August 18 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
8H 
aroma as the foot presses upon them. Sedum acre 
with its dazzling sheets of dwarf, rich, yellow-cupped 
flowers, covered rocks, stones, baoks and ledges, 
and formed a wonderful scene of appreciable glitter. 
For such purposes and places it is a lovely little 
plant. 
Geum coccineum is a popular favourite, and 
worthy of a place in everybody’s garden, but the 
numbers of fine Geums are too numerous to indi¬ 
vidualise. Again the qualities of Gypsophila 
Stevensii were proved by the luxuriant and bold 
masses it formed on the rockery. Saxifraga umbrosa, 
or Londorf Pride, does well anywhere. The curious 
and pretty little Edelweiss is growing in strength ; 
Dianthus Napoleon III. shows out well, as do other 
Pinks ; D. deltoides being fine; Brodiaea coccinea is 
conspicuous; and Aubrietia deltoidea. Wm. Ingram, 
a warm crimson-mauve, covers some rockery pockets 
in an effective manner. 
It is a tasteful rockery. 
Fine healthy bushes of Coronilla Emerus bank up 
the back parts of the sloping sides. Forming a 
part of the rockery, though at the same time dis¬ 
tinct, is a bed of hardy and half hardy cactaceous 
plants—Phyllocacti, Aloes, Agaves, Cotyledons, 
Crassulas, Gasterias, Opuntias and Dasylirions. 
This, as may be imagined, is an interesting feature 
and one rarely to be found in private or any other 
gardens. The pretty little Convolvulus mauritani- 
cus which scrambles about and flowers in autumn, 
was noted among the Cacti. More of the Opuntias, 
&c., have been planted on an eminence near this 
other bed. The plan in constructing the stonework 
for these plants has been to form recesses, having 
the overhead protection of a large flat stone. The 
appearance of these is like a number of large loop¬ 
holes within which the plants have been planted and 
are doing surprisingly well. 
A full collection of Yuccas is grown, these being 
disposed in various parts. The Bamboo garden is 
becoming quite like what a luxuriant oriental garden 
must be, so well have they established themselves. 
The new Japanese garden, which is not quite com¬ 
pleted, has an encircling screen of Bambusa 
Stevensii and Hydrangeas, Liliums, Yuccas, Roses, 
Phormium tenax, Latanias and many other suitable 
plants have been planted. The plan follows the 
"Willow pattern," which is so well known from 
being on millions of dinner plates and saucers. 
The Japanese garden is on sloping ground with a 
winding stream, and pools formed successively in 
line to the lower ground. Stepping stones have 
been placed in these pools, and by-and-bye a bridge 
will be erected between two of them, from the top 
of which one may then view the whole of this 
Japanese garden. There are many other notes which 
one would like to make but enough has been written 
to show what energy and enthusiasm can do and is 
doing to make this old place, lovelier, better and 
more interesting still.— D. 
ACTON SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY AND 
FIELD CLUB. 
On the occasion of the Horticultural Society’s exhibi¬ 
tion in the Public Park oc the 25th ult., this newly- 
formed body of naturalists was much in evidence. 
The members representing the different sections of 
the society contributed each of his special store, 
which together formed quite a feature of the show, 
and is, therefore, worth more than a passing note. 
The most showy exhibit, and in consequence the 
most attractive to the general public, was a large and 
well-selected collection of British butterflies and 
moths. Mr. Battley, of Hanwell, a gentleman who 
has been collecting for years, kindly lent these cases, 
which contained a great variety of Lepidoptera, as 
well as a number of other species. But perhaps, 
from a gairdener's point of view, those cases which 
exhibited the life histories would be the most inter¬ 
esting. Among these were the Cabbage Moth 
(Mamestra Brassicae), the Puss Moth (Cerura vin- 
ula),Six-Spot Burnet (Zygaena Filipendulae), Garden 
Tiger (Arctia caja), Gooseberry Moth (Abraxas 
grossulariata), of which there is a large number of 
varieties, Clouded Magpie (A. ulmata), Cinnabar 
(Euchelia Jacobaeae), and many others. Cases of 
Beetles were shown by Mr. K. G. Jones. Another 
interesting exhibit came from Messrs. J. L. H. & H. 
