Journal  of  Horticui.ture,  March  27,  1)02. 
of  k  Scottisli 
HE  members  of  this  popular,  energetic,  and  highly  success¬ 
ful  Association  met  on  the  evening  of  Friday  last,  the  21st 
inst.,  to  celebrate  the  semi-jubilee  of  the  Association  in 
Ferguson  and  Forrester’s  Rooms,  Princes  Street,  when 
the  large  number  of  120  dined  in  honour  of  the  occasion.  In 
reporting  the  highly  successful  function  it  may  not  be  out  of 
place  to  recount  sorne  of  the  salient  features  in  the  Association’s 
work  and 
History. 
The  Association  was  formed  in  March,  1877,  at  the  suggestion 
of  a  few  ardent  horticulturists^ — of  whom  Mr.  Robertson  Munro, 
then  of  Abercorn  Nurseries,  was  the  moving  spirit— in  order  to 
supply  a  much-felt  want  and  desire  for  an  institution  to  foster 
and  cultivate  the  education  of  gardeners  from  the  scientific  and 
literary  points  of  view.  For  a  very  long  time  the  Royal  Cale¬ 
donian  Society,  in  Edinburgh,  had  ceased  to  carry  on  any 
educative  work,  which  was  an  important  feature  of  their  original 
charter  to  fulfil,  contenting  themselves  with  the  holding  of 
flower  shows.  The  meeting  at  which  the  Association  Avas 
inaugurated  was  presided  over  by  the  late  Baillie  Methven,  and 
over  a  hundred  members  wex’e  enrolled  at  the  first  meeting.  The 
late  Mr.  Malcolm  Dunn  Avas  the  first  president,  and  occupied  that 
position  for  four  years,  doing  much  in  his  painstaking  and 
characteristic  energetic  Avay  to  establish  it  on  a  firm  and  lasting- 
basis.  Among  those  Avho  have  occupied  the  president’s  chair 
since  then  may  be  mentioned  the  late  John  DoAvnie,  the  late 
Wm.  Thomson  (of  Clovenfords  Vineyards),  Mr.  Robertson  Munro, 
Professor  Bayley  Balfour  (the  gifted  Professor  of  Botany  in 
Edinburgh  University,  and  Regius  Keeper  of  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens),  the  late  Mr.  Wm.  Welsh,  Judge  Mackenzie,  Mr. 
R.  W.  E.  Murray  (the  enthusiastic  amateur  ’Mum  groAver), 
Mr.  Chas.  Cowan  (the  Daffodil  enthusiast),  Mr.  M.  Todd,  &c. 
The  leading  feature  of  the  Association’s  work  has  been  the  read¬ 
ing  and  discussion  of  papers  on  horticultural  and  cognate  sub¬ 
jects,  and  this  has  been  carried  on  with  great  success  during  the 
quarter  century  that  has  since  elapsed,  no  month  having  passed 
without  a  meeting.  The  meetings  have  been  invariably  Avell 
attended.  The  papers  read  have  embraced  many  varied  subjects, 
and  have  been  written  by  men  of  the  greatest  renoAvn  over  the 
three  kingdoms.  The  discussions  have  always  been  spirited  and 
harmonious,  and  it  may  truly. be  said  that  many  gifted  and 
eloquent  speakers  have  evolved  from  them.  The  membership  has 
always  kept  increasing,  till  at  the  present  time  there  are  no 
feAver  than  1,100  names  on  the  roll. 
