276 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 7,1887. 
employed, long, long before the woad-painted skin-clacl Briton saw aught 
to admire in a wild Rosebud, or in the flowers of Honeysuckle or of Haw¬ 
thorn. It is very probable that the first of plants ever cultivated were 
grown for use as food or for their medicinal virtues rather than for their 
beauty ; but in the Herbarium of the Mueeum at Cairo, also at Kew and 
the British Museum, may be seen to-day the mummy wreaths of Egyptian 
flowers culled by hands and woven by fingers that tingled with the love, 
warmth, and life blood of four or five thousand years ago. The oldest of 
dried flowers in herbaria—that is, of flowers especially prepared for scien¬ 
tific purposes—do not date back further than the middle of the sixteenth 
century, and yet we find that flowers were used in Egyptian ceremonies 
some three or four thousand years ago. About sixty distinct kinds of plants 
and flowers have been identified, and by placing these in warm water Dr. 
Schweinfurth of Cairo has succeeded in preparing a series of specimens 
gathered four thousand years ago. The blue Water Lily or Lotus, the Poppy, 
the Larkspur, Flax, Charlock, Knapweed, and other flowers are perfectly 
preserved, the garlands being woven together with strips of the Nile Reed, 
or Papyrus of the ancient scribes. 
I should like to see a garden of not less than a quarter of an acre around 
every country cottage or dwelling house, and more especially it is to be de¬ 
sired that a garden should be attached to all country and suburban public 
schools. In France, Germany, and even in Sweden this is to some extent 
done already with the best results ; and I can only hope the day is not far 
distant when the same may be said of our own public and national schools. 
Ireland being so peculiarly dependent on land culture for her revenue, I am 
convinced that elementary horticulture should be more generally made use 
of as an educational subject of the highest practical or technical value (hear, 
hear). Nor is this love for cultivated plants and gardens confined to our 
own country alone, for whoever visits Paris cannot fail to notice the rich 
profusion of Palms, Dracaenas, Cypresses, Ferns, and Daisy bushes or 
Marguerites with which the windows and apartments there are most taste¬ 
fully decorated. In Germany, Russia, and also in America the love for 
beautiful plants and fragrant window flowers is rapidly increasing. Indeed, 
the knowledge essential is so easily obtained by observation that we can 
only wonder why every window and balcony is not gay with ornamental 
plants and flowers for a considerable portion of the year. Sweet-smelling 
things, such as Lavender, Wallflowers, Thyme, Carnations, Rosemary, and 
Mignonette should be around every country house ; and it is possible that 
in years to come some part of every town dwelling will be constructed ex¬ 
pressly for the culture of plants and flowers within it. A small conservatory 
or, at least, window cases, as fixtures, will be considered as essential as a 
good kitchen range or a bath room. At the present time we have a few roof 
conservatories and gardens, and, doubtless, in time these and other ap¬ 
pliances will become universal, especially in towns where space is 
valuable. 
The best evergreen plant for a room is Aspidistra lurida, of which there 
are green and variegated varieties. A specimen here has been grown in a 
shady window in the Haddington road for the last four years, and when first 
brought into the house it had six small leaves only, and it has never been 
repotted or manured during that time. No other plant I know does better, 
and it is an especial favourite in France and Holland where freBh and 
healthy evergreen room plants are highly appreciated. The Indiarubber 
(Ficus) i3 another good room plant, as is also the graceful Grevillea robusta. 
•Several kinds of green-leaved Dracaenas are thoroughly reliable, as also are 
small plants of the Australian Blue Gum or Fever Tree. I have seen a fine 
plant of this in the window of a drawing-room in Clare Street for the past 
three or four years. Some small Palms grow well in warm rooms, and 
none better than the Corypha australis. Another favourite, especially at 
this season, is the Arum Lily, while the Scarborough Lily (Vallota) is very 
attractive when it throws up its cluster of scarlet Lily-iike flowers in the 
autumn months just before the Chrysanthemum comes into bloom. 
Temperance and good gardening generally go hand in hand. Some at least 
among the audience here to-night will have observed those cosy Fuchsia- 
c'ad cottagf s which nestle here and there on the Powers Court domain, and 
from which the occupants get ample supplies of good vegetables and small 
fruits as well as flowers. Such gardens must prove great counter-attrac¬ 
tions to the public-house or shebeen. Another large landed proprietor told 
me quite recently that his own experience in the building of cottages had 
proved to him that the addition of a piece of garden ground had a most 
beneficial influence on the social, moral, and religious life and welfare of the 
inmates. 
Of all modern writers it is Ruskin, as I believe, who sums up the whole 
substance of our knowledge of plants with one dip of his pen. This is his 
estimate of them—“Timber for the builder’s yard, corn for the granary or 
the baker’s oven, flowers for the bride’s chamber, and moss for the grave.” 
