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JOURNAL  DF  HORTICULTURE  ANT)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
INIay  15,  1902. 
Societies. 
Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural,  May  7lli  and  ^th. 
The  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society  held  their  annual 
spring  .show  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday  a  week  ago,  and 
although  quite  a  month  later  than  last  year,  the  society  lost 
nothing  by  the  change  of  date.  Without  doubt,  the  show  must  be  . 
classed  as  equal  to  any  seen  in  the  Waverley  Market  for  some 
time,  the  wliole  of  the  large  space  being  a  mass  of  gorgeous 
colour.  Notwithstanding  that  the  competitive  classes  for  nurseiw- 
men  were  omitted,  the  entries  on  the  whole  were  higher  than  last 
year,  being  511  in  all ;  the  classes  for  pot  plants,  cut  floweis,  and 
vegetables  were  all  well  filled. 
The  competition  for  plans  by  under  gardeners  brought  forth 
twenty-one  competitors,  for  which  fir.st,  second,  and  third  prizes 
were  awarded  and  three  were  commended.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  interesting  and  instructive  features  of  the  show,  and  should 
be  especially  so  to  under  gardeners.  The  judges  for  the  plans 
were  Mr.  McHattie  and  IMr.  Whitten,  the  superintendents  of 
Parks  of  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  re.spectively,  and  reporting  on 
the  lilan.s  they  congratulate  the  society  on  having  started  so  useful 
a  scheme,  and  on  the  success  that  has  attended  this  first  competi¬ 
tion,  believing  that  all  who  have  entered  for  it,  whether  winning 
a  prize  or  not,  must  have  derived  considerable  benefit  in  doing 
so.  Mr.  Murray  Thomson,  the  secretary,  has  taken  a  special  care 
and  intere.st  in  this  competition  and  .stimulated  competitors, 
and  we  rejoice  that  he  has  been  so  well  rewarded  by  its  succe.ss. 
Sir  John  Gilmour,  of  Montrave,  kindly  offered  prizes  of  three, 
two,  and  one  guinea,  and  these  were  awarded  as  follows: — First, 
A.  Trotter,  Coolattan,  Ireland  ;  second,  T.  Smith,  Cambuswithen, 
Ayrshire;  third,  R.  Phillips,  Glasgow  Botanic  Gardens.  Sir  John 
Gilmour  has  again  generously  offered  irrizes  for  another  .jmar. 
In  making  a  report  on  the  nurserymen’s  classes  it  would  be 
invidious  to  single  out  any  one  particular  fiann,  all  were  .so  good. 
Messrs.  Laird  and  Sons,  Limited,  put  up  a  massive  group  in  a 
most  attractive  form,  making  use  of  virgin  cork.  They  set  up  an 
arbour  and  rustic  bridge,  around  which  were  grouped  tall  Acers, 
Acacias,  Eucalyptus  globulus,  and  minor  groups  of  fine  Azaleas, 
Hippeastrums,  Lilacs,  Heaths,  Rhododendrons,  Lily  of  the  Valley, 
and  a  host  of  other  spring  flowering  plants,  the  whole  making  an 
effective  group.  It  was  awarded  a.  Gold  Medal. 
Mesms.  Dickson  and  Co.,  occupied  a  space  of  30ft  in  the  centre 
of  the  market  and  set  up  a  splendid  lot  of  plants.  The  centre  was 
of  Rhododendrons  and  tall  Guelder  Rose.s  and  Acers,  round  which, 
in  small  triangular  form  were  fine  groups  of  grand  Calceolarias, 
Cineraria  stellata,  Richardias,  Golden  Alder  (new),  and  a  double 
Zonal  Pelargonium  named  Coronation  Gem,  a  very  fine  new 
variety  either  as  a  bedder  or  pot  plant,  and  for  which  they 
were  awarded  a  First  Class  Certificate.  They  also  obtained  a  First 
Class  Certificate,  for  greenhouse  Rhododendron  James  Welsh. 
Other  subjects  of  note  in  their  group  were  fine  pieces  of  Crimson 
Rambler  Rose,  Azalea  mollis,  and  A.  indica,  the  group  being  in 
all  a  very  pretty  one,  for  which  they  were  awarded  a  Gold  Medal. 
Mr.  John  Downie  had  a  very  fine  selection  of  well  grown  spring 
flowering  things,  the  idea  in  setting  up  being  an  underwork  of 
dwarf  plants  over-topped  by  taller  plants.  The  group  was  very 
fine  and  mo.st  attractive.  Silver-gilt  Medal. 
Messrs.  Methven  and  Sons  put  up  a  showy  circular  table  of 
cut  Tulips  interspersed  with  table  plants.  Ajnongst  the  Tulips 
were  some  very  fine  varieties,  and  the  table  was  a  very  interesting 
one.  Messrs.  J.  and  A.  Glass,  Nether  Liberton,  who  are  now 
recognised  as  the  largest  bulb  growers  in  Scotland,  had  a  very  fine 
display  of  Daffodils.  They  were  grown  and  shown  in  pots,  and 
occupied  a  table  over  40ft  long,  and  looked  splendid.  Well  up  for 
200  varieties  were  tabled,  of  which  the  following  are  amongst  the 
newer  varieties: — Shakespeare,  Gloria  Mundi,  Lord  Aberdeen, 
Apricot,  Prince  George,  John  Darfdson,  Alida,  Sulphur  King, 
Fred  Moore,  Remarkable,  Ac.  Awarded  Silver  Medal. 
