December 7, 1871. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



437 



piece of ground is, in numlDerless instances, devoted to flower 

 garden and siirubbery. The occupiers are large fruit- consumers. 

 They have it all to buy, but most would prefer growing it. 

 Shapely pyramids of Pears, Plums, and Apples, intermixed 

 with shrubs, would give them fruit and flowers too, and could 

 hardly offend the taste of even the most rigid eesthetic. Whether 

 the " good and bad neighbour" theory has anything to do "\\dth 

 it or not I cannot tell, but I observe that fruit trees, in common 

 with, deciduous trees generally, invariably flourish admirably 

 amongst evergreen shrubs. The only really good crops of Apples 

 I have this year seen were amongst shrubs, where the branches 

 were literally bowed to the ground by the heavy tresses of excel- 

 lent fruit. " Sheltered from frost," perhaps some may say. 

 "Well, if so, recognise its value. On this point alone the subject 

 is worth consideration. 



In reference to the devastation of fruit blossoms by spring 

 frosts something may be done m plantations to lessen this by 

 those who are able and yet do not pay attention to it, and that 

 is the grouping of fruit trees among forest trees. It is quite 

 common to see plantations of forest trees contiguous to country 

 residences. The primary object of these is shelter. If in the 

 centre of such plantations a place were planted with fruit trees, 

 as an orchard, the shelter would be just the same, and the out- 

 ward appearance would be just the same, while much valuable 

 fruit might be drawn from the interior, especially in such seasons 

 as this, when the blossom on exposed trees and orchards is killed 

 by spring fi-osts. I have in my mind's eye a large wood on a 

 gentleman's estate. Some years ago one of the workmen took a 

 fancy to put in some grafts of Apples on the wild Crab stock 

 growing about the wood. These trees eventually bore Iruit, and 

 what is more to the point, gave useful crops when the trees in 

 tlie gardens were bare, in consec[uence of a lack of shelter, which 

 was afforded to the trees in the wood. In my very limited travels 

 this summer I have only seen one really wetl-laden orchard, and 

 it was in a plantation surrounded and sheltered by Fir trees. 

 My remark at the time, spontaneously uttered, was that " If I 

 had a plantation of my own, but I never sliall have, I should 

 grub up some of the trees in the interior and plant fruit 

 trees." On reflection I firmly adhere to that remark, feeling 

 confident that if put into action I should often have plenty of 

 fruit when I should otherwise have none at all. — J. W , Lmcoln. 



THE MADRESFIELD COUKT GRAPE. 

 A MOST excellent Grape in some respects, being a good grower, 

 of free habit, and a good setter, with large berries and good 

 colour; but the most important quality it lacks — it will not 

 keep after it is ripe more than three weeks or a month. I have 

 tried it two years, last year in a late house, and this year in an 

 early house. In the first, or early bouse, it was very floe and 

 handsome, with very large berries of good flavour and good 

 colour, but would not keep three weeks after it had become 

 xipe, I kept one bunch four weeks, but it was not fit to send 

 to table. That was in Jane. At present (November 1) I have 

 some in a late house; they have been ripe since the end of 

 September; now there is not ft bunch fit for use. It is not so 

 good as the Hamburgh as regards keeping qualities. I would 

 earnestly advise anyone having a large demand in the autumn 

 to plant a good number of it for its beauty and flavour. I am 

 disappointed in it only in one respect — namely, that it was said 

 to be a good late Grape. — J. Feeehan, Knowslei/, Prescot. — 

 {Florist and Fomologist.) 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Decesibee 6th. 



Although the weather had been very cold for two or three days 

 previously, there was, notwithstanding, a good show for this time of 

 year, and especially was this the case with the fruit and vegetables. 

 In the fioral department the novelties were bat few, and the certificates 

 fewer still ; yet as a whole this meeting, the last of the present year, 

 afforded most encouraging prospects of what we may expect next 

 season with the enlarged and more liberal schedule of awards which 

 the Society has offered. 



Of Tree Carnations there were no exhibitions in Classes 1 and 2. 



In Class 3, for twenty-four Japanese and late Chrysanthemums, 

 Mr. E. KowG, gardener to Mrs. Lewis, Roehampton, was first with 

 very good examples of John Salter, Lady Harding, Mrs. Halliburton, 

 Princess of Wales, Yenus, Nil Desperandum, Mr. Brunlees, Isabella 

 Bott, Miss Mary Morgan, Yellow Perfection, Princess Beatrice, Non- 

 pareil, Mr. Gladstone, Jardin des Plantes, Abbe Passaglia, and Lady 

 Slade ; of Japanese, Dr. Masters and Red Dragon, large. Second, 

 came Mr. Douglas, gardener to T. Whitbourn, Es^., Loxford Hall, 



with very fine blooms of Princess Teck, Pink Perfection, Miss Marc- 

 chaux, Mrs. Pothers (Anemone-flowered) ; and of Japanese kinds, 

 Ked Dragon, very fine in colour ; Dr. Masters, Bronze Dragon, 

 Grandiflorum, Magnum Bonum, and others. Mr. Goddard, gardener 

 to H. Little, Esq., Cambridge Villa, Twickenham, who was third, had 

 excellent examples of Ked Dragon, Comet, The Daimio, and Auran- 

 tium (Japanese varieties), and good blooms of the incurved kinds. 

 Mr. Hobbs, Lower Easton, Bristol, and Mr. George, gardener to Miss 

 Nicholson, Putney Heath, also exhibited. Messrs. Jackson & Son, of 

 Kingston, had a special certificate for a stand of twenty-four, shown 

 not for competition. In this were remarkably fine examples of The 

 Daimio, Red Indian, Aurantium, and Madame Godillot, Japanese 

 kinds, and some large blooms of the incurved kinds, notably John 

 Salter and Golden Beverley. Mr. Shrimpton, gardener to Mrs. A. 

