September 8. l*'8.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



275 



Mr. J. Turk), for Croton inajesticus, Phcenix farini- 

 fera, Dracama metallica, Latauia borbonica, Croton 

 Youngii, and Cordyline australis. An extra prize 

 was given to a very worthy exhibit shown by J. S. 

 Hill, Esq., J.P. (gr., Mr. W. F. Emptage), Hawks- 

 wick, St. Albans, for Anthurium crystallinum, a 

 magnificent plant ; Croton Queen Victoria, C. 

 anieteinensis, Phcenix reclinata, Asparagus tenuissi- 

 mus, and Seaforthia elegans. 



Groups of Plants. — Facing the visitor on entering 

 the principal tent was a meritorious group of plants, 

 entered as an honorary exhibit from Sir J. B. Lawes, 

 Bart., the President of the Society (gr., Mr. W. 

 Olver). 



Ferns. — Three sections were staged of almost equal 

 merit, it being a most difficult matter to decide to 

 which premier honours should be awarded. Even- 

 tually, Mr. W. F. Emptage was placed 1st, and Mr. 

 T. Nutting, gr. to J. B. Maple, Esq., M.P., Child- 

 wickbury, 2nd. The 1st lot comprised Microlepia 

 hirtacristata, Gymnogrammachrysophylla.Adiantum 

 Willianisii, a beautiful specimen ; A. Farleyense, 

 Nephrolepis exaltata, and Platycerium alcicorne. 



Begonias. — For special prize offered by Messrs. J. 

 Laing & Sons, of Forest Hill, for three named 

 tuberous Begonias, Mr. C. Sibley came 1st with 

 some finely-flowered plants. 



Tabic Plants.— This class, for twelve table plants 

 in 6-inch pots, was well filled, the 1st prize being 

 gained by M/. T. Nutting, of Childwickbury. 



Cut Flowers: Hoses.— In the class for forty-eight 

 cut Hoses, single trusses, of distinct varieties, Messrs. 

 G. Paul & Sons, the Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, con- 

 tributed a magnificent display of their choicest 

 blooms, which would have maintained their ground 

 in a much more extended competition, but owing to 

 the preceding foul weather only two out of four com- 

 petitors who entered in this class came forward. 



Roses, not for competition, were contributed by 

 Messrs. Cutbush, of Barnet, and contained some 

 excellent varieties. 



Dahlias.— Owing to the inclement weather the 

 Dahlia classes did not fill satisfactorily ; Messrs. G. 

 Paul & Sons, Cheshunt, however, were conspicuous 

 with twenty-four well-made blooms, which secured 

 1st prize. A very noticeable box of twelve varieties 

 were shown by Mr. G. Arnold, of Leighton Buzzard. 



Stove, Greenhouse, and Herbaceous. — In the class 

 for twelve bunches stove and greenhouse cut flowers, 

 distinct, Mr. S, Brown.gr. to Newin E, B. Cox, Esq 

 J.P., Moat Mount, Mill Hill, had little difficulty in 

 carrying off 1st prize with a choice lot of Stepha- 

 notis floribunda, Lapageria alba, Ixora Williamsii, 

 Rose Niphetos, Cattleya Leopoldi, Lilium auratum, 

 Allamanda, Pancratium fragrans, Agapanthus, and 

 Eucharis amazonica. 



For twelve bunches hardy herbaceous cut flowers, 

 distinct, there were seven entries, Mr. J. Henshaw, 

 of Rothamsted Cottage, Harpenden, taking 1st, with 

 magnificently grown and effectively staged examples 

 of Chrysanthemum latifolia, Geum coccineum 

 plenum, Anemone japouica var. flore albo, Tropieo- 

 lum speciosum, Lathyrus latifolius var. albas, 

 Rudbeckia speciosa, syn. R. Neumanni, Gypsophila 

 paniculata, and Phlox decussata var. coccinea. Dr. 

 McLean, of Harpenden Hall, secured 2nd, with an 

 admirable lot. 



Son-competing Exhibits.— Messrs. W. Paul & Son, 

 Waltham Cross, contributed a most interesting col- 

 lection of cut flowers, of hardy herbaceous plants, 

 Dahlias, and baskets of Roses, of every imaginable 

 hue, the whole extending for some 25 to 30 feet 

 along the side staging, an artistically arranged basket 

 of Lapageria rosea and L. alba being especially. 



Fruit.— The collections of fruit and individual 

 dishes of the different sorts, were neither so plenti- 

 fully shown nor so good in character as we have 

 noticed on former occasions. 



Mr. S. Brown, Moat Mount, Mill Hill, was 1st in 

 the collection of eight dishes, and 1st in two bunches 

 of black Grapes. Mr. T. Nutting, Childwickbury, 

 secured 2nd in the collection of fruit, and 1st in two 

 bunches of white Grapes and in a dish of six Peaches 

 this exhibitor taking Messrs. Wood's Silver Medal 

 for the most meritorious exhibit in the fruit classes 

 grown by the aid of their Le Fruitier. 



