September 18, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
35 
BEAUTIFUL f 
h FLUWERS 
11ST 
WHITER and SPRING. 
" Gardening Is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man."— Bacon. 
ijbiiM, 
Edited by J. FRASER, F.L.S. 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER i 8 th, 1897. 
NEXT WEEK'S ENGAGEMENTS. 
Monday, September 20th.—Sale of Dutch bulbs by Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris. 
Tuesday, September 21st.—Royal Horticultural Society • 
Meeting of Committees at 12 o'clock. 
Sale of Dutch bulbs by Messrs. Protheroe & Morris. 
Wednesday, September 22nd.—Sale of Dutch bulbs by 
Messrs. Protheroe & Morris. 1 
Thursday, September 23rd.—Sale of Dutch bulbs by Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris. 
Friday, September 24th —Sales of Dutch bulbs and imported 
and established Orchids by Messrs. Protheroe & Morris 
Bulbs are the pick of the World. 
PLANT NOW 
FOR MASSING IN BEDS & BORDERS. 
Hyacinths, mixed reds 
Per 1,000 Per 100 
£ s. d. s. d. 
6 5 0 14 0 
>> mixed blues 
6 5 
0 
14 
0 
.. mixed whites 
6 5 
0 
14 
0 
• > mixed, all colours 
6 0 
0 
13 
6 
Tulips, mixed, double .. 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
.> .. single .. 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
Crocus, blue 
0 12 
6 
1 
6 
„ striped. 
0 12 
6 
1 
6 
1, white. 
0 12 
6 
1 
6 
„ yellow. 
0 16 
0 
2 
0 
., mixed. 
0 10 
S 
1 
6 
Narcissus, biflorus 
1 S 
0 
3 
0 
„ incomparable double 
1 17 
6 
4 
0 
>. ,. single 
1 17 
6 
4 
0 
.» Cynosure 
1 17 
6 
4 
0 
•> 1. Stella 
1 5 
0 
3 
0 
■ 1 Nanus, very dwarf.. 
3 5 
0 
7 
6 
,, pallidus praecox 
2 15 
0 
6 
6 
» Pheasant-eye 
1 1 
0 
3 
0 
„ poeticus ornatus 
3 5 
0 
7 
6 
1, rugilobus 
2 15 
0 
6 
6 
n mixed, Polyanthus.. 
2 0 
0 
5 
0 
Anemones, good double, mixed 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
.< good single 
1 1 
0 
2 
6 
Daffodils, double yellow 
2 10 
0 
5 
6 
„ single (Lent Lilies) 
1 5 
0 
3 
0 
.. mixed 
1 5 
0 
3 
0 
Iris, English, mixed 
2 5 
0 
5 
0 
■1 Spanish, mixed .. 
0 17 
6 
2 
0 
Jonquils, Campernel 
1 15 
0 
4 
0 
M single sweet .. 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
Ranunculus, mixed Persian 
1 0 
0 
2 
6 
•» i. Turban 
1 0 
0 
2 
6 
Scilla sibirica (Squills) 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
1. white . 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
rose . 
2 10 
0 
5 
6 
Snowdrops, double or single 
1 1 
0 
2 
6 
Aconites (Winter), extra large 
1 1 
0 
2 
6 
Blue Bells . 
1 i 
0 
2 
6 
Star of Bethlehem.. 
1 0 
0 
2 
6 
Triteleia, white.. 
Chionodoxa. 
1 10 
0 
3 
6 
2 0 
0 
4 
6 
Illustrated Catalogue Post Free: 
THE QUEEN’S SEEDSMEN, 
237,238, & 97, High Holborn, London. 
J^EATURES OF THE EDINBURGH SHOW.- 
There will always be considerable 
diversity of opinion about the respective 
merits of the larger shows held in various 
parts of Great Britain, but, in our opinion, 
the difficulty experienced in comparing two 
large shows lies in their individual charac¬ 
teristics due largely to environment, to the 
period of the year at which they are held, 
and the latitude from which the exhibits 
are drawn. The autumn flower show of 
the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, 
held on the 8th and gth inst., was notice¬ 
able, perhaps, as much for the quality and 
quantity of its Grapes as for anything. In 
saying so we do not mean to imply that the 
recent exhibition was a.record-breaking one 
in this respect. On the other hand we may 
state that Grapes were shown in similar 
quantity at most of the autumn competi¬ 
tions held during the last ten years at least. 
But that the standard should have been 
maintained for so long a period of time we 
consider very creditable to the gardeners 
and growers, both north and south of the 
Cheviots, who have patronised the Edin¬ 
burgh show. The soil, the favourable 
atmosphere, the enthusiasm and the 
rivalry of the growers to maintain their 
reputation, must all contribute to the 
realisation of the net result. Young exhibi¬ 
tors rub shoulders with the old, and in their 
efforts to climb the ladder of success, they i 
serve to buoy up the exhibition as a whole. 
