146 



JOXJUNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ August 25, 186S, 



flowers as Herald of SpriBg, Mrs. Pollock, or Sunset would 

 be thereby excluded. 



The grand central lied, an oval measuring (including the 

 grass border of 3 feet), 90 feet by 68, was one of the most 

 brilliant sights that could possibly be imagined. A large 

 star formed the centre of it. This was filled with yeUow 

 Calceolaria, the star itself being formed of Perilla nanki- 

 nensis, and alongside of it the white Alyssum, forming thus 

 a double line of dark pui-ple and white, wliich was very 

 effective. At the distance of a few feet there was a scroll 

 pattern, formed in the same way of the PerUla and Alyssum ; 

 while what, I believe, ladies call a pinked or seoUoped- 

 border formed in the same way ran round the outside of the 

 bed, making a number of small triangles. All the space be- 

 tween the border and the centre star was fiUed-in with Shot- 

 tisham Pet variegated Geraniimi, which Mr. Eobson likes 

 better than any for this pmpose, inasmuch as the foliage is 

 very much cupped, and thus exhibits a good deal of the 

 white variegation. The outside triangles were filled with 

 Tom Thumb, which Mr. Kobson thinks stUl unsui-passed, 

 unless it be by Perfection or Attraction ; while a border of 

 Golden Chain finishes the bed. It -rtU thus be seen that this 

 grand bed, so effective in its an-angements and so striking 

 in its tout ensemble, is reaUy fonned with only six varieties 

 of plants, and I question very much whether it wovdd be 

 possible with a much larger variety to make it as beautiful. 

 The side beds were in scrolls, and several diffei-ent varieties 

 both of Scarlet and %'ariegated Geraniums had been tried 

 here ; but with the exception of Attraction, I do not think 

 that for these purposes Tom Thumb was beaten. Bijou 

 Mr. Kobson considers too lanky in its gi-owth for his pur- 

 pose, and Flower of Spi-ing is not so white in the foliage as 

 some others. 



While thus only a few things a.re used here, others are 

 tried in different parts of the ground; but it will be clear 

 to any one, that in this central point of attrfiction experiments 

 must not be tried, and only such things used as are certain 

 in then- results. Amongst those things wliich have been 

 experimented upon this year have been Coleus Verschaffelti 

 and Amaranthus melancholicus raber, the former a complete 

 failure, and the latter a great success ; but I gathered from 

 Mr. Eobson's account of it, that it requires to be gi-own in 

 the house until tolerably late in June before it is planted 

 out, the earlier plants having been all injured, but the centre 

 row of it in the rosery thus treated was one of the most 

 effective lines that I have seen this season. The colour is 

 more lively than Perilla, and yet affords as good a contrast 

 to other bedding-out plants. It wiU, probably, too, like the 

 Perilla, bear pinching-in, so as to make it more manageable 

 as to height and breadth. Centaurea candidissima also 

 promises to be vei-y useful as a white-foliaged plant, and 

 will, I doubt not, be found largely employed here in a little 

 while. Cineraria maritima is also a great favourite, and 

 deservedly so, its foliage being very beautiful and distinct. 



In the pinetum there are several most interesting trees 

 — fine specimens of Ai-aucaria imbricata, Pinus insignis, 

 P. pinsapo, P. nobiUs, Cedrus deodara. Thuja Lobbi, and 

 other well-known members of this tribe. With regard to 

 the first of these I mentioned what I had noticed at Mi'. 

 Iver/s, of Dorking, that there were two varieties. This 

 Mr. Kobson confii-med, and said that when a plant throws 

 out only four limbs it was siu-e to fonu an indifferent tree, 

 but when five or six that the tree would be sturdy and weU- 

 formed. With regard to the Deodar, the opinion has been 

 started by some whose names stand liigh in the botanical 

 world that the tliree species C. Ubani, C. africanus, and 

 C. deodara are only varieties of one species ; and so far 

 as the affinity of the Cedar of Lebanon and the Deodar is 

 concerned it seems likely enough to be con-ect, judging from 

 three trees of the latter here planted near to one another, 

 in one of wliich the drooping character is ahnost entirely 

 absent, and a limb taken off might very well pass for one of 

 the Cedar of Lebanon. But the glory of the pinetum, 

 though not itself a Pine, is a beautiful Cork tree, I believe 

 as to size and beauty a unique specunen — in this part of 

 England at any rate. It is fuUy 20 feet high, in most robust 

 health, and forms a very pretty and striking object. There 

 were also a fine Catalpa and a magnificent Copper Beech. 

