September 16 , 1880 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 257 
Peaches under some systems of cultivation are much subject to 
mildew, and Koyal George is specially credited with being liable 
to it: so far I have never seen it upon that variety. It would be 
difficult to point out under what different conditions it is caused 
to develope upon the Peach than upon the Vine and the Rose. 
Similar causes appear to me to induce the disease in nearly all 
instances.—W. Bardney. 
TOMATO THE CONQUEROR. 
I have to thank “ Single-handed ” for kindly pointing out 
a mistake inadvertently made by me, when 1 stated (page 180) 
that the Conqueror Tomato was “commoner” than the Trophy. 
What I meant to imply was that the former is more easily grown, 
being a free setter, and might with advantage be employed to 
impregnate the latter, which sets badly in heat. “ Single- 
handed ” seems very confident that I have grown the wrong 
variety. Possibly I have, and it is equally possible he may have 
the wrong variety; or do the Messrs, Bliss & Sons of New York 
supply a favoured few only, and not the trade generally ? My 
seed packet bears the impress of Yeitch & Sons, a firm noted for 
the genuineness of the strains of vegetable and other seeds which 
they distribute, and I am quite certain that my plants were 
obtained from that packet of seed, as the whole of them have been 
quite distinct from any other variety grown here during the 
season. The colour of the fruit is a rich cornelian red, resembling 
Acme, but rather deeper than Vick’s Criterion, and the fruit 
being corrugated is quite distinct from both. The Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons, another very reliable firm, give the Conqueror promi¬ 
nence in their “Amateur’s Guide,” and if their figure of it is 
truthful, corrugated the variety undoubtedly is. Will “ Single- 
handed ” kindly send me a fair sample of fruit of his presumably 
true stock through the Editors or otherwise ? as I must confess 
that I am somewhat sceptical with regard to its being “ no more 
corrugated than an egg,” in this respect differing, according to 
his opinion, from every variety mentioned in the list 1 gave on 
the page above quoted. I thought some of the smaller varieties 
were nearly perfect in that respect. Others no doubt have grown 
the Conqueror, what is their experience with it ?—W. Iggulden. 
[Mr. Iggulden has sent us fine fruits of the Conqueror which 
are slightly corrugated, examples of Vick’s Criterion very faintly 
corrugated, with several fruits of the following small varieties — 
Nesbit’s Victoria, oval; Dickson's Queen of the Tomatoes, pear- 
shaped ; and Burghley Pet, round—all without speck, line, or 
wrinkle, therefore absolutely smooth.— Eds.] 
VEGETATION IN SMOKY ATMOSPHERES. 
It will not only be interesting but useful to dwellers in high alti¬ 
tudes surrounded with smoky atmospheres, of which there are so 
many in England, to know what kinds of trees, shrubs, and flowers 
are best suited to plant for shelter and for ornament in these 
situations. No better illustration of this can be found than at 
Dowlais House, Glamorganshire, which is in the centre of those 
great ironworks, the fame of which is known among all industrial 
communities in every part of the world. 
Dowlais is 1000 feet above the sea level, and is surrounded by 
lofty chimneys giving forth clouds of sulphur-laden smoke, and 
fiery furnaces glaring with frightful fury—hundreds of them. 
One would fancy that no vegetation could exist in such a place ; 
and although the plants are few that are to be found there, it may 
be instructive to know what they are. 
It is sixty years or more since the plantation surrounding 
Dowlais House was planted as a shelter against the prevailing 
winds, and as an ornament to the place. Up to the present time 
the trees of which this is composed are not higher than the house 
itself, and still they are in perfect health. They are neither 
stunted nor deformed, but have the appearance of healthy dwarfs, 
doing their best to make themselves useful in the position where 
their lot is cast. The plantation consists of Elm, Ash, a few Black 
Poplar, and Hawthorn. The first three represent the healthy 
dwarfs, but the last seems quite at home, and attains a good 
average of that tree, being in proportion much larger than any of 
the others. From this we may learn the lesson that the Haw¬ 
thorn is a tree well adapted for smoky atmospheres, and that the 
others that have been named, though not luxuriant, serve a purpose 
which, perhaps, no other trees would serve so well. The shrubs 
are few, Lilacs, struggling Rhododendrons, and Lycium europieum 
being all that were observed. 
