May  4,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
367 
Rose  Show  Fixtures  ix  1899. 
June  13tli  (Tuesday). — Cambridge. 
„  14th  (Wednesday). — Yorkf. 
„  21st  (Wednesday). — Isle  of  Wight  (Sbanklin). 
„  24th  (Saturday). — Windsor. 
„  27th  (Tuesday). — Westminster  (R.H.S.). 
„  28th  (Wednesday). — Bath,  Croydon,  Maidstone,  Reading, 
Richmond,  and  Ryde. 
„  20th  (Thursday). — Canterbury,  Eltham,  Norwich,  and  Sutton. 
July  1st  (Saturday). — Crystal  Palace  (N.R.S.). 
„  4th  (Tuesday). — Gloucester  and  Harrow. 
„  5th  (Wednesday). — Brockham,  Ealing,  Hanley®,  and  Tun¬ 
bridge  Wells. 
„  6th  (Thursday). — Co’chester  (N.R.S.)  and  Farningham. 
„  7th  (Friday). — Hereford. 
„  11th  (Tuesday). — Wolverhampton.f 
„  13th  (Thursday). — Bedale,  Brentwood,  and  Helensburgh. 
„  20th  (Thursday). — Salterhebble  and  Sidcup. 
,,  22nd  (Saturday). — Newton  Mearns. 
,,  25th  (Tuesday). — Tibshelf. 
®  Show  lasting  two  days.  f  Shows  lasting  three  days. 
The  above  are  all  the  dates  definitely  decided  upon  that  have  as 
yet  reached  me.  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  the  fixtures  of  any  Rose 
shows  not  named  above,  or  those  of  any  horticultural  exhibitions  where 
Roses  are  made  a  leading  feature,  for  insertion  in  future  lists. — 
Edward  Mawley,  BosehanJc,  Berkhcmsted,  Herts. 
Roses  and  Rose  Culture. 
A  FEW  weeks  ago  we  made  reference  to  the  latest  edition  of  “  Roses 
in  Pots,”  by  the  recognised  master  in  the  art  of  culture  and  descrip¬ 
tion,  Mr.  William  Paul,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H.,  of  Waltham  Cross.  The 
author  now  sends  us  what  may  be  termed  his  Yellow  Book,  under  the 
title  above  given.  It  is  the  ninth  edition  of  the  work,  in  which  he 
deals  clearly,  concisely,  and  practically  with  Rose  growing  generally. 
The  various  forms  in  which  the  plants  are  cultivated  and  trained  are 
described  and  shown,  and  selections  of  varieties  in  the  different  sections 
given  for  the  guidance  of  the  inexperienced.  It  is  an  excellent 
shilling’s  worth,  and  many  amateurs  and  gardeners  who  do  not  already 
pos.sess  it,  might  wdth  advantage  have  it  handy  for  reference.  It  is 
compact,  pleasantly  written,  usefully  illustrated,  and  trustworthy. 
Recollections  and  Reflections. 
Recollections  are  pleasant  memories  sometimes,  but  not  always> 
yet  methinks  always  with  regard  to  bygone  days  in  the  journey  of 
horticulture.  Reflections,  closely  allied  to  recollections,  lead  us  to 
weigh,  very  thoughtfully,  whether  we  are  always  on  the  right  track 
in  the  journey  of  our  gardening  life.  So  let  it  be  for  a  few  moments 
with  our  old  associations  in  that  branch  of  horticulture  anent  Queen 
Flora. 
No  one  for  a  siugle  moment  would,  I  presume,  venture  to  declare 
that  we  have  not  progressed  ;  in  fact  every  genuine  horticulturist 
belongs  to  the  progressive  party  (politics  excepted).  We  cannot  help 
ourselves — Nature,  urged  on  by  Divine  assistance — i.e.,  the  power 
given  to  man  by  the  Great  Powei',  has  by  this  power  of  intelligence, 
study  and  perseverance,  brought  about  what  some  folk  are  foolish 
enough  to  call  a  “revolution”  in  horticulture,  but  which  I  would 
rather  call  a  progressive  evolution. 
