October 8, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
319 
delightful, the majority of the - shrubs having attained a great size. It is 
remarkable how well the Quercus Ilex thrives on the chalk, as the 
trees attain an immense size, and form valuable shelters for the numerous 
Conifers planted here. 
Continuing we come to the arboretum, which may justly be termed 
an historical one, as the whole of the trees have been planted by various 
distinguished personages. On a label in front of a fine tree of Cedrus 
atlantica we read that it was planted by the Rev. Canon Tierney in 
1830 ; another, a sturdy pair of British Ooks, by Queen Victoria and the 
Prince Consort in 1846; a noble specimen of Cryptomeria japonica by 
Her Grace the late Duchess of Kent, in 1848; a large Quercus Ilex by 
the Princess Elise of Hohenlohe in 1848 ; a splendid pair of Wellingtonia 
gigantea by the Rev. Father Faber and the Earl of Arundel in 1859; 
and many others too numerous to mention here. Lying in a group on the 
ground in one corner of the arboretum are the remains of ancient sculptures, 
said to represent King Alfred and his first jury. Seed of various trees, 
such as the Sycamore, have, however, fallen amongst the latter, and have 
germinated and grown into good sized trees, consequently, unlike the 
system he is supposed to have primarily inaugurated, they are left to 
moulder and decay. We noted several fine specimens of Pinus insignis 
and Abies Pinsap i, but were somewhat surprised to see that Araucaria 
imbricata did not succeed. 
A few minutes’ walk through woodland glades, the paths of which 
were fringed with a continuous line of the Hart’s Tongue Fern (Scobs- 
pendrium vulgare) with here and there a break in the foliage revealing 
the charming scenery of the beautifully undulated and diversified park, 
and the pellucid water of Swanbourne Lake reflecting the shadow of tbe 
adjacent foliage, as in a mirror, at our feet, we arrive at the dairy garden, 
so called from the close proximity of the ducal dairy, which has gained 
more than a local fame as a handsomely built and fitted structure. The 
garden surrounding the dairy is kept very neatly, there being a number 
of tastefully arranged beds of bright showy flowers. There are also 
several very large specimens of Magnolia grandiflora. The situation in 
which they are growing is a damp one, being clo e to the banks of the 
river Arun, hence why they grow so freely, this species being a native of 
the swampy regions of North Carolina. A little further on is a fruit and 
vegetable garden, used chiefly for growing the culinary kinds of fruit and 
coarse vegetables. There are also close by several small ponds made for 
the purpose of collecting ice. 
Leaving this farther limit of the gardens we have to cross a public 
road which passes along the base of the Castle heights, enter a door, and 
ascend the latter by means of a zigzag walk, a task not easily accom¬ 
plished, and passing across the Castle grounds we arrive at the principal 
fruit and vegetable gardens. The fruit garden is about two acres in ex¬ 
tent, and is thickly planted with venerable-looking Apples and Pears, 
Filbert, Plum, and Fig trees. Many of the former are in the last stage of 
decay. There is a dense undergrowth of Currant and Gooseberry trees, 
which we were told were not very profitable, and it is the intention to re¬ 
novate this ancient fruit garden or orchard by removing the Currants and 
Gooseberry trees and allowing the larger trees to have the full benefit of 
the soil. Some Brown Turkey Figs were carrying a capital crop of fruit, 
which were just beginning to ripen in the early part of September. In 
an out-of-the-way corner of this garden a large and lofty orangery has 
been built. The designing of this building was entrusted to the architect 
of the estate, and, as is generally the result in such cases, a structure is 
built wholly unsuitable to the growth of plants. The sides and portions 
of the ends, with the exceptions of long narrow windows in the south 
side, is built with brick. The sides run up to a great height, consequently 
the roof is lofty, which, although glazed with glass, has such massive 
timber used in its construction as to exclude the greater part of the light 
so essential to the growth of plants. The back wall was proposed to be 
covered with creepers, but no provision was made for this when the heat¬ 
ing apparatus was fixed, as the pipes occupy the width of the path which 
runs close to the wall. 
Descending a steep gradient through a tunnel we find ourselves in the 
principal vegetable garden. This contains about seven acres, and is only 
walled in on one side—the south—planted with large, healthy, and free- 
fruiting examples of Amsden June, Goshawk, and Royal George Peaches, 
and Pine Apple and other Nectarines. Large plots of Celery, Brassicas, 
Potatoes, and other useful and indispensable crops were looking in the 
best possible condition, although the roots of the adjoining Elms are such 
arrant robbers of the virtues of the soil. Heavily laden trees of Golden 
Pippin and other useful Apples were growing on each side of the walks. 
Within a few yards of the latter is another smaller vegetable garden de¬ 
voted principally to growing Strawberries. In this enclosure, too, are the 
plant and fruit houses. The majority of the houses are not of modern 
construction. There is an old Peach house containing veteran trees of 
Royal George and Noblesse and a couple of Pine pits in course of repair. 
There are also a couple of large span-roof metallic vineries, said to have 
been built over sixty years ago and still as sound as ever, in which fair 
crops of late Grapes were ripening ; a couple of metallic lean-to’s con¬ 
taining Muscats and Hamburghs ; a couple of woolen lean-to’s in which 
the earliest crops had been growing, and a lean-to metallic Peach house. 
