498 
JOURKAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  4,  1903. 
tion  by  the  end  of  May.  Before  the  buds  in  the  spring  show 
any  signs  of  opening,  it  would  be  well  to  spray  the  trees  with 
a  eau.stic  alkali  wash,  composed  of  lib  of  caustic  soda  dissolved 
in  half  a  bucket  of  water,  then  add  Jib  of  pearlash ;  stir  until 
dissolved,  add  enough  water  to  make  the  mixture  up  to  lOgals, 
and  then  stir  in  lOoz  of  softsoap  which  has  been  dissolved  in  a 
little  hot  water." 
Diseased  Figs. — Dr.  Cooke  reports  as  follows  on  fruit  sent  to 
last  meeting;  “The  Figs  were  covered  about  the  apex  of  the 
fruit  with  a  deaise  felted  mass  of  a  grey  mould,  which  proved 
on  examination  to  be  a  species  of  Botrytis,  which  does  not 
appear  to  differ  from  Botrytis  cinerea,  already  known  for  its 
destructive  capacity.  Originally  known  only  as  a  saprophyte,  it 
has  proved  parasitic  and  fatal  to  Lilies,  and  probably  under 
different  names  to  other  cultivated  plants.  In  the  case  of  Figs 
we  are  not  aware  that  it  has  been  recognised  befoz-e,  and  in  the 
present  instance  no  sclerotia  have  been  found.  With  such  a 
pronounced  endophyte  there  is  no  hope  that  a  remedy  can  be 
recommended. 
Melon  Disease. — With  reference  to  a  common  Melon  disease, 
Mr.  Massee  observed  that  the  siDores  of  Dendryphium 
oomosum,  which  appears  to  be  the  same  as  Cercosppra,  enter  by 
the  top  lights  when  open  much  more  than  from  below.  He  had 
also  found  the  fungus  on  the  straw  manure  used,  which  com¬ 
municated  the  .spores  to  the  leaves  of  the  Melons  or  Cucumbers 
when  covered  by,  or  touching,  the  straw.  A  high  temperature 
with  deficient  ventilation  was  very  provocative  of  the  disease. 
A  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke  for  his  numerous  in¬ 
vestigations  and  reports  was  proposed  by  Dr.  Masters,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Shea,  and  carried  unanimously. 
Lemon,  diedy.ds. — Mr.  Raphael  sent  a  Lemon,  in  which  the 
carpels  were  more  or  less  separated.  It  is  known  as  “  Buddha’s 
fingers.”  It  came  from  Mentone.  He  observed  that  such  or 
similar  malformations  are  far  from  uncommon. 
R.H.S. :  Awards  for  Tulips. 
The  undermentioned  varieties  received  Awards  of  Merit  at  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  meetings  on  May  19. 
Tulip  Zomerschoon. — A  large  and  handsome  variety  of  the 
C’ottage  type;  deep  rose,  flaked  with  white;  large,  good  form; 
bold  and  striking.  Exhibited  by  Miss  F.  Currey,  Lismore, 
Ireland. 
Strangulafa  niaew/ahf.— 'Soft  primrose-yellow,  with  a  con¬ 
spicuous  dark  greenish  centre  ;  bold  and  handsome. 
Zulu. — A  Darwin  Tulip;  dark,  almost  black;  a  stout  flower 
of  handsome  build;  perhaps  the  nearest  approach  to  a  black 
Tulip. 
Mail  Queen. — Also  a  Darwin;  pale  soft  rose,  ivith  a  delicate 
flushing  on  the  petal  edges,  and  a  dark  base  ;  a  flower  of  fine  form. 
The  three  foregoing  were  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons, 
King  Street,  Co  vent  Garden. 
The  Fawn. — Classed  with  the  Cottage  varieties,  a  mixture  of 
fawn  and  soft  pink,  feathered  with  white,  pale  yellow  base,  a  very 
attractive  variety.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent 
Garden. 
Orange  King. — Orange  and  pale- red,  yellow  base^  a  bold  and 
striking  variety  of  fine  form. 
The  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural. 
