804 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 21, 1897. 
Fail of a Patriarch.—Cbapelizod, Ireland, is 
lamenting the loss of the old Elm which has graced 
the village for upwards of 200 years. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, West¬ 
minster, on Tuesday, August 24th, t to 5 p.m. A 
lecture on "Plums” will be given at 3 o’clock by 
Mr. A. H. Pearson. 
Messrs. Clay & Son, Stratford.—We learn that the 
partnership hitherto subsisting between Mr. Samuel 
Clay and his son, Mr. Samuel Charles Clay, has just 
been dissolved. The business will be continued with 
no alteration in its title, by Mr. S. C. Clay, whilst the 
venerable founder of “Clay's Fertilizer,” will, we 
hope, enjoy a well earned rest from business cares. 
A Hitch in the Proceedings occurred at the 
Clutton Flower Show, when an illuminated address 
was to have been presented to the Countess of 
Warwick. The crowd was so great as to be beyond 
control, so it is stated, and the address has been for¬ 
warded to her ladyship. “ The best laid schemes o’ 
mice and men gang aft agley ! ” 
Strawberries from Plougastel.—Over in Brittany 
the growers of Plougastel grow about 1,000 tons of 
Strawberries annually, a great proportion of which 
is sent to this country. Two steamboats ply between 
the coast of Brittany and Plymouth during the 
season. They have made twenty-four voyages this 
season carrying into Britain nearly 1,500,000 pounds 
of Strawberries. 
Proposed Carnation Society.—Several important 
Carnation shows are already held in various parts of 
the country, yet the flower is so growing in the esti¬ 
mation of the people that, in the minds of many, the 
existing shows are not sufficient to properly bring 
the Carnation before the admiring public. At all 
events, there is an earnest intention on the part of a 
number of interested people to establish a Carnation 
Society in the neighbourhood of Southampton 
where, of course, the flowers are mostly past their 
best before the shows at London, Birmingham, and 
elsewhere in the Midlands and North are held. 
Those who feel interested in this new venture should 
communicate with Mr Wm. Garton, Junr., Argyll 
House, Woolston, Hants. 
Orchids at the Salerooms—Flowering specimens 
are not so plentiful just now as in May and June, 
but many continue to put in an appearance at the 
Sale Rooms of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheap- 
side. A piece of Odontoglossum Pescatorei, bearing 
two panicles of bloom, found a purchaser at 15 gs. 
The flowers were white, spotted with violet on the 
sepals and lip. A very pretty, bigeneric hybrid 
between Cattleya Loddigesii Harrisoniae and 
Laelia pumila praestans, fetched 5 gs., but at other 
times we should have expected it to bring twice or 
three times that amount. The habit of the plant is 
dwarf. The sepals and petals are purple, and the 
orbicular, wavy lamina of the lip of a rich purple 
resembling Laelia pumila praestans, while the pale 
yellow disc resembles that of the other parent. 
Mid-Devon horticultural Society.—Lord Portsmouth 
is the life and mainstay of this society, for without 
his support it would soon come to grief. The 
annual exhibition is held in his beautiful grounds at 
Eggesford Park, and continues to be one of the 
leading holiday events in North Devon. In addition 
to the flower show there are many other attractions 
to draw the general public, of which there was a 
large attendance at the recent exhibition, favoured 
as it was with brilliant weather. There were 160 
entries against the 140 of last year ; and taken from 
a quality point of view the show was the best the 
society has ever had. A fine display of tuberous 
Begonias was brought from Lord Portsmouth’s 
nursery and arranged by the gardener, Mr. J. Vicary. 
At the luncheon Mr. Littleworth proposed the 
health of Lord and Lady Portsmouth, who visited 
the show in the afternoon. His lordship, who is 
president of the society, said that he and Lady 
Porismouth were pleased to help the show in every 
possible way, and that it seemed generally popular, 
owing no doubt to the many attractions which the 
committee provided. 
