38 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  9,  1886, 
Eose  Show  Fixtures  ix  1896. 
July  9th  (Thursday). — Helensburgh,  VVoodbridge,  and  Worksop. 
„  11th  (Saturday). — New  Brighton. 
„  llth  (Tuesday). — Westminster  (K.H.S.). 
„  15th  (Wednesday). — Ulverston  (N.R.S.) 
„  16th  (Thursday). — Halifax.  ) 
„  2l8t  (Tuesday). — Tibshelf.  < 
„  25th  (Saturday). — Manchester, 
„  29th  (Wednesday).  —  Chesterfield,  Glasgow  (St.  Mungo  Rose 
Society). 
„  30th  (Thursday). — Trentham. 
Aug.  5th  (Wednesday). — Chester.”' 
„  19th  (Wednesday). — Shrewsbury.* 
•  A  show  lasting  two  days. 
Any  dates  not  appearing  in  the  present  list  I  shall  be  glad  to  publish 
in  the  next  one. — Edward  Mawlet,  RosehanU,  Berhhamsted,  Herts. 
Rose  Fair  at  Crotdox  Show. 
At  the  “Rose  Fair”  in  aid  of  the  Royal  Gardeners’ Orphan  Fund, 
held  in  connection  with  the  Croydon  Horticultural  Society’s  show  last 
Wednesday,  the  sum  of  £7  lOs.  was  taken  from  the  sale  of  flowers.  The 
total  amount  of  expenditure  does  not  exceed  10s.  The  tent  was  lent  by 
Mr,  John  Unite,  and  flowers  for  sale  were  generously  given  by  T.  B.  Hay* 
wood.  Esq.  (Treasurer  to  the  Fund),  A.  H.  Smee,  Esq.  (Trustee),  and 
Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  Hugh  Low  &  Co.,  J.  Peed  &  Sons,  J.  Cheal  and 
Sons,  W.  Stevens,  and  Mr.  Simmonds,  and  the  following  exhibitors— 
E.  M.  Bethune,  Esq  ,  H.  V.  Machin,  Esq.,  E,  Mawley,  Esq.,  Dr.  Shirland, 
Mr.  Lane,  snd  the  Corporation  of  Croydon,  Mrs.  W.  Gunner,  the  wife 
of  the  popular  Chairman  of  the  Horticultural  Society,  assisted  by  several 
young  ladies  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dart,  again  kindly  undertook  the  sale, 
and  the  arrangements  were  admirably  carried  out  by  Mr.  W.  T.  Toogood. 
Natioxal  Rose  Society.  —  Southerx  Exhibitiox,  Readixo, 
June  21:TH. 
It  is  always  a  difficult  thing  to  decide  upon  the  comparative  merits 
of  the  exhibitions  of  successive  years.  One  hears  so  many  and  such 
conflicting  opinions,  and  then  there  is  always  the  difllculty  of  keeping 
in  one’s  memory  those  that  have  already  passed  ;  moreover,  if  those  who 
give  their  opinions  are  exhibitors  they  are,  perhaps  unconsciously  to 
themselves,  influenced  by  their  success  or  non-succcss  in  the  competition. 
Of  course  we  can  always  gain  pretty  accurate  knowledge  of  their  com* 
parative  extent,  but  it  is  upon  the  point  of  quality  that  these  divergent 
opinions  are  manifested. 
When  it  was  announced  that  the  Committee  had  accepted  the  in-  j 
vitation  of  the  Reading  Horticultural  Society  to  hold  their  Show  there,  | 
there  were  many  who,  knowing  the  enterprise  and  liberality  that  had  so  1 
often  distinguished  its  citizens,  were  convinced  that  everything  would 
be  done  to  render  the  Exhibition  a  success.  This  prospect  was  certainly 
brightened  by  the  early  character  of  the  season,  for  as  the  Show  was 
held  at  so  early  a  date  it  gave  an  opportunity  for  all  southern  growers 
to  put  in  an  appearance ;  indeed  some  of  them  said  that  they  should  be 
all  over  before  the  Metropolitan  Show.  Without,  then,  having  any 
reference  to  past  exhititions,  we  can  form  our  estimate  of  the  quality 
of  the  flowers  exhibited.  Some  of  us  who  had  watched  the  varying 
character  of  this  curious  season  did  not  anticipate  that  many  flowers  of 
very  superior  merit  would  be  forthcoming ;  for  although  we  had  not 
had  the  severe  frosts  at  the  latter  part  of  May,  which  has  so  interfered 
with  exhibitions  in  previous  years,  yet  there  was  such  a  spell  of  low 
temperature  that  Roses  were  kept  a  long  time  “  on  the  way,”  and  when 
this  is  the  case  many  inferior  blooms  are  sure  to  be  produced. 
