458 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



[ December 13, 1877. 



mere fragments, which are preserved by the possessors of them 

 as relics associated with an exceptionally brave and noble act. 

 The act at the time waB in all men's minds and mouths, and 

 now it is recorded in books of story for the edification of youth. 

 Do you yet ask " What boat is it?" or do you anticipate its 

 name ? Name ! it has no name, but that does not matter, for, 

 as many northerners know well, that boat was Grace Darling's. 

 Yes, the veritable crait which on that eventful morning, Sep- 

 tember 7th, 1838, the intrepid girl — for she was only twenty- 

 two years of age — against a mother's tears implored the aid of 

 her father to rescue the remnant of the crew of the steamer 

 Forfarshire, who had given up hope and were clinging in 

 deBpair to a portion of the ship and the rocks of one of the 

 Fame Islands. By a deEperate effort the father was landed on 

 the rock and the daughter was left alone and kept her cobble 

 afloat by rapidly pushing back from the rocks to prevent the 

 boat being dashed to pieces against them. With much skill 

 and true courage the whole of the wrecked, nine in number, 

 were placed in that little boat and were eventually landed at 

 the lighthouse — the humble but hospitable home of the Dar- 

 ling family. It was this brave act that rendered the boat 

 famouB which is now moored on the lake at Newton, and 

 which raised the modest maiden from obscurity to renown. 

 Presents were sent to her from all districts, a public subscrip- 

 tion amounting to £700 was presented to her, and it is recorded 

 that the managers of a London theatre offered her £800 for 

 ■eight nights to sit in a boat on the stage. Her reply to this 

 and similar offers deserves to be remembered. It is to the 

 effect that " she doubted not that if she saw lives in jeopardy 

 she would feel it her duty to do again what she could to save 

 them, but she could not think of exhibiting herself for gain." 

 Well might the public, from the Queen to the peasant, be 

 proud of ODe so noble-minded, and well may her little boat be 

 so jealously preserved. "It was," eayB Arthur's Life of 

 Grace Darling, published by Adam & Co., Ivy Lane, Pater- 

 noster Row, London, " for a number of years in the possession 

 of Mr. George Darling, brother of Grace, of North Sunderland, 

 who seams to have taken some care of it, knowing that the 

 public set a high value on it. Many persons wished to pur- 

 chase it, but he always refused to sell it till a few years ago. 

 After several applications by Major Joicey he was induced to 

 let that gentleman have it, believing that it would be well 

 taken care of." The Bum given for this little craft was a large 

 one. It is a prominent and interesting object, in the lake 

 during the summer, and any notice of Newton Hall would be 

 unpardooably incomplete without a brief reference to " Grace 

 Darling's boat." 



Such is Newton Hail — its grounds, gardens, and features of 

 interest; at leaBt such as can be remembered of them from a 

 two-hours visit in September, when the pouring rain rendered 

 mental notes the chief resouroe. Many impressions then 

 gained have doubtless vanished, but not those of the singular 

 completeness of the place and its excellent order, nor of the 

 manifest solicitude of Col. Joicey in providing for the welfare 

 of those around him. A beautiful new church, which has been 

 erected and liberally endowed, also a commodious parsonage 

 and excellent schools, are remembered — a noble gift. New 

 and well-appointed living rooms and library for the under 

 gardeners and model cottages for the labourers are also 

 remembered ; and the house — and " home " 89 well as house 

 — of Mr. Wardle and the kindly welcome met with there are 

 2iot likely to be forgotten. 



Newton Hall is about three miles from Stccksfield station, 

 which is reached in about half an hour by train from New- 

 castle. — J. Wkighi. 



CONIFERiE AT MELLS PAKE, SOMERSET. 



The late Rev. J. S. H. Horner was well known as an ardent 

 lover of trees and an enthusiastic admirer and collector of 

 ■Conifers, with which he commenced forming a pinetum at his 

 seat, Mells Park, Somerset, about the year 18-15, in which he 

 {planted moBt of the Conifera? then known to be hardy enough 

 to withstand the climate of Great Britain. His son, the 

 present worthy proprietor, is an equally enthusiastic admirer 

 of Conifers, and is continually adding some rare or choice 

 specimens to the alreaiy rich and extensive collection. 



The pinetum occupies one of the hanging portions of the 

 park, with a fine exposure and a good soil; but unfortunately 

 the subsoil ia one of the least favourable upon which to 

 establish a collection of Conifers, the large proportion of lime 

 it contains being too great for them to flourish in perfection, 



the result of which is that some of the oldest specimens present 

 a rather rusty and stunted appearance. There is a great 

 variety of the choioest Conifers grown, as may be judged from 

 the annexed list, some of which are rather uncommon, and 

 deoidedly merit a few remarks. Pinus ayacahuite is a distinct 

 and beautiful variety, and is a healthy and thriving specimen. 

