August  is,  1886. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTTCULTURE  AND  COTTAGU  GARnUNER. 
L.)5 
Kintore  is  also  a  good  «pring  grower,  and  produces  its  flowers  early. 
Some  of  the  varieties  have  a  tendency  towards  a  climbing  habit,  and 
he  (Mr.  Jordan)  did  not  object  to  it.  Violas  are  admirable  for  the 
furnishing  of  vases,  and  they  are  equally  at  home  in  the  wild  garden. 
Of  course,  the  improved  varieties  are  gay  compared  with  the  Wildiings, 
but  associated  with  the  early  growth  of  hardy  Ferns  he  knew  of  nothing 
more  charming,  and  the  simplest  method  of  procedure  is  to  sow  the 
seeds,  and  allow  the  plants  to  look  after  themselves. 
For  summer  bedding  in  Regent’s  Park  Violas  are  largely  used  ;  but 
from  experience  Mr.  Jordan  had  learned  that  they  prefer  fresh  soil  every 
year.  The  necessity  for  this  had  become  so  apparent  that  the  positions 
in  the  Park  where  Violas  are  planted  are  each  year  noted,  so  that  the 
change  can  be  given.  A  sunny  position  should  always  be  chosen  for 
summer  flowering,  and  they  should  not  be  planted  where  the  backs  of 
the  flowers  turn  towards  the  spectator.  This  he  knew  was  somewhat 
difficult ;  but  much  of  the  beauty  was  lost  if  the  face  of  the  flowers 
could  not  be  seen  fully.  Amongst  other  varieties  mentioned  by  the 
essayist  as  suitable  for  growing  in  Regent’s  Park  were  Ardwell  Gem, 
Archie  Grant,  Bullion,  Bluebell,  J.  B.  Riding,  Sylvia,  Violetta,  and 
Countess  of  Kintore.  Mr.  Jordan  concluded  his  interesting  paper  by 
paying  high  tribute  to  the  Viola  as  a  garden  flower,  adding  that  the 
future  in  regard  to  it  was  looked  to  with  high  expectations. 
In  the  discussion  that  foUowed  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane  expressed  his  surprise 
that  Mr.  Jordan  did  not  use  Violas  for  massing  instead  of  always  employ¬ 
ing  them  in  mixed  borders.  Mr.  A.  Dean  gave  instances  of  where  Violas 
had  grown  and  flowered  profusely  year  after  year  without  change  of 
ground,  and  recommended  the  variety  Bluebell  for  that  purpose.  He 
also  made  reference  to  planting  time,  stating  that  he  thought  in  the 
south  of  England  autumn  planting  was  preferable  to  spring,  as  flowers 
were  obtained  so  much  earlier.  He  was  of  the  opinion  that  raisers 
should  turn  their  attention  to  producing  varieties  which  would  flower 
earlier  than  any  they  had  at  present,  as  none  that  he  knew  came  into 
bloom  so  early  as  the  old  Blue  King  Pansy.  Mr.  A.  J.  Rowberry  said 
be  had  lost  many  plants  this  year,  and  attributed  it  to  the  fact  that  they 
had  not  been  given  fresh  ground.  Further  discussion  followed  as  to  the 
earliness  of  various  sorts,  Ardwell  Gem,  Bullion,  Skylark,  and  BJue  Cloud 
being  given  as  being  among  the  first  to  bloom 
Mr.  J.  W.  Moorman,  Superintendent  of  Victoria  Park,  whose  paper 
was  on  the  same  subject  as  that  of  Mr,  Jordan,  stated  that  Violas 
stood  in  the  front  rank  of  decorative  plants,  deserving  of  the  recognition  of 
all,  not  only  because  they  were  cheap,  but  for  their  usefulness  for  massing, 
carpeting,  ^rder  planting,  and  so  forth.  For  bedding  or  massing  he 
considered  the  self  colours  to  be  preferable,  and  mentioned  amongst  the 
w’nites  Countess  of  Hopetoun  and  Sylvia  as  being  the  best  with  him. 
