276 



JOUBNAL OF HORTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( October 9, 1873, 



understood there had been a good crop. In the Pine pit the 

 varieties grown were mostly Queens and Smootli-Ieaved 

 Cayennes, of which there were some good specimens ripening 

 fruit, and as Mr. McCrow occasionally exhibits them at the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's shows, little need be said in 

 their jiraise, as generally only good fruit finds its way there, 

 or it may be fruit at a difficult season, which is equally meri- 

 torious. Some other varieties were also grown, but the two 

 named were the favourites. The house for hardwooded plants, 

 of which, however, at the time of my visit, most of the usual 

 occupants were out of doors, was not left empty, but the most 

 ornamental subjects were in the conservatory. There I 

 noticed some good specimen stove plants and Ferns, as well 

 as the usual permanent plants. Amongst the latter were 

 Rhopala corcovadensis, several Acacias, Camellias, and other 

 plants ; while amongst Ferns were good specimens of Dick- 

 sonia antarctica, Alsophila australis, Cyathea medullaris, and 

 others. Good Latanias and Alocasias also occupied appro- 

 priate sites. A plant appearing to belong to the latter genus, 

 but of which I understood Mr. McCrow had not ascertained 

 the name, vras very fine ; having noble foliage with purple 

 leafstalks and midribs. It had also the advantage of being 

 a fast grower and not so sensible to injury from sunshine as 

 many allied plants. A good specimen of Cycas revoluta was 

 also deserving of notice. Eucharis amazonica showed well, 

 but had not quite come into flower, and there were, besides, 

 abundance of the usual summer-flowering plants, which seem 

 indispensable to a ojnservatory at this season, as Balsams, 

 Celosias, Gomphrenas, Scarlet Geraniums, and the like, as 

 well as Coleuses and other fiue-foliaged plants. 



The Orchid house was also interesting, containing good plants 

 of Phalajnopsis, Aerides, and Vandas, as well as Dendrobiums 

 Lycastes, Oncidiums, etc. But an Orchid house seems to have 

 less attractions than any other in summer ; the abundance of 

 out-door floral beauty, which can be looked at and admired 

 without discomfort, would seem to be more attractive than 

 _ the uugenial moisture of the Orchid house, excepting to the 

 ardent lover of such plants. I will therefore pass on to the 

 vineries which constitute the two houses e aud f ; and without 

 taking their contents in the order of early and late, I will 

 merely note the kinds of Grape that struck me as being good. 

 First there was Muscat of Alexandria, on two rods of which 

 I counted twenty-four bunches all good and fine. A black 

 Muscat was also good. Not so, however, was Muscat Ham- 

 burgh, which, with the same treatment as the others received, 

 was only indifferent aud unsatisfactory ; but Lady Downe's 

 was very good. Scarcely less so was Alicante and Madresfield 

 Court, and even the Golden Champion, which has failed in so 

 many places, was tolerably good here, though not by any 

 means so large in the bunch as Child of Hale and another 

 white Grape resembling the Tokay. Of course that indis- 

 pensable Grape, the Black Hamburgh, was well represented, 

 and there was also a promising rod or two with good bunches 

 on them of Royal Vineyard. There was, then, no lack of 

 variety in Grapes, aud with one or two slight exceptions all 

 were doing well. I ought also to remark that underneath 

 the Vines, in one if not in both the vineries. Camellias were 

 perfecting their buds, and I understood were shortly to be 

 placed out of doors for the autumn. 



Having already occupied so much space, I must hurry over 

 the kitchen garden which occupies a site to the north of the 

 range of glass described, and which contahied the usual breadth 

 of vegetables wanted by a family. Some hardy common fruits 

 have a suitable home in a slip at the west side ; amongst them 

 I noticed a good variety of Black Currant, and in another 

 place I was pleased to see against the walls some promising 

 Peach trees, one of which had fruit fast approaching ripeness, 

 aud as this fruit is far from plentiful this season, I was glad 

 to see it in such good force out of doors. In other parts of the 

 ground there were plenty of Apples, but Plums and Pears were 

 scarce, as, in fact, they are everywhere. Small fruits had, 

 however, been plentiful, aud most vegetable crops good. 

