April 20, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
545 
might be expected, the favourite resort of the cyclist 
and tourist during the months of summer. These 
parts, too, are the happy hunting ground of the 
angler, and visitors to the hotel are provided with 
excellent sport on two streams in the immediate 
vicinity, notably the Motray and the River Eden. 
The former with its winding course flows past within 
a few yards of the hotel gardens, whilst the River 
Eden, a little further to the south, flows much in the 
same direction, and on the banks of this famous river 
many splendid trout are daily landed by the crafty 
hook of the angler. The landscape surrounding the 
hotel can lay claim to considerable grandeur, and 
under the shade of the spreading Pines, companies 
of cyclists and anglers may be seen resting awhile 
before they resume their homeward journey. Fox¬ 
hunting too is followed with considerable spirit in 
Fifeshire, and once in every week during the hunting 
season, the “meet ’’ is in front of this fine old hotel; 
and on those days the frequent sound of the hunting 
horn, and the scarlet coats of the huntsmen, seen 
bounding over hedges and ditches, announce the 
fact that Mr. Reynard is being pursued in hot haste 
through the woods of St. Michael’s. 
Probably nowhere in the kingdom will “ beauty in 
negligence " and desoj^te grandeur be seen to better 
advantage than in some of the secluded corners in 
these counties. 
Following the banks of the river, along an un¬ 
trimmed path, still yet strewn with the brown 
leaves of autumn, and withered stems of reeds and 
Bulrushes, we have the antique bridge, the old 
crumbling and disused mill wheel, with the unculti¬ 
vated garden in the background, with the moor hen 
and wild duck on the pools, the familiar note of the 
lapwing and curlew overhead, and the loud song of 
many wild birds on every side, the massive boughs 
suspended in great profusion from the banks above 
to the stream beneath, and with the glorious water¬ 
fall sounding in the distance, with its precipitous 
rocks protruding in prodigious piles on either side, 
and artistically furnished with the ubiquitous Furze, 
Heath, Scolopendrium and Polypodium. In the 
deeper cavities of the rocks Ivy, Rhododendron, 
Hawthorn and Laburnum intermingle, and add 
their quota to the landscape scenery, rendering it a 
rare picture for the artist with brush and canvas. 
Immediately to the north of the hotel is situated 
the superb estate of St. Fort, and a more finely 
situated and more commodious country residence is 
not to be found in the kingdom. In the grounds 
around this princely mansion there are many speci¬ 
mens of Coniferae of sterling merit, comprising 
Thuja, Cupressus, Retinospora, Cedar, Wellingtonia, 
&c., and also several fine specimens of Araucaria, 
studded over the park. One fine plant in particular, 
growing near the house, was planted by the old 
gardener fully sixty years ago, is indeed worth 
going a long distance to see, as probably there is not 
a finer of its kind within the kingdom. 
For several generations past, the numerous and 
extensive parks of verdant pasture, with their 
grazing herds and flocks, have constituted one of the 
principal features of this grand estate. Under the 
covert of the vast forests on this same estate, the 
pheasant and wood pigeon abound in countless num¬ 
bers, and many other species of game and wild birds 
too numerous to mention .—John Peebles, St. Fort. 
--- 
MARKETING. 
The hard task of the market gardener to make a 
living by it, is much handicapped by the not small 
number of private places where marketing is done to 
a great extent. Very often the gardener takes wbat 
price the florist or fruiterer offers him, whether it be 
its value or not. I am to speak of green stuff where 
it is grown almost wholly for market, in a private 
place surrounding the Scottish capital. The first is 
Asparagus plumosus. The border of a back wall of 
a long stove corridor is planted with Asparagus. 
The young shoots are trained up on twisted matting, 
fastened on a wire at the top of the house. The 
height I would say is 12 ft. or 14 ft. In a short time 
the Asparagus will reach the end of its tether, when 
matured cut down, the fronds taken off and bunched 
or it will sell as readily if cut in trails. There is 
always a succession of growths springing up. So 
we have a plant that can amply reward us for our 
labour all the year round, especially in winter. All 
that is essential for its well-being is an occasional 
mulch of loam, soot, Mushroom dung and liquid 
manure. Syringing and a little shade are necessary 
on scorching days. 
