,474 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  8,  1899. 
TROPiEOLUM  SPECIOSUM. 
Maxy  have  been  tlie  complniiits  made  with  rejjard  to  floworin"  this 
•beautiful creeper  in  the  south  of  England.  People  who  ha ve  returned  from 
a  tour  in  Scotland,  and  who  are  at  all  imbued  with  horticultural  taste, 
cotre  home  wondering  ft  the  luxuriant  manner  in  which  it  dowered  in  all 
■kinds  of  situations,  covering  walls  and  outhouses,  climbing  into  Apple 
trees,  and  in  fact  behaving  very  much  like  our  common  Bindweed,  in  places 
becoming  quite  as  much  a  weed  as  tliat  plant.  lYhen  it  was  suggested 
that  we  might  do  the  same  with  it  in  our  southern  clime,  we  were  told 
that  was  impossible,  the  Scotch  mists  were  favourable  to  its  growth, 
and  that  in  onr  drier  climate  wo  could  not  expect  it  to  grow  so  luxtiriuntly; 
but  as  it  is  a  native  of  Chili,  one  could  not  quite  think  that  this  statement 
has  any  strong  foundation,  nor  has  it  in  truth.  I  have  seen  it  growing 
vigorously  on  the  walls  of  Berkeley  Castle  in  Gloucestershire,  and  Messrs. 
Paul  &  Son  have  it  in  gre.vt  luxuriance  in  their  nursery  at  High  Beach, 
in  Epping  Forest.  I  have  myselt  failed  with  it  most  egregious’y. 
1  have  several  times  obtained  liberal  supplies  from  Scotland,  have 
planted  it  in  different  posiii'  ns  in  my  garden  ;  it  rambled  about  as  is  its 
wont,  but  never  flowered  with  any  degree  of  profusion.  It  fot  amongst 
<he  bush  fruits,  and  was,  I  suppose,  destroyed  when  they  were  beitig  dug 
over.  I  fried  another  plan  with  it  last  year,  and  having  obtained  a  small 
tub  out  of  which  I  knocked  the  bottom  I  placed  it  in  a  border  facing 
north.  It  did  not  flower,  but  has  come  up  strongly  this  year,  and  I  am 
hopeful  I  may  be  more  successful.  I  have  given  several  tubers  aw-ay  to 
friends,  and  they  seem  to  have  been  equally  unsuccessful,  and  have  not 
been  able  fo  keep  it  beyond  the  vear. 
I  think  it  must  be  a  most  capricious  plant,  for  I  came  across  a  very 
remarkable  instance  of  its  success  in  a  neighbour’s  garden.  Two  years 
ngo  he  planted  some  tubers  against  a  fence  facing  .S.W.  ;  the  plants 
flowered  fairly  well  th"  first  .vear,  but  tire  second  year  he  hardly  saw 
■anything  of  them  until  his  gardener  said,  “  I  wish  you  would  get  up  here, 
sir,  and  see  this  Tropasoluin.”  It  had  worked  its  way  under  the  f<  nee, 
and  there,  he  said,  ‘‘I  saw  a  space  about  1.5  square  feet  one  mass  of 
brilliant  8carlct,”evident]y  showing  that  what  I  was  always  told  in  Scotland, 
that  it  preferred  a  northern  aspect,  was  true.  The  stronger  shoots  have 
ro  nained  untouched  by  the  winter,  .and  he  is  now  endeavouring  to  get 
some  of  the  shoots  back  again  to  their  original  position,  but  he  will  also 
plant  some  in  a  more  congenial  place. 
