256 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  12, 1895. 
Onions  and  Red  Celery.  Mrs.  Lloyd,  Chiswick,  was  second,  anl  Mr.  G. 
North,  Buckingrhatn,  third. 
Mr.  W.  J.  Empson  was  first  with  three  Cauliflowers,  staging  Carter’s 
Autumn  Giant ;  second  Mr,  Pope,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Carnarvon, 
Newbury  ;  and  third  Mr.  R.  Mairs,  gardener  to  Sir  J.  Shelley,  Crediton. 
Mr.  Wythes,  gardener  to  Earl  Percy,  Syon  House,  was  first  with  three 
Borecoles,  staging  fine  examples  ;  second  Mr.  Pentney,  Isle  worth.  A 
good  dish  of  Brussels  Sprouts,  staged  by  Mr.  Bowerman,  was  awarded 
first  prize,  followed  by  Mr.  Pope  and  Mr.  M,  Webster,  gardener  to 
E.  J.  Preston,  Esq ,  Beckenham,  second  and  third. 
Mr.  Empson  had  the  best  Spinach,  and  Mr.  Mairs  was  first  with 
Marrows,  followed  by  Mr.  R.  Lye,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Kingsmill,  New¬ 
bury,  and  Mr.  Wythes  second  and  third  in  the  above  order.  Mr.  Lye 
staged  the  best  Cucumbers,  the  second  and  third  places  being  taken  by 
JMr.  Waite  and  Mr.  Empson  in  the  order  named.  Mr.  Pentney  was  first 
with  twelve  roots  of  Scorzonera,  and  for  Salsafy  Mr.  Waite  took  the 
highest  award.  The  first  prize  for  Runner  Beans  was  awarded  to  Mr. 
R.  Lye,  second  Mr.  Bowerman,  and  third  M.  Mairs.  Mr.  Bowerman 
was  to  the  front  with  Dwarf  Beans,  followed  by  Mr.  Ward,  Longford 
•Castle,  and  Mr.  Wythes  second  and  third.  The  best  Broad  Beans  were 
staged  by  Mr.  R.  Lye,  Mr.  Bowerman  taking  the  second  place,  and  Mr. 
Waite  the  third.  Mr.  W.  Palmer,  Andover,  was  a  good  first  with  a 
dish  of  Peas,  followed  by  Mr.  Ward  second,  and  Mr.  Wythes  third.  Mr. 
•J.  Wilkins  had  the  best  Globe  Artichokes,  and  for  Cardoons  Mr. 
Wythes  was  first. 
Potatoes  were  well  shown.  Mr.  Pope  took  the  first  prize  with  three 
dishes  of  kidneys,  followed  by  Mr.  Bowerman  second,  and  Mr.  Waite 
third.  Mr.  Pope  also  took  the  highest  award  with  three  dishes  of  round 
Potatoes,  Mr.  Mann  winning  the  second  award,  and  Mr.  G.  North  the 
third.  The  first  prize  for  a  single  dish  of  kidney  Potatoes  went  to  Mr. 
Lye  ;  second,  Mr.  G.  North  ;  and  third,  Mr.  Webster.  Mr.  G.  North  had 
the  best  single  dish  of  round  Potatoes,  followed  by  Mr.  R.  Lye  and  Mr. 
Empson  second  and  third.  Mr.  R.  Lye  took  the  first  prize  for  Leeks, 
staging  Prizetaker;  Mr.  Mairs  was  second,  and  Mr.  Pope  third.  Mr. 
Waite  had  the  best  dish  of  Onions  ;  Mr.  Mairs  being  second,  and 
Mr.  Ward  third.  Mr.  G.  North  showed  the  best  Turnips  in  three  varie¬ 
ties  ;  followed  by  Mr.  Osman,  Sutton,  second,  and  Mr.  Empson  third. 
Mr.  Waite  was  first  with  Turnips  in  one  variety  ;  Mr.  R.  Lye  second  ; 
and  Mr.  Empson  third. 
