July  7,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
3 
Penzance  Briars. 
WALKING  through  the  Birmingham  Market  Hall  recently  my 
attention  was  drawn  to  a  charming  display  by  Messrs.  Perkins  &  Son, 
Coventry,  of  the  Penzance  Hybrid  Sweet  Briars,  staged  in  juxtaposition 
to  a  stand  of  Hybrid  Perpetuals  and  Tea  Roses.  The  contrast  between 
the  flowers  of  the  Briars  and  the  Roses  was  most  striking  as  well  as 
•  pleasing,  and  they  were  much  admired.  Who  can  say  what  may  eventu¬ 
ally  happen  to  these  Briars  after  a  sys’em  of  high  cultivation,  and  they 
become  double  ?  In  fact  two  or  three  of  the  varieties  exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Perkins  evidenced  a  tendency  towards  the  flore-pleno  form, 
notably  such  as  Meg  Merrilies  and  Anne  of  Geirstein,  possessing  as  the}" 
•  did  petals  twice  or  more  than  the  normal  number  ot  five.  Is  a  state  of 
high  culture  responsible  for  this  polypetalous  transition  to  which 
numerous  flowers  besides  Roses  are  amenable  1 — W.  G. 
A  Restive  Rosarian. 
Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  Rose  season,  or  the  earliness  of  the  date 
of  the  Crystal  Palace  Show,  I  was  not  even  in  form  good  enough  to  show 
“garden  "  Roses  such  as  Bardou  Job,  Perle  d’Or,  A.  M.  de  Montravel, 
Crimson  Rambler,  The  Pet,  and  Thoresbyana.  The  lateness  of  this 
season  is  rather  a  contrast  to  the  early  one  of  1895,  when  I  began  showing 
at  York  on  June  19th,  and  won  in  the  season  104  prizes,  including  fifty- 
four  firsts,  thirty-five  seconds,  fifteen  thirds,  a  cup,  and  five  medals.  I 
had  one  or  two  blooms  out  on  July  1st  this  year  of  White  Lady,  Lady 
Mary  Pitzwilliam,  Mrs.  R.  G.  S.  Crawford,  Medea,  Bridesmaid,  and 
Ulrich  Brunner,  but  I  could  not  cut  a  “twelve  distinct”  from  my  large 
stock  of  plants.  I  am  deeply  sorry  I  could  not  help  the  National  Rose 
Society’s  show  at  the  Palace  with  some  exhibits,  and  it  is  a  great 
disappointment  to  me  to  be  a  “non-starter”  for  the  amateur  champion¬ 
ship  and  other  coveted  prizes.  Our  late  Yachts  (Foxhound’s)  motto  was, 
Every  dog  has  his  day  ;  ”  I  may  have  mine  some  day.  If  you  come  to 
see  my  Rose  field  on  the  sly  between  4  A.M.  and  9  P.M.,  mind  I  don’t 
catch  you  admiring  (if  nothing  more)  Bardou  Job,  Mrs.  R.  G.  S.  Crawford, 
Duchess  of  Bedford,  or  Duke  of  Fife  ;  and  remember  that  my  Macranthas, 
Crimson  Ramblers,  and  Thoresbyanas  are  big  enough  to  hide  my  frame 
from  the  approaching  visitor.  I  often  say  to  my  friends  there  are  three 
things  no  practical  rosarian  should  be  without— 1,  a  Sproughton  hoe  ; 
2,  Stott’s  kill-m-right ;  and  3,  Vermorel’s  knapsack  pump.  I  have  also 
found  a  Planet  junior  a  great  help.  Have  not  we  had  some  weeds  and 
some  aphis? — Hy.  V.  Machin. 
[We  wish  for  this  merry  dog-rosarian  another  day  like  that  at  York 
in  1895,  even  if  he  does  suggest  the  possibility  of  our  doing  something 
more  than  admire  his  Roses.  When  we  are  caught  we  suspect  the 
penalty  will  scarcely  be  a  sight  of  the  cup  and  “nothing  more.”] 
