130 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
{ August 15, 1878. 
dessert. In alean-to house close by of considerable length a 
number of Orange and Lemon trees have been trained up the 
walls and are bearing beautiful fruit. Planted in front of 
these are large Camellias, Fuchsias, Roses, and different kinds 
of greenhouse plants growing in great luxuriance, forming a 
kind of conservatory or winter garden for promenading during 
dull weather. About the middle of October the Orange trees 
(are taken inside the orangery by means of a carriage specially 
designed to lift and carry them. The house is not artificially 
heated, the plants being hardy enough not to need this kind 
of protection, and they are placed outside again about the 
middle of May. Mr. Muir informed us that the plants were 
never subject to insect pests of any kind when treated in the 
way described above. The water for the fountains is obtained 
from an ornamental pond, which occupies a considerable area 
a short distance from the mansion and on a lower level to its 
[eer It is usually well supplied with water from the drainage 
a 
of the adjoining wooded hills, and contains a good stock of 
trout. A visit to the orangery of Margam cannot fail to have 
much interest for all lovers of horticulture. 
The kitchen garden immediately adjoins the gardener’s house 
(which, by the way, is scarcely in keeping with the other 
fine features of the place) and is some five acres in extent ; 
it les to the north of the pleasure grounds, and is screened 
from them by large shrubberies and the back wall of the 
winter garden, which forms part of the north wall. Against 
this are sheds for different purposes, such as fruit room, store 
room, Mushroom house, &c, The south, east, and west sides: 
are enclosed by high walls. It lies open te the south, and is 
sheltered from the north by the Oak-clad eminence already 
mentioned, and on all sides by plantations a short distance off. 
Though the garden is old the soil in many places is of a stiff 
clayey nature, and difficult to work in all kinds of weather. 
Notwithstanding this we found it in excellent order, and in a 
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high state of cultivation. Mr. Muir devotes great attention to 
this department. As soon as one crop is cleared off another is 
put in its place at once. The eye is soon attracted to a large 
quarter devoted to thirty sorts of Peas grown for trial, which 
include many of the old leading sorts. They were bearing 
heayy crops, and looked all that could be desired in that 
respect. Of the newer sorts Culverwell’s Telegraph is the 
best, possessing as it does every good quality desirable in a 
Pea. Itis a tall-growing variety with large, well-filled pods 
of the very best quality. Next to this is Carter’s Challenger, 
a dwarfer grower, but a prolific bearer of great merit, and 
which should be included in all collections. Veitch’s Criterion 
comes next, not so prolific but fills well. Large breadths are 
planted with Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, and other 
winter crops, all in an advanced state of growth and looking 
well. We do not pretend to give the reader a description of 
the different crops grown here; suffice it to say that they all 
looked well, and it would be difficult to find a piece of empty 
ground or a better cultivated garden. 
Many of the fruit trees on the walls are old, but the most of 
them were bearing tolerable crops, considering that this has 
not been a good fruit season generally. Standard Apple and 
Pear trees in the open quarters were very good, but not so 
heayily laden as is usual in good seasons, Gooseberries, Rasp- 
9.—THE ORANGERY AT MARGAM. 
berries, Strawberries, Red, White and Black Currants were 
abundant. The Raspberries are planted in rows 6 feet apart 
and trained vertically on strong wire trelliswork, and the 
ground is never dug between the rows. That the soil and this 
treatment suit them is evident from the heavy crops they 
carry yearly. We do not remember eyer seeing better crops of 
Raspberries than those anywhere. 
The forcing houses and Melon ground occupy a portion of 
the south side of the garden. The front range, or lean-to 
structure, consists of two vineries, a fruiting Pine stove, and @ 
Peach house, each being divided into sections of 40 feet. The 
houses are old and in good repair, but not so easily worked for 
ventilation as modern struciures. The first we enter is the 
early vinery, which is planted with Black Hamburghs and 
Foster’s Seedling. The Vines looked old, and had a somewhat 
stunted appearance, but they were carrying a good crop of 
medium-sized Grapes which were nearly ripe. 
Next to this is the fruiting Pine stove. It is filled with 
strong plants of Smooth-leaved Cayennes and Queens, all 
showing handsome fruits, some of which were half swelled, 
others’ nearly ripe, and all of them in robust health. The 
Smooth Cayennes would weigh from 5 to 6 Ibs., and but for the 
want of a proper command of bottom heat they would have 
been much heavier. Tomatoes growing in pots and trained om 
