October 2,1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
land, which he presented to the House of Commons in 17GG. Upon 
his return to England he made further investigations upon the 
character of soils, as ascertainable from the plants that would 
naturally flourish upon it. For instance, he pointed out that it 
was always good land where Oaks grew, or the Meadow Foxtail 
and Cocksfoot Grasses.—J. R. S. C. 
NOTES AT CARDIFF CASTLE. 
There are two kitchen gardens at Cardiff Castle about four acres 
in extent each. Both may be regarded as suburban gardens, as they 
are only divided from the town of Cardiff by a wall, and I state this 
as my subsequent remarks will indicate that it is possible to grow first- 
rate Apples and Pears in such situations. Each garden contains a 
great many fruit trees, both on the walls and as standards. The latter 
line the walks everywhere, and many are also grown in lines through the 
vegetable quarters. The majority were planted about twelve years ago. 
The growth they have made since is of the most satisfactory description. 
Those who have read Mr. J. Wright’s book on “ Profitable Fruit Cul¬ 
ture” will find some of these trees illustrated therein, and they may 
well be shown as examples anywhere. All tendency on the part of the 
trees to become crowded has been rigidly frustrated. Each branch 
stands clear of its neighbour, but they have been allowed to ascend to 
about 12 feet, thus giving an average of growth of 1 foot per year. 
Every branch is furnished throughout with luxuriant foliage, and 
bristles with well developed buds. They are in the best of health and 
exceedingly clean. They indicate the most careful training from the 
first, and must receive the greatest care at the present time. The 
branches of Lime, Sycamore, and other trees come very near drooping 
over the garden wall, and are not many feet from the wall trees. The 
foliage of these, as is common at this season, is much overrun with red 
spider and other insects ; but none of them appear to have gained a 
footing on the fruit trees, and the line of distinction is clearly marked. 
The Apples are chiefly growing on the free stock. A few on the Paradise 
are not regarded with favour. The soil may be described as a light loam ; 
the walls have no coping, and no attempt is made to protect the blossom 
in spring, and the fine results secured can only be attributed to high 
culture. 
At present the crops are most remarkable both for their extent and 
quality. Many of the branches, particularly on the Apples, have had 
to be staked and tied up to prevent the weight of fruit breaking them 
down. The most fertile are of Apples—Ecklinville Seedling, Lord 
Suffield, Lord Grosvenor, Keswick Codlin, Pott’s Seedling, Annie Eliza¬ 
beth, Beauty of Hants, Wellington, Nelson’s Glory, Emperor Alexander, 
Alfriston, New Hawthornden, Beauty of Kent, Worcester Pearmain, 
King of Pippins, Nonpareil, Sturmer Pippin, Court of Wick, and Devon¬ 
shire Quarrenden. Some of the specimens of Ecklinville were upwards 
of 1 lb. in weight, and owing to the enormous crop of this size they 
gave one the impression of being the best of all; but none of the others 
were far behind it in their respective merits. Potts’ Seedling was an 
excellent clean sample, and the old Keswick Codlin was hardly recog¬ 
nisable in its excessive development ; but size was not their only 
recommendation, as the quantity was there too, and it was computed 
that many of the trees not yet in their teens were carrying from 1^ cwt. 
to 2 cwt. of fruit. I would make special remark of Ecklinville Seedling 
for the benefit of your South Wales readers, as being a variety admir¬ 
ably adapted for their locality, for apart from the success at Cardiff 
Castle it is an invaluable sort with Mr. Stephen Treseder, and several 
other growers in the neighbourhood of Cardiff and South Wales. 
The best of the standard Pears are Pitmaston Duchess, Jargonelle, 
and Williams’ Bon Chretien. The same kinds are also excellent on the 
walls, as well as Marie Louise, Beurr4 Ranee, Beurrd d’Amanlis, Easter 
Beurr6, BeurrG Clairgeau, Glou Morqeau, Beurrd Bose, and Beurr6 Diel. 
