December  11,  1SC2.  JOURNAL >  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTA  IE  GARDENER. 
547 
from  the  late  spring  frosts,  but  the  deficiency  in  this  valuable 
crop  was  amply  supplied  by  a  superabundant  crop  of  Raspberries. 
Mr.  Lunt  had  a  word  of  commendation  for  that  fine  variety, 
“  Superlative,”  a  splendid  cropper^  with  fine  large  berries.  A 
few  Gooseberries  wTere  still  hanging  on  the  bushes,  the  remnant 
of  an  abundant  crop,  and  toward  these  the  ubiquitous  blackbirds 
were  paying  marked  attention. 
Passing  out  of  the  walled  garden  we  come  to  a  couple  of 
ranges  of  nice  useful  span-roofed  houses,  devoted  to  the  growth 
of  various  plants.  In  the  first  of  these,  which  we  entered,  was  a 
nice  collection  of  Azaleas  and  greenhouse  Rhododendrons,  all  in 
robust  health,  and  bristling  with  flower  buds.  A  nice  little  col¬ 
lection  of  Orchids  in  fine  healthy  condition  was  also  noted.  C'a- 
lanth.es,  which  are  a.  speciality  at  Ardgowan,  are  grown  in 
quantity,  and  a  splendid  lot  of  plants  they  were,  just  beginning 
to  show  their  flower  spikes.  We  have  vivid  remembrances  still 
of  the  brilliant  display  these  useful  winter  blooming  plants  made, 
associated  with  scarlet  Poinsettias,  in  the  long  ago.  Crotons, 
Dracaenas,  Pandanus,  &c.,  grown  in  small  pots  for  table  work 
filled  another  house,  and  clean,  brightly  coloured,  useful  stuff, 
they  were.  Ferns,  too,  are  largely  grow  n,  especially  Adiantums, 
Tvhich  are  much  in  demand  for  decorative  purposes.  Growing  in 
baskets  we  noted  several  fine  Davallias,  also  the  beautiful  Gym- 
nogramma  sohizophylla.  handsome  to  look  at,  but  of  little  utility. 
Gloxinias  and  hybrid  Streptocarpus  made  bright  the  stages  of 
another  house,  showing  how  admirably  adapted  these  plants  are 
for  decorative  purposes. 
The  next  house  we  entered  w7as  entirely  filled  with  the  best 
and  new’est  varieties  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums  in  full  bloom.  Both 
single  and  double  varieties  wTere  represented,  making  a  gorgeous 
display,  that  might  well  make  a  Canned  or  a  Pearson  green  with 
envy. 
A  fine  batch  of  Cucumbers  growing  in  pots  was  next  noted. 
These  were  just  coming  into  bearing,  and  are  to  afford  the  winter’s 
supply.  Melons  were  just  over;  the  crop,  we  wTere  told,  had  been 
excellent,  one  of  Sutton’s  new  varieties  having  done  splendidly. 
The  name  has  escaped  our  memory,  but  Mr.  Lunt  considered  it 
the  finest  variety  he  had  ever  grown  ;  surely  an  excellent  testi¬ 
monial,  coming,  as  it  does,  from  one  who  has  had  such  a  lengthy 
experience.  Tomatoes  filled  another  house,  Austin’s  Eclipse 
being  a  favourite.,  and,  as  seen  at  Ardgowan,  it  would  be  difficult 
to  eclipse.  The  plants  were  loaded  with  large,  handsome  fruits, 
requiring  a  little  sunshine  to  bring  them  to  maturity. 
This  being  the  last  of  the  houses,  and  as  a  heavy  shower  of 
rain  was  falling,  we  were  perforce  obliged  to  shelter  for  a  little, 
and  while  doing  so  we  naturally  spoke  of  the  bygone  days,  and 
those  who  were  associated  with  us  in  these  gardens  then.  If 
these  lines  should  meet,  the  eye  of  someone  who  has  spent  a 
term  at  Ardgowan  under  Mr.  Lunt’s  superintendence,  we  can 
most  heartily  assure  them  that  their  old  chief  continues  to  take 
a  most  kindly  interest  in  their  welfare  still,  rejoicing  to  know  of 
their  success.  On  leaving  our  hospitable  shelter  we  observed  that 
a  wall  which  was  formerly  devoted  to-  the  growth  of  Pears — which, 
however,  never  did  satisfactorily — had  undergone  a  change.  The 
trees  had  been  recently  removed,  and  the  space  planted  with  fine 
varieties  of  Tea  Roses.  This  will  no  doubt  be  a  great’  improve¬ 
ment  once  the  trees  become  established,  giving  a  plentiful  supply 
of  Roses  for  house  decoration,  large  quantities  of  cut  flowers  being 
in  constant  demand  for  this  purpose. 
