November 22, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
187 
out a success. In these matters her ladyship has been 
remarkably fortunate—chance, no doubt, hadsomething 
to do with it—as the fine, healthy and fast-growing 
Conifers and hard-wooded trees hear ample testimony to. 
Trenching the ground and substituting a quantity of 
fresh loam, instead of that naturally present, where choice 
subjects were to be placed, has done much to make the 
planting at Hildon an unequalled success, for certainly 
the trees look the picture of health, and on the happiest 
of terms with their surroundings, which unfortunately 
cannot always be said of those growing in calcareous or 
chalky districts. 
Lambert’s or the large-fruited Cypress (Cupressus 
macrocarpa, alias Lambertiana), a goodly specimen of 
which adorns the lawn, looks the picture of health, 
the bright sea-green foliage, plentifully produced, and 
buff-coloured bark of the younger twigs taking one 
quite by surprise, for healthier trees I have never seen, 
even in the Cypress’s favourite region, along the sea 
coast. 
Younger trees around the garden and elsewhere are 
also in the best of health, so that this handsomest of 
its tribe may justly be considered as quite at home in 
soil composed largely of chalk. The Mount Atlas and 
Lebanon Cedars (Cedrus atlantica and C. Libani) are 
excellent trees for the same soil, as the brightly tinted 
lawn specimens at Hildon make one unhesitatingly 
confess. In the giant Arbor Yitse (Thuja gigantea), a 
tree that has a grand future before it in this country, 
will be found another excellent tree for calcareous 
infected soils ; and an avenue leading from one of 
the lodges to Hildon House will yet, and at no distant 
date, be a sight to look at. The Yew avenue, planted 
in imitation of one on an adjoining estate, and treated 
with motherly care by its owner, is another feature that 
in time to come will be a cool and secluded walk around 
a portion of the property. 
Big weeping Ash trees are at all times welcome 
objects when suitably placed, and one by the front 
door at Hildon is no exception to the rule, for the 
weeping spray and widely diverging head betoken 
harmony with its surroundings, while the angle at 
which it is planted shows that the planter knew well 
his work. 
The black Austrian Pine (Pinus Austriaca) revels in 
the chalky soil, and a spreading specimen or two on the 
lawn contrast markedly with the silvery sheen of the 
Cedars and other trees hard by. 
Another excellent Pine is P. insignis, which although 
not perfectly hardy in every situation, is a treat to see 
at Hildon, the grass-green foliage and well feathered 
and contented look reminding one of its sea-side abode, 
as is generally the case in this country. 
The American Arbor Vitfe (Thuja occidentalis) cannot 
be considered as a first-class ornamental tree, the foliage 
being too tarnished, dishevelled, and unpleasant to the 
smell. It grows well on chalk—a big point in its 
favour, however. 
The Cephalonian Fir (Abies cephalonica) and its 
nearly allied A. pinsapo have no equals in the family 
to which they belong for planting where chalk abounds 
in the soil, ar.d a look at a fine specimen on the 
Hildon lawn tells the same tale. 
How pretty, when studded with its erect, resin- 
sprinkled cones, is the latter tree ? It bears exposure 
well, and is not liable to get upset by the wind, or 
broken about, becoming thereby ungainly to view by 
the limbs and branches being rent asunder. 
With all these Conifers, and many more that we 
cannot at present recall to mind—the more ornamental 
and worthy deciduous trees have not been forgotten, as 
a walk in almost any direction will point out. 
Handsome Beeches of giant proportions, far-spreading 
Elms and Ashes, well-favoured Sycamore and Plane 
trees, all combine to contrast pleasantly with the 
darker and more sombre tinted Pines and Cypresses. 
Then of shrubs there is a rich and rare collection, 
Prunes Pissardii in its brightest attire, and the curious 
and rather rare Bladder Senna (Colutea arborescens) 
charming one, both with their numbers and size. 
Of the latter we saw numerous well-fruited plants 
the big inflated seed pods rendering the plant one of 
the most curious and interesting that we know. 