Amongst  yellows  Bullion  and  Ardwell  Gem,  while  Lord  Elcho  and 
George  Lord  are  also  good.  Mr.  Moorman  also  made  mention  of  J.  B. 
Riding,  W.  Niel,  and  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  adding  that  those  of  the 
Countess  of  Kintore  type  are  also  attractive.  He  considered  that  the 
most  desirable  sorts  were  those  of  hardy  constitution,  and  which  bad 
long  footstalks.  He  (Mr.  Morman)  knew  that  Scotland  was  more  suited 
for  Violas  than  the  south,  as  there  they  had  more  rain,  but  he  was 
thoroughly  convinced  that  they  can  and  will  grow  in  London  provided 
the  soil  is  subject  to  deep  cultivation,  which  supplies  some  of  the  needs 
felt  by  lack  of  rain.  In  watering  Violas  he  strongly  disapproved  of  the 
use  of  a  hosepipe,  but  preferred  supplying  the  liquid  through  the  rose  of 
a  watering  can.  A  particular  charm  about  the  Viola^  is  that  overhead 
watering  does  not  disfigure  the  flowers. 
Mr.  Moorman  had  found  that  autumn-rooted  cuttings  were  the  best 
in  Victoria  Park,  owing  to  the  unfavourable  conditions  of  the  locality  in 
the  east  of  London.  Propagation  took  place  in  September,  choosing 
young  sturdy  growths ;  these  were  protected  during  the  winter,  and 
transferred  to  their  flowering  quarters  in  the  spring.  Many  varieties 
that  stood  the  winter  safely  at  Dulwich  Park,  in  South  London,  entirely 
failed  at  Victoria.  The  Viola,  continued  Mr.  Moorman,  is  not  particular 
to  situation  so  long  as  it  is  moist.  They  associate  with  most  plants,  and 
are  well  adapted  for  using  with  Fuchsias,  white  Marguerites,  and  Ivy¬ 
leaved  and  other  Pelargoniums.  They  were  subject  to  a  few  pests,  the 
worst  being  a  grub  or  wireworm.  Red  spider  and  mildew  had  to  be 
fought  against,  but  with  a  little  perseverance  could  be  overcome. 
He,  wished  to  thank  those  raisers  who  had  produced  such  variety  in  a 
flower  that  all  could  look  on  and  admire. 
Mr.  W.  Baxter  read  a  paper  on  “  Violas  for  Exhibition,  with  Special 
Reference  to  Hewer  Varieties,”  stating  that  no  hard  and  fast  rules 
could  be  laid  down  in  the  exhibiting  of  Violas,  but  a  want  of  longer 
footstalks  was  felt  with  some  varieties  for  that  purpose.  He  (Mr. 
Baxter)  spoke  highly  of  A.  J.  Rowberry,  Border  Witch,  Ardwell  Gem, 
Purple  Empress,  and  Lemon  Queen,  adding  that  preference  was  given 
to  the  Duchess  type.  In  self  colours  they  bad  all  shades  but  scarlet, 
and  among  striped  varieties  H,  W.  Stewart  was  the  best.  Yellow  King 
is  good  of  its  colour,  but  he  did  not  consider  it  the  best.  Lord  Salisbury 
is  a  good  pale  yellow,  but  somewhat  coarse.  Among  purples  he  con¬ 
sidered  Purple  llmpress  to  be  good,  and  progress  had  been  made  in  the  | 
blotched  section,  Mr.  C.  F.  Gordon  having  to  some  extent  superseded  j 
Countess  of  Kintore.  Advances  had  also  been  made  in  the  broad  ' 
margined  and  rayless  types,  some  of  which  were  very  beautiful. 
