July 2, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
545 
in bloom, and it makes a great show. The A. nemerosa fl. pi. 
is very chaste, as is A. n. robinsoniana, with its pale blue 
flowers. A. narsisiflora has beautiful foliage and white flowers. 
The double Arabis albida. grows like a weed here, and is most 
effective. Arenaria biflora., although rather common, makes 
a grand carpet. This must be grown in almost pure sand. 
We have some fine clumps of Aubrietia, of which the choicer 
are Oampbelli (this has very large, dark violet flowers, and is 
a grand grower). A. Wallace! is somewhat similar to the 
above, but a shade paler. A. taurica is paler still, but of fine 
size. Fire King is the deepest pink we have, while W. J. 
Ingram is the largest-flowered pink. Of Campanulas we have 
a large number. C. Allionii is very difficult to keep, but is 
a gem. C. turbinata has very large blue flowers, and is very 
free. C. italica, although not usually considered a rock plant, 
is well worthy of a place; its deep blue flowers, on slender wiry 
stems, make a fine mass of colour. C. pulla is a very dwarf 
variety, with deep- purple flowers. Of the Alpine Wallflowers, 
Cheiranthus alpinus is by far the best; but for the sake of 
variety we also like C. Dilleni. 
Of the Cistuses we have all the best varieties, and all are 
very beautiful. Dianthus alpinus is very fine, as is also D. 
deltoides, both pink and wliite, and D. neglectus. Dryas 
o'ctopetela make® a. fine green carpet, and its large cream- 
coloured flowers are very choice. Erinus alpinus and E. a. 
albus are very useful and showy, staying in bloom a good 
while. Genista pilosa I think the best of the Brooms for 
rock work. Gentiana verna and G. acaulis do splendidly here, 
and are always admired. 
A few plants of Heuchera sanguinea we have dotted about 
wive a graceful effect. Hutchinsia. is a great favourite, and 
makes a veiy telling patch near the front*. 
A few fine clumps of Iberis superba make a brave show. 
No other plant, I think, has such a pure white flower. What 
is finer than Lithospermum prostratum where it succeeds? It 
does not seem to be a fast grower. The alpine Phloxes are 
really among the finest things wei have for making a display. 
P. amoena (pink), P. divaricata, P. G. F. Wilson, and P. per¬ 
fection, all different shades of blue or lilac, are very fine. 
Polygala Chamaebuxus and P. C. purpurea are little beauties. 
Among Primulas we have helvetica, nivalis, cashmeriana, rosea, 
and sikkimensis, and all are good, ltamondia pyrenaica m 
with us rather a shy bloomer, but is this year very fine. Of 
Saxifrages we have S. burseriana, S. Wallacei, S. Hirculus, S. 
sancta, S. granulata fl. pi., S. oppositifolia pyreniaca, and its 
white form, also S', pyramidalis and macnabiana. These two 
latter are nearly similar in the flower, except that macnabiana 
is spotted with red. 
Space forbids mention of any others, but I may return to 
the subject at some future time. C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
Scottish Challenge Trophy. 
Some time ago we made a note of the Challenge Trophy 
which is to be offered for competition at the September Show 
of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, and we are now 
in a position to give an illustration of it. This trophy is to 
be offered along with the first prize of £15 and gold badge for 
eight bunches of Grapes, not. more than two of any variety. 
The cup is valued at 50 guineas, and will become the property 
of the competitor who wins it three times. The cup was ex¬ 
hibited at the May Show of the society, and excited consider¬ 
able interest. It is a handsome piece of work manufactured 
in solid silver by Messrs. Mackay and Chisholm, silversmiths, 
Edinburgh, and is richly ornamented with runic ornaments. 
The upper part of the bowl bears representations of 1 ine leaves 
and fruit, and the top, rising between the arms of the cup, 
is in the form of a Scottish Thistle, surmounted by a figure 
of St. Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint. The silver medal of 
the society is represented by a figure inserted in the black 
plinth. 
Each bunch of Grapes will be judged on its individual 
merits. A maximum of 10 points will be given to Muscat of 
Alexandria; and 9 points to all other Muscats and Black 
Hamburg®; with 8 points for other varieties. The bunches 
are to be staged singly, and the whole arranged on a table 
space 6 ft. by 4 ft. in two tiers 2 ft. in width. Superior cul¬ 
tivation and finish will be considered of the greatest import¬ 
ance. The collections must be decorated with flowering or 
foliage plants in pots, not exceeding 5 in. in diameter, and cut 
flowers or foliage in glass or other ware, or placed loosely 
according to the exhibitor’s predilections. Grape growers in 
Scottish Challenge Trothy for Grares. 
various parts of the country should be on their mettle this year 
to produce the best samples which skill can accomplish. The 
above handsome trophy is offered by Mr. W. H. Massie, 1, 
Waterloo place, Edinburgh, and Grape growers should feel 
proud of such a liberal donor in the interests of the craft. 
Hitherto the largest bunches of Grapes have been produced in 
the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, but in this instance quality 
must take preference to mere size. Other valuable trophies 
are offered elsewhere, to which we need not refer on this 
occasion. 
A Curious Plant.— In the State of Rio de J aneiro there is a 
plant known as the Tillandsia. This plant have veiy small 
seeds, each of which is provided with a growth of long, light 
hairs At a time of high wind these seeds are blown long dis¬ 
tances in the air, to take root and grow wherever they finally 
arrive. Detropolis has recently been lit by electric light, the 
necessary current being conveyed by wires on wooden poles. 
Seeds from the Tillandsia have attached themselves to these 
poles and the wires themselves, and ,owing to the strong light, 
have there grown in far greater luxuriance than usual. 
