November  28,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
517 
colon  red.  The  stand  comprised  Mrs.  Dr.  Ward,  Swanley  White, 
E.  Molvneux,  W.  H.  Lincoln,  Etoile  de  Lvon,  Florence  Davis,  Silver 
Kin?.  Niveus,  Viviand  Morel,  Duke  of  York,  Mdlle.  Thdreie  Rey, 
G.  C.  Schwabe,  Miss  M.  Blenkiron,  Mons.  Georges  Biron,  Primrose 
League,  President  Borel,  Beauty  of  Castlewood,  H.  L.  Sunderbruck,  E.  L, 
Jamieson,  International,  Vicomtesse  Hambledon,  Mons.  Panckoucke, 
G.  Childs,  and  Louise.  Mr.  J,  Kirkman,  gardener  to  J.  Stanning, 
E>q..  Leyland,  was  second  ;  and  Mr,  Townshend  third. 
For  thirty-six  miscellaneous  Mr.  Vaughan  was  placed  first — Viviand 
Morel,  Mme.  Octavie  Mirbeau,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Boule  d’Or,  Lord  Brooke, 
Jno.  Banyan,  Mrs.  Judge  Benedict,  and  John  Salter.  The  Earlswood 
Nursery  Co.  was  a  moderate  second;  Mr.  R.  Pinnington,  gardener  to 
Mrs.  Banner,  being  a  capital  third  ;  and  Mr.  T.  Hughes,  gardener  to 
Arthur  Cook,  Esq.,  fourth. 
The  staked  Chrysanthemum  plants  were  something  to  remeuiber,  a 
huge  bank  three  deep  running  the  entire  length  of  the  hall.  The 
majority  of  the  blooms  were  fully  up  to  exhibition  size,  well  coloured, 
with  dark  green  foliage  to  the  top  of  the  pots.  For  nine  large 
flowering  T.  Barker,  Esq.,  Bank  House,  Fallowfield,  was  placed  first,  a 
noticeable  plant  being  Mdlle.  Marie  Hoste.  G.  H.  Gaddum,  Esq., 
Adria  House,  Dldsbury,  a  capital  second.  Third,  J.  C.  Chorlton,  Esq., 
Didsbury  Priory.  For  six  Japanese  the  same  exhibitors  won  with 
excellent  plants.  For  six  Pompons — first,  J.  C.  Chorlton,  Esq.  ;  second, 
Jas.  Brown,  Esq.,  Heaton  Mersey  ;  third,  R.  Hardwick,  Esq.,  Woodheys 
Grange. 
The  trade  made  an  imposing  display.  Messrs.  Heath  &  Sons, 
Cheltenham,  staged  choice  Orchids ;  Mr.  J.  Cypher,  Cheltenham, 
beautiful  varieties  of  Dendrobium  Phalaenopsis  and  a  fine  plant  of 
Oypripedium  insigne  alba  magnifica,  and  many  other  choice  forms ; 
Messrs.  Clibran  &  Sons,  Altrincham,  new  and  old  Chrysanthemums  and 
a  display  of  miscellaneous  plants ;  Messrs.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley, 
new  Chrysanthemums,  also  bunches  of  their  noted  Zonal  Pelargoniums  ; 
Messrs.  Dickson  &  Robinson,  and  Dickson,  Brown,  &  Tait,  Cyclamens 
and  other  plants;  Jos.  Broome,  Esq,,  cut  flowers  grown  outdoors  at 
Llandudno ;  John  Shorland  Ball,  Esq.,  Bowdon,  choice  Orchids  ;  Mr. 
Boond,  Lvmm,  Cheshire,  cut  Chrysanthemums  ;  and  Mr.  Jno.  Watkins, 
Pomona  Farm,  Hereford,  had  a  table  of  fifty  dishes  of  splendid  Apples. 
To  all  the  above  certificates  were  granted. 
LUTTRELLSTOWN,  CLONSILLA,  Co.  DUBLIN.' 
