December 7, 1912 



THE GARDENERS- MAGAZINE. 



945 



North of Scotland Horticul 

 tural and Arboricultural 



sociation. 



There was exceedingly large attendance 

 of members at the meeting of this association 

 in the Botanical Class-room, Aberdeen Uni- 

 versity, on Wednesday evening^ 20th inst. 

 Mr. A. Robson (in the unavoidable absence 

 of Mr. J. McKinnon, Haddo House) ^ occu- 

 pied the chair. Several new members hav- 

 ing been admitted, making a membership 

 now of nearly 301). the Chairman introduced 

 Mr. A. Brown^ of Messrs. Alexander and 

 Brown, Perth, who gave a paper on A Trip 

 to Holland and the Bulb Fields." 



Mr. Brown stated that, although he had 

 been in the habit of visiting Holland an- 

 uually for many years past, it was seldom he 

 could find time in the springy which, witli 

 him, was usually a busy period, to go to 

 that country, but two years ago he had taken 

 a week-end trip there^ and it was that visit 

 he proposed to describe that evening^ and 

 to show them how much coxdd be seen in 

 Holland in a comparatively limited period at 

 a most interesting time of the year, &o far as 

 the bulb fields were concerned. Mr. Prown 

 then proceeded to describe his journey frcm 

 Perth to liondon, thence to Harwich, and 

 atrofia to the Hook of Holland by steamer, 

 and then by rail to Ley den ^ and the c-vuntry 

 between there mid Haarlem and Amsterdam, 

 where the principal bulb fields rvere to be 

 foimd. He described in racy language the 

 scene of rich colour when the I vacinths, 

 tulips, narcissi, and other bulboas plants 

 were in flower, and showed with tJie aid 

 of a lantern a large number of views of the 

 principal places through which he had passed 

 and also a capital selection of photographs 

 of beautiful and popular varieties, Mr. 

 Brown also gave some valuable and practi- 

 cal information on the culture of Dutcli 

 bulbs^ described the way in which the sc'udy 

 soil was rendered best adapted fcr ^.ultiva- 

 tion, and the elaborate but simple system 

 of irrigation prevailing in Holland, 



It was altogether a delightful lectur-^, 

 nrd, in the course of a short discussion which 

 followed. Mr. Slorach, Aberdeen, who has 

 been several times over the fields described 

 Mr. Brown,, hig^hly }complimen[ted the 

 lecturer on his admirable address, as did 

 hIpo the chairman. 



On the motion of Mr. W. B. Clark, gar- 

 dener, Balgownie Lodere Aberdeen, Mr. 

 Brown was warmly thanked for his interest- 

 ing and instructive paper. 



NOVELTIES OF THE YEAE. 



The Chairman said the uext business was 

 to hear report® from the conveners of the 

 ^'arious sections of the association as to th-? 

 novelties which had come under their cog- 

 nisance during the past season. 



Mr. W. Ironside, gardener to Sir David 

 ' tewart, Banchory House, and convener of 

 the vegetable section, in the course of a few 

 remarks, stated that in his section one or 

 two new peas had claimed a good deal of 

 attention, and were likely to prove of some 

 ^avantage as heavy croppers. Mr. A. Doug. 

 i'^s, gardener to Mr. Thoma,s. Ogilvie of 

 Jvepplestone, Aberdeen, after referring to 

 novelties in sweet poas,' remarked that those 

 ^nich had done best with him during the 

 past unpropitious season had been Lady Eve- 

 lyn Lyre, Hercules, Hobbie's Cream .and 



• l^l' E^f^rring to primulas Mr. Douglas 

 that smce the introduction of Primula 

 oDconica several fine varieties, had been sent 

 "ut wit h flowers of varving shadesof rose and 

 rosy-red, but the aim of manv lovers of that 

 P^ant had been to obtain a reallv bright red 



(t.^' . "^^^^^ ^^^^ lt>^^n secured. 



Vueen Alexandra (or Snowdon) was a 



XT ^^''^^ variety of Primula 



sinensis. The new Stellata, or Star pri- 



shn .m' 1."^^'^^ ^^'^''^ introductions, which 

 snould be grown by all. Mr. Douglas in a 



J',J^ instructive manner, also referred to 

 ^ erai new herbaceous plants, and very 

 - miy commended to his hearers a lovelv 



ments in which he had been successful with 

 collarette dahlias. One of the finest varie- 

 ties was Queen Mary, which bloomed freely, 

 was of a fine shade of bright ro>':e, with \\ 

 white disc, and prettily tipped with "^hite, 

 wiiile the collar was of a pleasing blush. 

