474 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



out. A similar discovery had previously been made as to the cause of 

 the Grape disease, and Science has thus saved to France the silk crop and the 

 Grape crop, and shown the way to, their future safety. But even greater results 

 than these may be expected from these investigations. The cholera and the 

 scarlet fever are probably both due to minute organisms which float in air or 

 water, and being received into the body, develop and propagate there. The germ 

 theory of life is leading us to so complete a knowledge of epidemic diseases, that 

 Professor Huxley is able to say that so far as scarlet fever is concerned, "the 

 facts which I have placed before you must leave the least sanguine without a 

 doubt that the causes of this scourge will one day be as well understood as those 

 of Pdbrine are now, and that the long-suffered massacre of our innocents will 

 come to an end." It is thus that science and civilisation go hand in hand to- 

 gether. We study Nature to subdue her, stoop to humble observation of her 

 ways that we may conquer her ; and Science, which is only knowledge of her 

 laws, makes us free of her kingdom.— Daily News. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



Dundee Horticultural Society, September 1. — This Society held its annual 

 meeting on this date in the Baxter Park, with results most gratifying to all con- 

 nected or interested in its success. The show was contained in three tents, 

 situated near the entrance gate from the town, the large marquee being 

 allotted to pot-plants, and the two lesser ones afforded accommodation for cut 

 flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Immediately in front of the large tent, and between 

 the two smaller ones, a space was enclosed and tastefully furnished with dwarf 

 Firs and evergreen shrubs. On no former occasion has there been such a display 

 of really fine pot-plants, and one can only attribute this success to the prizes 

 offered for groups, for which four separate prizes were given. 



Conspicuous among the groups of from twenty to twenty-five plants shown by 

 gardeners was that furnished by Mr Heath, Clement Park Gardens, who was 

 first with a well-assorted lot. In the nurserymen's group of thirty stove and 

 greenhouse plants, Mr James Cocker, Aberdeen, was first ; Messrs Stewart & 

 Sons, Dundee, second ; and Messrs Laird & Sinclair, Dundee, third. Other 

 groups of less numbers were good, and the prizes well contested. Cut flowers 

 made a good display, notwithstanding the dry summer. Dahlias were numerous, 

 and some really excellent. Mr M'Pherson, Aberdeen, took first prize in the 

 nurserymen's class for a stand of eighteen blooms, and Mr Cocker was second. 

 Hollyhocks were comparatively poor, both in spikes and cut flowers. Gladioli, 

 as is usual here, were excellent, especially those staged by Mr M'Pherson. Poses 

 formed a good array, the blooms nice indeed for this season of the year. Coleuses 

 were numerously shown, and, we are inclined to think, shown to disadvantage. 

 They stood above the reach of the eye, and too near the canvas for effect. On the 

 whole, they formed a gloomy feature in the show. The Fuchsias were creditable 

 to the exhibition, as also to the growers. Pelargoniums were shown in abundance 

 and in excellent blossom ; Mr George Philip, Huntly Castle Gardens, carrying 

 the palm with four splendid doubles ; tricolor and bronze-leaved kinds were also 

 superb. We have seen the Ferns in greater strength here, but any deficiency in 

 numbers was amply compensated for by their fine quality. A plant of Lilium 

 auratum was of remarkable excellence. This plant came from Mr James Fergus- 



