THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
ing it, or using it himself, of the nature of that composition. 
He was a general trader, such as you find in country towns; 
and I believe every manufacturing druggist has a similar 
kind of book, from which he makes his compositions.’ 
“ ‘ Wine,’ adds Dr. Cliallice, ‘ is an absolute necessary for 
the poor when they are recovering from sickness; they have 
no means of getting pure wine; the adulteration of it is 
fearful. I have seen many instances in which, when I have 
recommended port wine, and it has been procured at public- 
houses, instead of acting as a wholesome stimulant and a 
restorative astringent, it has produced pain, acidity, griping, 
irritation, and mischief, instead of good. It is a matter of 
notoriety, I believe, that a composition is sold as a substitute 
for port wine. 
“ ‘ I believe the astringency imparted to the liquid is by 
alum ; I believe there to be an infusion of logwood, also 
sloe-juice and sugar; it is a chemical combination entirely 
different from port wine ; it does not taste like it; the taste 
is sufficient to deceive a poor person. The poor have a great 
craving for wine; they believe it is a luxury that will restore 
them to health. 
“ ‘ I believe sherry is manufactured out of brandy: brandy 
and water, flavoured probably with some bitter almonds or 
something of that kind.’ ” 
Trentham and its Gardens.* —This contains much more 
than its title leads the reader to expect. From the title we 
were prepared for a mere dry catalogue of the contents 
within the inclosure of this far-famed seat of the Duke of 
Sutherland; but, so far from this being the case, it is a very 
readable and amusing history and description, not only of 
Trentham and its gardens, but of various places in its close 
vicinity, and of what will interest not only the desultory 
traveller but the man of science. We can afford space but 
for this brief extract:— 
“ The nightingale has sometimes, but rarely, been heard at 
Trentham ; but the mock-nightingale, or black-cap warbler 1 
(carrucca atricapilla), inferior to it alone in sweetness of 
song, may be heard in early summer. We have also noticed 
the chiff-chaff, the creeper, and the golden-crested wren, all 
amongst the most diminutive of the feathered tribe. 
“The botanist, too, may meet with many rare or interest¬ 
ing productions of Flora to reward his curious research. 
In the woods spring the curious Helleborine or Serapion 
(Epipactis latifolia), the pretty Bitter Vetch ( Orobus tu- 
berosus), and the rare Leopard’s Bane ( Doronicum ), con¬ 
trasting beautifully, with its bright yellow* starry flowers, 
with the purple Foxglove. Nor must we forget the rich 
carpeting of the wild Hyacinth, occasionally found here with 
white flowers. Geranium pratense and Campanula latifolia, 
both amongst the handsomest of our wild plants, may also 
be found in damp, shady spots. In the park, over the brow 
of the hill, are some fine ancient specimens of the wild 
Service tree ( Pyrus torminalis). In the gravel pits may be 
picked the minute Bird’s-foot Trefoil ( Ornithopus perpu- 
sillus), and a very pretty, bright, crimson-flowered Vetch 
( Vida anyustifolia). We may also mention that the rare 
and beautiful Polypodium dryopteris grows in the spring 
valley. Asplenium ruta-muraria is common on the walls 
about, and many species of Aspidium or Shield Fern abound 
in the woods. The spring in the beautiful dell just men¬ 
tioned is worthy of notice. It is very copious, clear as 
crystal, and at its source is always of the temperature of 
48° Fahrenheit, winter and summer. In its purling stream, 
which divides the parish of Trentham from Stone, may be 
found specimens of Hypnum ruse folium and the beautiful 
Drapernaldia; and on the stones abound specimens of the 
pretty little fresh-water limpit ( AncylusJluviatilis) .+ Many ! 
years ago an avenue of very fine Lime trees extended from 
the west front to the then extremity of the park—a cluster 
of trees near the deer barn. A few still remain to point out 
the original line; and when perfect it must have been an 
imposing and noble approach, being upwards of half a mile 
in length. There is no doubt they were planted soon after 
* Trentham and its Gardens. With ten illustrations on wood from 
original drawings and photographs. London : Piper and Co.. 
