552 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 14, 1882. 
of the north ; Abies Morinda 30 to 40 feet, with its elegant weep¬ 
ing branches; A. Webbiana, bearing its grand purple cones, but 
the growths injured, nearly always, by spring frosts, which 
spoil the symmetry of the tree ; and in similar condition is A. 
Pindrow, the Indian Silver Fir. These must be passed, but a curv¬ 
ing avenue of Lawson s Cypress may be followed, because it leads 
to something worth notice near another entrance to the grounds. 
On each side of the gates here Irish Yews were planted several 
years ago, and are now amongst the most striking ornaments of 
the pleasure grounds. They are 10 to 12 feet high, but only the 
lower portion to the height of 3 or 4 feet are of the typical form, 
the remaining 5 or 6 feet being the Golden Yew in splendid 
colours, and bv a little timely pinching the fastigiate character 
of_ the Irish Yew is maintained throughout. Very little trim¬ 
ming, however, is needed for effecting this, as the stock appears 
to have a decided influence on the scion or grafted portion, 
and renders its growth conspicuously upright and close. These 
Yews, like golden pillars on dark pedestals, are splendid objects. 
They were obtained from the continent, where they are pre¬ 
pared in larger numbers than in the nurseries of this country. 
In Mr. Charles Van Geert’s interesting grounds at Calmpthout, 
a few miles from Antwerp, numbers of Irish Yews are grafted 
wuth various golden forms, some upright, some weeping ; and 
years hence when they have developed their character they 
will be admired wherever they are, as these noteworthy Keir 
examples are admired now, and it seems almost a pity there are 
not more of them. 
Many other fine examples of various Conifers must be passed, 
and the concluding note on the pleasure grounds have reference to 
a characteristic example of the taste of Sir William in the dis¬ 
position of the grounds. In front of the Yew Temple is the 
following motto in Box edging:— “ Homo quasi flos eqreditur et 
contcntur, ’ which may be freely interpreted — “ Man like a 
flower passes away and is spent.” The letters are large, 2 or 3 feet 
high, and clear, sloping outwards, forming the outer rim of a large 
circle. Mottoes of the same character abound at Keir indoors 
as well as out, especially round the cornices of the rooms ; but these 
can be no further alluded to here, nor can the Fern dells and cas¬ 
cades, the deep ravines and bowery wilderness walks, and only 
a line or two can be devoted to the glass structures and kitchen 
gardens. 
In reaching this department to the mansion we pass through a 
tunnel of masonry—not a mere low narrow archway, where 
persons must stoop to save their hats and squeeze in passing to 
guard their elbows from abrasion—but a work of magnitude 
through which a load of hay could pass if needed ; and the road,’ 
if the curve to the left is followed, ascends and twists corkscrew 
fashion until the higher level of the garden is reached. This is a 
large wa led enclosure. The fruit trees, old and large, on the 
walls seldom bear ; but the late owner prized the trees as trees, 
caring little whether they produced fruit or not: therefore they 
had to remain, and in all probability will remain for some time, 
because he cherished them. Vegetables are grown the same as 
other vegetables in other gardens, and that remark must suffice, 
the marginal flower borders containing old-fashioned plants, one 
ot which, because seldom met with, demands notice. The flowers 
are so singular and attractive that everyone who sees it wants a 
spike and a slip : but for particulars see the figure of Linaria 
vulgaris var. Peloria on page 543. 
A span-roofed range 200 feet long is devoted to plants, but they 
are not so much prized as formerly, nor is there the same time 
devoted to them ; but there are several good Orchids and Ferns, 
with other plants for yielding flowers for cutting. The vinery 
range, 300 feet long, is, as above stated, outside the garden. 
During the last few years nearly the whole length has been re¬ 
planted, and heavy crops of excellent Grapes are now produced. 
Ly special desire the Black Hamburghs were obtained from the 
Hampton Court ^ ine ; but one original Vine, now some eighty 
years old, was retained in the house. On the young Vines fruit- 
1 'T i aS 1 ^° Un< l t ^, at the Gra P es were not nearly so rich as those 
of the old sort; so some grafts of this were attached to the 
younger \ mes, and on rods of both sorts of the same age and side 
by side there is a marked difference in the quality of the fruit, the 
old Keir variety being far superior to the new comer both in firm¬ 
ness of flesh and richness of flavour. Whether its superiority will 
b ®ii! m ^ ta \ n - ed under other conditions remains to be proved, and 
with this object a young Vine has been sent to the Royal Horti- 
cultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick, where it will be compared 
with other varieties of the Black Hamburgh that are there esta¬ 
blished. It only remains to say that old Peach trees in this rau^e 
ear heavy crops, that young trees of newer varieties are planted 
nno P ant ° f GIoire de Di i on Rose on the back wall of 
one of the houses gives thousands of blooms annually ; and that 
the cordial welcome accorded me by Lady Susan Melville and the 
young laird, with the extreme kindness of the trusted persons in 
charge of the establishment, Mrs. Cairns, Mr. Sadler, and Mr. 