It  is  strange  that  a  plant  like  this,  conning  from  Chili,  should  prefer  a 
northern  aspect,  though,  of  course,  one  does  not  know  in  what  places  it 
grows  in  that  country,  as  theie  may  be  various  positions  there  that  it 
jvifeett  rather  than  others.  Now  as  ours  is  a  dry  countv,  the  nvcra'je 
rainfall  being  low,  and  as  it  succeeds  so  well  in  Scotland,  whirh  is  the 
very  reverse  of  this,  it  would  seem  to  be  one  of  those  plants  which  can 
accornmodate  itself  to  various  positions.  Ido  not  think  that  it  is  at  all 
■exacting  in  the  matter  of  soil,  though  I  imagine  it  prefers  a  light  and 
•open  one.  Perhaps  this  brief  account  may  give  encouragement  to  some 
wno  have  tried  this  very  lovely  plant,  and  have  failed,  tor  whether  we 
regard  the  delicacy  of  its  foliage  or  the  brilliancy  of  its  flowers  it  is  well 
worthy  of  cultivation.— 1) ,  Be.d. 
CARNATIONS  AT  ICK WORTH. 
Gardening  in  all  its  branches  is  well  carried  out  at  thi.s  beautiful 
^lace,  the  seat  of  the  Marquis  of  Bristol,  under  the  superintendence  of 
iMr.  II.  Coster,  but  the  palm  for  excellence  must  certainly  be  awarded  to 
.the  tree  Carnations.  ihe  cultivation  of  this  most  beautiful  section  is 
understood  by  Mr.  Coster  as  by  few  other  gardeners,  and  it  is  a  piiy  he 
shies  not  give  us  a  taste  of  his  (pialify  at  some  of  the  London  exhibitions. 
The  first  thing  that  strikes  a  Carnation  specialist  ( n  entering  the 
flowering  house  is  the  fine  healthy  appearance  of  the  whole  of  the  plants  ; 
easily  grown  kinds,  but  sorts  that  in  most  places  are  found 
ditncult  to  grow. 
_  As  an  instance,  there  is  the  beautiful  IVIrs.  Robert  Sydenham.  This 
«s  in  many  places  an  absolute  failure,  and  only  in  a  few  can  it  be  said  to 
be  really  a  success,  but  at  Ickworth  the  plants  grow  almost  as  strong  as 
Criah  Pike,  and  produce  abundant  “grass ’’ for  propagation.  And  such 
splendid  flowers,  the  contrast  between  the  creamy  yellow  ground  and  the 
rosy  flaking  being  exquisite,  while  the  form  and  substance  even  of  side 
blossoms  is  remarkable.  This  variety  alone  is  worth  a  long  journev  to 
see,  but  the  Ickworth  collection  is  replete  with  such,  all  the  up-io  date 
varieties  now  in  commerce,  and  many  grand  things  not  yet  introduced  to 
the  public  being  included. 
I  often  find  amateurs  and  gardeners  spending  a  lot  of  their  own  and 
their  emnloyer’s  money  upon  new  and  improved  high-priced  varieties  of 
plants,  but  they  are  so  poorly  cultivated  that  they  show  no  advance  upon 
previously  known  kinds.  Now  at  Ickworth  not  only  are  the  very  laiest 
novelties  added  to  the  collection,  but  each  and  all  are  so  well  cultivated 
as  to  bring  out  their  true  characteristics,  and  show  the  real  advance  upon 
known  kinds. 
I  am  not  going  to  give  a  list  of  varieties  noted,  or  long  descriptions,  for 
such  are  not  interesting  reading,  but  I  would  like  to  mention  two  lovely 
varieties  that  I  have  frequently  seen  exhibited,  but  never  in  such  form  rs 
here.  They  are  .Tossica,  a  soft  satiny  rose,  and  Exile,  a  rather  deep  r 
tint  of  the  same  colour.  I  am  quite  within  the  mark  when  I  say  that  I 
never  saw  such  perfect  blooms,  and  it  is  not  to  say  there  are  only  one  or 
house  is^  filled  with  such.  Lady  Bristol,  a  lovely  seedling  of 
Mr.  Martin  Smith  s  not  yet  in  commerce,  is  a  beauty,  and  there  are  many 
more  almost  equally  w'orth  mention. — 11.  R.  Richards. 
THE  TEMPLE  SHOW. 