Prunus Pissardii, about which we hear so much in 
the gardening papers, is represented at Hildon by 
numerous large and highly coloured specimens—indeed, 
not for a long time have we noticed either so many ot 
such effective plants. Another excellent chalk shrub is 
Leycesteria formosa, a quaintly curious plant when in 
flower. 
Spiraeas do well, what may also be said of the various 
ornamental kinds of Thorns, which latter with their 
ruddy fruit are charming at this dull season of the year. 
Various species of Barberry, and hosts of other free- 
flowering shrubs combine to make the grounds of this 
place highly attractive, and cause one to dwell on the 
fact of how many plants may, with care, be picked out 
for the embellishment of a property where the upturned 
soil looks grey with chalk. 
The gardens are situated within easy distance of the 
house, and in the laying out and arrangement of 
these, her ladyship has combined great taste with 
nicety of arrangement. The wall is of brick, with an 
overhanging eave, and in terraces, while the conservatory 
and vineries are lofty and internally arranged in a 
most befitting manner, both for ease in working and 
so as to provide for the health of the plants. 
From the stable tower, a handsome and costly 
building, one may get a beautiful view of the greater 
part of the estate and adjoining country, while away in 
the distance the Isle of Wight is distinctly visible on a 
clear day. 
The park grounds were laid out under Mr. Meston, 
the landscape gardener, and reflect great credit on his 
good taste and eye for the beautiful; but altogether 
this compact though small estate shows at every turn 
that no pains nor expense has been spared to do every¬ 
thing well.— A. D. Webster. 
- 1 - 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
--j.- 
Potatos and the Disease. 
Potato growers throughout the country have seldom 
had a better opportunity of testing the disease-proof 
qualities of the varieties under their cultivation than 
has been afforded them this season, and I am certain 
that no information would be more acceptable to those 
engaged in farming or gardening than a list of those 
sorts which have escaped or best resisted the fungus. 
Out of some twelve varieties under trial in garden 
cultivation, including Regent, Grampian, Early 
Market, Smith’s Seedling, Oxford Early, Village 
Blacksmith, Red Boys, Ashleaf Kidney, Puritan, 
The Bruce, and Magnum Bonum, only the three latter 
varieties give a comparatively good and clean crop. 
As a late sort The Bruce, if grown in suitable soil, 
will, we venture to predict, outdistance all other sorts 
for winter use, being of good quality and a heavy 
cropper. Puritan as an early sort is worthy of culture, 
and is quite first-rate for forcing purposes.— Ayrshire. 
Knap Hill Scarlet Oak. 
The Scarlet Oak or Quercus coccinea is well known for 
the beauty of its foliage in autumn, being resplendent 
with scarlet or crimson-red and bronzy red hues. The 
leaves are oblong-elliptic and deeply pinnatifid, which 
adds much to their beauty. The surfaces have a glossy 
appearance. Cut shoots under the above name were 
shown at the Drill Hall, on the 11th inst., by Mr. 
A. Waterer, Knap Hill, Woking, when a First Class 
Certificate was accorded them. 
Vaccinium pennsylvanicum. 
The leaves of this American Whortleberry are lanceolate- 
elliptic, finely crenulate or almost entire at the margin, 
and of a leathery texture. When they die off in the 
autumn they become of a brilliant red. A First Class 
Certificate was awarded it when a bunch of sprays was 
shown by Mr. A. Waterer, Knap Hill, Woking, at the 
last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Chrysanthemum, Arthur Wood. 
This variety is of the reflexed Japanese type, and for 
that class is both large and deep. The florets are 
bronzy crimson, with yellow tips, and when fully 
expanded the inner ones rise upwards and make the 
bloom more than half globular. Flowers of it were 
shown at the Drill Hall, Westminster, on the 11th 
inst., by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, who 
received an Award of Merit for them. 
Pear, Flemish Beauty. 
