296 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October S, I38P. 
neath, and yet no moisture seemed visible in the house. These were 
started the second week in March ; they are just now finishing, and are 
faultless in colour, size of berry, and bunch. The bunches average 
3 to 4 lbs. each, are a heavy crop, and regular all over the house. The 
usual Vine soil was used with Ville’s manure, and each year about 
2 lbs. to the square yard is allowed as a top-dressing. The growths of 
the wood were splendid ; joints of the shoots were only from 4 to 
44 inches apart. 
The pinetum is known to the many readers of the Journal to be very 
extensive, and was very interesting to the visitors. Notable were 
Abies Yeitchi, Cedrus Deodora, Abies nobilis and Douglasi, the latter 
not so good where it has caught the winds ; Picea monticola and Thu- 
jopsis dolabrata. A fine plant of Abies Englemanni glauca was pointed 
out, some contending it was Parryi; however, they all agreed the latter 
was the hardier. Abies grandis was pointed out to be the hardiest 
becoming tree for glens and dales, while it was stated that Abies 
Douglasi would fast take the place of the Silver Fir as a timber tree, it 
makes as much as 3 to 4 feet in one year. In the kitchen garden were 
some fine Cauliflowers, Early London planted 15 inches apart, as they 
are cut in a small state by the thousand. King of the Cauliflowers is 
also a great favourite, and London Rosette Coleworts were also planted 
in thousands after Potatoes. Some fine late Pears of Hacon’s Incom¬ 
parable, which comes in December and January, were noted here ; it is 
a great favourite. Marie Louise and Glou Morijeau were also spoken of 
highly. 
From the top tier is observed a fine view of the flower garden, terrace, 
glass houses, &c., which were all fully described by Mr. L. Castle two 
years ago. This fine flower garden was designed by the present Duke, 
and contains his coats of arms worked in crescent shape. We may here 
mention the promenade round the tennis court. This is an agreeable 
shady resort. It is planted with Lime trees about 9 feet apart and 
about 14 feet broad, these have been trained over some wirework about 
11 feet high: the whole work has been very successful. In another 
portion of the kitchen garden, and were pointed out some magnificent 
Onions, spring planted, of Rousham Hero; the size much astonished 
the visitors. The secret of success was not kept back ; it was by raising 
them in a frame and pricking out early. This is a hint that kitchen 
gardeners would do weP in the cold north to take note of. Mr. Harris 
pointed out that through another hint in a recent article by Mr. 
J. Wright on Apples, that he had procured about a dozen trees of 
Domino Apple, which he was of opinion as a kitchen Apple would prove 
an undoubted success at Alnwick. It is rather like Ecklinville Apple, 
except the eye, and a small tree had eleven fine fruits. Peas were 
■doing well planted 15 to 16 feet apart from each other. Veitch’s Per¬ 
fection and Ne Plus Ultra were especial favourites ; amongst newer 
varieties Duke of St. Albans was also a favourite. As our time was 
short we had to take a reluctant leave of Mr. Harris. 
The party next proceeded to the Abbey grounds by way of Forest 
Gate, under the guidance of Mr. J. D. Coxon. There is much to interest 
the historian at Alnwick, and we may just state that before entering 
the park we observed the place where William the Lion was taken pri¬ 
soner in besieging Alnwick Castle in 1174. The Stocking Drive contains 
many fine specimens of trees, a Wellingtonia gigantea 45 feet high and 
13£ inches quarter girth attracted much attention ; the Abies nigra was 
30 feet, and some Abies nobilis, 38 feet, were also observed; Pinus Cembra, 
45 feet high, lOJ inches quarter girth, 4 feet up ; Thuia gigantea, a fine 
Liriodendron Tulipiferum, and Ailantus glandulosa, 41 feet high, com¬ 
monly called Tree of Heaven ; a fine Abies Douglasi, 63 feet high, and 
at 5 feet 94 quarter tree. This tree was only planted twenty years ago. 
Crossing the Ain over a graceful suspension bridge a fine view of the 
castle is obtained. Here are some fine specimen Abies Douglasi, and a 
Betula alba pendula attracted general attention, which was about 
<50 to 70 feet, and 5 feet from the ground 17£ inches quarter girth. On 
ascending a hill well above the Ain a fine view of the historic abbeys, 
Alnwick and Hulne, were obtained. The landscape here is a charming 
combination of woodland dale and valley, watered in tortuous and 
winding courses by the rippling Ain. Hulne Abbey was a Carmelite 
monastery, it is said, and owes its name to the hill having a strong 
resemblance to Mount Carmel. It is supposed to have been built in 
1240 by one Ralph Fresborn, and the ground given by William de 
Yescy. Alnwick Abbey was founded about 1147 for a colony of 
Premonstratensian canons. The foundations are large, and were 
lately excavated by the present duke so as to show the lines of the 
foundations, and these are clearly defined in gravel. There is also 
a flagstaff pole over 100 feet high, that was, it is said, even higher, 
and was a Vancouver Pine given to a former member of the ducal 
family. From there we proceeded to what is called the Far Stocking 
Park Dene, where there are some fine Larches, one 28J inches 
girth at 5 feet from the ground, 100 feet high, containing about 
250 cubic feet of wood, was planted about 140 years ago, and for 
ready money in the market would yield about £16. From there we 
come to what is termed Brissle Tower. This was built by Hugh, the 
first duke. It is built in the pseudo-Gothic style in the year 1781. Many 
fine trees were blown down in 1881. The view is of the most charming 
description, the Cheviot Hills and many other objects of historic 
interest can readily be seen on a fine day. 
