April 14, 1887. ] 
295 
JOURNAL OF nORTICULTUll 
present n o ith. Owing perhaps to the very cold and unseasonable weather 
m Scotland for a few days previous to the date of the Exhibition the plants 
staged were less in numbers than wo have seen in former years. In the 
nurserymen’s division Messrs. R. B. Laird it Sons of West Coates Nurseries 
wrre (except with Conifenc) the only exhibitors. With Hyacinths, 
Cinerarias, Primulas, <fcc., the competition was better, but in no case was it 
so brisk as we have seen. The prizes for black Grapes and Apples were the 
most keenly contested. Vegetables were fairly well represented for the 
season of the year. Cut flowers were not so good. 
The following were the exhibits most worthy of note :—For a table of 
plants 20 feet by 5 feet, arranged for effect, Mr. J. Donaldson, Munayfieli, 
received the fiist prize. Messrs. It. B. Laird & Sons were the only ex¬ 
hibitors in the corresponding class for trade growers, and were awarded tho 
highest premium for a massive table 10 feet by 10 feet; large loosely 
trained Azaleas in flower with a few Palms being the plants arranged for 
effect, the “ ground ” being freely doted with smaller Azaleas and Ferns. 
For a table of hardy spring floworing plants Mr. RobertBon Munro, Porto- 
hello was first, and Mr. Geo. Sinclair, Pr.stonkirk, second. The first had, 
among plants of an interesting character, a new Saxifraga, the counterpart 
of Burseriana in all except colour, which is of a lemon shade of yellow. It 
was raised by Mr. Boyd, Faldonsid<*, Melrose, and named Boydi, after the 
raiser. It would also appear to be later flowering than is the type. The 
four Azalea indica, as well as the single specimen Azalea f ran Mr. Patter¬ 
son, gardener, Millbank, were largo and in grand condition. Model, 
Charmer, Iveryana, and Stella were the sorts staged, with The Bride as a 
single specimen. The other plants staged were quite small in comparison 
with these. The same exhibitor took first for four plants in 8-inch pots, 
also for six stove or greenhouse plants in bloom. Among these were magni¬ 
ficent specimens of Azalea Due de Nassau, Ericas profusa and coccinm 
minor, and Tremandra ericoides. Mr. Grossart, gardener to Jas. Buchanan, 
Esq., Oswald Road, was first in the cl»ss for four plants of the same kind, a 
very good Coelogyne being included. For four Cape Heaths Mr. Patterson 
was easily first with large and will flowered specimens. 
The three classes devoted respectively to six, three, and one Orchid brough t 
out some notably good specimens. Mr. Curror, gardener to G. Douglas, Esq.> 
Eskbank, was awarded first for six, his most notable examples being Vanda 
suavis, bearing four spikes ; Cattleya Triame, with over two dozen blooms ; 
a grand Dendrobium timbriatum oculatum, with about fifty racemes. Mr. 
Gossart second, a large Cvmbidium eburneum with over thirty blossoms, 
and a fine Dendrobium nobile being tho best specimens. In the class for 
three Mr. Patterson was first with not very large but freBh specimens of 
Cypripediuin hirsutissimum and Masdevallias Veitchi and Lindeni. Mr. 