 Mr. Clark also commended paeouy dahlias, 

 and went on to speak of perpetual-flowering 

 carnations and begonias. He especially raen*^ 

 tioued. and showed, an improved Begonia 

 Gloire de la Lorraine. He also empiuu^ised 

 the value of the beautiful Viola gracilis. 



Mr. W. Smith, gardener to Lord Senipill. 

 Fintray House, by Aberdeen, made some in- 

 teresting remarks on a new tomato, the 

 Laxton berry, and loganberry. 



Mr, Robson, jun,^ a son of the chairman, 

 dealt in a most intelligent manner with new 

 varieties of trees and shrubs, particularly 

 some lately introduced by Mr. Wilson, and 

 sent out by the Messrs. Veitcli. 



Interesting discussions followed the vari- 

 ous reports, at the close of which w^arm 

 thanks w^ere awarded the respective re- 

 porters, who had so ably fulfilled their 

 tasks. 



The Chairman then i^irosonted the a.sso- 

 ciations certificate of mvv]\ l<i Mr. Ironside, 

 Banchory House Gardens^ by Aberdeen, for 

 his admirable woi'k in the cultivation of new 

 varieties of onions and carrots, and a simi- 

 lar honour was awarded Messrs. Adam and 

 Craigmile, Ferniclea Nurseries, Aberdeen, 

 for their beautiful new rose Bon Accord, 

 named after the motto on the City of Aber- 

 deen's coat-of-arms. 



The Chairman then intimated that at the 

 next meeting Mr. Elder, Hursley Park Gar- 

 dens, would give a paper on "Rock Gar- 

 dens," and Mr. Whyte, Aberlour, would 

 speak on. "The Begonia." 



Needless to say, after so very instructive 

 an evening, the audience, which included 

 several ladies, cordially thanked the chair- 

 man and all who had contributed, and re- 

 tired highly delighted with a well-spent 

 couple of hours. 



pink astilbe. 



^cv!^'^' ^' Balgownie Lodge, de- 



'^OQd in a very interesting manner experi- 



Blackburn. 



NOVEMBER 15 and 16. 



The Town Hall w^as again used for the 

 Blackburn Exhibition, but the entries were 

 so numerous that an extra room was required 

 to hold the exhibits. 



As orchids are the predominant featui'e 

 of the exhibition, it will be well to gi\-e 

 them first consideration. For a table, 8ft, 

 by 4ft., Mr. J. Lupton, gardener to Colonel 

 J, Rutherford. M.P., was the only exhibito'\ 

 but he arranged a splendid bank in wliicli 

 oncidiums, cymbidiums, odontoglossum«>, 

 cattleyas, and cypripediums were admirably 

 blended with palms, ferns, etc. For a table 

 of cypripediums, Mr. A. E. Strafford, gar- 

 dener to William Thorn, Esq., led with a 

 fine exhibit, which included many choice 

 kinds and good floAvers. Mr. T, Cass, gar- 

 dener to Alfred Nuttall, Esq., was second, 

 and Mr. C. Parker third. Mr. Strafl'ord was 

 successful for three cypripediums, with Mr. 

 J, Pimplott, gardener to T. Mitchell Eccles, 

 Esq., and Mr. J. Sumner, second and third. 

 Mr. Strafford maintained his position for a 

 single plant, staging Cypripedium insigne 

 Sanderae in good form with seven flowers. 



The best three hybrid orchids came from 

 Mr. J. Hardy, gardener to H. Bell, Esq., 

 with Mr. Lupton second. For four orchids 

 Mr. Lupton improved his position, and took 

 the lead, which he continued for three onci- 

 diums. For the sino-le specimen, eleven com- 

 petitors made an effort to win, and Mr. Price 

 was successful with a fine Cymbidium Tra- 

 ceyanum, carrying seven good spikes. 



Among other plants, the most prominent 

 classes were the groups of chrysanthemums, 

 two of large-flowering and two of single- 

 flowering varieties, being staged. In the 

 former class Mr. Bradburn won with good- 

 sized blooms, with Mr. J. Pimplott a strong 

 second. For the singles Mr. Pimplott im- 

 proved his position, ha^-ing a fine half-circle, 

 some ten feet in height, filled witli pleasing* 

 and briglit flowers; Mr. C. Sannvays. ijar- 

 dener to J. Tliompvson, Esq., was an excellent 



second. For a group of miscellaneous plants, 

 Messrs. A. Lodge and Son, Beardwood, were 

 adjudged the best exhibitors, Messrs. J. 

 Batter,sby and Son, Blackburn, and Mr. 

