December 18, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
245 
“ Nord Horticole.”—The press of editorial matter 
and the preparation of the blocks for the December 
number of our contemporary, Nord Horticole have re¬ 
tarded the publication of the number which can 
now only appear between the 15th and 25th inst. 
Death of Mr. Gibson.—We are very sorry to 
announce the death of Mr. Gibson, an Ayrshire gar¬ 
dener, on Monday morning the 13th inst., at Troon, 
a little to the north of Ayr, where he was calmly 
spending the evening of his day after retiring from a 
long and honourable service. His two sons Mr. 
James Gibson, of Devonhurst, Chiswick, and Mr. 
David Gibson of Coombe Cottage, Kingston, arrived 
on the day of his death just a little too late to see 
him breathe his last. 
Florets of Chrysanthemum Madame Carnot.—The 
twelve magnificent blooms of this variety shown at 
the November exhibition of the N C. S. by Mr. 
Norman Davis, Framfield, Sussex, created quite a 
sensation amongst gardeners and all who saw them. 
Mr. W. Watson, of Kew has been counting the 
florets in a single head and finds that they reach the 
astounding number of 1,750. He states that this is 
eight or nine times the number of florets in a head of 
the wild type. The bloom with 6 ins. of stalk 
weighed seven ounces ; the longest florets were 7 ins. 
long. The art of man has truly worked wonders up¬ 
on the original wilding. 
Souvenir of the N.C.S Autumn Festival.—This is 
the tide of a neat pamphlet of sixteen pages, giving 
descriptions of all the species and varieties of 
Conifers and other evergreen subjects utilised in the 
decoration of the Octagon group of the Ichthemic 
Guano Co., at the November show of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society. The plants in question 
were supplied by Messrs. Laird & Sinclair, Dundee 
and Monifietb, N.B. Flowering plants, statuary, and 
electric lighting had to be called in to supplement 
the general decorations. The leading feature was 
undoubtedly the Coniferae. A short description of 
each species and variety employed is given. The 
frequent use of flowering plants (in the popular 
sense) in the formation and arrangement of groups 
comes in time to be somewhat monotonous ; while 
on the other hand, it shows a lack of appreciation of 
the decorative value of a class of plants that are hardy, 
easily obtainable, and full of possibilities in the 
hands of skilful decorators, if such plants are not 
occasionally utilised. The sight of collections of 
Conifers first suggested the idea; and the souvenir 
under notice is simply intended as a reminder of this 
first attempt to take advantage of their decorative 
value. 
Ealing Gardeners’ Society —Mr. D. Cooper, of 
Hanger Hill House Gardens, Ealing, was well- 
received by the members of this society on the 7th 
inst., the subject being some " Notes on Gardening 
in Paris,” which were very interesting and useful as 
a set-off against our own performances in this coun¬ 
try. Mr. Cooper considered the French people 
were much in advance of us in many respects, which 
was probably due, in a large measure, to the splendid 
climate which they enjoyed. Mr. Cooper was 
fortunately able to visit private as well as public 
parks and gardens, and the admirable way in which 
these were managed was not a little gratifying to the 
visitor. What seemed to impress Mr. Cooper prin¬ 
cipally was the enormous number of plants, such as 
Begonias, Cannas, ard even stove plants, that are 
used for effective display in the flower garden. At 
Baron Alfonse de Rothschild’s beautiful Chateau de 
Feriieres, for instance, all phases of gardening are 
carried out with the most brilliant success. The 
park is one of the finest in Europe, while the gardens 
and pleasure grounds are so extensive that they re¬ 
quire about 200 hands to keep them in order. There 
are something like sixty glasshouses, and an equally 
large number of frames. This will give some idea of 
the size and quality of the estate which Mr. Cooper 
visited, as well as other matters which we are un¬ 
able to find room for. On the motion of the Chair¬ 
man. Mr. C. B. Green, Mr. Cooper received a very 
hearty vote of thanks. A special exhibition was also 
held for a “ Small group of plants arranged for 
effect, 5 ft. by 3 ft., to be staged in a semi-circle.” 
