September 10, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
23 
established in a deep rich soil will grow amazingly, 
requiring an almost unlimited supply of water during 
the summer, or else be planted where the roots can dip 
into a stream or pond. The petioles, which are used 
for making a preserve in France, attain great strength, 
succulenev, and a length of from 4 ft. to 6 ft., while 
the lamina will measure from 3 ft. to 7 ft. in diameter. 
The latter is roughly heart-shaped, deeply lobed, 
much plaited, and very scabrid or rough to the touch. 
When planted in sheltered situations, but fully exposed 
to the light, there are few plants to equal this in 
picturesque or sub-tropical effect. 
The Chinese Aralia. 
Aralia chinensis and its variety, generally known as 
Dimorphanthus mandschuricus, are excellent subjects 
for sub-tropical gardening ; and while the Hop-pole 
like stems of large specimens are by no means graceful 
or ornamental, they are, nevertheless, very singular. 
The bipinnate leaves attain a length of from 3 ft. to 
5 ft., are nearly as wide, and undeniably handsome. 
The inflorescence is now commencing to push up, while 
the myriads of small creamy white flowers will be very 
conspicuous late in autumn. 
Gunnera manicata. 
Since this recently-described species has had time to 
establish itself in this country it bids fair to equal 
G. scabra in size, if it has not already done so. The 
margin of a pond is most suitable to its welfare, and 
also to the production of leaves of colossal proportions ; 
but the treatment applicable to G. scabra will in 
general answer the same purpose in this case. The 
leaves, while equalling those of the former, are different 
in shape and general appearance, being almost as 
round as a table, with closed or overlapping auricles, 
and very shallowly lobed, while the plaiting so 
characteristic of G. scabra is here inconspicuous. 
Apparently an interesting future is in store for this 
species. 
Rodger’s Bronze Leaf. 
Such is the name applied to Rodgersia podophylla, a 
member of the Saxifraga family, and a native of Japan, 
from which it sometimes gets the name of R. japonica. 
The small flowers are borne in a panicle, and while not 
devoid of beauty, are of secondary importance compared 
with the bronzy, digitate, radical leaves, which consist 
of five obovate or wedge-shaped leaflets. They reach 
a height of from 2 ft. to 4 ft., attaining their greatest 
dimensions when planted on the margin of a pond or 
in a boggy place, the plant, therefore, being suited for 
a bog garden. The form and colour of the leaf, 
together with its great size, render this plant of great 
ornamental value. 
--s- 
Hardening ffoiES from 
Airthery Castle.— The surroundings of Stirling 
have long been famed for their landscape beauty, 
and teem with historical interest, which renders the 
whole neighbourhood very attractive to the multitudes 
of tourists who, during summer and autumn, pass 
northward and southward by the “ Bulwark of the 
North.” As might be expected, there are many noble 
seats in the district, and to the lover of landscape there 
is much to gratify and instruct them. Among the 
most noteworthy and beautiful is Airthery Castle, the 
splendid seat of Lord Abercrombie, situated at the 
eastern end of the Ochil Hills and behind the famous 
Abbey Craig, on the top of which stands the monument 
of one of Scotland’s great deliverers, Wallace, whose 
name, in song and story, is spread abroad throughout 
the world. 
The park of Airthery, from the entrance at the 
Bridge of Allan Road along to the castle, is of the 
most varied and beautiful description ; views remark¬ 
ably pleasing, which give change at every few yards. 
The lake, now indicating the severe drought, being 
very low removes much from the fine picture which the 
park assumes at this season of the year. Passing 
through the wide lawns and well-arranged shrubberies, 
we entered the vegetable garden full of luxuriant crops, 
which show how well they thrive and resist drought 
when tilth is deep and skilfully manipulated. The 
chief object of our visit was realised in this portion of 
the domain, viz., to note the kinds of Apples which do 
so remarkably well in this part of the kingdom ; but 
to go over all the names of the varieties, would be a 
recapitulation of those hardy sorts so often referred to 
in the horticultural papers at this season of the year. 
Kinds which bear, more or less, every season are 
cultivated largely and well at Airthery, by the in¬ 
telligent and painstaking gardener, Mr. McTavish. 