 Cleanliness and order were everywhere noticeable, reflecting 

 great credit on the proprietor of this fine place, who, at an 

 advanced period in life, takes so much interest in gardening, 

 and who is ably seconded by his worthy gardener. Apart 

 from what has been done in and about the garden, Mr. Lade 

 is also fond of farming, aud an excellent piece of Hops, to 

 say nothing of corn and other crops, attests the fact that the 

 well-being of vegetation of all kinds is attended to. Care is 

 taken in various parts of the estate to rear forest trees, a 

 matter which I much fear a future generation will blame the 



present one for neglecting, but this is duly looked to at Nash 

 Court. — .J. RoESON. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



At the Crystal Palace annual harvest festival, which com- 

 mences on Monday next, Messrs. Sutton & Sons have erected 

 for the fourth year a haevest teophv, which is 100 feet in 

 length, representing the agricultural and horticultural pro- 

 ductions of England. 



The Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Pubhc 



Buildings intend to distribute this autumn among the working 

 classes and the poor inhabitants of London the surplus bed- 

 ding-out plants in Battersea, Hyde, Regent's, and Victoria 

 Parks, aud in the Royal Gardens, Kew, aud the Pleasure 

 Gardens, Hampton Court. If the clergy, school committees, 

 and others interested will make application to the superinten- 

 dent of the parks nearest to their respective parishes, or to the 

 Dii-eetor of the Royal Gardens, Kew, or the Superintendent of 

 Hampton Court Gardens in the cases of persons residing in 

 those neighbourhoods, they will receive early intimation of the 

 number of plants that can be allotted to each applicant, and of 

 the time and manner of their distribution. 



The Council of The Society for the Promotion of 



Scientific Industry, looking to the enormous waste there is in' 

 the consumption of coal, whilst its cost is every day increasing, 

 have resolved that an exhibition shall be held in Manchester 

 of 1st, Appliances which may be adapted to existing furnaces, 

 itc, whereby an actual saving is effected in the consumption 

 of fuel ; 2ud, Appliances which may be adapted to existing 

 furnaces, etc., whereby waste heat is utilised ; .3rd, New steam- 

 generators and furnaces, boilers, and engines specially adapted 

 for the saving of fuel and appliances. 



WOBK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



T-AKE every favourable opportuuity of clearing the ground 

 from weeds. In the best-kept gardens they are troublesome at 

 this season, when the ground is usually too wet for hoeing 

 and raking ; but these are more especially so when they are 

 allowed to seed during the summer, and the past one has been 

 favourable for ripening seed. Dig all vacant ground when in a 

 workable state. When the tops of Asparagus are decayed cut 

 them off close to the ground, the beds should then be made 

 clean and afterwards covered 3 inches deep with rotten dung or 

 leaves. The alleys should remain as they are aud not be dug 

 out, as many of the roots are thereby injured, and it is of no 

 pi'actical good. Where Broccoli is growing very strong it is 

 advisable to dig it up and place it in trenches in a nearly hori- 

 zontal position, covering the roots and stems up to the leaves ; 

 this has the effect of checking luxuriant growth, and of pro- 

 tecting the hearts of the plants in severe weather. The main 

 spring crops of Cabbage should be planted-out as early as pos- 

 sible. Those which were planted in August for Coleuiorts should 

 be earthed-up. This month may be said to be the commence- 

 ment of the professed Cucumber-growing year. The seed-bed 

 should now be made with well-worked dung over a layer of 

 faggots, the frame should then be put on, and when the heat is 

 up the dung inside the frame should be forked-up every al- 

 ternate morning for a week or ten days, at the end of which 

 time it will be ready to receive the seed, if the dung was pro- 

 perly worked previously to makiug it into a bed. Continue to 

 blanch Endive as wanted for use. A large quantity should 

 never be tied-up for use at one time, as it will be more likely to 

 rot. The first sowing in pots of Dwarf Kidney Beans should 

 be earthed-up as they require it ; if they are jjlaced over a flue 

 in a forcing house the pots should stand in saucers when the 

 fires are kept going, or otherwise the soil at the bottoms of the 

 pots will become very dry. Continue to plant the Cabbage 

 variety of Leilucc in frames for winter. Some of the Cos va- 

 rieties for spring use should also be planted in a sheltered border 

 as soon as they are of a sufficient size. Gather Sea-kale seed 

 when ripe, and as soon as the leaves begin to decay clear them 

 away. It is necessary to do this as soon as possible where it is 

 required for early forcing. Thin the late sowing of TurnipSy 

 but it is not necessary to leave them at so great a distance apart 

 as the spring and early-summer sowings. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Strawberry plantations should now be top-dressed ; where they 

 have been allowed to gi-ow thick and the leaves are decaying they 

 may be cut off, not too closely, previous to laying ou the dress- 

 ing. Gooseberry and Currant bushes may now be planted, as 

 m^y also most fruit trees. From the ensuing week Morello 

 Cherries, Impcratrice and Coe's Golden Drop Plums should be 

 protected from wet where they are still hanging upon the trees. 



