556 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  94,  1897. 
or  the  North  of  Scotland  ;  and  it  says  something  for  the  packing  tbat 
complaints  of  damage  on  delivery  are  rarely  heard  of  at  Frogmore.  In 
the  season  the  daily  supply  is  seldom  under  10  lbs.,  and  sometimes  a 
great  deal  more — for  a  State  ball  or  concert  from  70  lbs.  to  90  lbs.  being 
supplied.  The  number  of  plants  forced  is  10,000.  The  weight  of 
fruit  gathered  varies  according  to  the  season,  ranging  from  50  lbs.  to 
350  lbs.  per  month. 
The  variety  which  succeeds  the  best  is  La  Grosse  Sucr^e  (fig.  119, 
page  569),  of  which  7000  plants  are  prepared.  This  Strawberry  has 
one  serious  fault  as  a  forcer — namely,  the  luxuriant  foliage  it  produces 
taking  up  too  much  valuable  space.  Royal  Sovereign  is  also  freely 
grown  and  much  liked,  with  a  few  of  Yicomtesse  Hdricart  de  Thury 
for  the  first  dishes.  Royal  Sovereign  is  found  to  set  its  fruit  freely  in 
strong  heat,  and  to  produce  heavy  crops.  La  Grosse  takes  less  room 
in  the  stoves  than  Royal  Sovereign,  and  is  found  the  very  best  variety 
for  pot  culture,  always  producing  heavy  crops  of  splendidly  coloured, 
well  flavoured  fruit. 
Figs. 
These,  somewhat  strange  to  say,  have  not  been  hitherto  extensively 
grown  at  Frogmore,  but  last  year  two  new  houses  were  planted  with 
trees,  and  an  ample  supply  of  their  delicious  fruits  will  soon  be  forth¬ 
coming.  Brown  Turkey  is  the  variety  chiefly  relied  on  for  the  general 
supply. 
Cherries. 
Ranking  amongst  the  most  favoured  fruits  of  her  Majesty  it  is  not 
surprising  to  find  a  number  of  admirably  grown  trees  in  pots  for 
yielding,  as  they  do,  early  and  abundant  supplies  of  fruit  for  the  Royal 
table.  Seventy  trees  are  grown,  mostly  in  tall  pyramidal  form  rather 
than  as  low  spreading  bushes. 
They  are  arranged  in  a  span-roofed  house  running  north  and  south, 
where  plenty  of  air  can  be  given,  this  and  careful  watering  being 
amongst  the  most  important  points  in  their  cultivation.  The  trees  are 
placed  in  position  early  in  January,  ample  room  being  afforded  to  allow 
free  passage  amongst  them.  They  are  kept  cool,  and  when  in  bloom  are 
shaken  several  times  daily  to  disperse  the  pollen.  Strong  heat  is  avoided 
until  the  fruits  have  stoned,  when  the  same  temperature  as  a  Peach 
house  is  maintained,  and  ripe  fruit  gathered  in  April.  The  varieties 
found  most  suitable  for  pot  cultivation  are  given  in  the  order  of  ripening  : 
— Belle  d’Orleans,  Early  Rivers,  May  Duke,  Governor  Wood,  Frogmore 
Bigarreau,  and  Black  Tartarian.  The  Fig  has  not  hitherto  been  exten¬ 
sively  grown  at  Frogmore  ;  but  last  year  two  new  houses  were  planted, 
and  this  delicious  fruit  will  soon  be  provided  in  plenty.  Brown  Turkey 
is  the  variety  chiefly  relied  on. 
For  preventing  a  blank  between  the  forced  and  open  air  fruits,  a 
tree  or  two  on  the  walls  are  temporarily  covered  with  Bpare  sashes,  with 
the  ends  matted.  In  this  way  the  ripening  of  the  crops  is  materially 
accelerated  and  the  object  in  view  accomplished. 
Tomatoes. 
Tomatoes  are  largely  grown  and  a  supply  maintained  all  the  year 
round.  For  this  purpose,  and  for  travelling  long  distances,  no  better 
variety  has  been  found  than  the  Frogmore  Selected,  which  received 
a  first-class  certificate  from  the  R.H.S.  some  time  ago.  Another  of 
Mr.  Thomas’s  raising,  and  appropriately  named  Golden  Jubilee,  was 
similarly  honoured  at  the  Temple  Show  this  year.  This  new  variety 
is  regarded  as  the  finest  flavoured  and  most  handsome  golden  Tomato 
that  can  be  sent  to  the  Royal  table.  Both  are  as  hardy  as  any  others, 
and  we  have  seen  them  succeeding  admirably  in  the  open  quarters  in  the 
summer  time. 
