April 25, 18S5. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



321 



Egyptian, apparently an inferior race of the same; the New 

 Orleans, to whieli he referred the magnificent Vine Cotton ; 

 and, lastly, that known by the name of nankinenae. The 

 seeds of this section should be sown in February, or even so 

 early as January, an important point being to have the 

 plants strong and woody before the work of reproduction 

 began. A light soil was most suitable at first, but as they 

 advanced in growth they required a strong loam, and with 

 sufficient light, heat, and water, in this they would grow 

 very vigorously. If red spider made its appearance a moister 

 atmosphere should be maintained. Ten-inch pots were the 

 size which he recommended, but if only a pod or two were 

 required, a smaller size would do. The conditions requisite 

 for the production of firm wood, short laterals, and well- 

 filled pods, were moderate pot-room and a moist atmosphere 

 during the period of growth. With this treatment the 

 plants flower about midsummer, and continue flowering till 

 late in autumn, when they may either be thrown away or 

 preserved till the following year, when they should be out 

 down to the firm wood in spring. With regard to the late- 

 flowering sorts, they would, pex'haps, show a flower or two in 

 November, and then rest for three months till spring, when 

 growth would recommence. Such kinds should be sown 

 later than the early ones — say in AprQ, grown on during 

 the first year, and fruited in 10-inch pots in the following 

 season. The principal of such kinds were the West Indian 

 green seed, the Mexican Gulf Hill Cotton the Bourbon, the 

 Kidney, and the Peruvian. Gossypium indioum. Major 

 Clarke stated, should have more heat, good drainage, and 

 light soil. The small-gowing sorts of this family were well 

 worthy of cultivation, being pretty stove plants. 



Mr. Dix called attention to a piece of Araucaria imbricata 

 which he had found in a wood near Mr. G. F. Wilson's resi- 

 dence, at Weybridge, and which, almost incredible as it 

 might appear, was, he had been informed, barked by hares and 

 rabbits, and many trees had been barked in the same way. 

 The Chairman thought that the mischief xvas more likely 

 to have been caused by squirrels, and inquired how high 

 the trees had been barked. Mr. Dix said 2 or 3 feet. Mr. 

 Graham stated that he had found train oil, assafcetida, 

 and brimstone .'in effectual preventive of the attacks of 

 hares and rabbits, and the application would last for two 

 years. 



Major Clarke begged to direct the attention of the meet- 

 ing to a small collection of plants which he had sent, as 

 illustrating a horticultural trick, which was based on the 

 fact that seeds will remain dormant for a length of time, 

 when there is no influence to call their vitality into action. 

 When his friends going abroad offered to send him seeds he 

 told them he did not want anything of the kind, but if they 

 would go into the jungle and send him a spadeful of jungle 

 earth that was all he wanted, but the only person who had 

 done so was a brother of his. The soil sent home was put 

 in a moist stove, and in four weeks the pans were alive with 

 vegetation. Major Clarke concluded by presenting the ladies 

 with Hyacinths and Primroses which he had brought from 

 his garden at Daventry. 



The proceedings concluded with votes of thanks to Mr. 

 Elvers and the other exhibitors, and to Major Clarke for his 

 observations on Cotton. 



CROWJSr EAST COUET, 

 The Seat of A. H. Eotds, Esq., 

 Is about three miles from Worcester. Having introduced 

 myself to Mr. Cox, the head gardener, with a request to see 

 around the place, he very willingly consented and acted the 

 part of a good cicerone, by directing my attention to every- 

 thing worthy of notice. The first place entered was the 

 kitchen garden of three acres. It contains a range of 

 vineries, 120 feet long by 18 feet wide, in three divisions. 

 Among the Grapes grown is the Alicante, which Mr. Cox 

 prefers to Lady Downe's. The Alicante is generally sup- 

 posed to be a synonyme for the Black Prince ; but this 

 Grape appears to be a distinct variety. There is also another 

 ^■ange, 60 feet long by 18 feet wide, and likewise in three 

 divisions. The first contained fruiting Pines, the principal 

 sorts were Queens, Moscow Queens, Moutserrats, and Pro- 

 vidences; the second division was occupied by Cucumbers; 



and the third division by succession Pine plants. Three 

 Providence Pines weighed 30 lbs., and there were some good 

 Queens only fifteen months old, in fruit. Another range of 

 pits, 68 feet long by 10 wide, in four divisions, contained 

 Melons, Strawberries, Kidney Beans, &e. In the Fern-pit 

 were fine specimens of Gymnogrammas. All the houses and 

 pits were heated by one boiler (Walkei-'s); the fire passes 

 through the tubes, it requires no brickwork to set it in, 

 and it is self-feeding. 



