July 21, 1888.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



77 



Madame Willermoz, Perle des Jardins, Marie Van 

 Houtte, Antoine Mermet, Keine Marie Pia, and 

 Perle de Lyon. In this class Messrs. Harkness & 

 Sons were 2nd. 



In the class, twelve blooms Marechal Niel. the best 

 came from Mr. Tiasley, Lennoxtown, whose flowers 

 were superb, and yet said to have been cut from the 

 open air, which in such a season as we are 

 passing through is something to congratulate Mr. 

 Tinsley upon, for the like could hardly be found 

 elsewhere in Scotland. 



The Gloire de Dijon class was largely represented, 

 the best coming from Gordon, Drymen ; and the 

 2nd best from Hugh Dickson. Space will not admit 

 of particularising the competition in the smaller 

 classes, which, however, were well represented the 

 competition in some cases being very close. 



In the competition for the best basket of Roses, 

 Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, stood a con- 

 spicuously good 1st ; Mr. Alexander Raeside, York- 

 hill, Glasgow, being a fair 2nd. 



Gardeners' and Amateurs' Class. — Thirty-six blooms, 

 to which was attached the Memorial Medal and £5, 

 presented by the Veitch Memorial Trustees, Mr. 

 William Parlane, Rosevale Row, was the champion. 

 The best Hybrid Perpetual Rose in the exhibition was 

 shown bv Mr. Hugh Dickson, and the best Tea by 

 J. Tinsley. 



Pansies were an important feature of the show. 

 The 1st prize of twenty-four blooms went to Mr. 

 Sutherland, Lenzie : Mr. W. Storrie, Garngaber, 

 Lenzie ; and Messrs. William Paul & Co., Barngill 

 Nursery, Bridge of Weir, Lenzie, being 2nd and 3rd 

 respectively. Mr. Campbell. Blantyre, was an easy 

 1st, with a fine stand ol twenty-four blooms of fancy 

 Pansies ; and Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Russel, 

 Cawdor, Bishoprigg, closely divided the 2nd and 

 3rd honours respectively. 



Violas or bedding Pansies. in bunches, were re- 

 presented in tolerable numbers and good quality. 

 The best in the open class ot twenty-four was put up 

 bv Mr. J. Baxter, gr. to Colonel McCall, Daldowie, 

 Broomhouse ; Messrs. Dicksons & Co., Edinburgh, 

 and Messrs. R. B. Laird, being 2nd and 3rd in order. 



The class of eighteen bunches hardy herbaceous 

 flowers brought out one of the finest features of the 

 show. The 1st prize went to Mr. Tinsley, Mr. John 

 Meiklam, Alpiue Cottage, Bridge of Weir, and Mr. 

 Charles Irvine, Jedburgh, being 2nd and 3rd in order. 

 Had the latter set up in a better style he would have 

 been in a better position, as he certainly had points 

 ia his favour, particularly as regards variety and 

 r irity of species and varieties. 



Twelve trusses of stove and greenhouse plants 

 (Orchids excluded), were a good show, 1st, Messrs. 

 Laird & Sons ; Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Lyon, 

 Greenhall, Blantyre, being 2nd and 3rd respectively. 



Six trusses of Orchid blooms, distinct : — 1st. Mr. 

 Grossart, Oswald House, Edinburgh j 2nd, Mr. Kidd, 

 gr. to J. B. White, Esq., Ardarroch — a close 2nd. 



Pot plants were not remarkable for numbers, 

 although in some cases the quality was good. This 

 was more noticeable in table plants than in any other 

 class, which were indeed very superior, and the com- 

 petition keen. In the class of twelve table plants, 

 Messrs. R. B. Laird were 1st, closely followed by 

 Mr. Grossart. 



Three Orchids in flower placed Mr. Wilson, gr. to 

 H. Steven, Esq., Westmount, 1st, with Odontoglossum 

 crispum, Miltonia Roezlii, and Epidendrum vitelli- 

 num majus ; Mr. Kidd, Ardarroch, was 2nd with 

 Cattleya Dowieana, C. Gaskelliana, and Odonto- 

 glossum Pescatorei. 



Fruit. — Though not a large feature this was an 

 excellent one. The prize for a collection of six dishes 

 went to Mr. Mclndoe, Hutton Hall, Guisborough, 

 there being no other competitor. The prize for four 

 bunches of Grapes in two varieties was easily taken 

 by Mr. McHattie, with very superior Black Ham- 

 burghs and Muscat of Alexandria, the latter being in 

 finish more like autumn than summer fruits. Mr. 

 McConnochie, Cameron House, Alexandria, was 2nd, 

 with excellent fruit ; and Mr. Barrie, gr., Woodstone 

 Row, was a very good 3rd. 



In two bunches of black Grapes Mr. McHattie was 

 again 1st, with fine samples of Black Hamburgh ; 

 Mr. Murray, Park hall, Polmont, and Mr. Mont- 

 gomery, Broomhill, Partick, 2rd and 3rd respectively. 

