143 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ August ir, 1893. 
the public that Campanula grandia and C. graudiflora are distinct plants 
in every way. 
Referring to C. grandiflora Mariesi, it may be of interest to add that 
this beautiful variety was introduced by Mr. Maries, a brother of the 
nurseryman of that name at Lytham in Lancashire; and that a pure 
white form identical with it except in colour has been raised in Italy, 
and was offered for sale this year. I am not aware, however, that it 
has been offered by any of our British nurserymen, A white form 
should be of much value and beauty, and it is to be hoped that it will 
not be long absent from our gardens.—S. Aenott. 
[Mr. E. Molyneux refers to a pure white form of Japanese, not 
Italian origin, on page 127, but describes the plant as growing nearly 
2 feet high. Mr. George Paul’s plant was quite dwarf, about 6 inches 
in height.] 
gardens are certain to take place, for many of the houses are very old 
fashioned, and there will be a much heavier demand in consequence of 
the larger family to provide for. Mr. Harrison is not only a thorough 
practitioner, but a good botanist, also an authority on British plants, and 
he rendered my visit to Knowsley both pleasurable and instructive.— 
R. P. R. 
KNOWSLEY HALL. 
Rnowsley Hall, the principal seat of Lord Derby, is situated about 
six miles from Liverpool. The beautiful park is well wooded, and is 
very extensive. From an architectural point of view the mansion calls 
for very little comment. It is very plain, with the exception of a 
portion which has lately been restored. Of the garden, Mr. Harrison, 
the head gardener, stated that it was in no sense a show place; but 
a hurried run through some time ago very soon made me attach little 
importance to my courteous guide’s remark, for there was much that 
would have done credit to any exhibition table, even though such a 
large demand is made upon the garden’s resources. Excellent shelter is 
provided by splendid plantations of trees; and even if this did not 
p ove sufficient, the garden is entirely walled in, so that cutting 
winds are quite unknown. The walls are of red bricks, and everywhere 
filled with the choicest of Cherries, Pears, Apricots, and Plums, which 
a e carefully trained and give a good return for the skilled labour 
b3stowed on them, judging by the splendid crops. 
The first house entered was a lean-to vinery newly planted, the Vines 
showing every promise of building up stout canes. Then we passed 
through a large Peach house, from which a good crop had been gathered, 
■on to the Alicante house where some splendid bunches were colouring 
very well. We next entered the Black Hamburgh house, from which 
part of the crop had been gathered ; but there was sufficient evidence 
in the bunches remaining to show what excellent well coloured 
bunches the house had contained. The Muscat house, which is in two 
divisions, contained what I unhesitatingly say, as finely finished and as 
even bunches as anyone could wish to see, and not a trace of shanking 
was noticeable. Another large house planted with Alicantes, Lady 
Djwne’s, and Trebbiano presented a grand sight, not only for the heavy 
crops the Vines were carrying, but for the extra quality of both bunch 
and berry. These Vines had for the greater portion been layered, a 
system of which Mr. Harrison is much in favour. 
The Plum house was next entered. Some trees are in large pots, 
and others planted out, and in each case they were carrying a good 
crop of fruit. What struck me most was the healthy foliage, and, what 
is not often seen, quite free from any curl in the leaf. No wonder that 
good crops result from such excellent management. These Plums fruit 
year after year, and seem likely to yet do many years’ service. The 
varieties most grown are Kirke’s, Jefferson, Coe’s Golden Drop, Reine 
Claude, Victoria, Prince of Wales, Ickworth Imp^ratrice.and MLachlan’s 
■Gage, the latter being highly prized. Peaches and Nectarines carrying 
heavy crops are grown on the back wall of the Plum house. The Fig 
trees were also abundantly cropped, being the leading varieties—Negro 
Largo, Brown Turkey, and White Marseilles. The same remark as to a 
-crop will also answer for the Cherry house ; 3500 Strawberries are 
grown in pots, and they were looking their best. As an early variety 
John Ruskin had been tried, but was not very satisfactory. Waterloo 
for late work is grand, and there are very few places where it is grown 
sj well as at Knovi'sley. The plants are layered in their fruiting pots, 
and are equal in every way to those which are previously layered in 
small pots. 
A greenhouse and stove were beautifully furnished with a choice 
collection of flowering and foliage plants in the best of health. In 
the cool Orchid house the plants were in admirable condition, and 
Asparagus deflexus planted alternately with A. plumosus nanus, and 
covering the back wall, produced a chaste effect. One special feature 
ds the culture of the Amaryllis, and one might go many miles before 
meeting with such a collection as is seen at Knowsley. They number 
over seventy varieties, hundreds of plants, and of different ages. They 
have been raised by Mr. Harrison, the result of crossings between Messrs. 
