74 
July  22.  189T. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Events  of  the  Week. — Besides  the  Rose  shows,  as  on  page  73, 
the  Committees  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  meet  on  Tuesday 
at  the  Drill  Hall.  On  Wednesday  Chester  is  to  be  en  fete,  while  the 
Woking  Society  holds  its  show  on  the  same  day. 
-  Weather  in  London. — Until  Monday  night,  when  a  heavy 
thunderstorm  passed  over  London,  no  rain  had  fallen,  and  town  gardens 
were  very  dry  owing  to  both  the  sun  and  the  winds.  There  was  a 
shower  on  Monday  afternoon,  but  the  storm  did  not  commence  until 
about  seven  o’clock.  The  lightning  was  very  vivid,  and  the  thunder 
loud,  the  rain  descending  in  torrents  for  some  time.  The  air  was  fresher 
on  Tuesday  morning,  and  it  was  slightly  cooler.  Another  storm  with 
rain  came  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  Wednesday  was  vary  threatening. 
-  Monarch  Strawberry. — I  think  Laxton  Bros,  deserve  to  be 
congratulated  for  giving  us  a  good  Strawberry  that  will  travel  well.  I 
planted  a  few  runners  last  October,  and  they  have  exceeded  my  expec¬ 
tation.  The  plants  are  most  robust,  and  produced  an  enormous  crop  for 
the  first  year,  some  scaling  2  ozs.  I  planted  them  by  the  side  of 
Noble  and  Royal  Sovereign,  and  gathered  fruits  off  all  three  varieties  on 
the  same  day.  I  predict  a  great  future  for  this  Strawberry  in  the 
south  of  England,  as  it  will  travel  to  Glasgow  as  well  as  the  Royal 
Sovereign  will  travel  to  London.  In  fact  there  is  very  little  difference  in 
the  fruit  when  it  is  two  days  old,  which  is  an  invaluable  desideratum. — 
Kent. 
-  The  Chester  Show. — We  may  remind  our  readers  that 
what  is  expected  to  be  a  great  horticultural  exhibition  will  open  at 
Chester  on  Wednesday  next,  the  28th  inst.,  continuing  over  the  follow¬ 
ing  day.  The  show  of  last  year,  as  will  be  remembered  by  experienced 
visitors,  was  too  large  for  the  tents  which  were  provided.  This  year, 
no  doubt,  better  provision  will  be  made  in  that  respect,  and  as  we  are 
informed  competitors  are  anticipated  from  various  parts  of  the  king¬ 
dom,  a  great  and  diversified  display  of  garden  products  will  le 
arranged  on  the  famous  Roodee  of  the  historic  city,  A  gala  consisting 
of  various  attractions  is  also  to  be  held,  and  with  fine  weather  a  great 
success  in  every  way  is  confidently  anticipated.  The  railway  companies 
are  offering  special  facilities  in  connection  with  the  show,  and  horti¬ 
cultural  vistors  will  not  forget  to  call  at  the  great  nurseries  of  Dicksons, 
Ltd.,  which  are  only  a  very  short  distance  from  the  station.  Major 
Walker-Jones,  Grosvenor  Chambers,  6,  Newgate  Street,  Chester,  is  the 
secretary  of  the  exhibition. 