A.  J.  Rowberry,  raised  by  Mr.  G.  McLeod,  is  still  the  best  yellow,  and 
indispensable  in  any  stand ;  Vesta  is  a  pure  white,  but  rather  small ; 
Mary  Scott  is  a  good  blush  or  white  ;  and  Christiana,  with  orange 
throat,  is  one  of  the  best  grown.  Mr.  Baxter  dealt  further  with 
the  classification  of  new  varieties,  chiefly  from  an  exhibitor’s  point 
of  view. 
Mr.  H.  A.  Heeds,  who  was  to  have  read  a  paper  on  the  same  subject, 
excused  himself  on  the  grounds  that  the  subject  was  not  sufficiently 
wide  for  two  essays.  He  endorsed  nearly  all  Mr.  Baxter  had  said,  and 
spoke  highly  of  a  few  that  the  former  bad  not  named,  such  as  Cottage 
Maid,  Lady  Isabel,  Carissima,  Molly  Pope,  Pencaitland,  and  Hiphetos. 
Speaking  of  A.  J.  Rowberry,  he  considered  it  was  of  good  colour,  but 
bad  in  habit  and  constitution. 
In  the  absence  of  Mr.  J.  D.  Stewart,  Belfast,  a  short  paper  sent  by 
him  on  “  Viola  Sports”  was  read  by  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  R.  Dean. 
Mr.  Stewart,  in  his  essay,  remarked  that  the  term  “sport”  was  used  in 
expression  of  variations  ot  colour  in  Pansies  and  Violas.  This  was  brought 
about  by  various  causes  ;  rich  soil  and  artificial  manure  would  effect  it, 
though  sports  had  been  proved  to  arise  from  other  causes  at  present 
not  explained.  Many  sports  were  quite  fixed,  while  others  reverted 
back  to  the  parent  plants.  Goldfinch,  for  instance,  is  a  sport  from 
Ardwell  Gem,  and  the  variety  for  its  form  and  colour.  At  the  same  time 
it  would  be  unsafe  to  generalise  in  sports,  as  we  have  so  many  reversions, 
some  of  them  sporting  back  to  very  remote  parents.  As  illustration  be 
spoke  of  Amy  Barr  sporting  back  to  W.  Hiel,  and  J.  B.  Riding  also 
reverting  to  the  same  variety.  Following  the  paper  was  an  interesting 
discussion  on  sports,  in  which  Dr.  Shackletonand  Messrs.  A.  J.  Rowberry, 
J,  B  Biding,  Geo.  McLeod,  and  D.  B.  Crane  took  part,  it  being  suggested 
that  the  matter  should  be  further  discussed  at  a  future  date. 
During  the  consideration  of  arrangements  for  1897  and  the  election 
of  officers  it  was  decided  that  a  Viola  conference  and  trial  should  take 
place  in  Regent’s  Park  in  1897,  subject  to  the  arrangements  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  Society.  Mr.  A.  J.  Rowberry  was  re-elected  President,  with 
Messrs.  W.  Sydenham,  Geo.  McLeod,  and  Dr.  Shackleton  as  Vice- 
Presidents.  The  office  of  Honorary  Treasurer  was  transferred  to  Mr. 
H.  A.  Heeds,  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Riding  was  elected  Honorary  Secretary  in 
the  place  of  Mr.  Richard  Dean .  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded 
to  the  Council  and  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society  for  their 
willing  co-operation  in  conducting  the  trial  and  bringing  about  the 
Conference.  A  similar  vote  was  extended  to  the  readers  of  the  papers 
and  the  Chairman  for  presiding,  this  bringing  the  somewhat  lengthly 
programme  to  a  close. 
A  R.H.S.  EXAM.  CANDIDATE. 
