358 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. f November 12, 1868. 



them very remarkable for size and beanty. At the end of the room 

 faomg the entrance, Mr. F. Waltz, of Walthamstow, exhibited a col- 

 lection of neatly arranged bouquets of dried flowers ; at the other, Mr. 

 Smith, florist, Kingslaud Eoad, a number of bouquets and a pyramid 

 of fruits surmounted by a Pine Apple ; whilst in the centre Mr. (icorge, 

 gardener to Miss Nicholson, Stamford Hill, had a tastefully arranged 

 table decoration, for which he received a first prize. Prizes were also 

 awarded to several of the other exhibitions just refeiTed to. 



For six plants of Chrysanthemums Mr. Forsyth was first with bean- 

 tifally grown and flowered specimens of Christine, Golden Christine 

 Annie Salter, Pnnce of Wales, Dr. Sharpe, rich crimson, and Mrs 

 George Rundle, pure white. Mr. Drain, De Beauvoir Town, who was 

 second, had very good specimens of Beverley, Prince Albert, Mrs G 

 Enndle, Dr. Sharjie, and Prince of Wales. With three plants the 

 same exhibitors occupied the same relative positions; Mr Forsyth 

 being first with Dr. Sharpe, Mrs. G. Eundle, and Golden Christine, 



?.",, ;,°''';'° '"^™'"' '■"' ^"°<='' Albert, Golden Christine, and 

 Golden Beverley. 



In the class for six Pompons Mr. Butcher, who took the first prize, 

 had the Golden. Lilac, White, and Brown forms of Cedo Nnlli in fine 

 comiition, and the richly coloured Sainte Thais. Mr. Forsyth, to 

 whom the second prize was awarded, had fine examples of Aurore 

 Borcale and the different forms of Cedo Nnlli, but his had not all 

 come into full bloom. For three, Mr. Drain was first, Mr. Butcher 

 second. Standard Pompons were very fine, especially those from Mr 

 Beattic, gardener to J. Watson, Esq., Stamford Hill, who had plants 

 with flattish heads about 28 inches in diameter, and masses of bloom. 

 The most noticeable were Cedo Nulli, Brown Cedo Nnlli, Golden 

 Cedo NuUi, Duruflet, and Calliope, the last very showy, being of a 

 ruby colour. Mr. Forsyth was second with some of the above, and 

 Lilac Cedo Nulli very fine ; and Mr. Howe, Shacklewell, third, with 

 White Trevenua, Antouius, yellow Anemone-flowered, and others also 

 very good. 



Collections of large-flowering and Pompon varieties were also exhi- 

 bited in an extra class by Mr. James, Mr. Forsvth, and Mr. Butcher, 

 to each of whom prizes were awarded, also by Mr. Goodenongh, who 

 took a special prize offered by Mr. Crute. Among these were finelv- 

 bloomed plants of Bronze .Jardin des Plants, Lady Harding, Mrs. G. 

 Enndle, Priueo of Wales, Dr. Sharpe, and the splendid white large 

 Anemone-flowered Lady Margaret, also Bob and several other Pompons. 

 The number of cut blooms exhibited was, perhaps, scarcely so 

 great as last year, but the quaUty of a large proportion was most 

 satisfactory. 



The best stand of twenty-four came from Mr Ebw, Eotehampton- 

 and consisted of Lady Slade, Mrs. Halliburton, Aime* Ferri.'re, For 

 mosum luteum. Nil Desperaudum, Fomiosum album. Oliver Crom' 

 well, Anrcum multiflornm, Venns, very large ; Yellow Perfection, Ma- 

 rechal Duroc, Princess of Wales, 41 inches in diameter; John Salter, 

 very line ; Lady Harding, (iloria Mnndi, Mrs. Sharpe, White Globe, 

 an immense flower, quite r> inches in diameter-; tju^en of Kngland, 

 also of very large size ; Empress Eugenie ; Prince of Wales and Em- 

 press of India, both magnificent ; Jardin des Plantes, Beanty, and 

 Prince Alfred, quite 4V inches across. Mr. Morgan, of Plvmouth, was 

 second with fine blooms of Empress of India, John Salter, Oliver 

 Cromwell, Prince of Wales, Princess Beatrlc*, Mrs. George Enndle, 

 and several other varieties already named. Mr. Howe was third, and 

 Mr. Slade fourth. Prince and Princess of Wales, Hereward, and 

 several others in these stands were fine. 



