August 20 , 1839. ] 
■JOURNAL OF HORTTCULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
185 
condition for turning them to better account. When the drying 
apparatus and wine press are worked together the greatest advantage is 
secured, fruit can be properly sorted, the finest being sold in its 
fresh state, the medium dried, and the remainder utilised in the pro¬ 
duction of fruit wine, and thus everything is turned to the best account. 
Convinced of the importance of the subject, the Royal Agricultural 
Society offered a good prize for the best drying apparatus. After 
careful experimental working extending over four days this prize was 
awarded to Dr. Ryder’s patent, manufactured by Messrs. Ph. Mayfarth 
and Co. This is represented in fig. 26, and full particulars for working 
are given in the circulars of the firm. 
For the preparation of wine, not only are Apples and Pears suit¬ 
able, but also Gooseberries, Currants, Raspberries, Blackberries, Bil¬ 
berries, &e. For the production of such wine in general only a press is 
necessary, and in addition a fruit-grinding mill when Apples and Pears 
are to be used. A small press is shown in fig. 27. Oae person suffices 
to work this press. He does not need to go around it, but by an inge¬ 
nious ratchet motion the lever is worked from side to side, pressing out 
the juice completely. 
NANTCOCH HOUSE, 
The residence of T. Colborne, Esq., is situated upon the north-west 
side of and distant about two miles from the seaport town of Newport, 
Monmouth. The house is a magnificent and substantial red stone 
building of Gothic style, and is about three miles inland of the Bristol 
Channel, standing upon an elevated position and commanding a beaut ; - 
ful view. Upon each side of the drive are fine borders of dwarf Roses 
and herbaceous plants, whi'e in front of the mansion is a large and well 
kept lawn, with flower beds and large clump 3 of Rhododendrons and 
young specimen Conifers. The ronservatory is attached to the west 
side, and is beautifully decorated with a good collection of flowering 
plants. Upon the north s'de of mansion is a beautiful bowling saloon 
some 75 feet long by 15 wide, which is beautifully adorned with flower¬ 
ing plants. Leading from the bow ing saloon is a range of vineries, the 
first to be entered being the late house, which contains a good crop of 
Grapes of the following kinds :—Lady Downe’s, Gros Colman, and Mrs. 
Pearson, the bunches large, berries fair, and promising to finish well. 
The border is outside, which permits of the inside of this house being 
utilised for Camellias. A fine centre border contains some eighteen or 
twenty trees, and upon the back wall are trained six trees, which are all 
well set with buds, and looking strong and healthy. In this house are 
also some specimens of Adiantum cuneatum, also tuberous Begonias, 
and three very creditable Peach trees grown in 18-inch pots, bearing a 
magnificent crop. The variety is the Maltese Peach. 
The second early house is also looking well with Ps large black 
clusters of Black Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling, and Mrs. Pince, the latter 
being very good, the bunches large, berries also, and of capital colour, 
and the bunches even throughout the house. A fine specimen of Ficus 
elastica is trained up the back wall. There are also some specimen 
plants of Azalea indica trained in pyramidal shape. The next house 
being the. early vinery is planted with all Black IPamburghs, the bunches 
even in size, and averaging about 4 lbs. each ; the colour is a dense blue 
black, and the individual berries measure 1 inch in diameter, the 
bunches firm and well shouldered. Another house contains a fine collec¬ 
tion of Zonal Pelargoniums. Upon the back wall are grown Tomatoes. 
The varieties are Dedham Favourite, Hackworth Park, and Optimist, 
the latter'-doing well. In the frame ground we noticed Primulas, 
Cinerarias, and many other winter flowering plants. 
The kitchen garden is well stocked with all kinds of vegetables. 
