314 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Octol'Cr 4 , 18^8* 
until the time when their growth was most desirable. Besides, any 
extreme dryness could be very easily prevented by timely applications 
of water.—A Northerner. 
ERICA ANDROMEDiEFLORA. 
Many beautiful aud distinct Heaths have now become rare in culti¬ 
vation, and even when these plants were first favourites E. andromedae- 
flora was never one of the most abundant. It is, however, a handsome 
species, and well worthy of attention. It is taller growing than the 
majority, with long narrow leaves somewhat clustered on the upper 
portions of the stems. The flowers are exceptionally beautiful, wax-like 
in texture, the calyx pale flesh pink, the corolla quite a deep red, but 
there are several varieties, some having the corollas much more deeply 
coloured than ethers, while one has pure white flowers, A curiously 
spotted form has also been described under the name of triumphans. 
The species and its varieties are early spring flowering plants, and require 
the same treatment as other hardwooded_ Heaths from the Cape of Good 
Hope. 
ENGLISH ARBURICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The above Society held their annual excursion on September 21st at 
Chillingham Park, kindly granted for the occasion by the Earl of 
Tankerville. Most of the party met at Newcastle the night before, and 
journeyed to Wooler, where excellent provision had been made for them 
at the “ Cottage Inn.” In the morning at 9.30 they proceeded in brakes 
to Chillingham, arriving at about 11 A.M. They were received mest 
kindly by Mr. J. Noble, the resident land steward, and Mr. Henderson, 
head gardener. Amongst those present were Mr. J. T. Robinson, Row- 
landsgill; Mr. Fleming, Tudhoe ; Mr. J. Smith, Langley Castle ; Mr. 
B. Cowan, South Shields ; Mr. Scott, Newton Hall ; Mr. Wm. Fell 
and Mr. J. R. Brown of Messrs. Wm. Fell & Co., Hexham ; Mr. Isaac 
Batey, Hexham ; Mr. J. Davidson, Secretary, Haydon Bridge ; Mr. 
G. Cooper, Gateshead ; Mr. and Mrs. Foster, Wolsingham ; Mr. Lons¬ 
dale, Rosehill, Carlisle ; Mr. J. Peebles, Superintendent of Parks, South 
Shields ; Mr. W. F. Taylor of Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle ; 
Mr. D. Smith, Scremaston; Mr. J. Matheson, Morpeth; and Mr. 
Coroner J. Graham, Findon Cottage, Durham. 
The party then proceeded to view an old Norman church of date 
about 1220. There is an old baptismal font bearing date 1670, and a 
“ leper ” window is of rare occurrence in churches in the north. These 
were used for giving communion through to the afflicted, who were 
necessarily not permitted to enter the church. Close to the entrance is 
a very fine old specimen of an Elm tree, which is very much truncated. 
From there the party proceeded to the castle, which is also of Norman 
origin, is rectangular in form, has an inner court, four towers, the oldest 
of which bears date about 1100. The party was permitted to visit the 
state and private rooms, which were very interesting, containing a 
valuable collection of oil paintings and Japanese cabinets. Amongst 
the former most noticeable are those by Sir Edwin Landseer, who stayed 
a considerable time at Chillingham Castle, and limned one of the most 
remarkable pictures of the wild cattle, which is a standing record of 
the great artist’s ability, and one of his best. The party here was 
joined by Mr. Jacob Wilson, Secretary to the Royal Agricultural Society 
of England, and agent to the Earl of Tankerville, who gave the party 
much valuable information as regards the castle pictures, wild cattle, 
the parks, Teles, and other interesting information connected with 
Chillingham Park, which was highly appreciated. From one of the 
towers a fine view is obtained of the surrounding locality, and the 
western side affords an especially effective view of the flower garden 
and grand drives. The garden is one of the old-fashioned sort, a mixture 
of Dutch, Italian, French, and Old English. 
From the castle the party proceeded to view the park and famous 
wild cattle, where they were then joined by another trusty guide, 
Mr. Mechi, who has been park-keeper for over forty years, having charge 
of the wild cattle during that time. He is yet a lithe and hearty 
veteran, is full of humour, rich in anecdote, and can recount many 
strange stories of visitors from Royalty downwards. His appointment 
was through the advice of Sir Edwin Landseer, who has immortalised him 
in one of his grandest pictures—the death of a bull —along with the Earl 
of Tankerville gracefully reclining on the shoulders of his horse. On 
entering the park Mechi called the company together and told them to 
keep close to each other. The instructions were so imperative that the 
visitors were only allowed to whisper in case of disturbing the cattle, 
which are so wild that on the slightest approach of human footsteps 
they will scamper about for hours in all directions. 
The sun was intensely hot, it was about midday, and a steep 
ascent all the way, still everyone was bent on seeing the cattle. Onward 
they went under Mechi’s indefatigable lead, and were at last rewarded by 
seeing the cattle browse on what is now called the Prince of Wales’ Plain. 
The spot was very near to where the Prince of Wales shot a fine bull in 
1872. There were about altogether sixty-five, and were led by the king 
bull. They presented a most imposing appearance. They are all white, 
with the exception of the nose and eyes, which are black ; the horns are 
gracefully incurved, and the tips are black ; the back is even and level. 
Here Mr. J. T. Robinson took an excellent photograph of them. From 
there the party proceeded by way of the targate ground, where Mr. 
Robinson photographed the party with an excellent background of Abies 
Douglasi, Pinus austriaca, l’icea Nordmanniana, and other fine Pines. 
Close by is Ross Hill, 1200 feet above the sea level, which is a very rocky 
eminence. It is said on a fine day ten castles can be seen from this 
fine hill. Next the party proceeded to Hepburn Hill, where lunch was 
partaken of. Some then ascended the rocky eminence, which is nearly 
perpendicular, to see an old Saxon camp, about 100 yards in diameter. 
From there the view is splendid. Nestled amongst the growth of fruit 
trees is the fine old castle with the Cheviot Hills in the distance. The 
scenery is rugged and wild. 
The park is 1500 acres in extent, about 1000 for cattle, and 500 acres 
in wood. The Fox Nose is a fine belt of trees of Larch, Beech, and 
Scotch Fir, and in a wood named Wilson’s Corner is a Japanese Spruce, 
25 feet high, which is rather rare for the district. We saw beyond the 
