270 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  17,  1903 
Societies. 
Edinburgh  Autumn  Show,  September  Otb  and  10th. 
Continuing  oirr  report  of  this  highly  successful  exhibition,  Ave 
may  say  that  more  minute  inspection  than  we  had  had  time  to 
give  it  confirmed  the  first  idea  of  its  great  excellence,  poor  season 
notwithstanding.  Not  in  one  section,  but  in  all,  if  it 'did  not 
reach  the  highest  water  mark  of  some  previous  Edinburgh  shows, 
it  Avas  little  inferior  to  the  best  of  theln  ;  possibly  this  Avas  some- 
Avhat  owing  to  the  extent,  variety,  and  beauty  of  the  trade  non- 
coTupetitive  exhibits,  Avliich  probably  surpassed  all  the  previous 
efforts  of  the  trade,  and  hid  any  deficiencies  in  the  exhibits  of 
private  groAvers.  As  usual  at  the  Edinburgh  autumn  .shoAvs,  the 
most  prominent  feature  in  the  competitive  classes  is 
Fruit.^ — The  exhibits  Avere  somewhat  short  of  some  previous 
seasons,  but  Avith  very  feAv  exceptions  the  quality  Avas  excellent. 
The  first  and  most  prominent  on  the  list  Avas  for  the  best  table  of 
dessert  fruit,  decorated  with  plants  or  flowers.  There  Avere  three 
entries,  and  for  fruit  Mr.  Goodacre,  EH^aston  Castle,  had  an  easy 
victory  gaining  106^  points  for  sixteen  dishes;  tAventy-eight 
points  for  four  dishes  Grapes  ;  Apples,  tAvo  dishes,  six  and  a  half 
and  seven  ;  Melon.s,  seven  and  eight ;  Pears,  seven  and  a  half  and 
eight  ;  Plums,  seven  ;  Figs,  six ;  Nectarines,  tAvo  dishes,  seven 
and  seA’^en  and  a  half ;  Peaches,  tAvo  dishes,  seven  and  nothing ; 
these  were  mostlj^  of  superb  quality.  Mr.  Kidd,  gardener.  Car- 
berry  ToAver,  Avas  second  Avith  90^  points.  His  Grapes  Avere  good, 
but  some  of  the  other  fruits  a  little  deficient.  Mr.  Smith,  Oxen- 
ford  Castle,  Avas  third,  86^  points.  The  prizes  for  decoration  in 
this  class  were  awarded  separately,  Mr.  Kidd  receiving  first  with 
2.5^  points  out  of  28.  His  flowers  were  largely  Gloriosa  superba, 
Sunrise  Roses,  Francoa,  Gypsophila  and  Smilax.  The  effect  Avas 
rich,  but  much  too  heavy  for  the  size  of  table.  Mr.  Smith  re¬ 
ceived  second  for  decoration  Avith  21^  points,  and  Mr.  Goodacre, 
Avith  a  sweet,  elegant  arrangement,  only  third,  Avith  1.5  points. 
Many  thought  this  should  have  been  first,  and  in  any  case  it  Avas 
diflicult  to  see  Avhy  it  Avas  not  second.  It  is  not  usually  considered 
good  taste  for  dinner  table  glasses  to  have  such  heavy  flowers  as 
white  Lapageria  dangling  on  the  end  of  a  Avire,  and  tAvo  shades 
of  pink  Carnations  u.sed  Avere  not  a  harmonious  blend. 
The  next  prize  in  importance  was  for  ten  dishes  of  fruit.  Mr. 
Goodacre  was  again  first  Avith  fine  Muscat  of  Alexandria  and 
Madresfield  Court  Grapes,  a  good  Queen  Pine,  Melon,  Princess 
Peaches,  Figs,  Albert  Victor  Nectarine,  Directeur  Hardy  Pear 
(extra  fine),  and  a  Gage  Plum.  Second,  Mr.  McKinlay,  gar¬ 
dener,  Wrest  Park,  Ampthill.  For  tweh-e  dishes  hardy  fruit, 
groAvn  out  of  doors  in  Scotland,  Mr.  James  Day,  GalloAvay  House, 
was  first.  For  twelve  dishes  orchard  house  groAvn  fruit  Mr.  Good- 
acre  was  easily  first  Avith  grand  specimens,  hi&  Apples  and  Pears 
being  specially  fine.  Mr.  Greenlow,  gardener,  Benmore,  Avas 
second  with  fair  fruit. 
