January 5 , 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
2a9 
third week in September, and gave promise for some 
time longer, not a special late sowing, but a main 
erop. 
Bush Roses were flowering freely all alongside of 
the walks in the kitchen garden, mixed with useful 
herbaceous plants. The grand old Gloire de Dijon 
was flowering handsomely on an open wall. Sweet 
Peas, 6 ft. to 8 ft. high, were still flowering most 
profusely, lasting as they generally do in Scotland 
till frost cuts them down, 
Gros Colman Grape on Lady Downes as a stock 
carried some grand bunches, beautifully finished, 
and as black as Sloes. Alicante, Muscat of 
Alexandria, Foster’s Seedling, and Black Ham¬ 
burgh, each in their way had equally fine bunches 
and as well coloured. Tomatos were grown in pots, 
Austin’s Eclipse being esteemed for its flavour. 
Others were being grown at the foot of walls outside 
to be taken inside later on to finish their fruits and 
keep up a succession. 
Mr. James Menzies, the head gardener, has pre¬ 
sided over the destinies of the place for many years 
past, and is genial and courteous to the stranger 
within his gates. Though generally or nearly 
always at home looking after his charge, he never¬ 
theless finds time to run up to the September show at 
least in Edinburgh, where he secures prizes for his 
Grapes and other fruits. 
COLDRA, CAERLEON, MON. 
The beautifully situated residence of F. L. Davis, 
Esq., is beautiful even under the conditions which 
prevailed during the dying days of the nineteenth 
century. And those conditions were anything but 
cheerful, as the characteristic signs and popular 
notions of the days which grange round Christmas 
were almost absent, save and except the leafless 
trees, the wet woods, the surcharged streamlets, the 
misty morns, the short days and other matters con¬ 
sequent upon a state of things at once unseasonable 
and unsound. In fact— 
“ The landscape sleeps in mist from morn till 
noon ; 
And, if the sun looks through, ’tis with a face 
Beamless and pale and round, as if the moon, 
When done the journey of her nightly race, 
Had found him sleeping, and supplied his 
place.” 
And so the fin de si'ecle came. There was weeping of 
rain-clouds when there might have been freshness 
and frost; there was darkness when streams of light 
or glittering snow would have been hailed with 
delight. Such things, however, were not to be, and 
so we must take Nature as we find her, for she 
makes no sharp distinctions between days, or seasons, 
or years, or centuries Still, in all her varying 
moods and phenomenal phases, there is much to 
interest and much to learn. And so at Coldra, 
which is a microcosm in itself, there was much to 
see in the gardens and the woods when the fogs lifted, 
the rains ceased and the winds abated. 
I have seen Coldra in the sunshine and the shower, 
but never, perhaps, so picturesque and broken as on 
the occasion of my recent visit. Even in its barren¬ 
ness, comparatively, it is highly exhilarating, and 
there is a quality about it which braces both the 
mind and the body. The newly-turned brown earth 
of the kitchen garden, for instance, is indicative of 
labour; and labour properly directed results in 
satisfaction. Moreover, garden labour contributes 
to physical development—the quintessence of health 
— and is the essential of all good gardening. Mr. J. 
Fraser seems to realise this, and the results are dis¬ 
tinctly pleasing In addition to a free use of garden 
implements, much planting has been carried out ; 
fruit trees, especially Apples, have been renewed, 
wall trees attended to, herbaceous borders over¬ 
hauled, paths redressed, and sundry other things 
which go to make a garden what it should be, 
effective. 
Sweet Violets, of the Czar and Marie Louise 
types, still perfume the ambient, though Scotch- 
misty, air. Carnations and Roses, pale and wan, 
refuse to go to their well-earned rest. And so do 
many other things, for the nightly negus and the 
daily dousing serve, with a high temperature, to 
keep them in a state of excitation. Vegetables, too, 
continue to " blow ” and grow ; but as Mr. Fraser 
has to supply large quantities of these they have 
overflowed the high wall-in garden, and some of 
them now occupy a field site more elevated still. 
Here they get more sun and air, and thrive 
amazingly. 
