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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 6, 1893. 
National Chrysanthemum Society. 
At the Floral Committee meeting held at the Aquarium on the 27th 
ult. the following varieties were awarded first-class certificates. 
Oudave Grunerwald .—An early flowering decorative Japanese of a 
light mauve colour passing to white. Exhibited by Mr. N. Davis. 
Mrs. C. B. Myers .—A large exhibition Japanese, solid and well 
built, colour white shaded yellow. Sent by Mr. R. Owen of 
Maidenhead. 
President Borrel .—A variety with long petals of the Japanese type, 
with a striking purple colour and golden reverse. A massive flower, 
staged by Mr. Rowbottom. 
Madame Desgranges Chrysanthemum. 
The well-known Chrysanthemum Madame Desgranges and its 
yellow sports are valuable for decorative purposes, and are somewhat 
extensively cultivated. To grow these Chrysanthemums into good 
bushes strong cuttings should be secured about the middle of October, 
preference being given to those springing from the roots, and place 
them singly into small thumb pots, using loam, leaf mould, and sand in 
equal parts. Plunge them in a half-spent hotbed, and keep them close 
until rooted, only admitting sufficient air to dispel superabundant 
moisture, and thus prevent damping. When rooted they should have 
abundance of ventilation during favourable weather, and keep them 
near to the glass, so as to induce a short-jointed stocky growth, nothing 
being so detrimental to Chrysanthemums as “ coddling ” at any stage. 
Grown under airy, bracing conditions, they will bear a few degrees of 
frost without injury, and although the growth will be slower, yet in 
the spring the plants will possess far more stamina than those grown 
under close, warm conditions, and may, moreover, be placed out of doors 
a month earlier in spring. 
When the plants are 6 inches high, pinch off 2 inches of growth ; 
this will induce them to throw out a number of side shoots. Select 
three of the strongest, and rub ofl all the others. At this stage, which 
will be the end of November, they will require placing into 5-inch pots, 
using a compost of three parts fibry loam and one part each of well 
decayed manure, leaf mould, and sand, adding 1 quart of bone- 
meal and soot to each bushel of compost. They should be potted firmly 
and returned to a cold frame with a south aspect if possible, and as the 
days are short and damp they will not require keeping close, neither 
will they need watering for at least a fortnight, and every oppor¬ 
tunity should be taken to give air, and on mild days to remove the 
lights entirely. During very severe weather the lights may be covered 
in the usual way, but a little frost will not hurt the plants. Damp, 
however, must be expected during the dull days of winter, but this can 
be largely obviated by making a wooden slatted stage for the frame, and 
arranging the plants on it near to the glass, giving them plenty of room. 
Watering also should be attended to during the early part of the day. 
Early in February the shoots should again be pinched back and two 
growths selected which will give six shoots to each plant. Early in 
March place the plants into their largest pots, using those 8 and 
9 inches in diameter.— Specialist. 
A GLANCE AT SCOTTISH GARDENS; 
Dalkeith. 
My initial visit to Scotland took place a week or two since, and as I 
chose Edinburgh as my headquarters I saw much to interest me in as 
well as outside the city. My first visit was made to Dalkeith, and a 
most enjoyable and at the same time instructive one it proved. I was 
unfortunate enough to find Mr. Dunn, the well-known gardener, on the 
sick list, and unable to leave his house, which latter fact I believe 
caused him more worry than ail the pain, as he is, as many people 
know, one of the most energetic of men. He did, however, everything 
he could for me by deputing one of his foremen to show me round the 
gardens. What struck me particularly at this, as well as at the other 
places I visited, was the exceptional cleanliness which pervaded the 
whole—houses, flower, kitchen, and fruit gardens were alike in that 
respect. This was I think more noticeable here than in many English 
gardens that I have seen, where the minor details seem to be ignored. In 
so doing a great mistake is made, for not only is the appearance of a garden 
much enhanced by this freedom from weeds, but the erops that are 
planted thrive best on clean, sweet ground. Almost all the fruit 
from the trees indoors had been gathered, but I was informed there 
had been very fine crops. A few Grapes were still hanging, and 
taking those as a criterion the bunches must have been exceptionally 
fine. Bananas are finely grown, and several splendid clusters of the 
luscious fruits were to be seen in various stages of ripeness. Monstera 
deliciosa was also carrying numbers of fruits. 
