October  isdS. 
JOtlkNAL  OP  HOnPtCULWnp  Am  COTTAGP  GAUPPmU. 
413 
frequently  drawing  his  hand  over  his  forehead  and  passing  it  over 
his  eyes.  This  must  have  conveyed  the  poison  from  his  hands  to 
his  face.  The  intermittent  affection  is  explained  by  the  fact  that 
it  was  after  these  plants  had  been  attended  to  that  the  irritation 
re>appeared.  The  medical  treatment  he  received  was  doubtless 
beneficial,  but  there  was  no  chance  of  complete  recovery  whilst  the 
contagion  was  being  repeated  time  after  time.  Remove  the  cause 
and  the  effect  will  disappear.  This  being  done  the  complaint 
ceased,  and  he  is  now  almost  recovered,  feeling  only  the  slightest 
irritation  occasionally. 
His  stock  of  Primula  obconica  was,  soon  after  the  discovery  of 
their  baneful  influence,  sent  off  “  as  a  present  ”  to  the  doctor,  who 
will  doubtless  gain  a  wrinkle  in  the  future  treatment  of  similar 
cases  that  come  under  his  treatment.  No  wonder  that,  under  the 
circumstances,  the  disciples  of  .Slsculapius  were  puzzled,  or  that  the 
prescribed  powders,  unguents,  pills,  and  liquids  had  apparently  lost 
their  potency.  Whilst  they  were,  no  doubt,  quietly  and  swrely 
effecting  a  cure,  their  efl&cacy  was  neutralised  by  the  acquisition  of 
additional  supplies  of  the  irritant  that  caused  the  complaint. 
Now  the  question  naturally  arises,  In  what  manner  does  this 
plant  exercise  its  baneful  influence  ?  Is  it  by  exhalation,  or  by  the 
sap  coming  into  immediate  contact  with  the  skin  ?  It  would  appear 
from  the  case  mentioned  above  that  the  injury  was  caused  by  the 
latter,  which  clearly  proves  in  this  instance  that  the  result  Was 
from  the  handling  of  the  plants.  On  these  occasions  all  decaying 
and  damaged  leaves  were  broken  off  and  the  flowers  gathered. 
This  would  liberate  the  sap  in  the  broken  stems,  which  would  get 
on  the  hands  and  be  thence  conveyed  to  the  face  in  the  manner 
described.  I  have  frequently  handled  these  plants,  but  was  never 
affected  in  the  least.  A  delicate  skin  is  more  susceptible  to  injury 
than  a  thick  one,  but  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  the  real  cause 
of  the  complaint,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  acquired.  The 
gentleman  whose  case  I  have  mentioned  has  heard  of  many 
similar  cases  of  poisoning  from  the  same  source  since  he  found  out 
the  cause  of  his,  only  a  few  weeki  ago. — J.  H.  S. 
A  RESTING  TOUR. 
A  JOKE  is  enjoyable  even  by  the  seriously  austere,  as  in  this 
case.  No,  Mr.  Magnate,  you  are  hearing  “  something  more,”  and 
my  entering  a  caveat  against  the  description  of  my  “  awfully — 
dreadfully — fearfully  interesting  ”  jottings  had  no  reference  to  an 
action  for  libel.  You  are  too  good  for  that.  Rest  calmly.  You 
had  perhaps  only  been  dreaming.  Accidents  Time  been  awful,  you 
know,  but  are  happily  rare,  and  you  have  joined  in  making  a 
railway  carriage  on  a  fast  express  one  of  the  safest  spots  on  earth. 
A  libel  1  No,  a  medal  rather,  for  your  share  in  the  splendid 
achievements  of  our  “  railway  men,”  for  which  millions  ought  to 
be  grateful.  But  cannot  you  do  a  little  more  ?  Persuade  the 
other  magnates  to  convey  plants  and  produce  to  and  from  shows  On 
the  most  favoured  terms,  exhibitors,  judges,  ofiBcials  and  reporters 
on  the  single  farq  rate  for  return  journeys,  and  so  develop  traffic  by 
making  finer  shows  to  act  with  magnet  force  in  drawing  the  million! 
to  them  (see  Journal  of  Horticulture,  October  15th,  page  376). 
