216 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ September 19, 1867. 



house. I have, however, fonnd sweet oil the most efScacions 

 of all applications, anil that which inflicts the least injury on 

 the plants, either as renards appearance or health. Applied to 

 plants affected with mealy bug it is equally efficacious, and a 

 small phial hung up in a plant-stove, with the handle of the 

 pencil run througli tbe cork, so ns always to be in readiness 

 when an enemy is seen, is a very good appendage to such a 

 structure ; for although few like to acknowledge having either 

 of the two insects aUuded to, there are comparatively few 

 places perfectly free from them, and an easy way of keeping 

 them down is an important alTair. I have, therefore, every con- 

 fidence in confirming what " C. I. M." says of oil being fatal to 

 the Pear scale, and I expect any cheap oil not possessing any 

 acridity or irritating ingredient, will do for out-door trees in 

 winter. In the case in whicli I used oil for American blight, 

 common train oil was applied ; I think linseed oil has been 

 used for tbe same purpose, and I once saw some ugly scars on 

 an Apple tree smeared over with a very common grease with 

 advantage to the tree, and death and destruction to its enemies. 



— J. EOBSON. 



THE REV. H. COTTINGHAM'S GRAPES AT 

 THE HE.VTH. 



For the information of your readers let me state that this 

 residence is about five miles from Chesterfield and seven 

 from Mansfield, and lies on the chief highway between these 

 two towns. It is a neighbourhood fraught with general inter- 

 est, and charms adapted to the tastes of ramblers abound on 

 every hand. From Mr. Cottingham's flower garden and draw- 

 ing-room windows are obtained charming views of Hardwiok 

 Hall, on the brow of a bold and commanding hill. We cannot 

 turn our attention to Hardwick Hall without a train of his- 

 torical circumstances rushing on the memory. It was here 

 that Mary Queen of Scots was for some time confined — not in 

 the present mansion, but in an old dilapidated edifice close by, 

 the massive grey walls of which are overgrown with Ivy and 

 have fallen into a state of decay. In the picture-gallery of the 

 present mansion is to be seen a fine portrait of the celebrated 

 Thomas Hobbes, the author of tbe " Leviathan." Hobbes 

 chiefly resided with the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth. 

 He died at Hardwick (whither he had just removed with the 

 family), at the venerable age of ninety-two. His remains were 

 interred in the adjacent church of Ault Hucknall, where there 

 is a monument raised to his memory. The house is very 

 large, and in the rjuaintest form of the Elizabethan style of 

 architecture. One extraordinary feature appears to be the 

 number and size of the windows, which are set so thickly 

 together, and so elevated, as to have often suggested the com- 

 parison of the house to a huge lantern. Hence it is not unfre- 

 quently termed in a popular local rbyme — 



" Pronil Hardwick H^Il, 

 More windows than wall."* 



The park is richly wooded, very extensive, and embellished 

 with a profusion of venerable Oaks. Altogether the park, with 

 its attractions, the antiquity of the old dilapidated mansion, 

 the present one with its assemblage of curiosities, and the sur- 

 rounding scenery so pleasant, enable one to spend a day in tbe 

 neighbourhood with advantage as well as pleasure. 



The chief feature at Mr. Cottingbam's is the superexcellent 

 Grapes, and I had many times heard of tbe remarkable success 

 attending their culture ; so availing myself of a special invi- 

 tation a few days ago, I can now report on the Grapes and 

 acknowledge tbe extreme kindness of Mr. Cottingham. 



There are but two houses of Vines, both together being 

 CO feet in length, with a glass partition in the centre about 

 13 feet wide and 10 feet high. One house and part of the 

 other was planted in 186S : the other part was added and 

 planted in 1865. The varieties grown are Black Alicante, Bar- 

 barossa. White Tokay, Black Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, 

 Canon Hall Muscat, and the Black and White Frontignan. 

 The two last-named Mr. Cottingham intends to remove and 

 replace with varieties of greater value. The border for the 

 Vines planted in ISli:-'. is on the outside, and those planted in 

 1865 have a border both inside and out. There is nothing 

 particular in tbe formation of the borders more than is met 

 with in all ordinary gardens. This affords another very con- 

 vincing proof that it is not requisite to make expensive and 

 complicated borders in order to produce the finest Grapes. 

