474 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



is abundantly supplied by loOO feet of 4-incli piping, wliicli is heated by one of 

 Meiklejon's cruciform boilers. This is again succeeded by a large stove, 

 200 feet long and IG wide, looking like a perfect held of Pines. The 

 plants are all that could be desired ; individually they are models 

 of great substance, with rigid thick dark green leaves, so dwarf that 

 the base of many fruit is not 8 inches from the pot. The weights average 

 from 3 to 7 lb. Large fruit is not in demand in the market; quick 

 returns are strictly kept in view. Many of the plants ripening fruit now were 

 rootless suckers twelve months past in August. The sup[)ly and demand is 

 incessant, sometimes dozens of fruit are cut in one day. Plants, too, are sold 

 by the hundred. The varieties are all that is worth growing ; smooth-leaved 

 Cayennes and Queens form the principal stock ; Charlotte Rothschilds, Black 

 Jamaicas, Prickly Cayennes, Montserrats, and Prince Alberts are also grown 

 in quantities. Now for the grand secret of this successful fertility : not a plant 

 is in a pot exceeding 11 -inch ; Queens are all growing in 9-inch pots. Smooths 

 in 10s, and the stronger growers, such as the Rothschild, in the larger size. 

 The roots contined to such a small space soon become one solid mass, in fact, 

 pot-bound ; in this most satisfactory state no difficulty whatever is experienced 

 in starting any quantity into fruit at a given time. The back wall of this house 

 is covered with strong fruiting Vines in pots, principally Black Hamburgs and 

 Duke of Buccleuch, all labelled as sold, and capable of bearing ten or twelve 

 good bunches next season. Another Pine-stove, f span, 200 feet long and 10 

 feet wide, temporarily contains hundreds of strong planting canes of the Duke 

 of Buccleuch. This house and the one we have just left is heated by one of the 

 Witley Court boilers, with 3800 feet of 4-inch piping attached, and does its 

 work efficiently. A small Peach-house connects the upper Pine-stove with the 

 pot- Vine house. The latter, a spacious erection, 186 feet long and 21 feet wide, 

 is entirely tilled wath thousands of young Vines for sale. Hundreds are sent 

 away for planting in a growing state in j\lay and June. Where they can all go 

 to is a mystery to me ; but go they do, every one of them ; and Mr Thomson is 

 annually increasing his stock to keep j)ace with the demand. Not a cut-back 

 two-year-old Vine is about tbe place. Mr Thomson prefers striking from the 

 eye and growing them on in one season, selecting the strongest as fruiters and 

 the weaker ones as planters, and certainly the result does great credit to his 

 practice. The fru.iters are growing in 10-inch pots, have made tine canes, and 

 the ball is absolutely an impenetrable mass of roots. I presume your readers 

 are all aware of his system of root-pruning inaugurated and practised by 

 Mr Thomson in raising his young Vines. 1200 feet of piping are laid in 

 this house, and heating done wath one of Jones' of Manchester terminal 

 saddle boilers, which Mr Thomson has great confidence in. Early forcing 

 of Strawberries will soon lend an additional interest — great batches are 

 potted, and promising well for next year's fruiting. President is Mr Thom- 

 son's favourite. The kitchen-garden is cropped w4th vegetables of all descrij)- 

 tions, and young fruit-trees, fine and abundant. A small flower-garden is very 

 tastefully bedded out. What is remarkably striking and pleasantly observable 

 throughout the entire ranges, is the utter absence of all insect-pests, which have 

 never gained a footing under the vigilant eye of Mr Thomson. The houses are 

 most substantial buildings, and were erected by Mr Stirling, Galashiels. The 

 question may be asked, Why have such a place situated in this secluded corner, 

 away from the aristocratic fruit-consuming haunts ? The answer is simple, soil 

 and other necessities peculiarly suited to the Vine (not everywhere to be had) 

 are here of the first order ; and is certainly highly entitled to the first consider- 



