August 2, 1834 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
paper and string. Persons desiring to have more ample information, or 
who would like to take part in the proceedings of the Stanley Syndicate, 
can address themselves to the latter, Avenue Copes, 24, The Hague. 
A RUN NORTHWARDS. 
Nothing affords town dwellers more pleasure than a run into the 
country during the summer. The removal from bricks and mortar to 
green fields, sweet smelling hay, ripening corn, fragrant flowers, and 
swelling fruit has a beneficial effect, physically as well as mentally, and 
it is not surprising that many persons avail themselves of it. An 
opportunity for a brief change somewhat of this character recently 
came in the way of a scribe who was deputed in the first place to the 
provincial show of the National Rose Society at Halifax on the 19th, 
and from thence to Manchester on the 2l8t nit. This allowed an 
intervening day for a ramble in the broad acres of Yorkshire as the 
following simple narrative will show. Half a century ago it was 
doubtless considered a long ride from the metropolis to the north of the 
“ Tyke ” county, hut now-a-days matters are entirely different. Five 
hours were sufficient to convey a little band of southern rosarians from 
King’s Cross to their destination, and so quickly did the time pass that 
only a few were able to relate their experiences and keen floral battles 
in regard to Rose exhibiting. If something could be said about the 
most exciting of these, the adventures would be interesting to readers ; 
but for the present they must remain in abeyance, for having 
commenced to unroll the ball we must follow the thread whither it 
leads US. 
Compared with some of the other provincial centres Halifax cannot 
be termed a large place, the number of inhabitants barely exceeding 
80,000, nor does it appear to possess anything of special interest to horti¬ 
culturists. Indeed, at first sight the town has by no means an inviting 
appearance, though were it possible to remove the numerous factories 
which abound in the locality an improvement would at once be effected. 
The neighbourhood, however, like many parts of the county, has its 
natural charms, these including the glorious hills that rise on every side. 
They attract the visitor’s attention, and answer the purpose of land¬ 
marks. One of the southern strangers, having no Roses to trouble 
about, on arriving in the town commenced to look about himself and 
“ make tracts ” for the show ground. Fearful lest he should betray his 
cockneyism, after telling half a dozen Jehus who assailed him that he 
did not want a “ keb,” he timidly inquired how far it was to Spring 
Hall grounds. “ Oh I thou means where t’ Rose show is to be held.” 
The Londoner said that was the place to which he referred. “Wtll, 
thou can see t’ flag yonder, that’s it,” pointing to a Union Jack fluttering 
in the breeze on the top of a large building, situated on a high hill about 
a mile and a half away. Yes, the flag could be seen in the distance, but 
how to get there was another matter. However, the aforesaid stranger 
was directed to “ Follow t’ yon road up t’ hill,” and ultimately the site 
of the exhibition was reached. 
What a difference there is betwixt northern and southern shows 1 
Yorkshiremen never do things by halves ; they always appear to be in 
earnest—even to the management of a flower show. Everyone in Hali¬ 
fax seemed to know that the National Rose Society meeting was going 
to take place in conjunction with the local exhibition on the 19th, and 
provisions were made accordingly. ’Buses crowded with passengers 
were continually running from the centre of the town to the grounds 
during the day, and it is no wonder that 10,000 persons paid a tribute to 
the “ queen of flowers.” And how enthusiastic they were 1 Early in 
the afternoon the huge tent containing the produce of the “ big guns ” 
was literally packed with men, women, and children. The scribbler 
from the metropolis is used to crowds, and of being jostled a little whilst 
endeavouring to make a few hieroglyphics in his reporting book, but the 
northerners were nearly too much for him. He was obliged to make very 
fragmentary notes, or none at all, so far as these remarks are concerned, 
for many visitors obviously mistook him to be either an official or a noted 
Tosarian. Why such occurred was for the time being a puzzle, though it 
afterwards dawned upon his mind that it was owing not to the “ wear¬ 
ing o’ the green ” but the pink, having unluckily the badge of the N.R.S. 
in his buttonhole. The fact of thus trying to avoid a collision with the 
police early in the day brought forth frequently such remarks as, “ Do 
you know who won the trophy ? ” ; “ Was it a better show than that at 
Windsor ? ” ; and one lady fought her way through the crowd to inquire 
of the scribbler “ Whether he could spare a book ? ” at the same time 
grasping a nurseryman’s trade list of Roses. 
Notwithstanding these minor temporary troubles the work was 
accomplished, and time afforded for a chat with one of the originators of 
the Salterhebble and District Rose Society. This, it appears, was estab¬ 
lished in a very small way about sixteen years ago. “ At that time we 
had no idea of seeing the national exhibition here,” remarked the genial 
Yorkshireman. “ Our first show was a very poor affair compared with 
this one. It was held in a public-house room. Eventually we managed to 
obtain a tent, and for some time held the exhibition at Dayclough, making 
progress each year in spite of difficulties. Since 1888 Alderman Booth 
has taken great interest in our Society, and has granted us the privilege 
of holding the show in the Spring Hall grounds. A’oout three years ago we 
became affiliated with the National R ;se Society, and have never 
regretted taking that step, for the Society has over a balance of £200.” 
