August 18, 1863. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AiTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



127 



By all means adopt the plan suggested, and if possible add 

 more wa,ter than merely faDs by rain for a few times ; but do 

 not apply manure water too liberally, as when this fluid is 

 not used up by the plant it is intended for, it soui-s the 

 ground, rendering it unfit for healthy vegetation. A little 

 with the water in the growing season wUl be of benefit. 

 Trees in large towns suffer fi'om many causes, as well as 

 from dryness at the roots, and in some instances they 

 are sadly abused, becoming, as it were, receptacles for 

 nuisances, which, though they endure for a time, they 

 eTentuaUy suffer from. 



That Lime trees are of quick growth and very accom- 

 modating as to position cannot be questioned ; but, at the 

 same time, they are still liable to the diseases incident to 

 all vegetable as well as animal life ; and we fear no treat- 

 ment that is at aU expedient to adopt will prevent this 

 entirely in the case of the trees in question. We are un- 

 willing to believe the want of water to be the main cause, 

 as the trees must receive on their foliage all that falls in a 

 natural way. Is the gravel forming the walk of a pernicious 

 kind — containing some virulent poison fatal alike to vegeta- 

 tion as well as animal life, as we know some sands to be 

 that are obtained in mining in the west of England ? In 

 this case it would be difficult to suggest a remedy ; and as 

 it is, we fear it is not an easy matter to effect one. The 

 plan advised by " A Lovee of Teees " might, however, be 

 tried on a few of the trees, and if found to answer might be 

 extended, as it is not likely to do any harm, and may do 

 good. Assuming the roots to be only accessible by such 

 means, it is certainly worth trying ; or a more homely way may 

 be adopted as a temporary trial, which is making a number 

 of holes over the ground with a crowbar, sufficiently deep to 

 reach the soil or nearly so. These holes might be frequently 

 filled with water for a few days until the ground be pretty 

 well wetted, and they might be fiUed-up with but little 

 injury to the walk. If this were done twice during the 

 growing season it would serve the whole year ; and if con- 

 tinued from year to year a partial recovery might take place 

 if the cause is want of moisture. I fear, however, that age 

 and infirmity have something to do with the evil, and if so, 

 all severe measures ought to be avoided. In the meantime 

 see if one side of the tree is not available to work upon, and 

 apply the remedies recommended above. If not, then try 

 water; at the same time examine the various things sui'- 

 rounding the trees, and provide, as far as possible, against 

 nuisances, and the leakage of gas-pipes ; and perhaps the 

 public promenade may be retained without being much 

 further impaired for some year's. Let us know how it fares 

 with these important ornaments to one of the fairest towns 

 in Lancashire. — J. E.] 



THE CASTLE KENNEDY FIG. 



Under this heading in The Jouenal of Hokticultuee 

 of the 4th inst. " A Constant Eeadee " makes some remarks 

 about the Fig known in this locality as the Castle Kennedy 

 Fig, which he says he has eaten, and does not remember 

 tasting any of better flavour, and expresses surprise that 

 the Fruit Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society did 

 not report more favourably of it. 



" A Constant Eeadee " also suggests that I should show 

 it on some future occasion in larger numbers. This I wUl be 

 glad to do, the more so as I think it is a different Pig from 

 the one the members of the Fruit Committee somewhat 

 doubtingly suppose it to be. In their report they say, " It 

 appears to be the Large White Genoa." I do not here wish 

 to be understood as finding fault with the Fruit Committee's 

 decision, for every one acquainted with fruit knows how 

 Dlllike some varieties become when grown in different soils 

 and widely varied circumstances. 



I purpose growing the Castle Kennedy Fig and the large 

 White Genoa in the same house next year; and if I can 

 obtain fruit ripe on both at the same time, I will show them 

 together, when the Fruit Committee will have an oppor- 

 tunity of testing their respective merits, if different, and 

 proving whether they are the same or distinct varieties. 



Here we grow Figs pretty extensively, but no variety is 

 so acceptable at table as this one; its fine flavour, large 

 size, and showy appearance always arresting attention, and 



drawing forth favourable comments. This Fig averages 

 from 5 to 6 ozs. when well grown. 