Some things were said by an exhibitor at a recent 
local show who has probably had a unique experience 
—at least we hope it is unique. The exhibitor in 
question had bestowed a great deal of attention upon 
some choice Apples with which he was confident o^ 
going one or two better than his neighbours. Shortly 
before the show these Apples were stolen. After the 
judging was concluded he found that a neighbour 
had taken first honours with what he confidently 
asserted was the stolen fruit. We do not know if 
steps were taken to prove the theft, but it would 
doubtless be a matter of some difficulty to swear to 
Apples. 
Big Gooseberries.—The season of 1897 has been a 
bad one for big Gooseberries. Swalwell, in Durham, 
is known as one of the places from whence the 
biggest Gooseberries have been sent, and is locally 
said to be as ” famous for 1 grozers ' as Howdon is 
for Leeks.” A Gooseberry show was recently held 
here in a room at " The Highlander,” and although 
the berries showed some falling off in size and weight 
as compared with last year, they were yet fine 
Samples. Mr. Henry Ellison, of Winlaton Mill 
secured the first prize with a berry that weighed 
22 dwts. 19 grs. This is the weightiest berry of 
which we have heard this season from north of the 
Humber, and yet the falling off may be perceived 
when we remember that the first-prize berry last 
year plumped the scale at 31 dwts. 9 grs. 
Woodside Flower Show.—One of the finest annual 
flower shows in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, 
N.B., is that held at Woodside. This season it 
took place on August 7th in Stewart Park. There 
were upwards of 800 entries—a number considerably 
in excess of last year. Fuchsias, Liliums, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Petunias, Begonias, and Ferns were all 
first class. Roses were a fine display, and 
herbaceous plants were capital. Vegetables and 
fruit were fair, for the season has not been one of 
the best, the spriDg having been cold and late. The 
show was opened by Captain Pirie, M.P , who was 
accompanied by the Hon. Mrs. Pirie. Councillor 
Wilkie presided and introduced Captain Pirie. The 
latter gentleman in the course of his remarks 
observed that the society had been in existence for 
fifteen years. He also mentioned the spirit of 
friendly rivalry which animated exhibitors at this 
and similar gatherings, and said that nothing would 
more ennoble the human race than the love for 
nature. He advised the ladies present to make their 
homes all the prettier and the happier by garnishing 
them with cut flowers and plants, and he recom¬ 
mended the husbands present to cover the walls of 
their houses with creepers, and the children would 
then always have a happy recollection of home. 
Broughty Ferry Horticultural Association.—The 
monthly meetings of this energetic and very much 
alive society are alwa) s full of interest. The pro¬ 
gramme of arrangements for the current year has 
included exhibitions, and lectures by various gentle¬ 
men on Gladioli, Strawberries, Odontoglossums, 
Herbaceous Plants, and Vegetables. A special meet¬ 
ing was devoted lately to a visit to the Dalhousie 
Rose Nurseries of Messrs. D. & W. Croll, Broughty 
Ferry. The various members were delighted with 
the feast of Roses spread out to their gaze. The 
Broughty Ferry Roses are in every way the equals 
of the Colchester ones, and higher praise than this 
it is not possible to give. They may confidently be 
expected to give a good account of themselves until 
the end of the season, which will mean about the 
close of October. All the Roses are on the Dog 
Rose stock, and are subjected to severer pruning 
than in East Anglia, where theManetti stock is most 
in request. The Messrs. Croll took upwards of 
thirty first prizes last season at various shows 
throughout England and Scotland. All sections of 
the charming flower and varieties,old and new,receive 
skilled attention at the hands of the firm's capable 
manager, Mr. Simpson. Amongst other happy ideas 
which have been put in practice, apian of assisting 
Roses to winter in safety is worthy of comment. 
Directly after budding the briers are pegged down 
flat on the ground. This checks the sap flow into 
the heads of the briers and sends it into the buds in¬ 
stead, the union between bud and stock being there¬ 
by much expedited. 
