198 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 28, 1891. 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
Scottish Horticultural Association’s Annual 
Chrysanthemum Show. 
Although it is only two years since this Association 
pluckily embarked in the undertaking to hold in 
Edinburgh a Chrysanthemum show worthy of the 
capital of Scotland, its managers must be heartily 
congratulated on the soundness of their judgment, 
and the unqualified success which has crowned their 
efforts. The exhibition held in the Waverley Market 
last week showed a steady improvement on its pre¬ 
decessors, and as before attracted enormous crowds 
of visitors every day. The statistics of the exhibi¬ 
tion show that the number of competitors was 157 
as compared with 151, and the number of entries 
871 as compared with 792. The advance, which is 
apparent from those figures, was also maintained in 
the leading exhibits, which were in quality in ad¬ 
vance of any that have yet been shown at Edinburgh. 
Of course a winter exhibition, restricted mainly to a 
single class of flower, held in a place of such vast 
extent as the Waverley Market, loses something of 
decorative effect as compared with the summer 
shows, but, to make up for that in some degree, the 
show committee decorated the market by hanging 
the galleries with drapery of red, white, and blue, 
entwining the pillars which support the roof with 
wreaths of evergreen, and grouped collections of 
Palms and other foliage plants at convenient places 
upon the floor. They also lighted the market with 
electricity, and incandescent lamps were introduced 
among the greenery on the pillars, or suspended from 
the roof along the tables; and these, supplemented 
by a row of arc lamps at the back of the market, 
made the lighting arrangements very effective indeed, 
besides getting rid in some degree of the incon¬ 
venience arising from the overheating of the atmos¬ 
phere by the burning of hundreds of gas jets. 
The great prize of the show, for which there were 
about a dozen competitors, was the City of Edinburgh 
Cup, valued at /20, offered for the best forty-eight 
blooms of Japanese Chrysanthemums of not less than 
thirty-six varieties. This was secured by Mr. J. W. 
M'Hattie, of Newbattle Abbey Gardens, whose 
blooms were all splendidly grown, and shown in per¬ 
fect condition. They included most of the well-known 
varieties, such as Edwin Molyneux, Boule d'Or, 
Avalanche, Etoile de Lyon, Elaine, Viviand Morel, 
Monsieur Bernard, William Holmes, Gloriosum, 
and W. H. Lincoln, &c. The second prize lot, which 
was exhibited by Mr. Parker, Impney, Droitwich, 
also contained some very choice blooms, but they 
lacked the evenness of quality of Mr. M'Hattie's. 
The next most coveted honour was the Scottish 
Challenge Cup, presented by the Association for the 
best twenty-four blooms of incurved Chrysan¬ 
themums, and open to Scottish gardeners and 
amateurs only. It was won by Mr. Alexander Watt, 
gardener to James Stewart, Esq., Black House, 
Skelmorlie, Ayrshire, with an exhibit of very even 
merit, which included Empress of India, Prince 
Alfred, Princess of Wales, Lord Wolseley, &c. In 
the competition for the best twenty-four Chrysan¬ 
themums, Japanese and incurved, Mr. Parker 
showed some blooms which were hardly surpassed 
in the show for delicacy of colour and excellent 
condition. The third prize in the first-named com¬ 
petition went to Dundee, the successful competitor 
being Mr. Machar, Carona, Broughty Ferry ; while 
the second and third awards in the Association Cup 
competition went respectively to Mr. Peter Mathieson, 
Dhalling Mor, Kirn, and Mr. John Clark, Banner- 
field, Kelso. Mr. John Kyles, Milburn Tower, 
Corstorphine, staged the best twenty-four Japs., and 
the premier award for twenty-four incurved was 
taken by Mr. Jellicoe, Camp Hill, Woolton, Liver¬ 
pool. The best twelve blooms, six Japanese and six 
incurved, came from Mr. Geddes, Knock Castle, 
Largs. In the nurserymen’s classes, Messrs. R. B 
Laird & Sons secured all the premier awards. 
The pot plant classes were all well contested, as 
were also the various classes for fruits and vege¬ 
tables. In the Grape competitions, Mr. Murray, 
Parkhall, Mr. Leslie, Pitcullen, Mr. Murray, Culzean, 
and Mr. Fairgieve, Dunkeld, scored frequently, and 
in other competitions Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, Mr. 
