178 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 28, 1890'. 
mycelium, like Mushroom spawn when running, and a fresh crop results. 
Dogs are trained to find them, and a “Truffle dog” is regarded as a 
requisite on some large estates.] 
ENGLISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Tiie sixth annual excursion of the above Society took place 
cn Wednesday and Thursday, August 20th and 21st. It was a new 
departure for the excursion to last two dajs, but the success and 
pleasure that attended the change ought to make it customary in 
the future, as the extra time at night can be utilised for holding the 
annual meeting, which saves a day later on the season. The place 
(hosen this year was Skipton and Bolton, in the West Riding of 
Yorkshire. The party travelled by the railway from Car¬ 
lisle, where the different contingents met, and arrived at Skipton 
about 11 45 a.m., and immediately on their arrival were entertained 
to luncheon at the Ship Inn (the quarters appointed for the 
Society to stay at) by Lord Hothfield, the owner of Skipton Castle, 
to whom the Society feel very much indebted for his princely hos¬ 
pitality. After luncheon the party proceeded to visit Skipton 
Castle, which is famous in history through the Clifford family, 
which have retained it from 1311. It was given to Robert, Lord 
Clifford, by Edwar d II. in the fourth year of his reign. The build¬ 
ing is a very fine old baronial castle, and is very dear to most 
Yorkshiremen, as it forms a connecting link in the history of York¬ 
shire down to the present noble owner, Lord Hothfield. From the 
entrance gates a fine view 7 of the castle and grounds is obtained. 
Mr. Ross, sub-agent to Lord Hothfield, proved an attentive guide, 
as he pointed out every object of historic or modem interest to the 
visitors. Close to the entrance gates is a fine English Yew 7 , which 
is 20 inches quarter girth 4 feet from the ground, and is said to be 
over 500 years old. The walls of the castle are over 4 feet thick, 
and as the party inspected the interior of the castle they were 
shown some fine old tapestry, and the room the “ Fair Rosamond ” 
was imprisoned in. Some Spanish Chestnuts were also inspected, 
and one member of the Society interested his hearers by stating 
that is the only tree that a spider will not spin a cobw’eb on. The 
tower of the castle is 80 feet high, and a fine view of Pendle Hill 
in Lancashire can be seen on a fine day. Lady Ann Cliffoid, after 
the Civil Wars, restored the building in about the year 1 G59. 
Theie remains here a strong muniment room, which is supposed to 
contain most interesting documents, as the castle has been built 
about 800 years. On entering the terrace to the east of the castle 
some fine Sycamores were inspected, one blown down a few 
years ago had 250 cubic feet of wood in it. The quarter girth of 
some of these trees was from 27 to 30 inches each ; the average 
of these trees w 7 ould be about 70 feet; they are planted 
about 350 feet above the sea level, and, from Mr. Ross’s oelief, 
are alout 300 years old. Each tree would aveiage about COO feet 
of wood. 
The party here inspected an ancient meat with much interest ; 
they then proceeded to their carriages and drove to Eshton Hall, 
by way of Gargrave, the seat of Sir Matthew Wilson, who leceived 
them at the iront of his mansion, and spoke most hopefully of 
the future of the Society, and at once consented to become an 
honorary member : he regretted his inability to accompany them 
thiough age, but he said they would find an invaluable substitute 
in his head gardener, Mr. A. Temple. Eshton Hall is a very fine 
builciirg. Handsome stone vases adorn the terraces, which were 
all filled with the old favourite Tom Thumb Pelargoniums, which 
were one mass of bloom, and had a pleasing effect in contrast with 
the building that all admired. 
A fine iree of the yellow-flowered Horse Chestnut also adorned 
the lawn, and in the distance was observed the beautiful silver 
foliage of the Abele Poplar, and on the left were also very fine 
specimens of the copper-coloured Beech and Wych Elms. Near 
to the head gardener’s house (Mr. A. Temple) there is a splendid 
avenue of Conifeim, including Thuiopsis borealis ; Juniperus 
o0 feet high ; Thuia occidentals, 35 feet high ; a variegated 
Thoin, 24 feet high ; and a splendid example of what was, after 
much discussion amongst the members, termed a fine specimen of 
the variegated American Oak, which had a most pleasing and 
telling effect in the landscape. There was also an admirable 
addition in an Evergreen Oak, as an imposing confrere—ty'pical 
representatives of the vegetable kings of the forest. 
Here the party entered the kitchen garden, which is not large, 
but was well stocked with vegetables. Celery was mest healthy 
and vigorous ; Peas in full bearing and healthy condition. Mr. A. 
Temple confines himself mostly to the old and tried varieties 
—Yeitch’s Perfection, Ne Plus Ultra, and Prince of Wales; and 
he ccnsiders those, after long experience, a tiio amongst the many 
varieths of this choice legume hard to beat. A new Pea (Evolu- 
ticn) has been tried this 3 ear, and promises to be an immense 
cropper, as it fiuits well from the bottom of the haulm upwards. 
All the usual varieties of winter varieties of the Brassica genera 
also afforded evidence that the kitchen garden at Eshton Hall 
receives cue care and attention. Cos and Cabbage Lettuces on 
the Yine border were admirable examples of good culture, such as 
to cause envy in the minds of those who are partial to a good salad. 