The  class  for  six  bunches  of  Grapes  excited  more  interest  than 
any  competition  in  the  shoAV,  as  it  had  come  to  be  knoAvn  that  Mr. 
Goodacre  and  the  Messrs.  Buchanan,  of  Kippen,  Avould  reneAV 
their  ShreAvsbury  contest.  The  various  exhibits  under  this  class 
Avere  excellent,  and  after  long  and  careful  examination  Messrs. 
Buchanan  Avere  aAvarded  first  Avith  twm  bunches  each  Muscat  of 
Alexandria,  AlnAvick  Seedling,  and  Black  Alicante,  gaining  49J- 
points  out  of  a  possible  52.  Mr.  J.  Beisant.  gardener,  Castle 
Huntly,  was  second  with  fine  examples  of  Muscat  Hamburgh, 
Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  Madresfield  Court,  47^  points.  Mr. 
Green,  gardener  to  C.  M.  Palmer,  Esq.,  M.P.,  was  third  wdth  44^ 
points.  His  bunches  were  large  and  handsome,  especially  Gros 
Maroc  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria.  In  this  class  Mr.  Goodacre  was 
not  placed.  For  four  bunches  Mr.  Goodacre  Avas  first  with 
Black  Hamburgh.  Muscat  Hamburgh,  Madresfield  Court,  and 
Muscat  of  Alexandria.  These  were  aAvarded  27  points.  Messrs. 
Buchanan  got  second  award,  Avith  fine  bunches,  receiving  25^ 
points.  Mr.  Green  Avas  again  third.  For  tAvo  bunches  Muscat  of 
Alexandria  Mr.  Hughes,  gardener.  King’s  MeadoAvs,  Peebles,  Avas 
first  Avith  large,  handsome  bunches,  not  quite  finished  in  colour. 
Second,  Mr.  Goodacre.  For  tAvo  bunches  Black  Hamburgh  Mr. 
Goodacre  Avas  first,  Mr.  Grieve,  Kirkcaldy,  second,  and  Mr.  Kidd 
third.  In  a  number  of  one  bunch  classes  for  various  sorts,  Mr. 
Goodacre,  Mr.  Green,  Mr.  Hughes,  Mr.  Grieve,  Mr.  Kidd,  Mr. 
Sutherland,  Polmont,  and  Messrs.  Buchanan  gained  leading 
honours.  Mr.  Kidd  Avas  first  Avith  the  new  Grape,  Diamond 
Jubilee;  but  the  bunches  Avere  small,  and  hardly  Avhat  AAas  ex¬ 
pected  of  this  much-talked-of  novelty. 
Among  mi.scellaneous  fruits  there  aaus  a  fair  competition,  but 
(‘xcept  in  classes  confined  to  Scottish  growlers,  the  brethren  from 
the  South  received  most  of  the  honours.  In  the  class  for  tAvelve 
varieties  of  Apples,  groAvn  in  Scotland,  for  which  the  Dunn 
Memorial  Medal  and  £3  Avere  given  as  first  prize,  there  Avere  no 
fcAver  than  eleven  competitors,  mostly  very  good  fruit  for  the 
season.  The  much  coveted  first  award  Avas  gained  by  Mr.  R. 
Sinclair,  Congleton  Gardens,  East  Lothian,  Avith  handsome  fruits 
of  leading  varieties,  mostly  cooking.  Mr.  Day,  GalloAvay  House, 
second  ;  and  Mr.  Murray,  Culzean  Castle,  third.  Amongst  “  small  ” 
fruits  there  was  nothing  remarkable,  good  Currants  and  remark¬ 
ably  fine  Raspberries  from  Mr.  A.  Dickson,  Innerleithen.  The 
Caledonian  Society  offer  aAvards  in  fully  forty  classes  of  different 
Apples,  Avhich  seems  too  many,  as  a  number  of  the  exhibits  Avere 
most  unintere.sting. 
