354 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  15,  1903. 
Cbilwortb  iHbanor.  IRomee^,  IDampsbirc, 
Being  the  combination  of  a  cyclist,  camera-"  fiend,”  and 
enthusiastic  horticulturist,  I  was  tempted  by  the  recollection 
of  some  fine  fruit  exhibited  at  the  Bath  Show  last  August, 
and  reproduced  in  the  Journal,  to  pay  a  visit  to  Mr. 
Mitchell,  gardener  to  J.  E.  A.  Willis-Fleming,  Esq.,  at 
Chilworth  Manor,  rrear  Ptomsey.  ■ 
Leaving  Southampton  some  miles  below,  the  road  takes 
you  by  gradual  ascents  to  the  top  of  a  ridge  of  hills,  from 
which  some  magnificent  views  of  the  surrounding  country 
may  be  obtained.  Then  on  through  large  tracts  of  woody 
districts,  interspersed  with  stretches  of  Heather'  in  full 
bloom,  and  the  large  green  fronds  of  the  Bracken  Fern 
shimmering  in  the  wind,  catching  the.  rays  of  the  sun,  and 
looking  like  a  sea  of  purple  and  green  ;  while  ever  and 
anon  a  rabbit  skips  across  the  road  right  in  front  of  the 
bicycle.  Such  was  the  seductive  scene  continually  pre¬ 
sented  to  me,  until,  after  above  seven  miles  riding,  I 
arrived  at  the  entrance  to  the  Manor  drive,  with  its  curious 
thatched  beehive 
lodges  and  well  kept 
Laurel  arch. 
The  Manor  is  a 
long  rambling  build¬ 
ing  (which  is  shortly 
to  be  pulled  down 
and  replaced  by  a 
more  modern  man¬ 
sion),  and  stands  sur¬ 
rounded  by  over  120 
acres  of  park,  lawn, 
and  gardens.  It  is 
approached  by  a  long 
drive,  while  on  either 
side  is  the  wild  gar¬ 
den,  with  gigantic 
Firs  and  Cedars 
towering  high  over¬ 
head. 
Skirting  the  side  of 
the  house  is  a  large 
and  well  kept  sloping 
lawn.  At  the  base  of 
this  there  is  a  broad 
gravel  path,  fash¬ 
ioned  on  the  antique 
style,  with  large  or¬ 
namental  stands  at 
intervals  on  either 
side,  and  at  every 
20yds  there  are  a 
series  of  steps.  At  the  bottom  of  these  is  an  ornamental 
fountain,  with  golden  carp  swimmirrg  in  and  out  among  the 
Water  Lilies  ;  while  further  on  one  irotes  a  series  of  rustic 
arches,  covered  with  rambling  and  other  Roses,  completing 
a  picture  which  is  not  met  with  every  day. 
From  the  lawn  a  splendM  panorama  is  unfolded  to  the 
visitor.  Some  ten  to  fifteen  miles  of  scenery  is  visible  to 
the  naked  eye. 
Leaving  the  house,  we  reach  the  kitchen  garden  by  a 
series  of  rustic  paths  arrd  arches.  Here  the  same  neatness 
and  order  is  to  be  found,  as  in  every  part  of  the  garden  ; 
while  .some  of  the  vegetables  are  champions  of  their  kind. 
Fruit,  in  the  shape  of  Apples,  Pears,  Plums,  and  Currants, 
as  elsewhere,  are  conspicuous  by  their  scanty  yielding. 
Turning  to  the  right,  we  enter  the  Peach  and  Nectarine 
house  ;  and  by  the  aid  of  a  friendly  hand  barrow  I  am 
enabled  to  reproduce  a  photograph  of  the  Peach  Dymond, 
as  grown  by  Mr.  Mitchell.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  illus¬ 
tration  (page  357),  the  trees  are  so  pruned  that  the  fruit 
has  every  chance  to  grow  to  the  top,  thus  enabling  them  to 
catch  the  light  which  gives  them  .their  rich  colour. 
Passing  through  a  turning  in  the  garden,  it  is  with  feel¬ 
ings  akin  to  awe  that  I  enter  the,  large  vinery,  and  Mr. 