Mr. A. Temple has not yet had charge of these gardens twelve 
months, and the progress he has made is wonderful. We were 
shown on a south wall Peaches of the Waterloo variety on 
trees planted this year without any protection, quite ripe ; also 
fine fruit on Apples Cellini, Pott’s Seedling, an A1 variety ; Lord 
Suffield,Lane’s Prince Albert, and King of the Pippins ; this evidence 
of success becomes the more remarkable as 8 ° of frost w'ere registered 
on the 30th of May last. The glass structures were then viewed. 
The Peach houses are lofty lean-to houses, and trees of Bellegarde 
were very fruitful. In the vineries Black Hamburgh, Gros Maroc, 
and Alicante Grapes were exceedingly well finished. Muscat Ham¬ 
burgh was also bearing fine bunches of fruit from 3 to 4 lbs. each. 
These Yines are sixty years old, and were planted something like the 
historical Yines at Raby Castle in carrion. We observed Madres- 
field Court inarched on Foster’s Seedling as an experiment, but Mr. 
Temple states he has been most successful with that variety on the 
old Tokay. The rest of the glass structures were then visited, 
including span-roofed, stove, and greenhouse plant, structures all 
filled with well-grown varieties of the usual typical stove and 
greenhc use plants. Two favourite Melons at Eshton are Countess, 
a fine pale flesh variety ; and Harefield Grove. The party then 
visited the park, weie shown some fine Sycamore trees worth about 
£20 each, but the proprietor will not have any of his favourites cut.. 
Some fine Larch were inspected, 115 feet high, and 23 inches 
quarter girth, and supposed to contain over 140 cubic feet. It may 
be well to mention that all the Larch planted previous to thirty 
years ago are doing well generally in Yorkshire, which proves, 
perhaps, that climatal changes have had much to do with the 
decease. 
The visitors again re-entered their carriages, and drove hastily 
back to dinner at their rendezvous, “The Ship Inn,” Skipton, 
wheie the host and hostess had prepared a most substantial dinner 
for the party. Mr. James Watts, Carlisle, was in the chair, Mr. 
Balder, sen., Dalston, in the vice-chair and they were supported by; 
the following members : —Mr. J. Davidson, Secretary and Treasurer 
to the Society ; Mr. Coroner Graham and Mrs. Graham ; Mr. 
A. Ross, sub-agent to Lord Hothfield ; Mr. John Mitchell, forester 
lo His Grace the Duke of Devonshire ; Mr. James Mitchell, Frey- 
stone Hall, Leeds ; Mr. R. E. Anderson ; Mr. Robt. Collins, forester 
to His Grace the Duke of Sutherland, and Mr. F. Collins, jun. ; 
Mr. William Forbes, Councillor Davidson, Messrs. Bernard Cowan, 
Thomas Ycsey, land agent, and T. Gibson, journalist, South 
Shields ; Mr. Jos. D. Coxon, forester to His Grace the Duke of 
Northumberland ; Mr. Robt. Robinson, Castle Eden, Durham ; 
Mr. Wm. Fell and Mr. BrowD, Wentworth Nurseries. Hexham ; 
and Mr. Jcs. Robson, Nurseryman, Hexham ; Mr. Daniel Poison, 
Hexham Herald, and Mr. J. Balden, jun., land agent, Hexham. 
After dinner the annual business meeting took place, when Mr. 
Wm. Eoibes, forester to S. C. Lister, Esq., Swinton Masham„ 
AYukshire, w 7 as awarded the Society’s first prize of a silver medal 
for an tss>y on “Timber Tiees.” The election of officers also 
took place, Mr. Thomas Taylor, Chipchase Castle, being elected. 
Piesident for the ensuing year. 
The next morning the party breakfasted at seven o’clock, and* 
their carriages were ready at eight o’clock, whence they pro¬ 
ceeded to Bolton Abbey, the seat of His Grace the Duke of 
Devonshire. The party were met by his head forester, Mr. 
J. Mitchell, at the Devomhire Aims. On entering the grounds to 
the right is a fine view of the Abbey, and to the left the shoot¬ 
ing lodge of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, which had a very 
fine mixture of herbaceous plants alongside of the lodge. A 
peculiar formation of the liver was pointed out as containing extra¬ 
ordinary contortions and gyiations—the Skipper’s Wheel. Close, 
to the Abbey, to the left of it, aie some large Ash trees supposed 
to be over 200 years old, 90 feet high, and 3 feet quarter girth at 
the ground. From there is also seen a very fine waterfall, which 
reminds one of the charms of Wordsworth’s poem, “ The Falls of 
Lodore.” Here are also some handsome Sycamores. The Abbey 
is a fine old classic building, but time and space will not permit us- 
lo dwell too long on the historic associations of it, all of which the 
party exploied anl felt the deepest interest in. In a line with the. 
Abbey is a specimen of the true Irish Cross erected as a monu¬ 
ment to Loid Frederick Charles Cavendish. Further on is also 
a drinking fountain to his lordship’s memory. From there is also 
obtained a view of the old deer forest, which contains fine old 
red deer. Crossing the river Wharfe you enter Wharfedale, and 
on a summit get a grand view of Bardon Tower, 300 feet above the 
level of the Wharfe, and the home of the Shepherd Lord Clifford. 
