December 5, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
425 
exhibition or to distinguish between the work of the cultivator 
and that of his insect friend (or his enemy), or of Nature, 
which frequently enables an overworked Rose to throw off 
some ofits buds. I am, however, diverging too much from the 
main subject of my paper, and would just add that if planted 
in a south aspect Teas and Noisettes will be all the better for 
good mulchings of rotten dung at the fall, and again in April 
when the buds are formed, in order that the roots may be kept 
from the hot sun and extreme temperatures. The necessity 
for this is too often lost sight of, and Tea Roses, although they 
require a good ripening of the wood and sufficient sun for the 
purpose, do better when the roots are kept cool. It will be 
found that those planted on the north side of a fence and 
trained oyer the top do better and flower as well as those on 
the south side. I have frequently seen a vigorous and healthy 
Rose with the roots almost entirely under a hard or paved 
yard or roadway, where scarcely any heat can penetrate, and 
where the evaporation must be but slight, and the supply of 
air, moisture, and continuous nourishment for the roots can be 
obtained only very indirectly. I do not, however, recollect 
ever having seen a Rose do well where the roots were similarly 
placed under grass, which is far too exhausting, and deprives 
the underlying roots of botn nourishment and moisture. Another 
good position for the more vigorous and hardy Teas or Noisettes, 
such as Céline Forestier, Gloire de Dijon, Climbing Devoni- 
ensis, Triomphe de Rennes, Belle Lyonnaise, Réve d’Or, &c., is 
to them the shelter of an old leaf or rubbish pit, the sides to 
which will afford protection to the Roses; these if allowed of 
run wild will often equal the Briar and the Bramble in vigour, 
and their natural beauties will be displayed in an unparalleled 
manner. Finally, in acknowledging the scarcely merited com- 
pliment paid to the brilliancy of my Roses by your worthy 
correspondent, I would repeat what I haye previously stated in 
your pages—that I believe this brilliancy of colour, especially 
amongst the reds, is in some measure due to the presence of 
lime and a warm soil.—T. LAxton, Bedford. 
GARDEN AQUARIUMS. 
HAVING discussed the question of the most suitable plants 
and fishes for small ornamental ponds, it now only remains to 
add a few words as to some of their accessories. 
When the margin of the pond is nearly level with the sur- 
face the turf may be carried right up to it, and this will prove | 
a beautiful and simple arrangement. When, however, the 
margin is raised a foot or more upwards a rockwork well filled 
with soil in the interstices may be raised against it, projecting 
an equal distance outwards at the base, and in this case a 
better finish will be given by surrounding it with a narrow 
gravel walk. In furnishing the rockwork simplicity should 
be aimed at, it being remembered that this is merely the 
bordering of a more important central object. The selection 
will therefore be chiefly made from small plants, such as 
Sedums, Saxifrages, and the like, to the exclusion of large 
Ferns and tall-growing plants, which would scarcely harmonise 
with the position. 
To give a detailed list of all that could be utilised would be 
equally tedious and unnecessary ; I shall therefore offer only 
one more illustrative selection, such as I have found very 
effective during the past summer. 
I made the Sedum acre the basis or groundwork of the 
whole arrangement. This lovely though common species, which 
may often be seen in country villages glorifying with its rich 
bloom the old thatched cottage roof and farm buildings, is 
invaluable for our purpose, giving effective masses of green 
foliage throughout the year, and a yast profusion of rich 
yellow flowers lasting for a month or six weeks in the height 
of summer. Equally valuable is Sedum glaucum, the tufts of 
which form turquoise green cushions which mould themselves 
to the rockwork and form an effective contrast. Sedum Lydium, 
again, has much the same habit of growth, and forms a bright 
relief of emerald green with red yariations. The single 
columnar stems of Sedum montanum render it available for 
any odd nook, where it produces late in summer large terminal 
blossoms. The variegated foliage of Sedum acre elegans, the 
white blooms of Sedum album, the large yellow flowers of 
Sedum grandiflorum, and the pink and whitish blooms of 
Sedum kamschatkianum render them all valuable additions 
interspersed at intervals. . 
