1869.] TRAVELLING NOTES. 3i9 



placed there that would otherwise interfere with a regular routine of 

 vegetable cropping. By the walk -sides Mr Cox has entirely dis- 

 pensed with Box edging, in lieu of which bluish-coloured tiles have 

 been substituted, and have a neat appearance. In the first place, they 

 save a great amount of labour ; and in the second, give no shelter to 

 weeds or vermin of any kind. These tiles have been so constructed 

 as not to yield to ordinary pressure ; the uprights fit into a grooved 

 socket, and hold together by Eoman cement. Pyramidal Apple, Pear, 

 and Plum trees are planted by the side of the walks, the very picture 

 of health, and, no doubt, will crop well in the course of a few years. 

 But without the least desire to criticise, this system of training will 

 certainly not give so large a return as when grown in the form of 

 dwarf standards; there may, however, be cogent reasons for the 

 adoption that I do not quite comprehend. 



The wall-trees have been started well, and are growing vigorously, not 

 so strong as to raise any suspicion that at the end of the season the 

 wood will be left immatured. The Peach- wall is 3 6 feet long, and rather 

 more than 1 1 feet high, planted with all the newest and best kinds. 

 An extensive range of houses has been put up for fruit and plant 

 culture. I can say, without the slightest scruple, that the arrange- 

 ment could not have been better, in whatever way the design may be 

 viewed. The Peach-houses are a half-span, 90 feet long by 14 feet 

 wide, planted with the following varieties of the JSTectarine : Pitmaston 

 Orange, Yiolette Hative, and Victoria (one which Mr Cox considers 

 the best, whether for forcing or planting in the open air). The Peaches 

 are Violette Hative, Grosse Mignonne, and others of equal merit. 

 Independent of these, a considerable number are gro^vn in pots, and 

 so managed as to ripen fruit so late as the middle of ISTovember. 

 None for such a purpose does Mr Cox consider so valuable as the 

 Salucy Peach, and no doubt, where fruit is considered a desideratum 

 at so late a period, this is just the sort to step in and supply the 

 demand. But what then ? the quality is worthless at any season. 



The fruiting Pine-stoves are 90 feet long, and in all the bottom- 

 heat is produced by hot water. The plants were of a moderate size, 

 stocky, the leaves of a deep green, broad and firm. The practice is 

 adopted of confining the roots to small pots, now customary among 

 cultivators. The collection consists of the following sorts, which 

 Mr Cox considers sufficient to satisfy every reasonable demand : Char- 

 lotte Eothschild, Smooth and Prickly Cayenne, Black Jamaica, several 

 varieties of the Queen and Black Prince. The latter grows to a 

 large size. I measured a fruit nearly ripe, 1 foot high and 19 inches 

 in circumference at the base. Opinion differs widely as to the merits 

 it may possess ; some affirm that the quality is so low as only to take 



