May 11, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
579 
■which they have been introduced by seed as fodder 
plants (probably both would disappear were the 
cultivated ground allowed to relapse into its former 
condition) ; Lupinus perennis, very abundant on beds 
of shingle along the course of the Dee, and also along 
other Scotch rivers ; Sedum telephium and S. reflexum, 
found here and there along roadsides ; Linaria vulgaris, 
in similar positions to the Sedums ; Mimulus luteus, 
along the banks of the Don, and other rivers; 
Veronica Buxbaumii, in gardens and fields as a weed 
of cultivated ground ; Elodea canadensis, in streams 
and pools ; and two or three grasses, c.g ., Lolium 
italicum, found in fields where it has been introduced as 
fodder plants, and from whence they have spread to the 
banks of adjoining streams. Our flora thus seems to 
be a comparatively stable one, and well able to resist 
the aggressions of immigrants from other parts of 
Europe, or from distant lands. But if we look to the 
distribution in Scotland of many of our lowland plants, 
we are constrained to believe that they owe their 
introduction into Scotland to man, though admitted 
into British floras without indication that they are not 
among the indigenous species of the country. It must 
be borne in mind, however, that we have no reason to 
believe that anyjspecies of Phanerogams, and few well- 
marked sub-species or varieties, have originated in 
Britain, and that the only questions with regard to 
the origin of our flora relate to the countries from 
whence the plants came here, and the time and im¬ 
migration. Yet in many respects human agency is so 
distinct in its results from all others, that it is con¬ 
venient to regard it as different in kind from them, 
and to discuss it separately. 
Turning then to the distribution of our so-called 
native plants we find that many of them are restricted 
to the neighbourhood of houses or of ruins, others to 
the waysides or to the vicinity of gardens, from whence 
it is clear that they originally escaped. Such plants 
as the Mallows, Hawthorn, Goutweed, Cicely, Elder, 
Chamomile, Tansy, Leopard’s Bane, Toad-flaxes, and 
Good King Henry, are, evidently enough, escapes from 
the gardens of old days, when they were cultivated for 
beauty or medicinal virtues, real or supposed. There 
can be as little doubt, I think, that such species as the 
Nettles, Goosefoots and such-like, have been uninten¬ 
tionally introduced by man. As regards the weeds of 
cultivated soil, not only do they owe their introduction 
into this country to man, but were cultivation of the 
soil to cease they would almost to a certainty rapidly 
disappear from the flora. But the adventitious flora of 
North America teaches us that plants that we could 
scarcely have supposed likely to be introduced by man 
are among the most widely spread by him on that 
continent—for example, Ranunculus acris ; and that it 
is probable that we cannot now realise how large a part 
human interference has played in the past in moulding 
the flora of our Scottish lowlands. 
On the other hand there is little trace that it has 
altered the flora of the highlands in any marked degree— 
at least, in the Alpine tracts—except that within this 
century the relics of the Arctic-Alpine flora have 
become rarer, or even very rare, through the indis¬ 
cretion of botanists, or rather of plant collectors. It 
cannot be said that any new Alpines have been intro¬ 
duced into our flora by man’s unintentional agency. 
The flora of the lower hills also, where these were 
not forest-clad, has been little modified, save here and 
there, where moors have been drained, or where slight 
changes have been brought about by continued pastur¬ 
ing of sheep or cattle upon them. The primeval forest 
exists in only a few highland valleys now ; in it also 
man has effected little on native flora, and along the 
dunes that skirt many parts of our coast the effects of 
man’s hand are scarcely to be traced. But in the low¬ 
lands, wherever a permanent habitation could be made 
and the soil was fit for cultivation, or could be fitted 
for it by human industry, and also where the primeval 
forest once extended, man has greatly modified the 
original flora of Scotland. 
Let us learn from North America what had gone on 
in Scotland in ancient times. We are told by Roman 
authors that the country was covered with dense forests 
or impenetrable marshes, and that it was inhabited by 
a race of savages, whose mode of life must have been 
like that of the Indians of North America in many 
respects. The indigenous flora of these marshes and 
forests must have been much like what we still find in 
such localities in Scotland—composed of a comparatively 
smaller number of species than the prevalent types of 
the herbaceous vegetation of the lowlands, though now 
restricted to a few localities, and interesting to us from 
their rarity. The species then growing on the exposed 
moors and in the mountain corries must have been 
almost the same as still grow in these habitats, though 
probably the Alpines were the most abundant. 
