4 
JOVRNAL  OF  FORTIGtlLTURE  AFtD  GOfTAGF  OaRDEMeR. 
July  ij  ifi*?. 
Bose  Show  Fixtures  foe  1897. 
July  2nd  (Friday), — Crystal  Palace  (N.R.S.). 
„  6th  (Tuesday). — Dies. 
„  7ch  (Wednesday).— Glasgow,  Hanley,*  Hitchin,  Beigate,  Leeds, f 
and  Tunbridge  Wells. 
„  8th  (Thursday), — Bath,  Bedford,  Farningham,  Gloucester,  Harrow, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne,!  and  Woodbridge. 
„  10th  (Saturday), — Manchester,  New  Brighton. 
„  18th  (Tuesday). — Wolverhampton .f 
„  16th  (Thursday). — Norwich  (N.B.S.)  and  Helensburgh. 
„  22nd  (Thursday). — Halifax  and  Trentham,  Bedale, 
„  23rd  (Friday). — Ulverstone. 
„  27th  (Tuesday).— Tibshelf. 
„  28th  (Wednesday). — Chester.* 
„  Slst  (Saturday). — Liverpool.* 
*  Shows  lasting  two  days.  f  Shows  lasting  three  days. 
The  above  are  the  only  dates  that  have  as  yet  reached  me.  I  shall 
be  glad  to  insert  in  the  next  list  any  further  fixtures  that  may  be  sent 
me,  whether  of  Bose  shows  or  of  horticultural  exhibitions  where  Boses 
form  a  leading  feature, — Edward  Mawley,  Rosehanh,  Berkhavisted, 
Herts. 
Rose  Judging — “The  Nature  of  the  Beast.’* 
It  must  be  now  several  years  since  I  put  this  question  in  Rose 
judging  before  the  readers  of  the  Journal — Are  we  to  make  any 
allowance  for  “  the  nature  of  the  beast”  or  not  ?  It  originally  came  up 
at  the  Crystal  Palace.  A  triplet  of  Jules  Finger  (T.)  was  before  the 
judicial  eyes  of  my  fellow  judge  and  myself  ;  the  blooms  were  passee  in 
colour  and  not  a  pleasing  sight.  When  I  expressed  my  condemnation 
my  coadjutor  excused  them  with  the  words,  “Oh I  that  is  the  nature  of  ! 
the  beast.”  That  was  true  enough,  but  the  point  was  that  I  did  not  see  I 
there  was  any  reason  why  the  beast  should  not  be  condemned  for  his 
evil  nature. 
On  Thursday  last,  when  I  was  judging  with  a  very  well-known 
amateur,  whose  knowledge  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  H.P.’s  is  second  [ 
to  none,  the  same  point  came  up  again.  He  would  judge  each  Rose  by  j 
its  own  standard,  instead  of  by  one  chosen  or  ideal  one.  Thus,  perhaps,  ! 
for  instance,  while  we  were  pointing  the  blooms: — “Oh!”  said  he,  i 
“that  is  Ulrich  Brunner;  it  is  not  big  enough  for  Ulrich,”  “But,”  i 
said  I,  “  we  have  nothing  to  do  with  that ;  so  long  as  it  is  in  size  up  to  \ 
our  chosen  standard  it  may  be  worthv  of  our  highest  points,  whatever  j 
variety  it  is.”  “  Still,"  said  he,  “  as  Ulrich  Brunner  it  is  undersized,  and 
therelore,  loses  points.”  1  did  not  agree  with  him,  but  considered  our  ' 
chosen  three-point  Bose  to  be  the  ideal  standard  for  three  points,  in  size  j 
as  well  as  other  matters. 
It  seems  to  me  that  a  reductio  ad  aisurdum  may  easily  be  made  of 
my  friend’s  arguments.  Ey  his  contention  Wm.  Allen  Richardson,  or 
Peile  d’Or  for  the  matter  of  that,  may  be  big  enough,  if  not  undersized 
for  the  variety.  We  cannot  give  them  this  credit ;  nor,  I  imagine,  can 
we  detract  from  the  value  of  a  naturally  large  Rose,  if  it  is  large  enough 
for  the  standard.  I  shall  be  glad  if  rosarians,  especially  if  members 
of  the  N  R  S  Committee,  will  talk  this  matter  over  together. — 
W.  R.  Raillem. 
CARNATION  SUPPORTS. 