-  CuRRAGHMOEE  AND  Penrhyn  Castle. — I  visited  both  of 
those  beautiful  Irish  and  Welsh  gardens  within  the  last  few  weeks,  and 
shall  state  immediately  why  I  mention  both  names  together.  I  presume 
it  is  unnecessary  to  say  anything  of  the  wild  picturesque  grandeur  of 
North  Wales  and  its  host  of  famous  sights  all  within  easy  reach  of  Bangor, 
where  I  formed  one  of  a  small  party  for  some  days,  seeing  the  famous 
castles  of  Carnarvon,  Conway  and  Beaumaris,  the  Menai  Bridges,  Rhyll, 
Llandudno,  Holywell,  the  various  quarries,  passes  through  the  mountains, 
and  delightful  valleys,  and,  not  least,  a  visit  to  Lord  Penrhyn’s  castle 
and  gardens.  Enjoying  some  well-earned  holidays,  I  took  no  notes,  and 
will  not  go  over  the  customary  ground  of  describing,  even  from  memory, 
fruit  gardens  and  fruit  houses,  well  kept,  well  stocked,  and  intelligently 
conducted ;  flower  and  terrace  gardens,  with  greenhouses  and  conserva¬ 
tories,  where  some  rare  and  new  beauty  meefs  the  eye,  peeping  out  here 
and  there  ;  nor  even  the  tempting  landscape  as  seen  from  the  castle  keep, 
where  an  American  visitor  exclaimed  a  short  time  previously  to  Mr. 
Speed,  the  head  gardener,  “  Well,  if  there  is  a  finer  prospect  in  this  wide 
world,  I  have  no  wish  to  see  it.”  He  had  been  after  seeing  a  large 
portion  of  it.  I  have  been  about  pretty  much  myself,  and  have  inflicted 
many  columns  of  what  I  have  seen  on  readers  of  the  Journal  of  Horti- 
cuUure  for  twenty  years,  and  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  our  American 
cousin.  However,  description  is  not  my  present  object,  but  to  refer  to  a 
curious  coincidence.  The  worthy  veteran  above  referred  to,  Mr.  Speed, 
practically  commenced  his  respected  career  near  here,  at  Curraghmore, 
the  well-known  residence  of  the  Marquis  of  Waterford,  some  thirty-four 
years  ago,  as  head  gardener.  I  spent  yesterday  there  and  in  Portlaw 
adjoining,  where  a  few  of  the  old  veterans  who  remember  him  still 
survive. — W.  J.  Murphy,  Clonmel. 
-  Gardening  Appointment. — Mr.  George  Arthur  has  been.' 
appointed  head  gardener  to  E.  D.  Stern,  Esq.,  Fan  Court,  Chertsey, 
Surrey. 
-  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution,  The 
Merchant  Taylors’  Company  and  the  Skinners’  Company  have  each 
given  a  donation  of  £10  10s.  to  the  funds  of  this  Institution. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  meeting  takes 
place  on  Tuesday,  July  27th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Victoria  Street,  at  twelve. 
A  silver  Flora  medal  is  offered  for  competition  (amateurs)  for  best 
collection  of  Cactaceous  plants.  At  3  P.M.  Mr.  W.  D.  Druery  will 
give  a  paper  on  ”  Familiar  Garden  Insects,  Friends  and  Foes.” 
-  Dr.  James  Clark,  who  has  been  so  successfully  engaged  for 
the  past  six  years  in  University  Extension  work  in  agriculture  and 
horticulture,  was  in  March  last  offered  and  accepted  the  Professorship 
of  Agriculture  in  the  Yorkshire  College,  and  the  Directorship  of  the 
Agricultural  Department.  It  is  the  intention  of  Professor  Clark  to 
introduce  regular  horticulture  into  the  College  curriculum,  and  a 
prospectus  of  a  short  preliminary  course  on  fruit  culture  has  just  been 
completed. 
- The  Southampton  Horticultural  Society.  —  It  is- 
satisfactory  to  be  able  to  report  that  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the  Town 
Council  the  proposal  to  rescind  the  sanction  given  to  the  Horticultural 
Society  to  hold  its  annual  summer  Show  in  an  enclosure  on  the  Common 
of  the  town  was  withdrawn,  and  the  Show  will  therefore  be  held  as 
usual  on  the  3l8t  and  August  2Dd.  Some  very  foolish  observations  as  to 
the  right  of  the  townspeople  to  clamour  for  free  admission  to  the  show 
grounds,  and  even  to  pull  down  the  fence  if  not  admitted;  were  very 
properly  severely  rebuked,  as  tending  to  incite  breaches  of  the  peace  ; 
whilst  it  is  evident  that  no  similar  enclosure  on  the  Common  can  ever 
again  be  permitted,  it  is  hoped  that  the  Horticultural  Society  may  not 
only  this  year  hold  its  Show  in  peace,  but  also  have,  what  is  so  much 
needed,  a  very  snccesfful  one. — A.  D. 
