August  8,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
131 
-  Morina  LONOlFOiilA.— This  plant  is  a  native  of  Nepaul,  and 
attains  a  height  of  2  feet  or  more.  Before  flowering  it  so  closely 
resembles  a  Thistle  that  a  writer  in  an  American  contemporary  warns 
growers  against  pulling  it  up  for  a  weed.^  The  flowers  are  crowded  in 
whorls  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  and  are  nearly  white  when  flrst  appear¬ 
ing,  but  change  with  age  to  a  delicate  pink  and  Anally  to  crimson.  It 
is  a  plant  that  requires  more  time  to  attain  the  flowering  stage  than 
most  perennials  ;  it  took  two  years  here.  It  is  apparently  perfectly 
hardy,  but  likes  a  little  shade. 
-  Harmonious  Blending  of  Colours. — Anyone  who  is  at 
all  interested  in  plants  and  flowers  will  have  noticed  that  the  flowers  of 
our  fields  and  woods  exhibit  no  such  discords  of  colour  in  their  juxta¬ 
position  as  are  to  be  found  in  so  many  gardens,  but  that,  on  the  contrary, 
they  are  ever  charming  us  with  their  apparently  fortuitous  harmonies* 
The  reason  for  this  is  not  quite  obvious  at  flrst  sight,  but  a  botanist 
offers  an  explanation  which  may,  perhaps,  be  the  correct  one.  We  know 
that  the  colour  of  flowers  has  been  developed  through  natural  selection, 
as  an  attraction  to  the  insects  that  fertilise  them.  Is  it  not  possible, 
he  asks,  that  the  contrasts  of  colour  serve  the  purpose  of  attracting 
insects  by  making  each  colour  more  conspicuous,  so  that  each  flower 
(flourishes  by  the  side  of  that  other  whose  colour  best  serves  to  display 
its  charms  ?— (“  Morning.”) 
PENRHYN  CASTLE. 
On  a  fine  afternoon  in  June  two  tourists  might  have  been  seen 
•wending  their  way  to  see  the  gardens  of  this  notable  place.  On  entering 
the  doors  the  first  sight  to  be  seen  was  a  magnificent  Fig  tree,  trained 
:again8t  the  walls  and  laden  with  fruit,  a  picture  of  good  culture.  In 
close  proximity  to  this  were  two  plots  of  Keen’s  Seedling  Strawberry 
-carrying  heavy  crops  of  fruit,  and  protected  in  a  very  convenient  form. 
(Stout  posts  about  6  feet  high  were  fixed  at  suitable  distances  apart  to 
•support  strong  battens,  this  framework  being  covered  with  netting. 
Along  the  outside  of  this  arrangement,  close  to  the  ground,  wire  netting 
•2  feet  in  height  was  fastened  to  the  posts,  to  prevent  the  squirrels  from 
taking  the  fruit. 
Asparagus  now  attracted  attention,  numbers  of  the  growths  being 
7  and  8  feet  high,  the  plantation  being  little  more  than  twelve  months 
•old,  and  one  row  of  plants  in  each  bed.  Here  the  hard-working  chief 
was  found,  who  informed  us  that  he  had  grown  it  considerably  finer 
•than  the  present  plantation.  A  wrinkle  was  noted  in  the  careful  way 
the  staking  was  done,  strong  canes  being  driven  into  the  ground  at  an 
wangle  of  about  45°,  so  there  was  no  fear  of  damaging  the  crowns. 
A  rest  and  a  chat  on  one  of  the  garden  seats  prepared  us  for  a  tour 
through  the  extensive  grounds.  In  passing,  large  quantities  of  the  old 
■China  Roses  were  admired,  as  also  the  best  of  the  newer  ones.  In  the 
park  the  evergreens  had  suffered  badly  with  the  frost,  but  were  pulling 
themselves  together  again,  Mr.  Speed  remarking  that  the  Ponticum 
Rhododendrons  had  been  more  severely  punished  than  many  of  the 
hybrids.  In  forest  trees  the  Sycamores  stood  out  prominently,  their 
sturdy,  densely  feather-like  growth  giving  them  a  noble  appearance. 
Through  undulating  scenery  a  rock  garden  was  reached,  a  pool  therein 
•containing  Water  Lilies  in  profusion.  Close  at  hand  a  large  aviary  was 
being  finished  for  the  reception  of  a  number  of  doves. 
