474 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ JuBo 17, 1875. 



only conclude that there is mnch virtne in raw bones, Mrs. 

 Pince's Muscat is also bearing heavily. But we must leave 

 these well-managed Grapes to glance at the 



Pineries. — Pines are not largely grown, but are as good as 

 the Grapes. The plants are dwarf, dark green, and vigorous, 

 and throwing-up fine fruits. That Mr. Douglas can take great 

 prizes from such a few plants is the more to his credit. In 

 most cases Vines are grown overhead but do not overshadow the 

 Pines, but in every house every plant is healthy. 



Melons and Cucumbers. — These are grown in houses on 

 trellises. The Melons are in cleanliness and health all that 

 can be wished for^the fruits even in size on each plant, and 

 swelling regularly. Victory of Bath and Scarlet Gem are 

 esteemed the best in their sections, but Mr. Douglas mainly 

 grows his own hybrids, and with these satisfies at home and 

 wins prizes abroad. Of Cucumbers a word must suffice. If 



Mr. Douglas had done nothing but raise Tender and True he 

 would, as Mr. Camm says, " deserve well of his country," for 

 it is the best Cucumber that has ever been given to the public. 



Tomatoes are grown in pots at the back of the house. The 

 crop is very large and the fruit ripe, affording gatherings of 

 great value and usefulness. 



Strauberrtes. — The fruit then staked-up above the plants, 

 large, and colouring well, is now gathered. The plants are 

 grown in 4S-8ized pots, perfectly healthy, and free from red 

 spider. Dr. Nicaise is bearing a heavy crop of fine fruit, but 

 large numbers of plants are Mr. Douglas's own seedlings, 

 which require more time to prove their worth ; we can only 

 say they look well. 



OKCHARD HOUSE. 



This is a good-sized structure, filled with large trees in dis- 

 proportionally small pots. Pears, Cherries, Plums, Peaches, 



Fig. 110. — LOXFORD HALL —THE PLEASURE GROUNDS. 



and Nectarines are thoroughly clean and bearing heavily. It 

 is only by skilful culture that such crops can be perfected. We 

 have no more to say about the fruits, but in this house is a 

 novelty worthy of mention. Phormiura tenax variegatnm is 

 throwing-up a spike of bloom. The spike is fully 11 feet high, 

 and producing numerous brauehlets. The plant is healthy, 

 with fine striped foliage 5 to 6 feet in length, and is a specimen 

 of great value and interest. Mr. Douglas must describe it 

 when in bloom, for such a circumstance is rare if not un- 

 precedented. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Of bedding-out there is little to mention. Mr. Douglas is 

 too much of a florist to indulge in massing and grouping. 

 What beds there are, are filled with fine plants which have not 

 much growing to do to meet. The lawn is planted with a few 

 good Conifers, but the grass is burnt up by drought, the soil, 

 about 3 inches, resting on gravel. It is beds of Pinks, Carna- 

 tions, Phloxes, Gladiolus, Hollyhocks, &a., grown thoroughly 

 which constitute the flower garden here, with a few herbaceous 

 plants, the brightest and best at the present time being Litho- 

 spermumprostratum, recently noticed in these pages. Remark- 

 ably effective is also a bed of the old Giant Bromptou Stock 

 with blooms as large as Ptoses, a valuable and nearly lost 

 strain of this fine old garden flower. Mr. Douglas prizes it, 

 and well he may. There is also a bed of Soilla peruviana 

 blooming, the plants raised from seed sown sis years ago. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



This is two acres in extent and well cropped. It is only by 

 thoroughly working that such a soil can sustain the fruit trees 

 and vegetables in good health. Strawberries are very promis- 

 ing, so also are the large fruits. The trees are duly pinched 

 and pruned; they are not toy trees, but such as bear great 

 quantities of fruit. The walls are covered with trees, fan- 

 shaped, vertical and oblique cordons — indeed something in 

 every style of gardening is carried out here, and carried out 

 well. Peas are looking well, the earliest now gathered. All the 

 new sorts are grown, William the First is the first and beat, 

 and Alpha second. Premier Gem is very fine in growth and 

 habit, and regarded as a valuable acquisition. G. F. Wilson and 

 the best mid-season sorts are in the full vigour of active growth. 



Our parting word must be with the 



Auriculas. — These are Mr. Douglas's favourite plants, and 

 right well he grows them. His collection is extensive and 

 choice. They are repotted and growing vigorously in frames 

 at the north side of a wall. Something has been said on 

 cutting down the plants; Mr. Douglas cuts them over with 

 as little compunction as ho does a Geranium. We take as an 

 example Colonel Taylor. The label denotes that it was cut 

 down on April the 30th. The top is already struck, and is a 

 stocky sturdy plant, and the plant has pushed five shoots now 

 an inch long to form five plants by tlie same course of be- 

 heading. It is the only way of increase, and is certain when 



