June 26, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
679 
was a piece of Nelumbium speciosura nuciferum in a 
small tank. It has white flowers, with more petals 
than the type, and requires more heat to make it 
happy. Even in this confined area, Mr. Owen 
Thomas succeeds in flowering it. 
Another large stove contains a great variety of 
useful and valuable decorative plants, valued chiefly 
for their foliage. Very conspicuous are numerous 
well-grown pitcher plants (Nepenthes). M. mas- 
tersiana may be seen with pitchers of various 
colours, including dark crimson ones. One plant is 
notable for the great size of its pitchers, which are 
bulged out or inflated in the middle, in a way that 
we have never seen before. N. Curtisii is another 
favourite. One plant of moderate size carries ten 
fine pitchers, that are richly blotched with crimson ; 
another bears pitchers of enormous size ; while a 
third is quite distinct in form, the pitchers having 
long and much curved necks at their union with the 
stalk supporting them. A fine plant of Cyano- 
phyllum magnificum shows that it is well cared for. 
A huge piece of the Dove Plant (Peristeria elata) is 
remarkable for the size of its pseudobulbs, and the 
strength of the scapes which it is throwing up, and 
which will attain a height of 4 ft. before the flowers 
expand. It behaved in this desirable way last year. 
The Rose house is largely occupied with large 
plants of Climbing Niphetos, planted outside and 
taken in through the bottom of the wall. They are 
trained over the roof, except at one end, which 
supports a profusely flowered mass of Bougainvillea 
glabra. The stages beneath the Roses are occupied 
with a fine batch of Lilium speciosum, which will 
bloom in July. Cassia corymbosa is flowering finely 
on the back wall. 
Roses and Hardy Flowers in the open —The 
gardener’s residence, situated in the garden and close 
to the frame ground, is a model of neatness, and 
quite in the southern English style. Being covered 
with climbers such as Wistaria and Honeysuckle, the 
latter in full bloom, it has a cool and inviting 
appearance. The bothies opposite the frame ground 
are also clad with climbers, amongst which Rose 
Scarlet Malmaison is flowering profusely. 
Along the side of a flower border runs a young 
hedge of Rose William Allan Richardson, full of 
vigour and flowering freely. The border is bounded 
with a broad band of the best variety of Thrift 
(Armeria vulgaris). Pinks are grown in quantity, 
and are now flowering most profusely. Eremurus 
has just finished flowering. Irises and Iceland 
Poppies have been in bloom for some time. Daffo¬ 
dils, of which there is a collection of the best, are 
not yet lifted. A feature of the gardens close by, 
consists of climbing Roses such as Crimson Ram¬ 
bler, King of Wurtemburg, William Allan Richard¬ 
son, and others trained to frames of wire. They 
blossom abundantly. We noted also a broad border 
of Marie Louise and Princess of Wales Violets. Mr. 
Thomas introduced the latter, which is now re¬ 
cognised as the best form of Violet in cultivation. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
The first vinery we passed through was the fourth 
in the order of starting, and a heavy crop of Black 
Hamburgh and Foster's Seedling is now about ripe. 
The first named occupies most of the space, three 
vines of the latter being confined to a narrow space 
along the roof. We next passed through a 
succession of Peach cases, planted along the front 
with Peaches and Nectarines, and along the back 
with Black Alicante grapes in the shade of the young 
Peaches. These cases and the open walls 
will furnish a supply of Peaches till Novem¬ 
ber. Next in order came a house filled 
with Brown Turkey Figs, planted last year 
and scarcely yet established though bearing a heavy 
crop of fruit. The trees were of considerable size 
when transplanted, which accounts for their being in 
full bearing condition. 
The Banana house is closely occupied with full- 
sized plants of Musa Cavendishii, in various stages 
of development, some bearing huge bunches of fruit. 
Equally interesting and now getting uncommon in 
Britain was the Pind* pit. The Pineapples are 
planted out instead of being grown in pots. Large 
but unrooted suckers were inserted last September, 
and the plants are now in various stages of fruiting. 
In thus planting out his Pines, Mr. Thomas makes a 
bold advance upon the old and slow method of 
growing them in pots. Nevertheless, he has another 
pit in which the plants are grown in pots and the 
fruits about ripe. The variety used is the Queen, the 
plants being 14 months old. 
