August 10, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
787 
Although essentially a mountain plant the Ling is 
by no means confined to high elevations, but will even 
descend to sea level when the other conditions requisite 
are present. It is pre eminently the feature of many a 
mountain side, especially on old geological formations 
such as red sandstone, granite, quartz, and other 
palaeozoic formations. On the other hand, it dislikes 
all limestone formations ; and for this reason Ling is 
almost or entirely absent from the chalk downs of the 
south, and which it may be noted are geologically 
much more recent. From these facts the cultivator 
should avoid the use of lime or chalk in the soil in 
which he intends growing Heather. Stiff clay should 
also be avoided or ameliorated before planting it with 
this class of plants, because such a soil is liable to get 
baked during periods of drought in summer, when the 
slender and fibrous roots would certainly perish, as 
happens in the case of Ericas, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, 
and other plants of that nature. These are usually 
spoken of as American plants, although in the case of 
Ling it is not an American subject at all, but is 
admirably suitable for cultivation in the American 
garden so called. 
The more brightly-coloured varieties of Calluna 
vulgaris that may be picked up on any heath are orna¬ 
mental enough for cultivation ; but in the face of 
numerous fine varieties already in gardens they may be 
discarded for the choicer of the latter. Amongst the 
darker-flowering kinds C. v. Alportii maybe considered 
one of the best, forming erect bushes about 12 ins. or 
15 ins. in height, and bearingagreat quantity of crimson- 
red flowers in long terminal spikes. C. v. coccinea, 
with deep red flowers, is also pretty ; and C. v. purpurea 
has purplish red flowers. Somewhat similar in colour 
to the latter is the bloom of C. v. tomentosa, but the 
plant acquires a peculiar and distinctive hue from the 
branches and leaves being pubescent or woolly. 
Another very choice form is that named C. v. spicata, 
which is characterised by the great length of the 
flowering portion of its stems and branches. In this 
respect it may be compared to C. v. Alportii above 
mentioned. There is a white variety of it equally 
choice, from the boldness of its habit, namely C. v. 
spicata alba. There are different white forms, charac¬ 
terised no less by the particular shade of colour of their 
flowers, as also by their habit. C. v. alba has white 
flowers rather thinly arranged along the upper portion 
of the stems and branches. C. v. Serlii and C. v. 
Hammondi are other beautiful white sorts. A late- 
flowering variety with white flowers and pubescent 
branches has been distinguished as C. v. serotina. 
Another similarly hairy variety with deep red flowers 
is the C. v. atro-rubens of the botanist. The double 
variety, C. v. flore pleno, must not be neglected, 
because, although the flowers do not differ in colour 
from the ordinary wild type, they are very double, 
rather large and globular, producing a fine effect when 
seen in a healthy thriving state. Nor is it any more 
difficult to cultivate than the bulk of the kinds, and is 
usually very floriferous. 
The silver variegated Ling (C. v. argentea) is very 
distinct in its way, and might be included in collections 
for the sake of variety. Some would even consider it 
pretty. The same might be said of C. v. aurea, a 
golden-leaved form, which assumes its finest golden 
tint in the summer time just after the young growth 
has been made. It is most effective in a mass, or used 
as an edging to a bed of the other kinds.— F. 
-->Z<- 
CONVOLVULUS (CALYSTEGIA) 
PUBESCENS FLORE PLENO. 
A goodly number of these plants are in bloom as I 
write, and have been flowering for some time past in 
the Brompton Cemetery, at the Fulham Road entrance. 
They are exceedingly pretty, with their fine, light rose- 
coloured, double flowers, and the plants, twining up 
tall stakes, are very conspicuous as seen from the road. 
Although this is one of the prettiest of our hardy 
climbers it is by no means common. It has the habit 
of the climbing Convolvulus, and as it flowers all 
through the summer, is very hardy, and will grow in 
any position and in almost any soil, however poor, it 
should be in every collection of border plants. It looks 
well at the back of odd corners, with dwarf plants in 
front. The plants are readily increased by division of 
the roots, which should be done during the winter 
months while they are at rest, but they seem to take a 
year to fully establish themselves and gain sufficient 
strength to send up strong annual growths, unless they 
are obtained in pots in winter or early spring, and 
planted out. This plant belongs to the natural order 
Convolvulacese, or Bindweeds, and was introduced 
from China in 1844 .—Alfred Gaut. 
