September  12, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
257 
time  Mr.  Thomson  planted  them  of  carrying  and  maturing  a  crop  of 
first-class  Grapes.  Thus  a  season  would  have  been  gained.  Surely  the 
gain  of  a  seaion  is  a  matter  of  no  small  importance,  especially  in  these 
days  of  keen  competition,  and  one  which  I  believe  most  practical  men 
will  be  ready  to  embrace. 
I  heartily  agree  with  Mr.  J.  Thomson  that  we  want  the  truth  and 
nothing  but  the  truth,  and  I  also  hope  we  may  enter  into  these  dis¬ 
cussions  with  unbiased  minds,  and  then  we  may  be  certain  that 
beneficial  results  will  follow. — W.  Innes,  Berby. 
A  SWEEPING  MACHINE. 
A  WANT  has  long  been  felt  for  a  machine  which  would  save  the 
lengthy  and  tedious  process  of  sweeping  by  hand,  and  Messrs.  Ransomes, 
Sims  &  Jefferies,  Ipswich,  have  catered  for  that  want,  'being  responsible 
for  the  subject  of  the  engraving  (fig.  41).  Nothing  improves  the  look 
of  a  lawn  so  much  as  to  have  it  kept  cut  and  well  swept,  and  in  the 
autumn,  when  no  cutting  is  being  done  and  leaves  are  falling,  sweeping 
is  still  more  important.  This  new  sweeping  machine  is  made  in  two 
sizes — one  for  hand  power,  as  shown  in  the  engraving,  for  gardens, 
which  can  be  worked  by  two  men  ;  and  one  for  horse  power,  suitable  for  ' 
parks  and  pleasure  grounds,  which  has  a  special  arrange¬ 
ment  for  delivering  the  leaves  and  rubbish.  The  action 
of  the  machine  is  as  follows  : — A  rotary  sweeper  fitted 
with  four  brushes  and  four  indiarubber  flappers  (the  full 
width  of  the  machine)  is  driven  by  chain  gearing  from 
rollers  behind.  The  brushes,  thus  revolving  rapidly,  and 
just  touching  the  grass,  sweep  everything  up  and  into  a 
receptacle  behind,  and  the  action  is  such  that  leaves, 
stones.  Fir  cones,  needles,  as  well  as  worm  heaps,  paper, 
and  other  rubbish  are  gathered  up. 
One  particular  feature  of  this  invention  is  that,  by  the 
introduction  of  rubber  flappers  round  the  front  edge  of  the 
machine  and  by  the  use  of  the  rubber  flappers  in  combina¬ 
tion  with  the  brushes,  a  current  of  air  is  created,  which 
greatly  assists  in  delivering  the  leaves  into  the  collecting 
box.  In  the  hand  machine  the  receptacle  for  the  leaves 
is  easily  removed  by  being  drawn  out  from  the  slides  which 
Tieep  it  in  position.  In  the  horse  power  machine  the 
collector  when  full  is  easily  tipped  up  by  the  hand  lever 
which,  at  the  same  time,  opens  the  lid  on  top  of  machine 
and  the  door  at  the  back,  and  deposits  the  contents  in  a 
heap  on  the  ground .  The  brushes  can  be  set  the  required 
height  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground  by  alteiiog 
the  position  of  the  front  wheel,  and  they  can  be  adjusted 
as  they  wear.  The  machine  is  well  balanced,  so  that  it 
can  easily  be  handled,  and  being  fitted  with  a  swivel  wheel 
in  frost  can  be  turned  in  the  shortest  possible  space. 
Messrs.  Ransomes,  Sims  ck  Jefferies  have  received  testi¬ 
monials  testifying  to  the  usefulness  and  adaptability  of  the 
machine  for  sweeping  purposes,  and  amongst  others  it  has 
been  highly  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Norman,  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of 
■Salisbury,  Hatfield,  and  Mr.  G.  Taylor,  gardener  to  Lord  De  Saumarez, 
Shrib  and  Park. 
