October 7, 1893* 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
8B 
PEACHES IN SCOTLAND. 
At one time Peach growing was very general in 
every garden throughout the lowlands of Scotland, 
and such varieties as Noblesse and Royal George of 
fine quality could be gathered annually in quantity. 
For example, at Raith Gardens, near Kirkcaldy, as 
fine Noblesse Peaches were carried to Edinburgh 
season after season as are seen at the Waverly 
market at any autumn show from under glass. No 
doubt this was owing to the stronger and more con¬ 
tinuous sunshine that has been experienced in 
seasons of more modern times. 
The past summer seems to have been a revival of 
the " good old times,” and many good examples of 
Peaches from the open walls may have been seen at 
exhibitions such as would do credit on any table. 
At Kinfauns Castle, near Perth, where wall fruits 
generally have due attention paid to them. Peaches 
and Apricots are year by year gathered in abund¬ 
ance. Last year was generally considered untoward 
in northern parts for the ripening of stone fruits, but 
at the garden indicated, under the excellent manage¬ 
ment of Mr. Gray’s gardener, Mr. Goodfellow, fine 
cropsof capital quality were gathered. Late Admirable 
peaches, which often fail to ripen in gardens hundreds 
of miles further south than Kinfauns, were ripened 
at this Perthshire seat. This year they seem to have 
excelled all previous crops. Mr. Goodfellow abhors 
protection with nets or any material of that char¬ 
acter.— Stirling. 
A GARDENERS’ OUTING. 
On Tuesday, September 26th, the gardeners at Park 
Place, Henley-on-Thames, passed a day of combined 
pleasure and instruction, visiting the Royal Gardens 
at Frogmore, " The Dell,” the not extensive but 
beautiful country seat of Baron Schroder, and the 
nurseries of Mr. G. Turner at Slough. Mr. Stanton, 
to whom we are indebted for our pleasant outing, 
had previously obtained the permission of Mr. 
Thomas, head gardener at Frogmore, for our visit to 
this interesting place. Leaving the railway at 
Slough, we proceeded to Mr. Turner’s nurseries, 
where we were shown everything of interest in the 
grounds. The first thing of note was a fine batch of 
Bouvardias just lifted from the open ground, and 
showing well for bloom ; the beautiful white variety 
Humbolti corymbiflora, with its beautiful Stephano- 
tis-like flowers, was already in bloom and much ad¬ 
mired. Standing alongside a high hedge, with the 
rods tied over, were a large number of young, 
healthy looking Vines in large pots; Chyrsanthe- 
mums filled several houses ; the earliest batch of 
large flowering plants were already in bloom. The 
large house in which the Chrysanthemums are exhi¬ 
bited to the public was stocked quite full with plants 
that promise a very successful show this year. A 
house full of Liliums in full bloom was much ad¬ 
mired, as was a fine batch of Tuberoses. A large 
quantity of Cocos Weddeliana in 6o size pots, and 
various Kentias, all looking healthy and ready for 
sale, were noticed. The last house visited was a 
large Palm house, in which were seen some good 
specimens of Palms, Tree Ferns, etc. 
Passing an almost endless number of border 
Carnations, some grown and layered in pots, we 
came to the Dahlia ground, where immense blooms 
of show and Cactus varieties were seen. This 
garden alone well repays a visit. Tea Rose growing 
is evidently a speciality, Roses being seen every¬ 
where. Some, budded in January, producing very 
large plants covered with bloom. 
Time not allowing us to stay longer here, we 
proceeded to 'Windsor, where we were met by one 
of the terrace gardeners, and shown round the east 
front and slopes. The wide stretch of beautiful 
bedding is almost beyond description. Here is 
seen bedding of the most pleasing type, that is, a 
combination of carpet and sub-tropical. This, with 
the pretty Conifers with which the centre and angles 
of the beds are planted, make a scene which must 
be seen to be conceived. Some beds especially 
noted had a ground of Viola cornuta interspersed 
with a yellow leaved Pelargonium, Golden Queen, 
simple, both plants and design, but very pretty. 
