512 
JOURNAL OF H0RTICUL2URE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 4, 1884. 
lection of thirty-six dishes of Apples and Pears, which would have been 
more interesting if they had been named, ilr. Stringer showed a very 
interesting collection of twenty dishes of Apples and Pears correctly named, 
and all of fine quality. Perhaps the most striking exhibit of fruit was that 
shown by Mr. J. Harding, gardener to B. B. Hodgson, Esq., Highlands, 
Bolney, consisting of eight dishes of Pears and the same number of Apples, 
all of extraordinary size and brilliant colour. Mr. J. Mitchell, gardener to 
Mrs. Maberly; R. Hudson, gardener to Major Sergison ; Mr. Parsons, gar¬ 
dener to Miss Margison ; and J. Lingley, gardener to T. W. Best, Esq., also 
contributed to the display of fruits. 
It is but right to mention that the scheme was first suggested by Mr. 
Stringer, gardener to R. A. Bevan, Esq., Horsgate, and much of the success 
attending the Show is due to his untiring energy and perseverance. Much 
credit is also due to Mr. J. Tugwell, who, not being a gardener, acted as 
Hon. Secretary. After all expenses are paid it is hoped that from £10 to 
£12 will be sent to Mr. Cutler for the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu- 
ion.—R. I. 
TUPA FEUILLEI (LOBELIA TUPA). 
A VREY distinct plant is the peculiar Tupa Feuillei, and when growing 
vigorously, as it does in a few favoured districts, it is also very handsome. 
It requires, however, a rather warm and sheltered position, and even then 
needs careful protect'on in the winter, and some, te make it perfectly safe 
place it in a greenhouse at that time of year. In Ireland it succeeds well^ 
especially in the Dublin Botanic Gardens, where it has frequently attracted 
the attention of visitors. 
Under cultivation this pi int attaius a height of 4 or 5 feet, in ex¬ 
ceptional cases even exceeeding that, but it is often seen not more than 
3 feet high. Its flowers, which are bright red, wi'h the apex of the 
corolla strongly recurved, are produced on the upper portion of the stem 
from the axils of the leaves, and form a dense spike. It is a late- 
flowering plant, being frequently at its best in September, or even in 
October. The woodcut, fig. 87, shows the upper portion of a stem 
greatly reduced. 
This Tupa is a native of South America, and has been found by several 
botanists at various times. It was found by Father Feuillee early in the 
eighteenth century, and is thus noticed by him in his journal : — 
“ All this plant is a most ready poison ; its root yieldeth a deadly 
milk, as also doth its s'^em ; the odour of its flowers produceth cruel 
Sickness, When one handleth them, care must be had not to bruise them 
between the fingers ; for if one thereafter rubbeth his eyes, some of the 
milk having touched them, a man w 11 surely lose his S’ght, as hath been 
remarked by experience. I found this plant on the mountains of the 
kingdom of Chily, as high as 37° of south latitude.” 
MARSTON HOUSE, FROME. 
Picturesquely situated in a broad and effectively wooded valley 
within two miles of Frome is Marston House, the commodious re.=idence 
of the Earl of Cork. It is an oblong building, having a lofty con¬ 
servatory adjoining the west end and communicating with the interior 
through the spacious ball-room, and the lemon scent of a luxuriant and 
floriferous Magnolia grandiflora, about 40 feet high, and seeured to the 
wall (south front) close by, perfumes the air. The view from the south- 
front terrace, whence the velvety lawn runs with a sharp declivity towards 
the park, is a delightful one ; but more delightful still, and varied, too, 
is that which is obtained from the top of the series of terraces ascending 
to the grounds in the direction of the flower garden at the rear of the 
house. Glancing downwards from this elevated position, several neat 
slopes and flights of stone steps leading thereto are seen, and the well- 
filled vases bright with a variety of colours on each side. In the near 
distance are the home woods with the 30-acrcd lake showing between, 
and east and southward, thence the finely timbered parks of Longleat 
and Badmintm, the seats respectively of the Marquis of Bath and the 
Duke of Beaufort. 
The grounds and park are charmingly undulated and wooded with 
lofty Pines, majestic Oaks, spreading Beech, Yew, Portugal Laurel, &c. 