 The compost used is good turf, with a small proportion of lime 

 rubbish and broken bones. Had Mr. Cottingham had oyster- 



shells at command he would most probably have used them in 

 the compost. Care is taken to secure perfect drainage, and 

 the outside border is never allowed to become very wet. 



Before giving the results I will state that Mr. Cottingham is 

 tbe rector of The Heath, and keeps no regular or skilled gar- 

 dener ; that the entire management of the Vines rests with 

 himself and his curate, the Kev. T. B. Vaughan ; and during 

 their absence air is given and taken oil' by one of the servants 

 in the house. 



In the year 1865 the largest bunch cut was Barbarossa, and 

 weighed 10 lbs. ; Muscat of Alexandria, 8 lbs. ; Black Alicante, 

 (■> lbs. Last year the largest bunches of Barbarossa were but a 

 little over 8 lbs. This year, when ripe, the best bunches of 

 Barbarossa will be from 8 to 9 lbs. ; the bunches of Black 

 Alicante will average about 5 lbs. ; and the Muscat of Alexan- 

 dria, of which I counted seven bunches on a Vine, will average 

 about 4 or IJ lbs. each. All the bunches on tbe latter were 

 as nearly equal in size as possible. These are from the Vines 

 planted in 1863, and those planted two years later are doing 

 equally well, and carrying fine bunches of Grapes. The berries 

 of Canon Hall Muscat were of extraordinary dimensions, 

 though I did not think the bunches were so large in proportion 

 as those of the other varieties. The bunches were what Mr. 

 Thomson, of Dalkeith Park, would pronounce perfect in colour, 

 size of berry, size and symmetry of bunch, beautiful bloom, 

 and I do not hesitate to make the assertion, they would be 

 perfect in flavour. The foliage was in the highest state of 

 health, and perfectly free from all the ills which Vines are 

 subject to. There evidently must have been a gi'eat amount 

 of care and persevering skill exercised to bring tbe Vines to their 

 present state of perfection ; and I place this instance of success 

 on record to stimulate those who have hitherto failed, and as an 

 encouragement to those amateurs who would like to grow a few 

 Grapes but dare not embark on their cultivation. 



The kitchen garden was a model of perfect arrangement 

 and good order. In proximity to the rectory is a neat flower 

 garden, and adjoining this the lawn and pleasure grounds. 

 In a secluded walk is a small hardy fernery planted with very 

 choice hardy varieties of Ferns. I may add that I have many 

 times visited places of much larger extent, but never any which 

 afforded me more real gratification and pleasure ; and though 

 there are no attempts at show or display, yet great and im- 

 portant results are accomplished. — Quintin Eead, Gardener to 

 ]Vm. Hollins, E.-n], 



RICHMOND COMPANY'S TOBACCO WASH AND 



HOPS. 



I AM requested to correct an error into which the worthy 

 writer on so many topics, " D., Deal," has fallen, in report- 

 ing the advantages derived from the use of tobacco wash in 

 arresting the ravages of the fly on the Hops, seen by him at 

 Mr. Banuerman's, of Hunton. The error is simply that of 

 giving the credit to Pooley's ground tobacco, which should 

 have been accorded to tbe Pdchmond Cavendish Company 

 (Limited I, of which Mr. Thomas Cope is Manager. It appears 

 that the wash was formed from the Company's material and 

 soft soap boiled together and strained ; and it was applied to 

 the Hops with all the benefit mentioned by " D., Deal." The 

 mistake in the name, of course, was purely accidental. — 



J. BOBSOS. 



NOTES ON THE CAPE HEATHS. 



The graceful elegance of tbe Cape Heaths claims expressions 

 of the highest praise. Many other plants obtain for them- 

 selves world-wide approbation from their magnificence and the 

 bold dash of their rich colours, but the Heaths possess a sweet- 

 ness which is entirely their own. They are beautiful alike in 

 their greenness, and wbile loaded with their many charming 

 umbellated or tapering trusses of waxlike bells, whose glowing 

 shades partake of almost every colour, whDe their endless 

 diversities of foliage, habit, and form of flower constitute them 

 one of the finest divisions of greenhouse evergreens. Perhaps 

 no other species of plants are more prized among gardeners 

 than Heaths, yet comparatively few can point to their col- 

 lections with such feelings of pride as they can cherish toward 

 other plants under their care. This may arise from many 

 causes — want of accommodation, time to give them attention, 

 &c. ; but tbe chief cause, I fear, springs from other sources — 

 the application of wrong soil, and of water loaded with mineral 



