December 2?, 1S92. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
555 
those they compete in, for may not grave mistakes occur if those who 
are growing, say, only 300 or 400 plants be required to give their assist¬ 
ance in the most important classes ? Those very growers may have the 
necessary love and enthusiasm, do they also possess the requisite 
judgment? Which, I venture to say, comes only with long experience. 
Their knowledge of the vagaries of a certain variety may be restricted to 
perhaps the cultivation of less than half a dozen plants. 
Another matter that demands most careful thought and attention 
is the consideration of the new varieties that are presented year by year 
“ for the opinion of the Judges.” Ought there not to be two or three 
good Judges set apart for this important work who may immediately 
commence upon their “ labour of love ” whilst the sweetness and fresh¬ 
ness the exhibitor has laboured so hard to retain still lingers lovingly in 
each petal ? At Chester this important piece of work was left until 
nearly two o’clock ; each unsuccessful variety would have come better 
through the ordeal had judging commenced at eleven o’clock. The 
“ best phase of their beauty ” was passing away every hour from eleven 
to two; nearly three long hours dragged their weary length along 
before those properly authorised to make the awards commenced to 
critically examine them. A recurrence of this kind must surely be 
avoided. 
There is also one other matter worthy of passing notice, namely, 
the manner in which the premier blooms receive their awards. Would 
it not be better to empower each set of judges to select a “ likely 
candidate ” from the classes they judge, and when the various stands 
are judged to allow these candidates for premier honours to be staged 
on a suitable stand, and at least twelve “ good men and true ” decide 
which bloom shall blushingly carry off the “ blue riband? ” This most 
interesting award is apt to lose its charm if the making of it falls to 
one who allows himself to be hurried, or who happens to have a 
favourite variety. A Boieldieu has won it, also a Pierre Notting, and 
rightly so too if each possessed the requisite quality. “ Honour to 
whom honour is due.” I regret that more than once have I heard 
expressions of disappointment uttered by the public when, after long 
searching, they have at length found the bloom that has won the 
coveted position and medal. Nor has there always been a concensus of 
opinion amongst the “ doctors ” respecting this award. In my opinion 
no reasonable amount of labour should be withheld to make this 
important and interesting selection a satisfactory one.—E. R. Shanks. 
[The above notes were in our hands prior to the publication of our 
report of the N.R.S. annual meeting on page 535 last week.] 
HARKSTEAD, SUFFOLK. 
It was in the very early part of last year that I first made acquaint¬ 
ance with that almost insular portion of Suffolk county in which 
Harkstead is situated. I write “almost insular,” for it is bounded on 
three sides by water, and its base is the straight bit of railway joining 
Ipswich and Manningtree. On the north we have the picturesque tidal 
river Orwell. On the east the German Ocean. On the south another 
tidal river, one of the numerous Stours of England. A glance at the 
map will at once show the exposed situation of this prominent corner of 
East Anglia, while a drive from Ipswich to Harkstead (seven miles) in 
the face of a blinding snowstorm, and the thermometer down to 12° Fah. 
gives the traveller a fairly practical experience of what is not 
uncommon weather in this part of England in the winter months. 
My second visit to Harkstead was at the beginning of July ; it was a 
lovely day, so in order to avoid the dusty roads I took the steamer at 
Ipswich, disembarking at Pin Mill, the half-way house to Harwich. This 
river tiip is very delightful, and the scenery as you pass between 
Woolverstone and Orwell Parks is delightful, the woods and walks 
extending to the margin of the river on each side. Woolverstone Hall, 
the seat of Charles Hugh Berners, Esq., stands in a well wooded park of 
upwards of 400 acres, while in Orwell Park on the opposite side of the 
river is the seat of Capt. E. G. Pretyman. Pin Mill, where I landed, is a 
very picturesque little fishing village, and in the summer the place is 
lively with yachts. Some years ago no less than thirty boats were 
constantly engaged here dredging for Septaria, but only half a dozen are 
now so employed. Some of the readers of the Journal may be puzzled to 
know what is meant by the word “ Septaria.” They are spheroidal masses 
of argillaceous limestone, according to geologists, while the Zoological 
septaria are a genus of acephalous molluscs. The Orwell septaria is 
supposed to produce the finest quality of Roman cement. Pin Mill is 
about two miles from Harkstead through the village of Chelmondiston, 
where there is a telegraph office. Taking the path across the well- 
cultivated fields (for in this part of Suffolk is to be seen really good 
farming—the farms are large, the farmers men of capital) I soon see the 
tower of Harkstead Church standing like a sentinel on the high land 
between the two rivers. In a few minutes I am at the Rectory—but 
the rector is away. Away 1 Why, naturally, for this is the first Satur¬ 
day in July, and, of course, he is at the Crystal Palace winning prizes 
at the National Rose Society’s Show. My first impulse is to rush into the 
garden, but as I remember that I am to stay here until Monday, I rest 
awhile after my walk under the hot sun and enjoy five o’clock afternoon 
beverage. 