Smilax (Myrsiphyllum asparagoides) is a useful 
plant for decorative use. Seed sown early in the 
year will make suitable plants for planting on the back 
wall of a vinery or a span-roofed pit 6 ft. deep. It will 
depend on the size of the pit how many rows are to 
have space, allowing plants 18 in. between the lines. 
Affix wires to a number of lines underneath the 
woodwork so as not’to interfere with the ventilation. 
Train the Smilax up on common thread and fix to 
the wires. Tie your thread on the base of the young 
growth, when it will soon run to the t ip. The 
threads may be quite close. If weather isnot severe, 
it can be kept quite fresh till Christmas, when it is 
so much in use. Old plants, if protected from frost 
and kept dry, will come up strong a second season. 
The above compost for Asparagus with an addition 
of leaf mould, will grow Smilax. Shading must be 
attended to when in frames. 
In herbaceous plants there are two excellent sub¬ 
stitutes for Maidenhair Fern, namely, Thalictrum 
adiantifolium and Gypsophila paniculata. The 
hardy bouquet is considered imperfect without the 
latter.— A. V. M., Coltness Gardens, N B. 
--I-- 
THE JUDICIOUS PLANTING OF ORNA¬ 
MENTAL TREES IN PARK SCENERY. 
Park and avenue trees both for timber and orna¬ 
ment are a valuable addition and objects of permanent 
interest in every gentleman’s demesne These trees 
judiciously placed may be made to cover either a 
large or small extent of landscape as required and 
should be so arranged in their relative positions as 
not to appear crowded together in an undistinguished 
mass, but so as to open up vistas of beauty in 
various directions to an appreciative eye. This 
object cannot be accomplished by planting timber 
trees alone or avenue trees alone, but by a judicious 
selection and combination of those varieties of 
Coniferous and other trees suitable both for orna¬ 
ment and timber. 
As an illustration of this we will select a large 
plantation of that noble tree Araucaria imbncata. 
To such a plantation I can now point in Snelston 
Park, about two miles from the picturesque town of 
Ashburne. It is really a fine sight and such as 
cannot be seen, I may venture to say, within a 
radius of too miles. But this plantation, consisting 
as it does of one kind of plant, certainly lacks beauty 
and interest to an appreciative eye. This feature 
which is lacking is made up however by the following 
judicious arrangement. On the open spaces of 
ground between the large trees there has been 
planted a fine undergrowth of choice Rhododendrons 
and other evergreens. These when in bloom have a 
very striking effect and contrasting with the dark, 
sombre hue of the larger trees, the beauty of the 
whole is made more apparent. I believe this fine 
park was designed, laid out and planted by the late 
Mr. Pontey, of Plymouth, well known at that time 
as an able and practical gardener. 
There are some noble specimens of the forest king, 
also of English Elms, Sycamores and Beech in this 
park. Plantations of Larch, Spruce, Scotch and 
Austrian Pines form the outside boundary. There 
are two fine avenues also that I might specially name 
in this district, one of Limes at Osmaston Manor. 
In this fine park there are also some magnificent 
timber trees. The other avenue is at Lissington Park 
and consists of English Elm and Limes combined. 
In reference to Snelston, as a great many of the 
trees are of such magnitude, it is becoming rather 
overcrowded. Still where there is such a great 
variety of trees and colouring given to the scenery 
by the splendid arrangements and mixing of the 
trees, we must be slow in finding fault with minor 
matters 
I would suggest that round the specimen Conifer¬ 
ous trees a belt of double Gorse be planted. These 
would not only be an improvement in appearance when 
planted, but would have a very pleasing effect when 
in bloom. Of course in all park scenery, to make an 
effective finish, there should be an ornamental lake 
or piece of water. This planted round with hardy 
Rhododendrons and Azaleas with double or single 
Gorse round the margin would add decidedly to the 
scenic effect. To protect the stems of the park trees 
from injury by cattle, another consideration of im¬ 
portance is having nice light tree guards. 
