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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 27, 18S3. 
May, cooked in broths, or eaten raw after they had been soaked 
in water. Even now some folks, it is said, gather for salad the 
leaves of another British species, A. vineale. We have no proof 
that the Garlic of warmer climes was planted in England before 
the reign of Henry VIII., but it may have been, although un¬ 
chronicled. Of its early history as a London vegetable a remi¬ 
niscence is discoverable in a locality on the banks of the Thames. 
There was a landing place at a little bay or bend by the city, 
which was called Garlickhithe, because on the rising ground just 
above Garlic was commonly sold. This historic fact suggests 
that the vegetable thus vended may have been grown on the 
Surrey fields across the river and brought to town by boats. 
One of the numerous little hills in the vicinity of London has 
the old name of Plowgarlic or Ploughg irlic Hill, pointing back 
to a former cultivation of the plant thereabout. The earlier 
books upon gardening advise the setting of Garlic during Feb¬ 
ruary or March. Tusser, however, expresses a different opinion ; 
he recommends November, near or at the anniversary of 
St. Edmund the King.—J. R. S. G. 
DALKEITH. 
On my visit northwards I spent a very enjoyable day at this noble 
place. The Palace itself, with its Ivy-covered walls, is worth a journey 
to see, with its clean-shaven wide expanse of lawn. It is very pleasantly 
situated, and surrounded with fine timber, some trees being apparently 
150 feet high. The grounds are well kept, and must afford great 
pleasure to the public, who are admitted free two days weekly when 
the family is not residing there. The chapel—St. Mary’s—adds to the 
homeliness of the estate, and, though inside the park walls and private 
property, is also thrown open to the public, and is well attended. After 
a tour through the grounds with Mr. Dunn I went through the houses. 
In the first vinery I found a good useful crop of various Grapes, the 
best being Gros Colman well coloured. 
Camellias were clean and well set with buds. In this house were 
several plants of the double Tropteolum Hermine Grashof, good. 
Cucumbers were healthy, bearing a useful crop ; and growing in the 
same house were some good specimens of High Cross Hybrid Melon, 
also good fruit of Colston Basset. James Veitch Strawberry is valued 
for its productiveness and large fruit for second forcing. A very good 
lot of stout-crowned plants were growing in pots. Chrysanthemums 
looked very promising half plunged in ashes. Pines were very strong 
and healthy, especially Smooth Cayenne. Good handsome fruits were 
ripening from suckers less than one year old, and they seemed no 
trouble as grown here. In a small stove I found a very fine plant of 
Anthurium Andreanum with eight handsome spathes, very fine and 
bright. 
Muscat Grapes were a good crop, quite heavy enough to colour well. 
Next was a good old-fashioned span house of greenhouse flowers. The 
Statice is very profuse in flowering here. The various old scented 
Pelargoniums were also in variety, not forgetting Lady Plymouth and 
Rollisson’s Unique. Among Zonal Pelargoniums Henry Jacoby was 
particularly good, as also Lady Bailey, a good fine-flow ered pink. Good 
fruiting specimens of the Musa Cavendishii were noticable in the stove. 
Excellent fruit of Peaches and Nectarines were ripening in unheated 
houses, and Plums were particularly fine. Among the latter Transparent 
Gage stands very prominent. 
I must not forget the fine ribbon borders, which are now at their 
best. The only irregularity is the back row of single Dahlias. These 
are grown from seed, and are generally good, some few extra fine, but 
they vary so much in height and constitution that they are really out 
of place. In reply to my question of raising by cuttings from selected 
roots, I was told this will not do, as they fail to make plants, being 
stunted in growth and not flowering freely. 
The Apple crop was good, and my attention was called to a fine 
tree of at least fifty years’ growth of the Ecklinville Seedling. There 
was no doubt about it, as young trees obtained of this variety and 
planted all bear the same fruit. Pears were a fair crop. 
The kitchen garden was in good cultivation, and Peas growing very 
strong. The whole of the garden and grounds, together with the various 
houses, are admirably kept. I have made no attempt at giving a full 
description of the Palace and its domain, simply jotting down a few 
items which most took my attention.— Stephen Castle. 
AN EXHIBITION IN CEYLON. 
A large Exhibition of plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other 
products was held last month in Ceylon, and it may be interesting to 
English readers to note a few of the chief features of the Show as afford¬ 
ing an example of tropical horticulture. A number of classes were pro¬ 
vided in which money prizes or medals were awarded according to the 
relative merit of the exhibits, all that possessed in good qualities receiving 
some recognition. The first class was for “ exotic garden perennials in 
pots,-’ in which collections of Roses and Begonias were the principal 
shown. For “ exotic garden annuals in pots ” a fine collection of double 
Zinnias and other plants was staged. “ Ferns in pots ” brought a number 
of entries, Gold and Silver Ferns being the favourites. In “ foliage 
plants ” Crotons and Dracwnas were shown by several exhibitors, but 
strangely enough there was no entry in the class for “ native wild plants 
in pots ” when the Ceylon Flora includes so many beautiful plants. The 
cut-flower class contained Roses, Dahlias, wild flowers, bouquets, and 
table decorations. The class for vegetables grown in Ceylon by the exhi¬ 
bitor was a strong one, the following being represented—Potatoes, Carrots, 
Turnips, Peas, French Beans, Cabbages, Beetroot, Lettuces, Tomatoes, 
Vegetable Marrow, Onions, Yams, Jerusalem Artichokes, Gourds, Cucum¬ 
bers, Ceylon native vegetables, Leeks, Rhubarb, Turnips, Bandakays, 
Breadfruits, Brinjals, Capsicums, and Sweet Potatoes. A class was also 
devoted to fruit grown in Ceylon by the exhibitor, and in this the contri¬ 
butions were numerous, including Plantains, Oranges, Pumelos, Custard 
Apples, Pine Apples, Figs, Limes, Mangosteens, Rambutans, Peaches, 
Lovi-lovies, Papaws, general collection of fruits, and Seville Oranges. 
