396 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 22, 1896 
be the object in view. In some instances 
the unusual size and age of any particular 
tree might be accidental, and need not be 
looked upon as an average growth. 
Nevertheless, they would be a guide as to 
the suitability of certain districts for certain 
species of trees, whether native or exotic. 
“ The Boss Tree” at Galston, a decayed 
and hollow stump of the Scotch Elm 
(Ulmus montana), about io ft. high and 
nearly of uniform thickness throughout its 
length, is the patriarch of all the Ayrshire 
trees, if judged from measurement. It 
girthed 27 ft. at the base in 1800, but does net 
seem to have been measured by Mr. Paxton, 
though he gives a photograph of it. The 
largest English Elm (U. campestris) in the 
county only measures 12 ft. 7 m. in circum¬ 
ference at a height of 5 ft., but even this is 
large for the species as far as we have seen 
in other counties of Scotland, showing that 
it is by no means suitable for the north 
compared with other kinds. Next in size 
to “ The Boss Tree ” comes the Lime 
(Tilia vulgaris) at Kirkmichael House, 
girthing 28.6 ft. at the ground. The 
Spanish Chestnut (Castanea sativa) at 
Cloncaird Castle measures 25 ft. at the 
same level, and is certainly a giant of its 
kind. A healthy growing Beech at Stair 
House girths 18.2 ft. at 5 ft. from the 
ground, and is 86 ft. high ; but another, a 
magnificent, stately, and spreading tree at 
Eglinton Castle, though nearly a foot less 
in girth at that height, widens out to 31 ft. 
at the base. The Ash is represented by a 
specimen at Hunterston with a trunk girth¬ 
ing 16.1 ft. at a height of 5 ft. A 
Weeping Ash, having a circumference of 
branches of 100 ft., is no mean example of 
its kind. The Sycamore or Scotch Plane 
at Cassilis House has a girth of 13.8 ft. 
at 5 ft. from the ground. 
There are some very respectable samples 
of the smaller-growing trees, including the 
Holly at Fullarton House, which girths 
12.6 ft. at 5 ft. from the base, and is 
believed to be the finest-stemmed Holly in 
Scotland. The Holly Oak at the same 
place girths 11.9ft. at the base; but 
there is a much larger one in Wigtonshire. 
The Yew at Loudoun Castle has a fluted 
stem about 14 ft. in girth, and is computed 
to be about 400 years old, though not the 
largest in Scotland. The White Birch is 
represented by a singularly handsome tree, 
girthing 11.4 ft. at the base and standing 
about 70 ft. high, at Old Auchendrane. It 
is only about seventy years old. A Scotch 
Pine at Cloncaird Castle measures 17 ft. in 
circumference at the base, but has a very 
short stem and is known as “ The Bell 
Tree.” Specimens of Araucaria imbricata, 
55 ft. high, and Sequoia sempervirens, 
40 ft. high, at Cloncaird Castle and Milrig 
House respectively, are considered good 
examples of their kind in Scotland, though 
not the largest in the case of the Sequoia. 
Mr. Paxton’s example might well be 
followed in other cases. 
— - 
Gardening is the art by which Nature is made to 
lengthen her short-comings. 
Erratum.—On p. 387, in the thirty-fifth line from 
the bottom, for “ Bearwood Abbey ” read “ Bayham 
Abbey.” 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual 
general meeting of this society will be held at 
Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street, E.C., on Monday, 
the 24th inst., at 7 p.m. 
The Mildness of the Season.—As a proof of the ex¬ 
traordinary mdd weather which has been, and is 
still being experienced at this season of the year, the 
other day Mr. John M'Kinnie, gardener to William 
Millar, Esq., of Roundelwood, Crieff, came upon a 
Gloire de Dijon Rose in full bloom in the garden, 
having grown in the open air 
The Lady Gardeners at Kew have been engaged as 
boys. I suppose they will be married as men.— 
Snaggs. 
Brier pipes are made from the wood of Erica 
arborea, so that brier in this case is a corruption of 
bruyere the French name for heath. The best comes 
from the borders of France and Italy. 
