338 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ O.tober 17. 1889. 
abound in the district the pastures would not be so full of Clover, and 
the trees could not grow so well. They are strong without frothiness, 
and extremely stout in the foliage. Neither blight nor canker can be 
seen in a ten mile walk along the paths between them. Most interesting 
it is to walk down a 20 acre piece of yearling Apples, the first growth 
from the bud, and to note the evenness of the varieties and the character 
of each in foliage and relative vigour ; some rows strong and stately, 
others of medium stature ; some with broad dark leaves, others lighter 
and pointed. A rogue in any of these rows would be “ spotted ” in a 
moment. Keen-eyed experts like Mr. Bunyard and his men know the 
varieties of fruits by their leaves and wood a great deal better than 
thousands of persons who purchase and plant know them by their fruit; 
yet all are either plainly named or numbered, the old hieroglyphical 
crosses and notches being abandoned ; it is therefore not possible to see 
how mistakes in nomenclature can occur. Then follow forest-like masses 
of two-year-olds, in which the habits of the varieties are displayed, 
upright or spreading, precocious or otherwise in forming fruit buds. 
The contrast in those respects is very striking between, for instance, the 
sturdy and bristling Lane’s Prince Albert and the quicker-growing and 
slower-bearing Blenheim Orange. 
The stock of Apples we are told numbers 100,000, and judging by 
the extent of land occupied by the trees the visitor would conclude 
there are more. Among the newer sorts, freely bearing on young trees 
—an excellent indication of coming usefulness—Bismarck is prominent 
by its large red fruit. This Australian Apple was first exhibited by 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons, and certificated at the Crystal Palace It has 
often been represented by orchard house fruit at shows, and not a few 
admirers have concluded the variety is not hardy enough for our climate, 
but no Apple bears handsome fruit more freely than this does in the 
open quarters at Allington, and Bismarck can scarcely fail to become a 
favourite in the market. Belle Pontoise also bears large, flatfish, and 
most attractive fruit very freely. As a market sort par excellence Mr. 
Bunyard places the new variety Royal Jubilee quite in the front rank. 
The young trees bristle with fruit buds, and the golden conical fruit is 
tempting in appearance, and though ready for use early keeps a long 
time. Lady Sudeley (originally Jacob’s Strawberry) is in great force, 
and sure to be extensively planted when its merits are fully recognised. 
Freedom of cropping, richness of colour, and good quality are its 
characteristics. It will probably be seen in piles on fruit stalls and 
costermongers’ barrows in a few years time, than which there is no better 
test of usefulness. Wealthy, an American variety, bears highly coloured 
fruit abundantly, and thus recommends itself. Mr. Bunyard regards 
Newton Wonder with much favour as a valuable late keeping App’e. 
Laxton’s September Beauty is noticeable by its glossy red fruit, and the 
certificate it won is evidence of value. Baumann’s Red Winter 
Reinette bears heavily dark crimson fruit, and is a distinct variety of 
great promise. The Scarlet Costard and Gascoyne’s Scarlet are highly 
coloured, while Hormead’s Pearmain is highly regarded in the nursery. 
Of better known kinds bearing freely, among many sorts that are 
barren, are Pott’s Seedling, Lord Grosvenor, Ringer, Worcester Pear- 
main, Duchess of Oldenburgh, Stirling Castle, Grenadier, Lord Derby, 
Lane’s Prince Albert, Brownlee’s Russet, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Im¬ 
proved Kerry Pippin, Hubbard’s Pearmain, and Scarlet Nonpariel, all 
good varieties, and Bramley’s Seedling is in great demand for orchards. 
All forms of trees are grown on different stocks, including standards on 
a good form of the Paradise, covered with fruit all up the stems like 
“ ropes of Onions ”—favourites with owners of small gardens. Several 
Apples are grown in pots, and bearing splendid fruit in the orchard 
house. 
Pears are not grown so extensively as Apples, yet there are 50,000 of 
them. Rivers’ Fertility is taking the lead among orchard standards, 
and for the same purpose Beurrfl Bose, Clapp’s Favourite, Pitmaston 
Duchess, Hessle, Beurrd de Capiaumont, Crawford and Lammas are 
in great demand. For garden culture as pyramids, cordons and espaliers, 
those bearing the most freely this (unfruitful) year are Beurrb 
d’Amanlis, Durondeau, Duchesse d’Angouleme, Fondante de Cuerne, 
Emile d’Heyst, Marshal de Cour, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and Marie 
Louise d’Uccle. Particularly fine in the orchard house are Pitmaston 
Duchess, Beurre Diel, and Doyenn6 du Comice. Among the less known 
varieties Aspasie Aucourt, Buerre Baltet pere, and Fondante Thirriott 
are thought highly of at Maidstone. 
Now we pass to Plums. There are acres of trees, the number being 
150,000, and 60,000 Damsons. Victoria leads the way for usefulness, but 
the Czar and Kentish Bush Plums have to be grown by the thousand, 
all the choice garden varieties being provided in proportion to the de¬ 
mand. Rivers’ Monarch, Cox’s Emperor, The Sultan, Grand Duke (fine 
late), and the Gages are evidently required in considerable numbers 
and are good. The Farleigh is the chief Damson (40,000 trees), and 
next to it the Shropshire or Prune for market purposes. 
As may be expected in the great Cherry county trees of the different 
varieties have to be extensively provided. There are acres of fine 
standards on tall stems, while pyramid, trained, cordon, and orchard 
house trees are represented in the leading varieties, but the Bigarreaus 
appear to predominate in the stock of 50,000. 