 With two bunches of white Grapes Mr. McHattie 

 was again 1st, with fine bunches of Muscat of Alex- 

 andria ; while Mr. Wilson, gr. to A. L. Cochrane, Esq., 

 was a good 2nd, with grand samples of Dr. Hogg ; and 

 Mr. Montgomery took the 3rd prize. 



Peaches were remarkably fine, Mr. McHattie, Mr. 

 Gallacher, and Mr. Wilson taking honours in the 

 order named. 



Nectarines were also exceedingly good. Mr. 

 Mclndoe taking 1st, with Stanwick Elruge; and Mr. 

 McHattie pushing him close with Elruge. 



Vegetables were poorly represented, the schedule 

 providing little encouragement for this class of 

 garden products. An excellent collection of eight 

 distinct sorts was, however, tabled by Mr. Mclndoe, 

 who took 1st prize, and was closely pressed by Mr. 

 Hogg, Aikenhead. The latter took 1st prize for an 

 excellent collection of salad stuff. 



Miscellaneous Exhibits were numerous, and in some 

 instances very meritorious. Pyrethrums, fancy Pan- 

 sies, cut flowers of tuberous Begonias, and Carnations, 

 the latter especially good, were put up by Mr. Campbell, 

 Blantyre. Mr. Alex. Lister, Rothesay, tabled a 

 numerous set of fancy Pansies, which were besieged 

 by the admirers of Pansies in this district, who are 

 very numerous, and their comments were laudatory. 

 The lot were remarkably good, and some individual 

 flowers were new in character, and possessed every 

 good feature of the class. Messrs. R. B. Laird & 

 Sons, West Coates, Edinburgh, had a very superior 

 lot of Pyrethrums beautifully set up in their own 

 foliage in triangular sprays, in which the leading 

 varieties were well represented. Mr. John Wilson, 

 gr. to Jas. Clelland Burnes, Esq., Glentea, Hamilton, 

 exhibited a fine specimen of Stanhopea tigrina 

 with sixteen blooms in a small basket. From the 

 Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, came a tine collection of 

 officinal and medicinal plants and tropical fruits, 

 a hundred in all. Messrs. J. & R. Thyne had a fine 

 table of varied foliage and flowering plants, and Mr. 

 Jas. Boyson, nurseryman, Helensburgh, a fine lot of 

 pot and cut Roses. 



The Scottish Mushroom Company exhibited fine 

 samples of their productions from the Scotland 

 Street Tuunel, Edinburgh. Mushrooms were shown 

 in every stage of growth in a capacious Wardian 

 case, and appeared to attract much attention 

 from the general public. Mr. Mclndoe, Hutton 

 Hall, Guisborough, exhibited samples of two fine 

 Melons, his own raising, one named Scarlet Premier, 

 a medium-sized oval fruit finely netted; and another 

 named Mclndoe 's Best of All, an oblate fruit, the 

 colour of which was not described. Mr. Hugh 

 Hanan, Bank Street, Edinburgh, exhibited samples 

 of a very superior early Cauliflower, named Hanan 's 

 Extra Early Dwarf, ' from a cottage garden at 

 Dalkeith, the owner of which had begun to cut crop 

 on June 26. The judges commended the variety on 

 account of its earliness and very superior quality. 



EDINBURGH BOTANICAL. 



July 12. — The last summer meeting for the season 

 was held in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sir. Lind- 

 sav and afterwards Dr. Craig, in the chair. 



It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Taylor to 

 empower the Council to petition against the new 

 Universities (Scotland) Bill, now before the House 

 of Commons, in so far as it enacted the transference 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens from the Treasury to 

 the Edinburgh University. 



A paper, by Dr. David Christison was read, sum- 

 marising the results of ten years' observations by the 

 late Sir Robert Christison, and his son, the author, 

 " On the Annual Increase in Girth of Trees in the 

 Roval Botanic Gardens, and at Cragiehall, near 

 Edinburgh, from 1878 to 1887." 



In two specimens of Betula alba, with a girth 

 when first measured of 55'40 and 5620— the girths 

 in 1887 were respectively 56'05 and 59 So. The 

 total of ten annual increments of Fagus svlvatica 

 were 630, 7'50, 605, 720, 5 90, 605, and 490. 

 These figures, given in inches and tenths, mark the 

 effect of cold seasons during the decennial period. 

 Five British Oaks, Quercus rubra, had girths at 

 commencement of measurement of 65 40, 6945, 

 12035, 11290, and 9450, which had increased in 

 October, 1887, to 6730, 7320, 12725, 11510, 9615. 

 In three specimens of Quercus conferta there was a 

 total increase in ten years of 1655, 1360, and 12'60. 

 Two of Q. cerris showed growth equal to 5 70 and 

 7'33, whilst one specimen of Q. rubra showed an 

 increase of 450 inches. Limes showed a smaller 

 increase ; thus, of three specimens of Tilia euro- 

 psea, the figures of growth in ten years were, 

 305, 350. and 175. Two Planes show a nearly 

 approximate increase. The girth of Castanea vesea 

 was found to have increased in the ten years, 945 ; 

 Liriodendron tulipifera, 600 ; Crataegus oxyacantha, 

 5-50; Ornus europieus, 415; Caipinus betulus, 

 4110: Fraxinus, 375. 



