Ootober 21, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOULTUBB AND COTTAGE GARDEREB. 



361 



varieties, and have succeeded in a manner that should satisfy 

 the most fastidious. They were cropped as follows : — In 1870 

 they carried one bunch, in 1^71 three bunches, in lfi72 six 

 bunches, and in 1873 and subsequently eight to ten bunches 

 each. The Tines look as well now as ever they did, the 

 average growth of the Black Hamburgh measuring 2J inches 

 in circumference. The only covering which is given the 

 borders during winter is a quantity of stable manure, and all 

 the rain that falls on them is permitted to enter them, and 

 that is something very considerable, averaging 5 feet a-year. 



Snob is the history of these Vines. It is worth giving from 

 its simplicity and for the soundness of the practice which it 

 embodies. The practice which has produced such fine Grapes 

 in Eskdale will, if adopted, produce them similarly fine in 

 other places. 



It is not necessary to dwell on the excellent plant culture at 

 Potholm, or on the fine collections of Pentstemons, Phloxes, 

 Dahlias, &c., growing in the grounds, but a passing glance 

 may be made on the collection of hardy Heaths, many of 

 which were charmingly ornamental at the time of my visit. 

 These chastely beautiful hardy plants are worthy of extended 

 cultivation. They will grow in almost any soil, providing it 

 does not contain lime. These were luxuriating in a mixture 

 of peat, leaf mould, and loam. I saw no collection of plants 

 in Scotland more distinctly ornamental than Mr. Taylor's 

 hardy Heaths at Potholm. 



Mr. Taylor has, by the liberal means afforded in perfecting 

 his own garden, done much for the horticulture of the district; 

 and it is gratifying to find that Mr. Bole on his departure 

 from Eskdale was presented by the inhabitants of the district 

 with a handsome Fitzroy barometer and a purse of thirty 

 sovereigns as a token of their estimation of his character as a 

 man and his skill as a gardener.^ — J. W. 



OUR BOEDER FLOWERS— KRINUS. 



This is a small group of early spring and summer-flowering 

 plants belonging to the Alpines. These plants will succeed 

 in many situations, but they are chiefly recommended for 

 rockeries. They are also adapted for edging purposes in the 

 spring garden or elsewhere. When once established there is 

 little fear of them becoming scarce. They grow well in a 

 mixture of loam, leaf mould, and coarse grit. There are a few 

 kinds enumerated, but they are all much the same in habit 

 and appearance, the different colours being the distinguish- 

 ing feature. When grown together the different shades of 

 colour have a very pleasing effect, varying from rosy purple 

 to white. 



Erinus alpinns is most frequently met with. It is said to be 

 from Switzerland, and admitted to our flora as a naturalised 

 subject. Erinus alpinns roseus is an acquisition ; its flowers 

 being large and approaching rose colour, makes it very desir- 

 able. Erinus hirsutus, said to be from the Pyrenees, is but 

 seldom seen. Perhaps the diminutive stature of these plants 

 causes them to be overlooked, or it may be they are not sufli- 

 ciently known to attract attention. I know a place by the side 

 of a river where Erinus alp'.uus can be seen to perfection grow- 

 ing among the stones and sand. Whether the seeds had been 

 washed there by the stream, or they had been purposely sown, 

 I had no means of ascertaining. 



Perhaps the time is coming when these partly-forgotten 

 plants will be better cared for ; they ought to be much more 

 cultivated than they are at present. — Vekitas. 



The Grape Cuke. — Amongst the most agreeable hygienic 

 processes extant, says the Pall Mall Gazette, must be reckoned 

 the Grape cure, for which this is the season. There are on 

 the Continent numerous establishments devoted to the use of 

 the remedy; two in France — Aigle in Savoy and Celles-les- 

 Bains in the Ardfiche ; three at least in Switzerland — Veyteaux, 

 Vevey, Montreux; and many in Germany, Austria, the Tyrol, 

 and Hungary. The juice of the Grape containing, according 

 to a medical authority, 25 per cent, of its weight in active 

 agents — glucose, tartaric acid; potash, chalk, soda, oxide of 

 iron, and manganese in combination with sulphnrio acid, phos- 

 phoric acid, &c. — there is some reason for comparing this 

 " organic mineral water," as it has been called, with the in- 

 organic, the curative powers of which are so universally recog- 

 nised, and for expecting similar results from it. The cure is 

 very simple. It consists in eating an immense quantity of 

 Grapes, the thin-skinned Bweet white varieties being best for 



the purpose. The patient takes but little ordinary food, and 

 is required to eat 3 or 4 lbs. of the fruit a-day just at first, the 

 quantity being gradually increased to 8, 10, and even 12 lbs. of 

 Grapes. This is, if possible, to be eaten in the open air, in 

 the vineyard whence the supply is derived — an arrangement 

 which, no doubt, greatly conduces to the efficiency of the cure. 

