May 21, 1868. ] 



JOURNAIi OF HORTIODLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



375 



are tlie flowers from which the experimontalist may oxpaot to 

 raiae by careful crossing improv«ii varieties of this early spriDg 

 flower. 



I do not know that I can advance anything new, merely 

 lessons that I have learned partly from experience and partly 

 from other growers ; yet I feel assured that any one following 

 the simple directions I shall give will become a successful 

 cultivator, and to this end the following particulars are essential. 

 First, a suitable aspect. The north or east of a wall or fence 

 or temporary shade, where they will get only the morning sun, 

 is the aspect most favourable for their well-doing. Second, 

 suitable soil ; good loam from a field that will grow good wheat, 

 well sweetened by exposure to frost, sun, and air, or good turfy 

 loam well mixed with one-third of either two-year-old well- 

 rotted cow or horse dung, well .sweetened by exposure and 

 frequent turning-over — about 9 inches deep of such soil will 

 grow the Polyanthus healthy and well. 



But the great secret of success lies in deep planting. In 

 making the hole ready for the reception of the plant (which 

 ought to have its roots washed and examined to see that they 

 are all healthy and vigorous, and any decaying parts removed), 

 raise it up in the centre in form of a cone, spread out the 

 roots around it, gather the foliage erect, and fill up to about 

 1 inch above the collar of the plant. The advantage derived 

 from deep planting is, that the best rootlets growing from the 

 top part of the tap root derive more nourishment from the soil, 

 and are more secure from drought in summer and frosts in 

 winter. It is also necessary that they should have regular 

 attention by frequent stirring, top-dressing with fresh soil, 

 watering when necessary ; and as soon as the truss makes its 

 appearance, cover it over with a square of glass firmly fixed in 

 a short stake ; this will be a sufficient protection to keep off 

 wet and some insects which injure the bloom. — Dek.\ (in 

 The Gardener). 



WOLLATON HALL. 



_ This fine mansion, one of the seats of Lord JXiJdIeton, is 

 situated in an extensive park about two miles west from Not- 

 tingham, and was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, with 

 stone brought, it is said on horses' backs from Ancaster, upwards 

 oftwenty miles distant — amode of conveyance which in those pre- 

 railway days was, perhaps, more expeditious, and less expensive 

 than by wheeled vehicles over the roads which then existed. 

 The mansion occupies an elevated position in the park, and is 

 rectangular in form, with a square tower at each corner, whilst 

 '£rom the centre of the building rises another tower, command- 

 ing extensive prospects. Eastwards towards Nottingham the 

 town was shut out from view by lofty trees, but is so no longer, 

 150 of them having been blown down in ten minutes during a 

 terrific hurricane in the end of 13G3. Still several of remarkable 

 size and beauty yet remain, and among them a Scotch Fir 

 upwards of lUO feet in height, and a magnificent Beech, besides 

 many line Oaks scattered over the park, and, on the beautifully- 

 kept lawn near the house, fine old Yews and Cedars once 

 feathered to the ground, but by the orders of a former Lord 

 Middleton they were deprived of their lower branches, and, 

 consequently, of much of their beauty. 



In a conservatory on the west of the mansion are the 

 Camellias, which are the pride of the place, producing every 

 year thousands of blooms. Some of the plants are from 12 to 

 15 feet in height, and have stems of remarkable thickness, 

 whilst the profusion of large, glossy, dark green leaves attests 

 their perfect health. They arc< chiefly planted as bushes in 

 beds of loamy soil, but there are also a few very fine plants 

 trained against the back wall. Hardy as we know the Camellia 

 to be-all but hardy out of doors in the south of England — one 

 ia hardly prepared for the cool treatment which it recei*es at 

 WoUaton, for no fire heat whatever is given, not even in such 

 winters as those of 1837-33 and 1300-61. Mr. Pearson has 

 stated (Vol. XII., page 27G), the circumstances which first led 

 to the disuse of all fire heat, and that the then Lord Mid- 

 dleton seeing the plants flower as well or better than ever after 

 the former winter, never allowed the house to be heated whilst 

 he lived ; Mr. Pearson justly remarking, however, that bad 

 they been in pots instead of being planted out the roots might 

 have suiiered. It may be added, that had the plants been of 

 less size they would also probably have been injured by the 

 low temperature to which they were exposed, the thermometer 

 falling to 21° ; but, above all, their immunity from injury was 

 most likely partially attributable to the growth being firm and 

 well matured, instead of long-jointed and succulent. 



