186 
THE GARDENING world 
November-18, 4889. 
ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
Though termed Scottish and with its headquarters 
in Edinburgh, this society has almost a world-wide 
membership, numbering at present over 8oo. 
Founded in the year 1854, with James Brown, 
Deputy-Surveyor of the Royal Forest of Dean, after¬ 
wards Wood Commissioner to the Earl of Seafield, 
as its first President, its history has been one of 
steady progress. Among past presidents we find 
many illustrious names, including His Grace the 
Duke of Athole, Earl of Stair, Earl of Airlie, Earl 
Ducie, Marquis of Lothian, Earl of Hopetoun, Dr. 
Cleghorn (one of the “ Grand Old Men ” in 
Forestry), and Profs. Balfour and Dickson. To our 
immediate past president, R. C. Munro Ferguson, 
M.P., of Raith & Novar, too much praise cannot be 
given. He himself being an enthusiast, the society 
flourished under his presidency as it had never done 
before ; and arboriculture, from a commercial point 
of view, has been brought to the front. Scone 
Palace gave us a worthy successor in the Earl of 
Mansfield, whose conduct of the society's business 
during the past year has won him golden opinions. 
About twenty years ago annual excursions were 
instituted and found to be of great educational 
value. Many districts in Scotland, England, and 
Ireland have been visited, and in 1895, German 
forests were inspected, starting what may possibly 
prove a revolution in our system of sylviculture, 
more especially as regards thinning. 
In August of this year the members, to the num¬ 
ber of nearly 100, visited Beaufort Castle (Lord 
Lovat), Dunrobin Castle (Duke of Sutherland), 
Skibo Castle (Andrew Carnegie, Esq), and Novar 
(R. C. Munro Ferguson, Esq). 
The excursion was admitted on all sides to be 
decidedly practical, the woods visited being vast in 
extent and planted with future profits in view. 
Under the conduct of Lord Lovat and his worthy 
forester, Mr. D. Dewar, the first day was devoted to 
the more recently planted woods on Beaufort, and 
on several occasions discussion was both interesting 
and instructive. Staying over-night>t Dingwall, an 
early train landed the party next forenoon at Gol¬ 
spie, where Mr. McLean, Commissioner to His 
Grace the Duke of Sutherland, Mr. D. Robertson, 
wood manager, and Mr. D. Melville, gardener, took 
over the charge. The day's proceedings included a 
20-mile drive, the turning point being Loch Brora. 
Leaving Golspie on the third day, the excursionists 
drove to Dornoch, inspecting various plantations on 
the way. A pleasant afternoon with the new Laird 
of Skibo (Andrew Carnegie, Esq.) was passed in the 
fine Policies, and after being photographed the party 
drove through magnificent scenery along the shores 
of the Dornoch Firth to the Bonar Bridge, where 
train was taken back to Inverness. The Eatl of 
Mansfield and Mr. R. C. Munro Ferguson led the 
party throughout, and to these worthy arboricult¬ 
urists the best thanks of the society are due. The 
accompanying photograph (see p.' 185), taken at 
Skibo Castle, as above-mentioned, shows seventy- 
two of these enthusiastic arboriculturists, besides a 
number of ladies. The annual excursions to several 
of the best kept forests in Britain, as well as on the 
Continent, cannot but result in much practical bene¬ 
fit to the country. 
The excursion of 1900 is to France, and will ex¬ 
tend over a fortnight. Col. Bailey, Lecturer of 
Forestry at Edinburgh University, and the inde¬ 
fatigable secretary, Mr. R. Galloway, are well for¬ 
ward with arrangements. 
—-- 
RUSSELL’S BRENTWOOD NURSERY. 
(Concluded from p. 155 .) 
There is an unusually fine stock of the Daisy-bush 
(Olearia Haastii). Thousands of young Hollies in 
varying heights and stages all seem very much at 
home. In the middle of the nursery there is a cen¬ 
tral roadway which runs north and south dividing 
the nursery into halves. The lateral paths or roads 
which diverge from this main path and others at the 
west side, allow a passage for cart traffic, so that 
manure or any cartage whatsoever can go right to 
the scene of planting or digging operations. Roses 
are very largely grown and magnificent plants have 
been produced in the Brentwood soil. The shoots 
are strong, perhaps too strong (if such can be), for 
the production of refined blooms. Still, everybody 
desires strong, vigorous Roses, because it is evident 
that weak Rose-trees will never produce either 
quantity or quality of flower. The Golden bush- 
Yews, the Sycamores, Elms, Ashes, Acers, &c., are 
all ready for the buyers, and we guarantee no planter 
will feel dissatisfied with them. 
