October 21, 1867. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



313 



excessively protracted." Thns it will be seen that if I am in 

 error, I am in good company. 



I may now close tliia subject by remarking that I bo far pro- 

 tected myself from attacks like those I have received from 

 "H. S.," when I published my little book, by setting it forth 

 as merely an epitome of my own practice. I neither attacked 

 the theories or practice of others, nor did I profess to be tho 

 founder of a system. As such it has been well received by the 

 Grape-growing public, and I never would have entered on any 

 defence of it, had I not conceived that "H. S.'a" persistent 

 misrepresentations of its teaching might mislead some of those 

 who have purchased it, and for whose guidance it was written. 

 — Wii. TuousoN, Dalkeith Park. 



CAULIFLOWERS IN AUTUMN. 



At page 2 jo of "our Journal" a question is asked, "Can 

 any one tell how to have Cauliflowers as line and compact in 

 September and October, as in Jfay, June, and July? " Well, 

 thought I, can any one tell us how to get May, June, and July 

 weather in October ? Amongst my acquaintances, I have heard 

 it said, " Our people do not mind about Cauhilowers after the 

 Epringtimo;" but I am thankful that my lot has fallen among 

 those who appreciate Cauliflowers all the year round when such 

 are to be had. 



Some years ago, the winter being very mild, I had the good 

 fortune to have a supply throughout that year. Now, let us 

 consider how to have a supply of CauUflowcrs in September 

 and October, and on to tho end of the year. 



I sow early in spring, at the foot of a south wall, a little seed 

 of Grange's Autumn 'VVhite Broccoli, and prick the plants out 

 when ready ; sowing more seed for succession, along with Wal- 

 cheren and Early Cauliflower. I attend to pricking-out and 

 moving, as the plants require, to the places where they are 

 expected to head. 15y this treatment we are now having 

 Cauliflowers that will pass muster, and I hope to have them 

 to the end of the year, if the season should prove moderately 

 mild. By that time I expect to have some early-sown Snow's 

 Winter and Backhouse's Winter Protecting Broccoli ready to 

 carry on the supply until the later spring Broccolis come in. 



I treat my plants liberally, attending to watering when 

 necessary, and am satisfied with the return. 



I do not know that there is anything original in what I 

 Lave advanced, but it is my practice, and what I have done 

 others may or have done. 



My autumn-sown stock of plants for spring is pricked out at 

 the foot of a south wall, having very limited means in the way 

 of cold pits, frames, or hand glasses, and resorting to mats or 

 branches for covering. 



Last winter my plants had a good covering of snow npon 

 them before the frost set in, and that was all the covering they 

 had. These plants, removed with balls to well-prepared ground 

 on a south border and other places, brought us tine heads till 

 the spring-sown ones came in. 



By the above means we have had a regular supply from tho 

 beginning of May to the present time, and, as I said before, 

 should the sea.son prove mild we hope to have a supply through- 

 out tho winter.— M. H., Acklam Halt, Middleabrough-on-Tces 



PROLONGED HORTICUI-TUILVL SHOWS. 



In reply to " B. A.," page 2.55, allow me to observe, briefly, 

 that I spoke with some reserve against plants remaining at 

 exhibitions for several days, and am not inclined to insist upon 

 the same rules being observed with them as with fruit, al- 

 though I am doubtful it the bulk of the subjects exhibited can 

 remain a week, with the usual protection afforded them, with- 

 out being in " any degree " injured. On this point, however, I 

 am willing to abide by the verdict of exhibitors themselves. 



I am not sufliciently versed in the history of Chiswick, or of 

 the Boyal Botanic Society, to dispute " B. A.'s " statements in 

 a satisfactory manner, but I confess I am a little incredulous, 

 and would be glad to learn how far the ill fortunes of the former 

 were actually due to its exhibitions, and the same with 

 regard to the debt which, we are told, cripples the latter. At 

 all events examples to tlie contrary are not wanting, and I 

 would ask your correspondent how he accounts for tho success 

 of such Societies as the York, Leeds, Glasgow and West of 

 Scotland, and others that could be named, which annually dis- 

 tribute a large amount of prize money, and whose financial 



position, I believe, cannot be questioned, and which have been 

 raised and sustained npon one and two-day exhibitions ? 



