4)0 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 19, 1872. 



graceful in the room belonged to Messrs. Methven & Sons, and 

 took the first prize as a hand bouquet, its composition of small 

 Camellias, Bouvardias, Fern fronds, &c, being exceedingly 

 pretty. Messrs. Gordon & Sons' table bouquet was very at- 

 tractive, having an edge of Thuja gracilis, showing what may be 

 done with such where Fern fronds are scarce. Other prize 

 bouquets were artistically got up by Mr. J. Paterson, Mansfield 

 Lodge, and Mr. N. Fraser. 



Fruit was shown in very excellent condition. The Rev. W. B. 

 Bushby, the Vicarage, Dalkeith, came first for two bunches of 

 Muscat of Alexandria, which for superb finish in every respect 

 were the finest Muscats shown in Scotland this season, small 

 compact bunches, berries plump, and highly coloured. Mr. 

 Stewart, The Glen, was second with two good bunches, but not 

 so well finished as the first. With the collection of four sorts of 

 Grapes, Mr. W. Shaw was first with one fine large bunch of 

 Barbarossa, Muscat of Alexandria, Black Alicante, and Gros 

 Colman. Mr. Hannah, Burnhead, was second with excellent 

 Lady Downe's, Alicante, Mrs. Pince, and Black Hamburgh, the 

 latter showing a weakness in his otherwise first-rate collec- 

 tion. Mr. Greig, Craigend Park, Mr. Brunton, Dreni ; and Mr. 

 Mcintosh, Luss, Dumbarton, competed in this class, the latter 

 having one of his bunches named " "White Hamburgh," bearing 

 a striking resemblance to Raisin de Calabre. For two bunches 

 of black Lady Downe's, Mr. Mcintosh Leslie was first with 

 finely formed beautifully coloured bunches, Mr. Hannah being 

 second. For the White and equally valuable kind of this variety, 

 Mr. Greig had an award for two small but nicely-finished 

 bunches. Mi - . Hannah was first for Black Alicantes, and Mr. 

 Shaw second, both having well-coloured examples. Mr. Hannah 

 showed Mrs. Pince in fine condition. For any sort, Black, not 

 named above, Mr. Leyden, Whitehill, was first with West's St. 

 Peter's. For two bunches of any sort, White, Mr. Brunton was 

 first with Bowood Muscat, Mr. Greig second with Chasselas 

 Napoleon. For the finest-flavoured Black, Mr. Summers, Polton 

 House, was first with Black Hamburgh. For the finest-flavoured 

 White, Mr. Stewart was first with Muscat of Alexandria. Gros 

 Colman was competed for by Mr. W. Shaw, who obtained the 

 first prize with two very imperfectly-coloured bunches, evidently 

 having that tartish flavour arising from want of proper matu- 

 ration, and which is not constitutional as some would have it. 



Turning to certificates in the Grape section. Mr. Thomson, 

 Tweed Vineyard, Clovenfords, had a first for a basket of Gros 

 Colman, exquisite in colour, even in size, enormous in berry, 

 and delicious in flavour. This Grape as seen there is the hand- 

 somest of all black Grapes, and, with so much flesh as each in- 

 dividual berry contains, it requires to be started early in the 

 season to mature itself before the late autumn months. The 

 Rev. W. B. Bushby was awarded a first-class certificate for a 

 box of Muscats, containing 22 lbs., in the same wonderfully ex- 

 cellent condition as his other two prize bunches. 



Pine Apples were numerous and of fine quality, taking a 

 very prominent place of interest amongst choice fruits. For one 

 Smooth Cayenne, Mr. Stewart, The Glen, was first with an eight- 

 pounder, handsome, and proportiouate in all its arrangements. 

 Mr. Laing, Pitcairlie, came second with one scarcely so large, 

 and, if anything, rather ripe. Mr. Methven, Blytheswood, also 

 produced fine fruit of this noble variety. For one Queen, Mr. 

