422 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  1,  1898. 
details  in  routine,  including  ventilation,  and  the  treatment  seems  to  have 
answered  very  well. — Thomas  Lunt. 
We  think  so  too,  for  if  we  mistake  not  Mr.  Lunt  took  the  first,  prize 
for  four  bunches  in  two  varieties  at  Stirling,  also  first  for  Messrs. 
Thomson  and  Son’s  prizes  for  four  hunches,  as  well  as  first  for  two 
bunches  of  black  Grapes  and  first  for  “bloom.”  At  Glasgow  he  was 
first  with  four  bunches  distinct,  first  for  two  Muscats  and  first  for 
“  bloom.”  Besides  being  first  with  six  bunches  at  Edinburgh  he  was 
second  with  four  bunches,  winning  also  three  other  first  prizes— 
namely,  for  two  Muscats,  one  Muscat  and  Muscat  for  flavour.  Clearly 
the  Iveir  Grapes  must  have  possessed  high  quality,  and  we  are 
satisfied  with  the  results  of  our  anticipation. 
As  will  have  been  seen,  Mr.  Lunt  has  taken  high  honours  in  some 
of  the  best  Chrysanthemum  competitions  recently,  as  he  did  in  the 
summer  with  specimen  stove  and  greenhouse  plants.  Keir  demands  a 
good  gardener.  Judging  by  his  work  Mr.  Thomas  Lunt  must  certainly 
rank  among  the  best  all-round  cultivators  in  Britain,  and  we  have 
reason  to  believe  that  his  services  are  appreciated  by  the  master  of 
the  beautiful  domain,  Archibald  Stirling,  Esq.,  and  of  the  mistress  of 
the  house,  Lady  Susan  Le-lie-Melville. 
HOUSE  DECORATIONS. 
( Concluded  from  page  392.) 
The  large  dining  room  adjoined  ihe  saloon.  The  walls  were  of 
oak,  the  carpets  of  crimson,  and  there  were  uo  pictures  of  any 
description  ;  hut  the  massive  sideboard  glistened  with  gold  and  silver 
flagons,  beakers,  and  tankards.  On  each  side  of  the  fireplace  in  pale 
blue  enamelled  vases  on  pedestals  stood  Phoenix  reclinata,  or  noble 
Bamboos,  and  immediately  facing  them  were  two  gigantic  Nubian 
figures  crowned  with  Pandanus  Veitchi,  Dracaena  norwoodensis, 
D.  terminalis,  or  D.  Lindeni.  In  the  spacious  bay  window  a  large 
Kentia  or  Euterpe  edulis  found  a  place.  Flanking  this,  on  marble- 
topped  pedestals  in  front  of  mirrors,  green  painted  tins  held  four  or 
six  small  flowering  plants.  The  whole  surface  of  the  pedestal  was 
covered  with  fresh  Solatrinella  denticulata.  Zonal  Pelargoniums, 
Bambusa  Fortunei,  Eulalia  japonica  variegata,  E.  japonica  zebrina, 
Cyperus  alternifolius  variegatus,  or  C.  natalensis  would  be  appropriate 
during  the  autumn,  with  berried  Solanums,  Ardisia  crenulata,  or 
Itivina  luimilis  for  later  periods.  No  elaborate  table  decoration  was 
practised,  a  good  flowering  plant  being  preferred  for  the  dinner  table 
centre  with  four  or  six  small  glasses  of  bright  flowers,  such  as  Zonal 
or  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums,  Ghent  Azaleas,  old  gold,  terra  cotta,  or 
rich  bronze  Chrysanthemums. 
The  long  drawing  room  had  the  greatest  display  of  floral  beauty. 
It  may  be  described  in  three  divisions,  formed  by  heavy  rich  velvet 
hangings  trimmed  with  lace.  The  bay  window  at  the  southern  end 
formed  an  alcove,  the  middle  window  having  a  large  enamelled 
earthenware  swan,  in  the  hollow  back  of  which  were  two  or  three  tall 
Acalyphas  during  the  warm  weather.  In  winter  large  yellow  Genistas 
took  their  place.  On  a  pedestal  of  pale  blue  enamelled  earthenware 
stood  a  shell-shaped  vase  of  the  same  shade,  holding  in  warm  weather 
a  bright  red  Coleus  with  yellow  margin  (this  was  the  only  variety  of 
Coleus  tolerated),  while  on  the  central  table  was  an  enamelled  earthen¬ 
ware  vase  containing,  according  to  the  time  of  year,  Lilium  speciosum 
rubrum  or  Kraetzeri,  Pancratium  fragrans,  lxoras,  or  well  flowered 
Oleanders. 
