806 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 23, 1890. 
artistically-got-up basket of Water Lilies exhibited by 
Miss P. Mackenzie, Bank of Scotland, Beauly, obtained 
a special prize, and at the conclusion of the show was 
presented to Miss Clifton Brown, Strug Forest. A. B. 
Loader, Esq., the shooting tenant of Erchless Castle, 
contributed handsomely to the prize fund, and Mrs. 
Loader kindly distributed the prize money to the suc¬ 
cessful competitors at the close of the show. 
Mr. Davidson, gardener, Aigas Gardens, Beauly, 
acted as judge, and his decisions gave the greatest 
satisfaction. The principal prize winners for fruit and 
vegetables were Mr. Grant, Erchless, Rev. J. Fraser, 
Mr. K. MacKenzie, Mr. Fraser, Crunaglaek, Mr. 
Chisholm and Mr. MacDonald, Mauld. Certificates of 
Merit were awarded to the following: Miss Fraser and 
Mrs. MacKintosh, Erchless, for pot plants ; Mr. J. 
MacKintosh and Mr. D. Cameron, for Potatos ; Mr. 
Gold, for Scotch Thistle ; Mr. Millar, Strug, for fruit; 
and Mr. MacDonald, Mauld, for Cherries. The gardens 
of the members of the association were judged on the 
day of the show, and the best kept and neatest garden 
in the parish of Erchless was adjudged to be that of 
Mr. James MacKinnon, Mauld. —Cor. 
-- 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
In the short historical sketch of the Royal Horticultural 
Society by the Rev. W. Wilks, which has been 
circulated amongst the Fellows, some events which have 
had an important bearing on the fortunes of the society 
have not been touched upon. The Society’s archives 
are rather scanty (I tried in vain to get the names of all 
the Council of 1873), and Mr. Wilks is not an old 
stager, so could have no personal cognizance of what 
took place. The society was bound to pay rent (£2,400) 
once in five years ; this was in order that it should not 
continue to hold the very valuable land unless it showed 
sufficient vigorous life to enable it to make this payment. 
The rent day drew near and money was short, when 
General Scott, who took the greatest friendly interest in 
the society, influenced H. M. Commissioners of 1851, of 
which he was secretary, to pay in advance the share of 
the exhibition admittance money which would have 
later become due to the society. This enabled the society 
to enter on another term of five years. 
The crisis of the fate of the South Kensington 
Garden came in 1873. The Council of that time was 
the strongest I have ever known—men of good position, 
some of the best horticultural amateurs, and some first 
class men of business who took the deepest interest in the 
society’s welfare. Mr. John Clutton and Sir John Kelk, 
men with enormous concerns of their own, were a 
sub-committee, and attended atmanylongmeetings. As 
a third was wanted I was added to the sub-committee, 
but thought it was rather hard to have to attend two 
meetings of several hours each in the Christmas fort¬ 
night (usually a holiday time). About this time H. M. 
Commissioners were holding exhibitions, and as the weary 
round of the Arcades was a great drawback to suc¬ 
cess, General Scott was empowered to offer most liberal 
terms to the Council if they would admit visitors through 
the gardens to the different parts of the exhibition 
buildings. 
The offer made was that H. M. Commissioners 
would free the society from rent (£2,400 once in five 
years), would take over the debenture debt of £2,000 a 
year, and would give a share of admission money, 
estimated to amount to £1,000 a year. To the horti¬ 
cultural part of the R. H. S. these were, of course, 
splendid terms, and would practically have relieved the 
society from its difficulties, but to the South Ken¬ 
sington part of the society it involved destroying the 
privacy of the garden (which they had long enjoyed as 
a square for the use of their children on very low 
terms) during the time the exhibitions were held. 
They therefore allied themselves to the so-called “ horti¬ 
cultural party,” which consisted mainly of a small 
section of professional horticulturists (principally jour¬ 
nalists and nurserymen). These two classes of dissentients 
were on the spot, the amateur horticulturists were 
scattered about the country, and the whole attendance 
at meetings was small, so that when the Council 
brought forward the proposition, a small majority 
voted against it. The chairman then said it was of 
such vital importance to the society that the proposal 
should be carried, that he would allow time for consi¬ 
deration by adjourning the meeting for a fortnight, 
and that if the motion was not then adopted the whole 
Council would resign. 
