September 18, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
269 
good fruits. Mr. W. Murray had the only four fruit trees in pots, for which 
the first prize was awarded ; excellently grown and freely fruiting specimens 
of Souvenir du Congres and Pitmaston Duchess Pears, Jefferson Plum, 
and Lord Grosvenor Apple, each tree being about 6 feet high and well 
furni.shed. Morello Cherries were extensively shown, nineteen dishes being 
staged, the leading honours being secured by Mr. J. H. Milne, followed by 
Messrs. Goodacre and J. Laing. In the amateurs’ classes Gooseberries, 
Currants, and Plums were represented by some fine dishes, and added con¬ 
siderably to the extent of the display. 
PLANTS. 
Sufiicient plants were exhibited to afford an agreeable furnishing in tl e 
large hall, but although a number of classes were devoted to them, and the 
prizes were liberal, there were few exhibits of unusual merit except the tables 
or groups of plants. Some fine Crotons were notable in a few collections, 
and the Ferns throughout were healthy, but generally rather small. Liliums 
were excellently flowered and afforded an agreeable feature in the Show, the 
plants for table decoration being also extremely good. What were needed in 
such a large and lofty building were some of the giant specimens which take 
the honours at the southern shows, as they would have assisted greatly 
in removing the bareness a little too apparent in some parts of the halls. 
Groups oj Plants. —-Two classes were devoted to these, one for nursery¬ 
men and the other for gardeners, five of the former entering and four of the 
latter. The prizes were offered for the most effectively arz’anged collection 
of plants, to be placed on low tables about 2 feet above the ground, and the 
nine competing groups were arranged with excellent effect down the centre 
of the principal hall, forming an extremely beautiful avenue. In the nur¬ 
serymen’s class, in which the stipulated size of group was 20 feet long by 8 feet 
wide, Messrs. Ireland & Thomson, Edinburgh, were the leading exhibitors, 
securing the premier honour for a well-finished, graceful, and bright group. 
The Crotons were especially notable in this collection, tall handsomely 
coloured examples of the best varieties. Liliums auratum and speciosum 
were also prominent, imparting a most pleasing appearance to the group ; 
Dracaenas, Nepenthes, Anthuriums, Palms, and miscellaneous foliage and 
flowering plants were also employed, the groundwork being formed of 
Adiantums informally arranged so as not to form a level bank. The margin 
consisted chiefly of Ficus repens and Panicum variegatum, which, drooping 
over the side of the table, added materially to the beauty of the arrange¬ 
ment by concealing the staging. Second honours were accorded to Messrs. 
D. k W. Croll, Dundee, who had a pleasing combination of Palms, Ferns, 
Lilies, Impatiens Sultani, and other flowering plants very freely disposed, 
and possessing a most agreeable brightness, the only defect being the margin, 
which, being formed of a wreath of shrub leaves and shoots, had a rather 
incongruous appearance. Messrs. Clarke Bros., Dundee, were third with a 
tasteful and pretty group, in which there was a good proportion of flowering 
plants arranged on an undulating groundwork of Adiantums. 
In the gardeners’ class for a table 15 feet by 8 feet the first prize was 
awarded to Mr. Hammond, gardener to Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., Brajton, 
Carlisle, whose exceedingly graceful group was much admired by all who 
saw it. It was unpretentious but remarkably pretty, the surface being varied 
and the number of flowering plants well proportioned. A beautiful ground¬ 
work was formed of healthy fresh Adiantums, with a central Cordyline and 
two end Crotons, the space between being filled with Celosias, Acalyphas, 
Oncidiums, Anthuriums, Hydrangeas, and Vallotas, the margins being formed 
of Panicum variegatum, which drooped round the sides very gracefully. 
Mr. William Alison secured second honours for a pleasing group, in which 
Crotons, Dractenas, and Palms such as Cocos Weddelliana predominated, 
arranged upon a bank of Ferns as in the other groups. It had a very 
elegant appearance, but would have been improved by a few more flowering 
plants. The third place was accorded to Mr. P. McArthur, Kintral Newport, 
Fife, for a somewhat similar group to the last, but not quite so well 
finished, the margin being rather rough, especially at one corner. 
Stove and Greenhodse Plants. —The finest of the specimens in this 
section of the Show were entered in the class for twcdve plants, and Mr. 
