418 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



search of information. In the houses the only thing worthy of note 

 is the early vinery. Half-a-dozen years ago the Vines in this house 

 "were considered worn out, having been in bearing nearly three-quarters 

 of a century ; at that time the young wood was no thicker than good 

 Peach-wood, and in the words of a western worthy they were red 

 Hamburgs. The roots were as destitute of fibre as walking-sticks ; 

 now they annually bear large crops of good fruit, which generally 

 colours well. The soil to within an inch of the surface is a mass of 

 fibres ; all this has been brought about by simply renewing the border 

 3 or 4 feet every year, commencing at the stems and working outward. 

 The soil used was fibrous sandy turf, 2 J inches deep, stripped off and 

 chopped up green, with a very small proportion of cow-manure, and a 

 slight sprinkling of half-inch bones, and used at once. Mr Noble's 

 principle is briefly this — Make a shallow well-drained border of poor 

 sweet soil, and after it has been filled with hardy roots liquid manure 

 may be given ad libitum. 



But it is in the matter of bedding that Bonniugton has most claims 

 to attention ; the limited accommodation for wintering half-hardy 

 plants as compared with the ground to be filled, renders the use of 

 hardy plants a necessity, hence the herbaceous system, in which ~Mt 

 Noble is an enthusiast, occupies a prominent place. The result is, 

 that while in autumn the beds are as gay as at most other places in 

 winter and spring, when many other places are blank, they look not 

 only tidy, but positively beautiful. An entirely hardy ribbon-border 

 is made thus : first line (which may be substituted for box), blue 

 Gentian ; second. Golden Arabis ; third, Ajuga repens, purple ; fourth, 

 variegated Polymonium ; fifth. Purple Nepeta ; sixth. White Rocket. 

 In sandy soil the Arabis simply requires to be lifted, divided, and re- 

 laid every year or two years. The Ajuga should be relaid every year ; 

 a shady place brings out its colour best. The flowers should be picked 

 off as they appear ; and in dry weather, to preserve the glossy purple 

 of the leaves, it should be occasionally watered. In some places it is 

 difficult to keep the Polymonium over the winter. Where the soil is 

 not porous, or the winter is severe, it ought to be wintered in a cold 

 frame. To have Nepeta in proportion to the other lines, the young 

 shoots should be taken off with a heel in April, and put in without 

 any preparation where they are to remain, giving a slight watering if 

 the soil is dry ; but this, although desirable, is not necessary. 



If the Rockets are planted pretty close to the Nepeta, they can be 

 cut over as the latter approaches them. 



In filling large beds, three or four lines of hardy plants are planted 

 round the edge, and the centre filled with Geraniums, Calceolarias, &c. 

 In October, when the Geraniums, &c., are lifted from the centre, their 