The plant houses contain a choice and well-managed col- 

 lection both of fine-foliaged and flowering plants, among which 

 are good examples of Spha)rogyne latifolia, CyanophyUum 

 magnificura, Marautas ; Alooasia metallica, Lowii, and ma- 

 crorhiza variegata ; Authurium magniUcum, Theophrasta 

 imperialis, Crotons, and various Ferns ; whilst covering the 

 roof of the stove are AUamanda Schottii and Stephanotis 

 floribunda, which bloom freely and add much to the beanty of 

 the house. In the orangery, of course empty at the time of 

 the writer's visit — in September, there is a fine old Wistaria and 

 several large Camellias, one plant of the Double White, about 

 13 feet high, being in excellent health ; another plant is about 

 15 feet high, but not in such good condition. 



In the propagating house, besides a variety of new stove and 

 greenhouse plants, especially those most remarkable for the 

 beauty of their foliage, there was a numerous stock of ( iardenias, 

 which are.largely grown for winter and spring flowering. 



An extensive range of lean-to fruit-forcing houses consists of 

 three early Peach houses and vineries, together about 42 yards 

 in length, and in which, of course, the crops had been long 

 gathered, two succession Peach houses, 37 yards in length, and 

 47 yards run of vineries, containing Black Hamburgh, Fron- 

 tignan. Royal Muscadine, and late Grapes. A small house is 

 also devoted to the culture of Musa Cavendishii, and in it the 

 Cotton Plant was producing its pods. For the growth of Pine 

 Apples there is ample provision, and there was in pits and in 

 the succession house a large healthy stock of Black Jamaica, 

 Smooth-leaved Cayenne, and Lemon Queen Pines. Thoresby 

 SeedUug is also grown, and is found to swell freely, though not 

 equal in flavour to the Queen Pine. The fruiting Pine stove, 

 a neat span-roofed house, is heated by four rows of pipes for 

 top heat, and bottom heat is supplied by two pipes in a rubble 

 chamber beneath each bed, respectively a foot from the back, 

 and a like distance from the front. The arrangement for filling 

 the evaporating troughs on the pipes for supplying top heat is 

 very simple and convenient ; for by simply turning the water 

 on in a leaden pipe extending over the troughs, it issues from 

 a number of perforations in the pipe in as many little jets. 

 Thus the troughs can be filled simultaneously, and the amount 

 of water in them can be regulated to a nicety ; the advantages 

 of which are, that on the one hand by quite filling th» 

 troughs continuous evaporation can be maintained, and, on 

 the other, if a greater degree of moisture is required to be 

 diffused in the house in a short time, when the troughs are 

 dry, that object can be secured by turning on only a little 

 water at a time, so as to secure its rapid evaporation. 



In the Melon house there was a good supply of fruit in all 

 stages, the kind principally grown being the Strathfieldsaye, 

 and for early fruiting the Bromham Hall. The winter Cu- 

 cumber house was filled with Azaleas, and other plants, but 

 was about to be cleared out. The beds are 2 feet 6 inches deep, 

 and each is heated by a flow and return 4-inch pipe in a chamber 

 beneath, and atmospheric heat is supplied by two flow and 

 two return-pipes. The Cucumbers preferred for winter are 

 Telegraph and Lancashire Witch. 



The potting shed, though a place where a very important 

 portion of the work connected with plants under glass has to 

 be performed, rarely claims particular mention, but that at 

 Wollaton presents a feature which deserves general imitation, 

 for it is heated by two 3-inch pipes. How much this must 

 conduce to the safety and success of plants removed from 

 heated structures to be operated upon, as well as to the comfort 

 of the men, need not be insisted on, especially as more than 

 once Mr. Fish h.a3 referred to the subject, and pointed out the 

 evils which are apt to result from taking plants from heat into 

 the cold for the purpose of repotting, or of performing similar 

 operations. It is very often want of attention to precautions 

 such as this that makes all the difference between success and 

 failure, although in every other respect the mode of culture 

 may have been judicious and carefully carried out : and though 

 every one cannot have a heated potting shed, yet it is within 

 the power of every one to imitate it by guarding against un- 

 necessarily exposing jilants to checks from cold air and cold 

 soil, too frequently followed by cold water. In addition to the 

 heated potting shed there is a room for fumigation, also heated, 

 which must be a very convenient place for effectually and 

 economically disposing of green fly, and other insect intruders, 

 when it may not be desirable or necessary to fumigate a whole 

 house. 



The kitchen gardens are very extensive, and remarkable for 

 the high order in which they are kept. Altogether, with the 

 slips outside the walls, they cover an area of about 8 acres. 



