SEPTEMBER. 261 



Pines — the Queen and Jamaica. The whole stock was in fine health — 

 indeed Longleat has long been noted ftir its excellent Pine-apples, many 

 of great weight having been exhibited from this place. In addition to 

 the usual selection of Grapes, the White Frontignan is a favourite here, 

 Mr. Anderson growing it largely for white Grapes. Although usually 

 considered delicate, it grows and fruits here remarkably well. In one 

 house, set apart for Vines alone, the different varieties of the Ham- 

 burgh Grape were originally planted, with a view to test their merits. 

 The whole, however, with the exception of the common Hamburgh, 

 have been cut away, as Mr. Anderson is of opinion that though larger 

 and more showy, they were more or less deficient in the many good 

 qualities for which the old Black Hamburgh is so justly esteemed. 

 This was therefore selected to fill the house, and was trained horizontally 

 along the bottom, and a rod taken up each rafter. This is now 

 a vigorous young Vine, and has this year upwards of 200 bunches of 

 fine fruit on it. At each end of the range is a Peach-house, in a good 

 healthy state ; the sashes are removed each year, in August, as soon as 

 the wood begins to change colour. 



In an old pit 40 feet long, and heated by a common flue, is obtained 

 a constant supply of Cucumbers. A large wooden trough stands on the 

 ilue in which the Cucumbers are planted four lights at a time for 

 succession. The Sion House Improved and Lord Kenyon's are the 

 favourite kinds. The winter crop had just been planted ; this house 

 presented to us a very economical mode of obtaining a crop of this 

 useful fruit, the flue requiring merely a few cinders or small coal to 

 keep it going. 



An experiment has been tried here by Mr. Anderson of considerable 

 interest to gardeners, by way of proving what effect the different kinds 

 of glass now recommended for plant and fruit houses had on the plants 

 grown below them. Five years ago a four-light frame was devoted to 

 the purpose, having one light glazed with Hartley's rough plate, one 

 with Hartley's corrugated, one British sheet, and one with Crown glass. 

 During the five years a variety of plants have been grown in this 

 frame, including Strawberries ; and Mr. Anderson informs us no per- 

 ceptible difference could ever be detected, either in the growth of the 

 plants, the colour of the flowers, or flavour of the Strawberries. We 

 may therefore infer that as regards cultivation, no great amount of 

 difference exists between the descriptions of glass mentioned ; while, 

 to suit particular purposes, one sort may be substituted for another, 

 without causing any detriment to the vegetation they cover. 



About 2000 pots of Strawberries, principally Queens and Troflope's 

 Victoria, are forced annually here. In the Vineries we noticed large 

 quantities of Achimenes, Gesneras, and some very good Orchids, which, 

 with a variety of other plants, are used for house decoration. There is 

 likewise a nice collection of Heaths and other greenhouse plants grown 

 for similar uses. J- S. 



