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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 19, 1S76. 



it into two parts, which are connected by an archway piercing the 

 centre of the bank, its sides being clothed with Ivy, Ferns, 

 and Mosses. The sides of the bank, too, bear large masses of 

 rock interspersed with a rich collection of choice Ferns ; not 

 jnst a single specimen or two of each kind, but a profusion of 

 rare gems absolutely rampant with health and vigour, and of 

 which haply you and I, my readers, can boast of but a few 

 small plants, and those so precious as to be cherished in pot3. 



Advantage has been taken of this division of the dell into 

 two portions to impart a different character to each. This 

 has been done so skilfully and with such admirable taste as to 

 preserve the unity of the whole, no incongruous feature present- 

 ing itself at any point. On one hand we have masses of rock 

 boldly grouped in irregular but most picturesque order, and so 

 disposed as to form ledges, nooks, or open "mountain slopes" 

 to suit the requirements of Alpine plants. Little rills and 

 pools of water for aquatics, intermingled with Rhododendrons 

 and other shrubs of the evergreen class, the whole relieved by 

 a few well-chosen, well-placed Conifers, all in admirable keep- 

 ing with the natural surroundings of projecting rocky strata 

 and high turf-clad slopes which sweep from the rocks under 

 lofty Chestnut trees to the lower part of the dell, where on the 

 other hand we find Rhododendrons in much greater abundance 

 disposed in continuous belts with detached groups, alternating 

 with others of Azaleas, Ealmias, and Ferns upon turf, with a 

 walk winding along the bottom of the dell onwards to the lake. 

 An arbour placed high up upon one of the slopes under the 

 trees commands a view of the chief features of this lower part, 

 thus affording the combined advantages of quiet seclusion, the 

 cool shade of lofty trees, and bright glimpses of some of the 

 most beautiful objects in nature. 



Such are the general features of the rock garden of J. H. 

 Sclater, Esq., Newick Park, near Lewes. It is a veritable 

 " charming little valley," replete with treasures rich and rare, 

 as we find upon the closer inspection that involuntarily follows 

 the first delighted glance. An interesting garden? Well, I 

 had often heard the term, often used it myself, but never pre- 

 vious to my visit to Newick had I realised its full meaning. 

 It was my good fortune to go through the garden with Mr. 

 Sclater, and he very kindly pointed out many of its most 

 attractive features. Almost every plant has a history, and 

 this imparts to them an intrinsic worth and an interest that 

 can never attach itself to ordinary collections. Many an alpine 

 gem has been gathered from its native habitat and brought 

 here to be cherished and cared for by Mr. Selater'3 own hands. 

 In a rocky nook carefully made to resemble its wild haunt was 

 a fine tuft of the Mountain Parsley Fern (Allosorus crispus). 

 On a damp sheltered rocky ledge overhanging a pool of water 

 Trichomanes radicans was being established, a covering hell- 

 glass being used as much to ward off the attacks of snails a3 

 to retain moisture. 



- The largest mass of Hymenophyllum tunbridgense that I 

 have ever seen was flourishing with extraordinary vigour upon 

 the sloping face of a sandstone rock, part of a strata protruding 

 from the upper end of the dell, a piece of water which supplies 

 a cascade being above and behind it ; so that while the face of 

 the rock is fully exposed to the air, yet it is kept constantly 

 moist by the water behind, which undoubtedly accounts for the 

 rampant growth of this rare Filmy Fern. Rut it is not alone ; 

 other plants and Ferns are so abundant on all sides, and so 

 fine withal, that one is puzzled which to select for notice. The 

 Royal Osmunda, the curious Hay-scented Buckler Fern (Lastrea 

 fcenisecii), Oak and Beech Ferns, Shield Ferns, and Hart's- 

 tongue, the last two species in numerous varieties, are all here 

 arranged in no formal order, but meeting one at every turn, 

 and this I think gives to the place its greatest charm. The 

 guise in which the plants present themselves to us is so natural 

 that we can do nothing but admire and strive to learn how it 

 is done — not an easy lesson, for as we look a conviction steals 

 upon us that skill and taste of no mean order must have been 

 brought to bear upon a work that has been wrought to so 

 successful an issue. 



At more than one place here there are quantities of the 

 Falkland Islands Fern, Lomaria magellanica, introduced into 

 this country upwards of thirty years ago, and still uncommon, 

 at least as a hardy Fern, and yet it is one of the most orna- 

 mental and striking sorts that we have. Its noble deep green 

 fronds, some 2 feet in length and with rich pink stems, have 

 an aspect of dignity and grace that is in fine keeping with the 

 massive grandeur of the huge sandstone rocks, to the base of 

 which they form a most fitting fringe. 



