828 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 29, 1896. 
the vehicle by which his sentiments are 
conveyed. What more expressive of a * 
summer’s eve, without actually stating that 
summer is intended, than the opening lines 
of “ The Lass of Ballochmyle ” ? 
“ ’T.vas even—-the dewy fields were green, 
On every blade the pearls hang ; 
The zephyr wanton'd round the Bean, 
And bore its fragrant sweets alang.” 
“ The rustling corn, the fruited Thorn” 
sj>eaks of September, when sportsmen are 
at their annual pastime. “ Vernal showers 
to budding flowers ” is equally eloquent, as 
is “ Come, winter, with thine angry howl, 
and raging bend the naked tree.” 
Constant allusion is made to trees in a 
large number of pieces. Thus, we have the 
“milk-white Thorn,” “the Aik,” “yon 
youthful Ash,” the “ Birken shaw,” the 
“ Birks of Aberfeldy,” “ the spreading 
Hazel,” “ the Rowan, the Bourtry, 
the Holly,” “ Her lips are like the 
Cherries ripe,” and many other instances in 
which the flowers or fruit of various trees 
minister to his inspiration under all sorts of 
situations and circumstances. Nor does he 
forget the vegetable garden, but alludes 
to curly Kail, Potato bloom, and Potato- 
bings, as well as to field cultures in corn 
rigs, barley rigs, bearded bere, and lint. 
In his “ Address to the Deil,” he again 
makes reference to flowers in connection 
with a gardener of olden times. 
“ Langsyne in Eden's bonnie yaird, 
When youthfu’ lovers first were pair’d, 
An' all the soul of love they shar’d 
The raptured hour, 
Sweet on the fragrant flowery swaird 
In shady bower.” 
The flowery banks of rivers, as we have 
already hinted, came in for a large share of 
attention; indeed, few poets have sung of 
so many of the rivers of their native 
country, including their associations, ani¬ 
mate and inanimate. For the sake of com¬ 
parison he alludes to the Thames in sound¬ 
ing the praises of the Nith. In “ The 
Brigs of Ayr,” the Genius of the Stream is 
described as a venerable Chief—His hoary 
head with Water-lilies crown'd. In many 
of his poems, such as “ The Cotter’s Satur¬ 
day Night,” “ The Banks of the Devon,” 
&c., he is a Scot first, and a fellow of all 
mankind afterwards. In the latter piece he is 
speaking of national flowers, when he says, 
“ Let Bourbon exult in his gay gilded Lilies, 
And England triumphant display her proud Rose ; 
A fairer than either adorns the green valleys 
Where Devon, sweet Devon, meandering flows." 
In speaking of Scotland’s national 
emblem, he says, 
“ The rough Burr-thissle, spreading wide 
Among the bearded bear, 
I turned the weeder-clips aside, 
And spar’d the symbol dear." 
■-«+■- 
The Devon and Exeter Horticultural Society held its 
183rd exhibition in Northernhay Gardens Exeter, on 
the 21 st inst. Excursion trains were run from all 
parts of Devon. 
Auriculas that have not been re-potted should be 
seen to without further delay. They ought to have 
the whole of the next two months to re-establish 
themselves in the fresh soil before winter. 
Elodea Canadensis.—The Water Thyme as it is 
called is an introduction from America. Many of 
the Carse of Gowrie ponds are choke-full of it. 
However, it is stated to be disappearing in some 
places as mysteriously as it appeared. 
Rare Plants from Brightlingsea.—Our correspon¬ 
dent, Mr. J. C. Stogdon reports finding a number of 
rare, as well as other interesting British plants in 
the neighbourhood of Brightlingsea during the 
present month. Peucedanum officinale, Suaeda 
fruticosa, Spartina stricta, Oenanthe pimpinelloides, 
Bupleurum tenuissimum, and Silene Otites were the 
more rare and local of his finds. Artemisia maritima 
is a silvery foliaged plant that might be grown in 
gardens for edgings and carpet bedding if it should 
prove amenable to cultivation. Zostera marina and 
Ruppia maritima are botanically interesting. Statice 
Limonum has long been cultivated, and is a showy 
garden plant. 
Bulbs for the Royal Parks.—Her Majesty’s First 
Commissionor of Public Works has, for the eighth 
time entrusted Messrs. James Carter & Co., of High 
Holborn, London, with the Government order to 
supply the whole of the Hyacinths, Tulips, Nar¬ 
cissi, and other Bulbs required for the Royal Parks 
and Gardens of London and Suburbs. 
