296 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
September  24,  1903 
in  Messrs.  Cocker’s  large  exhibit,  which  had  no  competitors  in  its 
class.  This  has  been  “  out  ”  for  a  few  years,  but  is  seldoin  seen  so 
fine.  One  must,  however,  also  remark  upon  a  splendid  scarlet 
Pentstemon  named  Preston  Hall,  and  raised  in  the  garden  there. 
It  seems  to  partake  much  of  the  character  of  the  now  scarce  but 
hardy  Newberry  Gem,  but  is  much  larger  and  more  perfect  in 
form.  This  should  be  a  really  good  plant,  and  it  is  one,  by  the 
way,  of  which  Mr.  J.  \V.  M'Hattie  thinks  highly,  from  having 
used  it  in  Edinburgh  public  gardens. 
As  has  already  been  remarked,  new  flowers  were  few,  but  one 
observ'ed  two  lots  of  the  double  variety  of  Gypsophila  paniculata, 
already  familiar  to  frequenters  of  the  Drill  Hall  exhibitions  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  This  is,  I  believe,  the  first  time 
it  has  been  shown  in  Edinburgh.  There  were  also  two  lots  of  the 
pinkish  coloured  Astilbe  sinensis,  but  these  were  not  very  well 
coloured,  and  did  not  do  justice  to  the  plant.  I  do  not  think  this 
has  been  shown  in  Edinburgh  before.  Chrysanthemum  maximum 
King  Edward  is  referred  to  below.  Among  the  most  noticeable  of 
the  other  things  one  must  place  the  magnificent  spikes  of  Eucomis 
punctata,  shown  by  Mr.  Adam  Brydon,  of  Innerleithen,  in  liis 
first  prize  stand.  I  imagine  that  finer  ones  have  never  been  shown. 
Though  they  came  from  under  glass  the,y  may  be  regarded  as 
examples  of  what  may  be  done  with  this  Orchid-like  bulbous  plant 
when  cultivated  as  it  might  be.  The  secret  appears  to  lie  mainly 
in  keeping  the  soil  dry  until  the  plants  start,  and  then  giving 
them  frequent  supplies  of  liquid  manure.  The  same  plant  was 
shown  elsewhere,  but  not  nearly  so  well  as  the  spikes  shown  by 
Mr.  Brydon,  who  deseiwes  every  credit  for  his  success. 
Considering  the  season  we  have  had,  the  Kniphofias  shown  by 
Messrs.  Cunningham  Fraser  and  Co.,  of  Comely  Bank,  were  very 
fine,  the  noble  Obelisque'  and  the  lovely  Lemon  Queen,  being 
among  the  best,  though  the  older  coralliua  deserves  also  a  note 
to  itself.  Eryngiums  were  less  seen  than  one  expected,  but  I 
observed  one  or  two  good  heads  of  E.  Zabeli ;  while  E.  Oliverianum 
was  also  in  several  stands.  Echinops  were  plentiful,  and  in  some 
competitive  stands  they  were  rather  unduly  numerous  in  propor¬ 
tion.  Physostegia  virginica  (Dracocephalum  virginianum)  was 
well  done  in  some  of  the  stands;  and  I  observed  some  good  pieces 
of  Chelone  Lyoni  and  C.  obliqua.  Plu’gelius  capensis  was  seen 
several  times,  but  not  so  well  coloured  a.s  in  my  own  locality,  in 
the  south-west  of  Scotland.  Messrs.  Laing  and  Mather,  who 
seem  to  be  making  a  new  departure  into  alpines,  had  a  nice  plant 
or  two  of  A.steri.scus  maritimus,  a  neat  yellow  plant  one  does  not 
often  come  across,  among  some  other  alpines  of  more  or  less 
rarity. 
