December 1, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
469 
fresh, without which Chrysanthemums lose much of their beauty. Some 
of the plants had been disbudded, leaving one flower to a shoot, while 
on others the flowers appeared not to have been thinned at all, and 
were carry ing one good central flower with numerous smaller ones 
clustering around—quite a nosegay in themselves. Those in search of 
cut flowers might cut and come again. A few plants were carrying 
four or five blooms only, and many of them would do credit to any 
exhibitor’s stand, some flowers of such varieties as Alfred Salter, Queen 
of England, L’Adorable, Cullingfordi, and Empress of India being very 
fine. A shelf along the front of this hous: was filled with strong 
healthy Cinerarias in 7-inch pots, which will doubtless make a grand 
display during the spring months. 
After inspecting the occupants of the Peach houses we came to some 
useful span-roofed houses and pits, which afforded capital facilities for 
growing the various subjects with which they were filled, but they arc 
found to have one drawback, which is, that the stages on each side of 
the central walk are rather too wide to admit of the watering being 
quickly and carefully performed. One of these houses contained fine 
single and double Pelargoniums, which were flowering grandly, the 
best varieties for winter flowering. Some of the plants were carrying 
enormous trusses of brilliant scarlet, and when grown to such a high 
degree of perfection Pelargoniums must be placed in the front rank of 
winter blooming plants. That old and popular variety, Guillion Mangilli, 
which Mr. Taylor when at Longleat brought prominently forward, was 
grown in quantity, and although in company with some of the best new 
varieties, was flowering as freely as any of them. Lord and Lady 
Chesterfield were carrying large trusses of deep scarlet coloured flowers ; 
Heroine, the best of all whites for winter work, was in fine condition ; 
Madame Thibaut, a grand flower of deep rich colour ; F. V. Easpail and 
C. H. Swinstead were represented by very large trusses with pips of 
enormous size. Many other good sorts were grown, but I only notice a 
few of the most striking. The next house was filled with Indian 
Azaleas and Begonias, which were being pushed on for early flowering. 
Another was principally occupied with Poinsettias, which were just 
beginning to unfold their scarlet bracts, and very promising plants 
they were, having good foliage to the rim of the pots. Bouvardias 
and Carnations find a congenial home at Ashton Court. Large quantities 
of the best varieties are planted out in span-roofed pits, and are found to 
be indispensable for supplying a good succession of their highly prized 
blooms. .Some of the most noticeable among them were—Hogarth 
(scarlet), Victor Lcmoinc (double scarlet), Vreeiandi (white), and a small 
but extremely pretty and useful one named, Rosea oculata. Among 
Carnations that well known variety, Miss Jolliffe, was yielding large 
quantities of its lovely salmon coloured flowers Pride of Penshurst, 
Vulcan, Valencia, White Swan, were all showing good blooms, and a 
few plants of that deep rich coloured variety, Mrs. Keen, were grown in 
pots. Cucumbers and Tomatoes filled two other houses. The former were 
just coming into bearing for winter use, while the latter, although the 
plants had been fruiting during a great part of the summer, were still 
carrying a good crop of smooth even sized fruits. After looking through 
these houses my impression was that they were turned to good account 
by skilful and systematic management, and Mr. Bethel and all connected 
with them are to be congratulated upon the fine stock of various plants 
with which they are filled. 
The family' not being at home the conservatory and winter garden 
were not in dressed attire, but many of the permani-nt objects which 
were planted out were in excellent health and vigour. Large plants of 
Camellias were beginning to unfold their ever-welcomed flowers, and a 
fine plant of Cassia corymbosa covering great space on the back wall 
was very effective with its bright yellow flowers, while on the side 
stages were arranged some well-grown Salvias, splendens Bruanti 
being grown in large quantities. This variety being very similar in 
appearance to the old splendens, but much' more compact in habit of 
growth, and consequently more suitable for some purposes. In the plant 
stove were good plants of Palms, Crotons, Dracaenas of sizes most useful 
for decorative purposes, for which use the plants are grown. In an 
adjoining house were capital specimens of Vandas. Aerides, and many 
other choice Orchids. Odontoglossums and other cool house Orchids 
filled a shelf near the glass in a fernery, and several good forms 
of 0. Alexandra: were flowering well. In the same structure were 
some capital Roman Hyacinths in full beauty, and their pearly white 
flowers are extremely useful either for cutting or for use in pots during 
the autumn months. 
I have simply recorded a few facts which came before my notice 
when looking round th se well-known gardens on a dull November day. 
But although the weather* was dull and cheerless, the hearty welcome I 
received there and the many good things that 1 saw rendered my visit 
a most enjoyable one.—H. D. 
THE GKEAT VINE OF KINNELL. 