Negundo aceroides variegatum and others of the 
ornamental variegated Acers are a special feature to 
which Mr. Smith pointed with pride. The standard 
Robinia Pseudacacia inermis, R. P. i. aurea, and R. 
hispida, were as pretty with their flowing bushy 
heads, as the great back of an ostrich, and would 
tempt gardeners to secure a few, even though their 
grounds were well enough furnished already. 
Roses occupy the opposite side of the central 
path, all the length of where these trees just men¬ 
tioned are growing. Turner's Crimson Rambler, 
Carmine Pillar, and climbers, standards, dwarfs, are 
all to be seen, though to name them would be pur¬ 
poseless. Much of the land has yet to be planted up. 
As much as ten acres is set out for contemplated 
planting during the coming winter. The land is 
thoroughly well prepared, being broken up in the 
first instance by the plough and repeatedly cross and 
re-cross ploughed; well decayed manure is at the 
same time worked in. Apropos of the notes on 
planting, the work in this direction was merely 
started, yet already they had put in 40,000 young 
Laurels. 
The foreman has very sensibly planted an area of 
what used to be marsh-land with Osiers, Willows, 
Birches, and such like trees. The land is compara¬ 
tively dry now, and having formed drains as well, 
the surplus water is conveyed to a small pond near 
by, which is used for aquatic plants. Thus from the 
Willows the ground will amply pay itself because the 
canes can be used for packing and other uses. A 
" bolt” of Willow wands costs 7s. 6d. 
Some fine old standard Rhododendrons are a fea¬ 
ture worthy of special note. The selection of Abies, 
Piceas, Cryptomerias, and such like trees is seen to 
be very complete the longer one inspects, and the 
general high standard of perfection at which every¬ 
thing is sustained is constantly kept before the 
visitor. The department for climbing plants contains 
a wide selection of Clematis, Wistarias, Ampelopsis, 
Bignonias, Crataegus, Loniceras, and other things. 
Fruits. 
Strawberries occupy no inconsiderable space, and 
here we have the best varieties all ready layered, 
some in pots, others merely rooted in the soil. The 
position, soil, and treatment are all favourable to the 
production of healthy and strong growing plants. 
The Plums of two years’ growth are marvels. It 
is not as though the trees had run wild in their 
luxuriance, tor they have stout, well ripened wood 
and plump buds. We rather think that the new 
soil and the generous treatment to boot, with the 
hot summer through which we have passed, have 
been the causes which together have worked so 
well. Currants are in fine healthy condition. The 
Peach, Apricot, and other trees did not seem in the 
in the least fagged out after their summer's growth, 
for the foliage was quite fresh at the end of Septem¬ 
ber. Apples and Pears can also be had in all forms 
and ages, from young maiden cut backs to well 
trained, pyramidal, bush, or standard trees. 
We had just a glance in at Mr. Smith’s own home 
and garden. Here there is quite a variety of climb¬ 
ing plants, and an army of arches, such as for number 
one might see in some great triumphal procession. The 
garden is cropped with vegetables, while good crops 
of fruits come from the Apple and other trees. He 
has been very successful with outdoor Tomatos, 
relying very strongly on that fine variety, Up-to- 
Date. Before parting with the genial foreman we 
saw a botanical book which Sir Joseph Paxton gave 
as a keepsake to.Mr. Smith's father, the two having 
been bothy lads together. 
Mr. Russell, who like his other brothers, is a most 
courteous and kindly gentleman, offered us hearty 
hospitality, and gave us a pleasing send-off.— J. D. 
- - — 
To get rid of Vermin—Insects and those innumer¬ 
able host of " creeping-things ” which infest all sorts 
of places may be kept in abeyance by the use of 
carbolic soap, washing this over the boards of walls. 
Then sprinkle unslaked lime in all the crevices and 
between the boards. It would be better to lime wash 
all walls of houses where trouble comes from 
vermin, 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES- 
Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham. 