Amongst the evergreen trees, four specimens of 

 Sequoia gigantea showed a total increase of 810, 



14T3, 1370, 1280, respectively ; and the same 

 number of Cedrus Deodara gave a decennial increase 

 of 850, 6 00, 5-10, and 530; whilst three of 

 Araucaria imbricata gave 4'15, 7 00, fand 6'30 ; 

 two specimens of Abies Douglasiigave 3 90 and 480 ; 

 whilst the record of the Scots Fir (Pinus sylvestrisi 

 is a miserable one, being for three specimens, 075. 

 65, 60 ; two Pinus excelsa gave 2 40 and 4'80 ; 

 a Pinus Laricio gave 410, and a Pinus austriaca. 

 gave 1440 ; while Abies Lowiana gave ll'lO, and 

 Cupressus Lawsoniana, 770. The average annual 

 increase in girth of the Yew, Taxus baccata, was 

 34 tenths of an inch. Of some noted Yews, Dr. 

 Christison gives the following details : — 





Height 

 16 



June 215. 

 79. 



Average Increase. 



Taxus. 



Jan.. 64 Years, 

 1888. 1816—78. 



8 Years. 

 1879— 87. 



No. 

 41 



Feet. 



27 



Inches. 

 9 



Ft. In. In. 

 27 11-5 



In. 

 03 



42 



29 



7 



30 a-5 



064 



4S 



22 



5 



23 3 414 



94 



49 



19 



7 



21 95 3-61 



306 



50 



24 



1 



27 I 4'41 



4-10 



The increment of two specimens of Quercus 

 Ilex showed an annual increase of '25 of an inch. 



Mr. John Wilson, B.Sc, read a paper on " The 

 Leaf Glands of Plumbaginere." Axillary glands, 

 corresponding to those which secrete copious muci- 

 lage in Statice Holfordi and like forms, were found 

 to exist in all the Statices studied, in many Arme- 

 rias and Plumbagos, in Limoniastrum, Acantholi- 

 mon, ^gialitis and Vogelia. In all the species 

 examined minute oval glands, composed of a few 

 regularlv disposed cells, were also found, in most on 

 both sides of the leaf, on the bracts, and even on the 

 calyx. The glands which secrete lime (which in 

 many species forms conspicuous incrustation) were 

 also considered. Mr. Wilson has undertaken the 

 study of the distribution, relationship, and develop- 

 ment of the different glandular structures in the 

 order. 



Mr. Robert Turnbuil made a communication on 

 the " Distribution and Structure of Water Stomata 

 in Cotyledons," which was highly commended by 

 Professor Balfour. 



Mr. Richardson exhibited and presented beautiful 

 micro-photographs of root of Vanda suavis, stems of 

 Clematis montana, &c. 



Mr. Lindsay gave in his monthly report on "Pro- 

 gress of Vegetation at the Royal Botanic Garden for 

 June." 



" The month of June was unusually cold and dis- 

 agreeable, in marked contrast to that of last year. 

 Easterly winds were almost of daily occurrence. No 

 frost was registered during the month at the garden, 

 but in various districts of Scotland several degrees 

 occurred, and much damage has been done thereby 

 The lowest night temperature recorded at the Garden 

 was 35°, which took place on the 1st of the month ; 

 other low readings were registered — on the 3rd, 37° ; 

 4th, 37° ; 11th, 38° ; 14th, 36°. The lowest day 

 temperature was 42°, on the 2nd; and the highest, 

 72° on the 17th. Notwithstanding the cold back- 

 ward kind of weather experienced, trees and shrubs 

 generally have seldom been seen in^finer condition ; 

 both foliage and flower have been decidedly above 

 the average. Variegated forms of Taxus, Biota, 

 Retinospora, and other Conifers have developed 

 unusually bright and finely coloured foliage, affording 

 a pleasant contrast to the dark green leaves pro- 

 duced by the typical species. This is not the least 

 remarkable feature of this abnormally cold summer, 

 seeing that variegated plants, as a rule, require 

 abundance of heat and sunshine to enable them to 

 colour well. The fine warm summer and autumn 

 of last year has doubtless had much to do with their 

 present satisfactory condition. 



Annuals and other plants which depend entirely 

 on the present season's growth for their well-being, 

 are very far behind, and unless a change of weather 

 come soon, will be a total failure. 



Alpine and herbaceous plantB, though somewhat 

 late, are flowering freely, and owing to their not 

 having suffered from drought this season, their period 

 of flowering has been prolonged. On the rock- 

 garden 430 species and varieties came into flower 

 during June, making a total of 1052 since January 1 

 as against 1048 for the same period last year. 

 Amongst the most conspicuous were: — Achillea 

 Clusiana, Aciphylla sqnarrosa, Allium McLeani, 

 Anemone palmata. Aster diplostephioides, Aquilegia 



