402 
JOURNAL  OF  HORriCULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  7,  1903. 
We  next  visit  wiiat  is  called  the  Heliotrope  house,  where  we  find 
a  nice,  clean,  healthy  lot  of  Hydrangeas,  showing  nice  heads  of 
flower.  Here  also  are  a  very  good  lot  of  Primula  sinensis,  but 
most  prominent  is  the  occnpant  of  the  back  wall — Habrothamnns 
clegans,  about  loft  high  (a  very  fine  plant).  It  is  wonderfully 
healthy,  and  about  .the  finest  plant  we  have  seen.  Near  by  is 
another  very  fine  plant — a  seedling. 
In  the  Peach  house  there  is  the  best  crop  and  the  largest  fruit 
we  have  seen  this  season.  This  house  is  about  Soft  by  20ft,  and 
the  varieties  are  Hales’  Early,  Bellegarde,  Noble.s.se,  and  Gros 
Mignonne,  and  Nectarine  Lord  Napier.  There  is  a  fine  set,  and 
the  fruit  is  swelling  well.  A  good  lot  of  Pelargoniums,  strong 
sturdy  stuff,  and  white  Stocks  (Sutton’s  All  the  Year  Round)  lo'ok 
well. '  In  frames  outside  are  about  bOO  Chrysanthemums.  There 
is  about  an  acre  of  kitchen  garden,  and  the  attractive  pleasure 
grounds  contain,  in  one  corner,  a  rabbit  warren,  where  “  bunny  ” 
makes  subways  to  suit  his  convenience  and  pleasure.  The  flower 
beds  are  within  view  of  the  drawing-room,  while  from  the  front 
can  be  seen  tlie  tennis  lawn.  This  in  summer  is  surrounded  with 
Sweet  Peas  on  a  wire  trellis.  Conspicuous  on  the  lawn  are  three 
raised  beds  in  the  form  of  I\'y  baskets,  Ivy  forming  the  edge  of  the 
beds  and  a  cross  handle.  Then  we  come  upon  Rose  beds  and 
Dahlia  bed.  This  is  an  ideal  spot.  A  place  to  .wander  in  in  the 
twilight,  and  listen  to  the  music  of  the  birds!  Rhododendron.s 
surround  tlie  lake,  upon  which  are  ducks  and  a  boat.  Passing  a 
shrubbery  we  come  upon  a  gravel  tennis  court  and  a  secluded 
walk,  edged  with  rustic  tree  roots,  between  which  Ferns,  &c., 
luxuriate,  winds  through  the  former.  This  walk  is  hidden  from 
tlie  house  to  a  great  extent,  and  fonns  a  shady  place  in  summer 
time.  The  lawn  is  three  to  four  acres  in  extent,  and  we  see  grand 
plants  of  Rhododendron  Cunninghami  and  other  named  varieties, 
ahso  some  very  fine  specimen  Thorns,  purple  Beech  Hollies  (some 
20ft  through),  double  and  single  Cherry,  Ac. 
Annuals  are  a  speciality  here,  and  later  on  the 
borders  will  be  gay  with  a  variety  of  flowers.  During 
our  peregrinations  we  are  struck  with  the  order  of  the 
place,  everywhere  being  scrupulously  clean  and  tidy.  The  gar¬ 
dener,  Mr.'  Pollard,  though  young,  is  practical,  persevering,  and 
methodical.  Ho  commenced  his  gardening  career  at  an  early 
age,  wa.s  six  j'ears  foreman  at  Farnsley  Hall,  near  Leeds,  under 
Mr.  Martin,  leaving  there  to  take  charge  of  the  gardens  at  Hawks- 
Avorth  Hall,  near  Bradford,  where  he  remained  three  years.  He 
then  went  to  Billingham  Hall,  near  Hartlepool,  where  he  prac¬ 
tically  remodelled  the  gardens;  but  not  finding  the  place  con¬ 
genial  to  his  tastes,  he  obtained  his  present  situation,  where  he  has 
been  about  two  years.  The  establishment  had,  however,  only  just 
come  into  the  posses.sion  of  Mr.  Greenwood,  and  the  plant  houses 
Avere  consequently  practically  empty.  All  credit,  therefore,  is 
dire  to  him  for  the  present  condition  of  their  contents.  He  is  by 
no  means  unknoAvn  as  an  exhibitor,  and  in  the  potting  hou.se  may 
be  seen  some  fifty  or  sixty  prize  cards  taken  at  the  Otley,  Brad¬ 
ford,  and  Sheffield  Chiysanthemum  ShoAVs,  and  the  Sheffield  and 
Pitsmoor  Horticultural  ShoAvs  for  fruit,  plants  and  floAvers.  He 
prides  himself,  and  pardonably  so,  on  Grape  groAving ;  and  his 
Grapes  and  Peaches  at  this  stage  are  certainly  a  treat.  He 
has  receiAmd  CAmry  encouragement  from  his  employer,  F.  Green- 
AA’ood,  Esq.,  Avho,  though  apparently  appreciating  Amriety,  yet 
likes  quality.  The  genial  master  of  Abbeyfield  is  fond  of  home- 
life,  and  takes  a  pride  in  his  beautiful  gronnds.^ — W.  L. 
