248 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  11,  1902. 
Gadding  and  Gathering. 
“Here  awa’,  There  awa’." 
A  Cricket  Match  of  Interest. 
For  the  first  time  since  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable  and  Floral 
Committees  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  came  into  being, 
they  met  yesterday  week  to  spend  one  afternoon  together  at 
the  sport  of  cricket.  The  event  was  of  marked  success,  for  not 
only  were  there  a  goodly  company  of  the  fruit  and  floral  leaders 
present,  but  each  was  there  with  the  purpose  to  enjoy  the 
game,  and  to  contribute  to  the  pleasure  in  it  of  the  others. 
The  clay  was  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible. 
Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  had  placed  his  beautiful  pitch 
at  Gunnersbury  Park  for  use  by  the  visitors  on  this  occasion, 
and  the  renowned  gardens  were  open,  too,  these  being  inspected 
probably  by  everyone  at  the  meeting.  The  cricket  field  itself  is 
unequalled  on  its  own  merits  or  surroundings  by  any  other 
west  of  Lord’s  or  the  Oval.  The  Fruit  Committee  batted  first,  and 
proved  in  the  end  that  they  possessed  the  more  expert  batsmen. 
Mr.  G.  Woodward  was  captain,  while  of  the  Floral  Team.  Mr. 
Howe,  of  Chrysanthemum  fame,  stood  as  leader.  Both  captains 
quitted  themselves  ably,  the  former  having  noteworthy  support 
from  E.  Beckett,  R.  Parker,  George  Reynolds,  "and  W. 
Iggulden,  while  the  efforts  of  Messrs.  W.  Howe,  J.  Hudson,  and 
C.  R.  Fielder,  were  the  most  helpful  in  augmenting  the  florists’ 
score.  As  one  witty  member  remarked,  the  “  floor  all  ”  com¬ 
mittee  did  not  on  this  occasion  justify  its  name,  and 
several  succeeded  in  “  bagging  their  brace.”  In  both 
innings  the  Fruit  Committee  attained  the  mastery,  not¬ 
withstanding  all  manners  of  styles  in  bowling  from  ‘  dribblers  ’ 
by  Mr.  Jones  to  the  sky-high  flights  from  Mr.  Fielder.  Even 
Mr.  Richard  Dean  renewed  liis  youth,  and  probably  his  thoughts 
flew  back  to  fifty,  or  even  sixty  years  ago,  for  he  would  be  a 
youth  of  thirteen  even  with  sixty  years  deducted.  We  heard — 
and  may  we  not  tell  it? — of  his  having  risen  at  three  o’clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  match  to'  complete  some  literary  work  and 
be  free  to  join  his  contemporaries  during  the  day. 
Mr.  Bates  proved  an  adept  at  “  blocking,”  but  “  blocked  ” 
once  too  often,  for  the  ball  went  above,  instead  of  below,  and 
the  bails  came  off.  That  was  a  pity,  for  he  had  not  then 
scared.  However,  lie  was  not  alone  in  that  respect.  The  game 
was  generally  interesting,  and  so  satisfactory  that  Mr.  Marshall 
intimated  at  the  conclusion  that  he  had  received  invitations 
from  two  prominent  horticulturists  for  separate  matches  next 
year,  and  he  trusted  that  the  cricket  meeting  might  become  an 
annual  affair.  The  umpires  were  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Humphreys,  to'  whom  a  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded. 
Luncheon  was  partaken  of  in  a  large  tent  erected  in  the 
grounds,  at  which  thaliks  were  conveyed  to  the  owner  of  Gun- 
nersbury  Park  for  his  courtesy  in  having  permitted  the  visit. 
In  the  company  were  noted  Messrs.  H.  B.  May,  George  Paul, 
John  Wright,  -  Harrison  (Leicester),  J.  Assbee,  J.  James, 
and  A.  Dean.  The  teams  and  scores  were  as  follows: — 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee. 
Floral 
Committee. 
1st  innings 
2nd  do. 
1st  innings  2nd  do. 
R.  Parker 
8 
14 
C.  E.  Pearson  .. 
0 
0 
A.  H.  Pearson . . 
0 
7 
C.  .J.  Salter  .. 
0 
0 
G.  Reynolds  . . 
7 
23 
C.  Dixon 
2 
0 
AV.  Bates 
3 
0 
J.  Hudson 
7 
4 
E.  Beckett 
10 
1 
C.  R.  Fielder  .. 
7 
1 
II.  Esling 
2 
W.  Howe 
6 
..  not  out  17 
M.  Gleeson 
0 
J.  Walker 
2 
4 
G.  Keif  .. 
2 
E.  Jenkins 
2 
4 
G.  Woodward.. 
6 
not  out  20 
C.  T.  Druery  .. 
0 
0 
A.  Dean . . 
0 
.  % 
H.  .T.  Jones 
2 
1 
W.  Iggulden  . . 
7 
16 
R.  Dean 
2 
0 
Extras 
2 
6 
Extras 
2 
2 
Total  . .  ' 
47  ..for6wkts87 
Total 
32 
!!  33 
Fruit 
Committee’s  total.. 
