August 31, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
833 
stake firmly into the ground on the windward side, and 
as close to the stem of the tree as possible. To this 
the tree should be made fast with teased-out tarred 
rope, and to avoid friction the rope may be crossed 
between the stem and stake.— A. D. Webster. 
-- 
NOTES ON VEGETABLES. 
Ellam’s Dwarf Cabbage. 
We have grown this quick-hearting and compact little 
Cabbage for several seasons, and notwithstanding the 
rivalry of other sorts grown in competition it still 
remains the best both for earliness and flavour. Says 
the cook, in early summer, “ Send us in that little sort, 
master wants but little, hut wants it good. 1 ' It is truly 
both little and good, and we keep it in season as long 
as possible.— A Kitchen Gardener. 
Livingstone’s Favourite Tomato. 
You have spoken well of this Tomato, but from a trial 
of several plants we find that it is not such a free 
setter as some, though there is some compensation for 
this in the fruits being larger. It is very handsome, 
round and smooth, and the flesh is solid with little 
core. Altogether it is a desirable sort to grow. Your 
allusion to the doctors decrying the eating of Tomatos 
on account of their health-giving properties is amusing 
enough, but if their occupation goes, I hope they will 
not seek their revenge by becoming gardeners them¬ 
selves !— A Kitchen Gardener. 
The Duchess Pea. 
The prophecy in your columns of a year ago, with 
reference to this variety, is already being justified by 
all gardeners who have grown it this season. A couple 
of rows have been with us a marvellous sight, the 
greater proportion of the pods measuring 5 ins. in 
length, and being quite full of grand dark green peas 
of delicious flavour when cooked. The habit of the 
plants is robust, not much more than 4 ft. in height, 
and it is an excellent cropper. It is emphatically the 
Pea for the show tent, the small garden, and the 
dining table.— A Kitchen Gardener. 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
Hirsute Varieties. 
Mr. William Falconer, writing in The American 
Florist, says:—“A pink-coloured ‘ hairy’-flowered 
Chrysanthemum of the same style as Mrs. Alpheus 
Hardy I have known the existence of for some time, 
but not till to-day did I know that it had escaped from 
its prison in Japan. But it has, and Peter Henderson 
has got it. This is the second time he has had it ; the 
first time every plant was dead when received. That 
horticultural veteran, Peter B. Mead, was telling me 
about it a couple of months ago. Mr. Mead’s daughter 
was for several years a resident in Japan, and officially 
connected with the royal families of the country. She 
used to treat her father here to descriptions and 
sketches of the hidden floral treasures of the princes’ 
gardens, and laid particular stress upon this pink 
‘hairy’-flowered Chrysanthemum; but she found it 
impossible to obtain a plant of it to send to her father 
at Mamaroneck. This shows how true is the proverbial 
attachment of the Japanese to their pet plants.” 
Are Agr^ments de la Nature, Bertier 
Rendatler or Curiosity Distinct ? 
This question has, I believe, been discussed before with¬ 
out any definite decision being arrived at; some assert 
a negative, and others, equally emphatic, an affirmative, 
with the result that they are still retained as distinct 
in the catalogues of most firms. Looking through my 
collections this morning, I thought it singular that 
four plants (two of each) I had from Messrs. Cannell & 
Sons, who I have not yet known to send one variety 
for another, should all be the same height, the same 
foliage and habit, and all to present their crown 
buds together, though differently labelled. The flowers, 
too, are well known to be similar. Is it worth while 
filling catalogues with names, and long names too, 
where the difference, if any, is so slight ?— W. J. 
Murphy, Clonmel. [Curiosity and Bertier Rendatler 
are regarded as synonymous by the nomenclature com¬ 
mittee of the N. C. S.—Ed.] 
Maud Pitcher. 
This is a sport of great merit from the well-known 
yellow Precocite, and is equally if not more floriferous 
than that variety. The leaves are small and deep green, 
while the stems are much branched, and about 2 ft. in 
height, more or less. The flower-heads are of good 
form, full in the centre, orange above, and yellow on 
the reverse of the florets. It was shown by Mr. Geo. 
Stevens, St. John’s Nursery, Putney, at the last meeting 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, and received an 
Award of Merit. 
Gardening Notes fromIreland. 
The Autumn Show of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. 
This show was held in the grounds of Sir Cecil 
Guinness, St. Stephen’s Green, on the 22nd inst., and 
was an all-round good exhibition, the various exhibits 
being of first-class order, and the competition good. 
