28 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  8,  1897. 
CAMPANULA  GRANDIFLORA  MARIESL 
“  Flower  Gardener  ’*  is  quite  wrong  in  supposing  that  Campanula 
grandiflora  Mariesi  is  a  new  plant.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  introduced 
into  this  country  somewhere  about  fifteen  years  ago.  Some  seasons  ago 
Messrs,  Paul  &  Son,  Cheshunt,  received  for  it  a  first-class  certificate, 
and  as  we  sketched  the  plant  at  the  time  we  give  the  block  now  for 
our  correspondent’s  benefit,  and  that  of  the  many  others  who  will  be 
interested.  The  plant,  also  known  as  Flatycodon  grandiflorum  Mariesi, 
is  exceedingly  beautiful,  and  worthy  of  extended  cultivation. 
As  shown  in  the  illustration  (fig.  5)  the  plant  is  dwarf  in  habit, 
being  not  more  than  6  inches  in  height.  The  flowers  are  large  and 
broad,  measuring  3  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  of  a  brilliant 
purplish  blue  colour  with  darker  veins.  It  is  a  charming  plant,  and 
deserves  a  better  fate  than  it  hitherto  has  had. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Scientific  Committee,  June  29th. — Present :  Mr.  McLachlan 
(in  the  chair) ;  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Prof.  Church,  Dr.  Bonavia,  and  Rev. 
G.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Romney  a,  diseased. — The  following  report  was  received  from  Kew 
upon  the  specimens  sent  to  the  last  meeting  : — “The  disease  is  caused  by 
an  obscure  organism,  considered  by  Prunet  as  a  species  of  Cladochytrium. 
A  preliminary  notice  is  given  in  ‘  Comptes  Rendus,’  October  Ist,  1894. 
The  detailed  account  there  promised  is  not  yet  to  hand.” 
Grapes  attacked  hy  Gleeospormm. — With  reference  to  the  examples 
sent  to  the  last  meeting,  Mr.  Malcolm  Dunn  writes,  after  inspecting  the 
Vine  houses  at  Auchterarder  House,  that  “the  vinery  is  of  the  usual 
‘lean-to’  form,  well  heated  and  ventilated,  with  everything  in  good 
Older  for  growing  healthy  Vines  and  first-rate  Grapes.  The  Vines  com¬ 
prise  some  six  or  seven  varieties,  but  only  Black  Hamburgh  suffers  to  a 
serious  extent  from  the  disease  ;  although  it  could  be  detected  on  a  few 
berries  of  Foster’s  White  Seedling,  and  still  fewer  of  Alicante.  As  far 
as  I  can  remember  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Lady  Downe’s,  Madresfield 
Court,  Gros  Colman,  and  one  or  two  others  were  not  affected,  although 
intermixed  with  the  Vines  attacked.  The  Vines  are  all  in  vigorous 
health,  and  bearing  a  fine  crop  of  splendid  bunches  of  Grapes.  With 
regard  to  the  treatment  they  were  receiving  I  saw  nothing  to  which  I 
could  object.” 
Harpalus  ruficornis  attacking  Strawberries ,  —  Mr.  McLachlan 
showed  specimens  of  this  beetle,  which  belongs  to  a  carnivorous  family. 
Its  prevalence  in  Strawberry  beds  is  probably  caused  by  the  presence  of 
the  litter.  That  it  will  attack  Strawberries  has  been  known  for  the  last 
ten  years,  and  that  it  has  destroyed  entire  crops.  As  it  is  nocturnal  in 
its  habits,  it  must  be  looked  for  at  night,  for  it  lives  in  the  soil. 
Chiswick,  July  1st. 
