June  J8,  1806. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
563 
-  London’s  Open  Spaces. — These  continue  to  receive  the 
attention  of  the  Executive  of  the  Metropolitan  Gardens  Association. 
At  the  monthly  meeting,  held  the  other  day,  the  Secretary  reported  that 
the  laying  out  having  been  completed  of  the  Friends’  Burial  Ground,  Long 
Lane,  S.E.  ;  the  Riverside  Recreation  Ground,  Vicarage  Road,  Batter¬ 
sea  ;  and  St.  John’s  Churchyard,  Clerkenwell,  these  grounds  had  during 
the  month  been  opened  to  the  public  by  the  Association,  in  conjunction 
with  the  local  authorities,  in  whose  care  they  had  been  placed  for 
maintenance.  He  also  stated  that  the  London  County  Council  had 
opened  the  Hilly  Fields,  S.E.,  a  space  of  45  acres,  which  had  been 
acquired  by  the  Council  through  the  efforts  of  a  joint  Committee  of 
Association  and  some  other  societies. 
-  Peas  and  Turnips  at  Chiswick.  —  Several  varieties  of 
early  Peas  were  inspected  at  Chiswick  on  Monday  last.  In  consequence 
of  the  extreme  heat  and  drought  the  dwarf  varieties  had  not  made 
sufficient  growth  to  develop  their  qualities.  Among  the  more  promising 
of  low  growth  were  Sutton’s  May  Queen  and  seedling  Marrowfat.  The 
best  of  the  3-feet  high  Peas  eligible  for  honours  was  Sutton’s  Bountiful, 
with  well-filled  pods  in  great  abundance,  and  three  marks  of  merit  were 
recorded.  Some  other  varieties  of  promise  were  sent  in  too  limited 
quantities  for  fair  comparison  with  others,  and  were  passed  accordingly. 
Three  marks  were  registered  for  Vilmorin’s  Half  LoDg  White  Forcing 
Turnip — an  early  variety,  with  blunt  Carrot-shaped  “  roots  ”  of  the  first 
quality  ;  also  for  the  Early  White  and  Early  Purple  Milan. 
— —  A  Handy  Book  for  Travellers  — A  capital  little  brochure 
entitled  a  '*  Tourists’  Guide  to  the  Continent,”  published  under  the 
authority  of  the  Great  Eastern  Railway,  and  edited  by  that  excellent 
authority  on  matters  relating  to  travel,  Mr.  Percy  Lindley,  has  just 
reached  us.  It  is  the  seventeenth  annual  issue,  and  is  a  decided  improve¬ 
ment  on  its  predecessors.  The  editor’s  hope  that  the  series  of  maps  may 
be  “found  worth  the  money”  can  be  taken  as  realised,  for  they  are 
of  great  value  and  assistance.  The  chapter  on  “  Dull  Useful  Informa¬ 
tion  ”  is  excellent,  for  it  furnishes  ofttimes  uninteresting  details 
regarding  ways  and  means  in  a  light  and  readable  manner.  There 
are  particulars  of  tours  in  Belgium,  Holland,  Germany,  and  Switzer¬ 
land,  and  also  suggestions  for  cyclists  on  the  Continent.  The  print¬ 
ing,  paper,  and  illustrations  are  all  good,  and  the  price  Cd.  for  a  book 
containing  160  packed  pages  is  remarkably  low.  It  may  be  procured 
from  the  publisher,  30,  Fleet  Street,  E.C.,  or  at  the  Continental 
Department,  Liverpool  Street  Station. 
-  A  Notable  Tree — The  Rev.  David  R.  Williamson  writes  : — 
“During  my  recent  holiday  I  visited,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
Constable,  factor  on  the  Traquair  estates,  the  ancient  house  or  palace  of 
Tiaquair,  once  inhabited  during  their  hunting  expeditions  by  the  kings 
of  Scotland,  such  as  David  I.  and  William  the  Lion,  and  which  dates 
back  to  the  year  1088.  There  I  was  shown  by  Mr.  Constable,  who  is 
greatly  interested  in  arboriculture,  a  venerable  and  truly  magnificent 
tree,  manifestly  a  rare  species  of  the  Silver  Fir,  at  leaBt  70  feet  in  height, 
17  feet  in  circumference,  and  600  years  old.  Its  vast  boughs  seem  so 
many  memories  of  the  ages,  and  at  its  feet  the  silent  spirits  of  the 
centuries  repose.  The  surrounding  scenery  is  exceedingly  beautiful, 
reminding  me  instinctively  of  the  finer  parts  of  Perthshire.  It  has  been 
made  intensely  classical  by  the  old  ballads  of  Scotland,  but  especially 
by  the  late  Principal  Shairp’s  deeply  touching  poem,  one  of  the  grandest 
in  our  literature,  on  the  ‘  Bush  Aboon  Traquair,’  which  embodies  all 
the  romance  and  all  the  pathos  cf  life. 
