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jQtfRI^AL  OP  tiORTlCULTURR  Ahfb  COfTAOE  GAkDRNER. 
July  5fl,  IbO^. 
miud  spectres  of  the  spirit  of  a  past  age— an  age  which  bears  its 
lesson  nobly  to  this  time  present,  for  one  of  the  features  by  which 
the  architectural  or  constructive  efforts  of  the  Romans  are  at  this 
day  Identified  is  admitted  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  their  work 
was  well  done.  The  military  spirit  is  strongly  in  evidence,  and  the 
inscription  of  the  XX.  Legion,  with  the  figure  of  the  wild  boar 
carved  boldly  and  artistically,  confronts  one  often  enough  in  look¬ 
ing  over  these  remarkable  relics,  so  complete  in  their  resting  place 
in  the  room  of  Arcbjeology  in  the  Grosvenor  Museum,  a  buildioa 
through  which  visitors  to  Chester  must  be  sore  to  see. 
VVe  are,  however,  perhaps  dwelling  too  fondly  upon  this  aspect 
ot  the  city’s  treasures,  as  after  all  we  are  not  writing  for  the 
antiquary,  but  for  the  horticulturist.  We  ought,  then,  to  refer  to 
the  natural  surroundings  of  Chester  in  its  geographical  situation  so 
to  speak,  and  with  reference  to  its  distinctive  place  on  the  chart 
which  defines  for  us  the  position  of  centres  of  interest  dotted  about 
upon  our  sea-circled  Isle.  Chester  has  been  called  often  enough  the 
ate  of  Wales.”  The  title  is  rightly  descriptive,  for  the  city 
les  clean  and  quiet— there  is  no  clatter  of  mill-wheels  or  fumes 
of  factory  smoke-at  the  foot  of  the  Welsh  hills.  Standing  on 
tie  fringe  of  the  city  one  could  almost  throw  a  stone  beyond  the 
border  line  which  separates  Wales  from  England-Cheshire  from 
mtshire.  The  sea  creeps  up  very  nearly  to  the  westein  gate, 
and  at  one  time  indeed  swept  over  the  very  site  upon  which  the 
show  next  week  will  be  held,  so  that  the  western  gate  is  still  called 
the  Watergate.  The  landscape  is  full  of  beauty,  and  when  one 
moves  abtuc  it  i«  readily  seen  that  close  up  to  the  city  there  are 
broad  acres  of  park  lands,  beautifully  wooded  and  splendidly  kept 
and  the  whole  district  is  rich  with  horticultural  treasure.  The 
flora  of  the  district  is  interesting,  and  the  Fauna  equally  so  ;  but 
1  our  readers  take  our  advice  and  visit  the  Grosvenor  Museum 
they  will  there  find  evidence  enough  to  satisfy  them  upon  these 
points,  so  that  we  need  not  say  any  more. 
The  palatial  seat  of  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Westminster,  K.G. 
Eaton— IS  within  three  miles  of  the  city  itself,  and  as  the  Hall 
is  rnodern,  and  His  Grace  is  an  enthusiastic  horticulturist,  it  goes 
without  saying  that  the  resources  of  Eaton  hold  a  foremost  place 
m  the  gardening  establhhments  in  the  kingdom.  Mr.  Barnes,  the 
Dukes  head  gaidener,  is,  as  we  all  know,  as  able  as  he  is  enthu¬ 
siastic,  and  as  courteous  as  he  is  practical,  to  that  it  is  something 
more  than  an  educational  treat  to  be  permitted  to  stroll  through 
the  gardens  and  grounds  of  this  beautiful  place.  Interesting,  too, 
are  the  environs  of  Hawarden  Castle,  the  rtsidence  of  the 
R.ght  Honourable  William  Ewart  Gladstone,  and  if  the  gardens 
at  Hawarden  Castle  are  not  upon  a  strikingly  extensive  scale  if 
measured  by  the  range  and  floral  resources  of  Eaton,  the  Park  at 
Hawarden  presents  features  which  give  it  a  leading  place  in 
landscape  scenery  varied  and  beautiful. 
In  another  direction,  and  possibly  an  even  more  interesting 
direction  to  horticulturists  generally,  are  the  Chester  Nurseries, 
^stabhshtd  before  the  commencement  of  the  century,  the  name  of 
ickson  has  assumed  a  kind  of  ancient  association  with  the  nursery 
interest,  and  which  has  become  also  historic.  It  is  not 
our 
- -  ..wv  am  s-awru  V/Ul 
purpose  to  say  very  much  of  these  nurseries  at  this  particular 
moment  or  in  this  particular  place,  but  this  brief  reference  to 
Chester  and  its  surroundings  could  hardly  be  complete  without 
mention  of  these,  seeing  they  hold  a  place  of  such  prominence  in 
the  horticultural  world. 
We  feel  wo  are  quite  safe  in  saying  that  visitors  to  Chester 
wi  not  only  be  permitted  freely  to  go  through  the  nurseries,  hu^ 
wi  1  be  bedrtily  welcomed  there  ;  and  we  are  eq  al'y  positive  in 
Baying  that  they  will  be  fully  recompensed  by  ihe  interesting 
collections  they  will  see  in  every  department  of  horticubure  The 
nurseries  extend  to  some  600  acres,  there  is  a  perfect  town  of 
glass  houses,  and  in  .  rnamental  and  herbaceous  plapis,  Conifers 
shrubs,  fruit  and  forest  trees,  and  ali  else,  there  is  such  a  collection 
as  cannot  fail  to  strike  the  visitor  with  an  emphasis  that  can  only 
be  realised  on  inspection  of  the  grounds. 