The following were well represented by size, quantity 
and quality :—Warner’s King, Stirling Castle, Betty 
Geeson, Ecclinville, Alexander, Lord Suffield, Duchess 
of Olden burgh, Peasgood’s Nonsuch, Tower of Glamis, 
Cox’s Pomona; others are grown, but less satisfactorily. 
A fine picture at the southern end of the garden, was a 
row of Plum trees loaded to the ground, which, on 
inspection, turned out to be our old trusty friend, 
Yictoria, a most useful kind for any district, and one 
we never saw fail. 
Leaving other objects of interest, we next viewed the 
Grapes, which are always well done at Airthery. The 
good old Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria are 
the kinds which are most valued, and well they may 
be. If they could be kept as late as May, I think we 
should discard nearly all others and retain them only. 
Foster’s Seedling was also good ; Alicantes, in fine form. 
On a south wall were grand trees of Stirling Castle 
Peaches, of fine colour and a great crop. The bedding, 
extensive and brilliant, was represented by its best 
border with long lines of Lobelia cardinalis, backed by 
Calceolarias and fronted by Verbena venosa ; this 
Lobelia is a gem where it thrives well. We have a 
distinct recollection of seeing a large bed of Pelargonium 
Manglesii at Chatsworth some years ago, with L. 
cardinalis dotted through the bed, and, like others, 
had great cause to admire it. 
We regretted that time did not allow us to inspect 
much of the fine grounds at Airthery ; the walks— 
arranged with consummate care over the rocks and hills 
around the gardens—are worth a visit of themselves. 
With grateful thanks to Mr. McTavish for his courtesy, 
we had to leave to catch a glimpse in the twilight of 
some remarkable beds of Begonias at Keir House ; we 
passed on through the long lines of villas, with 
luxuriant shrubs in front and back—well known to the 
seekers of health by the familiar name of Bridge of 
Allan ; passing through the fine avenues at Keir, with 
their immense specimens of Conifer® (we would sup¬ 
pose among the largest collection in the kingdom), 
numerous walks, terraces, and stone work—which 
indicate that great wealth has at some period been 
expended on these extensive grounds—we found the 
object of our visit, viz., eight beds of circular form and 
large size filled with these tuberous-rooted Begonias ; 
a splendid picture they make ! and had stood drought 
and late rains unimpaired, and will yet go on for many 
weeks if frost does not come with severity to cut them 
off; they are, however, well worth protecting. The 
bedding at Keir is extensive and has the consummate 
care of Mr. Russell, the head gardener, who was from 
home at the time of our very enjoyable visit. The day 
was too far spent to make an inspection of the contents 
of the glass structure or the crops within the high- 
walled gardens—which are types of what may generally 
be seen at the fine old aristocratic seats so common 
throughout Perthshire.— M. T. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. — 
The monthly meeting of the Scottish Horticultural 
Association was held on Tuesday night in the As¬ 
sociation’s Rooms, 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh— 
Mr. Alexander Milne, vice-president, in the chair. A 
paper on “The Cultivation of the Chrysanthemum,” 
by Mr. James Carruthers, Hillwood Gardens, Corstor- 
phine, was read by Mr. A. Mackenzie, in the absence, 
through illness, of the author. 
The secretary (Mr. Munro) stated that he had 
received letters calling attention to the Universities 
(Scotland) Bill, and urging the necessity of the Scottish 
Horticultural Association taking some steps to prevent 
the Botanic Gardens being handed over to the Senatus 
Academicus of Edinburgh University. The bill having 
been withdrawn, he had not called a meeting of the 
council, but as the measure would likely reappear in 
its old form, it was for the association to say what 
steps should be taken in the matter. His own opinion 
was that, though he had every respect for the Professors 
of Edinburgh University, he thought the Botanic 
Garden, as the only school of horticulture in Scotland, 
should not be handed over to the University, but 
kept for the general public, and for gardeners who 
went there to get the correct nomenclature of plants, 
for which purpose it had been found very useful 
hitherto. 
Mr. A. D. M’Kenzie agreed with Mr. Munro that it 
was very desirable to keep the garden as at present, 
but he was afraid that unless they got the Scotsman to 
take up the matter their own influence would not be. 
sufficient, as these questions were decided by the 
permanent officials in London, who grudged every six¬ 
pence given to Government institutions in Scotland. 