A few Sempervivums, such as §. californicum, 8. tectorum 
(or the common Houseleek), and §S. arachnoideum may be in- 
serted here and there ; while of the Saxifrages a fair selection 
will include §. nepalensis, S. pyramidalis, S. pinnatifida, 
§. Aizoon compacta, 8. hypnoides, and §. rosularis. I must not 
omit pointing out the value of Saponaria calabrica, a creeping 
plant of free growth, which yields a long profusion of small 
pink flowers during the summer. A few tufts of Rhodea 
japonica are effective at intervals, and if space permits the 
miscellany may be completed with such forms as Arabis albida, 
Antennaria tomentosa, Aubrietia purpurea, Veronica incana, 
and I had almost forgotten the common London Pride. 
The plants named if judiciously arranged on rockwork form 
an appropriate margin to a miniature ornamental pond in an 
exposed position, and contribute much to the attractions of a 
“oarden aquarium,’—J. P. 
FORCING VEGETABLES. 
POTATOES. 
Now is a good time to make preparations for forcing Pota- 
toes in frames, but as I referred to this matter some time ago 
what I haye to say now will only be a brief reminder. Leaves, 
which can be had plentifully now, and a little littery manure, 
will supply the requisite heat. These should be thrown toge- 
ther in a heap and allowed to lie for a week. During this 
time clear out to the depth of at least 3 feet from the glass 
the inside of the frame in which the Potatoes are to be forced ; 
fill up 2 feet of this space with the leaves and dung trampled 
as firmly as possible, then cover with 8 inches of light soil ; 
plant the Potatoes in this 6 inches apart in rows 15 inches 
asunder; place on the lights, and little attention will be 
required for some weeks excepting on fine days, when a little 
air may’be given. Rivers’ Ashleaf is the sort we force most 
of. Planted fromfthe beginning to the middle of December 
they are ready at aster. Small frames 6 feet wide are suit- 
able, but, of course, any much wider answer equally well. The 
| lights should be securely covered to exclude frost, and pro- 
vided this is only kept out the bottom manure will do the work 
of bringing the crop forward.—A KITCHEN GARDENER. 
ASHDOWN PARK, 
THE SEAT OF F. C. THOMPSON, ESQ. 
OF the many new mansions that have been built in Sussex 
during the last decade that in Ashdown Park is one of the most 
remarkable for its snug sheltered position, its massive style of 
architecture, and the imposing aspect of its southern facade. 
The front terrace slopes down to a piece of ornamental water, 
with a wide stretch of grass land beyond, rising gently to an 
enclosing belt of Scotch Firs. Behind, on the north side, a 
somewhat steep slope affords a sunny site for the walled 
kitchen garden, and an outer unenclosed space for the culture 
of vegetables and for various useful glass structures, all well 
sheltered by a thick belt of trees, which covers the side of a 
hill so as to break the force of gales from the north or east. 
As I came near the garden from the principal entrance a 
Peach house against the outside of the east wall attracted my 
attention, not simply as the most conspicuous object in sight, 
but by its singularly light and elegant appearance. It is a 
curvilinear lean-to of iron and glass 11 feet high, 7 feet wide, 
and 155 feet long, thoroughly ventilated, having hot-water 
piping to exclude frost, so that a shelf some 2 feet wide along 
the front can be turned to account for plant culture all the 
year round, the whole of the trees being trained to wires 
strained closely along the wall. They were in good health 
and vigour, and the crop of fruit was abundant both of Nec- 
tarines and Peaches. I was glad to find the Old Roman Nec- 
tarine well laden with fruit, and a favourite. Ido not, how- 
ever, recommend it, as we have now so many new sorts that 
are superior to it. Of these growing near it Lord Napier had 
plenty of large highly coloured fruit, then in full use, for it 
was in August that I made my call; Pitmaston Orange had a 
full crop of larger fruit than one often meets with of that 
excellent variety, owing no doubt to the bountiful supply of 
liquid manure which Mr. Down told me he was then giving the 
border twice weekly; Victoria Nectarine also had a heavy 
crop, and is much valued for its late period of ripening. Of 
Peaches Early Beatrice was finished, most of the fruit having 
been used in July ; Rivers’ Early York, affording a prompt 
succession of its handsome rosy fruit ; a Grosse Mignonne with 
some three hundred fruit gaye ample promise of carrying on 
the supply, with a Barrington remarkable for its large green 
foliage and fruit of proportionate size, and other kinds to 
follow. It was calculated that the crop of fruit would amount 