Tea  Roses  were  on  the  whole  much  below  the  high  water  mark, 
while  of  the  H.P.’s,  although  there  were  some  beautiful  blooms,  yet 
deficiency  in  size  was  very  marked.  Unquestionably  the  finest  box  in 
the  whole  Show  was  the  first  prize  for  forty-eight  exhibited  by  Mr. 
B.  R.  Cant  of  Colchester,  showing  that  the  old  veteran  is,  with  the  aid 
of  his  son,  still  a  match  for  all  comers.  Amongst  the  flowers  moat 
noticeable  were  Comtesse  de  Ludre,  Xavier  Olibo,  Maman  Cochet, 
which  obtained  the  silver  medal  for  the  best  Tea  j  there  is  a  striking 
similarity  in  it  to  Catherine  Mermet  and  Eruest  Metz,  but  at  the  same 
time  distinct  from  either  of  them  ;  Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  very 
bright ;  Madame  Hoste,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Caroline  Testout,  Victor  Hugo, 
very  br  ght ;  Earl  of  Dufierin,  exceptionally  bright ;  Her  Majesty,  well 
formed  and  not  over -large.  In  the  class  for  twenty -fours  Messrs. 
Townsend  &  Sons  of  Worcester,  had  some  fine  blooms  in  his  first  prize 
stand,  especially  Heinrich  Schultheis,  Francisca  Kruger,  Merveille  de 
Lyon,  A.  K.  Williams,  and  Marchioness  of  Dufferin.  In  the  stand  for 
twenty-four  trebles  Mr.  B  R,  Cant  had  some  grand  flowers,  among 
which  were  specially  noticeable  Gustave  Piganeau,  Horace  Vernet, 
Marie  Baumann,  Camille  Bernardin,  and  Madame  Cusin.  In  the  stand 
for  twenty-four  Teas  Messrs.  Prior  &  Son  had  some  beautiful  flowers  in 
their  first  prize  stand,  especially  Madame  de  Watteville,  Marie  Van 
Houtte,  Francisca  Kruger,  Medea,  and  Souvenir  d’Elise  Vardon. 
Of  course  the  chief  interest  in  the  amateurs’  division  was  concentrated 
on  the  class  for  the  very  handsome  cup  given  by  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons. 
The  first  prize  obtained  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  was  well  worthy 
of  the  place  which  it  secured.  Where  all  the  flowers  were  of  so  high  an 
order  of  merit  it  may  seem  to  be  invidious  to  mark  out  any  in  particular, 
but  Horace  Vernet  and  Victor  Hugo  were  conspicuous  for  their  high 
colour  and  perfect  form,  while  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac  was  exquisite  in 
its  colouring.  Most  of  the  stands  in  this  class  were  really  excellent,  a 
fact  which  was  evidenced  by  Mr.  Orpen’s  obtaining  the  medal  for  the 
best  Hybrid  Perpetual  or  Hybrid  Tea  in  the  amateur  division  with  a 
beautiful  bloom  of  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  in  his  fourth  prize  stand. 
Mr.  Lindsell  was  a  very  close  second,  while  Mr,  Grahame  showed  what 
we  may  by-and-by  expect  from  him  by  taking  the  third  prize  in 
this  class. 
Mr.  Lindsell’s  stand  of  twenty-four  was  fresh  and  good,  though  I 
fear  from  what  he  said  he  does  not  look  forward  to  occupy  his  usual 
position  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  Messrs.  Prior  &  Son  had  a  magnificent 
box  of  Horace  Vernet,  beautiful  in  form  and  brilliant  in  colour,  while 
the  same  firm  secured  the  first  prize  of  twelve  of  any  one  Tea  with  a 
lovely  box  of  Marie  Van  Houtte.  One  was  struck  with  the  fact  that  so 
few  new  Roses  were  brought  forward,  and  the  medal  for  the  H.P.  was 
awarded  to  that  old  established  favourite  A.  K.  Williams  as  shown  by 
Messrs.  Harkness  &  Son  as  already  noticed,  while  Mr.  Orpen  gained  the 
silver  medal  for  the  best  H.P.  or  H.T.  with  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria 
in  the  amateur  division,  as  well  as  that  for  a  Tea  Rose  with  a  beautiful 
bloom  of  Madame  Hoste.  Although  there  were  several  entries  for  a  new 
seedling  Eose  there  was  not  one  really  exhibited,  so  that  the  gold  medal 
of  the  Society  was  unclaimed. 
