December  11,  1C02. 
546  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
A  FOUR=  FLOWERED  TULIP. 
Through  the  kindness  of  a  correspondent,  we  some  time  ago 
received  the  photograph  of  a  four-flowered  Tulip,  of  which  an 
excellent  illustration  appears.  It  is  decidedly  uncommon 
to  see  or  hear  of  one  Tulip  bulb  throwing  four  flowers  and  all  on 
one  stalk.  In  our  own  experience  this  is  the  first  instance  we 
can  recall.  It  will  be  noticed  that  an  offset  has  also  produced 
a  small  flower,  as  shown  in  the  figure  herewith. 
- t - 
Ardgowan,  N.B. 
Amongst  the  many  stately  mansions  that  bestud  the  shores  of 
the  Firth  of  Clyde,  few  can  equal,  and  none  excel,  in  beauty  of 
situation  and  grandeur  of  environment  that  of  Ardgowan,  the 
palatial  residence  of  Sir  Michael  Robert.  Shaw-Stewart,  Bart. 
Situated  upon  a  plateau  overlooking  the  Firth  of  Clyde,  it  com¬ 
mands  extensive  views  of  some  of  the  most  beautiful  and  enchant¬ 
ing  scenery  imaginable,  embracing  both  land  and  water.  From 
the  terrace  in  front  of  the  mansion  the  view  is  one  of  surpassing 
grandeur ;  away  towards  the  right  across  the  waters  of  the  Firtli 
tower  the  Cowal  Hills  in  rugged  grandeur,  clad  to  the  summit  in 
their  purple  mantle  of  Heather ;  while  at  their  base  and  skirting 
the  shore  numerous  handsome  villas  peep  from  out  their  leafy 
screen  of  trees.  Right  in  front  but  further  away  lies  the  fertile 
islands  of  Bute  and  Arran,  with  the  rocky  peaks  of  Goatfell  in 
the  latter  dimly  descried  on  the  western  horizon.  Close  at  our 
feet  lie  the  waters  of  the  Firth,  glimmering  in  the  autumn  sun¬ 
shine  like  a  sea  of  molten  glass,  across  whose  shining  surface 
glides  many  a  graceful,  white  winged  yacht;  or  anon  the  scene 
may  change  when  Boreas,  in  playful  mood,  comes  careering  down 
the  rocky  glens,  lashing  the  waters  in  his  boisterous  mirth,  and 
dashing  the  white-crested  waves.  wTith  resounding  roar  upon  the 
rocky  beach.  Turning  to  our  left  hand  the  eye  travels  over  many 
a  fertile  field  and  woody  hillside,  with  the  quaint  little  village  of 
Inverkip  nestling  amidst  the  “  tall  ancestral  trees  ”  in  the  fore¬ 
ground. 
Extensive  parks  of  rich  pasturage  surround  the  mansion,  and 
many  a  noble  tree  spreads  abroad  its  giant  branches,  at  once 
giving  beauty  to  the  landscape  and  shelter  to  the  cattle  as  they 
lazily  browse  in  the  summer  sunshine.  A  well-kept  lawn,  inter¬ 
sected  by  gravel  walks  and  judiciously  ornamented  with  graceful 
trees  and  clumps  of  shrubs,  stretches  out  immediately  in  front 
of  the  house ;  while  in  close  proximity  to  the  mansion  there  is  a 
neat  little  flower  garden,  kept,  bright  during  the  summer  with 
choice  bedding  plants.  An  ornamental  stair  leads  from  this  up 
to  the  conservatory,  which  occupies  a  position  adjoining  the 
drawing-room,  on  the  second  storey.  It  is  of  handsome  design, 
and  is  always  kept  bright,  and  gay  with  a  choice  selection  of 
foliage  and  flowering  plants  in  season. 
After  an  absence  of  twenty  years  it  was  with  genuine  pleasure 
that,  one  day  last  September  we  found  ourselves  once  more  tread¬ 
ing  the  weedless  gravel  of  the  drive  that  leads  from  the  village 
of  Inverkip  towards  tire  gardens.  Once  again  we  looked  upon  the 
erstwhile  familiar  scenes,  reawakening  within  our  memory  many 
a.  half-forgotten  incident  of  the  byegone  days.  We  were  fortu¬ 
nate  in  finding  Mr.  Lunt  at  home,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  in¬ 
specting  the  gardens  and  hothouses  under  his  escort.  Mr.  Lunt 
has  had  charge  of  these  extensive  and  beautiful  gardens  for  the 
long  period  of  forty-five  years  (surely  a  record  service),  and  lias 
discharged  the  multitudinous  duties  devolving  upon  him  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  his  appreciative  employers,  and  we  were 
pleased  to  see  the  veteran  of  so  many  years’  faithful  service  still 
hale  and  hearty,  and  looking  fit  for  years  to  come. 
On  entering  the  garden  we  are  confronted  with  the  fruit 
houses — a  handsome,  substantial  range  of  glass  442ft  in  length. 