In his cloudy " Kail-yard ” Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons are well represented. Broccoli Winter Mam¬ 
moth produces fine " flowers ” which are self-pro¬ 
tecting; Brussels Sprouts Exhibition and Matchless, 
I can vouch for. They ought to be good, and they 
are ; in fact, some of the specimens come, in point 
of symmetry and robustness, very near the illustra¬ 
tions in the picture books. Savoy Perfection is 
doing well, and Kale Ai is crisped and curled and 
otherwise superlative. Perpetual Spinach is always 
on hand, and Leeks Musselburgh and Prizetaker 
are large and luscious-looking. Prizetaker is nearly 
over, but some “remainders” measured from 7 in. 
to 9 in. in circumference, and were lengthy in pro¬ 
portion. These were sown on Xmas Day, 1899, but 
otherwise had received no special culture. Mussel¬ 
burgh was sown outside, and transplanted ; it looked 
in fine heart, and will form a useful succession 
crop. 
The houses were gay with many plants, Primula 
sinensis in various forms and P. obconica in two or 
three colours, making a fine display. Hardy Prim¬ 
roses in the garden and the coppice were also coming 
into bloom, some, indeed, were fully expanded. The 
Fern house, too, was likewise represented outside, 
and, if possible, the Ferns outside were brighter and 
richer in colouration than their congeners under 
glass. The Adiantums—a very useful class of plant 
—constitute a feature in the Fernery. A. Capillus- 
Veneris imbricatum, A. trapeziforme, and A. 
Williamsii taking my fancy. The former is done 
well at Coldra, and makes a superb companion to A. 
tenerum farleyense. Aspleniums are also in request, 
but their hardy sisters of the wall and hedge bank— 
A. Trichomanes and A. Adiantum-nigrum—-present a 
deeper and a richer hue. The greenhouse Nephro- 
diums are not to be despised. The common Male 
Fern, however, growing in the adjoining wood is a 
darker green, and seen as we saw it, weighed down 
with a film of moisture, it rather resembled a Todea 
than a Lastrea or Nephrodium. Then there were 
Polypodium (Phlebodium) aureum and Polystichum 
(Aspidium) angulare proliferum, and many others. 
On old tree stumps and stone walls the British 
Polypody (P vulgare) again presented a depth of 
colour not seen under glass, and in that respect 
rivalling its exotic relation of the glaucous hue and 
golden reverse, while the typical Polystichum 
angulare, if less proliferous, was more emerald. The 
common Hart’s-tongue (Scolopendrium vulgare), too, 
was a revelation in quality of colour for the time 
of year, and served to emphasise very clearly the 
weather conditions which obtain in southern Mon¬ 
mouthshire. In the flower garden likewise there 
were presentations of many colours; there were 
Roses at Xmas and Xmas Roses, a distinction and a 
difference. There were Periwinkles in full bloom, 
and Wallflowers in fine foliage and development. 
Bulbs in variety were making for the dim light of 
day, while common Snowdrops, minus the snow, 
were dangling their buoyant bells. 
The drive up to the mansion was cheerful and gay 
with the Laurustinus, hugh bushes of which were 
resplendent with bloom. The Common and Portugal 
Laurels were a verdant sight, while the Strawberry 
trees were as fruitful and full as the birds would per¬ 
mit them to be. The lodge itself was wrapt in 
colour Jasminum nudiflorum, Cotoneaster buxi- 
folia, and the " Glory " Rose. Araucaria imbricata 
was a picture of green health, and on one fine speci¬ 
men was a goodly number of cones as well. 
Conifers generally seem to thrive famously, Sequoia 
gigantea towering over all. In the wood above the 
mansion Euonymus europaeus was a crimson cyno¬ 
sure, while on the margin of this same wood, at an 
elevation of about 200 ft. above the hedge, Ulex 
europaeus, the common or much debated Furze, a 
“ golden glory.” Anyway, we gathered sprays 18 in. 
long, with a profusion of fully expanded flowers, and 
buds in all stages of development. I was glad, there¬ 
fore, to come across such a cheerful reminder of other 
times and ■ places. This tendency to flower at all 
seasons is doubtless due to position and climate. 
Anyhow, we can ask with Shelley— 
“ If winter comes can spring be far behind ? ” 
— C. B. G. 
