July SO, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
746 
natural decay of the fibrous cords which connect 
the pulp with the surface of the endocarp, i.e., the 
inner membrane of the fruit. Why it should occur 
is not yet explained ; that the difference consists in 
no more than this natural decay is shown by the 
existence of intermediate forms, by French called 
"semi-cling stones."— R. D. 
-- 
THE ROYAL GARDENS 
AT FROGMORE. 
We recently had the privilege of passing through 
the extensive ranges of hot-houses in the Royal 
Gardens at Frogmore, Windsor, and which are 
under the superintendence of Mr. Owen Thomas, 
gardener to Her Majesty the Queen. Time would 
only permit of a passing glance at the flowers, 
plants, fruits, and vegetables that are reared and 
brought to maturity at all seasons of the year for 
the supply of the Royal household ; but we was 
sufficient to convince us of the enormous amount of 
work that has got to be effected in regular and 
unceasing rotation every twelvemonth, and the 
responsibility of the gardeners in charge, from the 
Stephanotis, the two latter being upon the roof. 
Cattleya GaskelliaDa was also noticeable, and in a 
raised border at the back some large and healthy 
bushes of Gardenias showed what can be expected 
of them. 
The stove was replete with dark coloured Dracaenas, 
Phyllotaenium Lindeni, Alocasia Thibautiana, 
Anthurium crystallinum and other fine foliage 
plants in the best condition. A house was mostly 
devoted to numerous varieties of Crotons, the pre¬ 
vailing colour of which is yellow, as such are found 
to be most serviceable in lighting up groups of dark 
leaved Palms, &c. Here also were Allamandas, 
Tuberoses, Pitcher Plants, Fittoniasand a fine batch 
of Calanthes now making vigorous growth. Another 
house was devoted to Caladiums in great variety 
and in small pots for decorative purposes. In a 
house filled with decorative and regal Pelargoniums 
were Volonte nationale alba, and Duchess of Teck, 
both white and other sorts flowering profusely. 
Passing into another structure we noted a fine lot of 
Lilium speciosum, L. s. rubrum, L. s. Kratzeri 
(album) and others, together with a fine batch of 
Achimenes. The Fernery was replete with Adian- 
tumconcinnum latum, A. cuneatum.A. c. gracillimum 
in another structure. This crop, however, is only 
likely to be temporary, for three Vines of Muscat 
of Alexandria, planted along the front of the Vinery, 
and making vigorous growth, are intended to occupy 
the house ultimately. There is only one huge Vine 
of Foster’s Seedling in the house, and, being both 
old and having been heavily cropped, may get 
exhausted and die at any time. The three Muscats 
will, however, be ready to take its place. The heavy 
crops of Lady Downes, Alicante, Raisin de Calabar, 
Gros Guillaume (Barbarossa), and Trebbiano had 
not commenced to colour at the time of our visit. 
The bunches of the last two named were of huge 
size. Two houses filled with Lady Downes were in 
gradually successional stages to those in the house 
just named. The three-year-old Vines of Madres- 
field Court, Golden Champion, Gros Maroc, and 
Duke of Buccleuch in another house were carrying 
very heavy bunches. Yet another house of Muscats 
in which the berries had not begun to colour. 
Very interesting were the Pineapples, not in pots 
but planted out in soil consisting of heavy loam, in 
pits adapted for the culture of this particular crop. 
One pit was occupied by the Queen variety, every 
plant of which was fruiting. Another pit was filled 
Windsor Castle from the Home Park. 
head downwards. Some of the plant houses were 
practically depleted of their contents at the time of 
our visit, for the purpose of furnishing the extensive 
decorations needed in the Castle at that particular 
time. 
In passing through the large conservatory we 
noted that the structure was chiefly occupied with 
huge Camellias and tall Palms at present brightened 
with great quantities of Hydrangea hortensis, H. 
paniculata grandiflora, Lilium Harrisii, Kalosanthes 
coccinea, and others, all flowering profusely. On 
the side benches were fine batches of Germania and 
Uriah Pike Carnations, beautiful and floriferous 
little plants of Erica Parmentieri rosea, and others, 
well shown up against the dark green foliage of 
various subjects. In the Rose house, tall plants of 
Homer, William Allan Richardson, and other 
varieties trained up close to the glass were flowering 
more or less freely, and the back wall was covered 
with tall plants of Bougainvillea glabra and Cassia 
corymbosa, loaded with a profusion of rose and 
yellow blooms respectively. The Gloxinia house 
was gay with a fine strain of that class of plants as 
well as Mussaenda frondosa, Clerodendrons, and 
and other Maidenhair Ferns in healthy condition. 
The glass for the production of fruit is very ex¬ 
tensive, and the crops in the several houses are in 
various stages of progress. We are unable to name 
them in the order of succession, and can only refer 
to them seriatim as we found them during a hurried 
survey. In the first Peach house entered a fine crop 
of Royal George, Grosse Mignonne and Stirling 
Castle had just been harvested. Next to this a 
tempting crop of Nectarines was not quite mature. 
Elsewhere v as a house of Nectarines, including 
Elruge and Violette Hative just being harvested. 
The fruits of the former were handsome, and the 
fruits of the Peaches we noted were remarkable for 
their size, notwithstanding the fact that frequently 
two or more were to be noted on the same branch 
in close proximity, indicating the skill of the culti¬ 
vator. 
The crop of Grapes had been finished in three of 
the houses, and in the earliest one the wood and 
foliage were ripening off. Black Hamburgh and 
Foster’s Seedling Grapes, large both in bunch and 
berry, were fit for use in another house close by. 
A heavy crop of Foster’s Seedling was well advanced 
with Smooth Cayenne, recently planted. Large 
suckers only are rooted for making fresh plantations, 
and the fruits are ready for cutting nine to ten 
months after the Pines are planted. Elsewhere we 
noted another pit filled with Pines in fruit, and a 
fourih plantation in the flowering stage. Numerous 
houses are devoted to the cultivation of Melons in 
various stages of progress, some being newly planted, 
some in bloom, some with fruits the size of a pigeon’s 
egg, and thence onwards to the final stages of 
maturity. A large number of varieties are grown, 
including Windsor Castle, Hero of Lockinge, 
Sutton’s Improved, Sutton’s Ai, Royal Favourite, 
The Duchess, Royal Ascot, Scarlet Premier, and 
several others. Successional batches of Tomatos 
may also be seen in all stages. Some of the varieties 
grown are Frogmore Selected, Windsor Castle, 
Golden Nugget, Sutton's Dessert, Earliest of All, 
&c. The plants are topped after reaching a certain 
height, so as to direct their energies to the perfecting 
of the bunches sec, and when that crop is gathered 
the plants are destroyed to make room for another 
batch. Cucumbers are also grown more or less 
extensively, and amongst those we noted were The 