The Greater Skull-cap. Scutellaria galericulata, 
was recently found in great quantity by an 
enthusiastic collector not far from Port Allan on the 
Tay. This blue-flowered Labiate is plentiful in ihe 
west and south, but rather rare in Perthshire. The 
broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis latifolia) was 
found sparingly. It is said by Darwin to be fertilised 
by wasps only, so that if the latter become extinct, 
so will the Helleborine. 
A Curious Want.—A correspondent, who is tickled 
with the following advertisement, sends it to us:— 
“Wanted, a head gardener; must be able to cultivate 
a Potato, and distinguish a Solanum Lycopersicum 
esculentum from a Turnip ; must have a thorough 
appreciation of the difference between cleanliness 
and dirt, order and irregularity, and undertake 
always to be the last to come to work and the first to 
depart; the fewer testimonials he can produce as to 
his religious views, his strict adherence to total 
abstinence, and his profound knowledge of agri¬ 
culture, horticulture, arboriculture, floriculture, and 
every other culture the better ; he will not be allowed 
more than 1 cwt. of garden produce per diem for his 
own personal use.” 
Scotch Thistle Outlawed.—It seems that the noble 
weed whose bold challenge is Nemo me impune lacessit 
is capable of changing not only its botanical name, 
but its entire nature as well. His Excellency the 
Administrator of Cape Colony, in the Government 
Gazette of the 7th ult., decrees by proclamation “ the 
extirpation of the ‘ Scotch Thistle ’ in the territory 
of East Griqualand.” Anyone on whose land the 
plant is found growing after due warning by the 
local magistrate is liable to a fine of £5 or fourteen 
days’ hard labour. The plant is alluded to as the 
V Scotch Thistle or Argemone Mexicana." A Mexican 
Poppy, forsooth ! What would Burns have said of 
this base vegetable usurper of the name of Scotch 
Thistle? Of the latter he sang, “I turn'd the 
weeder-clips aside, and spared the symbol dear." 
Brighton Flower Show.—The fifth annual show of 
the Brighton and Sussex Horticultural Society was 
held in the Dome and Corn Exchange on the 25th 
and 26th inst. Tents were erected on the lawn for 
the groups and also for the vegetable classes. The 
entries this year were better than usual in the prin¬ 
cipal sections, but in vegetables there was a_slight 
falling off. Five groups were staged for the Society’s 
Silver Medal to which money prizes were added ; 
the first prize was awarded to Mr. W. C. Hollands, 
Tunbridge Wells. Gentlemen gardeners and 
amateurs had a similar but smaller class in which 
four groups were exhibited. Mr. G. Sims, gardener 
to C. J. Inwood, Esq., Brighton gaining the Bronze 
Medal. In the class for a group of Ferns arranged 
for effect, three exhibits were put up. Mr. J. 
Adams, Coomb Place, Lewes, being first. In the 
Dome were arranged the tables of miscellaneous 
plants, the competing exhibits of Dahlias and other 
cut flowers. Mr. Hollands was first for a table of 
plants among seven competitors. Mr. H. Harris, 
Brighton; was first fora table of Orchids. Two 
exhibitors competed for honours for eight stove aud 
greenhouse plants, Mr.H.Harris, Crawley, being first. 
A large and interesting collection of fruit was staged 
in the Corn Exchange, Grapes being of extremely 
good quality. Mr. J. Goldsmith, Horsham, gained 
first for a collection of eight dishes of fruit. Mr. J. 
Dancy, Horsham, was first for three bunches Black 
Hamburgh Grapes. Mr. W. Cheaxter, Cosham, was 
first for three bunches black Grapes, other varieties, 
with three very fine bunches of Madresfield Court, 
which might, however, have been better coloured. 
Mr. W. Tidy, Stanmore, was first for three bunches 
white grapes. Mr S. Mortimer, Farnham, was first 
for forty-eight Dahlias. Mr. J. Charlton, Tunbridge 
Wells, was first for herbaceous and bulbous flowers. 
Messrs. Tilley Brothers, and Messrs, Balchin & 
Sons, showed a collection of bulbs. Mr. G. Bunyard, 
Maidstone, a fine collection of Apples, Mr. H. J. 
