JOXJENAIi OF HOETICULTtTEB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October «, 1863. 



oome over us, it is that the fine Deodars, noble Chestnuts, 

 ancient-looking Scotch Fii-s (girthing from 9 to 11 feet), and 

 Sycamores (girthing 14 feet), do not come in as pi'ominent 

 objects li-om tlie principal windows. 



Here we had the privilege of meeting tiie worthy pro- 

 prietor and being shown by ln'm over the principal rooms of 

 the fine new mansion, most of wliich ai-e yet not quite fui-- 

 nished. The ceiling of the drawing-room is gorgeous in the 

 extreme, and the wood-cai'ving thi'oughont must be second 

 to few or none. We were almost sorry to find that some of 

 the most elaborate gilding in the rooms was placed over 

 the most beautiful carving in wood, thus almost putting 

 the latter at fii-st sight in competition with gilding over 

 plaster, &c. The gikUng seems to hide at fu-st sight not 

 only the rare taste of the ai-tist, but the libei-ality of the 

 proprietor in securing it. There did not seem to be any- 

 thing of a maie-beheve, but everything to be real in the 

 elegant adorning of these line suites of rooms. Mi-. Sneyd 

 told us that at lus advanced age he had no idea of bviildiug 

 a fresh mansion on the site of the old one, but merely wished 

 to renew a part, but that when that was about to be done the 

 architect sm-prised him by stating what he deemed then to 

 be an impossible fact — that the foundations of the old house 

 were giving way, though it was based on the sandstone rock. 

 It was, however, true. The rock in places had been thin, 

 with a bed of sand beneath, and there the weight of 

 the house had cracked the rock and caused it to subside. 

 The whole mansion is a beautiful piece of workmanship, 

 built chiefly with a hard pink sandstone found on the 

 estate, reUeved with the white Hollington stone found 

 near Alton Towers, and the joints are so fine as to be just 

 discernible. 



At the south front there is a nice flower gaa'den in a sunk 

 panel with a graceful fountain in the centre. The beds in 

 the panel were massive and weU filled, and sun'ounded with 

 coloured gravels, which told well. A series of composition- 

 beds were placed on each siile on the higher level, and what 

 was planted was equaUy good ; but we were prejudiced 

 against any mere masses of colom-ed gravels instead of 

 flowers where these form part of the same composition. 

 Besides the general timber, this garden is backed by fine 

 specimens of different-coloured Hollies, Hemlock Sipruce, 

 &e. 



Prom the teiTaces and lawn on the soulfh-east^ Kide fine 

 views are obtained of the woods of Trentham and Hendhiu-eh. 

 On the bold swelling gi-ound to Hhe eastward the belts formed 

 by Brown have been broken up and now ai'e graced with 

 masses of timber. In the bottom vale beneath yon a nice 

 lake has been formed out of sevei'al disconnected fish-ponds, 

 and the fine contrast of foliage around that lake afforded by 

 Oak, Holly, Willow, and Hemlock Spruce, Deodai-s, Scotch 

 Pine, and Pinus pinastei- is s-uoh as a painter would love to 

 study. On an out-jutting comei- prominent fi'oin the lawn, 

 and on the ojjposite side of Hhe lake, is a small jriece of 

 rockwork made of the red sandstone. Tliis has been done 

 so closely to resemble nature as to deceive one of the most 

 accomplished geologiBts of the age. Kesiding at iShs haU, 

 he came hurriedly liram his bed-room one morning aaid thus 

 accosted his worthy host : — " AHow me to congratulate you. 

 Ml'. Sneyd, on having coal on your property." " Indeed !" 

 "O yes, there is no mistake about it. Whenevei- the red 

 sandstone dips in a certain way there is always coal." 

 " Always ?" "Yes, it is a sui'e infallible sign." ""Wlint if 

 the blocks have been placed in that particular position ?" 



With this anecdote we take oiu- leave of Keele Hall, and 

 that reluctantly, as, besides being gi-atified by the superior 

 gardening we went to see, there seemed to be over the 

 whole place such an atmosphere of repose, of comfort, and of 

 happiness. This is not to be wondered at, as, from aU we 

 saw and heard of new farm buildings, new or greatly im- 

 pi'oved cottages, new post-office, new schools, good reading- 

 rooitis, good libraries in connection with Mudie's for new 

 publications, to which the working people have access, and 

 the liberal support of a Keele fai-mers' club, where encourage- 

 ment is given to every kind of rural and agricultural im- 

 provement, it required no great penetration to perceive that 

 there was a practical every -day exemplification of the in- 

 scription on the new mansion, " Suis quam sibi," and of that 

 stiU more homely family motto over the doorway, " Thank 

 God for all."— E. Fish. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The decline of the late crops of Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers, 

 &c., should be followed by then immediate removal, and no 

 decaying or useless vegetable matter at this moment should 

 be allowed to cumber the ground. If the vacancies be not 

 directly required they had better be trenched, rough-dug, 

 or ridged for exposure ; the distribution of manure to be 

 governed by a due consideration of the late and futm-e crops. 

