August  3,  1899 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
101 
Comments  on  the  National  Rose  Society’s  Show  at 
Colchester,  July  6th,  1899. 
The  present  year  has  been,  as  far  as  the  National  Rose  Society  is 
concerned,  what  may  be  called  a  very  muddling  one,  and  no  stronger 
evidence  of  this  can  be  given  than  the  fact  that  the  only  provincial 
show  corresponding  to  the  northern  show  should  have  been  held  at 
Colchester  on  so  early  a  date  as  the  6th  of  July.  Of  course  it  was  not 
really  a  northern,  but  a  provincial  show,  and  in  truth  few  northern 
men  were  present.  It  was  fully  expected  (being  held  in  Colchester, 
the  very  paradise  of  Rose  culture),  the  exhibition  would  be  exception¬ 
ally  large  and  the  flowers  abnormably  fine,  while  it  was  neither  the 
one  nor  the  other.  We  had  no  Roses  from  Scotland  as  in  some  years ; 
Mr.  Machin  was  not  able  to  send  any  from  the  north  Midlands,  and 
Mr.  Boyes  of  Derby  only  contributed  a  few,  while  the  competition  in 
several  classes  was  of  a  limited  character,  and  there  were  many 
blanks  on  the  exhibition  table. 
There  was  a  decided  absence  in  the  high-coloured  H.P.’s  which 
generally  come  out  so  strongly  in  the  provinces ;  there  were  no  very 
fine  blooms  of  Horace  Yernet  and  A.  K.  Williams,  and  of  course  this 
detracts  from  the  beauty  of  the  stands.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that 
there  were  no  really  fine  flowers  or  good  stands;  there  were  such,  but 
good  as  they  were  they  were  not  up  to  the  average.  In  the  nursery¬ 
men’s  class  the  premier  award  of  the  Jubilee  challenge  trophy  and  the 
gold  medal  were  awarded  to  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant,  who  thus  becomes  the 
proud  possessor  of  the  two  trophies  for  the  year.  In  his  Jubilee  stand 
the  following  flowers  were  noticeable — Gustave  Piganeau,  Mrs.  W.  J. 
Grant,  Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  Helen  Keller,  Mrs.  S.  Crawford, 
Mrs.  Cocker,  and  a  fine  bloom  of  that  uncertain  flower,  Comtesse  de 
Ludre.  Messrs.  Prior  &  Son  were  a  good  second  with  bright  and 
fresh  flowers. 
The  amateurs’  Jubilee  trophy  again  fell  to  the  prowess  of  Mr.  E.  B. 
Lindsell,  who  thus  again  becomes  the  possessor  of  the  two  trophies 
for  the  year.  This  stand  was  unquestionably  the  best  in  the 
exhibition,  although  not  equal  to  some  Mr.  Lindsell  has  shown  in 
other  years.  The  cup  given  by  the  Mayor  of  Colchester  was  won 
by  Mr.  Orpen.  This,  as  might  have  been  expected,  was  a  grand 
exhibit,  and  the  result  must  have  been  equally  satisfactory  to  the 
donor  and  receiver. 
The  medal  blooms  were  not  very  striking  in  character  in  the 
amateurs’  divisions.  The  medal  for  H.P.'s  was  given  to  Air.  Orpen 
for  a  fine  bloom  of  Her  Majesty,  and  that  for  the  best  Tea  Rose  was 
awarded  to  Muriel  Grahame,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Lindsell ;  another  for 
the  H.T.  to  La  France,  from  Mr.  II.  P.  Landon.  In  the  nurserymen’s 
division  the  medal  for  the  best  H.P.  was  awarded  to  a  grand  bloom  of 
Prince  Arthur,  staged  by  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant,  who  was  also  awarded 
the  medal  for  the  best  H.P.  with  a  fine  bloom  of  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant. 
The  medal  for  the  best  Tea  Rose  was  awarded  to  Mr.  George  Prince 
of  Oxford  for  a  grand  bloom  of  Maman  Cochet.  It  is  a  very  beautiful 
Rose,  though  grown  as  I  see  it  in  my  own  garden  it  seems  wanting  in 
first-class  form. 
