October  17, 189V 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
373 
CORIOLANUS  (H.  Goldham).— Bybloemen.  Pure;  shape  good,  but 
petals  rather  pointed,  flamed  with  rich  dark  purple.  A  seedling  from 
Prince  x  Gipsey. 
Countess  of  Wilton  (Groom). — Rose.  Pure;  shape  fair;  much 
esteemed. forty  years  ago  as  a  flamed  flower,  but  not  now  grown. 
Countess  op  Burlington  (Hepworth). — Rose.  Dwarf ;  pure ;  a 
flamed  rose  much  like  Heroine  flamed  in  colour,  but  a  better  shape.  A 
poor  grower,  and  not  of  much  value. 
Coupe  d’Hebe  (Gibbons). — Bybloemen.  Pure;  feathered  with  rich 
dense  purple.  Not  grown  now. 
Criterion  (Gill). — Bizarre.  Pure,  shape  good  ;  is  a  striking  red- 
brown  breeder,  of  no  great  value  when  rectifled,  although  it  sometimes 
makes  a  passable  feathered  flower. 
Crown  Prince  ( - ).  —  Bizarre.  A  favourite  feathered 
variety  in  Lancashire  forty  years  ago,  but  now  obsolete. 
CURION  (Slater). — Bizarre.  Pure  ;  shape  good.  This  variety  was 
thought  highly  of  as  a  feathered  flower  thirty  years  ago,  but  is  not 
grown  now. 
Cygnet  ( - ). — White  self.  Shape  fair,  not  very  pure,  and 
being  a  weak  grower  the  flower  is  generally  rather  small. 
Cyril  (Schofleld). — Bizarre.  Shape  good,  base  pure  ;  a  very  steady 
red  flamed  bizarre,  but  does  not  open  well,  except  in  sunny  weather. 
Cyclops  (Clegg). — Bizarre.  A  favourite  red  flamed  bizarre  in 
Lancashire  forty  years  ago. 
Czar  (H.  Goldham) — Bizarre.  Flamed  with  brown  on  yellow 
ground.  A  seedling  from  Perfection  x  Strong’s  King. 
(To  be  continued.) 
FEATURES  OF  ABERPERGWM. 
Some  weeks  ago  there  appeared  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture  two  short  paragraphs  anent  the  success  of  Mr.  Chas.  Poster, 
gardener  to  M.  S.  Williams,  Esq,,  Aberpergwm,  Glyn  Neath,  with 
vegetables  at  shows  in  South  Wales,  one  of  the  prizes  taken  being  a  gold 
medal.  The  reading  of  these  caused  the  writer,  as  doubtless  did  it 
many  readers,  to  speculate  on  what  like  a  man  this  could  be,  and  how 
the  garden  looked  as  a  whole  whence  these  examples  came.  That  it 
was  something  out  of  the  common  was  immediately  concluded,  but  this 
did  not  satisfy,  and  eventually  the  railway  station  was  sought,  and 
shortly  afterwards  the  train  started,  not  by  any  means  quickly,  for 
Glyn  Neath. 
Twining  through  the  Vale  of  Neath  this  iron  road  brought  at  every 
few  yards  fresh  points  to  interest  the  traveller.  On  the  one  hand  might 
be  seen  high,  verdure-clad  hills,  while  on  the  other,  more,  still  higher, 
standing  out  against  the  sky,  formidable  in  all  their  massive  beauty. 
Surely  it  was  such  that  called  forth  the  words,  “  The  Cambrian  mountains 
stand,  Like  the  ramparts  of  the  land.”  Still  further,  and  passing  glimpses 
are  caught  of  coal  pits  from  which  the  “  black  diamonds  ”  are  rapidly  being 
brought.  Again,  winding  through  the  fertile  valley,  the  Neath  flows  on  its 
rapid,  and  at  times  turbulent,  course.  One  by  one  these  objects  pass  before 
as  a  beautiful  pastoral  panorama — such  an  one  as  Nature  alone  can  paint, 
so  far  is  it  beyond  the  most  cultured  works  of  man.  At  last,  arriving 
at  Glyn  Neath,  our  destination  is  practically  reached.  What  a  relief  to 
step  on  to  the  platform,  rendered  charmingly  rural  by  the  aid  of  flowers, 
to  stretch  the  cramped  limbs,  and  to  allow  the  cool  breeze  to  blow  the 
cobwebs  from  the  brain. 
Accosting  an  ofiScial  the  road  to  Aberpergwm  is  asked,  the 
information  being  given  with  ready  courtesy  and  in  such  a  direct 
manner  that  it  seems  impossible  to  mistake  the  route.  Such  proves 
to  be  the  case,  and  soon  the  drive,  through  what  is  apparently  an 
extensive  park,  is  found  leading  past  the  owner’s  residence  to  the 
walled-in  gardens.  Slowly  traversing  this  carriage  road  we  cannot  but 
notice  the  fine  trees  that  abound,  and  which  add  an  air  of  old  age  to  the 
estate. 
