November 8, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
423 
Some come and some go. The National’s change to the Crystal Palace 
has been much appreciated, and the long spell of dreariness connected 
with South Kensington is happily at an end. A vigorous and successful 
effort was made to establish a Rose show at Gloucester, which it is 
hoped will be permanent. I have heard a great deal, although I did 
not see it, of the remarkable show at Tibshelf, a colliery village near 
Derby, where amongst other classes sixteen stands of 48’s were shown. 
There are some societies which seem to be in a very uncertain position, 
while others are acquiring fresh vigour. 
1 have generally concluded my retrospect with some personal allu¬ 
sion, and hope I may be pardoned for doing the same now. I have 
not gone so far afield as last year, and I fear unless the National cross 
the border again my Scotch journeys are a thing of the past, and de¬ 
spite the unfavourable weather, my journeyings have afforded me much 
real pleasure. I have already stated how at Gloucestir I renewed an 
acquaintance after a lapse of nearly fifty years, and in truth it is plea¬ 
sant to meet again those with whom we have enjoyed pleasant meetings 
before, and to make fresh acquaintances. Again have I to express my 
sincere thanks to all those officers of different societies with whom I 
have been brought into contact for the unfailing courtesy and kindness 
with which I have been met, and again I have to say that I have been 
enabled to keep all the engagements I had made, and this when as 
every year means two to any who have passed the allotted time, I have 
indeed much to be thankful for. I feel it cannot last for long, but 
while it does it adds not a little to the pleasure of one’s life to meet on 
such pleasant occasions so many kind and valued friends.—D., Deal. 
A CORRECTION. 
I should like to make a correction in my last letter. On page 401, 
thirteenth line from the bottom, for “ perish ” read “ push,” and for 
“ ripened ” read “ repressed.” Five lines higher up for “ over-weak ” 
read “ own weak.” I did not think I had sufficient genius to write 
badly, but am now beginning to have hopes.—\V. R. Raillem. 
IMPRESSIONS OF LONGLEAT. 
A long-pelt wish to visit these far-famed gardens was recently 
gratified, when I had the pleasure of seeing the noble vineries and giant 
Vines from which the splendid Grapes had been cut that justly deserved 
the high honours and unstinted praise that have been bestowed upon them 
from time to time when placed upon the exhibition boards. Both Vines 
and Grapes have so frequently been fully described in the Journal that 
it would be superfluous for me to dwell upon them ; but as there are 
other features at Longleat worthy of more than a passing notice, I am 
jotting down a few mental notes that are still fresh in my memory. 
The flower garden is a very fine one in every respect, and seems 
materially to enhance the beauty of the magnificent edifice around 
which it is situated. The features of the garden in question are not 
confined to one style of flower gardening in particular, as both ancient 
and modern ideas of the art are thoroughly well carried out. In a 
somewhat secluded enclosure adjoining the main portion of the flower 
gardens some relics of the ancient idea of the art are still retained in 
form of beds of fantastic shape outlined with broad lines of Box and 
Yew, which must require a great amount of both skill and patience to 
keep clipped into their precise and formal outline. In striking contrast 
to these beds is a well arranged herbaceous border, where Dahlias, both 
Show, Fancy, and Cactus, have flowered in rich profusion. Achillea 
ptarmica fl.-pl., Gladiolus, Asters, Delphiniums, and herbaceous Phloxes 
were looking bright and effective, and supplying plenty of flowers for 
cutting. Some small beds of Tuberous Begonias next attracted attention, 
many of the flowers being of enormous size and of fine rounded outline. 
A few carpet beds are well designed, and planted with the usual assort¬ 
ment of Alternantheras, Sedums, &c., looked fairly well; but the past 
season has been sadly against this kind of bedding, absence of sun¬ 
shine having prevented their assuming that brilliancy of colour which 
is essential to make them effective. In other beds large masses of 
Henry Jacoby, Indian Yellow, Bijou, and Vesuvius Pelargoniums, 
Verbenas of various colours, edged with variegated-leaved Geraniums, 
were extremely imposing, while some oblong beds arranged with several 
varieties of bronze and tricolor Pelargoniums in zigzag fashion were 
very striking, the flower garden throughout presenting that neat trim 
appearance without which the beauty of the finest beds and borders 
would be greatly marred. Near the glass structures I noticed a fine bed 
of Carnations of a very pleasing pink colour, a variety much grown in 
the locality, but as yet does not seem to have been honoured with a 
name, which, however, I hope it will speedly receive, and be widely 
circulated. 
Some fine Poinsettias were growing in a three-quarter span-roofed 
house, where they had been throughout the summer. The plants, which 
had made strong sturdy growth, were the picture of health, and cannot 
fail to make a grand display when their brilliant scarlet bracts are 
fully expanded. Another large house was principally occupied by 
Crotons and Dracienas, varying in height from a few inches to 4 or 
5 feet, so as to supply plants of all sizes for decorative purposes, for 
which they are in great demand at Longleat. Many of the best varieties 
in cultivation are grown, and among others I noticed well-coloured 
examples of Crotons Disraeli, Evansianus, Hawkeri, Johannis, Morti, 
Queen Victoria, angustifolius and variegatus. In the Melon houses 
were some fine fruits of Longleat Perfection and Hybrid Cashmere. 