The  next  division  was  the  red  drawing  room,  so  named  from  the 
colour  of  the  carpets  and  hangings.  Family  portraits  occupied  the 
walls,  and  the  lounge  chairs  and  settees  were  of  ivory  white  upholstered 
in  Indian  cretonne.  At  each  end  of  the  room  flankmg  the  doorway 
were  Nubian  figures,  10  feet  high,  having  a  receptacle  on  their  heads 
spacious  enough  for  a  10  or  12-inch  pot.  A  pair  of  noble  Ferns 
usua'ly  occupied  them,  such  as  Microlepia  hirta  cristata,  Nephrolepis 
davalliodes  furcans,  Davallia  Mooreana,  D.  retusa  or  Gymnogramma 
chrysophylla,  with  occasionally  bright  Caladiums.  These  figures  had 
in  each  hand  a  platter  to  hold  a  small  plant  or  a  vase  of  flowers.  A 
large  Palm  stood  at  one  end  of  the  room,  and  on  small  tables  graceful 
specimens  2£  to  3  feet  of  Cocos  Weddeliana  andThrinax  elegans  were 
placed.  Let  into  the  corners  were  narrow  mirrors,  flowering  plants 
above  the  couches  standing  in  front  on  a  shelf.  Justioia  carnea  or 
Celosias,  and  in  winter  Poinsettias,  with  four  or  five  bracts,  were 
popular.  This  room  was  lighted  by  two  lofty  windows  reaching  from 
floor  to  ceiling,  and  a  glass  door.  In  one  of  the  windows  was  a 
marqueterie  circular  plant  stand,  with  a  moveable  zinc  receptacle  in 
which  bright  leaved  Dracamas,  Caladiums,  Diffenbachia  Bausei, 
Abutilon  Sellovianum  marmoratum,  A.  Darwini  tessallatum,  or  Zonal 
Pelargoniums  were  accommodated  during  the  late  summer  and 
autumn.  A  round  table  with  a  crimson  velvet  cover  stood  imme¬ 
diately  in  front  of  this.  Nearest  the  window  on  a  plinth  to  elevate  it 
was  a  tall  earthenware  vase,  arranged  with  double  Hollyhocks,  either 
pure  white  or  red,  and  sometimes  Tritomas.  A  similar  vase  was  on 
each  side  arranged  with  pure  coloured  Phloxes,  Cactus  Dahlias,  long 
stems  of  Bocconia  cordata,  or  Monthretias.  On  the  crimson  covered 
table  wore  china  bowls  of  Hybrid  Perpetual  Hoses,  Carnations  Baby 
Castle  dr  Duchess  of  Fife,  Sweet  Peas  or  Mignonette,  with  two  glasses 
of  Sweet  PeaS  and  a  glass  plateaux,  as  large  as  a  dinner  plate,  of 
Stephanotis.  On  a  small  table  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  on  an  ormulu 
stand,  was  a  tall  porcelain  vase  arranged  in  autumn  and  late  summer 
with  L  hums,  surrounded  by  four  glass  plateaux  of  pink  Carnations. 
In  winter  the  tall  vase  was  filled  with  Chrysanthemums,  and  the  glass 
plateaux  with  Violets.  On  a  4  feet  high  cabinet  stood  a  wide  bowl  of 
white  Sweet  Peas,  and  two  glasses  of  either  Sweet  Peas,  Cactus 
Dahlias,  Allamandas,  or  Plumbago  capensis.  The  mantlepiece  had  on 
each  side  of  ihe  mirror  a  tall  vase  of  Gladiolus,  Monthretias,  or 
Coreopsis,  and  two  smaller  vases  of  Hydrangea  paniculata, 
Habrothainnus  elegans,  Clerodendrou  Balfourianum,  or  Ceanothus 
Gloire  de  Versailles.  A  side  cabinet  was  adorned  with  a  bowl  and  two 
glasses  of  Sweet  Peas  on  antique  carved  rosewood  pedestals.  On  each 
side  of  the  fireplace  stood  bowls  of  Sweet  Peas,  with  the  long  growths 
as  streamers  hanging  down.  A  mother  of  pearl  buffet  adjacent  to  the 
fireplace  had  a  glass  dish  of  Stephanotis  or  Lapagerias,  while  a  writing 
table  at  one  end  of  the  room  held  two  trumpet  vases  of  either  Liliums, 
Shirley  Poppies,  Clarkias  or  German  Scabious. 
Leaving  this  room  we  entered  the  blue  drawing  room,  the  walls  of 
which  were  covered  with  blue  satin,  having  black  longitudinal  stripes. 