A  meeting  of  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee  was  held  on  the 
above  date.  Present  :  Mr.  G.  Bunyard  (Chairman)  ;  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks, 
Messrs.  G.  Sage,  A.  F.  Barron,  J.  Smith,  W.  Pope,  J.  Veitch,  R.  Fife, 
A.  H.  Pearson,  J.  Hudson,  and  A.  Dean. 
The  attention  of  the  members  was  first  drawn  to  a  large  collection  of 
Peas  growing  in  one  part  of  the  gardens.  With  these  were  several  high- 
class  varieties  of  established  reputations,  grown  to  give  comparisons.  Of 
the  fifty-four  assumed  new  varieties  nothing  of  special  excellence  was 
found,  general  average  quality  being  below  that  of  last  year.  It  is  very 
evident  that  Peas  are  now  so  good  it  is  very  difficult  to  find  new  ones 
superior. 
The  awards  at  Chiswick  are  progressive,  two  marks  representing  a 
commendation  ;  three  marks,  high  commendation  ;  award  of  merit,  very 
high  commendation  ;  and  first-class  certificate,  superior  excellence. 
Two  marks  only  were  given  to  Saccharine,  a  nice-looking  4-feet  Pea, 
having  long  green  pods,  the  peas  sugary  and  tender  ;  to  Harbinger 
(Dickson  &  Co.),  an  early  free-cropping  variety,  pods  of  medium  length  ; 
and  Parchment,  one  of  the  sugar  section  from  Vilmorin  &  Co.  The 
pods  are  of  medium  size  and  pleasant  eating  when  cooked  whole. 
A  few  stocks  of  Broad  Beans  were  seen,  and  an  award  of  merit 
was  given  to  Dobbie’s  Champion,  a  good  cropper  of  the  long-pod 
ssction  ;  and  three  marks  were  given  to  Exhibition  Long-pod,  from 
R.  Veitch  &  Sons,  and  to  Robin  Hood,  green  long-pod,  from  Harrison 
and  Sons.  These  were  capital  stocks.  Attention  was  drawn  to  a  very 
neat  compact  Cabbage  Lettuce,  Continuity  (Daniels  &  Son),  rather 
dark  coloured  and  standing  remarkably  well,  but  no  award  was  made. 
The  large  breadth  of  trial  Strawberries  was  next  seen.  These  gene¬ 
rally  were  in  admirable  condition,  although  some  relatively  were  much 
heavier  croppers  than  others.  An  award  of  merit  was  made  to  Won¬ 
derful,  which  carries  a  great  crop  of  long  tapering  scarlet  fruits  of 
excellent  flavour.  Such  varieties  as  Royal  Sovereign,  President,  Edward 
Leforte,  Auguste  Rousselot,  Countess,  Latest  of  All,  and  a  few  others  so 
good  last  year  were  again  in  capital  condition  ;  and  of  heavy  fruiters 
Newton  Seedling  and  Acquisition  were  marvellous  examples,  although 
the  fruits  are  not  of  the  best.  Admiral  and  G.  Wythes,  new  varieties  on 
yearling  plants,  showed  considerable  promise. 
A  couple  of  Melons  were  placed  before  the  Committee,  both  fair,  but 
neither  of  any  special  merit.  Mr.  A.  J.  Ward,  one  of  the  Richmond 
Corporation  allotment  holders,  sent  dishes  of  Maincrop,  Eureka,  Gradns, 
Stratagem,  Daniels’  Alderman,  and  the  Daniels’  Peas,  all  very  fine, 
Alderman  being  exceptionally  so  ;  also  a  good  sample  of  Bunyard’s 
Exhibition  Bean.  A  cultural  commendation  was  awarded. 
ROSE  SHOWS. 
WEST  OF  ENGLAND  (HEREFORD).— June  28th. 
This  old  Society  celebrated  its  thirty-first  anniversary  on  Tuesday* 
June  29th,  with  a  success  which  ought  to  have  been  expected  on  so 
memorable  an  occasion  as  our  Most  Gracious  Majesty’s  Diamond  Jubilee, 
Then,  if  ever,  should  be  held  the  fete  day  of  the  loyal  lieges  of  the 
queen  of  flowers,  the  historic  national  emblem,  dear  to  the  heart  of  every 
Englishman. 
