36 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



garden to begin ; wliat is already done has been well done, and on a 

 grand scale. The vineries are the most spacious we have ever seen 

 for lean-tos, and the crops, especially Muscats, extra fine. Figs are in 

 grand health, as also stove and greenhouse plants. The Standard 

 Mignonette for winter, grown in low span-pits, were models ; and in 

 numbers were the Dalechampia in fine flower, and magnificent speci- 

 mens of the true Celosia aurea. Mr Henderson as well as Mr Simpson 

 has caught the sub -tropical fever. One bed filled with Echeveria, 

 we must confess, was striking. The grotesque-looking E. metallica 

 which filled the centre in great luxuriance was very defiant, we had 

 nearly said beautiful ; and a chain pattern round the same of E. 

 glauca, filled in with the choice tricolor Pelargoniums, was certainly 

 unique and pretty. Pines are also well done here — some planted out, 

 but the most in pots ; and it is high praise to say that they trod hard 

 on the heels of those at Wortley. The Thoresby Queen is a most 

 striking and distinct Pine, and ought to be more generally grown. It 

 has the short spreading sturdy habit of the Common Queen, but 

 densely covered with meal, which makes it very conspicuous in a 

 collection. It swells a large pyramidal fruit, is more juicy than the 

 Common Queen, and quite as free from stringiness, but not so rich as 

 that variety. Indeed, we think it bears the same relation to the Common 

 Queen as the Golden Champion bears to the Muscat Grape — they ought 

 to be eaten together. The Thoresby Queen must certainly be more grown 

 when better known : its habit and appearance at once recommend it. 



The country for miles around Barnsley has the appearance of 

 sufi*ering from a slow and continued earthquake, from the sinking 

 of old pit -workings : the roads are sunk and twisted into ugly 

 gradients, the stone-fences are reft, and bowing hither and thither; 

 even houses bow to the general disturbance. 



A peep for a few hours into the Leeds Exhibition, a multum in 

 parvo, was the finish to our fortnight's holiday of sight-seeing — it was 

 the grand finale or transfiguration scene. It was a study for a season 

 instead of for a few hours. The cases of miniatures of historical 

 characters set in gold ,witli the names engraven, contributed by the 

 Duke of Buccleuch, were particularly interesting to us. The central 

 hall was disfigured with a lot of poor scrubby dusty Palms, Altingias, 

 and foliage -plants, which made one feel an itching to get at them 

 with an engine in sanitary indignation. 



The Squiee's Gaedener. 



. — ^>-^^^^^P<fl* 