Cucumbers 
Are  grown  in  large  quantities  all  the  year  round,  and  the  variety 
Frogmore  Prolific,  recently  certificated  by  the  R.H.S,,  is  found  to  be 
one  of  the  best  for  all  purposes  ;  1200  brace  were  cut  last  year. 
PLANT  HOUSES  IN  THE  ROYAL  GARDENS. 
In  giving  a  necessarily  brief  description  of  the  plants  at  Frogmore, 
it  should  be  stated  that  only  those  are  grown  which  are  serviceable  for 
decoration  either  for  indoor  use  or  affording  flowers  for  cutting.  Large 
quantities  of  flowers  are  required  daily  either  at  Windsor  Castle  or  for 
forwarding  to  Balmoral,  Osborne,  Buckingham  Palace,  or  wherever  the 
Court  is  in  residence.  Here  are  also  prepared  all  the  magnificent 
wreaths,  crosses,  and  other  designs  which  from  time  to  time  are  sent  by 
her  Majesty  on  the  death  of  relatives,  distinguished  people,  and  many  oi 
the  Queen’s  domestic  servants  who  pass  away. 
The  first  plant  house  we  enter  is  a  Rose  house  at  the  west  end  of 
the  long  range  on  the  terrace.  It  is  50  feet  by  16.  The  roof  is  covered 
by  Teas  and  Noisettes,  some  of  them  being  old  veterans,  with  tree-like 
stems,  all  planted  in  an  outside  border,  the  same  as  Vines  might  be. 
They  give  three  crops  of  flowers  a  year,  the  first  coming  in  in  January 
and  February — grand  blooms  and  plenty  of  them.  One  variety  planted 
twenty  years  ago  deserves  special  mention,  namely — Pauline  Labonte.  It 
is  a  charming  variety,  of  robust  growth,  having  large  full  blooms  of  a 
deep  salmon  colour  and  deliciously  scented.  Other  varieties  on  the  roof 
include  Hom5re,  Madame  Willermoz,  Safrano,  Mardchal  Niel,  R&ve  d’Or, 
and  Celine  Forestier,  always  beautiful  under  glass.  In  a  corner  con¬ 
necting  the  conservatory  with  the  Rose  house,  Climbing  Niphetos  was 
planted  four  years  ago  (inside  border)  ;  this  has  done  so  well  that  it  has 
been  introduced  from  the  corridor  into  the  Rose  bouse.  It  has  now 
extended  over  40  feet  from  the  stem,  and  carries  quantities  of  grand 
flowers.  The  back  wall  of  the  Rose  house  is  well  furnished  with  Cassia 
corymbosa  and  Bougainvillea  glabra,  both  flowering  profusely  in  their 
season. 
Conservatory  and  Stoves. 
Passing  through  the  corridor  mentioned  we  enter  the  conservatory, 
of  which  a  side  view  is  represented  (fig.  120,  page  570).  This  house, 
195  feet  long  by  27  wide  and  23  feet  high,  was  erected  in  1882. 
The  centre  bed  is  planted  with  huge  specimen  Camellias  in  variety, 
Acacias,  Palms,  Dractenas,  and  Rhododendrons,  many  of  them  reaching 
the  apex  of  the  house.  Various  other  temperate  plants  clothe  the 
pillars  and  walls,  such  as  Tacsonias,  Coboea  scandens  variegata,  Passi- 
floras,  Rhodochitons,  Abutilons,  and  others.  This  house  is  kept  gay  with 
flowers  at  all  times  when  the  Court  is  in  residence.  It  is  visited  by 
her  Majesty  several  times  during  the  year. 
