430 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, r November 9) 1882 . 
bank, and the colours being bright they produce a very pleasing 
effect. It is quite unnecessary to enumerate the varieties, as a 
large proportion of the best in cultivation are grown, all sections 
being well represented. Particularly noticeable, however, were 
some fine examples of White Globe, with James Salter, Mons. 
Delaux, Striatum, and many others. 
- In addition to the above public displays there are now 
also very handsome shows of Chrysanthemums at Slough 
and Swanley in the nurseries of Mr. C. Turner and Messrs. 
Cannell & Sons respectively, both firms having a great number of 
plants in most satisfactory condition. The varieties represented 
include all the best of the old and new forms, and excellent 
opportunities are thus afforded for making selections. 
- According to the American Cultivator about $30,000 
worth of Cocoa Nuts are annually shipped from Jamaica to the 
United States. Limes, Pine Apples, and Mangoes are shipped 
in small quantities. The MANGO is the most common fruit in 
Jamaica. It was brought there from the East Indies in 1772 by 
Capt. Marshall of Lord Rodney’s squadron, and was first planted 
in a private garden in Kingston ; thence it spread all over the 
island. It is the popular fruit of the natives, and is for them the 
mainstay of subsistence during June, July, and August. 
- The London Gazette recently published a copy of a decree 
of the Belgian Government, received by the Board of Trade from 
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, by which the provisions 
adopted by the International Convention at Berne with a view of 
checking the ravages of the Phylloxera are enforced. The im¬ 
portation into and transit through Belgium of Vines and dried 
cuttings, and also of slips and suckers of Vines from phylloxerated 
districts, is prohibited, but the latter articles may be imported 
from non-infected districts, subject to special authorisation from 
the Minister of the Interior. Market-garden produce, cereals, 
fruit, and cut flowers may be imported without special formalities ; 
but all other plants, shrubs, and vegetables (not being Vines or 
parts thereof) can only be admitted by the Custom Houses of Ant¬ 
werp, Brussels, Ghent, Li6ge, and Ostend, or, if coming by the 
land frontier, by any Custom House situated on a railway. The 
import of such plants is also subject to certain conditions set out 
in the decree. 
■- In reference to bees attacking Grapes a correspondent 
sends the following :—■ 
“ It has been thought, not only in this country but in America and 
on the Continent, that the bee is the enemy of Grapes, and that it 
destroys not only luscious fruit, but also other sweet pulpy fruits. A 
very observant correspondent of the ‘ Scientific American ’ defends 
the popular honey-gatherer from the charge. He has watched the 
little workers for years, and has been loth to believe it. He observed 
long ago that they never attacked sound Grapes, but when defective 
or split as the result of a rainy spell they would then suck out the 
juice. Being unable to convince others of the harmlessness of the 
insect in any other way, he devised for that purpose the following 
experiment, which anyone may try for himself. At the mouth of the 
hives he places several bunches of various varieties of thin-skinned 
Grapes, and for days, although the bees were constantly crawling 
over them, not a berry was injured. He then punctured half of the 
berries on each bunch, and instantly the bees went to work on all so 
punctured, in a short time sucking them dry. The remainder of the 
berries were untouched, and remained so until punctured by him, 
when they in turn were attacked as promptly as the former. This 
experiment demonstrates that it is necessary for the Grape to have 
been previously injured, so as to allow exudation of juice, otherwise 
the bee will not molest it. And when we reflect that the berries thus 
injured would decay, it will be seen that the bee actually saves to us 
what would otherwise be lost, by storing it up as honey.” 
BUCKLAND SWEETWATER GRAPE. 
On page 391 “ W. L. H.” describes this as a comparatively 
worthless Grape. My experience leads me to differ from him, 
although I do not wish to criticise his choice of white Grapes in 
search of a companion to the Black Hamburgh for an early vinery. 
It is only reasonable to expect that each would speak well of the 
bridge that carries him safely over. As regards colour and size of 
berry, I fail to see how either .the Dutch Sweetwater or Ascot 
Citronelle can be preferred to Buckland Sweetwater. “ W. L. H.” 
also states that when Buckland Sweetwater is most perfect in 
flavour the fruit is only just beginning to colour, the quality even 
then being no better than Sweetwater, and at any exhibition on 
the ground of colour alone it would be discarded by all good 
judges, it partaking of an objectionable brown tint. In reply to 
this I have only to refer to the fact that amongst white Grapes, 
so extensively shown at York, Leeds, and other early spring shows, 
Buckland Sweetwater is invariably amongst the leading prize- 
takers, and I have never heard a judge condemn this Grape in 
point of flavour, size of berry, or “ objectionable brown colour.” 
