498 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 8, 1887. 
the Virginian, the Big Frederick, the Kentucky, and the Yellow Prior. 
He had been rather severely criticised by Mr. Kains-Jackson because he 
had topped his Tobacco, reducing the number of leaves to about eight, 
but he felt it was far better to have a small number of leaves with 
better quality than to have more leaves and an inferior quality. For 
some reason or other this year the curing of his Tobacco had been far 
easier, the leaves had turned much quicker, and he had not had the 
difficulties that were usually met. This might have been in consequence 
of his having utilised a malt house for curing the Tobacco. He sug¬ 
gested that growers of English Tobacco should take into their con¬ 
sideration the question of having a central bonded warehouse in London 
where they could send their crops when they were dried, so that they 
might be under the control of one or more competent persons. The 
warehouse would be an immense help to the Inland Revenue authorities, 
inasmuch as they would only have to watch one warehouse instead of 
numerous premises; and when any grower desired to remove his Tobacco 
to sell it he might be allowed to do so. He had received a letter from 
Lord Walsingham expressing great regret at his inability to be present, 
and enclosing an account of the culture of a quarter of an acre of 
Tobacco at Merton, in Norfolk. It was Lord Walsingham’s opinion that 
Tobacco of commercial value could be grown in England in many 
varieties. He would merely add in conclusion that he could see no 
right or justice in maintaining the duty on home-grown Tobacco. 
Mr. Kains-Jackson said that in the month of September last he sent 
out to the chief Tobacco-growers in England a series of questions with 
respect to their modes of culture and the methods they adopted for 
curing the leaf, and he had received in many cases most interesting 
answers, which, if printed, would form a most useful book. The London 
Chamber of Commerce were offering two prizes of £50 each, one for the 
best specimens of foreign-grown leaves and the other for those of home¬ 
grown. 
Mr. Wigan, Mr. Knight, Mr. Greaves, and Mr. Madden having related 
their experiences in connection with home-grown Tobacco, 
Mr. Sharman said that with regard to the cultivation of Tobacco by 
Messrs. Carter this year, they had had something like sixty-four varieties. 
They had sent to every quarter of the globe and had obtained every 
possible variety of seed, and as far as he could see they had not made 
any very gre^it mistake as to the sort which they had already stated to 
be the best for general cultivation in this country. The yellow Tobaccos 
would no doubt pay better than the darker sorts, and the Kentucky and 
the White Burley, and, for bulk, the Big Frederick and the Connecticut 
were perhaps the best. In his opinion the home-grown leaf was essentially 
a cigar leaf and not a pipe leaf. 
After a short discussion it was decided that a Committee should be 
formed to arrange for an adjourned meeting, to authorise the printing of 
such reports as might be considered useful, and to consider the question 
of a central bonded warehouse for maturing and perfecting the crops, 
and the desirability of drafting a Bill to lay before Parliament as to the 
conditions under which Tobacco land in the United Kingdom might be 
cultivated ; the Committee to consist of Lord Walsingham, Sir E. 
Birkbeck, Mr. Kains-Jackson, Mr. Faunce de Laune, and Mr. Wigan. 
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. 
We learn that the Tobacco grown last year by Lord Harris at Belmont 
was recently destroyed by fire by an order of the Board of Inland 
Revenue, and in the presence of one of their officers, in consequence of 
its being considered unfit to pay the duty. This year’s growth h is been 
dried in a hop-oast, and still hangs there, but the opinion of those who 
have been privileged to inspect it is that it will never be fit to smoke. 
HEXHAM NURSERIES AND GARDENS. 
Chbysanthemums and the records of the very numerous exhi¬ 
bitions devoted to them have occupied so much space in the Journal 
during the past few weeks, and have occasioned so much journeying, 
that there has been little time or opportunity for continuing notes on 
gardens in the north. Some friends have even become concerned at 
the abrupt termination of these contributions, and have been kind 
enough to express a hops that something farther might appear on the 
subject. For their satisfaction I have therefore given the preceding 
explanation, and may also add that I had neither concluded my notes 
nor exhausted my memory respecting the places visited in the north, 
and I should have been most unwilling to omit several establishments 
that have yet to be described. 
Hexham is readily reached by rail from Newcastle-on-Tyne, and is 
about twenty-one miles westward of that city on the line to Carlisle. 
It is a small town of some historical interest, and its pleasant situation 
near the junction of the North and South Tyne renders it an agreeable 
resort for tourists in Northumberland. The vale of Hexham is noted 
for its beauty and fertility in the north, and though the scenery is not 
so boldly picturesque as around Rothbury, it is of a thoroughly English 
character, varied and rich in vegetation. From several of the hills ex¬ 
tensive and delightful prospects can be obtained, and during the summer 
months a pleasant holiday could be spent there. Hexham itself is not 
of any great importance now, and the guide books tell us that it has for 
some time been chiefly celebrated for the manufactories devoted to the 
production of gardeners’ gloves, or “ Hexham Tans,” as they are termed; 
but to horticulturists its chief interest is due to Messrs. Fell & Co’s, 
extensive nurseries, and the surrounding residences, such as Duke’s 
House and Beanfront Castle, which well repay for a visit, as they are 
most beautifully situated. The nurseries named are, however, of such 
importance that they deserve the first attention. 
MESSRS. FELL & CO.’S NURSERIES. 