Jones, Lewisham, had a fine group of Begonias, with 
Lilies and foliage plants, the effect of which was 
extremely good. Messrs. J. Laing, Forest Hill, had a 
group of Begonias and foliage plants, other trade 
exhibitors were Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, 
Rivers & Sod, Sawbridgeworth, J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea. 
Professional Gardeners.—J. E. Gordon, Esq., M.P. 
in speaking at the annual show of the Elgin and 
Morayshire Horticultural and Industrial Association, 
said that professional gardeners belonged to wbat he 
might call the apostolic succession of the cultivators 
of the land. They handed down from generation to 
generation and from father to son the acquired 
knowledge of practical gardening, and without their 
intervention there would be a great loss in their 
social system. Books, precepts and laws were very 
good, but they wanted the living brain to pass down 
from age to age, those things which the different 
generations of^mankind had learned and gathered 
from nature. 
Ridding Lawns of Worms.—An excellent method of 
getting rid of worms, which are apt to prove such a 
plague on lawns, is to sweep the grass with a com¬ 
mon birch broom to destroy the casts. A solution of 
common salt and corrosive sublimate dissolved in 
hot water and applied after rain has fallen will kill 
all the worms, which may be swept off wholesale. 
Care must be taken however to keep these poisoned 
worms away from the reach of poultry. Another 
plan is to give a dressing of salt and then water with 
lime water. An old remedy is to place about a peck 
of quicklime in thirty gallons of water and allow it to 
stand till quite clear. If the lawn is watered with 
this solution it will bring the worms to the surface. 
Mr. Gladstone on Trees.—On the 19th inst, the 
English Arboricultural Society, to the number of 100 
visited Hawarden. A deputation of twenty was 
received by Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone, who showed the 
party many interesting and remarkably fine speci¬ 
mens of Beech, Lime, &c. He showed a remarkable 
old thorn in the flower garden which his leading 
landscape gardener recommended to be out down, 
on the plea that a Thorn had no more business in a 
flower garden than a kitchen dresser in a drawing 
room. He showed the visitors a pair of Lime trees 
growing side by side and connected by a short arm 
like the Siamese twins. A circular group of Limes 
known as Sir John Gladstone's dressing room, was 
was then shown the company. The trees are said to 
be 120 to 140 years old. We do not well understand 
the economical management of timber in this 
country, Mr. Gladstone remarked, but we understand 
the ornamental management as well as anybody. 
Bayham Abbey Flower Show.—The anuual flower 
show of the cottagers on the Bayham estate was 
held on the 19th inst., in the romantic grounds of the 
Old Abbey, and amidst beautiful rural surroundings 
of wood, water and hill. The number of entries 
nearly trebled that of last year. The show receives 
every encouragement and support from Lord Camden 
who was on the grounds all day. The day was fine 
till well in the afternoon, when a thunderstorm with 
a heavy downpour of rain and hail deluged every¬ 
thing for half an hour. The storm was quite local, 
for no rain fell at Tunbridge Wells. There was a 
good attendance of visitors. One tent was occupied 
with exhibits not for competition. The largest and 
finest group occupying the whole of the central 
table, and exhibited by Mr. A. Methven, gardener to 
Lord Camden, was awarded a Gold Medal. Mr. 
Methven's vegetables received a special first prize 
and his collection of fruit a special prize. Messrs. 
Thomas Cripps & Son, Tunbridge Wells, were 
placed first for greenhouse plants and Apples, of 
which they had thirty-six varieties. They also had 
150 varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs. Mr. 
George Towner, gardener to C. M. R. Cleeve, Esq., 
was first for vegetables. Mr. T. Huggins, gardener 
to Mrs. Thornycroft, Lamberhurst, took the leading 
place for stove plants. Mr. Bromley, gardener to 
T. Manwaring, Esq., Brenchley, was second for 
Apples. Mr. S. Huggins, gardener to Mrs. Harris, 
Lamberhurst, and Mr. Sharp, gardener to W. C. 
Morland, Esq., were highly commended for their 
groups of plants. Mr. J. Charlton, Tunbridge Wells, 
was highly commended for a fine collection of hardy 
herbaceous plants and Dahlias. In the competition 
classes in another tent, were some excellent vege¬ 
tables, particularly Potatos. Fruit also was fairly 
good. In the third tent was a group of plants by the 
Hon. J. Grant, Lamberhurst ; also industrial 
exhibits, a writing competition, &c. Prizes offered 
