192 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  7,  1901. 
Rose  Show  Fixtures  in  1901. 
June  12th  (Wednesday). — Yorkt. 
„  26th  (Wednesday).  — Richmond  (Surrey),  N.R.S. 
„  29th  (Saturday). — Canterbury  and  Windsor. 
July  2nd  (Tuesday). — Drill  Hall  (R.H.S.)  and  Southampton*. 
„  3rd  (Wednesday). — Hanley*. 
,,  4th  (Thursday). — Temple  Gardens  (N.R.S). 
„  9th  (Tuesday). — Gloucester,  Harrow,  and  Woverhamptonf. 
„  10th  (Wednesday). — Worthing. 
„  11th  (Thursday). — Bath,  Brentwood,  Eltham,  Helensburgh,  and 
Woodbridge. 
„  17th  (Wednesday). — Ulverston  (N.R.S.)  and  Cardiff*. 
„  18th  (Thursday). — Halifax. 
„  20th  (Saturday). — Newton  Mearns. 
„  23rd  (Tuesday). — Tibshelf. 
*  Shows  lasting  two  days.  +  Shows  lasting  three  days. 
The  above  are  the  only  fixtures  definitely  arranged  that  have  as  yet 
reached  me.  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  the  dates  of  other  Rose  shows 
(or  horticultural  exhibitions  where  Roses  form  a  leading  feature)  for 
insertion  in  future  lists. — Edw.  Mawley,  Hosebank,  Berkhamsted, 
Herts. 
National  Rose  Society. 
The.  circular  which  has  been  addressed  to  all  its  members 
acquaints  them  with  the  fact  that  a  great  change  has  taken  place 
with  regard  to  the  metropolitan  exhibitions  of  the  society.  It  has 
been  determined  to  break  away  from  the  Crystal  Palace  and  to  hold 
the  exhibition  in  the  gardens  of  the  Inner  Temple,  which  has  been 
kindly  lent  to  them  by  the  Benchers,  and  I  am  frequently  asked,  What 
do  you  think  of  the  change  ?  Several  letters  which  I  have  received 
are  strongly  adverse  to  it,  and  prophesying  in  no  friendly  tone  that  it 
will  lead  to  the  “  upsetting  of  the  coach,”  and  therefore  I  think  it  may 
be  as  well  to  let  the  readers  of  the  Journal  know  the  reasons  which 
have  led  to  this  change.  I  think  all  who  know  the  dependant 
position  in  which  we  stood  with  regard  to  the  Crystal  Palace  Company 
will  not  be  surprised. 
The  Palace  in  one  respect  was  of  course  an  ideal  place,  and  made 
the  society  independent  of  weather,  which  in  our  fickle  climate  is  a 
great  advantage,  but  then  it  had  many  disadvantages ;  we  occupied 
quite  a  secondary  place,  and  were  liable  to  be  interfered  with  by 
anything  which  the  directors  thought  would  be  to  the  advantage  ot 
the  Crystal  Palace,  no  matter  how  it  affected  the  Rose  Show. 
Thus  we  used  some  years  ago  to  be  interfered  with  by  the  German 
Gymnastic  Society,  which  used  to  hold  its  annual  iete  on  the  same 
day,  and  its  apparatus  filled  up  the  whole  of  the  nave.  Then 
when  the  Shah  visited  the  show  we  were  bundled  out  of  the  Palace 
altogether,  and  had  to  hold  it  in  a  crowded  tent  at  the  north  end  of 
the  building. 
Then  at  another  time  there  was  a  carriage  exhibition,  which 
occupied  the  space  usually  allotted  to  us,  and  we  were  driven  into  the 
concert  room,  where  bad  light  and  narrow  space  put  many  of  our 
exhibitors  very  much  out  of  temper,  their  equanimity  having  been 
already  very  considerably  disturbed  by  having,  when  they  got  to 
London,  to  transfer  their  boxes  to  cabs  and  other  vehicles  to  enable 
them  to  reach  the  Palace  in  time.  The  time  allowed,  too,  for  them  was 
very  short;  and  although  the  officials  were  always  courteous  and 
kind,  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  get  all  arranged  in  time  for  the  judges  ; 
and  when  exhibitors  had  not  merely  to  set  up  their  stand  of  exhibition 
flowers,  but  also  the  decorative  classes,  it  is  no  wonder  that  that 
sweetness  of  temper,  which  of  course  belongs  to  all  connected  with  the 
Rose,  was  somewhat  ruffled. 
