292 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 14, 1881. 
dibble and covered with the help of a hoe. This is the most 
expeditious method, but is not recommended to be adopted except 
on light soils. Shallow planting should be practised on heavy- 
soils, a depth of 6 inches being suitable for medium and light 
soils. In all instances all side shoots should be rubbed or picked 
out, carefully preserving the strong central shoot at planting 
time, as much better results are thus obtained. It is not advisable 
to cut kidney Potatoes of the Ashleaf type, but the rounds may 
be cut into sets according to the size of the tuber. 
If solid manure is used it should be dug-in well below the sets, 
and any artificial manure should be sprinkled in the rows at 
planting time. The latter should be used very sparingly, or too 
much top growth and disappointingly light crops will result. 
Snowflake and Schoolmaster are good main-crop varieties, and 
where there is plenty of space at command Magnum Bonum 
should be largely grown. Scotch Champion is very suitable for 
planting in fields. 
These notes are written with the object of aiding amateur cul¬ 
tivators to produce a satisfactory supply of Potatoes for the table, 
and they may also possibly be useful to some young gardeners 
who have hitherto spent most of their time in the “ houses,” but 
are now finding out, as all young men do, that Potato culture is 
an important element in gardening ; and some of them, too, need 
a reminder that the new fancy varieties that are necessarily costly 
are not nearly so much prized by a gentleman when they are 
placed on his table, as they are by the cultivator when he places 
them in the ground. These varieties are suitable for exhibition, 
and as such lam not likely to say anything against them, but 
for everyday table use it is safe to rely on “ good old sorts ”—at 
least this is the experience of— A Prizetaker. 
FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULES. 
Mr. Ferguson’s letter on {'age 275 refers to a subject of great 
importance. It is simply impossible for a judge to please all in 
any competition, but the difficulty is immensely increased if the 
schedules are not strictly accurate. In every schedule the exact 
exhibits should be mentioned, and the number of each sort—viz., 
If vegetables, best collection of six varieties ; nine Potatoes, nine 
Tomatoes, three Cauliflowers, nine Onions, nine Turnips, one peck 
and a half of Peas. If twenty collections are staged half would 
be weeded out at the first glance, and at the second another half, 
having five left. If the judges cannot otherwise decide, every 
point should be taken, the points added, and. of course, the larger 
number stands—No. 1, first; No. 2, second; No. 3, third. Respect¬ 
ing fruits the case is precisely the same. For example : if only 
one dish of Grapes is mentioned, A shows Hamburghs, while 
B shows Muscats, causing confusion and dissatisfaction ; while if 
both staged the same variety the test would be easy, and, unless 
to the confirmed grumbler, the case satisfactory.—R. Gilbert, 
Burglilcy . 
ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Spring Show of the above Society was held in the Waverley 
Market, Edinburgh, on the Gth and 7th inst. The first day’s Show 
was remarkable for the intense frost of the preceding night, 12° to 
10° of frost being quite common in various localities, while at Floors 
Castle near Kelso as many as 18° were registered. It might have 
been expected that many exhibitors would be absent, but few were 
missing, and the Show was good. The Azaleas have never been so 
large and fine before, and the same may be said of the Orchids, 
while the hardy spring-flowering plants were very attractive. 
Turning to the prize list the first nine classes were devoted to 
Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs. These commonly form one of the 
chief attractions of the Exhibition. This year, however, they were 
shown in much smaller numbers, and the quality was also below the 
a-* erag \ The first prize for twelve Hyacinths was secured by Mr. A. 
Crombie, Royal Asylum, Morningside ; and the first prize for nine by 
Mr. J. Pearson, gardener to Lady Dundas, Beechwood, Corstorphine. 
These were the only fine Hyacinths exhibited by gardeners. Messrs. W. 
Penn, Greenpark, Liberton, and G. Drummond, Edinburgh, were the 
principal prizetakers in the other classes. Messrs. J. Pearson, Crombie, 
A. McDonald, Ashfield, and Gordon, gardener to Major Waucbope, 
Niddrie, exhibited Tulips and Narcissi well, securing the chief prizes. 
For one specimen Azalea Mr. Paul, Gilmore Place, was first with a 
grand example of Due de Nassau ; Mr. J. Patterson, Millbank. being 
second. For four Azaleas the same positions were maintained bv the 
above exhibitors. In the class for six stove or greenhouse plants 
in flower Mr. Paterson was first with good specimens, Mr. Paul fol¬ 
lowing closely. Fine-foliage plants were below the average, the best 
six being staged by Mr. S. Graham and the best two by Mr. Paterson. 
Passing to the table of plants, 20 feet by 5 feet, we noticed that 
Mr. Priest, gardener to the Marquis of Lothian, Newbattle Abbev, won 
the first place with a bright collection of flowering and foliage plants : 
two fine forms of Odontoglossum Pescatorei and a fine 0. Alexandra 
were particularly noticeable. The second place was gained by Mr. 