The Dr. Woodman Memorial Fund.—Subscriptions 
for the above fund are coming in nearly every day, 
including such well-known names as Messrs. 
Deloitle, Geyve, Locke, Mayne, Pope, Northcote, 
Protheroe, Sherwood, &c. 
At the Launceston County Court, William Stevens, 
of Broadwater, obtained judgment against George 
Hawke, of Covent Garden, London, for £15, 
balance of account for Blackberries and Mushrooms 
sold. 
Last year the gardener 1 
This year he’ll scintil-8 
If Nature be be -9 
And he pursue phys-6 
—Le Vert. 
Mr. William Moyse, for six years head gardener to 
Hon. A. Bourke, Knebworth Cottage, Stevenage, 
Herts, has been appointed gardener to Robert Taylor, 
Esq., Kytes, Garston, near Watford, Herts; and Mr. 
Thomas Reynolds, foreman, Castle Hill, South- 
molton, North Devon, succeeds Mr. Moyse at the 
first-named place. 
The Lizard Chrysanthemum Society held a meeting 
on the 7th inst., under the presidency of Mr. J. 
Goodman. The balance sheet showed a small 
amount in hand, and it was unanimously resolved to 
have another show on the 13th November next. 
The Lizard Society is affiliated with the National 
Chrysanthemum Society. 
Are Chrysanthemums Poisonous ?—In the opinion 
of some correspondents of Gardening (American) 
Chrysanthemums cause irritation or poisoning of the 
skin, more especially if they are handled while the 
foliage is wet. The writer advises the use of driving 
gloves from which the fingers have been cut. As a 
further preventive he uses a tincture of Lobelia 
(obtainable at the drug stores) both before and after 
handling the plants. 
The Lewes Chrysanthemum Society held their 
annual dinner at the King’s Head Inn, Southover, 
Lewes, on the nth inst., the Mayor (Councillor 
Wightman) presiding. Here the more important 
men of the Corporation of the town and the gar¬ 
deners met together in a very friendly way to discuss 
the affairs and prospects of the society as well as en¬ 
joy themselves. Several of the speakers testified to 
the general opinion that the Chrysanthemum Show 
at Lewes was one of the best in the south, and that 
the society had a balance in hand after paying all 
expenses. The evening was a very enjoyable one. 
Lincolnshire Gardeners' Association.—The twelfth 
annual dinner of this society was held at the Blue 
Anchor Hotel, Lincoln, on the 12th inst., Dr. G. M. 
Lowe presiding. The chairman, in the course of the 
evening, proposed the “Lincolnshire Gardeners’ 
Association,” which, he said, was increasing in 
prosperity and usefulness. They numbered 100 mem¬ 
bers, most of them gardeners, in the training of 
whom the society was doing good work. One advan¬ 
tage they had was one of the best gardening libraries 
that any club could get together. The prizes for 
essays were distributed, and the rest of the evening 
was devoted to harmony, including pianofore duets. 
Widcombe Horticultural Club.—At the meeting of 
this society on the nth inst., in the Reading Room 
of the Institute, the President, Mr. J. Hinton, gave 
an interesting address on Chrysanthemum Culture. 
Previous to this he spoke of the loss their society 
had sustained by the death of Mr. Pavitt, a noted 
grower of fruit trees and Tea Roses. The com¬ 
petition that evening was for collections of vegetables, 
and Mr. G. Hayes secured the first prize for six 
varieties, while Mr. A. Lennox secured the leading 
award for a smaller collection. The president’s 
address v^as highly appreciated, speaking as he was 
from experience. 
Dictionary of Gardening.—A complete set of Nicholson's 
Dictionary of Gardening, in eight volumes, in first class 
condition, as good as new, is offered for 50s. cash. — B., 
“ Gardening World ” Office, 1, Clement’s Inn, Strand, London. 
Italian Oranges were sold in Rome for iod. per 
thousand in 1542. 
That a post of Yew will outlast a post of iron is a 
common saying of the natives in the New forest. 
