THE GARDENING WORLD. 
739 
July 18, 1896. 
were spent amidst anything but comfortable sur¬ 
roundings. 
There was until lately, if indeed it be not there 
now, a bush of Industry in Whinham's own garden 
at the Alley Banks, Morpeth, which could not be 
less than fifty years of age, and yet has been bearing 
heavy crops right up to the last. This is doubtless 
one of the plants from Whinham’s original stock. 
-- 
CULTIVATION OF THE CARNATION. 
i.—T he best times for planting are from the 
20th September until the end of October, and in the 
spring, whenever the weather is favourable. When 
Carnations are planted too early in the open ground 
they sometimes suffer from the effects of drying 
winds. 
2. — Preparation of the ground. —This should 
be done in September, or sooner, by trenching it to 
the depth of 15 in. or 18in., and working some decayed 
manure in during the process. A good medium clay 
loam is best, and one rather inclined to be heavy 
than light; but I have grown Carnations admirably 
on light sandy soil—in this case some clayey loam 
was placed round the roots. The manure should be 
placed at least 6 in. below the surface, so that it does 
not come into immediate contact with the roots. 
3. —Planting. —This should be done as soon as 
the plants are received, the ground having been 
previously prepared. Carry the box containing the 
plants to the bed, and plant them out as they are 
removed from the moss and papers. The plants 
should be 6 in. from the edge of the bed and 15m. 
asunder in the rows. Plant to the first pair of 
leaves; the roots should be well into the ground, 
and some fine soil worked in amongst them, pressing 
it in with the fingers. After planting, mulch the 
surface of the soil amongst the plants with decayed 
manure; this arrests evaporation in the soil, and 
acts as a pro-tective agent in winter. 
4. —Treatment after planting. —The plants, 
if well put into the ground, do not usually require 
any support; but slender, tall plants may require 
a slight stick to hold them upright. Any plants 
that may become loosened, or even thrown out of the 
ground by alternate frosts and thaws, must be 
pressed in with the fingers when the soil is soft. 
5—Pot culture. —All the successful exhibitors 
of Carnations grow a considerable number of plants 
in flower pots. The layers are potted up in the 
autumn in small flower pots, large and small sixties, 
two in the larger size and one in the smaller. The 
potting soil ought not to be too heavy ; a good com¬ 
post is formed of four parts loam, one of leaf mould, 
and one of decayed manure, with sand to keep the 
material in a porous condition. After potting them 
up, place in a garden frame, kept rather close for a 
few days; and if they are potted early it may be 
necessary to shade from bright sunshine.— James 
Douglas, F.R.H.S. (Carnation Specialist), Edenside, 
Great Bookham, Surrey. 
-*•§•- 
NEWCASTLE SUMMER FLOWER 
SHOW. 
The annual summer exhibition of the enterprising 
Northumberland and Durham Horticultural Society 
was held on the 8th, gth, and 10th inst. All the 
morning of the first day the clouds were heavy and 
lowering, threatening rain, a misfortune to which 
this show has frequently been subjected. The 
society had ventured £1,200 in preliminary expenses, 
and was naturally anxious that fine weather should 
prevail. The rain held off, and at the end of the 
first day a sum ot £225 had been taken at the gate, 
and £55 at the grand stand, making a total of £280. 
The show itself was held in one huge tent. Some 
adverse criticism was passed by the judges upon a 
tiered platform at the entrance to the tent, owing to 
the way the tubs containing the plants had been 
canted to show them to the best advantage, but had 
missed the effect. The Roses were a decided feature 
of the show, and were remarkable from the number 
of leading prizes that went to Juteopolis, as Dundee 
is often named. The show of Roses, in the opinion 
of an expert, was the finest that has been seen at 
Newcastle. Stove and greenhouse plants were of 
good quality but not so numerous as on former 
occasions. 
Mr. John McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. Pease, 
Darlington, took the leading award for a group of 
miscellaneous plants arranged for effect, and was 
followed by Mr. F< Edmondson, Newcastle, and 
Mrs. Jennings, Newcastle, in the order named. For 
six stove and greenhouse plants in bloom, Mr. F. 
Nicholas, Upleatham, took the lead ; but a third 
prize was the only other awarded. Mr. F. Nicholas 
had the best foliage plants. Mr. J. McIntyre again 
came to the front securing the leading prizes for 
exotic Ferns, Crotons, and Dracaenas. In the class 
for single tuberous rooted Begonias, Mr. T. Bell, 
Felling, took the first prize; and Mr. W. Laws, 
Ponteland, had the best double varieties. The best 
table plants were shown by Mr. J. Mclndoe, 
gardener to Joseph A. Pease, Esq , M.P., Hutton 
Hall, Guisborough. 
