October 30, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
133 
The Wrong Man— Sandie : " Losh, Geordie, I 
heard ye fell oot o’ an Aipple tree an’ broke yer leg.” 
Geordie : "Na, Sandie, it wisna me. It wis my 
brither." Sandie :"Eb, moo, I’m wae to hear’t, 
an' awfu' disappintit.”— Snaggs. 
Economic Botany.—The introductory lecture in the 
course of economic botany at the Glasgow and West 
of Scotland Technical College, was delivered on 
October 4th, by Mr. G. F. Scott Elliot, M.A., B.Sc., 
F.R.G.S. The object of the course, it was explained, 
was to afford a knowledge of the possibilities of our 
British possessions, and a judgment of ihe chances of 
success in the cultivation of the more useful plants, 
such as those yielding rubber, guttapercha, tea, 
cocoa, coffee, fibre, oil, gum, tanning materials, and 
drugs of various kinds. It was intended to thus give 
an opportunity of training those going to the 
tropics or any British dependencies in other parts of 
the world. The importance of the subject was 
demonstrated by the fact that last year the balance of 
this country’s'imports over exports amounted to 
^141,000,000. The determining factors that 
decided what plants could be cultivated in any part 
of the earth were six in number :—1st, security of 
life, property, and fair play; 2nd, the size and 
expansibility of the market; 3rd, labour, which was 
of two distinct kinds, managing and manual; 4th, 
climate—the amount and distribution of sunshine 
and rainfall; 5th, soil; and 6th, wind shelter. 
Climates were classified according to the modern 
German method by physical characters. Thus, in 
tropical countries there were wet coast jungle, the 
home of the Oil Palm, and rubber plants; wet 
insular climates, producing chiefly the Cocoanut 
Palm ; wet mountain forest climate, the chosen home 
of tea and quinine ; and the monsoon area, notable 
for the coffee plant. Then came the sub-tropical 
region, in which Oranges, Lemons, and Bananas 
could be cultivated, but not the Olive. In temperate 
regions Mr. Elliot recognised two divisions, viz. :— 
The Olive region, such as the Mediterranean dis¬ 
tricts and Southern California, and our own tem¬ 
perate clime. The presence of the Date Palm is the 
chief characteristic of the desert. 
Ladywell and Lewisham Horticultural Society.— 
The fourteenth annual dinner in connection with this 
society took place on the 21st inst. at the “ White 
Hart,” High Street, Lewisham, about eighty sitting 
down. Mr. S. J. Gore presided, Mr. D. Bartlett 
being in the vice-chair. Others present included 
Messrs. T. W. Sanders, F.R.H.S. (president), T. 
White (vice-president), A. Pratt (secretary), E. J. 
Hughesman, E. G. Bowman, H. Myers (representing 
the Ichthemic Guano Co.), W. T. Kinnear, H. Ser- 
combe, W. Brown, W. Burgess, W. Cakebread, A. 
Collins, George Cornes, J. Deal, George Edwards, 
W. Tarrant, C. T. Green, J. Harding, Hines, E. 
Kelsey, G. King, E. Lee, H. Lewis, W. Musson, W. 
Ovenden, D. Parker, S. Payne, Charles Perry, H. 
Petty, W. Rabbitts, H. Reeves, A. Robertson, J. 
Roberts, W. Savage, G. Seago, G. Stanton, M. 
Stevens, G. Taylor, G. Tilbury, J. J. Turpin, A. 
Weller, F. W. Westcott, R. Wilkinson, &c. After 
the loyal toasts, the chairman submitted the toast of 
"The Society and its Officers,” and referred to the 
excellence of the exhibition held in his grounds in 
August. He also commented upon the beneficial 
results which emanated from such societies, and said 
it afforded him much pleasure to lend the use of his 
grounds for their show, and to preside over them 
that evening. Mr. Sanders, in reply, referred to the 
increase in the allotments and the excellent order in 
which they were kept. Mr. White and Mr. Pratt 
also responded, the latter remarking that the society 
was in a very prosperous condition, there being a 
balance in hand of over /30. The toast of "The 
Patrons and Visitors ” was proposed by Mr. C. T. 
Green, and replied to by the vice-chairman and Mr. 
