March 9, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
203 
it, but no personalities ; and may I ask all who have taken part in the 
discussion to show their goodwill towards the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, by subscribing one guinea to the Keserve Fund, which I see is 
very low; also try to attend more meetings of the Committee, and not 
be talked down, but press them with fact or fancies.— Jas. Hamiltox, 
Byrlieley, Burton-on-Trent. 
[Perhaps the best evidence that we have favoured neither side in this 
discussion is Mr. Matthew’s suggestion that we have expressed an 
opinion in favour of the N.C.S. as against Mr. Addison’s motion on the 
one hand, and Mr. Hamilton’s indication that we have favoured the 
Godfrey-Wells side on the other. We favour what is right on which¬ 
ever side this may be found, and if Mr. Godfrey is proved wrong he 
will quickly find that his action will not have the sanction of the 
Journal of Horticulture ; but there has been no real investigation. 
This discussion will do great good, in fact we have the satisfaction 
of knowing on the Chairman’s authority that it has resulted in the 
accession of strength to the N.C.S. We publish Mr. Hamilton’s letter 
as readily as any that have been sent to us, and we fully agree with 
him in the desirability of increasing the Reserve Fund of the Society. 
We have had expressions of opinion from various parts of the country 
approving of the manner in which this discussion has been conducted, 
and we cite a few lines from the letter of a Liverpool correspondent 
as fairly typical of others from districts in which the discussion was 
regarded on its merits alone. “ The straightforward way in which you 
have dealt with the Godfrey and other cases has earned for you hearty 
commendation from your numerous readers of the Journal here.” 
That is sufficient; and now that both sides have been heard fully, 
and as Mr. Godfrey has announced his intention of publishing in “ book 
form” the correspondence at his disposal bearing on the whole question 
in dispute, perhaps it would facilitate matters if readers who desire to 
express any further views would do so direct to Bxmouth for the pur¬ 
pose of his compilation. We do not say that no further letters will be 
inserted in our columns, but suggest the alternative as possibly the 
better way of expediting the issue of the work in contemplation by Mr. 
Godfrey. A critique on the report and balance-sheet of the N.C.S. 
cannot be inserted this week.] 
GRAPES AT FLOORS CASTLE. 
As I was at Floors Gardens with the late Mr. Rose, who was appointed 
gardener to the Queen at Windsor Castle, and also Mr. Knight, now 
with the King of the Belgians at Laeken, Brussels, I may tell “ M.” 
(page 117) whom I believe I know well, that in Mr. Knight’s time 
the gardens were greatly altered and more glass erected. Vines and 
Peaches were increased, and for Pines a 160 feet range was erected. 
They are now done away with, and the houses are used for growing 
large numbers of choice cut flowers, such as Gardenias, Eucharis, and 
Carnations, which are now of greater value. 
The range of houses where the unfortunate vinery was situated was 
cleared out by Mr. Knight, and planted with Vines from end to end in 
June, 1874, on the occasion of a memorable event in the Roxburghe 
family. The Muscats of Alexandria and Lady Downe’s produced first- 
rate fruit, and these varieties kept well till the spring, the Muscats 
to March, and the Lady Downe’s to May, but cutting them from the 
Vines in December, and leaving them in bottles on the edges of the 
fruit-room shelves, as also done in Mr. Rose’s time. The Grapes referred 
to on page 31 are from the late house in this range. While in the 
vicinity of Kelso the other day I called at Floors, and Mr. Street kindly 
showed me the new Grape-room and its contents, which are certainly 
very creditable to him, and not at all flattered by the photograph 
reproduced in the Journal of HorticulUire for January 12th. The 
bunches were medium s'zed and very large in berry, and the proper 
colour to keep for a long time. The Grape-room is certainly well 
situated and convenient, but Mr. Street takes the credit of having 
altered and improved the bottle-racks to hold larger bottles in better 
position, so that the bunches can be more readily examined all round. 
As regards the remarks by “ M.” about the Broxmouth Muscats I 
may state that the same old Vine and plants from it produce prize 
Grapes occasionally, which are never disputed now. The large bunches 
never keep long, but those of smaller size, and berries well thinned 
out, keep in good condition the same as elsewhere. 
I may mention that early Grapes were once cut on the 25th of April 
from an early division in the same range. Black Hamburgh and 
Foster’s Seedling were the varieties.— Wm. McKelvie, Broxmoutli 
Gardens, Dunhar, N.B. _ 
Mr. Goodacre’s letter on the above subject in your last issue 
(page 172) goes far afield for “ facts sufficient to show that Grapes have 
been successfully kept before the now celebrated room was made at 
Floors.” I was not aware there had been any question raised in your 
columns as to the unsuccessful keeping of Grapes elsewhere, or that the 
“ plan adopted ” at Floors was a new one ; and it certainly did not need 
Mr. Goodacre’s “ facts” to demonstrate the veriest of platitudes—namely, 
that late Grapes are to be found at most establishments where any pre¬ 
tence is made at Grape growing, and where the bottling system has 
been followed. What useful purpose is served by keeping Grapes in 
bottles for twelve months, as Mr. Goodacre relates, is not quite so 
apparent, unless it be someone’s idiosyncrasy. 
