246 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 18, 189?. 
Clown, scarlet bizarre ; Ceres, cerise; Laurie Wood, 
apricot ; Luciler, bright scarlet ; Nero, Maroon ; 
Princess Olga, fine pink; and Malcolm, silvery-pink. 
But though these are of much excellence, the large 
stock of older sorts cannot be set at naught. It 
would almost appear that these beautiful flowers 
have nearly approached their highest stage of 
perfection. 
The new forms of Pansies at Redbraes are strongly 
in evidence. For early and late decorative purposes 
they can hardly be surpassed.— M. T., Carrott, N.B. 
FREES1AS. 
The beautiful and delicately-scented Freesias have 
been greatly in evidence in the leading gardens in 
Scotland for some years, and the popularity of them 
seems to be on the increase, ranking with such 
favourites as Roman Hyacinths, Lily of the Valley, 
and Cyclamens. In reply to "Flora," p. 238, I may 
say that many fail to obtain the best results by 
unduly forcing the bulbs in their early stages, with¬ 
holding air, and often keeping them too far from the 
light. Under these conditions they grow up weakly 
and the flowers are worthless. 
It is better to pot the bulbs early (say in \ugust), 
when they are expected to flower at Christmas, and 
little forcing may be necessary. Our plants now 
(Dec. nth) are throwirg up their flowers. They 
were potted about the middle of August, placed in a 
pit near to the glass, kept close till growth com¬ 
menced, and then air was freely admitted. Watering 
with care from the first has much to do with success¬ 
ful flowering. Little water is given till the roots are 
active, and then an abundance is supplied. Stagnant 
moisture is bad for roots and foliage. When the 
flowers are forming, liquid manure is given occasion¬ 
ally, but not strong. We drain the jiots moderately, 
placing a little moss over the crocks, over which is 
sprinkled a pinch of soot. This prevents worms 
from injuring the drainage, and the roots run freely 
in it. Turfy loam, leaf mould, a sprinkling of sand, 
and some bone-meal suit Freesias admirably. A 
s in pot, with six or seven bulbs planted regularly 
over the surface, with the crowns just above the soil, 
is the general method of planting. Some place each 
bulb in a little sand. If the soil is heavy and close, 
this is an advantage. 
Three successions, for flowering from January till 
spring, are necessary, and planting for the latest may 
be done in October. I have never had bulbs which 
I have saved by ripening them do so well as those 
which have been imported.— M. T ., Canon, N.B. 
--*•- 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MEL 
Mr. J. Fraser Smith. 
The subject of the accimpanying portrait is a 
native of Aberdeenshire, having been brought up on 
Deeside. Mr. J. Fraser Smith commenced his 
gardening career in 1864 at Crathes Castle, the seat 
of Sir Thomas Burnett, Bart , under the then gar¬ 
dener, Mr. Littlejohn, who succeeded the father of 
Mr. A. F. Barron, of ChLwick. Mr. Barron’s 
father, it may be remarked, did much to establish 
the renown of this famous old place, where many a 
notable gardener commenced his career, including 
Mr. A. F. Barron himself, Mr. J. Smith, of Ment- 
more and Mr. J. Fraser Smith. 
After serving his apprenticeship at Crathes Castle, 
the subject of this sketch went to Oxenford Castle, 
Midlothian, the seat of the Earl of Stair, under the 
late Mr. Andersc, who was an excellent gardener to 
instil a knowledge of the profession into the minds 
of hist pupils, and a first-class hardy fruit grower to 
boot. Here Mr. Fraser Smith stayed for a couple of 
years after which he went to that veteran in horti¬ 
culture, Mr. Lunt, of Ardgowan, Renfrewshire, on 
the Firth of Clyde, where, in the inside fruit depart¬ 
ment, he bad a grand opportunity of seeing fruit well 
done under glass. 
Having a desire to get further south he got a 
recommendation to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chel¬ 
sea, from whence, after a short time, he was sent as 
plant foreman to Abernant, South Wales, in the 
palmy days of that establishment. Returning to 
Messrs. J Veiich & Sons, he was next sent as fore¬ 
man to Shoreham Place, Kent, which at that time 
was famed for its collection of Orchids. Ever since 
then Mr. Fraser Smith has always had a great 
fancy for that class of plants. 
His next move was to the Alexandra Park, Mus- 
well Hill, LondoD, at a time when the Palace was 
being rebuilt after the great fire, and the park laid 
out by Mr McKenzie. Here he had every scope 
tor seeing a great variety of landscape work 
carried out ; while at the same time he had even 
greater facilities for adding to his knowledge in the 
glass department. He had charge of the conserva¬ 
tory at the place while the large Palms were being 
planted. From the Alexandra Palace he journeyed 
to the far north to lay out and remodel the grounds 
of Colonel Lumsden, Pitcaple Castle, Aberdeen¬ 
shire, just where the waters of the classic Gady 
Burn and the Ury unite before running on to the 
River Don. He stayed at Pitcaple Castle for three 
years, at the end of which time he was offered 
an appointment as head gardener to the Earl of 
Crawford and Balcarres, Dunecbt, Aberdeenshire, 
from whence the sound of the time gun used to 
travel for many miles in every direction, informing 
us and many another gardener of the correct Green¬ 
wich time. 