Out of doors, however, there was still a wealth of bloom and an 
abundance of hardy fruits. Apples have been exceptionally abundant, 
as also have Pears, and the trees here, as well as those indoors, bear the 
impress of excellent management. Signs of the drought which has 
played such havoc in many gardens throughout the kingdom this year 
were noticeable. The Plums were practically all gone at what is in 
ordinary seasons the height of their perfection. Amongst the flowers 
Dahlias were very prominent and remarkably beautiful, most all of 
the various types being strongly represented. The Stocks were a wealth 
of bloom, pure white and red, and of delightful fragrance. They grow 
well at Dalkeith, and evidently they are highly appreciated, for there 
seems to be an almost endless supply of them. But how useful they are 
for cutting 1 They afford innumerable flowers, which stand well in 
water, and the perfume is, I believe, almost universally liked. Sun¬ 
flowers reared their gigantic heads here and there in the borders, whilst 
the Lobelias in all their dwarf beauty formed the groundwork of some 
charming beds. Zinnias, too, were noticed in great numbers, providing 
a diversity of colouration which entitles them to more general culti¬ 
vation. Their culture is of the simplest, and their beauty cannot 
be questioned. A walk across the park brought us to the place where 
the gardens were in bygone days, and of which but one relic remains in 
the shape of a large stone-built conservatory of much beauty filled with 
Palms and other plants which have grown too large for the accommo¬ 
dation which the structures in the gardens afford. There were numberless 
other things seen, but I must leave the good work at Dalkeith and allude 
to other gardens. 
Newbattle Abbey. 
This, the seat of the Marquis of Lothian, is renowed in history, 
and though there remains little of the old Abbey, yet its style of archi¬ 
tecture remains unaltered, as the additions which have been have 
followed closely the ancient pile. The grounds here are under the 
charge of Mr. Macdonald, who, though but a short while there, has 
made his presence and personality felt in the gardens, which are in an 
excellent condition. Chrysanthemums are a great feature, some 
hundreds of plants being grown, and if appearances deceive not, will 
afford some grand blooms. They are clothed almost to the pots with 
foliage of a rich dark green colour and of exceptional substance. Truly 
they are splendid plants. The flower garden was bright with brilliant 
hued Pelargoniums and Calceolarias, between them being turf, better 
than which one seldom sees. No signs are displayed of dry weather, 
everything betokens good culture, which signifies nothing less than 
unremitting and untiring attention. A proof of the exceptional season 
—if proof is required—is found here in a large Rhododendron which 
has made a second growth, and was, at the time of my visit, carrying an 
abundance of medium-sized trusses of well-coloured perfectly developed 
blooms. 
Indoors neatness prevails. “ A place for everything, and everything 
in its place,” appears to be one of Mr. Macdonald’s mottoes. The 
collection of Masdevallias is a justly celebrated one, and contains every 
known species and variety of merit. Unfortunately for me I had come 
at the wrong time to see them in flower, but one can readily imagine 
that when at the summit of their beauty they present a spectacle which 
could not fail to gladden the eyes, and mayhap the heart, of everyone, 
whether he be an orchidist or not. They would assuredly be worth 
going many miles to see. These Masdevallias are, I understand, the pet 
hobby of the Marquis, who is at present engaged upon an exhaustive 
work on this genus. Another plant worthy of special mention is a 
grand specimen of Bougainvillea glabra trained to the roof of a cool 
greenhouse, a position which is evidently well suited to it, as it is carry¬ 
ing an enormous number of flowers. This is a plant often found in a 
stove, but such a high temperature is evidently not an essential to 
success in its culture, for a finer plant could not be wished for than that 
at Newbattle. There is here, too, a delightful fernery, where Adiantums, 
Pterises, Aspleniums, and numerous other Ferns grow and thrive to 
perfection. Huge boulders have been procured, with the idea of carry¬ 
ing the fernery underground, to come out into the gardens by a flight 
of steps of a gentle incline. This project if carried out, and good Ferns 
planted therein, would greatly enhance the charms of a home which 
is already beautiful, and would be such a place as Mr. Schneider, of 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons’, would revel in. 
I cannot leave Newbattle without a word in praise of the fruit. 
Peaches and Nectarines had all gone, but Grapes indoors, and Pears and 
Apples out, were magnificent, and a great credit to the gardener. There 
were some grand bunches of Black Hamburgh hanging on the Vines, 
the berries of which were perfectly finished in every way. Many other 
varieties are grown of course, but these remarks may safely be applied 
to them. 
Melville Castle. 
Still following Mr. Dunn’s advice, I next walked to Melville, one 
of the homes of Lord Melville, and here, standing out pre-eminently 
above everything else, is a long border devoted to herbaceous plants. 
Bushels of blooms might be cut and not one missed, they are so plen¬ 
tiful. To select one plant from the whole as the most beautiful may 
appear presumptuous ; nevertheless, for profusion of flowers, good effect, 
and general utility, I should certainly give the palm to Anemone 
japonica alba. I do not remember ever seeing finer clumps. Michael¬ 
mas Daisies, too, made a brave show, many varieties being grown. 
Second only to the Anemones in floriferousness were the Phloxes, these 
forming a most brilliant feature. Dahlias were also very attrac¬ 
tive, the Cactus varieties being particularly showy. Other plants 
were there in endless numbers, but those I have named must suffice. 
Dotted here and there in the borders, and forming in places large masses, 
were some plants of scarlet Verbenas which looked very beautiful, and 
though said to be shy growers in some places, are certainly worth a trial 