There’s  an  idea  for  you,  and  I  shall  not  mind  if  you  think  it 
“  awfully  ”  good.  I  had  something  more  to  say  about  railway 
magnates,  but  it  must  wait. 
After  “  Auld  Reekie  ”  changed  to  “  Fair  Edina  ”  we  had  a  plea¬ 
sant  day  in  the  city  and  surroundings,  but  before  that  an  enjoyable 
evening.  No  Scotch  mist  penetrated  Mr.  Fish’s  commodious  abode, 
but  all  was  clear  and  sparkling  there.  The  master  was  happy  with 
his  friends  and  tons  of  books  around  him  ;  the  light  of  his  home 
dispensed  hospitality  in  her  delightful  way,  and  the  veteran  Mr. 
Carmichael  fought  his  battles  o’er  again  with  all  the  zest  of  youth. 
If  he  is,  as  is  said,  an  octogenarian,  he  is  something  of  a  wonder, 
and  garilening  has  not  been  to  him  a  constitution-shattering  occupa¬ 
tion.  David  the  younger,  if  David  he  is,  sat  listening  to  the  old 
fogies,  wondering  no  doubt  what  his  future  might  be,  for  the  youth 
has  an  imagination — he  has  inherited  bis  father’s  literary  taste — is 
a  searcher  for  scientific  knowledge,  and  as  a  student  and  worker  in 
the  Botanic  Gardens,  it  is  hoped  that  by  diligence  in  duty  he  will 
carry  a  great  gardening  name  into  the  future,  and  adorn  the  craft 
to  which  it  is  his  hope  and  desire  that  his  life  will  be  devoted.  It 
was  to  have  bii  son  with  him,  to  guide  and  help  and  encourage, 
that  chiefly  brought  Mr.  Pish  to  Edinburgh,  for  he  could  write 
from  there  and  take  lecturing  or  judging  tours  as  well  as  from 
anywhere  else  ;  he  is  a  known  expert  in  the  science  and  practice  of 
gardening,  standing  right  in  the  front  ranks  of  P.P.  teachers,  which 
means,  gentle  reader,  the  platform  and  the  pen,  and  let  those  who 
think  themselves  accomplished  as  literary  exponents  beat  the 
veteran  in  an  essay  or  oration  on  gardening  if  they  can. 
Mr.  Carmichael  as  most,  but  not  all,  readers  of  this  Journal 
know,  was  the  Prince  of  Wales’  gardener  at  Sandringham.  Perhaps 
His  Royal  Highness’s  first  gardener.  I  did  not  ask  him — I  mean  I 
did  not  ask  Mr.  Carmichael.  He,  at  any  rate,  made  the  gardens  at 
Sandringham,  and  recounts  with  zest  the  great  interest  the  Prince 
and  Princess  took  in  the  work,  and  how  anxious  they  were  to  see  it 
done  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  also  how  delighted  they  were 
when  it  was  accomplished  by  great  effort  within  the  period  desired. 
The  still  energetic  veteran  dwells  with  pride  on  the  episodes  of 
that,  to  him,  happy  time  ;  and  bis  face  glows  and  his  eyes  glisten 
as  he  tells  with  feelings  of  gratitude  of  the  many  acta  of  kindness 
of  which  he  was  the  recipient  at  Sandringham  —  pleasant  words 
and  friendly  tokens,  which  are  gracefully  tendered  by  the  Prince 
and  Princess,  also,  as  is  well  known,  by  all  the  members  of  the 
Royal  Family,  to  those  who  serve  them  faithfully  and  well. 
Would  that  all  were  like  them  in  that  respect,  and  could  appreciate 
the  great  truth,  and  act  in  accordance  with  it,  as  all  may,  that  it 
is  truly  noble  to  be  kind.”  _ 
Some  time  after  leaving  Sandringham,  Mr.  Carmichael  found 
his  way  to  the  West  of  England,  and  as  an  expert  in  growing 
Heaths  and  hardwooded  plants  generally  (an  art  in  which  com¬ 
paratively  few  are  now  masters),  established  for  Mr.  H.  W.  Tugwell 
a  fine  collection.  The  work  was  quietly  done, and  the  outer  world 
knew  little  of  it  for  awhile.  The  time  had  not  come  ;  but  as  the 
date  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  great  show  at  Bath  in 
1873  approached  came  the  floating  of  a  rumour  of  the  existence  of 
a  dark  horse  somewhere.  The  dark  horse  came,  winning  prizes  and 
a  silver  cup.  This  was  one  of  the  great  days  of  Mr.  Carmichael’s 
life,  and  time  has  not  effaced  it  from  bis  memory.  In  spare  moments 
during  his  working  career  he  found  recreation  in  hybridising,  and 
perhaps  the  most  notable  of  his  successes  was  the  raising  of  the 
bright  floriferous  miniature  Azaleas,  the  result  of  crossing 
A.  amoena  with  varieties  of  A.  indica.  When  these  were  first 
exhibited  in  1878  they  attracted  much  attention,  and  a  certificate 
was  promptly  granted  to  one  of  a  bright  magenta  colour  that  bore 
its  raiser’s  name. 
