May 17, lf77. ] 



JOORMAIi OF aORTICaLrURB AND COTTAGE GARDEf^EB. 



367 



correepondiEg with the stock and having an early leafage the 

 greatest immunity from enm is found. Take Apricot?, for 

 instance. Moorpark and Kaisha are late in leafing, they with 

 me suffer from gum ; but Blenheim, Koyal, Onllins Early, 

 Hemskirk, and St. Ambroise are free, having a much earlier 

 leafage, do not suffer from gum; neither does Moorpark appear 

 to gum when lifted triennially. lu rich moist soils we have 

 the greatest liability to gum, for which there appears no 

 remedy but restriction of the roots by lifting, and warmth so 

 as to induce short-jointed well-ripeued wood. 



Extension, therefore, is useless against disease, and equally 

 at fault in inducing fruittulness. In what, then, consist the 

 advantages of the system? The answer of some is, " More 

 wood, larger fruit." But what of its quality ? Is it also 

 superior ? These questions I leave to be answered by the 

 votaries of extension. If it can be shown that extension is 

 necessary for continued fruitfnlness (and I admit that it may 

 be in a few cases, which I shall proceed directly to particularise) , 

 then we have to consider if we may not have extension and 

 restriction at the same time; extension, inasmuch as we re- 

 place old worn-out parts by more vigorous fruitful growths, 

 and restriction by confining the new growths to the space pre- 

 viously occupied by the old. 



Examples of a combination of extension and restriction may 

 be found in most gardens, and very often in the same tree, as 

 in that of a fruit tree only partially coveting its allotted space 

 — the terminations of the principal branches are extensions. 

 Extension, however, as generally understood, is the allowing 

 of space for a tree to go on continually increasing in size, and 

 not restricting it to a space of say 20 to 21 feet by 10 or 12 feet 

 against a wall or trellis; or a bush or pyramid not confined to 

 so many square feet of space, but instead affording as many 

 yards as it likes to take. The question involved is, " Is the tree 

 as fruitful when restricted as when allowed extension ?" I have 

 no hesitation in submitting that for general purposes the 

 restrictive system is equally satisfactory with the extension ; 

 but it is also certain that both may be carried to an extreme. 

 Restriction of the branches alone is useless in restraining 

 undue vigour and inducing fruitfulness. My pyramid trees 

 rebelled against restriction by the knife. They grew more, 

 and became also more unfruitful ; but the application of the 

 spade produced fertility. 



With the Apricot the case is very similar ; long sappy growths 

 are neither healthful nor fruitful. The finest fruit is produced 

 by spurs and shoots of moderate vigour. There is no denying 

 that some trees admit of restriction to a much less extent than 

 others. Some bear well under the closest restriction ; others 

 treated in the same manner are unfruitful, though both sub- 

 jects are under the same cultural and climatic conditions. 



The Champagne Gooseberry may not be pruned so closely 

 as Whitesmith or Warrington. Thinning-out old branches 

 and leaving the young wood is the proper course to pursue j 

 with the first, it not forming spurs nearly so freely as the 

 last two. In Currants we have the long-jointed Houghton 

 Castle or Victoria not amenable to such close pruning as the 

 Red Dutch. Even in Raspberries the Antwerp will bear much 

 closer shortening than Fastolff. 



Of Apples Mrre de MOnage, Blenheim Orange, and other 

 strong growers do not bear restriction so well as such kinds as 

 Margil and Dumelow's Seedling ; whilst in Pears .Jargonelle, 

 General Todtleben, and Passe Crassaneare not to be restricted 

 in the same close manner as Bon Chn'tien (Williams'), Louise 

 Bonne of Jersey, Passe Colmar, &c. 



In Plums there is a great difference in the growth, for .Jeffer- 

 son, Kirke's, and Coe's Golden Drop in dessert kinds are very 

 prolific when close pruned, but Belgian Purple, Transparent 

 Gage, and OuIUn's Golden do not fruit well when closely 

 spurred. Ditference prevails also in Apricots. Kuyal and Kt. 

 Ambroise are not so fruitful under the same restriction as 

 Kaiaha and Moor Park; and in Peaches Noblesse will not 

 endare the close prnulng that may be applied to Royal George. 

 — G. Abbey. 



KWELL CASTLE, 



THE SEAT OF A. W. OADESDEN, BS(,i. 



Amomgst the gardens near London well worthy of a visit at 

 all times of the year are those of Ewell Castle. There are 

 few gardens whore more cleanliness is found. Insects are not 

 allowed to exist under glass, nor weeds to be seen outdoors. 

 The flower pots are as clean as if fresh from the pottery, and 

 to Ibat sirap'e yet important matter the health of the plants 

 is, iu my opinion, in a great measure attributable. Not a 



vestige of moss is to be seen on the soil or the pots, and a 

 decayed leaf or petal is not permitted to remain on the plants. 