 Amongst other curiosities, too, was a fine plant of the old 

 double white CameUia standing out in the open ground as a 



standard. It is supposed to be about thirty years old, and 

 blooms admirably in its present position. • Time and space 

 would fail me to recount all the interesting things I noticed 

 here; but, as maybe supposed, order and good management 

 pervade the whole of the establishment. 



Mr. Kobson's own residence displays not only his own 

 excellent taste but the liberality of his employers, being 

 suitable in every way for the requirements of one upon 

 whom so much responsibility rests. Many were the subjects 

 on which we had much pleasant chat together — Nesfield's 

 barbarisms, which, by-the-by, Mr. Kobson to some extent 

 patronises, as the lai-ge bed of which I have spoken is in 

 winter levelled and laid out in scroll-pattern ; Spergula 

 pilifera and its total failure ; and novelties of various kinds. 

 We forgot, however, orchard-houses, in my opinion concern- 

 ing wliich Mr. Eobson, I know, quite coincides ; oiu- only 

 regret being that the time was too short for all we needed. 

 But we had each to leave early — I to my work, he to his 

 drill ; for om- friend handles the rifle as weU as the pruning- 

 liook and the pen, and I am sure does it well too. It was 

 inspection-day, and so Sergeant Kobson was to be at his 

 post. Oiu- reads were in an opposite direction, but we parted 

 with the hope that we shoidd meet again in these beautiful 

 grounds, and have another opportunity of talking over our 

 favourite subjects. — D., Deal. 



CUTTING-OFF MIMULUS SEEDS. 



A PERSON of long experience in an extensive garden is 

 much surjirised at seeing an inquiry in last week's Journal, 

 Whether cutting off Mimiilus seeds ivill cause the plants to 

 blow in autumn ? It confirms a frecjuent observation that 

 has occurred of how ignorant of or indifferent to the com- 

 monest results cultivators are, and it is much doubted 

 whether removing the seed when fuUy formed will produce 

 the object desired. 



The removal of the seed-vessels before they fill sends back 

 the nourishment to the plant, which they othei-wise absorb. 

 Let any one try two plants of Sweet Peas ; by removing the 

 seeds from one as soon as the flowers fall, he will find the 

 plants not only continue blooming, but putting out fresh 

 leaves, and they wiU do so as long as the temperature allows 

 any flowers to remain out of doors. Let the other ripen its 

 seeds, when they and the haulm wiU wither together very 

 rapidly. 



The removal of Rhododendron seed greatly assists the 

 forming strong buds. — A. P. 



SUCCESSFUL OECHAJRD-HOUSE 

 MANAGEMENT. 



The successful management of orchard-houses appears to 

 be pretty general this season. Gardeners are fast learning 

 this new branch of culture, as they are sure to do if required. 

 The class which has overcome so niiiny difficulties in culti- 

 vation was hardly likely to find the growing a Peach in a 

 pot a serious affair. 



I have never hesitated to recommend the orchard-house 

 to any person keeping a regidar gardener, but have had 

 doubts where such has not been the case. Glass houses of 

 any sort, unless filled with Cacti only, require daily atten- 

 tion, and where tliis cannot be insured persons had better 

 think twice before building one, particulai-ly if heated. Who 

 has not seen a greenhouse built, not because the owner of 

 the gai'den loved flowers, but because it was the thing to 

 have a greenhouse ? — a house containing plants which all 

 thought it a trouble to attend to ; sometimes watered, some- 

 times neglected ; at times almost burnt, at others frozen. 

 Though the orchai-d-house is no trouble for six months of 

 the year, it requu-es daily attention during summer, and can- 

 not be neglected with impunity. It is a singular fact, how- 

 ever, that amateurs in this neighbourhood have beaten 

 regular gardeners, I believe because they have nothing to 

 unlearn. Amongst the most successful I may mention 

 M. Brown, Esq., of Lenton, ne.ar Nottingham ; his trees 

 have been managed entirely by himself and family. I was 

 told he had a very fine crop, and heard some of his friends tell 

 him they would come and see him when his Peaches were ripe. 



