October 15,1885. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
341 
end of this border is abeantifnl specimen of the Maidenhair Tree (Salisburia 
adiantifolia). It is about 30 feet high and a perfect pyramid in outline. 
Adjoining this garden is a small lawn containing a number of Rose beds, 
both standards and dwarfs, clean and vigorous, also flanked at each corner 
by two magnificent specimens of Drooping Ash, the largest we have seen. 
On the south side of this garden is the riding school and conservatory, 
occupied principally by large and healthy Camellias and fine pyramid 
Azaleas, each about 7 feet high by 5 feet in diameter. In this house also, 
as in the Peach houses previously described, we noticed a great number 
of pyramidal specimens, about 3 feet in height, of scented Pelar¬ 
goniums. Lady St. Oswald takes great interest in these, and esteems 
them amongst her choicest favourites, consequently by her wish a great 
many are cultivated, including amongst them every known variety. 
From the carriage drive into the park past the east front of the 
mansion we have a fine view of a noble avenue of English Elms about 
one mile in length, the trees all of great size and beauty. About 300 
head of deer are kept in this park ; numbers of them are visible in the 
J. Hall, 26, Westgate, Wakefield, from whom many other beautiful views 
of Nostell may be obtained. 
GRAPES AND GRAPE JUDGING. 
I have always entertained a certain amount of respect for “ A Kitchen. 
Gardener’s ” writings, believing him to be an experienced and practical 
gardener, but when I read such statements as those on page 293 we- 
almost begin to wonder if he really is in earnest or not. He even dis¬ 
putes the superiority of Madresfield Court over Alicante, and this simply 
on the ground of the popularity of the latter, How this proves the cass¬ 
is a mystery. He asks, “ Has his (meaning Mr. Iggulden’s) Madresfield 
Court or any other of his summer Grapes been passed once this season in¬ 
favour of later varieties ?” Did not Mr. Iggulden quote particularly the- 
case at the late Taunton Show, where, if I mistake not, two lots of 
Alicantes were placed before good Madresfield Court? Just let “A 
Kitchen Gardener ” imagine himself the exhibitor of the latter, especially 
Fig. 53.—Nostell Priort. 
avenue, and add much to the picturesque effect. The woods surrounding 
the lakes contain fine collections of hybrid Rhododendrons, which are 
a grand picture in May and June. A charming view of a portion of the 
west front of the mansion is obtained from the middle lake. There is 
also a beautiful miniature garden called the menagerie gardens, from the 
fact that at one time a collection of wild animals was kept. This 
garden is formed in the bed of what has been an ancient stone quarry, 
and the boundary walls of which are the natural red sandstone formation 
as left in quarrying. Upon these walls British Ferns, principally Athy- 
riums, are growing in quantity, and find a congenial home. Some very 
fine examp'es of Lilium auratum are flowering in this sheltered garden, 
having occupied their present position about three years. In this garden 
is a very ancient and romantic cottage, which was once the gardener’s 
cottage, but is now unoccupied. In front of this cottage is a fine old tree 
of the Snowy Mespilus. 
Having now concluded our tour of the gardens and pleasure ground^, 
we have to record our thanks to Lord St. Oswald for the pleasure he has 
thus afforded ourselves and our large party, and to Mr. Dcavan, his able 
gardener, for the interest he imparted to our visit to Nostell by his 
courtesy and solicitude to afford all the information in his power. 
The view is engraved from a photogragh furnished by Messrs. G. and 
if he had taken more than ordinary pains to produce it in good condition 
as probably the exhibitor in this case had done. How would he have 
taken it. Not in very good grace, I fear. 
But after all this does not strike the root of the question. I maintain 
that judges by following such a course as the one quoted, whether con¬ 
sciously or not, are promoting evil by encouraging gardeners to cut 
Grapes in August and September which cer'ainly ought not to be cut for 
months later. Who, I should like to know, would grow Alicantes and 
Gros Colman to be used in the months named ? and this seas n I saw the 
latter exhibited in July in the north of England. By all means let the 
cultivation of Madresfield Court be encouraged, and we shall then in a 
comparatively short time see whether it is not a “standard” Grape (not for 
keeping, no one claims that for it) or not. I do not exactly say it will 
become a standard variety, but I do venture to predict that when its- 
cultivation is better understood, as it certainly is rapidly becoming, that it 
will occupy a conspicuous place in every Grape-growing establishment of 
any pretensions. 
Everyone who has been interested in this Grape, and who has read the- 
reports of shows published in the Journal, must have noticed how in¬ 
creasingly popular it has become the last year or so, and can we wonder 
at it 1 for what other black Grape have we to compare with it for summer 
