1870.] A VISIT TO FROGMORE GARDENS. 297 



of decision and energy was necessary to undertake and discharge such 

 a task. Where a few years ago could have been seen only sheets of 

 leafy twigs shutting in every brick in the walls, there are, as I saw them 

 on the occasion of this visit, sheets of blossom or blossom-buds. All 

 sorts of fruit-trees have been served alike, and almost every tree in 

 the gardens, including old standards and the fancy trained espaliers. 

 The low-lying position of these gardens — but little above the bed of 

 the Thames — on a consequently moist subsoil, inducing an overgrowth 

 of timber, compelled this wholesale root-pruning and thinning of the 

 wood. While this process was in progress, the different varieties of 

 fruits have been ranged together on sections of walls and borders, as 

 the case might be, so far as cultural considerations would permit 

 of its being done. Whole acres of Gooseberry and Currant tree3 have 

 been lifted and replanted after the green fruit of the former and ripe 

 of the latter were gathered in July, to admit of the trenching of the 

 ground, the only precautions necessary being a little shading and 

 syringing at certain times. 



What do your readers think of 300 bushels of Onions being re- 

 quired for the royal tables yearly, 40,000 heads of Celery, an acre and 

 a half of Horse-radish, and everything in the Brassica way counting 

 by scores of thousands ! Mr Rose, the head-gardener at Frogmore, 

 adheres to but few varieties of vegetables, knowing, as most really 

 practical men do, that three or four varieties of Cabbages or Onions 

 are amply sufficient. Whilst among figures, let me mention a few 

 things grown by the hundred or thousand for cut flowers, or for the 

 decoration of Windsor Castle. By the thousand, such things as Pinks, 

 bushy plants in 6-inch pots, Mignonette, Chinese Primulas ; Iberis, of 

 kinds ; Cinerarias, very fine ; Cyclamens, one year from the seed, fine, 

 in 6-inch pots ; show and fancy Pelargoniums, &c. By the hundred 

 are seen Hydrangeas, Euphorbia Jacquiniflora, Fuchsias, Coleus in 

 variety, Achimenes in 4 and 6 inch pots, already in full bloom in the 

 middle of April; Poinsettias, Azaleas, Roses, Spirea japonica, &c. 

 But in truth I should mention the whole list of popular flowers for 

 all times and seasons. Marechal Niel and Gloire de Dijon Roses are 

 trained to the rafters of a span-roofed house, and nothing can excel 

 them for cut flowers in spring. 



About 8000 pots of Strawberries are forced, Prince of Wales and 

 Prince Alfred being favourite sorts. For earliest supply, a variety is 

 grown, raised by Mr Rose at Floors, named Perfection, something after 

 Black Prince, but which might be called " Scarlet Prince," being 

 greener in the foliage, and bears brighter-coloured fruit, and is exces- 

 sively prolific. Strawberries were of course abundant, daily supplies 

 being sent to Osborne. Not a plant seemed to have missed. 



