December 16, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
243 
1 Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”— Bacon. 
fa 
Edited by J. FRASER, F.L.S. 
SATURDAY , DECEMBER 16th, 1899. 
^ 5 [oll Cross Park, Glasgow.— As towns 
increase in size—and unhappily they 
do so at an alarming rate—there are some 
redeeming features in the fact that open 
spaces continue to be secured, over which 
the bricks and mortar fiend is prevented 
from laying his finger. Waste places and 
commons, as well as cultivated fields are 
annexed by the corporations of growing 
towns and thus kept open for ever, as the 
statement goes, for the benefit of the 
community at largd. A more pleasant 
aspect, even, of this method of retaining 
open spaces in the midst of populous 
spaces for the quiet enjoyment of the 
people, is when proprietors giving up 
private establishments, either by gift or 
sale, give the communities, most con¬ 
cerned about the same, the opportunity of 
acquiring them. The quasi-private char¬ 
acter of such places is so far appreciated 
and respected, that they are kept as far as 
possible in the same state and apparently 
secluded character as when they were 
individual property. We have instances of 
this in the neighbourhood of London in 
Golder’s Hill, Waterlow Park, Ravens- 
court Park, and Brock well Park. Toll 
Cross Park, Glasgow, was also a private 
establishment, but has been secured by the 
Corporation of Glasgow for the sum of 
^”29,000, for the purpose of a public park. 
The estate runs to eighty-three acres, is 
richly wooded with fine old trees and 
shrubbery, and includes the mansion upon 
it, which belonged to the former proprietor. 
This is a little over ^349 per acre ; but 
if the purchase had not been made it 
would have become more costly in a few 
years, if, indeed, Glasgow had not by that 
time swallowed it up for building purposes. 
It has been open to the public for some 
time, but when we visited it last autumn 
Mr. James Whitton, the superintendent of 
parks, was having some fine ranges of glass 
put up on a seclude i portion of the ground, 
and accomplishing other improvements as 
well. Mr. Whitton believes in having 
practical gardeners as foremen in the parks, 
and Mr. David Wilson, formerly of West- 
mount, Glasgow, has been installed here 
since the opening of the park ; and, when 
the glass ranges have been erected, he will 
be in his element again, for he is a good 
plantsman and Orchid grower. 
A great hollow or valley runs through 
the grounds, with a natural stream meand¬ 
ering through it. Rhododendrons are freely 
planted along its banks and will be fine in 
early summer. The trees have grown well 
and form good timber, with straight boles 
running up to a great height. They con¬ 
sist chiefly of Beech, Elm, Oak, Ash, Red 
Chestnuts, and a fine specimen of the Tulip 
tree stands near the mansion. We noted 
also a beautiful specimen of the weeping 
Mountain Elm (Ulmus montana pendula), 
with a low stem and spreading head. There 
was a fine patch of the American Mandrake 
(Podophyllum peltatum) under the trees. 
High overhead is a starling rookery, so to 
speak, and to those unaccustomed to the 
screaming of a myriad of live starlings in 
one continuous roar, the sound is most 
peculiar. No distinction can be made 
between one bird and another, so that the 
aggregate noise is deafening and like a 
mighty waterfall at no great distance off. 
By this time we had reached the old 
plant houses and flower garden, originally 
belonging to the private mansion, which 
stands in a prominent position on a higher 
part of the grounds. Some of these old 
glasshouses contained decorative plants of 
various kinds, O'chids, Camellias, Coleus, 
&c. The flower garden was still gay in the 
middle of September. Amongst other 
plants very conspicuous were the yellow 
and crimson Calceolarias, all in perfection, 
though the trees about were beginning to 
indicate the end of the season, by the 
browning of the foliage. Four houses were 
being built on modern principles for the 
growing of plants, intended ultimately to be 
staged in the range to which the public will 
be admitted, when the building is accom¬ 
plished. The whole of the houses are to 
be heated by two large, sectional American 
boilers. The crowning piece of this park 
will be a large T range of houses, doubtless 
nowin a very adva ced stage, and intended 
as a winter garden, to which the public 
will be admitted. The entrance will be by 
means of a porch, intended to be covered by 
climbers. The porch will' serve to keep 
the cold air or wind from driving 
directly upon the plants when the door is 
opened. Broad, well made and finely 
gravelled walks or drives pass and radiate 
from the mansion, offering every facility for 
promenading and movement in various 
directions over the park. Some of the 
walks are shady and cool in summer. The 
utility to which the house itself can be put 
is an enigma, or at all events had not been 
decided upon when we saw it. A band 
stand has been erected from which music 
is dispensed to the visitors in fine weather. 
--- 
The Portugal Fly Catcher, one of the “ carnivorous 
plants,” is said to be used in the houses of the poor 
in Portugal as a fly destroyer. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The last meeting this 
year of the Royal Horticultural Society will take 
place next Tuesday, the igth inst., in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, when the Fruit, Floral 
and Orchid Committees will meet as usual at 12 
o'clock. Election of new Fellows at 3 p.m. 
Messrs Geo. Bunyard & 0., the Royal Nurseries, 
Maidstone, exhibited a small collection of eighteen 
dishes of Apples, at the show of the Aberdeen Chry¬ 
santhemum Society, on November 24th and 25th. 
The fruits were of large size, finely coloured, and 
much admired by the visitors to the show. This 
was inadvertently omitted from our report of the 
show in last week’s issue. 