 For instance : the Onion-quai'ter has probably received ma- 

 nure sufficient to carry a crop of Cabbage without fiu-tiier 

 assistance. Strong-growing Peas and Beans impoverish the 

 land; quarters which have been thus occupied might be 

 appropriated to early Potatoes in due season. Cauliflowers, 

 to prevent the destructive attacks of slugs on the young 

 plants of these and of Lettuces mix soot and lime together 

 in equal portions, and dust them over with it once or twice 

 weekly. The Lettuces that are just coming into use should 

 be lifted with balls and placed in frames. Cabbages, make good 

 the blanks that may have occurred in the plantations of 

 these and of Coleworts, and keep • a lai'ge reserve to niaike 

 plantations in spring, as weB as to make good the blanks 

 caused by the winter. Onions, look over the bulbs that have 

 been stored, and remove any that are beginning to d«cay. 

 Potatoes, see that the disease is not making its appearance 

 amongst them, but if it has let them be picked over without 

 loss of time. Turnijys, thin the late sowing ; but it is not 

 necessai-y to leave them at so great a distance apart as the 

 spring and early summer sowings. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



As we have lately experienced a few cold frosty mornings 

 the more tender kinds of plants, which are to be saved, 

 should be taken up at once. Vai'iegated Geraniums wQl 

 not bear much frost; and where the plants have to be 

 wintered in situations which are not veiy suitable for them, 

 they should be taken up before they ai-e injvu-ed, as they 

 will be much more liable to damp off and die back in winter if 

 the wood fee injm-ed by frost ; to be kept over the winter 

 just as they ai'e lifted from the beds, and to be cut back 

 early in spring after stai-ting them into growth, when the 

 cuttings will root freely in heat, and will make useful-sized 

 plants by jilainting-out time. Proceed, therefore, with pot- 

 ting such plants with as much dispatch as possible, and 

 if practicable a little ai'tificial heat should be ajjplied to help 

 them to root before winter. The earliest opportunity may 

 now be takrai of removing all such plants as Auriculas, Cai'- 

 nations, Fansies, &e., that ai'e gi'owing in pots, and that 

 have been temporai'Oy protected from the rains, to their 

 winter quarters ; a cold di'y fi'ame, where provision is made 

 for a ch'cvilatiion of afr beneath and amongst the plants, is 

 one of the vei-y best situations for the jjm-pose. But very 

 little water to be given to these plants dm'ing the winter, 

 as they only requii'e just sufficient to prevent their tissues 

 from drying up and shrivelliog-, and the di'ier they can be 

 kept without this taking place the safer will they be fi'om 

 injury by frost, and the more healthy and vigorous to produce 

 good blooms in the proper season. They should have ah' 

 admitted to the frame daaly, unless the weathea- is very 

 severe and boisterous. Th^ will requu-e a moderate degree 

 of protection in the most severe part of the winter; but 

 otherwise the protection of the frame and sashes wiU te 

 sufficient. Unless when alterations are in hand the pi-incipal 

 work in this depai'tment for the present wUl be mowing and 

 clearing, and if anything like neatness is to be maintained, 

 sweeping up of loaves will soon requu-e daily attention ; also 

 see to getting the gi-avel walks thoroughly cleared of weeds 

 and moss ; roll them frequently when wet to keep the sur- 

 face hard and smooth. 



PKtriT GARDEN. 



The principal routine here will consist in gathering and 

 storing all the late varieties of Apples and Peai's. The 

 present is by fai- the best time for lifting and transplant- 

 ing very vigorous unfruitftil trees on the walls. Apricots, 

 Peaches, and Nectai'ines may be so treated witli gi'eat ad- 

 vantage, and after the operation is completed they should 

 be well mulehed-up for the winter. Fill up all vacancies 

 on the walls with young trees. Never let tliis be left until 

 the spring if it can jiossibly be avoided. Where root-prun- 

 ing is considered neoeseai'y, now is the time to see to it. 