The adjourned meeting still refused to support the 
Council, so it resigned. The new Council soon began 
to have difficulties amongst themselves, and a bad 
time ensued. The debenture holders, some of them 
Fellows who might have secured their position by 
supporting the Council, did not appear to be represented. 
The society lost a great chance, the exhibitions could 
not succeed, the debenture holders lost their money, 
and the neighbourhood will have buildings instead 
of an open space. 
Nothing is said by Mr. “Wilks about country shows, 
which were so successful in the old days : the first at 
Bury St. Edmunds (not a large centre), besides doing 
good to the society and to the neighbourhood, gave 
£400 profit. The Expenses Committee of H. M. 
Commissioners could not run the risk of a show 
unconnected with their land, so the Council took the 
personal responsibility on themselves. The society 
was thus entitled to the full amount, and laid it out on 
the orchard house at Chiswick. I believe H. M. 
Commissioners were sore about the law suit, which 
cost the society much money. It was probably 
necessary for the security of the society to get a decision 
of the Court as to the debenture question, but it is to 
be regretted that this could not have been obtained in a 
morefriendlymanner .—George F. Wilson, Beatherbank, 
Weybridge, Aug. lbth. 
-- 
HARDY FRUIT AT SYON HOUSE, 
BRENTFORD. 
In the worst of seasons there are always Apples and 
Pears on some of the trees. Whether it be that certain 
seasons favour some varieties and not others, or whether 
it be that certain trees fruit only when they have 
previously prepared and stored up a sufficient amount 
of reserve matter, irrespective of the nature of the 
season, are questions that might be worth while 
studying. Certain it is that some varieties fruit 
heavily at intervals, it may be, of some years, while 
others, presumably no hardier, fruit regularly and some¬ 
times heavily every year. Keswick Codlin is an 
example of this, and it is fruiting freely at Svon House 
in large bush form. Others of bush form, and now 
fruiting in fair quantity, are Mank’s Codlin, Lord 
Grosvenor, Ribston Pippin, and several other unnamed 
kinds. 
It is significant, however, that the heaviest crops are 
borne by old standard trees, evidently, in some cases, 
of many years’ standing, and in many cases losing 
branches. It may be fair to state, however, that the 
trees are grown in a place well sheltered by tall, old 
forest trees closely surrounding the orchard on one or 
two sides. A fine crop of Irish Peach has just been 
gathered. Other standards bearing a fair and some¬ 
times a heavy crop are Cox’s Orange Pippin, Lady 
Sutherland, Wellington, Duchess Favourite, Ilaw- 
thornden, and Blenheim Orange. Two trees of the 
latter are well laden with fruit. An old tree of 
Ribston Pippin half covered with Ivy and half dead 
with age is also heavily loaded with fruit. Two 
large old broad-headed standards of Devonshire Quar- 
renden present a fine appearance from a distance, 
owing to the quantity of dark red fruit they bear. 
Keswick Codlin as a standard is also a beautiful 
sight, with its freight of greenish yellow fruits. This 
and the latter are perhaps more heavily laden than 
any other variety in the orchard. Several trees of 
King of the Pippins, both in the bush and standard 
form, are as good examples as one might wish to see 
in an unfruitful year like the present. 
Only a few of the Pear trees on walls carry what 
might be considered a good crop. We noted two trees 
each of Passe Colmar and Colmar Dore, both bearing a 
respectable crop. The Morello Cherries on a north 
aspect wall are a sight worth seeing. The 
fruit from some of the trees has been gathered, but 
other trees, netted for preservation, are loaded and 
almost hlack in places with the fruit. The aspect 
is quite open, except to the south, and no tall trees 
of any kind encroach upon them to shade them. A 
considerable number of Apricot trees are grown on a 
west-aspect wall, and the crop, now mostly gathered, 
was variable, although never very heavy. 
Peaches on a south-aspect wall might also be described 
as variable, although several trees carry an excellent 
crop. There are several trees of Hale’s Early, and the 
fruits of handsome size were mostly gathered when we 
saw them. Other trees still carrying a good average 
crop are Condor, Grosse Mignonne, Dymond, Red Mag¬ 
dalen, and Bellegarde. One tree of Royal George bears 
a thin crop ; but another one, as well as an unnamed 
sort, is heavily laden. Some of the Nectarine trees 
bear only a scanty crop ; but Lord Napier, Dr. Hogg, 
and Elruge, with their brightly-coloured fruits, are 
pictures of fruitfulness. 
