198 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 28, 1884. 
Potatoes were splendidly shown, and Mr. Milner was awarded the first 
prize for six varieties with clear tubers of Adirondack, Magnet, Prize- 
taker, Cosmopolitan, Lady Truscott, and Vicar of Laleliam. The single 
dishes were very good, but several of them were wrongly named, as, for 
instance. Schoolmaster is a perfect round Potato, and not a long one like 
Magnum Bonum. Several dishes of Tomatoes were extra good, as were 
the Onions, Carrots, and Turnips. 
The cottagers had a large tent all to themselves, and it was not the 
least in attraction, as the quantity of the exhibits was amazing. In small 
fruits and vegetables they quite surpassed the professional section. 
Currants, Gooseberries, and Apples were their main fruits, but we were 
rather astonished not to find any Lord Suflield Apples shown, as it is the 
best of all Apples for a cottager at this season. Altogether the cottagers’ 
exhibits must have numbered some thousands of dishes, and the Com¬ 
mittee may be congratulated on making such excellent provision in this 
department and having such a hearty response. 
MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS. 
These were numerous and of a very interesting character. Messrs. 
Webb & Son, Wordsley, Stourbridge, were the only exhibitors of the neces¬ 
sary and useful culinary productions, and they staged large quantities of 
Potatoes, Peas, Onions, Carrots, Cabbage, Lettuce, Beaus, Ac., of great 
rnerit. All the best things were their own special varieties, for which this 
rising firm has of late been justly celebrated, and as special exhibitions at 
shows are so often confined to plants and cut flowers, frequently of little 
value, a vegetable show like the one in question would no doubt be much 
appreciated. Mr. T. Laxton of Bedford exhibited several of his specialities, 
the best of which was the Girtford Giant Runner Bean. This received a 
certificate of merit from the Judges, and it deserved it, as it is very 
distinct, and a fine variety. The pods were about 12 inches in length, 
perfectly green, and very handsome. Sandy Prize Onion and Evolution 
Pea were also good and attractive from the same grower. Messrs. James 
Dickson & Son, Chester, exhibited an extensive table of well-grown stove 
and greenhouse plants, and a group of the same description also came from 
Messrs. F._& A. Dickson, Chester. Messrs. Myres, Sutton Lane Nurseries, 
Messrs. Pritchard & Sons, and Messrs. Jones, all of Shrewsbury, were also 
extensive exhibitors of choice small plants. 
CRAIG-Y-NOS (ROCK OF NIGHT) CASTLE. 
THE WELSH SEAT OF MADAME PATTI. 
The gardens are comparatively speaking new, having been laid out a 
few years ago by Mr. Barron, landscape gardener, of Sketty. The glass 
houses also were designed by him, and constructed by IMr. Joseph Gwyn, 
builder, of Sketty. The machinery for ventilation is simple, easy, and 
excellent in working, the materials used being of the best description. 
The Thames Bank Company’s system of heating is adopted. The winter- 
garden building is a splendid glass house, and contains a good variety of 
tropical plants, which cost several hundred pounds. They are doing well, 
and in a fine state of growth under the care of INIr. George Tylor, head 
gardener to Madame Patti. There are many sp)ecimea plants, and a good 
selection of trained plants and climbers—viz., Abutilons, Tacsonias, Passi- 
floras, Lapagerias, &c. A plant of Lapageria alba, covering a large space 
on the back wall just commenced flowering, also a plant of Abutilon 
vexillarium occupies much room. There is a fine plant of Clematis indivisa, 
which has a beautiful effect in early spring with its lovely bunches of 
white flowers, and should be in every collection. Some good specimen 
Palms are arranged in pairs of the following: Chamsernps excelsa, C. humilis, 
Kentia tosteriana, Phoenix dactylifera, and Seaforthia elegans. Also 
some noble specimens of Tree Ferns—a pair of Dracaena lineata and a pair 
of D. australis, from 12 to 14 feet high, are close to the roof. Several 
handsome plants of Camellias produce immense quantities of flowers. 
