258 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 20, 1883. 
weather commences. Some seasons and in some localities we 
have had to lift our Beets by the end of September, and in 
other cases we have left them out until November; but when 
grown to a good size there is nothing gained by risking them 
out, and they may as well be taken in as long as the weather 
is tine. They should be lifted from the soil with a fork, so 
that none of the rootlets are broken, as this causes them to 
bleed and spoils them. For the same reason the leaves should 
never be cut close to the crown. The roots should be dried for a 
day or two in the open before storing in a cool shed or cellar; 
and to preserve them properly and prevent them shrivelling they 
should be stacked and covered with moderately moist leaf soil 
or sand. 
Carrots are treated in all respects like the Beet, and we 
always manage to keep both until the young crops are ready 
the following year. 
Parsnips , Salsafy ,, and such-like roots are much better left 
in their growing quarters until spring, and a quantity may 
always be lifted for use before severe frosty weather.—A 
Kitchen Gardener. 
ROYAL CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S AUTUMN SHOW. 
The annual Exhibition of the above Society was held as usual in the 
spacious Waverley Market, Edinburgh, on Wednesday and Thursday last, 
under the most favourable meteorological influences. Although the entries 
were in excess of any previous year, internationals excepted, the display was 
hardly as good as we have seen it. In the larger classes competition was 
anything but spirited, fewer exhibitors entering than there were prizes 
offered in some instances. 
THE FRUIT CLASSES. 
As is usual at the autumn meetings in Edinburgh heavy prizes were 
offered in these in order to tempt growers to make as great a display as 
possible, and although some good fruit was shown the display was by no 
means what might have been expected, with the exception of the Apples, 
which were both extremely numerous and good. 
The competition for three prizes of £5, £2 10s., and £1 10s., offered for a 
collection of fruit, twelve distinct sorts, only two collections were staged. 
Both were very nearly equal, but after carefully examining both exhibits 
the Judge awarded Mr. Johnston, gardener to the Earl of Strathmore, Glamis, 
Eorfar, the first prize. Mr. Johnston’s dishes of Black Alicante and Muscat 
of Alexandria Grapes, Smooth Cayenne and Charlotte Bothschild Pines, Late 
Admirable and Royal George Peaches were particularly good, while Bananas, 
Melons, Plums, and Figs were fair. Mr. Mclndoe, gardener to Sir Joseph 
Pease, Hutton Hall, Guisborough, was placed second with a collection but 
a few points behind the first; indeed, we imagine that but for bis Grapes 
being not quite equal to Mr. Johnston’s the first card might have been won 
by him. He staged Black Hamburgh and Golden Queen Grapes in fair con¬ 
dition, Princess of Wales and Royal George Peaches very fine, a good dish 
of Durondeau Pears, a fine Queen Pine, two very handsome Best of All Melons, 
and good Figs, Apricots, Plums, and Nectarines. The competition in the 
class for eight sorts was more spirited, and some fine fruit was staged in this 
class. The prizes were awarded to Mr. D. Murray, Maybole; Mr. W. 
McKelvie, gardener to the Dowager Duchess of Roxburgh, Broxmouth ; and 
Mr. James Mackonichie, gardener to P. B. Smollet, Esq., Cameron House, 
Alexandria, in the order of their names. Mr. Fairgrieve, gardener, Dunkeld, 
exhibited a good collection in this class, but evidently reserved his strength 
for the collection of ten sorts of hardy fruits (must all be grown out of 
doors), in which he was successful in gaining first with Royal George and 
Early York Peaches in marvellous condition so early as the beginning of 
September, considering that Dunkeld is situated in Tayside. The Royal 
Georges especially proved that the expense of glass is not needed, even in 
the north of Scotland, in order to secure the fixest Peaches. The Orange 
Apricot, Victoria, Jefferson, and Goliath Plums were fine, and the French 
Bergamot Pears especially so. Mr. Maclndoe was second, his collection con¬ 
taining good dishes of Souvenir du Congres Pear and Worcester Pearmain 
Apple. Mr. J. Day, gardener to Mr. Broadhurst, Garlieston, Wigtonshire, 
third. 
For Grapes seventeen classes were provided, and liberal prizes ranging 
from £G to 10s. offered. For three prizes of £6, £4, and £2 only two com¬ 
petitors tried their strength in the class for twelve bunches, six white, six- 
black. Mr. Mclndoe staged large bunches of Gros Guillaume, Trebbiano, and 
Gros Colman, and fairly good bunches of Golden Queen, Foster’s Seedling) 
and Black Hamburgh. As a whole these were in anything but good con¬ 
dition, not being fully ripe. Mr. McKelvie staged much smaller bunches of 
Madresfield Court, Muscat of Alexandria, Black Hamburgh, and Buckland 
Sweetwater very well finished, and the Judges placed them equal first. For 
eight bunches, at least six sorts, the competition was more spirited. Mr. 
