July  l6,  1896, 
JOURNAL  OP  HORTIGULTDRE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Kosea  in  the  garden  have,  like  our  fruit  trees  (and  especially  those 
that  did  not  flower  too  soon),  been  greatly  benefited  by  the  advent  of  the 
recent  rains.  At  present  such  late-flowering  varieties  as  Gloire 
Lyonnaise,  one  of  the  grandest  of  the  Hybrid  Teas;  the  incomparable 
Duke  of  Edinburgh,  of  most  velvety  texture  ;  the  luminous  A.  K. 
Williams,  “  In  whose  name,”  says  the  President  of  the  National  Rose 
Society,  “  the  expressive  letter  K  must  surely  stand  for  king  ;  ”  Prince 
Arthur,  which  the  self-same  Dean  has  quite  erroneously  described  as  a 
very  bright  form  of  General  Jacqueminot,  seeing  that  it  is,  in  reality,  a 
conspicuously  dark  variation  from  that  older  Rose  of  seemingly  everlasting 
youth  ;  Mrs.  Paul,  a  consummate  beauty  among  Bourbons,  deriving  her 
parentage,  but  by  no  means  her  complexion  or  even — most  strange  to 
relate  I — her  splendid  fragrance,  from  Madame  Isaac  Pereire  ;  Spenser, 
a  majestic  derivation  from  that  august  parent  of  all  scentless  Roses — the 
Baroness  Rothschild,  another  of  whose  imposing  offspring  is  Merveille  de 
Lyon  ;  these,  and  many  of  the  most  highly  endowed  among  the  Tea 
Roses,  our  truest  Perpetuals,  such  as  Medea,  Madame  Lambard,  Marie 
Van  Houtte,  Anna  Olivier,  and  Madame  de  Watteville,  are  at  present 
(when  atmospheric  conditions  are  propitious)  at  their  best. 
The  great  majority  of  the  Californian  Calochorti  have  already  faded 
from  our  vision,  with  the  exception  of  the  highly  coloured,  stately 
growing  Mariposa  Lilies,  classified  as  “American  Tulips  ”  by  Mr.  J.  G. 
Baker  of  Kew,  of  which  the  first  fair  flowers  are  beginning  to  appear. 
These  have  sometimes  been  compared  to  the  finest  Orchids,  and  of  this  1 
am  persuaded — that  many  greatly  magnified  varieties  of  that  aristo¬ 
cratic  race  of  flowers  are  less  worthy  of  admiration. 
I  have  had  quite  an  exhibition  of  Irises  and  Aquilegias  in  my  garden 
this  year,  of  which  I.  ochroleucha,  also  called  gigantea,  and  A.  chrys- 
antha  and  canadensis  are  yet  in  bloom.  I  take  this  opportunity  of 
thanking  one  of  your  contributors  for  what  he  so  interestingly  says  on 
page  7  of  the  Journal  regarding  Aquilegias  and  my  advocacy  of  their 
claims.  I  hope  his  observations  may  tend  to  intensify  the  popularity 
and  increase  the  circulation  of  those  supremely  attractive  alpine  and 
herbaceous  ffowers. 
I  find  my  Campanulas  at  present  very  attractive,  especially  C.  persici- 
folia  alba  grandiflora,  C.  isophylla — the  pure  white  variety,  a  perfect 
miniature  gem  ;  C,  coronata  and  C.  alba  plena,  two  of  the  handsomest 
of  this  section.  Tigridias  should  be  more  extensively  cultivated.  They 
succeed  admirably  with  me.  If  evanescent  they  are  also  exceedingly 
prolific  of  their  flowers,  which  are  marvellous  alike  in  colour  and  forma¬ 
tion.  Tigridia  pavonia,  T.  conchiflora,  and  T.  speciosa  are  among  the 
most  memorable  in  their  beauty  of  these. 