For  the  first  feAv  years  no  other  work  than  that  of  a  literary 
and  educational  character  Avas  undertaken ;  but  it  gradually  Avas 
brought  home  to  the  minds  of  the  leading  members  that  the 
cultivation  and  exhibition  of  the  Chrysanthemum  and  other 
winter  flowers  was  being  neglected  in  Scotland,  and  here  again 
they  found  the  Royal  Caledonian  not  equal  to  the  occasion.  This 
Society  had  held  an  Apple  Congress  in  conjunction  with  a 
Chrysanthemum  Show,  Avhich,  though  pomologically  a  great 
success,  Avas  a  financial  failure,  and  the  Council  Avould  not 
venture  further  in  the  Avay  of  Avinter  flower  shoAvs.  The  Associa¬ 
tion  therefore  felt  it  incumbent  on  them  to  try  an  exhibition 
on  a  small  scale  to  further  and  improve  Chrysanthemum  culture 
in  Scotland,  a  venture  the  wisdom  of  which  has  been  most  amply 
justified  by  the  magnificent  results  since  attained.  The  first 
three  exhibitions  were  held  in  small  halls  in  the  city,  and  were 
encouragingly  successful,  but  complete  success  was  only  attained 
when  the  shows  were  moved  to  that  great  exhibition  hall,  the 
Waverley  Market.  The  first  of  these  was  held  in  1889,  to  cele¬ 
brate  the  centenary  of  the  introduction  of  the  Chrysanthemum 
to  this  country.  This  was  probably  the  most  successful  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Exhibition  ever  held  in  this  country  from  the  financial 
aspect,  and  resulted  in  credit  balance  of  over  £400,  after  very 
liberal  prizes  and  special  aAvards  had  been  made.  These  exhibi¬ 
tions  have  been  carried  on  annually  ever  since,  with  invariable 
success,  and  now  rank  only  second  in  the  three  kingdoms  to 
the  exhibitions  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society.  The 
Association’s  work  has,  therefore,  been  broadened,  and  its  im¬ 
portance  consequently  increased. 
The  monetary  successes  of  the  Chrysanthemum  Shows  have  also 
placed  the  Association  in  a  most  enviable  financial  position,  a 
reserve  fund  of  nearly  £900  having  been  accumulated  against 
some  possible  rainy  day.  Its  funds,  too  have  been  hoarded  in 
no  niggardly  spirit,  as  the  prizes  offered  are  of  the  most_  liberal 
character,  and,  as  most  horticulturists  knoAV,  its  hospitality  and 
generosity  are  dispensed  on  a  liberal  scale.  During  the  twelve 
years  that  the  Chrysanthemum  Shows  have  been  held  in  the 
WaA^erley  Market  large  contributions  have  been  made  to 
charitable  objects,  the  Royal  Infirmary  of  Edinburgh  and  the 
Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund  receiving  annual  donations,  and  in 
1877,  on  the  occasion  of  the  Diamond  Jubilee  of  our  late 
lamented  Queen,  no  less  a  sum  than  £250  was  distributed  to 
charitable  purposes.  An  Association  whose  members  are  so  large- 
hearted  as  this  deserves  to  succeed,  and  has  done  so  far  beyond 
the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  its  original  promoters,  and  it 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  on  the  completion  of  twenty-five 
years’  magnificent  work  the  members  should  hold  a  semi-jubilee 
celebration  to  make  glad  over  their  successful  career,  and  to 
stimulate  each  other  to  still  greater  exertions. 
This  is  not,  however,  the  first  social  celebration  the  Associa¬ 
tion  has  held,  as  four  years  ago,  under  the  presidency  of 
Mr.  Todd,  a  most  successful  meeting  Avas  held  in  honour  of  the 
majority  of  the  Association.  The  present  celebration,  as  stated 
above,  AA'as  held  in  “F.  and  F.’s”  Rooms,  in  Princes  Street,  and 
Mr.  Comfort,  the  present  genial  and  accomplished  president,  very 
ably  presided  over  a  company  of  120  members  and  a  feAV  invited 
guests. 
The  Company 
Embraced  all  the  leading  members  of  the  Association  with  a  few 
notable  guests.  It  is  a  fortunate  coincidence  that  on  such  an 
occasion  it  should  so  happen  that  the  president  for  the  time  being 
should  be  a  practical,  hard-Avorking  gardener. 