Findley, Osborne Terrace, second, and Mr. Dougal, Talbot House, Leith 
Walk, thiiM. Mr. Grossait, with a six-bloomed Lycaste Skinneri alba, was 
first for one Orchid ; and Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, Innerleithen, second 
with Cymbidium Lowi with six spikes. Mr. Grossart also took first prize 
for four exotic Ferns, the specimens from Mr. Forbes, gardener to P. Neil 
Fraser, Esq., Canonmills, to which the third prize was awarded, being 
perhaps the best examples. Mr. Hunter, Lauriston Castle, was first for two 
plants, and for three Gleichenias Mr. Patterson was first, being the only ex¬ 
hibitor. Mr. Grossart had the best Adiantums, and Mr. A. W. Paterson, 
Pilrig, the best Filmy and dwarf British Ferns. Foliage plants were fresh, 
but not of large size. Mr. W. Bennet Hanley, Corstorphine, having the beBt 
four, and Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, the best eight in small pots. The six 
Roses in pots from Mr. Patterson were fresh, well bloomed specimens, and 
to th' se the first prize was awarded. The best six Cinerarias were staged 
by Mr. Harkness, Broadmeadows, Berwick, hut to these the second prize 
was given, the first going to much inferior examples. Lilies of the Valley 
was shown in fme condition ; Mr. Grossart being first for three pans, and 
Mr. Pearson, Bentwood, Corstorphine, second. Several classes were devoted 
to hardy plants, but of these there is nothing special to record. However, 
in the case of six alpine plants, Mr. Forrester, Woodcockdale, Linlithgow, 
staged some well grown plants. The best of these were the pretty 
Soldanella alpina, a beautiful potful of Primula viscisa nivea, and equally 
fine P. marginata and P. decora, the other plants being P. rosea and the 
white Grape Hyacinth, neither in such good condition. These were passed 
over for common plants and awarded the second prize. Dutch bulbs were 
not numerously represented. For twelve Hyacinths Mr. Sirne, Ridge Park, 
Lanark, had the first place with good even spikes, Mr. Kerr, Sunlaws, Kelso, 
second, and Mr. Pearson third. Mr. Sime was again first for eight spikes, 
and Mr. Kerr Eecond. For six Hyacinths confined to cultivators who grow 
the plants without the aid of a gardener Mr. Barnie, Jock’s Lodge, Porto- 
bello, had the first prize, though we thought those of Mr. Stewart of 
Haddington rather superior to them. For nine pots Tulips, Bix of Polyan¬ 
thus Narciss, and nine pots garden Narcissus, Mr. Grossart was first in each 
Case. 
In the cut flower section Roses were the best exhibits. For twenty-four 
blooms Mr. Walker, gardener to J. M. Richards, Esq., Clarendon, was first 
with a box of rathtr small but quite fresh bads ; Mr. Bowman, Pittendreicb, 
Lasswade, second. Some of his individual blooms much larger, but on the 
whole not so good. For twelve blooms Mr. Henderson, gardener to W. 
Macfic, Esq., Clermiston, was first, several of them being large and good. 
Mr. Pearson, gardener to Lady Lucy Dundas, Beechwood, staged twelve 
beautiful Marechal Niels, to which the first prize was awarded. Gloire de 
Dijon in the same number were email, Mr. Walker being first for these. In 
the nurserymen’s classes Mr. James Bryson, Helensburgh, was first for twelve 
blooms, and Messrs. R. B. Laird it Sons second. Not for competition, Messrs. 
Dickson of Belfast set up the most beautiful collection in the Show, a 
stand of twenty-four. For twelve trusses of Orchid blooms and for twelve 
trusses of stove or greenhouse plants Mr. Grossart was first, and Mr. 
McLeod, Brentham Park, Stirling, second. A few beautiful bouquets were 
staged, those arranged by Mr. G. McLure, Trinity, being by far the finest, 
botb hand and tabic bouquets getting the first prizes respectively. For six 
buttonhole bouquets Mr. McLeod was first, hut in the large number of 
those staged nothing of special note was found. 
In the frnit classes Mr. Murray, Culzean Castle, Maybole, had the best 
Pine Apple, Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, being second ; both fruits were good. 
Mr. McKelvie, Broxmouth Park, Dunbar, had the best dish of Strawberries, 
good Vicomtesse H. de Thury, as also the best black Grapes, not large, 
but fine examples of Lady Downe’s. No whits Grapes were shown. Some . 
E AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
very fine dbhes of Apples wers staged, several exhibitors setting up large 
and fresh examples. To Mr. Brunton, Gilm.rton, Drem, first prizes for 
both dessert and kitchen Apples were awarded. The former were, however, 
largely composed of kitchen varieties, Cellini, Beauty of Kent, and Small’s 
Admirable using represented. Of vegetables there was a fairly good show, 
Mr. G. Potter, Seacliffe, North Berwick, getting first prize for a really fine 
collection of twelve sorts. These comprised among others good young Peas, 
French Beans, young Potatoes, Carrots, ansi Rhubarbs, besides good un¬ 
forced produce. From Mr. Milne, Sunnyside, a large collection of salada 
came. Mr. Potter was also successful for French Beans nod Onions, which 
were fine. A splendid dish of Mushrooms from Mr. Gordon, Niddrie, 
secured to him the first prize. Among miscellaneous exhibits Messrs. W. 
Thomson it Sons, Clovenfords, Galashiels, had a table of flowering Orchids, 
with PalmB and Maidenhair Ferns. Among the Orchids were several good 
forms of Cattleya Trianee, C. Lawrenciana, a good variety of C. Mendelli. 
Among many Odontoglossums were Ruckeriauum, Sanderianum, Ander- 
sonianums, Rossi majus in several forms, many of Alexandra. A beautiful 
plant of Trichopilia suavis with numerous flowers was quite lovely. Among 
many Cypripediums were Dominianum and its variety roseum.&c. Messrs. 
T. Methven & Sons, 15, Princes Street, had a very large table very bright 
with decorative stove and greenhouse plants. Messrs. Ireland it Thomson, 
82, Princess Street, a smaller table on which many pretty Orohids were 
staged. Mr. G. Sinclair, Prestonkirk, had an interesting stand of Daffodils 
in great variety. Huge specimens of Rhododendrons from Messrs. R. B. 
Laird it Sons surrounded the band stand in the middle of the market, and 
formed an important feature of the Exhibition. 
WATERTIGHT ASHPITS. 
I regret to say I have only seen the last letter of Mr. Bardney on 
the subject of watertight ashpits, therefore my remarks on it may have 
been already anticipated in the previous correspondence. I understand 
Mr. Riddell to advocate the use of water, in ashpits to generate steam ; 
if he does he is the best of allies for all boiler manufacturers, for were 
his idea generally adopted the horticultural public would require about 
double the number of new boilers now bought yearly. My experience 
is that far more boilers rust out than fairly wear out, and if w-ater be 
Fig. 53.—Hollowed Fire Bar?. 
kept standing under a boiler this cause of failure must be very largely 
increased. I [believe that the heating power might be very slightly 
increased by the steam rising from the water that would be far more 
than counterbalanced by the damage to the boiler and brickwork. A 
head gardener has something else to do than personally superintend the 
stoking every day, and therefore the working of boilers ought to be- 
made as simple as possible. Now, if this arrangement were adopted all 
the water ought be removed when the boiler is not at work, or it w ill 
quickly be absorbed by the brick-setting and make the whole outer part 
of the boiler damp. To drive out this damp will consume more fuel 
than was previously saved by the water, irrespective of the damage to the 
boiler. Can any gardener insure that his stoker will always remove this- 
water ? From what I see of greenhouse boilers I think not. Let a 
gardener keep his boiler constantly well cleaned out—he will save far 
more fuel than by having water in the ashpit, and will greatly increase 
the “ life ” of his boiler. 
I should like to point out to gardeners one very serious cause of 
waste of fuel. I have found it the practice at many—I had nearly said 
the majority of gardens—to leave the firing door wide open the greater 
part of the day in all but severe weather. They tell me this is to prevent 
the pipes getting too hot, and I have no doubt it thoroughly answers- 
that purpose. Do they ever think of the enormous stream of cold air 
they are allowing to pass over the fire and under the boiler ? l’ut a 
candle in a boiler where there is no fire but. the damper open, and it will 
often be blown out by the draught. This draught is far more rapid 
when a fire is in the boiler. Think, then, what chance the heated air 
has of touching the boiler. Never let a stoker have his fire door open 