Such is in brief the history of the Salterhebble and District Rose 
Society, and everyone who was present on the 19 th will agree that the 
members are deserving of the success they have attained. It is said, too, 
that this particular show was a financial success, no less than £150 
being received as gate money during the day, and the greater portion of 
this was paid in small sums. But considering the detailed report pub¬ 
lished in the Journal of Horticulture last week, enough has been 
said of the Rose exhibition, at which, it may be added, there were about 
2970 blooms staged. 
Sandbeck Park Gardens. 
From Halifax to Doncaster is not a far cry, and to this town the 
pilgrim harked in response to an invitation from Mr. G. Summers, of 
The Gardens, Sandbeck Park. This beautiful demesne, one of the 
homes of the Earl of Scarbrough, is situated in the southern part of the 
county, about equi-distant (ten miles) from Doncaster, Worksop (of 
Dukeries fame), and Rotherham, the former being a convenient railway 
centre, and the latter the post town. A drive through a charming 
agricultural locality proved a welcome change from the coal districts, 
which had been noticed on the way ; and with a genial compagnon de 
voyage, as the French would say, the time passed pleasantly. Many 
items of interest were observed on the journey, not one of the least 
being a waggon-load of Pea pickers, chiefly women and children, whose 
services are requisitioned in the neighbourhood, where Peas are exten¬ 
sively grown for market. Prince of Wales appears to be the favourite 
variety cultivated, and large crops are produced. Afield of Broccoli 
was pointed out as being worthy of more than a passing glance, seeing 
that for many years, possibly over twenty, a similar crop has been 
annually grown there. The plants this year are remarkable for 
their healthy and stout appearance, and it is said that the owner, a 
joiner in the village of Wad worth, never fails to have a good crop of 
Broccoli even in the severest winter. In January last the thermometer 
went down to zero in the district, but the plants were unharmed, and 
when cut the ground was prepared for another crop of the same kind. 
What say advocates of rotation of cropping to this ? Information as to 
the varieties grown or the kind of manure used could not, unfortunately, 
be elicited ; but the fact remains the same, that the grower can always 
manage to procure an excellent crop of Broccoli from his plot, and 
dispose of it profitably, whilst others fail, A smart nag soon took us to 
the township of Tickhill, past the historical castle, more noted now for 
Lord Scarbrough’s stud of thoroughbred horses, than as a stronghold of 
warfare ; thence to gardens of Sandbeck Park, Here there was much 
to be seen and learnt, and the visit proved doubly interesting to the 
writer, because it was at this establishment where he was first taught 
many hints that proved serviceable to him in after years. Experiments 
that were carried out long ago have since borne fruit, and improvements 
thereby effected. 
As elsewhere, it was found that time has wrought changes in these 
gardens, in most respects for the better, which, considering the circum¬ 
stances, reflects credit on the manager, Mr. Summers. It is now the 
general practice to dispose of surplus produce grown in noblemen’s 
gardens in the markets, and in this respect the establishment under 
notice is no exception to the rule. It has not, however, like instances 
that could be mentioned, deteriorated because of that ; indeed, the 
reverse is the case. A visit after nearly a dozen years’ absence is 
sufficient to corroborate this statement, and it is doubtful whether there 
is a better kept place in the kingdom. While neatness and excellence of 
crops form the primary characteristics apparent to the superficial 
observer, it is evident to those who look beneath the surface that the 
most is made of everything. According to the well worn adage, the 
man who makes two blades of grass grow where ordinary mortals can 
only induce one to thrive is a benefactor, and if this be true Mr, 
Summers may also justly claim that distinction. Not a yard of ground 
is wasted, for double cropping is practised in a systematic manner, and all 
available space under glass as well as outdoors is utilised. This, of 
course, is as it should be where profits have to be made ; but it is not 
everyone who can so readily grasp the situation and make the most 
of it. 
The glass structures at Sandbeck Gardens are numerous, the majority 
of them being devoted to fruit culture. Of Grapes, the Muscat of 
Alexandria is preferred to all others, consequently this variety is the 
most extensively grown. The Vines for the most part have been 
inarched on various stocks at different times, and are now carrying a 
fine crop of bunches noteworthy for their size and evenness of berry. 
Golden Queen is a handsome Grape, here seen at its best, but it is not 
considered first-class in quality. Madresfield Court, too, is admirably 
grown, though the large well-coloured berries show a tendency to crack, 
owing to the moisture required for the other varieties growing in the 
same house. The late vinery includes Lady Downe’s and Alicante, both 
of these kinds carrying useful bunches, and it was observed that scalding 
had not marred the contour of the berries, such as too frequently is the 
case. Mishaps of this kind are avoided by judicious ventilation and 
careful management. Black Hamburgh Grapes are also above the 
average in merit, the same applying to Trebbiano and Gros Guillaume 
(Barbarossa), of which some enormous bunches are grown. A feature 
of the vineries is the manner in which the borders have been recon¬ 
structed ; but more of this anon. The back wall of one of the largest 
vineries is planted with Asparagus plumosus nanus, which grows with 
extraordinary vigour, the growths running on strands of string from the 
floor to the roof, a height perhaps of 15 feet. In the autumn these 
sprays are cut the full length and disposed of for decorative purposes. 
The plants are growing in a compost of loam, peat, and sand, in a narrow 
border, and the atmosphere apparently suits them much better than the 
warm temperature of a stove, in which some specimens of it are also 
cultivated. 
