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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 6, 1882. 
rigida, a tree growing in the uplands of the United States, the 
timber of which is comparatively worthless, and is not imported 
into England (see “ Penny Cyclopoedia ”—“Deals.”) This pitch 
pine has been strongly recommended to me as suitable for making 
garden labels, and I will speak of it presently. During the last 
fortnight I have been busy continuing my observations and expe¬ 
riments on labels. As regards dressings to prevent mildew, I 
have tried several on labels of boxwood, subjecting them to severe 
tests. First, confinement in an ill-ventilated cellar; second, en¬ 
closing in a hotbed. In both places the labels soaked in paraffin 
show spots of mildew in a fortnight, quite as soon as those without 
any dressing at all, and it gradually spreads until the whole 
surface becomes discoloured. The most efficient preventive I have 
yet found is a solution of chloride of zinc, in which the labels are 
soaked for a week ; but even after this slight spots of mildew 
are observed on those which have been in the hotbed for a month. 
The use of boxwood being attended with this trouble, it may be 
questioned whether it is a suitable wood at all for labels, and 
whether deals are not preferable. I think they are. 
Messrs. Wolstenholme have made me some very neat oblong 
perforated labels of pitch pine, suitable for attaching to upright 
wire standards. They are sawn, and would be better for haring 
one side planed, as presenting a smoother surface against the 
adherence of dirt; but I am not sure that pitch pine is the best 
wood for this class of labels. It is easily written upon with a 
very soft pencil, such as Cohen’s parcel pencil, if very slight 
pressure is used ; but if a common hard pencil is used the dark 
ribs of the pitch pine, which mark the edges of the rings of 
annual growth, are so much harder than the wood in the intervals 
as to make writing on them unpleasant and the result untidy. 
I have lately received from Mr. Bradley two or three packets 
of patterns of plant labels, accompanied with a full discussion of 
the merits of each, and many of his remarks are sound and prac¬ 
tical. He says that he has paid more attention to the attainment 
of cheapness and legibility in labels than of durability ; and no 
doubt nurserymen would agree with this principle, though ama¬ 
teurs might differ. He considers common yellow deal (the wood 
of the Scotch Fir) the most suitable, as affording the smoothest 
and the least varied surface. It also has this advantage, that the 
grain of the wood is so even and yielding, that an ordinary hard 
lead pencil makes so deep an impression on the wood that the 
writing will continue legible, however dirty the surface may 
become. It remains, however, to be seen what effect long ex¬ 
posure to weather may have upon the sunk marks made by the 
pencil.—C. Wolley Dod. 
[We have used both pitch pine and yellow deal labels, and 
prefer the latter, for the reasons above indicated.] 
GARDENING IN MOIST DISTRICTS. 
The remarks under the above heading in the Journal of March 
the 9th, page 196, rather surprised me. Having served several 
years in a garden in the same county, perhaps a few notes may 
be acceptable. I think the soil in your correspondent’s locality 
must be partly the cause of his non-success. 
I have seen different varieties of the following plants flower 
very freely, the soil being very retentive—quite a clay, but well 
manured. The spring bedding plants comprised Auriculas, Poly¬ 
anthuses, double Primroses, red and white Daisies, Pansies, Wall¬ 
flowers, Myosotis, Violets, and Snowdrops. In summer the beds 
were filled with Pelargoniums, Lobelias, Verbenas, Heliotropes, 
Cupheas, Petunias, Mignonette, Asters, Stocks, Calceolarias, Car¬ 
nations, and Dahlias, also a few annuals, which made the garden 
look quite gay in summer. Roses, unless well sheltered, suffer 
considerably ; the westerly winds have a great effect upon them. 
The growth of trees in exposed situations is chiefly on one side 
for four or five miles from the sea. Here in the west of Ireland 
where the soil is shallow and porous, no plants suffer in or¬ 
dinary seasons except Coleuses and Alternantheras. Clematis 
Jackmanni trained upon trellises pyramid shape 5 feet high, delight 
in the moist climate, and beds of Agapanthus umbellatus flower 
most profusely, and with a little protection they stand the winter 
well.—J. Richards, Ashford. 
GLASGOW SPRING FLOWER SHOW. 
The above Show was held in the City Hall, Candleriggs Street, 
Glasgow, on Wednesday, the 29th ult. Considering the great loss 
sustained by the Society by the death of its late President, A. B. 
Stewart, Esq., of Rawcliffe, Langside, whose exhibits used to so much 
enhance the beauty of Glasgow shows, and the absence of one or two 
other large exhibitors, the Show maybe considered to have been fairly 
successful. Its main faults were most decidedly the want of noble 
foliage plants and the too great formality of the arrangements. The 
first feature that was noticed on entering the Hall was the great 
untoned blaze of colour; and the next was the almost military 
arrangement of the Tulips, Hyacinths, and other ornamental spring¬ 
flowering plants. We were told at every step that such was the 
demand in Glasgow, but we venture to hope that the Committee 
have misinterpreted the taste of Glasgowegians; that they them¬ 
selves saw their mistake, and that by another spring a few Palms 
and Tree Ferns may be secured to make the Glasgow Show what it 
used to be when graced by the choicest Palms, Ferns, Cycads, and 
other foliage plants. 