134 
Floral  Committee’s  total 
•  •  •  •  -  •  • 
.. 
65 
Difference  .. 
69 
Edinburgh  City  Gardens. 
That  new  brushes  sweep  clean  we  are  agreed,  and  changes  in 
the  superintendence  of  gardens,  public  or  private,  sometimes 
or  indeed  very’  often,  result  in  alterations  to  the  aspect  of  the 
grounds  or  in  their  routine  display.  The  old  order  ehangeth,  and 
the  desires  of  to-day  are  other  than  those  of  yesterday.  This 
leads  me  to  say  that  Mr.  J.  W.  McHattie,  City  Gardener  in  Edin¬ 
burgh,  has  altered  aud  improved  the  aspect  of  the  bedding  scene 
this  year  in  Prince’s  Street  Gardens.  New  beds  entirely  have 
been  planned;  old  walks  have  been  displaced,  and  a.  different 
style  of  bedding  been  inaugurated  to  that  of  years  past,  but  of 
which  I  may  write  under  another  head. 
The  bedding  this  year  is  sub-tropical  in  character,  and  met 
with  general  approbation,  although  one  friend  of  the  old  school 
with  whom  I  spoke  lamented  that  there  was  no  “  show,”  no  blaze 
of  flowery’  colour.  But  while  the  foliar  effects  subdue  the  brilli¬ 
ance  begot  of  flowers  by  themselves  alone,  I,  and  others,  were 
well  content  with  the  “  show”  made  by  Violas  in  the  fresh  made 
borders  of  sinuous  outline  which  enliven  the  forefront  of  the 
sombre  shrubbery  by  the  railway  route,  where  the  centre  of  the 
ancient  Nor’  Loch  lay.  And  by  a  shaded  nook  by  the  Waverley 
Bridge,  till  the  present  year  a  sort  of  nursery’ -keep,  the  City 
gardener  will  soon  present  the  citizens  of  my  native'  hold  with  a 
Bamboo  garden,  which  one  has  every  reason  to  expect  will  become 
a  successful  and  delightful  feature.  On  those  steep  grass  banks 
supporting  the  topmost  terrace,  next-  spring  will  see  designs 
thereon,  in  Crocus  hues,  and  soon  the  little  corms  will  find  their 
place  within  the  soil.  Shields,  stars,  and  circles  are  the  designs 
suggested. 
Then  there  is  the  fountain  end  to  be  kept  in  mind.  Pathways 
near  this  spot  are  to  be  renewed,  and  shrubberies  replanted. 
£1,000  are  being  spent  on  new  shrubs.  Old  friends  returning 
will  ask  where  they  are!  Who  shall  know  the  gardens?  At 
Blackford  Hill,  where  the  city  boundary  is,  the  Japanese  Rugosa 
Rose  has  been  liberally  planted,  and  certainly  from  a  distance  I 
admired  the  Golden  Elder  on  its  basal  slopes.  Water  Lilies  are 
to  adorn  the  basin  of  the  fountain  in  Prince’s  Street  Gardens,  and 
Daffodils  are  being  naturalised  on  the  wooded  slopes  beneath  the 
crags  of  high-placed  Edinburgh  Castle.  History  and  Art !  yea, 
and  Commerce  too — remember  the  railway  lying  between. 
But  these  are  sufficient'  in  the  way  of  change  to  go  on  with. 
The  most  enterprising  must  be  satisfied,  and  the  dour  conserva¬ 
tive  must  set  his  teeth.  Yet  must  we  still  gaze  sadly  eastward 
from  the  Castle  Esplanade  or  Calton  Hill  to  the  barren  slopes  of 
crumbling  basalt  that  unadorn  those  “  Samson’s  Ribs?”  The 
Crown  authorities  must  emulate  the  City. 
Trinity  Grove,  Edinburgh. 
The  Poet  Laureate  most  interestingly  describes  what  joys  and 
pleasures  the  little  garden  that  he  loves — Veronica’s  Garden — 
possesses  and  accords  to  him,  but  his  sunny  southern  garden  does 
not,  I  am  sure,  surpass  in  any  one  respect  whatever,  that  won- 
drously  fertile  and  cosy  Eden  nook  surrounding  the  quaint  old 
residence,  once,  of  Queen  Mary  of  Scots,  and  later  in  time,  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  which  is  to-day  named  Trinity  Grove,  Edinburgh. 
