108 



JOURNAL OF HOETJCTJLTVJRE AND fJOTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ February 10, 1671/. 



new variety on an old one, or, having large plants, to prove 

 new varieties. For this purpose grafting or inarching by the 

 ordinary tongue or cleft process in spring, is most to be recom- 

 mended.— A. B. C. 



GARDENS OF EAST KENT— SURRENDEN- 

 DERING. 



The Seat or Sir. Edwakd Debing, Bart. 

 (Concluded from page 85.) 



In a house in front of the vineries there -was a fine crop of 

 Cucumbers, hanging from a trellis ; the sorts were Needle Gun 

 and Hamilton's Favourite. The method oi growing the Cu- 

 cumbers is worthy of notice. A stage or platform of planks, 

 about a yard wide, extended along the centre of the house ; on 

 this, at regular distances, heaps were formed of rough lumps 

 of peat, and a Cucumber plant was turned out in each heap. 

 As the roots passed through the peat they were covered with a 

 layer of pure loam, and more and more loam was gradually 

 added till a solid bank had been formed, which was one mass 

 of roots. Cucumbers were first cut from these plants early in 

 May ; they had given a constant supply throughout the summer, 

 and from their appearance when I saw them they were likely 

 to continue cropping for some time, At the last one or two 

 top-dressings to the roots, cow dung had been substituted for 

 the loam with the best possible effects. 



A variety of plantB for furnishing were growing on the front 

 and side stages, consisting of Ferns, a few Orchids, Dracrenas, 

 Begonias, and other useful plants. I also noticed a fine plant 

 of the variegated Hoya carnosa. 



Some pits containing Melons constituted the remaining 

 glass in this enclosure. 



Near the vineries the neat and comfortable little bothy, 

 partly concealed by a Virginian Creeper, is a picturesque ob- 

 ject. One hundred and fifty feet of a south wall adjoin- 

 ing the bothy was planted with flourishing young Peach trees, 

 while on the border in front oi them were good crops of Let- 

 tuce, autumn-sown Onions, late Carrots, and Spinach. I may 

 here remark that the majority of fruit trees on the walls are so 

 old as to give but little fruit, but they are being gradually re- 

 moved and young trees planted in their places. 



In the store room my attention was called to the seed Pota- 

 toes, consisting principally of large quantities of Myatt's Pro- 

 lific and Wheeler's Imperial, all set on end in single layers on 

 shelves placed in tiers one above another ; here they will re- 

 main till removed for planting in the spring; then, as each 

 Potato is carefully taken from its shelf and placed in a tray or 

 flat basket, it will receive a gash with a knife, in order to in- 

 duce deoay, and thus afford moisture and nourishment to the 

 young growth. At one time a small portion of each Potato 

 was sliced off, but as this was considered to be so much vigour 

 and nourishment wasted, the gash was substituted with the 

 best effects. By this careful preparation of the seed most 

 abundant crops are obtained ; for example, a fair average por- 

 tion was measured this season, and from three poles of ground 

 four sacks of good Potatoes and one sack of small Potatoes 

 were picked. The soil is stirred deeply, and the Potatoes are 

 planted near the surface, in rows 30 inches apart. Having 

 fine sturdy shoots when planted, they quickly make growth, 

 and as soon as the shoots are visible the soil is stirred with 

 hoes, and when they are a few inches high the soil between the 

 rows is again well stirred with steel forks, the Potatoes are 

 slightly earthed-up, and a finish is given to the whole as the 

 labourer proceeds, so that all trampling is avoided. 



Before leaving the store house I noticed an excellent form of 

 hamper, in which cut flowers are forwarded to the family when 

 in London. It is square, 2 feet deep, " feet long, and 18 inches 

 wide ; it has moveable wicker trays, which fit one above the 

 other, and at intervals the sides of the hamper have open 

 wickerwork for the admission of air. 



In the garden next to the enclosure containing the glass 

 houses is the very comfortable and commodious gardener's 

 cottage. The crops of vegetables were fine and abundant. A 

 bed of Beet, called Lee's Belvoir Castle, had very handsome 

 dwarf foliage of a rich metallic hue. It was pointed out as 

 likely to be useful for ribbon borders ; it certainly presents a 

 very striking appearance. A fine bed of Early ijlm Savoy, 

 1000 in number, and a bed of that most useful Cabbage, Little 

 Pixie, were noticeable. To give some idea of the quantities 

 of vegetables grown here, I may mention beds containing 

 2000 Brussels Sprouts plants, 1G00 Cabbages, 3000 Brocsolis, 



and 1800 plants of Celery. Some young Plum trees on the 

 walls had abundant crops. High culture, order, and neatness 

 prevailed here as well as in every other department. 



