December  12, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
555 
Cox’s  Pomona,  Eymer,  Nelson’s  Glory,  Prince  Albert,  Claygate  Pear- 
main,  Cellini,  and  Kerry  Pippin  were  striking  examples  of  varieties 
suitable  for  the  locality.  In  this  department  Mr.  Easter,  the  gardener, 
has  been  carrying  out  a  series  of  useful  experiments  by  the  application 
of  sulphate  of  iron,  wood  ashes,  and  soot.  Some  duplicate  varieties 
treated  showed  marked  improvement  over  those  left  untreated,  both  in 
colour,  clearness  of  skin,  and  size.  At  some  future  time  we  hope 
Mr.  Easter  will  give  the  details  and  results  of  the  experiments  carried 
out  by  him,  which  will  no  doubt  be  interesting  and  useful. 
We  next  visited  the  old-time  flower  garden  and  rosery  combined, 
where  flowers  and  plants  remarkable  for  scent  are  as  much  appreciated, 
or  more  so,  than  those  conspicuous  only  for  their  colour.  This  remark 
may  also  well  apply  all  the  way  throughout  the  gardens.  Giant 
Myosotis,  Heliotrope,  scented  Pelargoniums,  of  which  latter  nearly  every 
known  variety  finds  a  place.  An  extraordinary  feature  of  this  garden 
are  the  monster  Weeping  Ashes,  one  at  each  end,  which  can  scarcely  be 
surpassed  in  size  and  beauty  of  outline.  A  fine  Tilia  lacinata  is  also 
conspicuous,  and  a  noble  specimen  30  feet  high  of  Salisburia  (Maiden¬ 
hair  Tree).  On  our  way  to  the  west  front  of  the  mansion  we  pass  many 
magnificent  Larches,  Sycamores,  Oaks,  English  Elms,  and  Limes,  all 
traditions.  On  our  return  by  another  route  round  the  lower  lake, 
another  fine  sheet  of  water,  we  noticed  the  undergrowth  of  the  woods 
was  planted  with  acre  after  acre  of  Rhododendron  ponticum,  but  liberally 
interspersed  with  hybrids  and  named  varieties.  As  the  top  growth  of 
trees  is  not  dense  enough  to  exclude  the  sunlight  the  result  is  an  abundant 
set  of  bloom  buds  to  be  followed  by  a  gorgeous  mass  of  colouring  rarely 
met  with. 
Thus  a  pleasant  afternoon  of  three  and  a  half  hours  was  spent  and 
thoroughly  enjoyed  in  the  genial  companionship  of  Mr.  Easter,  the 
courteous  gardener,  who  we  may  fairly  congratulate  on  the  condition  of 
every  department  under  his  care,  alike  creditable  for  health,  cleanliness 
and  good  cultivation. — Azoto. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Dbill  Hall,  December  10th. 
The  last  meeting  for  the  year  1895  of  this  Society  was  held  on  the 
above  date  and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  was  not  a  very  large  one 
so  far  as  exhibits  were  concerned,  though  the  attendance  of  members 
Fig.  85.— a  corner  IN  NOSTELL  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
equally  luxuriant,  towering  up  100  feet  in  height,  and  of  equal  dimensions 
in  other  respects. 
Coming  out  on  to  the  open  lawn  we  are  again  struck  with  the 
dignified  and  reposeful  simplicity  of  the  treatment  and  planting  of  the 
front  of  the  mansion,  an  extensive  but  somewhat  undulating  lawn  planted 
not  too  thickly  with  specimen  trees  typical  of  what  lawn  trees  should  always 
be.  A  magnificent  Turkey  Oak,  its  wide-spreading  branches  kissing  the 
ground  all  round  ;  two  splendid  Yews,  their  bottom  branches  trailing 
gracefully  along  the  grass  for  yards,  and  Cedars  of  Lebanon  standing 
out  distinct  in  form  and  colouring  from  the  softer  green  of  the  turf,  all 
without  a  shadow  of  stiffness,  in  fact,  are  part  and  parcel  of  a  perfect 
picture.  The  view  from  the  lawn  embraces  the  beautiful  bridge  of  many 
arches  over  the  lake  and  the  dense  woods  beyond  lighted  up  with  the 
reflection  of  the  wide  expanse  of  the  upper  lake,  whilst  immediately 
before  us  we  look  across  the  water  to  the  woods  where  is  ensconced  the 
secluded  menagerie  gardens  and  tea  house,  of  which  the  accompanying 
picture  (flg.  85)  gives  a  pretty  view. 
To  reach  this  beautiful  nook  in  the  woods  we  have  to  skirt  the  margin 
of  the  lake  fora  considerable  distance,  and  then  through  a  woodland  walk 
teeming  with  interest — every  few  yards  coming  suddenly  on  some  rare 
specimen  tree  or  shrub — a  sure  indication  of  the  care  and  pride  bestowed 
on  the  place.  Much  credit  is  due  for  this  to  the  Dowager  Lady  St. 
Oswald,  whose  pride  and  interest  during  her  reign  here  were  continually 
prompting  her  to  improve  and  develop  its  natural  beauties  and  to  make 
it  a  home  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word  worthy  of  the  family  and  its 
was  exceptionally  large.  Orchids  were  admirably  staged,  and  for  the 
time  of  the  year  were  very  numerous,  several  awards  being  made  by  the 
Committee.  Before  the  Floral  Committee  exhibits  were  very  limited, 
though,  as  a  rule,  the  quality  was  commendably  high.  Fruits  and 
vegetables  were  also  well  staged,  though  in  limited  quantities.  As  is 
customary  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  year  votes  of  thanks  to  the 
respective  chairmen  of  the  committees  were  heartily  accorded. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair),  with 
Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Dr.  Hogg,  and  Messrs.  T.  J.  Saltmarsh,  P.  C.  M.  Veitch, 
H.  J.  Pearson,  G.  W.  Cummins,  J.  Cheal,  A.  H.  Pearson,  A.  Dean,  C.  Herrin, 
J.  Willard,  C.  Ross,  W.  Bates,  W.  Pope,  G.  H.  Sage,  G.  Wythes, 
J.  Hudson,  F.  Q.  Lane,  H.  Balderson,  G.  Reynolds,  J.  Smith,  G.  Norman, 
J.  A.  Laing,  and  J.  Wright. 
As  will  be  observed  the  attendance  was  large,  as  is  usual  at  the  last 
meeting  of  the  year  ;  also  as  is  usual  at  this  season  the  exhibits  were 
the  reverse  of  numerous .  The  collections  in  the  body  of  the  hall  were 
flrst  inspected,  the  members  returning  to  the  table  for  the  examination 
of  individual  dishes,  the  passing  of  a  resolution  of  an  historic  character, 
and  generally  terminating  the  proceedings  of  the  year. 
Mr.  J.  Miller,  Ruxley  Lodge,  Esher,  sent  a  collection  of  Apples  and 
Pears,  but  several  were  regarded  by  the  Committee  as  incorrectly  named 
(vote  of  thanks). 
Mr.  W.  Pope  sent  from  Highclere  Gardens  a  magniflcent  collection 
of  Onions,  comprising  thirty  dishes  in  as  many  so-called  varieties.  No 
