55(5 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 28, 190C. 
HARDENING JlSCELLANY. 
J 
capital Narciss either f ir field, for bed*, for grass, or 
for pols It is now so well known and so generally 
appreciated than description would be redundant. 
Maurice Vi.morio, also of the Barrii section, is 
almost equally suitable for grass or for beds, and 
bears a pretty bloom Flora Wilson, a striking 
flower, Mrs C. Bowley, and Orphee are others we 
would call attention to among the Barrit’s. 
Of the Leedsii types, seme of which have already 
been mentioned, others which are especially worthy 
include Leedsii amabilis, with white perianth and 
silvery crown, is one of the earliest and prettiest. 
And none can be finer, more perfectly lovely or 
artistically pleasing than Duchess of Westminster. 
This is a variety we would call special attention to. 
For all manners of purposes it is a first-rate Narciss,. 
though it is as yet too expensive to obtain in any 
quantity. It has a beautifully soft yellow coloured 
cup and large white perianth. When fully matured 
the blooms are altogether white. It bad a F.C.C. 
awarded to it from the R.H.S. a year or two ago. 
Leedsii Beatrice, another with the beauty of a 
" milk-white dove,” deserves attention, as does the 
Grand Duchess, which vies with Leedsii Minnie 
Hume, or the best type of the Pooticus section, for 
making an effective bed or massed sheet for near or 
distant effects. The blooms are palest creamy-white, 
of flowering outline and rather under medium size. 
Minnie Hume, which we just referred to, is probably 
known to all who take any interest in Daffodils. 
Katherine Spurred, also of the Leedsii’s, is an 
early flowerer, and stands high in the appreciation of 
experts. 
But we have enough in the meantime to show 
what there is to be seen, and what is and has been 
done by the Messrs. Barr, of Long Dittoo, Surrey, 
and King Street, Covent Garden. When we find 
space and time it would please us to detail the merits 
of other varieties not mentioned here, and probably 
to give lists of those suitable for special purposes, 
especially Daffodils for naturalising. Nothing in all 
gardening is more truly beautiful than Daffodils on 
the grass. 
---—“ 
FRIARSHALL, MELROSE, N.B. 
So much has been done by ” The Wizard of the 
North "in bending the eyes and minds of all the 
world to his well-loved borderland, and the Abbots¬ 
ford region in particular, that the mere mention of 
Melrose suffices to introduce the distant reader to a 
district full of charm, laden with natural beauty and 
hardened with stirring memories of historical 
lore. 
The little estate which the writer would confine 
his notes to for the present is one of the most com¬ 
fortably situated of any in all that region, which, for 
composite rural beauty, is unsurpassed anywhere 
throughout the Scottish borders. Lying within hear¬ 
ing of the broad, flowing, silvery Tweed, on a south¬ 
ern slope of the round-backed Gattonside Hills, whose 
smooth lines glide eastward and westward from 
Leader-stream to Gala-water. On the eastern hip the 
slopes are wooded, and shelter is welcome to break 
those awful North Sea blasts which so often blow 
along the upward Valeof Tweed. Not a glint of sun¬ 
shine is missed by Friatshall. The demesne is owned 
by Captain Erskine, who has long lived there, and 
loves its old associations. Melrose Abbey, world- 
renowned, stands in rude magnificence almost 
directly opposite to Friarshall on the southern side 
or right bank of the Tweed. It is strongly probable 
that the modern Friarshall, which is a pretty and 
well placed mansion, occupies a site near to or upon 
one of the ancient Culdee monks’ establishments, or 
a branch settlement for the Fianciscan friars, who 
possessed the Abbey. The origin is, no doubt, 
authentically traced, and we may yet hear of its 
history. 
Just a short while ago we referred to Peach trees 
being in flower in the open-air in Roxburghshire. 
The facts came from this Tweedside garden. Here, 
on the open walls which form a wide circle around 
the terraced brakes and borders, Peaches and 
Apricots, which, as a rule, are cultivated under 
glass in the North, succeed well, and bear freely. In 
the paragraph above noted, we mentioned the 
corollary facts that artificial means for shelter were 
attended to. This is necessary, quite as necessary 
in the South as in the North, for one sharp night’s 
frost coming, when the stigmas of the flowers are 
primely matured, would wreck the year’s iruit-crop. 