There  are  many  more  things  of  interest  which  might  be  noted 
in  these  interesting  gardens,  where  high  culture  and  tidiness 
prevail  on  every  hand ;  but  we  fear,  Mr.  Editor,  we  have  already 
trespassed  too  much  on  your  valuable  space.  We  cannot,  how¬ 
ever,  close  these  rambling  notes  without  expressing  our  thanks 
to  Mr.  Lunt  for  his  kindness  and  courtesy  in  thus  enabling  us 
to  spend  an  enjoyable  hour  amidst  familiar  scenes,  an  hour  which 
will  long  remain  a  pleasant  recollection  in  the  memory  of — • 
Albtn. 
South  Africa. 
The  following  extracts  are  from  a  letter  from  Pretoria,  Trans¬ 
vaal : — “We  have  been  having  very  warm  weather  lately,  much 
warmer  than  we  ever  have  it  at  home.  The  sun  seems  to  be 
direct  overhead,  and  so  near  that  it  almost  scorches  everything. 
One  great  peculiarity  of  this  country  is  the  clear  atmosphere  ; 
things  that  seem  about  fifty  yards  away,  on  examination  will 
prove  to  be  nearer  a  mile.  Mountains  can  be  seen  plainly  at 
sixty  and  eighty  miles  on  a  clear  day,  and  I  believe  much  further 
than  that.  [Forty  miles  is  about  the  usual  distance  at  which  one 
can  see  hills. — Ed.]  South  Africa,  at  least  all  I  have  seen  of  it 
in  an  eight-months  sojourn  in  three  of  the  Colonies,  is  very 
hilly,  and  bare  of  wood  of  any  kind;  in  fact,  the  whole  country, 
in  my  opinion,  is  as  barren  and  dreary-looking  a  place  as  any 
one  could  wish  for.  This  is  a  terrible  country  for  thunder¬ 
storms,  and  we  are  about  to  have  one  to-night.  The  lightning  is 
almost  incessant,  and  the  atmosphere  is  so  stuffy  one  can  hardly 
breathe;  the  thunder  seems  to  shake  the  very  ground. — Oct.  21, 
1902.” 
Societies 
I 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  Drill  Hall,  Tecember  9th. 
The  last  meeting  of  this  Society  for  the  year  1902  was.  a 
small  one,  owing  largely  to  the  very  cold  weather.  Four  nice 
collections  of  Apples  were  forwarded,  and  Messrs.  Wells  and 
Co.,  Limited,  were  strongly  represented  with  Chrysanthemums. 
Cypripedium  groups  were  noticeable.  At  the  afternoon  meeting 
nearly  fifty  new  Fellows  were  elected.  The  new  hall  plans  fur¬ 
nished  a  topic  for  criticism  amongst  members  at  this  meeting. 
Orchid  Committee. 
Present  :  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  with  Messrs. 
James  O’Brien,  de  B.  Crawshay,  H.  Ballantine,  F.  A.  Relider, 
Norman  C.  Cookson,  H.  T.  Pitt,  W.  H.  White,  A.  Hislop, 
F.  W.  Ashton.  E.  Hill,  Jas.  Douglas,  J.  W.  Odell,  F.  J.  Thorne. 
W.  Boxall,  W.  H.  Young,  J.  Gharlesworth,  J.  Wilson  Potter, 
T.  W.  Bond,  H.  Little,  and  J.  G.  Fowler. 
W.  E.  Budgett,  Esq.,  Henbury,  Bristol,  staged  a  group  of 
Cypripediums  in  flower,  and  the  plants  were  in  a  very  vigorous 
state  of  health.  Here  was  included  C.  Leeanum  giganteum,  C. 
Leeanum  Budgett’s  variety,  the  latter’s  pouch  being  more  pro¬ 
truding  and  of  a  lighter  colour  than  in  giganteum.  A  plant  of 
C.  insigne  in  a  comparatively  small  pan  bore  nineteen  flowers. 
Other  fine  varieties  were  C.  Swinburni  magnificum,  C. 
Leeanum  Keeling’s  var.,  with  prettily  mauve  tinted  dorsal 
sepal  ;  C.  i.  Essie  Budgett,  and  G.  i.  The  Queen,  amongst  others. 