The show was held in tents, and it was fortunate that 
the rain during the forenoon ceased in sufficient time to 
make the afternoon enjoyable to visitors. The plant 
department had very fine collections, and for the class 
of singular or variegated foliage, Mr. Flynn, gardener to 
L. G. Watson, Esq., Newstead, was first, and for a 
collection of exotic Ferns he was also first. In this 
lot was exhibited a grand plant of Todea superba, said 
to be the largest specimen of its kind to be seen in 
Ireland. For a group of nine foliage and flowering 
plants, Mr. Coughlan, gardener to Richard Pim, Esq., 
Stradbrooke Hall, was first, every single plant in the 
collection showing the care and high cultural skill for 
which Mr. Coughlan has long been famed. Fuchsias, 
Begonias in pots, and zonal Pelargoniums were 
fairly well done, but they do not call for any special 
reference. 
Florists’ flowers, notwithstanding the late heavy 
rains, made a splendid exhibition, and Roses, Dahlias, 
Begonias, &c., were in as fine condition as if the state 
of the weather had been all in their favour. In private 
collections for Roses, Mr. Porter, gardener to Lord 
Ashtown, was first with twenty-four, and for twelve 
Roses, Mr. Ennis, gardener to Viscount Carlow, Emo 
Park, was also first with a very nice lot. From nur¬ 
serymen came collections that would be considered fine 
even in midsummer. The Messrs. Dickson, of New- 
townards, put up a splendid stand of forty-eight blooms, 
and in this lot was exhibited, for the first time, a 
seedling Rose named Dixie Coddington, and to which 
was awarded a First Class Certificate. The form and 
substance was all that could be desired, the colour being 
a bright crimson. In this class the Messrs. McGredy, 
Portadown, were second. The Messrs. Dickson also 
put up a stand, not for competition, of Mrs. J. Laing 
Rose, which was very much admired by visitors. 
Cut Begonias were shown in trusses by Mr. Downes, 
gardener to J. T. Poe, Esq., Nenagh, and were 
splendid examples of what the Begonia can be brought 
to. The twelve different kinds shown in this box were 
all doubles, and obtained the first prize, Mr. Porter 
securing second prize in this class. The Messrs. 
Hartland, of Cork, contributed some fine stands of 
Begonias, which were highly commended by the 
judges. 
Dahlias were fine, and, as usual, the premier prize in 
the class for twenty-four fell to the lot of that veteran 
grower, Mr. Shortt, gardener to W. F. Leland, Esq., 
Drogheda. The flowers were staged in the most perfect 
condition, and could hardly be excelled. Mr. L. 
McCormick, Kilsallaghan, was second. The nursery¬ 
men’s class for thirty-six Dahlias brought out two fine 
collections from the Messrs. Dickson, and Messrs. 
McGredy, the former being awarded the first, and the 
latter the second prize. Gladioli were a very con¬ 
spicuous feature of the exhibition, some very fine 
stands being shown. Among private exhibitors, Mr. 
Lombard’s stand of thirty-six carried off the society’s 
Cup, and fairly outdistanced all other competitors. 
Special prizes were given to two stands of twenty-four ; 
that exhibited by Mr. Campbell, Gourock, secured the 
first, the second prize being taken by Messrs. McGredy. 
The latter lot was a very fine one, but it had no 
chance when pitted against Mr. Campbell’s stand. 
Fruit was well to the front, the collection of Grapes 
being very large. Mr. Roberts, of Charleville Forest, 
Tullamore, after a long absence from the exhibition 
table, has again put himself in evidence, and again has 
he had the lion’s share, the first prizes in all the Grape 
classes falling to his lot. In other classes of fruits the 
competition was also good. 
Vegetables were of a good class, but the judgment 
which gave the first prize to the collection of twelve, 
exhibited by Mr. J. L. W. Naper, ofLoughcrew, was 
very much criticised by various good vegetable growers, 
the collection belonging to Mr. Cassells, which was left 
out in the cold, being considered the best of three lots 
put up. Mr. Moore, curator of the Royal Dublin 
Society’s Gardens, contributed a fine lot of Palms for 
decoration, as well as a mixed lot of foliage and flower¬ 
ing plants. The Messrs. Henderson, also sent in a lot 
of very nice-grown flowering and other plants, as did 
also Messrs. Luke Toole & Co. 
IfoTEs from ^Scotland. 
