202 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 3,1891. 
- An Exhibition of Insects.—W hile the weather is doing its 
worst to hurt the seasonab’e fruits of the earth, the insects are not to 
be left in quiet enjoyment of their share of the booty. The Paris 
correspondent of a daily contemporary says that a French Society, that 
of Agriculture and Insectology, has set on foot a remarkable little 
exhibition in a corner of the Tuileries grounds with a view of spreading 
a knowledge of insect pests and the best methods of destroying them. 
One is struck with the neatness of the exhibits and the co-operative 
character of the display. Every member of the Society in the Depart¬ 
ments was notified that contributions were wanting, and in a short time 
was informed what were the insects which by their rarity, obscurity, 
or general importance were most needed. The Government helped with 
a bonus—small, it is true, but better than nothing—of £120. The 
Committee in Paris selected from the numberless cases that arrived the 
best conditioned samples and arranged them under glass in a manner 
illustrating the stages of their development and the nature of their 
ravages. One sees the phylloxera burrowing among the roots of the 
Vine, and the saw-fly and Turnip grub at their destructive work. 
Useful insects are exhibited side by side, and lectures are given on the 
exhibits three or four times a week. 
ENGLISH ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The annual excursion of the members of this Association took place 
last week at Hexham. Hexham is historically known as the “Heart 
of All England,” a title which the Tynedale inhabitants are all very 
proud of. It has been the theatre of many stirring events, narrated 
with much that is interesting by many historical writers, including 
Surtees, Hutchison, and others. To all who are now members (the 
number exceeding 200) a visit to the birthplace of the English Arbori- 
cultural Association was naturally attractive. 
The organisation commenced in a very humble way at the sug¬ 
gestion of a well-known forester, Mr. Clark of Blenkinsopp Castle, 
who thought that England should not be behind Scotland in the enthu¬ 
siasm and earnestness to adopt every means of obtaining information and 
increasing the desire to induce landed proprietors and others to clothe 
the hillsides, swamps, morasses, and barren plots of ground with trees 
to improve the landscape, modify the climate, increase the quantity of 
genial showers, and ultimately add considerably to the coffers of the 
landlords of this country. In no previous excursion has the Society seen 
and had larger experience of what was naturally most unproductive land. 
In the neighbourhood of Hexham there is some excellent land, well 
adapted for grazing and productive in every kind of cereal ; but there 
is always, fuither removed from the Tyne, much very barren and hilly 
land which has been taken every advanta e of for the production of 
timber. The local council exhibited good taste in bringing the 
members to Hexham for still further enhancing their knowledge of 
arboriculture. 
The members arrived at Hexham at about 11 A.M., when they first 
inspected the extensive nurseries of Messrs. Wm. Fell & Co., Wentworth. 
This firm is well known as one of the largest growers of forest trees in 
the country. Millions of seedling trees were inspected, the nurseries, by 
their high altitude, being especially adapted for the raising of forest trees. 
Larch, Spruce, and Scotch Fir trees predominate, the seed bein°- prin¬ 
cipally procured from Scotland. This firm is well known in the trade 
as very large growers of the Whinham Industry Gooseberry ; over 125,000 
of this useful variety were inspected. But this does not include the 
firms stock, as the sales last year exceeded 275,000. Mr. Joseph 
Robson s nursery was also visited, and gave the members much satis¬ 
faction. It is pleasantly situated, and has in recent years been much 
developed by the present proprietor, who inherited it from his father. 
A new entrance has been made, and the nursery is noted for its healthy 
specimens of Conifer®, Alpines, and fruit trees. 
After the inspection the party sat down to an excellent luncheon 
provided by Messrs. Wm. Fell & Co., in the packing shed in the nurser 
grounds, after which the members entered carriages and drove ti 
Liiston Castle. This place is a connecting link in the history of North 
umberland. It was formerly the seat of the unfortunate Earl of Der 
wentwater, a nobleman who was loved by everyone in Tynedale • bu 
his adherence to the House of Stuart lost him his life. He wa 
beheaded in 1715, and h;s estates confiscated. They reverted to thi 
care of the Commissioners of the Greenwich Hospital, and have latterb 
been sold to W B. Beaumont, Esq , for £275,0C0. There was a curiou; 
tradition of folk lore believed by the people in reference to the Earl'i 
n ° rthern lights, or aurora borealis, were never seer 
till that night. The Castle is beautifully situated, and from it can b< 
seen one of the finest vews in Tynedale. The woods are very extensive 
Larch and Spruce 1 ir are principally grown, and there are many fin< 
trees. Many acres of Larch were inspected. The trees had never hac 
any disease. Thinning had been done prudently, removing a few tree: 
at a time frequently. Some of these trees were 20 inches quarter girth 
and contained 2o0 cubic feet of timber, which made them worth fron 
anVjustly bo * ^ J ‘ Balden ’ sen- ’ the mana g er > is proud of them 
The party next drove to Stagsham Close House, the seat of Mrs 
straker. Mr. Keag, the head gardener, was guide. A fine avenue ol 
Lime trees was inspected and gave much pleasure ; the extensivi 
gardens, Peach houses and hothouses were also inspected, and the plants 
found in a good state of cultivation. A call was made at Sandhoe, the 
former residence of Sir Rowland Stanley Errington, Bart. The grounds- 
are very extensive, and under good cultivation. Mr. Stokes, the head 
gardener, offered every facility for inspecting them. Some very fine 
bedding was seen on the lawn ; on a sloping terrace large scalloped 
beds were just filled with Ageratum and Tropmolums margined with 
white and blue Lobelia. These from a distance had a most excellent 
effect, while Yew trees cut in all sorts of fantastic designs give the 
appearance of a French garden at once. 
