June 27th, 1885. 
685 
rabbits ; the famous Hampshire hogs, which run wild 
in herds, and are generally dark brindled, and may 
be described as a “ cross ” between the domestic pig 
and the wild boar ; and the small, hardy, New Forest 
ponies, resembling in many points the ponies of 
Shetland and the Hebrides. These generally con¬ 
gregate in herds of twenty or thirty, and command 
at the neighbouring fair prices ranging from £10 to 
£20 each. 
The scenery of the New Forest is richest, perhaps, 
between Minstead (where a fine mansion is being 
erected for the Eight Hon. Sir William V. Hareourt) 
and Kingwood, though the vistas of gleaming waters 
opened up through the branching trees in the vicinity 
of Beaulieu may better commend themselves to the 
taste of many. The grand avenue running—first with 
a declivity and then rising in the distance—from the 
Salisbury and Lyndhurst Eoad in the direction of 
Minstead, is in itself worth a visit to see. There are 
“nooks of greenery” in several parts so wild, so 
venerable in character, that the wayfarer almost 
expects to hear the ringing blast of the huntsman’s 
horn echo through the silent glades. Here, over 
purple heaths and acres of the Whortleberry (Vac- 
cinium myrtillus), and through avenues of Beech, and 
Fir, and Birch, up fresh grassy knolls, down pleasant 
valleys where the water-nymphs are ever singing, the 
pilgrim may wander unheeded and undisturbed, gazing 
with admiration at the wildness and solemnity of 
woodland beauty, as he sees far around him one deep 
shadow, one thick and continuous roof of boughs, and 
thousands of hoary boles, standing clothed as it were 
with the spirit of silence, or he may admire the 
grotesque forms of particular trees, which seem to 
have been blasted into blackness and contorted into 
inimitable crookedness. One splendid Oak which I 
measured has a spread of branches 111 ft. in diameter, 
and a trunk 16 ft. in circumference at 2 ft. from the 
ground. 
Far below the elevated position of Stoney Cross, 
nestling amidst majestic Oak and spreading Beech— 
“ A fair stone in green Malwood 
Informs the traveller where stood 
The memorable Oak tree” 
under whose shadow the second Norman King of 
England is supposed to have met his death. It is 
enclosed in an upright triangular casing of iron, 21 ins. 
wide each side, 5 ft. high, and 24 ins. through at its 
base to a few inches above the ground-line, and sur¬ 
mounted by an iron grating through which the stone 
can be distinctly seen. It bears the following inscrip¬ 
tion :—On the north side: “ Here stood the Oak tree, 
on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrell at a stag, 
glanced, and struck King William II., surnamed Eufus, 
on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second 
day of August, anno 1100.” West side: “King William 
II., surnamed Eufus, being slane, as before related, 
was laid in a cart belonging to one Purkess, and 
drawn from hence to Winchester [twenty miles from 
the stone], and buried in the Cathedral Church of 
that city.” East side: “That the spot where an event 
so memorable had happened might not be hereafter 
unknown, the enclosed stone was set up by John Lord 
Delaware, who had seen the tree growing in this 
place anno 1745.” Underneath this inscription are 
two crossed arrows, below which it is stated that, 
“ This stone having been much mutilated, and the 
inscriptions on each of its three sides defaced, this 
more durable memorial, with the original inscriptions, 
was erected in the year 1841, by William Sturges 
Bourne, Warden.” 
The charcoal-burner who conveyed the king’s body 
to Winchester, is, as already stated, said to have been 
named Purkess, and his descendants live in the 
neighbourhood to the present day, never becoming 
richer or poorer than their ancestor— 
“ And still—so runs our forest creed— 
Flourish the pious yoeman’s seed, 
E’en in the self-same spot: 
One horse and cart their little store, 
Like their forefather’s—neither more 
Nor less the children’s lot.” 
The late Lord Palmerston, in a debate in the House 
of Commons in 1859, observed that there was still 
“ a Purkess in the Forest, who regarded his patri¬ 
monial piece of ground, handed down from father 
to son for some centuries, with as much pride as the 
peer of the longest pedigree, and the squire of a 
thousand acres.” 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The principal seats in the Forest (Lyndhurst dis¬ 
trict) are Cuffnells (E. G. Greaves, Esq.; gardener, 
Mr. Miller), Bentley Lodge (Lieut. Lillingston, E.N.; 
gardener, Mr. Chislium), Castle Malwood (Mrs. General 
Bobbins; gardener, Mr. Lindsey), Northerwood (Lord 
Londesborougli’s beautiful place), under the able 
management of Mr. J. C. McPherson ; and Glasheys, 
Col. Macley’s charming place. This is undoubtedly 
a representative and well-managed garden. There 
are some fifteen glass-houses, including vineries, 
plant-houses, conservatory (a new one, and, like the 
180 ft. long orchard-house, erected by the Messrs. 