Hammond was the most successful exhibitor, securing first honours with a 
praiseworthy collection of well-grown examples, amongst which the fine- 
foliage plants were especially good. Cycas revoluta, 10 feet in diameter, 
was in splendid health ; Croton majesticus, 0 feet high, was grandly 
coloured; C. Queen Victoria, of similar proportions, was also excellent in 
colour ; Bonapartea juncea filamentosa, 4 feet high and as much in diameter, 
was in perfect health; Dasylirion acrotrichum, large and healthy; and 
Statice profusa, freely flowered, were the most notable specimens in the 
collection. Mr. W. Alison was an extremely close second, showing finely 
grown plants of Phoenocoma prolifera, 4 feet in diameter and extremely 
healthy; Eucharis grandiflora, with twenty-six large trusses of flowers, and 
several good Crotons. Mr. D. Ross, St. Martins, was third, one of his most 
notable plants being Yucca aloifolia, about 4 feet high and beautifully 
variegated. With six stove and greenhouse plants Messrs. P. Marshall and 
Edmonds were the chief prizetakers, the former having Phoenix reclinata and 
Phormium tenax variegatum very large and healthy. 
Heaths. —A class was provided for three Heaths, and it was the centre of 
some interest, owing to the award of the Veitch medal for the best specimen 
plant in flower. This was secured by Mr. Boyes, Burnpark, Uddington, for 
one of his three premier Heaths, Erica retorta major, which was about 5 feet 
in diameter, profusely flowered, and perfectly healthy. The other two 
Heaths in this collection were Erica Marnockiana, 3 feet in diameter ; and 
Erica Jacksoni, similar, and all alike were in most healthy condition, and 
evidently receiving the best cultural attention. Mr. Alison and Mr. G. 
McLennan, Fetteresso, were second and third, each with healthy plants, but 
not quite so even as the first-named. 
Orchids. —There were very few Orchids shown, and none of the specimens 
was of extraordinary merit. Messrs. Ireland & Thomson were the only 
exhibitors of eight plants, being adjudged the first prize for small healthy 
specimens. They were Odontoglossum Pescatorei, bearing a panicle of two 
dozen flowers ; Saccolabium Blumei Dayi, with two spikes 18 inches long; 
Oncidium Rogers!, with a fine panicle ; Cypripedium Haynaldianum, bearing 
five flower.' ; Lselia elegans, with one spike of twelve flowers ; Oncidium 
tigrinum, Cypripedium Sedeni, and Cypripedium Dominianum. Only one 
pair of Orchids was shown, for which Mr. Boyis was awarded first prize; and 
for one of them, Odontoglossum grand“, he was awarded the Veitch Memorial 
medal and prize for the best Orchid, thu.s securing the two medals in the 
plant class—no small achievement. The Odontoglossum was about 2 feet 
in diameter, perfectly healthy, and bearing six .spikes, ten very handsome 
flowers being fully expanded. Tbe other plant was a small example of 
Mesospinidinm vulcanicum with four spikes. 
Lilies. —As already remarked, the Lilies were a beautiful feature in the 
Show, and some extremely well-flowered specimens were exhibited. With 
two Lilium speciosum, Mr E. Moir, Newport, Fife, was first with the white 
and rose varieties, each specimen bearing about three dozen large clean 
flowers. Mr. James Low, Maryfield, was second with plants very slightly 
inferior, the flowers being almost as numerous as in the first. In some 
other amateur classes several tine specimens were also staged. For one 
Lilium auratum, Mr. G. Davidson, Lochee, was fir.st, having a plant about 
9 feet high, with thirty stems bearing from three to six flowers each. This 
was an extraordinary specimen, and was an imposing feature in the second 
hall. Mr. J. Bucknall, Milnefield, followed with a much smaller plant. 
Table Plants. —In the plant department of the Exhibition no classes 
were better represented than those devoted to table plants, all the collections 
staged being distinguished by a neatness of size and gracefulness of habit 
which rendered the judging a somewhat difficult matter. There has been a 
great improvement recently in the style of plants entered in such classes ; 
now the narrow-leaved Crotons and Dracmnas are employed in preference to 
the broader-leaved, bolder, but less suitable varieties, and other plants of a 
light graceful habit of growth have replaced many of stronger growth which 
were at one time favourites. There were six competitors with twelve plants 
in pots not exceeding 0 inches in diameter, and Messsrs. Ireland & Thomson 
were deservedly awarded the premier prize for neat well-coloured Crotons, 
Palms, Aralias, Dracaenas, and Pandanus, the surface of the soil being 
covered with Selaginella, and the pots with a tasteful latticework. The 
second place was accorded to Messrs. R.B. Laird it Sons, Edinburgh, who had 
similar neat, handsome plants a very few points behind those which were 
awarded first honours. Messrs. James Cocker & Son, Edinburgh, took the 
third position with a similarly satisfactory collection, and these three 
exhibits were the most even and pleasing of any we have seen this season. 
