154 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  iJ,  189S. 
Gladiolus  Carlyle  (Kelway  &  Son). — Bright  orange  red  with  white 
and  crimson  on  the  lower  portion  is  the  colour  of  this  variety  (award  o£ 
merit). 
Gladiolus  Deuil  de  Carnot  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — One  of  the  Lemoniei 
section,  with  velvety  black  crimson  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Gladiolus  Emile  Angier  (W.  Bain). — The  colour  of  this  is  pale 
yellow  with  a  Orouze  crimson  blotch  on  the  lower  part  of  the  flower 
(award  of  merit). 
Gladiolus  Jean  DiboiosJd  (W.  Bain  and  J.  Veitch  k  Sons). — Scarlet 
crimson  with  a  white  patch  on  the  lower  portion  of  the  flower  is  a  brief 
description  of  this  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Gladiolus  Penn  (Kelway  &  Son). — The  colour  of  this  Gladiolus 
is  very  bright  orange  scarlet  (award  of  merit). 
Laelia  elegans  Cauvenbergiana  (W.  H.  Young). — The  sepals  and 
petals  of  this  flower  are  of  a  peculiar  shade  of  rosy  bull,  the  lip  being 
crimson  with  a  white  throat  (award  of  merit). 
Lcelio-Cattleya  Seraph  (T.  W.  Bond). — A  beautiful  bigeneric  hybrid, 
resulting  from  a  cross  between  Lielia  elegans  and  Cattleya  citrina.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  greenish  yellow,  the  extremity  of  the  lip  purplish 
crimson,  and  the  throat  creamy  white  (award  of  merit). 
XyrngAiaia  Marliacea  earnea  (W.  Hudson), — Though  named  carnea, 
this  large-flowered  Water  Lily  is  scarcely  deep  enough  for  flesh  colour 
except  quite  at  the  base  of  the  petals  (first-class  certi&ate). 
Nympli(Ba  Robinsoniana  (W.  Hudson).— An  effective  Water  Lily. 
The  flowers  are  of  medium  size  and  crimson  colour  (first-class  cer¬ 
tificate). 
Pentstemon  President  Carnot  (Barr  k  Son). — The  flowers  of  this 
are  large.  The  inner  portion  is  white,  the  margins  and  outer  portion 
being  crimson  (award  of  merit). 
Phyllostachys  Kvmasasei  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  is  a  dwarf-growdng 
form.  The  leaves  are  about  3  inches  long  and  1  wide.  It  would  be 
very  useful  in  a  suitable  position  (first-class  certificate), 
Sidalcea  malveejlora  listcri  (A.  Iiister). — The  many  flowers  of  this 
Sidalcea  are  a  pale  silvery  pink  colour  that  is  very  charming  (award  of 
merit). 
Streptocarjnis  Mrs.  Ileal  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — Rich  purple  is  the 
colour  of  this  hybrid.  The  flowers  are  of  good  size  and  freely  produced 
(award  of  merit). 
REGENT’S  PARK  VIOLA  CONFERENCE. 
On  Saturday  last  a  Viola  Conference  meeting  was  held  in  the  museum 
of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society  in  the  gardens  at  Regent’s  Park.  Most  of 
our  readers  are  doubtless  aware  that  a  trial  of  Violas  has  this  year  been 
made  in  the  Society’s  gardens,  and  on  Friday  last  these  were  subject  to 
an  inspection  at  the  hands  of  a  competent  Committee  who  spent  six 
hours  in  making  an  inspection  of  the  qualities  of  the  diff"“rent  varieties, 
a  report  of  which  was  placed  before  the  Conference  on  Saturday.  The 
attendance,  which  was  by  no  means  large,  was  chiefly  composed  of 
enthusiasts  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Viola,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
afternoon  was  spent  in  the  disposal  of  the  papers  and  the  discussion  that 
followed  each.  The  Violas  planted  for  trial  are  now  gay  with  blooms, 
and  considering  the  prolonged  drought  and  general  unfavourable  con¬ 
ditions  under  which  they  have  been  grown,  the  result  is  very  satisfactory. 
In  the  event  of  future  trials,  however,  it  would  for  many  reasons  be 
better  if  the  whites,  yellows,  and  other  coloursi  could  be  kept  separate 
instead  of  being  mixed  indiscriminately. 
