September 6, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
5 
POLTALLOOH. 
Itf years past Poltalloch was familiarised by the popu¬ 
larity of its herds of prize cattle, then invincible, and 
which might be so still but for the age of the highly- 
respected proprietor, John Malcolm, Esq., of Poltalloch. 
The family have long enjoyed a wide-spread popularity, 
indeed are highly respected all over the country ; but 
it is to the present proprietor that this fine place owes 
so much of its charm as a country seat, he having made 
vast improvements at great cost, reclaiming land from 
mere bog, making roads, building bridges, houses, &c. 
His generous spirit too has extended far beyond im¬ 
proving his own policies, in making splendid roads and 
handing them over to the county, and even this itself 
does not exhaust his munificence. He is an enthusi¬ 
astic horticulturist and arboriculturist, and though his 
limbs are enfeebled, his keen appreciation of all that 
pertains to those arts is not in the least dulled, and it 
is his delight to be in the gardens daily, when the 
weather permits, conversing with his able gardener, 
Mr. Russell, homely and fluently on things horti¬ 
cultural or otherwise, and long may he still be spared 
to enjoy such a princely place, surrounded by his 
numerous friends and devoted servants (most of whom 
have grown old in his service) and blessed with every 
blessing. John Wingfield Malcolm, Esq., M.P. for 
Argyleshire, is the eldest son of the 
present proprietor of Poltalloch, 
and his popularity reaches far and 
near. 
With a view to visiting Poltal¬ 
loch, I embarked on board the 
“ Columbia ” at Greenock, on the 
14 th August, and was soon on my 
way to the Highlands, and after 
passing numerous famous seaside 
resorts on the Clyde entered’ the 
Kyles of Bute, where the scenery is 
enchanting—hills rising quickly on 
either side, and the water dotted at 
intervals with numerous small islets 
between which one is tempted to 
doubt their navigability. But soon 
we were shown that the “Narrows” 
are quite navigable, for our mag¬ 
nificent fast steamer goes to star¬ 
board of one, is suddenly brought 
round to “port” of another, and 
readily responding to the will of the 
man at the wheel, ‘ ‘ walks the waters 
like a thing of life.” After four 
hours sail we arrive at Ardrishaig, 
and prepare for a ten-mile drive 
along one of the finest roads in the 
country, and it is not too much to 
say among some of the finest 
scenery. Although not skilled in 
the rearing of farm stock, we could 
not help admiring the fine specimens 
of Highland cattle to be seen from 
the road, but whether they were 
extra fine, or the fact of our being 
in the Highlands proper imbued 
us with a desire to admire all truly 
Highland productions, we are not 
prepared to vouch, but the fact remains as stated. 
We are not much more than mid-way on our drive, 
when Poltalloch House was pointed out by the driver ; 
and at the distance—perhaps four miles away—has an 
imposing effect, and adds to our hopes of seeing something 
unusual in gardening. Arriving at the entrance gate, 
one of the five entrances to the policies, we note that 
the lodge is very handsome, and more than usually 
commodious, and passing along the avenue, we are 
shown other avenues branching in all directions 
through some of the finest pasture-land it has been our 
lot to see, and which we were told had been reclaimed 
from old peat-bog. 
In due time we find ourselves in close proximity to 
the gardens, which are easily determined by the better 
keeping and general ornamentation. Like a sensible 
“Scot” our friend Mr. Russell, the gardener, suggests 
refreshments. The gardener’s house is in keeping with 
its surroundings ; a mansion compared to some, and 
provided with every convenience, as well as being very 
tastefully clothed all round with various climbing 
plants, such as Ampelopsis, Ivies, Roses, Clematis, 
Tropaeolum speciosum, Monardia didyma, &c. After 
partaking of the hospitality of our friend, we are ready 
for any strain, physically, and entering the garden by 
one of the service doors found ourselves on a terrace about 
100 yards long, on which the main range of glass 
houses is built. These are eleven in number, span- 
roofed, and built ridge and furrow, each 40 ft. long, 
and varying in width from 12 ft. to 20 ft., the stove 
in the centre being 45 ft. long. The first house is 
planted with Melons, which are in excellent condition 
(in their last swelling) and carrying heavy crops. The 
varieties grown are Carter’s Gem, Hero of Lockinge, 
Eastnor Castle, and Countess, the latter two being most 
preferred. The second is planted with Melons on one 
side and Cucumbers on the other. The varieties of 
Cucumbers, Cardiff Castle and Sutton’s Black Spine, 
are both carrying immense crops. The third is a 
greenhouse, the roof of which is draped with a large 
plant of Lapageria rosea (in excellent health), with its 
rival alba showing its white blooms here and there, 
and contrasting well with its more robust congener. 
Other creepers are also used on columns and sections, 
such as Passiflora Constance Elliott, Clematis indivisa 
lobata, Hoya carnosa, &c. Here, too, were grown 
many useful plants and a choice collection of Cacti, also 
a rare Rose—Rosa berbereefolia (true)—and a fine plant 
of Trichomanes radicans, in a case, so healthy and 
strong that it might have been passed for a Todea. 