A  Few  Good  Roses. 
When  there  was  seen  at  Richmond,  on  the  29  th  ult.,-  such  superb 
Roses,  it  was  difficult  to  understand  why  the  assumption  should  have  arisen 
that  Rose  bloom  was  late  this  season  ;  certainly  the  flowers  shown  at 
Richmond  from  Colchester  by  both  the  famous  Cants,  and  from  Turner 
of  Slough,  Paul  of  Cheshunt,  and  others,  were  very  fine,  and  excited 
high  admiration.  No  one  wants  details  as  to  winnings.  Probably  a 
few  notes  as  to  the  best  flowers  will  be  more  readable,  and  to  that  end 
I  noted  down  twenty-four  of  the  best  in  the  show  in  respective  colours. 
Too  commonly  there  is  good  cause  for  complaint  of  the  presence  in 
collections  of  an  excessive  number  of  dark  flowers  ;  that  fault  was  less 
-in  evidence  than  usual  at  Richmond. 
The  finest  half  dozen  of  dark  hues,  were  Captain  Hayward,  Duke  of 
Edinburgh,  Alfred  Colomb,  Marie  Baumann,  A.  K.  Williams,  and  Duke 
of  Teck.  These  were  very  fine.  Of  less  deep  colours  there  were  Helen 
Keller,  soft  rosy  carmine,  a  brilliant  flower ;  Mrs  John  Laing,  pink  and 
charming  ;  Mrs.  Sharman  Crawford,  rich  pink,  in  all  cases  very  fine  ; 
Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  rich  rose  ;  Heinrich  Schultheis,  rosy  pink  ; 
and  Ulrich  Brunner,  rich  rosy  red.  Of  yet  paler  or  softer  hues  were 
La  France  ;  the  very  old  and,  in  this  case,  remarkably  fine  pink,  Souvenir 
de  la  Malmaison  ;  Duchesse  de  Vallombrosa,  Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam, 
Caroline  Testout,  and  Cleopatra.  Then  of  whites  and  yellows,  or  nearly 
so,  the  best  were  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  Margaret  Dickson,  The  Bride, 
Ivaiserin  Augusta  Victoria,  Marie  Van  Houtte,  and  Marbchal  Niel. 
Flowers  of  these  as  shown  in  trebles  might  have  been  collected  from  the 
Richmond  collections,  making  a  twenty-four  that  would  have  been  very 
hard  indeed  to  beat.  For  a  general  exhibition  a  brighter  and  finer  Rose 
show  has  seldom  been  seen  so  early  in  a  late  season. — A.  D. 
ROSE  SHOWS. 
NATIONAL  ROSE  SOCIETY,  CRYSTAL  PALACE. -July  2nd. 
The  metropolitan  exhibition  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  held  as 
usual  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  must  be  termed  an  unqualified  success. 
Notwithstanding  the  untoward  weather  with  which  growers  have  had  to 
contend  of  late,  the  blooms  staged  were  of  excellent  quality  throughout. 
Naturally  many  inferior  ones  were  observed  amongst  such  vast  numbers, 
but  they  were  more  than  recompensed  for  by  such  flowers  as  Mrs.  J. 
Laing,  from  Mr.  E.  B.  Lindsell ;  White  Lady,  from  Mr.  C.  J.  Grahame  ; 
Gustave  Piganeau,  from  Messrs.  Townsend  &  Sons  ;  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant, 
fromjMr.  B.  R.  Cant ;  and  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  from  Mr.  Alex.  Hill  Gray 
and  Mr.  Geo.  Prince.  These  with  scores  of  others  were  far  above  average 
quality,  and  were  the  subjects  of  the  greatest  admiration  from  all  the 
visitors. 
