202 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ S.ptember 8, 18 . 
care or protection they may require. I am also pleased to notice that 
several gardeners in my district (Cornhill-on-Tweed) are doing their 
best to bring the Hollyhock to the front again.—G-. Steel. 
HOLIDAY IN THE SOUTH. 
(Continued from, page 13 J.) 
Passing along at the top of the sea cliffs from Ventnor via Collins 
Point and High Port to Horseshoe Bay, Bonchurch, I was very much 
struck by the quantity of Samphire (Crithmum maritimum) that is now 
growing there. Some twenty-five or thirty years ago it was very rare 
indeed to see a plant of this within reaching distance of the top of the 
cliffs, for at that time there was such a great demand for it for pickling 
purposes, men used to ply their dangerous trade of Samphire gatherers 
by fixing a crowbar firmly in the earth at the top of the cliff and let¬ 
ting themselves down by means of a rope and gathering it from the face 
of the precipice. Perhaps the extensive manufacturing of other pickles 
by large firms has brought them more within reach of the consumer 
that less trouble is taken over home-made pickles than formerly. To 
those unacquainted with Samphire I may say that it is a bright green 
fleshy plant, growing about 6 to i) inches high, very much resembling 
some of the round-leaved Mesembryanthemums, and has a peculiar 
brisk, pungent taste. Judging by the advertisements of a firm of soap 
manufacturers, there seems to be another use in store for it; possibly 
someone has discovered that it possesses saponaceous as well as escu¬ 
lent properties. 
Proceeding along the cliffs we reach Dunnose Point, a very high head¬ 
land next the sea, and rising some 770 feet above it—a well-known land¬ 
mark to the shipping and mercantile trade. We stop to admire the 
shady groves and bright hotels of Shanklin, and make a slight halt at 
Sandown, to enjoy a tempting walk on the broad sands that stretch 
around the bay. From Sandown we find ourselves at Brading on our 
way to St. Helens and Bembri 'ge. There are many things of interest 
in the old ancient town of Brading. The bull ring at the cross roads, 
and the antiquated stocks under the old Town Hall, serve as a reminder 
of the march of civilisation. St. Helens and Bembridge are two seaside 
resorts, situated on the opposite sides of the now contracted St. Helens 
Harbour. The whole surroundings within this last ten years have been 
completely transformed. We travelled thither in a railway over the 
very spot where twenty-five years ago we sailed in a race for a silver 
cup. It is a secluded part of the island, and fast rising in popular 
estimation. Bembridge is very shady and enjoyable. The Ducie avenue 
of overhanging trees forms a pleasant promenade. St. Helens Duvur, or 
Dover, is especially interesting on account of the beautiful and some¬ 
what rare plants found growing thereon. This is a strip of land that 
stretches out and forms one of the arms of Brading Harbour, and com¬ 
posed almost entirely of seasand that has been washed and drifted up 
from time immemorial, it is covered entirely with vegetation peculiar 
to this soil. It was here we had the pleasure of meeting a friend whose 
successful career that should act as a stimulus to all young rising gar¬ 
deners, to whom the pages of the Journal are always open for friendly 
advice and encouragement. Once a practical horticulturist and a fre¬ 
quent contributor to your pages, he has risen by his own energy and 
ability in the social scale to be an alderman of a large borough town 
and a J.P. We found the love of his profession still in his heart, and 
lie is always ready for a friendly chat that never fails to be both 
interesting and amusing. 
We take a stroll on the Duvur to have a look at a lovely patch of 
the Great Sea Bindweed, Calystegia Soldanella, that is growing there. It 
spreads and trails over the sands, and twines about amongst the Rushes 
and Grasses, bearing a profusion of large pink Convolvulus like flowers 
quite 2\ or 3 inches in diameter. The Sea Holly, Eryngium maritimum, 
is another object of interest here. It is quite indigenous to the place. 
Its quaint-looking silver-grey branches being brightened up by blue 
heads of Teazle-like flowers. The common Thrift, or Sea Pink, Armeria 
vulgaris, grows everywhere, and forms part of the ordinary turf. At 
the end of the Duvur farthest from the harbour stands an interesting 
object, being a portion of what was once the parish church of St. Helens. 
All that remains now is the west door and belfry tower, the rest being 
washed into the sea about a century ago, the remaining wall being kept 
whitened and used as a.landmark by the Admiralty. 
The sight of this encroachment set us thinking to what extent the 
Isle of Wight is gradually wasting away by the inroads of the sea, and 
a lthough it does not appear much from year to year, yet, if anyone 
visits it after a few years’ absence, a great difference is at once seen. 