-  Fruit  from  Australia. — A  consignment  of  choice  Apples 
and  Pears  has  recently  arrived  by  the  ss.  “  Orizaba,”  to  the  care  of  the 
Agent  of  the  Government  Department  of  Agriculture  of  Victoria,  and 
have  been  exhibited  for  the  last  few  days  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Thomas,  fruit 
broker,  in  the  Floral  Ha-ll,  Covent  Garden  Market.  They  have  excited 
the  admiration  of  buyers  and  representatives  of  the  fruit  trade  generally. 
Among  the  varieties  of  Apples  were  Nickajacks,  Cullasago,  Rokedovt* 
and  others.  Amongst  those  better  known  in  this  country  were  Spitzen- 
bergs,  London  Pippin,  Prince  Bismarck,  Annie  Elizabeth,  Northern  Spy, 
King  of  Tompkin’s  County,  Strawberry  Pippins,  Monroe’s  Favourites, 
Wellingtons,  Stunners,  Blenheim  Orange,  and  Ribston  Pippin.  The 
quantity  of  each  kind  was  considerably  in  excess  of  what  is  usually  seen 
at  such  exhibitions,  and  the  varieties  were  in  every  way  equal  to  any 
seen  in  this  country.  The  chief  feature  about  the  Apples  was  the 
brilliant  colouring — evidence  of  the  continual  sunshine  of  the  colonies. 
Packed  in  boxes  the  fruit  had  travelled  in  splendid  condition,  and  was  as 
hard  and  crisp  as  English  fruit  is  usually  seen  in  the  autumn.  We  learned 
from  Mr.  J.  M.  Sinclair,  the  agent,  that  fifty -six  varieties  were  sent  over 
with  a  view  to  testing  the  carrying  properties  of  the  different  kinds,  after 
which  the  varieties,  which  arrived  in  the  best  condition,  will  be  more 
widely  planted  in  the  colonies.  Asked  what  he  thought  of  the  prospects 
of  a  trade  in  Apples  between  England  and  Australia,  Mr.  Sinclair  was  of 
the  opinion  that  there  is  a  great  future  before  it,  from  the  fact  that  the 
consignments  from  the  Antipodes  will  arrive  after  the  conclusion 
of  the  American  trade,  and  before  English  fruit  comes  into  the  market. 
The  quality  and  colour  of  the  fruit  on  colonial  soil  is  first-class,  and 
when  it  has  been  seen  which  varieties  arrive  in  the  best  condition  the 
trade  will  no  doubt  increase.  Pears  were  included  in  the  consignment, 
but  they  are  not  considered  so  satisfactory  as  Apples,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  they  do  not  arrive  in  good  condition.  Persimmons  have  also  been 
tried,  but  are  a  failure  owing  to  the  same  reason. 
-  The  Scarlet  Trumpet  Honeysuckle.  —  Riding  through 
the  mountain  suburban  towns  the  other  day  in  several  old  gardens,  says 
an  American  contemporary,  we  observed  large  bushes  of  this  climber  and 
also  trellises  heavily  covered  with  it,  its  flowers  standing  out  in  vivid 
brilliance  against  the  green  foliage  and  neighbouring  trees  and  shrubs. 
This  Honeysuckle  (Lonicera  sempervirens)  is  a  common  wild  plant  in  the 
thickets  and  margins  of  woods,  and  also  it  is  collected  in  the  wilds  and 
cultivated  in  gardens,  making  a  very  decorative  plant.  On  Long 
Island,  however  (and  it  grows  wild  in  abundance  there,  too),  it  used  to 
become  so  much  infested  with  aphides  in  the  spring  and  early  summer  that 
we  got  very  little  good  of  its  blossoms  ;  how  delightful  it  is  now  to  find 
it  in  its  highland  home  in  such  flourishing  condition,  without  insect  or 
blemish.  Down  in  our  note  book  it  goes  for  next  autumn  planting 
“  Lonicera  sempervirens  and  its  variety  fuchsioides,”  the  latter  is  more 
showy  than  the  type. 
