June 4. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
457 
he Qardeniiig\^/brld. 
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EDITORIAL NOTES. 
'actus Dahlia Spitfire. 
(See coloured Supplement.) 
The greatest improvement lias taken 
lace in the Cactus Dahlia, from an exhibi- 
ion point of view, rather than that of garden 
ecoration, of late years. In the handsome 
variety under notice we have a notable ex¬ 
ception, showing that some raisers are giving 
attention to the decoration of the garden 
quite independently of exhibitions. A 
Cactus Dahlia intended merely for the show 
boards may be very beautiful to look at in 
the cut state, but if seen growing upon the 
plant the effect might be relatively poor 
and disappointing. To be of real service for 
garden decoration, the flowers may vary in 
form, but they should be of distinct colours 
and stand clear above the foliage. The 
flower-stems should also be able to support 
the blooms without staking, and the blcomsi 
should be abundantly produced. The variety 
Spitfire is purely intended for garden decorar 
ticm, and has: flowers of moderate size, but of 
a clear brilliant orange-scarlet, inclining to 
red, very brilliant and effective even at a: 
distance:. The plant itself is of dwarf habit, 
but carries its flowers well above the foliage 
on long stalks similar to' that represented in, 
our coloured plate this week. A large trial 
of Dahlias was made in the gardens:: of the 
Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick last 
year, and this was one amongst the few which 
was honoured with an. Award of Merit, as ai 
garden variety. The plant grew 4 ft. there, 
and took the attention of the committee by 
its bright colour and the way it held up its 
flowers. As will be seen, by reference to our 
illustration, the florets are not revolute at the 
sides or rolled up, as in the more popular 
form for exhibition, but are flat and pointed. 
The variety was sent to Chiswick by Messrs. 
Dobbie and Co., Rothesay, N.B., who sent 
us specimens at our request. Dahlias of all 
kinds always grow much taller in the: south 
than they do in the north, and as it is re- 
garded as a, dwarf variety after trial at 
Chiswick, it would even be dwarfer if grown 
in the Midlands or in Scotland. The shorter 
season and the cooler climate are conducive 
to dwarfness, and if this variety behaves as 
Dahlias do there, it would make an. admirable 
subject for bedding purposes. Even to those 
who do not object to bedding Dahlias 4 ft. 
high, it would make an admirable subject 
with much less formality than many of the 
old show and decorative varieties that are 
usually grown for bedding purposes. Seeing 
that these flowers were grown at Rothesay, 
we feel confident that this variety would 
succeed and produce perfectly double flowers 
in any part, of Britain where Dahlias can be 
grown. 
— o — 
Plan Drawing at Edinburgh. 
For some years past prizes have been 
offered by the Royal Caledonian, Horticul¬ 
tural Society for plans drawn by under¬ 
gardeners. The results were declared at the 
show which opened on the 25th ult. The 
first prize was secured by Mr. Hugh Barton, 
The Gardens, Bank House, Blackburn ; tiie 
second prize was taken by Mr. Andrew 
Dixon, Dalkeith Palace Gardens, Dalkeith; 
the third was taken by Mr. Daniel Scott, The 
Gardens, Dysart House, Dysart ; and the 
fourth by Mr. Wm. H. Knight, Fa.mby 
Gardens, Otley, Yorkshire. Two other com¬ 
petitors were highly commended and com¬ 
mended respectively. Twenty-six plans 
were sent in for competition. 
-—o- 
Wcathcr and Vegetal ion in 
Glasgow. 
In summing up his report on the weather 
for 1903, Mr. Whitton .says that owing to 
the mild character of February and March 
following the intense cold of January, trees 
and shrubs began to expand their buds, so 
that when the disastrous frosts occurred 
during the middle of April vegetation, of 
various kinds was severely injured. The 
frosts completely ruined the fruit crops of all 
trees and bushes which* happened to> be in 
bloom and seriously crippled many other 
trees and shrubs. This effect was more or 
less evident for some time until tardy growth 
had made reparation. Owing to the 
saturated condition of the ground, difficulty 
was experieneedin getting seeds; to germinate 
and growth was very slow, especially on 
heavy soils. Harvest was: late, and the re¬ 
sults anything but satisfactory. Est ablished 
trees and shrubs did fairly well, but recently 
transplanted subjects were less satisfactory. 
With regard to the effect of the weather on 
people, the writer says that the community 
enjoyed comparative immunity from disease. 
He considered that the heavy rains carried 
down many noxious impurities from the 
atmosphere, and also washed away impuri¬ 
ties that would have had undesirable effects 
if the season had been: a warm one. 
Swanley Horticultural College. 
The report of this college for 1 the past year 
is now upon, our table. Its attention is now 
devoted solely to the training of women. 
The residence formerly occupied by the men 
has been taken over by the Colonial Branch 
of the college. We note that D. Shove has 
gained the' Marshall Scholarship for the pur¬ 
suit of biological research, while M. Wilson 
took the Murchison: Prize for biology. _ For 
the seventh time in nine years the Silver 
Gilt Medal offered by the R.H.S. at their 
examination was taken by a student of the 
college—namely, W. Brenchley. The report 
state's that the demand for women gardeners 
continues. Several appointments have been 
made during the year, including head gar¬ 
deners gardeners, under-gardeners, com¬ 
panion’ hardeners, and appointments m 
schools and institutions. The prize® were 
distributed by Lady Francis Balfour m July. 
A Nature Study course is projected for 
August 1st to; 13th next, this to be held at 
the Horticultural College. The instruction, 
however, will be given out of doors under 
weather is fine. 
