JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 28, 1883. ] 
533 
growths of this and the rose-coloured variety attain a length of 
upwards of 20 feet, and I am informed flower throughout nearly 
the entire length. They are also seeding freely. 
"What, however, most pleased me in this conservatory were the 
banks of grand Camellias, Palms, Musas, and Ferns. The former 
are principally planted out in large borders filled with loamy soil, 
and a finer lot of plants I have never seen. Many of them were at 
one time freely cut back by Mr. Channing, and this, coupled with 
good culture, has resulted in dense pyramids and bushes ranging 
from 6 to 9 feet in height. These, being clothed with large and 
glossy foliage, are always ornamental, and when in full bloom must 
present a magnificent appearance. 
The collection of Ferns includes several large Alsophilas, 
Cyatheas, and Dicksonias, and among the dwarfer-growing choice 
species are Gleichenias, Davallias, Adiantums, and Gymnogrammas, 
in good condition. There is also a fine plant of Lomaria discolor 
bipinnatifida, and this comparatively little known variety would, 
if grown as well as at Lillesden, tell well in a collection of 
exhibition Ferns. In habit it somewhat resembles Blechnum brasili- 
ense, but it is more elegant and scarcely so long in the stem. The 
fronds, which are fully 2 feet in length, are very abundant, slightly 
crisped, and of a pleasing shade of green. It is found to best 
succeed in a conservatory or warm greenhouse temperature, and 
strong plants produce side-growths freely, which, however, are best 
separated, or the appearance of the specimen owing to its habit of 
growth may be marred. 
Early Grapes are highly creditable to the cultivator. The varieties 
grown include Foster’s Seedling, Black Hamburgh, and Madresfield 
Court. All were carrying heavy crops of medium-sized and well- 
finished bunches, but in point of quality I certainly prefer the 
latter. Grown under precisely the same conditions as Black Ham¬ 
burgh, the Vines of it have perfected many handsome bunches, the 
berries being large and well finished, and were the most attractive in 
appearance in the house. All are rooted in a slightly protected or 
thatched outside border, yet the Madresfield Court has not cracked, 
nor is cracking anticipated. Under cooler treatment the variety 
apparently is most liable to crack, but forced as at Lillesden or 
grown with Muscats, or rather treated to the high temperature the 
latter usually receive, it does not crack badly, and the flavour deve¬ 
loped is Muscat-like and very pleasing. If the Black Hamburgh is 
ever superseded to any material extent I should say it would be by 
Madresfield Court. 
I see Mr. Barron, in his valuable work on “Vines and Vine 
Culture,” gives it as his opinion that Madresfield Court should not 
be grown in heat, but is best adapted for cool-house treatment. I 
can truthfully assert that I have never yet tasted any grown under 
cool treatment to equal those grown on a Vine which I found in a 
Muscat house, and erroneously labelled Mrs. Pince’s Muscat. It 
is, in common with the Muscats, rooted entirely in an outside 
border, and but few berries crack. Mr. Barron also remarks anent 
the variety, that “ if allowed to hang long the berries are some¬ 
what liable to crack.” I am under the impression they are more 
liable to, and do generally, crack before they are fully ripe, but will 
also crack if kept too long. It is by no means a late Grape. At 
Gunnersbury, where the variety is grown extraordinarily well, and 
under what I suppose would be termed cool treatment, although 
rooted exclusively in inside borders, it is found necessary to keep 
the borders very dry at the ripening period, in order to prevent 
cracking. This dryness at the roots must injuriously affect the 
varieties adjoining, and also I should think colour of Madresfield 
Court. Do they under this treatment develope a more “ distinct 
Muscat flavour?” and would not a few hints as to the best methods 
of growing and ripening this splendid variety be very acceptable if 
forthcoming from experienced growers ?—W. I. M. 
PROSPECT OF THE POTATO CROP IN IRELAND. 
I have lately been through much of Leinster and Munster, and 
have had reliable correspondence from the other two provinces 
that enables me to send you notes on this subject with some con¬ 
fidence, relying mainly, however, on my own experience in our 
vegetable garden and fields. 
Early Varieties .—Around here Early Rose is more grown than 
to my mind its inferior quality deserves. It has one merit, how¬ 
ever—it comes in, planted in exactly the same way and at the 
same time, ten days earlier than any of the Ash-leaved Kidneys, 
Myatt’s included. I planted it with three (named) Ash-leaved 
kinds, Beauty of Hebron, Early Border, First Crop (Carters’), 
and Eight-weeks (Carters’), on the 22nd of February last, and 
tried them on the 10th of June. The last-named (Eight-weeks) 
had the largest tubers and of the best quality ; then Early Rose. 
