October 16, 1890, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
389 
the foreground. The open sward is unbroken by flower beds, "so com¬ 
mon in many establishments, but these are provided for in a strip of 
turf laying between the broad terrace and house, a position that displays 
the well planted beds to advantage. One of the most striking plants 
employed in bedding is Begonia Princess Beatrice, a variety remarkable 
for continuity of bloom and uniformity of growth. The flowers are 
white with a pinkish hue pervading them, but this may be less pro¬ 
nounced in the earlier part of the season. 
The glass structures are all conveniently arranged in an enclosed 
yard, at an eas v distance from the house and closely adjoining the kitchen 
gardens, from which good crops of Peaches, Grapes, Tomatoes, Melons, 
Cucumbers and decorative material are produced in quantities and of 
the best quality. It is supposed that a monastery once existed here, a 
courtyard of those days being now a charming spot filled with her¬ 
baceous and annual flowering plants, the walls covered with Boses. 
The annuals are planted in circular beds cut out in the turf, and are 
drawn upon largely for the cut flower supplies. A beautiful specimen 
Arundo conspicua occupies a central position, the other beds being dis¬ 
posed equidistant on all sides. Although an excellent all-round gardener, 
Mr. Lye, who has charge of this department of Sydmonton Court, excels 
in the art of vegetable production, which reports of various shows 
frequently testify, his success during the current season being quite 
phenomenal. No less than twenty-six first prizes have been awarded 
to him, and only one third, which alone is sufficient guarantee of his 
ability and painstaking workmanship, for he has secured them in the 
best of company. The great event of the season with vegetable 
competition was at Reading, where a first prize of 15 guineas and five 
others of proportionate value were offered. This brought together, as 
was expected, one of the largest displays of garden produce ever pre¬ 
sented in a single class, and it was a feat of no mean order to secure 
an easy first among some of the best growers of the day. 
True, facilities are here presented such as do not fall to the share of 
many growers, and this is found in the natural soil and shelter, but, on 
the other hand, the most is made of it by judicious cropping, Mr. Lye 
being one of those far-seeing men who plans and prepares his ground in 
the autumn and winter for the next year’s crop. Runner Beans are 
enormously prolific, represented by no less than three types of the Ne 
Plus Ultra strain, one of them grown on trial being apparently a good 
advance on the original. These are grown in heavily manured trenches, 
and planted so that they are in full light, and the seeds a foot apart in 
single rows. Onions, again, are of immense size, and many sorts are on 
view, but it must be understood these are not produced under the usual 
practice of sowing outdoors, but have as much care expended on them 
a3 required for early Celery. Carrots and Parsnips are of perfect shape, 
in fact as clean as though machine made. This fact alone is sufficient 
to indicate the nature of the soil. The most beautiful and extensive 
plantation of Parsley I have met with this year is seen here, the destruc¬ 
tive root pest that has wrought such havoc generally being absent, a bed 
of Dobbie’s Extra-curled being grand in the extreme. 
Celery which was prepared for autumn and winter supplies is 
overtaken with disease, so virulent as to affect the whole of one large 
plantation, many of them succumbing under its influence. The leaves 
are thickly covered with red rust-like spots, the cause for which it is 
difficult to assign a reason for. This disease is quite new to everyone 
who has yet seen it as displayed at Sydmonton. 
Violets are grown largely and well, mostly of the Marie Louise 
variety, and Mr. Lye treats a portion of the stock in pots with more 
than ordinary success. They are potted the end of September, and 
stood in a sheltered spot outdoors for a short time, and transferred when 
partially re-established to shelves in the vineries, where they invariably 
give good returns in high-coloured flowers. Chrysanthemums, which 
are grown in moderately large numbers, are cultivated on the large 
bloom principle, mostly in 8-inch pots, and look promising for a good 
display later on. Apples are abundant on standard orchard trees, but 
Pears do not crop so freely. Peaches protected by a coping of glass are 
doing well, some recently planted trees growing with remarkable 
freedom on a south wall. Altogether this interesting garden reflects 
much credit on its chief, who is well supported by Mr. Kingsmill in 
the various items connected with such an establishment, which cannot 
be otherwise than appreciated.—S. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 14th. 
In addition to the exhibits before the three Committees, which were 
numerous and interesting, a special feature was provided in a display of 
preserved fruits and jams. Medals and certificates were offered, and 
several were awarded for the best representative collections. At the 
afternoon meeting Sir Charles Strickland, Bart., read a paper on 
Crinums,” but owing to the foggy weather the attendance was not 
large. The floral exhibits were arranged on two central tables, the 
fruit, both fresh and preserved, being placed on side tables, and, with 
the groups of Chrysanthemums, there was not much unoccupied space. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., in the 
chair, and Rev. W. Wilks, Dr. Hogg, Messrs. T. F. Rivers, John Lee, 
G. W. Cummins, J. Denning, W. Bates, J. Smith, H. Balderson, 
J. Hudson, F. Q. Lane, A. H. Pearson, R. D. Blackmore, and G. 
Wythes. 
Ripe fruits of Figue d’Agen, the latest Fig in the Royal Horticultural 
-Society's collection, were placed on the table by Mr. Barron. The fruit 
is medium sized, roundish, green, with clear white fissures. The flesh is 
red, juicy, and sweet. Its chief merit, however, consists in its ripening 
well so late in the season. 