Doubtless  in  nearly  every  garden  in  the  land  the  Rose  still  is  far  the 
moat  popular  of  flowers,  and  holds  royally  the  pride  of  place.  Never¬ 
theless,  it  is  a  sad  fact,  introducing  a  problem  that  has  to  be  solved,  that 
Rose  shows  pur  et  simple  have  ceased  to  attract  the  general  public, 
either  by  their  presence  as  paying  spectators  or  by  their  contributions  as 
competing  exhibitors.  Numbers  of  Rose  shows  have  ceased  to  exist, 
while  others  are  in  a  moribund  condition.  The  Rose  Society,  whose  last 
meeting  it  is  my  privilege  to  report,  for  the  last  two  years  has  contracted 
an  adverse  balance  of  over  £50,  and  has  failed  in  other  ways  to  obtain 
public  support. 
The  managers,  fully  realising  their  position,  as  sensible  men  naturally 
do  when  their  pockets  are  appealed  to,  have  made  a  supreme  effort  to 
clear  off  the  adverse  balance,  and  to  carry  on  the  oldest  Rose  exhibition 
in  the  kingdom  by  supplementing  its  special  attractions  by  others  more 
up  to  date  and  practically  indispensable.  Two  short  concerts  and  two 
short  commediettas  of  half  hour  each  were  the  sources  of  diversion 
introduced  in  the  Shire  Hall,  and  proved  highly  successful,  while,  quite 
as  important,  exhibitors  from  far  and  near,  almost  250  in  number,  were 
present  in  great  form,  and  six  (out  of  eight  entering)  seventy-two  varie¬ 
ties  were  staged,  which  pleasantly  brought  back  memories  of  the  good 
old  times  of  our  western  Rose  show.  Messrs.  A.  Dickson  &  Sons 
especially  exhibited  splendidly,  while  their  seedlings,  mostly  H.T.’s,  were 
admirable,  and  likely  to  be  most  valuable  and  permanent  additions  both 
in  the  garden  and  exhibition  boxes. 
The  Roses  at  Hereford  were  grown  in  Messrs.  A.  Dickson’s  gardens 
near  Ledbury,  speaking  volumes  as  to  the  natural  capacities  of  the  soil 
and  the  skill  and  attention  of  Mr.  Drew,  the  firm’s  able  manager. 
In  division  I.,  nurserymen,  Messrs.  Alexander  Dickson  &  Sons,  New- 
townards,  Co.  Down,  Ireland,  were  easily  placed  first,  the  Judges  being 
unanimous  as  to  the  excellence  of  their  exhibit,  indeed  there  was  not 
the  slightest  suspicion  of  a  weak  corner,  so  level  and  fine  a  collection  of 
blooms  being  seldom  staged.  Very  noticeable  was  the  number  of 
seedlings,  almost  up  to  date,  exhibited  by  the  firm,  of  most  of  whom,  as 
has  already  been  said,  it  may  safely  be  prophesied,  from  their  distinct 
colour  and  good  habit,  a  permanent  position  among  exhibition  varieties. 
A  few  remarks  are  appended  to  varieties  of  transcendent  merit.  H.P, 
Killarney  (seedling,  very  clear  white),  H.P.  Exposition  de  Brie,  H.T. 
Danmark  (fine),  H.P.  Marie  Baumann,  H.P.  Clio,  H.P.  Alphonse 
Soupert,  H.P.  Marchioness  of  Downshire  (grand),  H.P.  Capt.  Hayward, 
H.T.  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  (splendid  everywhere),  H.P.  Duchess 
of  Bedford,  H.P.  Mrs.  C.  Grahame,  seedling  (first-rate  promise),  H.P. 
Ulster,  seedling  (fine  substance),  H.P.  Merveille  de  Lyon.  H.P.  Star  of 
Waltham  (magnificent),  H.P.  Duchess  of  Vallambrosa,  H.P.  Francois 
Michelon,  H.T.  Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam  (finely  shown),  H.P.  Ulrich 
Brunner,  H.P.  Her  Majesty  (quite  a  Diamond  Jubilee  bloom),  H.T. 
