532 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jline 28,1888. 
grown, and in planting particular attention is paid to have each side 
correspond as nearly as possible to the other. 
The whole of the vegetable crops were in a very promising condition, 
a fine bed of Ellam’s Early Cabbage and another of Broccoli being 
especially noticeable. The heads were ®f medium size, solid, and in 
excellent condition for hitcheu use. The vegetable quarters arc bounded 
on both sides by well built brick walls, which are being rapidly fur¬ 
nished with Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, and Cherries, the trees being 
remarkably clean, healthy, and well trained, and the varieties comprising 
most of the best in cultivation. Among Peaches Gros Mignonne, 
Stirling Castle, Bcllegarde, A Bee, Dymond, Barrington, Princess of 
Wales, and Alexandre Noblesse are held in great repute. Nectarines 
Elruge, Lord Napier, Pine Apple, Pitmaston Orange, and Humboldt. 
Among the numerous varieties of Pears grown the following arc found the 
most satisfactory—Marie Louise, Doyenne du Comice, Beurre Superfin, 
and Glou Mor^eau. Many of the walks are edged with dwarf horizontal 
cordon Apple trees of such large and useful varieties as Emperor Alex¬ 
ander, Red Astrachan, Celini, Golden Noble, and lleinette de Canada. 
The outdoor fruit trees at Mereworth are a very fine collection, and as 
they are all young, and in the majority of instances well set with fruits, 
they will produce many fine specimens during the summer months. The 
fruit houses are numerous and admirably adapted for the purpose for 
which they are intended. A close inspection of these houses is amply 
sufficient to show that Mr. H. Markham, Lord Falmouth’s skilful and 
energetic gardener, is an adept at fruit culture, and as he was at one 
time a pupil of IMr. H. AV. AVard at Longford, and at another of Mr. 11. 
Gilbert of Burleigh, it must be gratifying to these prominent gardeners 
to know that the sound practice he acquired while under them has been 
turned to such good account. 
The vineries are four in number, the AGnes in perfect health and 
carrying good crops of fine compact bunches, such as are in great demand 
for keeping up a regular supply, and in many cases the bunches promise 
to be such as might with advantage be placed upon the exhibition 
boards, in which case many of the Kentish growers must look to their 
laurels, or they may be deprived of some of their usual victories. The 
earliest house is occupied solely by Black Hamburghs, from which the 
first bunches were cut in May, all of them being well coloured, the 
berries large, and in many cases the bunches too. All the Vines in 
this house are young, and between the permanent ones pot A''ines have 
been grown for this season, to be taken out and planted elsewhere 
as soon as the crop is cleared, and it was a noticeable fact that the 
Grapes produced on the pot A''ines were equal in any case, and in many 
superior to those on the permanent ones. Another house is occupied 
principally by the same variety, which is a great favourite on account 
of its good flavour. The AGnes in the Muscat house are carrying an 
exceptionally fine lot of bunches, which have set as freely as Hamburghs, 
in fact I have never seen a better set, many of the bunches promising 
to be fine solid specimens. At one time the berries shanked badly, but 
in 188o Mr. Markham lifted the AGues and relaid them in fresh soil, 
carried them on very slowly the following year without loss of the crop, 
and took up a young cane to each rafter so as to stimulate root action ; 
since that time they have been rapidly improving, till they are now in 
the highly satisfactory condition above described. I should mention 
the excellent set obtained is attributed in a large degree to the fact 
that when in flower the bunches were lightly syringed between five 
•and six o’clock every evening. In the late vinery Lady Downe’s, Gros 
Colman, Gros Maroc, Muscat of Alexandria, and Golden Champion ; the 
last named variety produces good bunches and berries, but it generally 
becomes spotted when ripening, which could probably be prevented if 
a house could be devoted exclusively to that variety, by ventilating 
more freely and keeping a drier atmosphere. 
Three houses are devoted to reaches, the whole of the trees being in 
splendid condition, the training being perfect, and the fine crops of 
fruit such as anyone might be justly proud of. Last year manv of the 
fruits weighed 8 ozs., and they promise to be equa'lly fine this, the 
varieties being Hale's Early and Royal George. In 1881 Mr. Markham 
planted the other two houses with good sized trees, which now cover a 
space of trellis 11 feet by 11 feet, and are carrying from ten to twelve 
dozens of fruit each, AVaterloo and Grosse Mignonne occupying one 
house, the former being a great favourite on account of its ripening six 
weeks earlier than any other variety in the same house. At the time of 
my visit the fruits were colouring rapidly, and were a wonderfully fine 
even crop of good sized fruits, although this variety is generally con¬ 
sidered a little undersized. Grosse Mignonne is considered here to be 
unsurpassed for quality. Stirling Castle and Bellegarde are the varieties 
planted in the other house, and cover the same amount of space as those 
previously mentioned. All the fruit houses are three-quarter span, the 
back walls and half-span portion of the roof being occupied by Figs 
either in pots or planted out, those in pots being the most fruitful. 