M.  Smith,  E.sq.,  PrestAvick,  Ayrshire  (gardener,  Mr.  Lawrie), 
exhibited  a  choice  collection  of  pot  gro'Avn  Apples  Avhich  Avere  of 
very  hiirh  quality. ,  The  specimens  of  EcklinviJle,  Peasgood’s 
Non.such,  Allington  Pippin,  Bismarck,  &c.,  Avere  very’  fine.  A 
silver  medal  aAA’arded. 
Plants. — The  various  dosses  Avere  Avell  filled,  but  speaking 
generally  Avere  not  up  to  a  high  standard  of  culthmtion.  Compared 
Avith  plants  seen  at  the  leading  South  shoAvs,  those  in  Edinburgh 
seem  poor,  and  are  not  equal  to  the  specimens  that  have  at  times 
been  the  glory  of  Waverley  Market  shoAvs.  For  a  group  Mr. 
Wood,  OsAvald  House,  Avas  the  only'  competitor,  with  a  collection 
not  rich,  but  graceful,  and  in  arrangement  Avas  an  improvement 
on  Mr.  Wood’s  usual  exhibits.  For  four  stove  and  greenhouse 
plants  Mr.  Wood  Avas  first,  and  Mr.  McKenna,  Ratho,  second. 
In  three  Orchid  classes,  Mr.  Sharpe,  Freelands,  Forgandenny, 
Avas  first,  and  Mr.  Wood  second.  Specimen  Ferns  Avere  fine, 
Mr.  Bruce,  Murrayfield,  being  first  wdth  handsome  plants,  and 
Mr.  Wood  second.  For  Adiantums  Mr.  Moudie,  Musselburgh, 
AA’as  first,  and  Mr.  Pearson  second.  DAvarf  British  Ferns  Avere  a 
beautiful  class,  Mr.  Brown,  Waterloo  Place,  taking  leading 
honours  AAitli  A’ery  beautiful  plants.  Begonias  were  fairly  good, 
and  Fuchsias  Avere  Avell  groAvn.  Among  foliage  plants  those 
shown  by  Mr.  Thom  Avere  very  attractive. 
Cut  Flow’ers. — The  display  of  cut  floAvers  Avas  most  exten¬ 
sive,  and  speaking  generally  the  exhibits  Avere  fine,  and  more 
than  anything  added  to  the  resplendence  of  the  hall.  Hardy 
border  plants  Avere  a  specially  fine  show,  excelling  anything  seen 
anyAvhere  this  season.  SAveet  Peas  Avere  a  good  show,  but  miles 
behind  ShreAvsbury,  Avhere  the  display  Avas  grand  in  the  extreme. 
For  Gladioli  there  Avere  three  competitors  in  each  class  of 
tAA*elve  and  six  spikes,  and  in  both  classes  Mr.  Bennett,  Berwick- 
on-TAveed,  Mr.  Lawrie,  PrestAvick,  Ayrshire,  and  Mr.  A.  Brydon, 
Innerleithen,  Avere  first,  second,  and  third  respectively.  The 
quality  Avas  fine.  For  twelve  Begonias  Mr.  Johnston,  East  Lin¬ 
ton,  Avas  first  Avitli  very  fine  blooms,  and  the  Roa'.  R.  Rodgers, 
from  the  same  place,  Avas  a  good  second.  For  tAvelve  SIioav  or 
Fancy  Dahlias  Mr.  Sutherland,  Kirkintilloch,  Avas  first.  The 
same  gentleman  was  first  for  Cactus  Dahlias  and  second  for 
pompons.  Mr.  Thos.  Robertson  also  showed  well  in  the  Dahlia 
classes.  For  twelve  bunches  Sweet  Peas  Mr.  Malcolm,  Duns, 
was  first  Avith  a  very  fine  lot,  Mr.  McKenzie,  Aviemore,  second, 
and  a  well-knoAvn  groAver,  Mr.  Duncan,  Fogo,  third.  They  were 
all  fine  considering  thei  lateness  of  the  season. 
