June 20, 18C7. ] 



JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



42y 



wood and heath. To the right lies Needwood Forest, a vast 

 tract of land, Tvhich np to the commencement of the present 

 century was in a state of nature and a favourite hunting ground. 

 The terrace is encircled with a low balustrading ; and below 

 the terrace, directly opposite the mansion, is a neat flower 

 garden, of which the accompanying is a plan, laid out with 

 much taste. 



REFERENCES TO PLAN. 



1. Grass, surrounded by a kerb 7. Ornamental stone steps. 



of stone, a vase in the centre. 8. Balustrading. The sciuares 



2. Beds edged with Box on indicate positions for vases to be 

 gravel walk. filled with Pelargoniums, &c., in 



S. Beds edged with Box. summer. 



4. Beds with a broad stone kerb- 9. Gravel walk ou terrace, 

 ing. The other beds at each end 10. Grass. 



are cut out in the turf. 11. Sun dial. 



5. Gravel walk. 12. Mansion. 



6. Grass slopes. 



In the front of the conservatory is the croquet ground, and 

 near this spot is a tine old Cedar of Lebanon, which has with- 

 stood the storms of many a winter, and now stands venerable 

 in its old age. Wending our way to the left we come to a rustic 

 summer-house, from the doorway of which may be obtained 

 pleasant views of the lake and its numerous waterfowl. I saw 

 it when the sun was shining through the hazy clouds, and its 

 waters glittered like burnished silver, whilst other beauties 

 distant and near offered themselves in turn to my eye, and 

 united to form a scene of unrivalled interest. 



Pursuing my course downwards I came into a romantic 

 rocky dell, called the rockery and hardy fernery. Its position 

 is sufficiently secluded, and it aiifords that amount of shade 

 and dampness which the plants grown there require. It is 

 formed of a quantity of picturesque old roots, gnarled and con- 

 torted stumps of trees, and oddly shaped stones skilfully dis- 

 posed to produce effect ; and from the artificial rocks little 

 streams of water occasionally trickle. All the plants in this 

 little dell seemed quite at home, and those of trailing habit 

 scrambled about in the wildest confusion and luxuriance. 

 Among the numerous plants growing in this locality I noticed as 

 the most prominent Escallonia rubra, Kerria japonica, Euony- 

 mus variegatus, Berberis Fortuni, Yucca gloriosa, and Skimmia 

 japonica, a very useful plant in winter either for in or out-door 

 decoration. The beautiful berries, with which it is densely 

 covered, render it valuable also for the embellishment of the 

 dinner table. It is easily propagated by the seeds the berries 

 contain. There were in addition Polystichum lobatum, Poly- 

 podium vulgare, P. dryopteris, Lastrea Filix-mas, Scolopen- 

 drium vulgare, Thujopsis borealis, on inverted old tree roots, 

 Berberis Darwinii, and Sciadopitys verticillata, or the Um- 

 brella Pine, intermingled with variegated Ivy, Cotoneasters, 

 Pernettyas, tufts of Sedums, and the Green Spleenwort (Asple- 

 nium viride), brought from Croxton Abbey. I passed from 

 this secluded spot beneath a rustic arch covered with Honey- 

 suckles, Clematises, &c. 



The pleasure-grounds present quite an undulating surface, 

 and are ornamented with clumps of choice evergreens, and 

 specimens of Conifers disposed in the highest style of the 

 landscape gardener's art, and possess a charm of no mean 

 order when the destructive ice-king has thrown prostrate the 

 beauties of the floral world. Among the most noticeable plants 

 were vigorous specimens of Thuja Lobbi, Picea Nordmanniana, 

 Picea nobilis, Cupressus Lawsoniana, Wellingtonia gigantea, 

 and different species of Juniperus, Taxus, Pinus, &c. Andro- 

 medas, Kalmias, Rhododendron ferrugineum, Berberis of sorts, 

 Cotoneasters, and the stronger-growing Ehododendrons, are 

 massed in quantities sufficient to produce effect, and to develope 

 the habits and characters of the different plants. A narrow 

 stream of water runs through the lower part of the grounds, 

 and on its banks and in the water were growing many aquatic 

 plants. 



Arriving at a bridge, which I passed over in going towards 

 the kitchen garden, I caught a glimpse of a long strip of ground 

 that skirts the pleasure-ground, and which, during the sum- 

 mer, is planted in the ribbon style. Mr. Rawbone told me that 

 last season he planted it as follows, and the effect was very 

 good. Beginning at the front, the first row was Cerastium 

 tomentosum ; second. Lobelia speciosa ; third, Pelargonium 

 Brilliant ; fourth, Calceolaria Aurea floribunda ; fifth, Pelar- 

 gonium Christine ; sixth, Stella Nosegay Pelargonium ; seventh. 