Messrs.  James  Dickson  and  Sons  set  up  a  neat  little  table  of 
well  flowered  spring  plants, &c., including  Azalea,  Spiraea,  Deutzia, 
Viburnums,  &c.,  mixed  up  rvith  Fern  and  cut  blooms  of  Tulip 
and  Narcissi.  Silver  Medal. 
Messrs.  Hogg  and  Robertson,  Mary  Street,  Dublin,  put  up  a 
fine  lot  of  Irish  grown  Tulips,  amongst  which  were  grand  forms  of 
the  Darwins  in  very  pleasing  colours ;  also  some  most  striking- 
forms  of  the  Parrot  Tulips  in  their  grotesque  forms  and  gaudy 
colours,  all  grown  at  their  nurseries  at  Rush,  co.  Dublin.  They 
secured  a  Gold  Medal. 
Mr.  John  Forbes,  Hawick,  had;  as  usual,  a  fine  table  of  spring  * 
flowers,  of  which  mention  may  be  made  of  fine  forced  Tree 
Pseonies,  Carnations,  Cytisus,  Genistas,  and  the  splendid  double 
variety  of  Arabis  albida.  A  grand  lot  of  Primroses  were  present, 
amongst  which  was  a  vei-y  fine  blue  one ;  also  fine  forms  of  tlie 
beautiful  old  Gold-laced  Polyanthus.  Mr.  Forbes  was  also  to  the 
front  with  Begonia  Gloiro  de  Lorraine  and  Caledonia. 
Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie,  of  Dundee,  set  up  a  most  note¬ 
worthy  table,  conspicuous  on  which  were  a  very  fine  variety  of  the 
variegated  Scotch  Kale,  nearly  white,  and  very  finely  laciniated  ; 
also  as  fine  a  lot  of  Auriculas  as  have  .been  tabled  in  the  market  for/ 
some  time.  They  were  awarded  a  Silver  Medal. 
Messrs.  Cunningham  and  Fraser  arranged  their  table  in  tire 
form  of  a  small  rockerj-  by  the  use  of  virgin  cork,  the  pockets 
being  filled  by  a  fine  collection  of  Alpine  and  other  hardy  spring 
flowers.  Awarded  a  Silver-gilt  Medal. 
A  First  Class  Certificate  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Robert  Lindsay, 
Kaimes  Lodge,  Murrayfield,  for  Primula  adonis,  a  seedling  raised 
from  P.  ciliata  purpurata;  also  to  P.  decora  alba,  a  sport  found  by 
Mr.  Lindsay  on  P.  decora. 
For  greenhouse  Rhododendron  James  Whittier,  exhibited  by 
Alex.  McMillan,  Trinity,  a  F.C.C. 
Award  of  Merit  to  Laing  and  Mather,  Kelso,  for  new  Carna¬ 
tion  Duchess  of  Roxburghe,  a  very  pleasing  Fancy  Carnation, 
illustrated  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  July  25,  1901.  It  is  a 
splendid  new  Carnation. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  and  instructive  experiments  in  the 
show  was  shown  by  Mr.  Thomson,  the  society’.s  secretary,  who 
three  years  ago  as  a  matter  of  curiosity  fertilised  a  common 
yellow  Primrose  with  the  pollen  of  a  dark  red  Polyanthus,  and  the 
follow'ing  spring  started  similar  experiments  on  a  wider  scale,  and 
with  more  observation.  So  far  the  pollen  i>arent  has  given  the 
colour  (which  is  recognised  as  the  rule  among  hybrids),  and  the 
seed-bearing  parent  most  of  the  character.  Out  of  300  plants  not 
one  bears  the  mother’s  colour,  a  fact  which  will  please  Mr.  Bur- 
bidge  should  he  .see  this  paragraph  ! 
C.  W.  Cowan,  Esq.,  Valleyfield  (Mr.  W.  Pirie,  gardener),  put 
up  a  stand  of  a  new  and  rare  'Daffodil  which  took  the  attention  of 
a  large  number  of  the  visitors.  Mr.  Cowan  is  a  widely  known 
enthusiast  among  Narcissi,  and  as  is  well  known  possesses  the 
rarest  collection  in  Scotland.  Amongst  those  of  note,  our  atten¬ 
tion  was  drawn  to  the  following  : — Ajax  section  :  Big  Ben,  Lord 
Roberts,  Shakespeare,  Monarch,  and  Sol.  Incomparabilis :  Will 
Scarlet,  Gloria  Mundi,  and  Queen  Bess.  It  has  been  remarked 
that  competitors  persistently  ignore  rule  5  of  the  prize  schedule, 
which  declares  that  “  all  articles  must  be  correctly  and  legibly 
named,”  and  our  notice  was  drawn  to  the  fact  that  the  judges  on 
Wednesday  showed  their  disapproval  of  this  by  disqualifying  large 
numbers  of  stands  set  up  for  competition. 