 Thovs. Bury, Arley Nurseries, following. Six 



chrysanthemums found Mr, Bradburn Avith 

 the premier lot, and he also won witli a 

 single specimen, but Mr, Pimplott had the 

 best pair. Mr. Bradburn proved successful 

 in the classes for three bouvardias and four 

 salvia^s. Mr. J. McCuIlock proved the winner 

 for six flowering plants, Mr. Barker for a 

 like number of cyclamen. Mr. Samway.s for 

 t iiree begonias and two amarylli>s, Mr. J. 

 iiartlett for six s<vlanums, and Mr. J. Pim- 

 plott for three ferns, 



In the cut flowers section, for twenty-four 

 incurved, not less than eighteen varieties, 

 Mr. R. H. Jones, gardener to A. E. Troop, 

 Esq., gained tlie premier po-sition, having 

 good blooms of Buttercup, Romance, \V, H. 

 Thorpe, etc; sectmd prize went to Mr. H. 

 l^oyd. gardener to Captain Ficlden, and the 

 tliird to Mr. J. Pimplott. For twelve blooms 

 Messrs. H. Bradburn, J. W. Wells, and R. 

 H. Jones were placed as named. 



For twenty-four Japanese blooms, not less 

 than eighteen varieties, Mr. H. Boyd secured 

 top place, hig leading flowers being Hon 

 Mns. Ix>pe.s Countess of Granard, A. T. 

 Miller, and White Queen: Messrs. H. Brad- 

 burn and K. II. Jonrs wvvo second and third 

 respect ively. For 1 wclvi varieties Messrs. 

 H. Boyd and J. Pimplott were placed first 

 and second; and for three vases of blooms 

 Mr. John Thompson proved the victor. 



For a basket of chrysanthemums, Mrs. 

 Pimplott won with a most effective exhibit, 

 and Mrs. Edith Lodge was second. For a 

 basket of autumn foliage, l>erries, etc., Mrs. 

 Sharpies and Miss Pimplott were placed as 

 named, and for a centre-piece Miss Lupton 

 and Mr. H. Arthur had pleasing designs. 



Mr. J. Wriglit, gardener to Edmund Lord. 

 Esq., Rawtenstall, scored for grapes with 

 two bunches of Alicante^ two of Muscat of 

 Alexandria, and one of Miiscat of Alexandria. 

 Mr. C. Sam ways was second in the two- 

 bunch classes. Mr. J. Barker scored for the 

 collection of A-egetables, his Brussels sprouts 

 and leeks being excellent. Mr. H. J. Wells 

 proved a good second; Mr. Wells staged 

 extra fine onions, which secured tlie first 

 prize. 



Dundee. 



The annual two days* exhibition of this 

 society wag held in tlie Kinnaird Hall, on 

 November 22 and 23. Bailie Walter S. Mel- 

 ville, D.L., J.P., presided at the formal 

 Oldening ceremony, gracefully performed by 

 Mrs, W. D. Graham Menzies, of Hallybur- 

 ton. The exhibits, although not so numerous 

 a.s usual, were of a high order of merit, and 



pronounced by experts to 'be the best seen 

 this 



Our own opinion, was that the thirty-six 

 blooms (twelve vases in twelve varieties) 

 staged by Mr, J. W. Robertson, Letham 

 Grange Gardens, Arbroath and the eigh- 

 teen blooms (six vases) staged by Mr. 

 D. Keillor, Seaborne Gardens, Broughtv 

 Ferry, and Mr. R. McNaughton, Bat- 

 tleby Gardens, Perth, would require a 

 great deal of beating. The latter two lots 

 were not easily decided between as named, 

 containing as they did notable examples dn 

 every way, but the most outstanding flowers 

 certainly were Hon. Mrs. Lopes, W. S. Thorn, 

 Countess of Granard, Mary Poulton, J. h! 

 Silsbury, Elsie Fulton, Eclipse, Mrvs'. A. T, 

 Miller, and Lady Talbot, Mr. Robertson's 

 collection was in the pink of condition in 

 every detail, and only individual prefer- 

 ence would account for noting the best; his 

 Purity wa-s the best we have vet seen while 

 his F. S. Vallis, Reg, Vallis, White 

 Queen, and Victoria and Albert won universal 

 admiration amongst grand flowers of W. S. 

 Thorn. Hon. Mrs. Lopes, Mrs. A. T. Miller, 

 Master David, and George Hemming. Mr. 

 Keillor was also first for twenty-four blooms 

 (eight vases), his lot containing Mary Poul- 

 ton. W. S. Thorn, Lady Talbot, Hon. Mrs. 

 Lopes, and Mrs. A. T. Miller; Mr. McNaugh- 

 ton was a good second, his Dorothy 



