180 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 27, 1891. 
Large and Small Growers. 
In reply to “ An Exhibitor,” who says “ Another season has passed 
and nothing has been done by the Committee of the N.R.S. to relieve a 
grievance still existing,” I feel ra'her like the Irish defendant in a 
certain case who was sued for damages on the ground that he returned 
a lent kettle with a hole in it. He pleaded, if I recollect right, first that 
he returned it in a sound state ; secondly, that he received it with a hole 
in it; thirdly, that he never had it all. 
In the same way, if Irish myself, I would plead first that if nothing 
has been done it is because “ An Exhibitor ” and his friends took no 
steps to bring the matter before the N.R.S. in the proper manner ; 
secondly, that the N.R.S. have done something by adding at least one 
class and two medals in the direction desired ; and, thirdly, that no such 
just grievance existed or still exists. 
In my humble opinion “ if the arguments of ‘ J. B.’ and ‘ An 
Exhibitor ’ have been of no avail ” it is because they have been refuted. 
I do not know what constitutes “ growers in the upper divisions.” 
In the case at Hereford, as cited by “ An Exhibitor,” no case what¬ 
ever is made out against the schedule or the management. On the 
contrary, as he himself admits, justice was done. Considering the nature 
of the cards supplied to exhibitors I do not see how there could be an 
infringement of regulation 2 without detection. 
“ Fair play is the only jewel ” large “growers ask for ;” but that in 
a backward season small growers should as usual be able to compete 
with those of their own standing while large growers are not allowed 
to exhibit at all does not seem fair play to—W. R. Raillem. 
BRIGHTON CHRYSANTHEMUM AND NEW HORTI¬ 
CULTURAL SOCIETIES’ ANNUAL OUTING. 
The Brighton gardeners and their friends had their second annual 
outing on Thursday, the 18th inst, Redhill beiDg their destination. The 
party started from Brighton a little before 8 o’clock, and were joined by 
oihers at the various stations. Arrangements had been made for an 
inspection of four of the btst gentlemen's gardens in the neighbourhood 
of Redhill and Reigate. A start w T as at once made for Gatton Park, the 
seat of G. Colman, Esq. This is a beautiful old place standing on an 
eminence some two miles from Redhill. It is surrounded by a beauti¬ 
fully wooded park of considerable extent, the rich green of the pastures 
and the huge proportions of the Oaks and Elms giving good evidence of 
a fertile soil. Under the guidance of Mr. Ormiston, the able gardener 
and his assistants, the party at once commenced a tour round the garden 
and the extensive ranges of houses. Those first entered were a new 
range of span-roofed plant houses well stocked with clean healthy plants, 
two of them being occupied with Orchids. Behind these stands a fine 
range of forcing pits, also span-roofed, used for Cucumbers, Melons, 
Tomatoes, &c., and in one was a large stock of Primulas, Mignonette, 
and other autumn and winter blooming plants. We next passed through 
a range of wdrat in olden times had been Pine pits in three divisions, but 
now occupied with Vines, at present carrying a crop of good service¬ 
able Grapes. Chrysanthemums were next critically examined. About 
300 plants are grown chiefly for large blooms in the orthodox style ; 
they looked well, and promised good results. A move was then made 
for the front of the mansion, where a splendid view of the country round 
and beyond Redhill and of the park, the large lake now sten for the 
first time, together with the beaut.fully wooded Reigate hills to the 
right, make a charming picture not easily forgotten. On the lawn to the 
south of the house are some very large Elms that would compare favour¬ 
ably with any at Windsor or elssw'here. After having a peep into some 
of the mysterious underground passages, we were admitted into the 
marble hall. This is a marvel of itself, the floor and the walls being 
wholly of marble wrought out in beautiful designs. In the recesses are 
exquisite statuary of the same material, and in the centre is a table of 
elegant design, in which is concentrated all the brightest coloured 
marbles to be found. The mansion is now undergoing extensive altera¬ 
tions on the south and west fronts, which, when finished, will doubtless 
greatly improve those parts. 
Our party then wended their way through the Park towards Reigate, 
feeling that we had seen a place the history of which would be worth 
reading up. A short halt was made on reaching the top of Reigate Hill, 
where there is a fine bird's-eye view of the town at our feet, and the 
view of the country beyond is splendid. All round it is beautifully 
timbered, with here and there stately mansions rearing their turrets and 
towers, and far to the south, over the tops of the higher ground in north 
and mid-Sussex, are dimly seen the rounded outlines of the South Downs. 
From this vantage ground we had pointed out to us the various places 
we were about to visit, and although we would fain have lingered over 
such a scene time would not permit, and the journey down to the 
valley was soon accomplished. The next halt was made at 
Wray Park, 
the residence of G. Simpson, Esq. Here we were welcomed by Mr. 
Hoad, who conducted us through the glass structures and over the 
highly kept grounds. In the former a great number of Orchids are well 
grown, and all departments showed good management. This place is 
justly celebrated for its extensive carpet bedding. The principal beds 
and borders are laid out in artistic designs, the groundwork being dwaif 
neatly kept Box, and the spaces filled in annually. Many hardy p’ants 
are used, and the whole enlivened with bright-coloured Alternantheras. 
