500 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Juno 26, 1873. 



iiinoh caution, most of tliem beiog planted along the highest 

 }ininls, where the peculiar vegetation of the glen is met and 

 MeudA with that oi the wild underwood. 



Most small natural glens do not end abruptly, but gradually 

 expand into a wide-spread valley, as though at some remote 

 age a mighty flood of water rushing through and deepening 

 the glen's narrow gorge had bui-st forth from the restraining 

 bounds of its rocky sides with accumulated force, spreading 

 over the softer soil beyond, wearing and conveying it away to 

 some distant point, that is still perchance covered by the waters 

 of old ocean. It is just at this junction of glen and valley 

 that I would form a Beech grove, planting the Beech trees 

 80 feet apart, and filling the intermediate spaces with Larch, 

 to be thinned and removed gradually as the permanent trees 

 might require space. The extent of the grove should depend 

 upon the features beyond it ; if it could advantageously be 

 continued to a point commanding a pleasing view, that would 

 he the best and safest guide for the planter. From seats at 

 the lower boundary there might perhaps be a pleasing vista of 

 the waters of a lake with the soft swell of turfy slopes, broken 

 by a few noble specimens of Oak, Elm, or Lime, and if in the 

 background a glimpse could be had through richly wooded 

 banlts of a lofty range of distant hills the scene would be 

 perfect. 



liie pathway through the glen should be designed to com- 

 mand at different points full views of its most interesting 

 features. It takes no formal line, nor is it kept strictly on one 

 side, but following the windings and curves it leads from side 

 to side across rustic bridges or stepping stones. The bridges 

 should be made of undressed wood. Larch with the bark left 

 on is very suitable, or, if the span is narrow, flayed Oak wood 

 might be used, and Ivy trained along the sides and upon the 

 handrails. A good position for a bridge is below a waterfall, 

 not close to it, but at a httle distance down the glen, from 

 whence the play and dash of the water may be seen to the best 

 advantage. For any steep ascent very neat and durable wooden 

 steps can be made of circular blocks of Larch or Oak about a 

 foot in length, set on end side by side, and kept securely in 

 position by fastening slabs of Larch across the front of each 

 step, and by spandrils of the same material at the sides. — 

 EnwArc Ltjckhuest. 



THE ROY.\L HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S 

 BATH SHOW. 



The ample descriptions that have already appeared in the 

 Journal, aided by the plans which have been published, will 

 have made the general aspect of the Show ground clear to any 

 who have taken the trouble to read and examine them. It 

 will be sufiicient, then, to say that of all the sites which have 

 been chosen for the provincial exhibitions, none can for a 

 moment compare with the present. Bath itself is a fair place, 

 and the Victoria Park is one of its fairest spots, and yet so 

 convenient to the very heart of the city, that a ten-minutes 

 walk brings one from all the principal hotels to the Show 

 ground ; while, should the weather prove more unfavourable 

 than it is at present, the sloping character of the ground will 

 prevent that " Slough of Despond " which Birmingham pre- 

 sented last year. 



All those who have attended these provincial Shows are now 

 pretty well acquainted with their general aspect. The large 

 tent (GO feet longer this year than before), arranged on the 

 plan of which the Royal Botanic Society set the example ; the 

 plants placed on the ground, sloping and terraced banks, the 

 waterfall, and the fountain, are now what are naturally looked 

 for. To those who have not witnessed any of these Shows 

 one may say that the effect is veiy fine as looked at from 

 behind the waterfall, whence the eye can range over the whole 

 contents of the tent — sadly marrecl, however, to our mind by 

 the very substantial framework on which the canvas is placed"; 

 and one sighs for a time when we shall see either iron substi- 

 tuted for it, or some method devised by which this defect may 

 be remedied. In this tent have been placed the magnificent 

 plants of Messrs. Baines and Cole, the exhibits of Williams, 

 Veitch, Bull, Bell & Thorpe, and others, the whole forming a 

 marvellous display of the wealth of colouring and of foliage 

 that the realm of Flora so lavishly displays. The same long 

 and too-narrow tent where the cut flowers are exhibited is 

 filled from end to end. In the tent for vegetables is the finest 

 collection of vegetables we have ever seen displayed ; while 

 all around are tents, horticultui-al constructions, and con- 

 trivances of every description. 



