Januar7 5, 18S3. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
7 
■and produce a wealth of bloom in their season. At intervals specimens 
choice Conifers are planted, and these by annual top-dressing are 
kept in fine health. The shrubberies abound with all kinds of the 
choicest evergreen Conifera and flowering shrubs. 
The Rose garden is close to the mansion, and the beds are planted 
■with all the choicest varieties. Gladioli are also planted in the beds, 
these producing a good display when the Roses are past their best. 
Mignonette is grown round the single standard Roses. The flower 
garden is on the west side of the mansion, and during the summer is 
.planted with choice bedding plants, which produce a charming effect. 
The conservatory adjoins the house, and is a large roomy structure. 
Inside I noticed some grand specimens of Azaleas in variety 6 feet 
through, and a mass of bloom. Huge Palms, including Latania borbonica, 
Seaforthia elegans, and Phoenix in variety were also noticeable, likewise 
Aralia Chabrieri and Araucaria excelsa in good health. There are 
many fine Camellias, Dracaenas in variety, and Callas grandly flowered. 
The side stages are filled with useful flowering and ornamental plants, 
and near the east end is a neat’ialcove covered with Ficus repens and 
Ferns dotted here and there with a fountain in the centre. 
Leaving the conservatory I came to the Plum, Peach and Apricot, 
and Cherry case, 75 yards long. In this are some good trees of Black 
Tartarian and Governor Wood Cherries; Victoria, Humboldt, Improved 
Downton, and Pitmaston Orange Nectarines, with Bellegarde and 
Alexander Peaches. Entering the kitchen garden I first noticed a span- 
■roofed range running north and south. This is divided into two divisions 
with side beds and a walk in the centre. In the first house Eastnor 
Castle and Blenheim Orange Melons are grown during the summer on 
one side with Cucumbers on the other. The extension system of 
Melon growing is adopted; and useful plants of Mignonette are 
grown in this house. In the next division Roses and Pelargoniums are 
grown and grandly flowered. The Early Peach house is a lean-to 
.structure containing Alexander and Hale’s Early Peach on the front 
trellis. The first named variety, I understand, does not drop its buds 
here ; a cultural note on that from Mr. Harding would be of value. On 
the back wall there are Lord Napier Nectarine and Lord Palmerston 
Peach. The trees are in grand health and annually produce excellent 
crops of fruit. The next house is the Early vinery, planted with Black 
Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling, and Madresfield Court Grapes. The 
foliage is leathery, of good colour, and by strict attention to the roots 
grand bunches of Grapes are produced. I have seen;Black Hamburgh 
•here weighing 6^ lbs, and of a good colour. 
1 next entered a large span-roofed house with side and centre stages, 
on which are grown many kinds of stove plants, including Pandanus, 
Crotons, Dracsenas, Coleus, and Ferns, with Caladiums, Gloxinias, and 
a large quantity of Asparagus plumosus for cutting. We pass on into 
the late vinery, which is planted with Lady Downe’s, Barbarossa, 
Alicante, and Muscat. Next is a lean-to Pine house containing Pines 
m grand health. Queens are the favourites, but other sorts are also 
grown. Trophy Tomatoes in pots are trained as single cordons on 
the back wall, and produce a grand supply of fruit. Strawberries are 
also grown here on shelves. We next come to a long span-roofed house 
with side beds and walk down the centre, filled with healthy looking 
Pines, showing some grand fruits. 
From this my guide takes me to a lean-to range in two divisions for 
growing late Peaches and Nectarines. These structures are fitted with 
shelves for successional Strawberries. About 700 Strawberries are 
forced, the varieties being Hericart de Thury, Noble, James Veitch, 
Marshal McMahon, and President. The first house was planted in the 
front with Prince of Wales and Barrington Peaches, and on the back with 
Lord Napier and Pitmaston Orange Nectarine. In the other house in 
front Royal George and Grosse Mignonne Peaches were planted, and on 
the back wall Lord Napier and Stanwick Elruge Nectarines. I have 
yearly seen splendid crops of fruit in these houses, some of Prince of 
Wales Peaches as much as 11 inches in circumference. 
In the frame ground close by early Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Lettuce, 
and Radishes are grown in their respective seasons; also Chrys¬ 
anthemums in all the best varieties. Here also is a three-quarter 
span-roofed house in two divisions, used for Cucumbers and Melons. 