The plant houses are not numerous, but nevertheless there is a heavy 
demand on their resources in the way of keeping up a daily supply of cut 
flowers for the dec ration of the altar in the Cathedral, which is within a 
stone’s throw. One house is devoted to Eucharis. The plants looked 
wonderfully healthy and free from disease, and as a constant supply of 
these flowers has to be kept up it requires more than ordinary skill to 
manage to attain this object. Stephanotis, the Elvaston variety, is 
largely grown here ; also Gardenias. These were planted out and 
doing well. Smaller houses were filled with all sorts of useful plants* 
for decorative purposes, and pits of Violets, Poinsettias, Primulas, 
and Cineraria 0 . Strawberries are forced here to the extent of 3000 
plants, the favourite varieties being Dr. Morfere, James Veitch, and 
the Vicomtesse. Hard by is a large specimen of Fig known as the Pet- 
worth variety, but although it fruits so freely it has never ripened one out 
of doors. A similarly large specimen grown at Pet worth under glass 
bears abundantly, and the fruit is said to be very delicious. Our best 
thanks are tendered to Mr. Burberry for the great kindness he showed 
in making our visit a pleasant and interesting one.—T. W. S. 
JUDGING GRAPES. 
I perfectly agree with all Mr. Iggulden has written on the above 
subject, and the only addition I thought necessary to make those com¬ 
ments perfect was that he should add Muscat Hamburgh among the 
varieties to be in season during July and August. 
I think it is almost hopeless to look for the framers of prize schedules 
to state that only particular varieties are admissible in certain seasons, 
as that would be the means of deterring such exhibitors as could not 
comply with them from exhibiting altogether, which is the farthest 
from the desire of such committees, their object being to produce as 
good a show as possible with the small means at command. I perfectly 
agree with keeping a class for Black Hamburghs, and a class for any 
other black variety, and the corresponding class for Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria and any other white variety. I once had the good fortune in 
contending the point against an overwhelming majority as to the desira¬ 
bility of making these four classes, to h ive the satisfaction of seeing it 
adopted. I think exhibitions of very moderate pretension should endea¬ 
vour to provide these four classes, as Mr. Iggulden justly remarked. Where 
classes are offered for each variety, of course the work of judging is 
simplified, but it is not in the power of many societies to do thus ; and per¬ 
haps it is not always a matter of regret that they do not, for where 
handsome prizes are not offered to attract exhibitors from a distance, 
very poor examples indeed will sometimes carry off leading honours. A 
considerable scope in the case of tne generality of Grape classes must he 
given to the judges to use their own discretion, and for my part the man 
who holds Mr. Iggulden’s ideas is the one I should prefer to judge 
my exhibits. 
Your correspondent “ S.,” page 268, seems quite to have left out Mr, 
Iggulden’s mention of the Chrysanthemum shows as being the best 
opportunity of exhibiting late Grapes, and surely there are enough of 
them springing up in different parts of the country to satisfy anyone. I 
should hardly think “ S.” exhibits very much, or he would never think of 
securing for himself the Grapes, or whatever else he may stage. I think 
such expressions are calculated to prejudice employers against exhibiting, 
and if “ S.’s ” employer does not mind him taking for himself the produce 
he exhibits, I feel sure he is almost, or quite, alone in that matter. 
Judging from the whole of “ S.’s” remarks, it would appear that he- 
wishes to encourage the growth of late Grapes for summer and early autumn 
shows, and he would have the judges take into consideration that they 
would be good six months hence, and all that they have to look at now is. 
Are these Gros Colmans or Alicantes finer in bunch or berry, of a m re 
symmetrical outline, better colour and bloom, than So-and-so’s Black 
Hamburghs and another’s Madresfield Court, and if so they are entitled 
to the first place 1 If this was the only course of judging adopted at July 
and August shows, I think we should less often meet with Black Ham¬ 
burgh and Madresfield Court. For my part I should like to see a special 
class for Muscat Hamburgh in the schedules of horticultural shows to 
encourage the growth ot high-flavoured varieties, and not that constant 
craving for appearance only.—C. Warden. 
[We think that if there were such a phenomenon as a gardener 
“ securing for himself ” the Grapes of his employer after exhibiting them, 
he would scarcely proclaim the fact in a public journal. “ S.” is quite 
correct in stating that many Grapes are shown that are never intended for 
their owner’s table, as they are sold with the immediate sanction and by 
the request of those whose property they are. This is tbe plain meaning 
of the remarks on which our correspondent has put a different interpre¬ 
tation.] 
This important subject seems to be attracting the attention it 
deserves, and if any alterations can be made in prize schedules which will 
afford satisfaction to those writers who seem to think that such will be 
beneficial generally, it is to be hoped that the outcome of the present 
expression of opinions may be that they will be carried through without 
delay. I for one fail to see how autumn shows can be carried on without 
prizes for sucb widely and largely grown varieties as Gros Colman, Lady 
Dowoe’s, and Alicante being offered. There are other varieties, such as 
Gros Maroc, Alnwick Seedling, Mrs. Pince, Gros Guillaume, &c., which 
are not at their best at autumn shows. Are all these to be excluded 
from September shows ? If tbe rule laid down by some writers is to be 
strictly carried out, all the aforementioned Grapes should not be seen on. 
our exhibition tables till November at the earliest, and some of them not 
till much later on in the season. Are there shows enough held from 
November to March at which all who desire to show can have 
opportunities of doing so ? Are there enough prizes offered in the country 
generally during these months at what few shows are held then to enable 
growers to with-tand the temptations offered (at shows held at the end of 
August and September ? 
Until we have prize schedules entirely re-arranged, all late Grapes 
excluded from autumn shows, and other opportunities offered for their 
