August 11, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
117 
years ago by the Queen from the Prince of Wales. A good deal of the 
wood here is from eighty to a hundred years old, and though not of great 
size, in consequence, apparently, of having been neglected in its youth, 
the trees everywhere presented a very healthy aspect. They consisted 
of a mixture of Scotch Fir, Larch, and Birch. The great feature of the 
woods seen during the day was undoubtedly the natural Birch, which 
grows to a considerable size, and has in this quarter a most graceful, 
drooping habit. The largest Oak met with was 5 feet 7 inches in girth 
at 5 feet up—a measurement not at all contemptible for so high a region. 
Further up the Muiclc the only other trees measured were a Silver Fir, 
which was 8 feet 8 inches in girth, and 75 feet high ; and a Spruce 
7 feet 7 inches in circumference, and 90 feet high—Kay’s dendrometer 
being used to determine the altitude. Some very good Larch was also 
met with, two measured being 113 and 110 feet high respectively, while 
the girth was 8 feet 1 inch and 8 feet 6 inches. The drive was continued 
up Glen Muick to Altnaguissach Loch. 
The party afterwards drove by the road over the hill to Balmoral, 
which was reached at three o’clock. Here the company, by instructions 
from Her Majesty, were entertained to luncheon. Dr. Profeit presided, 
and proposed the health of Her Majesty, which was heartily responded 
to. Dr. Cleghorn said it would be his duty to transmit, on behalf of the 
Society, at the proper time, a minute to Her Majesty, expressing their 
cordial and grateful thanks for the kind reception they had received, 
and for the gracious permission which had been accorded them to visit 
Balmoral. Before leaving the Castle the company were asked to view 
the service room, which is lined throughout with Scottish Fir from 
Ballochbuie, beautifully polished and varnished, and was greatly 
admired. The rest of the afternoon was spent in viewing the home 
woods and other objects of interest in the grounds. A fine avenue of 
the Stone Pine between the castle and the stables attracted much notice, 
the trees being large and well grown, and in vigorous health. Some 
Douglas Fir and other examples of the newer coniferous trees were also 
met with, though not of any great size. The wood in the home policies 
for the most part consists of young timber, which it seemed to be the 
general opinion is being well managed. In the nursery which the 
forester has recently established there were some capital seedlings— 
Scotch Fir, raised from cones from Ballochbuie forest, which contrasted 
very favourably with others of the same variety imported from another 
part of the country. The party had also pointed out to them the Stone 
Pine which Her Majesty planted on the 13th June last—the Jubilee 
tree—before leaving Balmoral for London. 
The visitors were very much interested in the preparations which are 
being made by the employes on the Royal estate to erect a statue of Her 
Majesty in commemoration of the Jubilee. The figure will be in bronze 
by Boehm, R.A., and the pedestal will be of rustic work, corresponding 
to that of the statue in the grounds to Prince Albert, which it will face. 
In the district generally the grass crops and trees were found to have 
Buffered from the great drought, and it was stated that the river had not 
been so low since 1826. The rainfall at Balmoral for the year up to 
date has been 10-26 inches, as compared with 18-03 inches last year. In 
consequence of the impossibility of putting up so large a party at 
Braemar half the company returned to Ballater, and found lodgings at 
the " Invercauld Arms.” The other half went on to Braemar, and were 
divided between the two hotels—the “Fife Arms” and the “ Invercauld 
Arms.” At the dinner in the Fife Arms ” Dr. Cleghorn presided. The 
Chairman, in proposing the health of the Queen, said they had all that 
day derived great enjoyment and profit from seeing the demesne of Her 
Majesty. (Applause.) The health of the Royal Family having been 
pledged, the Chairman gave the toast of Her Majesty’s Commissioner, 
and said they had been greatly indebted to him for his kindness and 
courtesy. He had given up the whole day to their service ; and they 
hoped to receive further kindness from him on the following day. They 
all wished him and his family much health and happiness. (Applause.) Dr. 
Profeit shortly replied. Mr. James Watt (who officiated as croupier) pro¬ 
posed the Scottish Arboricultural Society. Duringthelast fifty years he said 
great advances had been made in many of the arts and sciences, and in none 
of the sciences had greater progress been made than in arboriculture. 
During the last quarter of a century the world had been ransacked for 
new varieties of trees ; and from California, Japan, and many other 
countries there had been imported into this country specimens which 
would yet form the greater part of their forest timber. The Scottish 
Arboricultural Society, founded in 1854, had been very successful, but 
never more than at present did they require to stand firmly together, 
for great influence was being used to get the School of Forestry estab¬ 
lished—not in Scotland, but in the south of England. Now, Edinburgh, 
with its great University, its botanical gardens, and other advantages, 
was the place where they hoped the School of Forestry would be estab¬ 
lished, and he trusted that a strong effort would be put forth, in con¬ 
junction with the Highland Society, to get this great purpose effected. 
(Applause). The names of Messrs. Rutherford, M-Corquodale, and 
Maclaren, three of the original members of the Society, were mentioned 
in connection with the toast. Mr. M‘Corquodale gave “ Kindred 
Societies,” which was replied to by Mr. Davidson, of the English 
Society. “ The landed interest ” was submitted by Mr. R. G. Swan, 
Duns, and was replied to by Mr. Kirke. Among the other toasts was 
“ The health of Mr. Michie,” whose services were warmly acknowledged. 
To-day the Society visit the Ballochbuie forest.—( The Scotsman.') 
A MARKET PLANT NURSERY. 
Perhaps at no place can what may be called the “ com¬ 
mercial side ” of horticulture be seen to such advantage as at an 
establishment devoted to the production on an extensive scale of plants 
and flowers for Covent Garden Market, such as can be seen in Mr. H. B. 