 Not one weed could I find in any part of the garden, and in 

 fact on this account some disappointment had a few days ago 

 been experienced when, alter a long and careful search, not a 

 sprig of Groundsel could be found for a pet bird. That may 

 be a trifling maiter to mention, but it has been left on record 

 by one who is worthy of being listened to that " success is 

 achieved by attending to trifles, and success itself is no trifle." 



Ewell Custle is a comparatively modern mansion in the 

 castellated style of architecture, and is owned by a gentleman 

 hav'ng cousiderablo possessions in the district, and who is 

 careful that his mansion and its surroundings are at all times 

 in keeping with the position of the family. It is to the gardens, 

 however, that your readers will be more particularly interested, 

 and these I will attempt briefly to describe. 



I first entered the flower garden, which is not large. There 

 is an open expanse of lawn surrounded with shrubs, the flower 

 beds being arranged by the sides of the walks. The beds are 

 now bright with spring flowers, such as Pansies, Wallflowers, 

 Arabis, Aubrietias, Phlox frondosa, &o , and the borders in 

 front of the shrubberies aro gay with Hyacinths and Tulips. 

 On the lawn are some good Conifers, such as Pinus Pinsapo, 

 P. Nordmanniana, P. Cembra, Cedrus Deodara and C. atlantica, 

 Abifspxoelsa and others. These are all named — labels being 

 uf ed which will endure as long as the specimens. These labels 

 are made of glazed earthenware, and are 5 or (j inches square, 

 the top having a sharp slant, and on this slant the names were 

 cut or have been impressed before the " posts " underwent the 

 process of hardening. The material is imperishable, the names 

 permanent, and the labels themselves immovable by any acci- 

 dent. The tops are only a few inches above ground, and they 

 are neat and inconspicuous. By the side of the terrace walk 

 near the mansion is an old vinery which is reputed to have 

 produced more prize Grapes than any other house of its size 

 in the country. Both Vines and house are now venerable, but 

 that is not considered a suihcient reason that destruction 

 should follow, but they are treated as good old servants should 

 be treated — with respect. In the grounds contiguous to the 

 lawn are some fine timber trees, a splendid specimen of the 

 Copper Beech and an equally remarkable Turkey Oak being 

 especially commanding. 



From the flower garden a shaded semi-wild woodland walk 

 conducts to a mound about half a mile distant from the Castle, 

 and which is known as Queen Elizabeth's Banqueting Hall, 

 the ground being part of Nonsuch Park where that monarch 

 once resided. The foundations of the Banqueting Hall have 

 been carefully preserved and built up to a height of about 

 ■1 feet and surrounded with a sunk fence. The ground thus 

 raised may approach about an acre in extent, and is occupied 

 with large forest trees, mostly Larches, and an undergrowth of 

 shrubs. Amongst these shrubs winding walks are formed, and 

 a cool and secluded retreat is provided, which is much enjoyed 

 by the family during the sultry days of summer. No attempt 

 at " gardening " is permitted in the " Hall" or its approaches, 

 but all is appropriately natural ; the only suspicion of " care " 

 perceived is that which never obtrudes, yet cannot fail to ba 

 noticed — cleanliness. 



But what I desire especially to refer to are the plants and 

 houses. Adjoining the Castle is the conservatory. It is a 

 large square structure having two central stages and a stage 

 round the side containing some fine specimens of Camellias 

 10 feet by 6 ; Cytisus raoemosus, 7 feet by 5 ; Erica Caven- 

 dishii, feet by 4 ; Epacris of sorts, 4 feet through ; Sea- 

 forthia elegans, 11 feet by 12, a splendid specimen; and 

 some of the finest Primulas, Cinerarias, and Cyclamens which 

 I have ever seen. These, however, are now fading; but 

 they can be well spared, for they are being replaced by a 

 collection of Calceolarias. I am not forgetful of the excel- 

 lent plants which Mr. James and other renowned cultivators 

 stage at the metropolitan exhibitions when I say that it is a 

 long time since such splendid plants have been exhibited in 

 London as are here grown by Mr. Scutt, Mr. Gadesden's skilful 

 gardener. Their luxuriance is remarkable ; the plants being 

 about 2 feet in diameter and 18 inches high, the foliage almost 

 hiding the pots, and the flowers being proportionately large. 

 The strain is Mr. James's, and the cultivator has done it ample 

 justice. Gloxinias are largely and admirably grown here, many 

 of tbo seedlings being of great merit, and these with other 

 flowering plants , including Richardias with spathes nearly a foot 

 across, render the structure extremely gay. Adjoining the 

 conservatory is a plant stove which I think should be attached 



