October 16, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
101 
The Potato Crop in Connemara is said to be 
utterly ruined, aud that the rumours regarding it 
are absolutely true. 
An Interesting Ceremony took place on October 
6th at the nurseries of Messrs. Balchin & Sons, 
Hassocks. Mr. Richardson, who has been manager 
here for many years, was presented with a hand¬ 
some time-piece suitably inscribed by the employees, 
as a wedding present, also a case of silver spoons, 
which came as an appreciable surprise to the 
recipient. I wish him long life and happiness.— A.O. 
In Loving Memory.—In connection with the late 
Mr. James Cocker, of Aberdeen, we note what 
seems to us rather novel or uncommon in the way of 
memorial cards. Mrs. Cocker and family, in return¬ 
ing thanks for sympathy on an ordinary address 
card send out a neatly finished, folded card, bearing 
on the left hand half the words : “ In loving memory 
of James Cocker, Nurseryman and Seedsman, 
Aberdeen. Died, 15th September, 1897, aged 64 
years. Interred in Spital churchyard.” On the 
right hand half of the card is the portrait of the 
deceased, Mr. James Cocker, and a good likeness 
it is. 
Dundee Chrysanthemum Carnival.—The Jubilee 
celebrations have not yet been completed, for the 
Dundee Chrysanthemum Society intend to make 
.their annual exhibition worthy of the great event by 
the holding of a Chrysanthemum carnival on the 
25th, 26th and 27th November next. The society 
intends putting forth every effort to make the show 
a success, and calls upon every grower of the popular 
" queen of winter flowers ” in the district for hearty 
co-operation towards the end in view. It is felt that 
if every owner of an establishment were to give his 
gardener permission to exhibit in the various classes 
scheduled by the society the result would be a 
memorable display, worthy of the city and district, 
and form a living record of the great advancement 
in Chrysanthemum culture that has taken place 
during Her Majesty’s reign. Mr. Norman Davis is 
to act as one of the judges of plants and flowers; 
while the displays for effect are to be entrusted to 
lady judges for the placing of the awards. A leading 
London band is to supply the music, and to lovers of 
music the orchestral and instrumental concerts 
arranged for by the council, will undoubtedly prove 
highly attractive. A largely increased membership 
is confidently anticipated in view of the superior 
attractions offered and the general excellence of the 
show. It is to be held in the spacious Drill Hall, 
Dundee. Further particulars may be obtained from 
the secretary, Mr. W. P. Laird, Nethergate, Dundee. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.—The 
annual business meeting of this society was held on 
September 30th, in the council room of the Guild¬ 
hall, Exeter, under the presidency of Mr. E. A. 
Saunders, J.P. There was a capital attendance 
which included the Mayor of Exeter (Mr. Alderman 
R. Pople), Messrs. P. C. M. Veitch, J.P., G. D. 
Cann, Andrew Hope (Hon. Secretary), W. Mackay, 
R. J. Mills, and W. Andrews. The report for the 
year 1896-7, which was submitted by Mr. Andrew 
Hope, gave a brief review of the autumn session, and 
stated that the attendances were good throughout 
both sessions. The flower show in March was larger 
and better in every way than its predecessors, and 
assumed the proportions of a really first-class spring 
show, but the small annual subscription of the mem¬ 
bers and the fewness of the honorary subscribers to 
the prize fund do not warrant a continuance of the 
exhibition. By means of the essays read and the 
discussions that followed, a large amount of know¬ 
ledge must have been imparted to those present at 
the meetings. The chairman on rising to move the 
formal adoption of the report, was very cordially 
received. Happily, said he, there was nothing 
political with the Gardeners’ Association, and he was 
sure they were acting wisely in following out such 
lines. The Mayor seconded. The election of the 
president was the next business. The nomination 
fell to the lot of Mr. Andrew Hope who, in again pro¬ 
posing Mr. Saunders, reminded them of the services 
he had rendered them. On being put to the meeting, 
Mr. Hope’s motion was carried with unanimity. Mr. 
Andrew Hope, and Mr. W. Mackay were re-elected 
Hon. Secretary, and Hon Treasurer, respectively, 
on the motion of Mr. Weeks, seconded by Mr. W. 
R. Baker. 
Sycamore on a Church Tower.—Until recently at 
least there existed a Sycamore on the tower of the 
church at Clannaborough, in North Devon. It was 
known to be 50 years old, and the swelling of the 
trunk and roots was beginning to force the stones of 
the tower asunder. 
Mr. David Airdrie. 
The Hove Industrial and Horticultural Society.— 
The twentieth annual exhibition of this society, 
lately held in the Hove Town Hall was a great 
success. The display of fruits, flowers, and 
vegetables contributed by gardeners was a very 
creditable one, Grapes being especially fine. The 
heaviest Potato, weighing 1 lb. 5^ ozs., came from 
Mr. Purey, 9, Westbourne Mews. Messrs. Balchin 
& Sons, offered a special prize for six varieties of 
vegetables grown by allotment holders. Mr. Holmes, 
5, Westbourne Mews, was the successful candidate 
in this class. Mr. Payne, 4, Freeman's Court, Port- 
slade, took the first prize for the neatest and best 
cultivated plot or allotment. The neatest and best 
cultivated cottage garden was adjudged to be that of 
Mr. C. A. Martlew, 8, Connaught Road. Mrs. M. 
F. Coates, 67, Landsdowne Place, sent the best 
epergne, and Miss F. Cooper, 18, Eaton Gardens, 
received the first prize for a basket of flowers. 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
By The Ed.tor. 
