282 
JOTJ-RNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  17,  1898. 
nearly  “  clicked  ”  them  out  cf  the  basket,  bo  eager  were  they  to  have 
them.— H.  J.  C. 
[The  Grapes  forwarded  by  Mr.  Clayton  are  the  finest  of  the  variety 
we  have  seen.  The  berries  sre  quite  the  size  suggrsted,  and  the  flavour 
is  superb.  The  colour  is  jet  black.] 
T5ENINGBOROUGH  HALL. 
This  fine  domain,  which  is  situated  about  six  miles  north  of  York,  is 
the  country  seat  of  Colonel  the  Hon.  and  Lady  Victoria  Dawney,  and  is 
well-known  to  the  majority  of  gardeners  as  the  place  where  Foster’s 
Seedling  and  Lady  Downe’s  Grapes  originated.  Being  in  the  vicinity 
lately,  I  was  anxious  to  know  if  the  original  Vines  were  still  in  exist¬ 
ence,  and  as  my  wanderings  brought  me  to  the  pretty  village  of  Newton- 
on-Ouse,  which,  by  the  way,  can  boast  of  a  fine  avenue  of  Cherry  trees, 
leading  from  the  parish  church  to  the  park  gates  of  Beningborough 
Hall.  Some  of  the  trees  had  rather  a  rugged  appearance,  caused,  no 
doubt,  by  the  small  boys  helping  themselves  to  the  fruit  when  ripe. 
I  also  noticed  some  large  Apple  trees  growing  near  the  banks  of  the 
river  Ouse  heavily  laden  with  fruit.  The  soil  here  is  evidently  adapted 
to  fruit  culture.  Here  by  chance,  through  the  kindness  of  a  friend,  I 
was  introduced  to  Mr.  Akroyd,  the  head  gardener  at  the  Hall,  who  at 
once  very  kindly  offered  to  show  me  over  the  gardens.  Unfortunately, 
it  was  late  in  the  evening,  so  there  was  only  time  for  a  hurried  look 
round.  On  going  through  the  park  a  fine  Wellingtonia  was  pointed  out, 
that  was  successfully  removed  and  transplanted  in  its  present  position 
three  years  ago.  It  is  about  20  feet  in. height,  and  does  not  appear  to 
have  suffered  in  the  least  from  its  removal,  and  shows  what  may  be  done 
with  perseverance,  as  no  tree-lifting  machine  was  used.  The  ball  of  the 
tree  with  the  soil  attached  would  weigh  several  tons.  The  most 
remarkable  thing  about  this  tree  deserves  to  be  chronicled.  A  root  was 
observed  to  be  growing  from  it  only  a  few  inches  under  the  surface  ; 
the  soil  was  cleared  away,  and  the  root  bared  its  full  length  ;  it  was 
found  to  have  extended  for  28  yards  in  a  direct  line  from  the  tree,  and 
was  fibreless  the  whole  of  that  distance.  The  point,  however,  had 
branched  in  three  or  four  directions.  The  seed  from  which  this  tree 
was  grown  was  brought  by  a  member  of  the  family  from  abroad  many 
years  ago. 
Many  of  the  glass  structures  are  old,  and  in  days  gone  by  Pines 
were  well  grown  here.  The  first  house  entered  was  a  large  lean-to 
vinery,  in  which  were  hanging  some  of  the  best  Black  Hamburghs  I 
have  seen  this  year,  bunches  averaging  about  3  lbs.  each,  large  in 
berry  and  well  finished,  the  Vines  having  been  planted  only  a  few 
years,  replacing,  amongst  others,  the  original  Lady  Downe’s  Vine. 
J  found  the  same  fate  had  befallen  Foster’s  Seedling,  although  there 
were  good  bunches  still  hanging  on  some  young  Vines.  In  other 
houses  Muscats  were  being  worked  up,  as  this  variety  and  Hamburghs 
are  the  two  favourite  Grapes  at  this  establishment. 
Peaches,  both  under  glass  and  on  the  open  walls,  were  remarkably 
healthy  and  carrying  heavy  crops  of  fruit,  the  favourite  variety  being 
Dymond  ;  and  among  Nectarines  Lord  Napier  was  spoken  highly  of. 
Plants  for  bouse  decoration  were  well  grown,  a  fine  batch  of  the  now 
rarely  seen  Balsams  were  in  full  bloom,  and  some  plants  of  William 
Allen  Richardson  Rose  in  pots,  which  were  forced  in  the  spring,  would 
soon  be  a  mass  of  bloom.  A  healthy  collection  of  Chrysanthemums 
was  observed.  These  are  used  for  home  and  conservatory  decoration. 
