Book I. 



GARDENS OF SCOTLAND. 



1089 



Gardens of the Operative Manufacturers of Patslep.-The 

 operatives of Paislev, taking them at large, exhibit a condition 

 of improvement very rarely indeed, if at all to be paralleled 

 among persons in the same rank of life ; and they are particu- 

 larly remarkable in their taste for objects which please the eye 

 by their beautv, for such occupations for amusement as require 

 nice attention, and for various intellectual gratifications. In 

 their dress, in the furnishing of their houses, and in matters of 

 a similar kind, they study a great degree of neatness. Even 

 their pigeons, which thev keep in considerable numbers, are 

 known in the vicinitv to be distinguished for their beauty and 

 variety. Several operatives greatly excel in the management of 

 bees; and communicate to each other their experiments and 

 success. It will perhaps be difficult to find elsew here, in the 

 same classes of the community, an equal proportion of persons 

 who occasionally entertain themselves with making verses. And 

 it is probable, that for miscellaneous information, they are not 

 to be equalled by the operatives in any place. The only oper- 

 atives in this nation, or j>erhaps in any other, who can be com- 

 pared with them for information, are the miners at Lead-hills, 

 who work but six hours a-day, and have with success devoted 

 much of their leisure to the improvement of the mind. But 

 the intellectual attainments of the Paisley operatives must be 

 more various than theirs, and are probably in no department 

 inferior. 



Bv a statement of the private reading societies in Great 

 Britain, which was some years ago exhibited in the newspapers, 

 it appeared that a verv considerable proportion of the whole (it 

 is believed not less at that time than one third) existed in 

 Paislev. How far any of these attachments and habits may- 

 have been promoted by the inspirations of Flora, it may not be 

 easy to determine, but all of them in some measure preceded 

 the epoch of her homage and influence at Paisley. 



It has been remarked by a gentleman of learning and philo- 

 sophical observation in Paisley, the Rev. "William Ferrier, that 

 the attention to flowers which is so conspicuous there, is in a 

 considerable degree an effect of the peculiar manufacturing 

 habits of the people. It is well known, that not only for the 

 execution of the most delicate ornamental muslins, but for the 

 invention of patterns, the operative manufacturers of Paisley 

 stand unrivalled. Their ingenuity is continually in exertion for 

 new and pleasing elegancies, to diversify their fabrics. Now, 

 where such habits obtain, the. rearing of beautiful flowers, 

 which is an object very congenial to them, will easily be adopted, 

 and pursued as a favorite" amusement. On the other hand, it 

 seems highly probable, that the rearing of flowers, by a re- 

 action, must" tend to improve the genius for invention in elegant 

 fancv muslins. 



The florists of Paisley (it is observed by the same gentle- 

 man) have long been remarked for the peacefulness of their 

 dispositions, and the sobriety of their manners. The Florist 

 Club not onlv represses all 'irregularities at its weekly meet- 

 ings, which dismiss at ten in the evening ; but would erase 

 from its lists any disreputable name. It is pleasing to think, 

 that not only the attachment of individuals to the culture of 

 beautiful flowers, but the association of persons possessing this 

 taste, seems to be favorable to social order. 



Origin of the Florists' Society The culture of pinks became 

 an object of attention in Paislev and its vicinitv, between the 

 years 1 7S5 and 1 790. Till then, none but those' of the most or- 

 dinary kinds were known there. But at that period, some 

 seeds j reputed of good quality, were procured from London : the 

 great bulk of these produced plain pinks- In a few instances, 

 however, laced sorts appeared ; which, being new, were greatly- 

 admired. The seeds of these were carefully preserved and 

 cultivated; and many good sorts were procured from them. 

