December 29, 1881.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 579 
at hand, and that for the future we intend to grow plants specially 
for this method of arranging. 
The space on which to arrange the plants, considering the height 
of the house is much limited, the raised beds being divided by 
wide central paths. A broad band of Selaginella is established at 
the front of the raised borders. On one side next the door a eood 
specimen of Dracaena ferrea was stood on a 12-inch pot, and a 
conical group formed around consisting of rosy pink flowers, such 
as Salvia Bethelli, Begonia weltoniensis, also Pelargoniums Master 
Christine and Amaranth, these being fringed with small flower¬ 
ing plants of the same coloured Pelargoniums. The next was the 
central group, and this consisted entirely of silver-variegated 
foliage, white-flowering plants, and Ferns, the central plant being 
a good specimen well raised of Pandanus Yeitchii surrounded by 
white Chrysanthemums, Callas, Pelargonium White Princess, 
Begonia semperflorens grandifiora, Eupatoriums, and Primulas. 
The end group had for a central plant a specimen of Dracaena 
indi visa, the remainder of the group consisting of crimson Celosias, 
the free-flowering Pelargonium Guillon Mangilli, and small plants 
of single Pelargoniums of the same shade. The spaces between 
these groups w r ere occupied by Ferns, principally Adiantums of 
6orts, and midway between each principal group a small group 
of the beautiful blue Browallia elata was disposed. 
On the other side of the house entrance and in a line with the 
last-mentioned raised group a similar group was arranged. Next 
came a group of yellow flowers, such as Celosias, Chrysanthemums, 
and Coronillas surrounding a raised plant of Chamserops humilis. 
The end group had for a centre Yucca aloifolia variegata, about 
this being arranged Salvia splendens and Pelargoniums Wonder¬ 
ful and Vesuvius, Ferns being worked around these groups also. 
The bed opposite to these was sufficiently long to admit of fine 
groups being arranged. The central group consisted of a tall 
well-elevated specimen of Blechnum brasiliense surrounded by 
Celosias, Epiphyllum truncatum, Guillon Mangilli Pelargoniums, 
and red Primulas. On each side of this the groups consisted of 
white-flowering plants, Ferns, and a central erect-growdng green 
Dracaena. One outside group had for a centre Dracaena ferrea, 
surrounded by light pink Pelargonium Mrs. W. Paul in different 
sizes and blooming freely, and Reading Pink Primulas ; the other 
was composed entirely of free-flowering scarlet Pelargoniums, with 
Yucca aloifolia variegata for a centre. Ferns large and small 
divided the several groups. 
It is not necessary to enter into further details, beyond stating 
how effective a number of Begonias of the Rex type and flowering 
freely were when grouped under a large Latania borbonica, and 
a group of richly coloured Cinerarias shovmd to advantage with a 
few Callas. The white flowers and Ferns form the most attrac¬ 
tive groups ; Adiantums such as cuneatum, formosum, concinnum, 
and tenerum being most suitable for the purpose. A bank recently 
arranged in a small heated verandah, and consisting of Ceutro- 
pogon Lucyanus, scarlet Pelargoniums, Poinsettias, and tall 
Euphorbia jacquiniasflora, surrounded by Eupatoriums, Callas, 
double white Primulas and Ferns, is remarkably effective, especi¬ 
ally when viewed by lamplight. 
The temperature of the conservatory ranges from 50° to 60° by 
day and 45° to 50° by night, and occasionally still lower, and this 
and the supplying tepid water seems to maintain floriferousness 
and health in the various kinds of plants arranged in the structure. 
—W. IGGULDEN. 
IS POTATO CULTURE PROFITABLE ? 
A FEW weeks ago one of your correspondents complained of the 
price of Potatoes, and asked if Potatoes could be grown at a profit 
at id. per stone, the price at which he was then selling. The 
Editor replied that it would depend on the crop which could be 
obtained. The price mentioned, id. per stone, would work out to 
£2 13#. id. a ton. This seems an absurdly low price. It is the 
price at which Potatoes used to be sold wholesale in Scotland 
nearly thirty years ago, when the expenses of cultivation and rent 
and taxes were much lower than they have been of late years, 
and before the losses by disease were so serious. 
I have tried growing Potatoes on a large scale, and I do not 
think I could make them pay at the price mentioned. The cost of 
cultivation is considerable ; and although the rent of land is 
less, the rates and taxes are still very high, and the cost of labour 
more than it was twenty years ago. But besides the expense of 
cultivation there is the outlay in storing and moving the crop, and 
the cost of carting to the market; and when the price is low the 
buyer is more particular in the sample and asks for the small 
tubers to be picked out. 
