102 



JOUIiNAL OF UORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



[ Aagust 8, 18S7. 



berries had been placed on shelves along the sides of the house, 

 and now it was filled from end to end with Peaches and Necta- 

 rines ; of these already 100 dozen had been gathered, and there 

 were in all about 350 dozen of good saleable fruit, the highest 

 number on any tree being, as far as I could see, about thirty-two 

 or thirty-three. Now, this fruit was of good size ; the flavour 

 not, perhaps, so good as when grown in a regular Peach-house, 

 but certainly superior to that of wall fruit. These trees are 

 potted once a-year and top-dressed once. Great attention is paid 

 to the watering, to the neglect of which Mr. Smith attributed a 

 great many of the failures in orchard-house-culture. The pots 

 were mostly 9 and 10 inches, a few a little larger, so that there 

 did not seem to be much mystery in the mode el cultivation. 

 The fruits grown,atleast those which were ripe and eatable, were 

 Early Savoy, very similar to Grosse Miguonne, somewhat more 

 flattened in shape, and a little paler ; Grosse Mignonne, a 

 variety too well known to need any commendation, the flesh 

 was rich and highly flavoured ; Early York, with greenish Avhite 

 flesh, a very juicy and melting Peach ; Bourdine, an excellent 

 Jcach, with very rich and sugary flesh, and of a very deep red 

 colour near the stone ; BeUegarde, another well-known Peach, 

 ■with pale yellow flesh, of a rich and vinous flavour ; Chancellor, 

 this I did not consider good, probably the fruit was not in good 

 condition ; Early Albert, this is I believe one of Mr. Eivers's 

 Peaches— the fruit, as I tasted it, lacked flavour; Barrington, 

 a fine and highly flavoured Peach, light in colour, with yellow- 

 ish flesh. Of Nectarines there were Hunt's Tawny, with pale 

 orange skin, deep red on the sunny side, orange-coloured flesh, 

 rich and highly flavoured ; Eivers's Orange, a seedling from 

 Pitmaston Orange, which it very closely resembles ; Hardwicke, 

 raised near Bury St. Edmunds, at Hnrdwieke House, a most 

 delicious Nectarine, melting and highly flavoured, one of the 

 best ; Downton, raised by Mr. Knight from Violette Hative, a 

 well-flavoured variety with pale green flesh, first-rate sort ; 

 Violette Hative, a well-known variety of good quality, fruit here 

 excellent ; White Nectarine, skin almost white, flesh the same, 

 rich and juicy ; Pitmaston Orange, raised by Mr. Williams, a 

 great friend of Mr. Knight's. The house where Mr. Williams 

 lived adjoins Mr. Smith's grounds, so that this variety is of 

 peculiar interest here. It is one of the very best Nectarines ; 

 the tree is hardy and a prolific bearer. 



Such were the principal binds in fruit, and as many of 

 these are not ripe out of doors until September, the advantage of 

 having them in-doors is evident, besides the certainty of the 

 crop. In the large house there was a great number to come 

 in later ; but here I tasted the Moorpark Apricot with a depth 

 of flavour one is not accustomed to find in the fruit out of 

 doors. Heie, last year, fruit was gathered at midsummer, and 

 continued to be gathered as late as November. 



The ventilation in front is managed by a sliding apparatus 

 something like a razor-strop, and the ventilators can be opened 

 and shut with the greatest ease, 50 feet at a time. 



Besides these hou.ses there were others filled with Vines in 

 pots, about as fine and healthy a fruiting set of canes as I have 

 seen anywhere ; houses, too, full of Fig trees, very healthy 

 and stocky plants, which will no doubt be greedily snapped up 

 by-and-by, for the severe frost of last winter has been most 

 injurious to the Fig in many parts, and perhaps those who are 

 fond of it will gladly adopt in-door instead of out-of-door culture 

 as more certain and satisfactory. Then there were conserva- 

 tories and greenhouses and a stove, all filled with healthy stock 

 of the various kinds of plants most in request. Here, too, the 

 order and neatness for which the nursery is distinguished also 

 prevailed. Thus, the plants in the greenhouses were arranged 

 very much as we should do a ribbon-border. The front row 

 was composed of Iresine Herbstii, which Mr. Smith thinks 

 does best on clay soils ; then there was a row of Mrs. Pollock 

 Pelargonium, then one of Coleus Verschnffeltii, then a row of 

 variegated Pelargoniums, and the remaining upper shelves 

 were filled with a general collection of the best bedding Pelar- 

 goniums. Not only does this add greatly to the appearance 

 of the house at a time when houses are all in confusion, gene- 

 rally speaking, but it would give many persons a very good idea 

 as to the combination necessary for making a grand effect in 

 their gardens. lu all my peregrinations through these houses 



-1 J '^°^ ^^^ '^ single unhealthy plant ; there was no fly, 

 mildew, rust, or any of the thousand ills that plants are heir 

 to, but everything most healthy, and in a fit condition to be 

 sent into any garden in the kingdom. 