R. M. Reid, South Oswald Road, Edinburgh, with a very effective 
group ; Mr. Paul being third with a group chiefly remarkable for the 
number of Orchids it contained and its bad arrangement. Several 
collections of hardy spring-flowering plants were shown, Mr. McLure 
securing the first prize. Some of the other arrangements were more 
effective, but in this instance the great variety of plants influenced 
the decision of the Judges. In the class for two Orchids Mr. Priest 
was placed first with a fine variety of Dendrobium fimbriatum and a 
healthy Cypripedium caudatum. For one Orchid Mr. Paul took first 
prize with a remarkable specimen of Odontoglossum Pescatorei with 
three branched spikes having respectively over forty, fifty, and sixty 
flowers each, with several spikes of unopened flowers to follow. The 
same exhibitor staged the first-prize collection of six exotic Ferns, 
all large healthy specimens. Passing a number of exhibits of little 
interest, Mr. Pearson showed some fine examples of Lily of the Valley, 
Messrs. Paterson and Priest showing pot Roses in good condition. 
A number of cut Roses were shown, but all of inferior quality. 
Fruit was represented by several dishes of good Apples, a Pine 
Apple, a dish of Strawberries, and eight pairs of bunches of black 
Grapes ; Mr. Anderson, Oxenford Gastle, being first with Lady 
Downe’s, and Mr. Kemp, Langlee, Galashiels, a very close second. 
Only two collections of vegetables were staged ; Mr. Potter, Seacliffe, 
North Berwick, being first with excellent Brussels Sprouts, Seakale, 
French Beans, Celery, Leeks, and new Ashleaf Potatoes. 
The competition amongst nurserymen was very limited. Messrs. 
Downie & Laird had first prizes for Hyacinths, Rhododendrons, 
Cyclamens, and Azaleas. Some of the Rhododendrons were enormous 
specimens, more like young trees than bushes. Messrs. Todd & Co. 
were successful in the bouquet competition ; Messrs. Bryson, Helens¬ 
burgh, and Sinclair, Prestonkirk, for cut Roses ; and Mr. Robertson 
Munro for hardy flowers. 
Several nurserymen contributed groups of plants : Messrs. Downie 
and Laird, and Methven & Sons having chiefly Rhododendrons ; 
Messrs. Ireland & Thomson a collection of stove and greenhouse 
plants. Drummond Bros., Mr. Taylor, Hermitage, Leith, and Mr. G. 
Sinclair, Prestonkirk, East Lothian, and the Lawson Seed and Nursery 
Company, Edinburgh, also contributed interesting collections of 
plants. Mr. Potts, Fettes Mount, Lasswade, staged a collection of 
260 kinds of Saxifrages, a lemon-tinted-leaved seedling named S. Fet- 
testonia aurea receiving a first-class certificate. Messrs. W. Thomson 
and Sons exhibited some remarkably tasteful bouquets, crosses, and 
wreaths. Stuart & Co. had on exhibition two of their new patent 
granolithic vases designed for West Prince’s Street Gardens. The 
material is exactly like sandstone. First-class certificates were 
awarded to the following plants — Rhododendron Thomsoni, large 
sweet-scented white variety from Messrs. Ireland & Thomson • Sol- 
danella minima alba from Mr. Robertson Munro, and the above-named 
Saxifrage. Four Vanda trusses from Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, Peebles, 
were highly commended ; as was also a basket of flowers consisting 
of double and single Pelargoniums and blue Cinerarias from Mr. 
McMillan, Broadmeadows, Berwick. 
ROSE AMATEURS. 
I am acquainted with numerous Rose growers and Rose showers. 
May I through your columns be permitted to ask the Committee 
of the National Rose Society to deal promptly with what is likely 
to become an important question ? We wish to know what con¬ 
stitutes an amateur, what he may and may not do. I do not 
desire to enter into particulars, but I think I am justified in 
saying that if the Committee do not clear away doubts on this 
point a serious difficulty will arise at their Rose shows. I know 
many others who, like myself, feel keenly about it, and who, 
although not likely to protest, still think that they are not having 
fair play. If the matter is taken in hand by the Society every¬ 
one will be satisfied ; but if it is neglected the evil will grow, and 
what can be remedied now with little trouble and no ill-feeling 
may hereafter endanger the welfare and even the existence of the 
Society. A word from you, sir, would go a long way. If you can, 
please say it in behalf of— A Genuine Amateur. 
[We consider “an amateur,” in the sense referred to by our 
correspondent, is a grower of Roses, but not for sale.—E d.] 
DOUBLE ZINNIAS. 
There are few more gorgeous flowers than these that can be 
so readily raised from seed and easily grown in pots for the 
adornment of the conservatory. They are represented in various 
colours, some being of great richness, and the symmetrical forms 
of the flowers are highly imposing. It is not always that plants 
which bear blooms equal to those represented in fig. 69, can be 
raised from an ordinary packet of seed, but I have seen many in 
no respect inferior the product of seed that has been saved from 
well-grown plants and selected flowers. Seeing how readily and 
profitably seed of popular half-hardy annuals can be raised, it is 
somewhat surprising that some of our enterprising florists and 
seedsmen who have light glass structures at their disposal do not 