But,  again,  the  Crystal  Palace  Company  is  not  in  the  condition 
that  it  was.  The  society  last  year  had  considerable  difficulty  in 
obtaining  the  subsidy  which  it  had  received  for  many  years,  and  it 
could  get  no  positive  assurance  with  regard  to  the  exhibition  of  1901. 
We  could  not  get  beyond  hopes  and  vague  promises,  and  it  was 
ominous  that  at  the  same  time  it  was  announced  that  they  had 
diminished  by  one-half  their  contributions  to  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  for  their  grand  exhibition  of  hardy  fruits  held  in  the  autumn. 
People  sometimes  imagine  it  must  be  an  easy  thing  to  obtain  a  place 
to  hold  a  Rose  show  in  London  ;  that  is  not  the  case.  Earl’s  Court, 
the  Royal  Botanic  Society’s  Gardens,  and  the  Alexandra  Palace  were 
all  tried  ;  but  obstacles  arose  on  every  side,  and  none  of  these  places 
seemed  to  be  available. 
It  was  then  that  the  Benchers  of  the  Inner  Temple  were 
approached.  We  all  know  what  great  success  has  always  attended 
the  exhibition  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  known  as  the 
Temple  Show  ;  how  it  has  attracted  exhibitors  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  and  what  a  great  financial  success  it  has  been.  Of  course 
the  cases  are  not  quite  similar.  Our  exhibition  only  lasts  for  the  one 
day  instead  of  four,  and  while  the  Temple  Show  having  attractions  for 
lovers  of  all  kinds  of  plants  and  flowers,  the  Rose  appeals  to  a  smaller 
circle  of  admirers,  and  what,  some  say,  are  you  to  do  if  the  day  proves 
a  wet  one  ?  Well,  we  must  only  face  the  contingency,  and  do  the 
best  we  can.  And  there  is  one  outcome  of  all  this,  and  that  is  that  it 
lays  all  our  members  under  the  obligation  to  strive  and  put  forth  their 
best  efforts  to  insure  the  society  against  loss,  by  speaking  about  it 
amongst  their  friends  so  as  to  insure  a  good  attendance. 
It  is  announced  that  Her  Majesty  Queen  Alexandra  has  consented 
to  continue  as  patroness  of  the  society  ;  if  she  could  only  be  induced 
to  visit  the  exhibition,  its  success  would  be  secured  beyond 
doubt. 
A  guarantee  fund  has  been  started,  which  now  amounts  to  nearly 
£300,  and  forms  a  solid  background  ;  and  it  is  only  to  be  hoped  that 
the  exhibition  will  be  such  a  success  that  the  guarantors  may  not  be 
called  upon  for  any  portion  of  their  contributions.  The  Rev.  William 
Wilks,  the  secretary  of  the  R.H.S.,  and  a  councilman  are  affording  most 
valuable  assistance ;  and  the  society  will  have  the  experienced  aid  of 
Mr.  Wright,  the  Chiswick  superintendent,  to  manage  the  exhibition 
part.  To  exhibitors  and  visitors  alike  it  will  be  a  great  boon,  while 
the  fact  that  it  will  be  held  on  a  Thursday  instead  of  a  Saturday, 
will  be  appreciated  by  all  those  whose  engagements,  as  clergymen  in 
the  rural  districts,  have  been  deprived  of  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  in 
the  exhibition  by  obliging  them  to  hurry  home  for  their  duties  on  the 
following  day. — D.,  Deal. 
Climbing  Roses. 
