June  25,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
581 
The  Colchester  Roses, 
Brilliant  and  more  numerous  than  ever  must  be  our  verdict  after 
spending  Thursday,  the  18th  inst.,  at  the  show — the  Rose  feast— in  the 
Rose  fields,  and  acting  as  juror  at  the  great  Rose  and  general  show,  the 
finest,  so  it  is  said,  yet  held  at  Colchester.  As  usual,  we  had  heard 
many  gloomy  reports  of  the  want  of  growth  among  Roses,  as  well  as 
many  insect  plagues  of  grubs,  aphides,  thrips— the  products  of  the  long 
drought  and  the  scourge  of  east  winds.  But  as  we  enter  the  Colchester 
Land  of  Goshen  for  Roses  the  mealy  mildew  shrinks  to  the  puniest 
dimensions,  and  the  Roses  appear  in  their  marshalled  thousands  green  as 
Leeks,  gay  as  butterflies,  pure  as  Lilies,  and  brilliant  and  beautiful- 
well,  as  Colchester  Roses. 
Higher  praise  cannot  be  given,  and  they  deserve  it  more  than  ever 
this  year.  The  day  before  the  home  battle  of  the  Roses  Colchester  won 
many  honours  at  York,  and  simultaneously  with  the  home  muster  on 
the  18th  Chichester  almost  swept  the  tables  of  chief  honours  at  the  Isle 
of  Wight ;  and  those  who  know  its  resources  to-day — and  for  the  next 
month  best— would  hardly  wonder  if  its  growers  swept  the  field  bare  of 
prizes  for  the  next  month.  The  growing  popularity  of  garden  Roses,  and 
of  showing  Roses  tastefully  in  vases,  are  two  of  the  most  gratifying 
incidents  most  visible  on  the  surface.  The  proud  position  of  three  such 
old  favourites  as  Charles  Lefebvre,  Marie  Baumann,  and  A.  K. 
Williams  is  another.  The  thirst  for  novelty  has  run  after  old  favourites 
of  late.  This  sentence,  though  it  sounds  like  an  Irish  bull,  really 
expresses  a  truth  as  suggestive  as  profound.  The  land  under  Roses  is 
still  extending  its  widening  sway  over  broader  acres  and  wider  areas. 
The  rosarians  are  mostly  the  owners  of  their  Rose  fields.  This  fact 
enables  them  to  grow  their  Roses  as  they  like,  and  to  crop  their  grounds 
very  much,  and  generally  on  the  two-course  system.  A  first  crop  of 
Roses,  to  be  succeeded  by  one  of  Barley  or  Oats,  to  be  followed  again  by 
Roses,  and  so  on,  and  so  on,  to  fame  and  fortune.  Roses  are  too  spiritually 
minded  to  be  greedy  after  nitrogen,  so  that  I  have  not  heard  nor  seen  a 
Pea  or  Pulse  crop  interposed  in  the  rotation.  I  also  saw  some  Roses  cut 
back  on  the  18th  that  had  been  on  the  same  ground  for  seven  years,  and 
seemed  nothing  the  worse  for  feeding  at  the  same  table,  with  a  loose 
surface  for  their  tablecloth,  through  that  long  period. 
Still  Roses  do  get  soil  sick,  as  most  private  growers  find  out  to  their 
cost  in  their  contests  with  the  trade.  Not  a  few  of  the  victories  of  the 
latter  over  the  former  in  the  open  classes  are  largely  owing  to  the 
unlimited  use  of  maiden  plants  or  maiden  soils,  or  two  or  other  courses 
of  cropping  by  the  trade.  Another  feature  of  the  Colchester  Rose  trade 
is  that  the  sons  are  following  the  fathers.  The  veteran  grower,  Mr. 
Benjamin  Cant,  is  assisted  by  his  two  sons.  Mr.  Frank  Cant,  who 
entertained  the  rosarians  at  luncheon  in  his  splendid  grounds  at  Brais- 
wick,  has  also  one  or  more  boys,  who  it  may  be  hoped  will  better  their 
father’s  instructions  in  Rose  culture  in  the  very  distant  future. 