For  six  Orchids  Mr.  Sharp,  Freelands,  was  first,  and  Mr. 
Veitch,  Carlisle,  second.  Roses  Avere  fair  for  the  season.  In  the 
class  for  tAvelve  blooms  Mr.  Bennett,  Helensburgh,  Avas  first,  and 
the  veteran  rosarian,  Mr.  Parlane,  Roav,  second. 
For  tAveU’e  Tea  Roses  Mr.  Parlane  Avas  first  and  Mr.  Bennett 
second.  Roses  in  vases  were  a  good  shoAV,  but  generally  speaking 
not  well  set  up.  Mr.  Whyte,  Helensburgh,  Avas  a  leading  prize- 
taker,  and  also  Mr.  Parlane.  In  the  classes  for  six  vases  Mr. 
Parlane  was  first,  but  the  exhibit  could  hardly  be  called  one  of 
Roses  in  va.ses.  About  two  dozen  Roses  tied  to  a  stick  with 
moss  and  squeezed  into  a  vase  is  surely  not  the  intention  of  the 
prize.  Mr.  A.  Todd,  Musselburgh,  Avho  w’as  second  in  this  class, 
had  vases  of  good  Roses,  beautifully  arranged.  Pansies  and 
Violas  were  a  small  shoAV. 
In, the  clas.s  for  tAvelve  blooms  Chrysanthemums,  not  less  than 
six  varieties,  Mr.  Thos.  Baird,  Cambus,  was  first  Avith  marvellous 
blooms  for  September.  Madame  Gustave  Henry  and  W.  H. 
Lincoln  Avere  both  very  fine.  '  Carnations  were  a  nice  show. 
ShoAvn  in  vases  these  far  eclipse  the  old  method  of  single  blooms 
on  stands.  Mr.  Brydon,  Innerleithen,  had  all  the  first  prizes, 
folloAved  hard  by  Mr.  Bennett,  TAveedmouth.  In  the  classes  for 
tAveh'e  and  six  hardy  herbaceous  perennials  Mr.  Brydon  was  first 
and  Mr.  Tho.s.  Robertson  second  in  both  classes,  Avith  very  fine 
exhibits,  splendidly  staged.  Eucomis  regia.  Lobelia  Queen  Vic¬ 
toria,  Chrysanthemum  maximum.  Coreopsis  grandiflora  were 
specially  noticeable.  For  tAv^A’e  bunches  hardy  border  flowers 
Mr.  Roljertson  Avas  first  and  Mr.  Bi’ydon  second,  Avith  handsome 
stands. 
Asters  were  fairly  good,  but  these  should  be  shoAvn  in  A’ases. 
and  would  be  a  Aveicome  addition  to  a  show.  On  boards  Avith 
Ijaper  collars  they  are  not  Avorth  looking  at.  Mr.  Veitch,  Car¬ 
lisle,  led  with  quilled,  and  Mr.  Forest,  Alexandria,  Avith  flat 
petalled  v’arieties.  Annuals  Avere  good  and  mostly  Avell  displayed 
loosely  in  vases.  Mr.  McAndie,  Inveresk,  Avas  first  Avith  a  hand¬ 
some  selection. 
Bouquets  Avere  a  small  class,  but  fairly  good,  considering  that 
the  competitors  (all  ladies)  seemed  to  be  amateurs,  the  Avhite 
shoAA’.er  bouquet  by  Miss  Mackintosh  being  very  elegant.  For 
the  most  tastefully  arranged  dinner-table  decoration  on  a  space 
5ft  by  3ft,  there  were  five  competitors,  showing  fairly  elegant 
work.  Tlie  first  prize  Avas  awarded  to  INILss  Mackintosh,  but 