The most attractive table in the Show was undoubtedly that for 
exhibition by David Tod, Esq., Eastwood Park, Thornliebank. This 
was filled wholly with choice Orchids, Amaryllidaceous plants, small 
Ferns, &c., gracefully arranged. W. P. Taylor, Esq., of Leith, had a 
large table filled with fine market plants of Spirmas, Azaleas, and 
Lily of the Valley arranged in broad bands in the bedding-out ribbon 
system. We would hardly recommend its repetition. Smith and 
Simons, nurserymen, Glasgow, had a table of decorative plants ; and 
Austin & McAslin, Buchanan Street, a large bank of flowering 
plants, chiefly Rhododendrons and Azaleas. The Roses were wretched 
specimens, and with the exception of one plant the same may be said 
of the Ferns. 
Possibly the most interesting plants, certainly the most lovely and 
most admired, were the hardy Primulas staged by Mr. David Forrester, 
Woodcockdale, Linlithgow, both in the class for Alpine plants and for 
hardy Primulas, and by Mr. George Forrester, Rosehill, Polmont. 
Lowly but beautiful and well cultivated they were. For those whose 
glass erections consist of a frame or two these plants are perhaps the 
very best. For those beginning we will transcribe the names of those 
that pleased us most. Primula denticulata, P. helvetica, and a seed¬ 
ling from it very nearly blue ; P. rosea, P. nivalis (not the true one, 
but the pure white Auricula-like plant that is commonly called by 
that name), P. intermedia, P. lutea, and P. verticillata. This last is 
always staged here among the hardy section, but with us it requires 
shady greenhouse treatment, and well deserves it. 
Spiraeas were present in numbers, well-grown plants, and the same 
may be said of the hosts of Hyacinths and other bulbs. Azaleas were 
exceedingly well bloomed, and were staged in untoned masses. The 
somewhat rare Attaccia cristata was well represented, and its quaint 
flowers attracted much attention. 
Our space forbids us publishing a complete list of the prizes, but 
w r e note a few of the chief winners. Mr. Thomas Hogg, gardener to 
John Gordon, Esq., Aikenhead, Cathcart, succeeded in obtaining the 
first prize in each of the following classes for six and three stove and 
greenhouse plants, three Azaleas, three Rhododendrons, Ferns, Ama¬ 
ryllises, Epacrises, and cut flowers. The chief prizes for Hyacinths 
and bulbs generally were secured by Messrs. Peter M’Kenzie, John 
Sutherland, Peter Fox, Henry Palmer, gardener to John Addie, Esq., 
View Park, Uddingstone; James Buchanan, gardener to Thomas 
Allan, Esq., Kincadie House; —Milton of Campsie; and Duncan 
M’Intyre, gardener to T. L. Arnott, Esq., Blairmore House. The 
best table plants were staged by Messrs. D. Chisholm, gardener to 
Mr. Anderson, Gibbnock ; and David Dalglish, Dalmarnock Road. 
Primulas were contributed by Messrs. Alex. Small, Glasgow ; James 
M’Leod, gardener to John Stewart, Esq., Thistlebank, Helensburgh ; 
David and George Forrester. Messrs. P. M’Kenzie and John M’Leod 
were the prizewinners with Orchids. Amongst the chief exhibitors 
of collections not in competition were the following, in addition to 
those already mentioned. Messrs. Austin & M’Aslan, Buchanan 
Street, collection of new Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and other stove 
and greenhouse plants, all in splendid condition, highly commended ; 
Mr, John Clasper, florist, Stevenston, collection of Potatoes ; Messrs. 
J. & W. B. M’Neil, Union Street, bouquets. Mr. Peter M’Kenzie 
exhibited several most exquisitely built and arranged marriage and 
other bouquets ; Messrs. P. & R. Fleming, Argyll Street, lawn mower ; 
Mr. Henry Palmer, double Hyacinths, “ Peter the Great; ” and Mr. 
John Sutherland, Lenzie, collection of Hyacinths. 
DISBUDDING. 
Spring always brings many duties to the gardener, but few are 
more important than disbudding fruit trees. Disbudding may be 
briefly described as a thinning of the young growths where they 
are very close together on last year’s wood. Often these are so 
close that, were they all allowed to remain throughout the sea¬ 
son, they would become weak and never likely to be matured, but 
if they are left a convenient distance from each other, and can 
develope freely they will become thoroughly matured. 
Trees trained to walls generally require more attention than 
standard trees, and Peaches and Nectarines may need it more 
than any other; but at the same time it may be stated that almost 
all trees which are likely to make a large quantity of young wood 
throughout the coming season would be benefited by being dis¬ 
budded in spring. Disbudding is done at different times, but it 
is always better to do it too early than too late, and it is better 
done gradually than removing many growths at one time. 
Peaches and Nectarines are the first to come into leaf. As 
a rule the buds on these are very close, and the young growths 
