246 
THE FLORIST AND P0M0L0GIST. 
There are two good ranges of glass : the hack range consists of three vineries 
and a Peach-house. Two of the vineries are large houses, being lofty and 
wide. There are some good specimens of stove plants and Ferns grown ill 
these houses. Ribston has long been famous for its Grapes and Pines, and the 
crops now yearly obtained maintain its high character. Here have been grown 
some of the finest Muscat Grapes which I have ever seen. One of the large 
vineries Mr. Jones fresh planted about three years since, making an entirely 
new border, principally of turves. The sorts planted are Black Hamburgh, 
Muscat Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and Trebbiano. They are splendid 
Vines for the time they have been planted. The Muscat Hamburghs are on 
their own roots, and growing in an outside border, and certainly no Vines 
could possibly have done better than they have. They are bearing a heavy crop 
of magnificent fruit this season; the bunches large, and the berries everything 
that could be desired. 
The front or second range of glass consists of three Pine-stoves and a vinery. 
In the latter were some good Muscat bunches at the time of my recent visit. 
Two of the Pine-stoves are filled with fruiting plants, all planted out, the 
bottom heat being supplied by hot-water pipes. The succession plants are 
grown in pots. Nothing can exceed the health and vigour of these plants. 
Many of the fruiting plants had splendid fruit swelling when I saw them. 
A few years ago the old pipes and boilers that heated these ranges of glass, 
being out of repair, were all taken away, and new pipes, boilers, stop-cock, 
&c., fixed in their place, so that the heatiug is thoroughly efficient. I may 
here remark, that all the houses and glass about the place are in the best 
possible repair, the woodwork being kept well painted. At the back of the 
garden there is a large house for wintering bedding plants, and a good large 
Cucumber-pit, besides numerous pits and frames for the growth of Melons and 
for other purposes, also the potting-sheds; and behind all Mr, Jones grows his 
Sea-kr.le, so that all litter and dirt may be kept out of the garden. 
Fruit trees of all kinds do well here. Peaches on the open wall were a 
good crop this season, though in general scarce in this part of the country. 
Pears and Apples are a heavy crop. There is a number of nice dwarf Apple 
trees around the borders. I could never correctly ascertain what stock they 
are worked on. The Hawthornden grows larger here than I ever saw it else¬ 
where. Emperor Alexander and King of the Pippins also grow very large. 
Altogether there is a good assortment of Apples and Pears. 
Passing through a door on the south of the kitchen garden we enter the 
conservatory—a long lean-to building. It used formerly to be in three com¬ 
partments ; but latterly Mr. Jones has had the partitions removed, which has 
greatly improved its appearance. This is kept gay all the year round with 
Cinerarias, Primulas, Camellias, Boses, Geraniums, &c. Mr. Jones has planted 
out Fuchsias and trained them part of the way up the rafters. The effect of 
these from either end is very beautiful; they are masses of bloom throughout 
the summer. In winter they are pruned in well. 
Leaving the conservatory we enter the pleasure grounds. These are well 
laid out, and contain a rich collection of trees and shrubs. The collection of 
Conifers is extensive and interesting ; but as it would occupy too much space 
to notice every specimen individually, I wall merely mention a few of the 
principal ones in passing, and subjoin a list of all the most interesting. Of 
Yews there are numerous grand specimens all over the grounds. The character 
and habit of some are very beautiful. Ribston suffered much from the frost 
of 1860. Among the many fine things that were killed were some noble 
specimens of Cedrus deodara—one of them was a very grand object; but a 
person not knowing Ribston previous to that time, visiting it now, would not 
