JODBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



1 July 8, I80O. 



agly as a bare wall ; it offers nothing which can interest, and 

 a kadly-coTered wall is not much better. 



Another great defect is that of employiag plants without 

 pacing any regard to the character of the building, for as build- 

 ings vary, so ought the subjects ; for instance, a building con- 

 structed of light-coloured materials ^viU be subdued or toned 

 down by planting snbjects nith bright green foliage and red- 

 ooloured flowers, as Roses, or such evergreens as Eacallonias, 

 not seeking too great a contrast like that which would result 

 from a close and heavy mantling of Pyracantha, or Ivy. Massive 

 buildings should be covered with close-growing, heavy-foliaged 

 evergreens, as Pyracantha, Ivy, Magnolia, &c., whilst a light 

 and elegant structure should be clothed with plants like the 

 Clematises and Honeysuckles, introducing a few evergreens 

 for winter effect. 



Some persons object to climbers and plants against buildings 

 on account of their making the walls damp. How far that 

 opinion may be correct I cannot say. I am aware that plants 

 covering a wall will shade, and to a great extent deprive it of 

 heat and air ; it will be covered with moss sooner than one 

 exposed to the sun's action, but that is because it is shaded, 

 and not because the plants make it moist. I am of opinion 

 that they would tend to make a wall dry rather than damp. 

 The only way in which I think the walls are rendered damp, is 

 by their not being cut off at or a little above the ground line 

 from damp ascending from the soil, and with plants this damp- 

 ness will be increased by placing soil close to the wall instead 

 of the loose rubbish from the building. From the watering of 

 the plants, too, there will be more dampness than if there were 

 no jjlants. That, however, shows not that plants make walls 

 damp, but injudicious building, for all buildings ought to have 

 the accent of damp from the ground cut off by a layer of as- 

 phalt as high, if not higher, than the ground level, and above 

 that the border for the plants should not bo raised. I have 

 seen the ground outside taken above the line of the asphalt or 

 cement, and the walls made wet in consequence for several 

 feet np. If the ascent of damp from the ground be cut off, 

 and the soil not taken above the point at which it is cut off, 

 no one will have need to complain of chmbers making walls 

 damp. 



A proper border must be made for the plants. It is useless 

 to plant them against a wall, if for a considerable depth and dis- 

 tance there is nothing but rubble. It ought to be removed, 

 and proper soil put in to the extent of at least a yard from the 

 wall, and to the same depth, placing iu the bottom about 

 6 inches of rnbble for drainage, and then a layer of turf or the , 

 rougher parts of the compost. The latter must vary some- 

 what in its composition, but most climbers will succeed in two- 

 fifths of turf cut about 3 inches thick from a pasture where 

 the soil is a rich loam, neither heavy nor light ; one-fifth 

 short manure, as that from a Mushroom-bed, or the fresh drop- 

 pings from a stable, as free of straw as possible ; one-fifth leaf 

 mould, and one-fifth sharp sand. The turf should be chopped 

 up rather small, and all the materials well blended together. 

 The border should be formed of this compost, using the ma- 

 terials fresh, without laying them in a heap to decay, but the 

 npper part of the border should be of finer soil to the depth of 

 about G inches. The compost jnst described, laid up for three 

 months, would be suitable for the purpose, chopping it up and 

 making it rather fine. It would not grow all climbers, for it 

 would be too rich for some, and too open for others, and not 

 properly constituted for a few ; but it can be made lighter by 

 adding sand, omitting some of the ingredients, and replacing 

 with others of a suitable nature, as will be stated hereafter. 



Not only should proper soil be provided for the plants to 

 grow in, but it should bo in quantity suflicient to support the 

 plants to full size. The width and depth named, 3 feet, will, 

 in most cases be sufficient, but there will be cases in which a 

 greater qnantity of soil must be supplied for the roots. For 

 instance, if the soil is wholly unsuitable, it should be taken 

 out twice the width, and replaced with fresh. In some positions 

 the plants have to be planted under gravel walks ; then the soil 

 ought to be taken out, proper provision mado for the roots, 

 and when the plants are put in, the gravel can be returned. 

 The same remarks apply to places which are grassed over, and 

 due regard must be paid to famishing the plants with proper 

 soil, and the grass should not be placed close to the stem, but 

 an opening must be left all round. 