Mr.  Comfort  is  a  gentleman  of  aaEoiu  all  horticulturists  may 
be  proud,  possessing  a  thoroughly  practical,  as  Avell  as  theoretic, 
knowledge  of  gardening,  coupled  Avith  a  literary  culture  and 
oratorical  ability  which  many  public,  highly  educated  men,  would 
envy.  The  Association  was  honoured  on  this  occasion  by  the 
company  of  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  representing  the  National  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Society,  Avho  occupied  a  seat  to  the  chairman’s  left, 
the  seat  at  his  right  being  allotted  to  Bailie  BroAvn,  the  senior 
magi.strate  of  the  city.  Councillor  MacMichael,  the  convener  of 
the  Public  Parks  Committee,  Avas  also  present,  as  were  also  Mr. 
Thomson,  secretary  to  the  Royal  Caledonian ;  Mr.  Galloway, 
secretary  to  the  Royal  Arboricultural ;  Mr.  McDonald,  secretary 
to  the  Highland  and  Agricultural  Society  ;  Mr.  Whitton,  super¬ 
intendent  of  the  GlasgoAV  Parks,  also  honoured  the  meeting  with 
his  portly,  good-natured  presence ;  ex-Bailie  McDonald,  president 
of  Dundee  Horticultural  Society,  Avas  also  there;  and  among 
the  general  company  we  noted  Mr.  McKenzie,  the  late  treasurer, 
Avho  has  always  been  a  toAver  of  strength  to  the  Association,  and 
Avho  carries  his  years  as  if  age  would  gain  no  victory  over  him ; 
Mr.  Whytock,  the  worthy  successor  to  Mr.  Dunn,  at  Dalkeith 
Palace ;  Mr.  McHattie,  of  the  City  Gardens,  whose  genial 
countenance  is  ahvays  like  a  ray  of  sunlight ;  Mr.  R.  Eaird,  the 
late  energetic  and  efficient  secretary,  and  his  successor,  Mr. 
Loney ;  Mr.  A.  McKinnon,  from  Scone  Palace,  near  the  fair  city 
of  Perth,  had  ventured  south  for  the  occasion ;  and  Mr.  Cumming, 
gardener,  Grantully  Castle,  had  come  all  the  way  from  the 
shadow  of  the  Grampians ;  “  Sandy  ”  Milne,  of  Dickson  and  Sons, 
the  genial  ex-Moderator  of  the  Holyrood  Constables^  though  we 
have  seen  “  Sandy  ”  more  Milnesque  than  on  this  occasion ; 
ex-President  R.  W.  E.  Murray,  with  his  kindly  urbanity ;  Mr. 
A.  Mackinnon,  the  energetic  treasurer ;  Mr.  Kidd,  Carberry 
Tower  Gardens,  of  Malmaison  fame ;  Mr.  Cuthbertson,  of  Dobbie 
and  Co.’s,  Rothesa-^  with  his  kindly,  smiling  face,  there,  as  he 
said,  to  take  charge  of  Mr.  Dean;  Mr.  Geo.  Wood,  who  had  left 
his  Orchids  for  the  occasion ;  ex-President  M.  Todd,  and  many 
others  which  space  does  not  allow  to  mention. 
Among  absentees  who  should  have  been  there  were  Mr.  D.  P. 
Laird,  whose  rubicund,  ever-joyous  presence  was  much  missed — 
“  Davie  ’’  should  not  have  alloAved  any  engagement  to  intervene ; 
Mr.  D.  W.  Thomson,  who  AAas  unAvell;  Mr.  David  Mitchell — The 
Major — whose  weight  of  years  prevents  his  being  out  in  the 
evenings ;  and  perhaps  most  notable  of  absentees  was  Mr.  James 
Grieve,  Avho  seems  for  the  time  being  to  have  retired  to  the 
Cave  of  Adullam — James,  this  is  grievous,  and  you  must  think 
better  of  it.  Since  the  majority  festival,  four  years  ago,  several 
who  then  occupied  prominent  positions  were  also  absent — gone 