Away  from  here  the  flower  garden  was  reached,  a  quiet  secluded  spot 
full  of  endless  variety.  The  avenue  of  splendid  B'uchsias  that  once 
■formed  such  a  feature  had  been  killed  to  the  ground  by  the  severe  frost, 
but  the  stools  were  throwing  up  plenty  of  shoots,  although  it  will  take  a 
long  time  before  they  reach  the  size  of  those  killed.  The  trellis  in  the 
meantime  is  being  covered  with  creepers.  Notable  on  the  walla  was 
Rhododendron  Lady  Alice  Fitz william,  Lapagerla  rosea,  from  which 
Mr.  Speed  told  us  he  often  gathered  flowers  at  Christmas  time.  In  the 
borders  Liliums  auratum  and  longiflorum  were  growing  luxuriantly, 
■while  L.  giganteum  looked  truly  magnificent.  Eulalia  japonica 
variegata  is  quite  hardy  at  Penrhyn,  and  retains  its  variegation  equally 
•as  well  as  when  grown  under  glass,  while  the  greater  strength  of  the 
stems  renders  it  useful  for  decorative  purposes.  On  the  grass  were  fine 
Msgnolias,  and  a  specimen  of  the  Tea  plant,  which  had  been  sorely 
injured  by  the  frost,  was  breaking  again.  Camellias  were  thriving 
•everywhere,  and  many  other  interesting  plants  too  numerous  to 
■mention. 
Passing  on,  the  glass  houses  were  next  inspected.  Palms  in  all  useful 
•sizes  were  in  plenty,  and  well  they  looked  ;  while  the  Maidenhair  Ferns 
growing  on  the  back  wall  gave  a  finished  appearance  to  the  Palms  as 
well  as  being  useful.  Passiflora  quadrangularis  was  scrambling  up  the 
ffoof  on  an  adjoining  house  in  full  vigqur.  Further  along  Tacsonias 
looked  charming  hanging  from  above,  while  amongst  the  numerous 
•decorative  plants  some  brilliant  Cannas  were  noticed. 
On  the  terrace  outside  the  flower  beds  were  tastefully  planted,  the 
most  striking  being  those  filled  with  Begonia  Lemoine’s  hybrid  erect, 
the  plants  of  good  habit  and  height,  the  flowers  being  of  deep  crimson. 
Other  beds  were  planted  with  tuberous  Begonias  and  the  usual  class  of 
bedding  plants.  The  outline  of  the  beds  is  formed  of  Box,  which  was 
quite  refreshing  to  see,  so  trim  and  healthy  did  it  look.  Along  the  front 
of  a  trellis  hung  festoons  of  Roses  and  Clematis,  which  later  on  will  be 
a  sight.  On  the  back  wall  the  sweet-scented  Verbena  was  quite  at 
home. 
“  Come  along,”  said  Mr.  Speed ;  and  our  active  guide  next  took  us 
to  see  the  Castle,  a  magnificent  example  of  sterling  workmanship,  being 
in  keeping  with  the  grand  scenery  all  around.  Ivies  of  various  kinds 
are  growing  up  the  walls  of  the  Castle,  which  was  at  first  attended  with 
some  diflBculty,  for  the  stems  had  to  be  laid  under  the  pavement  that 
extends  for  a  considerable  distance  from  the  Castle  walls.  But  the  per¬ 
severing  man  in  charge  had  overcome  this  trouble  by  growing  en  the 
plants  until  they  were  long  enough  to  enable  him  to  plant  them  outside 
of  the  stone  promenade,  lay  the  stems  underneath  the  same,  and  still 
leave  sufiScient  length  to  train  up  the  walls.  Away  on  the  left  stood 
trees  planted  by  Royal  persons  in  commemoration  of  their  visits  to 
Penrhyn. 
Off  we  go  again,  along  the  cleanest  of  walks,  to  the  kitchen  garden 
and  the  forcing  houses.  Here  Pmonies  and  Irises  were  in  abundance 
for  cutting.  Warrington  Red  Gooseberries,  trained  cordon  fashion,  were 
carrying  plenty  of  fruit  of  this  good  late  dessert  variety.  Close  at  hand 
to  these  were  more  Gooseberries  of  the  best  sorts,  covered  with  wire 
netting  to  protect  them.  Hardy  fruits  of  all  kinds  were  carrying  satis¬ 
factory  crops,  and  some  cordon  Apple  trees  bearing  fine  fruits.  A  large 
breadth  of  Cabbage  was  seen  that  would  be  the  admiration  this  year  of 
many  a  delvbr  with  the  spade.  Close  by  a  grand  plot  of  Onions  was 
looking  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  gave  indications  of  something  in 
the  autumn.  Soot  is  used  to  prevent  the  maggot,  and  also  sulphate  of 
ammonia  carefully  applied. 
A  look  into  the  fruit  room  gave  indication  of  something  good,  and 
we  saw  Bellegarde  Peaches  and  Elruge  Nectarines  that  would  have  graced 
many  an  exhibition  board.  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes,  too,  that  had 
recently  been  cut  from  Vines  in  pots,  and  placed  in  bottles  to  make 
room  for  other  crops,  were  good.  A  few  wrinkles  were  also  learnt 
respecting  the  packing  of  various  kinds  of  flowers  for  travelling. 