Only one variety of Alelon is grown—Green Gem "being the favoured 
one on account of its exquisite flavour. The same plants are grown 
throughout the summer. A few fruits have already been cut, and be¬ 
tween forty and fifty were still hanging, which were a very fine lot, 
averaging from 2A to 3 lbs. in weight, and I was particularly struck 
with the regularity with which they were distributed over the plants 
and the fine healthy condition of the foliage. 
Strawberry forcing is a specialty at Mereworth, 2000 plants being 
grown in pots, and two houses are devoted to them during the forcing 
sea.son, and it is questionable if a finer lot of fruits can be seen any¬ 
where, grand solid fruits of very large size, and being well exposed 
to the light througiiout ensures good colour, and makes them the 
better travellers when ripe. As soon as the fruits are set the leaves are 
fastened back by means of a strong peg, and the fruit supported with 
sticks, the arrangement being extremely simple and effectual. iSir 
Charles Napier is the sort almost exclusively grown, a few of La Grosse 
Sucree being tried this season with good results. No plants whatever 
are allowed in the fruit house.s, which admits of the fruit trees receiving 
the attention they require without the cumbersome inconvenience of a 
host of plants beneath, which only too often harbour colonies of 
insects so detestable to fruit growers, and also prevent the pressing work 
of stopping and tying the shoots and thinning the fruits from being 
carried out with that expedition that is so necessary. Two houses are 
devoted to plants. Bougainvillea glabra and Plumbago capensis being 
thickly trained over the roof, the beds and stages being occupied by a 
mixed collection of useful plants, conspicuous among them being 
healthy thriving specimens of Adiautum farleyeuse and A. gracillimum. 
—AGsitok. 
Events of the Week. —Rose Shows to be held during the ensu¬ 
ing week will be found on page 530. Thursday (this day) is the date 
of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland’s Show. On Monday, July 
2nd, the Kettering Show will be held. Next Wednesday is the Forty- 
fifth Anniversary Festival of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion, at which the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., will preside— 
the date also of the Royal Botanic Society’s Evening Fete. :The Rich¬ 
mond (Surrey) Horticultural Show will also be held on'the same 
day, in addition to the Croydon Show, so that metropolitan horticul¬ 
turists will have a rather busy time. 
- Retirement of Partners. —Messrs. Sutton & Sons, seed mer¬ 
chants, of Reading, and 5, AFestminster Chambers, S.W., announce the 
retirement by effluxion of time on May 31st last of Alessrs. Martin Hope 
Sutton and Alfred Sutton, who have been members of the firm for more 
than fifty years. The firm of Sutton k Sons will bo continued in future 
under the same stylo and title by the sole proprietors, Messrs. Martin 
John Sutton, Herbert Sutton, Arthur A\''arwick Sutton, and Leonard 
Goodhart Sutton, who have for several years past been the acting 
partners. 
-The AVeather.—R ain has fallen copiously this week in the 
metropolitan district, and as a high temperature has also prevailed the 
conditions are favourable for plants recently bedded out and the 
growth of crops generally, but not for haymaking, and most of 
the Grass is '• down ” in the south. 
-At a meeting of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s 
Park, held on Saturday, the Duke of Teck, President, in the chair, the 
Duke of Newcastle and Mr. F. Meeking were elected Fellows. After the 
ordinary business had been disposed of, the President presented a gold medal 
and purse of fifty guineas to Mr. Ellis, L.R.C.P., of Liverpool, the winner 
of the Queen’s Jubilee Prize, given by the Society for the best essay 
upon the plants and vegetable products introduced into the United 
Kingdom for use in the arts, manufactures, and for food during her 
Majesty’s reign. 
-The Begonia Exhibition of Messrs. John Laing and 
Sons at Forest Hill is open to the public every day, Sundays excepted, 
from the present time till the end of September. The collection of 
Begonias in pots is richer than ever, both doubles and singles being re¬ 
presented in splendid varieties, w hile new colours are being produced 
in each successive batch of seedlings. The plants now flowering arc 
remarkable for their sturdy vigour and massive blooms ; and eventually, 
when the 150,000 plants, occupying upwards of an acre of ground in the 
open nursery, are in full beauty the sight will be worth a long journey 
to see. Caladiums are now a feature, and the Orchids will bear ex¬ 
amination. Catford Bridge station, reached in half an hour from the 
City, is only about half a mile from the nurserjL 
- The Crystal Palace. —Music and flowers are more closely (L 
associated on the Continent than in this country as a rule, but there are ^ 
exceptions. During the past and present week the grandest of musical • 
