August 3, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



99 



residence, and died here. His execntors sold it to its present 

 ooonpier, Samp9on Hanbury, Esq. The house is descended 

 from by two terraces ornamented by flower beds, and overlooks 

 the gardens. The dressed gronnds are four and a half acres, 

 and the kitohen garden one and a half acre in extent. The 

 soil is not good for gardening, clay predominating ; but this 

 Buits the Roses, which are superior, and, which I did not 

 expect, a selection of Conifers. There are only two specimens j 

 which are not thriving. Along each Bide of the main walk is 

 a row of Columbines, the most varied in form and colour that 

 I have yet seen. Geraniums are outdoors throughout the 

 year, but they were killed by the frosts of last winter. The 

 crop of Grapes is very good and regular, but early forcing is 

 not desired, and the Black Hamburgba and MuscatB are grown 

 in the same house. Every department is well cultivated, and 



to know whether the plant is naturally and healthily casting 

 its leaves or no. If a fine glossy green or well-mealed white 

 growth is being developed as the large outer leaves deoay the 

 plant is all right. I do not like to see an Auricula lose its 

 foliage almost as faBt as it gets it, nor a leaf decay out of its 

 turn — that is, before the older foliage outside it dies ; nor 

 again to see leaves curled with yellow streaks that seem to 

 cripple them. I should not wish to pronounce hastily upon 

 your correspondent's plants, Btill less to mislead him. Perhaps 

 I may hear again if nothing I have said agrees with his case. 

 Bat certainly at this time the Aurioula is parting with its large 

 outer foliage, and the plants are starting into active growth at 

 the heart. 



Should your correspondent ever, in his young days with the 

 Auricula, be suddenly made anxious to know whether they are 



Fig 10. — Bishopstowe. 



bears witness to the oare and skill of Mr. William Wood, the 

 head gardener. 



The broad border of the central terrace walk is planted 

 with mixed Gladioluses next the wall, then a row of Tagetes 

 signata pumila, then a row of Geranium Vesuvius and a row 

 of Mrs. Pollock Geranium, edged with Lobelia Blue King. 

 The narrow border next the high wall is planted with Zinnias, 

 Asters, Stocks, Helichrysums, and mixed Geraniums. The 

 vases, about eighty in number, are filled with various Gera- 

 niums, edged with Sedums, Lobelias, &a. 



There are many plants that grow and thrive here that 

 require a greenhouse in the eastern counties. Myrtles, Ve- 

 ronicas, &c, are quite hardy and flower out ot doors. Fine 

 plants of Veronica are here 8 feet high and in fine bloom, and 

 usually continue in flower up to Christmas. The Roses were 

 spoiled by the hot weather, and the kitchen-garden crops 

 suffered from the same cause, the soil being shallow, resting 

 on the limestone. 



AUEICULA LEAVES DECAYING. 

 Fkom your correspondent " Alfbed " come two large yellow 

 leaves with the complaint that many are turning so. There is 

 nothing about the specimens sent to indicate any other process 

 than that of natural decay. They seem to have belonged to 

 the blooming foliage, which at this season is ready to pass 

 away in proportion as the autumn growth sets in. It is eaBy 



right or not, and have no florist friend atjjhand^to consult with , 

 I can refer him to a very trusty informant, probably close by, 

 who will tell him at a glance. Let him seek out a bunch of 

 any common border Auricula in his own or some old-fashioned 

 cottage garden, and the phase of rude health which these un- 

 tutored savages will exhibit is just the condition that hia 

 cultured plants should show. He will only feel sorry that there 

 are no such clumps of Page's Champion in existence. — F. D. 

 Hoeneb, Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon. 



OUE BOBDEE FLOWEES-MONAEDAS. 



We need not for one moment hesitate to say that Monardas 

 though a small family are among the neglected plants ; seldom 

 seen and less cared for ; mistaken by many for Salvias, from 

 which they are quite distinct ; said to be from North America ; 

 introduced to ua so long ago as 1656. We sometimes come 

 across one of these fine old border flowers, and when met 

 with we often find an unsightly object. Left to themselves 

 they Boon get into a semi-wild state, as though they wanted to 

 hide from our view. When well in hand they are of robust 

 habit, and have a graceful appearance in open spaces in shrub- 

 bery borders. In moderately good Boil they will do well and 

 in a great measure look after themselves, bearing a good deal 

 of rough usage, and living often a long time. 



We seldom see more than one or two of this family in cul- 

 tivation. Monarda purpurea and M. didyma are sometimes 