The others were not fit to make any use of then. A week after¬ 
wards I planted White Elephant, Porter’s Excelsior, the old Forty¬ 
fold, that beautiful new variety Cosmopolitan, and Snowflake. 
Tried to-day, 1 cannot say any of those named are fit for use— 
none as large as hens’ eggs, so far as I could see. One peculiarity 
I observed in the foliage of Carters’ Eight-weeks—the leaves are 
invariably marbled white. Lord Donoghmore’s gardener and 
Mr. Bagwell’s, in the vicinity, had Potatoes, I see by a local paper, 
fit for table use a week before the date mentioned. Among at least 
the above early varieties around here there has been no check or 
failure. Above I should have named the Flounder as very gene¬ 
rally grown ; a heavy cropper, but inferior in quality and a bad 
keeper. 
Late Varieties. — These are decidedly of the greatest impor¬ 
tance. I had several tons of Champions direct from Forfar¬ 
shire, and though very promising and robust, sown in lea ridges, 
I should like now a heavy downpour of rain for them. In moister 
soils it is luxuriating, and the Potato prospect generally is most 
hopeful, even on cold mountain sides. I have the next largest 
extent under Magnum Bonum. I have found it this year one of 
the best late keepers, lasting well up to the present, and this is 
the general experience. It cannot, however, compare in quality 
with the Champion early in the season. Schoolmaster promises 
well so far, and yielded fairly last year, but cannot come near 
White Elephant or Beauty of Hebron. So far two of my most 
robust growers are Woodstock Kidney and Holborn Favourite. 
I venture to say, as regards either quantity or quality, Potatoes 
will be the be6t for years past.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
CHELSEA GEM PELARGONIUM. 
Having a few plants of this choice semi-double pink-flowered 
variegated-foliaged variety planted out before the heavy rain 
came last week, I am very pleased to see how well both plant and 
flowers stand the weather. I am particularly taken with it for 
pot culture. In pots the foliage itself is worth admiring, but 
when it comes into flower it is grand. All visitors notice it and 
would like a plant, but having only a limited stock I keep it for 
propagating. Never having seen a notice of this plant I draw 
attention to it thus early, considering it the gem of the season 
for either bedding or pot work. This variety is of robust growth, 
and yet of a symmetrical habit, and with me produces good trusses 
in small 60’s ; the older plants, however, in 48’sdothebest, being 
of course more striking with two or three good trusses of bloom. 
I have not a large stock, yet it is so readily propagated that I 
have never missed rooting every cutting. I will send you a line 
later on to report the result of the summer growths.— Stephen 
Castle. 
THE WEST LYNN VINEYARD. 
The east coast of England is a favourite resort during the 
summer, the wholesome and pleasant breezes from the North Sea 
being particularly refreshing and invigorating. Tourists in in¬ 
creasing numbers appear to be recognising this, and possibly the 
more because of the admirable train service between Liverpool 
Street and the chief towns in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and 
Suffolk, with, now, a ewing round into Lincolnshire and York¬ 
shire. On this line, too, the Great Eastern, are what may be 
termed some noteworthy seats of horticulture. Almost before we 
are out of the smoke of the metropolis we are at Low’s of Clapton, 
Fraser’s of Lea Bridge, Ware’s of Tottenham, and anon we reach 
the famed nurseries at Waltham Cross, and almost smell the Roses 
at Cheshunt. Then there is the world-renowned fruit establish¬ 
ment at Sawbridgeworth, for which, however, Harlow is the most 
convenient station. At Colchester grow the grand Roses with 
which Mr. B. Cant so often triumphs at the great contests ; at 
Chelmsford is the home of the Queen Apple, and where every 
autumn may be seen those beautiful Asters which Messrs. Salt- 
marsh exhibit so successfully at the Crystal Palace Shows ; and 
at Cambridge is the Botanic Garden, which is increasing in 
interest yearly under the skilled curatorship of Mr. Lynch. Be¬ 
sides these there is a still more wonderful sight at St. Osyth, where 
Messrs. Carter grow flowers by the acre, field after field being 
glowing masses of colour, producing a spectacle that in July has 
few, if any, equals of its kind in this country. These establish¬ 
ments are known, by repute at least, by most, if not all, readers of 
these notes ; but there is another, and differing from them all, that 
is less familiar, yet not less worthy of notice, Mr. Cooke’s vine¬ 
yard at West Lynn. 
Mr. Cooke is one of those great farmers of Norfolk who so 
worthily represent British agriculture—indeed, he presumably 
occupies on lease the largest farm on Lord Leicester’s estate, and 
by generous culture, well-applied skill, and intelligent action, 
founded on practical and scientific principles, has contrived to live 
