February  9,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
107 
BIEL  HOUSE. 
At  a  distance  of  six  miles  from  the  royal  burgh  of  Dunbar  is  Biel 
House,  one  of  the  seats  of  Mrs.  Hamilton  Nisbet  Dundas  Ogilvy,  The 
extens.ve  estates  owned  by  this  lady  in  East  Lothian  were  acquired  by 
purchase  in  1663  by  Sir  John  Nisbet,  then  the  most  eminent  lawyer  at 
the  Scottish  bar,  and  afterwards  a  Lord  of  Session  and  King’s  Advo¬ 
cate.  Tnese  estates  include  besides  Biel  House,  Archerfield  House,  Winton 
Castle,  and  the  ancient  ruin  of  Dirleton  Castle,  formerly  a  seat  of  the 
Anglo-Norman  family  of  De  Vallibus.  The  mansion  is  admirably  shown 
in  fig.  23,  page  109.  ______ 
The  glory  of  Biel  from  a  garden  point  of  view  is  its  beautiful  terraces 
and  its  fine  pleasure  grounds.  My  narrative  will  be  one  rather  incomplete 
because  of  a  hasty  survey  ;  but,  nevertheless,  I  was  impressed  with  their 
beauty  and  excellent  keeping,  as  I  have  never  seen  a  terrace  garden  more 
after  my  own  ideas  as  regards  summer  brilliance  than  this.  In  the  early 
days  of  September  I  paid  my  visit,  and  Mr.  Muir,  who  has  held  the  post 
of  gardener  here  for  a  number  of  years,  is  to  be  congratulated  on  the 
condition  and  well  keeping  of  the  garden  and  grounds.  The  house  is  one 
of  considerable  length,  and  the  terrace  runs  along  the  whole  of  the  southern 
front.  The  upper  terrace  is  a  broad  gravel  walk  edged  with  Box,  and  in 
wide  borders  on  each  side  are  bedding  plants  in  great  variety  in  bold 
distinct  masses  ;  no  mixture  whatever,  and  each  is  allowed  to  display 
itself.  To  those  who  have  not  practised  or  seen  this  style,  it  is  especially 
recommended  as  far  superior  to  alternating  different  species  of  plants  in 
the  same  group  or  bed.  The  plants  used  were  Golden  Feather,  Perilla 
nankinensis.  Petunias,  single;  Pentstemons,  Heliotrope,  Calceolaria  Golden 
Gem  and  Calceolaria  Sparkler ;  tuberous  Begonias,  Ageratum,  Iresine 
Linden!  and  Iresine  Herbsti ;  Sweet  Alyssum,  Cuphea  platycentra, 
Carnations,  and  the  following  Zonal  Pelargoniums — Henry  Jacoby, 
Vesuvius,  Amaranth,  Mrs.  Turner,  Mrs.  Mappin,  Bijou,  Flower  of  Spring, 
with  the  Ivydeaved  Madame  Crousse. 
A  balcony  from  one  of  the  upper  rooms  of  the  house  had  a  group  of 
plants  composed  of  two  large  Araucaria  excelsa,  a  large  Hydrangea 
hortensis.  Fuchsias,  Eucalyptus  globulus,  Zonal  Pelargoniums  and  blue 
Lobelia.  A  large  clump  of  Pampas  Grass  was  near  the  kitchen  door, 
which  is  exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  house,  whence  a  cross  walk  leads  to 
the  lower  terrace,  which  is  mostly  planted  with  herbaceous  plants.  At 
the  top  of  the  steps  leading  to  the  second  terrace  were  two  large  Fuchsias 
in  ]  6-inch  pots,  and  two  curious,  yet  beautiful,  vases,  whose  sides  were 
Echeveria  secunda  glauca  planted  in  a  framework  of  wire.  The  mouth 
of  the  vases  was  overflowing  with  the  brilliant  crimson  of  Henry  Jacoby 
Zonal  Pelargonium.  _ 
Close  to  the  house  walls  Fuchsia  Riccartoni  was  flourishing,  and 
great  squares  of  Tritoma  Uvaria  with  their  glowing  spikes.  The  back 
border  on  one  side  of  the  kitchen  door  for  a  considerable  distance  was 
filled  with  annuals — Scabious  (German),  Asters,  Coreopsis  Drummondi, 
C.  tinctoria,  Gaillardias,  J acobaeas,  Nicotiana  affinis,  with  annual  Sunflowers, 
Dahlias,  Gladiolus  gandavensis  hybrids,  Chrysanthemums  Madame 
Desgrange  and  G.  Wermig,  These  borders  on  the  upper  terrace  were 
at  least  10  feet  in  width,  and  presented  a  mo.st  gorgeous  mass  of  colour. 
On  the  walls  of  the  house  were  a  large  Magnolia  grandiflora  in  flower, 
as  well  as  Iverria  japonica.  Jasmines,  and  the  fiery  Tropmolum  maj  us.  An 
arbour  near  the  kitchen  door  was  overcanopied  with  Clematis  viticella 
in  flower.  The  castellated  wall  bounding  the  upper  and  lower  terrace 
had  overhanging  its  summit  large  bushes  of  Juniperus  sabina  variegata 
and  Cotoneaster  microphylla,  while  in  the  front  of  the  wall  on  the  higher 
terrace  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length  was  a  broad  belt  of  Tritoma 
Uvaria. 