Marquis  Litta  (useful  colour),  H.P.  Gustave  Piganneau,  H.P.  Madame 
Eugenie  Verdier,  H.P.  Earl  of  Pembroke,  H.P.  Madame  Gabriel  Luizet, 
H.P.  Heinrich  Schultbeis,  H.T.  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant  (fine  shell  petals),  H.P. 
Dupuy  Jamain,  Tea  Rubens,  H.P.  Mrs.  John  Laing,  H  P.  Cbarles  Darivin 
(superb  colour),  H.P.  Helen  Keller  (tine),  H.P.  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman 
Crawford  (superior  to  Clio  or  Mrs.  John  Laing),  H  P.  Victor  Hugo,  H.P. 
Robert  Duncan,  H.P.  Etienne  Levet,  H.P.  Bessie  Brown,  H.T.  Souvenir 
de  President  Carnot.  H.P.  Prince  Arthur,  H.P.  Victor  Verdier,  H.P. 
Charles  Lefebvre,  H.P.  Ellen  Drew  (fine),  H.P.  Comtesse  d’Oxford, 
H.P.  Pride  of  Waltham,  H.P.  Comte  de  Raimbaud,  Tea  Madame  Hoete 
(lovely),  H.P.  Horace  Verdier  (superb).  Tea  Souvenir  de  S,  A,  Prince, 
H.P.  Louis  Van  Houtte,  H.P.  Mrs.  E.  Mawley,  seedling  (very  high 
centre,  promising),  H.P.  Tom  Wood,  H.P.  Madame  Rothschild,  H.P. 
Marie  Verdier,  H.P.  Marchioness  of  Dnfferin,  H  P.  Countess  of  Caledon 
(great  acquisition,  seedling),  H.P.  A.  K.  Williams  (perfect),  H.T. 
Caroline  Testout,  H.P.  G^ndral  Jacqueminot  (not  cashiered  yet),  H.P. 
Margorie,  seedling  (very  good),  H  P.  Jeanie  Dickson,  Lady  Clanmorris 
(light  seedling,  good),  H.P.  Marquise  de  Castellane,  H.P.  George 
Mazarette  (seedling,  globular,  fine),  H.P.  Lady  A.  Hill  (very  distinct), 
H.T.  La  France,  H.P.  Mons.  Noman,  H-P.  S.  M.  Rodocanachi,  Tea 
Ernest  Metz,  Tea  The  Bride,  H  P.  Dr.  Andry,  H.P.  Le  Havre,  Tea 
Madame  Anna  Ollivier. 
The  second  prize  was  equally  divided  between  the  two  celebrated 
Colchester  firms,  B.  R.  and  F.  Cant  (although  as  a  rule  the  precedent  is 
bad),  as  the  character  and  general  excellence  of  the  blooms,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Judges,  were  indistinguishable.  H.P.  Helen  Keller 
H.P.  Charles  Lefebvre,  and  H.P.  Xavier  Olibo  in  F.  Cant’s,  and  H.P.’s 
Dukes  of  Connaught  and  Teck,  and  H.T.  Caroline  Testout  in  B.  R.  Cant’s 
collections  were  specially  worthy  of  notice. 
For  thirty-six  varieties,  first  prize  Messrs.  Townsend  &  Sons, 
Worcester ;  second  prize  Mr.  George  Prince,  Oxford  ;  third  prize  Mr. 
8.  Treseder.  Cardiff.  For  twenty-four  trebles  (to  which  a  list  of  the 
first  prize  is  appended  as  being  of  superlative  excellence,  if  room  can  be 
allowed)  fell  to  Messrs.  A.  Dickson.  The  varieties  were  H.P.  Gustave 
Piganeau,  H.T.  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria,  H.P.  Ulrich  Brunner,  H.P. 
John  Laing,  H  P.  Star  of  Waltham,  H.T.  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant  (superb),  H.P. 