Mr. A. M’Kenzie suggested that they should get an 
influential deputation from the Scottish Horticultural 
Association, the Royal Caledonian Horticultural 
Association, and the Highland and Agricultural 
Society to wait upon the Secretary for Scotland, and 
urge upon him the desirableness of maintaining the 
Botanic Garden under the present management. The 
chairman suggested that a council meeting should be 
called before the next meeting of the association, so 
that the matter might be put in shape. This was 
agreed to. 
Messrs. Thomas Methven & Sons exhibited a new 
seedling Potato, named The Cobbler, for which they 
received a First Class Certificate ; and also a new sport 
of a Rhododendron showing golden foliage. Mr. James 
"Wilson, St. Andrews, showed two Pelargoniums, one 
of which, named Jubilee, received a First Class Certifi¬ 
cate ; Mr. William Begg, Wardie Lodge, a seedling 
Scolopendrium, which also received a First Class Certifi¬ 
cate ; Mr. W. Rushton, Clerwood, Corstorphine, cut 
blooms of Madame Desgrange Chrysanthemum, and 
also the golden variety of it in very fine condition ; and 
Mr. Robert Morris, Hay Lodge, Trinity, a collection of 
cut flowers. 
--->X<-- 
The Amateurs' Garden. 
Corn Salad. —- Considering the difficulty often 
experienced by professionals as well as amateurs in 
obtaining anything like a supply of green food during 
winter, especially when we are visited by exceptionally 
severe ones, such as the last, it is the more a matter 
for wonder that our native plants do not get a greater 
amount of attention. Lettuce, Endive, and Spinach 
are sown and planted out year after year, with the 
result that half or three-fourths of the crop die during 
the winter, leaving the ground empty, with little or 
nothing to reward or compensate the grower for his 
trouble. Botanically, the Corn Salad or Lamb’s 
Lettuce is Valerianella olitoria, and has been known for 
many years as an excellent salad ; yet, as far as the 
British gardener is concerned, it is allowed to grow 
unheeded in corn-fields, hedge-banks, and similar 
places, where its presence is frequently otherwise than 
desirable. Our French neighbours use it to better 
purpose by sowing it regularly at certain seasons, so 
as to ensure a supply. One great advantage of using 
the Corn Salad as a vegetable is its hardiness, and the 
certainty with which we can depend upon it for an 
early supply in spring, or even in winter in warm and 
sheltered places, if the weather is at all favourable to 
growth of any kind. Besides the common kind, there 
are Round-leaved and Italian varieties, with larger 
foliage than the first-named. Those who intend giving 
this vegetable a trial should lose no time in preparing 
the ground and committing the seeds to the soil, as 
they will soon germinate and grow to a good size before 
the ground loses its warmth, and the cold sunless 
autumn weather sets in. The recent showers we have 
had, and still continue to be favoured with, are very 
conducive to vegetation, and should be utilised to the 
best advantage..— J. F. 
Fruit Trees. —It is time that the growth of young 
wood should be drawing to a close, - especially in parts 
where the nights begin to get cold and damp after this 
season. There are many failures caused by unripened 
wood ; all gross shoots should be stopped and kept close 
to the wall if trained, and, if need be, root checking 
more or less may have attention. If the trees are 
fruiting, of course such a practice is out of the 
question. We believe that the check given while roots 
are active and the foliage in full vigour, is attended by 
the best results—all cutting is healed up and a host of 
rootlets formed before the winter approaches, and the 
tree with matured growth is able to bear abundantly. 
The gumming and canker so often seen might be 
greatly modified, or prevented altogether, if due 
attention were given to early ripening of wood. We 
have seen few wasps this season, but an unusually large 
number of woodlice are attacking the ripening Apricots 
and Plums. Where walls are old they easily find a 
safe retreat, and can commit their depredations with 
facility. Ripening fruit should have all foliage cleared 
away to allow sun or air to do their important work of 
ripening and colouring ; as soon as Plums are cleared 
of their crop, a good washing with the engine would do 
them good.— Caledonian. 
