September 23, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



269 



pure and spotless, those of Gros Colman beiiift of splendid size 

 and finish, while the bunch of Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat was 

 probably the most perfect ever exhibited ; it was large, even in 

 berry, and almost jet black to the stalk. Dr. Hogg aud Mr. W. 

 Thomson awarded a Vtitch medal to this extremely meritorious 

 bunch, of which it was eminently worthy. 



The cup offered by Messrs. Boyd & Sons, Paisley, for sis 

 varieties of Grapes, brought forward some extremely fine col- 

 lections. The competition between Mr. Stewart aud Mr. Hunter 

 was very close, quality, however, triumphing over size, and 

 winning the cup for Mr. Stewart. Noticeable in these collections 

 ■was the beautiful finish of Mrs. Pince, Muscat of Alexandria, 

 Black Prince, and Black Hamburgh in the cup collection, and 

 the ponderous bunches of White Tokay, Calabrian Raisin, and 

 fine examples of Alicante and Madresfield Court from Mr. 

 Hunter. For this collection a special prize was awarded. In 

 this class valuable collections were staged by Mr. Bruce, Chorl- 

 ton, Manchester, aud Mr. Greig, Craigend Park. In the collec- 

 tions of four varieties were nine competitore, the winning 

 collection (Mr. Louden's) consisting of Black Hamburgh, Muscat 

 Hamburgh, Black Prince, and Trebbiano of admirable quality, 

 and in all the collections were Grapes of great excellence. 



The baskets of Grapes were not of the same high standard 

 as the other classes, and not equal to those exhibited at the 

 Alexandra Palace Show. The names of the prizewinners were 

 given last week. Neither were the Black Hamburghs, as a 

 class, equal to those which have been exhibited iu the south, 

 although the winners staged produce of high quality and of 

 medium size. The season, however, is late for this variety, 

 which explains the rather poor show. Muscat of Alexandria was 

 exhibited in fine condition, the bunches being generally full 

 and heavy, and the colour all that could be desired. There 

 were eight competitors, the winning bunches (Mr. Johnson's) 

 being perfect examples of .5 to 6 Iba. weight. Muscat Hamburghs 

 were large and full, but, excepting the winners, were not per- 

 fectly coloured. The heaviest woulj weigh about 5 lbs. Madres- 

 field Court was splendidly exhibited from the neighbourhood 

 of Manchester. The best would weigh 5 to G lbs., aud were 

 remarkably well finished. In this class, however, were some 

 moderate bunches. For size, appearance, aud quality this is 

 proving itself one of the best of Grapes for late summer and 

 autumn use. Black Alicante was sta^jed in grand style by 

 eleven competitors ; Mr. Hunter's bunches weighing 6 to 7 lbs., 

 the noble berries being as black as jet. This was the finest 

 class of the exhibition, the whole of the competitors staging 

 worthy specimens. Mr. Curror secured the prize for " bloom " 

 with this variety. In the class for Lady Downes' Seedling 

 thirteen competed. The bunches were generally small, but the 

 berries remarkably fine both in size and perfection of finish. 

 Gros Colman from Mr. Upjohn, Worsley, had noble and well- 

 coloured berries, but the bunches were not large; and Black 

 Prince was exhibited in splendid condition by Mr. Stewart. 

 On the whole, saving the Black Hamburghs, it was the finest 

 and most remarkable exhibition of Grapes, perhaps, ever 

 brought together, and, if we mistake not, the best examples did 

 not come from the districts noted for a low rainfaU — a rather 

 suggestive circumstance. 