As  has  frequently  been  noticed  of  late,  garden  Roses  claimed  a  large 
share  of  attention,  and  one  cannot  but  be  struck  with  the  improvement 
that  has  taken  place  in  their  exhibition.  They  are  no  longer  jammed  to¬ 
gether  any  way  into  a  receptacle,  but  each  bunch  is  gracefully  and  lightly 
arranged,  and  this  section  affords  ample  scope  for  artistic  arrangement ;  in 
fact  the  stand  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Cooling  &  Son  of  Bath,  comprising 
thirty-six  varieties,  was  a  model  of  excellence.  Some  of  the  most  effective 
of  garden  Roses  are  really  over,  the  Austrian  Yellow  and  the  Austrian 
Copper  being  amongst  the  earliest  of  our  single  Roses  to  open,  but  such 
brilliant  flowers  as  Marquiss  of  Salisbury  and  Crimson  Rambler  make 
any  stand  bright.  Messrs;  Paul  &  Son’s  stand  was  also  a  very  excellent 
one,  while  the  amateurs  were  well  represented  by  such  growers  as  Mr. 
A.  Tate,  Mr.  H.  V,  Machin,  and  Mr.  Orpen.  In  the  display  of  Roses 
Mr.  George  Prince  occupied  the  leading  position  with  a  very  bright 
and  effective  arrangement. 
The  local  classes  were  exceedingly  well  filled,  the  ladies’  challenge 
cup  being  awarded  to  Mr.  J.  T.  Strange  of  Aldermaston,  to  whose  lot 
also  a  first  prize  for  six  Teas  or  Noisettes,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the 
interest  excited  by  this  exhibition  will  tend  to  the  further  development 
of  Eose  growing  about  Reading.  I  have  hitherto  attended  all  the 
exhibitions  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  and  i  cannot  call  to  mind  one 
vrhere  the  surroundings  were  so  delightful  as  those  of  this  Reading 
Show.  Held  in  the  ruins  of  the  old  Abbey,  the  walls  of  which 
enclosed  the  space  devoted  to  the  Show  ;  this  space  was  not  as  usual  a 
number  of  stages,  but  well  laid  grass  banks  modelled  upon  the  exhibition 
of  the  Botanic  Society ;  the  ground  was  undulating,  and  from  the 
upper  part  could  be  obtained  a  delightful  view  of  the  whole  Show ;  the 
sameness  of  boxes  of  Roses  was  relieved  by  exhibits  of  plants  for 
the  prizes  offered  by  the  Reading  Horticultural  Society. 
Mr.  Ferguson  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  most  generously 
invited  the  judges,  officials,  and  others  to  luncheon,  and  nothing  could 
have  exceeded  the  warmth  of  hospitality  with  which  the  guests  were 
received,  while  everything  was  done  by  the  officials  of  the  Society  to 
make  all  run  smoothly  for  exhibitors  and  judges.  Mr.  Walker,  the 
energetic  Secretary,  largely  contributed  to  this  result,  while  Mr,  Strange 
of  Aldermaston  and  the  Rev.  Alan  Cheales  were  most  indefatigable, 
and  altogether  the  Reading  Show  will  leave  pleasant  memories  in  the 
minds  of  all  who  attended  it.— D.,  Beal. 
ROSE  SHOWS. 
CRYSTAL  PALACE— July  4th. 
On  Saturday  last  the  National  Rose  Society  held  its  annual  exhibi¬ 
tion  of  Roses  at  this  popular  resort,  when  a  good  muster  of  rosariaus 
was  brought  together.  For  several  days  speculations  have  been  rife  as 
to  whether  the  show  would  be  up  to  the  customary  standard  or  not,  the 
general  opinion  being  that  the  weather  having  been  so  adverse  for  the 
plants  the  flowers  would  lack  size  and  substance.  This  proved  to  be  the 
case,  as  very  few  really  perfect  flowers  were  exhibited,  though  growers 
came  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  There  was  a  flimsiness  in  the  petals 
of  the  flowers  that  is  not  generally  seen  at  the  National  shows,  resulting 
probably  from  the  hot  dry  weather  that  the  plants  were  subjected  to  for 
so  long  a  time.  Making  no  allowance  for  the  weather  the  show  was  the 
poorest  that  has  been  held  for  many  years,  but  taking  the  season  into 
consideration  it  was  quite  as  good  as  could  have  been  expected.  Rose 
growers  are  now  wondering  what  the  exhibition  at  Ulverston  will  be 
like  on  the  15th  inst. 
The  number  of  classes  in  the  schedule  was  fifty-eight,  in  almost  all 
of  which  there  were  competitors,  though  generally  speaking  the  con¬ 
tests  were  net  particularly  keen.  In  some  of  the  classes  there  were  only 
two  stands,  while  in  others  there  were  considerably  over  half  a  dozen. 
The  arranging  of  the  exhibits  on  the  numerous  tables  was  carried  out 
far  better  than  is  generally  the  case  at  this  show,  it  being  an  easy  matter 
to  find  any  exhibit  in  any  particular  class.  Beyond  this  all  the  arrange^ 
