June 28, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
525 
many readers, whether they are predisposed in favour of the system he 
adopts or not. At any rate it is to be hoped we have heard the last of 
the clamour for taking plants to London for the convenience of indi¬ 
viduals who will not believe anything can be done that they have not 
accomplished themselves, and will not take the trouble of doing what they 
expect others to do—undertake a journey for verification, and especially 
when this can be done without dragging plants about with them. 
It would appear to be a tenet in the horticultural creed of some 
individuals, that nothing can be good that is not “ taken to London.” 
Everything must go ‘‘to London” to get stamped. But London is not 
^11 the world, and according to accounts there is a good deal of produce 
staged at the London shows that would be as well at home ; but if anyone 
has anything extra good and wants others to know it, he cannot do better 
than take it to the city of “publicity.” I have been to London a few 
times, and have formed an opinion that gardening around it is no better 
than may be seen in many other places a few hundred miles away, and 
decidedly the best examples of culture are to be seen in the nurseries and 
market gardens. 
In a brief note referring to Ranunculuses on page 504 it is observed, 
It is surprising these handsome flowers are now so seldom seen in 
gardens.” It is indeed surprising. I have grown them for many years, 
and should not like to be without them. This year, though Crocuses, 
Narcissuses, Hyacinths, and Tulips have been as good as could be desired, 
they have been far surpassed in beauty by the Ranunculuses that succeeded 
them. In symmetry the blooms equal the best formed Camellias, while in 
variety, and especially richness of colour, they far excel either Camellias 
or Rose®, and in this respect are scarcely surpassed by any other flowers 
that are cultivated either under glass or in the open air. It is, I think, a 
great pity that Turban Ranunculuses are so “seldom seen.” 
Inquiry, I perceive, has been made on that very interesting, singular, 
and chastely attractive race of plants—British Orchids, and the reply 
given on page 517 is suggestive, as it indicated that these plants are 
amenable to improvement. I happen to have some of them flowering 
now, and they are much stronger and altogether more attractive than 
they were when struggling through the grass and existing in the hard dry 
soil in their native haunts. They were transplanted when the flowers 
were fading, the stems being cut off, in fertile soil in a position shaded 
from the sun after ten o’clock, and it suits them exactly. They are much 
admired, and I am strongly impressed with the idea that there is a great 
deal of latent beauty in British Orchids that is worthy of being developed 
by cultivation. The present is the time for transplanting. 
For the study of young gardeners especially the article on methods 
of potting on page 508 last week, is, in my opinion, far away the best in 
the Journal, and especially the closing paragraphs of it relating to water¬ 
ing. That article should be read attentively and thoughtfully by all who 
desire to excel in plant culture. I do not mind saying that when fourteen 
years of age I not only read over and over again articles on gardening 
that I was fortunate enough to get hold of, but made it a rule to copy 
those that I wished to firmly impress on my memory. That practice was 
continued for fifteen years, not in a slovenly slipshod way, but carefully, 
with the object of finishing each chapter better than the last. This is 
mentioned solely with the object of encouraging those young men who 
may be disposed to do so to adopt some such method of utilising a few 
spare hours. First let them read carefully, discriminate, then fix on their 
minds by transcribing. They will find the benefit of it sooner or later, 
educationally and professionally. Eventually they will be impelled to 
take a step in advance. They will no longer be content to copy, nor will 
it be needful to do so; but a desire will become fixed to do a little good 
to others in return for that which they have received, and the practice 
they have indulged in will be of the greatest advantage in enabling them 
to gain a hearing ;through the press in the great auditory of the horticul¬ 
tural world. This “ thought ” for the young will be excused by the old ; 
and all, perhaps, will be glad if a little rest can be enjoyed by—A Thinker. 
SCOTTISH PANSY SOCIETY. 