With regard to a large crop, it may be obtained from land in 
good condition, but I have not been able to get large produce 
without a considerable outlay in manure, which of course adds to 
the expense ; but then comes the question, Why does your corre¬ 
spondent sell at id. per stone ? Depend upon it the dealers who 
give that price do not sell for less than double. If we allow 2d. 
per stone for selling, the seller would make 50 per cent, profit. 
Why should not the grower take a share of it ? I did when I had 
Potatoes for sale. I found a dealer who sold for me on commis¬ 
sion at 2d. per peck. If I could not find one I should send 
someone round myself. In making these remaiks I do not wish 
to discourage the growth of cheap Potatoes. I think the people 
have reason to expect them at a cheaper rate as long as the 
Alagnum Bonum and other disease-resisting Potatoes hold out, 
but that the grower should endeavour to lessen the cost of cul¬ 
tivation to meet the reduction in price, aud claim a share of the 
profit when sold to the consumer.— Amateur, Cirencester. 
AN AMATEUR’S HOLIDAY. 
( Con tinned from page 539 .) 
While thankful that he is not one “ who hath no music in 
his soul, or is not moved by concourse of sweet sounds,” but 
grateful that he can reap much pleasure from, and even con¬ 
tribute, however indifferently, to the same, the writer confesses 
his inability so to grasp or adequately to appreciate music of the 
highest class as can be done by those of greater natural endow¬ 
ments and high scientific musical culture. He is aware that in 
this, as in the domain of the sister art of painting, there is to him 
a.world of unexplored beauty and unappropriated delight—a terra 
incognita far beyond the confines of which he cannot penetrate. 
Of the sermon thus far preached the application will be obvious. 
Conscious of my inability to do justice to such a subject, with 
great diffidence I proceed to mention my visit to Castle Kennedy. 
A “ Wylde Savage ” would here have a theme “ worthy of his 
steel ” pen or graphic quill. I shall endeavour to avoid inac¬ 
curacies, but my visit was too hurried : and writing from unaided 
memory, I can hardly hope to give your readers any idea of what 
is certainly the most lovely place I ever saw. 
The grounds are open to the public on Wednesday and Saturday. 
I would in your columns again tender my thanks to Air. Fowler, 
to whose frank courtesy it is due that, calling as I did on another 
day, I was not only granted admission, but that I had through 
this veritable fairyland the conduct of the presiding genius of 
the whole. 
Castle Kennedy, the seat of the Earl of Stair, is in the parish 
of Inch, about four miles from Stranraer. It possesses all the 
essentials of beautiful landscape—hill and valley, wood and water, 
picturesque ruin and imposing modern mansion. The old castle, 
the remains of which form a striking feature in the picture, was 
built about the time of James VI., and was held by the Earls of 
Cassilis. During the reign of Charles II. it came into the posses¬ 
sion of Sir John Dalrymple of Stair, and was burned by accident 
in 17i5. l'he present splendid mansion, in the Scotch baronial 
style, occupies a commanding site surrounded by a wide amphi¬ 
theatre of hills. The extensive grounds are laid out in a 
series of numerous terraces, and include two lakes, the Black 
aud the White Loch, respectively a mile and a mile and a 
half long by half a mile in breadth. These are really con¬ 
nected, but seem to be detached, and the castle stands on the 
weffmost peninsula that divides them. The whole demesne has 
in all details been embraced in one grand comprehensive scheme, 
including the surrounding hills, which also have been laid out for 
reciprocal effect. In carrying out this extensive undertaking a 
hundred bands were engaged for several years, and the minimum 
staff now consists of thirty gardeners, while upwards of a dozen 
foresters are in constant employ. It is almost unnecessary to add 
that only by the division of the men into squads, each having its 
particular quarter assigned, could it be possible to maintain such 
neatness and order as obtains everywhere. The slope of one of the 
terraces has been converted into the semicircular auditorium of 
an open-air theatre, and here concerts are occasionally held, this 
being one of the ways in which the temperance movement in the 
district is laudably encouraged. What a place for a rendering of 
the “Gloria in Excelsis” or the “Hallelujah Chorus” worthy 
of the surroundings ! 
I had often heard and read of Conifers ; but as I traversed 
those spacious glades deeply lined with rare specimens, their 
dark foliage lit up with the beautiful cones, I felt how in¬ 
sufficiently any attempts at description could convey an idea of 
the beauty of the scene. Nor had I any idea of the variety of habit 
and appearance assumed by Araucarias till there I saw those deep 
and long lines, more striking to one who had hitherto seen com¬ 
paratively little more than isolated specimens. Then Rhododen¬ 
drons by, I should imagine, tens of thousands, the addition of 