The  spring  show  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society  was  almost  a  fortnight  later  than  u.siial  this  year.  This 
is  partly  due  to  the  backwardness  of  the  season,  but  the  Council 
also  wi.shed  to  try  the  experiment  of  holding  the  exhibition  when 
Edinburgh  is  crowded  with  people  attending  the  Assemblies.  They 
were  so  far  fortunate  in  getting  Lord  Overtoun  to  open  the  show, 
and  to  secure  the  honour  of  a  visit  from  tlie  Lord  High  Commis¬ 
sioner  and  Lady  Leven  and  Melville  in  the  afternoon — events 
which  gave  great  eclat  to  the  first  day’s  proceedings.  A  feature 
was  also  made  of  the  music,  and  for  this  occasion  the  Royal  Artil¬ 
lery  mounted  band  was  brought  from  London,  and  played  to  de¬ 
lighted  audiences  both  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  a  capital 
selection  of  music.  The  .show  itself,  in  the  Waverley  Market, 
had,  nominally,  at  all  events,  fewer  entries,  but  this  to  a  large 
extent  is  due  to  a  new  regulation  which  penali.ses  entrants  if  they 
do  not  exhibit  what  they  have  entered.  The  show  of  such  spring 
plants  as  Daffodils  and  Hyacinths  is  now  over  for  the  season,  and 
so  they  were  practically  unrepre.sented  at  the  exhibition.  Tulips 
are  still  in  bloom,  and  lent  colour  to  the  scene,  and  there  was 
altogether  a  very  attractive  floral  display,  in  which  Rhododen¬ 
drons,  Azaleas,  Amaryllis,  Roses,  Pelargoniums,  Cinerarias, 
Spiraeas,  Orchids,  and  Primulas  played  a  not  inconspicuous  part. 
At  the  west  end  of  the  hall  a  nice  feature  was  made  of  three  groups 
of  miscellaneous  plants  arranged  for  effect  in  circles  of  I8ft 
in  diameter,  entered  by  Adam  Knight,  Millersneuk,  Lenzie  (who 
got  first  prize) ;  G.  Wood,  Oswald  Road  ;  and  M.  M'Intyre,  of  The 
Glen ;  and  in  the  same  neighbourhood  were  tables  of  pretty 
Orchids  by  the  last-mentioned  well-known  grower,  and  of  sweet 
spring  plants  by  A,  Dickson,  Glenormiston,  Innerleithen, 
To  the  nurserymen  of  Edinburgh  and  other  parts  of  Scotland 
the  show  was  greatly  indebted  for  much  of  its  attractiveness.  For 
the  decoration  of  the  streets  during  the  King’s  visit  a  severe 
strain  was  put  on  the  resources  of  the  nurserjunen  of  Edinburgh, 
but  they  had  been  able  to  stand  it,  and  to  keep  ^gomething  fresh 
and  beautiful  for  the  show.  A  very  excellent  and  artistic  display  was 
made  by  R.  B.  Laird  and  Sons,  Limited.  The  design  took  the 
form  of  a  ruined  castle,  the  walls  of  which  were  represented  by 
virgin  cork,  where  grew  Ferns  and  Mosses.  In  the  courtyard 
were  grouped  masses  of  Maples,  Rhododendrons,  and  Acacias, 
while  around  were  groups  of  some  lesser  known  varieties  of  hardy 
Azaleas  and  Rhododendrons  and  other  flowering  shrubs.  It  was 
the  large, st  display  this  firm  has  had,  and  it  was  one  of  the  most 
artistic.  Another  splendid  display  was  made  by  Messrs.  Dicksons 
and  Co.,  Waterloo  Place,  with  a  glorious  mass  of  bloom — arranged 
in  oblong  form — from  Streptocarpus,  Incarvillea,  Calceolarias, 
Rhododendrons — of  which  a  fine  specimen  of  Pink  Pearl  was 
shown,  the  brilliant  colours  being  set  in  a  cool  mass  of  green. 
G.  Stark  and  Son,  Great  Ryburgh,  Norfolk,  had  a  nice  display  of 
Violas,  including  a  new  rayle.ss  yellow.  Royal  Sovereign.  On  the 
table  of  John  Phillips,  Granton  Road,  were  new  Pelargoniums, 
and  a  new  heliotrope-shaded  Clematis,  Nellie  Moser.  J.  and  A. 
Glass  had  a  well-ai*ranged  table,  on  which  was  bedded  a  violet- 
coloured  Aubrietia  with  a  setting  of  their  new  yellow  seedling 
fiola,  the  white  Viola,  Marchioness,  and  about  100  varieties  of 
Tulips. 
James  Dickson  and  Sons,  Hanover  Street,  had  quite  a  gay 
fable  of  Tulips,  Daffodils,  Rambler  Roses,  and  Amaryllis  against 
a  background  of  .standard  Bays.  Reamsbottom  and  Co..  Geashill, 
King’s  County,  had  a  very  showy  table  of  double  St.  Brigid 
Anemones ;  and  from  Ireland  also  came  an  attractive  stand  of 
Tulips  and  Anemones,  which  were  raised  at  Robertson’s  bulb 
farm.  Rush,  County  Dublin.  The  experiment  of  growing  bulbs 
in  Ireland  has  been  a  great  success,  and  the  glowing  colours  on 
these  Irish  flowers  were  quite  equal  to  any  from  Holland.  John 
Forbes,  Hawick,  showed  Polyanthus,  Carnations,,  and  alpiire 
plants.  David  W.  Thomson,  George  Street,  had  a  pleasiirg  stand, 
in  which  bright  flowers  were  set  against  the  cool  greens  of  orna¬ 
mental  Conifers.  Cuniringham  and  Fraser,  Comely  Bank,  exhi¬ 
bited  alpine  plants,  dwarf  herbaceous  , plants,  and  flowering 
shrubs;  and  Dobbie  and  Co.,  Rothesay,  at  their  stand  had 
arranged  a  ircat  rockery  on  which  their  exhibit  of  alpine  plairts 
was  growing  ;  it  was  exceedingly  effective.  Their  di.splay  of  Violas 
and  Tulips  was  also  good.  The  arraiigements  for  the  show,  car¬ 
ried  out  by  the  secretary,  Mr.  P.  Murray  Thomson,  S.S.C.,  were, 
as  usual,  efficient  and  satisfactory. 