The Black Hamburgh Vine of Kinnell, a former seat of the Macnabs 
near Killin, at the western end of Loch Tay, in Perthshire, is one of the 
great sights of the Breadalbane country. It is now the largest specimen 
of a growing Vine in the United Kingdom. The Marquis of Breadal¬ 
bane, on whose grounds of Auchmore it is situated, is justly proud of 
this splendid Vine, and has arranged that it may' be seen by the public 
every Wednesday between the hours of ten and two o’clock. When we 
saw it this autumn, about 500 bunches of luscious Grapes were hanging 
from it, which, at an average of 2 lbs. per bunch, means about half a 
ton of Grapes. The yield of this prolific Vine in recent years is interest¬ 
ing. In 1879 the yield was 1179 bunches ; but 376 bunches being taken 
off green, only 803 were left to come to maturity. In 1880 the yield 
was 1274 bunches, 560 taken off, and 714 left to mature. In 1383 the 
yield was 2102 bunches ; in 1884, 2172 ; in 1885, 2844 ; in 1886, 2868 ; 
and in the present year it yielded 2548 bunch s, 500 only being left to 
mature. It now fills a glass house 270 feet long, is growing as rapidly 
as ever, and is remarkably healthy looking. The stem, a little way 
above the ground, before it sends out its branches, measures 1 foot 
10 inches in circumference. It shoots out for 5 or 6 feet before it runs 
to branches. The only extra “ food ” the soil now receives is old bones 
broken to about half an inch. It is now about fifty-six years since it 
was brought as a young and healthy shoot to Kinnell. It may be 
mentioned that the famous Black Hamburgh Vine at Hampton Court is 
less in size than this Kinnell Vine, the leading branches, according to a 
recent authority, being about 110 feet long; but its principal stem is 
38 inches in circumference. 
The story of the Vine as told by the oldest inhabitant is briefly this : 
There happened to be an English shooting-tenant in one of the Macnab 
residences called Auehlyne, in Glendochart. He was fond of sport, 
but at the same time had paid so much attention to horticulture as to 
organise a glass house in the garden, in which this shoot of the Black 
Hamburgh Vine brought from the south was planted. This sporting 
tenant having suddenly gone abroad, the healthy shoot was removed to 
Kinnell, near Killin, and planted there. It took root and flourished 
fairly well. A genius of a gardener, Robertson by name, now took 
means to aid its growth. He had a substantial subsoil of leaf mould 
brought from near Finlarig, the burial place of the Breadalbane Camp¬ 
bells, on the shores of Locli Tay. This soil he prepared in the usual way 
for use, and with his best gardening skill and experience, the roots were 
sunk in this compost. The first year after this treatment the results did 
not appear very satisfactory ; a few scraggy Grapes were the total 
yield. But immediately afterwards it began its remarkable growth and 
fruit bearing, until it has attained its present magnificent condition. It 
is worth adding that the fruit of this Vine is not sold or selfishly used 
in any way, but with commendable liberality the Marchioness of 
Breadalbane sends, perhaps, a hundred bunches at a time of these 
luscious Grapes to the hospitals and infirmaries of Edinburgh, Glasgow, 
and Dundee.—( Chambers's Journa'.') 
The Grand Quinquennial Exhibition of the SOCIete Royale 
d’Agriculture et de Botanique op Ghent will be held under 
the immediate patronage of the King and Queen of the Bel.ians, from 
the 15th to the 22nd of April, 1888. The Programme, which is a rich 
one, is now before us, and many attractions are held out to induce 
exhibitors from all parts to enter for competition. We have no doubt 
this, which is the twelfth of the series, will sustain the great reputation 
which the Society has so long enjoyed for the excellence of their 
exhibitions. 
- The National Rose Society. —Arrangements have been 
made to hold the Metropolitan Exhibition at the Crystal Palace on the 
first Saturday in July, and the Provincial Show at Darlington some¬ 
where about the 17th of the same month. 
- At the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, on 
Thursday last A Sale of Tree Ferns was held by order of the Com¬ 
missioners of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition ; but though many of 
the specimens were very handsome, with stems 4 feet high and good 
crowns of fronds, they only realised from 10s. to 20s. each, with a little 
more in a few exceptional cases, and smaller Ferns were sold as low as 
Is. each. A large Todea barbara, with a stem 3 feet high and of 
great breadth, the fronds 10 feet long, realised £3, and two pans of the 
scarce Trichomanes reniforme were sold for 10s. We understand that 
the total amount did not exceed £ 100. 
- The Royal Horticultural and Agricultural Society 
op Antwerp announce the following exhibitions to be held in Antwerp 
in 1888. An exhibition of cut Roses at the end of June, a general 
horticultural exhibition in August, and an exhibition of Chrysan¬ 
themums in November. 
- A general Committee meeting of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society was held on Monday at the Old Four Swans, Bishops- 
gate Street, the following being presentThe President, E. Sanderson 
