SUPPLEMENT TO 



8*8 



3 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



December 17, i8 5 {, # 



And there was the walk through the Chiswick grounds until the exit 

 was reached near the entrance, through massive gates, to Chiswick House, 

 for the Dukeof Devonshire of that day granted this permission to visitors 

 to the Chiswick shows. Who can forget the sublimity of the ancient 

 cedars near the mansion — specimens which had withstood the tempests 

 of centuries, and had witnessed the gathering beneath their grateful shade 

 of thousands of the world of fashion and renown ? We have nothing like 

 these gatherings now ; the glory is departed with hundreds of those who 

 promenaded the charming lawn of this historical mansion. 



It was not all success at Chiswick in the old days. There were times 

 when the council had to face periods of acute anxiety over financial 



their memories smell sweet in the fragrance of the worthy work earh 

 did. And even now the eyes of the 1 orticultural world are turned 

 towards Chiswick in faith and confidence that worthy work is still 

 being done there ; and many a pilgrimage is made to this shrine of 

 gardening, and no devotee goes away disappointed. If the surroundings 

 are less favourable to good culture than they were thirty years ago thev 

 are combatted by pluck, skill, enterprise, and resource. ? 



What of the future of Chiswick ? There are some who earnestly wish 

 this sacred spot to be for ever associated with the Royal Horticultural 

 Society, and there are others who think its force is spent and its resources 

 n.-Koncfari Whatever rnav hp itQ fntura «-Vh«*«i »*. ~c n , 



WIJCIl UdU jc*v.v- v . ~ ~ — """^**7 w ' . . * 7 — ~~t> " v ' 1 many Will LlUijlCr 



difficulties ; when Fellows fell away, as some constantly will and still do, in tender association about this old garden, and gratefully revere it for its 



and when the fashionable support, upon which so much then depended, 

 was not constantly forthcoming. There were flower show days of storm 

 and tempest, when the maddened winds spent their fury on the canvas 

 tents, leaving ruin and dismay in their wake. There was one memorable 

 occasion of a breakfast fete towards the end of the forties, when the 

 weather turned out lamentably unpropitious. Ample tents had been 

 erected, and an appropriate feast prepared. There was gorgeous plate, 

 fine china, and sparkling crystal, combined with the most delicate viands 

 and high-priced wines, to charm the eye and tempt the palate. But 



glorious past. It may be the next generation will witness the uprising of 

 a new Chiswick in some more favoured spot ; and if it can rival, even 

 if it does not transcend, the successes of the old, there will be gratitude 

 and good wishes for it among the entire gardening communitv. 



Richard Dean, V.M.H. 



DESSERT APPLES AND 



CHRISTMAS 



R 



FOR 



heavy rains descended, a howling wind arose, the pillars of the tents At this season of the year, when apples are in great dem nd, oneTmust 



gave way in the water-soddened earth, and there was imminent danger that have good varieties. Ribston Pippin, which some palates prefer to all 



the whole fabric would collapse and bury the numerous company in its other apples, is one of the best, and though our fruits are not so fine as 



wet embrace. Men were called in from the streets ; they gathered about usual the flavour is first rate. Personally I prefer Cox's Orange, and 



OLD CEDAR AVENUE, CHISWICK HOUSE 



phctograph by C. Hei.wocd, Chiswick. 



these, when ripened in a little warmth, are absolutely unsurpassable. L n- 

 fortunately, quantities of apples are palmed oft" upon the public as Cox s 

 which are not that varietv at all. Blenheim Orange is also a [good 



the pillars and held them up while the visitors feasted within. It is re- 

 corded that after feasting they engaged in dancing on the wet and 



splashy turf, dancing in soaked boots and shoes; and there is a local which are not that variety^ at all ^Blenheim Orange is also a fgood 



tradition extant that a bushel of wet shoes and stockings were picked up dessert apple, and one which finds* much favour ; in fact, it answers a 



in the garden and neighbourhood next day— probably thrown from the twofold purpose, for it is an extraordinarily good culinary apple, and the 



carriage windows after the owners had obtained fresh supplies from the best for minrf>m»Q» c„„„i_. Kt o«h Rnspmarv Russet are a! 



Chiswick shops on leaving. - * * * 



v , — ,„. 6 . The end came at last. " No sooner had the 



last visitor taken his departure, and the men had been released from 

 their long and laborious duty, than the posts and pegs of the tents 

 slowly yielded, ploughing through the muddy puddle in which they 

 stood, and the whole fabric gave way with a crash, burying in one in- 

 distinguishable rum the tables and the dinner service, wines and viands, 

 under their wet and heavy folds. It was a fortnight afterwards before 

 the purveyors were able to have all the articles, overwhelmed on that 

 night, removed ; and it is noteworthy, and to the credit of the society's 

 servants, that although the whole appareil of the feast— broken crystal 

 and viands— lay mixed with valuable plate for so many days, not a single 

 article was lost. The spoons and forks were recovered by raking them 

 out of the mud, and not one was missing » 



Any contemplation of the work done at Chiswick during the past fifty 

 >ears recalls the names of Thompson, McEwen, Eyles, and Barron; 



- - - , — r — ,v -> '"i u is an exi.ra.uiuiu.ii — / — rr -» , 



best for mincemeat Scarlet Nonpareil and Rosemary Russet are also 

 superb varieties for Christmastide, and should be in every collection ot 



dessert apples at this season. 



™. pffw, tn mis season. . , 



Doyenne du Cornice stands out quite alone at this reason as a dessert 

 pear of high and delicious flavour. The long autumn gave them such a 

 long growing season tw th*> flavour has been very consideraoiy 



We 



October. 



very 



navuui utiuj «— - 



^hat smaller than 



--- r/ —~ M-^mrxe enough for desserr. wiruci ™»» >. — „l__l.:m es 

 this season being brighter and less marked than is the case * ^ 

 They are also exceeding r \,\, in flavour. But one may have an tnew 



11 all have to take positions 



good 



They are also exceedingly rich in flavour, 

 and other varieties in season, yet they wi 

 below Doyenne du Cornice. 

 Lomoion Basset 



W. A Cook. 