The largest class of all was, however, that for general food products 
grown in Ceylon, in which Tea, Coffee, and Cinchona formed very large 
and important features. Cocoa, Cinnamon, Arrowroot, Cane Sugar, 
Cardamoms, Pepper, Nutmegs, Cloves, Ginger, Tobacco, Cotton, oils, and 
native woods were all shown on a large scale, while classes appropriated 
to arts and manufactures were similarly well filled. 
Referring to the general arrangement of this Show the Cei/lon Weekly 
Observer remarks—Never was the natural genius of the Sinhalese for 
the erection of ornamental temporary buildings more effectively displayed. 
Given a sufficient number of Areka and Bamboo poles, and with abun¬ 
dance of young delicate Cocoa-nut Palm leaves, Ferns, Cocoa nuts of 
different colours from emerald green to rich orange, Palmyra fruits, Pine 
Apples, and Screw Pine fruits, and the Sinhalese architects and artists 
will produce designs the most elegant and combinations of colour the 
most beautiful, such as, while they last, vie with the Gothic arches and 
pillars and the ‘ dim religious light ’ admitted through richly hued windows 
of the most celebrated cathedrals. The contents of the buildings were 
quite worthy of them ; and although this is not the best season for fruits 
and flowers, we have rarely if ever seen the tropical wealth of Ceylon so 
well represented. The Ferns were especially luxuriant, the flowers were 
beautiful, and the Yams, Pumpkins, Cucumbers, and Gourds prodigious.” 
THE KILNS, FALKIRK. 
Falkirk is rather a famous place. The great northern Roman well 
passed through where it now stands in years long gone. Long after that 
it was the scene of what is called the battle of Falkirk, but what in 
reality was only the massacre of a small band of West Highlanders, 
headed by the ancestor of the present Marquis of Bute, by a powerful 
English army. Again after some more centuries armed hosts encountered 
hosts a little to the west of Falkirk, where the highlanders under “ Bonnie 
Prince Charlie ” encountered on foot and routed in an incredibly short 
space of time the best mounted troops the south could muster. As if to 
keep up its connection with warlike work, when Scots and Englishmen 
had joined hands in a union treaty and marched shoulder to shoulder 
against the combined foes of the Continent, it was to the sound of car- 
ronades cast at Carron a mile or two to the north of Falkirk. Later 
still, when shot and shell were hurled against the embattlements of 
Sebastopol, the shot originally came from the Falkirk Iron Works. To¬ 
day no warlike material is made in the district that we are aware of, 
but if the Falkirk people have not exactly beaten their swords to plough¬ 
shares and their spears to pruning hooks, they now cast the best of grates 
and supply the world with sewing machines (for in the neighbourhood! 
the Singer is made) and stoves, and 1 cannot tell what more ; but horti¬ 
culture is indebted to it for hot-water pipes, boilers, and coils. 
But trees, Vines, and Orchids are what attract gardeners, and in 
Falkirk or near by are gardens well known for all these. At Mayfield 
there once was, and indeed yet is, though its arboreal glories are scattered, 
a unique collection of the finer trees and shrubs. Those who have seen 
Mr. Boyd’s, of Callendar, exquisitely finished Muscat Humburghs at 
Manchester and elsewhere may be interested in knowing that they were 
grown within sight of “ Carron blazes,” and within one mile of the 
ancient town of Falkirk. At one time, too, and that not very distant, 
many pilgrimages were made to the seat of the late Provost Russell to 
see his famous collection of Orchids. That collection is now no more, 
yet Falkirk still boasts of one in many respects not the least in the 
kingdom. Within the last few years John Gair, Esq., of The Kilns, has 
been gathering together a goodly collection, and these, under the fostering 
care of Mr. Fairbairn, who was pronounced by one well able to judge, 
“ the best Orchid grower in Great Britain,” are rapidly assuming dimen¬ 
sions, as they already are in condition, that will cause them to be more 
heard of. My visit was but short, and time for taking notes was limited, 
so few names were noted. But indeed to note the names of all that are 
worthy in such a collection as this would be to compile a catalogue. I 
spent the time more profitably by sitting, metaphorically, at the feet of 
Mr. Fairbairn and learning all I could. 
On entering the cool house the Masdevallias first attract attention. 
These are in magnificent health and growing like Leeks. Next 
follow Odontoglossums, and such Odontoglossums ! Orchid growers 
will have an idea of their vigour from the fact that from the top of the 
bulb of O. Alexandras spikes of flowers were issuing in various instances, 
while most were throwing spikes that were branched. Individual 
flowers 5£ inches across have been measured of pure white flowers. 
“ Grand variety 1 ” the reader may exclaim. Decidedly, but good cultiva¬ 
tion has a wonderful effect in changing varieties of Orchids. Flowers 
from a plant in poor health may look like an inferior variety. The 
same plant when in robust health will turn out a grand variety. 