This  progression  or  evolution  is  more  and  more  in  evidence  every 
day,  and  that  in  every  branch  of  horticulture.  The  fittest  has  survived, 
and  yet  only  to  be  improved  upon,  for  every  day  we  are  perforce 
impelled  to  recognise  this  improvement.  For  instance,  take  Peas, 
Pisum  sativum,  think  of  the  marvellous  progression  in  this  class  ;  but 
you  have  to  go  back  to  the  fact  that  the  best  varieties  now  in  vogue 
have  in  them  the  old  “blood”  of  the  best  Pea  of  years  ago;  it  is  not 
a  new  Pea  exactly,  it  is  an  improvement,  a  progressiop.  We  have 
only  to  re-read  Mr.  Sherwood’s  paper  in  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society’s  Journal  to  verify  my  statement.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
the  Potato,  and  the  evidence  thereon  given  by  Mr.  A.  Sutton,  the 
veteran  Mr.  Fenn,  and  others.  All  this  bears  out  my  argument.  So 
much  for  these  so-called  vulgar,  but  very  useful,  aye  !  necessary  and 
delicious  vegetables. 
But,  yoii  ask,  how  does  this  affect,  or  what  has  this  to  do  with 
Roses  ?  I  must  apologise  for  preambling,  but  I  will,  with  your 
permission,  bring  once  more  to  my  own  recollections,  and  reflect  there¬ 
upon,  some  happy  experiences  re  old  Roses — partly  for  their  own  sakes, 
partly  for  the  share  they  hold  in  the  present  state  of  their  magnificent 
issue. 
The  late  Mr.  Shirley  Hibberd  wrote,  “  Let  oblivion’s  curtain  fall 
upon  the  origin  of  Roses.”  Was  he  right?  Perhaps  so,  and  yet 
perhaps  not  so.  Without  a  doubt  we  can  distinguish  characteristics 
in  our  hybrids,  which  clearly  show  pedigree  blood — show  it  in  wood, 
leaf,  and  habit ;  and  these  distinctive  “marks”  seem  to  be  the  more 
intensified  in  the  progression  towards  perfection.  Take  La  France. 
Can  you  not  see  in  the  wood  alone  the  old  pink  China  ?  Then  let  us 
thank  God  for  giving  us  the  old  pink  China.  I  suppose  that  there  ia 
no  more  generally  popular  Rose  than  La  France.  Take  any  popular 
or  aristccratic  “  occasion  ”  where  flowers  in  the  Rose  season  are  to  be 
in  evidence,  and  you  will  find  that  Covent  Garden  is  at  its  wit’s  end 
to  get  blooms  enough  of  this  Rose  to  supply  the  demands  of  its 
importunate  customers. 
Again,  has  not  dear  old  General  Jacqueminot  a  debt  due  to  him  ? 
And,  once  more,  that  lovely  coloured,  mildewed-ever,  yet  splendid 
parent,  Geant  de  Batailles  ?  Reflect,  ye  young  men  of  1899  ?  Fifty 
years  ago,  in  1849,  8000  plants  of  this  variety  were  distributed  in  this 
country  by  Mr.  Thos.  Rivers. 
Have  j  ou  bent  in  rapt  enthusiasm  over  a  lovely  bloom  of  Senateur 
Vaisse,  a  Charles  Lefebvre,  a  Maurice  Bernardin,  or  a  Due  de 
Wellington?  Then  think  of  the  progenitor,  Gdant  de  B-itailles. 
Alas  !  alas  !  that  we,  poor  human  creatures,  should  so  oft  forget  how 
much  we,  in  our  prosperity,  owe  to  our  human  progenitors,  and 
how  little  we  value  that  worth  and  energetic  love  in  them  which  has 
placed  us  in  the  position  which  wo  how  hold.  Success  is  too  often 
blind  to  perceive  its  source. 
