156 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
“My next hunting-ground was Oban and its neighbourhood; and here I had 
great success with Cystopteris fragilis, which abounds in many beautiful varieties. 
On the road to the Kerrara Ferry I found angustata, with its acutely drawn-out 
length of frond and pinnae ; dentata, broad and stumpy-looking, bearing a near 
resemblance to Dickieana, save that the fronds are more robust and the pinnae 
not quite so closely approaching each other. I have never found C. alpina, 
C. montana, or Dickieana; but I possess many healthy plants of each variety 
excepting montana, which I have lately procured from Mr. Veitch’s nursery. It pro¬ 
mises to grow rapidly as the others do, but I daresay it will need a little extra care. 
“ The walk from Oban to the Ferry will repay the tourist, even if he be not a 
lover of Ferns. Amongst the heather he will find the golden Asphodel with its 
feathery blossoms of exquisite form; and in July there are beds of rich ripe 
Strawberries scenting the air, which blows pure and fresh around him. He should 
go at eventide, and watch the sun setting over one of Nature’s loveliest scenes. 
The sea, broken into numerous still, calm lakes by rocky islands, reflects every 
golden cloud, while the distant mountains form a frame of the softest blue ; and 
above and beneath, it is the same fair scene. 
“ Oban is a real Scotch town—you feel you are in the Highlands. The people 
talk a patois of English-Gaelic, and understand you with difficulty ; the shop¬ 
keepers have an English of their own. It is a strange, isolated community, 
grafting English fashions slowly on northern stocks. 
“ You go to a ‘ store ’ to buy calico or some little matter. ‘ Have you any 
good calico ?’ you ask. ‘ Yes—no—I think—my calico is worth hardly anything 
just. Yes, it’s very bad calico.’ Perhaps you are obliged to have it, and to your 
surprise find it very dear. You remonstrate. 4 Yes, I think it’s very dear calico, 
and no good in it,’ the answer. 
“ Then their good nature is wonderful. They will know your business, and 
will insist upon trying to help you. 
“ In a country walk you pass by what looks like a huge washhouse. ‘ Is that a 
washhouse?’ you ask a poor woman in the road. ‘A washhouse, is it? Yes I 
think. Is it a washerwoman you want ? Allow me to recommend you one ; it’s 
Mistress McFarlane, of Tweedle Street,; she’s just the most perteeklar woman in 
fine linen and dressing.’ 
“ Staffa and Iona are ‘ done ’ from Oban, but it was just afraid of the water I 
was ; so I watched the departing and returning steamer in peace, picturing to 
myself the damp beauty of Fingal’s Cave; the ruined cathedral standing out 
against the clear blue sky ; and wondering what Columba would have said to the 
Free Kirk in Scotland, and whether any Ferns grew upon the weather-beaten island. 
“ I spent a day on Kerrara, hunting in vain ; but it is not time wasted, for the 
shores of the island are very beautiful, and the slopes green and sunny, and many 
a lesson of life may be learned while listening to the quiet music of the waves 
breaking against the shore.” 
OUR MONTHLY CHRONICLE. 
Royal Horticultural Society. —At the 
meeting at the Floral Committee on the 30th 
of May, a very interesting collection of plants 
was exhibited, including fine specimens of 
"Orchids and various novelties of merit. 
Among the latter were some new Ferns from 
Messrs. Backhouse, of York, and Phakenopsis 
sumatrana, a very beautiful species from 
Mr. Stone, gardener to J. Day, Esq., of 
Tottenham. This was originally discovered 
in Sumatra, by Korthals, about a quarter of 
a century ago, and Was flowered in the 
Leyden botanic garden. The flower, as ex¬ 
hibited, was yellowish barred 'with reddish 
brown, but there are, it is believed, two 
varieties, the one with lilac and the other 
with violet bars. New Pelargoniums con¬ 
stituted an important feature at this meeting. 
W. Hoyle, C. Turner, and Progress from 
Gf. Hoyle, Esq., of Reading, received first- 
class certificates, also Zonate Rising Sun, 
from Mr. Turner, a dwarf variety with‘golden 
leaves, having reddish brown zones; and 
Wilt-hire Lass, from Mr. Keynes, with large 
trusses of rosy pink flowers. Verbena Mao- 
netti Princess Victoria, a deep rose bedding 
variety of dwarf compact habit, was sent by 
Mr. Wills, Oulton Park, and received a first- 
class certificate. 
The following Rhododendrons in Messrs. 
Waterer and Godfrey’s show also received 
first-class certificates, viz. : — Caractacus, 
