Oetober 25, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
361 
Elms and Chestnuts. The flower garden is overlooked from the terrace, 
and at the time of my visit was in excellent order and still gay with the 
usual summer bedding plants. The conservatory adjoining the flower 
garden is a substantial structure, built principally of stone and metal, and 
is in every respect worthy of the place and its surroundings. The roof is 
festooned with Tacsonias and other climbers, with Pelargoniums, 
Habrothamnus, &c., for the pillars and walls. Included in the centre 
beds are fine specimen Orange and Citron trees, Latanias and other 
Palms, Dracmna gracilis and Araucarias. On the side stages amoDg the 
flowering plants Achimenes were conspicuous, such good varieties as 
Mauve Perfection, Garibaldi, Ambroise Verchaffelt, longiflora alba, and 
Diadem being the best. Near the conservatory a good rosery has been 
formed, and among the many varieties grown, both as dwarfs and 
standards, the most noteworthy as being good autumn bloomers are 
Madame Victor Verdier, Edouard Morren, A. K. Williams, Charles 
Lefebvre, Mons. Filion, Dupuy Jamain, Marquise de Castellane, Baronne 
de Rothschild, Countess of Oxford, and John Hopper. 
The fruit and plant houses are closely grouped at one end of the 
kitchen garden, and consequently are less expensively heated and are 
more under control than is the case in other places where they are 
scattered. In the latest vinery such good sorts as Madresfield Court, 
Black Alicante, Lady Downe’s, and Gros Colman were carrying extra 
heavy crops, and were finishing well. Figs in pots were trained on the 
back wall of this house and prove profitable. The Peaches are being 
re-arrauged, and the space will be considerably economised and the trees 
improved by the operation. Instead of having the trees on the roof only, 
the front trees are trained to a semicircular trellis, and this will admit 
of the high back walls being also utilised. Pitmaston Orange and Elruge 
Nectarines are preferred, and Royal George is still the favourite Peach. 
Early Alfred Peach is found to crop heavily, the fruit being of fair size, 
highly coloured, and of good quality. 
Of the plant houses the most attractive is the stove. It is a long and 
narrow span-roof structure, with a central path, on each side of which are 
arranged banks of well-grown Ferns ard fine-foliaged plants, and a 
canopy of flowering climbers completes a very pretty display. Among the 
Ferns I was much pleased with healthy free-growing specimens of 
Microlepia hirta cristata, and Lastrea Richardsii multifida, both being 
erect-growing crested varieties, and suitable alike for exhibition and 
decorative purposes. All the best Adiantums and Gymnogrammas are 
also well represented, and of fine-foliaged plants the most noteworthy are 
specimens of Amhurium crystallinum, Croton Weismanii, Ananassasativa 
variegata, and Dracaenas in variety. Orchids are being taken in hand, 
and a fairly good collection already formed. The end back wall is being 
covered with Jasminum gracillimum, planted in a box of peaty soil, and 
this free-blooming highly scented Jasmine seems well adapted for this 
purpose. Much of the roof is covered with a healthy floriferous plant of 
Allamanda Hendersonii, this being planted in a small raised heap of 
soil enclosed by ornamental stones, the remainder of the roof being 
occupied by Stephanotis floribunda and Bougainvillea glabra similarly 
treated, and Dipladenias in pots. In a very slightly heated pit a large 
batch of stout healthy Poinsettias in various heights were growing, and 
these, when introduced into heat early in November, are calculated to 
rapidly develope fine showy heads. In one of the cool plant houses 
thriving specimens of Lapageria alba and L. rosea are planted in sub¬ 
stantial narrow tubs, which are made with divisions which can be taken 
out and more soil added on each side, the tubs in this manner being 
gradually filled with soil and roots to the obvious benefit of the plants. 
Primulas, Cinerarias, double zonal Pelargoniums, and other winter- 
flowering plants are all well and extensively grown. 
In the frame ground a house with a sunken floor and roof formed with 
old lights is devoted to Tomato culture, and here, with a very little 
attention, abundance of fine Tomatoes are ripened during the summer and 
autumn, and the structure is afterwards serviceable for wintering Roses 
and other comparatively hardy plants in pots. The kitchen garden is 
not large, but is well cropped with vegetables and fairly w r ell furnished 
with fruit trees. Such good Apples as Cox’s Orange Pippin, Lord Suffield, 
Nelson’s Codlin. Margil, and King of the Pippins were the most heavily 
cropped. Fine examples of the useful Anemone Honorine Jobert were 
observable in different parts of the garden, the whole resulting from a 
few roots cut to pieces and grown in pans during the winter previous. 
Gladioli in considerable quantities and all named were at their best, and 
Asters, Stocks, and other serviceable annuals were very gay and the 
strains good. 
Mr. H. K. Ward has for some years had charge of these gardens, and 
it is worthy of note that his employer apparently fully appreciates his 
services, and does not neglect his personal comforts, nor that of the 
young men under him. All are well and comfortably housed, and in 
addition a good and constantly increasing library is provided for them. 
Would that more employers would imitate such an example, as by so 
doing they would at no very great expense materially contribute to 
the enjoyment, improvement, and steadiness of their employes .— 
W. Iggulden. 
DINNER OF THE APPLE CONGRESS. 
On Thursday evening a party of about sixty gentlemen, members of 
the Apple Congress, assembled at Ashley’s Hotel, Covent Garden, by 
invitation of the Horticultural Club, to celebrate the triumph at Chiswick 
in the usual way, with a little dinner. Dr. Robert Hogar, F.L.S., presided. 
