Jttunary 4, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



13 



country is not large, nor is the soil favourable to them. The ' 

 overflow of the lake forms a waterfall, descending into an old 

 quarry now planted, and bears such a resemblance to that at 

 Bowood, though it is ou a smaller scale, that one is led to 

 suspect it is the work of the same hand, especially as the lake 

 of thiity-two acres has probably been fonued iu a similar 

 maimer to the one at the place referred to. One of the most 

 beautiful views of the lake is seen in the aceompanyuig en- 

 gi'a\Tng from a clever photogi'aph, but since it was taken the 

 boat-house has been pulled down and a new one ha.s been 

 commenced. 



In a gardening point of view, however, the gi-eat feature of 

 Burghley is its kitchen garden, of which the ruling genius is 

 Mr. E. Gilbert, whose name is well known as a successful ex- 

 hibitor of fruit and vegetables, and that not in local compe- 

 titions, but in such as have taken place at Kensington and 

 Nottingham. The garden in which these products are grown, 



situated far to the south of the mansion, from which it is 

 separated by a wide breadth of the park, is one of the largest 

 iu the country, covering about fourteen acres within the walls, 

 but there is also a large area iu outside slips, besides an orchard 

 of four acres, in wliich are grown Sea-kale, Ehubarb, and 

 Greens of various kuids, as well as fmit trees. 



We will first enter the houses, which are models of neatuesft 

 and cleanliness, the walls fresh limewashed, the woodwork not 

 long painted, the glass perfectlj' clear, and not an insect to be 

 seen. The first vineiy is a lean-to, 60 feet by 1.5, and the 

 Vuies are chiefly, if not exclusively, Black Hamburghs, which 

 have been planted about forty years ; but by gi'afting Mr. Gil- 

 bert is introducing Black Damascus, Ferdinand de Lesseps, 

 and several new kinds. The scions worked on the old Vines 

 are taking remarkably well, and are treated on what may be 

 termed the bottle system, the lower end being inserted m a 

 bottle of water. Between this house and the second vinery is 



Tlie Lull' lit Uiu-ld. 



a.lobby filled with Chinese Primulas, CaUas, Mignonette, and 

 various other decorative plants, among which is the Borage, 

 ornamental by its blue flowers, and useful for claret cups as well. 

 Vinery No. 2 at present contains the MUl Hill Hamburgh, but 

 Mr. Gilbert purposes plantuig it with Lady Downe's and other 

 late kinds, makuig the border inside. It also contains a 

 number of Pine suckers, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thuiy, and 

 other Strawben-ies on the top shelf, both small and large Vines 

 in pots for the dinner table. Peas, and Potatoes. The next 

 two houses are each 30 feet by 1.5, and are occupied with pot 

 Vines, chiefly Black Hamburghs and Sweetwaters, breaking 

 very regularly, and Pines to be started at the beginning of 

 February for fruiting. To prevent bleetling in the Vines a 

 kind of varnish is employed, which sets hard and appears to 

 answer the purpose effectually. Two Muscat houses come 

 next, in which tine crops have been produced ; indeed an excel- 

 lent crop still remains, though one-half has been cut. Treb- 

 biano, which Mr. Gilbert esteems highly as a large late-keeping 

 Grape, is to be introduced into these houses, as well as other 

 kinds, which \vill carry the supply further on in the spi-ing. 

 Vineries Nos. 5 and 6 are devoted to Lady Downe's, West's 

 St. Peter's, Mrs. Puice, Trebbiano, and Alicante, of which the 

 crops are excellent. A span-roofed house in two divisions 

 comes next. This is efficiently heated by thi-ee rows of 3-inch 

 pipes, with evaporating tanks, ou each side, and three 4-ineh 

 pipes for bottom Iicat under the bed, which is 7 feet wide. 



One compartment is devoted to Cucumbers, which are trained 

 on a trellis under the roof, and are bearing freely ; the other 

 is occupied with Dwarf Kidney Beans, of whicli a large .supply 

 is required. 



The next two houses are half-spans, each 40 feet long, and 

 are filled with one of the healthiest stocks of Pine Apples 

 which it has ever been oiu' lot to see. The varieties diiefly 

 groflii are Thoresby Queen, Black .Jamaica, and Smooth- 

 leaved Cayenne. These, wliich are intended for .July fraiting, 

 are all planted out in a 9-feet bed of loam and bone-dust. The 

 latter Mr. Ciilbert finds an exceUeut healthy stimulant. 



Two more lean-to houses (10 and 11), are the first and 

 second Peach houses. The trees in both are in admirable 

 health, and trained with the greatest care to curved treUises 

 3 feet from the glass. The varieties are Eoyal George and 

 Noblesse ; the former was in blossom in the early house. Figs 

 occupy the back walls, and Strawbenies the shelves at top. 

 Another Peach house has recently been planted with Early 

 York, Early Beatrice, and Victoria Nectarine, and is intended 

 in future years to foiin the earliest Peach house. There is in 

 addition a small Fig house, besides the hip-roofed fruiting 

 Pine pit, which is amply suppUed with both toj) and bottom 

 heat, and contains a large and remarkably healthy stock of 

 plants, with excellent fruit in various stages. At the warm 

 end there is a plant of Musa Cavendishii, which is now bearing 

 a cluster of fruit, but to what size it will ultimately swell it is. 