The Roses constituted a leading attraction of the 
show, and the premier award for 72 blooms, in not 
less than 36 varieties, was carried off by Messrs. D. 
and W. Croll, Dundee, who had the Silver Flora 
Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. Some 
connoisseurs considered that the blooms were rather 
coarse, but they were really only large as a result of 
the cooler climate of Scotland, and the later season. 
Messrs. R. Mack & Son, Catterick, took the second 
place, and Messrs. Harkness & Sons, Bedale, Yorks, 
who were so prominent at the Crystal Palace the 
previous week, had here to be content with the 
third place. Messrs. D. and W. Croll, again led the 
way with 48 Roses, dissimilar. Messrs. Harkness 
& Sons secured the second award, displacing Messrs. 
R. Mack & Son, who were third. Messrs. J & A. 
May, Bedale, had the best 36 varieties, taking the 
lead of Messrs. D. and W. Croll, and Messrs. 
Harkness & Sons, who followed in the order given. 
Messrs. D. and W. Croll came to the front and kept 
it for 24 varieties, 12 blooms of any variety and 12 
tea-scented Roses. 
Pansies constituted another feature of the 
exhibition, competition was very keen, and the bulk 
of the winning stands came from Scotland. Mr. M. 
Campbell, High Blantyre, took the leading place for 
48 Fancy Pansies, which were beautifully fresh. He 
was followed by Mr. John Smellie, Busby. For 24 
Fancy Pansies, Mr. M. Campbell retained his 
original position, and was followed by Mr. George 
Davison, Newcastle, who made Mr. J. Smellie take 
the third place. The latter came to the front for 24 
show Pansies, aDd Mr. M. Campbell had the best 24 
sprays of Violas. Mr. J. Arkless, Gateshead, had 
the best Pinks, and Mr. J. Cairns, Sunderland, had 
the best Carnations, which were small but fresh. 
Mr. W. Archer, Sunderland, staged the best Picotees 
which were beautifully refined. Mr. F. Edmondson 
took two leading prizes for table decorations, and 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, secured the other 
five first prizes. 
Fruit was excellent in quality, but the competition 
was not so keen in some of the classes as it has been 
in former years. The first prize for a collection of 
8 dishes of fruit was secured by Mr. Alex. Kirk, 
gardener to J. Thompson Paton, Esq , Alloa, whose 
fame as a grape grower is well known. His Black 
Hamburgh Grapes were really splendid with perfect 
bloom. He was followed by Mr. J. Mclndoe, and 
Mr. James Tullet, gardener to Lord Barnard, Raby 
Castle, Darlington. In the class for four dishes of 
fruit Mr. Mclndoe took the,lead of Mr. Kirk,who was 
second. In the other classes for fruit, however, he 
had it very much his own way, for he took the lead¬ 
ing prizes for four bunches of Grapes, showing 
Muscats, and Black Alicante; two bunches of 
Grapes ; two bunches of white Grapes ; two bunches 
of any other black variety than those already shown ; 
a dish each of Nectarines, and Tartarian Cherries; 
and 18 Tomatos which were of large size and fine 
appearance, Invincible being the variety shown. 
Mr. James Tullet had the best two bunches of 
Black Hamburghs; and was succeeded by Mr. 
Luke Thompson, gardener to A. Guthrie, Esq., Low 
Fell. The latter secured the first prize for Peaches 
with a fine dish of Royal George. Mr. Mclndoe 
was second with Bellegarde. Mr. John McIntyre 
bad the best Melon. Mr. W. G. McFarlane, of 
Alnwick had the best dish of Strawberries in large 
conical samples. 
In the classes for plants not open to nurserymen 
leading prizes were taken by Mr. F. Nicholas, Mr. 
John McIntyre, Mr. J. Holmes, Newburn, and Mr. 
T. Bell. Mr. G. C. Finlay, Darlington, took the 
lead in this division for 12 Roses ; and was followed 
by Mr. W. Hutchinson, Kirkby Moorside, Yorks., 
and Mr. A. Whitton, Bedale, respectively. Mr. 
Hutchinson came to the front, however, for 12 
Roses in another class, 6 Roses, and 12 Tea-scented 
varieties. Mr. W. Archer had the best Carnations ; 
and Mr. J. Arkless showed the best Picotees. Mr. 
