S8i 



JOURNAL OP HORTIGULTOKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 80, 1876. 



shire and the Marqnia of HartLngton, con8i8ting chiefly of 

 new plantations and groups of trees so judiciously placed as 

 to render the park one of the most picturesque in the county 

 of Derby. Mr. Cottingham has also ever been anxious to 

 promote the comfort and meet the wishes of the numerous 

 visitors to Hardwick, and he has done much for the general 

 benafit of the placo. 



As soon as the visitor is within the precincts of the western 

 court he at once perceives that everything harmonises with 

 the architectural arrangements of the mansion. A broad 

 herbaceous border runs along the end and down one side of the 

 court, while on the other side is a Yew hedge 8 feet in height, so 

 shaped as to form a continuation of the coping of the wall. 

 The flower beds are cut out in the turf, the letters " E. S." being 

 conspicuous among them. A plan of the flower garden will be 

 given next week, when the reader will have an idea of the 

 style of bedding which prevails at Hardwick, and which is so 

 arranged as to present perfect sheets of the most varied and 

 brilliant colours. The two grand Cedars of Lebanon at each 

 side of the entrance gates were planted forty years ago. 



Leaving the west garden by a side door the visitor enters an 

 enclosure of eight acres on the souih side of the mansion, 

 which has been laid out in the ancient style by the Lady 

 Louisa C. Egerton. It is divided into four parts by avenues 

 of Yew and Hornbeam hedges running north and south and 

 east and west, the grass walks between them Joeing 20 feet 

 wide and in excellent condition. The first part contains the 

 croquet ground, surrounded by fine evergreens and Conifers, 

 and amongst them will ba found a handsome Cupressus 

 macrocarpa, Wellingtonias from 30 to 10 feet high, fine Silver 

 and Golden variegated Hollies, Austrian Pines, Evergreen Oaks, 

 grand old Yews, and ancient Walnuts, the trunks of which 

 average about 15 feet each in circumference. The second 

 part, which is in close proximity to the house, is a fruit 

 orchard, and Apples, Pears, and Plums are well represented. 

 The third is chiefly taken up with Filberts and other fruit 

 treps ; and the fourth is entirely devoted to vegetables. Mr. 

 E. Wilson is the gardener, and, as might be expected from his 

 training at Chatsworth, is a thoroughly practical man. His 

 skill and taste are evidenced in every part of the gardens at 

 Hardwick, and the visitor will notice in the herbaceous border 

 200 yards long a collection of plants and flowers which is 

 hardly to be equalled by any other in the United Kingdom. 



The Hall and grounds at Hardwick are thrown open to the 

 public, who come to them in great numbers during the summer 

 months from Sheffield and other neighbouring towns and 

 villages; and we can hardly picture to ourselves a prettier 

 sight than the one afforded by those who, at other times 

 seldom out of the sound of the rumble of machinery, are now 

 wandering through the quiet groves of Hardwick, or sitting 

 down on the green turf to enjoy the social meal ; and we 

 believe that the privilege thus accorded to the public by the 

 liberality of the noble owuer is gratefully appreciated, and 

 tends not a little to lead multitudes to forget the cares and 

 anxieties of arduous toil in the pleasure they derive from 

 visiting, though for so brief a period, " this scene of other 

 days." 



NIPPING FROSTS AND TENDER PLANTS. 

 Whatever difference of opinion there may be among the soi- 

 enced as to the way in which frost acts injuriously on plants, 

 there is none whatever among practical men as to its dis- 

 organising and destructive agency. It does not matter to him 

 whether disorganisation and death are brought about by 

 rupture of the cells, consequent on the congelation of the 

 enclosed fluids, or rather, as some think, by the congelation 

 of that which permeates the intercellular spaces ; the prac- 

 tical fact is all the same. The winter brings its nipping frost, 

 and susceptible subjects, if unoarod for, are caught and either 

 killed outright or maimed. No one ought to cherish the advice 

 of the gentle Mantuan more kindly and pray for mild winters 

 than the gardener; for the fine talk with regard to " season- 

 able weather," the snow taking away the cold, purifying the 

 air, and all that — severe winters, such as we just have had a 

 sharp inkling of, are unquestionably notorious for running up 

 the death-rate both of men and plants. In both cases this 

 may unquestionably be largely modified by means of pre- 

 cautionary and remedial measures, if judiciously availed of. 

 To some of these, as regards plant life, we now purpose to 

 allude, with a view to throw out a few useful hints, as also to 

 anticipate the inquiries of correspondents. 