The best twelve blooms came from Mr. Morgan, and the second 

 best from Mr. Eow ; Mr. Wheldale, of HoUoway, and Mr. James 

 bemg third and fourth. In Class 9, also for twelve blooms, Mr. Good- 

 enough, Ml. Shield, Mr. Beadle, and Mr. Heard took'prizes in the 

 order named. Among the varieties shown in these classes were good 

 examples of Emjiress of India, John Salter, Prince and Princess of 

 Wales, Prince Alfred, Princess Beatrice, White Globe, &c. For six, 

 Mr. Wheldale was first, Mr. Morgan second, Mr. Heale third, and 

 Mr. Row fourth. In another class for the same number of varieties, 

 the prizes went to Mr. Shield, Blr. Beadle, Mr. Heale, and Mr. Good- 

 finongh. The prizes in the "maiden" classes went to Mr. Beattie, 

 Stamford Hill, and Mr. Baldwin, Kingsland. 



Of Anemone-flowered varieties, both Mr. Row and Mr. Howe exhi- 

 bited beautiful examples, the foi-mer being first and the latter second. 

 Lady Margaret, white, Fleur de Marie, Gluck, Prince of Anemones, 

 and George Sand were especially fine. For thirty-six Anemone- 

 flowered Pompons, Mr. Howe and Mr. Row changed positions, both, 

 -however, having remarkably fine examples of these varieties. 



Mr. Morgan exhibited several seedlings. Mr. Crnte sent tine blooms 

 of Bed Dra^'ou and Daimio, two of the new Japanese varieties, large 

 and extremely showy. The rosy lilac colour of the latter kind is very 

 pleasing. 



GOLD AND BRONZE PELARGONIUMS. 



While I readily admit the desirability of having ronnd flat 

 leaves^ iu bedding Pelargonium?, I ask. Are they altogether 

 such indispensable conditions to render a variety first-class 

 for bedding, as Mr. Cannell would have people suppose ? I say 

 that they are not : for instance, his Ivy-leaved Duke of Edin- 

 burgh is first-class as a bedding plant, ^vhile we all know that 

 it is very far from having a regular outline. Again, hia com- 



parison of Kentish Hero with Perilla is singularly at fault, for 

 no two varieties can possibly be more distinct from each other 

 than these in the most essential particular — namely, color- 

 ation of the leaf, Perilla being a green-leaved variety, and 

 Kentish Hero a bright golden-leaved one, with bright red zones ; 

 and till we obtain a variety as effective as it proves to be, with 

 round flat leaves, I must coincide with the opinion expressed 

 on at least two occasions this season by the judges at Cbiswick, 

 that for effectiveness as a bedder it is the best at present in 

 commerce. — W. B. G. 



PRESENTATION TO MR. DAVID THOMSON, 



OF ARCHERFIELD. 



On Thursday last some of the friends and well-wishers of Mr. David 

 Thomson, head gardener to the Right Hon. E. C. N. Hamilton, 

 Archerfield, embraced the occasion of his leaving bis present situation 

 for the service of the Duke of Buccleuch at Drnmlanrig, to show the 

 high esteem in which he has long been held by them. At one o'clock, 

 a deputation from the subscribers to a very beautiful testimonial 

 assembled in the Dirleton Castle Inn, for the purpose of presenting it 

 iu public to Mr. Thomson. Among those present were Mr. Hope, 

 Feutonbams, and many other eminent agriculturists of East Lothian, 

 and the Rev. Mr. Howieson, Dirleton ; horticulture being represented 

 by Mr. Downie, of Downio & Laird, Edinburgh ; Mr. Mitchell, of 

 Lament A Mitchell, Edinburgh ; Councillor Lewis, Edinburgh ; Mr. 