The Rev. Dean Hole, of Rochester, celebrated his 
eightieth birthday on Wednesday the 5th of Dec¬ 
ember. The old gentleman is so hale and hearty, 
so well preserved mentally and physically that he 
might be recorded as a man ten years youriger at 
least. The Dean is a keen gardener, more especially 
a Rosarian. He is the author of a number of works, 
one of the earliest of his books being “ A Little Tour 
in Ireland,” illustrated by John Leech. •* A Book 
about Roses” was another of his first productions, 
which so far has gone to a fifteenth edition. His 
latest book of horticultural interest is the one entitled 
11 Our Gardens,” which was issued early this year. 
This book has been sold to the extent of 5,000 copies. 
He has also given to posterity a couple of volumesof 
‘‘Reminiscences,” all of his books affording most 
interesting reading. 
Snow lies Heavily all over Scotland, and is now 
down to sea level on the west coast. Snow fell in 
Rothesay on Tuesday, and frost was also setting in 
keenly. It seldom lasts long in that warm quarter, 
however. 
Royal Botanic Society.—At a meeting of this 
society on Saturday last, the Chairman, Major J. W. 
M. Cotton, congratulated the members, because a 
larger number had been admitted as Fellows than in 
any other year ^nce the society was incorporated. 
Weather in Lo‘ l on.—Since Friday the 8th inst,, 
the weather has een cold and wintry. Snow fell 
at intervals on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 
Most of it melts before night in all the Dusy through- 
fares, but a few miles out it has been lying all day, 
and on Wednesday morning to the depth of an 
inch. 
Fruit Growing in Aberdeenshire. —The Queen is 
said to be taking an increased interest in the culti¬ 
vation of hardy British fruits around Braemar and 
Balmoral. Aberdonians are patting themselves on 
the back because of the success of exhibits which 
have been on view in the Drill Hall, Aberdeen, 
whose worth proved that up that way they at least 
are advanced ia the growing of marketable fruits. 
The Carse o' Gowrie fruit industry ought to be re¬ 
juvenated. 
Earl’s Court Exhibition.—During the summer we 
paid a visit to the Greater Britain Exhibition, at 
Earl’s Court, for the purpose of viewing the handi¬ 
work of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, of Forest Hill, 
S.E. Our readers may remember the article which 
referred to the fine bedding work and the tasty 
arrangement of the shrubberies, &c., which had been 
planned, effected, and likewise kept in order, during 
the whole run of the Exhibition, by this firm. We 
are pleased to add that a Gold Medal and Diploma 
has been awarded to the Messrs. Laing, by way of 
acknowledgment for their admirable rendering of the 
contr t. 
Important Gardening Appointment. —It is with 
pleasure we have to announce the appointment of 
Mr. Duncan Brough as head gardener to the Right 
Hon. Earl Fitzwilliam, K.G , at Coollattin Park, 
Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Mr. Brough was 
formerly gardener to Sir Arch. Edmonstone, at Dun- 
treath Castle, and it was during his stay there that 
the gardens and grounds were extended and im¬ 
proved, and at the time of his g ving there were re¬ 
garded as amongst the finest in the county. We 
congratulate Mr. Brough on his appointment, and 
are confident of his upholding the high standard of 
the gardens at Coollattin Park. 
Col and Mrs. W. G- Webb's Silver Wedding.—The 
employees of Messrs. Webb & Sons, Royal Seedsmen, 
Wordsley, Stourbridge, were entertained to dinner 
at the Drill Hall, Wordsley, on Tuesday evening, 
November 28th, by Colonel and Mrs W. G. Webb, 
on the occasion of their silver wedding. The anni¬ 
versary of the wedding day was October 14th. The 
members of the Messrs. Webb’s vast and varied 
staff, thought the time opportune in which to show 
their good feeling and great respect for the Colonel 
and his wife. A committee with Mr. J. P. Hitchings 
as hon. sec., and Mr. T. R. Marshall as treasurer, 
was constituted, and included Messrs. J. W. Andrews, 
W. C. Cadle. H. J. Fallowes, G. Harding, G. H. 
Jones, J W. Barrington, W. A. Everitt, E. Griffiths, 
W H. Horsfall, E. Penn, and W. W. Wyld. The 
presentation which the committee fixed on was a 
silver punch bowl, and a complete dessert service of 
solid silver. A splendid dinner was furnished, and 
all arrangements, which were entrusted to Mr. J. P. 
Hitchings, were ably carried out. Mr. Andrews, 
Doncaster, made the presentation. In a few heart¬ 
felt words of thanks the genial Colonel replied. The 
following programme was ably given during the 
evening:—Violin soio, “ II Trovatore ” (Verdi), Mr. 
Ben Phillips ; song, "Mary,” Mr. W. Sheppard ; 
part song, “ Maiden of the Fleur de Lys,” Messrs. 
Tompkins, Clarke, Horsfall, and Maw; song, "I'm 
a Philosopher,” Mr. Harry Wharton ; part song, 
" Dame Durden ” (Anon.), Messrs. Clarke, Horsfall, 
Tompkins, and Maw; violin solo, "Scotch 
Melodies,” Mr. Ben Phillips. Messrs. F. W. Clarke 
and H. White were the accompanists. "God 
save the Queen ” was sung with much heartiness at 
4he close of the evening’s proceedings. 