The name of Jones seems always to reverberate at 
the mention of word Chrysanthemum, so in like 
manner, vice versa, the sound of Chrysanthemum 
implies Jones. Mr. H. Jones, of Ryecroft Nursery, 
Lewisham, S.E., comes to the front in the old way 
like the renowned pugilists, ready to try his mettle 
with other Knights of Adam’s Craft. The Ryecroft 
blooms this year may be smaller or later than usual, 
but it balances matters when we say that the 
decrease of strength in the blooms may signify an 
increase of strength in constitution and in the stems 
and cuttings. The foliage everywhere is strong, 
leaving nothing to be desired, and Mr. Jones can 
console himself in that he has no attacks from 
Puccinia Hieracii, popularly known as “Rust.'' 
This of itself is reassuring. 
The collection runs into thousands of plants, the 
Japanese varieties being, of course, paramount. 
Novelties of great merit are ” mobilised" in one of 
the large span-roofed houses—three of which are 
filled—and if one may be allowed to select a favourite 
preference might be given to that glorious bloomer, 
R. Hooper Pearson. It is simply beyond description. 
The depth of the colour tone resembles what might 
be expected from a ten times concentrated 
Eschscholtzia bloom ; indeed there is even a glow in 
its depth of yellow. Helen Shrimpton is another 
large and beautiful flower, crimson this time. The 
florets are slightly tipped with gold, and. have a 
silvery reverse. That variety, the most magnificent 
of blood-red crimsons, H. J. Jones, has not come to 
perfection yet, but the later blooms when fully ex¬ 
panded will be very fine. Mrs. W. Seward, a seed¬ 
ling from M. Chenon de Leche, and which had a 
F. C. C. awarded to it, is likewise very superior, 
adding another to the list of crimsons, or crimson- 
scarlet with old-gold reverse, to be accurate. Lili 
Boutrov, a massively handsome incurving Japanese 
variety of a pure white tone ; Eastman Bell, almost 
the protype of Edwin Molyneux, and resulting in 
Mr. Jones's collection as a sport from President 
Borel; Rivers H. Langton, a beautiful canary sport 
from Mrs. W. H. Lees, equal in all respects to the 
model parent blooms ; and Mrs. J. Bryant, of a soft 
peachy-pink, reflection of great substance, and with 
broad incurving florets, compose a quartette of new¬ 
ly introduced varieties, upon which it seems difficult 
to improve. Lionel Humphreys takes after the 
E. Molyneux pattern, and has all the qualities which 
go to compose a first-rate variety. C. Arthur 
Pearson makes a splendid flower, and one strongly 
to be recommended. Mr. A. Barrett resulted as a 
sport from the reputable Mrs. C. Harman Payne. 
The blooms, which are of a dark rose with cinnamon 
suffusion, develop to a marvellous size, and under 
favourable conditions this will form an extra hand¬ 
some flower. 
It may here be noted that the recent persistent 
and vitally destructive fogs have ‘left their black 
trail behind them as evidenced by the number of 
fine buds which are but half expanded. So far the 
bud expansion proceeded quite satisfactorily when 
down came the fogs bringing with them a thick coat¬ 
ing of soot which for days prevented an adequate 
supply of light. The result is seen in that all the 
more robust varieties which country growers find to 
succeed best are retarded in their growth. Happily 
the spring-like breezes, the unrestricted sunlight and 
the potentiality of the plants themselves are combin¬ 
ing to revert the tide to a successful issue. The 
Hon. W. F. D. Smith has that merit which will 
carry it a long way. Lady Anglesey was first sent 
out as a yellow, in colour like Sunflower, but the 
introducer has produced a shifty variety having a 
larger amount of brown colouring than the descrip¬ 
tion of Sunflower would ever lead one to assume. 
Queen of the Exe is also well spoken of this year 
by growers. Good whites such as this are always 
welcomed. Mr. Louis Remy is a bright variety of 
sterling worth; and Kathleen Rogers, another 
Japanese incurved white is also a notable variety and 
must be watched. 
Mrs. Wingfield is most suitable as a bush plant for 
decorative purposes. And this reminds us to bring 
in a few of the decorative early flowering Japs. Rye¬ 
croft Scarlet stands very very high in this section. 
It last year received a F.C.C. growing only 2 ft. in 
height, of compact habit, it waves in wreaths of 
bright scarlet-crimson sheaves. The florets com- 