Cattleya Warscewiczii (gigas) Pitho. Nov.vav. 
—Some time ago an importation of C. Warscewiczii 
was added to the collection of T. McMeekio, Esq., 
Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill. By and bye 
they made vigorous growth, set their sheaths, and in 
due time two dozen of them bore open flowers all at 
one time. The variety under notice was one of 
them, and proved to be the most 'distinct amoDgst 
them, being very conspicuous on that account The 
sepals and elliptic petals are of a warm rose, and of 
great length, the flowers measuring 8 in. across the 
petals. The distinctive character lies in the lip, 
which has a dark purple tube, and a richer purple 
lamina, giving place to a lilac border at the wavy, 
crisped margin. The eye-like blotches characterising 
the type have so extended in this variety that they 
nearly cover the side lobes, which are while with a 
narrow, pale rosy-lilac margin. Yellow takes the 
place of the white in the throat of the flower, and 
this yellow area has a few purple lines. The interior 
of the tube is almost wholly rich purple. The 
middle portion of the lip, therefore, including the 
side lobes, is unusually pale, and toning down the 
dark colour at either end gives the whole flower a 
subdued and pleasing effect. Mr. A. Wright, the 
gardener, succeeds very well in the cuiture of 
Cattleyas of all the popular types. 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
Mr. David Airdrie. 
The accompanying is a portrait of Mr. David Airdrie, 
galrdener at Larbert House, Stirlingshire, who is so 
well known at Northern exhibitions as a " Hero in 
the strife,” with plants, cut flowers, and fruits. This 
has been strongly in evidence at Glasgow autumn 
show, where this formidable competitor tabled some 
of the best fruits ever seen at St. Mungo’s. 
Mr. Airdrie’s all-round experience was gained from 
tuition of the highest order! After serving an 
apprenticeship at Pitlour, Fifeshire, he went to the 
gardens at Delvine, Dunkeld ; Balbirnie, Fordell; 
and was at two places near Paisley, acting in 
these gardens in the capacity of journeyman and 
foreman. He then went to the United States as head 
gardener, where his zeal led him to compete on a 
large scale with specimen plants. He then had a 
grand collection under his charge at Worcester, 
Boston, Mass. This was followed by fruits, vege¬ 
tables, and cut flowers, with such a success as young 
Airdrie might justly have been proud of. 
After four years active gardening in the far west, 
Mr. Airdrie was induced to return to bonnie 
Scotland, where his prowess was soon exemplified at 
horticultural exhibitions. At Stirling (a district 
famous for many generations past for 11 warriors ” 
meeting foemen ‘‘worthy of their steel”) Mr. 
David Airdrie, on the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee, 
1887, won a silver cup for a table of plants, along 
with fourteen first prizes and seven others. 
Some years ago he went as gardener at Larbert 
House, where he has been so well backed in his 
enthusiasm to maintain high class gardening by his 
estimable employers, Mr. and Mrs. Graham, who 
have long given proof in a tangible form of their 
desire to maintain first rate gardening. 
The improvements which have been made in the 
grounds, and the erection of glass are creditable to 
their liberal spirit, good taste, and opulence. Mr. 
Airdrie has been an extensive cultivator of Chrysan¬ 
themums, and tabled, at different times, most credit¬ 
able collections of cut Llooms. He captured two 
Silver Cups for collections of plants, besides three 
other Silver Cups, three Silver and one Gold Medal. 
He raised a Chrysanthemum named Mrs. Airdrie, 
which has come well to the front of late years, and 
aided him in his exhibits at Edinburgh and Glasgow. 
Begonias and Crotons are also among the plants 
specially well done at Larbert. 
Mr. Airdrie is still in the prime of life, and his 
enthusiasm in performing his duties should entitle 
him to the cognomen " Excelsior.” 
-—■ 
SEED FARM AT EYNSFORD. 
Away back in the summer time when sunshine was 
plentiful and the days were leDgthy we made a 
hurried inspection of the extensive seed farm of 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, and now take 
the opportunity of recalling some of the many 
things we saw. The men on the farm were busy 
harvesting Oats for the horses and straw for packing, 
the latter being scarce and at a premium in this part 
of the country. The earlier flowers and vegetables 
were maturing a rich crop of seeds; but some 
were in full bloom and others advancing to that 
stage. 
A trial was made of all the most popular varieties 
of garden Peas, and the crop was almost ready for 
harvesting. Broad Beans were also doing well on 
the chalky soil, the pods of a seedling named 
Cannell's Best of All being 1 ft. in length. Parsley 
and Parsnips were also in seed. 
Close by the abDve on the hill side was a grand 
collection of eighty-four varieties of all the best 
Sweet Peas on trial. Most of them were heavily 
laden with pods, so that we noted only a few of those 
in bloom. The brilliant pink of Lady Penzance 
makes this a choice thing for cut flowers. Those of 
Royal Robe are of a uniform rosy-pink and very 
pleasing. Little Dorrit with rose standards and 
blush wings is also choice, and in the same vein as 
Painted Lady but quite different. New Countess 
has darker blue flowers than the type. Maid of 
Honour is pretty with its blue-edged wings. Cupid 
and Pink Cupid also do as well here as anywhere. 
Florists’ flowers receive a large amount of attention 
including the very dwarf strain of Antirrhinums, 
which form pyramidal little tufts full of bloom. 
Queen of the North is pure white, very free 