May’s nursery at Upper Edmonton, that land of market gardens. If we 
were asked to state briefly the “ specialities ” grown at this nursery the 
answer would be Ferns and Carnations. Not that other plants are not 
well “done,” but the plants mentioned are most notable by their 
superiority and numbers. 
Ferns are grown in thousands, house after house being filled with 
them, and the effect produced by such an assemblage of beautiful foliage 
plants is better imagined than described, and the interest of the 
inspection is heightened by the fact that the visitor views them in 
different stages of growth, from the first evidences of germination—the 
tiny “ prothallus ” to the healthy and shapely specimens in 48-sized pots. 
Just a little “ statistical ” note here in reference to pots. One order for 
the last-mentioned was for a thousand “ casts ” of 48’s, representing 
48,000 pots ! And this kind of thing is constantly going on 1 I may 
briefly enumerate some of the more prominent of the market Ferns, 
beginning with the ever-popular Adiantum cuneatum, so useful for 
cutting purposes and grown by the million ; Pteris cretica, P. tremula, 
P. serrulata, P. serrulata cristata compacta. The variety grown here 
under the last-mentioned name is one of the best of the crested Pterises, 
of which there are now so many forms. Mr. May obtained a first-class 
certificate for this variety at South Kensington some time ago, and as 
seen here it well merited the award. Another useful sort, and which 
also originated at this establishment, receiving likewise certificate 
honours, is Pteris cretica Mayi—a crested form of albo-lineata, but of a 
more dwarf and compact habit than the normal form—a great acqui¬ 
sition. 
Besides those grown in large quantities for general market work, 
many of the choicer sorts are cultivated, amongst which are fine 
Davallias, particularly noticeable being D. Mariesi, D. Tyermanni. D. 
elegans (rightly named), D. Griflithiana, D. decora, D. fijiensis, and the 
extremely pretty D. Mooreana, a choice decorative variety, remarkable 
for its pale green fronds, associating charmingly with the darker foliage 
of its neighbours. Pteris tricolor—old, but very beautiful, P. asperi- 
caulis, P. argyrea, Lastrea aristata variegata—all remarkable for their 
coloured foliage. Gymnogramma Alstoni, a very pretty golden form, 
was striking on account of its pinnules being curved inwards, showing 
off the golden under surface, a great advantage. Amongst Adiantums 
may be mentioned the ever-popular and beautiful Adiantum farleyense, 
grown here in prime condition, A. scutum, A. Victorias, A. rhodophyllum, 
A. macrophyllum, young fronds beautifully tinted with crimson giving 
it a very distinctive appearance. In speaking of “ coloured ” Ferns I 
was reminded of an admirable article recently written upon this subject 
in the Journal, and in the inspection at Edmonton, where all that was 
then said upon the matter was well and practically borne out, it was 
suggested that some of the compilers of schedules at horticultural shows 
might offer prizes next season for a group of tinted and coloured Ferns. 
We believe that with proper taste in arrangement a very pleasing effect 
would be produced, and a new use discovered for this interesting family 
of plants. 
Amongst other numerous Ferns well grown and useful for basket 
culture may be noted Nephrolepis Duffi, N. pectinata, N. acuta, some¬ 
times known as N. ensifolia, very effective for large baskets, of which we 
saw a number filled with fine examples, admirably illustrating their 
adaptability for this style of decoration ; N. exaltata, N. tuberosa, and 
last, though by no means least, N. davallioides furcans. Doryopteris 
palmata and Phlebodium aureum may be justly noted as good and 
popular Ferns ; Adiantum cuneatum Pacotti and A. cuneatum grandi- 
ceps, a very pretty “ tasselled ” form of the Maidenhair, are acquisi¬ 
tions. 
Amongst miscellaneous foliage plants I especially noted a fine col¬ 
lection of Crotons, well coloured young plants, all the good and popular 
sorts being grown ; a very effective display, as seen en masse, the effect 
being enhanced by many of the brighter coloured vars. being arranged 
down the centre of a house, suspended from the roof. Ficus elastica, a 
true market plant, was seen in great numbers. Cyperus alternifolius, 
highly effective and graceful, is produced in quantity. A large number 
of Ivies are grown, the sorts being confined to Hedera maderiensis 
variegata ; as seen here in long lines the effect produced was very 
striking; Lee’s New Silver, an acquisition ; H. elegantissima, Mrs. 
Pollock, and other choice sorts. 
By way of conclusion I may refer briefly to the department devoted 
to flowers, and we may well and justly begin with Carnations. Many 
thousands are grown, and the stock appears to include all the best 
varieties. To enumerate a few, Miss Jolliffe, the popular market sort, 
is more extensively grown than any other variety. Other good sorts that 
are grown in quantity are Lucifer, fiery scarlet; Andalusia, pale yellow, 
large “ fringed ” flowers ; Mdlle. Carle, pure white, of dwarf and excel¬ 
lent habit ; Pride of Penshurst, the most popular of all the yellow 
varieties ; Indian Chief, deep crimson ; Dr. Raymond, also a fine deep 
crimson ; Magnificence, rose pink ; Huntsman, bright scarlet; Empress 
of Germany, white, slightly tipped with pink. What a favourite is^the 
old crimson Clove, with a fragrance so peculiarly its own ! Here it is 
in much request. Of Azalea Fielder’s White, a valuable market 
variety, we observed several thousands of fine healthy young plants in 
48 and 32-sized pots. Perhaps it is quite within the mark to state that 
such good young stock of this sterling old variety is not to be met else¬ 
where in this country. Bouvardia Humboldti corymbiflora, one of the 
finest kinds in cultivation, was represented by an immense stock, its 
delicious perfume pervading the house. In Roses a quantity of fine 