Some  Grand  Old  Trees. 
Speaking  of  trees  renders  mention  of  some  of  the  stately  specimens 
with  which  the  place  is  studded,  singularly  appropriate,  for  there  are 
many  staunch  monuments  of  bygone  ages,  whose  gnarled  trunks  and 
spreading  branches  have  borne  the  brunt  of  many  a  winter’s  storm.  Not 
that  all  have  come  through  the  ordeal  unscathed  ;  on  the  contrary, 
traces  of  damage  done  either  by  frosts  or  winds  are  here  and  there  in 
evidence.  A  notable  instance  of  this  may  be  cited  in  an  old  Mulberry 
tree  on  the  lawn,  which  was  blown  down  during  one  of  the  severe  storms 
that  have  visite'd  the  Vale  of  Neath.  But  though  stricken  in  such  a 
manner  its  vitality  was  little  impaired,  for  it  now  spreads  out  its 
branches  on  the  sward,  and  good  crops  of  fruit  are  produced  year  by 
year.  Well  may  it  be  said  that  thus  Nature  shows  her  strength  and 
asserts  her  wondrous  power.  Tall  and  stately  stands  a  Tulip  tree 
(Liriodendron  Tulipifera),  while  near  by  a  shapely  Lawson’s  Cypress 
sways  in  the  breeze.  The  frosts  of  last  winter  have  left  their  marks  on 
some  of  the  trees,  such  as  Cupressus  sempervirens  and  the  broad-leaved 
China  Fir,  Cunninghamia  sinensis,  of  both  of  which  there  are  such 
examples  as  would  be  ornaments  in  any  position,  and  cause  a  flutter  to 
pass  through  the  breast  of  the  arboriculturist. 
The  day  is  hot,  but  we  have  not  far  to  seek  for  shelter  from  the 
searching  glare  of  the  August  sun,  for  before  us  stands  an  ancient  Cedar, 
under  whose  extensive  branches  space  might  be  found  for  scores  of 
travellers.  However,  there  are  only  two,  both  intent  on  the  garden, 
so  despite  the  pleasant  coolness  to  be  had  the  wanderings  are  shortly 
recommenced.  Many  square  yards  of  ground  are  covered  by  great 
Spreading  Yews  and  the  unkind  branches  of  Araucaria  imbricata.  The 
specimens  of  Abies,  including  nobilis  and  canadensis  more  particularly, 
are  grand  indeed.  They  are  not  represented  by  one  or  two,  but  by 
large  numbers,  all  in  splendid  condition,  and  of  imposing  stature. 
Besides  these  there  are  Sootch  Firs,  Austrian  Pines,  Oaks,  and  many 
others,  some  large,  others  enormous,  but  all  good.  The  Arbutus,  seen 
often  as  a  shrub,  is  here  a  tree,  or  rather  trees,  for  there  are  scores  ;  but, 
alas  !  many  of  them  were  severely  dealt  with  last  winter,  and  do  not 
look  as  though  they  would  ever  regain  their  past  glories.  We  linger  yet 
within  the  shadow  of  the  trees  until  we  remember  that  the  more  time 
here  the  less  in  the  garden,  a  thought  that  lends  vigour  to  the  footsteps, 
and  the  embowered  gate  is  quickly  reached. 
Mr.  Foster,  always  at  his  post  of  duty  is  quickly  found,  and  we  are 
soon  enjoying  a  chat  on  gardening.  This  successful  grower  and  exhibitor 
is  a  comparatively  young  man  imbued  with  love  for  his  avocation,  com¬ 
prehending  that  it  is  a  noble  one,  and  determined  to  do  his  utmost  ta 
become  a  figure  in  the  midst  of  it.  Whether  his  praiseworthy  ambition 
will  be  achieved  remains  for  the  future  to  prove,  but  with  a  continua¬ 
tion  of  his  present  health  and  strength  it  can  scarcely  be  doubted  that 
success  will  crown  his  efforts.  Speaking  of  him  to  one  of  the  leading 
gardeners  of  England,  we  were  informed  in  an  emphatic  manner,  “  He 
is  bound  to  make  his  way  in  the  world  ;  ”  and  we  can  but  hope  that  the 
prophecy  of  a  man  who  has  grown  grey  in  gardens  will  be  fulfilled. 
Schooled  in  good  places,  learning  one  branch  of  the  craft  here  and 
another  there,  Mr.  Foster  has  a  long  life  before  him  and  a  wide  field 
for  the  development  of  his  talents,  and  no  plausible  reason  can  be 
adduced  against  his  ultimate  victory. 
