530 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. f December 7 , issa 
amongst its congeners at the Edinburgh International Show. Its 
hardiness has been satisfactorily proved, as it has passed without 
injury through a winter where the mercury of the thermometer fell 
10° below zero. Near it was a compact specimen of the Corean Pine, 
P. koraiensis, attractive by its pleasing mixture of silver and green. 
It is worthy of a front place in all collections. The Weeping 
Wellingtonia cannot be passed in silence. There are many varieties 
that assume more or less of a pendant habit, but none so marked as 
this, many of the young growths pointing directly to the earth, as if 
they had been tied down ; indeed, the drooping character is as pro¬ 
nounced as that of the Mountain Ash, and perfectly healthy. It is 
a distinct novelty, decidedly elegant, and the first-class certificate 
awarded to it a few years ago by the Royal Horticultural Society was 
not a mistake. Abies amabilis, the true form, was massive and fine, 
and A. concolor violacea, a glaucous variety, is very distinct and 
highly. promising; while A. Englemannii glauca was extremely 
attractive, and should be planted wherever Conifers are grown. 
Pinus sylvestris fastigiata, which originated in this nursery, is 
perfectly dissimilar from the old Scotch Fir, the habit being more 
like that of the Irish Yew. Another plant of this habit, Podocarpus 
coriacea, ought to be more largely grown, being massive in appear¬ 
ance and very hardy. In effective contrast was Fisher Holmes 
and Co.’s Golden Yew, a fine ornament for small lawns, rockwork, 
and prominent positions that it is desired to render attractive with 
plants of this nature. For similar positions several varieties of 
Cupressus Lawsoniana represented here are admirably adapted, C. L. 
lutea and C. L. alba spica being both distinct and pleasing by the 
pale golden tint of the former and the chaste silvery hue of the latter ; 
and. similarly compact and worthy of note are some of the forms of 
Juniperus virginiana, notably aurea variegata and glauca. Abies 
Alcoquiana, one of the finest of the Japanese Spruces, is admirably 
represented, and the sturdy A. polita arrests attention by its stout 
and strong needle-like leaves. It also hails from Japan, and its 
hardiness has been quite established, while it is undeniably distinct 
and ornamental; and the same may be said of the beautiful A. 
Veitchii. Retinosporas are largely grown, all the forms being 
represented, and they are increasing in popularity yearly, as they 
deserve to do, for no Conifers surpass them either in elegance or 
hardiness.. Thujopsis dolabrata is also growing in favour, its bold 
Lycopod-like sprays giving a very handsome appearance, and it 
thrives well in moist positions. Thuia occidentalis lutea is extremely 
effective, being quite hardy, and of a brighter golden hue than 
T. Vervaeniana. Passing with brief mention many fine examples of 
the valuable Thuias gigantea and Craigiana, we leave the Conifers, 
and glance at other departments of the nursery. 
It is extraordinary to see the number of Larches that are raised 
here. Some 3 or 4 acres were occupied with beds of seedlings. In 
these there must have been millions of plants, the greater number 
raised from Perthshire seed, a few beds from Tyrolean seed not being 
nearly so satisfactory. Mr. Greig, the experienced manager, says the 
trees from native or Scotch seed ripen their wood better than the 
others, and do not. start into growth in spring so soon by ten days, 
and thus escape injury by frost. Larger transplanted trees in various 
sizes were extremely clean and fine, three-year-old stock being 4 feet 
high. Scotch and Spruce Firs are also provided on a correspondingly 
large scale, and there are large breadths of the sombre yet useful 
Austrian Pine. Many thousands of plants of the Corsican Pine, P. 
Laricio, are raised and regularly transplanted. It is only by this 
practice that the trees can be removed with safety, and the labour 
entailed necessarily enhances the price, otherwise the Pine which 
grows so freely .would be more extensively planted, as no evergreen 
tree grows so quickly, and none is so seldom attacked by rabbits. 
The collection of hardy deciduous trees and shrubs is varied and 
fine. Amongst the Oaks, Quercus pedunculata nigra, which originated 
here, is conspicuous by its deeply lobed and very dark foliage ; 
Q. austriaca sempervirens is one of the best, and Q. panonica has 
very large green nine to ten deeply lobed leaves, and is very distinct 
and fine.. The Aucuba-leaved Sycamore is a variety of promise, the 
leaves being mottled with gold somewhat like the common Aucuba, 
but the spots are smaller and more numerous. Yan Geert’s Golden 
Poplar appears to flourish well, the golden hue being very marked 
and the growth healthy. Another tree of value deserves notice— 
namely Populus fastigiata gigantea. This is probably the quickest- 
growing of all trees adapted for sheltering screens, and not having 
a great spread of branches. It is far more robust than the old Tom’- 
hardy Poplar, and has larger leaves ; it is, moreover, said to be quite 
hardy, which is a great advantage, as miles of country in the northern 
counties have been practically denuded of Lombardy Poplars during 
the past severe winters, hundreds of grand towering specimens having 
been killed or injured beyond recovery. Those, therefore, who con¬ 
template planting trees of this habit should make a note of the 
variety above mentioned. 