The fruit of Pitmaston Duchess takes the lead here as much as the 
Ecklinville Seedling amongst the Apples, but the produce of all the 
others is remarkably fine, being large in size, clean, abundant, and 
evenly distributed all over the carefully trained and most vigorous 
branches. Considering that none of these trees were protected while in 
bloom, and the most ungenial season they have had to contend with, the 
results are marvellous, and although there are many striking features 
in the gardens at Cardiff Castle none do Mr. Pettigrew more credit than 
the Apple and Pear trees. 
Melons. 
No matter what time of the summer we visit Cardiff Castle we are 
sure to find a fine crop of Melons. I have seen them year after year, 
and much as I have been struck with their superiority in former times 
I do not think I ever saw them better than they are at present. The 
plants are grown in a loftier span-roofed house than is generally devoted 
to Melons. They are planted in the side beds, which are about 1 yard 
in width and 1 foot in depth. Top and bottom heat is provided. The 
plants stand at a distance of 4 feet from each other. The distance 
from the soil to the trellis is a little over 3 feet, and a thick bare stem, 
like a Vine rod, occupies this space and then branch out over the trellis, 
which is from 10 to 12 feet high. The whole trellis is covered with a 
luxuriant mass of strong healthy shoots and huge green leaves abso¬ 
lutely destitute of the slightest trace of disease or insects. The fruits 
are evenly distributed over the trellis, and the size was much in excess 
of what we are accustomed to see. The chief variety grown is Carter’s 
Ilolborn Favourite; this is one of Mr. Pettigrew’s raising, and it does 
him much credit, as none of the fruits would be under 6 lbs., some 
would reach 10 lbs., and the average would be 8 lbs. They were beauti¬ 
fully formed, prettily netted - in fact, most handsome, and as the flesh 
is a greenish white and the flavour much above the average the fruit, 
although some might be inclined to think them too large, are admirable 
in every respect. Another new variety raised and grown here, but not 
yet in commerce, is the result of a cross between Holborn Favourite and 
Longleat Perfection. It, too, is a large Melon, with a partially netted 
beautiful skin and most pleasing flavour ; indeed, no one could see the 
Melons at Cardiff Castle without pronouncing them perfect ; but 
Mr. Pettigrew does not believe in the drying-off system, not even on the 
eve of the fruit ripening, and he attributes his unusually handsome 
fruit to copious waterings and the great luxuriance of the plants. 
A round earthenware ring or collar about 1 foot in diameter encircles 
each stem ; no water is ever given within this circle, but the other part 
of the bed is watered almost daily, and the roots, plants, and fruit 
testify to the soundness of this practice.—M. 
A PECULIAR GLOXINIA. 
Floral freaks have seemed to be somewhat frequent this year, for 
we have had a number submitted to our notice, and amongst them. 
FIG. 34.—A PECULIAR GLOXINIA. 
several Gloxinia flowers have heen sent at different times. That 
depicted in fig. 34 is remarkable for the fact that two or three flowers 
were received identical in formation. The ordinary corolla was of the 
usual form and colour, but there was a thickening towards the base, and 
five even segments the same colour as the tube were strongly recurved, 
alternating with the lobes of the calyx. At first glance it would be 
taken for an enlarged calyx, but that organ is quite of its normal form, 
and its lobes can be seen in the sketch. Varieties of this kind are not 
usually ornamenta’, but in this case the flower had a rather pleasing 
appearance, but it is doubted if the freak could be perpetuated. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The following is the official list of awards made by the Committees 
at the recent Grape and Dahlia Conference at Chiswick 
AWARDS OF THE FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
Silver-gi t Banltsian Medal .—To Messrs. Paul & Son, for Dahlias ; 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co., for Dahlias, and also for Begonias ; Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, for Dahlias ; Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., for Dahlias ; 
and to Mr. Charles Turner, for Dahlias. 
Silver Flora Medal— To Mr. Geo. Phippen, for Dahlias; Messrs 
