March 19, 1874. ) 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



239 



placing them in a southern aspect in winter — in fact, I simply 

 turn my frames round. 



I think that with these things attended to, and care in 

 watering and keeping the pota and plants clean, anyone may 

 grow Auriculas ; and I am sure this is not more trouble than 

 is connected with any florists' flower. Last year I had three 

 frames of plants large and small ; this year my stock has 

 been increased by the accession of some of my dear brother's 

 plants and from otlier sources to five frames, and to about 

 five hundred plants large and small. On the whole, I cannot 

 say my general bloom last season was as good as I have had 

 it. That good old florist Mr. Butcher, of Camberwell, when 

 looking at my plants in 187'2 said, " Sir, if you grow Auriculas 

 for twenty years you will never have such plants again." I 

 am inclined to think that he was not far from the truth. I had 

 some fine plants in for the show in May, and some extraordi- 

 nary blooms, particularly one truss of Ne plus Ultra. It bad 

 five pips, and I laid a crown-piece on every one of them, and 

 the edge of the flower came beyond it — not that this was any 

 advantage : the refinement of the flower was gone ; it was 

 coarse, and I would not on any account have exhibited it. 

 George Lightbody maintained the high opinion I have always 

 entertained of it, and gave me some fine blooms. Some seed- 

 lings were submitted to me, and of these I may say something 

 by-and-by ; but they were not in my gai-den, and so have no 

 place in these notes. I had nothing new to bloom, and con- 

 tented myself with the old favourites. The summer was cool, 

 and favourable for the well-being of the plants. I had but 

 very few summer losses, and my plants when housed for the 

 winter looked very well ; and although the growth has not been 

 so great as in some seasons, yet I never had a healthier-looking 

 collection of plants. The following varieties maintained the 

 good opinion I have already formed of them. 



GEBEN EDGES. 



Ti-aiU's Mayflower 

 Hudson's Apollo 

 Traill'a General Neil] 



Littou's liaperator 

 Dicksou's Duke of Cambridge 



QREY EDGES. 



Ileadly'a George Lightbody 

 Lightbody's Richard Headly 

 "VVaterhouse'fl Conqueror 



Chapman's Maria 

 Slacleau'H Unique 

 Curminyham'a John Waterstou 



WHITE EDGES. 



Pott'a Regulator 

 OampbeU's Kobert Bums 



Rpalding's Metropolitan 

 Campbell's Pizarro 



-D., Deal. 



Heap's Smiling Beauty 

 Macdonald'a Incomparable 



Lightbody's Lord Clyde 

 Netherwood's Othello 



SYDNOPE HALL. 



[The following interesting notes arrived at our office too late 

 for inclusion in our commentary last week.] 



There are no historical incidents connected with Sydnope 

 House, which was but a small, comfortable, residence until 

 enlarged by its late owner, Sir Francis Sacheverell Darwin, M.D. 

 These enlargements were carried out in 18'26, and at the same 

 time the surrounding grounds, full of natural beauties and 

 attractions, were greatly improved and judiciously laid out. 

 Sir Francis also, in addition to other features, added to its 

 attractions by the forming of fountains, alcoves, and grottoes 

 in various parts. 



In the immediate neighbourhood, on the Sydnope brook, 

 many years ago Messrs. Dakeyne established flax mills of 

 remarkable construction, for the hydrauhc machinery of 

 which they took out a patent. " The machine called the 

 ' Equaliuum,' now in general use (1833) for the spinning of 

 flax, was also invented by the same gentlemen in their mi- 

 nority, for which, in 1791, a patent was granted to their father 

 Daniel Dakeyne, sen., of Darley Dale, Esq., 'for a machine 

 for the purpose of preparing and spinning of flax, denominated 

 the Equalinum.' " This machine became afterwards commonly 

 known as the " gill machinery." The lakes or reservoirs for 

 these works formed a very picturesque feature in the landscape. 



In the grounds attached to Sydnope House, and in a part 

 called "The Rough," a breed of wild boars were for many 

 years kept, and roamed about undisturbed in all the wild 

 fierceness of their nature — one being occasionally hunted, or 

 otherwise killed, and eaten, the "boar's head" gracing the 

 board in true medieval style. In 1837 the herd had become 

 reduced to a single boar — -the last of his race — a fine noble- 

 looking and venerable animal, with tusks of enormous size. 