BEDDING PLANTS. 
It is pleasing to see so many classes of plants doing 
well this season. Where Pansies have had a fair chance 
they especially are giving much satisfaction. Fancy 
and other kinds, both from seed and cuttings, are very 
gay, and have been in flower ever since they were 
planted during the early part of April. Among the 
varieties generally used in beds, Blue King, Robin 
Hood, Sovereign, a good yellow, have been all we could 
desire. Bullion is a dense mass of bright yellow, and 
of fine habit. We have reduced our stock of named 
bedding varieties, some of which have finely formed 
flowers, but are not so lasting and effective during 
autumn ; some purples and others from seed have been 
equal to good Petunia blooms. 
Pelargoniums of the variegated classes have scarcely 
bloomed at jail. Bronze Harry Hieover has been very 
distinct, and has made excellent growth. Crystal 
Palace Gem, as a yellow, is very bright, and without 
flowers its foliage is most satisfactory. Mrs. Turner is 
the best pink variety. The most brilliant scarlet 
we had last year was Little David, and so it is 
this season, showing its usefulness and value in all 
weathers. Vesuvius and a number of old favourites are 
comparatively insignificant. Having seen more flower 
gardens this year than usual, I am able to state that 
the useful class of summer-flowering plants which are 
easily propagated and require no protection during 
winter, are such as stand highest in favour in northern 
parts. — T. F. 
-- 
otes from Scotland. 
The National Wild Flowers of Scotland. 
Show in Aberdeen. 
The third of the national wild-flower exhibitions and 
competitions promoted annually by the proprietors of 
the People's Friend—a. Scottish magazine—was opened 
in the Music Hall, Aberdeen, on Thursday, August 1st, 
by Annie S. Swan, the well-known Scottish novelist. 
For the last three years the promoters have held wild- 
flower exhibitions in Scotland, the proceeds of which 
are put to some deserving purpose. This year the 
whole drawings taken at the doors, and the proceeds 
from the sale of flowers, go to the Aberdeen Sick 
Children’s Hospital. It is gratifying to have to record 
that a scheme so deserving was an unqualified success 
on Friday and Saturday in Aberdeen—so much so, in 
fact, was this the case, that the exhibition was the 
most successful of the kind yet held. 
From most of the parishes in every county through¬ 
out the length and breadth of Scotland contributions 
came pouring in. Some of the bouquets contained a 
rich assortment of flowers, arranged with admirable 
taste, and gave evidence of having been collected in 
parts of the country where Nature has been most lavish 
in the bestowal of her gifts. Other humble lots ap¬ 
peared to have been culled by sympathetic little hands 
from some bleak muir or hillside, where the choice was 
limited to one or two varieties. The whole of the 
contributions, numbering in all over 1,500, were beau¬ 
tifully arranged. It was only necessary to take a 
glance round the music-hall to realise what an amount 
of thought and labour was expended upon the selection 
of the bunches of wild flowers. Their fragrance filled 
the air the moment one entered the spacious portals of 
the music-hall, and it need hardly be added that they 
represented the hopes and fears of more than a thousand 
of the young folks of the country, for it was an out-and- 
out children’s show. 
One may conjure up mentally the eagerness with 
which they rambled over hill and through dale 
in search of the choicest floral treasures ; and in order 
that their efforts might be fittingly rewarded there was 
a liberal provision of prizes and prize certificates, 
though none too many for the merits of the case. At 
the opening ceremony on Thursday there was a very 
large attendance of ladies and gentlemen, the platform 
being crowded with representative citizens of Aberdeen. 
Lord Provost Henderson presided, and introduced Miss 
Swan. Previous to doing so his lordship intimated 
letters of apology from Lady Aberdeen (who was to 
have opened the exhibition), Sheriff Dove Wilson, &c. 
Lady Aberdeen wrote to the effect that she regretted 
very much being unable to be present at an exhibition, 
the object and nature of which she was so much in 
sympathy with. Lord Aberdeen also expressed regret 
at the fact that the expected visit to Aberdeen to open 
the exhibition had had to be put off. Both the Earl 
and the Countess wished the exhibition every success. 
Lessons from Wild Flowers. 
