December 19, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
533 
gardens to enjoy the gardens so generously thrown open by the Duke 
on that occasion ; and that His Grace wishes them to enjoy the beautiful 
gardens is well proved by the interest and pleasure he exhibits as he 
mixes with the people. The magnificent house, the extensive lake, 
the covered walks, grand flower gardens, lawns, conservatories, &c., are 
so imposing that none but the most prejudiced can help admitting 
Trentham to be a beautiful and interesting, if low and damp, place, and 
to do justice to it would require a far abler pen than mine. I give a 
few notes [of the gardens as I found them in the month of November, 
one of the most dreary months of the year, therefore they were seen in 
almost their dullest garb and not in their brightest. 
The Glass Structures. 
These if placed end to end would extend over a mile in length, 
consequently a detailed account of each house or its contents would 
take up too much of the valuable space of the Journal. The first 
entered is the early Peach house. The lights have been off all the 
autumn for the purpose of thoroughly maturing and resting the 
trees, or approaching rest as near as good culture will permit. 
The trees are clean, wood strong and bristling with buds nearly 
bytthe way, having always been exceptionally well grown at Trentham 
No. 7 is a vinery similar in size, &c., to the last, and is planted princi¬ 
pally with Duke of^ Buccleuch, a noble Grape, unsurpassed in appear- 
ance, and scarcely in flavour, when well grown; but its unfortunate 
liability to “ spot ’ in many places somewhat damages its reputation, 
and places it at a disadvantage with other Grapes of less sterling 
merit. No. 8 vinery is filled with late Hamburghs, which will carry the 
supply well into the new year, to be followed by the thicker skinned 
ones^ until the supply of new Grapes, from pot Vines, in May. This 
list cioes not exhaust the number of vineries at Trentham ; but it gives a 
fair idea of the quantity, quality, and variety of Grapes grown there. 
It will be observed that, with all the space at command, the number of 
varieties is very small as compared with the number in general 
cultivation. Black Hamburgh predominates, and is followed by 
Madresfield Court, Muscat of Alexandria, Duke of Buccleuch, Lady 
Downe’s, Gros Colman, Mrs. Pince, and Fosters’ Seedling. There 
are several other varieties, but they are in a minority. 
The Large Conservatory. 
A rectangular structure with ridge and furrow roof and about 100 feet 
Fig. 68.—THE GARDENER’S COTTAGE, TRENTHAM. 
neady to burst, and they will be encouraged to do so on and from 
the 1st of December. The back wall of this house, as in many 
of the fruit houses at Trentham, is covered with Camellias, chiefly 
alba plena. 
The next house is a vinery with a ridge and furrow roof, and called 
the Muscat house ; it is 114 feet long and contains thirty-six Vines, the 
principal varieties being Muscat of Alexandria (of excellent colour), 
Alicante, Gros Colman, and Mrs. Pince, good crops of each sort, and 
each sort a good example of its kind. Nos. 2, 3 and 4 vineries have had 
all the fruit cut and are resting. They are young Vines and have made 
wood of good quality, but fruit must be had, and they are taxed each 
year to the utmost. In No. 2 were thirty-three baskets of Coelogyne 
cristata, most of them being 2 to 3 feet across, and all with fine pseudo¬ 
bulbs well set with flower spikes ; these will be a splendid sight in the 
.new year. No. 4 vinery contained some newly imported Dendrobiums 
having made extra strong growths during the past season at Trentham ; 
these were D. Wardianum, D. Freemani, and D nobile nobilius. No. 6 
vinery is at rest and is filled exclusively with Black Hamburghs. 
No. 6 is a “ glass case ” vinery 100 feet long, and is full of good useful 
hunches of Black Hamburgh and Madresfield Court Muscat, the latter, 
square, more or less, I have not the exact dimensions. The objects that 
most attract the eye in November are the magnificent Camellias 
which form the chief occupants of the house. It has been my privilege 
to visit Trentham Gardens at intervals during the past twenty years, 
but I never saw the fine collection of Camellias in such splendid 
condition as they are this year. Perfect pyramids from 8 to 14 feet 
high are planted all over the house ; all are in perfect health, and 
every one studded with flowers or flower buds. Where all are so good it 
is almost impossible to particularise ; but there is one plant that 
commands special admiration ; it is a gigantic specimen of Camellia 
alba plena 14 feet high and 30 feet in circumference, and covered from 
summit to base with flowers or buds and luxuriant foliage. The 
varieties comprise alba plena in quantity, candidissima, Lady Hume’s 
Blush, Bealei, Chandleri, Chandleri elegans, Donckelaari, Jubilee and 
others. There is a good specimen of Luculia gratissima in this house, 
and during the winter months its large trusses of rosy pink and 
fragrant flowers are very showy and useful. Those people who know 
this plant will understand its value ; others who do not, but who have 
plenty of head room for large Camellias, should obtain several p'ants of 
it from their nurseryman. 