Below  these  terraces  are  the  pleasure  grounds,  formed  by  a  valley 
with  an  intersecting  stream.  Along  the  sloping  banks  in  the  vale  are 
many  noble  trees.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  house  is  one  of  the  largest 
Cedars  of  Lebanon  in  the  country  ;  it  is  60  feet  high,  has  a  spread  of 
branches  of  80  feet,  and  is  18  feet  in  circumference  at  the  base,  and  was 
planted  in  ISIO.  Other  noble  Cedars  of  Lebanon  are  here,  and  the  follow¬ 
ing  also  of  large  dimensions  were  noticed  : — Cedrus  deodara,  Wellingtonia 
gigantea,  Libocedrus  decurrens,  Cupressus  macrocarpa,  C.  Lawsoniana, 
C.  nutkanensis.  Araucaria  imbricata,  purple  Beech,  two  Quercus  Ilex, 
Box  trees,  and  Portugal  Laurels,  all  in  view  from  the  terraces,  and  they 
proclaim  the  fertility  of  the  soil  of  this  part  of  East  Lothian. 
The  kitchen  gardens  at  Biel  are  small,  and  there  are  no  fruit  houses 
the  famil}’^  wants  in  these  respects  being  supplied  from  Archerfield  and' 
other  places  (Bloxholm  Hall,  in  Lincolnshire,  is  another  seat  of  Mrs. 
Hamilton  Ogilvy).  The  houses  at  Biel  are  not  extensive,  and  are  devoted 
to  plants,  of  which  the  general  arrangement  is  artistic.  There  are  no 
bare  places  ;  all  unsightliness  is  hidden.  One  house,  35  feet  long,  had 
the  front  part  of  the  roof  covered  with  Gloriosa  superba,  with  vermilion 
flowers  ;  and  the  upper  half  of  the  back  wall  was  clothed  with  Allamanda 
Schotti.  This  house  contained  large  specimen  Crotons,  Dracsenas,  and 
Pandanus  Veitchi,  perfectly  clean  and  healthy.  Caladium  argyrrtes  and 
Carex  japonica  variegata  furnished  the  fronts  of  the  stages,  anu  the 
Caladium  argyrites,  in  inch  pots,  were  very  fine.  Another  house 
had  a  large  Areca  lutescens  as  a  centre,  around  which  was  a  bank  of 
Adiantum  cuneatum,  rising  up  a  foot  from  the  ground  ;  the  lowest  shelf 
was  placed  at  that  distance,  and  the  highest  at  about  5  feet.  Coleus  were 
planted  in  front  of  stages,  which  is  a  rather  unusual  but  effective 
plan,  though  perhaps  they  were  not  so  bright  in  colour  as  when  fully 
exposed  to  the  light.  A  large  Clerodendron  Thompson!  was  in  flower 
in  this  house. 
A  span-roofed  structure  was  filled  with  healthy  Crotons  in  groat  variety. 
Amongst  those  I  observed  were  Queen  Victoria,  Golden  King,  Mrs. 
Dorman,Weissmanni,  Lord  Derby,  Countess,  angustit'olia,  and  elegantissima. 
There  were  also  several  very  fine  plants  of  aigburthensis  and  picturatus. 
grown  to  single  stems  and  staked.  Their  height  would  be  from  3  to  4  feet 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  leaf.  Several  exceptionally  fine  Acalypha 
musaica  in  6-inch  pots,  clothed  to  the  rim  with  leaves  and  having  side 
branches  naturally  formed,  were  very  conspicuous.  Eulalia  japonica  varie¬ 
gata  was  repiesented  by  scores  of  admirably  grown  plants  in  6-inch  pots,  and 
the  stages  were  profusely  draped  with  Panicum  variegatum.  L  nderneath 
Pteris  cretica  alho-lineata  was  growing  luxuriantly  in  company  with 
other  Ferns  and  Coleus. 
There  were  also  houses  filled  with  Eucharis  and  Pancratiums,  Toma¬ 
toes,  Cucumbers,  and  a  lofty  span-roofed  conservatory  in  two  divisions. 
The  first  division  entered  had  along  its  rafters  Tropaeolum  Ball  of  Fire, 
and  at  least  a  hundred  superb  tuberous  Begonias  on  the  side  stages  in 
7-incb  pots.  They  were  remarkable  for  the  size  of  their  double  flower 
and  their  profusion  of  bloom.  Fuchsias  occupied  the  central  stages,  and 
on  the  side  stages  were  Zonal  Pelargoniums  and  Lilium  auratum,  edged 
with  fine  plants  of  Campanula  isophylla  alba.  The  next  division  con¬ 
tained  Camellias.  The  roof  was  covered  with  Gloire  de  Dijon,  climbing 
Niphetos,  and  Rubens  Roses.  A  very  fine  standard  plant  of  Datura 
Knighti  with  large  tubular-shaped  double  flowers  was  also  in  this  house. 