Leaving the terrace we went along the slopes to the 
Prince Consort’s Cave, a subterranean passage 
leading to an inner chamber cut in the rock by the 
late Prince Consort. Some distance from this we 
came to a pretty rock garden close to a prettily 
situated pavilion known as Adelaide Cottage. On 
the lawn is a fine-shaped Beech, the lower branches 
sweeping the ground. It is a sprig of the tree under 
which Martin Luther was arrested at Meiningen, in 
Germany. It was first planted at Hampton Court, 
but afterwards transplanted to its present position. 
The next place visited was the gardens at Frog-' 
more, where we were received with great kindness 
and shown all the houses in this immense establish¬ 
ment. First was a long range of fruit houses, 
several of which were filled with Chrysanthemums, 
the fruit being all gone. A large fruit room, given 
up entirely to Pears, was next seen. Pears at Frog¬ 
more are plentiful andjof good quality, judging from 
the fruit seen in this room. Indeed, all kinds of 
fruit are above the average here. 
A very large temperate plant house was much 
admired, also a collection of stove plants; some 
very fine Alocasias and Nepenthes were particularly 
good. Pine growing, however, appeared to be the 
chief feature. Here were Pines in several stages of 
growth; some nearly ripe were supposed to scale 
10 lbs, each. A house of very dwarf Chrysanthe¬ 
mums gave promise of a handy batch of decorative 
plants. Another house was full of Poinsettias 
looking remarkably well; these are in a very warm 
house. 
Strawberries in pots are seldom seen better than 
here. The fruit and vegetable gardens were not 
visited through lack of time. 
Leaving Frogmore we came to Old Windsor, 
where lunch was provided. After this refreshment 
we journeyed on past the enclosure in Windsor 
Great Park, where are kept the wild boars, ferocious 
looking animals, brought over from India by the 
Prince of Wales when he returned from his hunting 
expedition. A mile further on was our destination, 
■' The Dell.” The house and grounds are one side 
of the high road, the glass-houses, etc., on the other, 
divided from the road by beautiful Holly hedges 
10 ft. high. We were courteously received by Mr. 
Ballantyne, and shown everything at this home of 
flowers. 
This place is well known for its valuable collection 
of Orchids, the culture of which is the recreation of 
Baron Schroder. Here we see Orchids grown to 
perfection, seemingly as much at home as in their 
native lands. 
Fruit culture is not carried to any great extent. 
A long Peach case, a range of Melon houses, and a 
flne batch of Strawberries in pots being all that were 
noticed in this branch of gardening. We were first 
shown a splendid rock fernery where Palms, tree 
Ferns, smaller B'erns, and Begonias of the Rex type 
were growing luxuriantly. Opening out of this are 
two Odontogiossum houses. Of course much bloom 
could not be expected at this season. A few 
Oncidiums, Catasetums, Cypripediums, and some 
fine sprays of Dendrobium phalaenopsis were most 
conspicuous of the plants in bloom. But who is not 
interested when one sees such a collection of healthy 
plants here—"Vandas growing 5 ft. high, great pans 
of Coelogyne cristata, a C. cristata Lemoniana 3 ft. 
across. Although Orchids in bloom were rather 
scarce, we were fortunate in seeing a grand display of 
Nerine Fothergillii. This is said to be one of the 
finest collections of its kind in the country. A 
newly-imported batch cf Cattleya labiata, filling a 
small house, were throwing up their flower spikes, 
promising a grand show. 
Chrsanthemums and winter-flowering Carnations 
were doing well. Having seen all the glass we went 
into the grounds, communication being by means of 
a subterranean passage under the road. The walls 
of the passage are faced with white glazed 
tiles. This makes a beautiful private pathway 
to and from the gardens, instead of crossing the high¬ 
way. The grounds are thickly planted with single 
specimens of the most beautiful Coniferas, and beds 
of Azaleas, Ericas, and Rhododendrons are placed 
in all parts of the grounds. A lovely rock garden 
was one of the most interesting things seen. 
Evidently money was of no object in constructing it ; 
and Nature was so closely studied that it does not 
look artificial, as too many of these gardens do. 
Alpine plants, as seen here, growing undisturbed 
under the most favourable conditions are far more 
effective than grown in the ordinary flat border. 