ENGLISH  ARBORICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
The  above  Society  held  its  eleventh  annual  excursion  on  the  28th, 
■29th  and  30th  of  August,  the  district  chosen  being  Kelso  and  neigh¬ 
bourhood.  Rapid  progress  has  been  made  during  the  last  few  years 
both  in  membership  and  the  general  tone  and  status  of  the  Society  and 
the  high  class  papers  testifying  on  arboriculture,  which  the  last  trans¬ 
actions  fully  bear  out.  The  financial  affairs  are  also  well  managed,  and 
there  is  a  good  balance  in  hand.  The  members  of  the  Society  last  year 
visited  the  Dukeries,  a  most  profitable  excursion,  and  this  year  they  chose 
Scotland  ;  in  fact  in  the  future  there  is  no  district  where  arboriculture  is 
represented  where  they  do  not  intend  to  be  present.  They  have  also 
•empowered  local  secretaries  to  arrange  excursions  in  their  own  district. 
This  has  so  far  been  very  successful  and  encouraging  to  foresters  who 
may  find  the  long  distances  from  home  rather  expensive  ;  a  monthly 
journal  is  also  talked  about.  So  that  it  is  apparent  the  Council  of  the 
Society  are  determined  that  what  is  interesting  in  forestry  in  this 
country  shall  be  developed  and  brought  out. 
The  party  numbered  about  seventy,  one  section  coming  from  New¬ 
castle  and  the  other  from  Hexham  in  saloon  carriages.  Both  met  at 
Kelso  about  5  p.m.,  the  Cross  Keys  Hotel  being  the  headquarters  during 
the  Society’s  stay.  After  tea  on  Wednesday  the  party  was  invited  to 
inspect  Messrs.  Laing  &  Mather’s  nursery,  where  a  pleasant  hour  was 
spent  in  viewing  the  fine  collection  of  forest  trees  and  Carnations  for 
which  this  firm  is  noted.  After  that  the  business  meeting  of  the  year 
was  held,  the  financial  statement  passed,  the  papers  on  forestry  during 
the  year  announced,  and  awards  of  the  Judges  given.  The  President, 
J.  Maughan,  Esq.,  was  in  the  chair,  supported  b^y  the  following  Vice- 
Presidents  : — Messrs.  J.  Watt,  Wm.  Fell,  and  Bernard  Cowan,  F.R.H.S. ; 
the  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mr.  J.  Davidson,  Haydon  Bridge  ;  J.  Ross, 
Hexham  ;  J.  Brown,  Hexham  ;  Mr.  Watt,  jun.,  Carlisle  ;  Mr.  Herd, 
Penrith  ;  Mr.  Armstrong.  Newcastle  ;  Mr.  J.  M.  Smith,  South  Shields  ; 
Messrs.  Thomas  Vasey,  Jos.  Graham,  Dr.  Turnbull,  Chris.  March,  all  of 
the  same  place  ;  and  Dr.  Stewart,  Hexham. 
On  Thursday  morning,  after  an  early  breakfast,  the  party  entered 
carriages  punctually  at  9  A.M,,  to  commence  the  programme  of  the 
excursion.  After  an  hour’s  most  pleasant  drive  Mertoun  was  reached,  the 
seat  of  Lord  Polswarth,  who  is  a  relative  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  and  known 
on  the  borders  as  a  learned  agriculturist.  His  Lordship  met  the  party, 
and  along  with  his  head  gardener  ^Mr.  Fowler)  showed  them  every- 
thing  interesting  on  the  estate.  Five  of  the  first  Larches  ever  imported 
to  Scotland  were  pointed  out,  one  of  which  was  in  quarter  girth  3  feet 
2  inches  5  feet  from  the  ground,  and  its  height  65  feet.  There  was  also 
pointed  out  a  fine  Cedar  of  Lebanon,  sown  in  1800,  and  which  is  10  feet 
6  inches  in  girth.  On  the  home  farm  is  an  admirable  English  Elm, 
4  feet  6  inches  in  quarter  girth.  Limes,  Oaks,  and  Chestnuts  are  also 
typical  examples  of  forest  trees  ;  there  is  also  an  old  tree  called  the 
“  Gospel  Sycamore,”  under  which  old  Covenanters  met  200  years  ago. 