Six  hundred  Chrysanthemums  are  grown  at  Biel,  and  all  were  in  good 
health.— F.  Street. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
January  31st. 
Scientific  Committee. — Present ;  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair)  ; 
Mr.  Veitch,  Mr.  Bennett-Poe,  Dr.  Muller,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Prof.  Farmer. 
Mr.  Michael,  Prof.  Balfour,  Mr.  A.  Sutton,  Rev.  Prof.  Henslow,  Hon. 
Sec.  ;  visitor,  Mr.  L.  Sutton. 
Potato  grafting.— Mr.  A.  Sutton  read  an  interesting  paper  on  the 
results  of  grafting  and  hybridising  Potatoes  with  Tomatoes.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  is  an  enitome  of  his  results  : — 1,  Maincrop  Tomato  vras  grafted 
upon  Victoria  Potato.  The  tubers  thus  formed  by  Tomato  foliage  only 
were  very  small.  2,  Solanum  nigrum  grafted  on  Victoria  ;  and  3,  Egg 
plant,  Solanum  esculentum,  grafted  upon  Supreme,  produced  tubers  equal 
to  the  types. 
Potato  Ivjhridising. — 1,  Woodstock  Kidney  was  first  grafted  upon  the 
Tomato,  Earliest  of  All.  The  Potato  flowers  were  pollinated  by  Tomato 
The  seed  produced  Potato  plants  with  small  and  subsequently  diseased 
tubers.  They  were  quite  round.  The  foliage  resembled  that  ot  many 
other  Potatoes.  2,  With  a  similar  graft,  the  flowers  were  self-fertilised. 
The  resulting  produce  resembled  Woodstock  Kidney. 
Solanum  Maglia  hybrids. — Some  hundreds  of  flowers  were  pollinated 
from  Potato  flowers.  Two  seedlings  only  were  obtained  ;  one  perished, 
the  other  produced  a  small  tuber,  which  improved  subsequently,  but 
was  much  inferior  to  commercial  Potatoes. 
Solanum  etuberosum.  —  The  tubers  received  in  1887  were  very  small, 
but  have  now  attained  a  marketable  size.  •  j  c 
Curious  varieties  of  Potatoes. — Mr.  Sutton  also  exhibited  three  kinds  of 
Fir-Apple  Potatoes.  These  are  interesting  as  taking  the  form  of 
rhizomes  with  projecting  points  under  the  eyes,  giving  a  seale-like 
appearance.  One  kind  has  several  branches.  These  Potatoes  bear  flowers, 
but  produce  no  berries,  the  foliage  resembling  that  of  ordinary  Potatoes 
Another  variety,  received  from  Africa,  was  mottled  in  colour,  and 
resembled  the  Fir- Apple  Potato.  The  foliage  is  exceedingly  dark 
coloured,  and  resembles  that  of  the  Stinging  Nettle.  r  j  •  u 
Tomatoes  raised  from  grafts  on  Potato.  —  Victoria  grafted  with 
Tomato  Maincrop.  In  two  y  ears  seedlings  bore  fruit,  but  very  distinct 
from  Maincrop,  the  leaves  being  decidedly  smaller,  the  fruit  more 
numerous  but  smaller  and  earlier,  also  more  corrugated.  These  differences 
became  more  pronounced  in  the  following  year.  A  unanimous  vote  ot 
thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr,  Sutton  for  his  interesting  and  valuable  paper. 
Hollyhock  disease.— Leaves  attacked  by  Puccinia  malvacearum  were 
recpived  from  Mr.  E,  Molyneux  j  the  mildew  which  has  proved  fatal 
to  these  plants  for  many  years.  - 
Cyclamen  fasciated.—Dr.  Masters  exhibited  specimens  of  this  not 
unusual  phenomenon  of  several  flowers  with  leaves  on  the  same  stem. 
Eucalyptus  sp.— He  also  showed  flowering  specimen  of  E.  cordatus. 
growing  in  the  open  in  County  Down  ;  and  of  E.  globulus,  grown  for 
forty  years  in  Leicestershire.  Prof.  Balfour  observed  that  on  the  coast 
of  Ross-shire  several  plants  characteristic  of  the  Riviera  thrive  well, 
in  consequence  of  the  amelioration  of  the  climate  by  the  proximity  ot 
the  Gulf  Stream.  . 
Cypripedium. — Dr.  Masters  also  exhibited  a  blossom  of  a  Cypripedium, 
in  which  the  two  normally’  coherent  sepals  were  tree. 
Additions  to  the  Library.—'^  Silva  of  North  America,”  by  C.  S.  Sargent, 
vol.  xii ,  Coniferae  ;  “Orchids  of  Sikkim-Himalaya,”  by  G.  King  an 
R.  Pantling,  parts  1-4;  “Bush  Fruits  of  America,”  by  F,  VV.  Vard; 
“Sketch  of  the  Evolution  of  Our  Native  Fruits”  (America),  by  L.  H. 
Bailey;  “Fertilisers,”  by  E.  B.  Voorhers ;  and  “Nouvelles  Archives  du 
Museum,”  Tome  Di.xi^mr. 
