Book I. 



GARDENS OF SCOTLAND. 



10B9 



Gardma of the Operative Mawifitdurers of Paisley. -The 

 oiieratives ot Paisley, taking tiiem 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- 

 tai ly- remarkable in their taste for objects which plezise the eye 

 by their beauty, 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 they keep in considerable numbers, are 

 known in the vicinity to be distinguished for their beauty and 

 variety. Several operatives greatly excel in the management of 

 Ijees ; and communicate to each other their experiments and 

 success. It will perhaps be difficult to Hnd elsewhere, in the 

 same classes of the community, an equal proijortion 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 perhaps in any other, who can be com- 

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

 wiio 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 ojieratives must be 

 more various than theirs, and are probably in no department 

 inferior. 



By a statement of the private reading societies in Great 

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

 it appeared that a very considerable ))roportion of the whole (it 

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

 Paisley. 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 ))receded 

 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 Piev. 'William Ferrier, that 

 the attention to flowers which is so consiii.cuous there, is in a 

 considerable degree an effect of the peculiar manufacturing 

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

 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 amu.sement. 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 

 fancy muslins. 



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

 man) have long been remarked for the peacefidness of their 

 dispositions, and the sobriety- of their manners. The Florist 

 Club not only represses all irregularities at its weekly jneet- 

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

 from its lists any disreputable name. It is jileasing 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. 



Orifrin of the Florists' Society. — The culture of pinks became 

 an object of attention in Paisley and its vicinity, between the 

 years 1785 and 1790. Till then, none but those of the most or- 

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

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

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

 hpwever, teced sorts appeared ; which, being new, were greatly 

 admired. The seeds of these were carefully preserved and 

 cultivated; and many pood sorts were procured from them. 

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

 time, did not neglect other kinds brought year after year fi-om 

 Ix)ndon, where they were greatly excelletl in varieties. And, 

 hy proceeding continually on the simjile principle of saving and 

 using the seeds of the finest pirjks, 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 

 iiave 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. 



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

 courages and metho<lises a constant amicable competition. 

 Those which are called Competition Flowers, are eight in 

 number: viz. Auricula, Polyanthus, Hyacinth, Tulijij 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 he 

 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 GO or 70 varieties of the best car- 

 nations all named ; besides many excellent inferior varieties of 

 each kind. 



llitfes of the Florists' Society — The society have weekly 

 meetings every Thursday evening, from the flowering of the 

 Polyanthus, till the disajjpearance 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 flowe/s as are in 

 season; and the best siiecimen of each kind entitles the pct- 

 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 api)ro- 

 priate to the competition for the predominant flower. The 

 ^ secondary flowers of the night, 

 , 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 sjie- 

 cimen to render this sacrifice vain. But when each of th? 

 comiietition flowers is in the prime of its season, a comiie'- 

 tltion for the best collection ofsjiecimens 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- 

 petition is determined, in ordinary cases, by two judges. If 

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

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

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

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

 3. Statement of 

 appearances of 



each in the hooks, of the particular flo-.vers in which he 

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

 rewards are then distributed. The most successful florist 

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

 trowel or knife. 



In the books there is likewise a dejiartir.ent for Border- 

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

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

 is another department fur the name of every member who 

 jjresents the earliest blown flower of its kind. "WTien the 

 books are annually reviewed, the comparative merits of the 

 competitors in each of these last departments are estimated ; 

 but no prizes are assigned. AV'hen the earliest specimen, 

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

 stands not only in tlie 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, v:ho 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 jirize, which is a silver medal, of about 

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

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

 specimens of the competing flower, which, taken collectively, 

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

 to an inscribed silver medal, worth about l^s. After the 

 decision, the flower for next annual competition 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 every one who has 

 formerly gained a medal is then expected to wear it. (Gch. Rev. 

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



7(529. LANARKSHIRE. A surface of 556,800 acres, hilly and bleak, but with some fertile valleyx 

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

 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 society, held at 

 Glasgow. 



GlaSjrorv Botanic Garden. — ThU garden owes its origin in 

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

 Dzlbeth, 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 incoi-i)orated 

 under the title of the Royal Botanic Institution of Glasgow. 



The i)lan of the garden (,fi/^. 753.) combines variation of 

 landscape and scientific arrangement in a very eminent 

 degi-ee. 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. 



'■i. A collection of grasses. 



.1. A Linna;an arrangement. 



4. Arrangement according to the natural method of Jus- 

 sieu, Ikc. 



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

 vnlfians), which bears clipping like common box. 

 fi. Medical plants. 



7. Plants usetl in agriculture or commerce. 



8. Forest trees. 

 0. 'Willows. 



10. Borders for annuals. 



1). Collection of biennials. 



VI. Esculent vegetables, fruits, &c. 



13. Grass lawn- 



14. American borders. 



15. Aquarium. 

 IG. Rock- work. 



17. Collection of roses. 



18. Borders for floriits' flo'vevs, as iiinlts, carnations, &c. 



19. Border for bulbs. 



20. Collection of variegated plants. 



21. A lpine plants. 



22. Green -house ground. 



23. Shrubs. ' ' 



24. Forcing-beds, frames, &c. 



25. Green house. 



26. Stoves. 



27. Stove; a conservator^', on the west end. 



28. Medical plants in tpiantit}-, for sale. 

 20. Enclosure for cultivating rare plants. 

 .30. ar.d 31. Duplicate borders.' 



32. North entrance from the Sandvford road, with the 

 lodge and lecture-room. 



33. Queen IVIary's yeiv, propagated from the famous tree at 

 Cruikbton Castle twenty years ago. 



34. South entrance from Dunbarton ro,-.d. 



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



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

 the esculent dejiartn-ient (12), the most approved sorts ofhardv 

 iruit-ti-ees are cultivated; so that this garden, like that of 

 Pans, will combine horticultural as well as botanical in- 

 formation. 



The plan was executed tmder the direction of Stewart 

 Murray, the present verv intelligent ar.d sati.-factorv curator 

 ot the garden. It was begun in May 1S17, and coinj.lelcd in 

 two years. The total sun-i subscribed by the memb-.-rs uf this 

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

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

 exertions, and those of the ether proprietors, and e.-^peciVdly of 

 that distinguished l,oiani;-,t. Dr. A'l'. f. Hooker, the colkge 

 profes.sor of botany, the ^-ardcn, in 1821, contained upwards 

 of 9000 species. ' 



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