Driver, of Southampton, in excellent style), Melon 
and Cucumber houses, pits, &c. The Vines are 
swelling creditable bunches of Grapes, the plant-stoves 
contain a choice assortment of plants, both foliage and 
flowering, including a hundred or two healthy plants of 
Orchids in variety. Particularly healthy and well- 
flowered plants of Stephanotis floribunda, Ipomaea 
Horsfallire, &c., embellish the trellis underneath the 
roof in the stoves; Melons and Cucumber plants are 
bearing heavy crops, as also are the Peach, Nectarine, 
and Plum trees (pot pyramids and trees planted and 
trained against the back wall), all of which are in fine 
condition ; so fine, indeed, as regards health and grand 
show of fruit, that the Eight Hon. Sir W. V. Hareourt, 
who has taken Glasheys during its owner’s absence 
from England until his own new mansion at Minstead 
is finished, told Mr. King (who has carried out many 
improvements in the gardens during the eight or ten 
years he has so ably presided over them), that he had 
never before seen such a promising crop of fruit in an 
orchard-house. 
Outside the houses on the walks is an extensive 
display of strong Chrysanthemum plants in their 
flowering pots. Those who saw Mr. King’s plants 
(6 ft. through and grandly flowered) in the orchard- 
house above referred to or at Southampton Show in 
November last, as recorded at the time in your 
columns, will not readily forget the effect which they 
made. 
The pleasure grounds and flower garden, which are 
situate opposite the south front of the mansion, 
whither they extend in an east and westerly direction, 
have been picturesquely laid out and judiciously 
planted with choice varieties of Conifers and orna¬ 
mental and flowering shrubs, the large masses of 
Bhododendrons, Azalea Mollis, &c., being very effec¬ 
tive, as also are the standard Bhododendrons, having 
stems 5 ft. high and heads as many feet through. 
One good - sized circular bed has in it a few 
standards of the above dimensions and of a light 
shade of colour, and carpeted with the sweet-scented 
pink-flowered Daphne Cneorum in grand flower, the 
plants being also the picture of health in the peaty 
soil in which they are growing and evidently at home 
in. I had quite lost sight of this most useful sweet- 
scented and free-flowering plant since I lost a solitary 
specimen that I found here some years since in 
carrying out alterations in the bog-bed, in which it 
was growing among the Bhododendrons, which partly 
stifled it, and was therefore very pleased to see it 
again growing under most favourable circumstances, 
and, moreover, delighted to obtain a promise of a 
plant or two to make a fresh start with. I must not 
omit to mention a nice young tree, about 5 ft. high, 
of Cedrus Deodara alba, one of Mr. Eoger’s (of South¬ 
ampton) latest achievements in the way of Coniferre, 
I believe, and to say that the condition and thorough 
good keep of every department of the Glasheys 
gardens reflect great credit on Mr. King, who is 
evidently a good all-round gardener. Neither must I 
forget to mention a large, neatly-trained, and profusely 
flowered white Banksian Eose, which I saw on the 
south wall of Mrs. Howard’s house in Lyndhurst, 
and which is the admiration of all who see it. and 
a grandly-flowered specimen of the white Jasminum 
on the wall of somebody else’s house between 
Lyndhurst and Lyndhurst Eoad Station, which very 
much attracted the attention of travellers by the 
“ Lyndhurst Bus,” including Hortus. 
