242 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 31, 1892. 
is surprising as compared with other portions of the country where 
cultivation of the land is the principal industry. There was a greater 
appearance of comfortable existence there than anywhere else 
that came under my notice, excepting perhaps in some parts of Antrim. 
It is therefore easily understood why attention has been called to this 
district, for it does not seem to be any better adapted for fruit than 
many other parts of Ireland ; in fact, it is not so favourable as some, 
for it is near the east coast, very exposed, and it is only by means of 
very high hedges and protective planting generally that success has 
been secured. The system adopted is the same as that followed here— 
namely, standard trees for the permanent stock, with dwarf trees and 
bush fruits between ; also intercropping with vegetables and dowers, 
not a foot of the well-tilled ground being lost. Over the greater portion 
of the eight-miles drive there is a constant succession of these gardens, 
and there is little to judge between them as to relative merit. It shows 
most convincingly what well directed industry can accomplish, and in 
connection with this matter the following statement by a high authority 
in Dublin is of interest. 
Fruit and Flower Culture in Ireland. 
The climate of Ireland compares very favourably with that of the 
places where our large fruit supplies come from. Glengariffe and 
Crookhaven are 2° warmer in spring than in Cork, while Cork is 
4® warmer than Dublin. The mean temperature of Dublin, again, is 
4° higher than that of Paris or London. In Glengariile Daffodils can 
be had in bloom when they are quite green in the neighbourhood of 
London ; and when the markets here are supplied with Tomatoes forced 
in hothouses in the Channel Islands Tomatoes could be ready here for 
market without forcing ; and very large quantities of forced vegetables 
are imported from France yearly, which could be ready for market just 
as early here. Mr. Baylor Hartland, one of the largest growers in 
county Cork, writing four years ago, says :—“ When I read of 23. 6d. a 
pound being paid for early Tomatoes and from Is. 2d. to Is. 6d. a pound 
for early Potatoes, or from £150 to £200 per acre, it may be asked 
what the county Cork, with its splendid character, is doing? Every 
authority has admitted the suitability of the soil of Ireland for fruit 
producing. 
“ More than 100 years ago Arthur Young wrote :—‘ I never beheld trees 
so laden with Apples as in Sir Lucius O’Brien’s orchard in Dromoland. 
It amazed me they did not break under the immense loads which bowed 
down the branches.’ But in order that fruit growing may be properly 
developed many details must be taken into consideration—temperature, 
moisture, aspect of the land, so that the best and earlier fruit may be 
had. This could only be done by providing the means for thorough 
horticultural training, and my suggestion would be that colleges should 
be established for the purpose in suitable districts throughout Ireland. I 
may mention that for years past fields of Daffodils for market have been 
grown in the south of England. The flowers are generally ready 
towards the end of February, but in county Cork they can be ready in 
the first week of February. One of the largest growers of Daffodils in 
England, to whom Mr. Hartland of Cork sent some Daffodils, told me 
that nothing like them could be grown in England.” 
Guernsey is an island containing 15,560 acres, little over 10,000 of 
which are thoroughly cultivated, and yet Ireland, which possesses great 
natural advantages, has to import largely from it every year. Jersey 
makes a speciality of early Potatoes, and five years ago the export trade 
in this artiele brought in £300,000, though the total area available is 
only 20,000 acres. I might say that Crookhaven, Kenmare, and the land 
lying south and west of them have the same mean temperature as the 
Channel Islands. In France the security of tenure and the encourage¬ 
ment of State wrought an enormous change. There are horticultural 
colleges in the chief centres, and annual exhibitions of produce which 
encourage the producers to do their utmost to develop the resources of 
the soil, while arrangements have been made by which everything 
necessary for carrying on the work, for the preparation of the soil, and 
for the sale of the produce in the market is ready at hand. What has 
been done in France could be with perfect success done in Ireland. I 
have often thought that, as has been done with a similar district in 
France, some of the wildest parts of the west coast of Ireland could 
be reclaimed, and give ample employment to large numbers of the 
peasantry. 
Reluctantly quitting our Fingal fruit farms, we speed along to 
Dublin, and a day was very agreeably spent in an inspection of the 
Glasnevin Botanic Garden, one of the Government establishments, which 
under the superintendence of Mr. F. Moore, a worthy successor to a 
worthy sire, has become one of the most interesting gardens in 
the British Isles. It shows far more of horticultural practice than 
is usual in such gardens, and presents, in fact, just that combination 
of practice with science that is the requirement of the age. I cannot 
now give a description of this garden, but as the Trinity College 
Botanic Garden, where Mr. F. W. Burbidge is the respected Curator, 
was visited on the return journey, I may at some time, if oppor¬ 
tunity presents itself, say something about both these widely noted 
gardens. 
Killarney. 
From Dublin a journey to Killarney was commenced under most 
unfavourable conditions as to weather, a gloomy sky and a persistent 
downpour inducing an alteration in the programme, and a stay was 
made amidst the delightful scenery of Killarney’s lakes and mountains. 
awaiting finer weather. Happily this came in time to permit a full 
enjoyment of Nature’s attractions in this charming district. 