Leaving this house by a side door, we enter a vinery, 
in which are fine examples of Mill Hill Hamburgh, 
Black Hamburgh, Muscat Hamburgh, Muscat of Alex- 
Mr. James Russell, Gardener at Poltalloch. 
andria, and West’s St. Peters. There is no pretention 
to large bunches, those being preferred of a medium size 
for family use. They are just finishing, and will 
afford supplies for the shooting season further on. 
Another side door leads into the stove, and here, among 
the ordinary occupants of such a structure, both 
flowering and foliage plants are well represented 
and grown. Numerous Orchids in splendid condition 
are principally arranged on one of the side benches, 
with the exception of numerous Stanhopeas which are 
suspended at intervals over the pathway right round 
the house. On one of these we noticed seven strong 
spikes protruding through the bottom and sides of the 
basket, and doubtless more will yet be produced on the 
same plant. The peculiarity of this Orchid, blooming 
from underneath, renders it a very desirable one for 
basketing. Among the Orchids represented were Cypri- 
pedium Lawrenceanum, C. Boxalli, and others; 
Maxillaria picta, Phaius grandifolius, Oncidium macran- 
thum, O. altissimum, O. Kramerianum, &c. ; Miltonia 
spectabilis, Coelogyne cristata, Cymbidiuin aloifolium, 
Calanthe Yeitchii, C. vestita oculata, and C. lutea ; 
Zygopetalum Mackayi, Cattleyas in variety, and many 
others. The roof aDd sections of this house were 
draped with Clerodendron Balfourianum, Passiflora 
princeps, and P. Bonapartre, Bougainvillea glabra, 
Cissus discolor, and Asparagus planiosus nanus. 
The next house is the early vinery, where Black 
Hamburghs, Royal Muscadine and Grizzly Frontignan, 
were each carrying splendid crops of a fine table size, 
and, of course, in daily use. The latter variety, now 
seldom seem, is prized here for its flavour, as it was at 
one time in nearly every gardening establishment in the 
country. The Peach house is entered, and here are 
large handsome well-coloured fruits, and plenty of 
them. Nectarines in the same house were also very well 
done, and vied with the Peaches for position. The 
only variety of Peach grown is Royal George, and of 
Nectarines, Yiolette Hative and Humboldt. The next 
house (originally a Pine stove) is used fora forcing house 
in the forcing season, and is now filled with Azaleas 
and greenhouse Rhododendrons, amongst the latter of 
which we noted Maiden’s Blush, Princess Frederica, 
Countess of Haddington, &c. Lilium Harrisii, 
L. Washingtonianum, and L. speciosum are here 
also well grown, as also quantities of choice 
Salvias. The next house (originally a succession Pine 
stove) is now used to keep up successions of the various 
greenhouse subjects to supply the greenhouse and 
conservatory, and there numerous Pelargoniums, 
Petunias, Begonias, &c., hold sway. Arrived at the 
last house in this range—a Tomato house—we find the 
varieties grown are Ham Green Favourite, Orangefield, 
&c. These are planted in the 
bed, and grown on single stems, 
and are carrying as heavy crops 
of fine Tomatos as one could desire. 
We have observed that order and 
neatness characterises this range 
throughout ; indeed it would be 
difficult to find houses with the dis¬ 
advantages these possess, viz., dark¬ 
ness on either side (seeing that they 
are all attached to each other), with 
the same quantity and quality of 
useful and ornamental stuff. 
We are next shown the pits, 
which are situated at the back or 
north side, in a large oblong square 
in front of the main sheds, young 
men’s lodge, &c., which are all in the 
most perfect order, and on a very 
large scale, with cellarage under¬ 
neath, and accessable from each 
end. Here, too, we were shown an 
ingenious arrangements for pumping 
the liquid manure from the stables 
to supply the gardens. This oblong 
is divided and screened off with 
Rose hedges, supported by neat 
railings. Another large square at 
the further end of all, screened off 
with Ivy hedges, is the manure 
yard, and even here order prevails. 
The middle division—in the centre 
of which there is a spacious concrete 
water tank, sunk to ground-level, 
and capable of containing several 
hundred gallons of water supplied 
from the roofs of the sheds in wet 
weather, and in dry weather gravita¬ 
tion water ad libitum —is filled with 
Chysanthemums on single stems and bush plants in great 
variety, comprising some of the finest in cultivation. 
These are very well grown—indeed, have all the 
appearance of producing blooms fit for the exhibition 
table. 
To the rear of those, in the same division, are 
four double ranges of sunk pits 90 ft. long, all of which 
are heated with hot water. The first entered was in 
three divisions, and contained many useful plants for 
stove decoration—in short, a reserve stove. One 
division was full of Gardenia intermedia in splendid 
order, and clean ; while another contained Eucharis 
and Pancratiums—once a feature at this place, but now 
sadly crippled with that dreadful mite. Other divisions 
contained Figs in pots, late Melons and Cucumbers, 
Primulas, &c., which are all well done. Close to the 
pits are soil sheds, implement sheds, and fire-engine 
shed, all neatly arranged, forming two sides of a square, 
in the corner of which is the Mushroom house, where 
some beds in bearing promise an enormous yield. On 
a wall running parallel with those structures we 
observed Apios tuberosa, Akebia quinata, Photinia 
serrulata, Actinidia Kolomitta, Ceanothus Glorie de 
Lyons and Gloire de Versailles, and numerous choice 
Clematis, Loniceras, &e.— Observer. 
[To be continued.) 