There  is  so  much  to  say  that  it  is  difficult  to  know  where  to 
stop.  We  have  not  touched  upou  the  .scores  of  other  places  of 
interest  within  the  city  itielf — the  grand  old  Cathedral,  with  its 
tender  associations  ;  the  Abbey  of  St.  John’s  ;  the  many  old,  half- 
timbered  houses,  and  the  plain  red  sandstone  cropping  out  here  and 
there.  We  have  not  spoken  of  the  River— the  Dee— which  winds 
its  way  through  meads  and  wooded  slopes,  and  floats  sleepily  to  the 
sea.  Nor  have  we  mentioned  the  many  places  to  be  found  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  city,  where  gardening  is  carried  on  with  spirit,  and 
where  broad  lawns  and  well-kept  borders,  with  wide  beds  ablaze 
with  a  wealth  and  colour  glory,  which  can  only  be  secured  by  a 
well  kept  garden,  can  be  seen  at  its  very  best. 
From  what  we  have  thus  all  too  briefly  and  too  feebly  tried  to 
say,  it  may  be  gathered  that  Chester  is  peculiarly  a  place  for  a 
successful  horticultural  show.  We  can  imagine  no  more  delightful 
holiday  than  will  be  afforded  by  the  opportunity  given  to  horti¬ 
culturists  next  week  to  visit  this  most  delightful  district,  so  full  of 
interest  on  account  of  its  association  with  ancient  history,  but 
also  so  full  of  the  modern  spirit  as  to  make  it  a  Mecca  of  Pilgrims 
to-day  who  may  wish  to  pay  homage  to  the  shrine  of  Queen 
Flora. 
Though  we  have  mentioned  that  this  is  the  first  show  of  this 
particular  character  in  the  old  city,  it  must  not  be  supposed  that 
horticulture  has  been  sleeping.  There  is  in  Chester  a  splendidly 
organised  and  well-equipped  Paxton  Society ;  indeed  this  very 
Paxton  Society  is  the  forerunner  of  this  greater  effort.  The 
Society  has  been  very  much  alive  during  the  past  few  years,  and 
by  lectures,  exhibitions,  and  other  meetings  a  love  of  horticulture 
has  been  fostered  and  widened,  and  the  Chester  show  snd  fete  may 
be  regarded  as  mainly  springing  from  this  excellent  organisatior, 
which  still  carries  on  its  good  work  ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  each 
year  holds  a  remarkably  creditable  exhibition  of  fruits  and  flowers 
of  a  character  second  to  none  in  the  kingdom. 
In  other  ways  the  Natural  Science  Society,  a  movement  which 
owes  its  existence  to  the  late  beloved  and  world-renowned  Charles 
Kingsley,  does  good  work,  and  there  are  other  societies  in  which 
literature  and  the  arts  are  regarded,  and  so  we  shall  find  ourselves 
amidst  everything  that  is  calculated  to  make  life  noble  and  duty 
delightful  in  “rare  old  Chester,”  a  title  to  which  Albert  Smith, 
years  ago,  thought  the  place  had  claim. 
In  closing  we  ought  to  say  that  the  Duke  of  Westminster  is 
President  of  the  new  horticultural  movement.  There  is  a  strong 
horticultural  Committee,  of  which  Mr.  George  A.  Dickson,  J.P° 
is  Chairman,  and  Mr.  J.  Wynne  Ffoulkes  Honorary  Secretary’ 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  everything  will  be  done  that  can  be  done 
to  secure  not  only  the  success  of  the  show  and  of  the  Association, 
out  the  pleasure  and  satisfaction  of  every  visitor  who  will  be 
fortunate  enough  to  find  a  place  within  the  tents  upon  the  Roodee 
on  Wednesday  and  Thursday  next. 
HARDY  FLOWER  NOTES. 
Earlier  than  usual  do  we  lose  the  beauty  of  many  of  our 
hardy  flowers.  Early  did  they  come,  and  early,  also,  have  they 
gone.  We  welcomed  their  appearing,  and  now  we  mourn  their 
loss,  feeling  that  with  their  parsing  away  our  gardens  have  lost 
many  of  their  .charms.  Still,  though  this  is  the  case,  there  are 
many  flowers  yet  to  attain  their  full  beauty,  and  others,  besides, 
who  still  remain  bushes  of  green,  and  await  their  pioper  season 
before  covering  th  mselves  with  flower. 
There  are  also  at  rest  henearh  these  patches  of  earth,  or  covered 
over  by  some  other  plants,  M.ndow  Saffrons  and  autumn  Crocuses 
which  shall  shortly  appear  and  phase  us  with  their  daint.  c..J(>ured 
cups.  Annuals,  too,  ate  aglow  in  garoens  «  here  there  is  )  oom  for 
their  more  or  less  el.  gai.t  flowers.  The-  D.hlias,  and  al.o  G-adioli, 
lend  their  aid  wh^n  necetsary  to  keep  up  the  garden’s  interest, 
ihusdoes  eeb  season  yield  is  tribute  ot  beamy  to  the  garden’s 
own*  r.  Is  It  nor  well  to  put  in  a  word  or  two  in  favour  of  some 
( t  these  annual  flowers,  which  can  ao  so  much  to  increase  ihe  joys 
of  gardening  ?  We  have  broken  greatly  away  fr.  m  the  bedding 
out  of  anraals  in  stiff  patterns  and  designs,  and  their  worth  in 
clumps  and  masses  in  the  mixed  border  is  now  being  more 
A 
