October 17, 1866, ] 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



315 



at least after September. Our practice, therefore, is decitUHlly 

 diftorout from tliat of your adviser. Tlie sooner all sueli excres- 

 cent growth is now veraoveil the bettor. We are not so iiarticular 

 when the runners lirst appear immeiliately after potting, hnt 

 even then little is gained by allowing them to Krow ; hut, wu 

 think, allowing them to do so for a little time tends to till the 

 pot sooner with roots, ami a.s soon as that is eiTccted the chief 

 matter to he thought about is concentrating the ripened 

 strength in the buds or crown.] 



HAMILTON P.VL.\CE. 



{Ccmchuhd from jtar/e 295.) 



The old kitchen garden at this place not being large enough 

 to supply the requirements o{ such a family as occupied 

 Hamilton Palace some years ago, the Uuke wisely considered 

 it more prudent to make a new one entirely than enlarge the 

 old garden, especially as it was subject to both late and early 

 frosts, from being surrounded by high ground. It was, besides, so 

 hemmed in as not to atTord space for the many glass structures 

 that were wanted. The now garden is on an extensive scale, 

 the space enclosed within the walls being 5i acres, independent 

 of the slips sm-roundiug the walls. The site is somewhat 

 elevated, with an inclination to the south-east ; the cast and 

 south walls are straight, the west wall has a graceful curve out- 

 wards almost approaching a semicircle, while the north wall is 

 occupied with hothouses of various kinds ; the whole, it need 

 hardly be said, are new, and constructed in the best possible 

 manner. The north wall occupying higher ground than the 

 rest of the garden, the fine range of lean-to vineries against it 

 is raised 5 or feet above the level of the next tier of glass 

 structures, which run parallel with, and in front of them. The 

 houses in the second range are mostly span-roofed, and are 

 devoted to other purposes. The range against the north 

 wall consists of six vineries, acd two Peach-houses, one at each 

 end, the whole length being about 400 feet. The two centre 

 vineries are each 50 feet long by 18 feet wide, the next two 

 vineries on each side are about the same length, and 15 feet 

 wide, and the Peach-houses at the ends are 12 feet wide. Four 

 of the vineries have borders heated by hot water on the most 

 approved plan, with complete drainage, and all the requisites 

 to success that liberality and skill could insure. The two 

 central vineries are respectively planted with Black Hamburgh 

 and Lady Downe's ; the former had just ripened an excellent 

 crop of very fine fruit, and the whole were in the most robust 

 health, and promised to produce excellent fruit for many years. 

 As many of the Vines had been only recently i)lantcd, and had 

 not, of course, arrived at the age for a full crop, it would have 

 been imprudent to have allowed them to have borne too much, 

 but what were in fruit were all that could be wished. Mr. 

 Mitchell prefers making his borders by degrees, and although 

 an ample space had been allowed for that purpose, the portion 

 actually in use was comparatively small ; the rest will, doubtless, 

 be added when wanted, but the vigorous character of the Vines 

 was the best proof that they had all that was needful for their 

 well-doing. The workmanship of the houses, and then- con- 

 venient fittings, were of a most substantial character, betoken- 

 ing the well-directed disposal of ample means. The vineries 

 with heated borders had underneath them a hollow chamber 

 and hot-water pipes ; and good materials, and the best J50ssil)le 

 workmanship were ^'isible in every part, showing that what in 

 the building trade is called " scamping," had in no instance 

 been resorted to. The ventilators opened by well-contrived 

 crank machinery. 



Between the two central vineries of this range a door and 

 entrance- porch afford access to the garden. A good broad space 

 for the Vine-border runs in front of the houses, and then a 

 walk, and then another range of houses, whose bases are 4 or 

 5 feet lower than the upper tier, the inclination of the ground 

 allowing this. The north entrance walk between the two central 

 vineries, after proceeding beyond the borders and walks, leads 

 down a flight of steps between the second series of glass struc- 

 tures, which, being span-roofed and on a lower level, do not in 

 the least shade the Vine-borders — an important consideration ; 