Peas being extra good, and small fruit abundant. The second fruit 
garden is also looking well with its fine borders of Roses all around the 
paths with clumps of herbaceous plants. Also noticeable in this garden 
is a hardy fernery well laid out, and through which runs a stream of 
water, and the stream is utilised for beds of the useful salad Water¬ 
cress. In this garden is a large round cement tank for catching the 
rain water from the glass houses and outbuildings, which is connected to 
the tank by means of small pipes. After a day or two’s rain the tank 
is capable of. supplying the garden with water for a couple of months. 
In the chief fruit garden, in which there is a magnificent Peach wall, 
the trees in good health making beautiful bearing wood, not too strong 
or too weak, but just the kind of wood one likes to see. They are 
swelling a fine crop of fruit. The varieties are of Peaches Royal 
George, Maltese, Bellegarde, and Early Ann. Nectarines :—Elruge and 
Pine Apple. Upon the walks are stood some 400 pots of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums of the best varieties. They are all trained upon the single stem, 
and are looking strong, with rich foliage down to pots, and when in 
bloom will no doubt be worth the special attention which has been 
paid to them. The Apples and Pears are up to the average, and the 
orchard trees are bearing fair crops. 
Leaving this garden, we travel east of the mansion, finding ourselves 
amongst four or five lakes of water with paths leading in different 
directions over brooks, <fcc. In the ponds are some plants of Nymphma 
alba, the white Water Lily. From this point we view the head 
gardener’s house, which is situated about three minutes’ walk from the 
garden, a fine red stone building in Gothic style with a garden attached. 
An hour’s visit to Nantcoch did not permit me to give fuller details, but 
I was pleased to hear from my guide that Mr. Colborne is a great horti¬ 
culturist, and takes every interest in his magnificent garden, and he 
opens to the public every year a grand Chrysanthemum show at a 
nominal fee, which is handed over to a charitable institution. I was 
informed some hundreds of persons avail themselves of the opportunity I 
of seeing a handsome display of Chrysanthemums, and by the appear¬ 
ance of the hundreds of plants now preparing the Show promises to be 
one worth travelling a few mile3 to see.— H. Mitchell, Frines Garden, 
Monmouthshire. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
SHROPSHIRE. 
The annual summer Exhibition of the Shropshire Floral ami 
Horticultural Society, now well known as the Shrewsbury Show, was< 
held in the Quarry Grounds of that town on August 21st and 22nd. 
The entries exceeded last and all previous years by upwards of 300. 
The quality in all departments was of an unusually high order, and from, 
a purely gardening point of view the Exhibition was an undoubted 
success. Local growers were well to the fore, and evince a determination 
to hold their own. The weather on both days was not favourable 
showers occurred frequently, and sometimes so heavy that the canvas 
was penetrated and some of the exhibits saturated. In the case of 
many shows it would have resulted in a complete failure from non- 
attendance ; but it was far from having this effect at Shrewsbury, as 
upwards of 40,000 people visited the Show, and the receipts at the gates 
during the two days amounted to the handsome sum of £1206. This is- 
£200 or £300 below last year, but it is still encouraging, as in 1875, 
when the Show was commenced, the gate-money only amounted to 
£394, and it has been as low as £271. 
The arrangements were admirable in all departments. As in times- 
past Messrs. Adnitt and Naunton, the Honorary Secretaries, were, 
unremitting in their vigilance, aided by an industrious Committee. 
PLANTS. 
The main exhibits of these were arranged in a huge tent measuring- 
140 feet in length and 80 feet in width. Tall Palms and the largest 
specimens occupied the centre, the smaller being round the sides, and 
the effect when it was possible to observe it was excellent. The class- 
for twenty stove and greenhouse plants in bloom or foliage, not less- 
than ten in bloom, with prizes of £25, £20, and £15, brought three 
collections. Mr. Finch, gardener to J. Marriott, Esq., Coventry, 
eventua ly gained the first prize, and left Mr. Cypher second. The 
best plants in the first were some grand fresh specimens of Dipladenia 
Regina, Ixora Williamsi, I. Fraseri, Miltonia spectabilis,- a conical 
mound over a yard in height; Lapageria alba, Stephanotis floribundr, 
A lamanda Hendersoni. Croton Qaeen Victoria, C. Morti, Erica Thornp- 
soni, E. Marnockiana, E. Lindleyana, Kentia australis, Cycas circinalis,. 