Rhamnus alpinus is ornamental by its rich green, deeply ribbed, 
Laurel-shaped leaves, 6 inches long and 3 inches across. Acers were 
very telling among the lighter foliage, especially A. platanoides gin- 
nula, with leaves like Ampelopsis Yeitchii in shape and colour; 
A. p. purpurea being strong and good, and A. colchicum rubrum free 
and very fine. Amongst Privets Ligustrum amurense is in great 
demand, being hardy, upright in growth, with dark stems and green 
lea y e ®- . The two variegated deciduous shrubs, Cornus alba variegata 
and Philadelphus coronarius variegatus, were highly attractive, and 
ought to be more frequently seen in shrubberies. The leaves of the 
former are green, clearly margined with white, a free-growing bush, 
having a better effect than half the variegated stove plants ; while 
in the leaves of the other shrub (the Mock Orange) creamy white 
prevails, especially when grown in a rather shaded position. The 
yellow-berried Guelder Rose is distinct and not common, and the 
old silvery-leaved Shepherdia argentea grows like a weed in the 
nursery. 
Evergreens of all kinds are grown in numbers, but only mentioned 
for observing that of Laurels the variety rotundifolia is the finest 
and hardiest, this being the place for testing their frost-enduring 
powers. Causcasia is also hardy, and of a darker green ; whilst lati- 
folia is noticeable by its very long foliage. Of Rhododendrons 
there is a very extensive collection, all the leading most hardy varie¬ 
ties being included. In one enclosure a shrub of each variety has 
its name inscribed in bold letters on deal labels 2 or 3 inches wide. 
The names are written in pencil on wet paint, and thus really 
impressed ; then marked over with printers’ ink. Why ? Not many 
people would guess. Because the wasps nibble at the lead until they 
clear it all off, while they do not touch the inked letters. Truly we 
live and learn. 
Fruit trees in varieties suited for the north are carefully culti¬ 
vated, and of Roses there were large and very numerous stocks, 
seven hundred thousand on the Briar and Manetti, with a few on 
the.de la Grifferae stock, being raised annually; and here may be 
noticed a singular fact—on the plants of the two former not a speck 
of mildew was to be seen, while every plant on the latter was more 
or less affected with the mealy parasite, squares of each being side 
by side on the same kind of soil. The growths on both stocks were 
equally strong, and in that respect perfectly satisfactory, but the 
foliage in one case was a fresh bright green, on the other in some 
instances white as a miller’s hat; but fortunately only a few com¬ 
paratively were worked on the de la Grifferae for experimental 
purposes. 
On the herbaceous and alpine grounds we cannot dwell, and it must 
suffice to say the collections of plants are large, this department evi¬ 
dently receiving careful attention; yet just two beds must be par¬ 
ticularised—one a mass of Hyacinths (Galtonia) candicans with stems 
5 feet high, an inch in diameter, the majority bearing fifty flowers ; 
the other a mass of Lobelia fulgens ignea—a forest of fiery spikes of 
the same height as the Galtonias. It was difficult which to admire 
most, the purity of the Galtonias or the richness of the Lobelias. A 
mixture of the two grown as these were would create a sensation, 
and this hint may possibly not be lost. The able and enterprising 
managers of the London parks are ever seeking to produce fresh 
floral effects, and they might do worse than test the merits of this 
suggestion. We noticed also a superior strain of single Dahlias. 
The.glass structures in the nursery are filled with plants that are 
most in demand, including the best varieties of Azaleas, Camellias, 
Begonias, Zonal Pelargoniums, and others which need not be enume¬ 
rated, but Statice Butcheri demands notice. It is apparently inter¬ 
mediate between S. Holfordi and S. profusa, but decidedly more effec¬ 
tive than either, and undoubtedly a valuable summer-flowering deco¬ 
rative plant. The nurseries throughout were in excellent condition, 
and nothing could exceed the courtesy that was extended to— 
A Visitor. 
EARLY WHITE GRAPES. 
As your pages are open to a fair discussion on horticultural 
matters 1 hope you will allow me space to bring to the notice of 
the readers of your Journal White Frontignan Grape. The Sweet- 
waters are receiving their share of attention, and deservedly, as 
they are easily grown and highly appreciated ; but I think the 
above-mentioned Grape should be more generally grown. Some 
may object to the smallness of the berry, but the flavour is un¬ 
surpassed by any you may bring before it for early forcing. It 
bears well, and remains fruitful as long as the Black Hamburgh. 
Although it is not such a showy Grape as Buckland Sweetwater, 
it is more decided in good qualities in many ways, as Buckland 
will not bear the trying ordeal of early forcing as well for a long 
number of years, having a disposition “ to miss showing,” espe¬ 
cially when becoming old, the bunches become fewer in number 
and smaller, the berries less, and the setting more irregular. The 
same may be said in a greater or less degree of any Grape becom¬ 
ing aged, but there are more reliable sorts in this respect than Buck- 
land Sweetwater. A good early Grape should hold a reputation 
for being first-class. Such a one we have in ihe Duke of Buccleuch, 
which is winning for itself the favour of all the best Grape-growers 
in the country, judging from the high position it has taken at 
different shows—a sufficient guarantee of the fitness of this Grape 
to be chosen as one of the best early forcers. Good cultivators no 
doubt do not need to be told this. The strong and early ripening 
of this Grape gives it a double advantage for early forcing, and 
nothing but mismanagement in the cultivator’s hands could hinder 
a good crop being obtained. In addition to being a good early 
forcer the Duke has proved itself to be to some extent a good 
keeper, as I have seen it hanging quite fresh and plump in the 