-  Isle  fiF  Wight. — The  members  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Horti¬ 
cultural  Improvement  Association,  by  the  kind  permission  of  Sir  Charles 
Seely,  Bart.  (President),  visited,  on  Wednesday,  July  14th,  Brooke' 
House  and  gardens.  The  day  was  gloriously  fine,  and  over  fifty  members 
availed  themselves  of  the  privilege  to  inspect  the  Island  home  of  this 
gentleman,  whose  name  and  generosity  extend  far  and  wide.  The  party 
was  met  by  Sir  Charles  and  his  daughter  and  son-in-law  (Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Leech)  at  the  front  of  the  mansion.  After  preliminary  introduc¬ 
tions  the  President  led  the  party  round  the  park,  which  is  beautifully 
undulating,  and  contains  a  mixture  of  many  rare  trees  and  shrubs,  which 
are  relieved  by  miniature  lakes  and  cascades.  The  roseries  and  flower 
beds  on  the  terraces  were  next  visited  ;  from  the  terraces  there  is  a 
charming  landscapie  view  with  the  sea  in  the  distance.  A  huge  Oak, 
planted  by  Garibaldi  in  1864,  was  next  inspected.  A  tour  of  the 
extensive  houses  was  much  appreciated  ;  the  3000  feet  of  Peach  houses, 
with  healthy  trees  bearing  heavy  crops  of  large  and  highly  coloured 
fruits,  received  favourable  comment,  as  did  a  large  and  miscellaneous 
stock  of  Orchids  and  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  which  receive 
excellent  culture  at  the  hands  of  Mr.  W.  Tribbick,  F.R.H.S.,  who  is  a 
thorough  all-round  gardener.  The  vineries,  in  which  are  strong,  healthy 
canes,  carrying  fine  crops  of  fruit,  particularly  a.lean-to  house  of  Muscat 
of  Alexandria,  with  large  bunches  of  good  shape  and  highly  coloured, 
berries.  Before  the  inspection  of  the  kitchen  garden  and  fruit  orchard 
tea  was  partaken  of  in  the  dining-room,  where  ample  justice  was  done  to 
the  good  things  provided  by  the  President.  After  tea  the  many 
valuable  pictures  which  adorn  the  interior  of  Brooke  House  were  seen 
and  much  admired.  Then  the  party  was  photographed  on  the  lawn, 
after  which  votes  of  thanks  and  cheers  were  given  for  Sir  Charles  Seely 
and  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Leech  for  their  kind  hospitality.  Sir  Charles,  in 
acknowledging  the  votes  of  thanks,  expressed  a  hope  that  he  might  at 
an  early  date  have  another  visit  from  the  members  of  the  Association. 
The  members  afterwards  broke  up  into  small  parties,  some  going  to  the 
kitchen  garden,  whilst  others  visited  Brooke  Church  and  mounted 
Brooke  Hill,  which  is  several  hundred  feet  above  sea  level,  and  from 
which  there  is  a  commanding  view  of  the  southern  and  western  parts  of 
the  Island.  Many  strayed  to  the  shore,  and  were  rewarded  not  only  by 
the  pleasures  of  a  bathe,  but  by  a  view  of  the  lifeboat.  The  day  was 
thoroughly  enjoyed,  and  the  mem’oers  returned  to  their  homes  in  all. 
parts  of  the  Garden  ^  Isle  feeling  highly  compensated  for  any  little 
sacrifices  they  had  had  to  make  so  as  to  visit  the  marine  residence  of 
their  worthy  President.  The  day  can  undoubtedly  be  counted  a  red- 
letter  one  in  the  history  of  the  Association.-^S.  H. 
