JOURNAL OF HORTIO0LTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 



to all oonsorvatories, both as affording a pleasing change 

 and as a great aid to the gardener in cultivating oruamental- 

 foliaged plants. Amongst the Ferns in this etove I noticed 

 Dickaonia antarotioa, 12 feet high ; Cibotiam Barometz, 12 feet 

 through, a splendid plant ; good Adiautums of various sorts; 

 Musa Cavendishii ; Croton angustifohum and others C to 7 feet 

 through ; Latania borbonica, 7 feet by 7. Amongst Orchids 

 Dendrobium Devonianum and pulohellum were very fine ; these 

 with Begonias and other flowering plants produced an admir- 

 able effect. 



The kitchen garden is a short distance from the mansion. 

 At the entrance to the garden is the head gardener's cottage, 

 which is such a one as every gardener should have. Near the 

 cottage is a lean-to Peach house unheated, yet the trees are bear- 

 ing an excellent crop of fruit. The next two houses are vineries. 

 The Vines were regarded as " worn out " two years ago, and 



the owner contemplated their entire removal. Mr. Soatt, hosv- 

 ever, on taking charge attempted their renovation, and in 

 August, 1875, renewed the border and lifted the roots, shading 

 the house densely in the meantime, and preserving the foliage 

 by keeping it constantly moist. New roots were speedily 

 fotmed, and these having good soil and repeated applications 

 of liquid manure imparted fresh vigour to the Vines, which 

 are now in the highest degree satisfactory, and are certain to 

 produce Grapes this year of the first quality. Active root- 

 action, plenty of water, thinly training the shoots, and great 

 cleanliness are the means adopted in Grape-growing at Ewell 

 Castle. None could be better nor more suceessfol, hence the 

 recording of them here. In these houses a number of Epacrises 

 and other plants which have been used for the conservatory are 

 now making their growth. The next house is a stove, in 

 which is a general collection of flowering plants and Ferns. 



Fig. 40.— Ewell oastle. 



Near it is a small propa^ntiag house, and adjoining this is a 

 greenhouse, in which are more herbaceous Calceolarias in 

 8 and 10-ineh pots — plants which are worthy of a place at any 

 exhibition ; but Mr. Gadesden likes to see his plants without 

 any broken foliage, and does not approve of showing. In the 

 next house is a clean collection of Pelargoniums coming on 

 to succeed the Calceolarias in the conservatory, and near this 

 house is a stove containing a general collection of stove plants. 

 Orchids, &o. These houses are not large, but are very com- 

 pact and useful, and are kept in perfect order. There are also 

 frames, &o., for the forcing of vegetables, growing bedding 

 plants, &c. The conservatory and other structures in the 

 garden were erected by Messrs. J. Weeks & Co., Chelsea. 



The kitchen garden contains about two acres, and the same 

 neatness and order prevail here as in the pleasure grounds. 

 The fruit trees have been laden with blossom, but it is feared 

 the crop of fruit will be a small one : the frost (14°) has much 

 injured the blossom, also the young shoots of Peaches, the 

 growths of Boses, and the Box edgings of the walks. On the 

 north side of the Castle across the road stands a relic of 

 antiquity — the venerable tower of the old parish church covered 

 from bottom to top with Ivy, the remaining portion of the 

 church having been removed. Fortunately Mr. Gadesden has 

 been suooessful in preserving the tower, for it is one of the 

 finest ornaments of the village. Were the graves in this church- 



yard levelled, and the grass neatly mown amongst the shrubs 

 and Conifers, a beautiful little piuetum would be formed, Buoh 

 as any village might be proud of owning. 



It is pleasing to record that the servioss of Mr. Soutt are 

 much appreciated, and that he is indebted to his employer for 

 many acta of kindness. 



Ewell Castle is about a mile from Ewell station on the 

 London and Sonth-Western Railway. — D. L. 



PHCENIX EUPIOOLA. 

 Since plants have become so popular for table decoration, 

 also for the ornamentation of rooms in town and country, 

 Palms have risen rapidly in public esteem. Not only are they 

 amongst the most elegant of plants, but they are distinct. 

 Their beauty is also long-laating ; in fact, when in good health 

 they are always attractive. Neither is there any real difiioulty 

 connected with their culture, for if provided with a moist 

 genial atmosphere and a suitable temperature, and attention 

 also is paid to the simple matter of cleanliness, healthy plants 

 will result with the greatest certainty. In the decoration of 

 stoves and conservatories Palms are invaluable, for no plants 

 combine elegance and dignity so emphatically as they do, and 

 none " set-off " flowering plants to greater advantage. Palms 

 are not only beautiful at all seasons, but they are attractive in 