The forty-first annual Exhibition of this Society was held on the 16th 
inst. in the west portion of the Waverley Market, Edinburgh. Owing per¬ 
haps to the excessive drought which has prevailed in the south-east of the 
country the Show was not such a large one as we have seen, while many of 
the blooms lacked that freshness which is so much appreciated in these 
flowers. A few large foliage plants served to make the bare concrete less 
dreary ; but otherwise, if we except a stand of cut Pyrethrums from 
Messrs. R. B. Laird & Sons, Pansies and Yiolas reigned supreme for the 
day. 
In the nurserymen’s classes the chief prizes went to the west of Scotland, 
the rather humid atmosphere there telling in favour of the Pansy as later 
on it does with the Gladiolus. Mr. Sutherland, Lenzie, carried off first prize 
both for twenty-four Show and twenty-four Fancy Pansies. Some of the 
flowers of the latter were especially fine. Mr. Lister, Rothesay, was second 
in both cases, and Messrs. Dickson & Co., Edinburgh, third. The finer of 
the Fancy sorts were May Tate, Pilrig, Maggie Edgar, Mr. G. P. Frame, W. 
McIntosh, Mrs. 0. Duncan, W. Dean, Evelyn Bruce, Miss Bliss, A. Baillie, 
Thalia, Ruby, Mrs. E. H. Wood. 
For twenty-four bedding Violas Messrs. R.B. Laird & Sons, Edinburgh, 
were first, and Messrs. Dickson & Co. second. The best varieties in the stands 
were Pantaloon, Countess of Kintore, Queen of Crimsons, Columbine, Mrs. 
Cowan, Countess of Hopetown (pure white), Rufus, Glow, Lady Kirk 
(yellow), Acme, and Mrs. Cobham, Bride (pure white with orange eye). 
Messrs. Dickson & Co. were the only exhibitors of seedling Show Pansie® 
and received the first prize for these. 
In the gardeners’ class Mr. Borrowman, Beeslack, was first for eighteen 
Show Pansies; Mr. J. Buchanan, Campsie, second. For twelve blooms Mr. 
Borrowman was again first, and Mr. Stewart, Lenzie, second. For eighteen 
Fancies Mr. Stewart was first with a very fine lot, Mr. Borrowman second 
with slightly smaller but rather cleaner and fresher blooms, and Mr. McComb 
a close third. For twelve Fancies Mr. Stewart was again first, Mr. McComb 
second. Mr. Stewart was also first for six blooms. For twelve bunches 
bedding Violas Mr. J. Baxter was first and Mr. Borrowman second. Mur- 
cheston Castle, a smallish flower, maroon crimson edged with white, is a 
pretty thing shown in the first lot. 
In the classes devoted to amateurs Mr. J. S. Ritchie, for eighteen Show 
blooms, was first with a clean good lot; Mr. J. Skinner second, and Mr. 
Stewart third. For twelve Mr. J. S. Armstrong was first and Mr. J. Galloway 
second. For six blooms Mr. Stewart showed six excellent flowers; Mr. Black, 
East Calder, being second. For eighteen Fancies Mr. Black occupied first 
place with a good lot of bloom, large, even, fresh, and bright; Mr. Stewart 
was a good second, and Mr. W. Dick third. Mr. Stewart for twelve blooms 
was first, the second place being taken by Mr. Black, the blooms fine in both 
cases. Mr. Dick took first for six blooms, and Mr. Black second. 
Prizes were offered for the best single blooms in the various sections. For 
a yellow self, Mr. Borrowman was first with William Crocket; for a blue self, 
Mr. Irwin, Tighnabruiach, with Abbotsford ; for a white ground, Mr. W. 
Deck, with Jessie Foote; for a dark self, Mr. J. S. Ritchie, with James 
Morrison. The other classes of these were not filled. 
A large number of special prizes were offered, and these brought a good 
competition. Mr. Laird offered prizes for twelve Show and twelve Fancy 
Pansies, the prizes being taken by Mr. Borrowman, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. 