Notes  on  “  Snaithing  Brook,”  the  seat  of  H.  H.  AndreAvs, 
Esq.,  will  be  published  in  another  issue. 
A  Daffodil  Treat. 
Since  my  visit  to  Holly  Court,  described  in  the  issue  of 
April  9,  Avo  have  been  privileged  to  inspect  the  recent  magnificent 
.slioAV  of  Daffodils  there.  BelieAing  in  giving  pleasure  to  others, 
E.  A.  Kelley,  Esq.,  the  popular  OAvner  of  Holly  Court,  Amry 
generously  threrv  open  his  beautiful  grounds  to  the  pirblic  during 
the  Easter  holidays,  and  many  thou, sands  of  people  took  advan¬ 
tage  of  the  opportunity  thus  afforded.  To  say  that  the  privilege 
Avas  appreciatotl  Avould  do  but  scant  justice  ;  the  people  Avere 
enthusiastic  in  their  praise  of  the  grounds  and  the  owner,  and 
notAvithstanding  the  croAvds  Avho  visited  the  place,  no  damage 
AA’as  done.  Since  then,  the  members  of  the  Sheffield  lioral  and 
Horticultural  Society  (!of  Avhich  Mr.  Kelley  i.s  a  vice  president) 
have  been  irrmleged  to  pay  a  special  visit.  In  the  Avoods  are 
masses  of  Daffodils.  Here  Ave  see  a  bold  mass  of  Horsfieldi,  there 
one  of  Emperor,  then  another  of  Empress,  here  Glory  of  Leyden, 
there  Leeds!  amabilis — and  they  are  not  planted  in  small  patches, 
but  a  thousand  together  ;  hence  Ave  see  a  good  effect  iinmediately 
on  entering  the  Avoods.  Then  Ave  find  Princeps,  maxiiuus,  Barri 
conspiciAUS,  Stella  superba.  Bicolor  grande,  pceticus.  Sir 
Watkin,  and  obAmllaris.  The  trees  are  bursting  into  leaf;  there 
is  a  carpet  of  Bluebells  springing  up,  and  amid.st  it  all  the  bright 
golden  tints  of  the  Daffodils.  The  effect  may  be  imagined  Avhen 
Ave  say  there  are  30,000  floAA'ering  bulbs,  and  possibly  next  season 
this  quantity  Avill  be  doubled,  as  it  is  intended  to  A’ery  consider¬ 
ably  increase  the  plantings.  There  is  a  Avinding  path  Avhich 
enables  not  only  a  good  vieAv,  but  a  close  inspection.  There  is  no 
formality  or  rigidness,  no  set  shapes  of  beds.  Here  there  is  a 
belt  of  1,000  Horsfieldi,  there  a  batch  of  1,500  Emperor,  and  not¬ 
Avithstanding  the  bitterly  cold  Avinds  of  the  past  AA'eek  or  tAvo, 
they  looked  Avell,  The  generous  thoughtfulness  of  Mr.  Kelley 
afforded  infinite  pleasure  to  the  visitors.  His  genial  presence, 
too,  afforded  further  satisfaction,  and  the  courteous  gardener, 
Mr.  KettleAA'ell,  Avas  assiduous  in  his  de.sire  to  give  pleasure  to 
the  numbers  avIio  paid  a  vi.sit  to  this  “  fea,st  of  floAvers.” — W.  L. 
Cineraria  steliata  at  Pitcullen,  Perth. 
