284 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 11, 1897. 
Bush Farm Nursery. 
Hardy Herbaceous Plants. —This farm occupies 
some fertile land on the sloping side of a low hill, 
overlooking Rothesay Bay, and much of the county 
of Bute. It is in every way adapted for the cultiva¬ 
tion of flowers and vegetables of all kinds. On this 
occasion we shall merely indicate the general 
character of the hardy plants grown, particularly 
those grown in quantity. The Dandelion-leaved 
Oenothera taraxacifolia, and red and white varieties 
of Dianthus multiflorus hybridus were still flower¬ 
ing. Some 20,000 to 30,000 border Carnations are 
grown, in all the best sorts. All up the hill side on 
either hand are broad plantations of many herbaceous 
plants, including Primula rosea, Iceland Poppies, 
Aquilegia californica, and hybrid sorts; also Pyre- 
thrums and Phloxes in quantity, the latter consist¬ 
ing of old plants, as well as cuttings in frames. 
Those in bloom varied from 2 ft. to 4 ft. high, 
including all the best large-flowering, richest, and 
most beautiful colours in one hundred select varie¬ 
ties— surely enough to satisfy the most fastidious. 
Violas and Pansies constitute one ot the leading 
specialities at Rothesay, as they have done for many 
years past. At the time of our visit there were 
32,000 summer struck cuttings, rooted in July, and 
ready to be sent out, all good and well established 
stuff. Six long beds of old plants were still flowering 
profusely. In another part of the nursery we noted 
a long edging ot Violetta, the sweet-scented Viola, 
the parent of all the miniature race. It was one 
mass of pure white, and formed an edging to a long 
herbaceous border, where it was planted twenty to 
twenty-one months ago. Perennial Asters or 
Michaelmas Daisies are grown in quantity and 
variety, including several very fine forms of A. Novi- 
Belgii and A.Novae-Angliae. Boltonia asteroides was 
also fine. 
On an upland portion of the farm, we walked 
through a large plantation of Marigolds, including a 
splendid strain of French Marigolds. Some of them 
had a lemon and others a golden-yellow ground with 
velvety-maroon edges. Lemon Queen and Prince of 
Orange represented the fine strain of African Mari¬ 
golds, for which this firm is also reputed. 
There was a plantation of 10,000 red, brownish- 
orange and crimson Pansies, of which over 9,000 
were to be dug in, which goes to show the extra¬ 
ordinary pains, and great amount of work undertaken 
to get a good strain. The colours varied consider¬ 
ably, and some were very handsome indeed. 
Dahlias. 
The visitor to Messrs. Dobbie & Co.’s Bush Farm 
Nursery, during the time the Dahlias are in bloom, 
need not be told that they constitute one of the most 
important features of the establishment. Altogether, 
there were three acres of Dahlias in full bloom last 
September. Messrs. Dobbie purchased every variety 
which was accorded a certificate in 1896, so that 
their collection is up-to-date, and properly tested on 
their own grounds. 
Show and Fancy Varieties. —These formed large 
and bushy plants, supported by a large central stake 
and two to four smaller ones to keep the main 
branches from being broken down. Countess, new 
for 1897, has pink flowers with a purple tip to the 
florets. James Martin (1897) bears scarlet flowers of 
very fine form. Those of Joe Chamberlain are large 
and dark crimson. Queen of Autumn (1897) is large, 
handsome, and of a fine old-gold colour. Esmond is 
a clear yellow and very showy variety of large size. 
A very subtle tint may be observed in Duchess of 
York, which may be described as pink, overlying 
yellow, and very handsome. Chieftain is rich purple, 
and one of the best of its colour. Crimson Globe is 
a magnificent variety and well named, for the flowers 
are of a glowing crimson-scarlet. The blooms of 
Baroness are soft buff-yellow. Mrs. Mackintosh is 
another grand sort with large, golden-buff flowers. 
Norma is soft buff-yellow, and the form is really 
grand. A curious and pretty shade is represented 
by Octavia, having light buff-yellow flowers, tipped 
with purple. Perfection is a rich golden-buff. 
Virginale is soft purple, and of large size, with neatly 
compressed florets. All of the above are show varie¬ 
ties of the very first water, and merely a few picked 
from the collection while passing through it. Mabel 
(1897) is a fancy sort, of a pink hue, flaked and 
marbled with carmine. 
