354 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENKB. 



t May 4, 1876. 



branoheB is not pinched, bnt ehoots at abont intervals of a 

 foot are allowed to grow, and are trained downwards and 

 made to cover the epacea formerly occnpied by the large 

 branches. These yonng growths are not trained at right 

 angles with the branches prodncing them, but are trained 

 obliquely, their points being directed to the trunks of the 

 trees. In this way the appearance is good, robust growth is 

 arrested, young wood is provided, and excellent crops of fruit 

 are produced. 



The south wall is covered with Peaches and Apricots, the 

 trees being efficiently protected in spring by canvas placed on 

 rollers, the arrangement being very simple, the blinds being 

 worked easily and expeditiously. From the top of the wall 

 projects board copings ; under these copings are fastened eyes 

 or sockets in which the rollers work to which the blinds are 

 fastened. At the bottom of the blinds, which reach nearly to 

 the bottom of the wall, other rollers are fastened, at the end of 

 each being a grooved wheel. By drawing the cord the roller 

 rises to the top of the wall, where it is fastened, and on being 

 released the cord winds round the grooved wheel and the 

 blind comes down ; it is then secured to a fixed lath, and all 

 is safe. It is the same system that is applied in shading 

 greenhouses in some nurseries, and is simple and effectual. 



Along the sides of the walks excellent etpalier trees are 

 trained, and besides these there are many bush and pyramid- 

 trained trees. Many of these trees are pruned as closely as 

 Gooseberry bushes, and are not more than 4 feet high and 

 through. They have been so pruned as adapting them to the 

 position which they occupy, and for probably twenty years they 

 have produced excellent crops of fruit, and the trees are now 

 in anything bnt a debilitated state. 



The vegetable crops produced in this garden receive special 

 attention, the greatest quantity combined with the best quality 

 being the steady aim of the grower. Asparagus is grown in 

 beds, also in single rows, the single-row system being the best, 

 but the plants need securing against the wind in summer. 

 Seakale is largely grown, tree leaves alone being used to force 

 the produce, manure imparting to it an unpleasant flavour. 

 The Kale produced by leaves being also superior by its sweet- 

 ness and delicacy of flavour to that forced in the Mushroom 

 house. Lettuces are also grown extensively, the demand for 

 them, especially early in the season, being very great. In 

 order to facilitate the supply of this important salad crop 

 Mr. Lumsden employs home-made protectors, which are admir- 

 ably adapted for their purpose. They are easily made, and are 

 neat in appearance. These protectors are formed of inch deal 

 boards, the backboard being 11 and the front board 9 inches 

 deep. These are fastened together by cross pieces, and are 

 grooved near the upper edges for securing the loose squares of 

 glass which slide in from the ends and form a root. The 

 miniature frames are about a foot wide, and in lengths of 

 abont 6 feet. They are easily removed where required, and are 

 found most useful for protecting Lettuces, Peas, Radishes, &c., 

 also for propogating-purposes and the saving of seeds. Handy 

 glass shelters of this nature should be found in all gardens. 

 They are manufactured and sold cheaply by makers of garden 

 requisites. 



Potato culture at Bloxholm is a work of special importance. 

 About seventy varieties are grown, which are prepared and 

 cultivated with great care. The ground is deeply trenched, 

 and at planting time a mixture of wood ashes, vegetable soil, 

 and a little superphosphate is sprinkled in the drills. This 

 induces a free growth, and is promotive of clear skins on the 

 tubers. The strong growers are planted 4 feet apart, and the 

 weaker-growing sorts 3 feet, and winter crops of Broccoli, etc., 

 are grown between them. Mr. Lumsden cannot grow Potatoes 

 satisfactorily at less than the above-mentioned distances apart. 

 For high quality and general usefulness the Early Afhleaf 

 Kidney, Lapstone or Ashtop Fluke, Dunbar Regent, and Pater- 

 son's Victoria are regarded as the best sorts, and follow each 

 other in the order named. For exhibition purposes the follow- 

 ing twelve sorts are recommended by Mr. Lumsden : — Rounds : 

 Rector of Woodstock, Paxton's Wonder, Porter's Excelsior, 

 The Bloomer (earliest), Model, and Paterson's Victoria. 

 Kidneys : Prince Teck, Birmingham Prize, Snowflake, Fenn's 

 Bountiful (red), Fenn's White Kidney, and Jackson's Superb. 