The special prizes and medals offered for 
fruits, plants, flowers, and vegetables, by 
way of commemorating the Diamond 
Jubilee Year of Her Majesty the Queen, 
infused a considerable amount of fresh 
enthusiasm amongst exhibitors between 
Inverness and London at least ; and we 
hope that the society will repeat the experi¬ 
ment in some form or other, though 
necessarily under a different name on future 
occasions • for the exhibits brought forward 
constituted no mean feature of the show. 
The rivalry brought into existence and the 
efforts put forward to secure the leading 
honours could not be otherwise than pro¬ 
ductive of good, both in the interests of the 
society and the community at large. The 
inducements to compete were great, but the 
requirements were equally so, and only 
those with ample, resources as well as skill, 
both in cultivation and in arranging the 
exhibits, could hope to excel. On future 
occasions the requirements in some cases 
might be made less exacting in order to 
induce even a greater number of competi¬ 
tors to take the field. Under such circum¬ 
stances . the chances of success must 
necessarily be greatly' reduced, but gar¬ 
deners seldom grumble at being beaten in 
good company. 
" He either fears his fate too much, 
Or his deserts are small, 
Who dare not put it to the touch, 
To win or lose it all.” 
In all of the four classes strong efforts to 
secure the premier positions were visible ; 
but those who fell behind this mark took 
defeat with good grace. 
The exhibits in the special class for a 
group of plants arranged for effect were 
much more varied in outline than is usual 
at flower shows generally. The competi¬ 
tion was ftmited to 300 square feet, while 
the form of the groups was left to the 
originality or otherwise of the exhibitors. 
The result was that no two were exactly 
alike, thereby adding greatly to the variety 
of arrangement in the Waverley Market. 
In the class for cut flowers of hardy plants 
the competitors were nurserymen, though 
we see no reason why a private establish¬ 
ment might not aspire to enter the com¬ 
petitive lists. The destruction of herbaceous 
borders to make room for bedding plants 
some . years ago is no doubt largely re¬ 
sponsible for the result. Herbaceous plants 
of all suitable and useful kinds might be 
more largely grown in private establish¬ 
ments, and no doubt they will be in the 
near future. 
Stove plants were well represented by 
huge specimens of Crotons, Campylobotrys 
refulgens, Calatheas, Dracaenas, Anthur- 
iums and others, testifying that the art of 
cultivating such things has not been lost, 
but that they would be forthcoming in 
plenty provided that glass accommodation 
was at command. Of greenhouse plants 
Fuchsias and single tuberous Begonias 
were best represented, Only' at a few shows 
can so many well-grown and flowered 
specimens be seen. Few things are more 
effective and durable in greenhouses during 
the summer months than floriferous and 
pyramidally trained specimens of Fuchsias. 
Vegetables were amply represented by 
Potatos, Tomatos, Leeks, Onions, Cauli¬ 
flowers, Carrots, Parsnips, and Beet. None 
of these, perhaps, excited more attention on 
the part of gardeners and visitors generally 
than the marvellous specimens of Leeks, 
particularly in two or three of the exhib¬ 
its. Their enormous length and size 
generally made them objects of curiosity to 
not a few. The past season has not been 
particularly favourable to vegetables and 
other outdoor crops in the north, yet skill 
can accomplish a good deal in spite of the 
elements. 
—- .3 ,— - 
Notice of Book—I thank you very much for your 
notice of my book in yours of nth inst. I think it 
needs special attention, especially in reference to the 
Crabs, as you say ‘‘It would be interesting to know 
where I get the pips of the wild Crabs in sufficient 
quantity to meet requirements.” This, as it indicates, 
that it is scarcely credible that they can be got, 
seems to me to require an answer. I tnerefore, with 
pleasure, give it, and will feel greatly obliged to you 
if you will kindly insert it in your excellent paper, as 
it may remove what may be implied, that my Crab 
story has but little foundation in fact, which would 
be somewhat serious to me. It is this, there are 
spots in the country where the soil seems specially 
adapted to the natural growth of the wild Crab ; 
there is such a spot not many miles from here ; in 
that district there are many trees which bear 
abundance for my use ; these I pay the labourers to 
collect, and they are pleased to get the money for so 
doing. 1 also often hear persons whom I meet at the 
shows tell me they also have plenty of Crabs in the 
hedges, but that they go waste, because they are not 
wanted. There are none others who gather them 
around here that I know of. So that it is plain by 
this that nurserymen generally rely on another 
source from whence to get their stocks. It is not 
necessary to go into this matter here. It is sufficient 
to tell you how I get them. As regards the criticisms 
of which you speak, kindly let me say I met with 
this in the Cable on same day as yours came out » 
“ A Definition ”— 
Harry : “ Papa, what is a critic ? ” 
Hany's Papa : "A critic my toy, is a man who gets 
paid for telling other people how they ought te d« 
things that he could not possibly do himself.” 
—B. Wells, Crawley, 