The  Tea  division  was,  as  might  have  been  expected  in  an 
exhibition  held  in  East  Anglia,  well  filled.  The  Rev.  A.  Foster- 
Melliar’s  eighteen.was  exceptionally  good,  especially  Madame  de  Watte- 
ville  and  Niphetos.  The  Rev.  F.  Page  Roberts  had  also  a  beautiful 
stand  of  nine,  and  one  was  glad  to  find  both  of  these  exhibitors  fol¬ 
lowing  up  their  succcessful  efforts  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  In  the 
nurserymen’s  division  of  Teas  and  Noisettes,  Messrs.  F.  Cant  &  Co. 
exhibited  a  fine  stand  in  the  class  for  twenty-four  ;  amongst  these 
were  particularly  noticed  Golden  Gate,  whose  name  often  misleads 
people  who  expect  to  see  a  bright  yellow  Rose,  whereas  it  is  cream 
coloured.  In  the  class  for  twelves  Messrs.  Harkness  &  Sons  had  a 
good  stand,  obtaining  first  prize,  while  Messrs.  Burrell  &  Co.  were  a 
good  second.  In  the  class  for  new  Roses,  Messrs.  F.  Cant  &  Co.  came 
out  first  with  a  good  stand,  including  both  home  and  foreign  raised 
flowers — amongst  the  most  noticeable  and  least  known  of  these  were 
Madame  C.  Rainy,  a  peculiarly  coloured  flower,  Marguerite  Appert, 
which  are  both  foreigners  ;  the  latter  a  bright  red  Hybrid  Tea,  with 
large  and  pointed  bud  ;  Countess  of  Caledon,  Ellen  Drew,  and  of 
Mrs.  F.  Cant  a  flower  which  has  greatly  improved  since  its  first 
introduction.  Again  there  was  no  gold  medal  awarded  for  a  new 
seedling. 
Garden  Roses  as  usual  attracted  attention,  and  although  the  Bath 
firm  was  absent  from  the  competition,  the  place  was  worthily  occupied 
by  Messrs.  F.  Cant  &  Co.  In  the  amateurs’  division  Mr.  0.  G.  Orpen 
was  first-  with  twelve,  an^  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  a  close  second. 
I  may  here  conclude  by  quoting  the  opinions  of  one  of  our  most 
accomplished  and  keen  critics  as  to  the  whole  character  of  the  exhibi¬ 
tion,  and  who  has  of  late  years  attended,  I  believe,  every  one  of  our 
Rose  shows,  both  metropolitan  and  provincial.  “  The  show  was  not 
so  good,  either  in  extent  or  quality  of  the  flowers  exhibited,  and 
there  was  much  blank  space  on  the  stages  which  would  have  been 
filled  had  all  the  entries  been  forthcoming.  Garden  Roses  were  very 
sparingly  exhibited,  both  in  the  trade  and  amateur  classes,  but  if 
lacking  in  quantity  the  quality  was  of  the  highest  merit,  and  per¬ 
haps  finer  stands  than  those  put  up  by  Mr.  Orpen,  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton,  F.  Cant  &  Co.,  and  Paul  &  Son  were  never  surpassed  at 
any  show. 
“Owing  to  the  peculiar  season  and  the  rough  weather  previous  to 
the  show  none  of  the  nurserymen  exhibited  in  their  best  form,  not 
even  the  Colchester  growers,  who  had  every  advantage  in  exhibiting 
without  a  railway  journey,  and  the  same  holds  good  in  the  larger 
amateur  exhibitors,  who  were  not  up  to  their  usual  standard.  The 
exhibition  sadly  missed  the  crimson  H.P.’s,  as  there  were  no  fine 
specimens  of  Horace  Vernet  and  A.  K.  Williams,  usually  so  excellent 
at  the  later  shows  of  the  National.  None  of  the  medal  blooms  was 
of  striking  excellence,  although  Mr.  Orpen’s  Her  Majesty  and  Mr. 
Prince’s  Maman  Cochet  were  fine  blooms,  which  stood  the  great  heat 
of  the  tent  well. 
“  Of  the  new  Roses  suggested  to  be  included  in  the  new  edition  of 
the  catalogue  of  the  N.R.  Society,  Madame  Cadeau  Ramey,  Grande 
Duchesse  Victoria  Melita,  Countess  of  Caledon,  and  Killarney  showed 
to  the  best  advantage.  Mr.  B.  R.  Cant  exhibited  a  remarkable  bloom 
of  the  latter,  which  for  delicacy  and  freshness  of  colour  was  charming. 
