10 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  1,  H9T. 
if  the  trade  were  booming,  but  all  were  sorry  indeed  to  hear  that  Mr.  Wm. 
Prior  was  in  bad  health,  for  he  is  deservedly  popular  amongst  the  Rise 
growing  fraternity. 
Mr.  Orpen  was  first  in  the  amateurs'  class  for  garden  Roses,  many 
well  preserved  single  Roses  being  a  feature  in  his  stand,  the  Mayor 
(Mr.  H.  Egerton  Green)  second,  and  Mr.  Pemberton  third.  Mr.  Orpen 
was  also  first  for  a  collection  of  single  Roses,  and  it  was  again  remarkable 
how  well  the  petals  stood  the  heat. 
In  herbaceous  flowers  Messrs.  Harkness  were  first  and  Mr.  Jacobi  of 
Ipswich  second  in  the  nurserymen’s  class.  Lady  North  first  and  Mr. 
Orpen  second  among  amateurs.  Messrs.  Wallace  showed  some  samples 
of  their  splendid  Calochorti  and  Lilies,  a  large-flowered  yellow  Calo- 
chortns,  called  Clavatus,  being  a  new  species. 
Colchester  is  now  also  famous  for  Asparagus,  and  great  interest  was 
taken  in  the  competition  for  a  cup  offered  by  Mr.  Monro  of  Covent 
Garden.  This  was  won  by  Mr.  R.  T.  Daniell  of  Donyland,  and  I 
willingly  lingered  to  hear  the  comments  of  experts  upon  these  wonderful 
great  bunches,  where  (to  my  ignorant  eyes)  the  premium  is  given  to  the 
handle,  and  the  business  end  is  reduced  to  small  proportions.  Two  or 
three  men  told  me  the  white  was  the  best  part ;  but  when  asked  if  they 
began  to  eat  at  the  butt  end,  they  rather  climbed  down  from  that  assertion. 
Another  man  said  you  could  eat  as  far  as  the  pink  colour  went,  and  no 
opinion  seemed  to  be  so  unpopular  as  my  own,  that  I  did  not  want  to 
see  any  colour  but  green  in  my  Asparagus. 
About  two  o’clock,  when  the  rosarian  company  had  just  arrived  at 
the  grounds  of  the  noted  trade  growers,  a  very  heavy  thunderstorm,  or 
rather,  as  it  seemed,  two  or  three  meeting  in  one,  broke  over  Colchester. 
Myland  Church  spire,  within  200  or  300  yards  of  where  several  of  us 
were  sitting  in  Mr,  B.  R.  Cant’s  house,  was  ripped  open  from  nearly 
the  top  to  the  bottom.  Knowing  from  previous  experience  what  the 
Rose  fields  would  be  like  after  such  a  tremendous  rain,  I  rather  chose, 
when  the  storm  was  over,  to  investigate  the  vagaries  of  the  lightning 
stroke  which,  in  this  case,  seemed  strangely  to  have  neglected  metal  in 
its  downward  course,  and  deliberately  (what  a  word  for  lightning  1 ) 
chosen  stone  and  wood  in  perference.  Uultimately  I  thought  I  would 
do  down  and  see  what  the  Roses  looked  like,  and  soon  returned  with,  as 
one  of  the  company  remarked,  enough  of  the  famous  soil  on  my  boots  to 
grow  a  good  Made  Baumann. — W.  R.  Raillem. 
WESTMINSTER.— June  29th. 
This  Show  was  held  in  the  Drill  Hall  at  the  usual  fortnightly  meet¬ 
ing.  on  the  above  date.  There  was  competition  in  each  of  the  classes, 
and  in  some  of  the  boxes  flowers  of  superb  quality  were  noticed.  With 
commendable  and  exceptional  generosity  C.  J.  Grahame,  Esq,,  Leather- 
bead,  gave  £10  towards  the  prizes  offered. 
In  the  classes  for  twenty-four  distinct  single  trusses,  Mr.  C.  J.  Salter, 
gardener  to  T.  B.  Haywood,  Esq.,  Woodhatch  Lodge,  Reigate,  was  placed 
first.  His  blooms  were  even,  some  being  of  good  quality,  while  others 
were  weak.  C.  J,  Grahame,  Esq.,  in  the  second  position,  had  a  superb 
stand,  containing  only  one  or  two  weak  blooms,  with  about  a  dozen 
perfect  ones.  The  pointing  in  these  two  exhibits  must  have  been  very 
close.  The  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton,  Havering-atte-Bower,  was  third. 
There  were  five  competitors  in  this  class. 
Three  competitors  brought  twelve  distinct  single  trusses.  0.  G. 
Orpen,  Esq.,  Hillside,  West  Bergholt,  Colchester,  was  first  with 
Marquis  Litta,  Horace  Vernet,  Her  Majesty,  Gustave  Piganeau, 
Susanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  Captain  Haywood,  Madame  Engine 
Verdier,  K.  A.  Victoria,  Mrs.  W.  J,  Grant,  Fisher  Holmes,  Madame 
Gabriel  Luizet,  and  Marie  Verdier.  The  Rev,  A.  Foster-Melliar, 
Sproughton  Rectory,  Ipswich,  was  a  fair  second  ;  and  R.  H.  Langton, 
Esq.,  Raymead,  Hendon,  third. 
