JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
534 
[ June 29, 1882. 
AT Longleat :—“ They are grown on a different principle to 
that generally adopted, the plants being fewer in number, but 
finer crops of fruit than those invariably obtained it would be 
impossible to find. Only two varieties are grown, these being a 
good form of Eastnor Castle and the Hybrid Cashmere. Each 
plant covers an average area of about 13 feet by 10 feet, and 
carries from ten to twelve fruit. The smallest fruit of the former 
cut this season weighed 5^ lbs., while the largest weighed 8 lbs. 
All are beautifully netted and rich in colour when ripe, and 
though of great size are, as we can attest, of excellent quality. 
It ought to be mentioned that Mr. Taylor does not aim at growing 
big fruit for his own gratification, but they must be large to suit 
the dining-table of his employer. The Hybrid Cashmere is later 
in ripening, but keeps longer when cut, fruit that has been cut a 
week apparently being equal to those newly gathered, but, un¬ 
fortunately, it requires special treatment. The fruits are liable to 
crack, and the plant will not bear the knife. The variety is not 
adapted for frame culture, and must have plenty of room in a 
house. The drying-off process is not practised at Longleat, the 
plants remaining healthy and clean to the last, and perfect two 
or more crops. The Melon houses are half span-roofed. Tomatoes 
are grown on the back walls, and during the season Kidney Beans 
and decorative plants are grown in quantity about the houses.” 
- In reference to weather forecasts, it was recently 
stated in the House of Commons by Mr. Fawcett, in answer to 
Mr. Birkbeck, that “ If the Government supplied telegrams gratui¬ 
tously to those interested in agriculture it would be impossible 
to refuse similar applications from those engaged in other trades. 
There would be little difficulty in securing the object desired. I 
understand that the Meteorological Office supplies the weather fore¬ 
casts gratuitously to anyone who is willing to pay the expense 
of telegraphing them, which is very rarely more than 1*’. If, 
therefore, the farmers in any district jointly subscribed, the ex¬ 
pense to each would be very inconsiderable. The forecast might 
be exhibited at the post office, and in the case of those farmers 
who resided within the area of free delivery the messages could 
be delivered at the small extra cost of 3d. for each additional 
copy.” 
- Under the heading of a chat about rockwork Mr. 
W. H. Lascelles sends us a communication from which we cite 
the following :—“ We all love rocks and like to imitate them 
in our gardens, but the materials at our disposal are very few 
and not easily managed. Brick burrs most of us have had, but 
do what we will with them we cannot make them look like 
anything but what they are, so we insert plants thickly, and 
cover them as quickly as possible. Cork has a rustic appearance, 
but decays and harbours insects, while the transport of stone from 
various districts is costly. I have been studying this matter for 
some years, and think I have at last got suitable material for 
rockeries. It is in seven colours—black, brown, dull red, bright 
red, grey, dull yellow, and white. At the Agricultural Hall next 
month, from July 24th to August 5th, I shall show amongst other 
things the rockwork I speak of. Some samples I will also send to 
my place in the Poultry, No. 35, and some to my shop in Bunhill 
Bow, No. 121, so that those who are interested in the matter will 
know where their curiosity can be gratified.” 
-A schedule has been issued by the Tooting Horticul¬ 
tural Society, giving particulars of their first Show, to be held 
in the Vestry Hall on November 14th and 15th of the present year. 
The Society has been started under important patronage, and, 
judging by the long list of subscribers already obtained, there are 
very good prospects of a satisfactory and successful career. Sixty- 
seven classes are devoted to plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables, 
Chrysanthemums being largely provided for ; but with the excep¬ 
tion of one open class for forty-eight Chrysanthemum blooms all 
are confined to gardeners and amateurs living within a radius of 
two miles and a half of the Broadway, Tooting. In’the first rule 
of the Society it is stated its object “shall be the advancement 
and improvement of horticulture in all its branches by means 
of exhibitions and monthly floral meetings. At the latter all 
members shall be invited to bring newly imported plants, hybrids, 
or seedlings for adjudication ; also any examples of successful 
cultivation, or failures, or disease, in order that instructive discus¬ 
sions may arise as to remedies or preventives.” Mr. Gower is the 
Secretary. 
CHISWICK AND TURNHAM GREEN SHOW. 
June 22nd. 