Mr.  Pentney  had  the  best  Jerusalem  Artichokes,  and  for  three 
varieties  of_  Carrots  Mr.  G.  North  was  first,  Mr.  Pope  second,  and  Mr. 
Empson  third.  Mr.  Mairs  took  the  first  prize  with  a  dish  of  Carrots  of 
■one  variety,  showing  Veitch’s  New  Intermediate,  Mr.  J.  Wilkins  was 
second,  and  Mr.  Bowerman  third.  Mr.  R.  Lye  was  first  with  Parsnips, 
and  Mr.  Waite  second.  Mr.  Waite  had  the  best  Horseradish,  and  with 
Beet  Mr.  Webster  was  first  and  Mr.  Waite  second  ;  the  last  named 
exhibitor  also  staged  the  best  Endive.  Mr.  Lye  had  the  best  Lettuce, 
and  for  Celery  Mr.  Wilkins  was  first,  followed  by  Mr.  Waite  and  Mr. 
R.  Lye,  second  and  third.  A  tasteful  exhibit  shown  by  Mr.  Wythes  took 
the  first  prize  for  a  collection  of  salads,  the  whole  being  shown  effectively 
in  a  flat  hamper  ;  Mr.  Waite  w’as  second,  and  Mr.  Salmon  third,  the 
latter  also  showing  the  best  collection  of  herbs. 
A  TRIP  TO  TRENTHAM  AND  KEELE  HALL. 
The  members  and  their  friends  belonging  to  the  Sutton  Coldfield 
"branch  of  the  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association 
recently  paid  a  visit  to  the  above  notable  establishments.  The  party 
naturally,  on  arriving  at  Trentham  Station,  inspected  these  celebrated 
gardens  first,  and  over  which  they  were  courteously  conducted  by  Mr. 
Peter  Blair,  the  head  gaidener.  Naturally,  those  of  the  visitors  who  had 
never  seen  this  princely  establishment  before,  were  much  impressed  by 
architectural  style  of  the  classic  mansion  in  conjunction  with  thespacious 
flower  garden  of  about  10  acres  in  extent,  and  supported  by  the  beau¬ 
tiful  lake  of  80  acres,  the  latter  flanked  by  the  finely  wooded  bold 
escarpment  on  its  western  side,  whilst  the  lower  end  of  the  lake  is 
fringed  by  a  continuation  of  the  wood,  the  massive  proportions  of  which 
clothe  the  heights  of  Hanchurch  Hill  to  its  very  summit.  The  hill  is 
crowned  on  its  crest  by  a  fine  high  statue  of  the  first  Duke  of  Suther¬ 
land,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  present  Duke,  after  Sir  Francis 
Chantry.  It  is  elevated  on  a  lofty  column,  and  was  erected  by  a  mourning 
and  grateful  tenantry.  The  noble  flower  garden,  enhanced  by  specimens 
of  fine  statuary,  and  notably  the  famous  and  costly  one  representing 
*•  Perseus  and  Medusa,”  is  situate  on  the  terrace  at  the  head  of  the  lake, 
and  a  fine  view  is  obtained  of  the  extensive  and  beautiful  grounds 
■bounding  i's  southern  side,  and  to  which  extensive  additions  have 
recently  been  effected  under  the  able  supervision  of  Mr.  Blair,  it  being 
the  desire  of  the  noble  proprietor  and  his  Duchess  to  restore  the  gardens 
■and  grounds  to  their  original  order  and  beauty. 
The  visitors  were  also  much  struck  with  the  village  of  glass  struc¬ 
tures,  and  more  particularly  the  noble  old  conservatory  with  its  ridge 
and  furrow  roof,  now  embellished  principally  with  Palms,  Bamboos, 
and  arboreal  Ferns,  in  place  of  the  grand  old  specimens  of  Camellias, 
Acacias,  Correas,  Epacrises,  Rhododendrons  and  climbers,  with 
which  the  writer  was  intimately  acquainted  upwards  of  forty 
years  ago,  when  he  “  matriculated  ”  under  the  then  presiding  genius, 
the  late  Mr.  George  Fleming,  the  inventor  of  the  famous  fruit  glass 
cases  or  corridors,  and  extent  of  which  astonished  the  visitors, 
independently  of  the  excellent  crops  of  various  kinds  of  hardy  fruits. 