A  day  or  tAvo  ago  Ave  Avere  delighted  to  observe,  AA'hen  pa.ssing 
through  the  Avell-kept  gardens  at  Pitcullen,  the  very  fine  lot  of 
Star  Cinerarias  in  full  bloom  in  the  greenhouse.  The  plants  were 
groAvn  in  different  sizes  of  pots,  A'arying  from  Tin  to  Sin  in  dia¬ 
meter,  the  larger  ones  making  handsome  specimens  Avith  large 
spreading  heads  of  starry  blo«.soms,  Avhile  the  smaller  pots  coq- 
tained  neat  little  plants  exceedingly  Avell  floAvered.  These  lattqr 
are  eminently  suitable  for  house  decoration,  the  small  pots  being 
of  great  advantage,  as  they  are  easily  hid  from  sight,  and  the  deli¬ 
cately-tinted  floAvers  look  exceedingly  beautiful.  We  also  noticeq, 
amongst  other  interesting  things,  a  feAV  plants  of  Japanese 
Maples,  and  Avero  delighted  AA'ith  the  beautifully-tinted,  finely' 
laciniated  foliage.  These  Maples  ought  to  be  more  largely  groAvn, 
as  their  graceful  form  and  lovely  tints  make  them  objects  of  great 
beauty.  As  usual.  Grapes  at  Pitcullen  are  looking  Avell,  and 
there  is  promise  of  an  abundant  ,  crop  in  the  eight  vineries,  re¬ 
garding  Avhich  Ave  may  send  a  foAV  notes  later  on. — Albyx. 
Nature  Notes. 
The  Missel  Thrush. 
This  ever  interesting  harbinger  of  spring  is  the  largest  and 
mo.st  combative  of  our  residential  birds.  During  the  fruit  season 
it  is  one  of  the  gardeners’  greatest  depredators,  and  Cherries  in 
particular  it  posse.sses  a  “  strong  weakness  ”  for ;  but  one  can  Avell 
afford  not  to  begrudge  them  a  modicum  of  fruit,  especially  con¬ 
sidering  their  Avelcome  presence  in  springtide  Avith  their  hand¬ 
some  shape,  beautifully  spotted  breasts,  and  song  so  reminiscent, 
too,  of  one’s  boyhood.  It  is  naturally  shy,  but  in  the  nesting 
season — and  more  especially  Avhere  as  a  habitue  near  dAvelling- 
houses — it  becomes  almost  fearless.  In  the  season  of  nidifica- 
tion,  lioAA'ever,  the  Avildest  birds  are  comparatively  tame.  During 
breeding  the  missel  thru.sh  is  fierce  and  pugnacious  toAvards  other 
birds  that  A’isit  its.haunts.  ToAvards  autumn  this  thrush  becomes 
gregarious,  assembling  sometimes  in  large  flocks.  It  is  also 
knoAAii  by  the  name  of  mistletoe  thmsh,  gor  thrush  (the  latter 
especially  in  South  WarAvickshire),  and  storm  cock;  the  latter 
appellation  because  it  sings  early  in  spring,  principally  during 
stormy  Aveather.  Curiously,  it.s  minor  notes  are  hardly  dis¬ 
tinguishable  fifty  yards  di.stant,  unle.ss  the  Avind  and  .surround¬ 
ings  are  quiet.  Of  this  I  recently  enjoyed  a  someAvhat  rare 
exiierience  in  my  OAvn  garden,  Avhere  a  cock  bird  has  for  the  last 
fcAv  days  visited  a  Amry  tall  Pear  tree  for  his  matutinal  song 
chiefly.  AlloAving  me  to  approach  about  thirty  yards  di.stant, 
every  note'  became  distinctly  clear,  it.s  rich,  loud,  and  ringing 
higher  notes  affording  a  strong  contrast  to  the  soft,  mellifluent 
and  loAver  noted  interlardings.  Anon,  it  took  possession  of 
another  tall  Pear  tree  about  one  hundred  yards  off,  but  Avhich  has 
for  seA'eral  seasons  past  been  the  rostrum  of  a  blackbird,  and  this 
season  by  a  .song  thru.sh,  or  throstle. 
I  have  been  induced  to  mention  the  circumstance  in  que.stion 
of  this  bird’s  song,  as  I  haAm  never  heard  of,  or  seen  in  print,  a 
similar  notice.  Finally,  I  .should  remark  that  the  minor  notes  of 
the  bird  Avere  softer  and  more  mellifluous  than  those  of  the  song 
thrush. 
Since  penning  the  foregoing  last  night, I  AA'as  much  interested 
to  observe  early  this  morning  both  the  storm  cock  and  song 
thrush  simultaneously  perched  upon  my  neighbour’s  tall  Pear 
tree,  at  about  tAvo  yards  frouA  each  other,  on  the  tips  of  the  top¬ 
most  branches,  piping  forcibly  together. — W.  G. 