G. Davison exhibited the best 24 Pansies ; and Mr. 
John Wright, Prudhoe, and Mr. J Proudlock, Seaton 
Delaval, each took leading prizes for Pansies. Hardy 
herbaceous plants were decidedly a feature of the 
exhibition, occupying a table half the length of the 
tent. Several of the leading exhibitors, particularly 
amongst the nurserymen disregarded the conditions 
required by the schedule, and were consequently 
disqualified. This was for 18 varieties. In the class 
for 12 varieties, the leading award was secured by 
Mr. W. Hutchinson, who showed Coreopsis, Gaillar- 
dia, and Alstroemeria chilensis in fine condition. 
He was followed by Mr. J. G. McKenzie, gardener 
to the Rev. R. Burdon, Wylam-on-Tyne; and by 
Mr. Mclndoe, in the order named. Mr. R. C. 
Rutherford, Wbickham, Gateshead, had the best 
collection of vegetables and the best Cucumbers. 
In the miscellaneous class not for competition, 
Messrs. W. Fell & Co., Hexham, were awarded the 
Society’s Silver Medal for a group of hardy flowers, 
and well grown Conifers. Messrs. Dobbie & Co., 
Rothesay, had a very extensive exhibit of Violas, 
Sweet Peas, Pansies, Dahlias, and hardy herbaeeous 
plants, and were highly commended. Mr. James 
Douglas, Edenside, Great Bookham, exhibited many 
of his new varieties of Carnations and Picotees. 
Messrs. W. and J. Birkenhead, Manchester, exhibited 
a fine collection of Ferns in their usual style. Mr. 
Michael Cuthbertson, Rothesay, exhibited a fine col¬ 
lection of hardy herbaceous plants. The same class 
of plants was also shown by Messrs. Kent & Brydon, 
Darlington. Conifers were shown in quantity by 
Messrs. Joseph Robson & Sons. Both the last 
named firms were very highly commended. A hand¬ 
some collection of plants grown with pure Ichthemic 
Guano, was/exhibited by Mr. W. Colchester, Ipswich. 
A stand of Ferns, and Edwardian Ware were shown 
by Messrs. Edwards & Son, The Nurseries, Sherwood, 
Nottingham. 
--— 
SYON HOUSE. 
One of the principal southern seats of the Ducal 
Percys, Syon, or as it used formerly to be spelt SioD, 
House, has long been celebrated as one of the finest 
establishments in England. More than one of the 
noble Dukes of Northumberland have evidenced 
striking horticultural tastes, with the result that the 
flower, fruit, and vegetable gardens, with their 
accompanying glasshouses, are of an exceedingly 
well appointed character, and many rare and beauti¬ 
ful trees are dotted about the ample grounds. 
The mansion itself is a solid rectangular building 
of forbidding aspect fronting the flat plain-like waste 
through which the Thames here flows. Having 
once been a nunnery, the ascetic tastes of the then 
owners and occupiers would not admit of any ornate 
specimens of architecture. Solidity and strength 
were the main objects of the designers, and these 
have been achieved to the exclusion of the purely 
ornamental. As it stands, Syon House is what an 
auctioneer would term a well preserved specimen of 
mediaeval architecture. The tunnel leading from 
the house underneath the bed of the river, now 
blocked up and in a state of ruination, forms another 
link with the past, for legend hath it that here more 
than one nun sought flight from the dull monotony 
of convent life. The old boathouse that lies upon 
the banks of the river is also fraught with much in¬ 
terest. The stained and polished oaken floor boards, 
plate glass windows, and scatiered chairs, denote 
that the upper part of the building is still in use, but 
as our steps were guided to the damp grass-grown 
dungeon below where th<| boats were formerly kept, 
the clock of time seemed put back a couple of 
hundred years, for here in aristocratic decay lies the 
fatal state barge that carried Lady Jane Grey to her 
doom upon Tower Hill. The once gilded and 
bedecked craft is now dull, dingy, and dirty, with 
the marks of the corroding fingers of the intervening 
years, as if in mute lamentation of that dread day 
when she was a passive instrument that brought 
about the last scene, when, in the words of the 
historian, “ the axe fell, and the fairest and wisest 
head that ever sat upon human shoulders fell like¬ 
wise.” 
Shaking off these gloomy reflections we were fain 
to teturn to the upper air, and to enjoy the pleasure 
of a stroll through the grounds. These are of a 
most delightful character, and when we say that 