The result was very pleasing and artistic, the prizes 
being awarded to Messrs. C. Long, R. Green, H. 
Holloway, and G. Woods. 
In the Palmhouse at Kew.—Nurse girl : " Look, 
look, Bobby, don't you see a Rose on that Palm." 
Bobby (gazing roofwards) : "No.” Nurse girl: 
" Can yer smell it then ? " Bobby : “ No, Jane ; my 
nose aint long enough.” 
The Scilly Islands.—It is stated that the flower 
crops from which the Scilly Islanders reap so large a 
share of their revenue are not so early or promising 
as they were last year at this time. Last season was 
a record season, however, and thus any comparison 
between this year and last is hard upon the present 
one. Good prices may, perhaps, console the 
growers for a slight decrease in quantity of produc¬ 
tions. Much has been done of late years by the 
Great Western and North Western Railways to 
develope the industry. New markets in the north of 
the kingdom have been opened up by an improved 
service of fast trains from the shipping ports, and 
flowers leaving the Scilly Islands in the forenoon of 
one day are in Aberdeen by the evening of the next 
day—not at all a bad journey. 
The late Mr. David McEwen. — Ou Wednesday, 
the 24th ult., there were laid to rest in the family 
vault at St. Mark’s Churchyard, Lakenham, the 
mortal remains of the late Mr. David McEwen, who 
for the past twenty-nine years carried on a business 
as florist and seedsman in Red Lion Street, Norwich. 
The deceased gentleman first started his business 
career with the late firm of Mackie & Ewing, and 
some time afterwards joined Mr. Ewing, seedsman, 
of Exchange Street, and later on taking over the 
management. He stayed with that firm for upwards 
of twenty-two years, gaining the respect of both 
employer and employed, whilst his qualifications as 
a business man were shown by the firm’s numerous 
customers. On Mr. McEwen leaving this firm he 
was the recipient of a handsome testimonial in ack¬ 
nowledgment of the long and honoured services he 
had rendered. The deceased, who was in his 79th 
year when he died, was known far and near as an 
authority on horticultural seeds. His genial coun¬ 
tenance as he leaned over his shop counter giving 
his advice to his numerous customers will be missed, 
as will also his familiar figure as each morning he 
indulged in a walk round Chapel-field Gardens. It 
may be added that letters from all parts of the coun¬ 
try are being received from friends and customers, 
condoling with those who are left behind, and testi¬ 
fying to the esteem in which the departed was held 
as a citizen and a tradesman. 
Fruit-growing at the Cape.—Professor McOwau 
the government botanist at the Cape, has written a 
paper upon this subject, which appears in a recent 
issue of the Kew Bulletin. The African Critic com¬ 
ments upon the substance of the essay in most 
favourable terms, and speaks of it as being couched 
in vigorous and definite language, and that it amounts 
to a strong and well-reasoned appeal to English gar¬ 
deners to go out to the Cape and develop the fruit trade. 
The Professor indeed pleads earnestly for “some 
gardening missionary to come over and teach us a 
gospel of better things,” for he is disgusted with the 
way fruit culture is carried on. The ordinary market 
is supplied with coarse fruit of very inferior quality, 
and if you want good fruit it can only be obtained 
from the farmer as a favour. There are at the 
present moment, continues Professor McOwan, 
exceptional openings for enterprise in various branches 
of culture. The only element required is an in¬ 
crease in the number of intelligent and practised 
growers. Says he, " We want them from England, 
from the States, from California, in fact from every 
place where the skill and experience required has 
run for years into every day practice. This is the 
immigration wanted just now at the Cape, to catch 
at the opportunity of the moment and to turn skilled 
fruit-growing into gold. There is no question that 
success awaits the man who knows how to deal with 
fruit trees, to break his ground up properly, to drain, 
to prune, to gather, to pack for market up country or 
for market in Covent Garden, and who has the well- 
founded contempt for the slovenly style of lettiDg 
things grow themselves, and taking as a crop what 
chance sends and insect plagues leave.” If all 
intending settlers in the Colony carefully study and 
fol’ow Professor McOwan's advice as to preventible 
scourges, and thoroughly spy out the country before 
settling down, there is nothing, humanly speaking, 
to prevent them revolutionising the Cape fruit trade. 