The seedling Osmundas clinging to the face of the rock upon 



which the spores are blown afforded another curious and 

 interesting sight. Much of the rock is also draped with trail- 

 ing growth of the pretty little Linaria Cymbalaria, and the 

 equally pretty Cornish Figwort (Sibthorpia europsa), which 

 at some places has trailed downwards to the foot of the rocks 

 and spread out upon the ground, forming the most charming 

 cushions of soft green foliage imaginable. A host of noble 

 specimens claim the notice which I may not give them without 

 extending this paper to an undue length. There was Adiantum 

 pedatum established in its present situation for several year3, 

 and finer than I had before seen it ; "Woodwardia radicans in 

 a large bold clump, perfectly healthy, but not so large as we 

 sometimes see it under pot culture; Struthiopteris germanica 

 in immense quantities, one circular mound being planted with 

 matched plants of it arranged in circles — the only bit of formal 

 planting in the garden, but for which the handsome form and 

 precise growth of this choice Fern was admirably adapted. 

 Osmunda regalis was also most abundant, the effect of one 

 bold clump of it containing some dozens of huge plants in 

 front of a semicircle of Rhododendrons, with a background of 

 tall trees, was especially fine. But what will the lovers of 

 Ferns say when I tell them of a bed of Onoclea sensibilis 

 some 15 yards wide by as much long ? This bed has probably 

 no equal in this country, and is quite sufficient in itself to 

 form the boast of any place, but here it simply ranks as one 

 of many marvels. — Edward Luckhubst. 



ASPAEAGU5. 



Ii seems curious that this highly esteemed vegetable, rank- 

 ing in its season as highly as the Pea or the Cauliflower, shonld 

 in so many gardens be merely an apology for what it might 

 be, and even as it is produced by French and English market 

 gardeners. Notwithstanding the amount of care devoted to 

 its cultivation, it is doubtful if some highly important points 

 are not generally neglected. It is with Asparagus as with 

 many another cultivated plant, someone has been successful 

 by following a particular mode of culture, and, as sheep follow 

 their leader, everybody must follow suit. 



A good depth of soil is of much importance— say at least 

 3 feet deep, but good Asparagus is obtainable off land less than 

 half that depth. In the one case the crop will fail in yielding 

 good returns long before the other is exhausted, and frequent 

 making of fresh plantations will be necessary to keep up con- 

 tinued supplies. In most gardens it would be a good plan to 

 plant a little yearly, or once in two years, in order to have a 

 continuous supply of strong growths to cut ; for in the great 

 majority of gardens plantations three to six or eight years of 

 age will yield the best crops ; and as things go at present, 

 where most of the ground is cropped and double cropped with- 

 out intermission, relying merely on young plantations of Aspa- 

 ragus will pay better than allowing them to exhaust the soil 

 too much. Being a deep rooter, it is necessary to stir the 

 ground as deeply as possible ; but if the subsoil is of a poor 

 nature on no account shonld it be brought to the surface. In 

 trenching the ground, merely dig the bottom of the trench 

 over, working plenty of cow manure in, or, what would be of 

 more lasting benefit, adding any thoroughly decayed rubbish 

 or soil that can be had. 



Where ground can be spared and time be had to prepare the 

 soil, seedlings sown in April in a rich bed, and transplanted 

 the same summer, may be expected to do best ; but in the ma- 

 jority of gardens the better plan will be to allow the plants to 

 remain twelve months in the seed bed, or from April to the 

 April following, when there will have been time to prepare 

 the ground thoroughly during the previous autumn or winter, 

 whilst there will be but little lost in the cropping. When the 

 plants have grown an inch or two above ground, and on a dull 

 day, planting should be performed ; one man may be lifting 

 the plants carefully with a fork, at the same time shaking the 

 soil free from the roots ; other two men will be engaged taking 

 out shallow pits for the plants, leaving them cone-shaped in 

 the centre, and again filling up the holes after the plants have 

 been placed in position by another man set apart for that pur- 

 pose. They may be planted 1 feet from row to row, and half 

 that distance between each plant, which, however, may be in- 

 creased to the same distance when the plants have attained to 

 full growth. The plants must be well firmed by treading, and 

 the ground pointed as the work proceeds; a mulching of rich 

 manure will be of great advantage. They will require staking 

 as soon as growth commences, using stout sticks, or a string 

 or preferably a galvanised wire, may be stretched the length of 



