110 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 9, 1888. 
Dalhousieanum and other tall growing species have done equally as 
well, and D. japonicumand D. Jamesianum in cooler quarters hear evi¬ 
dence their treatment is understood. There are many other Orchids 
worthy of notice, and another visit will be paid later on when more are 
in bloom. Grapes, Peaches, and Pines are rather extensively cultivated, 
and the management of the place reflects great credit on the pains¬ 
taking gardener, Mr. W. Finch.—-G. W. Cummins. • 
NATIONAL AUEICULA, PElMQLA, CAENATION, AND 
PICOTEE SOCIETIES. 
The following are the annual reports and balance-sheets issued by 
the above Societies for the past year. 
NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA SOCIETY. 
(Southern Section.) 
Report for the Year 1887.—The Committee have much pleasure 
in reporting to the subscribers of the continued prosperity of the 
Society. 
The Exhibition held on April 2(ith, under the auspices of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, was as good as any previously held. The com¬ 
petition was very keen in the principal classes for Show Auriculas ; 
there were in Class A no less than six competitors ; in B, seven ; and in 
C, six competitors. The classes for single plants were also wdl filled 
with specimens of a high order of merit. 
The best thanks of the Committee are due to the Trustees of the 
“ Turner Memorial ” fund, who gave ;65 in a class for Show Auriculas. 
Extra classes were provided for Alpine Auriculas, and it is desirable 
that a larger competition should be promoted in this section. 
Gold-laced and Fancy Polyanthuses, and Primroses were well and 
numerously shown. 
The species of Primulas formed a most interesting feature of the 
exhibition. Extra prizes had also been provided in this class, and 
although an excellent display was made, it is desirable that more exhi¬ 
bitors should come forward to claim the prizes. 
New exhibitors and new members were added to the list last year, 
and it is very desirable that a still further increase may be made next 
year. There is practically no limit to the work yet to be done. The 
Committee may venture to hope that each member will try to add one 
more for next year. As cjnclusive evidence that the work of the Society 
has been well directed, it is sufficient to state that no less than ten first- 
class certificates were awarded to Show Auriculas in the various classes 
last year. This is a sufficient answer to those who believe that the 
Auricula has been developed to a point beyond which substantial pro¬ 
gress cannot be made. The fact ought also to be recorded, that a new 
member, Mr. White of Killingwortb, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, was 
awarded the premium prize for the best Auricula in the exhibition. 
For ten years the exhibitions have been held at South Kensington, 
in conjunction with the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society ; 
but it has not yet been decided where to hold the exhibitions for 
next year. 
Owing to this uncertainty, an increase in the funds may bs necessary, 
and the Committee confidently appeal to the subscribers to give the 
Society their best support as heretofore. Schedules will btj prepared 
and issued as soon as it has been decided where the exhibitions are 
to be held. 
Receipts and Expenditure for the Year 1887. 
Receipts. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
balance from last vear 
... 24 
6 
2 
Subscriptions and donations as per list 
... <>0 
2 
0 
Sale of luncheon tickets 
1 
5 
0 
£115 
13 
2 
Expenditure. 
£ 
g. 
d. 
prizes to exhibitors 
... 70 
19 
0 
Luncheons 
... 4 
D 
Printing... 
... 4 
15 
1 
Postage ... 
1 
15 
0 
Assistance at show 
... 0 
10 
0 
Balance in hand 
... 33 
9 
1 
£115 
13 
2 
Examined and found correct, 
Harry J. Veitch 
Robert Hogg 
Auditors. 
NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 
(Southern Section.) 
Report for the Year 1887.—The Committee have to report very 
considerable progress for the past year. New subscribers and exhibitors 
have come forward, and, as will be seen from the financial statement, 
there is a considerable balance on the side of the Society. The exhibition 
was held on July 2Gth, under the auspices of the Rojml Horticultural 
Society; and although all were agreed that the past season was not 
altogether favourable to the Carnation and Picotee, there was little 
falling off in the quality, and none at alt in the number of exhibits. 