On  the  whole  the  Rose  show  was  one  of  the  best  yet  held  at 
Colchester.  All  classes  of  Roses  were  fully  represented,  and  many  of 
the  blooms  were  as  near  perfection  as  possible.  Madame  Hoste  took  the 
silver  cup  for  the  best  Tea  in  the  show,  and  Marie  Baumann  the 
corresponding  cup  for  the  best  Hybrid  Perpetual.  Chas.  Lefebvre  also 
did  his  best  to  prove  that  he  is  still  the  finest  dark  Rose  in  the  world, 
though  A.  K.  Williams  and  others  ran  him  hard.  La  France,  Francois 
Michelon,  Mrs.  John  Laing,  Caroline  Testout,  Ulrich  Brunner,  A.  K. 
Williams,  Horace  Vernet,  The  Bride,  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  Rubens, 
Marie  Van  Houtte,  Hon.  Edith  Gifford,  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac  were 
among  the  finest  Teas.  Among  novelties  the  Golden  Gate  had  but  little 
gold  in  it ;  Rainbow,  a  long  budded  Hybrid  Tea,  is  likely  to  have  a  long 
career  as  a  garden  Rose  ;  while  Mrs.  Sharman  Crawford,  Captain  Hay¬ 
ward,  Clio,  and  Marchioness  of  Downshire  are  promising  novelties.  Mrs. 
John  Laing  also  holds  its  own,  as  well  as  one  of  the  softest  pink  Roses. 
There  is,  however,  no  fear  of  its  superseding  La  France,  which  still 
stands  first  with  the  trade  and  town  decorators  as  the  most  popular  of 
all  Ropes.  Lord  Penzance’s  seedling  Briars  are  remarkably  well  grown 
and  shown  around  Colchester.  Such  varieties  as  Brenda,  Lady  and  Lord 
Penzance,  Meg  Merilies,  and  others  being  dwarf  in  habit,  brilliant  in 
blossom,  and  of  the  true  Sweet  Briar  type  and  form. 
One  of  the  prettiest  exhibits  of  garden  Roses  was  contributed  by 
Mr.  Orpen,  who  takes  such  a  keen  interest  in  the  horticulture  of  the 
district.  These  comprised,  among  others,  Bardou  Job,  C.  Jacquier, 
Beauty  of  Gierstein,  Paul’s  Single  White,  Gustave  Regis,  Rainbow,  Brenda, 
Perle  d’Or,  Moschata  Alba,  H6b6’s  Lip. — D.  T.  F.,  Edinburgh. 
Isle  of  Wight  Show. 
The  annual  exhibition  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Rose  Society  was  held 
at  Ryde  on  Thursday  last,  June  18th.  Taking  advantage  of  the  spacious 
and  pretty  pavilion  recently  erected  at  the  end  of  Ryde  Pier,  the  Com¬ 
mittee  decided  to  try  the  experiment  of  holding  the  Rose  show  there. 
The  result  was  a  decided  success  ;  everything  tended  to  make  it  so.  The 
weather  was  fine,  balmy,  and  breezy,  many  visitors  coming  from  the 
mainland  by  steamboats  to  visit  the  show,  and  enjoyed  the  sights  as 
well  as  the  sea  breeze.  The  only  drawback  was  a  want  of  regulation 
between  the  tables,  which  resulted  in  overcrowding  through  blocks  of 
interested  visitors  attempting  to  view  the  flowers  and  going  in  opposite 
directions.  The  very  fashionable  assembly  was  a  record  one  for  the 
Society,  and  both  the  Rev.  G.  E.  Jeans  and  Mr.  E.  V.  Mathews,  the  Hon. 
Secretaries,  and  also  the  Committee,  are  to  be  congratulated  on  the 
result. 
For  twenty-four  distinct  varieties,  Mr.  B.  Cant,  Colchester,  was  first 
with  a  fine  fresh  stand  of  the  following  varieties — Marie  Baumann, 
Caroline  Testout,  A.  K.  Williams,  Marquise  Litta,  Chas.  Lefebvre,  Mrs. 