t The author is indebted to the kindness of Robert Garner, Esq., 
F.L.S., author of “ The Natural History of Staffordshire,” for the 
principal part of the above interesting remarks on the zoological, 
botanical, and geological specimens of the neighbourhood. 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, August 25, 1857. 333 
the erection of the Priory. The Lime was a favourite tree with 
ecclesiastics, and many monasteries were ornamented with 
similar avenues. Tbe wood is much used by wood engravers 
in their profession. Bewick, tbe restorer of that fine art, 
used it in the production of some of his most beautiful 
specimens. Its bark is used in many countries in mat 
making. Independently of its fine proportions tbe Lime is 
of a peculiarly fragrant order, being covered in July with 
blossoms of a yellow-white colour, which impregnate the 
air for some distance around, and form the extensive work- 
ing fields of innumerable bees every hour of the day,” 
ARCHIBALD GORRIE. 
We give the following extracts from the Northern Warder , 
as they contain additional information to our notes on this 
distinguished cultivator. This sketch is from the pen of 
Mr. George Lawson. 
“ Mr. Archibald Gorrie was born in the district of Logie 
Almond, Perthshire, in the year 1777. In boyhood he re¬ 
ceived what was then considered ‘ a good country-school 
education.’ This was afterwards supplemented by various 
studies in his early life, to an extent which will be indicated 
by the facts we have to mention respecting his discoveries 
and writings. Although ‘ by birth an agriculturist,’ yet 
horticulture soon became his most favourite pursuit, and he 
was placed as an apprentice in the gardens of Logie House, 
under Mr. Peter Barnet, father of the Mr. Barnet who after¬ 
wards became superintendent of the Experimental Garden 
of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, Edinburgh. From 
Logie House gardens Mr. Gorrie removed to Dupplin Castle, 
also in Perthshire, where, under the then superintendent, 
Mr. Miller, and with George Don, the celebrated Forfar 
j botanist, as a companion, he enjoyed every advantage for 
prosecuting bis favourite study of British botany and other 
departments of the natural history of his native land. 
“ Towards the end of the last century he had charge of the 
hothouse department in Leith Walk Nursery, where he first 
became acquainted with the late Mr. J. C. Loudon, who 
succeeded him in that charge; an acquaintance which was 
again renewed when Mr. Loudon commenced the publication 
of his Gardeners' Magazine, and was continued till the close 
of that talented writer’s useful life; and we believe that 
after his death a lively remembrance of that friendship was 
cherished by Mrs. Loudon, who continued to correspond 
with Mr. Gorrie. A knoll near Annat Cottage is called 
‘ Loudon’s brae,’ having, we believe, been planted with 
Coniferse chiefly obtained from Mr. Loudon. 
“ During the last fifty years Mr. Gorrie resided on the 
estate of Annat, in the Carse of Gowrie, acting successively 
as gardener, general manager, and factor on the property. 
During a considerable portion of that period he rented the 
neighbouring farm of Shanry, and his previous acquaintance 
with horticulture was of great service in promising to the 
introduction on his farm of improvements in cultivation 
and of novelties in cropping. He reached the ripe old age 
of eighty, and was cut off by an attack of bronchitis on the 
21st of July. 
“ In 1834 Vida villosa was added to the list of British 
forage plants by Mr. Gorrie, who discovered its seeds in a 
cargo of Dantzic wheat, and pointed out its applicability as 
a winter tare. In the same year he discovered a fertile- 
seeded variety of the tall Fescue Grass (Festuca elatior 
fertilis), which was subsequently propagated; and in 1840 
he introduced the Wood Millet Grass (Milium effasum) to 
; cultivation. ( Lawson’s Treatise on Cultivated Grasses, &c., 
p. 17.) In short, the cultivation of the natural Grasses 
and herbage and forage plants afforded him a constant 
source of profitable recreation. 
“To say that his mind was well stored with knowledge 
would be an inaccuracy of expression, for his knowledge 
was not laid up as in a storehouse, but was so completely 
assimilated that his mental character grew, as it were, upon 
it, so that in communicating his thoughts to others he did 
not merely deal out facts and ideas in the crude form in 
which they had been received; they became so elaborated 
by the (perhaps to him insensible) operation of his power¬ 
fully original mind, that it was impossible to draw the line 
