March 31, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
241 
evidently suit them at Hillsborough, and though the majority have only 
been planted about thirty years, they have attained surprising size, some 
exceeding 70 feet in height, as Abies Douglasi for example, and other 
species of Abies, Cupressus, Cedrus, &c., are almost equally fine. One 
common Yew is an enormous specimen, the widely spreading branches 
covering a space 75 yards in circumference ; an extremely old Cedar of 
Lebanon is also pointed out as having been brought there in the time of 
the Crusaders. 
In the garden itself is a fine collection of fruit trees, the 9 acres of 
walled-in kitchen garden comprising Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, 
Apricots, and Cherries, with small fruits, such as Gooseberries, Currants, 
and Strawberries in quantity, all doing well. The north wall is a 
remarkable one, being 260 yards long, and covered with Morello 
Cherries, from which large crops of fruit are obtained annually. The 
glass houses comprise the usual accommodation for plants and 
fruits. Vines being especially well grown, for Mr. Bradshaw had a 
valuable training under the late Mr. Roberts at Charleville at the time 
valley, and river. The special object of alighting here instead of pro¬ 
ceeding direct to Dublin was to drive through one of the principal 
1 fruit-growing districts of Ireland, for within the eight or nine miles 
j from Drogheda to Gormanstown via Julianstown, and across the valley 
I of the river Nanny, are some of the best market gardens, chiefly devoted 
to fruit culture, that I saw in the whole of my journey. Many of them 
would, in fact, compare favourably with those in the west erf 
London, both in system of cultivation and the condition of the trees. 
It is only fair to say that my attention was called to this district by 
Mr. W. H. (Bullock) Hall of Newmarket, who has done so much in the 
south of Ireland to encourage an extension of fruit culture amongst the 
i cottagers and small farmers. We had hoped to have had the company 
of Mr. Hall on the occasion of the visit under notice, but he was 
unavoidably prevented undertaking the journey then, though since he 
has travelled over the same ground in company with Mr. T. F. Rivers 
of Sawbridgeworth, and the description of his journey has been 
issued as a small pamphlet of fourteen pages (Cambridge University 
Fig. 39.—a bridge IN GLENSTAL CASTLE GARDENS. 
when the wonderful bunches were shown from the Vines grown there. 
Hillsborough is also the home of the seedling Grape Lady Downshire, 
to which reference has been previously made in this Journal, both at 
the time it was exhibited in England and more recently by Mr. H. W. 
Ward. It is only necessary to say that it was derived from a cross 
between the White Gros Colman and Madresfield Court, the former 
being the seed parent, and it possesses large oval berries, which 
assume a gohlen colour rvhen ripe, and at the time I tested it the 
flavour was very satisfactory. It is a fine looking Grape, forms a 
massive bunch, and keeps well ; for Vines have been started in 
December, the fruit being ripe by the end of July, and it has been kept 
in good condition until January of the following year, the Grapes from 
later Vines having been kept until the early spring. Throughout the 
Establishment it is evident that much practical care is bestowed upon 
the management, and the results are very satisfactory. 
The Fingal Fruit District. 
Returning to Belfast a start was made next day for the south, and 
the first stop wms made at Drogheda, after leaving the Boyne by the 
lofty and long bridge, which commands a fine view of the historic town. 
Press), and contains many facts of interest to those concerned in the- 
matter. 
With regard to the Drogheda district already mentioned, Mr. Hall 
says, “ In the district called Fing.al, extending sonth of Drogheda as far 
as Gormanstown, there is to be seen, as far as I know, the only extensive 
area at present devoted to fruit-growing in all Ireland. Having visited 
Gormanstown in 1889, I can corroborate Messrs. Gordon and Castle s 
report of the thriving condition of that district. From notes taken on 
the spot in May, 1889, I gave a specimen of a typical acre farmed by 
the Postmaster at Gormanstown. It had two-fifths Raspberries, two- 
fifths Gooseberries, and one-fifth Currants and sundries. .Standard- 
Apples and Plums w'ere dotted about, and the 6 feet space of ground 
bstween each row of bush fruit was utilised for Potatoes and Cabbages. 
As I sat in the clean and comfortable home of this grower, the tidy 
housewife exclaimed, ‘ The fruit is a great paying business.’ The 
husband, referring to the Irish small farmers in general, added ‘ But 
they are not refined to this business yet.’ In this district of Fingal the 
inhabitants are of Danish descent.” 
The difference in the general aspect of the district, the cottages, 
the condition of the occupants, and the surroundings altogether,. 