A seedling Apple named Chorister Boy was sent from Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams, & Co., Salisbury ; it is a conical Apple, but as shown 
possessed no distinct quality, and as no information was communicated 
relative to the bearing of the tree or the keeping properties of the fruit 
it was passed. A seedling unnamed Apple was sent by Mr, J. Hazzard ; 
it is of the Codlin type, but not equal to others in cultivation. Apple 
Due d’Aumale was sent by Mr. Lewis Castle from Merton; it is a large 
firm Apple with a distinct aromatic flavour, but was considered rather 
dry, and no award was made. A seedling Apple was sent by Mr. 
G. Jones, Greenford Place, Sudbury, medium sized but inferior, and 
therefore passed. Mr. James Smith, Newark, sent a small Apple, 
not named ; it was thought to resemble the local Yorkshire Apple 
Elmender, and did not merit any special mark of recognition. A 
dish of fine fruit of “ D. T. Fish ” Apple was placed on the table 
by Mr. H. Balderson, with the object of determining its identity with 
Warner’s King or otherwise. It was unanimously declared identical 
with Warner’s King. Mr. R. Fenn sent dishes of a medium-sized Apple 
from Sulhampsted, named “ Pay-the-Rent.” It was spotted in the skin, 
deepening into the flesh, and hence was passed. After all those failures 
in Apples a success was at last arrived at in Beauty of Stolte , from 
Mr. R. Doe, The Gardens, Rufford Abbey, Allerton, Notts. Fruits were 
before the Committee in December last year, Sir Charles Strickland 
being requested to test their cooking quality. He did so, and found it 
excellent. Mr. A. H. Pearson was also requested to inspect the trees at 
Rufford, and having done so and reported them as of good growth and 
productive, a first-class certificate was awarded. The fruit is large, 
somewhat conical, of a uniform brown russety appearance, and very 
heavy. The variety is of the Alfriston type, but distinct and of con¬ 
siderable promise. 
A large oval shaped, well netted Melon was sent by Mr. A. Bishop, 
gardener to R. Burrell, Esq., Westley Hall, Bury St. Edmunds. It was 
named Westley Hall by the Committee for the purpose of recording 
the first class certificate that was awarded. It is a scarlet flesh, 
tender, and of rich flavour. Fine fruits of Monstera deliciosa were sent 
by Mr. G. Wythes from Syon House ; they were exceedingly rich in 
flavour, and a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. Wythes also 
sent fruits of a large red Banana, name unknown, for which a similar 
award was granted. Messrs. Jarman & Co., Chard, sent a small collection 
of Apples, for which a vote of thanks was awarded. Mr. James 
Hudson, Gunnersbury House Gardens, sent a box of Golden Noble Apples, 
uniform in size and good, and was accorded a cultural commendation. 
A collection of different kinds of fruit and Nuts were exhibited by 
Mr. Fenn, and a vote of thanks awarded ; also for some home-made 
wines, which, however, had been treasured up too long. Messrs. 
Gayman & Son, Barham, Attleborough, sent a collection of Apples 
from Norfolk from which they make cider. A bronze medal was 
recommended. Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, staged a 
large and valuable collection of Apples, for which a silver medal was 
unanimously recommended. Baskets of well-fruited sprays of October 
Red and White Raspberries were arranged with the collection. 
Mr. Roffey, Croydon, was awarded a vote of thanks for fine seedling 
fruits of his selected Telegraph Cucumber, and a similar award was 
recorded to Mrs. Alexander Dean for interesting examples of jam and 
syrup preparations of Tomato, Carrots, Vegetable Marrow, and Beet¬ 
root, the first and last named, perhaps, finding the most favour with a 
majority of the members present. 
Floral Committee.— Present: John Fraser, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. B. Wynne, T. Baines, R. Dean, W. C. Leach, J. Walker, 
R. B. Lowe, T. W. Girdlestone, H. Turner, D. Jeffries, H. B. May, 
G. Paul, and Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain. 
From E. Mawley, Esq., Rose Bank, Berkhamsted, came a most 
tasteful group of Roses, Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, and Begonias 
arranged in baskets, stands, and dishes. Ferns, Asparagus, and other 
foliage were employed with excellent effect, and the whole being 
disposed on a white cloth had a charming appearance. It was an 
innovation that might well be repeated, the award of a silver medal 
being amply merited. Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton, contributed 
a handsome group of Crotons, Dracaenas, Ferns, and other foliage 
plants, which occupied the whole length of one table. A silver-gilt 
medal was awarded. Mr. H. J. Jones, Hither Green, Lewisham, had 
two bright and tasteful groups of Chrysanthemums at the ends of the 
tables, for which a silver Banksian medal was awarded. 
Mr. G. Fry, Lewisham, sent a plant of a seedling Fuchsia raised 
from triphylla and named albo-carminata. It had pale salmon droop¬ 
ing flowers, delicate, but not showy. Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., ex¬ 
hibited specimens of a bright purple flowered Achimenes, said to have 
been obtained from an imported plant of Epidendrum raniferum. Mr. 
R. Mitchell, Orleans House Gardens, Twickenham, showed good blooms 
of Chrysanthemum Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. Mr. C. J. Salter, The Gardens, 
Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, had three blooms of a bronzy yellow sport 
from the Japanese Chrysanthemum Mr. H. Wellam named Memoir. 
They were quite distinct in colour and the characters seemed well 
fixed, but the blooms were rather rough. Messrs. Pitcher & Manda also 
sent several new Japanese Chrysanthemums, one named Elliott F. 
Shepard having large bright yellow blooms like Peter the Great ; 
Mohawk, in the way of E. Molyneux ; and Clarence Bryant, a neat 
yellow reflexed Japanese. 
Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cioss, contributed six boxes of 
