138 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 18, 1897'. 
ing their size and age, they have thriven most satisfactorily, and prove 
of great benefit as shelter as well as ornament to the gardens. Indeed, 
1 am reminded that in the shelter of one of these hedges I had the plea¬ 
sure of seeing Mr. Cooke’s finest prize Pansies, in the cultivation of 
which he has been so successful. Near this position also are annually 
grown the immense Dahlias that have frequently graced various ex¬ 
hibition tables in the principality, with the Pansies already mentioned, 
Boses and fruit of all kinds, as well as vegetables. To say that Mr. 
Cooke has in open competition entered in eight and ten classes and 
taken as many first prizes is sufficient testimony to his ability ; added to 
that the fact that he planned and made the gardens entitles him to front 
rank among present day gardeners. In the houses fruit is the first con¬ 
sideration, a supply of Grapes being maintained the whole or nearly the 
whole of the year. Besides the indispensable Black Hamburgh and 
Muscat of Alexandria u and a few other sorts, Alnwick Seedling and 
Gros Maroc are grown, and thought a great deal of, particularly the 
latter, on account of its keeping properties, and as here grown and kept 
it ranks with the best of late Grapes. To its noble appearance and ex¬ 
cellent flavour late as March I can testify, having been afforded more 
than one opportunity of proving it. Peaches and Nectarines are 
abundantly and thoroughly well grown, the former represented by such 
standard varieties as Koyal George, Early York, Dymond, Alexandra 
Noblesse, Barrington, and Dr. Hogg, the latter a most useful variety, 
particularly for shady positions ; here on a back wall in one of the 
vineries it finishes a heavy crop annually, “ a fact that many gardeners 
will be glad to know.” Lord Napier, Pine Apple, and Victoria are 
favourites in Nectarines. 
A cool Peach house, “ a splendid structure 100 feet long,” is always 
interesting, not merely for the grand trees that furnish the back wall 
•vnd front trellis, and afford such abundance of fruit, but also for the 
display of bloom that is maintained by somewhat unusual methods the 
greater part of the year. Marhchal Niel Roses occupy several positions 
on the roof, whilst standards are planted in the border behind the fruit 
trees, and do fairly well, though being shaded so much they are unable 
to ripen their wood well. Spring-flowering plants planted in the borders 
make a fine display early ; a row of double Daisies, backed by another of 
Forget-me-not, being very effective. Bulbs again, Wallflowers, and 
Zonal Geraniums, with other simple but useful stuff planted out, afford¬ 
ing a ready supply of cut bloom with a minimum of labour. Later in 
the season Chrysanthemums are the great feature in this house. It is to 
be hoped that Mr. Vaughan will yet improve this structure by adding a 
heating apparatus. A flow and return pipe would be sufficient to 
prevent the misfortune they are now open to of losing a crop through 
Jack Frost’s intrusion at blooming time. 
Plants, especially of the flowering class, though not a specialty, are 
nevertheless not neglected by Mr. Cooke. To meet the great demand for 
cut bloom, we find planted out in all available positions in the houses 
such free flowering useful subjects as Bougainvallea glabra, Heliotropes, 
Abulilons, Eoscs, Camellias, Oranges, Habrothamnus, Plumbago capen- 
sis, See., whilst in pots are Eucharis amazonica, well grown plants, 
entirely free from any semblance of the disease. Eoses in abundance— 
Begonias, tuberous and perpetual kinds, Gloxinias exceeding well 
done, Azaleas, Camellias, &c. For cutting purposes, late in the season as 
well as early, large quantities of double and semi-double Zonal 
Pelargoniums are found most valuable. 
Many other plants deserve notice as we pass through the houses, and 
notwithstanding being tempted to remark upon the Orchids for the 
present we must leave them, as well as large quantities of standard 
Eoses on our way to kitchen garden, unnoticed. The latter department 
is equally as well managed as the others through which we have passed. 
All crops bear the stamp of good treatment; and though this dry extra¬ 
ordinary season has arrested growth and caused much inconvenience, it 
is the careful cultivator who has suffered the least, as here manifested. 
Of wall fruit Cherries and Plums do wonderfully well. Of the latter 
Mr. Cooke speaks highly of Rivers’ Early Prolific, Mitchelson’s, and 
Denyer's Victoria, as certain croppers. Apples on the other hand, with 
the exception of Alfriston and a few others, are not at all satisfactory. 
Small fruit are abundant and good, and by liberal treatment Mr. Cooke 
has grown a fine lot of Raspberries that for vigour, size, and quality of 
fruit can hardly he surpassed. 