E. J. Hughesman. Miss Violet Gore, daughter of 
the chairman, next presented the prizes to the 
successful competitors at the annual exhibition, a list 
of whom appeared in these columns at the time. 
Mr. E. G. Bowman proposed “The Judges,” and 
spoke of the arduous work they had to discharge 
and the general satisfaction which their awards had 
always given. Mr. Fox suitably returned thanks. 
The remaining toasts were those of the “ Chairman 
and Vice-chairman” and “The Auditors.” The 
musical portion of the programme was well sustained. 
Are they late or early?—Primroses were gathered 
at The Lindens, Yatton, during the last week in 
September. 
Two fine leaves of Gunnera scabra have been pre¬ 
sented to the Brighton Museum by Mr. Alderton, 
head master of the Muncipal School of Art. They 
have been placed in the wild flower department. 
--*♦>- 
NOTES FROM DUNOON. 
On p. 102 of The Gardening World, C. B. G., 
Acton, W., has some interesting remarks under the 
heading “ Notes from Dunoon;” but I am afraid that 
some of his statements will be read with consider¬ 
able surprise in many parts of Scotland. It would 
appear from his pen that amateurs were almost an 
unknown quantity there. In speaking of Dunoon he 
states that “ Professional gardeners hold their own, 
but amateurs are not in evidence.” This I will not 
dispute, but further on he takes a wider scope 
and states that " We Saxons have been brought up 
to believe that canny Scots are great gardeners. 
This may be true professionally but not otherwise, 
else we should see the amateur in greater force.” 
As to canny Scots being great gardeners one could 
not expect a Saxon to freely admit, " but facts are 
chiels that winna ding and darna be disputed,” and the 
canny Scot still fights his way when others fail. I 
am afraid that C. B. G. could not have traversed 
much ground on the shores of the Firth of Clyde, 
where he mentions having seen several pretty com¬ 
binations of nature and art, otherwise he could not 
but have noticed the amateurs in great force 
and been struck with the skill shown as culti¬ 
vators by many of them. Indeed, Ayrshire is a 
stronghold of amateur gardeners, and I doubt very 
much whether C. B. G., has ever seen productions 
from any amateurs that could excel their specialities. 
In Scotland, generally, the amateur is permitted to 
exhibit in the gardeners’ classes, but not vice versa, at 
exhibitions; and, indeed, in most of the florists’ 
flower classes the amateur is the most successful. 
Who then shall say that the amateur is not in force 
there, when they at least hold their own with the 
professional, and in some repects are their masters as 
cultivators. I am afraid C. B. G. will have to 
become better acquainted with the status of the 
amateur generally in Scotland before his statements 
are taken seriously. I am sure that all “ Lovers of 
Burns ” who have read C. B. G.'s interesting article 
will tender him their tbanks for the discovery that 
“ ' Highland Mary 1 was born at Dunoon,” as he states 
“ they will be gratified to hear it.”— James Gibson, 
Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. 
Pentstemons. 
These ever popular flowers, when given some 
attention in the matter of good rich soil and plenty 
of water at the roots when forming their flower 
spikes, can be depended upon to brighten the beds 
and borders for many weeks during the end of 
summer and all through autumn. A great improve¬ 
ment has taken place in recent years both in the 
size and colours of the flowers. Varieties such as 
Alfred Rambaud and President Carnot, are not much 
behind a good Gloxinia in size and form; and 
whether grown in beds or in the mixed border they 
look equally well. 
The following varieties are specially fine either for 
competitions or for garden decoration:—Alfred 
Rambaud, purplish crimson with pure white throat, 
very large; Donald McBean, purple-crimson, with 
maculated throat; Emile Deschanel, clear carmine 
throat, pencilled with blood red, very striking; 
General Thomas, rosy-cerise, with large open throat; 
Hugh G. Oliver, purplish violet, large and distinct; 
and Jean Mace, brilliant scarlet, with white throat. 
This latter is a telling variety for massing. 
