October 3 , 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
73 
Memory bears us up the stream of time, when we are 
to believe that the Roses in the famous gardens of the 
East were as pure and constant as now, relics of Eden’s 
bowers, “sweet nurslings of the vernal skies, bathed 
in soft airs.” The same resistless beauty was doubtless 
manifest, flaunting in the shades of early morn ; the 
same sunshine loved them then, because they were so 
fair ; the same closing and fading of the petals was 
descried under the dropping of the gloaming dews. In 
their original clime, where the powers of admiration 
were never exhausted, the Syrian and Musk Rose, 
replete with dewy wine, covered the sacred ground. 
No frost candied the grass, emblems of life continually 
existed, and Roses glowed in gem-like tinges, hanging 
in cataracts from the gray walls of the fortified villages, 
topped by a crown of foliage. Amid such scenes the 
traveller exclaimed in admiration, “Who can paint 
CRITTENDEN’S CLUSTER 
DAMSON. 
“This is the finest of all Damsons,” writes Dr. Hogg 
in the Fruit Manual, and no less merit than this is 
claimed for it by every man of Kent—indeed, by every 
one who knows anything of its marvellously free-bearing 
character. The pomological authority above named 
states that it was raised by Mr. James Crittenden, of 
East Farleigh, early in the present century ; but Mr. 
George Bunyard, of Maidstone, than whom there is no 
better authority on Kentish fruit cultivation, regards 
it as a mere wildling, and perhaps the real truth as to 
its origin is to be found in the statement that Mr. 
Crittenden “discovered” it in a hedge, and its probable 
parents are the Sweet Damson crossed with the Sloe. Be 
that as it may, and it is a matter of little consequence, 
“worked” trees are much larger than those on their own 
roots ; and another interesting fact is that when worked 
the trees lose their thorns, while on their own roots 
these are numerous and very strong. If any amateur 
has room for a Damson tree, Crittenden’s Cluster is the 
sort to plant. 
-->£<■- 
ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN, DUBLIN. 
This park is situated inthe very centre of the City of 
Dublin ; and its area is about twenty-two acres. By the 
munificence of Lord Ardilaun, who provided funds for 
paying off the debts, and who effected all the improve¬ 
ments in the square to render it suitable for a public 
park at a cost, including the old debt, of £20,000, the 
park has been transferred to the Commissioners of 
Public Works, Ireland, and is now vested absolutely in 
Chittenden’s Cluster or Farleigh Prolific Damson. 
like Nature?” as one beholds this shadowy curtain of 
gorgeous colours on mouldering stone-work, when the 
sun goes down behind the amethyst-tinted hills. 
In summer time, in our favoured locality, the admirer 
of the Rose can find refreshment, rest, and peace in 
this parterre, as he surveys with delight his favourite 
collection, whose brightness and sweetness bring tender 
memories, solaces, and hopes ; while the reflections 
awakened by floricultural nomenclature afford new 
sources for enjoyment. This companionship of distin¬ 
guished acquaintances attired in rich apparel—the 
counts and duchesses, princes and barons, queens and 
empresses, lords and marquises, ladies and sirs, madames 
and mademoiselles, are a royal family, grand and 
graceful when expanded to fullest beauty of flowers, 
purple, red, and white, amidst Rose-buds, blushing 
through their bowers of green, more lovely because 
more concealed. — Gardeners ’ Monthly. 
_ 
The Southend-on-Sea Chrysanthemum Society 
will hold its first exhibition on November 10th, in 
the Public Hall, Southend. Twenty-six classes are 
provided for Chrysanthemums in pots, cut blooms, and 
miscellaneous plants and fruits. The hon. sec. is Mr. 
J. C. Johnstone, Creevelea House, Southend. 
Crittenden's Cluster, Kentish Cluster, or Farleigh Pro¬ 
lific, for by all these names it is known, has been planted 
perhaps more extensively than any other variety ; and if 
we may judge from the immense numbers budded annu¬ 
ally in the nurseries, it will yet be more extensively 
planted. 
Mr. Bunyard justly observes, in his Fruit Farming 
for Profit -, that the quantity of fruit it produces can 
scarcely be credited, and so large is the growth that it 
is customary, in estimating a crop, to treat of them by 
the ton. The tree requires to be well pruned in for a 
few years until a head is formed ; otherwise, before there 
is sufficient strength, the first heavy crops break the 
young shoots, and the tree is disfigured for life. They 
soon form symmetrical heads, and are most beautiful 
in flower, and still more so when laden with their richly 
bloomed fruit. Bushes or half-standards are recom¬ 
mended for exposed places, and standards for Orchards. 
The accompanying illustration, a faithful reproduc¬ 
tion, natural size, of one of a great many similar 
clusters on a tree in Mr. A. Dean’s garden at Bedfont 
(the type of hundreds of others that have come under 
our notice) will serve, perhaps, to introduce it to the 
notice of many who have not yet become familiar with 
its great merits. We should add that the fruits from 
that body as a park for the recreation, health, and en¬ 
joyment of the inhabitants of the city. It was opened 
in July, 1880, and was laid out by Mr. William 
Sheppard, who was formerly gardener to Lord Carysfort, 
Arklow, but who has of late years turned his attention 
to landscape gardening, and the way in which the work 
of laying out the park was done is most creditable, as 
a practical eye can see at a glance. There is a beautiful 
lake, well stocked with birds and fish, about three acres 
in extent ; a waterfall and rockwork, the latter made 
by Mr. Pulham in his well-known artistic style. In 
the centre of the park is a statue of George II., around 
which are some well-designed beds forming the flower 
garden, and in which both carpet and ordinary bedding 
are well carried out. Mr. John Kearney, the superin¬ 
tendent, deserves great praise for the good condition the 
park is kept in. He has studied well the requirements 
of the place and the plants best suited to it. 
The shrubbery borders are well planted with annuals 
of all the leading sorts and Gladiolus, single Dahlias, An¬ 
tirrhinums, Phloxes, &e., are here and there to be seen, 
showing their glorious colours with good effect. Violas 
of various hues are very conspicuous, and appear to be 
extensively used ; indeed, Mr. Kearney’ informed me 
that they were the most useful things he has, as they 