The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured, Dr. Masters, F.R.S., 
proposed “ Prosperity to the Royal Horticultural Society.” He said the 
promoters of the Apple Congress were under great obligations to the 
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society for the liberal provision made 
at Chiswick for the Exhibition, and for the staff of earnest workers who 
had contributed in so great a degree to its success. The best Codlin in 
the Show was the one named Bai-ron, and he hoped the compliment 
intended would not be thought a barren one. 
Mr. John Lee responded for the Society. He had been associated 
with it for fifty-eight years, and considered himself the oldest inhabitant. 
The influence of the Society had been continuous and powerful for good, 
and the plants it had secured for our gardens were of the utmost value, 
and the best testimony to its consistent purpose. He could remember 
when Douglas sent home from America the Red-flowering Currant, and 
reflecting on the many splendid acquisitions of Fortune and others for 
which we were indebted to the Society, he would say that the climax was 
attained in the present wonderful exhibition of Apples. 
The Rev. H. D’Ombrain proposed the toast of the evening, “ The 
Health of the Committee of the Exhibition.” Perhaps, as an outsider, he 
could the better propose this toast than any of the gentlemen who were 
mixed up with the Apples. To estimate the service rendered to society 
by this splendid affair was, perhaps, as yet impossible. In fact, the 
Committee had not yet finished their labours, and it might be said, 
perhaps, in the presence of the gigantic task, that it could never be 
completed. 
Mr. L. Killick of Maidstone responded. He said they had indeed 
been compelled to work as perhaps some of them, though busy men, had 
never worked before. They were well rewarded, for such an Apple Show 
had never been seen hitherto. But there was a greater reward now con¬ 
summated, for such a meeting at the festive board of truly representative 
men was no common event. The Show was intended for practical pur¬ 
poses, and its practical value was incalculable. The manner in which 
they were backed up by the cultivators, by the press, and by the public 
was a matter equally for astonishment and delight. 
The Chairman (Dr. Hogg) said all parties were to be congratulated on 
the results of the endeavour. The Exhibition surpassed all previous 
undertakings of the kind. He remembered with some pleasure the fruit 
shows of years gone by, but there had been none such as this, and it must 
stand alone as an episode in the history of horticulture. It told them of 
the cohesion of horticulturists and of the horticultural power of the 
country. The whole of this great undertaking was accomplished in the 
space of three weeks, and they were indebted to Mr. Barron for its initi¬ 
ation. Perhaps even this success could not add to the esteem in which 
Mr. Barron was held, for he was always winning and keeping the golden 
opinions of all who knew him as a practical horticulturist. 
Dr. Hogg then presented Mr. Barron with a gold watch and chain that 
the members of the Committee had provided for the occasion in testimony 
of their indebtedness to Mr. Barron for his enormous labours and the 
knowledge he had brought to bear upon the difficult subject of Apple 
nomenclature.* 
Mr. Barron accepted the gift and returned thanks in his own quiet 
manner, saying that the Exhibition had far exceeded his own expectations, 
and that he was well rewarded therein. There were 182 exhibitors repre¬ 
sented in the Show, and the dishes or lots numbered 10,080. 
Mr. William Paul of Waltham Cross proposed “ The Horticultural 
Press,” for which Mr. Shirley Hibberd responded. 
Mr. Bunyard of Maidstone proposed “Prosperity to the Horticultural 
Club,” acknowledging the indebtedness of the Congress for the opportunity 
of the present pleasant meeting. The Rev. H. D Oinbrain acknowledged 
the compliment. 
Mr. Harry Yeitch of Chelsea proposed “ The Health of the Chairman, 
and the Chairman returned thanks, saying he believed the unparalleled 
exhibition of Apples at Chiswick would prove of immense advantage to 
the country.—( Gardeners' Magazine .) 
GRAPES AT GILMERTON. EAST LOTHIAN. 
There is a crop of Muscat Grapes at Gilmerton, East Lothian, worthy 
of recording, not only on account of the high quality of the fruit, hut 
also because of the weight of crop and the simple conditions under which 
they are produced. It may be premised that a span-roofed greenhouse 
divides a short range into three compartments ; a vinery at one end 
being filled with black Grapes, the Muscat house of which I write at the 
other end, and the greenhouse is between the two. All the Muscats are 
heavily cropped and fine, but a double-rod Bowood at one end is decidedly 
the fiuest. The length of rod will be about 16 feet, and on each of these 
two rods an aggregate of 60 lbs. weight at least is borne. I he finest 
bunches are at the bottom of the house, some of them 4 lb. clusters, full, 
symmetrical, and large berries. I counted forty-two bunches on these 
two rods, one having been cut before I saw them. 
The following details I obtained from Mr. Brunton while he described 
the past doings of these Muscats, of which he is justly proud. Their age 
is twenty-four years, the crop they are bearing this year being nothing 
unusual. The Vines have never been syringed. They are up to the 
present day innocent of all knowledge of red spider, thrips, and mea y 
bu°\ No plants have been allowed inside the vinery doors. The venti- 
lators are rarely closed, but a piece of hexagon netting is kept nailed 
across the highest apertures, which open at the top of the vineries to the 
« The watch bears the following inscription Presented to Mr. A. F. Barron by 
, few pomological friends as a souvenir of the Apple Congress, held at the Royal Horti- 
'ultural Gardens, Chiswick, October, 1883.” 