All the dwarf, standard, pyramid, and wall-fruit trees 

 have only been planted five years. They were fine healthy 

 trees bearing immense crops. Mr. Cox pursues a system 

 every year with his fruit trees, which, to judge by his crops, 

 is worthy of adoption. In the November of one year he 

 lifts the points of the roots, and the following season he 

 lifts the base of the tree. The collection of Apples included 

 good examples of Cellini, Hawthornden, weighing 18 ozs. 

 each ; Warner's King, a lemon-coloured Apple weighing 

 19i ozs. ; Blenheim Orange, beautifully coloured : indeed, 

 the bright and rich colour? of all fruit attest the genial 

 climate and fertile soil of Worcestershire. It may be well 

 to mention, that those styled pyramids are upright trees, 

 from 3 to 6 feet high, and upwards. These are kept pruned 

 to furnish branches all round the stem. Of the collection 

 of Pears, the following were conspicuous for size and quality : 

 — Beurre Diel, which is kept thin of branches to admit suffi- 

 oient air amongst its large foliage; Easter Beurre; Knight's 

 Monarch, Thompson's, a most delicious first-rate Pear ; 

 Ne Plus Meuris, one of the best late Pears, although not so 

 handsome as some ; Louise Bonne of Jersey ; GlouMorceau; 

 Bergamotte Bsperen, a first-rate late Pear; Van Mens 

 Leon le Clerc, a first-class Pear, ripe about Christmas ; 

 Beurre de Eance; Jean de Witte, of the nature of Glou 

 Moroeau, but keeping longer and not quite so rich ; Black 

 Pear of Worcester, a very good Pear for stewing, and which 

 becomes red in cooking. This must be a very old Pear, for 

 it is said that Queen Elizabeth in one of hor progresses 

 through the country, observed that they were planted in 

 the High Street, Worcester. 



A sheltered situation on the slope of the hill was chosen 

 for the house, which has lately been erected. It is a com- 

 modious building, commands a view of several lakes, the 

 resort of wild ducks, widgeons, &c., and has flower-beds on 

 grass in front. The pleasure grounds are furnished with 

 young vigorous specimens of Juniperus excelsa, about 7 feet 

 high ; Araucaria excelsa, 8 feet high ; Picea pinsapo ; Cryp- 

 tomeria japonica, 13 feet high ; a beautiful specimen of Libo- 

 cedrus chilensis (the Chilian Arbor Vitffi), an exceedingly 

 pretty conical tree, from the Andes of Chili, where it grows 

 from 60 to 80 feet high; Portugal Laurels, 10 feet high and 

 only planted six years ; a good variety and large specimen 

 of Pampas Grass ; Lime trees ; double white Hawthorns ; 

 and Turkey Oaks, one of them a magnificent specimen. 

 There is a beautiful little chapel, in the Gothic style, con- 

 tiguous to the house and embosomed in shrubs. A short 

 distance from the house is high ground commanding ex- 

 tensive prospects around Malvern and along the slopes of 

 its picturesque hills and rich valley, celebrated for its beauti- 

 ful scenery, over an extent of country twenty miles in length. 

 The prospect includes the woods of Coteridge Court with its 

 magnificent avenue of Lime trees in double columns, and 

 the diversified scenery of Breda Hill; the varying foliage 

 and autumnal tints of the tawny Plane, the pale yellow 

 Maple, the spotted Elms, the lemon-coloured Ash, and 

 the hues of the other forest trees, giving a gorgeousness 

 and splendour to the landscape that no other season can 

 produce. 



To this estate of six hundred acres belongs a character of 

 greatness that is not to be measured by the extent of the 

 grounds, but by the variety in the different distances, the 

 contrasts in the different forms of the boundaries, and the 

 beauty and extent of the landscape scenery, which neither 

 ordinary labour could modify, nor the compass of a pleasure 

 ground include. — William Keane. 



Obitxtabt. — It is with much regret that we have to an- 

 nounce the loss of Mr. Ogle, for nearly twenty-one years 

 head gardener at Bridge Castle, Kent. He attended the 

 Fruit Committee held at Kensington, on the 4th inst., and 



