84 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 8, 1887. 
kindly meant and warmly intentioned as it is, 
yet seems to fall desperately short of the needs 
of the case. From whence a saviour of the 
society is to come we know not, but one is 
sadly needed. The collapse of the society 
would be a calamity, but the formation of a 
new one on the basis we have indicated might 
more than counterbalance the evil, and perhaps 
prove a great good. If, then, good could be 
wrought through the instrumentality of the 
present society so much the better. 
-- 
We deeply regret to hear, as we go to press, of the 
death of Mr. George Johnston, gardener to the Earl 
of Strathmore, at Glamis Castle, Forfar. Mr. Johnston 
was for some years the leading exhibitor of Grapes and 
other fruits in Scotland, and his death will be much 
deplored by many warm professional friends. 
Mr. George Helman, who for the past ten years 
has been gardener to H. Bramwell, Esq., Crown East 
Court, Worcester, has been appointed in that capacity 
to Lord Gage, Firle Place, Lewes. 
The annual Chrysanthemum Show of the Lewisham 
and District Floral Society will be held at the 
Public Baths, Lewisham, on November 11th and 12th. 
Entries for the exhibition of Apples and Pears, to 
be held on the 14th, 15th and 17th inst., in the Royal 
Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester, should be sent in to 
Mr. Bruce Findlay by Tuesday next. The schedule 
embraces twelve classes for fruits and two for cut 
flowers, and over £100 is offered in prizes. 
On Tuesday next, at 7.45 p.m., the members and 
well-wishers of the United Horticultural Benefit 
and Provident Society will dine together to com¬ 
memorate the twenty-first anniversary of the society, 
at the Caledonian Hotel, Robert Street, Adelphi 
Terrace, Strand. The chair will be taken by Mr. 
Harry Yeitch. Application for tickets should be 
made at once to Mr. H. C. Foil, 8, Salisbury Pave¬ 
ment, Putney, S.W. 
The winter session of the Chiswick Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Society was held last (Friday) 
evening in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden, 
when officers were elected and the programme for the 
session arranged. 
We have received a copy of the Schedule of Prizes 
offered for competition at a Chrysanthemum show to be 
held in the Town Hall, Eccles, near Manchester, on 
November 25th and 26th. This is the first exhibition 
of the kind that has been organised in the district 
which embraces Eccles, Patrieroft, and Pendleton ; but 
a good deal of local floral enthusiasm is being evoked 
in its favour, and the results promise to be of a satis¬ 
factory character. 
A trial of Potato-digging Implements was held 
at Gosforth, Newcastle, on the 4th inst., under the 
auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society. The first 
prize was awarded to Messrs. Powell Bros. & Whittaker, 
Wrexham. The first prize machine was a beautiful 
piece of workmanship, its leading peculiarity being 
that instead of a screen attachment, a revolving wheel 
is substituted, which rotates by the force of the soil 
thrown against it from the fork wheel when the 
machine is in action. The first prize for a Potato¬ 
raising plough was awarded to the new “splitter” 
plough, with broad steel share and hind raiser, made 
by Mr. John Gregory, of Westoe, South Shields. 
A Concert in aid of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution was held in the National 
Schoolroom, at Bwlch-y-Cibau, Montgomeryshire, on 
September 27th, and after paying expenses, a small 
balance was left, which has been forwarded to Mr. 
Cutler. The concert was organised by Mr. J. S. 
Trevor, gardener to Miss Williams, Bryngwyn, and the 
village being small, large results could not have been 
anticipated, but Mr. Trevor is not without hope of 
being able to organise a fete to be held next season in 
the grounds of Bryngwyn, when he hopes to realise a 
respectable amount. Such efforts are worthy of all 
praise and imitation, and we hope some of our friends 
will do the same for the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
At the meetings of the Birmingham and Midland 
Counties Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association, to be held during the remainder of the 
year, papers will be read as follows :—October 11th, 
‘■'The Cypripedium, Selenipedium, and Uropedium,’ 
by Mr. G. Barnes; October 25th, “Tuberous and 
Winter-flowering Begonias and their Cultivation,” by 
Mr. James Lee; November 8th, “ Remarks on the 
History, Nomenclature, &c., of a few noteworthy 
Apples, with Illustrations,” by Mr. W. Gardiner ; 
November 22nd, “ Plants 5for Room Decoration,” by 
Mr. C. R. Bick ; December 6th, “Notes on Narcissi,” 
by Mr. W. Spinks; December 20th, “Discussion and 
election of the best varieties of Vegetables for 1888.” 