In other parts of the grounds were some beds of Begonias, which looked 
very bright, and hardy herbaceous plants were freely planted in the 
shrubberies. Mr. Hoad accompanied the party to Reigate, taking a 
hurried look round the Castle grounds before luncheon at the Grapes 
Hotel. 
Woodhatch Lodge. 
Mr. Salter, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., who had joined the 
party at luncheon, now took the lead on the road to that place. On 
reaching the entrance he pointed out a beautiful specimen of the 
Maidenba’r Tree, Salisburia adiantifolia, standing close to the road on 
the left-hand side. It is at least 40 feet high, of a pyramidal shape, 
well furnished, and in excellent health. Inside the lodge gates a branch 
of a very fine weeping Beech has been carried across the drive, forming 
a peculiar arch with its drooping branches. Beech is qufie at home 
here, there being some fine specimens, and also some grand old Cedars 
of Lebanon. We passed through several houses of Orchids, admired the 
elegant Palms and various stove plants, the Begonias in the Peach houses, 
and the crops of fruit on the walls behind them. We must not pass 
over the Chrysanthemums. They are in strong force, about 1000, the 
majority being tall plants, and to judge by the “timber,” Mr. Salter 
may expect to have something for the Aquarium when the time comes. 
We next passed through an orchard some little distance from the gardens* 
The trees are healthy, carrying good crops, and seem to be treated and 
pruned on a rational principle. There is also a large square of Roses 
planted in rows of one sort for cutting, more like nursery style than a 
gentleman’s garden. But we must hasten on to our next place, which /» 
situated on much higher ground, and the walk up the hill was not much 
to the taste of the now rather tired pedes-rians. In consequence of this 
the party was not in very good marching order. On reaching 
High Trees, 
the beautifully situated seat of W. B. Waterlow, Esq., Mr. C. Gold- 
- smith, who is well known to most frequenters of Brighton shows, gave 
them a hearty welcome, and at once led the way round the grounds* 
The beds of hardy Azaleas and Rhododendrons must be very fine when 
in bloom. Symmetrical specimens of choice variegated Hollies, Retino- 
spora, and other Conifers meet the eye at every turn, and hardy 
flowering plants are in plenty wherever there is -space for them. On 
the front terrace are some beautiful carpet beds, but the subtropical 
beds were more admired, if that were possible. 
This is evidently a good place for fruit of all sorts. Mr. Goldsmith 
takes a great interest in hardy fruit culture, and his success is well 
known. Lingering over these matters brought nut the query, “ But 
where are the mums?” “ Oh, we are coming to them,” was the-reply* 
And we did, some 1300 altogether. But Mr. Goldsmith does not believe 
in “ long legs ” at all, nearly the whole of his plants having been cut 
down, and it may safely be said that very few exceeded 2 feet iD height, 
and the buds are now being “ taken ” as they come. A splendid lot of 
plants. In the plant and fruit houses everything was on a par with 
what we had already seen, but I must not omit to mention his Begonias. 
Two houses especially devoted to them made quite a show of themselves* 
All were thoroughly satisfied with what they had seen. If these 
disjointed notes see the light of day I am afraid it will give members 
who were absent but a very faint idea of the treat they lost. That the 
members of the societies will take the earliest possible opportunity of 
passing a hearty vote of thanks to the gentlemen who kindly threw their 
gardens open for inspection, as they did to Mr. Miller, who presided at 
the luncheon, and Mr. Longhurst, who organised the trip, is the desire 
of—O ne of the Party. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The usual fortnightly Committee meetings were held at the Drill 
Hall, Westminster, on the 25th inst. The building was not quite so full 
of exhibits as on some previous occasions, but the display was good, and,, 
what is equally important, well varied in character. Gladioli and 
Dahlias were, as might have been expected, particularly prominent. 
Fruit, vegetables, and Orchids were few, and the chief work devolved 
upon the other Committee. 
Fruit Committee. —Present : P. Crowley, Esq., in the chair, and 
Dr. Hogg, with Messrs. G. Bunyard, R. D. Blackmore, J. H. Yeitch, 
J. Cheal, W. Warren, T. J. Saltmarsh, A. Dean, G. Norman, G. Wythes, 
H. Balderson, W. Bates, A. H. Pearson, and J. Wright. 
Mr. A. Bishop, gardener to R. Burrell, Esq., Westley Hall, Bury 
St. Edmunds, sent a large oval-shaped beautifully netted Melon, 
decidedly over-ripe. It was possibly very good a day or two ago, but 
fermentation had commenced, and therefore no opinion could be formed 
on the merits of the variety. Mr. Wilson, gardener to C. S. Sullivan,. 
Esq , Broome House, Fulham, sent a fine-looking, round, yellow, well 
netted Melon, but its quality by no means equalled its appearance, and 
it was passed. Mr. Wythe3 also sent a Melon of promising appearance, 
but the quality was the reverse of satisfactory. Possibly the dull 
weather may have prejudicially influenced the ripening of the Melons- 
exhibited. 
Mr, W. H. Bannister, gardener to St. Vincent Ames, Esq., Westbury- 
