Dumfriesshire, Edinburghshire, Fifeshire. 6Q9 



numerously attended, A most splendid collection of green-house plants, con- 

 sisting of ericas, fuchsias, and many other varieties, was presented from the 

 garden of Mr. Stewart of Cairnsmore, which added, in a high degree, to the 

 ornament of the room, and the pleasure and admiration of the spectators. 

 A beautiful specimen of the Yucca gloriosa, in full flower, a magnificent 

 coxcomb, and several other rare plants, were presented from the garden of 

 Sir David Maxwell, Bart., of Cardoness. Mr. Kellock, gardener to WilHam 

 Younger, Esq., of Craigielands, forwarded to the secretary a fine collection 

 of dahlias, pansies, &c., which attracted great admiration ; but not being 

 named, and only intended by Mr. Kellock as a compHmentary ornament to 

 the show, they could not enter into competition. The garden of Kenmure 

 Castle likewise poured forth its wonders in the shape of four huge stalks of 

 celery, of this year's growth, any one of which could have satisfied a dozen 

 lovers of that delicious edible. About forty new members enrolled them- 

 selves at this meeting, which seemed to give to all present the greatest satis- 

 faction. {Dumfries Courier, Sept. 21.) 



Edinburghshire. — The Mid-Lothian Horticultural Society. — Sept. ] 3. 

 The exhibition was an excellent one, and extremely well attended. Among 

 the prizes was one for retarded gooseberries, and another for retarded cur- 

 rants, both gained by Mr. James Goodall, gardener to the Marquess of 

 Lothian, Newbattle Abbey. Messrs. Ballantyne and Son, nursery and seeds- 

 men, Dalkeith, having kindly placed at the disposal of this Society two hand- 

 some silver medals, as a first and second prize, to be awarded to the two ap- 

 prentices or journeymen gardeners, employed under any member or members 

 of this Society, who will produce the largest and best collection of named 

 specimens of British and exotic plants, gathered and dried in flower, since 

 Jan. 18. 1836, the first medal was gained by James Keddie, journeyman gar- 

 dener, Melville Castle. The herbarium contained 1476 different specimens, 

 beautifully dried, and accurately named. The second medal was gained by 

 John Murray, journeyman gardener, Moredun : the number of specimens 

 were 1529, and well preserved. A third collection was sent by Alex. D. 

 Pentland, journeyman gardener, Penicuick House, arranged according to the 

 natural arrangement of plants. They were excellently dried, but were short 

 in numbers, there being only 931 specimens. The committee voted an extra 

 premium for the trouble taken in their arrangement. [Independently of the 

 circumstance of these young men coming from the place where we were 

 brought up, we should be glad, on account of their merits, to reckon them 

 among the nimiber of our correspondents.] (^Edinburgh Evening Courant, 

 Sept. 26.) 



Fifeshire. — St. Andrew^ s Horticidtiiral and Floricidtiiral Society. — Jitly 13. 

 At no former meeting has a more numerous assemblage of ladies and gentle- 

 men of the city and neighbourhood appeared. The principal object of at- 

 traction was the show of grapes, which were excellent ; and we will venture 

 to assert that the muscat of Alexandria, from Sir David Erskine's, cannot be 

 equalled in Fifeshire. The other varieties were also very fine ; and to those 

 interested in the cultivation of grapes, we say, " Spare neither fire, air, water, 

 knife, nor scissors." The show of cucumbers was also very fine, some of 

 them measuring 2 ft. long, quite young and green. Strawberries were par- 

 ticularly fine and large; so was the show of florists' pinks, mimuluses, pansies, 

 &c. ; and the culinary vegetables at once showed the excellence of their 

 culture. Mr. Smith, gardener at the Priory, presented to the Societj' a bunch 

 of grizzly Frontignac grapes, being one of four produced from a scion of two 

 buds engrafted on the black Hamburgh, in the month of March last year, 

 along with a conununication stating the manner in which this operation was 

 performed, which, we understand, is quite a novelty in vine cultui'e. [This 

 communication, which we have received from our esteemed correspondent, 

 will appear in an early Number.] The judges awarded an extra prize to Mr. 

 Smith for this communication and production. {Fife Herald, July 21.) 



Sept. 28. The lateness of the season, and the almost continual wet and 