Lilium  Szovitzianum  monadelphum  and  L.  davuricum  incomparablle 
have  been  adorning  my  borders  for  the  last  three  weeks ;  but  their  reign 
is  over  now,  and  they  are  already  bright  memories  of  the  past.  Their 
‘successors  are  the  “  Black  Martagon  ”  Lilium  dalmaticum,  whose 
numerous  dark  purple  blossoms  are  rapidly  expanding,  and  Lilium 
candiuum,  which  everywhere  throughout  the  wide  extent  of  my  garden 
is  bearing  aloft  inimitably  its  snow-white  fragrant  flowers. — David 
R.  WiLLIAMSO.V. 
A  CHAT  WITH  A  CARNATION  SPECIALIST. 
To  most  gardeners  in  the  Liverpool  district  the  name  of  Mr.  C.  A. 
Young,  P.R.H.8,,  is  a  familiar  one,  as  he  was  at  one  time  prominently 
associated  with  the  late  Mr.  Faulkner  at  Woolton  Hall  as  a  grower  and 
exhibitor  of  Chrysanthemums,  and  for  many  years  head  gardener 
at  Hurst  House,  Prescot,  leaving  the  latter  place  to  take  a  small 
business  on  his  own  account  at  West  Derby,  near  Liverpool,  where  he 
has  more  than  a  score  of  large  glass  houses  devoted  chiefly  to  Roses, 
Lilies,  Orchids,  Carnations,  and  other  plants  for  the  cut  flower  trade. 
Many  items  I  should  like  to  mention ;  for  instance,  the  house  of 
Cattleyas  and  Lmlias,  C.  labiata  comprising  2000  large  plants  all  in 
rude  health,  but  my  visit  was  specially  to  see  the  Carnations,  of  which 
the  Malmaisons  are  made  a  specialty  by  Mr.  Young. 
The  show  house  is  span-roofed,  100  feet  long,  and  two  large  span-roofed 
frames  100  feet  each,  are  worked  in  connection  with  it  to  layer  and  grow 
the  plants  until  they  are  placed  in  their  flowering  pots.  Two  thousand 
stock  plants  are  grown,  and  about  12,000  are  layered  annually,  including 
the  deep  pink  Princess  of  Wales,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  Prince  of 
Wales,  the  former  being  correct.  This  Mr.  Young  considers  the  finest 
Malmaison  extant  for  cutting  purposes,  1500  plants  being  grown 
exclusively  for  the  cut  flower  trade.  Other  varieties,  such  as  Duke  of 
Portland,  Lady  Middleton,  the  Old  Blush,  Madame  Arthur  Waroque 
(crimson),  and  Mr.  Martin  Smith’s  new  seedlings,  are  well  represented. 
Tree  Carnations  are  also  well  cared  for  in  houses  90  feet  long, 
2500  plants  being  the  number  grown.  Miss  Joliffe  Improved,  Uriah 
Pike,  Mrs.  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Winter  Cheer,  and  Lady  Nina 
Balfour  appeared  to  be  the  leading  varieties,  but  nothing  worth  trying 
is  lost  sight  of.  Then  there  is  the  show  house,  100  feet  long,  for 
Picotees,  yellow  grounds  and  seifs.  This  contained  2500  stock  plants. 
Ten  thousand  border  Carnations  are  grown,  every  new  variety  being  on 
its  trial. 
The  Malmaisons  are  in  superb  health,  not  a  sickly  leaf  to  be  found. 
I  felt  I  had  at  last  met  a  grower  who  had  mastered  their  cultivation, 
and  was  constrained  to  ask  Mr.  Young  to  describe  his  methods.  This 
he  did  cheerfully  somewhat  as  follows : — 
“  Many  Carnation  growers  fail  through  not  having  the  proper  con¬ 
veniences.  For  potting  I  use  Iresh  brown  loam,  free  from  wire  worm, 
adding  a  third  of  road  scrapings  (as  Carnations  like  a  gritty  soil),  one 
part  of  old  mortar  rubbish,  the  same  of  sand  and  leaf  mould,  with  a 
good  dash  of  fine  charcoal,  and  a  slight  sprinkling  of  salt,  all  mixed,  and 
occasionally  turned  three  weeks  before  using.  In  potting  I  begin  with 
strong  layers  well  rooted  and  clean,  fit  for  3J-inch  pots,  in  fact  many 
are  put  straight  into  their  flowering  pots,  6J-inch.  These  are  large 
enough,  as  Carnations  will  stand  a  fair  amount  of  feeding  when  root- 
bound,  and  firm  potting  is  desirable  for  insuring  substantial  growth. 