The  first  house  entered  is  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  Peaches 
and  Nectarines.  The  trees  are  planted  both  at  the  back  and 
front  of  the  house;  those  on  the  front  are  trained  on  what  is 
popularly  called  a  drum  trellis,  thereby  allowing  a  maximum  of 
light  and  sunshine  to  reach  the  trees  on  the  back  wall.  At  the 
time  of  our  visit  the  bulk  of  the  fruit  had  been  gathered,  but  we 
were  informed  the  crop  had  been  good  and  the  quality  first  class 
— a  statement  which  was  fully  borne  out  by  the  few  remaining 
Nectarines  which  we  saw,  large,  brightly-coloured  specimens. 
Three  houses  in  all  are  set  apart  for  the  growth  of  these  luscious 
fruits,  large  quantities  being  annually  required  to  supply  the 
dessert  table,  especially  Nectarines,  which  are1  specially  favoured 
by  Sir  Michael. 
The  trees,  which  are  models  of  good  training,  are  all  in  excel¬ 
lent  health,  free  from  insect  pests,  and  promising  well  for  next 
year.  In  the  early  house  the  trees  are  on  the  front  only  and 
trained  up  the  roof,  the  back  wall  being  covered  with  two  fine 
Lapagerias,  a  red  and  a  white.  The  fine,  strong  growths  and 
leathery  dark  green  leaves  indicate  that  the  position  and  treat¬ 
ment  accorded  them  are  exactly  to  their  liking,  and  as  a  recom¬ 
pense  they  annually  yield  an  abundant  supply  of  their  beautifully 
A  Four=Flowered  Tulip. 
chaste  flowers.  The  fruit,  had  all  been  cut  from  the  early  Vines, 
but  in  the  two  later  houses  many  fine  bunches  still  remained. 
Especially  good  were  the  Muscats,  of  which  we  observed  a 
goodly  number  of  excellent  bunches,  with  large  berries  of  a  beau¬ 
tiful  amber  tint,  despite  the  sunless  season  we  had  experienced. 
The  majority  of  the  Vines  at  Ardgowan  are  no  youths,  having  been 
planted  about  forty  years  ago.  Mr.  Lunt  is,  however,  bringing 
up  young,  vigorous  canes  from  the  base  and  gradually  removing 
the  old  rods,  so  that,  like  the  proverbial  eagle,  these  Vines  may 
be  said  to  be  renewing  their  youth.  The  Fig  house,  which  occu¬ 
pies  the  westmost  end  of  the  range,  is  somewhat  narrower  in 
width  than  the  rest  of  the  range,  the  trees  being  planted  on  the 
back  wall  only.  Two  huge  trees  completely  fill  the  space,  and 
bear  splendid  crops  of  fruit.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  the  second 
crop  was  ripening,  and  we  observed  many  luscious,  tempting 
examples.  Mr.  Lunt  remarked  that  he  thought  they  were  the 
finest  second  crop  Figs  lie  had  had  from  these  trees  ;  the  variety 
is  Brown  Turkey.  Sandwiched  in  amongst  the  fruit  houses  are 
two  plant  houses — a  greenhouse  and  a  stove.  The  former  was 
bright  with  a  variety  of  flowering  plants  usually  found  in  such 
houses;  a  number  of  large  specimen  Camellias  were,  however, 
specially  noteworthy,  all  in  robust  health  and  beautifully  trained. 
Amongst  them  we  noticed  a  couple  of  nice  shapely  plants  of 
that  fine  old  sort,  C.  reticulata.  In  the  stove  were  a  nice  batch 
of  Ixoras,  while  foliage  plants  were  well  represented  by  well- 
grown  highly  coloured  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  Caladiums,  &c. 
Strawberries  for  forcing  are  grown  in  large  quantities  in  pots, 
and  fine  healthy  stuff  they  looked  as  they  stood  in  long  rows 
along  the  walk  in  front  of  the  fruit  range,  and  they  will  no  doubt 
give  a  good  account  of  themselves  next  spring.  In  the  kitchen 
garden  the  usual  vegetables  are  grown  in  large  quantities  to 
meet  the  heavy  demands  that  are  made  upon  this  department. 
Specially  fine  we  noticed  a  large  breadth  of  Onions,  sown  as  late 
as  the  beginning  of  April ;  yet,  notwithstanding  the  shortness  of 
the  season,  many  fine  samples  were  observed,  quite  equal  to  many 
that  have  been  reared  under  glass  and  transplanted. 
If  we  mistake  not,  Onions  have  been  grown  continuously  on  . 
the  same  ground  for  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  century,  whatever 
more.  The  appearance  of  this  latest  crop  is  such  as  would  refute 
the  theory  advanced  by  some  that  it  is  suicidal  policy  to  grow  tins 
useful  vegetable  year  after  year  on  the  same  ground. 
Beetroot,  too,  was  very  fine,  a  large  breadth,  beautifully 
coloured,  with  not  a  single  rogue  being  noticed  among  them. 
Brussels  Sprouts  were  also  well  represented,  promising  a  plentiful 
supply  for  winter.  Strawberries,  we  were  informed,  had  suffered 