I have been an attendant at all the above-named Exhibitions 

 on various occasions, as well as the London Shows, and can 

 speak as to their general " get up," and tho energy and ability 

 displayed in their entire management. 



I have no wish t» raise any unnecessary objections to our great 

 Exhibitions being prolonged to as long a period as may be con- 

 sistent with the well-being of the subjects exhibited, but I 

 repeat that two days are suflicient for fruit, and from conversa- 

 tions I have often had with exhibitors, I believe I express a 

 very general opinion in saying so. 



Prize lists are now generally so arranged that entering for 

 two or three classes in Grapes alone frequently necessitates 

 the cutting of ten or a dozen bunches — a somewhat serious 

 matter, considering that the fruit may have to be kept on hand 

 for many days after its return from the Exhibition, through a 

 variety of circumstances which will readily suggest themselves 

 to tho mind of any one accustomed to the fluctuating demands 

 of a gentleman's table. — An Exhibitob. 



NUNEIIAM PARK. 



{Continued from page 295.) 

 BirENTNG in pots laid down upon their sides against the south 

 wall of the yard referred to in my last communication, were 

 strong young Vines, thus kept dry at their roots, whilst the 

 canes were kept in position against the face of the wall, by 

 having the extremities attached to it, each by a single shi-ed 

 and nail. Indeed, the yard was completely tilled with a variety 

 of subjects too numerous to note, belonging to a large garden 

 establishment. 



■ I next passed into the frame-ground proper, which is bounded 

 by the yard referred to and by the houses first mentioned, on 

 the south ; by the Ivy-covered wall to the westward ; on the 

 northern side by the fruit-rooms, Mushroom-house, Potato- 

 stores, i-c, all lean-to's, and tho stokehole, which heats the 

 Peach-houses over the wall. Tho fruit-rooms are too dark, 

 close, and circumscribed for such an extensive assortment of 

 fine fruit. As for Potatoes, the " noble tuber," as a valued 

 correspondent of mine, well known to your readers, calls it in 

 a letter I received from him to-day, both Mr. Stewart and 

 myself have never experienced the ill-effects from the disease 

 in our gardens to a greater extent than this year ; but my 

 friend will haul in from the fields ; not so, poor me, without 

 baiting with the silver hook ; but I must not enter on this 

 subject now, some time before long I hope to do so. The 

 Mushroom-house is adjacent to the stokehole, warm and con- 

 venient. It contains three long shelves, or tiers of beds, one 

 just over, another coming on, a third to follow, and so forth. 

 In this ground there are various ranges of pits and frames, an 

 extensive pit-vinery, reminding one somewhat of Mr. Rivers's 

 ground vineries, occupied by Black Hamburgh Vines, with 

 Grapes in a ripe state ; and a winter Cucumber-house, just 

 finishing-ofl' from Melons. The favourite Melons are — Ne Plus 

 Ultra, a round, obtuse-ended, netted, green-fleshed variety of 

 good size ; and Pinkie House, medium-sized, oblong, delicately 

 netted, of a whity-brown appearance, and having a fine aroma. 

 There is, besides, a pit of fine healthy Queen and Hurst House 

 Seedling Pines, promising fine fruit for the winter. The three 

 last-mentioned structures are heated separately by flues, and 

 the remainder of tho pits and frames by dung linings, all o£ 

 which in due time, and with justice to his employer, Mr. 

 Stewart hopes to replace by hot-water pipes to heat also the 

 Peach-houses, at present heated by flues. In front of the 

 above runs a range of pits containing Pines in successional 

 stages of growth, including a batch of the newest varieties for 

 trial, tho predominant features being robust health, and that 

 the Queen is the greatest favourite. Again, in front of them, 

 is a long line of frames, at present occupied with Cucumbers, 

 Melons, and myriads of cuttings of Pelargoniums, etc., to be 

 followed, at least as regards the Cucumbers and Melons, by 

 Asparagus for the winter, then by early Potatoes in spring, and 

 so on. 



Going now into the second division of the garden through a 

 doorway at the west end of Mr. Stewart's residence, I came to the 

 late Peach-house, which is placed against the south wall of this 

 parallel. A recently-killed rat lay conspicuously for observation, 

 and from some suspicious-looking delvings I saw in the fruit, 

 I should say (excepting for the rat), this was a most satisfac- 

 tory conclusion, as many remarkably fine Peaches still re- 