The collections of fruit were, next to the Grapes, the most 

 striking feature of the Exhibition. Mr. Johnston's splendid 

 collection comprised excellent Smooth Cayenne and Queen 

 Pines, and equally excellent Black Hamburgh, Royal Vineyard, 

 Black Alicante, and Muscat Grapes. Very fine Conqueror of 

 Europe aud Lord Strathmore Melons ; also Royal George and 

 Walbnrton Admirable Peaches, aud Pitmaston Orange and 

 Murrey Nectarines of superior quality, with good Plums, 

 Apricots, and Figs. In the other two collections the Grapes 

 and Pines were generally very superior, but the small fruits 

 were somewhat deficient in merit. The classes for twelve and 

 eight varieties respectively resulted in sixteen admirable col- 

 lections. In these collections the Melons were very good, and 

 the Peaches excellent; Nectarines, Plums, Apples, and Pears 

 all of superior quality, and Gooseberries remarkably fine. 



Pines were not numerous but very fine. Peaches were great 

 in size, numbers, aud quality, some splendid fruit coming from 

 Ireland (Courtown House). Nectarines, as a class, were not 

 equal to the Peaches, yet the successful dishes were very 

 superior. Of the former. Noblesse and Royal George were the 

 best, and of the latter Pitmaston Orange, Elruge, Victoria, and 

 Violette Hative were the most noticeable. Plums, of which 

 there were upwards of thirty dishes, were uniformly good, but 

 not quite equal to the recent grand display at the Crystal Palace. 

 Green Gage, Transparent Gage, Kirke's, Dove Bauk, Victoria, 

 Diamond, and Pond's Seedling were in excellent condition. 



Apples and Pears were represented by numerous very fine 

 dishes, but these were not equal to the high standard of the 

 Crystal Palace and Alexandra Park Shows. 01 Apples, the 

 heaviest were Lord Suffield, Warner's King, Gloria Mundi, and 

 Ecklinville Seedling; New Hawthornden, Tower of Glamie, 

 Dumelow's Seedling, Cellini, and Peasgood's Nonsuch were 

 also in admirable condition. Amongst dessert kinds, Irish Pea?h, 



Oslin, Cox's Orange Pippin, Red and White Astrachan, Kerry 

 Pippin, Cornish Gilliflower, and Court Pendu Plat were fairly 

 well represented, but they were much inferior to the culinary 

 kinds in point of merit. Of Pears there were some capital 

 dishes, the heaviest being Doyenne Boussoch from Mr. Cairns, 

 Coldstream, and Calebasse Grosse from Mr. Barrie. Mr. Ingram, 

 Alnwick, had the premier prize for Beurro d'Amanlis, Beurru 

 Diel, Josephine de Malines, Marie Louise, Beurrc Leon Leclerc, 

 and Beurru Ranee, of each excellent examples. Melons were 

 generally handsome table fruit of high quality; indeed, it was 

 the best show of Melons of the year. Gooseberries and Currants 

 were remarkably fine and very numerous. 



In the miscellaneous class was a very fine dish of the Parsley- 

 leaved Bramble. Messrs. Stewart & Mein sent a new Melon, 

 Sir Garnet Wolseley, beautifully netted ; Mr. Turner, Sloughy 

 Cox's Orange Pippin Apples aud very fine Doyenne Boussoch 

 and Duchesse d'Augoulrme Pears ; and a very good collection 

 of tropical fruits came from Mr. Leslie of Muuchee, Dalbeattie, 

 comprising fruits of Passiflora quadrangularis, P. macrocarpa, 

 and P. vitifolia beautifully mottled ; Mousiera delioiosa, and 

 Guavas. With the fruit closes that section of the Show which 

 is the most generally interesting — a Show which reflects thff 

 highest possible credit on managers and competitors. 



Of the plants it may be said generally that they were the best 

 ever exhibited iu Edinburgh. They were, considering the late- 

 ness of the season, remarkably fresh aud bright. The stove aud 

 greenhouse plants in the prize collections of Mr. Syme and Mr. 

 Stewart were in admirable condition. The dinner-table Palms 

 from Messrs. Thyue & Co., Glasgow, and Messrs. Methven and 

 Sons were glossy and elegant, and included the first varieties oi: 

 the day; the first-prize jjlants tor table decoration from Mr. 