Of garden flowers the number which succeeds there is almost 
as limited as is that of the trees. Notwithstanding the persever¬ 
ing efforts of Mrs. Clark, w r ho has bestowed more attention on 
her ungrateful flower beds than many do upon theirs who are 
more highly favoured by soil and situation, she fails to rear 
those objects she so much loves. Her labours are not, however, 
wholly unrewarded, for in few places, or, indeed, in any place, 
have we seen such masses, and these so numerous, of the old 
Clove Carnation as at Dowlais House. There it luxuriates, and it 
is not unusual to see one plant covering a surface of nearly 3 feet 
in diameter. At the present time the garden is quite red with 
this fine old flower. Several species of Iris succeed well, and of 
these I. pallida and I. foetidissima are the most luxuriant. The 
London Pride knows no bounds to its vagrant habits, and rambles 
everywhere, blooming abundantly. Well may it be called London 
Pride, for it seems as if it would revel in the smoke of the great 
city. The Sea Pink (Armeria maritima) vies with the London 
Pride in its endeavour to win the smile of their generous patron, 
and in this it succeeds to perfection. The Gardener’s Garter 
(Elymus arenarius variegatus) and the common Monkshood are 
dotted about here and there ; but there are large masses of Saxi- 
fraga ligulata and Veronica spicata which seem to be perfectly at 
home. These with Centaurea montana, and here and there an 
Auricula struggling to hold its own, are the flowers that adorn 
the garden at Dowlais. 
Although the garden at Dowlais House cannot boast of its out¬ 
door riches, the deficiency is amply compensated for by the success of 
the indoor productions. There are not in all Glamorganshire better 
bunches or more highly flavoured fruit of Muscat of Alexandria 
Grapes than are to be found there, and these are quite rivalled by 
the well-developed Black Hamburghs. Pines are grown in large 
quantities, and in a style which calls for admiration. It would 
have taxed the strength of many a more pretentious establishment 
to have produced a clothes basketful of such Pines as we saw Mr. 
Boyce the head gardener and one of his men staggering under 
towards the room where Mr. and Mrs. Clark entertained the 
President and members of the British Association to a sump¬ 
tuous luncheon, when they came by special invitation to see these 
ironworks. The collections of stove and greenhouse plants are 
varied and good, and the success with which they are cultivated 
is great when the untoward circumstances under which they are 
grown are taken into consideration. 
SOUTH SHIELDS AND WESTOE FLORAL SOCIETY. 
This old-established Society held its thirty-seventh Exhibition in 
the Cricket Grounds at Westoe on the 10th and 11th inst. The prize 
schedule was very liberal, and a most successful show was the result. 
The Society offered £10 for first for six stove and greenhouse plants 
in bloom, and five other prizes besides. This brought out eight 
competitors, many of the plants being in excellent condition, and 
fresh for the lateness of the season. The Show was held in a very 
large oblong spacious marquee. The flowering, foliage, and Ferns 
were placed on the centre stage slightly raised. 
Messrs. John Thompson ife Sons, nurserymen, Newcastle, were first 
for the six plants in the open class with a large Stephanotis very 
fresh, a good Erica Fairrieana, Bougainvillea glabra well coloured, 
Dipladenia amabilis. Lapageria rosea ; Mr. Battensby, Hagg Hill, being 
second, staging good plants of Ericas Eweriana and Marnockiana, 
the latter excellent. Messrs. Gardner, Dunston, and Mr. Morton, 
North Shields, were awarded equal thirds, the former possessing a 
fine plant of Vallota purpurea with over thirty spikes of flowers. For 
three stove or greenhouse plants in bloom J. C. Stevenson, Esq., M.P., 
Westoe (Mr. Smailes), was first, his best plants being Allamanda 
Wardleana very fresh, and Erica Marnockiana. Joseph Eltringham, 
Esq., Westoe (Mr. Watson), was second, his best plant being a very 
fresh example of Cassia corymbosa. It is seldom this plant is seen in 
better condition than in the north. For three fine-foliage plants Mr. 
Thos. Wilson, Gateshead, was first, Mr. Smailes being first for three 
decorative plants. The show of Coleuses was excellent, filling up one- 
half of the tent, and were quite a speciality. Mr. Smailes was first for 
three. Cockscombs were excellent, Mr. Bampton, Sunderland, show¬ 
ing a dwarf variety over 1G inches across. Mr. Watson also showed 
three grand Vallotas, Mr. Watson and Mr. Allan taking the remain¬ 
ing positions. Zonal Pelargoniums and Fuchsias filled up portions 
of the Show, and were in good condition. 
Florists’ flowers were superior, the Dahlias, Hollyhocks, and 
Gladioli being considered the best that have been exhibited in the 
north this year: but nearly all were shown unnamed. This 
defect was strikingly apparent in nearly every other department. 
Messrs. John Thompson & Sons were first for twelve spikes of 
Gladioli, and also first for twelve Hollyhocks; the latter^ were truly 
excellent, being very large in size and fine in quality. Some of the 
flowers were over 5 inches across. For six and twelve Dahlias 
Messrs. Walker, Low Fell, and Smith, Gateshead, were the prize- 
takers, with some excellent flowers as regards size and quality. 
Fruit was not numerous, but some average bunches of Grapes were 
shown, especially those shown by Mr. Smailes, who won for two 
black bunches with Black Alicante in superior condition ; — William¬ 
son, Esq., Whickham (Mr. Lawson), being second with two. fine 
bunches of Black Hamburgh, well finished, but not nearly the size of 
