4CM'. 



/OOENAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



[ May al, 1874. 



and flavour of this were iJerfection. Gooseberry Apple (not 

 Gooseberry Pippin as it was labelled) was in splendid preserva- 

 tion, and appeared as if it would keep for months to come ; 

 Scarlet Isoupareil, from Mr. Carson, had grown out of all 

 knowledge, and was a beautifol fruit. Some of the specimens 

 (■f Mr. Cole were also very beautiful, as were those of Mr. 

 Charles Draper, of Hazel Glen. 



Among other contributions from Australia were specimens of 

 fruit of the Jack, Artocarpus integrifolia, large and in fine con- 

 dition ; the Nutmeg, the Cashew-nut, and the Mango. These 

 ■were brought by Mr. Charles Moore, of the Botanic Garden, 

 who arrived by the overland mail on the day of opening the 

 Exhibition. 



The fine collection of Oranges, Lemons, and Citrons from 

 Athens, exhibited by Professor Orphanides, and which we re- 

 ported upon at the Paris Exhibition of 1&67, and the St. Peters- 

 burgh ciiC of IfiGP, was shown hf re. We have not space to remark 



upon the whole of the varieties individually, for there were forty- 

 two dishes in all ; they were, however, very fi.-:e, and added much 

 to the interest of the fruit department of the Show. Signer 

 Fratelli Conti, of Florence, had a fine collection of tnenty-two 

 varieties of Lemons, and it was interesting to observe how great 

 difference there was between them in size, thickness of flesh, 

 thinness of skin, and flavour. The finest of all is the Limone 

 di Firenze, a large handsome fruit, extremely succulent, and 

 very finely flavoured. It may seem strange to some of our 

 readers that we should speak of the flavour of Lemons, when to 

 them all Lemons appear to be alike in this respect ; but to taste 

 them in places where they are gathered fresh from the tree there 

 are many distinguishing characteristics which are to be noted 

 as there are among other fruits. Another fine fruit is a smaller 

 one, roundish oval, and with a very thin skin; it is called 

 Limoncello, and is a very fine variety, and the skin is so tbin 

 the fruit is translncent when held up between the eye and the 



HfTEENAXIONAL HOKTJCULiritAL EXHnjmoN AT ILORENCE. 



light. The Bergamots are not eaten, the acid being rough and 

 harsh. These are cultivated solely for the essence which is 

 drawn from the skin by distillation ; and this brings us to notice 

 a fine collection of thirty of these essences taken from different 

 plants, exhibited by Siernor Cesari Augusto Stefani, Sta. Maria 

 Novella, at Florence. Before leavingthis part of theExhibition 

 we must notice a good collection of artificial fruit, exhibited by 

 Signer Francesco Garnier-Valette, of Turin. These were ad- 

 mirable representations of the varieties, and not only were they 

 so in form and colour, but the weight of each was so regulated 

 as to correspond with that of the natural fruit. What struck us 

 most among these artificial fruits was the remarkably close 

 imitation of the Gooseberries to the natural varieties. Even 

 by a steady examiuatiou of them the eye might easily have 

 been deceived. The venation, the transparency, and the ap- 

 pearance of the seeds through the skin were admirably well 

 managed. 



From the Munich garden there were some good fruit of forced 

 Strawberries and Raspberries. 



\ EGET.vrXES. 

 Of vegetables there wag nothins; at all remarkable. The 

 Bavarian Horticultural Society of Munich sent a colleetion 

 nonsisting of Cabbage, Kohl Rabi, Cauliflower, Lettuce, En- 

 dive, Turnips, ('arrots. Radish, new Potatoes, Asparagus, 

 .Terusalem Artichokes, Mushrooms, and Cucumbers. If some 

 of our gardeners bad seen this collection they would have 



turned up their noses at these productions. The Cauliflowers 

 were not as big as Drumhead Cabbages, nor the Cabbages 

 rivalling in dimensions the capacity of a bushel measure. The 

 Cucumbers were not 36 inches long, nor the Lettuce the size 

 of a Battersea Cabbage. The Carrots were not like Mangold 

 Warzel, and the Eohl Eabi was not larger than a good-sized 

 fist, and yet there was nothing but what any gentleman would 

 have desired to see on his table, well satisfied with the skill of 

 the gardener who produced them. We doubt very mnoh if it 

 is desirable to encourage the excessive cultivation of vegetables 

 which is becoming so prevalent in England. Large Cabbago 

 and Cauliflower, long Carrots and Cucumbers, big Potatoes, 

 and monstrous Lettuce may be all very well to look at and to 

 excite amazement, but who is there among us possessed of any 

 good taste at all would care to have such things on the table ? 



STOKE KOCHFORD. 



This fine seat of Christopher Tumor, Esi|., is situated close 

 to the Great North Road, and about fix miles from Grantham. 

 The mansion is a very handsome building erected by Mr. Burn, 

 the architect, in 18i5. It contains many fine rooms, bnt the 

 most important is the large library, from which a door opens 

 into the conservatory. The Tumours have for more than two 

 centuries been lords of the manor. Sir Edmund Tnmonr, the 