So  far  as  numbers  of  flowers  and  of  exhibitors  were  concerned,  it  is 
difficult  to  form  a  comparison  with  this  and  last  season’s  shows,  for  the 
reason  that  in  1897  all  the  flowers  were  squeezed  into  a  dark  corner, 
while  this  year  they  were  placed  on  tables  throughout  the  whole  length 
of  the  central  transept.  In  the  nurserymen’s  classes  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  the  flowers  were  quite  as  numerous  as  customary,  and  of  a 
high  average  quality,  and  there  was  little  if  any  inferiority  in  the 
amateur  section.  The  arrangements  of  the  show  were  very  good,  and 
little  trouble  was  experienced  in  finding  any  individual  exhibit  in  a  par¬ 
ticular  class.  For  this  we  presume  Mr.  Mawley  is  responsible,  and  we 
would  offer  him  our  congratulations  on  the  success  that  crowned  his 
efforts.  Subjoined  will  be  found  a  report  of  the  several  exhibits  in  both 
sections  of  the  show. 
Nurserymen — General  Section. 
Mr.  B.  R.  Cant,  Colchester,  secured  the  coveted  nurserymen’s  trophy 
for  seventy-two  distinct  varieties,  and  some  superb  flowers  were  observed. 
The  varieties  were  Ulrich  Brunner,  Cleopatra,  Alfred  Colomb,  Marie 
Finger,  Marquis  Litta,  Madame  Jules  Finger,  Gustave  Piganeau,  Caroline 
Testout,  Heinrich  Schultheis,  La  France,  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  White 
Lady,  Comtesse  de  Ludre,  Catherine  Mermet,  Dr.  Andry,  Mrs.  J.  Laing, 
Horace  Vernet,  Madame  Gabriel  Luizet,  T.  Mills,  Mrs.  Sharman  Craw¬ 
ford,  Marie  Baumann,  Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam,  Comtesse  de  Raimbaud, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison,  Magna  Charta,  Marshal 
Niel,  Madame  Victor  Verdier,  Mons.  Nonin,  Madame  Cusin,  Ivaiserin 
Augusta  Victoria,  Captain  Hayward,  Mrs.  Paul,  Chas.  Lefebvre,  Hon. 
Edith  Gifford.  Senateur  Vaisse,  Marchioness  of  Dufferin,  Le  Havre, 
Ernest  Metz,  Helen  Keller,  Innocente  Pirola,  Dupuy  Jamain,  Souvenir 
d’Elise  Vardon,  General  Jacqueminot,  Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  The 
Bride,  Medea,  Crown  Prince,  Salamander,  Marchioness  of  Downshire, 
Auguste  Rigotard,  Souvenir  d’un  Ami,  Marie  Verdier,  Golden  Gate, 
Earl  of  Dufferin,  Muriel  Grahame,  Abel  Carriere,  Bridesmaid,  Annie 
Laxton,  Maman  Cochet,  Edouard  Andrd,  Madame  de  Watteville,  Prince 
Arthur,  Margaret  Dickson,  A.  Iv.  Williams,  Madame  Cadeau  Ramey, 
Madame  Delville,  Madame  Bravy.  Etienne  Levet,  Merveille  de  Lyon, 
Dr.  Sewell,  and  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince. 
Messrs.  F.  Cant  &  Co.  were  second  with  a  beautiful  stand,  in  which 
were  conspicuous  Beauty  of  Waltham,  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac.  The  Bride, 
Madame  Gabriel  Luizet,  Fisher  Holmes,  Madame  Montet,  Annie  Wood, 
Marie  Baumann,  Cleopatra,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Gustave  Piganeau,  and 
Le  Havre.  Messrs.  Harkness  &  Sons,  Bedale,  secured  the  third  position 
out  of  the  five  exhibitors. 
Mr.  B.  R.  Cant  was  again  first  for  forty  distinct  varieties,  three  flowers 
of  each,  and  staged  some  splendid  specimens.  The  varieties  included 
La  France,  Gustave  Piganeau,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Dupuv  Jamain,  A.  Iv. 