Out  of  this  into  warmer  quarters,  more  Peaches  and  Nectarines  were 
coming  along  finely,  good  wood,  thinly  trained,  with  fruit  in  quality 
and  quantity,  being  the  prominent  features.  Next  we  are  in  the  Fig 
house,  and  here  was  seen  the  most  splendid  Brown  Turkey  Fig  tree  that 
the  writer  has  ever  seen.  Trained  along  the  front  of  the  house  on  a 
curvilinear  trellis  40  to  50  feet  in  length,  as  far  as  can  be  remembered, 
this  tree  was  carrying  fruits  of  such  size  and  quality  that  would  be 
almost  impossible  to  eclipse.  The  Pines  were  the  next  to  be  seen. 
Queens  of  handsome  proportions  ripening,  and  the  later  stock  of 
fruiters,  such  as  Cayennes  and  Rothschilds,  looking  all  that  could  be 
desired. 
Gardenias  on  a  shelf  at  the  back  of  the  house  were  the  picture  of 
health,  seeming  to  revel  in  the  strong  heat,  with  the  offer  of  a  sovereign 
from  the  chief  if  a  mealy  bug  could  be  found  on  them.  On  we  go, 
more  Pines  and  Melons  in  succession,  the  principal  Melon  grown  being 
Penrhyn  Hero.  The  Melons,  like  the  Pines,  are  grown  in  pots.  A  house 
of  Ham  Green  Favourite  Tomatoes  next  catches  the  eye,  the  stems 
literally  clothed  with  fruit  of  useful  size.  A  fine  collection  of  Crotons 
in  small  pots  were  beautifully  coloured.  Other  houses  contained 
Begonias,  Ferns,  and  quantities  of  useful  plants. 
In  front  of  a  range  of  glass  on  a  narrow  border  a  row  of  Ne  Plus 
Ultra  Dwarf  Beans  were  turning  in,  aided  by  small  lights,  which  are 
removed  as  required.  Succession  Pines,  which  looked  like  keeping  up 
the  reputation  of  their  parents,  were  inspected,  with  small  bouses  con¬ 
taining  numerous  plants  and  flowers  necessary  to  supply  an  establishment 
of  this  description. 
Now  to  the  vineries,  with  the  remark  from  Mr.  Speed  that  he  was 
going  to  show  us  some  spurs  of  Vines  12  feet  long,  with  a  twinkle  in  his 
eye,  no  doubt  caused  by  the  look  of  wonderment  expressed.  We  enter. 
”  There  they  are,”  he  said,  “  bundles  of  faggots  people  call  them  I  ”  A  few 
moments  were  sufficient  to  understand  the  method  adopted,  the  spurs 
being  left  a  good  length  each  year  at  pruning  time  to  insure  extra  good 
bunches.  The  crop  evidently  proved  the  method  answered,  for  the 
Grapes,  Black  Hamburghs  mostly,  were  excellent  samples  of  high 
culture,  beautifully  finished.  The  outside  border  of  this  house  is  covered 
over  with  bricks,  the  roots  being  preserved  better  in  this  locality  for  early 
work  by  this  system  than  otherwise.  The  Muscats  and  late  Grapes  were 
promising  well,  although  the  outside  roots  had  been  unavoidably  lifted 
late  in  the  spring.  By  the  style  in  which  they  were  growing  they 
certainly  looked  like  finishing  off  the  crops  to  perfection,  and  considering 
the  Vines  are,  I  think,  upwards  of  forty  years  old,  they  are  excellent 
examples  of  skilful  handling.  Lady  Hutt,  one  of  the  newer  Grapes,  is 
being  tried,  and  Mr.  Speed  thinks  it  will  turn  out  a  good  variety. 
Various  Orchids  looked  as  if  they  were  as  well  cared  for  as  the  other 
things,  notably  some  Calantbes,  in  medium-sized  pots,  which  were 
making  splendid  growth. 
A  move  was  now  made  to  Mr.  Speed’s  residence,  with  a  peep  at  the 
horses  on  the  way,  that  looked  in  as  good  trim  as  the  plants.  A  pleasant 
welcome  from  Miss  Speed,  and  something  substantial  for  the  inner  man 
was  heartily  enjoyed,  especially  a  fine  variety  of  Lettuce,  "New  Yo  k.” 
A  pleasant  chat  for  a  while  with  a  longing  for  more  time,  and  the 
tourists  had  to  be  off,  with  thanks  to  Miss  Speed  for  her  kindness  and 
hospitality,  and  accompanied  by  our  entertaining  guide  we  make  for  the 
train,  having  seen  one  of  the  most  clean  and  well-stocked  gardens  it  has 
been  our  pleasure  to  visit  ;  not  merely  ornamental,  but  something  to  fill 
the  basket  everywhere,  and  plenty  of  it.  At  last  we  reach  the  railway 
station,  and  after  wishing  our  kindly  friend  farewell,  with  many  thanks 
for  the  pains  and  interest  he  had  taken  to  make  our  visit  a  pleasure,  the 
writer  and  his  companion  steam  out  of  Bangor,  after  a  most  enjoyable 
afternoon,  especially  so  to  the — ScribbleR; 
