818 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
October i5, 1904. 
Letters to the Editor. 
Tree Planting at Minto House. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—The late Hon. George Elliot, in his book, “ The Border 
Elliots,” says: “ There is no record of the first planting in 
the neighbourhood of Minto House, but there is leason to 
think that it must have been, as early as 1717. 
‘'In, 1720 a small portion of the ground between the Hill- 
house and Mint O' House was planted ; and about the same time 
or earlier the planting above the bridge was made, and. in, 
1728 the trees were: of sufficient size to allow of the grazing 
among them being let. There is nothing to show when, the 
Beeches in the green walk were planted, but they may be 
taken to date back to an, early period of the second Sir Gilbert 
Elliot’s reign, who extended the planting begun, in 1720. 
“ Im another quarter a plantation was completed by 1751, 
and is now represented by many fine trees on both sides of the 
west approach. Some of the oldest Larches about the place 
were planted in, the glen. I remember when one of these 
were blown down, I counted its rings, and found that it dated 
hack to 1745.” 
The Larches by the lake side are. believed to be of still 
earlier date. In the: New Statistical Account, of the, parish, 
the information, for which was mostly furnished by the second 
Earl of Minto, it is stated that these “ Larches were placed 
there most probably in 1736, being among the first that, were 
introduced into Scotland. 
“ There is a tradition that the seed was sent in a frank by 
John, Duke of Argyll, sown, in flower pots, and kept in a. bob 
house, till, by the advice of the Sardinian Ambassador, who 
chanced to be on a visit, the plants were removed to their 
present position, where: several of them have now attained a 
height of 100 ft,” 
The New Statistical Account, was published in, 1845. I am 
sorry I do: not know what height they have now reached. 
The present garden—the third of which we have any record 
-—was made about 1770. The, church garden-—the last place 
you visited—was almost entirely the work of the second 
Countess of Minto. The old church was taken, down, in 1830 
or 1831, all except part of the vestry walls at, the west end 
of it. The “ jougs,” which formerly hung at the side of the 
church door, were preserved, and were attached to the re¬ 
maining bit, of wall. In 1835 the work at the, church garden 
was begun. Hollies and other shrubs were planted in the 
churchyard and round about it. The site of the old church 
itself was laid out in, flower-beds, and part of the field beyond 
was taken in to form a flower-garden. Some fourteen years 
ago the present, Earl and Countess planned the: enlargements 
I showed you—planted the Yew hedges, etc. 
Both Lord and Lady Minto take the liveliest interest in all 
that concerns the: estate. Lady Minto is a, most enthusiastic 
gardener, and has -admirable taste. Lord Minto is equally 
interested, but confines his attention principally to the woods, 
etc. 
The terrace garden near the house was begun seven years 
ago, and has been completed a.s far as building operations are 
concerned. 
The Rocks or “ Minto* Crags ”—to give the name by which 
they are: generally known—form a striking feature in the 
valley of the Teviot, They rise to a height of from 500 ft. 
to 600 ft. Magnificent views of the surrounding country are 
to be had from them. They are crowned by a strongly-built 
tower or peel, which was burnt by the English in 1545, and 
restored by the second Earl of Minto* in 1857. 
The first planting on the Rocks was made in 1761, hut the 
trees did not grow, and in the following year the same ground 
was replanted with Firs and Planes (Sycamore). Some of the 
latter may still be seen there. 
Barnhill’s Bed.—This- little platform on the south face of 
Minto Rocks is supposed to have been a look-out place, whence 
the approach of enemies might be observed. Sir Walter Scott 
celebrated it in the “ Lay ” : — 
“ On Mimto-orags the moonbeams glint, 
Where Barnhill hewed his bed of flint; 
Who: flung his outlawed limbs to, rest 
Where falcons hang their giddy nest, 
Mid cliffs, from whence his eagle eye 
For many a league his prey could spy; 
Cliffs doubling, on their echoes borne, 
The terrors of the robber’s horn; 
Cliffs which for many a* later year 
The warbling Doric reed shall hear.’ 
There is a very good specimen of the Golden, Queen Holly 
growing in the kitchen garden. It is supposed to be one of 
the best in the country. The stem circumference at a foot 
from the ground is 5 ft, 9 in. or 10 in. I cannot find any record 
when: it, was planted. H- G. M. 
Re N. Star Potatos. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Si r ,—If, may be interesting to readers of your paper to* give 
the weight, of tubers from 2 lb. of Northern Star Potatos 
which I made into forty sets and planted on May 30th 4 ft. 
from row to* row, and 2 ft, between plants. This, I find, is 
none too* much for this special variety. My returns from an 
outlay of 5s. 9d., wbicQ the 2 lb. cost, is 343 lb. Some of the 
roots turned the scale at 12 lb. each, but on the- average the 
tubers: were small, and I may also state that- I found one 
diseased tuber. I also find that this particular Potato takes 
three-quarters of an hour to cook, even when put into* boiling 
water and when, cooked is very firm and a, flavour all of its 
.T R Wit,son. 
Rose Ben. Cant. 
To the: Editor of The Gardening V orld. 
Sir,—We' have read thei letter from Mr. C. Douglas in your 
issue of October 8th, and can only express our regret that the 
variety should have been disappointing with him. It is, cer¬ 
tainly, like many Hybrid Perpetuals*, “ A Rose of seasons ; 
that is to say, all seasons: do not suit it- alike, and last summer 
was: undoubtedly too dry. With a new variety, one naturally 
takes more interest in watching the* blooms develop- than with 
old, well-known, kinds; hut, should the first blooms not come 
“ kindly,” it does: not do, to form hasty conclusions. 
We have had some magnificent blooms: of it, and on, more 
than one occasion during the past summer have secured the 
National Rose Society’s Medal for the best bloom in. the show 
with Ben Cant, That all the blooms have not come a good 
shape we admit; but if its parentage be considered for a 
moment, we shall at once recollect the great absence of good 
blooms: during the past summer of Victor Hugo*. Person¬ 
ally, we saw very few representative blooms of that* fine 
variety, and at many good shows it, was- conspicuous only by 
it*s: absence. Suzanne Marie Rodocanachi, the seed parent 
of Ben Cant, has not by any means been up- to the mark 
during the past year ; but we* know these two to* be good Roses, 
and so' forgive them disappointing us occasionally, but- a new 
variety does not get- off so lightly. 
Ben Cant should be grown, on good, strong, rich soil, and 
be liberally treated when once established. Pruning should 
not be done too- early. April is almost -soon* enough, as the 
spring frosts: (which we invariably get) are so likely t-o*. stop 
growth for a time, just- as it is beginning, and thus spoil the 
form of the flower. 