This  fine  demesne,  better  known  as  Woodlands,  has  lately  had  its 
ancient  name  restored  to  it  by  its  noble  owner  Lord  Annaly,  whose 
ancestors  acquired  it  by  purchase  from  the  Luttrell  family.  In  a  descrip¬ 
tive  guide,  entitled  “  Rambles  near  Dublin,”  are  the  following  notes,  “  It 
is  believed  that  the  estate  was  granted  to  Sir  Geoffrey  Luttrell  in  the 
reign  of  King  John  .  .  .  Lord  Carhampton  was  the  last  of  the 
Luttrells  who  owned  it.”  The  account  concludes  by  saying  that  the 
name  of  Luttrellstown  was  changed  to  Woodlands  when  it  came  into 
the  hands  of  the  present  family,  in  whose  possession  it  has  now  been  for 
several  generations.  The  demesne  of  some  600  acres  is  situated  on  the 
northern  bank  of  the  Liffey,  to  which  river  it  contributes  a  feeder, 
dashing  down  through  the  Glen — a  picturesque  gorge,  which  is  one  of 
the  primary  features  of  the  place.  The  Castle,  many  turreted  and  much 
castellated,  bears  the  impress  of  antiquity  on  its  face,  although  one 
wing  only  dates  back  to  its  original  owners.  Yet  the  newer  portion  has 
been  so  happily  blended  with  the  old  as  to  form  a  whole,  from  one 
lofty  turret  of  which  the  red,  white,  and  blue  flutters  in  the  breeze, 
giving  an  ideal  of  the  feudally  romantic.  From  the  south  front  a 
commanding  view  is  obtained  of  the  long  sweep  of  the  Dublin 
mountains,  and  here,  at  the  foot  of  the  Castle,  an  intricate  geometrical 
design  of  flower  beds  is  outlined  in  Box.  This  owes  its  origin  to  the 
talented  hand  of  the  late  Lord  Otho  Fitzgerald,  who  also  left  a  memento 
of  his  artistic  skill  in  the  superbly  designed  organ  at  Carton  House,  the 
residence  of  the  Duke  of  Leinster. 
The  Glen,  which  contributes  so  much  of  beauty  and  interest  to 
Luttrellstown,  is  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  notice.  During  the 
summer  many  visitors  to  “  dear,  dirty  Dublin  ”  have,  by  the  courtesy 
of  the  present  occupier,  J.  G.  Nutting,  Esq.,  D.L.,  enjoyed  its  charms 
from  the  top  of  the  Dart  coach,  though  one  may  easily  imagine  the 
journey  down  the  steep,  tortuous  glen  being  a  trying  one  to  nervous 
passengers.  At  the  exit  by  "the  Grand  Lodge”  the  dark  silent  Liffey 
glides  smoothly  along,  the  mile  of  road  from  here  to  Lucan — parallel  to 
its  course — presenting  fine  natural  scenery. 
Returning  to  the  Castle,  between  that  and  the  gardens  proper,  a 
palatial  conservatory  of  iron  and  glass  contains  a  good  collection  of  Palms, 
of  such  dimensions  as  contribute  effectually  to  decoration  of  the  spacious 
apartments  when  so  required.  From  here  the  American  garden  is 
approached  with  winding  walks  and  wooded  banka  but  little  inferior  in 
natural  beauty  to  the  Glen,  Many  good  specimens  of  the  Pinus,  Picea, 
and  Abies  tribe,  from  30  to  50  feet  high,  flourish  in  the  sheltered 
situation. 
The  fine  road  from  the  Castle  to  the  Clonsilla  entrance  is,  for  part  of 
its  distance,  bordered  with  Limes,  not  set  so  far  back  at  the  original 
planting  as  is  consistent  with  the  now  more  fully  developed  effects. 