A coping-ledge (of wood in this instance) obstructs 
the vertical rays of heat radiation from below, and, 
by the addition of herring nets in front, most of the 
danger from freezing is averted. The trees are in 
good condition, trained in the favourite fan-shape, 
and are kept well furnished with fruiting wood from 
the central base outwards. Cordon Pear trees like¬ 
wise find a place. These, however, are under the 
influence of a fungoid disease (Cladosporium dend- 
ritricum), whose effect is seen by a shrivelling and 
drying up of the outer bark. Unless the spores of 
the fungus were overcome in the first instance, no 
a r ter cure seems so far to be availing. The cordons 
under note are vigorous enough, and will continue 
to be so long as they are generously treated. At the 
same time, their beauty and fruitfulness as wall 
trees are somewhat impaired. The garden is laid 
out in a system of terraces, so that as each little re¬ 
taining wall offers a length of surface to the sun, 
there is fine accommodation for other fruit trees and 
bushes. The glass-houses are small, yet furnish 
something bright at all seasons. Clumps of Daffo¬ 
dils, and many kinds of spring bulbous plants are 
arrayed over stretches of the garden. Hyacinths, 
Squills, Chionodoxas, and, later on, the Tulips, 
enliven the several portions of ground. The finest 
Ajax Narcissi were already in full bloom, as repre¬ 
sented by N. Horsefieldii, N. Emperor and Empress, 
and such other varieties as the old double yellow N. 
telamonius plenus, the popular Orange Phoenix; 
Poet's Narciss; N. Cernuus, and some more. 
Around the banks there is a sprinkling of the Daffo¬ 
dils, but a few additional hundreds would greatly 
brighten the shady corners. Shrubbery, rock-work, 
lawn, and flower-bed are tastefully blended all 
around the Rose, Ivy, and Jasmine-covered mansion. 
Mr. William Stewart, who has long managed this 
tranquil, yet bright little garden with continued 
satisfaction to Captain and Mrs. Erskine, we hope 
will still be spared for many years to work in 
pleasure, and for the pleasure of such worthy em¬ 
ployers.— Harrison — D. 
ii ■ i' - ■■■!■■ t- qi 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
By the Editor. 
Orchids at Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.— 
Edinburgh folks are favoured in many respects, and 
not least in their privilege of a handsome and re¬ 
plete Botanical Garden. The houses are all well 
stocked and are made the most of. Orchids have 
been for some years a pet class of plants with the 
director, Professor Bailey Balfour, and under his 
rule the number of species have been enormously 
increased. The Orchid houses are a treat to see, 
for there is scarcely a subject which does not thrive 
and flower finely. This fact is at once borne upon 
the observant visitor, who, if he is of a keenly 
scrutinising nature and a plant lover, usually views 
cultivated plant-units criticisingly before he admits 
admiration. The Orchid houses at the Edinburgh 
Botanic Gardens are of first rate design, and are 
patterns for the guidance of numerous enthusiasts 
round "Auld Reekie.” A great deal rises to our 
mind as being worthy of a notice. Only to name a 
few of the finer Orchids seen in flower during the 
first week in April, the following list points to a wide 
representation: — Dendrobium infundibulam, D. 
jamesianum, D. aggregatum majus, D. atro-viola- 
ceum, D. Pierardii, D. brymerianum, D. fimbriatum 
oculatum, D. nobile, and many of that type. 
Cymbidium lowianum, was beautifully plumed with 
long arching spikes. Lycaste Skinneri, and the 
variety L 5 . alba, were good ; Miltonia vexillaria 
and M. Phalaenopsis blazed in touch with specimen 
Masdevallias, some of which had once bloomed for 
the pleasure of their patron, the late Earl of Lothian. 
Masdevallia coccinea Lindeni, M. ignea, with others, 
formed a very brilliant bank. Epidendrum obrienia- 
num, Oncidium concolor, O. sarcodes, Cattleya 
citrina (samples of which were perfect in size, sub¬ 
stance, and colouring), C. Trianaei, Epidendrum 
porphyreum, and Laelia rossiana and cinnab3rina 
were among the list of Orchids whose merits are 
fully appreciated, and which were here seen well 
The Cheddar Pink (Dianthus caesius) flowers in 
spring. It is one of the prettiest of the Pink tribe. 