Among  the  plants  one  expected  to  see  more,  largely  shown  were 
the  Rucibeckias  and  Echinaceas,  of  which  few  bunches  were  in 
evidence  in  the  different  stands;  indeed,  although  reiDresented,  of 
course,  such  autumn  composites  as  Helianthuses,  Inulas,  and 
Heleuiums,  were  not  nearly  so  plentiful  as  might  have  been 
looked  for.  Galtonia  candicans  and  Liliums  were  well  shown,  but 
the  latter  comprised  nothing  at  all  uncommon.  There  were  only 
a  few  perennial  Asters,  it  being  early  in  the  season  for  these,  but 
there  were  some  bunches  of  varieties  of  Aster  acris  and  some  of 
the  A.  Amelins  forms,  a  good  one.  Distinction,  being  the  best, 
perhaps,  of  those  seen.  The  allied  Erigerons  were  represented 
by  speciosum,  glabellus,  Coulteri,  itc.  Gaillardias  were  pretty 
numerous,  and  Lobelia  cardinalis  was  in  several  stands.  There 
wore  several  Delphiniums,  but  the  most  noteworthy  were  a  pale 
blue  double  one,  perfectly  imbricated,  named  Gloire  de  Nancy, 
and  a  good  bunch  of  the  curiously  coloured  purplish  blue  D.  Bru- 
nonianum.  a  plant  which  looks  much  better  when  cut  and  in  a 
bunch  than  when  in  the  garden.  There  were  a  few  Polygonums, 
the  best  being  a  good  bunch  or  two  of  P.  affine  or  Brunonis. 
Veronicas  were  frequently  shown,  often  in  capital  form,  and  it  is 
evident  that  V.  longifolia  sub-sessilis  still  holds  its  own  in  the 
favour  of  exhibitors,  though  here  and  there  one  came  across  V. 
1.  rosea,  and  there  were  one  or  two  lots  of  V.  vii'ginica. 
Chrysanthemums  were  largely  utilised,  but  only  such  as 
C.  maximum  and  its  forms  may  be  remarked  upon  now.  Un¬ 
doubtedly  the  finest  thing  of  tlie  kind  there  Avas  C.  m.  King 
Edward,  as  shoAAii  by  the  raiser,  Mr.  W.  Angus,  Penicuik,  and  a 
truly  noble  flower  of  its  class.  Campanulas,  as  Avas  to  be  expected 
at  this  time  of  the  year,  Avere  not  so  fine  as  eaidier  in  the  season, 
but  some  good  spikes  of  C.  persicifolia  alba  grandiflora,  and  one  or 
two  others,  Avere  exhibited.  Then  there  Avere  several  striking 
exhibits  of  Alstroemerias,  and  one  observed  some  go'od  lots  of 
Gentiana  asclepiadea  and  G.  a.  alba,  Avith  several  lots  of  Bocconia 
cordata,  though  I  failed  to  recognise  any  of  the  neAver  Bocconias 
sent  out  lately.  Galega  officinalis  occurred  here  and  there. 
There  Avere  a  great  many  bunches  of  Montbretias  of  the  usual 
A'ai'ieties,  but  by  far  the  best  Avas  the  fine  Germania,  Avhich  does 
not  gain  ground  as  it  ought  to  do.  One  Avas  disappointed  to  find 
so  little  variety  among  the  bunches  of  Anemone  japonica,  the 
A'ariety  alba  being  best  represented.  Some  of  the  neAver  French 
or  German  A'arieties  might  Avith  advantage  be  included  in  some 
stands.  Violas  are  not  referred  to  in  detail,  the  number  and 
varietv  being  practically  endless. 
These  notes  are  not  intended  to  be  exhaustiv'e,  but  to  giA'e 
some  idea  of  the  general  character  of  the  floAvers  shoAvn,  as  they 
appear  to  one  Avho  makes  a  special  study  of  hardy  floAvers. 
— S.  Aknott. 
Small  Copper  Batterlly, 
The  “merry  little  Copper”  Butterfly  dashes  to  and  fro  in 
gardens  and  open  fields  in  summer,  lending  to  the  scene  that 
aspect  of  joyousness  and  brightness  AA’liich  the  flapping  AA'ings  of 
these  frail  fair  creatures  ahvays  give.  It,  of  course,  has  been 
mentioned  by  “Entomologist”  in  his  notes  on  “Insects  for 
Garden  Adornment  ”  recently  concluded  in  the  Journal,  and  if 
it  does  no  especial  good,  it  does  no  especial  harm.  We  may  see  i*" 
all  through  October  and 
even  into  November; 
for  the  autumn  in¬ 
dividuals  of  this  species 
do  not  survive  the 
AA'inter,  but  flutter  on 
until  their  lives  are 
ended  by  the  cold 
nights.  The  Copper  is 
inclined  to  be  pugna¬ 
cious,  and  these  butter¬ 
flies  may  be  observed 
chasing  autumn  speci¬ 
mens  of  the  common 
Blue,  or  even  the  Tor¬ 
toiseshell. 