“ By Killarnev’s lakes aud fells. 
Emerald isles and winding bays, 
Mountain paths and woodland dells, 
Memory ever fondly strays. 
Bounteous Nature loves all lands, 
Beauty wanders everywhere. 
Footprints leaves on many strands. 
But her home is surely there. 
No place else can charm the eye 
With such bright and varied tints; 
Ev’ry rock that you pass by 
Verdure broiders or besprints. 
Virgin there the green grass grows, 
Ev’ry morn springs natal day ; 
Bright-hued berries daff the snows. 
Smiling winters frown away.” 
E very horticulturist who visits Killarney is astonished at the huge 
specimens of Arbutus Unedo (“ The Strawberry Tree”) which abounds 
there, the moist warm climate evidently meeting its requirements 
exactly, and it is not uncommon to see examples from 12 to 20 feet 
high, with substantial stems and bushy heads. When laden with the 
bright red fruits in late autumn and winter these must be extremely 
beautiful, 
Fota. 
Cork was the next destination, and a trip was undertaken to Fota 
Island to see Mr. Smith Barry’s celebrated garden, which contains such 
a wonderful store of choice trees, shrubs, and plants, many of which 
are too tender to endure the climate of England, except in the extreme 
west. A volume might be written describing the treasures of this 
garden, for a visitor might easily imagine himself to be in a subtropical 
climate judging by the plants around him and the way they flourish. 
Avenues of small Palms, and islands covered with Bamboos, Phor- 
miums, &c., give some idea of what is to be seen. No horticulturist 
should leave this part of Ireland without paying Fota a visit. 
Glenstal Castle, 
After sundry difficulties by the way Co. Limerick was entered, and 
there Glenstal Castle, the residence of Sir Charles Barrington, Bart., a 
few miles from Murroe, was the destination, as one of the principal 
gardens in the county, and the south of Ireland generally. Moreover, 
we had kindly invitation from our good friend Mr. Richard Weller, who 
has charge of the Glenstal garden and farm, and an enjoyable stay was 
made, the most restful and pleasant in the whole of a hasty scamper. 
The castle and grounds occupy an elevated position some hundreds of 
feet above sea level, and extensive views of mountain scenery are 
obtained from several points with long stretches of open country across 
Limerick and neighbouring counties. The castle itself is an imposing 
building, and is surrounded by well planted grounds, but the great 
charm of the place lies in the magnificent dell, suggestive of some seen 
in Scotland. Indeed, I do not remember seeing on a private estate any¬ 
thing to approach this, except at Dupplin Castle in Perthshire, and that 
I fancy is much less extensive than the one at Glenstal. The latter is 
two miles in length, very deep in parts, densely clothed with luxuriant 
trees, shrubs, and Ferns, the greater portion in a perfectly natural con¬ 
dition, with winding walks along the sides and over the little stream at 
the base. Nearer to the garden some tasteful additions have been made 
by planting shrubs, especially Rhododendrons, and just at the point 
where it is crossed by the old bridge shown in the engraving (fig. 39) it 
is a luxuriant mass of vegetation, to which justice can scarcely be done 
in such notes as these. 
The gardens are remarkably well kept, and, notwithstanding the 
exposed position, excellent supplies of fruit and vegetables are pro¬ 
duced ; but the labour must be great, not only on account of the eleva¬ 
tion, but because there is a succession of terraces levelled, as it were, in 
the side of the hill, Mr. Weller, however, is just the man to delight in 
overcoming difficulties, and the condition of Glenstal Gardens through¬ 
out is a sufficient indication of what he can do in that direction.— 
Lewis Castle. 
MESSRS. JAMES CARTER & CO.’S NEW PREMISES. 
Extensive as were the premises in which the above firm have for 
some years transacted what may be fairly described as their world-wide 
business, they are now much more capacious, complete, and imposing, 
by the acquisition of a building that is admirably adapted for the pur¬ 
pose which it now serves so well. The building which has for many 
years been occupied by Messrs. Day & Martin is now in the possession 
of Messrs. Carter «Sc Co., and instead of its being the distributing centre 
of material for brightening boots will henceforth supply the means of 
brightening homes with flowers, and furnishing gardens and fields with 
wholesome food for man and beast, for it is mainly devoted to the retail 
and export department of their trade in flower, vegetable, and farm 
seeds. In passing through its spacious colonnades, galleries, and numerous 
rooms, the visitor might be excused for thinking there was space enough 
for all the firm could do, yet it is only one of three separate blocks, two 
almost facing each other in one of the busiest thoroughfares in the 
world (High Holborn), and a third, the wholesale warehouse, contiguous 
but obscured by buildings fronting the street. The latest addition is a 
most valuable one, commanding in appearance by its fluted columns 
and Royal arms, also convenient alike in position and design for the 
object to which it is devoted. 
A visit to the building such as was paid last week, when the season 