Everything appears to have made rapid growth since the collection was 
planted three years ago. The building is evidently too low for many of 
the specimen trees and Tree Ferns, and it would be well to raise the roof to 
preserve the collection from further mutilation. A fine plant of Araucaria 
excelsa having reached the roof, has had its leader cut away ; a pair of 
Eucalyptus have also been served in like manner. The collection is 
unique. 'The winter garden is connected with the conservatory hy a long 
glass corridor, and there is thus a passage from the drawing-room to 
conservatory and to the winter garden under cover at all seasons of the 
#ear. In the conservatory the pillars and bearings are covered and fes¬ 
tooned with Passifloras, Cobsea scandens, and the variegated variety, which 
has a very pretty effect. The conservatory is used now as a dining-room, 
and the electric lamps have just been fixed there, also in the winter 
garden, have a fine effect by night. The machinery for this occupies 
one of the sheds in the forcing department, and was fixed by Messrs. 
Paterson & Cooper, of Little Britain, Aldersgate Street, London, under the 
directions of Mr. Legge, gasfitter, Swansea. The gasworks, which have 
be^ muse some few years here, will be utilised fm working the electric 
light. The stoves, which are well filled, are in four divisions, the roof 
of one house being nearly covered by a beautiful plant of Allamanda 
Schottii, now in full bloom. The second is used as a Melon house, some 
beautiful fruits being grown of Blenheim Orange and Hero of Lockinge, 
about 4^ lbs. weight each—a useful size for table. Large quantities of 
Tomatoes are grown in one house, while another ^is nearly filled with 
many varieties of Coleus, which are used to a great extent for decorating 
the conservatory. There was also a most lovely plant of Bout^ainvillea 
glabra in full bloom. 
The vineries are in good condition. In the early house the Vines were 
growing too strongly, and Mr. Tylor has had some difficulty in colouring 
the fruit of late. During the past winter he had the Vines lifted, ana 
now the wood is of medium growth. The bunches of Grapes were cut 
off: as soon as they appeared, with the (xception of a few, which appear 
to be colouring well. The variety is Black Hamburgh. In the second 
house is a splendiil crop of Grapes, rather too heavy, but Mr. Tylor has 
allowed this through sacrificing the crop in the early hou.se. The sort 
grown in this house is chiefly Muscat of Alexandria, with the addition of 
a few Vines of Madresfield Court and Foster’s Seedling. The forcing 
department and houses generally are well managed by Mr. Jones, the 
foreman, of whom Mr. Tylor speaks very highly. In the frames were a 
large quantity of Campanula pyramidalis, forming good specimen plants, 
which are very effective for furnishing. 
The kitchen garden is sand reclaimed from the foot of the Ciibeth 
Mountains, where, during the rainy season, the waters gathered and 
descended, flooding the hillside and washing away the soil, leaving the 
land bare and sterile. The water is now conducted through a large 
culvert. As a consequence manure has to be bought in quantities from 
farmers in the neighbourhood. Mr. Tylor finds great difficulty in 
growing Asparagus, having made new beds and replanted successively, 
and still it dies. This spring he had ground prepared and Asparagus 
seed sown, now the yoimg plants are growing and looking healthy. 
Craig-y-Nos Castle is beautifully situate and secluded at the top of 
the Swansea Valley ; the Cribeth Mountains are behind, the river Tawe 
flowing at the foot of the pleasure grounds in front, with woods and 
preserves on rising ground beyond. The Coniferse and Rhododendrons 
are making good growth, although some of the Rhododendrons are looking 
sickly where planted on the sterile banks. Mr. Tylor is placed at a 
great disadvantage, as his house is a mile from the gardens. The house 
built at one angle of the kitchen garden, intended for the gardener, is 
now occupied by the gamekeeper.—C. J. 
WORCESTER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Atjoust 13th and 14th. 
The annual summer Exhibition of this popular Society was held at 
Perdiswell Park, the residence of Henry Walker, Esq., the beautiful well- 
kept grounds and flower garden being also kindly thrown open to the 
visitors. These attractions, in addition to a very excellent display in the 
tents, all served to make the Show a most decided success in every respect, 
and doubtless resulted in a satisfactory balance in favour of the Society. 
The Committee, with their courteous Honorary Secretary,Mr. J. H. White, 
all worked hard, and the arrangements on the whole left nothing to be 
desired. 