The footpaths around the coasts have fallen into the sea many times in 
the last twenty-five years, and although thousands of pounds have been 
spent in sea defences—at the east of the island at all events—they have 
mostly proved ineffectual. At Seaview the walls have been washed 
away, and the trees and grass fields are gradually slipping down in great 
masses. Bonchurch old church, previously mentioned, was once, they 
say, in the centre of the parish, now it is within a stone’s throw of the 
seashore. Anyone, therefore, who end-avours to make up for the loss 
by reclaiming land from the sea deserves both praise and success. This 
has been done by the Brading Harbour Company. The task was pre¬ 
viously attempted some years ago by Sir Hugh Middleton, the New 
River celebrity. It is now an accomplished fact. Some 700 acres of 
Brading Harbour, which formerly at high wat-r was like a vast lake, 
and at low water a field of mud, have been reclaimed by the Company 
by shutting out the sea with a bank, on the top of which is a carriage 
road running from St. Helens to Bembridge, and which forms the- 
present boundary of St. Helens Harbour. Although only commenced 
about ten years ago, so complete is the reclamation that it now Looks 
green and cheerful. On the land crops of all kinds of cereals have been 
grown. Although the whole is gradually being laid for permanent pas¬ 
ture, and sheep and cattle grazing at the present time, part of it is 
retained as a kitchen garden, which produces an abundance of every 
kind of vegetables for the supply of the two hotels belonging to the 
Company. Plantations are flourishing, some of the trees being 10 or 
12 feet high. Around the road, which is a level mile, Gorse and Broom 
have been sown, forming a thick sheltering hedge, which looks beautiful 
when in bloom. There are 2j miles of railway on the land, with the- 
two stations, St. Helens and Bembridge, large quays with steam cranes 
for the accommodation of the heavy traffic have been erected. Not the- 
least interesting is the oyster breeding ponds, which are here very suc¬ 
cessful. To anyone interested in reclamation works apart from the- 
other attractions, the place is well worth a visit, and would receive, we 
are sure, a ready welcome at the hands of the energetic manager. 
Leaving by rail to Newport, viH Brading and Sandown, we notice in 
the water meadows at Alverstone large quantities of the wild yellow 
Iris in flower, and many inquiries were made by our fellow travellers 
respecting the same. At Newport-, the capital of the island, we make a 
halt. To those who are that way inclined the church of St. Thomas 
should be visited. Situated in an open and spacious square, it has a 
lofty, clean, and noble appearance, and inside it is adorned with the 
ancient tablets and memorials preserved from the old church at time- 
of rebuilding. One erected by our present Queen to the memory of 
Princess Elizabeth, King Charles’s ill-fated daughter, who died at 
Carisbrooke Castle, and was buried here, is very touching and beautiful.. 
It represents her in marble, a full length figure, with her hands crossed, 
and her head resting on the pages of an open Bible, a position she was 
found in when she died. We pay a visit to Newport Nursery, to our 
friend Mr. Edward Cave, who is ever ready to welcome any friends of 
the craft that pass that way. This claims to be the original establishment 
of the kind in the Isle of Wight, and has branch establishments at 
Shide and St. Thomas's Square, conducted by his sons. There is a great 
demand from these southern nurseries for Sweet Bays, old plants of 
which seed freely about here, and the young ones raised from the 
berries, Euonymus, Aucubas, Arbutus, Evergreen Oaks,*Laurustinus, &c.. 
The range of span-roofed houses at the entrance are replete with the 
usual stove and greenhouse furnishing plants ; but special mention must 
be made of a house of Maidenhair Ferns, which forms a groundwork to 
Palms, the whole having a pleasing appearance. There is also a small 
collection of Orchids in the stove with other plants. A collection of 
Chrysanthemums reminded that these plants are being grown more 
about the island since the two Chrysanthemum societies were started at 
Ryde and Newport respectively. Outside in the borders we noticed, 
a little gem in flower that is not very much known. It is a dwarf 
crimson, very double Sweet William, a good grower, and very attractive 
and showy. We avail ourselves of the opportunity offered by our 
friends to take a drive around the country between Newport and Ryde. 
We make a short stay at Haven Street and call at Longford House r 
the seat of J. Rylands, Esq., a compact and neat place, overlooking 
woodlands and pastures. The gardener, Mr. Barkham, is noted for his 
collection of Chrysanthemums, and also for the general excellence of 
the other things under his charge. In that we were not disappointed.. 
Zonal Pelargoniums of the leading single and semi-double varieties were 
very good and likely to make a display throughout the early winter 
months. There is a lofty and spacious conservatory attached to the 
mansion very gay with well grown plants of Coleus, Fuchsias, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Liliums, Celosias, &c., intermixed with healthy Ferns and 
Palms. A large collection of Chrysanthemums is being grown in pots 
in the kitchen garden. They are grown in a bush form to suit the place, 
and will, no doubt, make a good display in due season. Mr. Barkham 
is a disciple of Mr. Molyneux through his writings, as evidenced by a 
couple of plants that had been grafted with three or four different 
kinds. All the scions had taken and were growing well at the time of our 
visit. This was Mr. Barkham’s first attempt, the process being adopted 
as detailed in Mr. Molyneux’s book—a proof of its practical teaching.. 
We made a note of some plants of Primula sinensis, alba magnifica, and 
other varieties that had had their day, and were now standing out. As 
some of the largest we had ever seen, they were in 10-inch pots, and 
measured 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches across. “ Too large to be useful,” no 
doubt many will say. So they are for the majority of purposes, but 
here there was a place for them. I had been advocating small pots for 
Primula cultivation, confining the roots, and feeding, and should 
associate damping off and stagnation with cultivation in this size pots r 
so this was a knock down blow. Truly there are exceptions to every 
rule. We pass on, and notice as we drive through the imposing square¬ 
building, comprising a Working Men’s Institute, Library, and Coffee 
Rooms erected by Mr. Rylands for the benefit of the village. Through 
Bloodstone Copse to Wootton Bridge is a real country drive ; passing over 
the creek we soon get to the Osborne estate, the entrances to which 
looked trim and neat, and evidently ready for Her Majesty’s reception.. 
At Whippingham Church we stop, and being kindly offered to be shown, 
in to admire, as we did, the very beautiful tablets ana memorials erected 
and so closely connected with our Royal Family. We push on down, 
through East Cowes, crossing the ferry, and on through West Cowes, and/ 
on to Egypt, thence to Parkhurst, and home to Newport—a very enjoy¬ 
able drive. 
Before I close with this ramble in the Island I must mention Caris- 