Hero of Lockinge filled one house at the time of my visit, and a good 
crop of fruit was swelling. The other division was filled with Cardiff 
Castle Cucumber, which is thought highly of here for winter use. 
The Mushroom house is a grand sight, having fifteen beds in it; also 
convenience for growing Rhu’oarb and Seakale. The west walls inside 
^he kitchen garden are planted with Apricots, and north ones Morello 
Cherries; while choice Plums are grown on east walls, with a glass 
cover to protect the bloom. Those facing south are planted with dessert 
Pears in great variety, and in all the best sorts. Lifting the roots and 
an annual top-dressing are thoroughly practised here. 1 saw some 
Pitmaston Duchess Pears 1 lb. 7 ozs. in weight here, taken from trees 
lifted the previous year. 
Herbaceous plants in great variety occupy the south and west 
borders of the fruit trees. Currants and Gooseberries are grown on the 
north borders, and the inner kitchen garden is divided into four squares, 
with walls between, and pyramid Apple and other fruit trees planted at 
intervals. These are kept root-pruned, and good annual crops are 
procured. Amongst other things I noticed Model and Sutton’s Queen 
Broccoli in good breadths. The “ Gentleman ” Potato is thought very 
highly of here, one whole quarter of the kitchen garden being given up 
to the cultivation of it. This variety has a good future before it if kept 
true. The kitchen garden crops here are of excellent quality, and well 
repay for the system of annually trenching a portion of the ground for 
vegetables. All the departments in these gardens are kept in good 
order, and reflects the highest praise on Mr. G. Harding, the able 
gardener.—C. J. S. 
MR. K SHERWOOD. 
I?t commemoration of the jubilee year of the great firm of Messrs. 
Hurst & Son, wholesale seed merchants, beautiful photographs of the 
founders and proprietors of the firm have been issued, together with 
those of members of the staff of the establishment. 
We are told that the house was fouudei in 1813 by Messrs. Wm. 
Hurst and W. G. McMullen, who for many years represented the well- 
known seed firm of Warner & Co. of Cornhill, London (long since 
extinct). These gentlemen commenced business at 6, Leadenhall Street, 
on a very small scale ; both, however, being well known throughout the 
country, and very greatly respected, the business grew fast, and rapidly 
became important. After some twenty years Mr. McMullen retired 
from the firm in consequence of ill-health, and Mr. Hurst took his son 
William into partnership. The style of the firm was then altered to 
FIG. 1.— MB. N. SHERWOOD. 
Hurst &; Son. Mr. Hurst, sen., died in 1868. The business then devolved 
on his son and Mr. Sherwood, who married the youngest daughter of Mr. 
Hurst, sen., and with Mr. Johnson as manager, it was carried on until 
the retirement of the latter in 1890. Since that time Mr. Sherwood has 
assumed the entire management, and is now sole proprietor. 
We reproduce the portrait of Mr. Sherwood, whose name has become 
familiar to most readers of horticultural literature through his connec- 
tioniwith our gardening charities and the United Horticultural Benefit and 
Provident Society. He supports these Institutions by his genial presence 
at the annual meetings and by generous donations. He is the founder of 
the convalescent fund in connection with the Society last named, and 
the members, with a host of friends, will be pleased to see his portrait 
in the Journal of Horticulture. 
Agricultural Co-operation. —The twenty-fifth Annual Report 
of the Council of the Agricultural and Horticultural Association has 
just been issued to the membeis. The number of new members 
joining the Association during the past year has been 178. The total 
number of members now exceeds 3000, besides 500 co-operative societies 
supplied with seeds, manures, &c. The sales for the year show an in¬ 
crease of £3,873 43. 2d., the total having reached £86,326 14s. lid. 
In addition to strengthening the Association by writing off a sum of 
£933 153. 9d, from last year’s profits, a further sum of £2,223^ I63. lid. 
has been written off plant, &c., by w'ay of depreciations, and 
£349 13s, 8d. has been added to reserves during the year. The cus¬ 
tomers of the Association have received £1,961, the employes a liberal 
share of profit, and there remains an undivided balance of £969, or 
£36 more than in 1891. As regards details of the business, the 
Council make a generous acknowledgment of the assistance rendered 
by the workmen at their profit-sharing works at Deptford, and speak 
warmly of the good feeling existing there between employers and 
employed. 