Amoxgst  exhibits  at  this  great  show,  the  production  of  which  has 
heeti  so  worthy  of  the  R.H.S.,  I  regarded  as  nn  exhibit  of  high-class 
culti'.re,  superior  in  relation  to  the  plants  to  any  yet  seen,  that  grand 
PTonp  of  double  and  single  Begonias  from  Mess-rs.  T.  S.  Ware  &  Co. 
It  was  universally  admT'ed  to  be  the  finost  show  of  these  plants  ever 
s"eti.  Other  gri'st  exhibits,  exclusive  of  0''<hids,  were  Turner's  and 
i’anl’s  Roses;  Veitch’s  Caladiums,  Ph\ lloractusea,  and  hardy  plfiits  and 
flowers  ;  Smith's  grand  Clematises.  Pisher,  Son,  &  Sibray’s  fine  group  of 
foliage  trees  and  shrubs,  Cutbush’s  wonderful  group  of  Carnations  and 
other  plants,  Sutton’s  singularly  interesting  collection  of  Neraefias,  the 
Guildford  Company’s  and  Messrs.  Backhouse’s  miniature  rock  gardens, 
Messrs.  Mclndoe’s  and  Fyfe’s  collections  ot  fruit,  and  Messrs.  Bunyard’s 
Apples.  Messrs.  T.  Rivers  &  Son’s  col  led  ion  of  trees  in  fruit  was  good, 
hut  rot  equal  to  what  the  firm  has  shown  in  some  pr.  vnuis  years. 
But  how  little  effort  in  producing  artistic  or  picturesiiue  effect  was 
seen  !  How  the  London  public  would  have  been  sensationalised  over  me 
of  the  Shrewsbury  groups,  the  most  miirvellous  plant,  arrangements  of 
modern  times.  Messrs.  Fisher  &  Son’s  Maples,  and  Messrs.  Cutbush's 
Carnations,  Messrs.  Veitch  &;  Sons’  hardv  flowers  and  plants,  Mr. 
G.  Paul’s  Roses,  and  the  miniature  rockwoiks  mentioned,  really  quite 
charming,  were  the  best  efforts  in  the  direction  of  securing  artistic 
pff- ct,  When  it  is  said  that  artistic  arrangements  are  impossible  at  the 
Tetnple  the  question  is  begged,  but  they  may’  ho  ilifficult,  Mr.  Y  h  te  in 
arranging  the  President’s  splendid  Orchids,  did  so  thinly,  ard  t'  ey  pro¬ 
duced  a  far  more  pleasing  effect  than  did  any  other  Orchid  exhibitor. 
Flotially  Decorating  Fruit. 
Oi'inlcns  differed  at  the  Temple  Show  as  to  whether  Mr.  Fyl’e’s  really 
snpeib  collection  of  fruit  was  or  was  not  imp'oved  in  ap  learance  by  the 
addition  ot  some  flowers  in  small  glasses.  Still,  that  the  flowers  did  add 
i^harm  in  the  e.<<tiination  of  many  persons  there  could  be  n  )  doubt.  But  I 
did  not  think  Ixias  and  Sparaxis  set  .1110  low  broad  g  asses  with  tome 
fine  Thnft-like  foliage  quite  the  best  flowrus  101  the  purpose  ;  nor  were  the 
receptacles  I  like  small  vertical  glasses  best,  tiuo  ihe  flowers  very  light 
with  flue  Fern,  such  as  the  fronds  of  A  gracidimum  atiil  a  few  Grasses. 
The  gla5S“S  nee.l  not  be  all  of  one  pattern,  and  certainly  not  all  of  one 
he'ght.  The  flowers  should  not  he  too  numerous.  Given  these  conditions, 
flowers  undoubtedly  adil  to  the  beauty  of  fruit  colh  clions. 
"Vegetable  Collectioxf. 