In the next, or nursery garden, so called from part of it 

 being used as a nursery for forest trees, is the orchard honse, 

 a fine lean-to, 100 feet long and 9 feet wide, without any means 

 of obtaining artificial heat. The trees, consisting of varieties 

 of Peaches and Nectarines, were trained to the back •wall. 

 They were in splendid health, the foliage being very conspicu- 

 ous from its very dark green hue ; but in common with most 

 other unheated houses this season, this fine collection oi trees 

 has been almost devoid of frnit, only three dozen having been 

 matured. The cause of this failure, in Mr. Sage's opinion, 

 is owing to the very low temperature and damp atmoBphere 

 which prevailed when the trees were in bloom ; if this opinion 

 be wrong, it is certain that not one of the reasons assigned for 

 the failure by Mr. Brehaut, at page lie of vol. xvii., is at all 

 applicable to this case, for here the trees are young and in full 

 vigour ; they are neithsr crowded nor shaded, as there is no 

 obstruction between them and the light ; the situation is by no 

 means damp ; the ventilation is thorough ; and the roots are 

 well in hand, as the entire border rests on hard concrete. 

 Some dwarf Fig bushes in pots were cropping well ; the sorts 

 were 'White Ischia, White Marseilles, Brown Turkey, and Early 

 Violet, a very useful prolific kind, producing three crops every 

 season. A fine crop of Orangefisld and Sims' Mammoth To- 

 matoes was growing on plants in pots. Sims' Mammoth is a 

 good new kind, preferable to most others from the handsome 

 shape of its large fruit, which are quite free of those furrows 

 in the sides so common to most of the other large kinds. Some 

 pots, too, of the new Currant Tomato (Solanum racemiger;im) 

 and yellow Plum Tomato were very pretty and attractive. 



An extensive collection of Pears is grown on the walls of 

 this garden. I particularly noticed fine crops of Jersey-Gra- 

 tioli and Eon Chretien. 



Surrenden-Dering is in the parish of Pluckley, and is six 

 miles from Ashford.— Edward Luckhubst, Egertor. Bouse 

 Gardens, Kent. 



GRAPES ALL THE YEAR. 



I once told my gardener that I had heard that at gome pkcot 

 a bnnch of Grapes could be cut every day in the year, nnd 

 asked him if he thought he could manage to do so for me. He 

 shook his head and replied that it may be possible, but not 

 very practicable : that men like Mr. Thomson, at Dalkeith, 

 may do it, but, &c. Now since I have heard that otherE do it, 

 I am ambitious of doing the same, and wiil now give yon a 

 description of what houses I have, and what I intend to bnild, 

 to have my set of vineries complete, and then beg you to advise 

 me as to whether I am right, or whether I ought to act in any 

 different way to accomplish my object. 



No. 1 Vinery [Early).— This house is 25 feet long, by 10 feet wide : 

 the border wholly inside ; heated by four 4-inch pipes; a lean-to, with 

 a warm aspect, built of iron, glazed without putty by a Eury St. Ed- 

 munds mau, very light, as there is no obstruction from wooden rafters. 

 I thought to make this my earliest vinery, as it is so narrow and 

 warmly situated. It is planted with ten Vines — viz., five Black Ham- 

 burghs and five Buckland Sweetwater. 



Would you recommend any alteration in the varieties ? 



[Yon cannot do better. — Eds.] 



Xo. 2 Vinery (Second Early). — This bouse is just finished, and not 

 yet planted. It is a very nice light house. 36 feet long, by 16 feet. 

 with a 10-feet inside border, with provision for the Vines' roots to nm 

 outside after the border is filled inside. Aspect S.E., high roof, with 

 " lantern " ridge. Pipes not yet fixed. Query, should I put in four 

 4 -inch pipes or six? I propose to plant this house in March with 

 fourteen Vines, say eight Black Hamburgh, two Gros Colman, two 

 Buckland Sweetwater, two Mill Hill Hamburgh. 



[ Take ont Gros Colman, as that is a very late-hanging variety, and 

 requires the heat of the Muscats. You might put it in No. 4 if you 

 intend to keep up a good heat there. Instead of Gros Colman take 

 Trentham Black or Black Prince.— Eds.] 



Xo. 3, Muscat House. — This house is intended to range witii No. 2, 

 and would be just like it, but only 25 feet long. I purpose having the 

 border wholly inside, and the whole size of the house, and I thought 

 six 4-inch pipes would do, but am not certain. I hardly know what 

 Vines to plant in this house, but thought of three Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, one Bowood Muscat, two Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, two 

 other good varieties of Muscat, one the largest black Grape, one the 

 largest white. The last two I wish to grow for size only ; I am not 

 certain of the names, I think Baibarossa and Syrian. I saw an ac- 

 count in a Scotch newspaper of a bunch exhibited at Edinburgh. 