While at Dunecht, Mr. Fraser Smith had the 
privilege of exhibiting, and was a familiar figure at 
the shows of the Royal Horticultural Society of Aber¬ 
deen, where he was much re-pected and esteemed 
by a wide circle of friends, who enjoyed his fellow¬ 
ship and courtesy. Here we first made his acquain¬ 
tance in the Jubilee year, breaking the ice of 
acquaintanceship over some well-grown and flowered 
specimens of his favourite Orchids. He presided 
over the welfare of the gardens at Dunecht for a 
period of eleven years, until the heart of the place 
was broken, so to speak, over that scandalous affair, 
the miserable “Dunecht Mystery.” 
Since then, however, he has been fortunate in ob¬ 
taining the appointment as gardener to the Countess 
Dowager of Seafield, Cullen House, Culler, N.B., 
which position he has now held for niae years, to 
the great satisfaction of all concerned The Countess 
Dowager of Seafield is a kind-hearled and most con¬ 
siderate employer; and bas a great love for her gar¬ 
dens and plants, especially O.chids. In her gar¬ 
dener she has a man who fully understands every 
detail of culture in this northern latitude, and she is 
perfectly cognisant of the fact. 
Cullen House is almost on the vetge of the 
northern coast of Banffshire, and within the genial 
influence of the Moray Firth, so that plants and 
fruits in the gardens do remarkably well. Peaches, 
and even Figs ripen on the open walls. 
We had the pleasure of again meeting Mr. J. 
Fraser Smith at the Chrysanthi mum show of the 
Scottish Horticultural Assonation, Edinburgh; 
where he acted in the capacity of judge. The same 
thing occurred at Dundee and Aberdeen during the 
succeeding week, where similar attractions made the 
rendezvous identical. Although no longer an exhibi¬ 
tor, the subject of the most recent addition to our 
portrait gallery continues to assist horticultural 
societies in various ways, his services and genial 
presence being much in request. 
-- 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
At the meeting of the Floral Committee of the 
N.C S. at the Aquarium on the 7th inst., the follow¬ 
ing awards were made. 
Miss Phyllis Fowler.—A fine, new, yellow 
incurved form of great size with large and massive 
flowers. In build and style it resembles C. H. Curtis, 
F.C.C. Mr. T. Robinson, gardener to Watkins 
Laurence, Esq., Elsfield House, Hollingbourne. 
Mrs. M. Simpson.—A large white Japanese variety 
which is not unlike Niveus in general appearance, 
bnt with narrower florets, and later. Commended, 
Mr. N. Molyneux, gardener to J. C. Gamier, Esq., 
Rooksbury Park, Fareham, Hants. 
Red L. Canning— This is not as the name would 
suggest, a sport from the well known late white 
Japanese, L. Canning, but is a seedling. It was 
commended on this occasion as a market variety. 
The plant is apparently very floriferous and about 
3 ft. in height. The flowers exhibit a bright shade 
of chestnut-red, and should prove useful for late cut¬ 
ting. Mr. A. Felgate, the Gardens, Burhill,Walton- 
on Thames. 
--4-- 
SUTTON’S AMATEUR’S GUIDE FOR 
1898 . 
In the celebration of Her Majesty’s Diamond 
Jubilee horticulture was prominently represented, 
and of this we are reminded by a remarkable picture 
which appears in Sutton’s Amateur’s Guide for the 
coming season. The magnificent Temple Show 
held by the Royal Horticultural Society in May 
last was visited by several members of the Royal 
Family. The picture of this event by a well-known 
artist, has been secured by Messrs. Sutton, and a 
splendid reproduction is now issued with their 
Annual for 1898. 
At the special show and conference arranged by 
the Royal Horticultural Society at the Crystal 
Palace in honour of Her Majesty's Reign, Mr. 
Arthur W. Sutton delivered a lecture on the " Pro¬ 
gress of Vegetable Cultivation during the Victorian 
Era." We are glad to observe that the great Read¬ 
ing firm offer to place a copy of that lecture at the 
disposal of their customers who may express a wish 
to receive it. 
The improvements achieved in two most impor¬ 
tant departments of horticulture have been con¬ 
tinuously illustrated in successive annual issues of 
Sutton’s Amateur's Guide. The types of vegetables 
originated and distributed by the Sutton’s are not 
only distinguished by the primary requisite of high 
utility as food for man, but they also possess in a 
marked degree the qualities which ensure success on 
the exhibition stage. 
Equally striking has been the development in 
flowers raised from seeds, and of this fact abundant 
evidence will be found in the singularly beautiful 
illustrations which adorn the pages of the new 
edition of Sutton’s Guide in Horticulture. As usual, 
the work is full of information adapted to meet the 
requirements of amateurs and to serve as reminders 
to those who are masters in the profession of 
gardening. 
The illustrations have chiefly been prepared from 
photographs, and not only maintain their high char¬ 
acter of former years for clearly defined outline and 
life-like representation, but far surpass those that 
took us by surprise a few years ago, when the result 
of an accident forced the Messrs. Sutton to adopt 
them as a makeshift for the coloured plates of pre¬ 
vious years. The power of photography to illustrate 
the products of the garden came suddenly as an eye- 
opener. The days of the chromolith for the repre¬ 
sentation of either flowers or vegetables are to all in¬ 
tents numbered both in this country and in America. 
In the present instance we scarcely know whether 
most to admire the photographic reproductions of 
flowers or vegetables, both classes of garden pro¬ 
ducts being most excellently represented and true to 
nature. 
Numerous varieties of Sutton’s garden Peas are 
shown, including novelties for 1898. The same 
may be said of Potatos, amongst which we note a 
full-page illustration of Sutton’s Ideal, the promis- 