In  the  large  conservatory  many  fine  plants  were  seen.  One  of  the 
largest  specimens  and  best  varieties  of  Lapageria  rosea  is  growing  here, 
Solanum  jasminoides  is  in  fine  form,  being  a  mass  of  bloom,  and  is 
worthy  of  more  extensive  cultivation.  It  is  also  planted  out  on.  a  south 
wall  in  the  open,  and  had  grown  quite  10  feet  in  height  and  flowering 
freely. 
The  crops  of  fruit  and  vegetables  in  the  kitchen  garden  were  looking 
well,  and  did  not  appear  to  have  suffered  from  the  drought,  in  marked 
contrast  to  the  crops  growing  in  some  of  the  southern  counties.  Ne 
Plus  Ultra  Pea  was  spoken  highly  of,  and  is  the  only  variety  grown 
from  midsummer  onwards,  the  quality  being  considered  superior  to  all 
others. 
Many  alterations  and  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  pleasure 
grounds  during  the  past  few  years,  lawns  have  been  levelled,  and  terraces 
formed.  On  the  top  of  the  terrace  near  the  front  of  the  house  were  seen 
sixteen  large  pots  of  the  old  variety  Tom  Thumb  “  Geranium.”  These 
were  a  blaze  of  scarlet,  and  as  grown  here  were  very  beautiful.  New 
beds,  too,  have  been  formed  and  planted  with  a  choice  assortment  of 
shrubs  and  Coniferae.  Many  of  these  are  interposed  with  herbaceous 
.plants,  of  which  there  is  a  fine  collection,  several  borders  being  very  gay 
with  them.  Shrubberies  that  bad  become  overgrown  have  been  recently 
thinned  out,  and  many  Daffodils  and  other  spring  flowers  planted 
underneath. 
A  fine  selection  of  Rhododendrons  and  other  American  plants  were 
growing  here  in  the  natural  soil,  which  appeared  to  be  a  sandy  loam, 
and  suits  the  majority  of  plants  admirably.  Here  was  observed  a  fine 
specimen  of  Thuia  gigantea  (syn.  Lobbil,  upwards  of  40  feet  in  height, 
healthy,  and  of  good  shape.  It  was  one  of  the  first  plants  of  this  variety 
introduced  into  this  country.  Near  to  it  was  growing  the  largest 
specimen  of  Pavia  macrostachya  I  have  seen,  and  as  it  was  in  full 
bloom  it  was  worth  going  a  long  distance  to  see.  How  is  it  this  plant  is 
not  more  extensively  grown  ? 
Darkness  put  an  end  to  my  wanderings,  so  with  hurried  thanks  to 
Mr.  Akroyd  for  his  kindness  I  trudged  on  to  pastures  new.  Such  are 
the  thoughts  written  from  memory  by — A  Tourist. 
EUCRYPHIA  PINNATIFOLIA. 
The  engraving  of  this  evergreen  shrub  (page  255),  faithfully  depicts 
its  undoubted  beauty.  Early  in  August,  Mr.  Goldsmith  sent  me  from 
the  Leonardslee  Gardens  a  spray  of  it,  saying  that  it  was  decidedly 
hardy  with  him,  and  most  profuse  in  flowering.  At  that  time  of  the 
year  flowering  shrubs  are  not  plentiful,  therefore  it  is  a  valuable  acquisi¬ 
tion — if  such  it  can  be  termed — to  our  gardens.  It  appears  to  root 
readily  from  short  side  growths  taken  off  with  a  heel,  and  inserted  in 
sandy  soil  under  a  bell-glass  in  a  cold  frame. — E.  M. 
I  WAS  much  pleased  to  see  the  note  regarding  the  above  lovely 
Chilian  shrub,  which  along  with  a  woodcut,  appeared  in  your  issue  of 
September  10th.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  many  of  your  readers  to  know 
that  the  plant  in  question  flowered  beautifully  in  the  gardens  here 
(Argyllshire),  and  there  are  still  a  few  open  flowers  on  it.  One  of  our 
plants  is  about  8  feet  in  height,  having  been  obtained  from  Messrs. 
James  Veitch  &.  Sons,  Chelsea,  about  twelve  years  ago.  In  August  last 
it  attracted  attention  by  reason  of  its  pretty  white  flowers  with  yellow 
anthers,  I  think  its  hardiness  need  not  be  doubted,  as  it  has  withstood 
the  recent  severe  winters  here  uninjured.  Light  soil  seems  to  meet  its 
requirements. — D.  S,  Melville. 
OSBERTON  SCARLET  TOMATO— R.H.S.  “FAVOURITISM.” 
Will  you  kindly  insert  what  I  am  sending  in  this  week’s  issue  of 
the  Jmirnal,  as  it  is  the  wish  of  many  ne  ghbouring  gardeners  that  the 
matter  referred  to  should  be  taken  up,  and  we  look  upon  the  Journal  as 
the  best  medium  for  the  purpose  ? 