 Laing was first with a fine fruit nicely swelled in the pips. Mr. 

 Stewart exhibited three Smooth Cayennes, weighing 22 lbs., for 

 which he received a cultural recommendation. 



Apples and Pears of all the best keeping winter sorts filled a 

 long table. Mr. Brunton was first for twelve dessert Apples, 

 and took the same position for twelve bating Apples. In the 

 former Golden Harvey, Downton Pippin, and Blenheim Orange 

 were very fine. In Mr. Gillan's first four baking Apples- were 

 some fine Nelson's Codlin, Victoria, and Tower of Glamis. For 

 six Ecklinville Seedling Apples, Mr. Anderson, gardener to the 

 Earl of Stair, Oxenford Castle, was first with good fruit. Mr. 

 Pearson, Beechwood, showed some very large fruit of Gloria 

 Mundi. Mr. Macfar-lin, Mordeun, had some splendid Lord 

 SufSeld's. Mr. Crosbie, Luss, Dumbarton, was first for a col- 

 lection of six sorts of Pears ; Winter Beurre, Moorfowl Egg, and 

 Beurre Diel being prominent. Mr. Crosbie also obtained first 

 in the special prize for the last-named variety. Mr. Allan, 

 Ratho Park, had. a first prize for Louise Bonne of Jersey. For 

 any sort of dessert Pears, Mr. Cummiugs, gardener to the Earl 

 of Wemyss, Anisfield, was first, with Hacon's Incomparable. 

 For Marie Louise Pears, first came Mr. Anderson. Marechal 

 de la Cour was exceedingly fine in Mr. Anderson's first four 

 dessert Pears. 



Vegetables were staged in great quantities, many good, and 

 some of an inferior order, the whole having rather a loose dis- 

 orderly arrangement. For twelve sorts, Mr. Anderson, gardener 

 to Mrs. Brown, Ashley, was first. His collection contained some 

 good Early London Cauliflower, Sandringham Dwarf White 

 Celery, Beetroot, Onions, Spinach, Jerusalem Artichokes, &c. ; 

 Mr. King, gardener to Sir G. Warrender, Bruntsfield, taking the 

 second place. For two heads of Cauliflower, Mr. Weatherston 

 was first with large but not so compact heads as Mr. King, 



who was second. The latter obtained the first prize for Savoys 

 and Brussels Sprouts, Mr. Macfarlin taking first for Red Cab- 

 bages, and Mr. Murray for very large Leeks. For six stalks 

 red, and six stalks white Celery, Mr. Black, West Lea, Murray- 

 field, had two first prizes. Mr. Pearson had first for some very 

 large clean Onions. Market gardeners' produce was well repre- 

 sented by Mr. Gourlay, Musselburg; Mr. J. Douglas, Dalkeith; 

 Mr. Aitken, Preston; Mr. Mathieson, Plewlands, and others, 

 who contributed Broccoli, Savoys, Celery, Beetroot, Carrots,. 

 Onions, &c. 



TESTIMONIAL TO MR. FROST, OP DEOPMORE. 



The presentation to Mr. Frost, of Droprnore, took place on 

 the 12th inst. at the New Dolphin Inn, Slough, where a number 

 of the subscribers dined together. Dr. Hogg presided. Among 

 the company present were the Rev. W. 0. Thompson, Messrs. 

 J. Standish, E. R. Cutler, Moore, C. Turner, R. H. Barrett, 

 Fleming, W. Ford, P. Barr, Ashby, H. Turner, T. Ingram, 

 Wills, Bird, A. Turner, Quilter, Capes, Bragg, Layton, Cunning- 

 ham, Smith, Gregory, Swallow, D. Frost, Simpson, Powell, 

 Lindsay, Heyliger, Rogers, &c. 