 The florists persevered in cultivating these ; and, at the same 

 tame, did not neglect other kinds brought year after year from 

 London, where they were greatly excelled in varieties. And, 

 by proceeding continually on the simple principle of saving and 

 using the seeds of the finest pinks, the original qualities were 

 not only preserved but improved. For some years past, all im- 

 portation has ceased. On the contrary, plants reared in Paisley 

 nave been sent by order to London, and have been pronounced 

 equal or superior to any in England. 



The spirit for improving pinks, and many other kinds of 

 flowers, is cherished in Paisley by an appropriate institution, 



7629. LANARKSHIRE. A surface of 556,800 acres, hilly and bleak, but with some fertile valleys. 

 There is a botanic garden, and some good nurseries and market-gardens round the capital ; Clydesdale 

 is noted for its orchards, and the total number of acres in the county occupied in this way is estimated 

 at 340. There are some gardeners' lodges, florists' meetings, and a horticultural societv, held at 

 Glasgow. 



Glasgow Botanic Garden. This garden owes its origin in 

 a great measure to the exertions of T. Hopkirk, Esq. jun. of 

 Dalbeth, a gentleman attached to botany, advantageously 

 known as the author of Anomalies of Plants, and who has 

 long cultivated a collection amounting to 3000 species. It 

 contains eight acres, and is the joint property of the Col- 

 lege, and a number of subscribers, who are incorporated 

 under the title of the Roval Botanic Institution of Glasgow. 



The plan of the garden (.fig. 753.) combines variation of 

 landscape and scientific arrangement in a very eminent 

 degree. It was devised by a committee of subscribers, and 

 chiefly T. Hopkirk and R. Austin, the latter a well known 

 nurseryman. It consists of the following details : 



1. A general collection of herbaceous plants. 



2. A collection of grasses. 



3. A Linnaean arrangement. 



4. Arrangement according to the natural method of Jus- 

 sieu, &c. 



5. British plants, with edgings of common heath [Calluna 

 vulgaris), which bears clipping like common box. 



6. Medical plants. 



7. Plants used in agriculture or commerce. 



8. Forest trees. 



9. Willows. 



10. Borders for annuals. 



11. Collection of biennials. 



12. Esculent vegetables, fruits, &c. 



13. Grass lawn. 



14. American borders. 



15. Aquarium. 



16. Rock-work. 



17. Collection of roses. 



18. Borders forfioiisiV flowers, U pinkn, carnations, &c. 



established in the last year of the past century, and which en- 

 courages and methodises a constant amicable competition. 

 Those which are called Com]>etition Flowers, are eight in 

 number: viz. Auricula, Polyanthus, Hyacinth, Tulip, Ane- 

 mone, Ranunculus, Pink, and Carnation. There is usually 

 an annual competition of the best specimens of one or other of 

 those eight kinds. 



Some idea of the zeal of the Paisley cultivators may be 

 formed, when it is stated that several of them can show 70 

 or 80 of the most choice varieties of pinks ; others 200 varieties 

 of the choicest tulips ; others 60 or 70 varieties of the best car- 

 nations all named ; besides many excellent inferior varieties of 

 each kind. 