The fruits of this Pear are always of a good average 
size, even when grown on old trees. Its popularity in 
different countries may be judged from the fact that it 
has at least seventeen synonyms. The fruit is regularly 
Pear-shaped, and of a pale yellow hue, but most always 
entirely covered with brown-russet, which acquires a 
reddish hue on the exposed or sunny side. It ripens, 
as a rule, in September, and keeps in condition for 
several weeks after. In order to have it in perfect 
condition as to quality, it should be gathered before 
being fully ripe. The flesh has a pale yellowish tint, 
and is rich, melting and sugary. The first tree of it 
coming under the notice of pomologists was found in a 
garden in the village of Deftinge, in Flanders, in 181C, 
so that the variety is at least eighty years old since it 
fruited, and may even have been of local repute for 
some years previously. Were it not that it ripens 
at a period when many more are in season it would 
certainly attain even greater popularity than it enjoys 
at present. 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
As the special general meeting of the subscribers to 
the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, called for December 9th 
next, is doubtless fixed for that date to meet the 
convenience of subscribers attending the ordinary 
monthly meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society at 
the Drill Hall, I would suggest that it would greatly 
convenience subscribers were the meeting held at the 
Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, Westminster, at four 
o’clock, rather than at some distance away in the city 
at the Cannon Street Hotel, and at an hour too late 
for the attendance of those from the country. It is a 
little hard on country subscribers that their convenience 
should be made subservient to that of a few members 
of the committee. The business is certainly to be of a 
formal character, andwill hardly evoke much discussion ; 
still, it is evident that every possible encouragement 
should be given to subscribers to attend. Really all 
work and lecturing incidental to the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s meetings is over by four o’clock, and the 
Orphan Fund meeting could be held at once, thus 
ensuring a full attendance. If the meeting be held at 
the Cannon Street Hotel as announced, I will wager 
that not half-a-dozen subscribers, other than the 
committee, attend ; and the inference will be felt that 
the committee do not want the subscribers. I am not 
aware that the committee are bound to call all their 
meetings at the Cannon Street Hotel. The arrange¬ 
ment seems to be wantonly devised to render the 
attendance of subscribers as difficult as possible.— 
X. [Oh dear no. Quite the reverse. We do not 
know of any institution the management of which 
works more closely in accord with the subscribers than 
that of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and that in a 
great measure is the secret of the success of the insti¬ 
tution. It must be remembered that all the offices in 
connection with the fund are honorary, and while that 
is the case some regard must be paid to the con¬ 
venience of those who undertake the greatest share of the 
■work. The principal executive officers must be 
presentat such a meeting—“Hamlet” cannot be played 
with the Prince of Denmark absent—but, independent 
of that consideration, the committee fixed upon a time 
and place which was believed to be most convenient for 
the greatest number, and had no other motive what¬ 
ever.—E d.] 
Sweet-scented Flowers. 
Being a lover of my garden at all times and seasons, 
particularly in the evening and the early morning, when 
the air is—or should be—laden with the best perfume 
of flowers, I should take it as a favour if some of your 
readers who know would kindly favour me with a list 
of those plants and flowers, hardy or half-hardy, which 
are the best adapted to impart to our home gardens this 
peculiar charm. We can buy plants and seeds of all 
kinds, which in form and colour will make the garden 
beautiful, but to know how to produce the rich fragrance 
so desirable is not so easily attainable. Of course we 
all know the Rose, the Pink, the Carnation, and the 
Mignonette, besides the Lavender bush and the 
Southernwood, but there are many other things, if we 
did but know them, that would greatly add to the 
attractiveness of our little Eden.— M. TF. 
Sweet-scented Roses. 
The record of the introduction of those six deservedly 
popular Roses must be received with pleasure by alt 
lovers of the queen of flowers, and whilst reading, the 
thought occurred to me that if some of our friends could 
give us a list of the varieties valued for their rich aroma 
it would be a boon to all those who love the Rose for 
its sweet scent as well as for its perfection of form and 
richness of colour. You know the old and hackneyed 
saying, almost a proverb, “A Rose by any other name 
would smell as sweet.” This would imply that the 
scent was one of its most valued properties. But, alas, 
how often do we take the most beautiful and attractive 
Rose and apply to it the crucial test by presenting it to 
the organ of smell, and find it almost or entirely void 
of the delicious sweetness peculiar to the old Cabbage 
Rose. How I am of the old school, and I love the old- 
fashioned garden with its sweet-scented flowers ; to me 
a Rose without the Rose scent is deficient of its most 