Williams and Veitch s best varieties. Tomatoes and Melons are well 
grown. Knowsley Favourite is a popular Melon, and a good one 
judging from the handsome fruits the plants were carrying. A number 
of Solanums, with some excellent Poinsettias and Centropogon Lucy- 
anum, and other winter flowering plants, were looking healthy. A large 
new conservatory, built entirely of teak wood, is nearing completion, 
and will prove of great service in accommodating the large Palms which 
are so much needed, and which were in the old structure completely 
cramped for want of head room. 
Outside, the Stock Princess Alice, a pure white variety and much 
superior to the old variety, was a picture in itself, and there is certain 
to be a great future for it. Vegetables of every description are grown 
m 'he best manner, and the fruit room was a model of what such a 
structure ought to be. At the Hall business is getting settled down 
aj;am since the new Earl’s return from Canada, Improvements in the 1 
National Rose Society. 
The “ manifesto,” as Mr. Grahame humourously calls the explana¬ 
tory note recently issued by the Secretaries of the N.R,S., was, it is 
scarcely necessary to say, in no way intended as a “ counterblast ” or 
" jeu d'esprit." It is really wonderful what a number of diverse and 
interesting titles such a harmless production can have called forth. It 
simply contained two statements necessary to the understanding of his 
circular and which should by rights have been mentioned in it, Mr. 
Grahame accuses the Secretaries of being dilatory ; he, however, forgets 
that his circular only reached them after the middle of the week, and 
that the “ manifesto ” in question appeared in the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture of the next, and that consequently no earlier answer to it was 
possible.—E. M., Berlihamsted. 
Ernest Metz. 
Rose growers generally will do well to note and act upon the valuable 
hint of the very high authority of Mr. Benjamin R. Cant re Ernest Metz, 
He might have gone farther back than the last six years for so good a 
Tea Rose, As a flower it is capable of being as splendid as any Tea 
grown, whilst the constitution and strong free growth are considerably 
better than any of them that have as grand flowers. It is even better 
out of doors than under glass. I have grown it both ways in numbers 
every year since it was first sent out.—S. S. 
Rose Jottings. 
To strengthen Mr. H. Dunkin’s note on striking Tea Rose cuttings I 
may mention that last autumn I cut off the top of a Souvenir d’un Ami 
in a pot, and as the portion cut off was straight and had the label 
attached to it, I stuck it in at the side of the pot, no further care being 
taken of it, it rooted and has bloomed several times. 
Like Mr. B. R. Cant I was surprised at our friend “ D,, Deal's ” rather 
disparaging note on Ernest Metz. I humbly second Mr. B. R. Cant’s 
opinion of its excellence. As I write a lovely bloom is near me, and it 
runs a chance of equalling in my esteem both Catherine Mermet and 
her daughter The Bride. What can one say more ? If Mr. B. R. Cant 
had in his mind the recent election, it seemed to me, viewing it 
perhaps somewhat critically, rather misleading. I cannot but think 
these three Roses would be nearly equal—in fact like the Irishman, who, 
when asked if he was badly off, replied that if there was another 
person in the world worse off than himself they must be “ about aiquil.” 
It will be hard, I fancy, to separate these three Roses in a Tea Rose 
election another year, and Mr. B. R. Cant’s “ certificate of merit ” is, in 
my view, most worthily bestowed. Whether Waban will dispute the 
“ pride of place ” with the trio remains for the future to settle, but it 
promises well. _ 
Did the last Rose that graced Mr. D. R. Williamson’s study table 
leave him a thorny memento ? In my innocence I have always thought 
that par excellence the queen of flowers gave us the most lengthy 
return for benefits bestowed. Now Mr. Williamson, writing of the 
Viola, says, “ I hope my enthusiasm has not carried me away ; but, in 
the special direction of durability, can as much be asserted of any other 
flower ? ” and then he goes on to compare Roses, and talks of “ their ” 
seasons being of ” short duration.” Granted that the duration of beauty 
in each separate bloom, as he remarks, is “ marvellously short lived,” 
still in some Tea blooms it has lasted suflBciently long to allow of 
exhibition at three consecutive shows. I presume, however, that Mr. 
Williamson means that the duration of the blooming period is short ; 
but surely we Rose maniacs, if you will, are not in error when we 
assert that, given favourable conditions, the duration of bloom with our 
favourites is scarcely equalled by any other flower. With the help of 
glass it is possible to have Tea blooms in spite of wintry blasts or mantle 
of snow, and even on some of the highest land in Somersetshire I have 
picked buds of Safrano in February in the open in a warm corner; 
and once, an exceptional winter certainly, I picked a bunch of Gloire 
de Dijon buds, some beautifully formed, on New Year’s Day, on a wall 
facing the north 1 Take our ordinary seasons out of doors and some of 
our Roses begin to give us stray blooms in April, and continue in some 
variety to the end of October and perhaps even later. This is fairly 
constant blooming. I agree heartily with Mr. A. Hill Gray and say 
the true perpetuals are the Teas. 
Compliiuents to “ E. K., Dublin," we do not intend to be shut out. 
Let him take care we don’t scratch him, and a Chrysanthemum cannot 
retaliate.—Y. B. A. Z. 