The annual general meeting will be held on January 3rd. 
-->X<—- 
SELECT PERENNIAL ASTERS. 
Considering the number of really beautiful and 
ornamental Asters in cultivation, and obtainable in 
most cases, it is still matter for wonder that so much 
indifference still prevails in many private establish¬ 
ments as to their use and decorative value. The 
ruling idea is that Asters are not worth the space 
they occupy; but this is a great mistake, and from 
what we see of them in various private establishments, 
and villa gardens generally, it is tho weeds of the 
genus that are most widely disseminated, giving rise 
to the notion that Asters are a rubbishy lot. It so 
happens that the worthless kinds increase at a much 
greater ratio than the large-flowered, floriferous, and 
really handsome kinds, so that the former have 
become disseminated from garden to garden, simply 
because growers could readily part with surplus stock. 
Another thing to be taken into consideration is that 
the majority of Asters flower late in the season, and, 
except in the more favoured parts of the country, they 
seldom open in time to escape the rough boisterous 
weather and dashing rains that occur late in autumn. 
In the southern counties a great number of the most 
excellent kinds are at their best in September, and can 
be cultivated as border plants to great advantage. 
Any ordinary garden soil will grow the perennial or 
true Asters to great perfection, provided it is tolerably 
moist, or can conveniently be watered in exceptionally 
dry weather such as occurred last summer. This 
necessity may be avoided by planting in tolerably deep, 
naturally moist soil, as most of the species enjoy 
abundant moisture to enable them to make vigorous 
growth, and retain their lower leaves till flowering time. 
The flower heads will also be considerably larger if the 
plants have been generously treated, and the proportion 
of bloom far more satisfactory. Should the soil in 
which they are intended to be grown be thin and 
rather poor, a liberal dressing of old hot-bed manure, or 
something to increase the water holding power of the 
soil would prove highly beneficial. 
Aster Amellus. —Prominence must always be given 
to this valuable Italian species, which has been in 
cultivation, or was, at least, originally introduced in 
1596. The stems vary from lj ft. to 2 ft. in height, 
and are well furnished with oblong, blunt, dark green 
leaves, while they branch rather freely in the upper 
part, so as to bring the large bluish purple flower-heads 
nearly all on the same level. The latter are generally 
about ins. in diameter, and may be considered the 
largest in the genus. A variety known as A. A. 
bessarabicus has somewhat larger and darker flower- 
heads, and is also considered a more vigorous grower. 
The average rate of increase of this species is small, so 
that care should be exercised in dividing the rootstock 
to secure a quantity of roots to each piece without 
damaging the remainder. 
A. acris. —There are several kinds of this in culti¬ 
vation, but what is now called the typical form grows 
from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, and is so extremely 
floriferous that the foliage is completely hidden in the 
upper part of the plant for weeks together. The flower- 
heads are considerably smaller than those of the former, 
and pale blue ; but their extraordinary number more 
than compensate for any deficiency in that respect. 
The upper part of the stems branch repeatedly in a 
corymbose manner, so that the flower-heads are nearly 
on the same level. Increase is by no means rapid, nor 
does the plant encroach on its neighbours in any way. 
It is another of the few European species that exist, 
and has been in cultivation for over a century and a 
half. 
fz A. Bigelowii. —This variety is synonymous with 
A. Townshendi, and was introduced from Colorado as 
recently as 1878. It commences flowering in summer, 
and continues to develop fresh flower-heads from 2 ins. 
to 2| ins. in diameter till late in the autumn. They 
are of a lively lilac-blue colour, and very attractive ; 
but unfortunately the plant is of short duration, being 
practically a biennial. It is very select, however, and 
grows from 18 ins. to 24 ins. high. 
A. Linosyris. —Authors generally regard this as 
distinct from a tree Aster, and name it Linosyris 
vulgaris or Chrysocoma linosyris, the latter generic 
name being translated as Goldielocks, its popular title, 
having bright yellow flower-heads, that are usually 
rayless. The typical form is in this condition ; but a 
variety generally known as A. linifolius has a few 
reflexed white rays, and is inferior to the type, which 
is characterised by a great profusion of bloom, giving 
the plant a distinct and even pretty appearance. On 
this account it is a highly desirable species by way of 
variety in a collection. It is a British plant, but rather 
rare. 