—— 
Action of Feost. —Specimens of espalier Apples 
were exhibited at the last meeting of the Scientific 
Committee, in which the young growths were browned 
and withered. Dr. Masters stated that he had re¬ 
cently received specimens of various trees similarly 
affected. In the absence of other visible cause, he 
attributed the effect to the action of frost on the 
young growing shoots. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
-- 
Royal Horticultural, June 23rd .—What was 
expected to be a Pelargonium Show proved really to 
be a fine exhibition of hardy flowers, for the former 
were not only scarce but poor, owing to the bulk of 
these plants being over, but of the latter there was an 
abundance, and of a quality that was truly refreshing. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, who makes a brave display here every 
day, contributed an even more extensive group than 
usual—a rich profusion of Liliuins, Irises, border 
Pinks, Ixias, Sparaxis, Chinese Paeonies, Poppies, 
Delphiniums, Pyrethrums, &c., shown in masses, and 
surrounded by all the treasures in season of the Hale 
Farm Nurseries. A Silver Gilt Flora Medal was 
awarded to the group. Messrs. Barr & Son’s nursery 
at Tooting also contributed a splendid collection, 
not so large or so varied as Mr. Ware’s, but a remark¬ 
able display nevertheless, and a Silver Gilt Banksian 
Medal was their reward. From the Messrs. Kelway, 
of Laugport, came such a display of Chinese Pseonies 
as is very seldom seen, some scores of double flowers 
of a size, freshness, and brightness of colour that was 
most delightful, and well deserving of the Silver 
Gilt Flora Medal that was awarded. The same firm 
had also some remarkably fine double Pyrethrums. 
Mr. Wiggins, gardener to W. Clay, Esq., staged a 
large group of Seedling, Show, and Decorative Pelar¬ 
goniums, among which were several varieties that will 
doubtless come to the front another season. Messrs. 
Cannell & Sons, who have been absent from these 
exhibitions for some weeks, returned in all their old 
force to-day, staging remarkably fine bunches of the 
beautiful double white Zonal Pelargonium La Cygne, 
of Belle Nancienne, a first-rate salmon - red semi¬ 
double variety; and of other Show and Zonal 
varieties, admirable stands of Verbenas, Paonies, &c. 
The Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt, who will soon be as 
famous for hardy plants as for Boses, had an excellent 
group of the former, which included some English 
Poppies, semi-double flowers of a most pleasing 
character, raised at their Broxbourne Nursery. From 
the New Plant and Bulb Co., Colchester, came, 
besides a large group of Japanese Acers, which 
obtained a Bronze Medal, a plant of Cattleya Mendeli 
delicatissima, a pure and delicately tinted flower of 
nice form. A richly-coloured C. Mendeli, named 
Eosea superba, came from H. Little, Esq.; and a 
paler-coloured variety, named superba, from Mr. 
Wiggins. 
With Show Pelargoniums in pots, Mr. Little and 
Mr. Turner secured all the prizes that were awarded, 
and Mr. Waite, gardener to Col. Hon. W. P. Talbot, 
Glenhurst, Esher, secured the only prize awarded for 
Zonals. For a dozen cut blooms of Show varieties 
Mr. Turner was well first; Mr. Little’s gardener, 
second; and Messrs. Cannell, third. But with the 
same number of Zonal varieties the last-named firm 
stood well ahead of the other prize-winners, Mr. Waite 
and Mr. Hill. A very fine stand of a dozen Pinks, 
from Mr. Turner, took the leading award in that 
class; and Mr. James Douglas, gardener to F. Whit¬ 
burn, Esq., took the first prize for six varieties. The 
prizes offered in open classes for Gloxinias, Exotic 
Ferns, and Palms, brought out no competition; and 
in the amateur’s classes for the same subjects Mr. 
Chadwick, gardener to E. M. Nelson, Esq., Hanger 
Hill House, Ealing, was the only exhibitor. The cut 
Eose classes, however, brought out some very fine 
blooms, and a fair number of them. With twenty- 
four single trusses in a strong class Messrs. Paul & 
Son, Cheshunt, came in first, showing, amongst 
others, superb examples of Ulrich Brunner, Etienne 
Levet, Souvenir d’Elise Vardon, Madame Prosper 
Langier, and La Duchesse de Morny, &c. Mr. J. 
House, Peterborough, was a good second, and Mr. 
Turner a close third, stands from Mr. G. Prince, 
Oxford, and E. E. West, Esq., Eeigate, being com¬ 
mended. With a dozen Teas and Noisettes, Mr. 
Prince, always strong in similar classes, was well to 
the front, again winning first honours with a stand of 
lovely blooms, conspicuous among which were Com- 
tesse Nadaillac, Alba rosea, Madame Lambard, Anna 
Olivier, Mons. Furtado, and Marie Van Houtte. Mr. 
House was second, and Messrs. Paul & Son, third. In 
the amateur’s class for twelve Eoses, three blooms of 
each, T. H. Girdlestone, Esq., Sunningdale, beat the 