-*4*- 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen 
Annual Pete.— The annual floral fete in connection 
with this society was held on August 22nd, 23rd, and 
24th in the Duthie Public Park, Aberdeen, under the 
most favourable auspices as regards both number and 
quality of specimens in almost every department of 
horticulture. As on previous occasions, a large space 
was enclosed in the park for the purposes of the fete, 
and greater tent accommodation was provided than 
heretofore, though still not enough. Inside the marquees 
the appearance of the various stands was rich and beau¬ 
tiful in the extreme. Individual collections of plants 
have for some years been one of the chief features in 
the society’s show, and one that perhaps more than 
any other arouses the interest of the outsider. This 
year two collections only were arranged, and though 
the examples were in both cases very good indeed, the 
paucity of entries was disappointing. The first prize, 
a beautiful Silver Cup, presented by Mr. James Murray 
Garden, chairman of the society, was deservedly secured 
by Mr. Proctor, gardener to Lord Provost Henderson, 
Devanha House, Aberdeen ; the second prize going to 
Mr. Grigor, gardener to A. 0. Gill, Esq., of 
Fairfield. Besides these tables in the centre of the 
marquee were the individual exhibits of pot plants, 
and among them were many beautiful specimens. 
Especially rich and finely flowered was the collection of 
Cockscombs and Begonias, while the commoner Fuchsia 
and Pelargonium were very well represented indeed. 
Of zonal Pelargoniums there was a splendid display, 
all being grandly flowered, especially those of A. 
Forbes, Esq., Morkeu (Mr. William Ogg, gardener), who 
also took first prize for show Pelargoniums, with plants 
which were almost perfect in bloom, the opinion being 
expressed that they never had been excelled at any of 
the Aberdeen shows. 
The plants for table decoration were numerous, and 
embraced some very pretty specimens, the first prize 
being awarded to Mr. Alexander Howie, Fordoun. Of 
Orchids the display was not imposing, but the specimens 
that were exhibited were very creditable to Mr. Proctor, 
Devanha House. In the class for Vines in pots there 
was only one exhibit, a very creditable one, which 
was shown by Mr. A. Grigor, Fairfield. In the section 
open to amateurs the first place was also given to plants 
in pots, and on entering the tent attention was at once 
directed to the tables which were arranged for effect. 
The first prize here went to Mr. Sherrills, Esslemon 
Avenue, for a tastefully arranged collection. The 
honours for stove and greenhouse plants were divided 
by Mr. George Maitland and Mr. W. D. Brownie. 
The latter also took prizes for Ferns along with Mr. 
A. Gillespie. 
There was a grand display of cut flowers in all the 
sections, notwithstanding the recent heavy rains, which 
might have been expected to have damaged the blooms 
considerably. There was a large increase in the entries 
in this section, and the quality was fully up to the 
standard of the best of previous years, if not better in 
some cases. In the division set apart for nurserymen 
there was one of the most exciting competitions of the 
fete. For a long time now Messrs. Cocker & Sons, of 
Aberdeen, have been closely run by Messrs. D. & TV. 
Croll, of Dundee. The competition was for thirty-six 
H. P. Roses. After a long and careful examination 
the judges lowered the colours of the local firm, and 
the Messrs. Croll accordingly cairied off the Silver Cup 
presented by Messrs. Shirras & Son. 
A novel feature of the exhibition, and one which 
deserves a word of commendation, was the display of 
baskets of flowers by ladies. Mrs. William Maver, 
Aberdeen, took the first place with a beautiful basket. 
Another competition which was confined to ladies was 
that for baskets of Roses, and here the prize was 
deservedly won by Miss Lizzie Cocker, Sunny park, 
Aberdeen. 
The entries in the fruit section looked well, notwith¬ 
standing that the season was early this year, and the 
specimens forwarded included Grapes, Melons, Pears, 
Plums, Tomatos, Apples, Peaches, red and black 
Currants, red and green Gooseberries, Cherries, and 
Strawberries. Turning now to the kitchen-garden 
products, it was admitted on all hands that these 
formed one of the best displays ever seen at any of the 
society’s shows. The baskets were particularly good, 
containing as they did some first-rate specimens of the 
various edibles. Dir. Milne, Cluny Castle, well 
deserved the honours he received with his collection. 
The exhibitors of miscellaneous contributions in¬ 
cluded Messrs. Ben. Reid & Co., Smith & Son, Cocker 
& Son, Aberdeen ; Dobbie & Co., Rothesay ; and John 
McPherson, Deemount. 