The most noticeable of these, not so much on account of its great spread 
of luxuriant branches and massive trunk as by reason of the peculiar 
formation and character of the latter, is a fine specimen of the Eeglish 
Yew. Many years since a series of suckers would appear to have sprung 
up from the base of the tree all around it in the most regular manner 
imaginable, and at about an equal height from the ground have effected 
a perfect union with the horizontal branches as well as with one another 
in their growth upwards. The fusion of the perpendicular as well as the 
horizontal branches impart to the trunk thus formed the appearance of a 
large fluted column. This very interesting tree stands at the bottom of 
the well-kept lawn opposite the south front of the mansion. Before 
leaving the ground I may remark that banks and underwood of the 
common Laurel, which we cut over two or three times a year with a 
knife at about 3§ feet from the ground, presents one even surface of this 
hardy evergreen, and forms a noteworthy feature of the place, and at the 
same time a capital cover for game. 
The flower garden occupies a high but sheltered situation at the rear 
of the house, and, being large, it requires a good number of foliage and 
flowering plants to furnish the numerous beds which it contains. Plants 
of the old Perilla nankinensis, Ricinus in variety, and other plants of 
like foliage and habit of growth when contrasted with the masses of 
scarlet, white pink, blue, purple, and other shades of colour which have 
been tastefully arranged, are very effective, especially so when viewed 
from the interior of the flowery bower close by. This effect just now 
(the middle of October) is heightened by the leaves of the various trees. 
In addition to this flower garden there are some effective ‘’carpet beds ” 
on the green sward in front of the conservatory. 
The kitchen gardens, in which the plant (except the conservatory) and 
fruit houses are situated, are very hilly, average s'ze, and well stocked with 
a good selection of admirably grown winter vegetables and fruit trees, 
among the former being fine '.breadths of Veitch’s Autumn Giant Cauli¬ 
flower, Brussels Sprouts, Winter Greene, Celery, &c., including a good 
border of beautifully curled Parsley, evidently a first-rate and weU- 
selected strain ; and a short distance off, climbing up a 12 feet wall, are 
some plants of a hybrid Bean, the result of a cross between Osborne’s 
Forcing and the Champion Runner Bean, and which promises to supersede 
in quality and quantity the produce of bith its parents. But I must not 
anticipate coming events by saying any more respecting this “new 
comer,” further than remarking that it is in good hands, and that there is 
a good batch and variety of Chrysanthemums and other winter-flowering 
plants close by. 
The glass houses consist of several plant and fruit houses, hot-water 
pits as well as cold ones, and frames. The emservatory was gay with a 
variety of foliage and flowering plants. Of the latter large and grandly 
flowered plants (about 12 feet high) of pink, white, and scarlet Pelar¬ 
goniums neatly trained up the division wall of the house and mansion 
deserve passing notice, as also do the plants of Plumbago capensis, which 
furnish the pillars so effectively, and the flowering shoots of Tacsonia 
exoniensis, which, depending gracefully from the roof, gives elegance and 
fin’sh to the house. In one of the greenhouses I noticed a well-grown 
and finely flowered batch of tuberous-rooted Begonias, both doubles and 
singles being well represen’ed. Among the latter varieties Dr. Masters 
was conspicuous as much on account of its immense spikes of flowers and 
free-flowering disposition as by reason of the great size, form, substance, 
and colour (dark red crimson) of its flowers. This is one of the very best 
of Messrs. John Laing & Co.’s many excellent v-rieties of this fast- 
gaining favour species of Begonias. White double Primulas on shelves 
near the glass, winter-flowering Pelargoniums (a houseful), Calanthes 
Veitchii and another variety of this useful Orchid, with flower spikes as 
thick as a man’s thumb proceeding freely from the pseudo-bulbs, Poin- 
se'tias, Cypripediums, and perpetual-flowering Carnations, are also grown 
largely and well at Marston. In addition to the plants enumerated above 
there is an ordinary collection of stove and greenhouse plants, which 
include some good Ferns, Dracaenas, and Crotons of a decorative character, 
and Gardenias luxuriating in a hot-water pit, and Tea Roses in a raised pit 
(see page 324 of this Journal) in one of the forcing houses deserve a 
passing referen e. 