By way of Dingle Drive and Catreugh Wood we proceeded to Hulne 
Abbey, already mentioned, passing by the Lady’s Well, a spring of pure 
water. A short distance from here is the Trysting Tree, a gnarled and 
venerable Oak, very hollow and much decayed. It is known to have 
been a great tree in 1624. A little to the east of the Lady’s Well are 
several fine specimens of the Silver Fir, some of which reach a height of 
from 108 to 114 feet. The girth of the tallest is, at 5 feet from the 
ground, 14 feet 6 inches. A little further east still is an Abies Douglasi, 
over 100 feet high. Several of the Silver Firs contain about 400 feet of 
wood, and some sold in 1876 contained 576 feet. In the fine old ruins 
of Hulne Abbey are several Service or White Beam trees, and here again 
occurred an interesting discussion, Mr. Brown of Hexham contending 
that they were not synonymous terms, but that the Service Tree was 
more serrated in the leaf, which opinion was generally supported. 
The party drove back to Alnwick, as dinner was to be ready at four 
o’clock, which was served in good style at the White Swan Hotel, 
Alnwick. The usual toasts were proposed, and Mr. Wilson, Leazes Park, 
Newcastle, was presented with the bronze medal of the Society for an 
essay “ For Suitable Trees for Various Soils and Climates.” The chair 
was occupied by Mr. T. Dodds, Eilan’s Gates, Hexham, and the vice- 
chair by Mr. Isaac Batty, of the same place. The following were 
present: —Mr. J. Davidson, Sec. and Treasurer, Haydon Bridge ; Mr. 
Wm. Fell, Mr. Wm. Milne, and Mr. Brown, all of Messrs. Wm. Fell and 
Co., Hexham ; Mr. John Balden, jun., and Mr. John Balden, sen., 
Dilston ; Mr. Luke, Greenshaw Plain ; Mr. J. Scott, Newton Hall; Mr. 
Ralph Shipley, Plunderheath ; Mr. Clark, Blenkinsopp Castle ; Mr. Thos. 
Vasey, land agent, South Shields ; Mr. D. Smith, Scremerston ; Mr. and 
Mrs. Graham, Findon Cottage, Durham ; Mr. J. Wilson, Leazes Park, 
Newcastle ; Mr. H. T. Crook, Manchester ; Mr. J. Robinson, Burnop- 
field ; Mr. Bernard Cowan, South Shields ; Rev. W. Johnson, F.R.S., 
Gateshead ; Mr. W. Taylor, of Little & Ballantyne’s, Carlisle ; Mr. Gallie, 
forester, Ravensworth Castle ; County Councillor Davidson, South 
Shields; Mr. Geo. Cooper, Superintendent Gateshead Cemetery, Gates¬ 
head ; and Mr. Jos. D. Coxon, forester to His Grace the Duke of 
Northumberland. The latter gentleman proved a good and constant 
guide all day from 11.30, and had it not been for that gentleman’s tact 
the visitors would not have seen so much of the fine woods in the short 
time they were there. Several new members were proposed, and all 
parted highly pleased with the day’s proceedings. The fine weather 
they experienced, and the pleasure enjoyed in visiting the Duke of 
Northumberland’s stately domains will be long remembered.— Bernard 
Cowan. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Gathering Apples.— This in most cases will not be a laborious 
undertaking, but if there is a scarcity of fruit there is a greater 
necessity to take extra care of the fruit. In many gardens the tits and 
blackbirds have been most destructive among the fruit, and it was a 
case of gathering early or having none to store. As a rule, however, it 
is unwise to gather the fruit before it parts freely from the branches, 
or until the seeds are nearly brown. If these tests are not applied, the 
Apples being dragged from the trees, the chances are the greater portion 
will shrivel prematurely. This applies to all varieties, whether early or 
late, but it is of the greatest importance that the keeping sorts be the 
most carefully tested prior to gathering. 
Storing Apples. —Whether the fruit will keep well or not, much 
depends upon the way in which they are stored, the quality or flavour 
being also quickly impaired under certain conditions. Many of the 
modern fruit rooms are lisht and airy, latticed shelves being provided 
for Apples as well as for Pears, but it does not follow that the fruit of 
the former will keep any better or even so well under this presumably 
favourable treatment than it did formerly in more makeshift quarters. 
The simple methods of storing sometimes adopted by those in charge of 
comparatively small places are sometimes the best, Apples keep 
admirably in clean sweet boxes or casks, and also in hampers lined with 
paper, these being stored in dry cool lofts or rooms, and not interfered 
with till required for use. It is of the greatest importance that only 
quite sound fruit be stored in this manner, as one decaying fruit in the 
lower portion of the mass will soon infect the others. Sound Apples 
will keep surprisingly well in such positions, and a'so when stored in 
heaps in a cool dark room, or even in the open and protected with clean 
straw, or much as Potatoes are clamped. In the case of dessert fruit 
especially sweet surroundings are of the greatest importance. Apples 
being of a soft porous nature soon absorb any effluvia to which they 
are subjected, and for this reason ought not to come into contact with 
musty hay or straw, nor be confined in an impure atmosphere, such, for 
instance, as pervades a disused Mushroom house. The shelves or floors 
should be lined with nothing but clean kitchen paper, as quite fresh 
straw or hay eventually becomes musty, and imparts an objectionable 
flavour to the fruit. Boarded floors ought especially to be covered with 
paper, this effectually excluding cold air draughts, and paper coverings 
freely used will protect sufficiently in frosty weather. If the fruit is 
stored in a well heated fruit room, fire heat should be turned on 
sparingly, or only sufficiently to prevent a very low temperature being 
reached, or otherwise premature shrivelling will inevitably result. 