Tet  another  source  for  wonder  and  admiration  was  the  immense  array 
of  Chrysanthemums  in  pots,  all  in  most  robust  health  and  vigour,  and 
presaging  as  they  did  “  high  honours  ”  on  the  forthcoming  exhibition 
tables.  The  young  gardeners’  new  residential  apartments  also  came  in 
for  a  share  of  appreciation,  and  in  proximity  to  the  head  gardener’s 
residence  was  observed  a  fine  and  vigorous  specimen  of  the  "  Umbrella 
Pine”  (Sciadopitys  verticillata)  about  G  feet  in  height.  Unfortunately 
the  principal  apartments  in  the  mansion  were  undergoing  the  process 
of  renovation,  otherwise  the  party  would  have  been  admitted. 
At  the  close  of  their  long  peregrination  through  the  gardens  the 
visitors  invited  Mr.  Blair  to  an  excellent  lunch  with  them  at  the  well- 
appointed  Trentham  Hotel,  where  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
proposed  by  Mr.  T.  B.  Grove,  the  conductor  of  the  party,  to  Mr.  Blair 
for  his  kindness  in  devoting  so  much  of  his  valuable  time  to  their 
interests,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  W.  Gardiner  in  eulogistic  term*,  especially 
as  to  evidence  of  the  excellent  keeping  and  general  management  every¬ 
where  apparent  in  the  establishment  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Blair, 
including  also  the  long-looked-for  pleasure  it  gave  him  once  more  to 
visit,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  half  a  century,  this  scene  of  his  earlier 
“’prentice”  days.  Mr.  Blair,  in  thanking  the  visitors  for  their  kind 
appreciation  of  his  welcome  services,  remarked  that  it  was  rendered 
additionally  pleasurable  to  him  by  the  presence  of  the  seconder  of  the 
vote  of  thanks  as  an  old  “  Trenthamite,”  and  of  whom  he  only  knew  by 
name  as  “  an  old  hand  ”  in  the  annals  of  gardening,  and  whose  remi¬ 
niscences  and  anecdotes  of  Trentham  in  the  days  of  yore  had  much 
interested  him.  The  visitors  afterwards  departed  for  Keele  Hall,  about 
five  miles  distant,  the  beautiful  seat  of  Ralph  Sneyd,  Esq.,  in  a  “  brake  ” 
engaged  for  the  occasion,  passing  on  their  way  by  the  splendid  carriage 
approach  to  Trentham,  with  an  Italian  lodge  on  each  side  of  the 
beautiful  entrance  gates,  said  to  be  one  of  the  finest  approaches  in 
Europe. 
After  an  interesting  drive,  chiefly  of  an  uphill  nature,  and  a  short 
route  through  the  pretty  park  at  Keele,  the  party  were  joined  by  Mr. 
Wallis,  the  well-known  head  gardener,  who  pointed  out  the  various 
objects  of  interest  about  the  well-kept  grounds,  a  most  notable  one 
being  the  celebrated  Holly  hedge.  It  is  200  yards  long,  24  feet  in 
height,  about  20  feet  wide  at  bottom,  and  about  6  feet  at  the  top. 