Most interesting is a large vine of Foster’s Seedling 
almost occupying the whole of a vinery. Some 
young ones are planted along the front in case the 
large vine might fail, but the original is still full of 
vigour and likely to continue. From the main rod 
along the back of the house, sixteen strong rods are 
trained downwards to the front of the house, each 
bearing on an average 14 bunches of grapes, making 
a grand total of 224. They are now about ripe, and 
grand bunches they make. 
The second early Peach house contains a splendid 
crop of Elruge Nectarine nearly ripe. A vinery 
contains Muscat of Alexandria, some of the Vines 
being planted along the middle of the house and 
trained both upward and downward, and others 
planted outside and the rods taken inside. Madres- 
field Court and Duke of Buccleugh in another vinery 
are about ripe, and both in fine condition. Very 
few can manage the Duke as it is done at Windsor. 
A late house of Alicante bears a heavy crop now 
about half grown. Lady Downes, Alicante, and 
Gros Colman fill another vinery ; and the latest is 
planted with Lady Downes and Alicante, now only 
in bloom. Cherries in pots are over. 
Melons fill more than one pit, and may be seen in 
various stages of progress, a large quantity having 
been cut and used or still in the fruit room. Some 
of the favourites here are Royal Favourite, The 
Lady, with fine fruits 5 Ids. to 6 lbs. in weight, the 
old Beechwood, Duchess, and others. Mr. Thomas 
has raised a seedling of which he is waiting the 
ripening in order to prove the result of a cross 
between Beechwood and Duchess. The handsome 
fruits are now 6 lbs. to 8 lbs. in weight. In all pro¬ 
bability we shall hear of the variety again. A fine 
lot of Tomatos, including Frogmore Prolific, is 
grown in pots and now ripening good crops of fruit. 
Another triumph of Mr. Thomas is the new Tomato 
named Golden Jubilee, which recently received a 
First-class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural 
Society. The fruits are like those of Perfection in 
size and shape, but golden, suffused with orange, 
and of good flavour. The variety is also very 
fruitful. 
In the fruit room were quantities of Melons, 
Peaches, and Nectarines, being retarded till required 
for use. Amongst Peaches, Royal Favourite was 
handsomely coloured. The Downton Nectarine is a 
soft purple-red variety of excellent flavour. 
Close by here are quantities of Strawberries 
planted out in pits and now ripe. The Mushroom 
house is finely fitted with slate beds in tiers, one 
over the other. French Beans and Potatos are 
forced in pits in large quantities, forming a 
succession over a long period of time. 
The kitchen garden.—Good cultivators know not 
only how to utilise every space in a garden, but how to 
make the best of Datura! conditions that present 
themselves under any given circumstance. Rows of 
Peas were sown in front of and close to several of the 
plant and fruit houses, so that they have been 
brought along quickly by the shelter of the houses 
and the natural heat of the sun. The result is that 
gathering commenced in the last days of May and 
have been continued ever since, that is, for the past 
month. The varieties grown here are Chelsea Gem, 
Sutton's May Queen, Sutton’s A 1, Giant Early, and 
others. They were still carrying fine crops when we 
saw them on the 12th inst. 
The kitchen garden is about 50 acres in extent, and 
none too large for the crops required of them, as 
several of the Royal residences are supplied with 
fruits, flowers, and vegetables from here. Suc- 
cessional crops are grown on an extensive scale, and 
we noted newly planted Brussels Sprouts covering 
3 acres of ground. 
Elsewhere we came across Peas, Carrots, and 
Onions in great quantity, especially the last named 
which are required at all times. They constitute 
a fine field for the operations of the Onion Maggot, 
of which we could see traces. Mr. Thomas finds a 
dressing of nitrate of soda one of the best antidotes. 
The soil of the garden consists of brick earth (that is, 
a heavy clay loam) overlying gravel, and that again 
Overlies the London clay. The nitrate of soda, 
therefore, supplies the much needed nitrogen in the 
earlier part of the summer, and enables the Onions 
to make rapid progress, thus getting beyond the 
stage at which the maggot proves most destructive. 