Groups op Pl.vnts. —These are always the principal feature at the 
Worcester Shows, and 'we think rightly so, and if other societies made 
good provision for these there wmuld be less need of the aid of professional 
exhibitors from a distance. Nearly every good gardener could furnish a 
pretty group of plants, while on the other hand there are few who are in a 
position to grow and exhibit large specimens. At Worcester the principal 
prize for a group occupying a space 30 yards square was awarded to Mr. 
Cowan, gardener to H. Walker, Esq., whose arrangement and quality qf 
plants employed—these including many Palms, Ferns, Crotons, Dracaenas, 
Liliums, Tuberoses, and Begonias—was extremely good. Equal second 
prizes were awarded to Mr. J. Green, gardener to Captain Castle, and Mr. 
A. Edwards, gardener to J. S. Isaac, Esq., who arranged more showy 
groups, but they were lacking in quality and lightness, being in fact over¬ 
done with Zonal Pelargoniums, Gladioli, &c. Groirps occupying spaces of 
15 square yards were most tastefully arranged by Mr. T. Lawley, 
gardener to T. C. Quarrel, Esq., and Mr. J. Vicarage, gardener to Mrs. 
Allies, who were rightly awarded the prizes in the order named. 
Stove .4nd Greenhouse Pl.vnts. —Collections of six plants in bloom 
were well shown by Messrs. Vicarage, T. Lawley, and G. Holman, 
gardener to H. Bramwell, Esq.; Ferns by Messrs. D. Ballard, gardener to 
Mrs. Taylor, J. Green, and G. Holman; fine-foliaged plants by Messrs. 
G. Holman and A. Edwards ; Fuchsias by Messrs. T. Lawley, A. Edwards, 
and J. Gardener; British Ferns by Messrs. J. Vicarage, J. Baskell, and 
Norman, gardener to A. W. Knott, Esq.; Coleus by Messrs. J. Green, T. 
Lawley, and G. Holman ; plants for table decoration by Messrs. Cowan, A. 
Edwards, and J. Haskell; Tuberous-rooted Begonias by Messrs. Hewitt and 
Co., Birmingham, J. Green, and A. Edwards; Gloxinias by Messrs. J. 
Haskell and J. Gardener ; Cockscombs by Messrs. T. Lawley and W. Williams, 
the prizes being awarded in the order named for praisew'orthy exhibits in 
each instance. 
Cut Flowers. —The most successful exhibitors of twenty-four Roses 
were Mr. W. J. Grant, Messrs. J. Lewis & Son, and Mr. Cowan ; of twelve cut 
Roses, Messrs. W. J. Grant, J. Davies, gardener to the Rev. H. Arkwright, 
and Messrs. Lewis & Son; Dahlias, Messrs. G. Maylett, W. Shaw, and G. 
Fortey; single Dahlias, Messrs. J. S. Haywood, G. James, and W Shaw; 
vases of flowers for table, Messrs. W. Shaw and Gardener (equal firsts); 
and Gladioli, Messrs. G. S. Haywood, J. Lewis Son, and W. Shaw. 
Fruit. —The competition in the various fruit classes was remarkably 
good, and all, with the exception of Plums and Melons, were of superior 
quality. Witn a collection of six dishes exclusive of Pine Apples Mr. Barker, 
gardener to Sir Henry Allsopp, was easily first, having large well-finished 
bunches of Madresfield Court and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes; a good 
Blenheim Orange Melon and fine Royal George Peaches, Lord Napier 
Nectarines and Brown Turkey Figs. Mr. W. Gould was second, his 
collection including very fine Lord Napier Nectarines, Grosse Mignonne 
Peaches, and good Black Hamburgh Grapes ; while in the third-prize lot 
staged by Mr. W. Child, gardener to the Earl of Coventry, were good 
though small bunches of Black Hamburah and Muscat of Alexandria 
Grapes. The first-prize bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes shown by Mr. 
Barker were perfect in every respect, and not much fault could be found with 
those staged by Messrs. J. Green and W. Gould, which respectively gained 
the second and third prizes. Mr. Barker took the first prize in the class for 
any other black variety with Madresfield Court, beautifully finished, and was 
followed by Mr. G. Holman. Mr. Barker was also first with Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, and was closely followed by the Rev. H. W. Coventry and Mr. G 
Holman, all having very creditable examples. With any other white variety 
Mr. Child was a good first, and was followed by Messrs. J. Green and A. 