 Doxat, Putney Heath, had also a special certificate for some very 

 large blooms, amongst which were the finest examples of Jardiu des 

 Plantes and Empress of India we have seen this year. John Salter 

 and others were likewise very fine. 



Class 4 was for the best collection of Hardy Evergreens bearing 

 berries, exclusive of Hollies. Messrs. Standish & Co., of Ascot, were 

 the only exhibitors, and took a first prize with beautifully grown littla 

 plants of varieties of Peruettya mucronata, P. pilosa, the cheerful 

 Skimmia japonica, berry-bearing Aucubas grafted as half-standards, 

 and Cotoneaster Simmondsii. Prizes were also offered for collections 

 of nine Hollies and of six Bos, but no exhibitors came forward. 



Class 7 was for nine Hardy Evergreens of the Yew or Cypress triba 

 in 12-ineh pots. Messrs. Standish had the first prize. Foremost 

 amongst their collection were Taxas fastiglata aurea, a beautiful Golden 

 Yew never browned by the sun ; Cupressus Lawsoniana fragrans, 

 finely furnished, and more glaucous than the type ; and Retinospora 

 lycopodioides, one of the handsomest of the new Japanese Conifers, 

 and tbis one of the best specimens in the country. The others were 

 I Retinospora obtusa alba variegata, R. pisifera stricta, R. obtusa ; Taxus 

 coriacea, very distinct ; and T. adprassa stricta. 



Mr. George had an extra prize for a box of cut flowers, consisting 

 of Cypripediums, Camellias, Azaleas, &c. 



Prizes were offered for collections of hardy herbaceous plants, also 

 for Endive and other Salading, but no one came forward to claim 

 them. Mr. Meakes, gardener to R. Fowler, Esq., Petersham, sent a 

 small collection, but as it was not entered it could not take a prize, 

 Messrs- Carter & Co., High. Holborn, offered prizes for collections of 

 vegetables. There was only one exhibitor, Mr. Pragnell, Castlo 

 Gardens, Sherborne, who took the first prize with a large and very 

 fine collection. His Carrots of various kinds, James's Eeepiug 

 Onions, Hollow-crowned Parsnips, Salsafy, Scorzonera, Savoys, Kale, 

 Cabbages, &c., were most praiseworthy. 



Feuit Comtmittee. — G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. 

 Messrs. Crescnolo, Kay, & Co., of Gracechurch Street, sent fine speci- 

 mens of Globe Tripoli Onions, grown in Italy. These imported 

 Onions are said to be free from the strong disagreeable flavour of 

 Onions when used in salads. Mr. P. J. Perry, of Banbury, sent 

 some very fine specimens of the pure White Spanish Onion, which were 

 much admired and commended. Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, 

 sent roots of New Orange Naples Garlic, a remarkable new variety 

 of a round regnlar form like an Onion, and not in the form of separata 

 " cloves " as in the old sort, and of a peculiar orange colour. There 

 was no information in regard to their culture, and as they were im- 

 ported roots the Committee reserved an opinion till they had been 

 grown in this country. Mr. William Jones, Kelvoy, Nenagh, Ireland, 

 sent specimens of Leathercoat Potatoes as an example of the crop 

 grown on the reclaimed lands of Ireland. A winter Radish from Cali- 

 fornia, received from Mr. Robinson, was exhibited from the Socittj's 

 garden at Chiswick. It is white and like the Teltauer Turnip in 

 shape, very tender and succulent, and was considered useful for 

 winter salad. It was awarded a first-class certificate. Mr. Sidney 

 Ford, The Gardens, Leonardslee, Horsham, sent bulbs of Veitch's 

 Red Globe Turnip, sound and succulent. Mr. Sage, The Gardens, 

 Ashridge, sent roots of " Table d'Hote " Potato, a long, small, deep- 

 eyed variety, much used in Paris. Mr. Piccirillo, of Wigmore Street, 

 sent heads of the Naples Champion Cauliflower, a variety very similar 

 to Veitch's Autumn Giant. Mr. Parsons, The Gardens, Danesbury^ 

 sent six sorts of Celery for the Committee to distinguish their several 

 merits. They were Grove White, Hooley's Conqueror, Wiiliams'a 

 Matchless, Matchless White, Henderson's White, and Matchless Pink. 

 Mr. Cadger, The Gardens, Luton Hoo, sent a quantity of fruit of 

 Luton Hoo Cucumber, which were much commended as being excel- 

 lent for the season of the year. 



Mr. Young, gardener to Lionel Ames, Esq., The Hyde, St. Albans, 

 sent a very fine dish of Marie Louise Pears. 



Mr. G. Johnstone, gardener to Earl of Strathmore, Glamis Castle, 

 N.B., sent two handsome Smooth Cayenne Pines, weighing in the ag- 

 gregate 16 lbs. A special certificate was unanimously awarded. Mr. 

 W. G. Pragnell, gardener to G. D. W. Digby, Esq., Sherborne Castle, 

 also sent a Smooth-leaved Cayenne Pine, weighing 7 lbs., but it was a 

 little defective in growth. Colonel Wallace, of Lochryan, Cairnryan, 

 N.B., sent fruit of Golden Hamburgh Grape, with the following 

 communication : — 



"30tli Nov., 1871. 



" Sir,— I send you by post to-day in a small bos some berries of Gol-ien 

 Hamburgh Grape, whick I will be glad if you will sliow to your Fruit 



