NEW SCENTED CARNATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1928, Page 3

NEW SCENTED CARNATIONS

MAGNIFICENT BLOOMS. . ' LONDON, May 14. Tho British Carnation Society’s spring show, which opened yesterday for two days in tho Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square, S.W., surpassed in- quality any previous display of this popular flower. The show was notable especially for two outstanding new carnations. Keen competition in tlie scented class saw the “Daily Mail” gold challenge cup for the best new fragrant variety pass to another grower, and in the genera! exhibits the finest apricot carnation yet raised won for Messrs. Allwood the only award of merit given at the show.

Eleven new carnations of all colours were entered for the “ Daily Mail ” cup. These the five judges spent the whole morning inspecting from every point of view, but chiefly scent. Finally they gave the cup. which was won for tlio first time last year by Mr A. F. Dutton, of Iver, Rirmingliamsliirc, with the crimson variety, Mrs A. J. Cobb, to Mr Walter fleams, of Stourton Nursery, Hanworth, Middlesex, tor a light shell pink variety named Mavis. THE OLD CLOVE AROMA. The scent of Mavis has as its basis the old clove aroma, but with an added sweetness difficult to define. Tlio scale of points" on which it was judged allowed a maximum of 60 out of the 100 points for perfume. Mr Hemus, who was one of the pioneers of carnation growing in this country, said to a “Daily Mail” re-

porter : “My wife and t are delighted to have won your cup. AVe did not- expect it. Mavis is about three years old from the seedling, and all the time we have been growing it we have considered it an exceptionally fragrant variety.” Tlio secretary of tlie society, Mr P. F. Bunyard, said: “The cup is doing what the “ Daily Mail ” hoped it would do. It is making the grower give attention to scent.”

The judges were tlic same as officiated last year, with the exception that Mr Dudley C. Page, a carnation specialist, of Hampton, Middlesex, acted in place of the late Mr 11. 1. Mason, whose death took place a few days ago. LADY SEA FORTH’S ENTRY.

One of the competitors for the cup was Lady Senforth, who showed a magnificent white carnation raised by herself and hearing her name. Tfie blooms were 4in. across and highly fragrant, but ns they had been in the hall since Monday they were not seen at their best. This carnation is to be entered again in competition for tlio cup.