So  much  for  “  reflections.”  To  go  back  for  a  moment  to  recollec¬ 
tions.  There  appears  to  my  mental  eye  a  real  old-fashioned  garden, 
with  its  broad  central  walk,  on  either  side  a  3  or  4  foot  border  filled  in 
with  herbaceous  stuff  (but  surely  this  usual  gardening  term  “  stuff 
is  a  very  uncomplimentary  one),  and  at  intervals  I  see  some  grand 
standards  “  massed  in  bloom,”  of  such  free  flowering  Roses  as  Duchess 
de  Cambaceres,  Blairii  No.  2,  Jules  Margottin,  Acidalie,  Anna  Alexieff, 
and  others  of  like  growth. 
Yes !  The  exhibitor’s  craze  is  doing  good,  very  much  good, 
especially  in  the  decorative  department,  but  for  all  this  my  own  eyes 
will  not  allow  itself  to  be  dimmed  to  the  sight  of  the  great  grandfather 
Roses  which  have  enabled  the  Dicksons,  the  Pauls,  and  the  others  of 
these  late  yea-s  to  “bring  forth  fruits  unto  perfection.” — J.  A.  W. 
PETUNIAS. 
This  beautiful  showv  half-hardy  perennial  has  been  greatly  im¬ 
proved  in  colour,  size  of  flower,  and  habit  of  growth.  There  are  both 
tall  and  dwarf,  single  and  double  varieties  flowering.  The  dwarf  are- 
excellent  for  bedding,  as  they  grow  only  about  6  inches  high.  The  tall 
also  answer  for  bedding,  but  they  must  be  pegged  down.  The  singles 
are  the  showiest,  and  generally  the  most  floriferous  for  outdoor  culture, 
and  are  readily  raised  from  seed,  which  ought  to  be  sown  in  March, 
the  seedlings  being  grown  in  6-inch  pots  until  time  for  bedding  out. 
Heat  is  only  required  until  the  plants  are  established  in  the  pots, 
affording  them  afterwards  a  cool,  airy  position  to  render  them  sturdy 
for  planting.  Rich  soil  is  not  required  for  Petunias  when_  planted, 
as  this  will  cause  them  to  grow  more  vigorously  than  is  desirable  for 
freedom  in  flowering.  Podr  soil  will  give  the  best  results,  and  a  dry 
time,  too,  is  more  favourable  for  a  good  display  of  flowers  than  moist 
weather. 
Petunias  are  very  effective  as  pot  plants,  when  grown  in  compact 
form  by  frequent  stopping  of  the  shoots  and  tying  them  out.  The 
double  varieties  are  more  easily  dealt  with,  as  they  are  naturally  sfurd}’- 
growers,  especially  when  grown  from  cuttings,  which,  however,  should 
only  be  preserved  from  approved  and  select  varieties.  Plants  for 
blooming  early  in  the  year  may  be  obtained  from  seeds  sown  in 
August,  wintering  the  plants  in  3-inch  pots,  and  shifting  them  quickly 
in  early  spring  in  plenty  of  light  and  heat.  The  best  compost  is  loam, 
leaf  soil,  and  sand,  potting  the  plants  firmly  and  pinching  back  aa 
necessary.  Watering  is  important,  as  they  must  never  want  for  a 
supply.  The  plants  flag  seriously  on  becoming  very  dry,  and  the 
leaves  are  liable  to  turn  yellow  at  the  base. 
Plants  not  raised  in  autumn  may  be  obtained  from  seeds  sown  in 
January,  February,  or  even  March.  Pans  or  boxes  are  preferable  to- 
pots,  as  a  good  wide  surface  is  available,  on  which  the  seeds  may 
be  distributed  evenly  and  thinly.  There  is  no  waste  of  seed, 
and  the  plants  germinate  and  grow  stronger.  Equal  p.yts  of  loam 
and  leaf  soil,  with  sand,  may  form  the  compost,  pressing  it  down 
over  the  drainage,  and  filling  up  to  an  even  surface.  Water  with 
warm  water,  and  after  draining  scatter  on  the  seed,  covering  with 
fine  white  sand.  Place  in  a  temperature  of  60°,  and  sprinkle  very 
lightly  to  maintain  the  requisite  moisture  for  insuring  germination 
