Jane 7, 1877. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



alone would eeem to show that the disease is constitutional, 

 and, if so, perfectly unmanageable. The appearance of such 

 pallid spots, quite free from chlorophyll and soon withering, 

 is one of the most common where a depraved constitution is 

 concerned. — M. J. B." 



We believe that the present practice of intercrossing has a 

 great deal to do with causing this disease in the Cucumber. 

 Of late years this has been carried on to such an extent that 

 there is no wonder the constitution of the Cucumber has given 

 way to the disease. Almost every new variety brought before 

 the public, or exhibited before the Fruit Committee of the 

 Eoyal Horticultural Society, is represented as a cross be- 

 tween two, or at most three leading varieties, such as Tele- 

 graph, Blue Gown, and Marquis of Lome ; indeed, there is 

 rarely a new variety introduced that has not Telegraph as one 

 of its parents. — Eds. J. op H.] 



WOODLAWN, DIDSBUBY, NBAE MANCHESTER. 



THE RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH BROOME, ESQ. 



Those southerners in whose minds Manchester is only as- 

 Booiated with cotton, smote, and dirt, would be very much 

 surprised if they were to visit the city and eee the nature of 

 its Bttrroundinge, for I know of no place where you will find 

 more pleasant villa residences or more beauty in its way than 

 are to be found in the outskirts leading to Didsbury, North- 

 enden, Whalley Range, etc. ; while as you drive along the 

 number of large conservatories and greenhouses evidence that 

 taste for horticulture in some of its highest branches for which 

 Manchester has long been famous. Nowhere are Orchids cul- 

 tivated with greater assiduity, while the character of the stove 

 and greenhouse plants exhibited shows what high-class culture 

 the possessors of these villa residences look for. 



Amongst those who have long been noted for their love of 

 horticulture Mr. Joseph Broome has held a high place, while 

 to his indefatigable energy has been owing in good measure the 

 improved condition and prospects of the Mancheater Botanical 

 Society. I felt, therefore, that in visiting hie residence I should 

 see something worth looking at. Nor was I disappointed. It 

 is small doubtless, as most of these places are where land 

 is BO dear ; but it occupies four and a half acres of land 

 sloping down to the river Mersey, and of this space the most 

 has been made. I have never seen houses better filled, nor, 

 where there is such a variety of subjects to be looked after, 

 better cultivation than here ; but then they have the advantage 

 not only of the knowledge of its owner-, but also of the skill 

 and intelligence of Mr. Williams, a nephew of our celebrated 

 HoUoway grower : and so from first to last everything was in 

 that condition which it is ever a pleasure to witness. 



The chief range of glass opens on to the house, while the 

 Tineriea and Pine pits are at a little distance at the sides, and 

 thus the owner can at all times stroll amongst his favourites. 

 A fine plant of Maruchal Niel occupies the small glass porch 

 which opens into the conservatory growing up overhead, from 

 whence its golden goblets were hanging down in abundance — 

 just that position in which they always looks best. On enter- 

 ing the conservatory the first plant that meets the eye is 

 Phorminm tenax variegatum, and most striking it is with 

 its clear well-defined variegation ; it is flanked by two fine 

 plants of Dracajna, while around were good specimens of 

 Yuccas filamentosa and qnadricolor, Roses, Camellias, &e. 

 Opening on to this is a small house containing healthy plants 

 of Gleichenia dichotoma, Paudanus Veitchii, Anthurium 

 Soherzerianum and the white variety Williamsi, which will 

 by-and-by make an effective plant. Opening on to this again 

 on the left hand is a house in which Orchids in bloom were 

 placed. Here were grand plants of Lielia purpurata, Vanda 

 tricolor filling the place with its delicious fragrance, Cypri- 

 pedium caudatum, Odontoglossum vexillarinm, 0. navium 

 majns, and various Dendrobes. On the other side there is 

 another small house of Odontoglossums, in which besides were 

 several very interesting plants of Masdevallia Veitchii in finer 

 colour than I think I have ever seen it, Masdevallia Harryana, 

 and a fine mass of the North American Cypripedium spectabile. 