Mariposa Lilies (Calochorti), when skilfully 
handled, are exceedingly tasty flowers lor button¬ 
holes. Use Adiantum cuneatum with them, and 
employ about three blooms. 
ON FRAGRANT TREES AND PLANTS. 
[Concluded from p 282.) 
Nardostachys Jatamansi. —An- Indian plant 
wholly aromatic, which produces the spikenard of 
the ancients. Apart from its historical associations, 
the substance made from the root is still largely 
used by the Jews for anointing the body. In India 
it is chiefly employed by the ladies to perfume oil 
for their hair. 
Narcissus.— A well-known sweetly smelling plant 
that blooms in the spring. The double flowered 
type is brought in enormous quantities to London, 
and frequently sold as Gardenias. Our illustration 
shows a very large field of one species in Holland 
the scent from which was very powerful. 
The Jonquil is a very dainty type of this family. 
Here is an illustration representing a plantation at 
Grasse for the purpose of scent extraction. 
Nelumbium.— The Egyptian Lotus or Water 
Lily of the Nile. Many are the curious fables 
attached to this historical plant. The pure white 
variety, so sacred to the ancients, was thought to be 
lost but Sir George Birdwood tells me it has 
recently been discovered in the Upper Nile whilst 
cutting the Sudd, a mass of floating vegetation, that 
hinders navigation beyond Fashoda. Here is an 
illustration, taken from some old sculpture in the 
British Museum, which represents Egyptian ladies 
smelling the flower before prayers. Here also is a 
photograph of the flower itself. 
Nerium Oleander. 
Nymphaea.— The Water Lily of Europe and 
other temperate climates. Some species are very 
fragrant. Here is a flower as it lays on the water. 
Orchids.— In such extensive genera of plants 
there is a surprising range of floral variation in both 
colour and fragrance. Some possesses the sweetest 
of odours, whilst others, equally beautiful in appear¬ 
ance, have either no scent, or diffuse the direst 
obnoxious taints. 
Some give.off a pleasing fragrance in the morning, 
and become quite nauseous by evening; others 
again are just the reverse. The curious way in 
which very dissimilar odours are generated in 
vegetation is exemplified by Triteleia uniflora, a 
tuberous plant from South America, with a delicate 
odour of Violets in its blossom ; this favour, however, 
when the flower is bruised or plucked, is quite over¬ 
powered by the odour of Garlic. As another 
instance of the singular connection between these 
odours, it is remarkable that the Cassie flowers 
(Acacia farnesiana), which possess an odour similar 
to that of Violets, have the property of imparting a 
strong smell of Garlic. Our illustration represents 
a tree in India covered with an Orchid. 
A very lengthy list of Orchids possessing odorous 
properties will be found in my book on Fragrant 
Plants, published by Messrs. Sampson, Low & Co. 
[see end of pages). 
Pelargonium (Geranium).—A plant known to 
every lover of the common things in our gardens. 
The particular group that falls under our notice is 
what we know as Scented Leaved Geraniums. There 
are quite thirty distinct forms, each having its own 
peculiar odour, which ranges from peppermint to 
Orange blossoms. Some few specimens are staged 
on the table. 
Pinus.— Including the Scotch Fir, Spruce and 
Larch, all noted for the health-giving odour they 
impart to the atmosphere. 
Pogostemon Patchouli.— A herbaceous plant 
found chiefly in India and other parts of Eastern 
Asia. An important oil is distilled from the leaves, 
and is the chief ingredient in the scent called 
Patchouli. The natives stuff their beds with its 
leaves, believing that they possess health-giving 
properties and keep off contagion. The peculiar 
smell attached to Indian shawls is given by this oil. 
Some specimen leaves will be found on the table. 
Polianthes TUBERosA (Tuberose.)—A bulbous 
plant grown in our greenhouses for its beautiful 
floweis, which also yield a rich scent, and large 
areas are cultivated for this purpose on the shores 
of the Mediterranean. Our illustrations show a field 
in Natal, a house of it in this country, whilst our 
third picture represents it as grown in the south of 
France for the purpose of scent extraction 
Prunus. 
Reseda odorata (Mignonette).—Our illustration 
shows a field crop growing for seed purposes on 
Messrs. Carter’s Seed Farms in Essex. 
Rosa. —In all ages the Rose has been held in the 