Manure is preserved and economically applied to 
the best advantage in China. We, in Britain, are 
wasteful of it. 
A boy might raise two tons of Potatos on a rood of 
ground ; but it would take two or more men to raise 
a disturbance on a fifty-acre field.— Snaggs. 
A substitute for coal is now being made in Sweden. 
A paste is made of wood, charcoal and coal tar, and 
then passed through a press. 
Mamma : ” Come now, Johnny, be a guid boy, and 
gin you're spared till the morn I'llgieye an Orange.” 
Johnny : “ And gin I’m nae spared will ye gie mean 
Apple ? ”— Tam. 
Axminster Gardeners' Improvement Society. —At a 
meeting of this society, the chair was occupied by 
the Rector (Rev. T. Newman) and Mr. F. W. Meyer, 
landscape gardener to Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, 
Exeter, delivered a highly-interesting lecture on 
“ Parks and Gardens,” illustrated by about sixty 
excellent slides. Mr. Meyer dealt with the ancient 
gardens of Babylon, Rome, and Versailles ; also with 
modern Continental gardens such as the Palm 
gardens in Frankfurt, the parks of Berlin, Paris, 
Switzerland, &c. The last part of the lecture was 
concerned with various parks and gardens of modern 
times in England, and included some of the parks 
and rock gardens which Mr. Meyer himself had laid 
out. 
Sherborne Gardeners' Improvement Society.—At 
the meeting of this society on the 5th inst., Mr. T. 
Wilkins, gardener to Lady Guest, read one of the 
best papers that has yet been brought before the 
members. The subject was, " The Best Eight 
Vegetables for Exhibition, with Hints on their 
Culture.” He gave a short history of each kind, 
along with valuable cultural hints, advocating 
plenty of space and manure for vegetables. The 
Cauliflower, Pea, Tomato, Onion, Carrot, Celery, 
Runner Beans, Potatos, and Leeks were dealt with 
in turn. Of Onions and Leeks he showed some 
admirable samples, taking a First-class Certificate for 
the former. Primulas, Tulips, Cyclamens, and 
berried plants were shown by other members. 
Essex County School of Horticulture. — On 
Saturday, February 8th, the students attending the 
above school were taken to inspect the indoor depart¬ 
ment of Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son's Nursery at 
Chelmsford. They were heartily welcomed by the 
manager (Mr. Sherman), and were taken to the 
various houses in turn. Special interest attached to 
the visit to the propagating pits, and the students 
eagerly availed themselves of the opportunity thus 
afforded of becoming conversant with the propa¬ 
gator's art. The forcing pits were also full of 
interest, and various useful hints were gained in that 
department. The collections of Palms, stove plants, 
and greenhouse plants (hard and soft-wooded) were 
also examined, and many valuable plants noted for 
garden decoration. The students expressed them¬ 
selves as thoroughly gratified with their visit, and 
heartily thanked Mr. Sherman at the close. They 
were accompanied by Messrs. Houston and Wakely 
(staff-lecturers). 
Death of Mr. Robert Farquhar.—We regret to learn 
of the death of this well-known Aberdeenshire 
gardener at his residence in Mid Stocket Road, 
Aberdeen, on the 12th inst. He was born in the 
Granite City in January, 1821. He served his 
apprenticeship at Cluny Castle, and, after gaining a 
wide experience Jn several other situations, he was 
appointed head gardener to William Cosmo Gordon, 
Esq., Fyvie Castle, where Mr. Farquhar remained 
for 42^ years, till failing health compelled him to 
retire in 1890. He went to the United States where 
three out of his four sons are engaged in a seed trade 
in Boston, but returned to Aberdeen in 1892. His 
fourth son is completing his medical curriculum at 
Aberdeen University. His wife died soon after land¬ 
ing in America. Three daughters also survive him. 
Mr. Farquhar was a good plantsman and vegetable 
gardener, and in his younger days many an exhibitor 
at the Aberdeen shows had reason to fear his prowess 
on the exhibition table. 