 and on looking from the centre of the garden or elsewhere, it 

 will be found that they do not conceal the other range. These 

 fine span-roofed houses were mostly intended for Pines, and a 

 great portion of them are now used for that purpose, and very 

 excellent fruit are grown ; some of them, however, are for the 

 time being converted into plant-houses, and some well-grown 

 specimens at the Edinburgh International Show proved how well 



the treatment they hail received s\iitod them. Amongst other 

 plants was a dense sjiecimcn of Croton picta, upwards of- 

 7 feet high, trained to a perfect cone, the diameter at bottom 

 being aliout 5 feet. It was justly regarded by most people as 

 one of the finest plants ever exhibited ; some very fine Vincas, 

 trained ill a similar manner, accompanied it, and Mr. Mitchell 

 seemed very justly to prefer that mode of training to any other 

 for all iilants that could bo brought into the shaiie. Orchids 

 were also grown in one or more of these houses, while the end 

 ones were devoted to Peaclies. The mode of culture was dif- 

 ferent from that adopted in the other range. A longitudinal par- 

 tition in one of the houses was intended to make under the same 

 roof a moderately early house, and a very late or rather retarded 

 one ; the croj) in the latter having only the north light of the 

 span, and the borrowed light of the central partition, must ne- 

 cessarily be much later than that enjoying all the warmth of a 

 summer sun ; but as the exjieriment had not been fully tested, 

 I can only state that there was every appearance of a successful 

 result. 



I believe this fine range of hothouses was built by Mr. (iray, 

 of Danvers Street, Chelsea, and the lower range is heated by 

 one of the tubular boilers supplied by the same celelirated 

 builder. Mr. Mitchell informed me that it heated 5000 feet 

 of four-inch pipe in a very satisfactory manner. I omitted 

 to ask what was the length of pipe in the upper range and 

 how it was heated ; but I believe it was effected by a boiler 

 of tlie same kind. Some other glass structures had been 

 begun, but the death of the late noble jiroprietor in the prime 

 of life, and while various works were in progress, and the un- 

 certainty hanging over a minority, had put a stop to these and 

 some other works that were in contemplation. Enough, how- 

 ever, has been done to give an idea of the princely style in 

 which the whole was intended to have been completed ; neither 

 has the useful been neglected to display the ornamental, for 

 all is good. If proof were Avanting, one peep into the apart- 

 ments of the young men will convince any one how well every- 

 thing has been cared for ; and I expect some young gardeners 

 will sigh over their lot when they learn that their brethren at 

 Hamilton Palace have each a separate sleeping apartment, and 

 that there are a dining-room, kitchen, scullery, and bath-room. 

 Comforts like these would have made gardeners of the last 

 generation stare, and though much has doubtless been done to 

 amend the far-from-creditable places in which many young 

 men are lodged, I must say that this is the farthest advance I 

 have yet met with, and only hope to hear of the example being 

 speedily copied in other places. 



The kitchen garden, with the forcing-houses alluded to, lying 

 to the west, or rather south-west, of the mansion, and' on 

 elevated ground, the intended approach was to have been on 

 the east side, where large doors occupy a central position in 

 the east wall. From this entrance the ground falls gently 

 towards the old garden, and a series of terraces were proposed 

 to be cut in the bank, with corresponding slopes and broad 

 flights of steps. The latter have in a great measure been put down, 

 but much of the terrace work remains incomplete. I believe 

 some plant-houses were also projected, but have been delayed ; 

 butf or the reason already stated they may possibly be proceeded 

 with. The old garden occupies the dell at the'bottom of the 

 hiU, and has, doubtless, done good service in its day, and is 

 still doing so ; its sheltered situation, though exposing it to 

 late spring frosts, is favour.able to such crops as escape that 

 ordeal. The walls, however, were of hmited extent. It was 

 fully occupied with various crops, all of which were well repre- 

 sented, nothing was forgotten, and some of those which are 

 only allowed a small space in ordinary gardens were grown on 

 a scale that showed the importance of the place. It is never 

 likely to lag behind in all that pertains to the improved gar- 

 dening of the age while its affairs are presided over by such a 

 gardener as Mr. Mitchell, who, in addition to sound practical 

 abilities, possesses the equally impoi-tant qualities of lu-banity, 

 and kindness of heart, and who is, I believe, at all times ready 

 to impart information to any one to whom it may be useful. — 



J. EOBSON. 



Hollow Willows and their Tenants. — In a field beside the 

 river at Hereford there are a number of cid pollard Willows 

 with the queerest haliits. In one an Elder has planted itself, 

 and while the bole is Willow, the branches are all Elder, and 

 a tap root from the Elder passes down the hollow stump, and 

 draws its nourishment from the earth. Another pollard bears 

 a Rose, another a Thorn, in a similar manner ; but the strangest 



