March 12, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
209 
Picotees with their own foliage, and a similar one for sprays, also a 
■class for plants grown in pots of any variety. There are several classes 
for miscellaneous flowers, such as Selfs, Fancies, and Yellow Grounds, 
which have grown S3 largely in popularity of late years ; in fact the 
schedule is now a close approach to what the schedule of a Carnation 
■Show ought to be, catering liberally for all classes of growers. The 
prompt and thoroughgoing manner in which the midland growers have 
responded to a friendly hint is evidence of an earnest desire to pursue 
•a broad policy, and advance the interests of a deserving flower. 
CROSSWOOD PARK, 
The Manchester and Milford Railway is a large-soundiug title ; it is 
-ns well, however, to say that the title is one of the largest things con¬ 
nected with the line. Adjacent to this railway, about half a mile from 
’the little country station of Frawscoed, which is the Welsh for Crosswood, 
Farming is not his lordship’s only interest, as a walk through the 
gardens proves, for on all hands renovations are in progress or in pro¬ 
spect. A large tract of park land has already been enclosed, adjoining 
the previously existing pleasure-grounds, and has been most tastefully 
laid out and planted with specimens of such dimensions as to bear the 
appearance of an old established plantation. The mansion itself is 
being considerably enlarged, and, among other improvements, will be 
a more commodious dwelling for the head gardener, Mr. Williams, 
whose hands are well lilled whilst so much extra work is in progress. 
A tour of the kitchen garden made it apparent that immediate and 
successional edible requirements are not neglected in the least for the 
more ornamental work elsewhere. Autumn and winter crops were 
abundant at the time of our visit, and new plantations of bush fruits. 
Raspberries, and Strawberries, spoke of new life on all hands. One 
end of this garden will shortly be required for building purposes, and 
at the opposite end the glass departments stand. Before enteiing these 
the fruit tiees demand a passing notice. The walks are mostly avenued 
with pyramid trees—Apples and Pears—in very f:ood form. They have 
all been overhauled—root-pruned and replanted—recently, and have 
Fig. :w.—crosswood PARK. 
-stands the above mansion. Hid it been situated on one of the great 
lines of railway, or in nearer proximity to the large industrial centres, 
it is more than probable that one of the many gifted horticultural 
•scribes would long ago have “turned in ” and done Crosswood far more 
justice in the pages of the Journal than I can hope to do. When I 
state that the famous watering-place, Aberystwith, is but six miles 
away from here your readers will know that I am still in “ Wild Wales.” 
Lewis, in his topographical works, speaks of Crosswood as one of 
the motlern mansions of Cardiganshire. He could not, however, have 
been aware of the fact that the present family, the Vaughans or 
“ Vychans,” have held undisturbed possession from the twelfth century, 
and it is believed have never ceased to occupy either. This is perhaps 
a fact without a parallel, and is a fact to be proud of by the present 
owner, the Right Hon. Earl of Lisburne, who came into possession in 
1688, on the death of his father, the late Earl of Lisburne. The estate 
is about 42,000 acres, and is bounded by Radnorshire and Breconshire, 
and the Plynlimon Hills on one side, and runs almost to the Channel 
on the other. It is well wooded, and rich with lead, silver, copper, and 
probably other minerals. His lordship farms extensively in the low¬ 
lands, and plants the less profitable highlands. The tenantry, too, find 
in his lordship a good landlord, anxious to assist in rendering their 
homesteads happy and to improve their stocks, as evidenced by the 
large sums recently expended upon pedigree stock for their service. 
well repaid the trouble with the enormous crops borne the last season, 
when fruit was generally a failure. Cherries, too, on the walls carried 
exceptionally heavy crops last season. These are very fine trees. 
Indeed the wall trees, including Peaches, which, as a rule, are not a 
success in these parts, appear to do wonderfully well. Tbe monarch, 
however, of all the wall trees is a splendid old Fig in one corner of the 
garden, which deserves to have a protection in the way of a good glass 
structure erected over it. 
Ranges of pits and frames were stocked with Violets, as usual Marie 
Louise being favourite ; also with Carnations and Bouvardias, which have 
since our visit doubtless given a good account of themselves in bloom. 
Other compartments contained quantities of bedding plants, for which 
the demand is greatly increasing. Stoves and greenhouses, which in 
style are not the most modern, are full to overflowing ; the roof 
carryiner s-’ch useful flowering climbers as Allamandas, Stephanotis, 
and Passifloras, and suspended from the roof were Dendrobiums of the 
nobile and Wardianum type, plainly demonstrating that they were 
at home. Several other Orchids are grown well, and among them a few 
plants of Odontoglossum vexillarium thrive very much better than 
they ordinarily do where not made a speciality. \\ e may have more 
to say about his lordship’s Orchids on a future occasion. Bulbous 
plants, such as Vallotas, Amaryllis, Pancratiums, and Eucharis, are 
accorded, and prove themselves worthy of, good positions and care. The 