Two other classes were also devoted to table plants, one being for six and the 
other for three. In the first named Mr. James Mitchell, gardener to James 
Hunter, Esq., Newmain.s, Aberdeen, secured the leading prize for a very 
creditable collection, followed by Mr. Robert Grigor, gardener to Professor 
J. W. Smith, Sunnyside, Aberdeen, and Mr. Adam Dunlop, gardener to Mrs. 
Springhill, Kilmarnock, all showing plants of nearly equal merit. With 
three plants, Messrs. W. Bell, J. D. Ker, and Wm. Kirton were the prize- 
takers in that order. 
New Pl.4nts. —A class was jDrovided for twelve new plants introduced 
since 1880, but only one collection was entered—namely, that from Messrs. 
Ireland & Thomson, who had well-grown examples of the following :— 
Platycerium Hilli, a very distinct form with hard trifid dark green fronds; 
Anthiirium splendidum, notable for its dark hand.'ome leaves, with a 
peculiar wrinkled surface; Dieffenbachia Jenmani, ■with narrow tapering 
leaves regularly spotted with pure white between the veins ; Dracieua 
Lindeni, a variegated foim, which is now well known ; Ficus elastica arrrea 
variegata, a useful and effective plant; a fine dark-spotted Nepenthes, 
Nepenthes Dormannianna; and Croton Thomson!, finely coloured. 
Fine-foli.age Plants. —There was not a great display of these, but 
with the Ferns the numbers were greatly increased, though there were no 
large specimens, and some -were extremely small. For six plants Mr. 
Hammond was first, his most remarkable plants being Croton Sunset, which 
was in beautiful condition and superbly coloured; Dasylirion acrotrichum 
and Phoenix rupicola, all exceedingly vigorous examples. Mr. Alison was 
second, having Yucca aloifolia variegata and Cycas revoluta in excellent 
health. For one specimen foliage plant Mr. Marshall was a'warded chief 
honours for an admirable conical specimen of Coprosma Baueriana 
variegata, about 6 feet high, well clothed with foliage and clearly variegated. 
In the class for a trio of Dracienas, J. Broome, Esq., Didsbury, Man¬ 
chester, was adjudged first honours for excellently grown plants, 6 to 7 feet 
high, and well clothed with leaves. The varieties were D. Baptist!, D. 
Shepherd!, and D. Youngii. The second place was taken by Mr. E. Douglas, 
whose plants were 4 feet high and well coloured; Mr. Hammond being 
third with smaller examples. 
Of the Ferns, the best were staged in the class for eight plants, exotic 
species or varieties, Messrs. James Cocker & Son leading with fresh healthy 
examples of Microlepia hirta cristata, Gleichenia dicarpa (3 feet in 
diameter), Gymnogramma peruviana argyrophylla, Nephrolepis pluma 
(very healthy), Davallia solida, and Adiantum grandiceps. Messrs. W. P. 
Laird & Sinclair were second with smaller plants, of which Adiantum 
cuneatum and Davallia elegans were the most noteworthy ; Messrs. Ireland 
and Thomson being third with still smaller plants, of which Adiantum 
farleyense was much the best. Several other classes were appropriated to 
Ferns, but in the majority the plants, though healthy, were rather small. 
This was particularly the case with the hardy Ferns, of which some credit¬ 
able collections were staged. 
Many smaller classes were represented, but they cannot be referred to 
in detail. Vallotas were particularly bright and freely flowered ; Eucharises 
were fairly good. Cockscombs were of a moderate size but good colour, 
summer-flowering Chrysanthemums of ordinary merit. Tuberous Begonias 
healthy but not extraordinary either in the number or size of the flowers. 
Alpine plants were shown in fair numbers, those with which Mr. D. P. 
Scott, West Ferry, gained the premier position in their class deserving 
especial praise. Pelargoniums were also shown, but not very freely 
flowered, and some had been so damaged in transit that they lost all their 
blooms the first day of the Show. 
Conifers. —In front of the chief hall and ne.ar the band stand three very 
attractive collections of Conifers were arrangtd in competition, and_ some 
charming varieties were represented. The class was for six specimens, 
Messrs. Dickson & Turnbull winning the first prize for compact examples of 
the following r—Thuiopsis dolabrata variegata, Wellingtonia gigantea pen- 
dula variegata, Taxus baccata aurea, Picea Pinsapo glauca, Abies Douglas! 
Staii'i having a whitish tinge, and Abies Tsuga nana, dwarf and of good 
habit. Messrs. Laird & Sinclair followed closely, having Picea concolor, 
Juniperus chinensis aurea, Abies polita, Wellington^ gigantea pendula, 
Retinospora plumosa aurea very fine, and Taxus fastigiata aurea variegata. 