The  time  eventually  coming  for  Mr.  Carmichael’s  retirement, 
the  desire  to  indulge  in  his  favourite  pursuit  became  active.  He 
longed  to  cross  something,  but  he  had  no  glass  or  tender  plants  ; 
but  he  had  Strawberries.  Then  occurred  a  noteworthy  synchronism, 
for  Mr.  Teitch  and  himself  operated  with  the  same  varieties  and 
presumably  at  the  same  time,  for  the  results  were  forthcoming  the 
same  season — the  very  last  Strawberry  season,  the  Chelsea  firm 
exhibiting  the  bold  rich  Veitch’s  Perfection,  Mr.  Carmichael 
following  with  his  Royal  varieties.  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales, 
similar  in  appearance,  as  might  be  expected,  as  the  parentage  was 
the  same  in  both  cases — British  Queen  and  Waterloo. 
The  first  named  variety  was  deservedly  certificated,  the  Com¬ 
mittee  desiring  to  have  the  others  grown  in  the  South  for  fully 
developing  the  quality  of  the  fruit.  They  8  re  worth  testing  in 
many  gardens,  for  there  is  no  doubt  about  the  vigour  and  produc¬ 
tiveness  of  the  plants.  We  had  a  peep  over  the  high-boarded 
fence  of  Mr.  Carmichael’s  garden,  though  in  the  absence  of  the 
master.  It  is  a  veritable  garden  of  Strawberries,  being  apparently 
almost  exclusively  occupied  by  thousands  of  sturdy  young  plants 
of  the  varieties,  which,  after  being  tested  at  Sandringham,  were  by 
special  permission  invested  with  the  distinguished  names  they  bear, 
and  plants  are  now  growing  in  Royal  and  other  gardens  in  this  and 
other  countries.  If  the  raiser  could  have  his  way  he  would  have 
all  admirers  of  the  popular  Prince  and  gracious  Princess  signify 
the  same  in  the  unusual  manner  of  trying  a  few  of  these  Straw¬ 
berries  in  their  gardens,  as  he  knows  very  well  his  stock  would  then 
soon  be  scarce.  Shrewd  old  veteran  !  May  he  live  to  gather 
many  crops.  _ 
If,  after  the  clear  day’s  view  of  Edinburgh  and  its  subnrbs' 
while  the  thick  wet  fog  of  the  preceding  day  seemed  as  if  still 
clinging  to  us,  a  request  had  been  made  for  an  embodiment  of 
impressions  in  a  sentence  it  would  have  been  something  in  this 
wise — a  city  of  “  Drizzle  and  Golden  Elders.”  Tbe  drizzle  of  one 
day  enshrouded  all  and  everything,  the  Golden  Elders  on  the  next 
met  us  wherever  anything  would  grow.  The  experienced  city 
gardener,  Mr.  McLeod,  no  doubt  well  knew  what  be  was  doing  in 
planting  these  bright-hued  deciduous  shrubs  on  the  banks  and  braes 
so  freely  ;  also  what  is  much  less  common  in  growing  them  in  tubs 
and  vases.  Fancy,  Golden  Elders  in  vases!  Yet  there  they  are 
in  the  centre  of  Edinburgh  on  the  roof  garden  of  the  Waverley 
Market,  this  being  only  one  step  above  the  level  of  Princess  Street. 
An  attractive  garden  it  is,  with  its  extensive  asphalte  promenade 
between  flower  beds  and  Imrders,  pleasingly  furnished,  relieved  by 
