274 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
opposite side of the valley, and under what is known as the Wentwood 
Forest, Cherries are grown in large quantities. The fruit is small, but 
finds a ready sale in Newport and Cardiff, especially as they come in aften' 
the better varieties are gone. The trees are very large, and bear fine 
heavy crops of fruit. One of the growers told me that many times he 
has gathered from 50 to 60 lb. without moving the ladder. The whole 
of these Cherry trees are seedlings, and are said to be nearly two hundred 
years old, and I have no reason to doubt it. 
In Penhow there are several large orchards, most of the fruit being 
grown for market. The favourite Apples a.re ' King of Pippins ' and the old 
* Cissy.' At one time great care was bestowed on these orchards, but 
afterwards they were allow^ed to fall into a very dilapidated condition ; 
lately, however, there has been a great improvement. The old and 
broken-down trees have been removed and the vacancies have been 
filled up. 
We now^ cross the Wentwood ridge, and descend into the fertile valley 
of the Usk. On each side of the river the soil is of a rich loam, whilst 
most of the hilly land adjoining is heavy clay. Of the more important 
orchards of this district, one on the Bertholly estate is about 5 acres 
in extent. Many of the older trees are local varieties, whilst amongst those 
recently planted are 'Bismarck,' ' Ecklinville,' 'Lord Derby,' 'Newton 
Wonder,' and 'Warner's King.' In the same parish there are several other 
orchards of which great care is taken, and this refers more especially to 
those situated near to the village of Llantrissant. In one of these 
nearly the whole of the trees were raised from seed by the father of the 
present owner, and they have never been grafted ; and here my attention 
was drawn to a very heavy crop of Russets, the total weight of which I 
estimated to be over 10 cwt. on the one tree ; and I have since been 
informed that I was very much below the mark. On the opposite side 
of the river, in the parish of Tredunnock, the trees are equally well 
cared for. One case I should like to mention where the owner took me 
to see his orchard. It is situated in a deep hollow, there being only one 
narrow outlet. To this gentleman the trees were like children : no effort 
v/as spared to keep them clean ; vacancies, whenever they occurred, were 
at once filled up ; the ground was regularly manured with the scrapings 
from the farmyard, and all animals dying from disease or accident were 
buried there — the result being that the trees were laden with large and 
well-coloured fruit. A similar case I discovered in Llanbaddock, near 
Usk, at a farm called Pant y Cuckoo, or Cuckoo's Hollo w^ Some two 
years ago this old orchard was renovated at the expense of the landlord, 
and after planting the trees, iron guards were sent to protect them at a 
cost, I was told, of 13s. each — to take care of 2s. ! Some of the best 
specimens of Apples exhibited in the collection from Monmouthshire 
to-day were gathered from those very trees. 
Passing through the town of Usk, and taking the main road leading 
to Abergavenny, we come to several orchards, the first at Trostrey farm, 
in the occupation of Mr. Marfell. Here were excellent crops of ' Kings,' 
' Cox's Orange,' ' Alexanders,' and also the old ' Cat's-head.' Near the chain 
bridge which spans the Usk, on each side of the river and also in the 
parish of Goytrey, I found excellent crops of fruit. The ' Blenheims,' 