and Latania borbonica. Mr. Cypher’s group icontained more Ericas of 
a telling character. Mr. Charles Roberts, gardener to A. Nicholson, Esq., 
Highfield Hall, Leek, was third. The class for the nine stove and 
greenhouse plants was less prominent, but the specimens in the first 
prize group from Messrs. Pritchard & Sons, Shrewsbury, were healthy,, 
well grown, and in fine condition, as were also those from Mr. Flock, 
gardener to the Marquis of Cholmondeley, Malpas, which came second, 
and Mr. Farrant, gardener to Mrs. Juson. Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, 
was third. Mr. C. Pearson, gardener to Lord Berwick, Attingham, was- 
first for six stove and greenhouse plants, his Bougainvillea glabra and 
Statice profusa being very fine, and Mr. Farrant secured both the second 
and third prizes in this class with small but useful plants. 
Exotic Ferns were largely shown, and Mr. Lambert, gardener to Col. 
Wingfield, Onslow, secure! the first prize for six specimens. They were 
all finely grown, luxuriant, and clean, and consisted of Hymenophyllum 
demissum, Mircolepia hirta cristata, Davallia Mooreana, Adiantum. 
cuneatum, A. farleyense, and Neottopteris Nidus. Mr. Cypher waa 
second, and Mr. Roberts th’rd, both showing well. In the Salop class forsix 
Ferns Mr. Lambert also secured first prize, and was closely followed by 
Mr. Milner, gardener to Rev. J. D. Corbet, Sundorne Castle, Shrewsbury, 
and Mr. Farrant. The class for six plants in flower, Orchids excluded, 
was one of the best in the Show, and there Mr. Cypher came first with 
finely flowered specimens of Statice profusa, Erica Marnockiana, E, 
Evveriana, Bougainvillea glabra, Clerodendron Balfourianum, and 
Allamanda grandiflora. Mr. Roberts was second, and Mr. Finch 
third. The Palms made a fine display, and the first prize for 
six was awarded to Mr. G. Williams, gardener to S. Baerlein, 
Esq., Oak Dene, Didsbury, Manchester, with well developed 
plants, the best of which were Kentia australis, K. Fosteriana, 
K. Belmoreana, and Latania borbonica. Mr. Roberts took second, and 
Mr. Cypher third. Mr. Lambert cleared the boards in the class forsix 
Dracmnas by taking all the prizes with capital plants. Messrs. Pritchard 
and Sons had first and second for six Caladiums, Mr. Farrant third 
with large plants well furnished. Mr. J. Barker, Grammar Schools, 
Shrewsbury, was first for four Coleuses with well grown pyramid 
plants. 
Tuberous Begonias were excellent, the best coming from Mr. Davies, 
gardener to General Jenkins, Crockton Hall ; Mr. Henry Owen, The 
Cedars, and Mr. Lawerence, Mayfield. Fuchsias were hardly so large 
as formerly, but indicated much care in culture, especially those from 
Mr. Phillips, gardener to the Hon. W. H. Herbert Prestfelde, Mr. Wyley, 
Council House, Shrewsbury, and Mr. Farrant, which won in the order 
named. Double and Zonal Pelargoniums were good from Messrs. 
Pritchard & Sons and Mr. Phillips, and inferior plants throughout the 
Show were remarkab’e for their scarcity. 
The collection of miscellaneous plants arranged for effect and 
occupying a space 100 feet square call for special notice, as the exhibits 
here were more numerous than they have been for some years. Mr. 
Williams, Didsbury, Manchester, secured first and second prize, and 