Storie in the order named, each showing good blooms. Bailie Goodwin, a 
veteran Pansy grower, offered a prize for six Show and six Fancies, Mr. M. 
Stewart taking the prizes. Among many others Messrs. Dickson & Co. 
took the prize for three Fancy Pansies—Pilrig, a fine variety. The same firm 
was also first for three blooms of James Greive, another fine variety. For 
Fancy, Louie, another fine sort, Mr. W. Water was first. Mr. Sutherland, 
Lenzie, was first for eighteen seedling Fancy Pansies, but no names were 
given with these. 
Prizes were as usual offered to lady members for various forms.of cut 
flowers decoration, Pansies or Violas alone being allowed. The majority of 
the arrangements were rather heavy, the best being a basket of Fancy 
Pansies. Six small glasses of bedding Violas and a basket of bedding 
Violas, each from Mrs. Laird, Pinkhill. Miss Laird and Miss DuPlessis had 
also each prettily arranged baskets. 
First-class certificates were awarded as follows :—Mr. J. Hampton for 
Fancy, Miss Darling ; Mr. W. Dick for Show, Miss Brooks ; Mr. J. Black for 
Fancy, James Craig; Messrs. Dickson & Co. for Fancy, Miss Greive ; Mr. 
Thomson for yellow self, Maggie Thomson ; Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothe¬ 
say, Mrs. Lyle; white Fancy, commended Mrs. Maxwell. 
Before closing this short report we should like to protest against the rule 
that allows competitors for the prizes to stage blooms without at the same 
time attaching names. The policy is in more respects than one a bad one, 
for it can hardly be expected that people will support a Society whose 
efforts from an educational point of view are, to say the least, of little 
value. 
LETTUCES ON CELERY RIDGES. 
Many say the best summer Lettuces can only be grown in cool soil 
and a partially shaded position, but for some years past I have cut all our 
finest Lettuces from the tops of the ridges which stand up high and dry 
between the Celery trenches. Last year I cultivated over a dozen varie¬ 
ties, with the intention of exhibiting them at South Kensington, and 
managed to show as many as twelve sorts in one collection; but although 
some of them were grown od level rich ground, the Celery-ridge ones 
were decidedly the best. Manure is applied to the Celery trenches 
heavily, but nothing extra goes on the ridges, and I can only attribute 
the success of the Lettuces to the great depth of soil they have there. 
Indeed, this is the only advantage they have, as it is a difficult matter 
to water them properly on the ridge, and they have only the deep soil to 
depend on. It is a very common practice to plant Lettuces on ridges at 
this time; and as many readers may be able to inspect their own produce 
in this position, let me ask them to look and consider if it would not be 
advisable to grow more Lettuces on ridges. Late autumn and winter 
Lettuce generally grow very well; but they frequently suffer very much 
from damp, and the little experiment I have made in this way leads me 
to say that our autumn and winter Lettuces would develope more and 
keep much longer on small ridges thrown up for the purpose than they 
do on the level.—J. Muir. 
THE STEM ROOTS OF LILIES. 
Mr. E. Jenkins settles the various points raised on this subject to 
his own satisfaction at least, and evidently gives to others but little credit 
for their practice and observation. There are others besides himself who 
have the management of these bulbs in quantity after they arrive in this 
country. I have had the handling of large quantities of these bulbs, and 
laid them into cocoa-nut fibre, sawdust, and other similar material after 
their arrival until they have been sold or finally planted. Experience 
j ustifies me in taking exception to the statement that 95 per cent, commence 
root-action first from the base. AVith the experience your correspondent 
professes to have had he ought to know that hundreds and thousands are 
annually imported that never form basal roots at all. First we are led 
to believe that 95 per cent, do well, and then that many fail, for Mr. 
Jenkins remarks, “The cause of many bulbs failing to make either much 
root or produce flowers, is due to the fact that they are lifted in an 
, immature state.” How are the two statements to be reconciled ? I 