Not far from here is a break of early Cabbages of 
several varieties, but so healthy and even in growth 
as would make many a gardener green with envy. 
Peas and Beans are making excellent progress, and 
Asparagus is still being cut. 
The Strawberry plantations are both extensive and 
interesting, both on account of the numerous varieties 
grown and the behaviour of certain varieties as com¬ 
pared with others. Many varieties were bearing 
ripe fruits previous to the 12th inst. King of the 
Earlies was one of the first, and had been affording 
supplies for some time previous to that date. Black 
Prince and Scarlet Queen are also early though 
small. Here we came across a new variety Darned 
Sir Trevor, a cross between Royal Sovereign and La 
Grosse Sucre, which should give excellent results, 
judging from the parents. It is indeed an acquisition 
and will no doubt take high rank amongst Straw¬ 
berries when it finds its way into commerce. It 
ripens five or six days in advance of Laxton’s No. 1, 
and is well-adapted for forcing, as well as outdoor 
culture. The variety was raised by Mr. Thomas. 
President and Empress of India are esteemed, the 
latter producing dark red fruits very freely. Gunton 
Park is not so satisfactory. The old Bicton Pine 
finds a place on account of its flavour. John Ruskin 
ripens early, The crop borne by Leader is simply 
enormous. Laxton’s No. 1 was nearly over by the 
time we saw it. Monarch is a showy fruit. The 
fruitful character of Noble, together with the size 
and rich colour of the fruits justifies the cultivation 
of it. Any lack of flavour of which it is guilty is re¬ 
medied artificially by means of sugar and cream 
Late Strawberries are well-represented. Amongst 
others we noted James Veitch, Commander and Sir 
Harry ; the latter, however, is a weak grower. A. 
F. Barron and Waterloo are grown, the latter giving 
most satisfaction. Pauline is a second early. 
Sharpless and several other American varieties have 
been tried, but neither of them succeed satisfactorily 
in this country, the physical conditions of our climate 
being unsuitable. Countess is the best-flavoured 
Strawberry grown at Windsor, and is a midseason 
variety. The Strawberry plantations are renewed 
every three years, and we noted young ones in fine 
vigour coming on to take the place of the old. 
Orchards and Wall Fruit Trees —There are two 
orchards, the older of which was planted before the 
Queen’s Accession in 1837. Some of the varieties of 
Pears are loaded with fruit while others are very light. 
The same may be said of the Apples, Plums and 
Cherries in the open ground. The new orchard was 
planted in 1892 and is steadily becoming established. 
Of all the fruit trees upon the walls we could not 
but admire the Cherries which are everywhere well 
fruited, and in many cases very heavily, the red and 
otherwise brightly coloured fruits showing up well in 
the sunshine. The trees were securely netted 
against the depredations of birds. Peaches upon 
the walls are also bearing heavy crops, and Apricots 
are quite as good. Most of the trees are trained in 
the fan-shape, but Pears are also grown as upright 
cordons. Nowhere did we notice trees of any great 
age upon the walls, because they are removed when¬ 
ever they show signs of failing and replaced by young 
trees. By this means Mr. Owen Thomas is able to 
keep up a supply of fruit of excellent size and 
quality. We well remember the grand exhibit of 
Pears, Apples, Pineapples, Melons, &c., he made at 
the Crystal Palace on the 30th September, 1894, 
when the first show of British grown fruit was 
inaugurated by the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Everything about this renowned establishment of 
the Queen is in excellent keeping and reflects much 
credit on her gardener, Mr. Thomas, to whose 
courtesy we are greatly indebted for facilities in 
making the above notes, 
- -I - 
Apples and the complexion. —A school girl, who 
was in the habit of taking a plate of Apples to her 
room at night and slowly eating them while she 
studied her lessons, soon became the envy of all her 
associates on account of the clearness of her 
complexion. Some of them learning the secret 
adopted the same habit and in turn were envied by 
the rest of the school. 
Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds of Potatos are con¬ 
sumed each year by every man, woman, and child in 
the United Kingdom, and yet we only eat about half 
as many as the French people, and about a quarter 
as much as the Germans. We grow 173,000,000 
bushels, and import about 500,000 tons from other 
countries, or about another 20,000,000 bushels. 
