414 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  18,  1899. 
advance  its  interests  in  every  legitimate  way,  he  was  to  the  fore  in  all 
worthy  projects,  conferences,  exhibitions,  experiments,  and  charities  ;  all 
claimed  his  attention,  his  aid,  and  his  energy.  Well  might  Mr.  William 
Carmichael%ay,  in  a  recent  letter,  “Mr.  Dunn  is  a  most  useful  man.” 
Many  years  have  elapsed  since  I  first  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Dunn,  and  upon  the  subject  which  was  nearest  to  his  heart — hardy  fruit 
culture — we  have  corresponded  frequentl3'.  Within  the  past  few  weeks  I 
had  an  interesting  letter  from  him,  partly  in  reply  to  some  questions 
I  had  addressed  to  him  on  Strawberry  culture  in  Scotland,  It  so  well 
indicates  the  kindly  appreciative  character  of  the  man,  and  the  bent  of  his 
mind  as  a  horticulturist,  that  I  have  transcribed  it. 
**  Please  to  accept  my  best  thanks  for  the  copy  you  have  kindly  sent 
me  of  your  excellent  paper  on  ‘  Orchards.’  I  have  just  read  it  through 
this  evening,  and  find  it  full  of  the  latest  and  best  information  on  the 
subject.  It  is  seldom  so  much  sound  advice  is  found  in  so  small  a  space. 
I  trust  you  receive  encouragement  to  carry  on  your  good  work  among 
hardy  fruits.  Strawberries  lor  market  are  grown  to  a  considerable  extent 
in  this  district  (the  Lothians),  chiefly  around  Dalkeith,  Prestonpans, 
and  East  Linton,  but  the  supply  seldom  goes  further  afield  than  Edin¬ 
burgh  and  the  district.  The  great  centres  of  Strawberry  growing  are 
in  Clydesdale,  near  Lanark,  in  the  Blairgowrie  district  of  Perthshire,  and  in 
the  lower  Dee  and  Don  districts  in  Aberdeenshire.  There  is  no  good  work 
that  can  be  relied  upon,  but  a  lot  of  desultory  writing  and  rough  (often 
very  rough)  statistics  have  appeared  in  local  papers.  The  history  of  the 
Strawberry  enterprise  in  Scotland  requires  to  be  written  by  a  jierson 
familiar  with  what  he  is  looking  at  and  recording.  As  you  know,  a  lot 
of  salt  has  to  be  taken  with  the  statements  of  interested  parties  and  those 
who  give  information  so  freely'  about  matters  on  which  they  are  ignorant. 
Artificial  manures  are  not  popular  among  the  Strawberry  growers, 
who  use  little  else  than  ‘  farmy'ard  ’  when  they  can  get  it.  Fertilisers  of 
all  kinds  have  been  tried,  and  generally  condemned  for  one  reason  or 
another.  On  light  soils  they  are  said  to  burn  the  plants,  and  on  heavy 
to  make  them  grow  foliage,  but  no  fruit.  My  own  experience  with 
artificials  is  they  are  useful  when  you  have  abundance  of  moisture  to 
apply  with  them  on  light  soils  ;  and  on  strong,  marly  soil,  in  which  the 
Strawberry  delights,  they  are  of  little  use,  and  may'  do  harm  on  a  three- 
year  course.  I  do  not  include  bones  in  artificials;  they  are  good  but 
costly  for  a  Strawberry  crop. — :With  best  regards,  I  am  yours  faithtully, 
Malcolm  Dunn.” 
His  letters  were  always  brimful  of  information  or  suggestions,  and 
the  foregoing  is  given  because  it  must  have  been  one  of  the  last  penned 
by  our  friend,  and  because  it  leaves  a  task  as  a  legacy  to  some  able 
horticulturist  in  Scotland,  which  I  venture  to  hope  will  be  carried  into 
execution — namely,  a  record  of  Strawberry  culture  in  the  North. 
— R.  Lewis  Castle. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HALL— May  16th. 