With regard to preventive measures, there is none more im- 

 portant than, in the first instance, trying by all means to 

 secure, as much as may be, firmness and ripeness of newly- 

 formed growths previous to the resting or winter period. 

 Next, it is of importance that, in the absence of demand, the 

 supply of moisture at the roots should be greatly reduced, and 

 the soil kept on the side of dryness rather than otherwise — 

 just moist, neither wet nor saturated. Having the foliage of 

 house plants dry when frost is anticipated, and keeping it so 

 during its continuance, is a point not to be lost sight of. Sur- 

 facing over the soil with dry moss or other light material, or 

 placing the pots in which the plants are growing within others 

 of a size or two larger, so as to retain a stratum of air between, 

 are aids not to be despised. With regard to external mea- 

 sures for protection, it should be borne in mind that the great 

 point is to prevent radiation, and the glass, that universal 

 plant protector, is one of the most efficient of radiators. This 

 being the case, it will be well to bear in mind that if, with a 

 view to guard against the effects of frosts, recourse is had to 

 external covering of glazed structures, such covering should 

 not be of a kind or so placed as to be a most efficient conductor 

 of heat instead of preventing its radiation. Therefore such 

 coverings, if of matting or textile fabrics, should always be so 

 arranged as to keep them from actual contact with the glass, 

 and allow of an inch or so stratum of air between them and 

 the glass, which stratum of air will be as a warm blanket and 

 most potent protecting agent. It is in this way that double- 

 glazed houses are so efficient in reducing risk to plants and 

 lessening the consumption of coal. Where other and ex- 

 temporised coverings are availed of, they should be always 

 such as will not lie closely or solidly, but rest elastic and 

 lightly on the glass, with air filling their every interspace, 

 such as dry hay or straw, dry leaves, moss, or fern. It will 

 bo well to bear in mind that vegetable tissues may be actually 

 frozen and yet come again aU right, provided a rapid thaw is 

 guarded against, and the normal condition allowed gradually 

 to come about. 



We have a familiar instance of this in the case of pitted 

 Potatoes. It after frost sufficiently severe to reach them, the 

 pit be opened and the tubers suddenly exposed, they are done 

 for. If, on the other hand, the pit be allowed to remain 

 intact and not disturbed for some time, no harm is done, and 

 the tubers come out in good condition. This will explain why 

 it is autumn-planted Potatoes come safely through, and that 

 we so often see among corn succeeding Potatoes fine healthy 

 plants^of the latter growing from tubers which chanced to remain 

 in the ground with perhaps very little, or scarcely any, depth 

 of soil to protect them from frost. Here we have a lesson 

 never to expose frozen plants suddenly to artificial heat, sun- 

 shine, or light. When the action of frost on soft, succulent, 

 free-growing plants, such as Cinerarias, Calceolarias, and the 

 like is inconsiderable, and there is no disorganisation of the 

 tissues, placing them in shade and syringing with cold water 

 are familiar and successful agents in restoring froat-bitten 

 subjects. Fearing that we may not have yet seen the worst 

 of the present winter, and that sharp frosts and anxious hours 

 are yet before us, we have thought it not unseasonable to throw 

 out these few hints with regard to preventing or modifying 

 the injurious effects of the plantsman's dread — the nipping 

 frost. — {Irish Farmers' Gazette.) 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Camellias. — One of the most sought-for flowers at this season 

 of the year is the Camellia. For the decoration of the green- 

 house it is a gem, and those who attend balls and other parties 

 so prevalent at this time are not willing to go without a flower 

 if it can be obtained. Many an amateur will grow a Camellia 

 where he might grow other plants with less trouble and more 

 certainty of plenty of bloom. The fact is that the plant is esti- 

 mated by many to be able to take care of itself, being supposed 

 to be of that hardy nature as to be sure to flower when the time 

 comes round. This is wrong, for the Camelha needs as much 

 attention as any other plant. There are seasons when it will 

 apparently do without the attention that other plants require, 

 but it is only when the preUminary treatment has been good. 



The Camellia is a plant which ought to have a good founda- 

 tion laid at the beginning, whether it be grown in a pot or tub, 

 or planted out. For pot-culture the one-shift system is the 

 best, which obviates repotting every year ; but for this system 

 effectual drainage must be provided and good soil. The latter 

 might consist of rich loam of a turfy nature, and sufficient sand 

 to make it open; this will last a long time and support the 

 plant well. I have often thought that the best way of growing 