A little remains to be said on the glass structures. These 

 are not extensive, but are well occnpied. The conservatory is 

 a large old erection. It contains Lapageriaa and other climbers, 

 flowering plants in good health, and moveable screens of Ivy- 

 leaved Geraniums, which are placed in the mansion when the 

 family is in residence. The plants aie growing in ornamental 



boxes, the plants being on flat trellises 4* feet high and 3 feet 

 wide. There is a lean-to house about 40 feet in length for 

 bedding plants and Strawberry-forcing, the Strawberry mainly 

 relied on being Garibaldi. There is also a wall of Apricot trees 

 50 feet in length covered with glass, and three epan-rooled 

 houses for forcing fruits and vegetables. In one of these is a 

 collection of Rivers' Peaches in pots, the sorts most esteemed 

 being Early Alford, Early Crawford, Early Beatrice, Magdala, 

 and Falcon. The next house is devoted to Figs. White 

 Marseilles never fails to produce three crops during the Eeason. 

 Brown Turkey is also cultivated, also Negro Largo, which is a 

 variety of great promise. The next house is mainly occupied 

 with kidney Beans, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and table plants. 

 The most useful forcing Bean is Sir J. Paxton, being early, 

 free, and in colour a deep green. There is also a length of 

 about 200 feet of brick pits for early-vegetable-growing, with 

 several dung frames for the production of early Potatoes. 



Such is an outline of the gardens of Bloxholm, which reflect 

 superior management in every department. Besides the care 

 of the gardens, the farm and the general management of the 

 estate is under Mr. Lumsden's supervision, and he has given 

 long proof of his ability to satisfactorily discharge his several 

 duties. It is pleasing to note the comfortable and ornamental 

 cottages which — yes, adorn the estate, and also gratifying to 

 hear of the active interest taken in the comforts and well-being 

 of their occupants by Lady Mary Hamilton.— J. W. 



ASPECTS OF NATUBE. 



APRII;. 



'• The mead is our study, and Nature our book." 

 DuBiKO the spring months Nature's garden, whether in 

 copse or meadow, by the sparkling brook or on the sunny 

 hedgeside bank, is at its best ; during April 

 " The bloom ia in the bud-, and the bud is on tlie bough. 

 The earth is grown an emerald, and heaven a sappbirfl now ; 

 The Primrope and the Daisy wild are lautihing everywhere, 

 And the balmy breath ol opening buds steals softly through the air." 



We have still with us the earliest spring flowers 

 "that come before the swallow dares. 

 And take the winds of March with beauty ;" 



and a host of others that open day by day to the warm kisses 

 of the April sun and the gentle showers which generally fall 

 so copiously at this season. 



Foremost among all the favourites of wood or glen comes 

 the Primrose, which decks the copse, the hedgebauk, and the 

 river's brink, pushing forth its rich green leaves and delicately 

 scented pale bnt bright bloasoms (which have given a name to 

 colour) from amid the rustling, brown, dead Oak leaves which 

 have strewed the copse since autumn and formed a shelter to 

 the plant during the cold and frosts of winter. 



During this month one of the prettiest sights in rural 

 England may be seen where the sturdy woodman is felling 

 the trees, letting in light and the warmth-giving rays of the 

 sun on the flower-bedecked ground of the copse. In such 

 spots the finest Primroses are generally to be found, and fre- 

 quently in their near neighbourhood the delicate leaves of the 

 Wood Sorrel will be seen. The bright light green of its 

 folded foliage, with the purple tint beneath, is as beautiful and 

 unique as are the small delicately-pencilled flowers of this 

 pretty wilding, which is so small as to be often passed un- 

 noticed, but which is of great value in chemistry, yielding aa 

 it does the crystalUne acid salt called oxalic acid, which is 

 often sold under the name of essential salt of lemons. 



In the same locality with the Primrose and the Wood Sorrel 

 we may come upon a patch of the graceful Wood Anemone — 

 the Windflower of the poets— a plant which we have found 

 growing profusely in the corner of an open exposed meadow, 

 many yards of soil being carpeted with its beautiful star-like 

 blossoms and dark green deeply-cut leaves, the former opening 

 every petal to the sun, and closing and drooping at every 

 passing cloud. 



Above the lowly flowers that grow so clo=e to mother earth 

 a tangled bower of Honeysuckle and wild Rose, the Woodbine 

 and Eglantine of poesy, may now be seen each pusbing forth 

 its foliage of different tints of green ; the first of a bluith hue, 

 almost glaucous in comparison with the grass, or yellow, green 

 of the second. 



The pale sweet flowers of spring already mentioned woo our 

 affections by their delicate beauty, and are associated in our 

 minds with the sweet perfume of the early white and purple 

 Violets, which appear as capricious in their choice of a habitat 