In the flower garden we find bedding in various styles exceedingly 
gay, not the least so being the mixed herbaceous beds now becoming so 
deservedly popular, which, however, we must pass without particularis- 
ing, as also the Rose garden and some rustic rockeries and stumperies 
which arc planted with the best native and other Ferns—a good collec¬ 
tion. We come upon large breadths of leading sorts of Rhododendrons, 
favourites of Mr. Vaughan, and passing some magnificent specimens of 
Irish V ews, we emerge into the historically renowned park, more 
recently noted for its venison and fine timber. Of the quality of the 
former I but accept the testimony of others ; in appearance, however, 
they are somewhat smaller than ordinary, and exceedingly agile. 
Regarding the latter, it would, I am certain, be difficult to conceive of 
anything finer. The majestic Oaks, many of which undoubtedly 
witnessed the feuds of centuries ago, some of them now in their last 
stages of decay, others in the zenith of their vigour, whilst others 
younger, but noble examples, are 'well calculated to witness many more, 
let us hope peaceful, scenes at Nannau. Scotch and Silver Firs are 
represented by some of the tallest, most symmetrical and cleanest grown 
specimens it has ever been my lot to witness, not solitary specimens 
either, for the estate is -well furnished with these giants. At another 
time I hope to be able to give figures of heights, &c. “ Derwen Caubren 
yr Ellyll,” is the somewhat classic name in the vernacular, by which a 
decayed Oak in the park was known. Translated it means “ Hollow 
Oak, Haunt of Demons.” The legend relates that Hywel Sele, then 
occupying a mansion near the present one, was one day hunting with 
his cousin, the famous warrior Owain Glyndwr, with whom he was 
secretly at variance, and espying his opportunity he darted an arrow at 
Owain’s breast; the latter, however, wearing armour beneath his clothes, 
escaped and retaliated for Howell’ treachery by slaying and committing 
him to the Oak, where, after many years, the skeleton was discovered. 
Pennant, mentioning the dread the peasant has of the spot, says :— 
“E’en to this day the peasant still 
With cautious fear treads o’er the ground ; 
In each ^ild bush a spec re sees, 
And trembleB at each rising sound.” 
Leaving the haunted spot, and with many kind recollections taking 
leave of our kind friends, we take a circuitous route back to Dolgelley 
by way of Precipice Walk, well known to tourists. Mr. Vaughan very 
kindly grants permission to the public to use this delightful walk, which, 
as it name denotes, overlooks a tremendous precipice, and commands a 
series of the most romantic and glorious views that can anywhere be 
obtained.—Bit AT) wen. 
Royal Horticultural Society. —On Tuesday next, the 23rd inst., 
the Fruit and Floral Committees will meet at 11 a.m. in the Conserva¬ 
tory. The National Co-operative Flower Show, to be held on that day 
under the auspices of this Society, will be open to the public at 1 p.m. 
at the reduced charge of Cd. There will be a conference at 3 P.M. in 
the Upper West Quadrant, when the subject for discussion will be 
“ Possibilities of Co-operative Allotments and Associated Gardens,” by 
Edward Owen Greening. 
- Rain in London. —Welcome and refreshing showers fell in 
and around London on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The 
rain was not so copious as to penetrate the ground to any material 
depth, but more is hoped for for accomplishing that much-to-be-desired 
object. The sky was overcast yesterday (Wednesday) and the tem¬ 
perature cooler, but not approaching the freezing that we hear of in 
the north. 
- Frost in Westmoreland. —We learn that severe frosts have 
prevailed for the past few nights in Westmoreland, 3° or 4° being regis¬ 
tered. Much damage has been done to Potato crops and garden 
produce. 
- Mr. G. Middleton, writing to us on the 4th inst., from 
Rainford Hall, St. Helens, on the Weather in Lancashire, observes : 
—“ After something like eleven weeks of very dry hot weather we 
had on Saturday last a slight shower of rain, this being followed during 
the evening by a sharp frost, in consequence of which all Potatoes on 
low-lying and moss ground have been sadly cut and blackened.” 
- Messrs. James Carter & Co., 237 and 238, High Holborn 
write :—“ As we believe there is a desire in many quarters to inspect our 
Tobacco Experiments, we shall feel greatly obliged if you will kindly 
announce that anyone wishing to see the crop can obtain an order to 
view by applying to us.” 
- Messrs. William Fell & Co., Wentworth Nurseries, Hexham, 
inform us that they have received the Royal Warrant appointing them 
seedsmen and nurserymen to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. 
—l Bulbs for the London Parks. —We are desired to state 
that the Metropolitan Board of Works have accepted the tender of 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, 
London, for supplying Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Ac., for Finsbury 
Park, Southwark Park, Leicester Square, the Victoria Embankment, and 
other spaces under the charge of the Board. 
- August issue of the Kew Garden’s Bulletin of miscel¬ 
laneous information contains articles on the Tree Tomato (illustrated) ; 
the Chocho, a cucurbitaceous plant, the fruit of which is as an article of 
food in tropical America, and is known in the English colonies as the 
