408 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



The gardens and grounds have been under the management of the present gar- 

 dener, Mr William Forsyth, for the space of twenty years. Incapacitated by phy- 

 sical infirmity— though yet in the prime of life— from actively superintending the 

 duties belonging to a place so well maintained, Mr Forsyth is just on the point of 

 retiring from the service of Baron Rothschild, whose munificent liberality has 

 made abundant provision for him for the remainder of his life. Into comparative 

 retirement Mr Forsyth will carry with him the regrets and best wishes of many 

 attached friends and brother horticulturists. 



An inspection of the glass structures gave some eight vineries ; the late house 

 a fine span-roofed building, 62 feet in length by 42 feet in width. This is mainly 

 planted with Black Hamburgs on the restriction system, with here and there a 

 row of the Golden Hamburg. This Grape Mr Forsyth regards as a finely-flavoured 

 Sweet Water, but it must be eaten as soon as ripe, as it will not keep ; therefore 

 it is practically useless as a late variety. A range of four old lean-to vineries is 

 now to be removed, and a new range now in course of construction substituted. 

 This will be 150 feet in length by 26 feet in width, with a broad walk at back 

 6 feet in width ; the communication between each house by folding-doors. The 

 roof of the new range will take a half -span form. A simple contrivance will raise 

 the top sashes simultaneously at both sides, so as to ventilate the house when 

 necessary. Four years ago this range was thoroughly planted with young Canes, 

 and so concurrently with the new houses will be good crops of fruit. One vinery 

 was entirely filled with Lady Downes, and one with Muscats. All the vine- 

 borders are constructed on the aerated principle. 



Gunnersby is well known for the fine quality of the Pines grown there, and as 

 a cultivator Mr Forsyth has made a good reputation. Here, then, can be seen 

 plenty of succession pits, and two capital fruiting-houses, each 33 feet in length 

 by 16 feet in width. It is not too much to state that Pine- Apples are cut all the 

 year round at Gunnersby, but a supply during the London season — i.e., from the 

 first week in February to the end of August — is particularly studied, and there is 

 never a lack of fruits through that time. All the Pines are planted out, suckers 

 and all, and not a single one is cultivated in a pot. A good number of Queens 

 are grown, also smooth and prickly-leaved Cayennes, Black Jamaica, and Char- 

 lotte Rothschild ; of the latter variety Mr Forsyth has exhibited, before the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, some fruits 9 pounds in weight. The Pines are grown 

 in a soil composed of two-thirds good rough peat and one-third loam ; and when 

 the fruits are swelling some manure-water is given, but not so frequently as some 

 cultivators administer it. In order to keep up such a constant succession as is 

 here required, Mr Forsyth finds the oftener the suckers are planted the better ; 

 and so, as soon as they are sufficiently large to admit of their being planted out, 

 it is done. 



The forcing of Strawberries is a great feature at Gunnersby, and the average 

 quantity of pots cultivated in a season is about 6000. Already Mr Forsyth has 

 some 5600 fine plants well established in pots. For early forcing he depends 

 mainly on Keen's Seedling, and to succeed this, Empress Eugenie, British Queen, 

 and a few other varieties for later work. The White Bicton is much appreciated, 

 and about a thousand plants of that variety are forced annually. To succeed these 

 there are about 1^ acres of Strawberries out of doors of similar kinds to those 

 mentioned. Dr Hogg promises well for next year's fruiting. Ripe fruit is always 

 gathered by the first week in March, and sometimes in February. 



A prime feature is the Fig-house, or rather a series of three succession-houses 

 in one length of nearly, or quite, 200 feet. The first crop is commenced in 

 March, and the successive crops last up till the autumn. The principal varieties 