If  it  proves  full  enough  it  will  be  one  of  the  best  Messrs.  Dicksons 
have  sent  out,  as  the  habit  is  very  good  and  the  plants  wonderfully 
free  blooming.  Madame  Eugene  Boullet,  although  of  nice  shape  and 
colour,  may  be  rather  small  for  exhibition,  and  Marguerite  Appert,  a 
new  red  Hybrid  Tea,  although  of  capital  size  lacked  shape,  and  will 
have  to  greatly  improve  before  it  can  be  called  a  good  exhibition 
Rose.  Mr.  W.  Paul’s  Empress  Alex,  of  Russia,  in  addition  to  its 
great  beauty  of  colour  as  a  garden  Rose,  promises  also  to  be  of  good 
exhibition  quality  when  well  grown,  and  its  striking  and  novel  colour 
shows  to  great  advantage  in  a  box. 
“  Two  old  exhibitors,  the  Rev.  Foster  Melliar  and  the  Rev.  F.  Page 
Roberts,  well  maintained  the  high  positions  secured  at  the  earlier 
shows  with  their  Tea  Roses,  and  exhibited  remarkably  well  at  this 
show.  There  were  no  seedling  Roses  brought  forward  in  a  condition 
worthy  the  gold  medal,  and  it  is  needless  to  state  that  all  the  arrange¬ 
ments  under  such  able  management  as  that  of  Messrs.  Orpen  and 
Green  left  nothing  to  be  desired,  and  although  Colchester  had  the 
usual  thunderstorms  the  attendance  was  good.” — D.,  Deal. 
WINTER-BLOOMING  CARNATIONS. 
An  article  on  these  is  honoured  with  a  prominent  position  in  a 
previous  issue  of  the  Journal  (page  47).  Is  it  not  strange  that  the  culture 
of  this  class  of  plant  is  not  better  understood,  and  their  cultivation  more 
popular  1  Can  anyone  name  any  kind  of  flower  which  is  more  appreciated 
than  Carnations  for  buttonholes  throughout  the  winter !  The  blooms 
are  very  lasting,  varied  in  tints  of  colouring,  and  many  are  delicately 
perfumed.  It  must  be  admitted  that  several  fail  in  their  cultivation, 
mainly  because  the  plants  are  over-watered,  or  not  given  sufficient  air 
throughout  the  winter,  but  generally  tree  or  perpetual-blooming  Carna¬ 
tions  are  not  so  disappointing  as  the  border  varieties,  especially  in  some 
positions.  In  some  few  gardens  winter-flowering  Carnations  are  grown 
extensively,  and  the  blooms  are  highly  appreciated.  We  have  also  some 
market  men  who  grow  large  quantities,  in  some  cases  tens  of  thousands, 
but  what  a  poor  figure  do  these  make  beside  the  work  of  our  “cousins 
across  the  water.” 
In  America  Carnations  in  midwinter  are  almost  as  popular  as  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  shows  in  November  are  here.  The  National  Society’s  Show 
is  held  in  February,  and  a  very  big  affair  it  is.  Blooms  are  exhibited  in 
vases,  with  fifty  or  100  of  a  variety  in  each.  Just  now  a  sensation  is 
caused  by  the  report  of  a  speculator  purchasing  a  stock  of  a  particular 
variety  for  £6000.  Some  say  this  is  an  American  way  of  doing  “  biz.” 
However,  the  fact  remains  that  millions  of  plants  are  grown  in  America, 
and  every  encouragement  is  given  to  the  cultivation  of  the  winter¬ 
flowering  Carnation  in  that  country. 
With  us  no  special  encouragement  is  given,  not  even  by  the  R.H.S., 
broad  and  extensive  as  are  ils  actions.  Occasionally  an  “  award  of  merit” 
is  made  to  a  variety,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  such  award  has  little 
or  no  weight  with  the  market  growers,  or  even  the  private  ones,  for 
whilst  many  can  appreciate  the  good  work  done  by  the  It.U.S.,  very  few 
will  admit  that  the  Floral  Committee  has  in  its  constitution  many  growers 
of  the  winter  blooming  Carnation,  and  the  points  of  a  variety  from  a 
market  grower’s  view  are  not  appreciated.  However  before  long  no 
doubt  this  useful  class  of  plant  will  be  much  more  generally  grown,  and 
it  is  hoped  that  the  National  Carnation  Society  will  see  its  way  to  give 
this  section  every  encouragement. — W.  J.  Godfrey,  Exmouth. 
