Angnst 5, 1869. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICUIiTDBE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



95 



the bine and white forms of Campanula pentagonia, gave 

 charming masses of colour, varying the mixed character of the 

 larger beds. Other forms of the arrangement of plants and 

 oolonrs were — a centre of Alyssum saxatile edged with blue 

 Myoaotis, dark Wallflowers edged with white Myosotis, while 

 Cliveden Pansies mingled with double white Primroses, and 

 edged with Phlox frondosa— a very pretty bed ; and four circular 

 beds raised in stone, in each of which the centres were com- 

 posed of Leptosiphon densiflorns, mingled with Calandrinia 

 speciosa, with here and there a few Cliveden white Pansies 

 mingled with them, two of these beds being edged with 

 Anbrietia deltoidea purpurea, and two with the variegated 

 Arabis albida. 



On the west terrace there is no flower garden, but it is 

 flanked by a balustrading of pillared stone, ornamented with 

 fine vases at intervals, the terrace affording a broad unob- 

 structed promenade. From this point the terrace takes a turn 

 to the left by an alcove, with trellis-work seats resting against 

 the house, and covered with Roses, Jasmines, the grand Cle- 

 matis lanuginosa, and other climbing plants. A fine Wistaria 

 sinensis, thirkly studded with pale purple racemes of flowers, 

 is here seen growing against what is termed the corridor — a 

 limb of the mansion connecting the more modern southern 

 wing of the buildiag with the old centre; and then into the 

 south terrace. 



It was here the glories of the system of spring gardening at 

 Nuneham appeared to culminate, for a most charming sight 

 bursts on the view, showing a symmetrical arrangement of 

 twenty-eight beds of spring-flowering plants in two parallel 

 divisions, with a broad gravel walk dividing them, like two 

 hostile armies drawn up in array of battle, or like the recoil of 

 a wave. Each flower bed on the one side has its counterpart 

 on the other, as like itself in design, careful planting, and 

 keeping as can be. Six vases on pedestals occupy positions on 

 either side of the walk, two at each end, and two centrally, 

 and green glazed earthenware settees take poeitions along the 

 walk. 



Starting from the north end of the terrace, a bed of Lim- 

 nanthes Douglasii opens the floral display on either side. 

 Granting that this valuable spring-flowering annual, so hardy 

 as to be able to withstand the rigours of all weathers, has a 

 somewhat weedy appearance when in flower, it must yet be 

 borne in mind that at every stage of growth it does good service 

 during the winter months, for previous to its making its flower- 

 ing growth it takes the form of charming tufts of vivid green, 

 especially after a fall of snow has lain upon it for a few days. 

 Then come two show beds of Young's Blood Wallflower, the beds 

 being edged with Arabis albida variegata. It was singular to note 

 how the cold easterly winds had altogether changed the colour 

 of the Wallflowers, turning them from a rich dark colour to a 

 pure yellow, pencilled with dark, though the flowers had opened 

 of their usual dark hue. All the spring flowers were of this 

 rich dark hue also, but they were rapidly changing as they be- 

 came exposed to the chilling effects of the wind. Then came 

 beds that were very bright and effective, being filled with Tour- 

 nesol and Eex Rubrornm double Tulips mingled together ; then 

 beds of blue Venus' Looking-glass, edged with that most useful 

 of all spring-flowering plants, the charming golden-blotched 

 Bellis aneubajfolia. This has not been used so largely at Nune- 

 ham this season as is generally seen, the unusual drought of 

 last year having destroyed so many of Mr. Stewart's plants. 

 Then came beds of Alyssnm saxatile, edged with the blue 

 Forget-me-not, the former a glowing mass of colour. Then 

 beds of Collinsia bicolor, edged with Bellis aucubictolia, not 

 a good combination in so far as symmetry of growth is con- 

 cerned, the former being too tall, and quite overshadowing 

 the Daisy. Then beds with centres of blue Forget-me-not, 

 edged with Silene pendula alba, and further on this order of 

 colours was reversed, for in the last case the white Forget-me- 

 not formed the centre, edged with the pink Silene pendula. 

 Between these, however, came some grand and sunny beds of 

 Tonng's Wallflower, edged with the blue Forget-me-not — striking 

 masses of colour. Then beds of the white La Candeur and 

 crimson Bex Rubrornm double Tulips, mingled with the blue 

 Forget-me-not, and edged with Bellis aucubicfolia. Next these, 

 and forming the terminations of the divisions of the beds on 

 either side, were masses of Limnanthes Douglasii, correspond- 

 ing with those at the outset. From this point of the south 

 terrace garden a flight of stone steps leads down to the pleasure 

 grounds — a kind of ante-cbamber to the grand woodland walks 

 and charming openings of scenic effect designed by Brown. 