The  display  at  the  Drill  Hall,  on  Tuesday,  was  a  most  interesting  one, 
and  was  decidedly  superior  to  what  was  expected  by  many  growers,  who 
were  of  the  opinion  that  the  forthcoming  Temple  Show  would  prejudice 
it.  This,  to  a  certain  extent,  proved  to  be  the  case,  as  Orchids  were  not 
numerous  ;  but  the  exhibits  brought  for  the  inspection  of  the  Floral 
Committee  were  both  extensive  and  diversified.  Fruits  and  vegetables 
were  not  very  largely  represented. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present:  P.  Crowlev,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs  J.  Cheal,  W.  Poupart,  A.  F.  Barron, 
A.  H.  Pearson.  J.  Wright,  A.  Dean,  S.  Mortimer,  ,1.  W.  Bates.  G.  Wythes, 
F.  Q.  Lane,  H.  Balderson,  J.  Smith,  G.  Miles,  G.  Norman,  R.  Pile,  and 
M.  Gleeson. 
The  Late  Mr.  Malcolm  Dunn. — Immediately  after  the  reading 
of  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  the  Rev,  W.  Wilks  rose,  all  the 
members  present  uncovering,  and  spoke  in  terois  of  the  deepest  regret 
of  the  death  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  Committee,  Mr.  Malcolm 
Dunn.  The  rev.  gentleman  said  the  loss  of  such  an  active  energetic 
helper  to  the  advancement  of  horticulture  in  Scotland  must  be  most 
keenly  felt ;  while  his  advice  and  assistance  so  freely  rendered  in  move¬ 
ments  in  which  the  south  was  immediately  interested  were  warmly 
appreciated,  and  the  death  of  their  friend  was  sincerely  deplored.  Mr. 
Wilks  concluded  by  proposing  that  the  following  resolution  be  entered 
on  the  minutes.  The  proposal  was  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  Wright,  and 
passed  by  the  silent  assent  of  the  whole  of  the  members.  “The  Fruit 
Committee  of  the  R.H.S.  have  heard  with  great  regret  of  the  sudden 
death  of  Mr.  M.  Dunn,  for  many  years  a  member  of  this  Committee. 
Whilst  recording  the  great  loss  they  themselves  feel,  they  also  desire 
to  express  their  deepest  sympathy  to  the  immediate  friends  of  Mr.  Dunn. 
IMessrs.  T.  Rivers  &  Son,  Sawbridgeworth,  sent  a  good  box  of  Cardinal 
Nectarines,  grown  from  trees  in  pots,  started  December  23rd  last  ;  the 
fruits  were  splendid  and  well  coloured.  Mr.  E.  Beckett,  gardener  to  Lord 
Aldenham,  sent  an  exhibit  of  Carter’s  New  Forcing  Turnip,  which 
appeared  to  be  in  good  form  ;  the  roots  were  white  and  crisp,  A  trial  of 
this  Jersey  Navet  type  of  long  white  Turnips  is  to  be  made  at  Chiswick. 
Mr.  J.  Miller,  gardener  to  Lord  Foley,  Ruxley  Lodge,  Esher,  exhibitec 
a  large  dish  of  Royal  Sovereign  Strawberry,  and  a  dish  of  Apples  callec, 
Eeddlestone  Pippin,  but  it  was  decided  to  be  the  French  Grab. 
Mr.  Alfred  Bishop,  Market  Harborough,  e.xhihited  some  excellent 
specimens  of  Monarch  Strawberry,  which  were  grown  in  5-inch  pots, 
also  a  good  dish  of  Leader,  which  clearly  demonsirated  that  both  these 
varieties  can  be  grown  in  pots.  Mr.  ,J.  Hudson,  gardener^  to 
L.  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  Acton,  exhibited  three  pots  of  Cherries,  Guigne 
d’Annonay.  a  black  variety,  fruits  quite  ripe. 
Mr.  C.  J.  Salter,  gardener  to  T.  B.  Haywood,  Esq.,  Woodhatch  Ledge. 