It has frequently occiirred to me that if this Fig were 

 better known and more extensively cultivated it would 

 become a general favourite, and find its way to the London 

 Horticultural Exhibitions, and probably displace some of 

 the comparatively humble specimens I have frequently seen 

 taking prizes there. 



Of late years almost every other kind of fruit has caught 

 the impulse of the age, and been rapidly improved ; but 

 somehow this has not been the case with the Fig. Many 

 think that instead of progressing it has been retrogressing. 

 On account of Figs not being fashionable, some of the finer 

 sorts formerly in cultivation have either altogether dis- 

 appeared, or are only to be found in out-of-the-way places. 



As little has been done for the last half-century in raising 

 new varieties from seed, siu-ely a fine field is now open for 

 some one to devote attention to the improvement of Figs by 

 hybridising. Owing to the formation of the fruit no doubt 

 this is a dSicult process, much skUl and care being requisite 

 on the part of the operator. A taste, by many considered a 

 very refined one, for this most wholesome of fruits is now 

 springing up in all directions, which is causing more atten- 

 tion to be bestowed not only on its cultivation, but also on 

 the selection of sorts, to be followed in due course by im- 

 provements on existing varieties. — Aechibald Fowlee. 



NOTES ON GAEDENS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. 

 No. 2. — Fabnham Castle. 



It is recorded of one of the former occupants of the lordly 

 see of Winchester, that when he died his successor sued 

 his executors for dilapidations on account of his having 

 thrown down part of the old castle in order to fill up the 

 moat. We are fallen, however, in different times now. 

 Under the liberal generosity, refined taste, and admirable 

 management of its present occupant the grounds of Farn- 

 ham Castle are in so beautiful a state of preservation, that 

 never in the proudest days of this great see, when belted 

 knights and armed retainers fiHed its haUs, could it, to 

 those who delight in tracing the softening effects of our 

 holy religion, have ever appeared so well worthy of admira- 

 tion as in these more peaceful times when, its moat filled 

 in, planted and decorated, its very keep displaying the skill 

 of modern horticulture, one can dream over its past history, 

 and think how strangely different were the scenes in olden 

 times enacted beneath its walls. 



The position of the Castle reminds one more of that of 

 Arundel than of any other I at the present moment recol- 

 lect. Situated like it on a gentle eminence commanding 

 the town, which seems to lie nestled beneath its walls for 

 protection, it is the very ideal of an old feudal castle. Sur- 

 rounded by what was an extensive moat, and closed in by 

 some noble Cedars, it wiU be seen that the amount of plea- 

 sure ground cannot be very extensive : while immediately 

 beyond the moat, and separated fi-om it by a goodly wall, is 

 the noble park with its magnificent timber and lovely walks, 

 by the liberality of the Bishop thrown open to the public ; 

 but although not extensive, it has been made the most of. 

 When the present Bishop came to the see this moat was 

 partly choked up with rubbish, and partly a kitchen garden. 

 All remnants of both have disappeared. The portic-n of the 

 keep has been restored; the moat has been laid down with 

 a lovely svrard ; greenhouses have been built in the upper 

 portion of it, and everything is kept in the most perfect order. 



Taking, as is my wont," an early stroll before breakfast, 

 I reached the top of the square keep. Imagine my surprise 

 to find it all laid out in a beautiful geometric garden, sunk 

 about 3 feet below the level of the wall. All around the 

 sides Eoses clustered in rich profusion ; while in the centre 

 most of our gay bedding plants were (notwithstanding the 

 dryness of the season, which must teU upon such a situation 

 especially), flomisliing admirably. In the centre was a 

 high stand, around which was Saponaria calabnca ; and the 

 remaining beds were arranged in circles round the centre, 

 although of various shapes. Pmijle King Verbena (as yet 

 unapproached for this purpose), LobeUas, Cupheas, purple 

 Dahlias, Ageratum, Scarlet Geraniums, Christine and Trent- 

 ham Eose Geraniums, Gazanias, yellow Calceolarias, and 