 Standing at the foot of these steps, and looking back on the 



masses of colouring seen in this garden, was to survey a bril- 

 liant floral picture hmned by a master hand — a picture that 

 could be lingered over with pure appreciation, and be remem- 

 bered with unalloyed delight. 



But as all preachers apply their subject at the close of their 

 discourse, so must I follow with an application at this point. 

 There is, after all, a simplicity about the form spring gardening 

 has assumed in these days — a simplicity that brings some 

 features of its disposition within the reach of the capacities 

 and circumstances of all having space to apply them. Simple 

 hardy annuals are the main instruments by which spring gar- 

 deners work out such important results. CoUinsias, Nemo- 

 philas. Forget-me-nots, Wallflowers, Limnanthes, and others, 

 sown in August in out-of-the way patches, and only to be lifted 

 into their blooming quarters when 



" The dry, crisp leaves are ankle deep 

 In woodland wayB; 

 And wild winds, shrieking from polar seas, 

 Cry to the lorn and withering trees 

 Of coming winter days; — " 



and early frosts have destroyed the last remnant of the summer 

 display. Such things as Daisies, of all colours (for all are ex- 

 tremely useful). Polyanthuses, Hepaticas, and all else of a 

 character, propagated by root-division, can be lifted at the time 

 the annuals are planted, divided at the roots, and planted 

 in their blooming quarters. The variegated Arabis, Alyssnm 

 saxatile. Phlox frondosa, Iberis sempervirens, &c., can all be 

 propagated by cuttings. A few bulbs go a great way in a spring 

 garden, and if they are carefully lifted at the time the spring- 

 flowering plants are removed to make room for the summer 

 bedding stock, and replanted in a shady place in some light 

 sandy soil, and so left to ripen, they can be made of good 

 service for successive seasons ; besides, they propagate them- 

 selves by forming offsets. Another point to be urged, is its 

 comparative inexpensiveness. This will be seen from the 

 remarks made in regard to its simplicity. It is, therefore, 

 within the reach of all, as the outlay in starting is compara- 

 tively small. Most important of all, as a principle of appli- 

 cation, is a "reserve garden," to serve as a kind of nursery 

 during the summer months. A small piece of ground will 

 accommodate a great many plants, as they can be placed closely 

 together, and cuttings occupy but little space. In most gardens 

 there is a small piece of ground which can be used for this pur- 

 pose, even those with limited means in this respect can work 

 wonders, if they are determined to succeed. Some knowledge 

 of the plants used is essential, and if this is possessed only in 

 part, it is soon augmented by the results of experience — one of 

 the best teachers in the flower garden. " If it were not for my 

 Orchids," says Mr. Jerningham, in " Birds of Prey," "I think 

 I should go melancholy mad ; but for the cultivator of Orchids 

 there can be no such thing as satiety, until all the forests on 

 the shores of the Amazon have been rifled by exploring bo- 

 tanists." In like manner, I, too, should be inexpressibly grieved 

 were there no spring-blooming plants to fill up the dreary void 

 in my flower garden between September and May. With these 

 I bridge the chasm that separates decaying autumn from bud- 

 ding spring, and sink the two in a common bond of floral 

 service. 

 Thomson, in his poem on the seasons, sings — 



" See, Winter comes to rule the varied year, 

 Snilen and Bad, with all his rising train — 

 Vapours, and clouds, and storms." 



But the face of nature in so far as it is reflected in oni 

 flower gardens, need not be "sullen and sad" when winter 

 comes, for our gardens can be made to smile joyously into its 

 stern face, and transmute some of its dreariest aspects into 

 scenes that shall recall gleams of the lights that have gone out 

 with the past summer ; or, better still, be prophetic of their 

 advent once again, when the icy bands of winter shall be re- 

 moved by the warmth of the gentler and reviving spring, from 

 the fettered, but not vanquished hands of Nature, — Vu. 



SCALDING OF GRAPES. 

 I NOTICED in the Journal of July 29th, some remarks concern- 

 ing scalding in the berries of Lady Downe's Grape. The same 

 Grape in a vinery here has had the same fault, both in the 

 last and present season ; the berries are attacked as soon as 

 stoning is finished, and they are liable to be injured until they 

 commence to colour. The fault is not in the glass, as the 

 berries are injured where the bunches are amply protected 

 from the rays of the buu by the foliage, although not to the 