Russell rendered my visit peculiarly enjoyable, and the recollec¬ 
tion of it now constitutes one of the brightest of the sunny 
memories of the year.—J. Weight. j 
. LIBONIA FLORIBUNDA. 
This is one of the most serviceable decorative plants for this 
season of the year that we have in cultivation. Anyone having 
an ordinary forcing pit or hotbed to enable them to strike the 
cuttings early in the spring, with a cold frame to grow them in 
through the summer months, can have useful plants of one sum¬ 
mer s growth fit for room-decoration during the dull months of 
vmter. The cuttings root freely, and the plants make rapid 
growth when properly attended to. 
I he comppst suitable to strike cuttings in is loam, peat, and 
silver sand in about equal proportions, and the same compost 
will do equally well to grow them in afterwards. We have plants 
a piesent of two years’ growth, which are flowering most pro¬ 
fusely, and are admired by all who see them. This plant is well 
known, but often very badly managed by being kept in too high 
a emperature. Our best plants at the present time were out of 
doors on a bed of ashes all the past summer.—L eadenham. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
December 12th. 
■lojro 
:eGn S° f tlie year was not largely attended either by 
nf Til l the Committees or by exhibitors ; and with the exception 
A T lant ® fro “ Holloway, the flowers from Swanley, and the 
Apples liom Llvaston there was comparatively little of special note. 
b,™r„?r iI n?"' H e ari7 J ‘ Veitch ' Es( b, “ the chair. Three 
3 ‘ 3f Gros Colman Grapes were sent from Chiswick, the berries 
.- a L!!!f he C °J,°~ r S ° 0d i' They were brou g ht to show the difference 
dl ® e .^ ent houses, those from the conservatory being 
extremely good, while some bunches from another house were much 
interior in flavour. A cultural commendation was awarded to Mr. 
S a t° n ^ ener t° Atkinson, Esq., Gunnersbury House, Acton, 
for fine handsome bunches of Black Alicante Grapes extremely well 
colouied ; also two good Pine Apples, Lord Carrington and Smooth 
irf M ni M alge ’ e ^ en ’ an £ wel1 ri P ened - A vote of thanks was awarded 
to Mr. Mann, gardener, St. Vincent’s, Grantham, for a dozen dishes 
of Apples in very good condition ; Warner’s King, Blenheim Pippin, 
Worcester Pearmam, Lord Lennox, Pike’s Pearmain, and Bramley’s 
beehngbemg particularly fine. Two seedling Apples were also sent 
+7 , i\ Marm ’ ? ae named Grantonian and the other Baron Wolseley : 
the latter considered not superior to others, the former to be kept at 
Chiswick and brought again in April. ^ 
A bronze medal was awarded to Mr. Goodacre, The Gardens, El- 
vaston Castle Derby, for a collection of about eighty dishes of Apples 
condition 1 ? fd ai A e varieties, the fruit mostly in excellent 
7 ° f 4 alr Slze \ Very notable were Nelson’s Glory, Golden 
Cn^t’ P 6n d lfl ^ t0n ’ Waltham Seedling, Lady Henniker, 
Comt Rendu Plat Hollandbury, Warner’s King, and Ecklinville 
dLlfoTa ? r ' n Gl A lber 1 t ’ Th , e gardens, Burghley, Stamford, sent a 
dish of a small Apple^ which was determined to be the Early 
exhTtcd f Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, 
exhibited two seedling Apples named Favourite and Masterpiece 
both of which were passed. Mr. H. E. Eckford, The Gardens, Bore- 
atton Park, Shrewsbury, sent six dishes of seedling Potatoes, con¬ 
cerning which no opinion was expressed. Messrs. Thomas Laxton 
Bedfo3 ' d ’ S( ; nt i°p- 6 s . eedl , ln .& Apples ; one, a cross between 
paieil and Stamford Pippin, being considered promising. The 
others were passed. r 5 
At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. John Lee proposed a vote of 
thanks to Mr. H. J. Veitch for his services as Chairman during the 
past y^GcLT, 
Messi s. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, offered prizes for a 
collection ot twelve varieties of vegetables, three competitors appear¬ 
ing and staging very creditable examples. Mr. H. Marriott, Prospect 
House, SkeiLeck, Boston, took the lead with clean specimens of 
Golden Globe Onions, Carentan Leeks, Veitch’s Autumn Giant 
Cucumbers Maltese Parsnips, Improved Magnum Bonum Potatoes 
Perfection Brussels Sprouts, Silver Ball Onions, Major Clarke’s Red 
Ce eiy, Long Surrey Carrots, Golden Queen Onions, Perfection Beet, 
and Jeisey Lily Turnips. Mr. E. Summers, gardener to the Earl of 
Scarborough, Sandbeck Park, Rotherham, was awarded the second 
prize for a good collection. 
Floral Committee.— Mr. B. S. Williams in the chair. A vote of 
thanks was accorded to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for very 
beautiful and tastefully arranged collections of single and double 
ielargoniums. Salvias, and Heliotropes. A basket of the new double 
blush Bouvardia President Garfield was also shown, the blooms beinc 
similar to Alfred Neuner in form, but of a delicate pale pink hue°. 