Reigate,  exhibited  boxes  of  Tomato  Hepper's  Goliath,  also  bunches  of 
fruit  to  illustrate  its  free-cropping  qualities.  The  fruits  were  very  fine, 
and  the  bunches  exhibited  were  carrying  from  filteen  to  twenty  fruits. 
The  same  exhibitor  also  sent  a  box  of  Royal  Sovereign  Strawberry, 
which  were  unusually  large  and  brightly  coloured. 
Report  of  Sub-committee  on  Measures  for  Fruits. — At 
the  meeting  of  the  Committee  held  on  May  2nd  a  letter  from  the  Customs 
authorities  referring  to  weights  and  measures  for  fruits  was  read,  and  wo 
now  give  the  report  of  the  Sub-CommUtee  that  was  appointed  to  go  t°to 
the  matter.  “  Considering  the  fact  that  all  fruits,  and  even  varieties  of 
the  same  fruit,  differ  considerably  in  their  weight  per  bushel,  we  consider 
the  quotation  of  imported  fruit  by  measure  altogether  misleading.  We  are 
very  strongly  of  opinion  that  all  importations  o‘'  fruit  should  be  recorded  by 
weight  and  not  by  measure  at  all.  Tne  best  weight  to  use  in  this  country 
is  the  ton  of  2240  lbs.,  not  the  cubic  ton. —  (Signed)  Ph.  Crowley, 
James  Walker,  Wm,  Poupart,  Geo.  Monro,  George  Bunyard.” 
Floral  Committee. — Present :  Chas.  E.  Shea,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  C.  T.  Druery,  H.  B.  May',  R.  Dean,  .1.  Jennings, 
Jas.  Hudson,  J.  F.  McLeod.  G.  J.  Sailer,  J.  Fraser.  Jas.  Walker,  J.  W. 
Barr,  J.  D.  Pawle.  G.  Gordon,  E.  II.  Jenkins,  D.  B.  Crane,  H.  .J. 
Cutbush.  E.  Beckett.  E.  T.  Cook,  H.  J.  Jmos,  H.  Turner,  George  Paul, 
H.  Self  Leonard,  G.  Nicholson,  and  Ed.  Mawley. 
Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Cheksea,  staged  a  bright  and  attractive 
collection  of  cut  flowers.  The  Parrot  Tulips,  such  as  Constantinople,. 
Eeu  Brilliant,  and  Mark  Graaf  were  very  notable,  as  were  also  the  species 
Tulipa  cornuta,  Gesneriana,  Isabella,  American.  Lac,  Velvet  Gem,  ana 
Summer  Beauty.  The  Ixias  and  Tritonias  were  also  bright.  The  pots 
of  Clintonia  pulchella,  Schizepetalon  W.alkeri,  Linarias,  Lasthenias,  and 
Nycterinia  selaginoides,  take  us  back  thirty  or  forty'  years  ago.  The 
group  was  tastefully  filled  in  with  Adiantums  and  Pterises  ;  also  a  group 
of  Richardia  Elliottiana  in  excellent  condition,  with  plants  of  Paeonia 
arborea  Elizabeth  (silver  Flora  medal). 
