December 18, 1897. 
251 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
also be of uniform length, viz , for twenty-four 
blooms not less than 3 ft. or more than 3 ft. 6 in. ; 
for twelve blooms not less than 1 ft. 6 in., or more 
than 2 ft. ; and for six or nine blooms not less than 
1 ft., and not more than 1 ft. 6 in." was proposed by 
Mr. George Paul, and seconded by Dr. Shackleton. 
It was finally adopted after a great deal of discus¬ 
sion in which many prominent members took part. 
Mr. Geo. Gordon then reported that the list of the 
efficers and committee men for the ensuing year had 
been accepted unanimously. 
The list is as follows President, the Very Rev. 
the Dean of Rochester, D.D ; Vice-presidents— 
Messrs. R. N. G. Baker, Geo. Gordon, C. J. 
Grahame, T. B. Haywood, E. B. Lindsell, H. V. 
Machin, J. D. Pawle, C. E. Shea, M. T. Masters, 
M.D., The Mayor of Halifax, Rev. J. H. Pemberton, 
Rev. A. Foster-Melliar, Rev. W. Wilks, and 
others. Committee—Messrs. H. Appleby, J. 
Bateman, W. Boyes, G. Bunyard, J. Burrell, C. 
E. Cant, F. Cant, W. Cocker, G. W. Cook, W. F. 
Cooling, F. Dennison, A. Dickson, A. C. Gifford, T. 
W. Girdlestone, W. J. Grant, R. Harkness, W. J. 
Jefferies, Conway Jones, J. H. Laing, H. P. Landon, 
Rivers H. Langton, J. R. Mallock, G. Mount, A. 
Munt, O. G. Orpen, A. W. Paul, G. Paul, A. E. 
Prince, W. D. Prior, T. F. Rivers, E. Sanford, A. 
Slaughter, J. T. Strange, A. Turner, R. E. West, H. 
Shackleton, M.D., Col. J. H. Pitt, Captain J. 
Ramsay, and the Rev. H. A. Berners. 
In considering the fixtures for 1899 Mr. J. Bate¬ 
man proposed and Rev. A. Foster-Melliar seconded 
that the Southern Provincial Show be held at Col¬ 
chester, which motion was carried after a great deal 
of discussion. 
Mr. W. J. Grant stated that he was authorised to 
invite the society to Helensburgh, N B, in 1899, and 
assured them a warm welcome, and compliance with 
their rules and regulations. The Rev. J. H. Pember¬ 
ton spoke strongly in favour of going to Helensburgh, 
and it was ultimately decided to leave the decision 
in the hands of the committee. The Rev. 
D'Ombrain and Mr. Mawley spoke of having had 
some communications with Mr. P. Weathers with 
regard to the sho v being held at Manchester, but 
they had heard nothing more of it for the last two 
months. 
A vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding, 
made on a motion by the Rev. A. Foster-Melliar 
brought the meeting to a close. 
-- 
BUCCLEUCH NURSERIES, HAWICK. 
The visitor to the establishment of Mr. John Forbes, 
Buccleuch Nurseries, Hawick, N.B , during the 
summer or autumn months can see at a glance that 
florists’ flowers, in the widest sense, that is, popular 
flowers generally, are the leading feature of the out¬ 
door department Hawick, to the visitor for the 
first time, is most romantically situated in a valley, 
or almost a ravine amongst the green, grass clad 
mountains of Roxburghshire, where the River Teviot 
is joined by the Slitrig, the latter, indeed, flowing 
through the nursery. Tne grounds extend up one 
side of the valley, but are yet below the level of the 
railway which serves the town. The soil is very 
fertile, or has been made so, in the bottom of the 
valley; but even on the steep and stony slopes 
Carnations, Pansies, and Violas flower profusely till 
very late in the season. Some months ago we gave 
a general survey of the place, and we now give a few 
details concerning the popular flowers we were at 
that time obliged to omit. 
Pentstemons. 
A large area was planted with Pentstemons, which 
were in prime condition in the first week of Septem¬ 
ber, and so conspicuous as to draw our attention at 
the first glance into the nursery. The plants varied 
from 18 in. to 30 in. high, according to the nature of 
the variety, and carried branching, massive spikes of 
flowers that would have been a credit to any garden 
or soil. The collection is rich in named varieties, 
and a large breadth of seedlings was also in perfec¬ 
tion, many of the varieties being selected for naming. 
Size and dis inctness of colour were the feature of 
the named varieties, whether old or new ; but we 
can only give a brief selection of those we saw in 
flower. 