Annie S. Swan (Mrs. Smith) then stepped forward and 
said—“My Lord Provost, ladies and gentlemen, in 
spite of the kindness of your reception this morning, 
I am conscious that I am but a poor substitute for the 
gifted and public-spirited lady whose absence we all 
deplore to-day ; but though I am no speech-maker, I 
am very glad to be here to-day to express in a few 
words my interest in and my sympathy with the object 
of this undertaking. I do not know where my friend 
Mr. Stewart (editor of the People's Friend ) got his idea, 
but I am sure you will agree with me that there has 
never been seen in this city of Aberdeen a more unique 
and beautiful exhibition than we see before us to-day. 
We are all accustomed, both in cities, and certainly in 
every country district, to annual horticultural displays, 
at which we are called upon to admire the great beauty 
and perfection to which human care and skill can bring 
both our garden and greenhouse plants, but it is not 
often we are called upon to admire the wild flowers ; 
and I hope that there are not in this hall many persons 
whose artistic tastes are so educated and refined that 
they are indifferent to that fair garden of the universe 
which is open to all without money and without price, 
and where the wild flowers fresh from the hand of God 
bloom for us year by year, and will read for us, if we 
only keep our eyes open, daily lessons by the way. It 
is but a step, my friends, from nature up to nature’s 
God, and if we will allow nature to lead us, 
“The Primrose by the river’s brim” 
will be something more than merely a yellow Primrose 
for us ; it will be a message of hope, of courage and 
comfort from Heaven. We are bidden, “Consider the 
Lilies of the field how they grow ; they toil not, neither 
do they spin and I am sure that we will get from the 
wild flowers, if we only keep our eyes open, lessons of 
courage and comfort to help us in the battle of life. If 
this exhibition has done no more than to send hun¬ 
dreds of children, as it must have done during the last 
few days, into the fields and woods to seek out the 
haunts of the Harebell and the Heather, and to look 
for the Daisy and the Buttercup, and the graceful wild 
grass on sunny meadows, it will have fulfilled a 
great end ; but it has done much more than that. 
It has awakened in these young hearts a tender 
sympathy and compassion for the children less blessed 
than themselves, to whom such institutions as a sick 
children’s hospital must be a great boon. I don’t know 
that I need add much more to what the Lord Provost 
has so well said already. 1 think these three words, 
“ sick children’s hospital,” must touch a chord 
even in the very hardest heart. There is an ex¬ 
quisite affinity between the children and the flowers. 
They are both gleams of sunshine sent from God, 
and while all are anxious to cherish the children, 
it remains a sad fact that there must be some sick, sad 
and suffering, and to these, as I have already said, a 
sick children’s hospital is an inestimable boon. I have 
only to say to those who have not been through a sick 
children’s hospital that if they only pay one visit I am 
sure they will go away with their hearts touched and 
saddened, their sympathies enlarged, and, if I mistake 
not, their purses considerably lighter. I have only to 
express again the very great pleasure I have in being 
here this morning, and to wish this beautiful exhibition 
every success.” 
On the motion of Mr. John Leng, w 7 ho spoke on 
behalf of the promoters of the exhibition, a hearty vote 
of thanks was accorded Annie S. Swan, and on the 
motion of Mr. James J. Todd, chairman of the directors 
of the Aberdeen Sick Children’s Hospital, a similar 
compliment was paid to the promoters of the exhibition, 
and to all those who by their services or donations had 
contributed to its success. A cordial vote of thanks 
was then awarded the Lord Provost for presiding. 
During the two days the exhibition remained open 
thousands of persons visited the hall, and all expressed 
their admiration of the magnificent collection of wild 
flowers which had been gathered together. 
Shortly before the close of the show on Saturday 
evening, Mr. Stewart, of Dundee, on behalf of the pro¬ 
moters, thanked the people of Aberdeen sincerely for 
their generous support. Although he was unable to 
state the financial result of the exhibition, he thought 
he might venture to say that it was likely to prove a 
greater success than the previous one held in Glasgow. 
He mentioned that the first and second-prize bunches of 
white Heather were purchased by a gentleman for a 
marriage in London. He also stated that a little girl, 
who had been a competitor at the exhibition, had died 
in the course of that week, and the first-prize cross was 
purchased by a gentleman to place upon her grave. It 
has been announced that the total drawings amounted 
to £160. The promoters deduct nothing for the ex¬ 
penses in connection with the exhibition, so that the 
entire proceeds will go towards the funds of the Aber¬ 
deen Sick Children’s Hospital. 