 Gladiolus. 



The enclosed kitchen garden ia about an acre in extent. On 

 the walls were well-trained Peaches, Apricots, Pears, Plums, 

 and Cherries, and round the different quarters were good ex- 



amples of pyramidal Apple and Pear trees. This system of fruit 

 cultivation is now becoming very popular, and deservedly bo 

 too, for it has been demonstrated that a great variety of fruit, 

 and of excellent quality, can be thus obtained from a limited 

 plot of ground. Fine beds of Strawberries with their crowns 

 prominent were conspicuous. Many of the newer kinds wer« 

 grown in the nursery plantations to test their suitability to 

 the soU and climate previous to planting them in the perma- 

 nent beds. 



I have dwelt longer on the gardens of Woodseat than I con- 

 templated ; but I may say, in conclusion, that the last place I 

 visited, but not the least interesting, was the gardener's cot- 

 tage. It was, for size, convenience, and accommodation, what 

 all intelligent and respectable gardeners ought to enjoy, and 

 offered a marked contrast to the inconvenient back sheds, un- 

 healthy rooms over stables, and low, damp dwellings, into 

 which gardeners are too often thrust. The walls were mantled 

 with Roses and other climbing plants, and in front of the cot- 

 tage was a neat flower garden. I received an unlooked-for 

 amount of courtesy from Mr. Rawbone, and I have only to add, 

 out of no mere compliment, that the place was in excellent 

 keeping, and that progress was everywhere apparent. — Quintin 

 Read. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



Dr. Seemann, who has recently returned from Central 

 America, has, we are informed, brought with him a large col- 

 lection of novelties from the Chontales gold region, some of 

 which are said to be of a very ornamental character. 



To form alum crystallisations over fresh flowers, make 



baskets of pliable copper wire, directs the American " Journal 

 of Pharmacy," and wrap them with gauze. Into these tie to 

 the bottom Violets, Ferns, Pelargonium leaves. Chrysanthe- 

 mums — in fact, any flowers except full-blown Roses — and sink 

 them in a solution of alum of 1 lb. to the gallon of water, after 

 the solution has cooled, as the colours will then be preserved 

 in their original beauty, and the crystallised alum will hold 

 faster than when from a hot solution. When you have a light 

 covering of distinct crystals that cover completely the articles, 

 remove carefully, and allow them to drain for twelve hours. 

 These baskets make a beautiful parlour ornament, and for a 

 I long time preserve the freshness of the flowers. 



• A gardener of Ghent has, after many trials, succeeded, 



writes Galigimni, in giving any kind of fruit the flavour he 

 pleases while it is still on the tree. Let us take an Apple for 

 instance ; he pricks it rather deeply in four or live places with 

 a large needle, and then lets it dip for a while in a bowl con- 

 taining a liquid possessing the flavour he wishes to communicate. 

 After a few seconds this liquid wUl have penetrated into the 

 pulp ; and this operation being repeated two or three times, 

 at intervals of eight or ten days, the Apple is left to ripen on 

 the tree, and will subsequently be found to have acquired the 

 taste either of Strawberry, Raspberry, Cloves, Sea., according to 

 the liquid employed. 



WORK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Broccoli, plant out, also Cmdilhm-ers, and water the late 

 CauUflowers most abundantly. Sow, also, on a rich border, so 

 that they may be thinned out to attain perfection without 

 transplanting. Sow Cahbanes for planting out for Coleworts. 

 Carrots, sow another bed of' Horn. Endive, those who desire a 

 good and constant supply for the autumn and winter, must 

 make a full sowing forthwith. Endive is generally sown too 

 thickly. Another good sowing should be made in the first 

 week of July, and a third towards the middle of the same 

 month, after which the plants will not attain their full size. 

 As soon as the plants are a few inches high, mow the tops of 

 the leaves off with a scythe, cutting about one-third of the 

 leaves away. This will stiffen the plants and cause much heart 

 to develope itself, as well as enable them to bear transplanting 

 better. Celcrij, plant ; ftnd completely remove aU suckers. 

 Lccks, prepare the ground by heavy dressings of manure. Mush- 

 room.'', the spawn should now be made without delay. Peas, 

 the last sowing of Knight's Marrows should be made. Some of 

 the earher kinds should also be sown. Lettuce, sow thinly in 

 rows 1 foot apart, and transplant from seed-beds before the 

 plants become too large. Savoys and Brussels Sprouts, plant. 