Mushrooms are also very successfully grown, a long shed having 
been converted into a most useful Mushroom house. At the time of 
my visit a plentiful supply of “buttons” were pushing through the 
soil. Other beds had just been spawned, while another was b ing con¬ 
structed. Mr. Pratt surfaces the bed3 with good loam without any other 
addition, and finds it answers the purpose admirably. Standing on a 
bed of coal ashes in the open air was a healthy and vigorous collection 
of Chrysanthemums grown as bush plants for supplying plenty of flowers 
for cutting during the dull November months. These jottings have 
already grown beyond their intended length, but before concluding, 1 
must mention that the kitchen garden was well stocked with abundance 
of such vegetables as are required to keep up a constant supply for a 
large establishment. 
Everything at Longleat is carried out on a large scale. A gigantic 
park, a noble mansion, an imposing flower garden, tig vineries and 
splendid Grapes, were some of the impressions made upon my mind 
during a somewhat hasty visit. Such gardens require a skilful and 
energetic chief to control and direct the forces at his command. This, 
the gardens at Longleat undoubtedly possess in the person of Mr. W. 
Pratt, who so ably presides over them.— H. Dunkin. 
Events op the Week.— The Chrysanthemum Shows for the pre¬ 
sent week are very numerous, the following being the chief : —Novem¬ 
ber 8th, Walton, Teddington, and Dawlish ; November 9th, Crystal 
Palace, Leicester, and Hitchin ; November 12th, St. Neots ; November 
13th, Moulsey, Southend, Devizes, Putney, Brighton, Northampton, 
Twickenham, Winchester, Watford, Cardiff, Ascot, Barton-on-Humber, 
Maidstone, Twyford ; November 14th, Bournemouth, Chelmsford, South- 
gate, Ealing, Kent County, Hampstead, Faversham, Highgate, Dartford, 
York,land Bedford, most of these being two-day shows. On Tuesday, 
November 13th, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Fruit and Floral 
Committees will meet in the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster. 
- A special general meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society will be held in the Council Room, 111, Victoria Street, S.W., 
at 2 P.M., on Tuesday, November 13th, to take into further consideration 
the new code of bye-laws, and to adopt the same. 
- Ledbury Fruit Show.—T he following addendum to the 
report of the above Show arrived too late for insertion last week :— 
“ The special prize of £1, given by Mr. Piper, was won by Warner’s King, 
as the largest Apple in the Exhibition. Messrs. G. Paul & Son, Ches- 
hunt, J. Veitch & Sons, Fulham, exhibited fifty and sixty varieties of 
Apples and Pears, not for competition.” 
- Just as we are going to press we hear that the Portsmouth 
Chrysanthemum Show is a great and good one. The 23-guinea cup 
is won by Messrs. W. & G. Drover, Messrs. Flight, Penfold, and Inglefield 
following. Mr. Molyneux is first for twenty-four cut blooms, Messrs. 
Trinder, Flight, and Penfold securing the remaining prizes. The £10 
Jubilee prize for eight specimen plants is won by Mr. W. Joy. 
- Caterham Gardeners’ Society, Surrey.— At the follow¬ 
ing ordinary meetings for mutual improvement papers will be read on 
the subjects named. November 16th, “ Claims and Requirements of the 
Kitchen Garden, ” by Mr. R. Catt; November 30th, “ Odontoglossums,” 
by Mr. Lemaire; December 7th, “Bouvardia,” by Mr. Kimpton ; 
December 21st, “ Gesnerias,” by Mr. Pearman. 1889.— January lltb, 
“ Eucharis,” by Mr. Hicks ; January 25th, “ Fern Spore,” by Mr. G. H. 
Rose ; February 8th, “ The Benefits of a Cottage Garden,” by Mr. 
F. A. White; February 22nd, “Melons,” by Mr. Wood; March 8th, 
“ Libonia floribunda,” by Mr. Wyatt; March 22nd, “ Cucumbers, by 
Mr. Papworth ; April 12th, “ Tuberous Begonias,” by Mr. Brand ; May 
10th, “ Mushrooms in Frames,” by Mr. D. Jones. Meetings will be held 
at the Workman’s Club at 8. P.M. each evening. Members’ subscriptions 
are Cd. per quarter (payable in advance) in October, January, April, and 
July. New members may be admitted at any ordinary or Committee 
meeting upon payment of an entrance fee of 6d. The lending library 
consists of five standard works on horticultural subjects. These are lent 
to such of the members as apply for them, according to priority of 
application. Mr. R. Catt is the Assistant Secretary. 
_Horticultural Club. —We are requested to publish the 
following, and readily comply The Club has now been in existence 
for twelve years, and has played no unimportant part in keeping alive 