The Rev. Hugh A. Berners has been before the Rose world as a very 
successful exhibitor for many years. He, together with the Revs. A. 
Foster-Melliar and F. Page-Roberts, are the East Anglian amateur 
champions. But it must not be supposed that Harkstead is famous for 
its Roses only. For instance, walking through the Hall we enter the 
conservatories: splendid structures, and full of flowers all the year 
round. The Rector will not te without them ; the demand is made, the 
gardener must find the supply, and the gardener’s work would appear to 
be simple, judging by the result, for the flowering plants are constantly 
being changed, and there is everything beautiful in its proper season. 
What a mass of bloom was there last spring ! Beautifully grown Arums, 
Spirmas, Tulips, Hyacinths, Azaleas (splendid), Carnations, Narcissi, 
Freesias (grandly grown), Tea Roses, Lily of the Valley, and pots upon 
pots of Gladiolus The Bride. These and many other flowers, gracefully 
interspersed with A. cuneatum, gracillimum, and farleyense, were 
indeed a joy to behold. 
Leaving the conservatories we walk through the Orchid houses. 
Among the Odontoglossums, 100 in number, one noticed as being good 
Alexandras, triumphans, Rossi majus, and Pescatorei, while the 
Phalaenopsis were well represented by vars. amabilis, grandiflora, 
Schilleriana, Siuartiana, and others. Dendrobiums are evidently in favour 
at Harkstead, some of the varieties flowering beautifully, especially albo- 
sanguineum, thyrsiflorum, Parishi, crassinode, Ainsworthi, Findleyanum, 
and Dearei. Among the Cattleyas I noticed especially crispa, 
Lawrenceana, Harrisoniana. Cypripediums Spicerianum, vexillarium, 
Stonei, and Lawrenceanum. Tleione humilis and Lagenaria were also 
good. 
Opening another door we find ourselves in the first vinery, the 
staging of which in February was crowded with many hundreds of 
FIG. 74.— KEY. HUGH A. BERNERS. 
bedding plants. The Vines in July were carrying grand crops of 
splendid bunches. Another newer and very large house with every 
modem improvement is divided into two portions—a vinery and Peach 
house. These younger Vines gave proof of Mr. Berners’ gardener’s 
skill. Madresfield Court, Gros Maroc, Alicante, White Tokay, Black 
Hamburgh, and Foster’s Seedling are grown. In the Peach house 
Noblesse was the best. Perhaps the palm must be given to the 
Nectarines. The previous year no less than fourteen dozen grand fruit 
had been gathered from a trained tree of Violette Hative, while Pine 
Apple, Lord Napier, Pitmaston Orange, and Elruge were carrying as 
much fruit as they should. I was much struck with the clean wood and 
foliage. In the spring this house was utilised for Tea and H.P. Roses in 
pots. 
But it is time now to go outside and examine the Roses. The soil in 
the upper garden is not what we call a Rose soil ; it is too light, and the 
slope towards the south is so steep that any heavy rain rushes down into 
the little stream at the bottom of the garden, carrying with it much of 
the goodness of the top-dressings. But on the further side of the stream, 
quite in the valley, a real Rose soil is to be found ; but being quite in a 
hollow, the position is apt to be flooded and affected by the spring frosts. 
Mr. Berners is a great believer in protection—that is, so far as his Roses 
are concerned. He puts bis Teas to bed in the winter, both standards 
and dwarfs. The heads of the standard Teas are carefully bound up 
thickly and firmly with clean dry straw, so thickly that the wet cannot 
permeate and cause anything like sweating. Whether so much protec¬ 
tion is really needed I know not ; but he can tell us that the proverb, 
“ the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” holds good in this instance, 
for no exhibitor in England has won more if as many prizes for Teas 
the past two years in proportion to the number of plants grown. In all 
there are but 500 Teas. The H.P.’s number about 1800, and many of 
these are not what I should call exhibition varieties. 
Among the H.P.’s, on the strong soil, Duke of Edinburgh, Eclair, 
Ulrich Brunner, Capt. Christy, Madame G. Luizet, Mrs. J. Laing made 
excellent growth, G. Luizet being pruned on the “long” system, and 
that with remarkable success. The standard and half-standard Teas, how¬ 
ever, excite most admiration. On a sheltered border outside the Orchid 
houses there are some magnificent examples of Madame Lambaid, 
M. Niel, The Bride, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Catherine Mermet, Ethel 
Brownlow, and Madame V. Houtte. There is one variety of Rosa indica 
odorata, which grows and flowers magnificently at Harkstead Rectory. 
I allude to Innocente Pirola, and this on standards. Among the newer 
ones I noticed giand plants of E. Metz, Madame Hoste, while Cleopatra 