For  six  distinct  single  trusses,  G.  W.  Cook,  Esq.,  Torrington  Park, 
N. ,  was  first  ;  the  Rev.  A.  Page  Roberts,  Scole,  Norfolk,  second  ;  and 
J.  Christian,  Esq.,  3,  Norman  Villas,  Highgate,  third.  C.  J.  Grahame, 
Esq.,  for  nine  single  trusses,  one  variety,  sent  Kaiserin  Augusta 
Victoria  in  superb  form,  and  received  the  premier  award,  followed 
by  Mr.  C.  J.  Salter  with  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  and  the  Rev.  A.  Page  Roberts 
with  Madame  Gabriel  Luizet.  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  won  for 
O.  G.  Orpen,  Esq.,  the  first  prize  for  six  of  one  variety.  R.  H.  Langton, 
Esq.,  with  La  France  was  second;  and  G.  W.  Cook,  Esq.,  with  Mrs. 
J.  Laing,  third. 
In  the  class  for  twenty-four  Teas,  distinct,  there  were  four  competi¬ 
tors,  of  whom  0.  G.  Orpen,  Esq.,  was  a  good  first.  His  flowers  were  of 
fine  shape,  clean,  and  splendidly  coloured.  Hardly  a  weak  bloom  was 
to  be  seen  in  the  box.  The  second  position  was  secured  by  C.  J. 
Grahame,  Esq.  ;  and  the  third  by  Mr.  G.  J.  Salter. 
The  Rev.  Hugh  A.  Berners,  Harkstead  Rectory,  Ipswich,  was  first 
for  twelve  Teas,  with  Medea,  Catherine  Mermet,  Ernest  Metz,  Souvenir 
de  S.  A.  Prince,  Madame  Hoste,  Edith  Gifford,  Cleopatra,  Comtesse  de 
Nadaillac,  Jean  Ducher,  Anna  Ollivier,  and  The  Bride.  The  Rev. 
A.  Foster-Melliar  was  a  capital  second,  and  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton 
third. 
For  six  Teas,  distinct,  the  Rev.  A.  Page  Roberts  was  first,  and  R.  H. 
Langton,  Esq.,  second.  For  nine  single  trusses  of  one  variety  C.  J. 
Grahame,  Esq.,  was  a  decided  first,  with  beautifully  coloured  examples 
of  Madame  Cusin,  0,  G.  Orpen,  Esq.,  with  Anna  Ollivier  was  second, 
and  H.  P.  Machin,  Esq.,  third.  R.  H.  Langton,  Esq.,  with  the  Hon. 
Edith  Gifford,  went  to  the  front  for  six  Teas  of  one  variety,  followed  by 
the  Rev.  A.  Foster-Melliar  with  Souvenir  d’Elise,  and  the  Rev,  H.  A. 
Berners  with  Anna  Ollivier. 
SCHOOL  GARDENS. 
I  WAS  pleased  to  see  “  A.  D.’s  ”  remarks  under  the  above  heading  on 
page  511  in  your  issue  of  the  10th  ult.,  and  will  give  you  an  opposite 
state  of  things.  Here  in  Birkenhead,  a  town  with  over  120,000 
inhabitants  (about  half  of  whom  belong  to  the  labouring  classes),  I 
have  provided  four  large  pasture  fields  for  allotments,  each  of  which  is 
situated  in  a  different  part  of  the  town,  and  in  close  proximity  to  Board 
and  other  public  schools.  The  land  has  been  measured,  pegged  out  for 
allotments,  and  enclosed  with  suitable  fencing,  also  gates  provided  with 
locks  and  keys,  water  service  laid  down,  good  cartways  and  footwalks 
made,  and  whatever  was  necessary  for  the  security  and  convenience  of 
the  allotment  holders  has  been  done. 
Not  a  single  allotment  has  been  applied  for,  either  by  the  School 
Board  or  the  managers  of  any  of  the  elementary  schools,  for  the  purpose 
of  instructing  the  boys  in  “  Cottage  Gardening,”  but  the  allotments  are 
freely  taken  up  artisans  and  others,  who  are  in  every  way  satisfied  with 
their  plots. 
There  are  generally  two  sides  to  a  question,  and  your  readers  can 
now  look  at  this  question  from  both  sides.  Perhaps  ”  A.  D.”  will  tell 
me  where  I  may  get  the  information  respecting  the  grants  he  speaks  of 
to  schools  giving  the  boys  instruction  in  ”  Cottage  Gardening  then  I 
will  bring  the  question  before  the  notice  of  the  School  Board  and 
managers  in  Birkenhead,  and  get  their  views  on  the  question,  and  at  a 
future  time  let  you  know  the  results. — T.  D.  S. 
CARNATIONS  AT  ICK WORTH. 