The  proceedings  commenced  with  an  introductory  address  by  the 
Chairman,  Mr.  A,  J.  Rowberry,  who,  in  coarse  of  his  remarks,  said  that 
hitherto  the  Conference  had  met  at  Birmingham,  but  it  was  thought  that 
a  greater  measure  of  success  would  attend  its  meeting  in  London  ;  it 
had,  therefore,  been  decided  to  conduct  a  trial  of  Violas  in  the  Royal 
Botanic  Society’s  gardens,  and  hold  in  conjunction  with  it  the  present 
Conference.  Mr.  Rowberry  added  that  there  had  been  great  advance 
made  in  the  culture  of  the  Viola  in  metropolitan  districts  during  recent 
years,  and  he  well  knew  the  severe  test  to  which  the  plants  had  been  put 
during  the  exceptionally  dry  and  trying  season.  In  spite  of  this,  how¬ 
ever,  the  results  had  been  favourable  judging  from  the  report  received, 
after  careful  examination  of  the  varieties  sent  for  trial.  He  wished 
further  to  testify  to  the  able  manner  in  which  the  secretarial  duties 
connected  with  the  Conference  had  been  carried  out  by  the  Honorary 
Secretary,  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  whom  he  called  upon  to  read  the  report 
of  the  inspection  of  Violas  growing  in  Regents  Park, 
Mr.  Dean  announced  that  the  following  Violas  were  certificated  by 
the  Investigation  Committee ; — 
Princess  Louise,  Rose  Pallida,  Wm.  Niel,  A.  Irvine,  Ardwell  Gem, 
Bridegroom,  Pencaitland,  Marchioness,  Rose  Queen,  The  Mearns, 
Archie  Grant,  Ardwell  Gem,  Countess  of  Hopetoun,  Princess  Ida, 
Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Sylvia,  Rosin e.  Countess  of  Wharncliffe,  Snow¬ 
flake,  Border  Witch,  Lord  Elcho,  Niphetos,  Bullion,  Lemon  Queen, 
Norah  May,  Mrs.  C.  Turner,  Luteola,  True  Blue,  Princess  Beatrice, 
Countess  of  Kintore,  Ivanhoe,  Bartholdi,  Endymion,  Mabel,  Roland 
Grahame,  Argo,  Lavinia  (China  blue),  Dainty,  Pembroke,  Britannia, 
Hamlet,  Iris,  and  Cottage  Maid. 
The  Committee  also  made  the  following  selections  of  the  best 
varieties  of  different  types,  dividing  them  into  two  sections — first, 
dwarf  growing,  having  close  compact  tufted  habit ;  and  second,  more 
spreading  grbwth,  well  adapted  for  associating  with  other  plants. 
White  (dwarf  growing).  —  Marchioness,  Countess  of  Hopetoun, 
Pencaitland,  and  Snowflake  Tall  or  spreading.— Countess  of  Wharnclifife 
and  Gigantea. 
Cream  White  (dwarf  growing).— Sylvia  and  Lemon  Queen.  Tall 
growing. — Abington  and  Nellie. 
Primrose  or  Sulj/hur  (dwarf  growing). — Ardwell  Gem  and  Luteola. 
Tall  or  spreading. — Sulphurea. 
Peep  Yellon's  (dwarf  growing).— Princess  Louise,  Lord  Elcho,  and 
Bullion.  Tall  or  spreading. — Mary  Gilbert  and  A.  J.  Rowberry. 
Park  Blue  or  Violet  (dwarf  growing).  —  True  Blue  and  Mrs.  C. 
Turner  Tall  growing.— Archie  Grant  and  Max  Kolb. 
Blue  (dwarf  growing). — Rowland  Graeme.  Tall  growing. — Ivanhoe. 
Light  Blue  (dwarf). — Diana  and  Blue  Gown.  Tall. — Favourite. 
Lavender  or  Lilac  (dwarf).  —  Rosea  pallida  and  Lobbie  McNiel. 
Tall. — Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Bridegroom,  and  Nabob. 
Purple  (dwarf). — Acme  and  Mrs.  Gordon.  Tall. — J.  B.  Riding  and 
Dorothy  Tennant. 
Rose  (dwarf).  —  Princess  Ida  and  Rose  Queen.  Tall. — Wm.  Niel, 
Rosine,  and  Maggie. 
Blush  (tall).  — Ch.arm  and  Norah  May.  Edged  or  bordered  (dwarf). 
—Duchess  of  Fife,  Border  Witch,  and  Blue  Cloud.  Tall.  —  Cissie 
Thornley  and  Colleen  Bawn. 
Fancies,  Countess  of  Kintore  type  (dwarf). — The  Mearns,  Bethune, 
Cissie  Mellowes,  Columba.  Tall. — Countess  of  Kintore,  Isabel  Spencer, 
Princess  Beatrice,  Lady  Amory,  and  Mrs.  Bellamy. 
Striped, — Lily  Langtry  and  H.  W.  Stewart. 
After  hearing  the  report,  a  short  discussion  took  place,  in  which  Mr. 
Sinclair,  Hiehgate,  said  that,  amongst  others,  which  had  this  season  done 
the  best  in  his  garden  in  the  North  of  London,  were  Duchess  of  Fife, 
Countess  of  K  ntore,  J.  B.  Riding,  Lady  Isabel,  Ardwell  Gem,  Gold¬ 
finch,  and  Sunflower.  Mr.  Cuthbertson  said  it  might  be  interesting  to 
them  to  know  that  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  exactly  coincided  with 
that  of  Mr.  Sinclair  respecting  the  varieties  that  were  the  most  satisfac¬ 
tory  in  the  gardens  at  Regent’s  Park,  and  he  might  also  add  that  there 
were  some  varieties  amongst  them,  A.  J.  Rowberry,  which  altogether 
everyone  knew  them  to  be  of  high  merit,  had  not  received  the  honours 
they  deserved  owing  to  the  fact  that  they  were  not  doing  well  in  the 
gardens  at  the  time  the  inspection  was  made,  and  the  Committee  had 
reported  on  the  Violas  as  they  were  found  growing.  Dr.  Shackelton  said  his 
experience  in  the  south  of  London  was  similar  to  that  of  Mr.  Sinclair, 
and  further  stated  that  many  of  his  plants  had  died,  which  had 
stood  outdoors  the  whole  of  the  previous  winter — a  fact  that  to  him  was 
unaccountable. 