CINERARIA STELLATA FROM DEVON. 
A bunch of flowers of the Star or Starry Cinerarias 
has reached us from Mr. J. Mayne, gardener to the 
Hon. Mark Rolle, Bicton, Budleigh Salterton, 
Devon. His plants are now 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and as 
much through, making graceful and elegant speci¬ 
mens of great decorative value. The flowers are of 
various sizes, some of them having short rays, 
while others have longer rays, making 
them appear more starry. The colour ranges 
from palest lilac, almost white, to light and dark 
rose, pink and bright blue. The flowers lack the 
splendid size and geometrical outlines of the most 
highly evolved garden race, but on the other hand 
the slender and branching habit of the plants, and 
the great profusion of starry flowers, together with 
their bright and cheerful colours, combine to make 
the Star Cinerarias of the greatest value for the de¬ 
coration of greenhouses and conservatories during 
the spring months, when flowers of all classes are 
much appreciated. In the case of large conserva¬ 
tories, where many subjects are planted out in beds 
or even stood in pots and tubs on the floor, the Star 
Cinerarias are more eligible than the dwarf strains, 
which are lost when stood on the ground level, or 
anywhere much beneath the level of the eye. 
CALCEOLARIA VIOLACEA. 
A fine plant of this old-fashioned but interesting 
greenhouse plant was recently exhibited at the Drill 
Hall by Mr. J. Fitt, gardener to F.W. Campion, Esq., 
Trumpets Hill, Reigate. It is a native of Chili, from 
whence it was introduced to this country in 1853. 
The shrubby, slender, branching stems may generally 
be seen ranging from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, when it makes 
a fine bush for flowering in the greenhouse in spring. 
It is almost hardy, and we have seen it live for 
several winters against the walls of a hothouse, but 
otherwise unprotected in the open. As a flowering 
plant, however, it gives greater satisfaction under 
glass where the heat is just sufficient to keep the 
frost out. The flowers are pale violet with numerous 
dark violet spots upon the lip inside. The lip is not 
pouched or closed up in the same fashion as that of 
the herbaceous and most other Calceolarias grown in 
gardens, but the flowers are bell-shaped, open, and 
the species is by no means like a Calceolaria at first 
sight. Another species is sometimes confused with 
the above, namely C. Sinclairii, which comes from 
New Zealand, and has pale lilac or flesh-coloured 
flowers, spotted inside with reddish purple; but they 
are between bell-shaped and hemispheric in shape. 
The leaves of the two species are, however, entirely 
different, and quite sufficient to distinguish the two. 
The leaves of C. violacea are short, ovate, shallowly 
lobed, and about 1 in. long. Those of C. Sinclairii 
are oblong, or ovate-oblong, slightly lobed or merely 
crenate, and 2 in. to 4 in. long. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. —April 24 th. 
The meeting on Tuesday last was quite crowded, 
owing to the presence of two shows, namely, the 
ordinary fortnightly meeting and the annual exhibi¬ 
tion of the National Auricula and Primula Society. 
Tulips were in strong force, chiefly early varieties, 
also Daffodils, stove and greenhouse plants, forced 
subjects (such as Roses, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, 
and Japanese Maples), Star Cinerarias, Lilacs, &c. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Bush Hill Park, 
Enfield, exhibited a well flowered group of Orchids, 
consisting largely of Cattleyas, such as C. Schroderae, 
C. Mendelii, C. lawrenceana, C. Mendelii Prince of 
Wales. Dendrobiums were represented by a fine 
form of D. chrysotoxum. AmoDgst Odontoglossums 
we noted fiae varieties of O. luteo-purpureum, O. 
triumphans, O. crispum, and O. andersonianum 
var. A pretty and distinct hybrid was Phalaenopsis 
Lady Rothschild. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
W. A. Bilney, Esq. (gardener, Mr. C. Whillock), 
Fir Grange, Weybridge, Surrey, exhibited a fine 
bank of Dendrobiums, including well flowered varie¬ 
ties of D. wardianum, D. w. Fir Grange var., D. 
nobile, D. n. nobilius, and others equally floriferous. 
He also had BurliDgtonia fragilis, Cattleya lawrence¬ 
ana,, Laelia harpopbyllaj &c. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