Rules of the Florists' Society The society have weekly 

 meetings every- Thursday evening, from the flowering of the 

 Polyanthus, till the disappearance of the Carnation, and they 

 have also annual meetings for determining remunerations. A t 

 the weekly meetings, every member may produce specimens 

 of as many kinds of the eight competition flowers as are in 

 season ; and the best specimen of each kind entitles the pci- 

 sessor to one enrolment of his name in the society's minute-book 

 for prizes. The successful competitor in the kind which the 

 judges declare to be the most frequent among them presented 

 for the night is enrolled in a department of the minutes appro- 

 priate to the competition for the predominant flower. The 

 successful competitors, for the secondary flowers of the night, 

 are each enrolled in a list, called the Competition of All 

 Flowers. Should only one specimen of a kind be presented, 

 the enrolment still takes place; because none would cut down 

 their finest plants, were the accidental want of a rival spe- 

 cimen to render this sacrifice vain. But when each of the 

 competition flowers is in the prime of its season, a compe- 

 tition for the best collection of specimens of six varieties of it 

 is announced at one meeting, and decided at the next ; and 

 the name of the gainer is twice inserted. The weekly com- 

 l>etition is determined, in ordinary cases, by two judges. If 

 these do not agree, a thirdsman 'is chosen by the club to 

 decide ; and should he demur, another judge is added. When 

 the six best flowers of a kind are required, three judges are 

 appointed. At the end of the year, those records are inves- 

 tigated ; and there is exhibited to the society a statement of 

 the different winners, of the number of the appearances of 

 each in the books, of the particular flowers in which he 

 excels, and even of the merits of those flowers. Honorary 

 rewards are then distributed. The most successful florist 

 receives perhaps a spade ; the next a rake; and the third a 

 trowel or knife. 



In the books there is likewise a department for Border- 

 Flowers : and here the names of such members as from time 

 to time produce the best of each sort are entered. And theTe 

 is another department for the name of every member who 

 presents the earliest blown flower of its kind. AVhen the 

 books are annually reviewed, the comparative merits cf the 

 competitors in each of these last departments are estimated ; 

 but no prizes are assigned. When the earliest specimen, 

 however, is a competition flower, the name of the florist 

 stands not only in the department for the earliest flowers, 

 but also in the prize minute-book. 



At the annual meetings five judges are appointed; of 

 whom, for the most part, two are strangers, who are known 

 to be skilful florists. Two guardians receive the articles for 

 competition, and affix to each a private number, so that the 

 judges cannot know to whom any of them belong till after 

 the decision. The first prize, which is a silver medal, of about . 

 the value of a guinea, with a suitable inscription, is awarded 

 to the person who presents, of Jus own rearing, the twelve 

 specimens of the competing flower, which, taken collectivelv, 

 are the best. The twelve next in general entitle the cultivator 

 to an inscribed silver medal, worth about 15*. After the 

 decision, the flower for next annual comjietition is announced. 

 Pinks are brought into competition twice as often as any 

 other species of flowers. 



On these occasions from forty to a hundred manufacturers and 

 tradesmen of the place dine together ; and everv one who has 

 formerly gained a medal is then expected to wear" it. [Gen. Rep. 

 ofScotl. App. vol. i. ch. ix. ) 



19. Border for bulbs. 



20. Collection of variegated plants. 



21. Alpine plants. 



22. Green-house ground. 



23. Shrubs. 



24. Forcing-beds, frames, &c 



25. Green-house. 



26. Stoves. 



27. Stove; a conservatory, on the west end. 



28. Medical plants in quantity, for sale. 



29. Enclosure for cultivating'rare plants. 



30. and 31. Duplicate borders. 



32. North entrance from the Sandyford road, with the 

 lodge and lecture-room. 



33. Queen Mary's yew, propagated from the famous tree at 

 Cnnkston Castle twenty years ago. 



34. South entrance from Dunbarton road. 



35. Under -gardener's rooms and potting-sheds. 



On the enclosing wall, which is ten feet high, and also in 

 the esculent department (12), the most approved sorts of hardv 

 fruit-trees are cultivated ; so that this garden, like that o'f 

 Paris, will combine horticultural as well as botanical in- 

 formation. 



The plan was executed under the direction of Stewart 

 Murray, the present very intelligent and satisfactory curator 

 of the garden. It was l>egun in May 1S17, and completed in 

 two years. The total sum sul)scril)id l>v the mem'otrs of this 

 institution, amounts to nearly 11,000/: T. Hoplcirk has pre- 

 sented to it the whole of his collection ; and through his 

 exertions, and those of the ofheT proprietors and especially of 

 that distinguished botanist, Dr. W. 1. Hooker, the eclkge 

 professor of liotany, the garden, in 1821, contained unw arils 

 of 9000 species. ' 