Roses  adapt  themselves  to  many  modes  of  culture  when  the  proper 
sorts  for  each  phase  be  selected,  and  perhaps  no  Roses  give  a  greater 
amount  of  pleasure  than  do  climbers.  Many  readers  can  call  to  mind 
some  wonderful  specimens  of  such  varieties  as  Gloire  de  Dijon,  William 
Allan  Richardson,  or  perhaps  that  queen  of  all,  Maiechal  Niel,  rambling 
up  the  side  of  a  house  and  giving  hundreds  of  blossoms,  at  least  in  the 
case  of  the  two  first  named,  the  greater  part  of  the  summer.  And 
what  is  more  showy  than  Crimson  Rambler  when  in  a  position  that 
suits  it  ? 
Some  few  Roses  are  seen  in  perfection  but  rarely,  and  the  writer 
can  remember  a  magnificent  tree  of  Fortune’s  Yellow  that  covered 
many  square  yards  of  space  and  blossomed  most  beautifully,  yet  it  is 
a  variety  that  should  have  an  extra  warm  situation ;  so  in  fact  must 
Marechal  Niel,  and  for  south  walls  these  may  be  employed.  So  may 
Lamarque,  white  faintly  tinted  yellow,  and  flowering  in  clusters.  The 
pretty  Bauksians,  white  and  yellow,  require  a  warm  position,  and 
should  be  little  pruned. 
A  southern  aspect  is  too  hot  for  Crimson  Rambler,  and  Wm.  Allan 
Richardson  must  not  be  selected  for  this  position  because  the  sun  has 
too  much  power,  and  usually  bleaches  the  bloomB  as  to  take  away  that 
apricot  tint  so  much  admired  in  this  variety.  Gloire  de  Dijon  and 
Madame  Berard,  a  rather  better  form,  and  a  seedling  from  it,  are  grand 
climbing  Roses  for  any  position;  so  is  Bouquet  d’Or,  this  also  a 
seedling  from  the  first  named.  Cheshunt  Hybrid  and  Reine  Marie 
Henriette  are  excellent  for  producing  red  flowers.  Celine  Forestier,  a 
light  yellow,  is  a  splendid  wall  Rose.  Aimee  Yibert  is  a  white 
variety,  which  produces  clusters  of  bloom.  It  is  a  good  hardy 
climber. 
There  are  also  quite  a  host  of  well-known  varieties  reputed  to  be 
distinct  from  the  types  in  the  matter  of  “  climbing,”  such  as  climbing 
Captain  Christy,  Devoniensis,  Ivaiserln  Augusta  Victoria,  La  France, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Perle  des  Jardins,  and  others.  But  they  are  not 
satisfactory  to  us  in  their  freedom  to  bloom.  Reine  Olga  de  Wurtem- 
berg  bears  vivid  red  blooms,  and  is  a  good  climber.  Very  hardy  sorts 
that  will  do  in  any  aspect  are : — Ayrshire  (red),  evergreen  ;  Dundee 
Rambler,  white  and  pink;  Felicite  Perpetue,  white;  Longworth 
Rambler,  crimson  ;  Reve  d’Or,  buff.  A  new  Rose  is  Psyche,  that  is 
likely  to  make  a  capital  climber.  In  most  respects  it  is  like  Crimson 
Rambler,  but  bears  huge  trusses  of  pink  and  yellow  blossoms.  Aglaia 
is  a  good  type  of  hardy  climbing  Rose.  This  has  big  trusses  of  yellow 
flowers,  each  bloom  tiny  in  itself,  but  very  effective.  A  seedling  from 
it  is  Thalia.  The  flowers  are  pure  white,  and  it  is  equally  charming 
is  a  climber. — H.  S. 
A  Cactus  Curiosity. — We  have  heard  of  toads  having  been 
entombed  in  coal  measures  and  in  solid  seams  of  stone  for  hnndreds 
of  years,  and  have  yet  lived  on  being  brought  to  light,  and  now  we  are 
told  that  in  the  Botanical  Garden,  Berlin,  there  is  said  to  be  a  Cactus 
which  has  been  growing  in  a  hermetically  sealed  glass  for  seven  years. 
It  is  supposed  that  fungi  in  the  soil  germinate,  and  in  dying  supply 
the  Cactus  with  carbonic  acid.  Water  may  also  come  from  the 
decomposition  of  cellulose. 
