February 15, 1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 141 
of their more fortunate brethren, and are growing only hundreds; 
amateurs and others who have just begun, and count plants 
only by their tens—all these would, I am sure, welcome the coming 
of this collection of paintings to such towns as would enable them 
to benefit by their exhibition. The enormous number of Orchids 
imported is a sure sign that their cultivation is becoming general. 
The interest attaching to the flowering of some imported Orchid 
which is supposed to be something wonderful, the enthusiasm 
with which Orchid-lovers discuss their favourites, and the gene¬ 
rally elevating effect of a pure love for Orchids—all these have of 
times been remarked, and rightly too. 
Long may the taste for Orchids continue to grow ! One thing 
above all others will conduce to this growth, that is the more 
general display of these Orchid pictures. At least this is the 
opinion and the hope of one who entertains an unbounded regard 
for these lovely and exceedingly interesting plants. Others who 
have more ability to urge the claims of the country generally in 
this matter would confer a lasting favour on many, I am sure, if 
they exerted themselves to procure such exhibitions as I have 
ventured to suggest.—A Lover of Orchids. 
LADDER FOR CONIFERS. 
Wherever specimen Conifers are grown and taken a special 
interest in, some ready means of reaching their tops is very desir¬ 
able. The accompanying sketch shows an easy mode of doing so. 
It is simply an ordinary ladder, supported after the manner of 
common steps by placing a stout piece of wood across, about 3 feet 
from the top, of a larch pole or similar piece of timber. The top 
of the pole is put through between the rounds of the ladder at a 
convenient height, allowing the latter to rest on the cross made, 
the bottom of the pole being fixed through a piece of wood to 
prevent the support slipping outwards. When used on sloping 
ground the pole must always be placed on the highest side. If 
the ladder is a very long one, the safest plan is to steady it by 
means of two guy ropes at the top. Shorter ladders may safely 
be held by one man by means of a light pole fixed to the ladder 
by a ring, as shown at a in our sketch. The ladder is placed 
with its side to the tree, the bottom branches coming in between 
the ladder and the support.— R. Inglis. 
AN AMATEUR’S HOLIDAY. 
ABOUT ABERDEEN. 
I HAD long wished to see some of the nurseries in the far north. 
Among places to delight the heart of a lover of flowers I would 
assuredly place in the foremost ranks the establishment of Messrs. 
James Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen, a name well known to Scottish 
florists. Two fine days, a feast of flowers, and a hearty reception 
combined to render memorable a visit which I trust will only be 
the first of many. How much I regret that, having lost part of a 
few jottings I made, I must trust chiefly to memory to supply 
what I saw with so much gratification ; but several things are so 
impressed as to be easy of recall. 
In the last “ Rosarians’ Year Book,” so delightful and instruc¬ 
tive, even above its predecessors, Mr. Gray in his racy article, 
with its too-well-deserved strictures on Rose-showing in Scotland, 
has intimated the difficulties Messrs. Cocker have so triumphantly 
surmounted in Rose-growing. Let me interpolate that the gross 
offenders against even ordinary good taste whom Mr. Gray so 
humorously and so cordially castigates, are not merely, or, if the 
truth may be spoken, not principally amateurs. At Morningfield, 
out of upwards of forty acres, Mr. Cocker devotes a large space 
to Roses. In addition to all the leading Hybrid Perpetuals I 
saw a full collection of Bennett’s Hybrids. Of these, Duchess of 
Connaught and Pearl were extremely fine ; the full flowers and 
the scent of the former pleased me much. Numbers of Teas on 
seedling and Briar cuttings were most attractive. Among them 
Catherine Mermet and Niphetos were already flowering on plants 
worked that season. I was also shown Etoile de Lyon in bloom 
within the enclosure, the possession of which, or another such 
“ snuggery,” Mr. Gray affirms would be enough to make him “go 
daft.” It would certainly not be easy to secure such another 
quarter for Teas, and, judging from what has already been accom¬ 
plished within it, we may look for something worth seeing from 
this house at our future shows. I saw also Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, 
a beauty. Blooms of this variety from plants, the parent of which 
had been obtained somewhat early, had been exhibited at Glasgow, 
Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. 
I was glad to see such a collection of hardy Primroses, Primulas, 
and Polyanthuses as Mr. Cocker has. I had long wished to know 
where a collection of these was to be met, and here at Morningfield 
'I found them made a speciality. To lovers of these charming 
flowers I throw out this hint worth having. Many of our finest 
Pansies are the production of the same bouse. I was delighted 
with those I saw at Morningfield. The northern air appeared to 
have refined the complexion of the white grounds especially. I 
pass over the extensive department of forest and other trees to 
hasten to the grounds of the firm which may now be said to be 
within the city. At Sunnybanlc Pansies were again well repre¬ 
sented. A fine display of Dahlias was met here, including the 
Pompons and the single varieties. A very extensive assortment 
of double Pyrethrums, an usually comprehensive break of Poten- 
tillas, another of herbaceous plants—were a few of the attractions. 
But what most fascinated me was the collection of Carnations and 
Picotees. I could have spent hours over these alone. It was the 
best assortment I have seen. To them is attributable the fact that 
I can say so little about the houses at Sunnybank, as with a look 
at a small collection of Orchids I hurried over masses of decorative 
and other plants, which would no doubt have offered great attrac¬ 
tions to many, to return to these alluring flowers. One thing that 
surprised me was the size and vigour of the plants. A few sent 
me by a friend did little more than spindle into bloom, and in¬ 
quiries showed that last season this had been generally the case ; 
but the Sunnybank plants were large, and the vigorous and sturdy 
“grass” had been successfully layered. The beauty of the varie¬ 
ties I saw, for I was rather late to catch them in general bloom, 
made a craze for Carnations and Picotees seem the likely terminus 
of a first attachment. I noted the names of some of the most 
beautiful sorts, but finding that with Cyprus, Mrs. A. Chancellor, 
Mrs. Langtry, and Queen of Summer I had reached fully three 
dozen, I thought it advisable to seek safety in flight. It is some¬ 
what of “a far cry ” to Aberdeen when time has to be husbanded, 
but stern necessity alone will prevent me from again visiting 
Messrs. Cocker’s when next their Carnations and Picotees are in 
flower. 
The Polmuir nurseries of Messrs. William Smith & Son are a little 
way from Aberdeen. There I saw the Mule Pink Napoleon III., 
and was struck with it as a bright plant for a mixed border. I 
believe the principal grounds of the Messrs. Smith are at Kintore, 
about thirteen miles off, where the collection of herbaceous plants 
is very complete. 
Directly opposite Polmuir is Deemount Nursery, where Mr. 
J. MacPherson demonstrates what can be successfully achieved 
in conducting a very flourishing and comprehensive florists’ 
business in moderate space. Discreet arrangement and skilful 
treatment provide for the accommodation of a stock more complete 
