10 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 6, 1882. 
litter that had been laid in a pit for Melon culture for some time before, 
the spawn running in the soil bed after it was made up. I hare many 
times gathered more than a pound weight to the foot from our beds, 
and received a higher price for all sold (many bushels) than that 
named in the Journal.— Grower. 
The visit to this country of the Belgian horticulturists may 
be said to have terminated last Saturday. After visiting Cliveden 
and Dropmore (on Wednesday the 28th ult.), with which and the 
surrounding scenery they were much impressed, and equally so with 
Frogmore, where a right royal repast was provided by command 
of Her Majesty, they inspected the excellently conducted nursery 
of Mr. Turner at Slough, and were hospitably entertained by the 
esteemed proprietor. On Thursday some of the market gardens 
in the Thames valley were inspected, and a visit was paid to the 
Richmond Show, which almost surprised them by its excellence, 
both as regards culture and variety of products, as a local exhi¬ 
bition. In the evening our friends attended the anniversary 
dinner ot the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, at which 
the Lord Mayor presided, the company numbering 175 guests. 
- On Friday they visited Mr. Williams’ establishment 
AT Holloway. Passing through some forty houses and admiring 
the display of Orchids—Yandas, Cattleyas, and Odontoglossums 
being especially fine, also the great and healthy stocks of plants, 
such as Dipladenias, Allamandas, Ixoras, Crotons, Nepenthes, &c, 
occupied nearly three hours. One of the large cool houses was 
prepared for the luncheon, which by its excellence was in keeping 
with the nursery, and a most agreeable hour was spent amidst 
loyal toasts and complimentary greetings. 
- A drive of a few miles through a beautiful district was 
next enjoyed, and Mr. Cutbush’s nurseries at Barnet visited ; 
one celebrated for the extensive collection of specimen variegated 
Hollies, the other for the propagation and culture of hardwooded 
plants—Heaths, Epacrises, Dracophyllums, Acacias, Hedaromas, 
Erioste*Qons, Pimeleas, &c., the stocks of which elicited expressions 
of approval. A return was then made to Highgate, and the nur¬ 
sery there passed through, and its great collection of Ivies, Sweet 
Bays, and choice evergreens inspected. A treat of a different 
character brought the day to a close. 
- Adjoining the above nursery ia Holly Lodge, the resi¬ 
dence of Baroness Burdett' Coutts. This estimable lady not only 
readily afforded facilities for an inspection of the gardens and 
grounds, but provided elegant refreshments in the garden saloon 
and museum. Situated at the immediate verge of London, the 
pleasure grounds are almost startling by their rural beauty. The 
grounds, boldly undulated and richly wooded, walks enclosed in 
foliage, smooth lawns, and bright flower borders and beds, with the 
structures devoted to fruit and plant culture, afforded an oppor¬ 
tunity of seeing gardening in its various aspects most ably con¬ 
ducted by Mr. Willard. The time, too short, was spent most en- 
joyably here. In the secluded grounds there is no suspicion of 
being near the busy haunts of men, yet pass through the thick 
belt of trees that fringe the hill and the largest city of the world 
is spread at our feet. Thus a busy day was brought to an agree¬ 
able termination, and all went home satisfied. 
- On Saturday the programme included Chiswick, Kew, 
and Sion House, with luncheon provided by Dr. Masters at the 
“ Star and Garter,” Richmond. Even a summary description of 
these establishments will not be attempted, and it must suffice to 
say that Chiswick is the embodiment of practical and experimental 
horticulture ; Kew unequalled for its rich stores of vegetable pro¬ 
ducts ; and Sion House is a fine type of a nobleman’s residence 
and of general gardening as conducted by one of the most skilled 
practitioners, Mr. Woodbridge. The weather during the week has 
been fine, and all the arrangements have been carried out in a 
satisfactory manner. 
- Although the" majority of the visitors returned to 
Belgium on the close of the programme, yet a few remained and 
visited Mr. Rivers’ great fruit-growing establishment at Sawbridge- 
worth on Monday, the National Rose Show on Tuesday, also Messrs. 
Yeitch’s nursery at Coombe Wood—one of the most picturesque, 
well-furnished, and admirably conducted establishments of its 
kind in the kingdom. Mr. Waterer’s nursery, we believe, has also 
been visited by some individuals of the party. The visit of the 
guests has been a most welcome one to the representatives of 
horticulture in this country, remembering, as do the latter, the 
splendid receptions that have so many times been accorded them 
on their sojourns in Belgium. 
- The anniversary dinner of the Gardeners’ Royal Bene¬ 
volent Institution was held at the Albion Hotel, Aldersgate 
Street, on Thursday the 29th ult., when the chair was occupied by 
the Lord Mayor, supported on the right by Comte de Kerchove de 
Denterghem, Governor of the Province of Hainaut in Belgium, and 
on the left by Dr. Hogg. There was a very large attendance, 
which included the whole of our Belgian visitors, the Sheriffs of 
London and Middlesex, Dr. M. T. Masters, Mr. G. F. Wilson, a large 
number of amateurs, most of the leading nurserymen and seeds¬ 
men—in all a goodly company of 175 persons. The Lord Mayor 
strongly urged the importance of the Institution and necessity of 
having its claims pressed home upon the attention, not of gar¬ 
deners only, but on that of the employers of gardeners. It was 
humiliating to think that out of the large number of people who 
are interested in gardening, and to whom its delights minister so 
largely, so few should be supporters of this admirable Institution. 
The subscriptions announced by the Secretary amounted to £600. 
- A correspondent writes :—“ There are various methods 
of supporting Melons when growing on a trellis, including 
baskets, boards, and nets ; but the most simple supports we have 
seen are employed by Mr. Wm. Taylor at Longleat. These consist 
of a piece of string tied in a circle, leaving one end out about a foot 
long. Two other pieces are fastened to the circle, so as to make 
three equal supports, and all is ready for fixing. This is done by 
slipping the circle on to the bottom of the fruit, and fastening the 
three supporting pieces to the trellis. After taking notice of some 
of the elaborate supports supposed to be necessary by some, the 
Longleat supports appear almost ridiculously simple, yet if the 
ties are properly fastened a casualty is out of the question, no 
matter how heavy the fruit may be.” 
- We are informed that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of 
Teck visited Mr. W. Bull’s Exhibition of Orchids last week, 
and expressed her appreciation of the many choice examples in 
the rich and varied display. 
- One of the best of all Honeysuckles is Lonicera grata, 
and is particularly good in shrubberies, as it does not climb, being 
itself of shrubby habit. For the purpose of garden decoration it 
should be extensively planted. The flowers are very showy, being 
red on the outside and yellow within. Flowers are always to be 
found except during winter. It is a sub-evergreen of vigorous 
growth. In appearance it resembles somewhat the common 
Honeysuckle. A native of North America. 
- A correspondent states that “ the Giant Heracleum 
is quite a striking feature in the Cambridge Botanic Garden. It 
reaches a height of 11 feet, and has leaves G feet long by 5 broad. 