 This has been lifted from the open border and was in the 

 finest possible vigour ; it is a grand addition to our hardy 

 flowers and is easy of cultivation. There were also some ex- 

 cellent specimens of various Drosera, a most interesting tribe 

 of plants. There is opening from this a large house con- 

 taining many moat attractive Palm^, Orchids, &a., such as 

 Cocos Weddelliana, Ai-rides Lobbii and Fieldingi, Cleroden- 

 dronBolfonrii, Dendrobiam Wardianom, Croton angnstifolium, 



etc. Indeed there was hardly anything that seemed wanting, 

 and it was like visiting the houses of some first-class nursery- 

 man, so varied was the collection and so excellent the style 

 of cultivation. On coming out from the houses you enter on 

 the croquet lawn, or bowling green as it is more generally 

 called here ; while on the other side are some excellent ex- 

 amples of spring gardening, for Mr. Broome does not see the 

 advantage of having his beds empty for eight months in the 

 year. On the bank descending towards the river is an excellent 

 fernery containing many varieties of British Ferns, which 

 seem to do very well here ; and here at the side has been left 

 a piece of wild garden filled with the wild Hyacinth, Primroses, 

 etc., which were found here when the owner took it, and which 

 he has allowed to remain. How beautiful they are I What 

 can be more lovely than our banks around here filled with the 

 Hyacinths, Campions, and Stitchworts, and with the Ferns 

 peeping up through them all ? examples of bedding-out which 

 we in vain try to rival. 



The vineries and Pine pita are at the side of the house, and 

 are, like the rest of the houses, filled to repletion. Inside 

 borders for Lancashire, says Mr. Williams, must be the rule, 

 and the Vines showed how thoroughly they liked the treat- 

 ment ; while every space was occupied with plants, Clematises, 

 Ivies for placing out on the lawn, a fine old plant of Vanda 

 teres, some fine Arauoarias, excelsa, elegans, and Napoleon 

 Baumann. There were some good Pines in the pits, and 

 I indeed with the exception of florists' flowers I know of nothing 

 I that was not represented and well represented here. That this 

 ' is no exaggeration Mr. Broome proved by the position he took 

 at the great Manchester Show, obtaining first prizes for Palms 

 and second for eight Orchids, having against him such distin- 

 guished growers as Dr. Ainsworth, Mr. Wrigley, etc. 



Like many Manchester men Mr. Broome is also a patron of 

 the fine arts. The cornice of his drawing-room contains por- 

 traits of Orchids beautifully painted by hand, and the walla 

 are covered with a choice selection of paintings both in water 

 colours and oil, examples of David Cox, Miss Thompson, and 

 other well-known artists being amongst them. 



In giving these short notes I feel that I have very imper- 

 fectly described the riches of horticulture to be found in this 

 place, but I have tried to show what can be done ; and any 

 lover of plants visiting Manchester will be heartily welcomed 

 by the genial owner of Woodlawu to test for himself the esti- 

 mate I have formed of them. — D., Deal. 



APEICOT FAILURE— PRUNING. 



EvEKY week the gardening papers tell us of the disastrous 

 results of the frost, and we as gardeners ought to know this 

 fickle clime which we have to labour in, and so define such 

 rules that at least would save some of this king of preserving 

 fruit, and I believe if the following is acted upon the labour 

 will not be in vain. It is said by some if yon want Apricots 

 by the bushel you must prune on the long-spur system — that 

 is, spurs from 9 to 15 inches long should be the rule. True, 

 in some seasons you gather fruit by the bushel, but what 

 then of its quality ? I therefore wish to impress on Apricot 

 growers generally that but moderate quantity and the best of 

 quality can only be secured by keeping the spurs close to the 

 wall. 



I have here 700 feet of south walling devoted to Apricots. 

 While almost everybody's crop in this locality is lost I have a 

 very fair promise of Apricots, and all sticking close to the 

 wall ; not a single fruit is left on the tips of the young spurs, 

 but all there are blackened, while, as I say, close up to the 

 wall we have a very good crop. My trees have been sheltered 

 with two thicknesses of netting kept from the trees by small 

 stakes, etc. For nine years past we have had six full crops 

 and a sprinkling the other years, so that I feel certain the 

 short-spur young-shoot system of pruning Apricots is the one 



to adopt. — R. GiLBEET. 



CAMPANULA PUSILLA ALBA. 



Mr. HARDiNr,, in his able communication on page 403, has 

 written approvingly of this lovely Campanula. Your corre- 

 spondent alludes to C. pnsilla and C. pneilla alba as " perfect 

 gems." He is right. Both are beautiful, but the white 

 variety is, in my opinion, the more charming. The plant 

 only grows a few inches high, but the flowers are produced in 

 such profusion as to produce a perfect sheet of white, yet not 

 so closely woven to prevent the individuality of the " bells " 



