232 



JOtrRNAIi OF HOBTICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ September 22, 1863. 



of tlie troad walk leading down to the water is a bed in the 

 form of the clover leaf These were planted alike, the centre 

 being a mass of Cineraria maritima, with Piui^le King Ver- 

 bena round it, then Lord Eaglan Verbena, with a broad 

 edging of Variegated Alyssum or Koniga vaiiegata. Lower 

 down is another pair of large circular beds, these were 

 planted with a centi-e and four arms, reaching to the edges, 

 of Alma variegated Geranium. The angles formed by these 

 arms were iiUed fh'st with Lord Eaglan Verbena, next 

 Purple King, and the hoUow cones thus formed were filled 

 with Variegated Mint kept very dwai-f. Next, to the left, 

 were four cones, with the hooked points meeting at the 

 centi-e, which is a small cii-cular bed of Ageratiim and Ceras- 

 tium. The fii'st of these beds consisted of Calceolaria Anrea 

 floribunda, with an edging composed of alternate plants of 

 Lobelia speciosa, and Koniga variegata, with which the 

 whole four were edged, only No. 2 was planted with Lord 

 Eaglan Verbena ; No. 3 with Calceolai-ia amplexicardis ; and 

 No. 4 with Defiance Verbena ; each cone being about 

 12 feet by 6. A little away from these was a group of eight 

 triangular and two small circulaa- beds. These were ar- 

 ranged in the form of two squares, thei-e being fom- triangles 

 and a smaU cii'Cular bed in the middle of each square. They 

 were balanced evenly, two beds being of Mangles' Variegated 

 Geranium, edged with blue Lobelia ; two of Brilliant Gera- 

 nium, with a like edging ; two of Tom Thumb ; and two of 

 Trentham Eose Geranium, aU edged with Variegated Mint. 

 The two circles were Ageratum mexicanum and Variegated 

 Alyssum. Prom these you pass to a squai-e group of four 

 acutely-pointed, triangular beds, like the others centered 

 with a small cii'Ciilar bed, this being filled with a kind of 

 single-flowered Tropajolum of a deep orange colotir, edged 

 with Cerastium tomentosum. The triangles were masses of 

 Lord Eaglan and General Simpson Verbena filling two beds. 

 The other two were Calceolaria amplexicaulis. This kind 

 retains a freshness which other Calceolarias seem to lose at 

 times. 



Passing on a little further you come to a large stai- planted 

 in the centre with Flower of the Day and Alma Geranium. 

 The eight radii ua-e planted thus — ^the opposite ones being 

 balanced — viz., two with BriUiant Variegated Geranium, 

 two with Tom Thumb, two with Trentham Eose, and two 

 with Christine Geranium. 



Still further on were a series of scroll beds, all planted alike 

 — ^that is, along the centre of each bed were alternate plants 

 of Calceolaria amplexicaulis, Ageratum, and PeriUa, and on 

 each side of these a row of Tom Thiunb Geranium bounded 

 by a broad edging of blue Lobelia, and Variegated Alyssum, 

 planted alternately, which style of mixing the plants has 

 been freely adopted here, and as regards the eft'ect pro- 

 duced with success, and certainly the scroll pattern and the 

 arrangement of the colours elicited many remarks of ap- 

 probation. 



About this scroU pattern were scattered several small 

 circular beds, filled with Geraniums of various coloiu-s, and 

 all edged with Cerastium. Beyond these were a chimp of 

 Ehododendrons ; and some shi-ubs and trees of dwarf habit, 

 which tenaiaated the flower garden in that direction, ex- 

 cepting that over the water were some vases filled with 

 Scarlet Geraniums, fixed as it were on an unfinished bridge. 



Going back to the broad walk leading down to the water, 

 and passing from the beds that matched those afready de- 

 scribed, we come to a scries of beds formed similar to the 

 pine pattern of ladies' shawls. These are foiu: in number, 

 and raised above the level of the grass about 2 feet. The 

 first is Gazania splendens, in opposition to one of Calceo- 

 laria Aiu'ea floribunda, and one of a deep yellow Tropffiolum, 

 opposed to one of Calceolaria Prince of Orange. These fom- 

 beds are centered with a circle filled with Ageratum, edged 

 with Variegated Mint. To the left is a raised circular bed of 

 Brilliant Geranium, edged with three rows of Cerastium, 

 and to the right a cross, in the centre of which is a mass of 

 Sultan Calceolaria, the four parts being Pink Nosegay Gera- 

 nium, Purple King Verbena, and Golden Chain Geranium. 