SHELTON ABBEY AND G-LENART, 
CO. WICKLOW. 
While staying at Coollattin (see p. 790) I had the 
opportunity of visiting various gardens in co. Wicklow, 
amongst them Lord Wicklow's place, Shelton Abbey. 
We took train at Shillelagh, and in due time arrived 
at Arklow, from whence we drove to Shelton Abbey, 
some three miles distant. On arrival there we received 
a hearty welcome from Mr. Tyler, and proceeded to in¬ 
spect the houses and grounds. Unfortunately Shelton 
Abbey Gardens are suffering from a complaint that is 
not confined to the Emerald Isle—viz., “depression”— 
consequently market gardening is the order of the day. 
The amount of glass is not great, but what there is 
is well filled, and the most that can be made of it is 
done. The vineries showed healthy vigorous Vines, 
bearing very heavy crops of Grapes.. Tomatos, Melons, 
and stove and greenhouse plants occupied other houses, 
and all were being grown for sale. The produce of the 
garden is mostly disposed of in Dublin. 
The kitchen garden was well filled with the usual 
crops, and enormous loads of Apples crowded the 
numerous trees. The grounds surrounding the Abbey 
are very beautiful, though bearing evidence of the pre¬ 
vailing depression, as they are not now kept as once 
they were. It is to be hoped that better days are in 
store for Shelton Abbey, and that the “ sinews of war ” 
may ere long be provided in sufficient proportion to 
enable Mr. Tyler to maintain the gardens and grounds 
in that state of perfection that they certainly would be 
in were money more plentiful. 
Glenakt. 
Standing amidst the beautiful trees that adorn the fine 
grassy slopes in front of Shelton Abbey, we looked 
across the stream of Avoca into the splendid grounds 
of Lord Carysfort’s residence, Glenart Castle. We were 
“ so near and yet so far,” for though we could throw a 
stone into Glenart, there was neither bridge nor boat, 
and the stream was too deep to allow of us fording it in 
our car. Bidding good-bye to Mr. Tyler, we made a 
detour of six miles to reach the place we saw so near. 
On arrival at Glenart Mr. Willmet proceeded to show 
us through the fine ranges of glass that he so ably 
superintends. 
Here we found no signs of depression. Everything 
indicated wealth worthily spent, and the way in which 
Mr. Willmet has taken advantage of his opportunities 
is much to be admired. As I had no opportunity of 
taking anything but mental notes, my remarks on this 
fine place must be very general. 
There are two splendid principal ranges of glass - 
houses, built in the most substantial, and at the same 
time, ornamental style, and filled with Vines, Pines, 
and Plants of all kinds in perfect condition. Amongst 
the Grapes I was pleased to see some nice bunches of 
the Duke of Buccleuch. The fine table qualities of 
this Grape are duly appreciated at Glenart. Round 
one of the conservatories Black Hamburgh Vines are 
very effectively trained. They bore a fine crop of nice 
well-coloured bunches, and the foliage being beautifully 
freshand green, the Vines made a very good surrounding 
to the various plants, which were arranged with great 
taste and were all in fine health. The shade of the 
Vines was not too heavy to injure in any way the other 
occupants of the conservatory, and the tout ensemble 
was very pleasing. Pine Apples are grown in consider¬ 
able quantity, and like all else are well done. Some 
fine large fruits were finishing swelling, and many more 
in various stages gave promise of a good supply. Suc¬ 
cession plants looked the picture of perfect health. It 
was pleasing to find that both at Shelton Abbey and 
Glenart Pine culture is carried on, as at man}'' places 
nowadays they are conspicuous by their absence. 
The bedding out is in keeping with the other things, 
and is simply splendid. Favoured with a fine climate, 
plants seem to luxuriate when assisted by skilful cul¬ 
tivation, and it was a real treat to walk round the 
grounds and see everything in such fine order. 
The castle is a very fine building, and stands amidst 
some of the richest and most delightful surroundings 
that can be found in fair co. Wicklow. A beautiful 
drive through the estate brought us to Wooden Bridge 
Station, from whence we took train back to Shillelagh, 
after having spent a pleasant day, seen much to interest 
and delight, and only sorry to think that Shelton 
Abbey rests under a cloud, which we hope may soon be 
dispelled. 
Glenart stands on one side of Avoca’s lovely stream, 
showing what can be done when wealth is at command, 
combined with cultural skill. Shelton Abbey stands 
on the other side, illustrating what want of funds can 