H. S. Fisk, and comprised larvae of the Privet, Lime, 
and Eyed moths feeding on their natural food : also 
a collection of eggs of various wild birds, as well as 
coloured plates of wild birds and their eggs, and 
butterflies, moths, and wild flowers. Mr. S. Arrow- 
smith sent minerals and fossils; Mr. G. Taylor, 
mounted specimens of Seaweed; and Mr. Alex. 
Ramsey, some valuable maps and diagrams showing 
the distribution of the American Flora, but more 
particularly of the woods and forests. 
From Mr. Chas. T. Druery, F.L.S., V.M.H., 
came a remarkable collection of beautiful varieties 
of our native Ferns, which had been found by him 
in various parts of the country. They were ex¬ 
hibited to show the capacity of variation in a wild 
state and under purely natural conditions, and to 
prove that only careful search is required to discover 
other forms equally as interesting and abnormal. 
Among the Lady Ferns were two specially worthy of 
a note, viz., Athyrium Filix-foemina var. cristatum 
and A. F.-f. var. revolvens. The former was found 
near Kilrush. Co. Clare, Ireland, and is probably the 
finest tassel led Fern ever bagged; while the latter 
came from Strathblane, Scotland, and is quite as 
unique in its way, the pinnae being regularly and 
symmetrically curved backwards. It is an elegant 
plant. 
Of the Male Fern (Lastrea) Mr. Druery had 
several varieties, the best, perhaps, being L Filix- 
mas var. polydactyla, which, as its varietal name 
signifies, has flat, spreading, finger-like crests. This 
also was a Scotch find. L. dilatata gave the dis¬ 
coverer a similar form of cresting (polydactylous). 
This variety was found at Clovelly, Devon. A tas- 
selled Hart’s Tongue (Scolopendrium vulgare var. 
corymbiferum) was found near Sidford in the 
neighbouring county. Its name is indicative of its 
cresting, which is very graceful. The Hard Fern 
(Blechnum Spicant) has given Mr. Druery several 
good forms, tasselled, ramose, constricted, foliaceous. 
B. s. concinnum was found on Exmoor, and is pro¬ 
bably the neatest and most distinct little Fern which 
has ever turned up in a state of Nature. Its fronds 
resemble somewhat a series of tiny scallop shells 
closely set together. The latest of Mr. Druery’s finds 
is a subcruciate and foliaceous form of B. Spicant, 
and was found last year near Tintern Abbey It is 
apparently a vigorous grower, and a good decorative 
plant. Other " good ’’ things must go unrecorded. 
A dozen curious varieties of Scolopendrium vulgare, 
mostly crossed forms raiised by the late Mr. E. J. 
Lowe, and which are supposed to have a multiple 
origin, were exhibited by — C. B. G. 
TRANSATLANTIC “LINERS.” 
Rather an interesting experiment was tried at 
Easter by the girls of Wellesley College, Massa¬ 
chusetts, who went into the flower business in 
Boston, with the intention of raising 50,000 dollars 
in order to secure 100,000 dollars provisionally 
promised by John D.Rockefeller. A wholesale dealer 
will supply them, and they expect to sell at cut 
rates—I don’t see how exactly. Of the success of 
the enterprise, which is intended to last three months, 
deponent sayeth not. 
Those who think of buying fruit farmsjhere would 
do well in most cases to heed “ Punch’s ” famous 
matrimonial advice—" don’t." In Florida, for in¬ 
stance, some promoters lately had a big tract of land, 
worth, maybe, one dollar an acre. 
Five or six years ago an enthusiast started a fancy 
farm near by, and regardless of expense, produced a 
fine variety of crops. Everything he raised experi¬ 
mentally, cost ten times its market value, and he 
published a pamphlet from which those men quote 
largely, giving crops, but no expenses, thus entirely 
misleading practical growers. They have everything 
attested by affidavits, and their statements are 
strictly true as far as they go, so the law cannot 
touch them. 
The same applies to California lands. Unless one 
has a friend out there—one who knows the state of 
things—it is absurd to risk capital in a fruit farm. 
In Michigan there is a fruit belt, and outside of that 
there are no fruit farms, as the ground is pure sand, 
or unbroken forest. We had a forty acre farm 
offered to us last year, all in bearing, and with 
house and offices, for 700 dollars. We did not even 
inspect it, for the fact is it is a common trick for an 
agent to sell you a fruit farm which is first-class, and 
when you get ready to move on it you find yours is 
an adjacent waste ; of course it was a misunder¬ 
standing on your part. If a farm is not near a station 
or pier it is no good, as the fruit spoils so quickly. 