 A little way from this is a long border about 5 feet wide, 

 planted in patches consisting of Golden Chain, Flower of 

 the Day, and Alma Geraniums, alternating with Blue 

 Bonnet and Lord Eaglan Verbena, Variegated Alyssum, 

 and Lobelia spceiosa; the whole making up a display 

 which if not gi'and excited a feeling of gratification, and left 



little to be wished for. It vrill be seen that the materials 

 were few, and the colours far from being numerous ; but I 

 doubt if the eft'ect would have been so good had a greater 

 variety of subjects been used in the planting. 



On each side of the upper ten-ace is a row of vases filled 

 with Scarlet Greraniums, which, as any one may be sure, 

 make a gi'eat improvement. Looking at tliis garden across 

 the water, with tlie mansion, the adjoining chapel, and the 

 rising ground on each side of it surmounted by thick woods 

 for a background, it presented about as good a, scene as 

 could well be desired, and certainly the best that could be 

 foi-med of the jjlace. On the right is a jjinetum, beyond this 

 a park, and where the absence of trees allows the view to 

 extend some distance, is a village spfre peeping thi-ough the 

 trees, and cattle browsing on the hills to the left. — F. Chittt. 



EDINBUEGH HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



The autumn Exhibition of flowers and fruit in connection 

 with this Society was held on September 10th in the Music 

 Hall, George Street. Taken as a whole, it was the most 

 successful autumn meeting which has ever taken place 

 under the axispices of the Edinburgh Horticultural Society; 

 while there can be no doubt whatever as to its great supe- 

 riority in fruit over any exhibition which has ever taken 

 place in Edinburgh before. The quantity of fruit was far 

 greater than the most sanguine could have expected; and 

 the quality of the greater part of it, more particulaily the 

 Grapes, was vei-y superior — so much so, that many who had 

 seen the London shows were agreed that the Grapes brought 

 toi-ward on this occasion were in all respects better than 

 those which have appeared at the shows of the southern 

 capital. 



While every dish of Grapes was excellent, the first-prize 

 Muscats from Mr. Denholm, gardener to the Diike of 

 Eoxburghe, were wonderful examples cf good culture. The 

 size of both bunch and berry was enormous, and they were 

 ripened and coloiu-ed to the very highest pitch of amber 

 coloiu' slightly mottled with russety spots — a degree of 

 perfection most diflicult to work up to. Those from Mr. 

 McDonald, Cupar, Fife, wliich took the second prize, though 

 not so lai-ge as the former and others in the Hall, were also 

 beautihiUy ripened. Not less remarkable as examples of 

 skilful Grape-gTOwing were the Black Hamburghs with 

 which Ml'. Fowler, gardener to the Earl of Staii-, Castle 

 Kennedy, took the fii-st prize. One of the bunches weighed 

 5 lbs. Mr. McDonald was second in this Class also with 

 smaller but very well-finished bunches. For the best bunches 

 of two sorts Mr. Fowler was deservedly placed fii-st with a 

 bivnch of Snow's Muscat Hambiu'gh weighing 3 lbs. 10 ozs., 

 and a bunch of Trebbiano 4 lbs. 12 ozs. Mr. Laing, Pit- 

 cairlie, Fife, made an excellent second in this class. 



A most interesting collection of Grapes were sent for 

 exhibition by Mr. Fowler, Castle Kennedy, consisting of mag- 

 nificent bunches of Snow's Muscat Hamburgh, one bunch 

 of which was nearly 4 lbs., beautifully coloured, and large 

 and equal in berry ; Barbarossa, 5 lbs. 13 ozs. : Golden 

 Hambiu-gh, 3 lbs. 9 ozs. ; Muscat, 4 lbs. 2 ozs. ; White Nice, 

 4 lbs. 12 ozs. ; and one or two more varieties equally fine. 

 One variety, named Black Gibraltar, excited a deal of interest 

 on account of the compactness of the bunch and the im- 

 mense oval-shaped bei-ries of a brownish-black colour. Mr. 

 Fowler stated that this is a most valuable sort for long- 

 keeping, and that it acquires a very fine flavour throughout 

 the winter months. Even at the present time the flavour 

 is vei-y good, with a finn crackling flesh. There can be no 

 doubt at all that this is a Grape weU worthy of more exten- 

 sive cidtivation. The bunch exhibited weighed 3 lbs. 12 ozs. 

 Wilde these are referred to as the most striking examples 

 of good management, there was scarcely an indiii'erent bunch 

 of Grapes placed upon the tables, and the Judges had con- 

 siderable difficulty in arriving at some of their decisions. 

 There is one point in wliich the Edinburgh exliibitors are 

 sadly deficient as compared ■with those of London, and that 

 is in the matter of conveying their Grapes to the shows, 

 and in many instances the bloom of the Grapes is almost 

 entu-ely rubbed ofi' in the carriage. 



The prize offered by the proprietors of this Jom-nal for 

 the best collection of fruit was contested for with great 