Vegetables.— The number of entries for the vege- 

 table classes were the largest ever received bv this 

 Society. All were of capital quality, and 'those 

 contributed by the cottagers, many of which came 

 from the Rothamsted allotment gardens, the produce 

 being such as would not disgrace anv gentleman's 

 garden. Correspondent. 



ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICUL- 

 TURAL. 



This Society held its autumn show in the Waverley 

 Market, Edinburgh, on the 5th and 6th inst. The 

 show, as compared with the average, may be described 

 as a thin one, there being a falling off in the fruit 

 entries, and in the furnishing exhibits which con- 

 tribute so much to the attractiveness of these great 

 shows. The entries were about 1400, being 400 

 under last year which was in excess of the average. 



In fruit, Grapes were, as usual, a leading feature, 

 the Lambton, Newbattle, and Melville Castle ex- 

 hibits being grand examples. Pine-apples were 

 more numerous, and of finer quality than usual. 

 Other indoor fruits were of average quality, though 

 lacking in quantity in some important sorts. Hardy 

 fruit was scarce and poor. This was most noticeable in 

 the case of Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots. Plums 

 were better in quality, yet inferior to the usual stan- 

 dard shown at these shows. Strawberries were good 

 but scarce. Gooseberries were fairly good. 



Plants. — About the usual number aud quality of 

 stove and greenhouse plants, and Ferns, and table 

 plants were tabled. Of hardy plants there were few 

 exhibited, the most noticeable being the collection 

 put up at the west end of the Market Hall by Messrs. 

 Ireland & Thomson, a most attractive group, com- 

 prising the finer types of Conifers and other ornamen- 

 tal evergreens— Clematis, Roses, Hydrangea panicu- 

 lata grandiflora, with which were interspersed some 

 fiue greenhouse Rhododendrons and Clethra arborea 

 in flower. 



Messrs. Dicksons & Co. had a fine table of miscel- 

 laneous greenhouse and stove plants, along with 

 exhibits of cut flowers of French Marigolds 

 and border Carnations, and Roses and Pansies. 

 Among the Carnations were a stand of blooms 

 of their new self, " Maggie Laurie " a delicate rose 

 coloured variety of large size and fine substance, 

 which was awarded a First-class Certificate. 

 Messrs. Methven & Sons had a very fine table 

 of plants of miscellaneous characters, "chiefly stove 

 and greenhouse, tastefully set up. 



Mr. John Downie, Princes Street, exhibited a 

 table 30 feet by 6 feet entirely filled with tuberous 

 Begonias of very superior quality, which formed quite 

 a feature of the show. 



Messrs. Munro & Ferguson, St. Andrew Square, 

 exhibited a numerous collection of cut hardy flowers 

 both annual and perennial, among which were notable 

 Arnebia echioides and other rare things among hardy 

 perennials, and their new form of Matricaria inodora 

 pleno named " Snowflake," which was awarded a 

 First-class Certificate. The blooms are larger and 

 purer in colour than those of the older form, and 

 the plant is dwarfer, more compact iu habit and 

 equally floriferous with the latter sort. 



Messrs. Laing & Mather, Kelso, exhibited cut 

 blooms of Carnations and Picotees, among which was 

 a stand of their new Carnation, R. H. Elliott, 

 yellow ground streaked with crimson, a beautiful 

 sort : awarded a First-class Certificate. 



Mr. John Forbes, Buccleuch Nurseries, Hawick, 

 had a very meritorious exhibit of Pentstemons, 

 Antirrhinums Phloxes and Pansies, and the latter 

 especially showing some very fine and distinct 

 varieties. 



Mr. Campbell, High Blantyre, tabled a splendid 

 collection of choice Carnations and Picotees, Dahlias, 

 and Hollyhocks, which were much admired. 



Mr. Laing, gr., Salisbury Green, exhibited a fine 

 plant of Renanthera Lowii, with spike of bloom com- 

 posed of thirty blooms. 



Messrs. Dicksons (Limited), Chester, had an 

 interesting exhibit of hardy perennial cut flowers, 

 among which was a new and beautiful border Car- 

 nation named Mrs. Reynolds Hole. 



Messrs. Kerr & Son, Kalemouth, Roxburgh, ex- 

 hibited some fine cut Hollyhocks ; Messrs. Croll, 

 Dundee, and Smith & Son, Stranraer, excellent 

 Roses. 



Turning to the competition lots, and taking 

 Fruit first, the collection of twelve dishes, con- 

 sisting of three dishes of Grapes, two of Peaches, 

 and one each of any other sort except Pines and 

 Bannanas, brought only one lot, which was fiom Mr. 

 Hunter, Lambton Castle. The Grapes were very 

 fine, and there were some splendid samples of Marie 

 Louise d'Uccle Pears and Worcester Pearmain 

 Apples. 



Eight dishes fruit, including Grapes, black and 

 white, and any other description of fruit, brought a 

 pretty numerous competition. Mr. Hunter was here 

 again 1st, with splendid Grapes, Pears, Nectarines, 



Pine, and Brockworth Pear as conspicuous features 

 iu the collection ; Mr. McKelvie, Broxmouth, was a 

 worthy 2nd. 