There are splendid Strawberries here now selling 
at eleven cents a quart. They will soon all be over 
now, and preserving is going on feverishly.—C. 
Macquarie, Chicago. 
THE PRIORY, MELROSE, N.B. 
This is a place of some historical interest, situated 
as it is close to the pretty town of Melrose, and 
within a hundred yards of the Abbey, a fine view of 
which can be got from the west side of the house. 
From this point, the grand old ruin seems to stand 
out from amongst a mass of trees, and looks most 
imposing; the beautiful Eldon hills rising immedi¬ 
ately beyond, makes a pretty scene. The Priory is 
the property of the Duke of Buccleuch, but has been 
under the tenancy of the family of Erskine “ unto 
the third and fourth generation," the present occu¬ 
pants being Charles Erskine, Esq., and his lady. 
The older part of the house must be of a very 
early date, as the front, which is of more modern 
appearance, is built of stones carried from the 
Abbey, the likeness to which was quite apparent. 
The house is sweetly surrounded by fresh, well-kept 
lawns, and a pretty flower garden on the south and 
west sides, and nicely hemmed in by fine old trees 
and shrubs. Amongst the trees of interest are some 
grand old standard Apples of great age. Our atten¬ 
tion was also drawn to a fine specimen of Lady 
Henniker grafted on the Crab some thirty years ago 
by Mr. Ireland, the present gardener, which is a 
heavy and never-failing cropper, and one of the best 
keeping Apples one can wish to have. This same 
tree has been the means of supplying many a graft 
for others throughout the country. 
Mr. Ireland has been for many years working on 
the Begonia as a bedding plant, and has been very 
successful, his beds and flower garden all over 
looking very bright and neat. All the same, I note 
here one of the prettiest beds I have seen for some 
time, which was filled by a ground work of the fine, 
cut-leaved Tagetes dotted over with Petnnia and 
finished with Ageratum and Tropaeolum. 
In wandering over the flower garden, I was re¬ 
minded of the rhyme that— 
“ The monks o’ Melrose made gude kail 
On Fridays when they fasted, 
And never wanted beef nor ale 
As lang’s their niebors 1 lasted," 
by having my attention drawn to two huge solid 
copper pots standing on either side of the steps and 
used as flower vases. These pots, together with a 
large millstone, were dug out of the ground in making 
an alteration on the carraige-way in 1846. Along 
the side of this drive is a beautiful, panelled border, 
and at the time of my visit it was in full bloom and 
looked very attractive. 
Attached to the house is a good sized conservatory, 
the staging of which runs in scroll fashion, which 
gives a fine effect from the adjoining room of the 
house. This house was well filled, as we have always 
known it to be, with some good things, notable 
amongst them at this time being some plants of Hy¬ 
drangea of huge size, and carrying loads of large 
blooms, the number of which we attempted to count 
but failed. Ranged along the top of the stage they 
looked splendid. Here also were some very fine 
Begonias, our fancy being specially taken with a very 
fine double variety for hanging basket work, a seed¬ 
ling of Mr. Ireland’s raising, of salmon-pink colour, 
being another good thing of the same kind and of 
which we hope to hear more. Some good Cannas, 
Streptocarpus, Palms, Ferns, &c., made up a pretty 
house. 
In an intermediate house in the kitchen garden was 
another fine lot of plants for future wants. I could 
not note all, but here and in pits and frames were to 
be found Clivias (Imantophyllums), Eupatoriums, 
Cinerarias, Primulas, &c., all promising well. Avery 
fine batch of Tomatos in full bearing was also noted. 
Crops in the garden were all looking well, and fruit 
crops were all giving a good average return. 
Mr. Ireland has been in charge here for the long 
term of 32 years, and he is a possessor of the People's 
Journal long service medal. He has been for these 
many years one of the most popular judges in the 
Scottish Borders, and elsewhere. I was very pleased 
to renew his acquaintance, and to spend a pleasant 
hour or two in his company.— Richards. 
—-»*•- 
Peach trees in America are producing an unpre¬ 
cedented crop this year. 