At  two  o’clock  the  show  was  .declared  open  by  Lord  Overtoun 
in  presence  of  a  considerable  gathering  of  ladies  and  geirtlemen. 
Among  those  Avho  accompanied  his  lordship  to  the  platform  were 
Sir  Robert  Cranston,  Bailie  Mackenzie,  Councillprs  Brown  and 
Murray,  Mr.  M‘Hattie,  city  gardener;  Mr.  R.  Laird,  and  W.  H. 
Massie.  Sir  Robert  Cranston,  rvlio  presided,  said  that  the  asso¬ 
ciation  under  whose  auspices  they  were  met  deserved  the  thanks 
of  the  citizens,  and,  he  should  say,  the  support  of  the  munici¬ 
pality,  because  gatherings  such  as  the  present  were  certainly 
beneficial  to  the  city,  and  afforded  a  very  great  deal  of  plea.sure 
to  those  who  took  any  part  in  them.  He  understood  that  the 
association  was  nearly  a  hundred  years  old,  being  ninety-six,  and 
from  very  small  beginnings  it  had  reached  its  present  high  posi¬ 
tion.  At  first  only  a  comparatively  few  prizes  were  given,  while 
that  day  no  fewer  than  300  were  offered.  The  society  had  spread 
its  net  over  the  Avhole  of  Scotland,  and  induced  men  from  all  parrs 
of  it  to  come  and  exhibit  there,  affording  the  vi.sitors  to  the  show 
pleasure,  and,  he  hoped,  sati.sfaction  to  the  exhibitors. 
His  Grace  the  Lord  High  Commissioner,  the  Countess  of  Leven 
and  Melville,  accompanied  by  Sir  Kenneth  Mackenzie,  Bart. 
(Purse-Bearer),  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cameron  Lees  (chaplain),  Lady 
Marjory  Mackenzie  of  Gairloch  (Lady-in-Waiting),  Miss  Mac- 
gregor  of  Maegregor,  and  Miss  Duff  (Maids  of  Honour),  Colonel 
Campbell.  Argyll  and  Sutherland  Highlanders,  and  Lieutenant 
S.  H.  Eden,  1st  Battalion  Black  Watch  (Aides-de-Camp),  paid  a 
visit  to  the  show  yesterday  afternoon.  The  party  was  received  at 
the  main  entrance  to  the  Market  in  the  Waverley  Bridge  by  Mr. 
D.  P.  Laird  (the  vice-president  of  the  society),  and  Me.ssrs.  W.  H. 
Massie,  James  Whytock  (Dalkeith),  D.  W.  Thomson,  J.  W. 
M‘Hattie  (city  gardener),  John  Methven  and  A.  D.  Richardson 
(members  of  the  council),  and  Mr.  P.  Murray  Thomson,  S.S.C. 
(secretary).  As  his  Grace  and  suite  entered  the  spacious  building 
the  National  Anthem  was  played  by  the  band  of  the  Royal  Artil¬ 
lery  (mounted).  The  party  was  conducted  over  the  exhibition  by 
Mr.  Laird  and  the  other  members  of  the  council.  The  Lord  High 
Commissioner  took  a  very  groat  interest  in  the  various  exhibits, 
of  some  of  which  he  made  a  note,  while  the  Countess  of  Leven 
and  Melville  was  equally  interested  in  the  di.splay,  pointing  out 
now  and  again  to  his  Grace  exhibits  which  had  pleased  her.  The 
movements  of  the  Lord  High  Commissioner  and  the  Countess  of 
Leven  and  Melville  and  suite  were  clo.sely  followed  by  a  large 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  His  Grace  and  Lady  Leven  and 
Melville  at  the  close  of  their  visit,  which  extended  to  about  an 
hour,  expressed  to  the  members  of  the  council  of  the  society  the 
pleasure  it  had  afforded  them  to  visit  the  show,  of  the  exhibits  in 
which  they  spoke  highly.  A  large  crowd  assembled  on  the  Waver¬ 
ley  Bridge  to  witness  the  departure  of  his  Grace  and  suite  from  the 