 Currie, Salisbury Green, were also in excellent order. 



Ferns were exhibited in splendid condition, the Todeasuperbas 

 from Mr. Green, Canoumills Lodge ; Mr. Paul, Gilmore Place ; 

 Mr. Currie, and Mr. Clarke, being especially striking; the fronds 

 were 2 to 3 feet in length, and iu perfect health and colour. 

 Adiantums were admirably exhibited, A. Cardiochlfena being 

 5 to 6 feet in diameter, and plants of A. farleyense were in the 

 first order of health. Heaths were in capital order from Mr. 

 Glass and other cultivators, and a pot of Lilium auratum from 

 Mr. Lothian, Dalrymple Crescent, Grange, attracted much 

 attention ; it was in a 9 inch pot, had seven spikes and over a 

 hundred flowers. 



Conifers of all the most rare aud elegant varieties were ex- 

 hibited by Messrs. Methven & Sons. The Lawson Seed Com- 

 pany had an extensive collection of fine-foliage plants, large 

 and small, new and rare; Messrs. Gordon & Son, Murrayfield, 

 had grand Dicksonias; aud Messrs. J. & R. Thyne noble Palms. 

 Messrs. Veitch & S ns, Chelsea, had a rich and varied collection 

 of the valuable plants for which that celebrated establishment 

 is famed ; and Mr. Williams brought out the gems of the Hollo- 

 way emporium, and when he does that a treat of no ordinary 

 kind is always afforded. 



Florists' flowers were numerous and remarkably fine. Gladioli 

 from Messrs. Robertson & Galloway, Mr. Codling and Mr. 

 Penning, Morpeth, and Mr. Campbell, Mr. Ross, and other ex- 

 hibitors were simply splendid ; and not less striking were the 

 noble Hollyhocks from Mr. Kerr, Chapel ; Mr. Parsons, Beech- 

 wood ; and McFarlane, King's Meadows : at any rate here were 

 no semblance of disease. Dahlias were not superior, the best 

 coming from Messrs. Downie & Laird. Mr. McMillan, Broad- 

 meadows, and Mr. Hugh Mason, Belfast, staged excellent boxes 

 of Roses ; and Messrs. Dickson & Sons, Waterloo Place, Phloxes 

 of great merit. 



Bouquets from Messrs. Drummond Brothers, .52, George 

 Street, and Messrs. Downie & Laird were excellent examples of 

 tasteful arrangement. 



Vegetables were good iu all the classes, the Leeks especially 

 being remarkably fine. Most of the vegetables were fully too 

 large for table purposes, size rather than quality appearing to 

 have been the point aimed at. Cucumbers for Mr. Muuro's 

 prize for the Duke of Edinburgh v.eie of all sizes and of more 

 than one sort. Mr. Stewart, The Glen, was awarded the first 

 prize for an excellent brace of small fruits. Altogether the 

 Exhibition was a great and successful gathering together of 

 garden products, with fewer immoderate examples of culture 

 than is generally seen in displays of the same nature. 



We cannot close this report without once more placing on 

 record the frank hospitality aud generous mnnificeLce of onr 

 Scottish friends. The heartiness of their welcome was singu- 

 larly refreshing; and the energy and earnestness of their efforts, 

 and the bond of sympathy which exists through all ranks, is a 

 Bufiicient assurance that future gatherings will be as successful 

 as has been the memorable Exhibition which we have attempted 

 to describe. 



The banquet in the Douglas Hotel, presided over by Bailie 

 Methven, supported by Mr. Syme, Mr. W. Thomson, and Mr. 

 Mcintosh, was complete and enjoyable. The various speakers 

 — the Messrs. Thomson, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Syme, &c., representing 

 Scotland ; Dr. Moore, Ireland ; Messrs. Veitch, Williams, and 



