July 30, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
019 
111 be abundantly illumined on, every occasion the meeting sits 
light is to be had in London at all. In, the event of the day- 
i-ht failing, the interior will be lighted up by electricity, every 
rt of the structure having been fitted up for illumination in 
is way. The annexe above mentioned will be lighted by 
ree large round-headed windows. One end of the hall abuts 
•i Bell Street, and here is the goods, entrance, which may be 
ed as an emergency exit, and on one side of it is an exit 
r the public. Altogether there are five doors for egress or 
gress on the ground floor, two of them, being chiefly intended 
emergency exit®. A lantern runs, along the top of the, entire 
11. Ventilation has been amply provided for by ventilators 
i the ends and top 1 , the latter being driven by electricity. 
The entire length of the hall inside is 142 ft., and the width 
i ft., thus giving superficial floor space of 10,650 ft. Each 
the two annexes is 47 ft. by 24 ft., so that the total area at, 
ments and alterations about the l’alace. He constructed entire 
new gardens, kitchen and flower, built large ranges of hothouses, 
bothies and offices, all of which made Hamilton I’alace the 
envied of all young gardeners. The untimely end of the Duke 
stopped short the perfecting of a scheme which, in the able 
hands of Mr. Mitchell, would have made Hamilton Palace one 
of the foremost, if not, indeed, the foremost in the kingdom. In 
the excitement of all these improvements Mr. Mitchell applied a 
competent part of his powerful energy to exhibition work. 
Glasgow Society was then an important one, and in Edinburgh 
many a fierce battle was fought with such champions as the 
Thomsons of Dalkeith and Archerfield, Turnbull of Heath fame, 
of Bothwell Castle, and the redoubtable Fowler of Castle Ken¬ 
nedy, of Grapes fame. Amongst them all Mr. Mitchell held 
his own, and often came off victorious. 
On leaving Hamilton Palace, Mr. Mitchell began business in 
Edinburgh, where for the last thirty years he made a wide circle 
of friends. Latterly his business was entirely confined to the 
Offices of the Royal Horticultural Society and Royal Horticultural Hall behind. 
| 
sposal for exhibition purpose® will be 12,906 square feet. 
ie Drill Hall at Buckingham Gate had only a superficial area 
floor space of 7,000 square feet, and notwithstanding the fact 
1 at there is a considerable amount of glass about the roof, the 
mewiis obstructions, including the galleries, serve to make 
at hall dark and dingy even, at the best of times during the 
nter. The new hall will not be in any way hampered in this 
;i peet, as the whole of the roof is open to the sky, and the 
;s. Mr. Mitchell was seventy-nine years of age. D. C. 
Obituary. 
—— 
The late Mr. David Mitchell, Edinburgh. 
By the death of Mr. Mitchell, which took place at his resi- 
|nee, Comely Bank, on the 14th, a notable landmark in! the 
rticultural world has passed away. During the greater part 
the sixties he stood at the head of his profession in the West 
Scotland. He was appointed to the then important position 
head gardener to the Duke of Hamilton in 1860, and through 
' whole of the seven years he filled the duties there he was 
gaged in the most elaborate extension of all kinds of improve- 
duties of an estate agent, through which lie made many friends 
among the landed proprietors of the country. The late Lord 
Belhaven arid Sir John Watson, first Baronet of Earnock, were 
life-lonoi friends, and to the end their families esteemed him with 
the highest regards. 
An exceptional business and tactful man, clear-headed and 
masterful in all his transactions, easy of approach, genial, and 
courteous, he made friends with whomsoever had the good fortune 
to come in' contact with him. He was always the warmest friend 
of the gardener, to whom lie was ever ready to lend a lifting 
hand. 
On Monday, the 18th, his remains were followed by a great 
number of sorrowing friends to their last resting place in the 
beautiful Dean Cemetery. The Hon. the Master of Napier re¬ 
presented Lady Belhaven, and many other notable gentlemen 
were present to pay their last respect to a valued friend. He 
leaves* a wife and son, Dr. Mitchell, of Devonshire, to mourn his 
loss. Mr. Mitchell was seventy-nine years of age. 
D. C. 
Encouragement for Acton Gardeners. —Lord George Hamil¬ 
ton and Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., contributed several special 
prizes for.the benefit of exhibitors at Acton Horticultural Show 
the other week. 