Mitchell  displays  with  just  pride  the  magnificent  specimens 
of  his  cultural  skill.  The  hanging  bunches  are  large,  well 
shaped,  and  well  coloured,  some  of  the  berries  being  as 
large  as  small  Plums.  The  chief  varieties  are  Muscat  of 
Alexandria,  Gros  Maroc,  and  Madresfield  Court.  I  essayed 
a  photo  of  a  bunch  of  Gros  Maroc  on  the  Vine,  but  owing 
to  the  light  and  the  difficult  position  of  it,  the  result  was 
not  good  enough  for  reproduction.  A  large  Peach  tree, 
covered  with  luscious,  well  shaped,  and  coloured  Sea  Eagle 
fruits,  much  to  my  regret  I  was  unable  to  photograph, 
owing  to  the  position  of  the  fruit. 
The  Fig  tree  walk,  extending  over  100yds,  is  worthy 
of  mention  ;  but  the  early  frost  played  havoc  with  the  fruit, 
so  the  crop  is  natui'ally  small.  The  Begonia  house,  with 
Ferns  and  Palms,  also  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  grower. 
In  conversation  I  learnt  that  Mr.  Mitchell  has  filled  the 
position  of  head  gardener  for  over  twenty  years,  and  during 
this  period  he  has  won  numerous  awards  at  the  Crystal 
Palace,  Bath,  and 
other  places  noted  for 
large  fruit  shows.  I 
understand  that  he  is 
exhibiting  shortly  at 
several  shows,  and, 
without  wishing  to 
unduly  alarm  airy  of 
your  readers,  I  warn 
them  to  beware,  for 
the  veteran  fruit 
grower  at  Chilworth 
has  something  “  up 
his  sleeve  ”  in  the 
shape  of  Grapes, 
Nectarines,  and 
Peaches  [August], 
A  very  pleasant 
afternoon  finished,  I 
quietly  cycled  back 
to  Southampton,  my 
enthusiasm  being 
roused  to  a  greater 
pitch  by  the  all-round 
display  of  cultural 
skill  it  had  been  my 
good  fortune  to  in¬ 
spect. — E.  E.  R. 
Hampshire.  —  This 
southern  county  lias  a 
surfaci  of  1,112,000 
acres,  considerably  varied  in  cLaracter  of  surface,  yet  without 
high  hills.  The  Isle  of  Wight  is  a  detached  portion,  remarkable 
for  its  beauty  and  fertility ;  the  Downs,  a  chalky  range,  were  at 
one  time  quite  bdre  of  timber.  The  New  Forest  and  Bere 
Forest  occupy  large  tracts  near  Southampton  ;  while  on  the 
borders  of  Dorsetshire  theie  are  large  tracts  of  heath,  and 
on  the  seashore  extensive  marshes. — (From  “  Loudon.”) 
The  Green  Rose. — This  Rose,  with  its  curious  blooms,  was 
introduced  as  long  ago  as  1850  by  Messrs.  Guillot  and  CLejnent, 
of  Lyons,  France,  under,  the  name  of  Rosa  viridiflora.  It  was 
also  cultivated  in  England  about  the  same  time  under  the  name 
of  Rose  Bengale  Vert.  It  is  still  catalogued  by  Melbourne 
and  English  nurserymen  under  the  name  of  R.  viridiflora  ,and 
when  grown  on  poor  soils  is  a  very  interesting  object. 
Portraits  op  Botanists. — Dr.  Wittrock,  of  Stockholm 
(observes  the  "  Gardener’s  Chronicle),  has  prepared  a  catalogue 
of  the  extensive  collection  of  portraits  of  botanists  contained 
in  the  library  of  the  Botanic  Garden,  Stockholm.  Of  many  of 
them  reproductions  are  given.  Brief  biographical  details  are 
also  supplied,  so  that  the  publication  is  one  of  much  interest 
to  botanists.  The  text  is  in  Swedish,  but  Latin  summaries  are 
added  for  the  benefit  of  those  not  conversant  with  the  Scan¬ 
dinavian  tongue. 