McKelvie was first in this class with fine examples of Black Hamburgh, 
Muscat of Alexandria, Abercairney Seedling, Alnwick Seedling, Madresfield 
Court, and Buckland Sweetwater. Mr. A. Kirk, gardener to J. T. Paton, 
Esq., Norwood, Alloa, was a close second, a notable dish ; very good 
Dukes, Alnwicks, and Muscat. Mr. Mclndoe was third. For four sorts 
Mr. Kirk was first with well-finished fruit, Mr. Day second, and Mr. W. 
Lees, Hillborough Castle, Co. Down, who showed a splendidly finished 
bunch of Cooper’s Late Black. For two bunches of Muscats Mr. Ramsey 
was first with two moderate-sized bunches fairly finished, Mr. Day being 
second. Mr. Johnston showed two very fine bunches in this class, but 
hardly ripe. Black Hamburghs were fairly good ; the Eecond prize was best, 
only the bloom was tarnished. Mr. A. Smith, Spiddock, Dumfries, was first; 
Mr. Mackie, Darlington, second. In the one-bunch classes the first-prize 
Black Hamburghs were good, Alicantes very fine, Gros Colman not coloured. 
The best of any black not named in the schedule was a Cooper’s Late Black 
—a splendidly finished bunch. In the class for finest-flavoured black, 
Madresfield Court, dead ripe and shrivelling, won the day, and a small 
bunch of Muscat of Alexandria that for the best-flavoured white. For the 
finest bloom Mr. Lees’ bunch of Cooper’s Black was simply perfect. Mr. 
Dewar, gardener to Captain Archibald, Beechvvood, Tillicoultry, staged the 
Duke of Buccleuch in excellent condition, securing the first prize in the any 
variety white class. The Vines in pots were not remarkably good, though 
the crop on the first-prize lot was heavy. Space forbids us further noticing 
the exhibits in the Grape classes from No. 6 to 17, beyond publishing the 
names of the principal prizetakers, who are as under :—Messrs. G.Mackmnon, 
Melville Castle ; James Jeffrey, Langholm ; William Spence, Loanhead ; 
D. Murray, Maybole ; S. Castle, Norfolk ; William Lees, Co. Down; and 
Alexander Lowe, Coltbridge Hall. 
Pines were not numerously shown, but were in fine condition. There 
was a great display of Melons, and these were judged according to quality, 
although Mr. Mclndoe’s Best of All, which carried off the prize for green- 
fleshed, was handsomest as well. Only one bunch of Bananas was shown, 
but these were very fine. Space forbids us particularly noticing the other 
fruit classes, but we may say that the Apples were extra good and very 
numerous, although the naming was very faulty. Some of the most success¬ 
ful exhibitors in the minor classes were Messrs. A. Young, gardener to the 
Earl of Breadalbane, Taymouth Castle ; N. Black, Darlington ; M. McIntyre, 
Innerleithen ; D. Murray ; J. Mclndoe ; A. Bremner, Tranent; D.McFarlane, 
Peebles ; John Brunton ; J. Souza, Stirling ; George McKinnon ; G. Dewar, 
Fife; J. M‘Intyre, Woodside, Darlington; George Maclure, Trinity, Gove j 
Alexander Dalgleish, Eskbank ; J. Brunton, Gilmerton. 
PLANTS. 
Although three prizes of £5, £3, and £2 were offered for tables of plants 
20 feet by 8 feet, only two competitors appeared. Both tables, however, 
were very good, especially the first-prize one, which excelled in graceful 
arrangement ; the second was in the good old-fashioned style. In the 
classes for specimens were some grand examples of Heaths, Clerodendrons, 
and Eucharises. In the classes for Orchids, which were but poorly filled, 
Mr. Curror, Eskbank, had fine specimens of Miltonia spectabilis and Cattleya 
gigas, Mr. Paul of Odontoglossum grande and Phalsenopsis amabilis ; Mr. 
Grossart staging a fine piece of Vanda tricolor. The Ferns were mostly 
good, especially the Adiantums, Filmy Ferns, and dwarf British species. 