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots under glass and outdoors in the form 
of trained trees of various heights and shapes, also as bushes -or 
pyramids, are provided in great numbers, 10,000 or more ; the Glad¬ 
stone and Waterloo Peaches are increasing in demand yearly as their 
merits become recognised. Of the older Peaches Royal George remains 
the greatest popular favourite. Figs are grown in pots somewhat ex¬ 
tensively, also Vines, and Medlars, Quinces, Mulberries, and all sorts of 
bush fruits have place in the emporium. 
Long marginal borders of choice Conifers, the bluish Cupressus 
Lawsoniana Alumni being conspicuous, alongside the grassy prome¬ 
nades add a feature of interest, and in the summer and through the 
autumn large squares of Roses afford blooms for all comers and more 
than they can take away. Roses on their own roots grow here quite a* 
well as on any stocks, if not better. The free flowering China Rose 
Louis Phillipe appears to be a feature, and the plants are laden with 
blooms till winter. Spiraea Bumaldi one of the dwarfest and most 
attractive of the family, is extensively grown for border decoration, and 
is highly worthy of cultivation. 
The span-roofed orchard house, 100 feet by 30 feet, contained three 
rows of Peach and Nectarine trees down the centre, trained “ riders ” of 
various heights and ready for bearing at once, the sides being occupied 
with Apples and Pears in pots bearing “exhibition” fruit. A house of 
the true Rollisson’s Telegraph Cucumbers was bearing its third crop ; the 
fruit 20 to 26 inches long ripening for seed, an! Donald Beaton’s outdoor 
Ridge Cucumbers, which is quite one of the best, was being harvested. 
Tomatoes on banks are well worthy of mention, the growths trained to 
sticks or wires about 18 inches above and parallel to the ground being 
roped with fruit, Laxton’s Open Air the favourite variety. 
Very interesting, also instructive, is it to spend an hour in an estab¬ 
lishment such as this with one of the recognised masters in the art of 
hardy fruit culture, not an “ old ” master, but in the prime of life, with 
still, it is hoped, a long future before him. The telephone connects 
Allington with the head quarters in Maidstone, and in erecting offices 
for the transaction of business in the nursery the men have not been 
forgotten. The necessary provision for their comfort has been made 
during the periodical rests, and they no doubt work the more actively 
between them, for workmen worthy of being employed are appreciative 
and study the interest of those who show themselves well disposed 
towards them. 
Some reference ought to be made to an adjacent fruit garden planted 
by Mr. Bunyard about seven years ago on the estate of Mr. Brassey—to- 
the heavily laden Queen Caroline, Lord Derby, and other profitable 
Apples, and the bush fruits below, which alone have been handsomely 
remunerative; but more space must not be encroached on, interesting 
as the record might be, and Mr. Bunyard is thanked for his kind attention- 
to a sudden caller at his nurseries.—F. R. H. S. 
BLACK HAMBURGH GRAPES AT DRUMLANRIG. 
Your correspondent “A Kitchen Gardener,” who has lately visited 
Drumlanrig Gardens, seems astonished at the grand bunches of Black 
Hamburgh Grapes he saw there ; and no wonder, when he informs us, 
“ According to some authorities the cultivation of old fashioned high 
class Black Hamburgh Grapes,” mark you—“ is almost a lost or un¬ 
known art,” and he verily “ believes there is some truth in their asser¬ 
tion. In fact,” he writes, “ 1 know instances where the Black Ham¬ 
burgh was discarded to give place to more showy varieties.” This, I am 
sure, is news that few gardeners will be prepared to receive, let alone 
credit. 
Oh ! ye degenerate sons of Adam, “ A Kitchen Gardener ” must wake 
you up and teach you the lost art of growing “old fashioned high class 
Black Hamburgh Grapes.” I know that Mr. Thomson’s Grapes are 
first rate examples of the variety in question, and are well worth going 
a long way to see. But it is a calumny on gardeners to say that the- 
art is lost, or the Grape in question is neglected or discarded on that 
account. I believe if a census was taken of all the establishments in 
the country where Grapes are grown, it would be found that there 
were not six places in the kingdom where the Black Hamburgh was left 
out of a collection. I am curious to know what some of our great 
horticultural teachers will have to say on the subject, and more especially 
Mr. Muir of Margam, who, we have been told, has grown Black Ham¬ 
burgh Grapes to something like perfection without the aid of fire 
heat, in the climate of South Wales.— Fifeshire. 
HORTICULTURAL CLUB. 
The first monthly dinner and conversazione for the session 1889-90 
took place at the Club rooms, Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, West¬ 
minster, on Tuesday evening. The Rev. W. Wilks, in the absence of 
Mr. John Lee, occupied the chair ; and there were present the Rev. 
F. H. Gall, Messrs. Girdlestone, II. J. Veitch, H. J. Pearson, George 
Paul, J. II. Veitch, T. B. Hall, T. Francis Rivers, James Walker, Geo. 
Prince, A. Prince. The Very Rev. the Dean of Rochester ; W. Her¬ 
bert Fowler, Esq., Claremont, Taunton ; and J. H. Stott, Esq., The- 
Lindens, Preston, were elected members. 
The subject for discussion was “ The Dressing of Roses,” which was 
introduced by Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, who stated that the subject 
had only very recently cropped up, and it was, he believed, practised 
mainly amongst northern growers, and was not much adopted amongst 
amateurs. He said that in all florists’ flowers there was a certain 
amount of manipulation practised by which petals were brought into 
position, and a flower made to appear somewhat larger than it otherwise- 
would; but what he alluded to was a practice by which the whole- 
character of the flower was altered, as, for instance, where a high pointed 
centre, as in Alfred Colomb, was so manipulated by having its petals- 
turned inside out as to appear like A. K. Williams, or where a small 
bud of a Tea Rose, not an inch across, was so opened out as to make- 
a fijwer some 2 or 3 inches across, entirely altering its character. 