James Robertson is white, tinted rose at the edges; 
Jean Lorrain is rosy violet, and large with close set 
spikes ; John Fraser is rosy scarlet, with tall spikes, 
and very handsome; J. M. Troup, dark purple, pro¬ 
duces close set, sturdy spikes ; Lamennais is carmine- 
scarlet ; Leonidas is rich rose, being a grand variety ; 
Lord Ravensworth is rosy-purple and scarlet, with 
white throat, and a splendid spike ; Loredan Larchey 
is rich rose and very large; President Carnot is 
crimson, with a large, open, pure white throat, and is 
a startling variety ; Scapin is clear violet, with grand 
open flowers, on well built spikes. That named 
Park Royal, is rosy-violet with pure white throat, 
and very large ; Paul Verlain is a fme shade of rosy 
scarlet, producing grand spike; J. W. Moorman is 
rosy-purple with maculated throat, and handsome. 
Many more might be added, equally good, but the 
above will be found to be up-to-date in all respects, 
either for decorative purposes or for the competition 
table.— Coila. 
-■ ! - - 
CROTONS AT BATTENHALL MOUNT. 
Passing through the stove houses of Battenhall 
Mount, Worcester, the residence of the Hon. A. P. 
Allsopp, the other day, I saw the prettiest pair of 
Crotons in small pots I ever beheld. The variety 
was the beautiful C. Warrenii, the plants were in 32 
sized pots, and were about 3 ft. in height as nearly as 
I can recollect, furnished with leaves cleaD, and beau¬ 
tifully coloured nearly to the top of the pots, each 
plant a picture indeed, and a marvel of cultural skill. 
Good examples of many other well-known varieties 
were included in the same house—a span-roofed 
building—representing such varieties as Princess of 
Wales, Mrs. Dorman, Mrs. Swan, Laingii, elegantis- 
simus, and many others, all testifying by their highly- 
coloured foliage and clean well furnished appearance 
to the skill and attention bestowed by Mr. Fox. In 
striking contrast to this system of growing Crotons 
and other table plants, where each plant is allowed 
to develop properly and display its individual char¬ 
acter and beauty (and it is only such plants as these 
that are fit to use where high class decorations are 
required in dwelling rooms, &c.), was another house 
of Crotons I noted in the same neighbourhood. 
Here were plants in pots ranging in size from 6's to 
6o’s, crammed as thickly as they could stand, enough 
to fill a house twice the size. 
Plants grown under such conditions are not nearly 
so serviceable, nor do they last in condition so long 
as those grown under more favourable conditions, 
having plenty of light and air.— A. P. 
-> 8 .-— 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned Chrysanthemums received 
First-class Certificates at the hands of the Floral 
Committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society 
at a meeting held at the Royal Aquarium on October 
25th. 
Lady Hanham.— This is a sport from Charles 
Davis, and may ba said to be mid-way between the 
latter variety and Viviand Morel. The florets are 
long, rather narrow, and drooping, whilst the bloom 
is of huge size, and constitutes a grand show variety. 
The colour is flesh pink with a bronzy-yellow centre. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley. 
Pride of the Market. —This was certificated as 
a market variety, for which purpose it is well fitted. 
The flowers are of larger size than we expect in 
blooms of this class, and are possessed of exception¬ 
ally stout and strong footstalks. The colour is a 
rich bronzy-orange, very showy and attractive. It 
belongs to the Japanese section. Mr. Norman Davis, 
The Vineries, Framfield, Sussex. 
Mrs Probyn. —Here we have a bold incurved 
Japanese bloom of great beauty and merit. The 
individual florets are strong, of great substance, 
deeply keeled, and have thorned and divided apices. 
The colour is a deep mauve, with a good deal of 
pink in it. Mr. Norman Davis. 
Madame Philippe Rivoire. —The ranks of the 
white Japanese flowers are already well filled, but 
this is the latest addition to them. The blooms are 
of great depth and size, and they would look well in 
the back row. The white is not at all a dull or dead 
one, but is bright and glistening. Mr. W. J. Godfrey, 
Exmouth, Devon. 
Ella Curtis. —This is one of the largest flowers 
that have yet appeared. The individual florets are 
of great length, width, and substance. The outer 
ones droop considerably, and all of them are twisted 
to some extent. The colour is a rich golden-yellow. 
Mr. W. J. Godfrey. 
Lady Ridgeway.— The incurved Japs already 
constitute a very strong section, and in Lady Ridge- 