The Yorkshire Gala.—Our readers will remember 
the disaster which befel the grand exhibition which 
is held annually at York under the above title. The 
exhibits were all in place and ready for the judges 
when a fierce gale sprung up and levelled all the 
tents, one after the other, working such havoc 
amongst the exhibits as has seldom been seen, and 
which nobody ever again wishes to see. Out of pity 
for the great loss caused to the exhibitors the Coun¬ 
cil of the Yorkshire Gala are distributing cheques by¬ 
way of recompense for the trouble and disappoint¬ 
ment caused by the gale of the 16th June. 
Park Place, Henley-on-Thames.—The fifth annual 
reunion of past and present employes at the above 
establishment was held on August 4th, and proved 
yet another item in the chain of successes that these 
annual functions have proved. Some well known 
faces were absent from the gathering, but others that 
have hitherto been wanderers put in an appearance. 
This year the battle on the cricket field had a 
different result from that chronicled on former occa¬ 
sions, for victory rested with the men of the past by 
a good margin of runs. Mr. Stanton presided at the 
lunch, and was heartily congratulated all round on 
the improved state of his health. In reply, he gave 
it as his opinion that “ it is far better to wear out 
than rust out.” Mrs. Noble, Mr. Leonard Noble, 
Mrs. Cochrane (nee Miss Noble), and varjous friends 
of the family were present. 
A Rare Plant in India.—Several correspondents of 
The Tunes of India have been discussing about the 
name of a rare plant growing in a garden at Mazagon, 
in the Bombay Presidency of India. Dr. Kirtikar 
made it out to be a Zamia, but Dr. Rozario, in con¬ 
tradicting, said it was called Arctostaphylos Alten- 
steini by the late Mr. Dalzell. Dr. Kirtikar could 
not agree about this, seeing that the plant under dis¬ 
pute was a member of the Cycadaceae, and that 
Arctostaphylos belonged to the Ericaceae. In both 
these statements he is correct. Dr. Rozario knows 
that it was introduced to India from Mozambique by 
the late Sir Roger de Faria, a friend of his grand¬ 
father. The plant in question must now be of con¬ 
siderable age, and of good size provided it has 
thriven satisfactorily. Judging from the hints given 
by the various disputants, The Gardening World 
has little hesitation in saying that the plant in ques¬ 
tion is Encephalartos Altensteini, so that both doctor, 
were on the track of it but failed by a slip of memory 
The plant is said to be unique in the Bombay Presi¬ 
dency. It is a native of South Africa. 
The King of Siam at Edinburgh.—After leaving 
Welbeck Abbey, the seat of the Duke of Portland, 
the King of Siam and suite journeyed to Edinburgh, 
arriving there on the morning of the 10th inst. The 
distinguished visitor, after being publicly received 
by the City dignitaries, drove to the Balmoral Hotel, 
where he stayed till 1.30. p.m. He then drove to 
Riccarton House, about three miles out of the city, 
the residence of Sir James Gibson-Craig, the convener 
for Midlothian. Here he attended the marriage of 
Captain Cumming, the commander of his yacht, to 
Miss Gibson-Craig. Captain Cumming had been 
commissioned by the Government to bring the royal 
Siamese yacht to this country, and the royal visitor 
really hastened his journey to Scotland in order to 
be present at the marriage and thereby show his 
respect for the captain of his yacht. The bride was 
attended by eight bridesmaids and was given away 
by her father. Our readers will remember that the 
well-known hardy Fuchsia Riccartoni was raised 
here, and existed for some years before it became 
popular by some one showing that it could be grown 
out of doors, and was even vastly improved by that 
method of treatment. Sir James Gibson-Craig is a 
great enthusiast amongst trees and shrubs, particu¬ 
larly Conifers, of which he has a splendid collection. 
Many of the trees are rare, others of great height and 
age, while the more common timber or deciduous 
trees are giants of their kind. The whole place is 
thickly embowered amongst these tall ancestral trees. 
After the various ceremonies and an inspection of the 
men of the training ship, Sir James escorted the 
King of Siam over the gardens, which were greatly 
admired. His Majesty spent three hours at 
Riccarton House, after which he and his suite 
returned to the Balmoral Hotel. 