C.  Crawford,  Etienne  Levet,  Gustave  Piganeau,  Marchioness  of  London¬ 
derry,  Dr.  Sewell,  M.  Gabriel  Luizet,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Lady  Mary 
Fitzwilliam,  Madame  Cusin,  M.  J.  Perier,  Marie  Verdier,  Ahel  Carri&re, 
Her  Majesty,  Fisher  Holmes,  La  France,  Duchesse  de  Morny,  Cleopatra, 
Mrs.  John  Laing  (silver  medal  for  the  best  bloom  in  the  open  classes), 
and  Comte  de  Raimbaud.  The  second  card  went  to  Mr.  Frank  Cant ; 
and  Messrs.  Keynes  Williams  &  Co.,  Salisbury,  and  Mr.  George  Mount, 
Canterbury,  were  awarded  equal  third.  For  twelve  Teas,  Mr.  B.  Cant 
was  first,  Mr.  F.  Cant  second,  and  Mr.  George  Prince,  Oxford,  third.  In 
the  class  for  eight  trebles,  Mr.  B,  Cant  was  again  first,  Mr.  F.  Cant 
second,  and  Mr.  G.  Mount  third.  For  twelve  of  any  one  variety,  Mr. 
Frank  Cant  was  first  with  a  good  stand  of  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Mr.  B.  Cant 
second  with  Marquise  de  Litta,  and  Mr.  G.  Prince  third  with  Countess 
de  Nadaillac.  For  twelve  bunches  of  garden  Roses,  Mr.  Frank  Cant 
made  a  display,  and  was  awarded  the  first  prize. 
The  chief  classes  confined  to  the  island  were  for  twenty-four, 
distinct,  for  which  a  silver  challenge  cup  is  offered,  as  well  as  money 
prizes  ;  and  a  gold  medal  presented  by  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  for  twelve 
Roses,  distinct.  These  brought  out  good  competition,  the  challenge  cup 
going  to  J.  Lee  White,  Esq.,  East  Cowes,  for  a  very  fresh  even  stand  ; 
the  second  prize  in  this  goiDg  to  Mr.  Gash,  gardener  to  Sir  Barrington 
FIG.  99.— SIR  TREVOK  LAWRENCE. 
President  -  R.H.S. 
Simeon,  Bart.,  M.P.  ;  the  third  to  Mrs.  Croft  Murray,  Ryde.  The  coveted 
medal  offered  by  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  was  taken  by  Mr.  George  Kent, 
gardener  to  Major  Murray,  Ryde,  iwith  a  very  good  stand,  although 
somewhat  marred  by  a  bad  bloom  of  Emily  Hausburgh.  The  silver 
medal  in  this  class  went  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan,  Wootten,  and  the  bronze 
medal  to  Mr.  J.  Lee  White,  Cowes. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  Teas,  distinct,  Mr.  Gash,  gardener  to  Sir 
Barrington  Simeon,  Bart.,  M.P.,  was  a  very  good  first,  Mrs.  Croft 
Murray  second,  and  Lady  Mary  Hamond  Graeme  third.  For  twelve 
trusses,  two  varieties,  Mr.  G.  Williams  took  first,  Mr.  G.  Kent  second,  and 
Lady  Hamond  Graeme  third.  In  another  division  Mr.  J.  O.  Brook, 
Ryde,  exhibited  a  very  excellent  stand  of  eighteen  varieties  and  took 
first  prize.  Rev.  J.  Spittal.  Dr.  Chick  Lucas,  Rev.  G.  E.  Jeans,  Miss 
Carter,  Lady  Mary  Gordon,  Lady  Daly,  amongst  others,  were  successful 
in  some  of  the  smaller  classes.  The  medal  for  the  best  Roses  from  the 
Isle  of  Wight  classes  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Gash  for  an  extra  fine  bloom 
of  Innocente  Pirola  in  his  stand  of  twenty-four.  Table  decorations, 
vases  of  Roses,  and  epergnes  formed  an  attractive  feature,  and  the 
prizes  were  strongly  competed  for. 
Mr.  Nobbs  staged  a  bank  of  plants  in  front  of  the  orchestra  from 
the  Royal  Gardens,  Osborne,  a  fine  Adiantum  gracillimum,  and  a  pair  of 
Dracaenas  being  much  admired.  Amongst  other  miscellaneous  exhibits 
Mr.  B.  Ladhams,  Shirley,  near  Southampton,  staged  an  interesting 
collection  of  cut  garden  Pinks  and  other  choice  and  beautiful  hardy 
herbaceous  plants,  Delphiniums  and  Alstiomerias  being  very  conspicuous, 
— C.  Orchard,  Bembridge. 
