June  24,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
565 
in  capital  condition — clean  as  regards  insect  pests  and  fungoid  visita¬ 
tions,  and  built  up  of  sound,  healthy  wood.  Vegetables  were  scarce  ; 
but  all  the  quarters  were  free  from  weeds,  and  preparations  for  their 
occupation  were  proceeding  apace.  Under  glass  the  collection  of  plants 
is  a  very  general  one,  comprising  Orchids  in  small  numbers,  several 
handsome  Ferns  and  Palms,  with  the  several  other  kinds  usually  found 
in  a  collection  of  this  nature.  Mushrooms  are  splendidly  grown  in  one 
of  the  outhouses,  and  the  garden  bears  in  its  condition  the  impress  of 
careful  and  painstaking  attention  to  the  details  natural  to  it. 
Brief  as  is  this  reference  to  Osborne  House,  it  must  suffice  for  the 
time  being.  Yet  mention  ought  to  be 
made  of  the  surroundings  that  are, 
as  it  were,  a  part  of  the  estate. 
Whippingham  village  and  church,  for 
example,  are  well  worthy  of  more  than 
the  passing  glance  which  alone  can  be 
given  them.  No  place  is  more  inti¬ 
mately  associated  with  the  private  life 
of  her  Majesty  and  the  late  Prince 
Albert  than  St.  Michaels,  Whipping- 
ham,  and  all  visitors  to  the  “Garden 
isle”  ought  to  go  there.  In  drawing 
to  a  conclusion  we  would  acknowledge 
our  indebtedness  to  Mr.  G.  Woodford 
for  supplying  the  excellent  photographs, 
and  to  Mr.  G.  Nobbs  for  his  trouble  in 
giving  all  the  information  in  his  power, 
and  showing  everything  that  he  thought 
would  be  of  interest. 
BALMORAL  CASTLE. 
Proud  as  we  of  the  British  race  are 
of  the  record  of  her  Majesty’s  wonderful 
reign,  we  look  with  especial  pride  upon 
the  domestic  virtues  by  which  it  is 
adorned.  We  feel  that  the  Royal 
palaces  are  not  only  State  residences 
but  homes  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
word,  made  so  by  the  character  and 
example  of  our  Sovereign  herself. 
None  of  these  reveals  this  more  than 
Balmoral,  where,  surrounded  by  the 
magnificent  scenery  of  Deeside,  the 
Queen  finds  rest.  Only  a  few  days 
before  her  Majesty’s  arrival  for  a  brief 
stay  previous  to  undergoing  the  fatigues 
and  trials  of  the  Jubilee  celebrations,  it  was  the  privilege  of  the  writer  to 
see  this  Highland  home,  of  which  an  illustration  is  given  on  page  661. 
The  visit  was  an  enjoyable  one,  made  more  so  by  the  courtesy  of 
Mr.  James  Forbes,  who  has  recently  been  appointed  her  Majesty’s 
Commissioner,  and  Mr.  John  M.  Troup,  who  fills  so  ably  the  responsible 
position  of  gardener  at  Balmoral.  Mrs.  Troup  also  showed  equal 
kindness,  while  Mrs.  Musson,  the  housekeeper  at  the  Castle,  gave 
some  time  at  a  busy  season  to  escort  me  through  the  public  rooms. 
The  drive  from  Ballater  on  that  bright  but  sharp  morning  in  May 
was  a  delightful  one.  The  air  was  pure  and  clear  ;  the  sun  lit  up  the 
mountains,  the  river,  and  the  trees.  Lochnagar  in  the  distance  stands 
high  above  all  with  its  snowy  mantle  ;  while  the  Birches,  the  glory  of 
the  Highland  rivers  and  glens,  were  exquisite  with  their  delicately 
beautiful  and  quivering  leaves. 
Those  who  might  expect  to  find  Balmoral  gardens  a  copy  in  miniature 
of  those  at  Windsor  would  find  themselves  disappointed.  This  is  not 
desired.  Balmoral  is  one  of  those  places  where  elaborate  gardening 
would  appear  incongruous.  With  the  magnificent  scenery  around,  Nature 
seems  to  claim  supremacy  over  Art.  The  climate,  moreover,  places  a 
limit  to  the  practice  of  gardening,  as  if  to  compel  acquiescence  in  this 
plan  of  Nature. 
Dahlias  will  not  bloom,  even  if  planted  out  when  some  height ;  and 
Clematis  Jackmanni  has  to  be  grown  under  glass.  The  thermometer 
fell  to  49J°  of  frost  two  winters  ago,  and  occasionally  10°  of  frost  is 
experienced  in  June.  Yet  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  gardens  are 
poor  and  unattractive.  Not  so  ;  but  the  system  is  adapted  to  the 
desires  of  the  Royal  Family,  and  the  work  done  is  the  highest  of  its 
kind.  Mr.  Troup  has  had  long  experience  of  gardening  in  the  north, 
and  it  is  amply  evident  that,  spurred  by  devotion  to  the  Queen  it  is  his 
privilege  to  serve,  no  one  could  carry  out  more  skilfully  the  work 
entrusted  to  him. 