A. Shortii. —The flower-heads of this species are 
mauve or purplish blue, and about 1 in. in diameter ; 
but the plant recommends itself on account of the great 
profusion of bloom with which the panieled flower- 
stems are furnished along the greater part of their 
upper half. The stems vary from 2 ft. to 4 ft. in 
length, but are most frequently about 3 ft. ; and 
increase of the rootstock is slow, consequently the 
species is very select on that account. The leaves are 
lanceolate, elongated, with a heart-shaped base, and 
very distinct. 
A. Novi-Belgi. —The forms of this Aster are very 
polymorphous, and no very definite limits seem to be 
assigned them. Several widely-distinct forms, that 
used to be considered species, are now classified as 
varieties of A. Novi-Belgi. The A. versicolor maximus 
of gardens is now reckoned a form of the species in 
question, and has pale rosy purple flowers changing to 
white as they become older, while they are of good 
average size and profusely produced on branching stems 
about 4 ft. in height. What used to be known as 
A. Ifevis is now named A. Novi-Belgi densus, and is 
certainly one of the most refined and handsome Asters 
for border decoration. The average height is 2 ft., 
while the flowers are of the most delightful clear or 
bright blue, and very abundantly produced. A. N. -B. 
lfevigatus, generally known in gardens as A. longifolius 
formosus, is another very handsome and floriferous 
form, with rosy pink flowers and even dwarfer habit, 
seldom exceeding 18 ins. in height. These three forms 
are deservedly worthy of cultivation, and for horti¬ 
cultural purposes are more distinct from one another 
than many other kinds admitted to the rank of species. 
-- 
THE PINK HILL NURSERIES, 
MURRAYFIELD, MIDLOTHIAN. 
The Pinkhill Nurseries, carried on by Messrs. R. B. 
Laird & Sons, are pleasantly situated on the sunny 
slope of a hill, and sheltered behind with tall trees. 
The rains, previous to our visit, had so freshened and 
revived everything that little or no traces of the drought 
were visible, and Dahlias and Pentstemons were making 
a fine autumn display. The houses were replete with 
nursery stock of all kinds in various stages from the 
cutting or seedling onwards. We noticed a good col¬ 
lection of Clematis, amongst which Jackmanni, Louis 
Van Houtte, a large deep sky-blue kind, and others 
were flowering. In the same house, which contained a 
mixed collection, were various useful subjects that find 
a place in the economy of many an establishment. 
Amongst these were Francoa ramosa, Salvia patens, 
highly coloured Prunus Pissardi, a large plant of Rho¬ 
dodendron argenteum in a tub ; and early-flowering 
Chrysanthemums ; Canari, deep yellow; and Fred 
Perle, deep bronzy red, were floriferous and gay kinds; 
but the bulk of those in flower were on exhibition else¬ 
where. Other houses contained a collection of Vines 
in pots that were to be fit for fruiting in another year 
after being cut down. Primula obconica and P. 
floribunda were in strong force, and the former, which 
is a constant flowerer, is very popular, and leaves the 
nurseries in great numbers. Other kinds of Primulas 
growing under cooler treatment in a cold frame were 
P. capitata, P. cashmiriana, and P. pulcherrima, all 
forms of the Himalayan P. denticulata. Moisture-loving 
subjects thatrequire cool treatment were Nertera depressa 
and Sibthorpia europea variegata ; the former was in 
berry, and when in flower must not be watered overhead. 
Seedling Palms are grown in considerable quantity 
for decorative purposes, and a fine lot of Coslogyne 
cristata occupied the same house. Amongst greenhouse 
Rhododendrons were large plants of R. Dalhousieanum, 
R. jasminiflorum, and R. Countess of Haddington. A 
house devoted to the cultivation of a collection of 
Tomatos contained a seedling of some merit with 
roundly oblong golden yellow fruit, said to be of good 
flavour. Another was full of Tea Roses, strong and 
healthy plants, flowering or in bud. 
About 20,000 conifer cuttings are annually put into 
pots to root, and at the time of our visit were in a cool 
span-roofed house. They are made and inserted in 
September, and in that month of the year following 
