November 16, 1893, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEIL 
441 
at Whitecross. Something like 60 acres are filled with Apples, Pears, 
Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, and Damsons, which are 
planted in long rows containing 2000 trees per row. All the trees are in 
admirable health and condition, and not a trace of American blight to 
be seen. To give some idea of the number, I may state that in one 
portion of the fruit plantation over 600 distinct varieties of Apples 
are grown, besides a great number of British, Continental, and American 
sorts on trial. Plenty of room is allowed the trees, which are in bush 
form and lightly pruned, merely thinning out the shoots where too 
thick or crossing. Many varieties of Apples not much grown are to be 
seen in these nurseries, some of which deserve extended culture. One 
of these not much known outside the county is Stoke Edith Pippin, 
somewhat resembling King of the Pippins, but larger, with a higher 
colour and longer keeping qualities, also excellent for dessert. 
A collection of native Japanese and American Plums are on trial, 
but it is doubtful if they will prove profitable in this country. What 
appears to be an acquisition in the trial department is an American 
Kaspberry named Cuthbert; it is a free fruiting summer variety, and 
has this season produced a fair autumn crop. At the time of my visit 
(November 2nd) the fruit was in large clusters and of exquisite flavour. 
Another Kaspberry that promises well is the Black Raspberry ; the 
canes are black in colour, strong, short-jointed, and look as if they 
would be self-supporting. Superlative and other kinds are grown 
extensively ; also Currants, Gooseberries, and Nuts in great variety and 
in admirable condition. Strawberries are represented by immense 
stocks of all the known varieties, including Alpines. All the best kinds 
are grown by thousands in small pots, as well as numbers in beds. 
Contrary to my expectation, John Ruskin has been in great demand 
this season. It seems to revel in the Withington soil—in fact, all the 
varieties are exceptionally strong and healthy. 
Not only fruit and fruit-producing plants are grown at these nurseries, 
but adjoining are fields devoted to Potato culture, principally for seed 
purposes, in which Mr. Watkins does a large trade. Several varieties of 
fine quality have originated here, and no doubt many readers will have 
seen the grand samples staged by Mr. Watkins at some of the large 
agricultural and horticultural shows. Hops are also an important crop. 
A large Hop yard faces the cider factory, and thousands are grown for 
sale annually. The demand has been very heavy this season for Hop 
roots at high prices, still a good supply is left. 
Leaving this part, we make our way to the station, and having a few 
minutes to spare we inspect some more fruit hurriedly in buildings 
near the station. Here were magnificent Pears in great variety which 
have done excellent service at shows. Tons of Blenheim Orange and 
other Apples were stored, to be sold later on as prices advanced. At 
the back of these store rooms are other packing sheds in which 
men were busy packing and conveying trees to the station only a few 
yards away. A line of rails runs right through a portion of the nursery 
and up to the cider factory, enabling the proprietor to execute heavy orders 
of each in the least possible time. Time expiring, I have to leave after 
a very interesting visit, and greatly obliged to Mr. and Mrs. Watkins for 
their kindness and hospitality, my only regret being that I did not see Mr. 
Vaughan, the able foreman, who was winning premier honours for Mr. 
Watkins at Portsmouth for collections of Apples and Pears. — 
S. T. Weight. 
FRITILLARIA BREVIOAULIS. 
This Fritillaria is a dwarf-growing plant, rarely exceeding a height of 
9 inches. The flowers, as will be seen by referring to the illustration 
(fig. 64), are rather small and produced singly as well as in pairs. They 
are of a tawny colour, and although not particularly attractive, the 
species is well worth growing. Our engraving was prepared from a sketch 
of a plant growing in the Royal Gardens, Kew, last spring. Like other 
choice Fritillarias the species under notice requires a sunny and sheltered 
position, a deep sandy loam suiting it admirably. It can also be grown 
in pots for the embellishment of the greenhouse in spring. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
November 14th. 
There was a good display of Orchids and Chrysanthemums at this 
meeting, and many novelties were shown, but it was impossible to see 
the true colours of the flowers, owing to the bad light in the Drill Hall. 
