August 19, 1886 . ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
159 
Six other carriages containing personal friends and fellow servants of 
deceased. 
The Rev. Samuel Dale, late incumbent of Christ Church, Patricroft—at 
which church deceased worshipped for many years—conducted the funeral 
service ; and in addition to these already mentioned there were present at 
the funeral the Rev. A. E. Francis (Vicar of Barton), Monseigneur Kershaw, 
and the Rev. L. Shrieber. Sir H. F. de Trafford and Dr. Hepworth each 
carried a bouquet and strewed it upon the coffin when lowered into the grave. 
The churchyard, which is in a beautiful condition, was filled with a respect¬ 
able concourse of people, numbers of whom had known the deceased many 
years. 
Thus was the octogenarian gardener honoured and departed worth 
recognised by the representatives of one of the oldest and most widely 
esteemed of the county families of Lancashire, and we record the event 
in honour of both. 
FLOORS CASTLE GARDENS. 
“ Depression ! ” that cry which resounds on every hand at the pre¬ 
sent lime, has made itself felt at even such a princely place as Floors 
Castle, and economy is the order of the day, combined with the sale of a 
considerable portion of the produce of the gardens. Notwithstanding 
this, however, there is sufficient regard paid to purely ornamental work 
to preserve the beauty of the place in a wonderful way, and much credit 
must be given to Mr. McKellar. 
Those of your readers who have not visited Floors have a treat in 
store for them. Kelso, a little town beautifully situated beside the 
Tweed, which here maintains its title to be called “ fair river broad and 
deep,” is of itself well worthy a visit because of its old Abbey and its 
interesting surroundings. Floors Castle is distant a little more than a 
mile from the town, and from the entrance-gate till the Castle is reached 
the visitor passes along a splendid approach with grand trees on every 
hand, and a wide expanse of richly wooded and highly cultivated coun'ry 
stretching far and wide on the left hand, with the silver Tweed flowing in 
the mid-distance. Nearly opposite the Castle and about a mile distant 
stands the ruined pile of old Roxburgh Castle, a place rich in historic 
interest, and whose stones, could they speak, would tell of stormy times 
and deadly struggles. In a fine park just in front of the Castle stands 
an old tree which marks the spot where King James II. was killed by the 
bursting of a cannon during the siege of Roxburgh Castle, which was 
then in the hands of the English. Arrived at the Castle, the visitor is 
at once struck with the large extent of ground which it covers, and the 
splendid view it commands. While very handsomely furnished the Castle 
is not so rich in rare pictures, statuary, cabinets, Sc c., as are many other 
mansions in the country. 
At the end nearest the gardens there is a small Rose garden and a 
Camellia house—the former a blaze of colours, and the latter full of plants 
in fine condition. The houses at the gardens are too numerous to describe 
in detail. Suffice it to say that there is a splendid corridor full of noble 
specimens of Camellias and handsome shrubs and plants in flower, the 
walls beautifully decorated with Creepers, Ferns, Begonias, Mosses, &e., 
all growing in a delightfully natural style. The walk through this cor¬ 
ridor being a winding one makes it appear much longer than it really is, 
an 1 also causes one to get a fresh surprise at every turn, as every few 
yards something extra beautiful or especially interesting is disclosed. 
Entering from the corridor are seven or eight houses, span-roofed, and 
filled with plants, Vines, Figs, and Peaches. One house contained some 
very handsome Palms, all growing vigorously, and promising to be splen¬ 
did specimens in a short time. Tuberous Begonias, Pelargoniums, and 
other flowering plan's were displayed in another of the houses. The 
house where the Figs are grown was very fine; the trees were covered 
with a second crop. Mr. McKellar lately cut their roots oS from com¬ 
munication with the outside border, built up the space below the 
foundation of the house, and now confines them to the inside border. 
The result is less rampant growth and abundant fruitfulness. Very 
good crops of Black Hamburgh are to be seen in other houses in this 
range ; also Madresfislj. ^ourt, wh ch does not crack here. 
Leaving these houses and entering the kitchen garden we passed the 
gardener’s house, a very comfortable one, and built so as to form an 
ornament to the gardens. We now beheld a number of hothouses, 
and entered a large lean-to Peach house in which Mr. McKellar replanted 
the trees not very long ago. They seem in the best of health. Next is a 
range of high, wide, and handsome lean-to vineries, the first one con¬ 
taining a capital crop of Lady Downe’s, just beginning to colour, and 
giving promise of finishing well, the foliage splendid, the wood strong, 
and commencing to ripen. The next division is a Hamburgh house, 
and all its crop was cut save two bunches. Judging from them, the 
finish and style of the crop must have been good. Muscats occupy 
another house, which is a very large one. Many fine bunches are to be 
seen, and all appear to be colouring well. 
Orchids occupy five houses, and all are in the best of health, the foliage 
dark green and glossy, and all in a satisfactory state as regards clean¬ 
liness and neatness. The walls of the houses are most beautifully clothed 
with Maidenhair Ferns and Lycopods, the Adiantums growing in a state 
of luxuriance and beauty rarely seen in such situations. Other houses 
are filled with fine Crotons, Dracaenas, Ferns, Eucharises, Gardenias. , 
all in the b:st possible condition. Stephanotis trained along wires in 
some of the stoves appeared in fine condition, free from bug, and covered 
with flowers. Other creepers, such as Dipladenias, share the good health 
that seems to distinguish every plant under Mr. McKellar’s care. 
