October 19, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 367 
gained a special reputation for their quality, and the stock this year 
will certainly not detract from this, as the numerous canes of all the 
leading kinds have been particularly well grown and ripened in a 
sunny position. 
In the Warriston nursery, which has its main entrance near the 
Botanic Garden gate, there are several glass houses, chiefly filled 
with softwooded plants for supplying cut flowers. Eucharis 
amazonica is planted out in one of the houses on an extensive scale. 
The plants were in perfect health, and bloom profusely several times 
throughout the year. The common plan of resting through lowering 
the temperature and withholding water is practised here, but only to 
a moderate extent, which is evidently the right method to pursue. 
Pelargoniums of the Fancy and French kinds were well represented 
here, the plants being numerous and in fine condition. Tea Roses 
are largely grown for cutting, and so are Ferns, Carnations, Helio¬ 
tropes, Chrysanthemums, Ac., cut flowers being in great demand in 
Edinburgh about this time, and on throughout the winter. In this 
nursery are found the chief stocks of Coniferge, which are effectively 
grouped and well arranged to be seen to advantage by visitors. 
Varieties need not be named here, but it may be said that everything 
in this way worth growing is represented in excellent condition, 
while the many forest and other trees to be observed in the other 
nursery grounds of this firm proved how great the demand for them 
must be. On estates in England and Wales planting is being 
extensively conducted, and until Ireland commenced cutting her own 
throat there was a great outlet for forest trees there ; but now, I was 
assured by more than one of the Edinburgh nurserymen, they leave 
it entirely out of their reckonings. 
THE LAWSON NURSERIES. 
These will be remembered by many of your readers in connection 
with the name of the late Mr. Charles Lawson, who brought them to a 
state of worldwide celebrity ; but they are under a company now, 
and under the management of Mr. David Syme their reputation has 
been well sustained. Like all the other Edinburgh nurseries of any 
great extent, there are divisions in different parts of the city. Some 
might think this very inconvenient, but it is not so, as each is devoted 
to a particular branch. The Lawson Seed and Nursery Company have 
most of their plant houses in their Granton Road portion. The 
Bangholm ground contains the hardy ornamental trees and shrubs, 
and the Windlestrawlee is the forest and fruit tree nursery. To note 
all of interest in these vast and various departments would take more 
time and space than we can afford at this time, and only a few of the 
most prominent features can be pointed out. The glass houses in 
the Granton Road nursery number about two dozen, and are well 
constructed for the growth of all kinds of choice plants. Palms were 
very numerous, many of them being beautiful specimens. Crotons, 
Dracmnas, Dipladenias, Begonias, Caladiums, Camellias, Azaleas, and 
in short all kinds of plants to be found in gardens, were well repre¬ 
sented ; but there is so much to be seen in the open air that the houses 
were passed through hurriedly, the Coniferae, of which everybody 
has heard, being wonderfully attractive. 
In the Bangholm nursery we were much interested with one speci¬ 
men in particular. This was the original tree of that well-known 
and much-valued Conifer, Cupressus Eawsoniana. It is now about 
24 feet high, and rather scraggy in outline, as well it may, as the 
stock which has been secured from this one tree must be enormous. 
However, it is in good health, and appears as if it would yet keep the 
propagator supplied for many years to come. But while this veteran 
will always command the attention of visitors, the admiration will 
be carried further to the great stock of all kinds of coniferous 
plants -which are grown here. Trees of almost all sizes may be seen, 
but of course the bulk consists of plants from 1 to 4 feet high which 
have been transplanted frequently, and are being sent out from the 
nursery daily to the adornment of gardens. It is no use naming any¬ 
thing in particular here, as all kinds of vegetation which assumes 
the form of bush or tree are alike extensively and well grown. 
THE WEST COATES AND ITNKHILL NURSERIES. 
These are the property of Messrs. Downie & Laird, and are widely 
known and noted for their valuable collection of plants generally, but 
more particularly the florist flower section. These are mostly grown 
at the Pinkhill Nursery, and include everything that is worth growing. 
Pansies, Violas, Phloxes, Carnations, Pentstemons, Dahlias, and all 
flowers of this kind of tried merit which have been raised by various 
firms and individuals are here; but prominence is given to this firm’s 
own productions, and many of these are of the most valuable descrip¬ 
tion, as the improvement of this class of flowers has long been made a 
speciality of here. The situation of this nursery is rather elevated, and 
at times may be too windy to be agreeable for the tallest-growing 
plants ; but there was not much indication of this to be seen during 
September, as everything was in a most thriving condition, and the pro¬ 
fusion of sturdy plants and the fine display of bloom on many proved 
at least that the soil must be excellent and the cultivators skilled. 
The place was in the best of order, and as many of the flowers were 
grown in large batches so as to fully represent each kind, the arrange¬ 
ment was most interesting and the display attractive. 