The  latter  is  a  very  prettily  coloured  flower.  A  very  bright 
display. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  S.W.,  contri¬ 
buted  a  select  group  of  various  hybrid  Orchids.  Lselio-Cattleya 
Semiramis  is  both  a  graceful  and  richly  coloured  flower;  L.-c.  x 
Hon.  Mrs.  Astor  is  of  a  buff-tea  colour,  with  a  nicely  shaded 
purple  lip,  a  charming  subject ;  L.-c.  x  Omen,  with  prettily  acu¬ 
minated  segments,  of  a  pale  mauve-purple  hue;  L.-c.  x  Coronis, 
with  deep  cinnamon  coloured  sepals  and  petals,  and  reddish  lip, 
together  with  various  Cypripediums,  particularly  good  being 
C.  x  Actseus  and  C.  Euryades  Langleyense. 
Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  Enfield,  had  a 
small  group,  in  which  we  noted  L.-c.  Whateleyor,  of  the  C.  Iris 
type,  stout  and  interesting.  The  lip  is  very  handsome — a 
velvety  maroon.  They  had  a  finely  flowered  plant  of  Dendro- 
bium  aureum,  and  another  of  Cymbidium  Tra-ceyanum.  Their 
Oncidium  cheirophorum,  with  five  showy  panicles,  was  decidedly 
good.  Norman  C.  Cookson,  Esq.,  sent  some  beautiful  hybrid 
Cypripediums. 
O.  O.  Wrighley,  Esq.  (grower,  Mr.  E.  Rogers),  The  Gardens, 
Bridge  Hall,  Bury,  had  an  exceedingly  creditable  collection  of 
Cypripediums,  bearing  immense  flowers  of  really  fine-  colour ; 
they  were  remarkable,  too,  for  their  floriferousness.  C.  nitens 
magnificum  was  superb,  and  the  following  were  also  above  par : 
Arthurianum,  Antigone  (one  of  the  Godfroyse  group),  Leeanum 
Clinkerberryanum,  insigne  Berryanum  Sallieri,  i.  punctatum 
violaceum  Euryades,  a  large  flower;  and  i.  Laura  Kimball. 
The  group  might  contain  about  150  to  160  plants,  in  5in  and  Gin 
pots. 
Floral  Committee. 
Present:  J.  Jennings,  Esq.  (in  the-  chair);  with  Messrs. 
El.  B.  May,  Geo.  Nicholson,  R.  Dean,  E.  Molyneux,  J.  F. 
McLeod,  Jamesi  Hudson,  W.  Howe,  Chas.  Dixon,  W.  Bain, 
El.  J.  Cutbush,  Chas.  E.  Pearson,  H.  J.  Jones,  R.  C.  Notcutt, 
Dhas.  E.  Shea.,  W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins^  J.  W.  Fitt,  C. 
Blick,  Harry  Turner,  F.  Page  Roberts,  and  Chas.  T.  Druery. 
Count  Seilern  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  J.  Prewett),  Frensham 
Place,  Farnham,  contributed  Chrysanthemums,  including  some 
?xcelilent  incurveds. 
Messrs.  H.  Canned  and  Sons,  Swanley,  Kent,  were  repre¬ 
sented  by  a  table  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums  in  bouquets,  these  being 
n  glasses.  A  large  number  of  very  excellent  seedlings  were 
ncluded.  We  may  name  Lord  Roberts,  deep  maroon ;  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  a  lighter  shade;  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  rose-salmon 
lentre,  white  edge;  Lady  Laurier,  rich  salmon-red;  Mrs.  Brown 
Potter,  deep  rosy  cerise ;  Mary  Beaton,  pure  white  ;  and  The 
hrdar,  scarlet.  Their  incurved  Chrysanthemum  Snowdrift  was 
shown  in  good  form.  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  King  Street, 
5'ovent  Garden,  W.C.,  sent  Barr’s  Extra  Early  White  Roman 
Hyacinths;  also  Rosy  Gem  variety,  and  MitcheUa  repens,  a 
lardy  little  trailer  with  crimson-scarlet  berries. 
Messrs.  Wells  and  Co.,  Earlswood  Nurseries,  Redhill,  Surrey, 
nade  quite  a  wonderful  display  of  Chrysanthemums,  filling  more 
ban  half  a  table  length  of  the  hall.  We  need  not  name  the 
'xhibition  flowers  here,  but  would  refer  to  the  following  decora- 
ive  sorts:  Singles:  Mrs.  D.  B.  Crane,  Crimson  Gem  Herbert 
Tender. son,  Ellen  Smales,  Kate  Williams,  Dorothy,  Yellow  Jane 
in  proved,  Yellow  Giant,  Golden  Star,  Nora,  Mrs.  E.  Bngg,  Lady 
