September 10, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
215 
^ ... 
FRUIT and FLOWERS in the 
NORTH—THE EDINBURGH SHOW. 
A T the time this issue of the Journal of Horticulture reaches the 
majority of its readers probably the greatest autumn exhibi¬ 
tion of fruit, plants, flowers, and vegetables that has ever been seen 
will be displayed in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh ; and as the 
Show continues over Friday this reminder may still be in time for 
inducing some of our constituents to pay a visit to the “ modern 
Athens ” and be satisfied. Edinburgh is, in truth, a beautiful 
city, indeed in many respects unique ; and apart from its public 
and scientific gardens is surrounded by fine seats of the Scottish 
nobility, the names of which are familiar as household words, and 
the fame of the gardens and gardening proverbial. Any horticul¬ 
tural pilgrims with a little time to spare, and who may desire to see 
the work of some of the best gardeners in the world, will only have 
to give expression to their wishes and they will find good guidance 
and as warm a welcome as they can wish from our friends in the 
north. 
The provision made for this great Show by the Royal Cale¬ 
donian Horticultural Society is of the most generous description, 
as is proved by the schedule. This contains no less than 282 
classes, and more than thrice that number of prizes, apart from 
silver medals offered by the Turner Memorial Trustees and by 
the Society, and three Yeitch Memorial medals. The Turner 
cup is for the best collection of fruit in the Show, the Society’s 
cup being provided for the competitor who wins the greatest 
amount in stipulated classes. One of the Veitch medals is offered 
for the most meritorious dish of fruit in the Show, one for the 
most meritorious Orchid, a stove or greenhouse plant, and one 
for the most meritorious and interesting hybrid, plant, or fruit 
in the Show. A correspondent draws attention to the conditions 
of the competition, and says tbey will of necessity exclude all 
new and useful fruits, inasmuch as the word “ hybrid ” is to mean 
a cross between two distinct, or reputedly distinct, species, and 
not between two varieties of one species. It is within the 
bounds of possibility that some curiosity in fruit may be pro¬ 
duced ; but new and meritorious Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, 
Nectarines, Grapes, and indeed aU fruits usually grown for con¬ 
sumption, are placed beyond the pale of competition. We mention 
this view of the case, as it is presented by a gentleman who is 
interested in the improvement of fruit and its culture, but is 
neither a grower nor exhibitor of either fruit or plants. 
To revert to the schedule the Edinburgh prizes are not only 
numerous but valuable. When these lines appear nearly 900 
awards will have been made. The greatest amounts appear to be 
£20, £15, and £10 in the specimen plant class. In two other 
plant classes 10 guineas are offered as first prizes, smaller yet 
substantial amounts following in each case, nearly 150 other prizes 
being provided in the classes. In the fruit classes £15, £10, and 
£5 are offered for twelve dishes ; in another class, £10 10s., £5, 
and £3 ; and in three others, for orchard house and hardy fruit 
respectively, similar amounts. The greatest prize for Grapes is 
offered by Messrs. W. Thomson & Sons, £15 for eight bunches 
in four varieties, the second and third prizes being £8 and £4 
respectively. Messrs. Mackenzie and Moncur offer a prize of 
10 guineas for six bunches, £5 and £3 following. Besides these 
upwards of 120 prizes are provided in the Grape classes alone, 
and a considerably greater number in the classes for hardy fruit. 
No. 585 .—Yol. XXIII., Third Serifs. 
As might be expected, and as our telegraphic report shows, the? 
display is extraordinary. Our critical correspondent, before alluded 
to, says he never before observed such generous latitude given to 
exhibitors of fruit, as Rule 2 says all competitors “ except fruit¬ 
growers ” are held to declare that the subjects exhibited have been 
grown by them, the converse, he remarks, being that fruit can be 
bought or borrowed for winning the prizes. There must have 
been some mistake, but however that may be, we have seen 
sufficient of fruit growing under glass to satisfy us that British 
cultivators north and south can well afford to rely on their own 
skill, and we have not a doubt that the prizes won by gardeners; 
will be for produce absolutely of their own growing. 0 
Vegetables have the prominence to which they are entitled by 
their usefulness, amounts of £10 10s., £5, £3, and £2 being- 
offered by Messrs. Methven & Sons for a collection of twelve 
varieties. For another twelve, from which Tomatoes, Mush¬ 
rooms, and Cucumbers are excluded, £5 is given by Messrs. 
W. Dawson & Sons as a first prize ; upwards of seventy other 
prizes being provided in the classes, including 10 guineas,. 
5 guineas, and 3 guineas for eighteen varieties of Potatoes by 
Messrs. James Dickson & Sons. 
Cut flowers invariably constitute an important feature at the 
autumn shows in the north, and liberal provision was made for all 
the principal sections. About 100 prizes were offered, ranging 
from £4 downwards, for Roses, Gladioli, Chrysanthemums, 
Pansies, Asters, Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Carnations, and other popular 
autumn flowers. 
Beyond all these special prizes were offered in seventeen 
classes, and there is also a department of ten classes devoted to 
bees and honey. Such in brief is an outline of the arrangements 
made by the Council and Committee to ensure an exhibition 
creditable to the horticultural fame of our northern friends, and’ 
it only remains for us to endeavour to convey an idea of the 
extraordinary success which has attended such well-directed 
efforts. A telegram comes to hand which enables us to do this 
of the Show, which opened yesterday (Wednesday) morning. 
Telegraph Report. 
Great expectations had been formed concerning the Edinburgh 
International Show the present year ; they are more than realised 
in the magnificent Exhibition provided in the Waverley Market. 
Extensive as that spacious building is, its resources are taxed to the 
uttermost ; in fact it would have been impossible to find room for 
more exhibits of any kind. The market is 380 feet long by 
160 feet broad. The majority of the smaller plants, the cut 
flowers, and the whole of the fruits are arranged upon eight 
rows of low tables, extending nearly the whole length of the- 
building, while the central portion is devoted to the large specimen 
plants, and the handsome tables of plants arranged for effect, 
which constitute one of the principal features in that section of 
the Exhibition. A raised portion in the centre of the fruit tables- 
is occupied with small ornamental plants, and the tables themselves 
are neatly draped with red and pink baize. Tall Palms and 
Tree Ferns are employed with excellent taste in various parts, 
of the market, and broad convenient gangways are left for the 
numerous visitors, who are now crowding into this remarkable 
Show. 
As regards fruit, flowers, and vegetables, it is one of the- 
grandest displays of British garden produce and British gardening 
skill that has ever been held. Plants are not so abundant as is 
usual at southern shows held during the earlier summer months. 
But those which are exhibited possess much merit, and some of the 
specimens have rarely been equalled, notably a superb example of 
Ixora Duffi. Altogether over 4000 entries have been received, or 
1500 in advance of any previous Edinburgh Show, and these include 
exhibitors from many districts in British Isles. Very few have- 
failed to appear in the lists, but some entries were received too 
late for admission, though a few important non-competing exhi¬ 
bitors arrived on the morning of the Show. In all respects the? 
Exhibition is thoroughly representative, for both northern and 
* We have s’nce found that instead of “Fruit Growers” the word “Fruiterers”" 
was intended, and inserted in a re-issue of schedules, and they are justified in exhibiting 
the best fruit they can purchase, as they compete only with each other. 
NO. 2241.— Vol. LXXXV., Old Series 