IVHEif  in  the  course  of  examining  gardens  at  Coulsdon,  Surrey, 
recently  I  was  taken  to  a  cottage  garden  upon  the  hill,  known  as 
Upper  Coulsdon.  and  very  “upper”  it  is,  too.  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
recalling  both  the  man  and  the  garden  I  interviewed  last  year  for  a 
similar  purpose.  The  cottage  is  near  the  roadside,  stands  alone,  and 
at  one  end  of  the  garden.  It  has  a  front  garden  some  10  feet  in 
depth,  all  devoted  to  flowers,  and  probably  10  feet  at  the  side  from 
front  to  back  is  devoted  to  flowers  also.  On  the  walls  are  numerous 
climbers,  pleasingly  trained,  and  the  front  window  is  ornamented  with 
a  handsomely  dressed  window  box.  The  cottage  is  partly  of  boards, 
and  is  comparatively  small.  Cottage  building  in  this  part,  as,  alas  !  in 
so  many  rural  places,  seems  to  be  under  a  ban.  The  denizen  of  this 
cottage  CW.  Walker)  is  an  attendant  at  the  Cane  Hill  Asylum,  which 
lies  high  on  the  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the  valley,  through  which  the 
South-Eastern  railway  runs  ;  aa  the  crow  flies,  it  is  perhaps  two  miles 
frem  Walker’s  cottage,  but  by  road  it  is  much  farther.  Walker  performs 
some  outdoor  work  at  the  Asylum  in  the  course  of  his  duties,  but  prac¬ 
tically  in  gardening  he  is  a  thorough  amateur. 
Last  winter  he  attended  most  of  the  lectures — a  course  of  six — on 
j  vegetable  culture,  which  I  gave  at  Lower  Coulsdon,  and  at  the  close  sent 
I  in  some  excellent  papers  ot  answers  in  reply  to  the  questions  set. 
Because  of  that,  he  was  requested  to  present  himself  as  a  candidate  at 
the  recent  R.H.S.  examination,  and  he  got  into  the  third  class  with  120 
marks.  That  may  be  regarded  by  the  cult,  perhaps,  as  no  great  per¬ 
formance,  but  when  it  is  remembered  that  this  man  is  but  an  ordinary 
worker,  self-educated,  never  before  having  had  a  chance  to  hear  lectures, 
or  obtain  any  external  instruction  on  gardening,  I  rather  think  that  what 
he  accomplished  in  the  examination  was  somewhat  remarkable.  Why, 
even  the  highly  coached  laboratory  and  college  candidates  cram- full  of 
science,  as  doubtless  they  were,  all  well  educated,  and  capable  of 
excellent  composition,  could  but  double,  or  not  that,  in  marks,  the 
result  of  this  poor  working  man’s  achievements. 
A  correspondent  recently  trotted  out  his  one  pet  lamb  in  the  shape 
of  a  practical  gardener  who  had  done  so  well.  I  am  far  prouder  of  my 
Goulsdon  cottager  protege,  not  only  because  he  did  so  well  under  very 
adverse  circumstances,  but  also  because  I  have  seen,  two  years  in 
succession,  the  product  of  his  practical  knowledge,  and  I  fearlessly  defy 
any  of  the  higher  placed  cadidates — man  or  woman — to  go,  and  with  the 
same  surroundings,  do  better.  After  all  let  paper  exams  be  held  in 
ever  such  high  esteem,  may  not  something  of  value,  and  I  think  of  great 
value,  be  claimed  for  examples  of  practical  work  done  ?  What  sort  of 
i  really  practical  work  could  three- fourths  of  the  higher  placed  candidates 
I  show  2  It  would  indeed  be  interesting  to  see. 
Now  this  W.  Walker,  although  he  has  his  long  walk  of  two  and  a  half 
miles  each  way  to  and  from  his  work  to  perform  daily,  yet  has  one  of  the  very 
best  cottage  gardens  in  the  county  of  Surrey.  It  is  of  about  18  rods  in 
extent,  and  apart  from  his  splendid  flower  garden,  in  which  both  hardy 
and  tender  flowers  luxuriate.  Begonias  especially  being  a  marked 
feature,  and  which  took  the  highest  place  in  the  local  competition  for 
flower  gardens,  and  there  are  other  capital  ones  about  Coulsdon,  also  had 
■  the  best  window  box,  and  finally  the  best  vegetable  and  frsit  garden, 