I  am  inaccurate  to  address  it  under  Edina’s  sway ;  it  lies  within 
the  postal  district  of  the  Port  of  Leith,  and  Provost  Mackie  of 
that  seaport  is  its  present  owner.  But  Edinburgh  and  Leith 
here  join,  and  the  Grove  may  mark  the  northern  limit,  for  a  few 
yards  further  flows  the  Firth  of  Forth. 
Trinity  Grove  has  attracted  the  horticultural  journalist  much 
oftener  than  twice  or  thrice,  and  that  lover  of  the  beautiful  in 
either  art  or  Nature,  the  late  revered  David  Taylor  Fish,  made 
frequent  pilgrimage  to  the  Grove,  and  his  delight  at  the  square 
Yew  hedges — growths  of  many  years — at  the  Cedars  on  the  lawn, 
the  mighty  Poplar  by  the  gate,  the  umbrageous,  half-inclining, 
mossy  old  Pear  tree  by  the  bowling  green,  and  which  never  fails 
to  fruit,  was  always  renewed,  and  with  the  Apple  trees  on  the 
vegetable  brakes,  and  the  fruitful  Grape  Vines  and  Peaches  under 
glass  were  a  perennial  source  of  pleasure. 
Provost  Mackie  and  his  family  are  also  truly  fond  of  this  un¬ 
surpassable  garden,  and  duly  appreciate  its  bounty.  Grapes  I 
have  mentioned,  and  Peaches.  Lo !  for  years  they  have  borne  a 
plethora  of  fruit,  and  still  their  vigour  and  prolificacy  remain  as 
great,  or  greater,  as  it  almost  appears  to  me  who  have  known 
this  garden  over  now  a  long  period.  It  is  difficult  to  say  whether 
the  Peaches  or  the  Vines  do  the  better.  Certain  it  is,  each  are 
model  houses  of  the  ablest  cultural  practice,  and  by  no  other 
means  than  the  constant  and  skilled  attention  of  the  gardener 
during  his  twelve  years  of  office,  could  they  have  remained  thus 
in  excellence  for  so  long  a  time.  When  I  say  that  the  experienced 
manager  of  Methuen’s  nurseries  has  been  proud  to  bring  a  wealthy 
client  down  to  the  Grove,  that  het  might  see  “  What  one  of  our 
men”  can  do.  Pointing  to  the  laden  trees, the  testimony  need 
be  carried  no  further.  One  of  our  men,”  in  this  case,  meant 
that  Mr.  A.  McKenzie,  the  gardener,  was  a  dealer  with  the  firm. 
Apple  trees  in  the  open  are  clean  and  in  good  heart.  They 
bear  so  heavily  that  but  little  annual  wood  is  made,  and  con¬ 
sequently  the  shoots  are  stout  and  well  ripened.  The  sandy  loam 
assists  towards  this  condition,  but  it  necessitates  both  a  liberal 
supply  of  manorial  enrichment,  and  of  watering  during  a  droughty 
summer.  The  Celery  trenches  have  frequently  the  hose  upon 
them,  and  so,  too,  have  the  Strawberries  and  the  Roses.  The 
Rose  garden  is  a  formal  one,  laid  out  in  long  beds,  and  surrounded 
on  three  sides  by  part  of  the  beautiful  hedges  I  referred  to  earlier, 
and  the  fourth  side  upholds  espalier  Apple  trees,  and  a  new 
Honeysuckle  arch.  Crimson  Rambler  and  other  suitable  Roses 
have  been  set  upon  arches  at  the  crossings  of  the  walks,  but  these 
so'  far,  have  not  fully  succeeded.  South  and  east  of  the  rosery  lie 
borders  of  Spanish  and  English  Irises,  beds  of  Dog’s-tooth  Violets, 
lines  of  perennial  Phloxes,  and  a  great  profusion  of  the  hand¬ 
somest  old-fashioned  herbaceous  flowers,  not  omitting  giant 
clumps  of  the  creamy  Plume  Grass. 
There  are  other  features  which  never  fail  to  attract  the  visitor, 
and  these  are,  first  big  Gooseberry  bushes ;  and  next  a  splendid 
Niphetos  Rose  which  covers  the  whole  inner  surface  of  a  moderate- 
sized  span-roofed  greenhouse,  and  on  the  roof  of  the  indoor  fem- 
rcckery,  a  notable  Passiflora  racemosa  screens  many  square  yards 
with  foliage  and  flowers  which  are  present  the  whole  year  round. 
We  are  pleased  to  know  that  this  interesting  place  of  monastic 
mien  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  respected  Provost,  and  trust 
that  he  and  those  around  him  may  long  dwell  there  to  enjoy  its 
delights. — Wandering  Willie. 