Messrs.  I^  &  G.  Cuthbert,  Southgate,  staged  a  collection  of  Azaleas 
consisting  of  Azalea  mollis  hybrids,  also  the  Ghent  forms,  with  foliage 
plants  and  Ferns.  Chief  amongst  the  Azaleas  were  Chevalier  de  Reali, 
Glory  of  Boskonp,  Apellus,  Ariadne,  Hortulanus  Witte,  and  Virgue 
(silver  Flora  medal).  Messrs.  G.  Jackman  &  Son,  Wokinef,  contributed  a 
display  of  tlowering  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants.  The  TrolHus  in 
variety  wore  bright,  as  were  also  the  Geums.  Phlox  canadensis  with  its 
pale  blue  flowers,  and  P.  setacea  compacta  were  also  noteworthy  , 
Cytisns  praecox  and  the  white  form  were  effective.  Magnolia  Soulangeana 
was  also  staged  in  good  form  (bronze  Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  Chas.  Turner,  Slough,  exhibited  a  group  of  Malmaison  Car¬ 
nation  Princess  May  in  capital  condition  edged  with  Maidenhair  Fern 
(bronze  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  Kelway,  Langport,  showed  a  collection 
of  Pajonies  in  great  variety.  The  best  forms  were  Elizabeth,  a  salmon 
pink  of  good  form  ;  Jean  de  Reszke,  a  giant  single  white  ;  Snowy 
The  Mikado,  Dm  Quixote,  and  Julius  Caesar  (bronze  Flora  medal).  Mr 
Jas.  Hudson,  Gunnersbury  House,  exhibited  some  excelle.nt  plants  of 
Heliotrope  in  5  inch  pots.  Chameleon,  a  medium  colour  ;  Picciola,  a 
dark  form  ;  and  Madame  Eillay',  a  light  colour  with  a  dwarf  habit,  were 
the  varieties  shown  ;  all  were  first-rate  forms  for  greenhouse  decoration. 
Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Tottenham,  exhibited  a  group  of  spring  flowers, 
chief  of  which  were  Azalea  mollis  in  variety,  a  number  of  late  Narcissi, 
Geums,  Primula  Sieboldi  in  variety,  Alpine  Auriculas,  and  a  collection 
of  rock  and  alpine  plants  completed  the  exhibit  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  G.  Paul  &  Son,  Chesbunt,  sent  a  large  collection  of  herbaceous 
end  alpine  plants,  such  as  Tiarella  cordifolia,  Geums  in  variety,  Iberis 
gibraltarica.  Iris  tingitana.  Phlox  canadensis,  and  some  very  pr^ty 
Saxifragas.  Some  flowering  shrubs  formed  a  good  background.  The 
new  Rambler  Rose  Psycho  was  also  well  displayed  (silver  Banksian 
medal).  «  u  u  i» 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  occupied  one  side  of  the  nail 
with  an  exhibit  of  Darwin  Tulips,  Narcissi,  and  a  variety  of  herbaceous 
and  alpine  plants.  The  chief  Tulips  were  Joseph  Chamberlain,  a  bright 
crimson  variety  ;  Loveliness,  a  well  formed  rose  ;  He.cla,  a  dark  cr^son 
of  excellent  character  ;  Charles  Dickens.  Dorothy.  Purple  King.  Glow, 
Cordelia,  The  Sultan,  May  Queen,  and  Queen  of  Roses  in  the  Darwin 
section.  The  Parrot  forms  were  in  great  variety,  while  the  Primula 
Sieboldi  in  variety.  Primula  Auricula  Celtic  King,  a  good  yellow  form  ; 
Paeonies  in  variety,  Trollius  japonica  fl.-plena,  and  Euphorbia  pilosa 
major  contributed  to  the  display  (silver  Flora  medal). 
Mr.  F.  D.  Godmnn.  South  Lodge,  Eareham.  staged  some  very  fine 
specimens  of  hybrid  Rhododendrons  and  Irises,  The  specimen  of  Rhodo¬ 
dendron  Aucklandi  hy'brid,  a  greenhouse  form,  was  truly  grand  ;  the 
heads  were  huge,  and  pure  white  in  colour.  A  red  form,  called 
Luscoinbe’s  Hybrid,  a  cross  between  Thomsoni  X  Fortunei,  was  also  con¬ 
spicuous.  R  Nuttali  and  R.  campylocarpum,  with  pale  sulphur  coloured 
flowers  came  from  the  open  air.  The  Irises  were  Susiana,  a  fine  specimen 
and  Atrofusca  (bronze  Ilanksian  medal.) 
Messrs.  William  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  exhibited  a  large  collec¬ 
tion  of  pot  Roses,  also  several  box"s  of  cut  flowers.  The  terror  section 
included  excellent  examples  of  Enchantress,  a  well-known  Tea  forno, 
Gustav  Piganeau,  Emperor,  La  France,  Violette  Bouyer  (in  fine  form), 