 It is frequently undertaken in their private practice by French 

 physicians, who possess the material for it in the incomparable 

 Chasselas, of which such quantities are now selling in Paris. 



LUCOMBE, PINCE, & CO.'S NURSERY, EXETER. 



England is pre-eminently the country of stately trees and 

 picturesque gardens ; but in no part of our country do we meet 

 with a more grand array of natural beauties, or a more happy 

 application of the resources of art to enhance their effect, than 

 in the county of Devon. The stranger visiting Exeter will 

 find excellent hotel comfort ; and he will naturally desire to 

 see something of the town — the grand cathedral, tha public 

 walks and pleasure grounds, and the scenery of the neighbour- 

 hood. Being a gardener I made my way to the nursery of 

 Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., which I will now endeavour 

 to describe. This nursery was established in the year 1720 by 

 William Lucombe, the raiser of the Lucombe Oak and many 

 other choice trees, and has long been renowed for the excel- 

 lence of its productions ; and judging from the skill and enter- 

 prise at present being bestowed upon it by Dr. Woodman, 

 who has assumed the administration of its affairs, its reputa- 

 tion is likely to be sustained. 



On entering the gates the visitor cannot fail to admire a 

 fine specimen of the Lucombe Oak. This is the original plant, 

 and close by it stands the Cork Oak (Qaercus euber), making 

 a handsome pair. Two large plants of Ford's Oak (Qaercus 

 Fordii), raised at the establishment by old Mr. Pince's foreman, 

 Mr. Ford, also attract attention. They are two noble objects, 

 being trained as pyramids, and are unsurpassed in beauty. 



The show house is our next object of interest. This superb 

 conservatory is enriched with a profusion of beautiful plants, 

 shrubs, evergreens. Ferns, and flowers arranged with great 

 taste. Among the noted specialities were Coleuses The Shah 

 and Lady Burrell, and Amaranthus salicifolius. These plants 

 were sent out with glowing characters, but we seldom hear a 

 good word spoken of them, yet here they hold a prominent 

 position, and are unsurpassed in richness of colour and vigor- 

 ous growth. 



Worthy of notice also is the Camellia house, which is more 

 than 200 feet long by 30 feet in width. Some magnificent 

 specimens are planted out in the borders, and seem to luxuriate 

 in all their natural beauty, and form a perfect grove. Close 

 to the termination of this house there is a rock garden most 

 artistically arranged. The visitor enters apparently natural 

 openings formed in natural rock, which is covered with a 

 drapery of rare, curious, and beautiful rock plants and Ferns. 

 Jasmines, Eoses, Honeysuckles, and other twining plants fes- 

 toon themselves over the rugged parts, and feathery forms fringe 

 the bare blocks of stone, imparting an agreeable effect to the 

 many secluded nooks and pleasant retreats. 



We now pass to the stove plants. There are several large 

 houses devoted to their culture, in which there are some very 

 fine specimens. The clean and healthy appearance of these 

 plants at once shows that skill is employed in their growth, 

 and which reflects credit on Mr. Cole, the plant foreman, a 

 member of the well-known Manchester family of plant-growers. 

 I shall only particularise a few of the large plants in the speci- 

 men houses. 



Here are tree Ferns and Palms, noble Bananas, and Cyano- 

 phyllums; handsome Alocasias Lowii, Veitchii, zebrina, Jen- 

 ningeii. Crotons are also in fine condition, the following being 

 remarkably elegant, and ought to have a place in every col- 

 lection — Croton variegata, C. Youngii, C. Veitchii, C. Johannis, 



C. lacteum, and C. Weismannii. Dracfenas are equally fine, 

 the most distinct and ornamental being D. congesta, D. im- 

 perialis, D. splendens, D. Fraserii, D. regime, and D. Mooreana. 

 Of Marantas I noticed a rich collection ; M. illustris, M. Lin- 

 deni, M. zebrina, M. roseo-picta, M. regalis, and M. Veitchii 

 are the best of this charming genus. Amongst flowering 

 plants I observed Eucharis amazonica, with hundreds of white 

 flowers, emitting a delightful fragrance. Dipladenia amcena 

 was quite a blaze of flowers, as also were D. crassinoda and 



D. insignis. The Ixoras looked pictures of health, flowering 

 freely; I. Coleii, I. crocata, I. Dixiana, I. javanica, I. salici- 

 folia, and I. Williamsii were all in admirable condition. 