Thi'i  road  crosses  the  lake  by  «  oiibstantial  bridge.  Varieties  of  Canadian 
and  Sebastopol  geese  have  been  introduced  by  Lord  Annaly,  and  with 
the  native  wild  fowl  are  afforded  protection  from  master  lox  by  rafts 
moored  in  mid-stream.  Noticeable  in  the  well  timbered  parts  of  the 
demesne  are  fine  specimen  Beech,  such  Beech  as  are  only  (in  my 
experience)  to  be  found  on  the  limestone  which  here  abounds.  Such 
are  the  more  prominent  features  of  the  place  presided  over  by  Mr. 
Buggins,  who  is  manager  of  “  all  he  surveys,”  comprising  the  farm, 
forestry  and  garden  departments.  Needless  to  say  he  is  a  busy  man,  and 
in  the  farming  department  it  is  comforting  to  find  one,  at  least,  who  is 
able  to  answer  that  knotty  question  "  Does  farming  pay  1  ”  in  the 
affirmative.  Here,  whether  it  is  Potatoes,  Wheat,  Oats,  or  that  good  stuff 
for  the  hunter — first  crop  hay,  he  undoubtedly  takes  heavy  crops  of 
prime  produce  from  the  soil ;  but,  it  may  be  added,  he  is  generous 
minded  in  putting  the  wherewithal  into  it.  “Bought  a  dairy  yard 
to-dsy  in  Dublin  ”  means  that  so  many  boat-loads  of  rich  aliment  will 
be  transferred  via  canal  to  the  lands  of  Luttrellstown,  and  “  it  pays.” 
Coming  (by  a  roundabout  way)  to  the  garden,  there  are,  amongst 
many  others,  two  distinct  features  of  culture  here  carried  out  pre¬ 
eminent — viz..  Peaches  and  Tomatoes.  Of  the  latter  two  varieties  are 
grown,  Sutton’s  Perfection  and  Challenger,  and  during  a  recent  brief 
trip  to  Tomatoland — ’tother  side  o’  London — I  saw  no  such  prolific  yield, 
space  for  space  of  house  room,  as  were  grown  here.  Two  lean-to  Peach 
ranges,  each  210  feet  long  by  18  feet  wide,  have  given  such  results  as 
drew  down  encomiums  from  the  Irish  Press  on  the  head!(and  hand)  of 
the  cultivator.  At  present  the  houses  are  gay  with  700  Chrysanthemums 
grown  for  cut  (not  show)  bloom,  and  one  cannot  but  commend  the 
foreman  for  the  results  obtained  by  his  vigorous  disbudding.  Callas  are 
exceedingly  well  done.  Mr.  Buggins  believes  in  planting  out  single 
crowns  ;  of  the  1500  potted  into  6  and  7-inch  pots  a  wealth  of  'spathes  is 
now  in  evidence. 
The  vineries  comprise  a  range  the  same  length  as  the  Peach  houses, 
in  four  divisions,  planted  with  Muscats,  Hamburghs,  Gros  Colman, 
Alicantes,  and  Lady  Downe’s.  The  bulk  of  the  late  varieties  are  still 
hanging — good  useful  bunches  with,  perhaps,  not  quite  so  much  colour 
as  is  usually  obtained  here.  In  a  sunny  nook  facing  this  range  is  the 
head  gardener’s  house,  framed  in  front  by  a  low  Laurel  hedge,  a  picture 
of  neatness  and  brightness  without,  the  same  within,  with  hospitality 
to  boot.  Oar  friend  is  up  to  date,  for  that  edition  de  luxe  of  fruit  litera¬ 
ture — the  “Fruit  Grower’s  Guide” — cannot  escape  notice,  and  outside 
his  men  were  to  be  seen  delving  at  the  roots  of  Pears  and  Apples.  Good 
fruit  of  these  are  to  be  seen  in  the  store  house,  M6re  de  Manage  being 
especially  conspicuous  in  its  quantity,  quality,  and  high  colour. 
Vegetables  are  principally  grown  under  field  culture,  to  which 
some  6  acres  is  devoted.  A  good  breadth  of  Strawberries  of  the  leading 
kinds  is  grown  under  similar  conditions,  and  the  moist  lime-impregnated 
soil  suits  them  admirably.  Busiest  of  the  busy  is  he  who  carries  out  the 
triple  alliance  of  duties  (previously  mentioned).  Happiest  of  the  happy, 
I  would  add,  but  that  may  not  obtain  until  "  the  rabbits  cease  from 
nibbling.  .  K.,  DuMin. 