Cactus Varieties. —Within the last few years 
this section has attained to remarkable perfection, 
and acquired equal popularity and notoriety both for 
garden decoration, cut flowers, and exhibition 
purposes. Austin Cannell has scarlet flowers, tipped 
with white, and strikingly distinct. Very pretty is 
Aurora, a miniature Cactus variety with long, orange 
florets, tipped with blue. Mrs. Kingsley Foster 
(1897) i s buff-yellow and very pretty. Very handsome 
is Iona (1867) with long-pointed orange-salmon 
florets. The maroon-crimson Harry Stredwick (1897) 
is one of the darkest in cultivation. The orange- 
scarlet, incurved and pointed florets of Fantasy 
render it one of the most striking and handsome of 
the Cactus race. Ensign (1897) > s carmine-scarlet 
tinted with blue. The scarlet and pale-tipped blooms 
of Cycle (1897) are large and very conspicuous. 
Starfish (1897) > s a striking orange-scarlet flower. 
Princess Ena is yellow, overlaid with orange-salmon. 
Cinderella (1897) is a fine purple sort. The carmine- 
scarlet Ophelia (1897) is another fine thing. Miss 
Webster (1897) has received fourteen certificates 
from as many societies, and is the best white Cactus 
variety in cultivation. Very pretty is Bridesmaid 
(1897), creamy, and tinted with pink on the outer 
petals. African (1897) is maroon-crimson. 
The 1896 varieties, in very large plants, were 
flowering grandly, and the flowers were chiefly used 
for cutting. The orange-salmon Mrs. Beck is very 
choice. 
Pompon Varieties. —These also have attained 
great popularity of late years, being particularly 
serviceable for cut flowers, and all other decorative 
purposes. Very pretty is the orange-scarlet 
Adrienne (1897). Other remarkably choice things 
for 1897 are Clarissa, primrose ; Dagmar, blackish- 
maroon ; Dr. Jim, rich carmine, with a purple edge ; 
Elegant, yellow, overlaid with pink ; Gannymede, 
salmon-pink ; Nancy, yellow, tinted with buff; Opal, 
yellow, tipped with white ; and Orpheus, a very 
small, yellow variety. Sunny Daybreak is yellow, 
overlaid with orange and very handsome. 
Single Cactus Dahlias. —During the last few 
years Messrs. Dobbie & Co. have been developing a 
new section under the above title. Some of them 
are beautifully fantastic and graceful, while the 
colours are now extremely varied. Demon is a 
single variety that is almost black. All other good 
singles of the ordinary race are kept in stock. 
Amongst the single Cactus sorts very showy and 
graceful are Ivanhoe, light rose, with a crimson 
zone ; Talisman, maroon-crimson ; Crusader, 
streaked bronzy-red on an orange ground ; Lady 
Evaline, old-gold, overlaid salmon ; Diana Vernon, 
large, scarlet, edged purple ; Sir Walter, a very 
pretty rose-pink, with deep orange base, strangely 
and beautifully contrasted and one of the best ; and 
Alice Lee, a most beautiful pink sort which carries 
its flowers well above the foliage. 
Stock Plants —Ninety-six varieties were grown 
by themselves for stock, being thickly planted on un¬ 
manured ground. For instance, there were 150 
plants of Mabel Keith ; 200 of Gloriosa ; 200 of 
Harmony ; 200 of Mrs. Barnes ; 200 of Matchless ; 
and 100 each of many others of the best sorts. 
Amongst pompons we noted 100 plants of Little 
Dorrit, and so on of others for stock. 
In the smaller of two fields was a plantation of 
6.000 Dahlias. Taking the two fields together, 
there were 13,000 plants. To these may be added 
3,000 in 5-in pots, and 15,000 pot roots in thumb 
pots. Seven hands do nothing else but take care of 
the Dahlias during summer and autumn ; but 
twelve are employed in spring when they are being 
propagated. These figures and statistics will serve to 
give an idea of the magnitude of this important 
department of the business. Those who are 
specially interested in Dahlias would find much to 
interest and instruct them at Rothesay during the 
late summer and autumn months. A 10-acre field 
of Potatos contained 112 varieties of the noble tuber, 
all grown for seed. 
A Patriarch Elm, which, according to local tradi¬ 
tion, has stood in its present position for 200 years 
is to be removed, much to the grief of the inhabitants 
of Caerwys, North Wales, The ground on which it 
stands has been the village playground and fair¬ 
ground, as well as the hawkers’rendezvous for many 
years. Recently two of the large branches fell with 
a crash, and without giving any warning. This led 
to an examination, and it was found that the whole 
of the trunk was rotten, and the safety of the public 
demands its removal. 
