iS 7 <> 



CALENDAR. 



145 



of the development of its peculiar character. Regard should also be had to 

 the contrasting of tints of foliage, without which some of the finest effects were 

 liable to be marred. 



A paper was also read from Mr Burns, The Gardens, Thingwall Hall, 

 Birkenhead, on the "Acclimatisation of Plants." He defined this as the 

 "bringing of plants from other countries, and endeavouring to naturalise or 

 habituate them to our changeable and ever- varying weather," and describes 

 some of the effects produced by light, heat, moisture, and elevation — contrast- 

 ing the climatic conditions of this country with those of other regions, illus- 

 trating his remarks by giving accounts of experiments made by himself and 

 others on the subject. The paper, which was full of instructive facts and 

 suggestions, called forth a long and very interesting discussion, the speakers 

 for the most part stating as their opinion that it was impossible to acclima- 

 tise or habituate a plant to a greater amount either of cold or heat than that 

 for which it was naturally constituted. 



Among the articles sent for exhibition were a number of plants of a new 

 strain of Beet from Mr John Clark, The Gardens , Dysart House. These were 

 very much admired, some of them being beautifully variegated, and others of 

 the most brilliant crimson, quite equal in effect to the finest Dracamas. They 

 had been in the greenhouse all winter ; but if, as was stated, they are equally 

 brilliant in summer in the open air, they will soon become popular as bedding- 

 plants. It was announced that the Council had awarded them a first-class 

 certificate. Mr Macmillan, Broadmeadows, Berwick, sent collections of 

 Zonale Geranium and Chrysanthemum blooms ; and Mr Buchanan, Penicuik 

 House, had three branches of Clerodendron Balfouriana, with unusually large 

 bunches of flowers, in full perfection. These, he stated, were taken from a 

 plant growing in the border of an intermediate house, which had at present 

 something like forty flowers of a similar size. 



The Secretary intimated that five plans of kitchen-gardens and greenhouses 

 had been sent iu for competition for prizes offered by the Association to young 

 Gardeners, and that the judges, after careful examination, had made the 

 following awards: — 1st, Mr Charles Warrick; 2d, Mr Webster — both of 

 Dalkeith Gardens ; and equal 3d to Mr Richard Parker, Hatton Hall, Guis- 

 boro', Yorkshire ; Mr William Taylor, 17 Frederick Street, Edinburgh ; and 

 Mr W. H. Divers, Messrs Veitch's Nursery, London. These plans will be ex- 

 hibited to the Association at its next meeting. 



Reports on the weather at Broadmeadows and Dalkeith were submitted, 

 from which it appeared that at both places the frost was most intense on the 

 evening of the 14th December, the thermometer registering at the former 35°, 

 and at the latter 22°. 



©aUn&ar* 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



We have read more than once that it 

 is a sure sign of a lazy gardener hav- 

 ing the direction of a garden which is 

 not in a high state of culture at this 

 season — the ground turned up to frost 

 and air, and every part of the ground 

 as forward as spade, hoe, or rake can 

 make it. However, we would be in- 

 clined to demur to such an accusation 

 being laid to any gardener this season, 

 even with a superabundance of labour- 

 power (very few have enough of this 

 commodity). In all the gardens we have 

 seen this season there has been no op- 

 portunity of advancing work. First 

 there was the wet weather, when well- 



managed gardens were nearly destitute 

 of vacant ground, being filled through- 

 out with useful crops. Then came the 

 frost, which kept the soil icebound for 

 about nine weeks. The wet (middle 

 of February) leaves every portion of 

 ground soaked, so that it would be 

 foolhardy to set a foot on the soil ; and 

 when it becomes dry enough for man- 

 ipulation, the first work will be to clear 

 off dead and decaying Broccoli, trim 

 the rag-looking leaves from Brussels 

 Sprouts, clear off all manner of litter 

 and eye-offending material ; so that if 

 one is to be ready to take advantage of 

 " March dust," garden labour must be 