A revival of the old celebrated Chiswick Exhibitions, though on 
a smaller scale, must be welcomed by many, and the Society incor¬ 
porated some short time since in that district seems likely to gain a 
position of importance amongst others in the neighbourhood of the 
metropolis that will eventually result in the production of both large 
and handsome shows. Three have already been held. The first, 
which might be considered merely as a trial, was arranged in the 
Vestry Hall, but the second and third were favoured with a far more 
suitable position—namely, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
which at this season of the year are invariably attractive in no ordi¬ 
nary degree. Last year’s Exhibition took place in the large conser¬ 
vatory, but this season two spacious marquees were erected on the 
lawn near the Council-room—a far preferable site had the weather 
proved fine, which, unfortunately, it did not, as an almost continuous 
rain prevailed throughout the day until within two hours of the 
closing time, when prospects became a little brighter and the number 
of visitors increased considerably. Though eminently successful in 
a horticultural point of view, it is to be feared that the financial 
results will not be quite so satisfactory ; but with a continuation of 
the liberal support from the local residents the Society will, it is 
hoped, be able to recover them position and start well for another 
year. 
The most important of the sixty-one classes enumerated in the 
schedule were well filled ; and though there was an absence of the 
large trained specimen plants seen at the chief metropolitan and 
provincial shows, their place was well supplied by an abundance of 
healthy vigorous plants of moderate size, the freshness and infor¬ 
mality of which were especially pleasing. The leading feature were 
the groups arranged for effect either in competition or otherwise, and 
in all of these considerable taste was displayed, and many different 
styles of grouping exemplified. The principal competition was in 
the open class for a group occupying a space not exceeding 
100 square feet, Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, gaining the 
premier award with very light, tasteful, and bright arrangement some¬ 
what in the same style as that generally characterising the groups 
staged by Mr. Hudson of Gunnersbury. The groundwork consisted 
of Adiantums with well-flowered Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums and 
Tuberous Begonias, taller plants of white Marguerites, Crotons, 
Dractenas, and Palms diversifying the appearance and adding much 
to its gracefulness ; a neat but informal margin of Selaginella and a 
few small flowering plants formed an agreeable finish to a really 
charming group. Messrs. Eromow & Sons, Chiswick, followed 
closely also with a pleasing group, though slightly heavier than the 
preceding ; the groundwork consisted of Ferns, Gloxinias, and Cala- 
diums, with taller specimens of Palms, Crotons, and Lilium auratum. 
Mr. W. Brown, Richmond, took the third position with a free and 
carefully considered arrangement that would have been improved by 
the introduction of a few more flowering plants, Gloxinias being 
the principal of these employed ; the margin of Caladium argyrites 
and Adiantums was, however, very pretty. An extra prize was ad¬ 
judged to Mr. G. Stevens of Putney for a pretty combination of 
Crotons, Palms, Ferns, Gloxinias, and Caladium argyrites, with an 
edging of Isolepis gracilis. 
In the second class for smaller groups not to exceed CO square feet 
in extent the competition was similarly keen and interesting, four 
very creditable collections being staged and differing little in quality. 
Leading honours were accorded to Mr. A. Wright, gardener to E. H. 
Watts, Esq., Chiswick, for a group chiefly distinguished by its light¬ 
ness and freedom from formality. The base consisted of Ferns, 
Gloxinias, and Pelargoniums, with a few graceful Cordylines and 
Fuchsias at the back, and edged with Adiantum cuneatum and 
Panicum variegatum alternately. Mr. G. Temple, gardener to J. 
Donaldson, Esq., Chiswick, gained the second position with a rather 
more formal arrangement of fine-foliage and flowering plants, 
Hydrangeas predominating amongst the latter ; and the third prize 
was adjudged to H. Pearks, Esq., for a bright group of Tuberous 
Begonias, Fuchsias, Clerodendrons, and Pelargoniums. 
The groups not in competition were similarly excellent, the following 
being highly commended :—Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, had 
a large collection of choice and new plants, comprising Orchids and 
miscellaneous fine-foliage and flowering plants very effectively dis¬ 
posed. Messrs. C. Lee & Sons, Hammersmith, contributed an ex¬ 
tremely pretty group of small ornamental shrubs and Conifers, with 
very healthy and well-flowered Roses in pots. The white variegated 
i 