Fruit was not so well represented as usual, but some fine Potatoes were 
shown. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Philip Crowley. Eiq. (in the chair) ; 
Messrs. J. Lee, T. F. Rivers, G. Taber, T. J. Saltmarsh, W. Warren, 
.J. A. Leing, W. Balderson, F. Q. Lane, James Smith, H. J. Pearson, 
J. Willard, and Dr. Hogg. 
As before mentioned fruit was not extensively shown. Mr. W. J. 
Godfrey, Rolle Street, Exmouth, sent a dozen clusters of Apples of 
a second growth. The fruit of such varieties as Grenadier, Lord 
Grosvenor, and Domino were about half grown, whilst others were 
larger than Walnuts. A vote of thanks was accorded for this interesting 
exhibit. Mr. J. Edmeads, Bevingford, Uckfield, sent a dish of 
Edmeads’ Seedling Apple, a fine well-coloured variety, but no award 
was made. Mr. W. Jenkins, The Willows, Abergavenny, had a dish of 
Monmouthshire Beauty Apples, and Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall 
Gardens, sent samples of Barnack Beauty in ripe condition. A vote 
of thanks was accorded in each case. Mr. J. Crook, Forde Abbey, 
Chard, had a dish of Coe’s Late Red Plum, and Mr. W. Roupell, 
Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park, staged a basket of splendid Newton 
Wonder Apples (vote of thanks), and Mr. J. Fitt, had Bananas in good 
condition. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons sent a large collection of Potatoes, clean 
well-grown tubers that deserved the silver Banksian medal recom¬ 
mended. They exhibited a tuber of The Bruce that weighed 2^ lbs, 
Mr. Leach, Albury Park Gardens, Guildford, sent Leach’s All the Year 
Round Parsley, and an extensive collection of Celery came from the 
Society’s gardens at Cbiswick, 
Floral Committee. —Present : W, Marshall, Esq. (in the chair) ; 
Messrs. R. Owen, H. Herbst, C. T. Druery, G. Stevens, W. C. Leach, 
F. Ross, J. Jennings, W. Bain, C, Jeffries, W. Furze, C. E, Pearson, 
T. Baines, H. Cannell, J. D. Pawle, J. T. Bennett Poe, E. Mawley, G. Paul, 
J. H. Fitt, Owen Thomas, C. E. Shea, Peter Barr, and Rev. H. H. 
D'Ombrain, 
Chrysanthemums were the principal exhibits brought before this 
Commictee. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent a large group 
tastefully arranged, comprising all the leading varieties (silver Flora 
medal). Amongst others were some exceptionally fine blooms of Lord 
Brooke, Viscountess Hambledon, Robert Owen, and Charles Blick. A 
plant of Mdlle. Th^ibse Rey was also shown by Messrs. Veitch, and an 
award of merit was adjudged. Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood Nurseries, 
Surrey, had a splendid collection of cut blooms of all the latest novelties 
in the Japanese, single and Anemone-flowered forms (bronze Banksian 
medal). Mr. W. Salmon, West Norwood, sent some bouquets and 
baskets of Chrysanthemums (bronze Banksian medal), and Mr. G. 
Wythes, gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, 
Brentford, had a collection of blooms charmingly arranged with small 
Palms and Ferns (silver Banksian medal). Mr. C. E. Shea, The Elms, 
Foots Cray, Kent, had a collection of Japanese varieties arranged in a 
manner that he offered as a suggestion for staging cut Chrysanthemums. 
The stands wmre in sections of about 6 inches in width, three blooms 
being staged in each section (bronze Banksian medal). An award of 
merit was adjudged for a bloom of Mdlle. Th^iese Rey, shown by 
Mr. Shea. 
In a competitive class for a collection of cut Chrysanthemums there 
were several exhibitors, Mr. J. McLeod, Dover House Gardens, Roe- 
hampton, had a fine collection of Japanese incurved and the smaller 
flowered types, but was disqualified for non-compliance with the 
schedule. Mr. G. Wythes was then placed first, Mr. Thomas Osman, 