But the real object of his remarks is so ill-disguised that the only 
inference to be drawn from them is that he has been furnished with a 
brief in defence of the “plan adopted” lately at Floors; moreover 
there is so much special pleading in all he says about the present 
gardener there and his predecessor being “ pupils in succession at 
Penrhyn,” that the irresistible conclusion is that his letter is intended to 
play the one off against the other 
The question as to their indebtedness to Mr. Speed’s tuition for their 
success in Grape-keeping, or other branches of gardening, is one they 
will each decide as they think fit. That Mr. Speed, beside being a very 
estimable man, is a thorough good gardener, and that the gardens at 
Penrhyn are kept in a condition commensurate with his practical skill 
and long standing there, were, I believe, well known in the gardening 
world befoie Mr. Goodacre reflected on them the light of his genius. 
But “ M.” (page 117) as well as Mr. Goodacre is in error in supposing 
there are any Vines at Floors planted thirty years ago, and consequently 
the latter’s desire to award credit comes somewhat prematurely. There 
were two lean-to vineries and one side of a span-roofed house at Floors 
up to the time of Mr. MacKellar’s leaving. That was planted, I believe, 
during Mr. Knight’s time, but the borders of these, both inside and 
out, were entirely renewed by Mr. MacKellar, and for three days the Vine 
roots were tied up in mats without a handful of soil while the border 
was being cemented, drained, and re-made. The other Vines on the place 
were planted by him entirely. 
Whether the early vinery that “M.” refers to as being so unsatis¬ 
factory in his time was planted again by Mr. Knight I do not know, 
but it was considered so unsatisfactory when Mr. MacKellar took charge 
that the Vines were cut out and replanted, and it was a most successful 
house during his time. I should say, however, that the premature 
breaking that “ M.” speaks of was found to be a very “ local influence ” 
indeed, for it consisted in the bottom of the border being perforated 
with flow and return pipes connected to Orchid house and stoves the 
other side of it. This Mr. MacKellar had altered by substituting one 
large boiler for the five that originally did the work, and by forming 
one channel closely built in brick and cement for the flow and return 
pipes.— N. F. Barnes, Eaton Gardens. 
DOUBLE ZINNIAS. 
ELDOM do we see double Zinnias well cultivated. The great mis¬ 
take made is in rais’og the plants in too much heat, thus enfeebling 
their constitution. cw plants contain such a variety of colours as 
Zinnias, which includes all shades from creamy white to the most 
intense velvety crimson. In addition to their value in the flower garden. 
Zinnias are useful in a cut state, lending themselves to any form of 
decoration. The flowers keep quite fresh a long time in water. It 
is, however, as decorative plants in the flower garden that I think 
them most useful ; not dotted here and there in the borders amongst 
other things, but occupying beds. 
The first week in March is a good time to sow the seed, providing it 
is done in a cool frame where the growth will be slow, resulting 
in sturdy plants. From these satisfactory results may be expected. 
Sow the seed in moist, sandy soil in shallow boxes or seed pans. Keep 
the frame closed and shaded until the seedlings appear, when all avail¬ 
able light should be given and air admitted cautiously, increasing it 
as growth progresses and the weather is favourable. When the plants 
are 2 inches high they should be pricked 2 inches apart in another 
frame. A layer of coal ashes forms a good base for the frame to stand 
upon ; over this spread partly decayed horse manure 2 inches thick, 
into which the roots will run, enabling the plants to be lifted with 
earth adhering to them. On the manure spread sandy soil 2 inches 
thick, into which the plants should be dibbled. Careful watering and 
slight shade, combined with keeping the frame closed for a few days, 
will enable the plants to become established. Directly new growth is 
being made abundance of air ought to be given to keep the plants 
sturdy, drawing off the lights on all favourable occasions. 
Although Zinnias like tolerably fertile soil, it must not be made too 
rich, or the growth will be sappy and not of the right kind to give a 
full crop of flowers. The soil should be deeply dug, adding, where 
necessary, partly decayed horse manure in the case of heavy soil; road 
grit and leaf mould being also valuable in this case. Where the natural 
soil is light and sandy, cow manure induces a robust and productive 
growth. Choose a showery day for planting, and put the plants not less 
than 10 inches apart. It is wise to peg the plants down once or even 
twice, a better effect being produced by having an even growth all over 
the bed. If the plants are inserted on the slope with a trowel, the work 
of pegging them down is facilitated, otherwise there is a risk of breaking 
the stems. 
When Zinnias are cultivated mainly for supplying cut bloom it is 
not necessary to peg down the shoots. The ground ought to be kept free 
from weeds by frequent stirring with a hoe. Daring dry weather 
water in abundance given to the roots will produce free growth, and 
consequently a fuller crop of blooms.—E. Molyneux. 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 
“ Brassica” (page 183) is not correct in saying that anyone success¬ 
ful in raising Brussels Sprouts in the open will give to anything that 
may be written respecting raising plants under glass scant consideration. 
I trust there is no gardener worthy of the name who does not recognise 
the great importance of dealing with climatic conditions in a sensible 
way ; and whilst it would be folly to raise Brassicas of any sort under 
glass in one place it is ab-'olihely needful to sow some kinds under glass 