No  pictures  adorned  the  walls.  The  carpets  were  blue,  and  the 
upholstery  was  in  blue  or  drab  satin  and  plush.  The  mantleshelf  had 
an  arrangement  of  shelves  in  front  of  a  mirror  filled  with  oriental 
china.  Each  corner  of  this  square  room  had  four  shelves  in  front  of 
mirrors,  on  which  were  white  vases  occupied  by  Panicum  variegatuin. 
or  for  a  change  Selaginella  coesia  was  utilised.  Very  little  red  was 
allowed  in  this  room,  and  no  purely  gre9n-leaved  plants.  The 
marqueterie  window  stand,  and  an  embossed  copper  stand  against  the 
fireplace,  were  frequently  arranged  with  such  white  foliage  plants  as 
Aralia  monstrosa,  or  Phrynium  variegatuin  and  Torenia  Fourneri, 
white  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  or  Heliotrope  in  the  warm  weather,  with 
Acacias,  Genistas,  Mignonette,  Coronilla  glauca,  and  Polygala 
Dalmaisiana  in  winter.  On  the  top  of  the  open  Broadwood  piano  a 
Campanula  pyramidalis,  a  large  Pancratium,  or  a  standard  Brugmansia 
Knighti  stood  in  a  porcelain  vase.  On  the  floor  in  front  of  the 
piano  was  another  large  vase  containing  a  flowering  plant.  On  a 
table  stood  a  trumpet  glass  with  German  Scabious  or  Eucharis,  and  a 
glass  dish  of  Allamandas  with  shoots  of  Cissus  discolor.  Four  bowls 
of  Sweet  Peas  in  mixture  with  streamers  stood  on  rosewood  pedestals 
against  the  wall  on  each  side  of  the  mantlepiece.  On  the  ledge  of  the 
dado  near  two  of  the  writing  tables,  as  well  as  on  the  tables,  were  eight 
or  ten  small  glasses  holding  white  Cactus  Dahlias,  purple  Asters, 
blue  Cornflowers,  yellow  Corn  Marigolds,  or  panicles  of  Francoa 
ramosa,  vStatice  lati folia,  Iceland  Poppies,  Cattleyas,  Oncidinms,  or 
Odontoglossums.  All  flowers  were  cut  with  the  full  length  of  stem, 
and  arranged  only  one  species  or  variety  in  a  gla«s  ;  no  Maidenhair 
Fern  or  Asparagus,  or  other  foreign  greenery,  was  allowed. 
It  may  be  worth  mentioning  that  the  following  plants  were 
excluded  from  the  rooms,  as  lacking  either  beauty  of  form,  or  purity, 
or  brilliance  of  colour: — Crotons,  Fuchsias,  Gloxinias,  nearly  all 
varieties  of  Coleus,  fine-leaved  Aralias  as  Veitchi  and  elegantissima, 
Bouvardias,  and  Camellias.  I  have  given  mostly  a  detail  of  such 
plants  and  flowers  as  were  available  from  the  end  of  July  to  the 
middle  of  October.  To  mention  the  remainder  of  the  season  extending 
to  the  end  of  January  would  occupy  valuable  space,  and  serve  no 
useful  purpose. — F.  Street. 
APPLE  GREY  LEADINGTON. 
I  AM  sending  with  this  note  a  sample  of  what  I  consider  a  very  excel¬ 
lent  culinary  Apple  which  appears,  from  the  infrequency  of  any  remarks 
about  it,  to  be  very  little  known.  Some  live  years  ago  I  sent  you  a 
couple  of  fruits  from  the  same  tree  which  you  named  for  me.  The 
specimens  sent  are  part  of  35  stone  gathered  this  season  from  a  tree 
growing  in  our  school-yard.  The  tree  is  about  25  feet  high,  and  in 
perfect  health.  Its  origin  is  not  known  by  any  of  the  villagers,  and  it 
is,  as  far  as  I  can  find  out,  the  only  one  of  its  kind  to  be  found  in  this 
district.  It  only  bears  on  alternate  years,  but  carries  a  heavy  load  then. 
Quite  two-thirds  of  the  Apples  are  as  good  as  the  sample  sent. 
The  shape  is  a  desirable  one,  as  there  is  little  or  no  waste  in  peeling. 
It  is  different  in  this  respect  from  the  generality  ot  Apples  picked 
from  old  orchards,  and  it  has  a  reputation  among  the  people  of  being 
an  excellent  keeper.  It  is,  I  believe,  a  midseason  variety,  and  is  now  at 
its  best.  If  you  try  the  fruits  cooked  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me 
that  it  compares  very  favourably  with  the  newer  varieties  of  culinary 
Apples  now  in  commerce  ;  indeed,  we  in  the  humbler  walks  of  life  enjoy 
it  as  a  dessert  fruit. 
The  schoolyard  was  at  one  time  a  garden,  but  for  the  past  twenty  years 
at  Ipast  it  has  been  used  as  a  playground,  and  has  the  usual  hard-gravelled 
surface  of  such  grounds  in  rural  districts.  The  soil  of  this  district  is,  for 
the  most  part,  a  stiff  clay  (one  year  in  four  bare  fallow  is  the  rule  among 