At  the  north-west  corner  is  a  beautiful  metal  gate,  glazed  with  strong 
glass,  to  check  the  currents  of  wind  from  full  force  along  the  broad 
gravel  path  running  alongside  the  hedge,  which  was  a  favourite  walk  of 
the  late  Mr.  Ralph  Sneyd.  Another  arboreal  object  of  importance  and 
much  admired  by  the  visitors  was  the  splendid  avenue,  about  400  yards 
long,  of  fine  old  Spanish  Chestnuts.  Seveial  fine  specimens  of  Conifers, 
notably  a  Deodora  Cedar,  also  came  in  for  a  share  of  attention,  including 
the  “  rockery  ”  and  fernery.  From  one  part  of  the  grounds  is  obtained 
a  fine  view  of  the  Wrekin  and  the  Welsh  mountains.  Altogether  the 
noble  trees  and  scenes  enumerated  so  much  impressed  some  of  the 
visitors,  that  in  comparison  wdth  the  scenic  attributes  of  Trentham  they 
preferred  the  former,  but  the  geographical  positions  of  the  two  places 
are  so  diametrically  opposed  that  the  comparison  is  rendered  almost 
invidious,  Trentham  being  in  a  great  measure  essentially  artificial  in 
the  character  of  its  grounds  and  low  lying,  whilst  Keele  is  very  elevated 
and  more  natural. 
The  mansion,  which  is  a  beautiful  piece  of  workmanship,  built  chiefly 
with  a  hard  pink  sandstone  found  on  the  estate,  relieved  with  white 
Hollington  stone,  was  erected  in  the  time  of  the  late  Mr.  Sneyd.  It  is 
embellished  by  a  pretty  flower  garden  at  the  south  front  with  a  fountain 
in  the  centre,  which  was  duly  admired. 
A  run  through  the  glass  houses  and  well  furnished  fruit  and  vegetable 
gardens  excited  much  interest,  good  crops  of  Grapes,  very  fine  Peaches 
and  Nectarines,  and  a  fine  tree  of  Negro  Largo  Fig  were  admired, 
proving  altogether  that  Mr.  Wallis  is  a  worthy  successor  to  the  celebrated 
Grape  grower,  the  late  Mr.  W.  Hill,  whose  name  in  connection  with 
prize  Grapes  was  so  synonymous  that  to  mention  one  was  to  recall  the 
name  of  the  other. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  delightful  visit  to  this  far-famed  demesne, 
and  an  expression  of  hearty  thanks  to  Mr.  Wallis  for  his  obliging  and 
courteous  attention,  the  party  returned  to  Trentham  Hotel  well  pre¬ 
pared  for  the  substantial  tea  laid  before  them,  prior  to  the  return  home, 
thoroughly  satisfied  with  their  “  outing.” — A  Pilgeim. 
RAISING  AND  PREPARING  YINES  FOR  PLANTING. 
I  AM  no  stranger  to  the  old  method  of  growing  and  preparing  Vines 
for  planting,  and  whether  the  believers  in  the  3-inch  pot  system  be  few 
or  many  is  not  the  point  at  issue.  I  have  stated  a  few  plain  facts, 
which  are  capable  of  speaking  for  themselves.  My  experience  has  long 
since  convinced  me  of  the  fallacy  of  preferring  Vines  in  large  pots  for 
planting.  I  am  aware  that  many  gardeners  are  rapidly  changing  their 
views  on  this  subject  and  adopting  a  more  rational  system.  The  value 
of  Vines  for  planting  is  not  to  be  estimated  by  mere  bulk.  Such  Vines 
as  “  A  Grape  Grower  ”  refers  to,  page  20(1,  in  “2^-iDch  pots,”  bristling 
with  hundreds  of  healthy  fibres,  I  should  certainly  prefer  to  Vines  grown 
in  10-inch  pots,  with  their  long  bare  fibrelesa  roots. 
Mr.  J.  Thomson  asks  if  Vines  planted  in  August  out  of  3-inch  pots 
produced  so  much  with  Mr.  Innes,  how  much  more  ought  such  Vines  as 
those  of  which  Mr.  D.  Thomson  sent  the  Editor  a  sample  to  produce 
also  under  Mr.  lanes  ?  I  have  no  doubt  Mr.  D.  Thomson’s  Vines  would 
have  done  well,  and  would  have  made  far  superior  canes  than  they  did 
by  the  end  of  the  first  season,  had  they  been  planted  in  August 
instead  of  the  following  spring,  and  would  have  been  capable  by  the 