Amongst Pansies and Violas which have been raised by this firm 
the following were noted as being of extra merit:—Flag of Truce, 
fine white ; Yellow King, golden yellow ; Perfection, yellow, deep 
purple belt; Tom White, yellow, bronze belt; Mrs. Melville, purple 
maroon ; Miss Milne, cream, purple belt; George Wood, crimson, very 
dark blotch ; J. B. Downie, rich crimson laced with white ; Lady 
Hay, very dark purple ; Mrs. Crawley, rosy purple edg>’d with white ; 
Singularity, crimson, dark blotch ; and "Michael Scott, rose edged 
with white. These are mostly Pansies of the Fancy section, very 
extensively grown in the north, and worth growing everywhere. 
Phloxes, especially of the late-flowering section, were in splendid 
condition, the growth robust and spikes large. They are of nearly all 
colours and shades, and must rank amongst the most useful autumn- 
flowering plants grown. Hollyhocks, now so seldom seen in such 
fine condition as in bygone days, were growing luxuriantly here. 
Dahlias, especially the standard double-flowering kinds, were very 
fine indeed, and the small charming bouquet varieties were also most 
showy. As a cut flower for vase decoration they have much to 
recommend them, and there is certainly room for their extended cul¬ 
tivation. Pentstemons were far in advance of any we had previously 
seen, and Antirrhinums were effective in all the best named varieties. 
Besides the large quantities of flowers, trees and shrubs also form a 
large part of the stock in the nursery. 
The West Coates Nursery is situated at the west end of Prince’s 
Street, and is in a very commanding position. Here the finest glass 
house in any of the Edinburgh nurseries is to be found. It is called 
a winter garden, and well deserves the name, as it is a spacious 
structure where plants can be seen to much advantage, and there is 
ample space for visitors enjoying the treat thus afforded. Let one 
visit Edinburgh when they will, this house is always gay with flowers, 
and it must be a great boon to the Caledonians, especially in winter. 
Some of the plants are growing in beds, and many are in pots. Large 
Palms, Ferns, Ac., give quite a tropical aspect to some parts of it, and 
it is altogether most enjoyable. Numerous other glass houses con¬ 
tain healthy stocks of all kinds of indoor plants. The nursery being 
practically in the town space is of the utmost value, and to economise 
it many of the glass structures have been erected on the top of the 
potting, packing, and other sheds. The ranges are extensive, and 
are entered by flights of steps at each end, the floors of the houses 
being of cement. By this method of house-top gardening a maximum 
amount of light and air is obtained. Instead of empty roof space 
we find here glass employed instead of tiles for covering, and thou¬ 
sands of plants of various kinds in the most satisfactory condition. 
Other nurseries on a slightly smaller scale than the preceding may 
be visited about Edinburgh, and amongst these Messrs. Cunningham 
and Fraser, Comley Bank ; Messrs. Gordon & Son, Coltbridge ; and 
Mr. Peter Robertson, Trinity, will be found interesting on account of 
the variety and quality of their contents. 
1NGESTRE HALL. 
The destruction of an historical baronial residence always 
evokes interest, engenders feelings of regret beyond its locality, 
and incites' sympathy towards those who have sustained so great 
a loss. The last calamity of this nature that has occurred is the 
burning, on the morning of the 12th inst., of the Hall in question. 
It will not be inappropriate to submit an engraving of the late 
structure at the present juncture, with the following particulars 
relative to the district and barony of Stafford and the surround¬ 
ings of Ingestre Hall. 
The Trent Valley is remarkable for the richness of its meadows, 
which in some places are barely elevated above the range of the 
floods, and therefore have very large breadths often submerged at 
the time when these prevail ; in fact, the whole of the level land 
on both sides of the banks has no doubt arisen from an alluvial 
deposit, and it now forms some of the best land in the kingdom. 
The scenery, however, is neither bold nor varied, and the traveller 
in passing through it sees nothing near at hand to vary to any con¬ 
siderable extent the tameness of the prospect, as the rising ground 
on each side is too far off to be seen to advantage. But if he 
were able to examine the country more leisurely he would see 
that there is much to admire, and would learn that a well-directed 
industry has been at work in times past as well as at the present. 
When “Domesday Book ” was compiled in the year 1081, this 
Staffordshire district was justly known as Gestreon, the Anglo- 
Saxon for production and riches. The district was granted by 
William the Conqueror to his follower Robert de Toein, a relative 
of, if not himself, the Royal standard-bearer of that name. The 
KiDg conferred upon him also the great barony of Stafford, and 
Gestreon was a part of its vast domains. Probably by marriage 
and without intermediate possessors it passed to the Mutton 
family, Eudo de Mutton being Lord of Ingestre, or Ingestren, as 
it was then called, in the reign of Henry II. Eudo gave lands in 
Ingestre to St. Thomas the Martyr Priory, then recently founded 
at Stafford, became one of its lay brothers, and left the remainder 
of his estates to his son, Sir Ralph de Mutton, whose daughter 
and sole heiress married to Sir Philip de Chetwynd. In the pos¬ 
session of their descendants it has ever since remained (the Earls 
of Shrewsbury^. 
Ingestre Hall stood on the right bank of the Trent, nearly in 
the centre of the county, a few miles from the county town of 
r 