Amongst the newly named varieties, Mrs Norman 
had large and open rosy-pink flowers. Those of 
Mrs. Melville were rosy-scarlet with a white throat, 
making a beautiful contrast. Strikingly distinct 
was the violet-purple of Mrs. Hope. The large 
flowers of Loredan Larchey were of a beautiful dark 
rose. Other grand flowers were—Donald McBean, 
purple crimson ; Crafty, rosy-scarlet, with a dark 
throat ; Countess of Ravenswortb, very dark purple ; 
Atlantis, purple-crimson, with a white tube ; and 
James Robertson, pure white, tinted with rose at the 
edges, making a large, open and chaste flower. 
Twenty-eight new varieties are offered for the 
present year. 
The general collection includes a large number of 
handsome sorts, many of them being the sorts 
offered for 1896. The best Continental varieties are 
also included. The huge flowers of Emile Deschanel 
are carmine, painted with blood-red and rose. 
Charles Robin has carmine-rose flowers,distinguished 
by a transverse, white band. Renommee is a 
striking variety of a dark crimson, contrasting with a 
white throat, and of magnificent proportions. There 
has been a great demand for Jean Mace, on account 
of the size and beauty of the bright scarlet flowers. 
Those of William Totty are also of pronounced size, 
and scarlet, pencilled with dark lines on a white 
throat ; J. W. Moorman is rose-purple, and heavily 
blotched in the throat ; J. Fraser (1896) is rosy- 
scarlet and finely blotched ; and William Browne is 
bright scarlet, large and open. 
Phloxes. 
The collection of these showy and hardy subjects is 
very extensive, and in the open ground vary from 
to 3J ft. in height, according to the vigour of the 
sorts. Several pure white varieties are dwarf, 
branching and most floriferous. 
A collection of new and old varieties was beiDg 
tested in pots to determine their value. Le 
Mahdi is dark violet-blue, suffused with purple. 
Albatre is pure white, with compact panicles of large 
flowers; Etoile, rosy-lilac and white, with a starry 
eye; Lord Raleigh, dark violet; Embarrasment, 
salmon-scarlet, with a purple eye and very choice; 
Wm. Robinson, rosy-salmon, with a violet centre; 
Beranger, rosy-white, suffused with gray and very 
choice; Liberte, rosy-salmon, with a carmine eye; 
and Cyrano, carmine, suffused with blue. Eugene 
Danzanvillier was honoured with an Award of 
Merit from the R.H.S. last summer, and has rosy- 
lilac flowers, with a white eye. Torpilleur is of a 
beautiful bright magenta, and of large size Evene- 
ment, a bright salmon-scarkt, has also been honoured 
with an Award of Merit. Other choice and beautiful 
sorts are Cameron, pure white, with the exception of 
a deep mauve centre ; Huxley, white, and girt with 
a bright lilac edge ; Aurore, salmon, with a violet 
eye; Wm. Ramsay, of a beautiful violet ; aud Argon, 
rose, very faintly suffused with scarlet, being a new 
shade of colour. No gcod garden can afford to 
neglect this beautiful class of flowers, so infinitely 
varied in colour, size, and habit ; while many of the 
varieties are deliciously fragrant, especially during 
the cool hours of the evening. 
Carn itions. 
These are mostly grown in the open air, but the tree 
varieties were under glass, includirg the well-known 
Yuletide, a scarlet sort of free flowering character 
and great value, to which nine certificates have been 
awarded by as many societies. A soft rose sport has 
originated from it. A large batch of plants was 
layered in pnts on the occasion of our visit, and the 
pots plunged in a frame from which the sashes were 
removed. A batch in 60, 48, and 32-size pots occu¬ 
pied another house, while being gro -n on for flower¬ 
ing. Buccleuch Clove is a deliciously fragrant 
border variety, heavily pencilled with rosy-scarlet on 
a white ground. Tne plants were in pots, but others 
were planted in the open along with the general 
collection. 
Named varieties and seedlings in great quantity 
were flowering most profusely on the steep hill sides, 
where they were planted in kng beds across the 
slope. We can only mention a few of the choicer 
things then flowering and furnishing any quantity 
of cut bloom. Queen Anne is a rich rose variety ; 
Queen of Bedders, red, and extremely floriferous ; 
Adonis, scarlet and deep buff, and of dwarf habit; 
Primrose League, a yellow fancy, heavily pencilled ; 
Old Coin, salmon and red on an old-gold ground ; 
and Lady SaDkey, deep yellow, with a heavy crimson 
edge, rich and particularly free flowering. Raby 
Castle flo xers as well in the open as it does further 
south. D^rk varieties are well represented by the 
maroon Carl Moor. 