A fine Yew on the lawn is 28 feet in quarter girth, also Larch 70 
feet; Copper-coloured Beech, Abies nobilis, Wellingtonias, Araucarias, 
Larches self-sown, and a Silver Fir over 115 feet were admired. 
At Beaufront Castle, the seat of Mr. H. F. Swan, some splendid Silver- 
Firs are 28 feet quarter girth, Larch 22 feet in girth, and over 100 feet in 
height. The girths of the principal trees were taken by the visitors. 
Mr. Oliver, the gardener, kindly piloted the party along with Mr. Loan-, 
forester. In the grounds there are many fine ornamental trees, 
including Platanus occidentalis, Liriodendron tulipifera, Taxodium 
sempervireDS, scarlet, yellow, and common Chestnuts, yellow-berried 
Hollies, and some fine Pinus nobilis. From the castle a view of Hexham 
Abbey has been gained by cutting through the extensive plantation ; 
the sun was just setting and enhanced this beautiful peep view of the 
ancient town. 
After dinner at the Royal Hotel, Hexham, the annual meeting of the 
Association was held. County Councillor John M. Ridley, Esq., Warwick 
Hall, was appointed President for the year. Mr. Forbes, Masham, was 
awarded the silver medal for the best essay, “ The Best Method of 
Successfully Combining the Duties of Foresters and Game-keepers in 
their Separate Departments.” For the essays for next year Mr. J. R. 
Brown suggested that the best and quickest method of producing a fox 
and game covert was to keep and preserve game in their various coverts. 
Mr. B. Cowan suggested that the best way to bring the Society before 
the landed proprietors of this country was to secure their co-operation 
and support. Council, Secretaries, Auditors, &c., were all re-elected. 
The next morning the party drove to Duke’s House, the seat of 
Mrs. Backhouse, when some very fine Conifer® were inspected, includ¬ 
ing Thuia gigantea, 18 feet high; Picea grandis, 50 feet; P. nobilis, 
45 feet; P. lasiocarpa, 25 feet; Libocedrus aecurreDS, a beautiful 
Spanish Chestnut in full bloom ; Pinus Cembra, Abies Albertiana, and 
Wellingtonia gigantea, 20^ inches girth. This fine place is situated 
4G4-8 feet above the sea. Abies Hookeri, 18 feet high, was very fine, a 
perfect specimen for symmetry and beauty. Many of these very fine- 
trees had been recently transplanted from the woods by a machine 
invented by the late owner. There is in addition a grand tree of Pinus 
Jeffreyi, also very rare in these parts. 
From here the party proceeded to Dipton Wood, or Cosbridge Fell, 
containing 1500 acres, which belongs to the Duke of Northumberland 
and Mr. Beaumont. The land for agricultural use would not be worth 
more than 2s. 6d. per acre. The trees are principally Scotch Fir grown 
on a sandy peaty soil, which lies on a substratum of sandstone. These 
plantations were most interesting. Mr. Coxon, head forester to the 
Duke of Northumberland, was present, and gave a lucid account to the 
members of the profits realised from these woods. They were planted 
about eighty to a hundred years ago, and over £10,000 worth of wood 
has been used for estate purposes. The woods yield a profit of about £1 
an acre annually, besides providing a great amount of labour in the 
district, beautifying these bleak hill sides, and adding to the hea’th of 
the district. It was admitted that these woods were amongst the best 
the Society has visited. Mr. Beaumont’s East Dipton estate was next 
visited, where some very fine Larch admired. From here the party drove 
ti Healy, where lunch was provided by the local members of the 
Council. Isaac Baty, Esq., was in the chair. After Mr. B. Cowan had 
proposed a vote of thanks to the Council, which was acknowledged by 
the Chairman, the woods were inspected under Mr. Jewitt’s guidance. 
In 1816 this wild moorland was bought by a Mr. Ormston for £22,000, 
including 10,000 acres of land, contiguous to which was a wild common, 
and when it was divided Mr. Ormston planted his share of 640 acres with 
Spruce and Scotch Fir. He lived to see the trees cut down, and realised 
the handsome sum of £56,000 net, after all labour was paid, from land 
not worth 2s. 6d. per acre. All the woods were planted before any wood 
was cut. In 1832 the receipts were £20 12s. ; 1840, £300 18s. 9d. ; 
1850, £644 9s. ; 1860, £2062 14s. 4d. ; 1870, £4070, 12s. 10d., and up to 
the present £56,000 has been derived from them. This experience if 
brought before the landed proprietors of the country ought to induce 
them to plant and to encourage the arboricultural societies as much as 
possible, more particularly as the timber supplies from Norway are 
diminishing. 
At Whiristracores, the seat of H. Silvertop, Esq., an avenue of 
Wellingtonia gigantea has a bold and massive effect, and close to is- 
one of the first specimens sent out by the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Mr. Marr, the present gardener’s father, struck nine cuttings thirty 
years ago from this tree, which are now grand specimens. The grouping 
of Coniferae has been carried out here effectively. Cupressus Lawsoniana, 
fine specimens, had a telling effect on the landscape ; also Libocedrus 
decurrens, Abies Alcoquiana, rich glaucous colour ; and some specimens 
of Picea 'Smithiana and nobilis, the latter, the finest in the country, 
planted about eighty years ago, and now 81 feet high. 
This trip will long be remembered by the members as affording a. 
great amount of pleasure and enhanced knowledge of the commercial 
advantage of planting timber on the thousands of acres of waste land: 