The  requirements  of  the  household  in  the  way  of  fruit  and  vegetables 
are  principally  met  from  Windsor  ;  but  of  the  former  some  Gooseberries, 
Raspberries,  and  Strawberries  are  grown.  The  Strawberries  are  Myatt’s, 
Elton  Pine,  Aberdeen  Favourite,  and  Latest  of  All.  The  last  is  being 
grown  for  the  first  time,  but  it  is  expected  that  it  will  prove  satisfactory 
here.  These  Strawberries  are  for  late  use,  and  are  often  obtained  in 
perfection  until  well  into  September. 
The  glass  houses  are  six  in  number, 
none  very  large,  and  mostly  three- 
quarter  spans,  facing  the  south.  Such 
houses  are  more  suitable  for  the  severity 
of  the  climate  than  any  other,  and  they 
are  filled  with  a  splendidly  cultivated 
Btock  of  the  plants  most  required  in 
and  for  the  Castle.  Detailed  mention 
of  these  plants  is  not  essential,  but  a 
few  features  must  he  noticed.  As 
before  mentioned,  Clematis  Jackmanni 
is  grown  under  glass.  Satisfactory 
Roses  are  Gloire  de  Dijon,  The  Bride, 
Niphetos,  and  Isabella  Sprunt,  the  last 
being  prized  on  account  of  the  beauty 
of  its  buds.  Mardchal  Niel  does  not 
succeed,  so  is  not  grown.  The  fine  old 
Tree  Carnation,  the  blush  Souvenir  de 
la  Malmaison,  proves  very  useful,  and 
none  is  found  more  valuable  than  Ger¬ 
mania.  The  Margaret  Carnations  are 
also  grown  for  autumn  flowers.  A 
healthy  stock  of  Chrysanthemums  was 
in  one  of  the  houses.  The  late  flower¬ 
ing  kinds  are  not  required  ;  but  about 
200  Madame  C.  Desgranges  are  grown, 
with  from  fifty  to  seventy  other  early 
varieties.  Piercy’s  Seedling  is  valued 
all  the  season,  and  was  in  flower  on 
the  occasion  of  my  visit. 
The  principal  flower  garden  is  situ¬ 
ated  in  front  of  the  houses,  and  although 
not  of  great  extent,  must  be  very 
beautiful  when  the  beds,  which  are  cut 
in  the  grass,  are  in  full  bloom.  The 
situation  is  a  picturesque  one  at  the 
base  of  the  beautifully  wooded  Craig 
Gowan.  There  are  no  walls  or  high 
hedges  to  cut  the  garden  off  from  the 
surrounding  grounds,  and  the  eye  travels  with  pleasure  from  the  flowers 
to  the  trees,  the  hills,  and  the  verdant  turf.  The  garden  is,  I  understand, 
much  the  same  as  in  the  time  of  H.R.H.  the  Prince  Consort.  Balmoral 
was  his  own  property,  and  ODe  can  see  all  around  it  evidences  of  the 
lamented  Prince’s  refined  tastes  and  love  of  Nature  in  its  highest 
aspects. 
The  national  flower  of  England — the  Rose — is  largely  grown,  and 
is  represented  by  various  sections,  both  old  and  new  being  seen  in  the 
beds.  From  what  one  knows  of  Rose  growing  in  the  north,  it  was 
not  surprising  to  learn  that  the  Teas  are  more  satisfactory  than  the 
Hybrid  Perpetuals.  Many  of  both  were  seen,  among  others  being 
Princess  Beatrice,  Belle  Lyonnaise,  Senateur  Yaisse,  W.  A.  Richardson, 
Buret,  Safrano,  the  invaluable  Isabella  Sprunt,  La  France,  Grace 
Darling,  and  Boule  de  Neige.  There  was  also  a  bed  of  Old  Summer 
Roses  and  Scotch  Briars  edged  with  old-fashioned  Polyanthuses. 
Between  the  Roses  annuals  are  grown.  Tulips  were  also  well  repre¬ 
sented,  Victoria,  Duke  of  York,  Artis,  and  La  Candeur  being  among 
the  earlier  varieties.  Parrot  Tulips  mingled  with  mixed  late  varieties 
were  in  another  bed  edged  with  Cerastium.  The  last  is  largely  used, 
together  with  Arabises  alpina  and  lucida,  Silene  pendula,  Myosotis, 
Auriculas,  and  Violas,  while  herbaceous  plants  receive  a  large  measure 
of  attention.  There  is  a  dark  form  of  Scilla  italica  here,  and  a  fioe 
display  will  be  made  in  autumn  by  long  lines  of  the  double  purple 
Colchicum  autumnale.  The  old  double 'Paaonia  officinalis  seems  rather  a 
favourite,  if  one  may  judge  from  the  plants  grown. 
The  shrubs  and  flowering  trees  about  Balmoral  are  Lilacs,  Honey¬ 
suckle,  Flowering  Currants,  Mahonias,  and  Rhododendrons.  Lilacs  are 
I 
Fig.  116 — Grapes  Duke  of  Buccleuch  and  Madresfield 
Court  {page  554). 