The  caterpillar  of 
the  Copper  Butterfly  is  found  in  August  feeding  upon  Docks  and 
other  species  of  Rumex.  The  “  Coppers  ”  appearing  in  October 
prove  to  be  the  parents  of  a  brood  Avhich  hybernate.  They  ijos- 
sibly  pass  the  ungenial  months  low  doAvn,  resting  on  the  stems 
of  grasses  or  upon  the  earth. 
- e>».> 
Obituary. 
Mr.  Janies  Smith,  Y.M.H. 
The  death  of  this  notable  gardener  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of 
his  age,  in  Scotland,  Avill  be  learned  AA’itli  surprise  and  regret  by 
the  horticultural  fraternity  in  general.  He  Avas  such  an 
amiable,  straightforAAard,  manly  man,  that  everybody  respected 
and  trusted  him.  We  ahvays  found  Mr.  Smith  quiet;  at  least 
not  inclined  to  be  impulsive,  but  meditative  ahvays,  weighing 
Avell  his  utterances.  He  died  at  midnight  on  Friday  last. 
J^''or  tAventy-nine  years  he  has  been  head  gardener  at  Ment- 
niore,  first  to  the  late  Baron  M.  Rothschild,  and  then  to  Lord 
Rosebery,  having  during  his  long  tenure  made  considerable 
alterations  Avhich  Avere  someAvhat  fully  recorded  in  the  Journal 
of  Horticulture  in  our  Spring  Number  for  1900.  A  photograph  of 
his  oAvn  house  (but  not  of  himself)  Avas  given  at  that  time. 
We  have  been  unable  to  secure  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Smith.  In 
appearance  he  Avas  tall  and  rather  spare,  Avith  Avhito  beard  and 
hair,  keen  grey  eyes,  and  even  features. 
A.s  a  gardener  his  practice  has  gained  great  repute.  He  Avas 
a  member  of  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  much  in  request  as  a  judge,  and  a  Avriter 
of  note’  in  our  oavu  and  other  gardening  papers.  Mr.  Smith 
AA'as  one  of  the  original  Victoria  Medallists  of  Honour  in  horti¬ 
culture.  His  special  lines  Avere  fruit.  Orchids,  and  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums,  and  he  Avas  keenly  interested  in  hybridisation. 
Mr.  Smith  left  Messrs.  Veitch’s,  Chelsea.  Nursery,  in  1809  to 
go  as  gardener  to  Lord  Gainsborough,  and  left  a  year  or  tAvo 
afterAvards  for  Mentmore. 
Lack  of  “Push”  in  the  U.S.A. 
The  editorial  comment  beloAv,  from  “  San  Francisco  Argonaut,” 
shoAvs  the  sui'prising  backAvardness  of  the  American  Government 
in.  a  matter  of  the  most  vital  importance:  “  The  need  of  a  parcel- 
post  system  is  more  keenly  appreciated  in  Europe  than  it  is  in 
this  country.  After  vrainly  urging  the  Government  authorities 
at  Washington  for  joint  action,  the  Briti.sh  Postal  Department 
has  established  an  independent  service.  Under  this  system 
parcels  Aveighing  111b  are  carried  for  sev’enty-tAvo  cents  from  any 
part  of  Great  Britain  to  any  part  of  the  United  States.  In  bulk 
a  maximum  in  girth  and  length  of  6ft  is  alloAved.  Since  the 
Government  of  this  country  has  refused  to  co-operate,  the 
British  Postal  Department  has  made  arrangements .  Avith  the 
Adams  Express  Company  to  carry  the  parcels  in  the  United 
States.  An  agreement  has  been  entered  into  Avith  Germany  by 
which  the  Postal  Department  of  this  country  carries  parcels  of 
lllb  coming  from  there,  and  sends  parcels  of  the  same  Aveight 
to  Germany,  but  it  is  said  that  a  movement  is  on  foot  to  reduce 
the  maximum  weight  to  the  limit  recognised  in  domestic  mail 
of  41b.  The  Belgian  Gov'ernment  is  said  to  favour  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  such  a  serAUce  with  this  country,  and  the  Anglo-Ameri¬ 
can  Chamber  of  Commerce  at  Bru'ssels  has  asked  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  in  this  city  to  faA’our  the  moAmment.  The  parcels 
post  has  become  a  commercial  necessity,  and  it  is  time  that  this 
Government  adopt  it.” 
Small  Copper  Butterfly. 