At  Ickworth  Park,  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  there  is  just  now  a  very  fine 
display  of  Carnations,  many  new  varieties  and  all  the  cream  of  the  older 
sorts  being  well  represented.  All  are  conspicuous  for  fine  robust  health 
and  freedom  from  splitting  of  the  calyx,  but  the  newer  ones  of  Mr. 
Martin  Smith’s  raising  stand  out  as  a  distinct  advance  on  the  older 
varieties. 
A  lovely  flaked  yellow  is  Mrs.  Robert  Sydenham,  the  blossoms  large 
and  full,  of  grand  outline  and  clear  cut  segments,  such  as  Carnation 
lovers  delight  in.  Gift  has  large  flowers  with  a  yellow  ground,  and 
flaked  with  light  crimson,  while  a  beautiful  soft  scarlet  self  is  named 
Isle.  Miss  Jekyll  is  an  advance  on  Germania,  the  habit  being  all  that 
could  be  desired,  and  of  splendid  constitution. 
Cardinal  Wolsey  is  like  a  greatly  improved  Atalanta,  but  judging 
by  the  plants  not  a  very  good  breeder.  Mrs.  Ivo  Bligh  and  Elsie  are 
two  lovely  seifs  of  a  delicate  salmon  rose,  the  latter  the  deeper  coloured 
of  the  two,  while  blossoms  of  the  purest  white  are  found  in  the  chaste 
varieties  Deal,  Mrs.  Eric  Hambro,  and  the  older  Niphetos.  Mayma  is  a 
distinct  fawn  self,  Vashti  a  splendid  yellow  and  crimson  flake,  while 
Mephisto  is  of  deeper  colour  and  better  form  than  the  now  well  known 
Uriah  Pike.  The  plants  are  one  and  all  in  excellent  order,  full  of 
flower,  and  by  their  healthy  appearance  and  tasteful  arrangement  reflect 
great  credit  on  Mr.  K.  Coster,  the  energetic  gardener. — Dianthus. 
BRIEF  NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
{Continued  from  page  439.) 
Linum  alpinum. 
,  This  neat  little  alpine  plant,  although  both  pretty  and  not  at  all  an 
expensive  flower  to  purchase,  is  not  very  often  seen ;  it  is  still  more 
seldom  seen  in  bloom,  which  is  unfortunate,  as  its  bright  blue  flowers, 
large  for  the  size  of  the  plant,  are  very  pleasing.  The  foliage  is  also  very 
attractive,  so  that  a  plant  in  full  bloom  is  generally  admired.  This 
Alpine  Flax  appears  to  like  full  exposure  to  the  sun,  with  a  good  supply 
of  moisture  at  the  roofs  in  summer,  but  to  be  comparatively  dry  in 
winter.  The  two  last  requirements  are  not  easily  secured  in  the  same 
position,  and  I  find  it  best  to  plant  in  gritty  soil  on  a  level  terrace  of  a 
sunny  rockery,  and  to  give  water  rather  freely  in  spring  and  summer. 
It  seems  hardy  enough,  but  its  shy  blooming  qualities  in  some  gardens 
counterbalance  to  a  great  extent  its  other  qualifications. 
Akmekia  Laucheana. 
This  is  apparently  only  a  variety  of  the  common  Sea  Pink  or 
Thrift,  which  adorns  with  its  thousands  of  pink  blooms  many  of  our 
sea  coasts.  It  differs,  from  the  ordinary  form  by  reason  of  its  dwarfer 
habit  and  its  deep  colouration.  No  better  variety  could  be  selected  for 
contrast  with  the  white  variety  of  A.  vulgaris  known  as  alba.  If 
planted  on  the  rockery  it  is  well  suited  to  a  variety  of  positions.  On 
flat  terraces  it  does  well,  but  may  also  be  used  for  covering  up  joints 
between  the  stones.  It  is  of  a  deep — almost  crimson — colour,  and  looks 
well  when  covered  with  bloom  in  June.  In  this  garden  it  flowers  more 
freely  than  the  white  form  of  the  ordinary  Thrift.  Armeria  Laucheana 
is  not  difiBcult  to  procure  from  nurseries,  and  is  moderately  priced  in  the 
catalogues.  It  is  readily  increased  by  division. 
Onosma  echioides. 
This  favourite  plant  is  more  commonly  known  as  O.  tauricum,  a 
name  not  likely  to  be  readily  superseded  by  the  older  name  of  Linnseus. 
It  is  a  little  difficult  to  understand  why  a  considerable  number  seem  to 
fail  with  it  in  face  of  the  general  advice  to  give  a  slight  protection  from 
excessive  rains  in  winter.  However  this  may  be,  many  complain  of 
losing  it,  possibly  owing  to  the  want  of  the  precaution  mentioned. 
In  some  gardens  where  it  has  a  dry  position,  sheltered  from  excessive 
rains,  the  safeguard  of  overhead  covering  is  not  even  necessary,  but 
nearly  all  would  be  wise  to  be  at  the  little  trouble  required  rather  than 