“  The  plants  are  grown  in  cold  frames  through  the  summer,  kept  close 
fora  few  days,  and  as  the  roots  begin  moving  air  is  admitted  freely,  and 
on  fine  nights  the  lights  are  drawn  down.  By  the  middle  of  October  the 
small  plants  are  shifted  into  61 -inch  pots,  are  arranged  in  the  heuses, 
where  they  have  all  the  light  and  air  possible,  avoiding  draughts. 
During  winter  a  temperature  of  40°  to  45°  is  sufficient,  the  natural  rise 
in  the  spring  bringing  the  plants  in  flower  without  forcing.  When  the 
roots  have  got  well  hold  of  the  soil  a  sprinkling  of  some  artificial  manure 
is  very  beneficial.  Many  people  think  that  syringing  is  a  preventive  of 
rust  in  Malmaisons.  I  do  not  adopt  it,  but  prefer  a  cool  ash  bottom  to  a 
dry  wooden  stage  in  warm  weather,  and  syringing  between  the  pots 
occasionally. 
“  The  flowering  over  we  come  to  the  layering,  which  should  be  done  as 
soon  as  possible.  The  bottom  leaves  are  removed,  the  plants  turned  out 
of  the  pots,  and  the  old  soil,  then  planted  in  the  frames  about  18  inches 
apart,  and  layered  one  row  at  a  time,  filling  up  with  almost  the  same 
compost  as  for  potting,  tbe  only  exception  being  the  addition  of  more 
leaf  mould.  After  they  are  layered  they  are  dewed  over  two  or  three 
times  a  day  with  the  syringe,  and  shaded  from  bright  sunshine.  As  the 
roots  begin  to  work  air  is  admitted  and  shading  reduced.  When  well 
rooted  they  are  potted  as  described.” 
Such  is  the  system  of  culture  carried  out  by  a  master  hand.  Mr. 
Young  said  he  believed  the  Malmaison  the  queen  of  Carnations,  and 
incomparable  for  greenhouse  and  conservatory  decoration. — A  VisiTOE. 
HORTICULTURAL  SHOWS. 
WOLVERHAMPTON  FLORAL  FETE.— July  7th,  8th  AXD  9th. 
This,  the  eighth  annual  highly  popular  and  important  show  was 
held  as  usual  in  the  West  Park,  as  briefly  noticed  in  last  week’s  issue  of 
the  Journal,  and,  as  on  former  occasions,  to  such  a  degree  of  magnitude 
did  it  attain  as  to  maintain  its  reputation  as  one  of  tne  leading  events 
of  its  kind  in  the  kingdom — a  fact  not  so  much  to  be  wondered  at,  con¬ 
sidering  the  substantial  support  it  receives  from  the  highest  quarters 
locally— the  attractive  prizes,  and  the  efforts  of  the  efficient  Committee 
of  Management.  The  portion  of  the  inaugural  day  was  fine,  but  almost 
too  oppressively  hot,  resulting  in  one  or  two  smart  showers  about  noon , 
and  which  served  to  pleasantly  cool  the  atmosphereafterwards,  both  for  tbe 
comfort  of  the  visitors  and  relief  to  the  occupants  of  the  five  large  marquees 
containing  the  immense  assemblage  of  the  denizens  of  Flora’s  domain. 
An  additional  feature  in  the  proceedings  of  the  day  was  the  opening  of 
the  new  conservatory,  situate  at  the  west  end  of  the  park,  by  Mrs. 
