Bicton Gardens, their Culture and Management. 555 



of Mr. James Barnes, and we must say that we do not think we 

 ever before saw culture, order, and neatness carried to such a 

 high degree of perfection, in so many departments, and on so 

 large a scale, and all by the care and superintendence of one 

 man. From the commonest kitchen crop in the open garden, 

 and the mushrooms in the sheds, up to the pine-apples, the 

 heaths, and the Orchidaceag, every thing seemed to be alike 

 healthy and vigorous. We could not help noticing the evenness 

 of the crops of cabbages, cauliflowers, savoys, &c in the kitchen- 

 garden ; and the extraordinary vigour and beauty of the pines, 

 heaths, hothouse plants, chrysanthemums, &c, in the houses; 

 and nothing could exceed the neatness of the lawn, the walks, 

 and the flower-beds. 



Queen pines are grown at Bicton to the weight of 5 lb., 

 and their flavour, as we can bear witness, is excellent ; all 

 the plants in pots or boxes, from the smallest heath up to 

 the largest orange tree or camellia, are grown in rough 

 turfy stuff mixed with broken stones or pebbles, sometimes 

 with the addition of powdered bones, and generally with a 

 mixture of charcoal. The introduction of this last ingredient 

 in general culture is a new and important feature, apparently 

 of great importance, for which the horticultural world is 

 indebted to Mr. Barnes. We have prevailed on him to furnish 

 us with an account of his practice, both in the open garden and 

 the hothouse department, and to supply some lists and dimen- 

 sions of plants; and this he has kindly done in a series of letters, 

 which we give in a separate article, in the order in which they 

 have been received. 



(7b be concluded in our next.) 



Art. II. Bicton Gardens, their Culture and Manageynent. In a 

 Series of Letters to the Conductor. By James Barnes, Gardener 

 to the itight Honourable Lady Rolle. 



Letter I. Bicton Kitchen-Garden. Goose-necked short-handled Hoes. Kitchen- 

 Garden Rules. Vegetable and Fruit List. Onion Loft. Use of Charcoal in the 

 Culture of Plants. To make a rough Sort of Charcoal for Kitchen-Gardening. 

 Devonshire Farming. Preparing Ground for Cabbages, Winter Salading, tyc. 

 Early and late Cauliflower. Tallies to Kitchen-Garden Crops. Improvements. 

 State of the Men and Labourers in Bicton Gardens. 



The first interview I had with you, Sir, was at Bicton kitchen- 

 garden, with two small Goose-necked short-handled Hoes one in 

 each hand, having just been hoeing out my seedling lettuce; for 

 I never have any weeding done except in the gravel walks, but 

 hoe every thing before weeds can be seen. This is a greater 

 assistance to the plants than any dung or manure that can be 