In twelve dishes of hardy fruit, Mr. Fairgrieve had 

 an easy 1st, with Hale's Early and Louise Peaches, 

 Kirk's Plum, Orange Apricot, Pine-apple Nectarine, 

 Jargonelle Pear, and Peasgood's Nonsuch Apple as 

 the principal varieties in his collection ; Mr. Law, 

 Viewforth, Stirling, was 2nd. 



Twelve dishes of orchard-house fruit brought Sir. 

 Hunter again to the front. His collection contained 

 some extraordinary samples of Pitmaston Duchess 

 aud Beurre Diel Pears, said to weigh each from 32 

 to 35 oz. He tabled also some excellent Queen 

 Apple, Pine-apple Nectarine, and Coe's Golden Drop 

 Plum. 



A special prize, offered by Messrs. Thomson & 

 Sons, Clovenfords, for eight bunches of Grapes, was 

 taken by Mr. McHattie, of Newbattle Abbey, with 

 a very superb lot, among which were some remark- 

 able Duke of Buccleuch, Madresfield Court, Black 

 Hamburgh, and Muscat of Alexandria. Mr. Mac- 

 kinnon, Melville Castle, stood a very good 2nd, with 

 Gros Moroc, Black Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, 

 and superb Golden Hamburgh. 



In the class of four bunches of Grapes, distinct, 

 Mr. McHattie again took the 1st place with splendid 

 Gros Colmar, Madresfield Court, Muscat of Alexan- 

 dria, and Black Hamburgh; Mr. Mackinnon coming 

 well up with beautifully finished stuff; and Mr. Bovj, 

 Callendar House, Falkirk, was a close 3rd. 



Class 7 — two bunches of Muscat of Alexandria — 

 was a prize presented to the Society by Convenor 

 White, and was easily taken by Mr." McHattie, 

 with splendid stud'; Mr. McKelvie was 2ad. 



The next class, two bunches Black Hamburgh, 

 was again led by Mr. McHattie, with splendid 

 samples, with Mr. Mackinnon a good 2nd. Compe- 

 tition was here keen, but all comers were distanced 

 by the two leaders. 



For one bunch of Muscat of Alexandria there were 

 three entries ; Mr. J. Green, Tester, took 1st prize 

 easily; Mr. Caldwell, Ashley Bank, Langholm, being 

 2nd. 



Class 12— one bunch Alnwick Seedling— placed Mr. 

 Boyd 1st, with a splendid sample ; Mr. Murray, 

 Park Hall, being a fair 2nd. 



Pines were fully above average as to quality and 

 about the usual quantity. Mr. Mclndoe, Hutton 

 Hall, Guisborough, staged the finest Queen : Mr. 

 Mclntyre, The Glen, Peebles, the best Smooth Cay- 

 enne, and the best pair of Pines. 



Melons were a tolerable show, b*;t nothing special 

 in quality was exhibited. The prize-takers, Mr. A. 

 Young, with Best of All, green-fleshed, and Mr. 

 Wm. Laing, Wellfield, Fife, in the red-fleshed sec- 

 tion, with an unnamed fruit. 



Some excellent Peaches were shown, the best 

 coming from Mr. McLeod, Brentham Park, Stirling. 



A bunch of Gros Maroc exhibited by Mr. McKen- 

 zie, Erisker Ledaig, was a' special object of interest 

 on account of the monstrous size of the berries. 

 They were more like medium-sized purple Plums 

 than Grapes. 



Plants.— Tables arranged for effect, 20 feet by 5 

 feet, in the gardener's classes, brought two competi- 

 tors—Mr. Grossart, Oswald Road, and Mr. Donaldson, 

 Ormalie, Murrayrield. The former took 1st prize 

 with a very tastefully got- up collection of fine well- 

 grown plants. First honours in six stove and green- 

 house plants were carried off by Mr. John Paterson, 

 Millbank, with his usual fine stuff, among which 

 Erica obbata and E. Marnockiana were conspicuous. 

 In Orchids Mr. Curror, Eskbank, and Mr. Grossart, 

 shared honours in their order ; the former having a 

 fine Cattleya Dowiana and C. liaskelliana, well 

 flowered, in his lot of four. Space will not admit of 

 following the schedule in detail, and we must turn 

 to the nurserymen's classes. 



Messrs. Laird & Sons had a grand table of choice 

 foliage and flowering stove and greenhouse plants, 

 with which they took 1st prize. Crotons and 

 Drachmas, beautifully coloured Orchids, among which 

 were some fine Cattleya Gaskelliana, Bouvardias, 

 &c, indicate the character of the materials, and they 

 were arranged in the best taste. Messrs. Ireland & 

 Thomson stood 2nd with a well arranged table of 

 tine stuff. 



Table plants were a considerable feature of the 

 show, Messrs. Laird & Sons taking 1st honours, 

 and Messrs. Ireland & Thomson 2nd — among 

 nurserymen ; while Mr. Grossart was 1st in the 

 gardeners' class. 



Some splendid Roses were tabled by Messrs. 

 Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen, who took 1st prizes in 

 the principal classes; and Mr. Hugh Dickson, 