It is always pleasant to visit a well-kept and well-stocked nursery r 
and the establishments occupied by the above-named firm unquestion¬ 
ably fulfil these conditions, and they have deservedly obtained a sub¬ 
stantial reputation. Forest and ornamental trees, Conifers and shrubs, 
constitute the leading features of the Nurseries, and these are grown by 
millions, but fruit trees, hardy herbaceous plants, and vegetables for 
seed also occupy considerable space, the business comprising, in addition, 
a large northern seed and bulb trade. The Wentworth Nursery is that 
nearest to the station, and is devoted mainly to ornamental plants, 
shrubs, and trees ; the Prattsfield Nursery contains the fruit trees, with 
the farm and vegetable seed trials ; the Fellside and Hudshaw Nurseries 
upon the hill slopes on the southern side of the Valley, rising to a height 
of nearly 600 feet above sea level. The last two are devoted to the stock 
of seedling Conifers and forest trees, enormous numbers being grown, as 
can be judged from the fact that the firm was able some time since to 
undertake the contract for the supply of 300,000 trees for the extensive 
plantations in the Isle of Man. The soil and situation are admirably 
adapted for the production of sturdy, hardy trees—the ground sloping to 
the north or north-east exposes the plants sufficiently, especially at such 
an altitude, to prevent any danger of their being delicate or drawn. 
There is also sufficient protection to avoid undue check, that soon results 
in stunted growth from which trees seldom recover. Weakly and stunted 
seedling trees are most unsatisfactory in all respects, and perhaps after 
waiting several years it is found that they will never make symmetrical 
specimens or good timber. Whether planting on a large or a small 
scale, the selection of healthy young specimens that have been properly 
prepared by frequent transplantation is of the greatest importance. 
Messrs, Fell & Co. evidently give close attention to these matters, and 
even in such a tropical summer as the past it was surprising to observe, 
when inspecting the large quarters of Pines, Larch, &c., how fresh and 
healthy they all looked, showing the good effects of judicious cultivation 
and thorough cleanliness, for weeds are not tolerated in these establish¬ 
ments, and they are quite models in this respect. Several of the young 
trees were lifted to show the character of the roots, and they were in 
every instance dense masses of fibres of the most satisfactory kind. _ Of 
Scotch Firs, Austrian Pines, Larch, Spruce Firs, and all the principal 
deciduous forest trees, there are hundreds of thousands in excellent con¬ 
dition, and the seed beds, containing great numbers of the preceding for 
future supplies, were like neatly kept lawns, so even and close were 
they. The view from the upper part of these grounds is exce dingly 
beautiful, and I remember but one nursery that affords a similarly ex¬ 
tensive prospect—namely, that of MM. Jacob-Makoy at Liege, where, 
from a kind of observatory on one of their houses, a fine prospect is 
obtained of the town and the Meuse Valley. At Hexham it is somewhat 
similar, but the landscape is no't obscured by so much smoke as in the 
Belgian town. 
Returning to the two establishments in the lower ground the Went¬ 
worth Nursery first claims attention. The entrance to this is imme¬ 
diately opposite to and facing the .railway station. The main avenue 
running right through the nursery from here is 18 feet wide, flanked by 
borders 9 feet wide, on each side containing an assortment of choice 
Conifers intermixed with foliage and ornamental trees. Sections of 
young Conifers, such as Cupressus Lawsoniana, and its varieties lutea, 
gracilis, and erecta viridis, Retinospora plumosa and plumosa aurea, 
Thuiopsis dolobrata, and Biota elegantissima, with Aucubas, &c., being 
tastefully grouped together on both sides of this avenue ; while in front 
a good effect is produced with an edging of Dactylis glomerata elegant¬ 
issima aurea. Again artistically arranged behind these on each side are 
some specimens of Conifers and other leading sorts, including some fine 
specimens of Thuiopsis Standishi, Thuia Vervaeniana, Taxus elegant¬ 
issima, Taxus aurea, Widdringtonia cupressoides, Taxodium distichum, 
Podocarpus japonica, Cedrus Deodara, Biota aurea and elegantissima, 
Picea Nordmaniana, &c., &c. Diverging from the main avenue we find 
on each side large breaks of Roses (upwards of 17,000 being grown), 
while Gooseberries, especially Whinham’s Industry, which has been illus¬ 
trated in this Journal, is a speciality, large breaks of this variety being 
grown to supply the ever-increasing demand for it, not only in the 
United Kingdom but for continental markets, the United States, and 
Canada. Over 53,000 bushes of this variety were sent out last season. 
Hundreds of thousands of Thorns for fencing purposes are grown here, 
as well as in other portions of the nurseries, as large contracts are 
executed for the different railway companies. There are large breaks, 
of seedling and transplanted Beech, Ash, Sycamore, Oak, Scotch and 
English Elm, Chestnuts, Poplars, Limes, (Gold and Silver Elders are 
grown in quantity, suitable for seaside planting), while a large breadth 
of ground is devoted to specimen ornamental trees for parks and avenues 
planting, including some fine specimens of Purple and Fern-leaved 
Beech, Weeping and Cut-leaved Birch, Scarlet Oaks, Double White and 
Scarlet Horse Chestnuts, Red-twigged and Fern-ieaved Limes, and 
Maples. The collection of hardy plants comprises most of ths 
thoroughly useful species and their varieties, all the best being grown in 
large numbers. 
A number of specimen Conifers are grown in tubs and pots for em¬ 
ployment in the decoration of large buildings and pavilions at exhibitions. 
During the past season the firm was entrusted with the decoration of 
the Prince of Wales’ Pavilion at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne, also with a similar charge at Blagdon Hall, the seat 