“  I  HAVE  a  ‘  patent  ’  method  of  supporting  the  flowers  of  Carnations, 
and  am  wishful  to  make  the  readers  of  the  Journal  a  handsome 
present  of  it.  It  is  not  a  ‘  Jubilee  patent,’  but  merely  a  device  of  the 
very  simplest  kind  which  I  have  adopted  for  a  long  time,  and  which 
saves  endless  trouble,  for  it  does  away  with  the  old-fashioned  and  very 
tedious  process  of  tying.  It  is  simply  to  take  a  Willow  rod  and  cut 
it  into  the  lengths  required,  sharpen  the  bottom  of  each  stick  by  a 
siiigle  cut  of  the  knife,  then  take  the  other  end  and  split  it  open  ;  into 
this  split  the  flower  stem  is  placed,  and  is  held  firm  and  safe,  the  other 
end  of  the  support  being,  of  course,  forced  into  the  ground.  Nothing 
could  be  simpler.” 
[Thus  writes  an  esteemed  correspondent ;  but  in  view  of  what  we 
have  to  say  his  name  is  not  published,  or  his  friends  might  perhaps,  in 
humourous  mood,  add  another.  The  simple  method  described  so  clearly 
is  not  a  “Jubilee  patent,”  and  though  it  has  been  in  use  to  our  know¬ 
ledge  for  thirty  years,  it  may  not  be  the  less  an  invention  of  our  corre¬ 
spondent  ;  and  while  we  have  seen  hundreds  of  the  home-made  supports 
used,  we  do  not  know  in  how  many  gardens,  they  may  not  be  known  to 
numbers  of  Carnation  growers,  to  whom  the  hint  may  be  useful.  The 
neatest  method  of  securing  Carnations  is  by  the  sticks  and  wire  clips 
bhcd  by  Mr.  R.  Sydenham  and  other  growers,  and  though  cheap  enough 
hii'J  extensively  employed  a  supply  cannot  be  had  by  all  who  might  like 
ti  e.u  for  supporting  their  fiowers,  and  to  them  the  “  handsome  present  ” 
ot  our  correspondent  may  be  useful  as  a  Jubilee  gift  at  Carnation 
lime.] 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall,  June  29th. 
The  Drill  Hall  on  the  above  date  presented  a  very  bright  and  beauti¬ 
ful  appearance.  Almost  the  whole  of  the  available  space  was  fully 
occupied  with  exhibits  appertaining  to  the  Floral  Committee.  Fruits 
and  vegetables  were  less  numerous.  The  most  conspicuous  Orchid 
exhibit  was  the  silver  Flora  medal  one  of  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd., 
which  contained  many  superb  fiowers.  The  Rose  show  held  in  conjunc¬ 
tion  will  be  found  reported  on  another  page. 
Fruit  Committee.— Present :  J.  Cheal,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with 
Messrs.  A.  F,  Barron,  J.  H.  Veitch,  A.  Dean,  J.  A.  Laing,  G.  H.  Sage, 
G.  Wythes,  H.  Balderson,  J.  Smith,  W.  H.  Divers,  G.  Norman,  and 
R.  Fife. 
Mr.  G.  Keif,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Abbott,  South  Villa,  Regent’s  Park, 
sent  three  boxes  of  Peaches,  including  Royal  George,  Dymond,  and  Dr. 
Hogg.  The  fruits  were  well  coloured,  and  a  credit  to  the  grower. 
Strawberries  from  Messrs.  Laxton  Bros.,  Bedford,  were  splendid.  The 
varieties  comprised  Monarch,  Leader,  Commodore,  Profit,  Alma,  and 
Mentmore.  The  same  firm  sent  a  new  early  Pea  named  Thomas 
Laxton. 
Ml.  J.  Hudson,  gardener  to  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  staged 
Plums  Jefferson,  Kirke’s,  Transparent  Gage,  and  Reine  Claude  de 
Comte  Attherns,  together  with  Cherries  Black  Circassian  and  Bigarreau 
Napoleon,  all  the  fruits  being  in  first-rate  condition.  Mr.  E.  Beckett, 
gardener  to  Lord  Aldenham,  Aldenham  Houie,  Elstree,  sent  Pea  Carter’s 
Early  Morn,  a  handsome  podded  early  variety.  Messrs.  Kelway  and 
Son,  Langport,  sent  an  unnamed  Longpod  Bean  and  a  dish  of  Peas. 
Melons  were  sent  by  Mr.  A.  Bishop,  gardener  to  Dr.  L.  Burrell,  Bury 
St.  Edmunds  ;  Mr.  W.  Davies,  gardener  to  the  Hon.  H.  E.  Butler,  Nidd 
Hall,  Yorks;  and  Mr.  C.  Martin,  Clarence  House  Gardens,  East  Cowes, 
but  no  award  was  made. 
Mr.  G.  Wythes,  gardener  to  Earl  Percy,  Syon  House,  Brentford,  sent 
Melon  Thames  Bank  and  fruiting  branches  of  the  Loquat. 