 Thomson. Dalkeith ; Mr. Lees, Tynninghame Gardens ; Mr. Balden, 

 Niddry House, tfce. 



Mr. Hope, who presided, said the present meeting was a deputation 

 from the nnmerous personal friends and professional admirers of Mr. 

 Thomson, who, before he left this part of the country, desired to pre- 

 sent him with a small but tangible token of their high esteem for big 

 personal character, of their great admiration for his professional and 

 scientific attaiuments, as evidenced in his published works, and of 

 their appreciation of the success he had attained in the highest walks 

 of practical gardening, (.\pplanse). In regard to Mr. Thomson's 

 literary attainments, he (Mr. Hope) believed that the merits of big 

 works had been cordially acknowledged by his professional brethren, 

 while, to amateurs Uke himself, he had found them of the greatest 

 use ; and he had no doubt as they were better known they would bo 

 more and more admired. Their style was invariably terse and clear, 

 while his felicitous choice of words was only equalled by the correct- 

 ness of the principles and the practice which they inculcated. It was 

 now upwards of ten years since Mr. Thomson came to the parish ; and 

 year after year as his friends became better acquainted with him, the 

 more their esteem for him increased. (Applause). In regard to 

 Dirleton Gardens, he (Mr. Hope) recollected when they were regularly 

 cropped with Potatoes and Wheat. A short time before Mr. Thomson 

 came they were laid out in flower beds, but since his magic wand was 

 waved over thera they had become famed over the length and breadth 

 of the land. Mr. Thomson was now giving to take charge of one of the 

 largest, if not the largest, gardens and gi-ouuds in Scotland ; and so 

 far as it might be considered a professional step, it was one of the 

 highest in the kingdom. All his friends rejoiced in this, though they 

 could not but regret the loss they would experience in being deprived 

 of that social intercourse with him which they bad had the hap- 

 piness to enjoy, and still more the ready advice which he always 

 cheerfully bestowed in aiding them to obtain increased luxuries from 

 their gardens. He (Mr. Hope) had no doubt that Mr. Thomson would 

 soon gain for himself new friends as attached as those he now left 

 behind him. He carried with him the best wishes of every one, and 

 in the name of the subscribers to the testimonial, he now begged Mr. 

 Thomson's acceptance of it, and to add that it was their earnest wish 

 that he might long be spared to enjoy health, happiness, and pro- 

 sperity. (Applause). 



The testimonial consisted of a very elegant gold watch and chain, 

 a timepiece, and a silver tea service to Mrs. Thomson. The watch, 

 which was of the most massive character, bore the following inscrip- 

 tion : — " Presented to Mr. D. Thomson on his leaving Archerfield by 

 a large number of friends, as a token of their admiration of his pro- 

 fessional abilities, and esteem for his private virtues, 5th November, 

 1868." 



Mr. Thomson, in acknowledging the gift, said — I feel it to be quite 

 beyond the compass of my power to command words which shall con- 

 vey to you a proper impression of my feelings on this, to me. memor- 

 able occasion. When a person finds himself placed in such a position 

 as mine at the present moment, it is most difficult to avoid putting the 

 question to one's self — Have I iu any way merited or deserved such 

 tokens of esteem and regard, and such a recognition as I am now 

 honoured with, and presented with such a valuable and splendid testi- 

 monial as you have bestowed upon me ? To say to you that I feel 

 quite unworthy of all this is undoubtedly my feeling ; but I will not 

 dwell on that toiiic, seeing that I have been judged otherwise by yoa 

 and those whom you are here to represent. I am one of those who 

 think it an honourable ambition to act so as to eai-n the good will and 

 respect of my fellow men, and Solomon says that " A good name is 

 better than riches, and loving favour better than silver and gold." 

 Since I came amongst you, ten and a half years have rolled over 