As regards the Vine’s fruiting character, I have generally one-half 
the bunches to cut off to obtain an even crop. As regards Foster’s 
Seedling there remains no doubt of its good qualities. It is a 
Grape found almost in every establishment, and some gardeners 
prefer it to Buckland Sweetwater, but as an early Grape I do not. 
—H. A. M., St. Vincent's. 
“G. R. A.” (page 412), anent my note on Buckland Sweetwater 
Grape, says that this Grape “ realises a higher price in the market 
than Foster’s Seedling.” Permit me to say that 1 did not make 
any allusion to its value as a market Grape, but regarded it solely 
from a private gardener’s point of view. I have no doubt but that 
it sells better than Foster’s Seedling, but it must be remembered 
that those who have to grow Grapes for a gentleman’s table and 
growers for market have a very different object in view. The one 
studies quality, or should do, whilst the other, generally speaking, 
gives the preference to appearance and size of fruit in particular. 
With regard to Golden Queen, I may state that this is not an 
early Grape, as some might infer from “ G. R. A.'s ” note, it being 
at least six weeks longer in ripening than the Black Hamburgh ; 
and my note was penned with a view of eliciting opinions as to 
the best white companion to the Black Hamburgh other than, 
from my point of view, the unsatisfactory Buckland Sweetwater. 
—W. L. H. 
HECKFIELD PLACE. 
At Heckfield there reside two celebrities—one a giant in the 
parliamentary world, a veteran in the service of his country, which 
he has served xvell through successive generations. This is the 
noble owner—Viscount Eversley, once known as Charles Shaw 
Lefevre, Esq., who occupied the responsible position of Speaker of 
the House of Commons sufficiently long to entitle him to the posses¬ 
sion of three Speaker’s chairs, which now comprise part of the furni¬ 
ture of the mansion, and destined without doubt to become historical, 
for the value of such trophies cannot but increase with age, and be 
prized by future generations of the family in possession of them. 
The other celebrity is his lordship’s gardener, Mr. Wildsmith, one 
ol the most able, active, persevering, and successful workers of the 
day in the ancient industry of horticulture. But Lord Eversley is 
a gardener too, his technical knowledge being great, his taste admit¬ 
tedly good, and the interest which he takes in his garden and 
grounds, their improvement and adornment, active and real. When 
we thus find master and man alike capable and earnest, both 
devoted to the same object, and working together in unity, the 
former honoured and the latter trusted, we expect also to find some¬ 
thing worth seeing, and hence recording; and much that is note¬ 
worthy was certainly seen at Heckfield in September. 
My acquaintance with the products of Heckfield was, until six 
weeks ago, limited to the examples at public exhibitions. Both in 
London and the provinces an exclamation that is familiar to many 
has often greeted my ears—‘‘What! Wildsmith first again! he is 
determined to be in.” Yes, hut skill must be added to energy to 
enable a competitor in the fruit classes at a Royal Botanic show to 
secure the splendid prize offered by the Fruiterers’ Company to the 
premier exhibitor when a Coleman is in the field. This is one 
of Mr. Wildsmith’s many honours, and perhaps the most prized, 
that he has succeeded in winning in some of the leading contests. 
Let us now look at his work at home ; hut first at the scene of his 
labours. 
Heckfield is situated in one of the most picturesque and salu¬ 
brious districts of Hampshire, and is about five miles from Winch- 
field station on the South-Western Railway. The mansion stands 
on a knoll or spur in a well-wooded and beautifully undulated park. 
The pleasure grounds are agreeably diversified with grand deciduous 
trees, handsome Conifers, luxuriant evergreens, excellent walks, 
charming lakes, and splendid lawn3. The terrace flower garden, 
while not being one of the largest, is without question one of the 
most beautiful and best kept of its kind in the kingdom ; the kitchen 
garden one of the most productive; and the glass department not 