The testimonial consisted of a silver cup, of the value of £25, 

 manufactured by Messrs. Elkington, and a purse of nearly 

 £200. The cup bore on one side a design of the celebrated 

 Abies Douglasii, Mr. Frost having half a century ago planted a 

 tree of that species in the Droprnore grounds, which is at the 

 present time upwards of 100 feet high. On the other side of 

 the cap was a design of the Araucaria imbricata. 



The Chairman, having given the usual loyal toasts, said he 

 had arrived at the event of the evening. He expressed Jiis sense 

 of his own inability to occupy the position which he then did, 

 and would have desired that some one else had been selected for 

 the post who had known Mr. Frost longer than he himself had 

 done. However, he esteemed it a great honour to be deputed 

 to present to Mr. Frost this token of their esteem and. regard. 

 They had met, as they were aware, to celebrate the fiftieth 

 anniversary of Mr. Frost's service in one family [hear, hear]. 

 Fifty years ago Mr. Frost entered as gardener at Droprnore. 

 When one thought of the changes of fifty years, and of the 

 rapid advances in horticulture, one was almost induced to iden- 

 tify Mr. Frost with that advancement. Fifty years ago the 

 horticulture of the coixntry was almost, if not altogether, in the 

 same state in which it had been for the previous century. Dp 

 to fifty years ago the literature of horticulture had made no 

 advances, and with the exception of old John Abercrombie, a 

 most creditable author, there was no other author of great note 

 whose name was worth recording who did anything towards 

 the art of horticulture. Fifty years ago the Horticultural 

 Society of London was in its infancy ; Chiswick Gardens did not 

 exist ; Dr. Lindley, whose name was so much associated with 

 horticulture, had scarcely been heard of; Thomas Andrew 

 Knight, Sir Joseph Banks, and others, then took a lead in horti- 

 cultural matters. But those names had become historical, the 

 men had passed away, but here was Mr. Frost still living, 

 having been actively engaged in the advancement of horticul- 

 ture during the whole of that period [hear, hear]. It was their 

 privilege that evening to meet together to pay honour and 

 respect to their esteemed guest, Mr. Frost [applause]. There- 

 were three aspects in which to regard that meeting. One was 

 testifying to their appreciation of a talented gardener; the 

 second to show their esteem for Mr. Frost as an honest and 

 faithful servant; and the third to express their estimation of 

 Mr. Frost as a valued friend [applause] . It was not many years 

 ago that he had the privilege of visiting Droprnore, and he must 

 say that on that occasion, although he was a comparative 

 stranger to Mr. Frost, he should never forget the trouble he 

 gave himself to take him over the grounds and show him those- 

 objects which they were all well acquainted with, and so grati- 

 fying to those who visit them. The disinteredness with which 

 he acted, the trouble which he took, and the pleasure which it 

 seemed to afford him in giving pleasure to others, struck him at 

 the time as a prominent feature in his character. In reference- 

 to his qualifications as a gardener it was perhaps unnecessary 

 for him to speak in an assembly like that, where all were 

 gardeners except the clergymen — but clergymen were nearly 

 always gardeners. Therefore it would be quite unnecessary for 

 him to enter at all into the qualifications of Mr. Frost as a gar- 

 dener, but at the same time it would not be out of place if he 

 referred to what Mr. Frost had done since he had been at Drop- 

 more, on one of the most uncongenial soils it was possible to 

 place a residence or to try to make a garden. Before he left 

 London he was asked who was Mr. Frost's predecessor. Well, 

 he replied, he could hardly tell, Mr. Frost had been so long at 

 Droprnore that he thought he never had a predecessor [laughter], 

 but had made the place himself. Mr. Frost had done by his 

 skill, by his ability, and by his great attention — for there was no 

 doubt that the place never was got up in the style in which 

 it was now existing without a great deal of painstaking having 

 been bestowed upon it, which was greatly to his credit. Ad- 

 dressing Mr. Frost individually he said that must be an eventful 