-  Horticultural  Club.  —  The  usual  monthly  dinner  and 
conversazione  took  place  on  Tuesday  evening  last,  when  there  was  a 
good  attendance  of  members.  Messrs.  F.  W.  Burbidge  of  Trinity 
College  Botanic  Gardens,  Dublin,  and  Mr.  Malcolm  Dunn,  Dalkeith 
Gardens,  were  the  special  guests  of  the  Club  on  the  occasion  of  their 
receiving  the  Veitch  Memorial  medal  ;  Mons.  Henri  de  Vilmorin,  the 
other  recipient  of  the  medal,  was  unable  to  attend  on  account  of 
domestic  affliction.  This  was  a  great  disappointment  to  him  and  to  the 
members  of  the  Club.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch, 
and  the  health  of  the  guests  was  proposed  by  the  Secretary  and  the 
Chairman,  and  suitably  acknowledged  by  both  gentlemen.  It  was 
announced  that  the  excursion  would  take  place  on  July  30th.  It  would 
be  into  Buckinghamshire,  and  Mr.  Leopold  de  Rothschild  had  kindly 
invited  the  members  to  lunch  at  his  beautiful  place — Ascott,  near 
Leighton  Buzzard  ;  and  Mr.  Alfred  de  Rothschild  has  also  invited  them 
to  visit  his  place  and  have  tea  and  light  refreshment  there  in  the 
evening.  Mr.  Veitch  has  consented  to  superintend  the  arrangements. 
-  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons’  Annual  Excursion.  —  This 
renowned  firm  recently  entertained  their  employes  to  the  usual 
excursion  which  they  have  so  generously  provided  for  a  great  number 
of  years.  It  is  a  pleasing  feature  that  the  partners  and  also  their  wives 
take  part  in  these  trips,  and  Monday  last  was  no  exception  ti  the  rule, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  J.  Sutton,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herbert  Sutton,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Arthur  W.  Sutton,  and  Mr.  Leonard  G.  Sutton  accompanying  the 
train  on  both  the  out  and  in  journeys,  and  doing  everything  they  could, 
by  their  genial  courteiy,  to  make  those  participating  in  the  day’s 
pleasure  as  happy  as  possible.  A  long  special  left  Reading  (G.W.R.) 
punctually  at  7  A.M.,  and,  running  smoothly  and  quickly  over  the 
S.W.R.  from  Basingstoke,  reached  Portsmouth  Harbour  at  9.20,  where 
the  party,  numbering  600  in  all,  alighted,  and  the  majority  at  once 
proceeded  to  a  special  steamer  which  conveyed  them  direct  to  Ryde.  As 
usual,  the  train  and  steamboat  were  provided  by  the  firm,  and  also  each 
employe  was  presented  with  an  ample  sum  of  money  to  meet  the 
expenses  of  the  day  in  the  matter  of  refreshments,  while  each  married 
man  received  an  invitation  for  his  wife.  Thoughtful  thoroughness  in 
making  the  arrangements  was  also  shown  in  the  fact  that  by  payment 
of  a  small  charge  those  wishing  to  do  so  could  return  any  day  during  the 
week,  and  also  in  securing  railway  concessions  on  the  Isle  of  Wight 
Railway  (the  ordinary  rates  on  which  are  so  exceptionally  dear),  and 
cheap  steamboat  trips  to  Sandown,  Shanklin,  and  Ventnor,  and  further 
obtained  special  permission  from  the  Admiralty  for  the  excursionists  to 
visit  H.M.S.  “  Inflexible,”  then  lyiog  in  Portsmouth  Harbour.  By  ail, 
and  perhaps  particularly  by  those  taking  part  in  the  last-named  mode  of 
spending  a  happy  day,  the  excursion  was  most  thoroughly  enjoyed,  for 
the  day  proved  brilliantly  fine* from  start  to  finish,  and  the  arrangements 
were  in  every  way  admirable.  The  return  train  left  Portsmouth  Harbour 
at  7.30  p.m.,  and  reached  Reading  with  its  happy  and  contented  freight 
as  9.50. 