Mclndoe, Hutton Hall, Mr. Day, Galloway House, 
and Mr. A. Wilson, Auchincruive, secured leading 
awards. 
Among special exhibits there was nothing finer 
than a table of blooms ssjitos by M?. H- }• Jones, of 
Lewisham, and which included Miss Alice, a dainty 
little anemone, pink, with white heart. Lilian B. 
Bird, a light pink anemone, with the most hair-like 
of petals; Madame Darrier, a buff and yellow 
incurved Chrysanthemum Needles, a beautiful soft 
Japanese of small size; James Western, a white- 
petalled anemone, with a yellow heart, are a few 
among many choice varieties which he exhibits. The 
Nova Scotian Government sent a notable exhibit of 
about eighty varieties of Apples ; but this was eclipsed 
by Messrs. Dicksons & Co., who showed no fewer 
than 150 varieties, among them their two new 
certificated seedlings, Bailie Neilson and James 
Grieve. One of the Association’s chief awards, their 
Gold Medal for a very fine collection of table fruit, 
has been conferred on Mr. Moore, Queen Street. 
The exhibition was opened by the Lord Provost, and 
the usual dinner took place in the afternoon of the 
first day, Mr. W. M. Welsh presiding, and Mr. 
Dunn and Mr. Robert Laird, Secretary, acting as 
croupiers. 
Ayr Chrysanthemum Show.— The fourth exhibi¬ 
tion of these popular winter flowers held by the 
Ayrshire Horticultural Society took place in the 
Town Hall on the 18th and 19th inst. The display 
of pot plants which at previous shows was generally 
admitted to be of rare excellence, were above the 
usual standard. The two lines of plants which 
occupied the spaces allotted for them on each side 
of the central promenade presented a grand floral 
picture to visitors on entering the hall. These com¬ 
prised the competition lots for the three and the 
two best specimens respectively. For both lots 
Mr. Halliday, Ayr, secured the first place, most of 
his plants as they stood in the pots being close on 
6 ft. in height, and 3 ft. to 4 ft. through, and were in 
fact miniature banks of bloom. The most notable 
specimens were La Triomphante, Miss Gordon, 
Bouquet Fait, and Elaine. Pompons and incurved 
sorts were well represented by the same exhibitor, 
his two plants of the latter including a notable speci¬ 
men of George Glenny. The second and third prize 
of Japanese sorts, reflexed and incurved lots also 
included highly meritorious specimens of Peter the 
Great, and La Triomphante. Mr. Stewart, Ayr, in 
his first prize stands of Japanese blooms exhibited 
fine examples of Avalanche, Etoile de Lyon, Eyns- 
ford White and W. H. Lincoln. Some very good 
flowers of Lord Alcester, Mrs. Geo. Rundle, and 
Lord Wolseley were noticed in the first prize stand 
of incurved varieties won by Mr. McLean, gardener 
to Sir D. Matheson, Bourtreshill, Irvine, who was 
also first for the best Japanese bloom with a fine 
specimen of Avalanche. The display of Amateurs’ 
pot plants and cut blooms was also a most creditable 
one. In the latter section, Mr. McQueen, Mauchline, 
has opened a campaign, in which, considering that 
gentleman's capabilities we apprehend serious results 
to those who may venture to oppose him in future. 
On the present occasion at least, he secured the 
principal awards. Bouquets of Chrysanthemums 
and greenhouse cut flowers, together with a collec¬ 
tion of clean and well-grown house plants, from Mr. 
Bryden, Dennison Nursery, Ayr, were also attractive 
features of the exhibition. All the arrangements of 
the show were admirably carried out by Mr. Burns, 
the courteous and painstaking secretary.— Western. 
__ < » r _ 
THE LION’S TAIL. 
Such is the popular name applied figuratively to 
Leonitis Leonurus, and which is also an English ren¬ 
dering of the specific name. It is a very old 
inhabitant of British gardens, having been introduced 
from the Cape of Good Hope in 1712 ; but since that 
time has probably been lost and re-introduced several 
times. The plant belongs to the Labiata family, and 
is not unlike a Salvia till it comes into bloom. See¬ 
ing that it flowers in autumn and winter it might be 
grown for that purpose, so as to furnish some diver¬ 
sity amongst, or a change from, the Salvias. The 
leaves are lanceolate or oblong, and of a deep green, 
clothing sub-shrubby stems, 3 ft. to 3J ft. high. 