Pot Vines are grown in grand style, some from eyes this spring are 
stringer by far than we ordinarily see “cut-hacks” offered as finiters 
by the nurserymen. Ihey were all beginning to ripen, too, and there 
need be little fear that they will not fruit freely next season. Two houses 
are filled with one Peach tree each, such grand specimens, and such 
healthy foliage—no trace of 9pider I The fruit had all been gathered, 
most of it being sent to market. Tbe crop had been abundant. Other 
houses there are which are worthy of description, but space forbids. 1 
would only say, Go and see what can be done by energy and ability, even 
when a reduced staff and a curtailed expenditure have to be faced, and 
also something of the nature of market gardening to be carried on. In spite 
of these disadvantages the flower garden is beautifully planted, the grass 
well kept, and in general an air of good management and well-directed 
energy displayed. The kitchen garden is large and well stocked, every¬ 
thing seeming to be in abundance and in prime condition. 
Altogether Floors may be noted as a place well worth a visit, not only 
on account of the beauty of the surroundings and of the Castle grounds, 
but because of the cultural skill to be observed, the display of well-directed 
energy to be noted, and the kindly welcome to be received by all who go 
as followers or admirers of the art of gardening. 
I may conclude with the hope that some day, not far distant, the sale 
of most of the produce of the gardens need not be carried on ; that better 
times for landlords, better times for tenants, better times for gardeners, 
are coming. No gardener appears to me more worthy of every encourage¬ 
ment and every success than Mr. McKellar. Need I add that, like a 
sensible man, Mr. McKellar has chosen himself a sensible wife, who seems 
indeed a helpmeet?— A Visitor. 
OLD AND NEW ROSES. 
A papar bj Mr. Joseph H. Bou-n. real before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.] 
The Greeks adored this flower of the highest antiquity, and the 
Romans bestowed praises on its loveliness. Anacreon sang its primal 
birth ; Homer extolled its gracefulness, and borrowed its brilliant colours 
to paint the glowing richness of the rising sun; Herodotus exulted over 
the sixty-petalled varieties which grew spontaneously in the gardens 
of Midas in Macedonia ; Catullus vaunted its charms ; and Horace 
admired “the richly tinted face, whose bloom is soon fled;” Virgil 
contrasts the pale sallow with the blushing hues, and extols the Rosea 
of Paestum with their “ double spring.” Those costly ornamental 
gardens, destroyed almost ten centuries ago, no longer shed the morning 
fragrance of Rose perfume. Nettles and Brambles encumber the foot¬ 
path of the traveller, and, like a poetic memory of the past, the Cyclamen 
and the Violet now trail among the debris of the old city. Ausonius, 
writing at the very close of Latin literature, draws from tbe roseries of 
Paestum a picture of “ beauty doomed to premature decline,” and tells of 
watching “ the luxurious Rose beds, all dewy in the young light of the 
rising dawn-star.” Roses bore away the palm from all flowers during the 
sovereignty of Augustus and subsequent rulers ; but Cicero did not approve 
of the custom, introduced by those who were given to luxurious enter¬ 
tainments, of taking their meals reclining on Rose leaves. Verres, a 
Roman governor of Sicily, gave audiences wearing wreaths of Roses upon 
his head and around his neck, sitting upon a cushion made of the finest 
of Malta linen, full of sweet-9cented Rose buds. Cleopatra and Nero 
extravagantly decorated their banqueting halls with rosy ornaments and 
garlands; and distinguished guests were greeted amid roseate bowerq 
while the merry dance went round in an atmosphere redolent with roseal 
odours. Every evidence exists that we must connect the R *se with the 
lore of antiquity ; for the ancients preserved its luxury, and it was the 
ornament of their festivals, their altars, and their tombs ; while their poets 
made it the symbol of innocence and modesty, of grace and beauty. It is 
probable that the Romans had Roses of similar species with some of tho=e 
we now cultivate, since they practised sowing the seed, as well as propa¬ 
gating by cuttings, by grafting, and by budding. Hothouse growth was 
also understood and practised, says Seneca; and it was a boast to have 
carried this flower so far towards perfection as to surpass the cultivators 
of Alexandria, Memphis, and Rhodes. That the Rose never fatigues is 
shown by the reputation it has maintained through all the ages. Although 
a hundred generations have succeeded each other, it is still a queenly 
belle, notwithstanding it did not escape the devastation attendant on the 
revolution of empires, or the more desolating invasions of the Huns anl 
the Goths. 
But while wo do not ignore an historical interest in the Rose, the 
subject of more practical inquiry is, What Roses can we successfully grow 
in our gardens? I answer, Nona hut such as are planted under the con¬ 
ditions which the law3 of Nature certainly require, followed by special 
watchfulness until the trees become well rooted and established in vigorous 
growth; and then intelligent study must be given to the varied habits and 
conditions of growth of eajh variety. Toe most popular, because the 
most useful Roses, are the Remontant*, whose special beauty consists in 
the shell form of the large petals, softly recurving in their glistening 
freshness of colour ; and for decorative purposes the varieties should be 
the free-flowering kinds, noted for elegance and brilliancy eti masse, in 
preference to th se possessed of great symmetry of form. The favourites 
of a generation ago—Madame Zoutman, Blanche-fleur, Cheaedole, and 
Paul Perras—are unsurpassed to-day in quality, hardiness, and fragrance 
eomb’ned ; but the Remontant*, on account of the:r freedom of bloom, 
are now regarded as the most important of the many groups of Roses 
cultivated. The modern classes of the Rose claim no less than twenty 
species as their progenitors ; and from the pronenes3of Nature’s offspring 
to assume new styles and shades arise individuals differing from their 
parents. To give a correct knowledge of the Rose now so popular, we 
must bee ime acquainted with certain types in this group,—which gather 