At  present  large  masees  of  Hydrangeas  Thomas  Hogg  and  hortensis 
are  very  effective,  with  Lilium  Harrisi,  Callas  (800  are  grown),  also 
C.  Elliottiana,  with  many  spathes  open,  very  rich  in  colour  ;  Pelargoniums, 
Gladioli  Colvilli  alba,  Azaleas,  Ericas,  CaDnas,  Carnations,  Cineraria 
cruenta,  in  many  shades  of  colour.  Of  the  latter  there  are  plants  4  to 
5  feet  high,  with  heads  3  feet  through,  making  a  most  cbarmiDg  display. 
The  side  stages  have  depending  from  them  drooping  plants  of  Asparagus 
decumbens,  Isolepis,  Tradescantias,  and  others  ;  and  the  vista 
looking  through  (see  figure)  from  the  end  of  house  is  further  improved  by 
hanging  baskets  of  Maidenhair  Fern,  Asparagus  decumbens,  and 
deflexus  alternately  at  different  elevations.  In  summer  these  baskets 
are  replaced  by  others  of  Achimenes  in  variety. 
Joining  the  conservatory  is  the  plant  stove,  75  feet  by  21,  span-roofed, 
in  two  divisions.  The  first  division  is  filled  with  a  good  collection  of 
foliage  plants,  principally  Anthuriums,  Alocasias,  Marantas,  Dracaenas, 
and  similar  plants  ;  all  the  best  varieties  of  Nepenthes  and  Dipladenia 
boliviensis,  Clerodendrons,  Gloriosas,  Allamandas,  Aristolochia  elegans 
depend  from  the  roof.  Here  also  is  a  plant  in  a  tub  growing  freely  of 
Nelumbium  speciosum  nuciferum.  This  plant  is  seldom  seen  in  bloom 
in  this  country,  but  here  it  expands  many  of  its  beautiful  large  (9  inches 
in  diameter)  creamy  white  flowers,  the  perfume  of  which  is  delicious. 
The  next  division  is  filled  with  Crotons  in  splendid  colour,  and  include 
all  the  best  varieties.  All  the  occupants  of  these  houses  are  taken  to 
Buckingham  Palace,  Windsor  Castle,  and  elsewhere  when  required. 
Dendrobiums,  chiefly  Wardianum  and  nobile,  are  growing  freely  in  this 
house,  sorpe  hanging  from  the  roof  and  some  on  the  side  stages. 
*  At  the  back  of  this  stove — also  opening  into  conservatory — is  the 
Orchid  house,  75  feet  by  21  feet,  in  two  divisions,  this  being  hip-roofed, 
the  back  bed  being  planted  throughout  with  Gardenias  and  Stephanotis, 
both  a  mass  of  flower  (fig.  121,  page  571).  The  Stephanotis  is  cut 
in  long  garlands,  6  to  9  feet  in  length.  The  first  division  iB  filled  with 
Laelia  purpurata,  now  in  splendid  bloom,  Cattleyas,  Cypripediums, 
Oncidiums,  Lycastes,  Peristeria  elata  (showing  nine  spikes),  and  a  large 
number  of  Anthuriums  Scherzerianum,  Rothschildianum,  Andreanum, 
with  their  brilliant  spathes  now  in  full  beauty.  The  other  division 
is  filled  with  Caladiuma,  including  all  the  best  new  forms  in  fully 
developed  beauty,  300  more  started  later,  coming  into  use  towards  the 
end  of  June. 
Here  we  noticed  a  distinct  variety  of  Crinum  in  robust  health,  and 
on  inquiry  were  told  that  it  was  a  variety  from  Ashantee,  discovered  on 
the  spot  where  H.R.H.  Prince  Henry  of  Battenberg  contracted  his  fatal 
illness,  and  brought  to  Windsor  by  Dr.  Taylor.  It  has  flowered  twice 
since,  and  is  shown  in  the  illustration  121,  page  571. 
Palms  and  Musas. 
At  the  north  end  of  the  conservatory,  with  which  it  is  connected, 
stands  the  new  Palm  house.  This,  as  will  be  seen  on  reference  to 
fig.  122  (page  572),  is  a  fine  building  of  commanding  proportions.  It 
was  built  in  the  autumn  of  1894  by  Messrs.  Mackenzie  &  Moncur  of 
Edinburgh,  It  is  70  feet  long,  34  feet  wide,  and  27  feet  high,  span- 
roofed,  with  an  ornamental  facade  towards  the  north  side  of  the  gardens, 
from  which  in  the  distance  it  has  an  imposing  effect.  The  roof  is 
