January 10, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
29 
forming the points on which the glass rests, instead of one pane resting 
■on the other. This is a simple tut important feature for the reasons 
above stated. 
Like Lord Herbert, previously referred to, the present Earl and 
Countess of Pembroke appear to be great improvers, as it was by their de¬ 
cision that this splendid range was built, and it was through the combined 
thoughts and efforts of the agent on the estate, as well as the clerk of 
the works and gardener, that their instructions were carried out. The 
whole of the work was executed by workmen on the estate, with the 
exception of the heating, which was satisfactorily performed by Messrs. 
Weeks & Co., simply by an addition of pipes to the apparatus arranged 
formerly by them. 
In line with the Peach houses are three noble vineries admirably 
furnished with late Grapes—Muscats, Lady Downe’s, and Mrs. Pince, 
with Alicantes and Gros Colmans on the back wall. The Vines on the 
roof are as fine as can be desired, and those on the back wall as good as 
could be expected. For such a position the Black Alicante is the best 
variety. This is apparent at WiltoD, as it was in Mr. Witherspoon’s 
great vinery at Chester-le-Street, which I had the pleasure of inspecting 
a few years ago, and it will be long before the spectacle vanishes from 
ray memory. This hint about Black Alicante is given in case there may 
be persons desirous of trying Vines against the back walls of their houses 
as well as overhead. The variety named appears to endure shade better 
than any other, but I say nothing about the quality of the fruit. The 
houses vary in width from 15 to 19 feet according to the configuration 
of the ground. 
The structures at Wilton are well and satisfactorily heated by two 
miles and a half of hot-water pipes from one of Weeks’ tubular boilers. 
Mushroom houses, fruit rooms, and all necessary appurtenances are 
represented in the most approved manner ; indeed, only a little appears 
to be wanted to render the garden complete, and that little, additional 
space for growing plants. In this department overcrowding perforce 
prevails in maintaining the great supply of plants and flowers for the 
adornment of the mansion. In the summer flowers are afforded by an 
extensive collection of herbaceous plants, but during six months of the 
year they must be produced under glass. 
This is all 1 can remember about historic Wilton, the ancestral home 
of a noble family—noble in deed as well as birth, as is shown by their 
kindness and consideration to all tenants and employes. No, not quite 
all, for there is the not-to-be-forgotten kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Challis 
extended to me during my short sojurn at this grand old place, the head 
centre of the ancient capital of the county in which it stands.— 
J. Weight. 
BOTHY LIFE—ROOMS AT KEW. 
“Libertas” has approached this subject in a very considerate 
manner, and this gives me hope that he will as readily acknowledge the 
weak points of his arguments when placed before him. His two 
principal objections to the scheme are, first, that the conditions in a 
public establishment like that at Kew and those in ordinary private 
gardens are very different; and second, that were such a bothy erected 
it would be difficult or impossible to maintain order. Regarding his 
first objection, the difference is not so great as he would have us believe ; 
for though the gardeners at Kew have not to attend to the fires, they 
have to attend lectures and the reading-room, which equally require 
their presence in the gardens during the evening, so that “ Libertas’s ” 
argument on this point is practically without support. 
The second objection—namely, that it would be difficult to maintain 
order amongst so many young men, also seems at first glance very 
feasible, but it will not bear close examination. For instance, 
“Libertas” states that in private gardens in a bothy containing six 
young men there are usually two foremen who preserve the necessary 
order, but I may add that more frequently there is not more than one 
foreman to that number of men. Now at Kew there are between thirty 
and forty young gardeners, and there are three foremen in charge of 
departments ; but there are also four advanced gardeners who in position 
more nearly resemble foremen in private gardens. We thus have seven 
officials who presumably owe their advancement to their abilities as 
cultivator^, their steadiness and good moral characters, and who there¬ 
fore may be expected to command the respect of the men generally. 
There would be a reliable official to every five young men, and is 
“ Libertas ” prepared to assert that the foremen at Kew are less capable 
of exercising the very moderate control that would be needed than are 
those in private gardens ? 
“ Libertas ” writes freely of “ stringent rules,” “ proper supervision,” 
and “ strict discipline,” as if he thinks it absolutely necessary that the 
men should be drilled like a regiment of soldiers, and that is the only 
portion of his letter in which I detect any appearance of unfairness. 
None of these restraints have been suggested except by him, and the 
proposal is calculated to check the free discussion of the subject by 
inspiring those concerned with a prejudice against the whole scheme. 
Has his opinion of the morals of the present young gardeners been 
formed on the same basis as that of “ H., Notts ? ” I have known 
personally and intimately something like two hundred young gardeners, 
and my firm conviction is that for every one irreclaimably bad there are 
at least ten well conducted and disposed to do all they reasonably can 
to advance themselves in their profession. This is a good working 
majority, and is quite sufficient to keep the few in order, constituting, 
in fact, a species of self-government. 
Further, judging by at least two sentences in your correspondent’s 
letter, I should say his “ knowledge of the establishment ” is very far 
from being “ sufficient.” He states first that “ suitable lodgings are 
always within easy reach of the place,” and as applied to Kew this is so 
obviously incorrect in every respect that it does not demand consider¬ 
ation after wbat has been stated by other correspondents. In another 
place he asserts that the time young men are supposed to stay at Kew 
“ is not more than a year.” There is no supposition of the kind. Young 
gardeners who go there know that they are not permanently engaged, 
and it would not be to their interest to remain for too long a period ; 
but there is no rule expressed or implied to prevent a well-conducted 
young man from remaining two or three years if he wish to do so.— 
Veritas. 
JOSEPHINE DE MALINES PEAR—NORFOLK STONE 
PIPPIN APPLE. 