The Orange is said to possess three distinct 
odours, one given off by the flowers, another by 
the leaves, and the third by the rind. 
Mr. J. M. Wood, Durban.—The African Critic says 
that " Durban is the only town in South Africa 
possessing Botanic Gardens of any size, and to the 
curator (Mr. J. M. Wood, A.L.S.), Kew Gardens are 
indebted for many valuable collections. In the 
latest volume of ” Flora Capensis ” a cordial 
reference to this fact is made. Mr. Wood’s investi¬ 
gations into the flora of Natal are being prosecuted 
with much skill and success. 
--j-- 
ORCHID NOTES ft GLEANINGS. 
By The Editor. 
Cypripedium Mrs. Pllmmer, Hyb. Nov .—The 
seed parent of this hybrid was C. nitens, itself a 
hybrid, and C. villosum Boxallii. As far as we have 
been able to ascertain this cross has not hitherto 
been effected. The nearest to it was the crossing of 
C. nitens Sallieri with C. villosum aureum The 
dorsal sepal of C. Mrs. Plimmer is oblong, and 
apple-green, blotched with violet-black, except at 
the apex, which is white and marked with a cluster of 
violet blotches. The upper longitudinal half of the 
petals is of a shining brown, while the corresponding 
lower half is pale and finely spotted, showing the in¬ 
fluence of C. villosum Boxallii, all the rest being due 
to the potency of C. nitens. The light brown lip is 
like that of the latter very nearly. The hybrid was 
raised by Mr. P. McArthnr, 4, Maida Vale, London, 
W., and is named in compliment to Mrs. Plimmer, 
of the Woodlands. 
FASHIONABLE FLOWERS IN THE 
NORTH. 
By reason of the increased demand by most pro¬ 
prietors of gardens for cut flowers, cultivators are 
often driven to expedients as how to supply the 
demand. The species which have increased most 
are to be found among Carnations, Roses, and 
herbaceous plants generally. Many years ago these 
figured largely in the then prevailing fashion, but 
the bedding mania ruthlessly thrust them aside. 
It would be difficult now to find a garden in 
Scotland of any pretensions where the species 
indicated are not well represented. Long borders 
and gardens specially formed may be seen filled with 
hundreds and thousands of them. While visiting 
some of these gardens not long ago, I noted excellent 
displays of flowers for use, while the adornment of 
patterns was not neglected. At Balbirnie, Fifeshire, 
some borders of Carnations were dazzling, and 
though so many were cut during each week they 
were scarcely missed. From June to Novenber the 
display continues, and the great breadth of 
herbaceous plants gives a continuous supply of choice 
flowers from spring to winter. 
The lines of pits at this attractive place filled with 
tree Carnations give indication of the demand, which 
Mr. Henderson, the able gardener, meets with great 
success. It may be noted that indoor flowers are 
largely grown. Stove plants, Orchids, and Camellias 
indicate that skill and good taste are much in 
evidence. The last-named are planted out, and the 
healthy growth with abundance of flower-buds, show 
that these old favourites are not underrated at 
Balbirnie. To succeed the Chrysanthemums they 
are still much valued. A grower, for sale, lately 
told me that Camellias in winter were the most 
profitable branch of his extensive establishment. 
The Carnation mania has spread well throughout 
Fifeshire, and is still on the. increase in the North. 
In old nurseries they are extehsively cultivated, and 
new ones are rising up in nearly every district. For 
example, at Red braes, Messrs. Grieve & Sons are 
increasing their stock of Carnations at a rapid pace. 
I recently visited their grounds, and noted the large 
breadth of Carnations and Pansies, which are 
specialities. 
Many choice varieties have recently been raised 
from seed. Among the choicest of them are Nellie 
Cooper, white and pink; Mary A. Grieve, deep 
salmon; Aurora, scarlet; Nellie, a rose-edged 
Picotee; Gertie Smith, creamy and white; Miss 
Leslie, deep pink : Napoleon, bright scarlet; The 