In a word, food, shelter, and beauty for all of us, living or dead, is really 
the sum total of the world's vegetation. 
Rev. Dr. Haughton, in moving a vote of thanks ta Mr. Burbidge for his 
interesting and practical address, congratulated the audience on having had 
the advantage of listening to the remarks and observations of a man who 
■was an expert in his subject—a man whom, he might add, he had the great 
pleasure and privilege of calling his friend, and who had so much know¬ 
ledge of scientific botany and practical gardening. Apropos of the Bornean 
rats, he might say that he had himself been in countries where they eat rats, 
but, instead of asking the people why they eat rats, he asked them what 
was the best ragout to eat them with, and he then adopted the custom of 
the country, and enjoyed the rats very much (laughter). 
Mr. Wm. Deaker seconded the motion, which was carried with accla¬ 
mation. 
GLASGOW AND WEST OF SCOTLAND HORTICULTURAL 
- SOCIETY". 
The annual spring Show of this Society was held in St. Andrew’s Halls 
on Wednesday, 30th nit. Although the entries were not so numerous as on 
some former occasions, the general excellence of the exhibits was not 
inferior to preceding shows. Indeed the Hyacinths, Tulips, and Azaleas 
were all the most fastidious could desire, and showed great care and skill in 
•staging them in such a high degree of perfection. 
Orchids were shown in greater numbers than has been the case for a 
long time, and the specimens shown reflected credit on the growers. A 
word of praise is due in this respect to Mr. Thomas Hogg, gardener to John 
Gordon, Esq., Aitkenhead, Cathcart. Mr. Hogg has been a most successful 
competitor for a great number of years, and has never failed to bring forward 
some choice specimens of the Orchid family, and is doing his best to educate 
the public into a love of these interesting plants. 
The plants from nurserymen greatly increased the interest of the Exhi¬ 
bition. Large specimen Palms, Cycads, and Araucarias were shown by 
Messrs. J. & R. Thyne, Great Western Nurseries, and also by the same 
firm a large floral wreath and anchor, very tastefully designed, a department 
they have quite made their own in Glasgow. 
Messrs. Austin & McAslan, Coplawhill Nurseries, decorated the plat¬ 
form, as is their custom at the spring show, many fine varieties of Azaleas, 
Rhododendrons, Ghent Azaleas, Lilacs, and many other interesting green¬ 
house plants forming a sloping bank, the giant Palms of Messrs. Thyne 
making a splendid background. Messrs. Smith ifc Simons, Kennishead 
Nurseries, filled a table 24 feet by 6 feet, most admirably arranged. Rho¬ 
dodendrons and Azaleas were in good bloom and of the finest variety. 
Azaleas Marquis of Lome, Flambeau, Empress of India, and Francois 
Vervaene were well shown. This collection was highly commended. 
Mr. John Sutherland, Victoria Nursery, Lenzie, was the largest exhibitor 
of bulbous plants, carrying off all the honours in the nurserymen’s olass. He 
had first for a collection of bulbous plants in bloom, table 12 feet by 6 feet, 
far surpassing similar collections of former years. A splendid table of 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils, Palms, Ac., was also put up by him and was 
very highly commended. The prize for eighteen Hyacinths was also 
secured by him. The spikes were very even and the foliage as it should be. 
Some of the best were La Grandesse. Mont Blanc, Princess Amalie, Koh-i- 
noor, King of the Blues, Garibaldi, and Lord Derby. Mr. Sutherland was 
also first for twelve table plants, Pandanus Veitchi, Aralia (Jhabrieri, and 
A. Veitchi being favourite plants for this purpose. Mr. J. B. Young, 
Bridge of Allan, exhibited a plant of Dendrobium Wardianum and a choice 
assortment of cut Orchids in basket, the most conspicuous being a splen¬ 
did variety of D. Wardianum. In the class open to all Mr. Geo. Meston, 
Murciar House, Pollokshields, had first for specimen Tree Fern. Mr. W. B. 
McNeill, 3, Witlowbank Crescent, was first for hand bouquet; Mr. Alex. 
Raeside, gardener, Yorkhill, second ; and Mr. Walter Buchanan third. A 
bouquet of splendid flowers was disqualified as it was built on a clay mould, 
certainly not a desirable addition for a lady to carry. 
Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ Class. —Collection of stove and greenhouse 
plants to fill a table 12 feet by 6 feet. The first prize was deservedly awarded 
to George Mtston. Two splendidly bloomed plants of Dendrobium nobile 
were conspicuous. Mr. James Clotworthy, gardener, Langside House, was 
a good second. For six stove or greenhouse plants Mr. Wm. McLachlan, 
gardener, Violet Bank, Langside, had first place ; he also secured first prize 
for three stove or greenhouse plants, three specimen Azaleas, first for Roi 
Leopold, Mrs. Turner, Due de Nassau, and one specimen of Azalea amcena, 
Messrs. T. Hogg and J. Clotworthy being second and third in the order 
named. For three specimen Orchids Mr. Thos. Hogg was first, a well- 
flowered Dendrobium albo-sanguineum attracting much notice. For three 
Azaleas in 8-inch pots Mr. Hugh Miller, gardener, Langside, was first; 
Mr. Thos. Hogg, second ; and Mr. James McCrae, Scotstown House, third. 
Three hardy Rhododendrons, Mr. Thos. Hogg, fir.-1. Three Ferns, distinct 
varieties, Mr. Geo. Meston was first with good specimen of Gleichenia 
dicarpa, G. Speluncae, and Adiantum Williamsi. For three Amaryllis, Mr. 
Thos. Hogg was first. With six plants for table decoration Mr. James 
McCrae had the first place, Mr. Alex. Raeside being a good second. 
Chinese Primulas were fine. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Wm. 
Thorburn. gardener, CaBtle Semple; Mr. Wm. Cowan, gardener, Killehan 
House, Campbelltown, second ; and Mr. Thos. Hogg, third. Mr. James 
Clotworthy was first for specimen Deutzia, a very fine plant, and Mr. Wm. 
McLachlan second. The class for twelve Hyacinths was well competed 
for, six being staged. First honours went to Mr. Donald McBean, gardener, 
Craigends, Johnston, with superb spikes of the following varieties—viz., 
The Sultan (which was probably the best spike in the Exhibition), Leonidas, 
Howard, Mimosa, Lord Wellington, Grand Lilas, Baroness Van Tuyll, King 
of the Blacks, Florence Nightingale, Lord Macaulay, Blondin, and Charles 
Dickens ; Mr. Robt. Millar, Netherhill, was second ; and Mr. Hugh Millar, 
Pollokshields, third. For six double Hyacinths, distinct varieties, Mr. 
George Irvine, gardener, Italian Villa, was first with good examples of 
Koh-i-noor, Blocksberg, Van Speyk, Lord Wellington, Garrick, La Tour 
d’Auvergne; Mr. Hugh Millar was second ; and Mr. John Mathieson, gardener 
to J. L. Henderson, Esq., Partick, third. Six single Hyacinths, distinct 
varieties: Mr. John Mclnnes had first with good spikes of La Grandesse, 
Koh i-noor, Mont Blanc, King of the Blue, Gigantea. In the class for 
three pot Hyacinths, three bulbs in each pot, Mr. Hugh Millar had first, 
and Geo. Meston the second place. For the best arranged and most 
meiitorious basket of spring flowering plants Mr. Hugh Millar was first, 
and Mr. Thomas Leslie, Lenzie, a good second. 
With four pots of Tulips Mr. Thomas Hogg was first; second went to 
Mr. James Heron, Pollok Gardens; and Mr. Alex. Raeside, third. For 
three pots single Tulips Mr. James Heron had first; Mr. Thos. Hogg, 
second ; and Mr. John Mathieson, third. The Tulips were a fine show, the 
variety Proserpine being shown to great perfection. Four pots Polyanthus 
Narcissus : Mr. Hugh Millar, first, and Mr. James Heron, second. The 
Narcissi were very much behind those of former years. Four pots of 
Crocuses : Mr. Hugh Millar, first; and Mr. Alex. Raeside, second. Six 
Alpines in flower, distinct varieties : Mr. John Meiklem, 19, Hope Street, 
first; and second, Mr. John Nicol, Paisley. Poor compared with former 
years. Three Spiraea japonica : Mr. Geo. Meston, first; Mr. Wm. GowaD, 
second; and Mr. James Heron, third. Two potB or pans Lily of the Valley : 
Mr. Hugh Millar, first; Mr. James Heron, a good second; and Mr. Wm. 
Gowan, third. For three pots, not exceeding 6 inches in diameter, Mr. 
"Wm. Gowan had the first place; Mr. James Heron, second; and Mr. Hugh 
Miilar, third. These were extremely well shown. 
Cut Flowers. —Six blooms Camellias, distinct varieties : Mr. G. Harris, 
Crossford, Lanark, first; Mr. Wm. McLachlan, second; and Mr. Thoe. 
Hogg, third. Six trusses hardy Rhododendrons : Mr. Hugh Miller, Mr. 
Wm. Cowan, and Mr. Thos. Hogg, were first, second, and third in the 
order named. Collection of vegetables in season, eight varieties : James 
