September 8, 1687. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
203 
brook, and advise all who can to walk up to that very pretty village and 
inspect the historical Castle, and should the weather be favourable the 
view from the keep of the Castle is alone worth the exertion. Instead 
of returning by the village take the path at the back of the Castle, and 
cross over the lane to the next hill to the cemeterv, and through that 
over the hill called Mount Joy, into Newport, via Shide and Node Hill.’ 
The view from Mount Joy, on a fine summer’s eve, is a beautiful 
landscape with the river Medina running through the centre to the 
Solent at Cowes, and right and left the waters of the Solent that divides 
-the isiand from the main land. The celebrated view from Richmond 
Hdl is not to be compared with this for beauty and variety —C A 
HYDRANGEA STELLATA FLORE PLENO. 
Several Hydrangeas have taken a place amongst the best of deco¬ 
rative plants, such as the old H. hortensis and the more recent H. pani- 
Hydrangea well, and it can be satisfactorily grown in any greenhouse or 
similar cool structure. 
THOMSON’S VINE MANURE. 
In your very judicious reply to “ D. R. D„” whose Vine leaves seem 
to have withered, you give a caution anent the excessive use of our 
manure, which is wise in itself ; at the same time, perhaps you will let 
us say that even if he had trebled the dose we recommend, no evil but 
much good to his Vines, all else being right, would have been the result. 
Hast year wc doubled the dose we recommend, and we have trebled 
it this year, and the result is that we have three tons more Grapes on 
the same Vines than ever we had before. Perhaps you will allow these 
remarks to appear, as your caution may alarm some of those who use 
the manure.— Wm. Thomson & Sons. 
LWe should be sorry to alarm anyone, but we have seen so much 
Fig. 26.— Hydrangea stellata flore pleno. 
“culata grandiflora, the latter though hardy having become most valuable 
as a pot plant for forcing. The one represented in the woodcut, fig. 26, 
however, H. stellata flore-pleno, is not so well known, though it is a very 
distinct and beautiful plant when well grown, and is useful in pots for 
conservatory] decoration. It was shown a short time since at South 
Kensington by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, and the plants, though 
small, proved its value for ornamental purposes, as the heads of bright 
pink star-like flowers are produced very freely. As young plants are so 
profuse this increases their usefulness greatly, as in small pots they have 
a pretty effect arranged with Ferns or other light-foliage plants. 
A compost] of light turfy loam and peat in equal parts suits this 
injury result from the excessive use of manures which are good when 
rightly used, that we deem it prudent to give advice that so" far as we 
know is safe, and we do not feel justified in advising the inexperienced 
to depart from the directions of vendors either of manures or insecticides. 
The instructions of Messrs. Thomson are now enlarged, and for the very 
substantial reason indicated.] 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY—REPORT 
OF THE PRIMULA CONFERENCE. 
In your issue of the 1st inst. I observe that one of your correspond¬ 
ents asks if the reports of the Primula and Narcissus Conferences can be 
obtained, and speaks of the offering of the Pear Report to the Fellows 