I hope next week to make some remarks upon the out-door 

 department ; but I cannot forbear adding that nothing could 

 sxceed the kindness and courtesy with which 1 was received. 



and I have certainly spent fewer pleasanter days of late than 

 that in which I rambled through Mr. Smith's nurseries. — 

 D., Deal. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN OAEDEN. 



Tnis is the period at which to lay the foundation of a sure 

 supply of vegetables and salads for the ensuing winter, and 

 time lost now in this respect cannot possibly be regained. Sup- 

 posing that all the spring and midwinter Broccolis have been 

 planted some time, and that Turnips for October and November 

 are also in, still it remains to insure a continuous succession 

 of Catdi/iower and autumn Broccoli, also a full supply of 

 salads. Cape Broccolis, although apt to start, are amongst the 

 most useful for the certain supply of the house if the family 

 is resident in the country throughout October and up to Christ- 

 mas. Where such is the case, the last planting, a good breadth, 

 should be immediately made. A rich border should also be 

 prepared for Cauliflowers ; these, planted immediately, will 

 supply the table until Christmas, provided they are secure from 

 frost. Endive, this, also, must be planted out with a liberal 

 hand. Lettuces, sow Brown Cos, the Black-seeded Green Cos, 

 and Brown Dutch Cabbage Lettuce for standing the winter. 

 Onions, take up the pickling sorts, and lay down the tops of 

 the main crop with a soft broom. Some of the White Spanish 

 may be sown. Let a clearance be made forthwith of all decay- 

 ing crops or those unprofitable, and supply their places imme- 

 diately with Coleworts and other winter crops. 

 raniT cirden. 



Gather early Pears and Apples, their fitness for gathering 

 requires particular attention. If they are taken a few days too 

 soon they will be insipid and wattry, for they do not become 

 sugary by lying in the fruit-room, as is the case with later 

 varieties ; but, on the other hand, these early kinds ought not 

 to hang a day beyond the precise time they prove best. Attend 

 to trees budded and grafted this year, and see that they are 

 not injured by the matting used in tying. Dress oft the tips of 

 the stocks behind the gralts. If this be done now the wounds 

 will be nearly, or in some instances completely, healed over be- 

 fore winter. Wall trees will require to be kept in order as pre- 

 viously directed. This moist season has encouraged numerous 

 outbreakings of lateral shoots. Where the wall is already 

 covered with foliage these recent growths are worse than 

 useless, they shade the more efficient portions, whilst they draw 

 sap from the tree, but return little ; for, as Mr. Knight, of 

 Downton, observed, the elaboration of the very young foliage 

 is appropriated to its own development and the growth of the 

 pushing shoot. 



FLOWEE G.tKDEN. 



Eoses budded last month should have the bandages loosened 

 or removed if the buds have taken well, and the shoots should 

 be shortened back to prevent wind from breaking them off near 

 the buds. Continue layering Carnations, &c. Early-struck Pink- 

 pipings should now be planted out in flower-borders, or beds, 

 in the reserve garden for transplanting in autumn or spring. 

 Sow Intermediate Stocks in the open ground, to be potted off 

 when fit, for early blooming next year. Sow, also. Poppy Ane- 

 mone seed, the least sprinkling of earth over the seed is suffi- 

 cient. Laurels and other strong-growing shrubs, injuring 

 choicer kinds by overgrowing them, should be cut back to 

 allow the air to circulate, in order to harden the wood before 

 winter. Those who can find time may pick off the seed-pods 

 from Ehododendrons. This will add much to the strength of 

 the blossom in the next year. The Azaleas, of course, will 

 benefit by a similar proceeding. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



No time should now be lost in putting all houses, pits, <fco., 

 in thorough repair. The glazing should now be well looked to, 

 and painting done where needed. With regard to the inte- 

 rior of houses painting must ever depend on the crops. White- 

 washing, however, can be managed at all times. The lime 

 should have abundance of sulphur mixed with it. No one need 

 be afraid of using any amount on cool surfaces. The repair- 

 ing and cleaning of flues will, of course, suggest itself, and the 

 examination of boilers or other apparatus where suspicion 

 may rest, should be proceeded with forthwith. Camellias if 

 forced into wood will bo rapidly advancing. They should in 

 this state be out of doors in a cool place on cool flags or coal- 

 ashes to prevent the earthworm from deranging the drainage. 

 Chrysanthemums should now receive their last shift, if 

 possible, using chiefly fibrous loam, with plenty of charcoal. 



