Prunus domestica ‘Knight’s Large Green Drying’

A Prunus domestica L. cultivar. ‘Fruit large, round, and marked with a shallow suture. Skin greenish-yellow, and covered with thin white bloom. Flesh yellowish, firm, not very juicy, sugary, and richly flavoured when highly ripened; adhering to the stone. Shoots smooth. A dessert plum. Ripe in the middle and end of September; and succeeds best against a wall.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.244/1860].

Added on May 27 2010

Malus domestica ‘Femme de Neige’

‘A Canadian apple of great beauty; in size medium; skin light green, stained with bright red; flesh white, very tender’ juice saccharine, with a musky perfume: ripe in October, and will keep good until Christmas. Tree hardy and productive.’ [FCM p.41/1845].

Added on April 16 2010

Hymenocallis rotata (Ker-Gawl.) Herb.

Bulbous perennial with up to 8 strap-like leaves, to 70cm long, and stems, to 60cm, bearing terminal umbels of usually 2-3, but up to 8 fragrant, white or yellowish flowers.  [RHSD, Hortus, Baker Am.].  

Added on May 17 2009

Dianthus caryophyllus Ely’s ‘John Wright’

For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L.  Ely’s ‘John Wright’ is a purple flake carnation.  ‘A noble flower, as large and deeper in colour than ‘Beauty of Woodhouse’, but not so consistent.’  [Gard. Chron. 1843].

Added on April 09 2009

Oxalis crispa Jacq.

Oxalis crispa has wavy-margined leaves composed of 2, roundish, notched leaflets and large white flowers with reddish edges in the autumn.  To 9cm.  [Don].  

Added on January 28 2010

Brunsvigia josephinae (Delile) Ker-Gawl.

Bulbous perennial, leaves about 4-6, oblong, usually absent at flowering, suberect.  In autumn scapes to 65cm high bear umbels of 30-40, characteristically boat-shaped, dark red flowers, to 8cm long, yellowish towards the base and with strongly reflexed segments, the leaves appearing after the flowers.  To 65cm.  [RHSE, Hortus, CECB]. 

Added on January 14 2009

Rhododendron indicum ‘Fimbriata’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. but I have no description at present.  

Added on June 07 2009

Improvements to Hortus Camdenensis

The Hortus software has been upgraded. This led to some minor errors in the layout of plant names, particularly in the headings of Plant Profile pages but these have now been largely overcome. Improvements are also progressively being made to the content of the Hortus in three main areas, botanical and horticultural history, cross referencing and illustrations. Some enhancements will be done as the opportunity arises but most will be completed family by family. This will take at least two years to complete.

Published Sep 14, 2010 - 04:06 PM | Last updated Aug 12, 2012 - 04:36 PM

Sir William Macarthur on Vines and Vineyards

Sir William Macarthur wrote extensively on vines and Vineyards. It is our intention to publish all his writings in the Hortus.

Published Aug 01, 2010 - 04:58 PM | Last updated Oct 04, 2010 - 04:47 PM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 05:19 PM

Open House and Gardens

Camden Park House and Gardens will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd September, 2012, from 12.00 noon until 4.00 pm, and Sunday 23rd from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Published Dec 30, 2009 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 05:31 PM

Rambles in New Zealand - Part 2

Rambles in New Zealand is the only published work of John Carne Bidwill of any length and an important document in the early colonial history of that country.
It is included in the Hortus for a number of reasons but mainly because, together with his letters to The Gardeners’ Chronicle, it completes the known published works of Bidwill. His importance in the history of the Camden Park gardens and the lack of any substantive treatment of his life and achievements make it appropriate to include all his published work here.
Rambles is published here in four parts:
Part 1 – dedication, Preface, pages 1-29
Part 2 – pages 30-59
Part 3 – pages 60-89
Part 4 – pages 90 -93, List of Subscribers

Published Feb 29, 2012 - 12:18 PM | Last updated Mar 01, 2012 - 07:02 AM

History of the Florists’ Gloxinia

In the 19th century the florists’ Gloxinia was a very popular plant with hundreds of varieties under propagation.  Out of fashion today, these beautiful and easily grown plants deserve to be revived.  William Macarthur would not have recognised the large, multi-coloured flowers that dominate the show bench today but the plants he grew, predominantly of the slipper, or wild type, were equally beautiful.

Published Mar 14, 2010 - 01:56 PM | Last updated Jul 26, 2011 - 04:59 PM

Memorandum from the Antipodes: Colouring of Grapes

The following Memorandum was submitted to The Gardeners’ Chronicle by William Macarthur in 1854. Although written in response to a particular problem aired in the columns of the newspaper some months earlier, it adds considerably to our understanding of commercial wine production at Camden Park, in particular the preferred grapes and the style of wine best suited to the colonial conditions. We are also given insights into the problems caused by ‘sudden abstraction of labour attending our gold crisis’, which caused considerable disruption of agrarian and other commercial activities in Australia for some years.

Published Jun 30, 2011 - 04:42 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:12 AM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 9: Preparation of Wine

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters XVI and XVII describe the manufacture of wine from secondary fermentation to bottling and storage. The illustration used here is Plate 3 from Letters, which illustrates some of the equipment used in the manufacture of wine, described here and in earlier parts.

The entire book is reproduced in the Hortus in ten parts. For background information and Macarthur’s Introduction to the book see Part 1.

Published Oct 03, 2010 - 10:34 AM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:13 AM