CHRYSflNTHEmUin SHOWS. 
IPSWICH .—November z6th and 17 th. 
The Public Hall, Ipswich, was the venue of the 
Ipswich and East of England H orticultural Society’s 
Show. The efforts that have beeD made of late by 
the executive and friends of the society to increase 
the popularity and usefulness of the fixture have 
this year been crowned with abundant success, for a 
record has been established, both for number of 
entries and attendance of visitors. 
The various groups of plants were placed under 
the balcony, and specimen plants and other groups 
adorned the stage. The cut blooms were staged on 
tables that ran down the sides of the hall, the 
centre table noticeable in former years having 
been done away with, in order to afford increased 
facilities for locomotion. 
The exhibits of Chrysanthemum blooms staged 
for effect were accommodated in the saloon, in com¬ 
pany with the fruit and vegetables. 
In the class for a group of Chrysanthemums staged 
for effect, and occupying a space of 10 ft. by 5 ft., 
Mr. R. C. Notcutt, of Ipswich and Woodbridge, was 
an easy first. He had some very fine samples of 
successful culture. Mr. G. Gilbert, of Ipswich, was 
a creditable second. Mr. H. J. Southgate, also of 
Ipswich, came in third. 
For the group of miscellaneous plants Mr. Gilbert 
distanced all other competitors, showing some fine 
specimens of Poinsettias and Richardias, set up with 
Palms and stove foliage plants. Mr. Southgate was 
second, and Mr. R. C. Notcutt third. 
Mr. C. Baskett, Rectory Cottage, Stoke, secured 
the chief award for a group of Chrysanthemums, 
open only to exhibitors residing in the borough, and 
paying a rent of not exceeding £15. 
There was a keen competition in the classes for cut 
blooms, expecially in the class for thirty-six Japanese. 
Here Mr. W. Messenger, gardener to C. H. Berners, 
Esq., Wolverstone Park, Ipswich, added to his 
numerous successes this season by securing the first 
prize. Such varieties as Mrs. F. A. Bevan, and 
Western King were very conspicuous in his exhibit. 
Mr. R. C. Notcutt was second. 
For twenty-four Japanese, Mr. Allan, gardener to 
Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, was first here, with Mr. 
H Rogers, gardener to Lord Rendlesham, Rendle- 
sham Hall, Suffolk, as second. Mr. Skinner, The 
Chantry, Ipswich, was third. 
There was also a capital display in the classes for 
amateurs. Mr. W. Catchpole had the winning group 
of Chrysanthemums in pots, showing some well 
grown specimens. Mr. F. Turner, and Dr. Casley, 
both of Ipswich, were second and third respectively. 
Mr. H. G. Haggar won for incurves, staging an even 
lot of well coloured blooms. Miss Gladys Foster- 
Melliar scored for a basket of cut flowers. Miss 
Gilbert was an easy first for bouquets. 
The exhibits in the fruit classes were scarcely up 
to the standard of last year, but nevertheless there 
was some capital material. Mr. Messenger, and Mr. 
H. Rogers, were adjudged to be equal firsts for a 
collection of six distinct varieties. Mr. Messenger, 
Mr. Allan, Mr. J A. Burness, and the Hon. W. Low- 
ther were the chief winners in the classes for 
Grapes. 
Some high quality produce was observable amongst 
the vegetables. 
WATERFORD.— November. 
The winter show of the Waterford Horticultural 
Society took place in the City Hall, Waterford. 
The Council Chamber accommodated the cut 
blooms, the pot plants occupied the Large Room, 
and the Committee Room was devoted to the fruit 
and vegetables. 
Mr. F. W. Moore, of the Botanic Gardens, at 
Glasnevin, judged the plants, flowers, and vegetables, 
whilst Mr. John Glennie, Curraghmore, pronounced 
upon the relative merits of the roots and field crops. 
The Challenge Cup, presented by J. N. White, 
Esq., for the cut blooms of Chrysanthemums, was 
won by Lord Ashbrook, Darrow Castle (gardener, 
Mr. McKeller). The Lady Emily Howard-Bury, 
Charleville Forest, Tullamore, King's Co. (gardener, 
Mr. R. McKenna), was second. 
J. N. White, Esq. was successful in carrying off 
the Challenge Cup presented by W. G. D. Goff, 
Esq., for the best group of Chrysanthemums. 
W. G. D. Goff, Esq., Glenville (gardener, Mr. 