The Picotees, flaked and bizarred Carnations, were but little below the 
high-class quality of the national exhibitions, and a few new ones were 
exhibited, first-class certificates being awarded. The class for self 
Carnations and Cloves showed considerable improvement, and the 
number of exhibitors was larger than usual, no less than twelve 
exhibitors contesting for one set of prizes. Two first-class certificates 
were awarded to seedlings in this section. 
The yellow-ground Picotees are also in the line of progress, some 
very notable improvements having been made in this class, to some of 
which the Society’s first-class certificates of merit have been awarded. 
During the past season some yellow self varieties of a deeper colour than 
any seen hitherto were exhibited at the Society’s exhibition. 
The best thanks of the Committee are due to the Trustees of the 
“ Turner Memorial ” Fund, who give a scries of prizes to the amount 
of £5. 
The Committee are at present unable to state where the exhibition 
for 1888 will be held ; under these conditions increased support from 
the subscribers may be necessary, and the Committee, as in the case of 
the Auricula Society, confidently appeal to the subscribers to give the 
Society their continued support. 
Schedules of prizes will be prepared and issued as soon as the 
necessary arrangements can be made. 
Receipts and Expenditure for the Year 1887. 
£ 8. d. 
85 1.8 6 
16 0 
£86 18 G 
£ s. d. 
65 2 0 
3 0 0 
4 15 0 
2 5 0 
0 10 0 
11 6 6 
£86 18 6 
Robert Hogg I 
Receipts. 
To subscriptions and donations, as per list 
Sale of luncheon tickets 
Expenditure. 
By prizes to exhibitors 
Luncheons 
Irmting ) Pollett, £1 Os. 6d. / 
Posta<^e &c i Douglas, £1 5s. } 
uosta^^e, AC. | Hibberd, £l Os. j 
Assistance at Sho Y 
Balance in hand . 
Examined and found correct, 
TT A T>T>v T 'VT'r’T'nnxT 1 
HARDY FRUIT AT CULZEAN CASTLE. 
It is well known to readers of the Journal that Mr. David 
Murray, head gardener to the Marquis of Ailsa at Culzean Castle, 
Maybole, Ayrshire, is a good all-round practitioner. His Grapes and 
other hothouse fruits invariably occupy prominent positions in the 
prize list at the Edinburgh shows ; and although hardy fruits and 
vegetables have not been often shown both are, nevertheless, culti¬ 
vated extensively and well in Culzean Gardens. A first-rate Onion 
raised within the last couple of years is also being sent out this season 
for, we believe, the first time. The method of procedure followed 
by Mr. Murray and other good fruit grow.ers is to lift or root- 
prune a given number of wad and other fruit trees which show 
signs of exhaustion every autumn until they all have been operated 
on, and the desired results in way of good crops during ordinarily 
favourable seasons are thereby secured. A trench about 2 feet 
wide and 3 feet deep is opened at say 3 feet from the stems of the 
individual trees, the soil is then, by the assistance of five-pronged 
steel forks and shovels, carefully worked out from under and 
about the roots. The latter are shortened a little, removing any 
damaged or strong roots having a downward course, afterwards, 
assuming that the drainage is perfect, the soil good, and the roots 
within the proper distance (5 or 6 inches) of the surface, replacing 
the soil, working it well among the roots in doing so. But on the 
other hand, if the cause of unsatisfactory results is traceable to the 
trees having been planted too deeply on a heavy wet soil they are 
taken up bodily with care. This done the wet ungenial soil is re¬ 
moved, sufficient drainage being placed at the bottom of each hole 
to prevent the possibility of the roots of the trees when replanted 
being at any time submerged. The trees are then transplanted m 
the best prepared soil at command—a compost consisting of four 
parts sound loam and one of mortar rubble and wood ashes—spread¬ 
ing the roots over the soil with a slight inclination downwards, and 
covering them 5 or G inches deep with the mixture indicated, 
following this with a mulching of short dung. The branches of 
the trees being tacked loosely to the walls until the soil in which 
they are planted has settled down, an allowance of 3 or 4 inches 
above the ground line being made for this purpose in planting. 