Gradually the forests were cut down, the motive 
being, it would seem, more often to drive out trouble¬ 
some freebooters and wild beasts of prey than to make 
use of the timber or to clear the soil for cultivation. 
As the forests were destroyed, the plants that grew in 
them could no longer thrive without the shelter. The 
marshes also dried up as the rainfall diminished, and as 
years passed on drainage converted many of them into 
meadows or arable land. New races of men immigrated 
from the continent of Europe and from England, and 
brought with them their domestic animals, cultivated 
plants, and new methods of cultivation. Frequent 
intercourse went on with other countries, and imports 
from other lands brought with them the seeds of plants 
previously unknown in Scotland. These occupied the 
habitats vacated by their former tenants, or were able 
to oust the native plants when placed in circumstances 
so unfavourable to their vigorous growth, and thus 
went on a change that we know must have profoundly 
modified the indigenous flora of Scotland ; but that 
must always remain to a considerable extent matter of 
conjecture, for its greater features were accomplished 
before botanists began to seek out the causes of things. 
Changes are still going on, but they are now slow, and 
we must look to the colonies to gain some conception 
of what must have been the course of events in the 
past centuries in our own land, and of how far man 
has unconsciously changed the flora of Scotland. 
While we cannot but regret the loss of certain species, 
we must recognise that to human agency we owe much 
of the variety, and to some extent the beauty also, of 
what we are apt to regard as the indigenous flora of 
our native land. 
-- 
IfoiES from Scotland. 
Easter Duddingston Lodge, Portobello.— 
The beautiful residence of Charles Jenner, Esq., is not 
so well known to horticulturists as it ought to be, and 
I could not help thinking, after completing an ex¬ 
haustive inspection a few days ago, how many places 
less deserving of note were written about, while this 
fine garden is neglected. To give your readers any¬ 
thing like a correct idea of all that is to be seen at 
Easter Duddingston, would, perhaps, unduly trespass 
on your valuable space, but a few rambling notes may 
tempt some to go and see for themselves, and I can 
assure any such of a cordial reception from Mr. Chapman, 
under whose fostering care the gardens have been for 
the past seventeen years. 
Hardy plants are undoubtedly the leading feature, 
and what more interesting ? Every turn you take there 
is something to arrest attention, and not a month in 
the year but adds its quota in flower or foliage. It is 
rather early in the year to see herbaceous borders at 
their best, but among the plants in flower and ful¬ 
filling their mission in beautifying the face of the earth, 
I noted the following:—Androsace sarmentosa, Anemone 
Robinsoniana, one of the best of wood Anemones, and 
far too little known ; Anemone pulsatilla, Arnebia 
echioides, (the Prophet Flower), rare, beautiful and 
interesting; Aubrietia Hendersoni, Caltha palustris 
flore pleno, Cardamine pratensis flore pleno (double 
Cuckoo Flower), Cortusa Mathioli, Corydalis nobilis, 
Genista anglica, Helionias bullata, Heuchera sanguinea, 
Leucojum festivum, Orobus flaxidus and 0. cyaneus, 
Podophyllum Emodi, a curious and interesting plant, 
the flowers being succeeded by large scarlet fruits ; 
Saxifraga crassifolia, Triteleia uniflora, Viola biflora, 
&c. The collection of Alpines receive special attention 
in a long frame 3 ft. from the ground and facing north ; 
here we found upwards of 500 distinct varieties, all in 
pots. Hardy Ferns have also a suitable home provided, 
a bold rock work partially covered with glass: I fancy 
July will be the month to see them in full beauty. 
The Skimmia has been receiving no small amount of 
attention in one of your contemporaries during the past 
few weeks, and I may mention in passing that several 
magnificent plants are to be seen here. (The redoubtable 
Mr. Forman resides in the neighbourhood ; can that 
fact have anything to do with their luxuriance ?) Some 
early-flowering Rhododendrons not often met with are 
striking objects in the first week of May. R. carapan- 
ulatum robustum, white with a tinge of lilac ; R. 
lancifolium, a dazzling red and very fine setter ; R. 
aromaticum, very dwarf, with small yellow flowers ; 
R. argenteum Major Madden, has a fine bushy habit, 
flowers just opening ; R. Nobleanum album, not pure 
white as the name would imply, but of rather a creamy 
tinge ; R. virgatum, this plant, about 4 ft. through 
and one mass of bloom, was a most gorgeous sight; R. 