Near  to  the  gardens  is  a  fine  Ash,  60  feet  in  bole  j  and  a  curious  stone 
pigeon  dovecot,  dated  1576.  Fruit  trees  everywhere  were  laden,  and 
though  only  scanned,  it  was  apparent  they  were  ably  managed  by 
Mr.  Fowler.  The  shorthorn  cattle  were  then  visited,  of  which  his 
Lordship  possesses  a  most  superior  herd.  Then  the  order  for  the  carriat^es 
was  given,  and  the  fine  flock  of  Leicester  sheep  had  to  be  missed, 
Dryboeough  Abbey. 
pe  above,  which  is  the  burial  place  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  is  an 
enchanting  old  ruin,  and  deeply  interesting  to  visitors  and  admirers  of 
FIG.  41. — A  SWEEPING  MACHINE. 
the  great  author  and  poet.  The  dungeon  and  cloister  is  100  feet  square, 
and  is  completely  covered  with  Clematis  montana.  A  fine  Hemlock 
Spruce,  30  feet  (Pinus  Albertiana),  is  close  to  the  Abbots’  parlour,  and 
very  interesting  to  the  party  was  a  Staphylea  pinnata,  flourishing  and 
healthy. 
Abbotsford. 
This  is  well  known  as  the  residence  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  so  after 
leaving  his  burial  place  it  was  highly  interesting  and  appropriate  that 
his  home  should  be  visited.  The  drive  of  sixteen  miles  to  Abbotsford 
through  a  fine  country  undulating  and  most  remarkable  for  its  many 
views,  including  hill,  dale,  and  water,  with  the  scenery  ever  changing, 
was  much  appreciated.  It  is  not  remarkable  that  Sir  W.  Scott 
dearly  loved  his  native  hills  and  mountain  home  on  the  Tweed  at 
Bemerside  on  a  lofty  eminence.  When  the  great  author’s  funeral  took 
place  in  1832  it  is  said  that  the  horses  stopped  that  bore  his  body  at  the 
exact  spot  where  Sir  Walter  was  always  accustomed  to  stop  his  favourite 
cob  and  view  the  splendid  panorama  in  front,  which  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  see  is  a  most  glorious  view.  Ever  and  anon  the  eye  rested  on  the 
placid  river  Tweed  which  meanders  amongst  the  hills,  a  river  that  is 
dear  and  known  to  pisciculturists  all  the  world  over.  Abbotsford  is  most 
interesting,  as  all  the  relics  of  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  life  are  collected  there. 
The  oak  chair  he  used  in  the  library  and  the  oak  carving  were  objects 
of  much  interest,  but  perhaps  what  received  most  attention  was  a  fine 
oil  painting  of  Tom  Purdy,  Sir  W.  Scott’s  forester,  whom  he  honoured 
with  a  resting  place  in  Melrose  Abbey,  the  great  author  being  an 
enthusiastic  forester  himself.  The  party  again  resumed  the  journey, 
and  spent  a  pleasant  hour  or  so  visiting  Melrose  Abbey.  The  drive  for 
the  day  was  about  forty  miles,  and  the  air  most  exhilarating,  so  all 
returned  with  an  excellent  appetite  for  the  annual  dinner,  which  took 
place  at  7.30  p.m.  at  the  Cross  Keys  Hotel,  Kelso,  with  the  President 
in  the  chair.  Loyal  toasts  were  proposed,  and  the  President  afterwards 
gave  an  interesting  resume  of  his  visit  to  the  German  forests  along  with 
the  Scottish  Society,  which  proved  both  interesting  and  instructive. 
Springwell  Park. 
On  Friday  morning  a  start  was  made  at  nine  o’clock  for  the  above 
residence  of  Sir  George  Douglas,  Bart.,  where  the  party  was  met  by 
Mr.  W.  Chaplain,  the  gardener  and  bailiff.  A  fine  specimen  of 
Cupressus  Lawsoniana  lutea,  12  feet  high,  was  noticed,  only  planted 
eight  years  ago.  Cut-leaved  Beech,  the  variegated  Ash  (Fraxinua 