The flowers are borne in dense clusters in the axils 
of the leaves, and are scarlet while yet in bud, but 
ultimately change to a buff orange. The stems and 
under side of the leaves are somewhat woolly, and 
the shape of the flowers also recall that of a Phlomis, 
and accordingly it was formerly described under the 
name of Phlomis Leonurus. A batch of plants 
grown in 24-size pots may be seen in the nursery of 
Messrs. H. Canned & Sons, at Swanley. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Auriculas. 
There is a kind of majesty in the slow and dignified 
manner in which the plants fall away to their win¬ 
ter's rest as if very reluctant indeed to do so. All 
that one can do is to maintain a good supply of air, 
remove decaying leaves, keep the surface stirred, and 
the surroundings as clean and comfortable as pos¬ 
sible. Very little water will be required owing to the 
humidity in the atmosphere, but no plant should be 
allowed to flag. For the next two months the plants 
will exist, and that past the time of revival will be 
near. 
Carnations and Picotees. 
The layers potted off, the pots should be in cold 
frames on a dry bottom, and protected from rain. 
Let them have all the air possible. The painstaking 
florist looks over them occasionally, removes decayed 
foliage, stirs the surface soil, and so lets his plants 
know they are cared for, and they are grateful, and 
show it in their way, though not by means of articu¬ 
late speech. 
Calceolarias and Cinerarias. 
These two are best in a cold frame near the glass, 
where they can have the advantage of a hot water 
pipe when the weather is wet and misty as well 
as cold and dreary, as also when the frost is severe. 
In the advent of a few degrees of frost, it is much 
better to cover up the frames securely with mats than 
to put on fire heat; that should be applied only in 
extremities. The plants will take no harm if covered 
up for a few days when frost abounds. The great 
advantage of a little artificial heat is that there is no 
necessity for keeping the frames covered up by day 
and night both; there should be heat enough to keep 
the plants safe but not forced. When watering be 
careful not to wet the foliage. Look out for mildew, 
and apply a little sulphur to the affected parts. Give 
no quarter to green fly 
Pelargoniums. 
Like Cinerarias, these can be kept cool, and heat 
applied only to keep the plants healthy. Air can be 
given freely on mild days, but the plants so placed 
as to be out of the way of cold draughts. Plants 
intended for early flowering in May need to be kept 
a little warmer. Water sufficiently and carefully, 
and there should be no check for want of it. 
Pinks 
In beds have done well, but as a precaution against 
a rapid and severe change—and at this season it 
may come without warning—a top dressing of de¬ 
cayed manure or burnt vegetable matter may be 
given to the depth of an inch or so ; first cleaning the 
beds over, and slightly stirring the surface soil. 
In case of very severe frost, or cutting, cold, 
northerly winds, a little fern or some such material 
may be laid lightly over the plants as a protection. 
Polyanthuses, Gold laced. 
Such as are in pots require rather more moisture 
than do Auriculas. The plants should be kept as 
near the light as possible, but no rain allowed to fall 
upon the foliage. At all times, except when the frost 
is intense, plenty of air should be allowed to cir¬ 
culate among them. So far the plants are doing 
well. A sharp look-out needs to be kept for green 
fly. If not already done, seedling Polyanthuses and 
Primroses may be planted out in the open in dug 
and manured ground. Both will well repay liberal 
treatment. Plants of established Primroses are 
flowering freely as is usual in autumn, owing to the 
mild weather. Only to-day, the 24th, I have gathered 
a few very fine blooms indeed. All newly planted 
should have the soil firmly pressed about them. 
Tulips. 
Writing on the 29th of October, Mr. Samuel 
Barlow said: "I have finished planting Tulips to-day, 
weather grand, and soil in fine condition.” In moist 
localities it is customary to cover the bed with some 
material to ward off rain, the reason assigned being 
that the bulb being in a partially dormant state, 
excessive wet is likely to injure it. Because of this 
it is usual to raise the surface of the Tulip bed some 
six or nine inches above the ground level, and slope 
the surface from the centre on both sides so that 
rain may fall,away from instead of entering the soil. 
The opinion generally held is that it is wet rather 
than cold or frost that kills Tulips.— R. D. 