Dickenson,  wife  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Floral  Committee,  Mr.  Alderman 
Dickenson.  A  silver  key  was  presented  for  the  purpose  by  the  popular 
Mayor  (Alderman  C.  T.  Mander),  who  has  ever  taken  a  lively  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  Society  and  the  maintenance  of  the  public  park. 
The  exhibition  on  the  whole  was  one  of  the  best  held,  though  there 
was  a  considerable  reduction  in  two  or  three  of  the  classes,  presumably 
attributable  to  the  inauspicious  climatal  conditions  of  the  past  season, 
affecting  more  particularly  such  as  the  Roses  and  hardy  herbaceous 
flowers. 
The  tents  in  which  the  specimen  plants  were  staged  and  the  groups 
for  effect  were  ranged  presented  a  most  attractive  display,  and  so  close 
was  the  competition  in  some  of  the  classes  that  it  must  have  tested  the 
acumen  of  the  adjudicators  to  the  fullest  in  arriving  at  a  decision. 
Plants  and  Flowers. — In  the  class  for  sixteen  stove  and  greenhouse 
plants  there  was  a  decided  improvement  on  last  year,  especially  amongst 
specimens  in  bloom,  as  evidenced  by  the  grand  examples  contributed  by 
Mr.  James  Cypher,  who  won  the  £20  prize  not  too  easily,  as  has  often 
been  the  case  with  the  accomplished  veteran  ere  now,  Mr.  VV.  Finch, 
now  a  nurseryman  at  Coventry,  having  in  this  instance  proved  a  close 
contestant,  and  to  whom  the  second  prize  was  worthily  accorded,  whilst 
Mr.  Thomas  Clayton  of  Castle  Bromwich  won  the  third  prize  with  a 
creditable  display.  Mr.  Cypher’s  group  comprised  superb  exatnples  of 
Allamanda  nobilis,  A.  grandiflora,  Statice  profusa,  Ixora  Williamsi, 
Pboenocoma  prolifera  Barnesi,  Bougainvillea  Sanderiana,  especially  floe 
with  its  profusion  of  rich  deep  pink  inflorescence  ;  B.  glabra.  Erica 
Parmenteriana  rosea,  E.  Holfordi,  E.  kingstonienais,  with  a  background 
consisting  of  fine  specimens  of  Latania  borbonica,  Kentia  Fosteriana, 
Tbrinax  elegans,  an  elegant  Cycas  circinalis,  and  richly  coloured  fine 
example  of  Crotons  Sunset  and  Williamsi.  Mr.  Finch  was  represented 
by  meritorious  specimens  of  such  as  a  very  fine  Erica  Parmenteriana, 
E.  depressa,  E.  ventricosa,  Ixora  Pilgrimi,  a  good  Clerodendron 
Balfourianum,  Dipladenia  boliviensis.  Bougainvillea  glabra,  a  magnificent 
Croton  Queen  Victoria  richly  coloured,  C.  angustifolium,  very  graceful 
and  brightly  coloured,  including  noble  specimens  as  a  background  of 
Cycas  circinalis,  C.  revoluta,  Kentia  Pos'eriana,  Dasylirion  acrotrichum, 
Latania  borbonica.  For  six  plants  in  flower  Mr.  Cypher  was  again  to 
the  fore  with  perfect  examples  of  Bougainvillea  Cypher!  (and  to  which 
was  awarded  a  first-class  certificate  of  merit)-  The  foliage  and  flowers 
are  a  decided  advance  on  those  of  B.  glabra  or  even  B.  Sanderiana,  the 
petals  being  suffused  with  a  rich  pink  mauve.  The  plant  was  greatly 
admired,  and  formed  perhaps  the  most  attractive  specimen  in  the  show. 
Allamanda  nobilis,  Clerodendron  Balfourianum,  Pboenocoma  prolifera 
Barnesi,  Ixora  Williamsi,  and  Erica  ferruginea  major,  composed  the  set. 