A stream of water running amongst the rocks 
makes a home for aquatic plants. In a corner, 
Aponogeton distachyon looked very pretty. Re¬ 
luctantly leaving this garden, we came to an immense 
Camellia covered with flower buds. The plant is 
17 ft. high, and about the same in diameter. It is 
protected by a portable glass case. Passing the 
front of the house, and round to the side facing 
"Windsor, we obtained a splendid view of the Castle 
This side of the house overlooks a lovely vale or 
dell, from which it takes its name. 
Bidding adieu to ” The Dell,’’ we entered the great 
park by the Bishop’s Gate, and on for about two miles 
to the gardens at Cumberland Lodge, to see the large 
vine there. This vine, a Black Hamburgh, is in a 
house 140 ft. long, and completely covers the space. 
The Grapes are not quite so good as last year, but 
the vine does not show the east sign of decay. All 
the fruit of this ancient vine is solely for the Royal 
table. 
This being the only thing of especial interest here, 
we commenced our homeward journey by way of 
the Copper Horse and Long Walk to Windsor. 
After tea and a ramble round the town, we returned 
to the railway, arriving home at 10 p.m. "Visiting so 
many places, anything like an exhaustive survey 
was of course impossible in the time. 
A word must be said of the marked kindness we 
received at each place visited. The head gardeners 
showed us everything that would make the day what 
it was, a day at once enjoyable and instructive.— 
J. T. B., Park Place. 
-- 
©l^anittfla fcom fh^ IDnclh 
nf Science. 
A Prolific Pea —The Chick Pea (Lathyrus 
sativus), variously known as Lord Anson’s Pea, 
Lathyrus azureus, L. sylvestris roseus, and Blue 
Gem, has been cultivated from time immemorial as 
a food plant in South Europe and North Africa. 
When thickly sown in gardens in this country, as 
Sweet Peas are usually treated, it holds out but 
little hope of a good return in the way of seeds. 
Like Sweet Peas, it is too thickly sown, and runs up 
with a single stem that expands its blossoms, runs 
to seed and is soon played out. Such is the fate of 
many garden annuals that are sown where they are 
to bloom, and left to struggle with one another with¬ 
out transplanting. Two seeds of Lathyrus sativus 
sown in pots last November, kept in a cold frame 
till March and then planted out, commenced to 
bloom in June and kept on continuously till the 
beginning of September. By the third week of 
that month the plants had ripened 460 seeds, or an 
average of 230 to each plant. It cannot be gainsaid 
that the return was a heavy one, yet the plants 
received no special treatment beyond being sown in 
November and planted out in spring. Nor was the 
soil anything but moderately rich, but had been 
trenched in autumn. The dry summer also put the 
plants to a severe test, although the heat may have 
been beneficial than otherwise, seeing that the plant 
is native to a warmer climate than ours. 
Shot Turnips —This term is applied by northern 
farmers to Turnips that prematurely run to flower 
during the autumn of the year in which they are 
sown. The complaint used to be more common 
than it is now. There are doubtless many reasons 
to account for the change. We cannot be surprised 
at early garden Turnips quickly running to seed 
when sown in spring, especially after a dry season 
like the past ; but field varieties, the bulk of which 
are late, should behave differently. Thirty years 
ago many farmers grew their own seeds. The tubers 
were indifferently selected and planted several kinds 
together on the same piece of ground, so that bees 
could and did readily mix them when in bloom by 
cross-fertilising the flowers. Under these conditions 
the strain could hardly fail to be a mixed and inferior 
one. Now all that has been altered, and the pro¬ 
duction of Turnip seed is mostly left to specialists 
who know how to deal with the matter from a more 
scientific standpoint. The matter becomes more 
complicated when sowings on different fields of the 
same farm and sown about the same date behave in 
a diverse manner. A difference of altitude, of soil, 
and of aspect, all exert varying influences upon the 
crop, and sometimes cause the tubers to run to 
bloom prematurely to the extent of six to twelve per 
cent. When the land faces the east the leaves get 
the sun early in the morning, and this dries up their 
moisture causing them to be dry all da}'. This 
checks growth by hardening the tissue while the 
heat of the sun forces the plants, so to speak, and 
flower stems are developed. 
