Homere,  W.  A.  Richardson, 
Cooling’s  Single  Scarlet.  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son  were  a  good  second,  and 
the  difficulty  of  finding  blooms  for  this  class  was  shown  by  the  fact  that 
in  the  class  of  eighteen  blooms  there  was  only  one  exhibit.  ?4mong8C 
amateurs  Mr.  Machin  exhibited  a  very  good  stand,  and  no  doubt  his 
more  northern  locality  was  in  sucU  a  season  as  this  favourable  to  him. 
The  blooms  were  arranged  with  considerable  taste. 
New  Roses. 
A  class  for  new  Roses,  which  was  instituted  for  the  purpose  of 
enabling  rosarians  to  see  the  newest  introductions  from  abroad,  seems 
now  to  miss  its  aim,  the  greater  portion  of  those  exhibited  being  home- 
raised  flowers,  many  of  which  are  to  be  seen  in  many  stands  scattered 
throughout  the  exhibition,  and  it  was  not  therefore  surprising  that 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons  should  have  carried  off  the  chief  honours, 
and  in  fact  one  heard  nothing  of  any  new  French  Rose.  With  regard 
to  a  class  for  any  new  seedling  Rose  there  were  four  exhibits,  two  by 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons,  but  none  of  them  ware  considered 
worthy  of  the  gold  medal  offered  by  the  Society,  although  the  two 
exhibited  by  Messrs.  Dickson  received  cards  of  commendation,  and  this 
does  not  prevent  them  from  being  brought  forward  again  for  the  gold 
medal.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  great  caution  should  be  observed 
in  granting  this  high  award,  and  it  may  have  been  there  has  been  more 
than  once  laxity  in  this  matter. 
New  Exhibitors. 
0.ie  is  always  glad  to  welcome  either  new  exhibitors  or  those  who, 
though  they  may  have  exhibited  before,  are  taking  a  more  prominent 
place  ;  thus  one  is  glad  to  see  amongst  nurserymen  Messrs.  Prior  k,  Son 
of  Colchester  and  Messrs.  Townsend  of  Worcester  (east  and  west) 
advancing  in  the  character  and  extent  of  their  exhibits.  We  do  not 
find  amongst  amateurs  any  additions  in  the  larger  classes,  but  the 
benefit  of  our  local  societies  was  shown  when  such  exhibitors  as  Mr. 
Conway  Jones  and  Mr.  Washbourne,  who  distinguished  themselves  at 
home,  now  venturing  upon  a  longer  flight,  and  carrying  off  prizes  at  one 
great  show, 