 This tree somewhat resembles Pinus excelsa in its habit and 

 the length of its leaves, but the colour of the latter is nearer 

 to that of P. Strobus. It is, I believe, a very rare specimen — 

 indeed, it is the largest and finest specimen of the kind I ever 

 remember to have seen. P. romana is a distinct variety, its 

 globular-shaped head of very dark green foliage being exceed- 

 ingly striking and conspicuous. P. monticola ia a beautifully 

 neat and pretty-looking Conifer; it is healthy and thriving. 

 P. scarina, P. Lemoniana, P. Pallasiana, and P. pyrenaiea 

 are robust specimens ; they are, however, to my mind coarse- 

 growing trees of the Pinaster type. Wellingtonia gigantea is 

 thriving beautifully in the clay of the coal measures, and the 

 specimens exhibit healthy robust pyramids of foliage. 



Probably if the pinetum had been formed on the clay instead 

 of the conglomerate and limestone formation, the Conifers 

 generally would have been much larger and healthier now than 

 they are. Picea grandis, P. cephalonica, P. Nordmanniana, 

 and P. Pinsapo are all beautiful varieties, and they are each 

 making a clean, free, rapid growth, and promise in time to 

 make grand specimens. 



Abies Albertiana is growing freely ; it is the most graceful 

 of all the Spruce species, and it is at the same time a rapid 

 grower and does not possess such a strong tendency to a 

 bushy habit of growth as is exhibited by its congener the 

 Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis) ; its foliage, too, is a 

 darker and better green than the latter. Abies orientalis is a 

 pretty specimen, and it is a most eligible subject with which 

 to adorn a lawn. Its short, neat, soft green foliage and 

 symmetrical habit of growth are its most distinct and attrac- 

 tive features. Abies Douglasii and A. Smithiana are of a 

 robust habit of growth, but both are graceful and handsome 

 specimens. Taxodium sempervirens is well represented by a 

 fine vigorously grown tree. It would have been probably the 

 tallest specimen in Britain had it not lost itB leader for several 

 years; it has, however, now formed a new leading shoot, and 

 promises to thrive well. The three Cypresses are elegant and 

 noteworthy specimens, each presenting a distinct and beauti- 

 ful habit. The Arauearias are good specimens, but are not 

 in a very healthy state. Fitzroya patagoniea has a very grace- 

 ful drooping habit, but its foliage presents a rusty appearance ; 

 indeed, I never saw a plant of Fitzroya otherwise, and I doubt 

 if it is at all suited to our climate, unless in the very mildest 

 and moist localities, with a climate approaching its native 

 habitat on the Pacific slopes of the mountains of Patagonia. 

 There is ako a large collection of the newer kinds of recent 

 introduction, many of which give good promise of forming 

 beautiful specimens in the course of a few years. To all lovers 

 of Conifers a visit to Mella Park and an inspection of its fine 

 collection of rare and beautiful trees cannot fail to be both 

 instructive and interesting. — George Beeet, Forester, Longleat. 

 — [Journal of Forestry.) 



CHAPTERS ON INSECTS FOR GARDENERS. 



No. 20. 

 The valuable but native Silkworm Moth (Bombyx Mori), is 

 in some respects a fair representative of the family Bombycidse, 

 sluggish both in the moth state and in the larval condition, 

 our British species of the family generally resembling it in the 

 former respect though not in the latter. Our species are alBO 

 spinners of silken cocoons; it is not, however, found possible 

 to make their silk available for economic purposes even by 

 carding. That handsome but local species the Emperor Moth 

 (Saturnia Carpini), is noted for producing a peculiarly-shaped 

 cocoon, with one end formed on a modification of the lobster- 

 trap plan, so that while the moth can get out its parasitio 

 enemies cannot get in. Sometimes, though, by way of antici- 

 pation, they deposit eggs on the caterpillar, which then en- 

 closes its foes with itself in the cocoon and comes to an inglorious 

 end. The moth has beautiful eye-like markings, yet one cannot 

 perceive an appropriateness in the imperial name applied to it. 

 Another and still larger species, the Lappet (Lasiocampa qner- 

 cifolia), has, while a caterpillar, curious tubercles along the 

 sides partly hidden by hairs, originating the singular name ; 

 and the cocoon, though formed of a kind of silk, assumes a 

 black hue and leathery appearance. That of the Drinker (Odo- 