Tliero are soils which will only need to be trenched, working 

 in enriching material, such as dung or leaf mould ; and where 

 it is a good loam, it will be suflicient to trench it 2 feet deep, 

 aud mix it with manure, or add the kind of soil required by 



the plant. The better the provision made for planting, the 

 more the plants will be likely to succeed, and the sooner will 

 the object sought to be covered be hidden ; indeed, no plant 

 ought to be planted-out without making good provision for the 

 roots, for it is important that the plants root well, and if they 

 do that they will be sure to grow well. Even the commonest 

 should have the soil loosened, and be planted in some good 

 soil, and any additional care taken at planting will be amply 

 repaid. 



As respects the time of planting climbers and subjects of a 

 similar description, as they are mostly grown in pots, planting 

 may be performed at any season, but best when they are about to 

 commence growth, or iu March, or earlier, according to the 

 season. It is best to plant them out before they have grown 

 much, and still better if they have not grown at all. The roots 

 should be spread out, the soil shaken from them without in- 

 juring the fibres, and a good watering given at planting, and 

 afterwards iu dry weather, so as to promote free growth. — 

 G. Abdev. 



(To be coQtlnaod.) 



FRUIT PROSPECTS IN YORKSHIPvE. 



OcR fruit crop, in this neighbourhood at least, is anything 

 but cheering. I thought at the time of blooming that nothing 

 could be more promising ; but it has been decreed otherwise, 

 and we submit, though with a feeling of regret. 



Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines for the most part have 

 fallen ; Plums ond Cherries are but a mere scattering ; Pears 

 have mostly fallen, and are still falling ; Apples are very scarce 

 indeed, and what is worse, many of the trees are suffering 

 from caterpillars which are very numerous this season. The 

 prevalence of blight and mildew does not augur well for another 

 year. Filberts are very scarce ; Figs and Walnuts are good ; 

 Gooseberries in some places are a fair crop, but sadly pestered 

 with caterpillars. With us they are moderately abundant. 

 Black Currants were very promising, but much of the best 

 fruit has fallen. Red and White Currants were abundant, but 

 what we call " honeyfall," came upon the trees. They had at 

 first the appearance of being glazed over with gum ; then came 

 insects, then mildew, after which the leaves began to fall, and 

 were followed by the fruit. What is left I fear will do little 

 good. Raspberries up to the present time are very promising ; 

 .Strawberries with us, as in many other places, are a failure. 

 Some of the plants are suffering from mildew. Thus our fruit 

 prospect for the present is only a gloomy one. — M. H., Acklam 

 Hull, Middleshrongh-on-Teei. 



THE GARDENS AT RED LODGE. NEAR 

 SOUTHAMPTON, 



TBE nESIDESCE OF MRS. PE.KECE. 



Maxy very handsome villas have within the last twelve or 

 sixteen years sprung up at the top of the rising ground above 

 this splendid approach to Southampton, upon what was formerly 

 only a waste densely covered with heath and furze. If a pleas- 

 ing situation, giving great facilities for drainage, and the enjoy- 

 ment of pure air, bo considerations iu choosing a residence, all 

 these are secured here. Upon this plateau is the house of 

 Mrs. Pearce. It stands apart, at the meeting of the roads, close 

 to the Red Lodge Nursery of Mr. Rogers. A hedge divides her 

 grounds from the nursery on the south, and the road to Shirley 

 passes in front of her garden. There is often as much, if not 

 more, landscape beauly in the scenery of the banks of a small 

 river than in the vicinity of large rivers, of which the waters 

 are frequently muddy and sluggish. 



Although the garden is not large, it is kept in a very credit- 

 able condition, and there is a pleasing piece of lawn in front of 

 the house about an acre in extent, whilst opposite the drawing- 

 room windows is a small but well-filled flower garden. Adjoin- 

 ing the house is a small conservatory always kept gay. Leading 

 west from the front is a gravel walk skirting the little paddock 

 on one side ; aud on the other t-iie there is a border planted 

 with choice Rhododendrons and Roses, with some rows of mixed 

 Tricolor Pelargoniums in front. Further on the walk crosses 

 another walk, and here it is bordered with RhododendroES, with 

 standard R jses in front of them ; and nearer the walk, at inter- 

 vals of 3 or 4 yards, of strong plants of two common sorts of 

 China Roses, with shoots from 3 to 4 feet long falling partially 

 out on every aide. These Roses and the yarious-colonied Snap- 