Mr.  Dean  then  read  a  short  paper  sent  by  Dr.  Veit  B.  Wittrcck, 
director  of  the  Botanic  Gardens  at  Bergisland,  near  Stockholm,  Sweden. 
The  paper  was  really  explanatory  of  a  book  compiled  by  Dr.  Veit  B. 
Whittrock,  entitled, ‘‘Notes  on  the  Genus  Viola,”  which  was  produced 
at  the  Conference,  and  contains  numerous  superbly  finished  illustrations 
of  Violas  and  Pansies,  with  explanatory  notes  respecting  their  character 
and  history.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Dr.  Veit  B. 
Whittrock  for  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  valuable  work,  together 
with  the  accompanying  notes,  and  hopes  were  expressed  by  several 
present  that  they  would  be  able  to  obtain  the  book  in  London. 
A  most  interesting  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  C.  Jordan,  Superintendent 
of  Regent’s  Park,  the  subject  being,  “  Violas  for  Bedding,  with  Special 
Reference  to  their  Adaptability  with  Other  Plants.”  Mr.  Jordan  stated 
that  the  Conference  Committee  did  not  think  the  interest  in  the  Viola 
was  by  any  means  exhausted,  and  it  was  not  his  intention  to  endeavour 
to  teach  anything  to  those  who  were  well  acquainted  with  the  flower 
and  its  culture,  but  rather  to  induce  the  uninitiated  to  take  more  interest 
in  the  Viola.  The  genus  Viola,  continued  the  essayist,  was  distributed 
over  the  whole  of  the  British  islands,  there  being  six  or  seven  species 
native  to  the  country.  The  first  he  knew  was  that  charming  flower 
Viola  tricolor,  but  the  Viola  of  our  gardens  first  originated  from  seeds 
more  by  chance  than  anything  else.  He  (Mr,  Jordan)  had  recollections 
of  such  pioneers  of  Viola  culture  as  the  late  Mr.  J.  Fleming,  and  well 
remembered  the  displays  he  had  seen  in  the  old  gardens  of  Cliveden, 
Trentham,  and  Belvoir  Castle.  He  looked  back  also  on  the  old  Scottish 
gardens,  where  each  spring  and  summer  the  Violas  used  to  bloom  in  such 
profusion,  and  he  was  fully  persuaded  that  no  plant  with  such  a  small 
amount  of  labour  would  bring  about  such  excellent'results. 
The  Viola  associates  itself  admirably  with  plants  if  care  be  taken  to 
choose  varieties  of  the  right  colour.  Good  soil  is  required,  and  after 
months  of  flowering  some  artificial  manure  should  he  given.  Mr,  Jordan 
considered  Clay’s  Fertiliser  excellent  for  the  purpose,  but  was  of 
the  opinion  that  there  is  a  good  opening  for  an  artificial  manure  suit¬ 
able  for  Violas  and  Pansies.  Garden  operations  in  the  London  parks, 
continued  Mr.  Jordan,  have  to  follow  each  other  in  quick  succession, 
and  though  the  soil  in  Regent’s  Park  is  clay  and  the  conditions  not 
the  most  favourable,  he  was  quite  convinced  that  the  Viola  was  one 
of  the  best  plants  that  could  be  had  for  town  gardening.  He  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  give  illustrations  of  a  system  of  raising  plants  for  spring 
bedding  by  division,  which  Mr.  Jordan  considers  more  satisfactory  than 
by  cuttings.  He  further  showed  from  specimens  how  the  Viola  takes 
up  sole  possession  of  the  surface  soil  with  its  roots,  proving  the  necessity 
of  some  stimulating  manure  that  would  give  strength  to  the  plants  and 
assist  them  in  prolonging  the  flowering  period. 
He  would  like  to  warn  them  against  careless  transplanting,  as  on 
this  operation  depended  a  great  deal.  He  knew  that  the  Viola  could 
not  be  grown  with  so  much  success  in  the  south  as  in  the  north  from 
various  reasons,  but  they  must  do  theit  best.  Violas,  continued  Mr. 
Jordan,  are  grown  in  Regent’s  Park  for  both  spring  and  summer  bedding. 
At  the  former  period  they  use  Violas  as  a  groundwork  for  bulbs,  and 
;  he  found  Bluebell  to  be  one  of  the  best  for  that  purpose.  Countess  of 