Among the latter we noticed delightful potfuls in the prize collection— 
Woodsia hyperborea,Trichomanes radicans, Asplenium Trichomanes confluens, 
A. septentnonale, A. incisum, A. germanicum, A. fontanum, Polypodium 
elegantissimum, Blechnum spicant cristatum, Polypodium vulgare cristatum, 
P. cornubiense, Scolopendrium vulgare Baxterii, and Woodsia ilvensis. These 
would form a capital collection for a beginner. Among the Lycopods Mr. 
Henderson’s deserve special notice, his Wildenovii being a remarkable 
specimen. Crotons were fairly good, Eucharis very much so in one or two 
instances, while Zonal Pelargoniums were only moderate, and Fuchsias 
below the average. Tuberous-rooted Begonias made a grand show, and 
the Vallotas were well bloomed. Cockscombs were very inferior to what 
they usually are in the north, where they are generally exceedingly well 
shown. The premier prizes in the leading classes were awarded to the 
following exhibitors :—Table of plants, 20 feet by 5 feet, for effect, Mr. R. 
Grossart. Six stove or greenhouse plants, in flower, distinct sorts (first 
prize by the Corporation of the City of Edinburgh), Mr. J. Paterson, Mill- 
bank. Three stove or greenhouse plants, in flower, distinct, Mr. J. Fowler, 
gardener to Mr. R. Paterson, Grange Road. One stove or greenhouse 
plant, in flower, distinct, Mr. J. Paterson, Millbank. Four Orchids, distinct 
sorts, Mr. A. Paul. Two Orchids, distinct sorts, Mr. J. Curror, gardener to- 
Mr. G. Douglas, Eskbank, Dalkeith. Six Exotic Ferns, distinct sorts, not 
more than one each Gleichenias, Adiantum, or Tree Fern, Mr. Samuel 
Graham, gardener to Mr. Hugh Rose, jun., Kilravock Lodge. Four Adian¬ 
tums, distinct sorts, excluding farleyense, Mr. D. Lawson, gardener to Mr. 
R. Croall, Cxaigcrook. 
CUT FLOWERS. 
In the gardeners’ classes for cut flowers some very good examples were 
shown, Gladioli, Hollyhocks (in spite of disease), and Dahlias being especially 
fine. For twelve Gladioli Mr. Gray, gardener to W. Finnie, Esq., Newfield, 
Kilmarnock, was first with the following :—Shakespeare, Sir Joseph Paxton, 
Camille, Amathee, Dunnet d’Urville, Fatima. Didon, one unnamed seedliug 
very fine, and two named Miss Hill and Mrs. Finnie, the latter having 
already had two first-class certificates. These, though fine, were hardly so 
good as Mr. Gray usually shows them, his strength being put out in the 
West on the same day. For the six Mr. Kilgour of Blair Drummond had 
remarkably strong spikes of Ondine, Horace Vernet, Mrs. Finnie (Gray), 
Archduchesse M. Christine, L’Unique Violet, and Shakespeare. These were 
in magnificent condition and were greatly admired. Hollyhocks were in 
their way equally fine, especially the spikes and blooms which won the- 
prizes for Mr. Kerr, gardener to W. Scott Kerr, Esq., Sunlaws. Among the 
spikes Gem of the Yellows, Lord Middleton, Cygnet, Mrs. Boston, and Dr.. 
Mackeyse were truly superb. Roses were wonderfully good, but other cut- 
flowers were far behind those shown the week previously in Glasgow. 
Vegetables were shown in goodly quantity and very fine quality. The 
Leeks from Mr. Cairns, The Hirsel, of the Coldstream variety, were very 
large, those from Mr. Glass, Carbrook, being not far behind. Potatoes were 
in strong force and made a capital show. Some of the exhibitors seemed to 
think that a covering of dirt might help them, but it would not do; the 
brightest and cleanest won the day. 
NURSERYMEN’S CLASSES. 
As usual much of the success of the Exhibition as a show was owing to 
the efforts of the trade growers, although we have seen them in better form. 
Messrs. Ireland & Thomson’s table was deservedly first, being brighter and 
better arranged than the others. Mr. Campbell of Gouroch’s thirty Gladioli 
were very fine, and similar to those staged by him in Glasgow last week. 
The Roses from Belfast and Aberdeen were conspicuous and attracted much 
attention. 
Among the miscellaneous exhibits the most attractive was the wonderful 
display of single Dahlias set up in fan-shaped bouquets by Mr. Ware of 
Tottenham, London. Single Dahlias there were in plenty from different 
sources, generally shown as single blooms or ungainly bunches, but these 
completely cast all others in the shade. Out of some fifty sorts we picked 