List  of  Prizewinners. 
For  a  circular  table  of  plants  arranged  for  effect  :  first,  Mr. 
M.  McIntyre,  The  Glen;  second.  Geo.  Wood.  For  six  stove  or 
greenhouse  plants :  first,  McIntyre,  who  had  grand  specimens  of 
Rhododendron,  Heaths,  Ac.,  including  the  finest  sample  of 
Anthurium  Scherzerianum  Wardi  ever  seen  in  the  market; 
second,  Mr.  Geo.  Wood,  also  with  a  fine  lot. 
The  invincible  Mr.  McIntyre  and  Mr.  Geo.  Wood  were  found 
together  in  very  juany  classes,  and  others  who  were  specially 
distinguished  with  successes  included  Messrs.  James  Bald,  of 
Canaan  House,  Edinburgh ;  J.  Pearson,  Beechwood ;  D,.  Kidd, 
Carberry  Towers,  Musselburgh;  R.  Stewart,  Rockville,  Murray¬ 
field;  G.  Chaplin,  St.  Leonards,  Dalkeith  Road,  Edinburgh.  Mr. 
McIntyre  even  beat  Mr.  A.  McMillan  with  a  couple  of  greenhouse 
Rhododendrons ;  whatever’s  the  matter,  Sandy  ?  Mr.  Stewart’s 
.specimen  Adiantums  stood  the  test  against  those  from  Mr. 
Henderson,  of  Kirknewton,  and  Mr.  Pearson,  of  Beechwood. 
Messrs.  Chaplin  and  Wood,  almost  next  door  neighbours,  con¬ 
tested  for  premier  award  rvith  three  pans  of  Selaginellas,  those 
lowly  plant  forms,  and  Chaplin  won.  He  only  played  third  tune, 
however,  in  the  class  for  six  Calceolarias,  his  rivals  being  (I)  Mr. 
D.  Mackay,  of  Lasswade;  and  (2)  Mr.  T.  McMorland,  of  Inveresk 
House.  Mr.  A.  McMillan,  Lanark,  led  for  six  Streptocarpus. 
The  Innerleithen  grower  Adam  Brydon,  and  Robert  M.  Reid 
still  stand  true  to  their  long-time  loves,  the  Primroses.  For  six 
P.  vulgaris  varieties  Reid  beat  Brydon,  and  Dickson,  of  Glen- 
ormiston,  followed  third.  Mr.  Reid  won  for  six  double  Primulas. 
For  six  Polyanthus  Mr.  Dickson,  above  named,  led  off.  Mr. 
Patterson,  of  Lasswade,  was  strongest  in  the  true  Auricula 
classes.  The  names  of  McIntyre,  Wood,  and  Bald  w-ere  almost 
the  sole  appellatives  on  prize  cards  for  stove  plants.  Palms,  and 
Tree  Ferns.  Mr.  John  Thom  beat  Mr.  Wm.  Galloway,  of  Gosford, 
for  four  pot  Roses,  and  third,  Mr.  J.  Bald. 
Messrs.  Thom  and  Bald  stood  thus  for  four  distinct  lands  of 
Pelargonium — stage,  fancy,  zonal,  and  Ivy-leaved.  Mr.  W.  Gallo¬ 
way  beat  Mr.  D.  Sutherland,  Colinton,  for  half  a  dozen  Cinerarias. 
For  four  Orchids,  distinct,  Mr.  W.  Sharp,  of  Forgandenny,_had 
premier  honours  with  Odontoglossum  Alexandrse,  O.  A'exillarium, 
Vanda  tricolor,  and  Cymbidium  Lowianum.  Mr.  McIntyre  was 
second.  The  latter  led  for  two  Clivias,  splendidly  flowered ;  Mr. 
J.  Cowan,  of  Blackford  Road  came  second. 
Hyacinths  were  a  poor  show  compared  with  times  past.  Messrs. 
Brydon,  J.  Meiklam,  A.  Dickson,  and  A.  Mclnnes  were  the 
principal  prize-winners.  Classes  for  Narcissi  were  few.  Primulas 
of  sorts,  and  the  numerous  classes  devoted  to  forced  plants 
brought  forth  considerable  entries.  Mr.  J.  H._  Cumming,  Gran- 
tully  Castle,  led  for  the  twenty-five  best  species  or  varieties  of 
cut  Daffodils ;  Mr.  A.  W.  Cook,  The  Lodge,  Batho,  came  second. 
For  twelve  ditto,  Mr.  A.  Brydon  beat  Mr.  G.  Tweedie,  of  Duns ; 
and  third,  Mr.  Cumming.  ^or  two  dozen  Roses  in  eight  varieties 
Mr.  W.  Young,  of  Kirkcowan,  was  first;  Mr.  Geo.  Manson  second, 
and  Mr.  D.  Kidd  third.  For  one  dozen  ditto  Messrs.  Young, 
Manson,  and  Armstrong  were  in  this  order.  The  best  collection 
of  vegetables  came  from  Mr.  J.  Cossar,  Dunbar. 