At  the  Ti  mole  Sh  iw  mere  were  for  the  time  of  year  and  season  many 
fineexliirits  ot  vegetables,  prominent  amongst  which  were  Peas,  Tonatoes, 
Cucumbers,  and  Asparagus,  all  (.f  superb  order.  But  the  finest  of  tnese 
were  found  where  colleciions  were  not  t  lO  varied.  In  the  cases  of  collec¬ 
tions  iniended  to  be  very  representative,  the  effort  to  have  such  did  in 
some  instances  result  in  brirging  some  things  not  attractive,  and  better 
left  at  home.  There  was  not  one  of  these  comprehensive  groups  Lut 
wouhl  hive  been  more  attractive  and  more  worthy  of  honour  had  thi  re 
been  much  less  of  inferior  produce  in  them  to  detract  from  the  merits  of 
what  was  good.  It  is  far  more  meritorious  to  show  a  few  kinds  of 
vegetables  prominently  and  well,  than  to  include  many  of  very'  inferior 
merit.  1  should  like  to  see  exhibitors  another  year  taking  this  hint,  and 
acting  as  advised. 
Social  Aspects  of  the  Temple  Show. 
It  is  Jcry  evident  that  in  spite  of  the  kindness  ot  th**  R.H.S.  Council 
in  offering  to  S' 11  gardeners  in  advance  tickets  for  the  Temple  Show  on 
the  seconil  day  at  the  reduced  price  of  Is.,  that  the  privilege  is  not  largely 
availed  of.  and  that  for  one  gardener  there  on  Thursday  there  were 
twenty  on  the  Wednesday.  No  doubt  gardeners  prefer  the  first  day, 
1  pcau.se  horticulturists  of  all  classes  are  then  si  on.  Even  the  R.H.S. 
Comrahtees  eo  stitute  a  big  gaiheriiig  of  various  gardeners,  amateur 
and  professional,  and  of  course  their  duties  call  them  to  the  Temple  on 
the  first  tlay.  Very  few  of  the-e  are  seen  the  next  day'.  Again,  exhi¬ 
bitors  and  their  assistants  constitute  a  great  body  of  gardeners,  and  they 
are  always  strongly  in  evidence  on  the  first  day. 
No  wonder,  then,  that  Wednesday  is  the  favourite  day  with  gardener 
visitors,  an  1  they  can  be  met  with  by  hundreds  then.  That  the  Temp’e 
Show  is  thf  refore  the  greatest  social  gathering  of  gardeneis  for  the  year 
found  in  the  kingdom  there  can  be  no  doubt.  But  whilst  it  may  be 
thought  desirable  to  utilise  to  some  practical  purpose  this  big  gathering, 
everyone  familiar  wi  h  the  labour  involved  in  the  show  work,  and  in  the 
time  absorbed  by  purely  friendly  greetings,  men  well  known  to  each  other 
meeting  hut  perhaps  once  a  year  in  this  way,  knows  that  any  organised 
gathering  of  the  clans  is  out  of  the  question.  Without  doubt  so  far  as 
attendances  can  be  secured  the  Chiswick  and  Crystal  Pah  ce  gatherings 
oiler  the  best  opportunities  for  organised  gardeners’  meeting,-. 
Ventilating  Flower  Show  Tents. 
The  altogether  unlooked-for  heat  which  greeted  the  Temple  Show 
seemed  to  illustrate  in  a  manner  all  too  effective  the  apparent  incapacity 
of  tent  makers  to  produce  any  real  approach  to  proper  ventilation  ;  on  all 
the  three  days  the  tents  became  stitlingly  hot.  the  temperature  being,  for 
the  good  of  the  exhibits  and  comfort  of  the  cro-vds  of  visitors,  about  20“ 
too  liigh.  Certainly,  there  were  times  when  the  temperature  must  have 
ranged  from  80’  to  90°.  No  wonder  if  those  who  had  once  run  the 
gauntlet  of  the  three  long  tents  (from  wh'ch,  once  in,  there  is  no  escape 
till  the  other  end  is  reached)  refused  to  return  via  the  same  way.  No 
wonder,  also,  that  cut  flowers  collapsed  suddenly  and  distressingly.  Such 
things  as  Roses,  Poppies,  Pmonies,  Violas,  and  many  others,  were  ruir  ed 
in  a  few  hours.  No  one  seemed  to  have  made  any'  arrangements  for  a 
supply  of  fresh  flowers  the  next  morning. 