OUTDOOR  PEACHES. 
At  the  fortnightly  meeting  of  the  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Association  on  the  ISthinst.,  Mr.  A.  Young,  head  gardener 
at  Abberley  Hall,  Stourport,  read  a  most  instructive  and  practical  essay 
on  the  "Culture  of  the  Peach  on  Outside  Walls,”  and  it  was  considered 
to  be  one  of  the  best  papers  on  fruit  culture  yet  rendered  at  the  Society’s 
meetings.  One  of  the  members  remarked  that  Mr.  Young’s  teachings 
were  borne  out  by  the  splendid  crop  of  fruit  he  had  the  privilege  of 
beholding  about  two  months  since  on  the  100  yards  of  Peach  wall  at 
Abberley  Hall,  and  worth  a  long  journey  alone  to  witness. 
Replying  to  the  inquiry  regarding  the  immunity  of  the  cracking  of 
the  Peach  stone  at  Abberley,  the  essayist  was  strongly  inclined  to 
attribute  it  to  the  large  per-centage  of  lime  contained  in  the  heavy  soil 
there,  and  which  it  would  be  folly  to  dig  over  in  the  autumn  instead  of 
in  the  spring.  Owing  to  its  retention  of  moisture  thorough  drainage  of 
the  borders  is  a  great  assistant  at  Abberley  towards  success. 
It  was  Mr.  Young’s  aim  to  disprove  the  almost  invariable  excuse  that 
the  decadence  in  this  country  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  of 
the  successful  culture  of  the  Peach  and  Nectarine  was  attributable  to  a 
change  of  climate.  So  far  as  the  open  air  culture  is  concerned,  allowing, 
cf  course,  for  suitable  sites  and  soil,  most  satisfactory  results  may 
obtained,  and  as  evidence  of  the  value  of  the  crop  of  Peaches  secured  at 
Abberley  this  autumn,  fruits  realised  in  Covent  Garden  Market  18s.  per 
dozen,  which  the  essayist  deemed  a  good  and  paying  return.  Out  of  the 
several  varieties  Wal  burton  Admirable  took  the  lead ;  whilst  for  the 
newer  variety  Dymond  he  predicts  a  prominent  future.  In  the  dis¬ 
cussion  that  was  provoked  by  the  essayist’s  remarks,  there  was  a  concensus 
of  opinion  that  at  least  within  a  four  or  five  miles  area  of  the  smoky 
district  of  Birmingham  only  unsatisfactory  results  could  be  obtained, 
unless — apart  from  the  protectiveness  of  glass  structures— extraordinary 
means  were  adopted. 
As  a  general  insecticide  one  of  the  least  expensive  and  efficacious, 
petroleum  and  water  with  a  little  common  washing  soda,  was  recom¬ 
mended,  and  if  only  for  the  black  or  green  aphides  a  decoction  of 
quassia  chips  and  softsoap  could  not  well  be  surpassed  in  Mr.  Young’s 
estimation.  Adverting  to  that  disastrous  malady  the  Peach-leaf  blister, 
one  of  the  members  opined  that  the  prevalent  notion  that  it  was  caused 
by  a  species  of  fungus  was  erroneous,  but  it  was  rather  the  consequence 
of  the  rupture  of  the  vessels  of  the  foliage,  and  that  theextravasated  sap 
afforded  a  suitable  medium  for  the  generation  of  the  fungus  spores. 
In  acknowledging  the  vote  of  thanks  at  the  close  of  the  proceedings, 
Mr.  Young  intimated  that  it  would  be  a  great  pleasure  to  him  to  receive 
a  body  of  the  members  at  Witley  Court,  the  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Dudley, 
to  whom  he  has  been  appointed  head  gardener,  and  is  to  enter  upon  his 
duties  at  Christmastide. 