This, the last of the wild pigs — ultimus Romanorum — had been 

 caught and kept some weeks in a sty in the farmyard for fat- 

 tening. Sir Francis Darwin determined that as " .Jack," as the 

 boar was named, had been born and bred in " The Hough," 

 and was the last of his noble race, he should die as he had 

 Uved, in his primitive wildnoss. A" boar hunt " was therefore 

 determined upon, and, the boar having previously been turned 

 out into his native " Rough," a cavalcade, ("6 la Wouvermaiis, 

 was formed, and accompanied by a number of dogs and a 

 large number of persons on foot, descended into the valley. 

 This cavalcade and the whole event were graphically described 

 in a poem, which we quote : — 



" A goodly sight it was to see 



That morn the gallant company, 



That blitho and eager for the sport, 



Were gathered in the stable court. 



Sir Francis rode a coal black stoed. 



Of mettle high, and noble bieod ; 



Of velveteen the coat he wore, 



His dexter hand a pistol bore, 



And at his side, from girdle slung. 



A hunter's carved cutlass hung. 



His daughter fair a palfrey graced. 



In lady's amble deftly paced; 



Obedient to his gentle load 



Though fiery still, his neck he bowed. 



Two squires attended ou the knight, 



Arm'd duly for the sylvan fight 



With carabines, whose deadly aim 



Might well at diatauce strike the game; 



And each was mounted on a steed 



As fit to serve his lord in need. 

 " Of small folk, too, a various herd 



Awaited all their master's word ; 



Some, dogs in hempen leashes lead. 



Of old and noble Engliah breed, 



Of tawny coat and sinewy limb. 



And, angered, sure of aspect grim ; 



And one prepares a horse and gear 



The slaughtered wild boar home to bear; 



And others idly mingle there, 



In hope the day's disport to share. 



And pointers, spaniels, smooth and rough, 



Black, brown, and white, and weak, and tough, 



All yelp'd in discord there." 



The hunting party soon found the boar, but he having been 

 kept in a sty for some time, and grown fat and effeminate, 

 gave but little sport, and was ignobly shot while squatting on 

 his haunches at the foot of a tree where he had turned to keep 

 the dogs at bay. His body, as a trophy, was carried back in 

 triumph to Sydnope House. 



Sir Francis Sacheverell Darwin, the former owner of Sydnope 

 House, was the second sou of the celebrated Dr. Erasmus Darwin, 

 the author of "The Botanic Garden," " Zoonomia," "Loves of 

 the Plants," and other works of a like philosophical character, 

 by his second wife Elizabeth, widow of Colonel E. S. Pole, of 

 Radbourne Hall, and half brother of Dr. Darwin, of Shrews- 

 bury, to which family Darwin, the author of " Origin of 

 Species," belongs. The family was originally of Cleatham, 

 in Lincolnshire. Dr. Erasmus Darwin resided at Derby and 

 Lichfield, and became the possessor of Breadsall Priory, in 

 that county, on the death of his son Erasmus, by whom it 

 had been purchased. This passed to Sir Francis Darwin, who 

 ultimately removed thither from Sydnope House. 



THE WEATHEE NEAR MAIDSTONE. 



At Vinters Park the weather has lately been very severe for 

 three or four days. On Tuesday morning (March 10th) the 

 thermometer registered 7° of frost, on Wednesday morning 

 13", and on Thursday 11'. The frost has been accompanied 

 with a considerable fall of snow on two days, but to-day, 

 Friday, it has entirely disappeared and the frost with it. 



The mild weather previous to the frost brought Apricots, 

 Peaches, and Nectarines into bloom. The former were full out ; 

 and although the trees have been protected by the best means 

 at command, most of the blossoms are destroyed. I find eight 

 out of ten so injured and the embryo fruit has turned black, so 

 that aU hopes of saving them are over. The remaining few, 

 if they henceforth go on uninterrupted, cannot lead me to 

 prophesy but a short crop ; and as it is the finest blooms that 

 are destroyed, I apprehend I shall not be far wrong as far as 

 my trees are concerned. 



With regard to Peaches and Nectarines there were only about 

 four blooms in a dozen fully out, excepting one or two of the 

 forward sorts, and these being in a more sheltered spot have 

 not, so far as I can see, suiJered. On most trees there is a 

 capital show of blooms to come, go I hope we shall once more 