Nice compact specimens of Picea nordmanniana 
and nobilis in prominent situations,combined with the 
droopiDg Cedrus Deodara would have a very pictur¬ 
esque effect. If there are any small water-courses 
or rivulets running through the park, plant along 
the margins the dwarf species of Willows to droop 
over the waters. I have noticed here also some fine 
varieties of ornamental Oaks, and among these 
the scarlet-leaved Ilex is a prominent object. The 
grounds and gardens at Snelston are also very 
picturesque both in themselves and their outward 
surroundings and would well repay a visit ; but if I 
may be allowed to pick the one spot of ideal beauty, 
it is the rock garden. Here Nature and art have 
both combined to help the effect. The time to visit 
Snelston is either in the spring-time of its loveliness 
or the autumn of its decay, when the foliage is 
changing its tints preparatory to the stern approach 
of winter. 
We will now turn our steps to the village end of 
the park and here the eye will rest at once on two 
magnificent specimens of Wellinglouia gigantea, and 
several other fine Coniferous trees. We then come 
in view of the pretty rustic lodge, and passing out of 
the gate we notice in a corner of the church-yard, a 
very ancient specimen of the English Yew. We will 
now bid our readers farewell, and trust those men 
specially interested in this subject will give the 
matter their practical attention.— A. W. Godwin. 
SOCIETIES. 
IPSWICH SPRING FLOWER SHOW .—April 10 th. 
The organisers of the above show are to be con¬ 
gratulated on the success of their first exhibition. 
It was held in the Corn Exchange, Ipswich, which 
was filled with magnificent exhibits of spring flowers. 
The building has been the scene of many flower 
shows, but we venture to say that never before has it 
held such an attractive collection of flowers as was 
seen there on Wednesday, April 10th. The result 
exceeded all expectations, as all the best growers of 
spring flowers sent contributions. The exhibits of 
Daffodils were quite fascinating, and there is little 
rashness in saying that the Daffodil stow will soon 
become as popular as the summer Rose show and 
the show of Chrysanthemums in the autumn and 
winter. The principal promoters of the show were 
Mr. John Andrews and Mr. A. E. Stubbs. The 
prize schedule contained over thirty classes. The 
feature of the show was the section for floral decora¬ 
tions ; Miss Steward, of Ipswich, won the first prize 
with a very delicate arrangement of three varieties 
of Daffodils. A special prize was awarded to Miss 
Barber, of Woodbridge, for a table adorned with 
small Irises. 
Daffodils. —Hon. W. Lowther, first for six 
bunches of Lent Lilies ; six bunches of Daffodils, 
first, Mr. J. Andrews ; three vases of Daffodils, 
first, Miss Grainger. 
Floral Decorations. —Hand bouquet of spring 
flowers, first, Mrs. Gilbert ; centre-piece of Daffo¬ 
dils, first, Miss M. Caiter; basket of Daffodils, 
first, Mrs. Betts ; bowl of cut Daffodils, first, Mrs. 
Allen Turner; group of any but spring flowers, 
first, H. W. Lowther; three sprays of Lily of the 
Valley : first, Mr. W. Sharpe; a study in Violets, 
first, Mrs. Allen Turner ; six cut Arums, first, 
Hon. J. Lowther ; basket of arranged Prim¬ 
roses, first, Miss Batts; study in spring flowers, 
first, Miss Steward; arrangement of Violets and 
Primroses, first, Mrs. C. E. Fisher. 
Market Salesmen's Class. —One box or basket 
of cut bloom, careful packing and freshness being 
the consideration : First, Mr. G. Woodcock, 
St. Mary, Scilly Isles. 
Honorary Awards of Merit. —Messrs. Cutbush 
& Son, Highgate, Gold Medal for collection of 
Tulips, &c. 
Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., Colchester, Silver Gilt 
Medal for collection of Tulips, Irises, &c. 
Mr. R. C. Notcutt, Woodbridge, Silver Medal for 
collection of flowering and foliage plants. 
Mr. L. Brown, Brentwood, Silver Medal for 
Daffodils in pots. 
Messrs. C. H. Croydon & Sons, Ipswich, Silver 
Medal for rustic table decorations. 
Messrs. T. S. Ware, Ltd., Feltham, Silver Medal 
for collection of cut Daffodils. 
There were several other honorary awards, but 
space will not allow of their mention. 
Messrs. I. House & Sons, Coombe Nurseries, 