What  of  the  garden  ?  readers  may  be  asking,  so  we  will  pass  from 
the  man  to  his  work.  There  is  no  modern  air  here  ;  the  great  Yew 
hedges,  the  scores  of  Cluster  Roses,  resplendent  in  all  their  summer 
glory,  the  old  fashioned  greenhouses,  the  thick  walls,  all  tend  to  show 
the  garden  has  been  established  for  many  generations  ;  but  the  methods 
of  cropping  are  right  up  to  date.  A  few  years  ago  weeds  and  young 
forest  trees  grew  apace  in  this  fine  old  garden,  but  each  of  these  has 
now  been  relegated  to  a  position  without  the  walls,  and  now  there  is  a 
pleasing  lack  of  either.  Though  both  may  be  good  in  their  places,  it  is 
difficult  to  find  where  weeds  are  beneficial,  unless  it  is  after  they  have 
gone  through  a  fiery  ordeal.  If  there  was  a  sparsity  of  spade  work 
prior  to  Mr.  Foster’s  advent,  there  has  not  been  since,  for  the  whole 
garden  has  been  worked  deeply  and  well,  with  the  result  that  splendid 
crops  of  any  kind  may  be  grown  with  certainty.  Thorough  soil  cultiva¬ 
tion  we  learned  was  one  of  the  mottoes  in  constant  use  here. 
Amongst  the  Vegetables. 
In  many  establishments  vegetables  are  accorded  a  secondary  position, 
but  here  it  is  different,  for  morning,  noon,  and  night  are  spent  amongst 
them,  seeking  their  requirements  and  supplying  everything  that  may 
improve  either  their  quality  or  appearance  or  both.  Under  such  condi¬ 
tions  nothing  but  of  the  best  could  be  expected,  and  the  results  must 
certainly  be  gratifying  both  to  the  grower  and  his  interested  employer. 
To  enumerate  all  the  crops  that  are  grown  would  serve  no  useful  pur¬ 
pose,  so  we  will  mention  those  only  that  are  above  the  average  in  merit. 
By  the  average  is  not  meant  that  of  gardens  in  general — everything  is 
above  that — but  the  average  as  laid  down  in  this  particular  spot.  By 
an  admirable  system  of  cropping  each  individual  plant  has  ample  room, 
while  not  an  inch  of  space  can  well  be  termed  wasted.  This  is  just  as 
it  ought  to  be,  and  very  high  credit  is  reflected  on  the  management 
thereby. 
Passing  now  to  the  crops  themselves  we  regard  a  row  of  Leeks  with 
admiration,  not  less  being  accorded  to  the  Carrots.  One  of  these  is  lifted 
from  the  ground,  and  we  behold  a  straight  clean  root,  large  without 
being  coarse,  and  such  as  would  be  certain  of  a  few  points  in  a  collec¬ 
tion  of  vegetables.  The  label  at  the  end  of  the  plot  says  Sutton’s  New 
Intermediate.  A  little  beyond  is  a  fine  bed  of  Parsnips,  that  is  to  say, 
if  tops  may  be  taken  as  a  criterion.  These  again  possess  those  desirable 
attributes  mentioned  in  the  case  of  the  Carrots,  and  the  same  may  well 
be  said  of  the  Beets.  Of  the  former  The  Student  is  relied  on,  and  of  the 
latter  Sutton’s  Blood  Red.  Other  vegetables  receive  their  meed  of 
attention  the  same  as  those  mentioned  ;  in  fact  all  are  tended  by  the 
gardener  himself,  his  assistants  having  abundance  of  other  work 
demanding  their  attention. 
Potatoes  are  very  extensively  grown,  and  as  digging  was  going  on  at 
the  time  of  the  visit  we  could  easily  see  how  well  the  vast  proportion  of 
the  roots  were  yielding.  The  tubers  were  not  particularly  large,  ranging 
chiefly  from  about  I  to  6  ozs.,  but  they  were  clean,  even,  and  with  a  few 
eyes.  Many  varieties  are  of  course  grown,  as  it  is  necessary  in 
exhibiting  that  a  selection  can  be  made,  and  of  these  Sutton’s  Satis¬ 
faction  and  Windsor  Castle  were  prominent  as  being  amongst  the  best. 
For  general  purposes,  besides  the  early  varieties,  a  large  breadth  of 
Magnum  Bonum,  from  which,  if  top  growth  is  anything  to  go  by, 
there  would  be  a  very  fine  crop.  Then  there  are  the  Onions.  Such 
splendid  bulbs,  not  perhaps  up  to  the  3-pounders  of  Mr.  Bowerman, 
but  still  sufficiently  good  to  command  admiration  and  insure  attention . 
The  finish  was  all  that  could  be  desired.  The  bulbs  were  as  hard  as 
rocks,  and  such  as  should  keep  well  for  an  almost  unlimited  space  of 
time.  For  showing  purposes  Ailsa  Craig  is  relied  on,  as  it  combines  a 
fine  solidity  with  almost  faultless  shape,  while  for  general  purposes 
Sutton’s  A1  is  the  mainstay  of  the  establishment.  Though  root  crops 
are  so  well  grown  they  are  in  no  respect  superior  to  the  green  vegetables 
in  quality  and  appearance.  The  Cabbages  are  grand  ;  the  Sprouts  look 