Floral  Committee. — Present :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  H.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  G.  Stevens,  J.  Hudson, 
J.  F.  McLeod,  C.  J.  Salter,  R.  M.  Hogg,  J.  Fraser,  W.  Bain,  J.  W.  Barr, 
C.  E.  Pearson,  C.  E.  Shea,  H.  J.  Jones,  H.  J.  Cutbush,  E.  Beckett, 
C^  Blick,  and  H.  Turner. 
On  each  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  Hall  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sons, 
Ltd.,  Chelsea,  arranged  a  semicircular  group  of  Conifers.  None  of  the 
specimens  was  of  course  large,  but  the  quality  was  splendid.  There 
were  well  known  as  well  as  rare  species  and  varieties,  attracting 
a  considerable  amount  of  attention.  The  same  firm  also  staged  a  col¬ 
lection  of  Sweet  Peas,  comprising  all  the  leading  varieties  (gold  medal). 
Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate,  staged  a  large  group  of  Malmaison 
and  border  Carnations  in  fine  condition  (silver  Flora  medal).  Hardy 
flowers  in  extensive  variety  came  from  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Crawley. 
There  were  Violas,  Poppies,  Potentillas,  and  many  others  (silver  Banksian 
medal). 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Son,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  sent  a  large  collec¬ 
tion  of  hardy  flowers,  amongst  which  the  most  noticeable  were 
Delphiniums,  Potentillas,  Calliopsis,  Iris  Kmmpferi,  Campanulas, 
Hemerocallis,  and  Phloxes  (silver  Banksian  medal).  The  hardy  flowers 
from  Mr.  M.  Pritchard’s,  Christchurch,  Hants,  were  in  considerable 
variety,  and  of  high  quality  (silver  Banksian  medal).  The  small 
group  of  Roses  staged  by  Mr.  G.  Baskett,  gardener  to  Lord  Penzance, 
Eashing  Park,  Gt^alming,  comprised  both  single  and  double  forms. 
Four  boxes  of  Roses  came  from  Mr.  W.  Rumsey,  Waltham  Cross.  The 
most  conspicuous  variety  was  the  new  Mrs.  Rumsey,  with  its  lovely  soft 
pink  flowers  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Very  bright  was  the  exhibit  from  Messrs.  Kelway  &  Son,  Lang¬ 
port.  It  contained  Delphiniums,  Cannas.  Gaillardias.  Iris  Kmmpferi, 
and  others  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Upper  Edmonton, 
arranged  a  handsome  collection  of  Adiantums  in  extensive  variety 
(silver-gilt  Banksian  medal).  Begonias,  both  single  and  double,  from 
Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  were  of  good  quality,  and  con¬ 
tained  several  varieties  of  more  than  average  merit  (silver  Banksian 
medal).  Pansies,  Violas,  and  Sweet  Peas  comprised  the  exhibit  of 
Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay.  The  sprays  of  Violas  made  a  very 
effective  display  alone,  the  Sweet  Peas  losing  in  d^fifectiveneis  through 
being  rather  packed  in  the  receptacles  (silver  Flora  medal). 
The  plants  of  Malmaison  Carnations  from  Mr.  J.  F.  McLeod,  gar¬ 
dener  to  J.  P  Morgan,  Esq.,  Dover  House,  Roehampton,  were  superb. 
The  foliage  was  stout  and  perfectly  free  from  disease,  while  the  flowers 
were  large,  richly  coloured,  and  delightfully  fragrant  (silver-gilt  Flora 
medal).  Messrs.  W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  sent  an  interesting 
collection  of  Roses  both  in  pots  and  cut.  There  were  several  varieties 
that  have  been  introduced  by  this  firm  during  the  Victorian  era,  besides 
others  that  are  very  rarely  seen  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  Colchester,  sent  hardy  fiowers  of  splendid 
quality.  Liliums,  Irises,  and  Calochorti,  with  Hemerocallis  aurantiaca 
major,  were  very  conspicuous  (silver  Flora  medal).  Mr.  Foster,  Brock- 
ham  pton  Nurseries,  Havant,  staged  a  collection  of  Sweet  Peas  in  variety 
(silver  Banksian  medal).  P.  Purnell,  Esq.,  Woodlands,  Streatham,  sent 
a  small  group  of  Carnations ;  and  Mr.  W.  Wells,  Earlswood,  a  few 
ChiyBanthemums. 
One  of  the  handsomest  exhibits  in  the  Hall  was  that  of  Messrs. 
F.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  The  group  comprised  splendidly  grown 
plants  of  Anthnriums,  Watsonia  Ardernei,  Nephrolepis  bostoniensis, 
Caladium  albanense,  Streptocarpuses,  Encephalartos  gracilis,  together 