Gorrieanum, flowering now for the first time, certainly 
is far and away the largest trusser of its class, but it 
seems shy ; the pip measured 4 ins. across, in colour a 
soft lilac. We may here mention that it was under the 
supervision of the late Mr. Gorrie that the grounds of 
Eastor Duddingston Lodge were formed, for five years he 
laboured, and his sudden end came before the work was 
completed ; however, here, as well as in many other 
parts, a lasting example is to be found of his great skill 
in landscape gardening, and it is not too much to say 
that Mr. Gorrie’s death left a great blank, a blank not 
easily filled. 
I must not omit to notice that portion of the 
grounds specially adapted for the cultivation of the Iris 
family. Mr. Jenner has already a large variety, but 
this spring over 100 sorts were imported from Japan, 
and already they appear to be making themselves at 
home. In conclusion, mention must be made of the 
large and varied collection of ornamental shrubs, de- 
scriptive notes of which I may make on another 
occasion ; but one feature in the establishment I must 
comment upon—that is, the clear and legible way in 
which the nomenclature has been attended to by Mr. 
Chapman. Let the visitor be a practical horticulturist 
or a novice, this fact enhances materially the pleasure 
and profit of an afternoon spent at Easter Duddingston 
Lodge.— L. D. P., May 6th, 1889. 
Fruit Crops. —In many places there is a good 
promise of fruit, and though our knowledge at present 
does not extend beyond Stirlingshire (except by cor¬ 
respondence) we hope that what we have seen in our 
district may be general everywhere. The badly-ripened 
fruit of last year, and the limited supply of several 
kinds, prompt cultivators to wish more ardently that 
we shall not have two seasons consecutively alike, but 
we are bound to admit that complaints would be greatly 
modified if fruit growers would make better selections 
of hardy kinds—Apples and Pears especially. We have 
still a few of the former, of a kind which we sent for 
use as a culinary sort at the end of last September. 
They are kept in a close, air-tight box, under a desk in 
the office ; others from the same trees which were 
placed in the fruit room began to show signs of shrivel¬ 
ling by the end of February. The kind we refer to is 
named Seaton House, of the Stirling Castle class, but 
firmer, and we think, better for cooking purposes. The 
varieties Lord Suffield, Keswick Codlin, King of 
Pippins, and a few others bear abundantly every 
season. These kinds are all loaded with fruit blossoms, 
and we think they will be late enough to escape frost 
at setting time. 
Pears do not seem to be so promising, and we can 
hardly anticipate fine crops. Plums of certain kinds 
are heavily laden with blossom buds, and these are 
among the best for northern gardening—viz., Kirke’s 
Purple, Jefferson, and the never failing Victoria. 
Cherries are a mass of flower buds, and could not be 
more promising in that respect. Morellos, which are 
confined at the roots, have formed many natural spurs, 
which are kept close to the wall, and could scarcely 
look more promising. Apricots have in some cases set 
well, and flower buds were very abundant, but the cold 
summer of last year had a bad effect on the trees, and 
the fruit of the present season must be looked for from 
the spurs formed (naturally) close to the walls. These 
we always value, as they ripen quickly and form fruit 
buds, saving much labour in fastening in young 
growths. 
All bush fruits are well represented by fruit buds 
clustering over the wood. Young wood in abundance 
is retained to take the place of old in our bush 
pruning of Currants of all kinds, as well as Gooseberries, 
the “let alone” system of pruning Gooseberries 
finding no sympathy with us. The practice of cutting 
all up to rods with short spurs only, and clearing out 
all the young wood is strongly objected to. AYe 
have always had faith in the practice which embraces 
the recuperative principle, and also keeping such simple 
things as Gooseberry bushes under perfect control at 
root as well as branch.— M. 
-►>*<«- 
NOTES ON VEGETABLES. 
Hartland’s April Queen Broccoli. 
From Mr, W. B. Hartland, of Cork, we the other day 
received a head of Broccoli, named as above, and which 
is deserving the attention of growers. The “flower” 
measured 9 ins. in diameter, and 5 ins. in depth, was 
solid and white, and well protected by stout deep green 
leaves. It is, however, its flavour, rather than its size 
and compactness, that is its strong point—for a milder 
and more delicately flavoured Broccoli we have no 
recollection of having tasted. 