On evei-y side one meets with well known faces ; for what a 

 Church Congress is to the parson, the Social Science Congress 

 to the political economist, the Royal Agricultural Society's 

 meeting to the farmer, that is this provincial Exhibition of the 

 lioyal Horticultural Society to the gardener of every descrip- 

 tion, amateur, nurseryman, or gentleman's gardener — a place 

 where one is sure to meet a large number of those interested 

 in the same pursuit, to renew former acquaintances, and to 

 make new ones ; and this has become now so thoroughly recog- 

 nised a fact, that it forms to many one of its most attractive 

 features. Many of us are utterly bla:e with flower shows, they 

 can add no new sensation ; but it is pleasant to meet with 

 those who are equally — well, let us say it — mad with one's 

 self, to exchange brotherly words of good will, to hear many 

 things discussed, and to be a sharer in that geniality which 

 ought to, and does as a rule, chai-acterise those who have to 

 deal with the lovely things connected with horticulture. We 

 lack this year the presence of Royalty ; for whatever might be 

 the inclination of any of our Princes to be present with us, the 

 Shah absorbs all their attention, and they cannot move from 

 their post of duty. Well, there is this to be said : If the Show 

 succeed it will be simply on the grounds of horticulture. Prince 

 Arthur, no doubt, brought crowds to Birmingham last year, 

 but no Prince attracts them to Bath this year; and so, what- 

 ever success be obtained wUl be due to the pure love of horti- 

 culture, and this, we know, has long characterised Bath and 

 its neighbourhood. 



The Exhibition was opened by a procession formed at the 

 park gates at half-past twelve, and which proceeded to the 

 grand tent, and walked entirely round it, after which it came 

 again to the front of the building facing the city, and the 

 principal members of which it was composed then took a place 

 on the summit of the rising plot of ground on which are 

 staged Mr. Young's collection of trees. 



The following address to the Lord Lieutenant of the cotmty 

 was then read : — 



" My Loed, — 



"At the request of the Local Committee of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society, I beg to offer the sincere thanks of the city of 

 Bath for your Lordship's presence and assistance on this 

 occasion. 



" We were much gratified by the decision of the Council to 

 hold its annual meeting within our borders. We esteemed it a 

 great privilege to be allowed to see, on the largest aud most 

 beautiful scale, what had been done for horticulture in recent 

 years. We also felt assured that the Exhibition which it was 

 proposed to hold — so comprehensive in its objects — would be 

 highly beneficial to our neighbourhood, by stimulating a desu-e 

 for improved culture among all classes of society. 



" With these feelings we gladly entered upon the various 

 duties assigned to us. We trust that the site of the Exhibition 

 will be found convenient and satisfactory to the visitors. We 

 are thankful to the numerous friends who have enabled us to 

 raise a larger amount iu prizes than has been raised on any 

 previous occasion. Favoured by this circumstance, by the ad- 

 mirable arrangement of the Council, and by great individual 

 skill on the part of their Superintendent, we have now a display 

 of plants, flowers, and structures, which will be abundantly 

 gratifying aud instructive. And now, my Lord, I have only to 

 add that among our greatest advantages is that of being able to 

 welcome in the Lord Lieutenant, and in the High Sheriff of 

 Somersetshire, the representatives of our beloved Sovereign in 

 the county to which we belong. We consider it a most happy 

 augm-y that the Exhibition is opened under such auspices ; and 

 we trust our ancient city will prove itself not unworthy of the 

 honour thus conferred upon it." 



In reply to this address, Lord Cork said, " I beg sincerely to 

 thank you for the address you have presented to me on behaif of 

 the Local Committee of the Koyal Horticultural Society, and to 

 assure you that, connected as I am with this great county, it is 

 a gi'atiticatiou to me to bear a part in this day's proceedings. I 

 entirely concur in the hope you have expressed that the Exhibi- 

 tion which I have the honour tliis day of opening may be bene- 

 ficial to the lovers of horticulture in this neighbourhood, and I 

 feel sure that this has been the chief object of the promoters in 

 this undertakhig. In asking me, and Ukewise the High Sheriff 

 for the county to appear iu official costume, I recognise a desire, 

 on the part of this ancient citj^, to seize on every occasion of 

 testifying; their devoted loyalty to the throne, and their respect 

 for all offices of dignity and importance emanating directly from 

 the crown aud representing its authority. I heartily join with 

 you in expressing my obligation to the Council of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society for holding its meeting within the borders 

 of your city, and I trust it may prove in every way success- 