After  reading  the  interesting  article  (page  204)  on  Osberton  Gardens 
I  called  on  Mr.  Grasp  and  had  a  look  round.  I  was  much  struck  with 
the  Tomato  Osberton  Scarlet.  I  can  confidently  say  that  it  is  the 
heaviest  cropper  I  have  yet  seen,  and  the  form  of  fruit  is  in  every  way 
perfect. 
A  wall  14  feet  high  was  completely  covered,  and  fine  clusters  of  fruit 
hanging  from  top  to  bottom.  They  averaged  five  fruits  in  a  cluster, 
while  some  of  the  clusters  numbered  seven  and  eight,  the  weight  of  some 
of  the  fruit  being  over  three-quarters  of  a  pound.  In  my  opinion  this 
is  the  coming  Tomato,  and  many  of  the  leading  gardeners  in  Nottingham¬ 
shire  and  Yorkshire  are  very  much  surprised  at  its  not  getting  a  certi¬ 
ficate  at  the  R.H.S.  meeting,  at  which  it  was  exhibited  with  a 
photograph. 
In  course  of  conversation  with  a  gardener  at  one  of  the  largest 
establishments  in  the  North,  who  happened  to  call  at  Osberton  while  I 
was  there,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Osberton  Scarlet  Tomato  had 
not  been  done  justice  to  by  the  Fruit  Committee  of  the  R.H.S.  Surely 
it  is  time  that  we  gardeners  in  the  North  and  Midlands  combined  and 
formed  a  society  with  practical  men  at  the  head  ;  then  I  think  many 
really  genuine  things  would  be  brought  to  the  front,  and  not  so  much 
favouritism  shown,  .as  many  of  us  in  the  North  and  Midlands  think  is 
done  at  the  R  H.S.  meetings. — A.  Alderman. 
[Though  we  did  not  attend  the  meeting  in  question,  we  have  been 
present  at  more  than  a  hundred  of  the  meetings, and  notin  one  instance 
have  we  seen  other  than  an  anxious  desire  to  do  absolute  justice  to  the 
products  examined.  Time  after  time  during  the  present  season  products 
exhibited  by  members  of  the  Committee  (who  retired  during  the  exami¬ 
nation)  have  been  passed  without  the  slightest  mark  of  approval.  If  the 
allegation  of  “favouritism”  could  be  substantiated  we,  with  others, 
should  retire  from  the  Committee,  and  we  should  not  report  any  more 
meetings.  As  to  Tomatoes,  it  is  a  most  unusual  circumstance  for  a 
varie’y  to  be  certificated  without  its  having  been  grown  under  equal 
conditions  with  others  at  Chiswick,  and  we  do  not  remember  any  case 
(in  the  absence  of  such  trial)  of  a  Tomato  being  certificated  on  the 
first  occasion  of  its  being  placed  before  the  Committee.  Tomatoes  are 
carefully  and  well  grown  at  Chiswick  under  absolutely  identical  con¬ 
ditions,  and  the  names  of  the  senders,  so  far  as  we  have  observed,  are 
never  asked  during  the  examination  of  the  fruiting  plants.  If  the 
Osberton  Tomato  were  grown  with  others  at  Chiswick,  and  proved  dis¬ 
tinctly  superior  to  all  varieties  in  cultivation,  we  should  be  very  much 
surprised  if  it  was  not  promptly  accorded  a  first-class  certificate.  Are 
there  not  gardeners  on  the  Committee  as  experienced  and  practical  as 
can  be  found  in  the  kingdom  ?  Let  the  allegation  of  ”  favouritism  ”  be 
proved.  We  publish  Mr  Alderman’s  letter  to  afford  the  opportunity.] 
DRY  WEATHER  PLANTS. 
Now  that  the  evenings  are  longer  one  has  time  to  collect  one’s 
thoughts  and  look  over  the  pest  hot  and  trying  summer,  and  I  think 
that  on  all  sides  the  most  satisfactory  department  has  been  the  flower 
garden  ;  of  course,  supposing  there  has  been  an  adequate  supply  of 
water.  I  do  not,  however,  propose  to  say  anything  in  general  about  the 
garden,  only  to  mention  one  or  two  plants  which  I  will  call  “  dry 
weather  plants.” 
First  comes  the  Petunia,  Nothing  in  the  flower  garden  has  been  more 
satisfactory  than  this.  It  was  in  full  flower  when  transferred  from  the 
boxes,  and  has  been  a  blaze  ever  since.  Few  plants  have  been  improved 
more  in  colour  and  form  than  this. 
Next  comes  Salpiglossis.  This  has  revelled  in  the  hot  weather,  and 
has  been  a  mass  of  bloom  for  a  long  time,  and  is  still  very  gay  indeed. 