Have any of your readers found their Josephine de Malines Pears 
ripen early this season ? Our main crop was gathered on October 23rd, 
some a week later, some a few days earlier. They were ripe at Christ¬ 
mas, and are now nearly over. They grew well, perfectly clear, of a good 
size and of excellent flavour. They also coloured nicely on the tree, and 
kept sound until ripe ; only one bad one in twenty-five dozen, a most 
unusual experience here with Pears. Should any of your readers living 
in exposed situations be thinking of planting Apple trees I would suggest 
that a trial be given to the White Pippin (or Norfolk Stone Pippin). 
Although small it is valuable on account of being able to withstand 
heavy gales without bruising. It is an excellent keeper, of first-class 
quality for cooking, and indeed is not to be despised for dessert in 
April and May.—C. B., Stvaffham. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
January 8th. 
The first meeting of the year was well attended by the members of the 
Committees, and exhibits were also numerous, one side of the conservatory 
being occupied with groups of Cyclamens, Orchids, Primulas, and miscel¬ 
laneous plants. The exhibits before the Fruit Committee were confined to 
specimens of seedling and other Apples. 
Fruit Committee.— H. J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. Mr. A. E. Town¬ 
send, Handsworth, Sheffield, sent a seedling Apple, said to have been raised 
from a cross with Striped Beefing and Winter Strawberry. It had close 
resemblance to Hoary Morning, but it did not possess any merit to recom¬ 
mend it. Messrs. T. Perkins & Sons, Northampton, sent a seedling Apple, 
No. 1, of handsome appearance and in good keeping condition. It is called 
Perkins’ Al. It has a brilliant red cheek and a brisk acidity. It was con¬ 
sidered a useful Apple, and was referred to Mr. Barron to prove its cooking 
qualities, to be reported to next meeting. No. 2 was considered of no merit. 
No. 3 was also of no merit, being past its season. Mr. Horley of Toddington, 
Beds, sent three seedling Apples, but neither of them possessed any merit. 
Mr. G. Brooks, Willmgton Park, Ilminster, sent a seedling Apple which had 
been exhibited at the Apple Congress by Mr. John Scott of Merriott, under 
the name of “John Scott’s Favourite.” It was considered the same as 
Round Winter Nonesuch. Rev. A. Carter, Tewin Parsonage, Hertford, sent 
three seedling Apples which did not possess any merit. Mr. R. H. Poynter, 
nurseryman, Taunton, sent specimens of Bess Pool. A collection of twelve 
varieties of Apples and two of Pears were exhibited by Captain Fernie of 
Chase Lodge, Mill Hill, N.W. 
Florae Committee —Section A, General Plants.—Present, G.F. Wilson, 
Esq., in the chair, and Messrs. H. Ebbage, J. O’Brien, J. Dominy, H. Williams, 
J. Hudson, W. Herbst, John Woodbiidge, John Fraser, John Laing, 
G. Henslow, E. Hill, and H. Ballantine. Section B, Florists’ Flowers.— 
Present, Mr. Shirley Hibberd in the chair, and Messrs. H. Bennett, W. Bealby, 
J. James, J. Douglas, J. Child, G. Duffield, D. Lathbury, H. Canned, and 
W. B. Kellock. A silver Banksian medal was awarded to Henry Little, Esq., 
Hillingdon Place, Uxbridge, for a beautiful group of Cyclamens, vigorous 
plants and profusely flowered; the very dark red form, Mrs. H. Little, was 
especially notable. Some good Primulas were also shown, and an interesting 
collection of Orchids, comprising Masdevallia tovarensis well flowered, 
Lycaste Skinneri atro-rubra, and virginalis, the former a very deep-coloured 
variety; Cypripedium Spicerianum, C. villosum Boxalli, Odontoglossum 
Roezlii superbum, one of the finest varieties in cultivation, and some fine 
varieties of Odontoglossum Alexandi se, together with flowers of Cbimonanthus 
fragrans, and a basket of plants of Saxifraga ligulata. A silver Banksian 
medal was awarded to Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, for large groups 
of well-grown Cyclamens of his special strain, and Primulas of the Chiswick 
Red, rubra violacea, fimbriata alba, and fimbriata rubra strains, all well 
grown, and with large handsome flowers. A bronze Banksian medal was 
awarded to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, for half a dozen 
extremely large and vigorous specimens of Primulas Emperor, Swanley 
White, Swanley Purple, Old Fern-leaved White, Swanley Red, and The 
Queen. The plants were 18 inches or nearly 2 feet in diameter, exceedingly 
well grown, and profusely flowered. Some plants of a large-flowered purple 
variety named Mammoth were also shown, and a box of variously and 
brightly coloured Primula blooms. A fine group of double Primulas was 
sent from the Society’s Chiswick Garden, comprising all the best of these 
varieties—Mrs. Barron, pure white; Earl of Beaconsfield, pink; Princess, 
white ; and Marchioness of Exeter, white. A plant of the single Chiswick 
Purple, with very large richly coloured blooms, was also shown. 
G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, exhibited a well-grown specimen of 
Odontoglossum roseum, with about a dozen spikes of its neat rosy flowers. 
Mr. H. James, Lower Norwood, sent a plant of the variegated Panax 
Yictoria, which has the pinnules edged with white and sharply cut. .Mr. 
Eckford, Boreatton Park, Shrewsbury, showed a plant of a purple variety 
of Primula sinensis named Perfection. The flowers were large but not of 
remarkable beauty. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. C. Ross, gar¬ 
dener to C. Eyre, Esq., Newbury, for five new Crotons, one a narrow-leaved 
form, a cross between Johannis and Weismanni, being graceful and brightly 