Williams,  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  Marquis  Litta,  Medea,  Margaret 
Dickson,  Duke  of  Teck,  Madame  Gabriel  Luizet,  Dr.  Andry,  Prince 
Arthur,  Souvenir  d'Elise  Vardon,  General  Jacqueminot,  Marechal  Niel, 
Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  Golden  Gate,  Charles  Lefebvre,  Mrs. 
Sharman  Crawford,  Alfred  Colomb,  The  Bride,  Comte  Raimbaud, 
Captain  Hayward,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  White  Lady,  Le  Havre,  Fisher 
Holmes,  Souvenir  d’un  Ami,  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  Marchioness  of  Down¬ 
shire,  Ivaiserin  Augusta  Victoria,  Helen  Keller,  Marie  Baumann,  Catherine 
Mermet,  Caroline  Testout,  Crown  Prince,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Lady  Mary 
Fitzwilliam.  The  second  position  was  assigned  to  Messrs.  A.  Dicksons 
and  Son,  Newtownards,  with  a  charming  stand,  including  amongst  others 
Bridesmaid,  Madame  de  Watteville,  The  Bride,  Countess  of  Caledon, 
Dupuy  Jamain,  Marquis  Litta,  Mrs.  Morrow,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  and 
Madame  Cusin.  Messrs.  F.  Cant  &;  Co.  were  third.  The  exhibitors  in 
this  class  numbered  six,  and  the  quality  throughout  was  good. 
Four  competitors  came  forward  with  forty-eight  distinct  single  trusses, 
and  here,  as  in  other  cases,  the  quality  was  very  even.  Messrs.  D.  Prior 
and  Son  were  placed  at  the  top  with  a  stand  containing  Prince  Arthur, 
Caroline  Testout,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Margaret  Dickson,  Marquis  Litta, 
Marchioness  of  Dufferin,  Helen  Keller,  Mrs.  Sharman  Crawford,  Gustave 
Piganeau,  White  Lady,  Dupuy  Jamain.  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Charles 
Darwin,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  La  France,  Kaiserin  August* 
Victoria,  Abel  Carriere,  The  Bride,  Etienne  Levet,  Madame  G.  Luizet, 
Comte  Raimbaud,  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  A.  K.  Williams,  Magna 
Charta,  Dr.  Andry,  Caroline  Kuster,  Prosper  Langier,  Alba  Rosea, 
Prince  Camille  de  Rohan,  Rubens,  Marie  Baumann,  Fisher  Holmes, 
Marie  Verdier,  Alfred  Colomb,  Souvenir  d’un  Ami,  Duke  of  Fife, 
Margaret  Dickson,  Edouard  Andre,  Marchioness  of  Downshire,  Beauty  of 
Waltham,  Souvenir  d’Elise  Vardon,  Horace  Vernet,  Cleopatra,  Duke  of 
Wellington,  Marie  Van  Houtte,  Mons.  E.  Y.  Teas,  and  Lady  Mary 
Fitzwilliam.  Messrs.  Townsend  &  Son  were  a  remarkably  close  second 
with  a  splendid  stand,  comprising  Fisher  Holmes,  Marquis  Litta,  Victor 
Verdier,  Ulrich  Brunner.  Gustave  Piganeau,  Captain  Hayward,  Susanne 
Marie  Rodocanachi,  Madame  de  Watteville,  and  others.  Messrs. 
J.  Burrell  &  Co.  were  a  good  third. 
TI  ere  were  seven  competitors  in  the  class  for  twenty-four  distinct 
single  trusses,  and  many  handsome  flowers  were  noticeable  in  the  boxes, 
Mr.  Chas.  Turner,  Royal  Nurseries.  Slough,  went  to  the  front  with  an 
even  stand,  comprising  Caroline  Testout,  Charles  Lefebvre,  General 
Jacqueminot,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Gustave  Piganeau,  Pride  of  Waltham, 