Picctees are not neglected at Hawick, so long as 
they are vigorous and can produce plenty of flowers. 
A very pretty rose-edged variety was that named 
Mrs. Forbes, ranging from 18 in to 24 in. in height. 
Pretty also is the new variety Boiard, with a bright 
pink or rose edge. Maggie Forbes, a canary-yellow 
Picotee, edged with crimson, robust and handsome, 
is also new for 1897. Brocklin is a beautiful yellow, 
with a heavy purple edge. Edelweiss is a large 
white, purple-edged variety of great merit. Stam- 
buloff is a striking variety, the yellow ground being 
nearly covered with fiery-crimson lines. Beautiful 
and strange is the mixture of colours represented by 
Mrs. J. M. Troup, the yellow ground being flaked 
with red and heliotrope. Mr. Nigel is another 
yellow ground, edged with crimson. 
Buccleuch Clove in the open ground surpassed our 
expectations for freedom of flowering. Its fragrance 
also remained the same, although it had been raining 
all day and practically very cold. We could not 
but admire the beauty of Countess Cowper, with 
rosy-carmine flowers, edged with a white band. As 
a border flower we thought it charming. Very 
delicate and chaste is the flesh coloured Waterwitch. 
James Ewart is pencilled with bright scarlet on a 
pure white ground. Miss Wilmott is rich carmine, 
and very floriferous. All of the above are free- 
flowering, producing also an abundance of shoots for 
layering. The seedlings were carrying armfuls of 
flowers, showing a great range of beautiful colours. 
Pansies and Violas. 
Show and fancy Pansies and bedding Violas are all 
grown in considerable quantity. All had flowered 
splendidly on the steep slopes of the upper part of 
the nursery. Being at home on the mountains and 
hillsides in a state of nature, their modern garden 
representatives were equally happy, though the 
slopes must assuredly be dry in a droughty summer, 
which was far from being the case during the past 
season in the north of England and the south of 
Scotland. They are planted in brakes across the 
slopes, alio ved to flower the first year and to produce 
seed the second. After this they are removed, the 
annual plantations being made on fresh ground. 
Amongst the Violas were many fine seedlings a 
few of which will be grown again. All the best 
named varieties are grown, including such well 
known and choice things as Duchess of Fife, Bullion 
Goldfinch, Ardwell Gem,Ariel, Violetta, The Mearns 
and Border Maid, yellow with heavy blue margins, 
all of which were flowering profusely at the time of 
which we speak. Others were Mrs. Nisbet, coppery 
brown ; Eynsford Gem, yellow ; Jackanapes, a yellow 
sort, with the upper petals of a mahogany colour. 
Mary Gilbert is larger and darker than Ardwell Gem. 
Vestal is pure white; and A. J. Rowberry, golden 
yellow. The newer rayless varieties are also well 
represented. 
Herbaceous plants. 
This being another feature of the nursery, consider¬ 
able attention is given to the hardy border flowers 
now rapidly rising in popularity everywhere. Many of 
them were still in bloom in September, which in 
more southern latitudes were past their best or out of 
season. We can only indicate the general run of 
things. The collection of varieties of Montbretia is 
very full and most serviceable for cut flower purposes, 
being both showy and graceful. Other things in full 
bloom were Achillea Ptarmica The Pearl, Chrysanth¬ 
emum maximum, C.m. E. Johnstone, C. latifolium, 
Linaria purpurea, Monarda didyma, Pentstemon bar- 
batus, Veronica virginica, V. v. japonica, Bocconia 
cordata, Sidalcea malvaeflora, Papaver alpinum and 
the well-known Iceland Poppies. Geranium Wallichi 
is a most interesting trailer for rockwork, with hand¬ 
some flowers and spotted leaves. Stachys coccinea 
has large spikes of soft orange-scarlet flowers. 
Tradescautia is represented by T. virginica violescens 
fl. pi., T. v. rubra, and T. v. fl. pi., the latter having 
blue flowers. Amongst Verbascums we noted V. 
phoeniceum, V. phlomoides, and V. nigrum. 
Veronica incana and maDy others well represented 
their class. 
Rockery plants are grown in great variety, includ¬ 
ing collections of Saxifrage, Thymus, Sedum, Dian- 
thus and various others too numerous to mention 
here. The cool moist atmosphere of this a'pine 
valley is peculiarly suited for the cultivation of hardy 
border plants and florists' flowers in endless variety. 
Amongst the latter, East Lothian Stocks, Pentste¬ 
mons, Phloxes, Pansies, Violas, Chinese Paeonies, 
Montbreiias, and Hollyhocks deserve special men¬ 
tion. 
