May 18, 1871. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



355 



6 inches and trace arc it. Find point 12 on the same line and 

 trace arc x and circle u in the same manner. Find the corre- 

 sponding points on the other side, insert pegs, and trace arcs. 

 On each side of stakes e, f, g. h measure 15 inches, insert pegs 

 as at points la, lo, and lay lines connecting them for the pur- 

 pose of setting ont that portion of the straight walk which is 

 in the centre, and the design is complete. 



The lines are in Bos; b, beds; w, walks. — M. O'Donnell, 

 Gardener to E. Leeming, Esq., Spring Grove, Eichmond, 



POLYANTHUS, &c., AT WIERTON. 

 The renewed demand for hardy spring-flowering plants has 

 been more successful in again bringing into use those which 

 are old and neglected than in enlisting the services of new ones. 

 Amongst others which were faTOurites in former days, and 

 which are again resuming their position, are the various mem- 

 bers of the Primrose family ; and in spite of the hard winter 

 we have passed through they never appeared to have done 

 better, the dense blooming of the wild ones being equalled by 

 that of the garden varieties. The most profuse-flowering kind 

 we have here, as well as the earliest by some weeks, is the Single 

 White. I find on looking over a bed of shrubs, amongst which 

 I last summer planted out some spare plants of Primula den- 

 tioulata, that even these, or at all events the greater part of 

 them, have survived the winter and are now flowering, though 

 less effectively, than they used to do under glass. I have no 

 doubt that the improved variety of P. cortuaoides called amoena, 

 when more plentiful, will become one of the chief ornaments of 

 onr flower borders. But much is being done in all directions 

 with the Primulas ; Auriculas of the Alpine section are sought 

 ont and propagated, and the Polyanthus aflords an endless 

 list of varieties. 



Amongst those who for the last few years have been raising 

 varieties of Polyanthus from seed, Mr. Divers, gardener to 

 W. Moore, Esq., of Wierlon, has been very successful, and I 

 was highly pleaf-ed with his collection when I saw it this spring. 

 There seemed to be every shade of colour into which this plant 

 runs, and some of the varieties approached that standard of 

 excellence which the florists of the last generation laid down as 

 necessary to ensure distinction at an exhibition, but these Mr. 

 Divers wisely did not regard as so useful as free-flowering 

 . varieties of more distinct colours. Some of his seedlings had 

 flowers approaching nearer to that hue which it has been the 

 ambition of breeders of Roses and Dahlias to attain — viz., blue, 

 than anything of the kind I have before seen. Manve, ropy 

 lilac, and the various tints which contain a mixture of the 

 desired colour were plentiful, and one or two varieties were free- 

 flowering and of a fine habit of growth. Oihers, again, showed 

 an inclination to return to the Primrose condition, while one 

 or two partook of the Cowslip propensity of hanging the flowers 

 mouth downwards, and were of course condemned, though in- 

 teresting as showing how widely the family are likely to sport ; 

 the seed originally, I believe, being from Polyanthuses crossed 

 with some of the Primroses. Mr. Divers has also turned his 

 attention to breeding Alpine Auricnlas, which requires more 

 time and patience; and the process of raising seedlings and 

 afterwards propagating them being so much slower than with 

 the Polyanthus, it will be some time ere fine varieties for flower 

 beds become plentiful. 



Mr. Divers also pays great attention to hardy fruits, and I 

 believe he has at times fuccessfully exhibited at some of the 

 metropolitan shows ; at local shows he generally stands pre- 

 eminent for long-kept Apples and Pears, often exhibiting the 

 former eighteen months old or more ; while at the time of my 

 visit (the middle of April) he had an abundance of Winter Cra- 

 sanne Pears in good condition for table, with other stewing 

 Pears which seemed likely to keep for months, Catillao and 

 Uvedale's St. Germain were as fresh as when taken from the 

 tree, while amongst Apples there were still good Eibston and 

 Pearn's Pippins, a large kind of French Eusset, and the 

 indispensable French Crab. His place for keeping them 

 was far from being perfect — it was an up-stairs room fully 

 exposed to the summer sun and not at all lofty. I had not 

 time to notice the various kinds he had in stock, but I had 

 a look at the trees, which are ordinary standards growing in 

 a grass orchard ; the situation rather high, the soil calcareous, 

 but highly favourable to the growth of most timber trees and 

 many shrubs. 



The pleasure grounds contained some of the neatest Tew 

 hedges I have ever seen, and yet they are not more than from 

 twelve to eighteen years old, vhich is but little in the lifetime 



of a Tew hedge, and some of them have been perfect for several' 

 years. Occupying part of the roof of a plant house adjoining, 

 the mansion a Vine was pointed ont to me, which, although 

 its roots were confined to a space of ground not more than 

 4 feet square, owing to the buildings hemming them in, jet 1 

 was told nearly a hundredweight of Grapes had often been cut 

 from it. The house was well stocked with greenhouse plants^ 

 for which it was assigned, the Vine being a secondary matter. 

 The subsoil, consisting of decomposed Kentish rag, has no 

 doubt much infiuence on the well-being of many things, as^ 

 timber trees and shrubs. Even under the shade of some lofty 

 Beech trees I noticed some very large patches of the Narrow- 

 leaved Variegated Vinca, some of them covering patches 5 or 

 6 yards wide as closely as could be wished, showing that this 

 plant, if the soil is suitable, will grow and look well where- 

 scarcely anything else will. The walks which traversed these- 

 shrubberies, and the carriage drive, were asphalted and bad- 

 been laid down many years. Some of the views were lovely, 

 at one place a walk running along the edge of a precipice, and 

 the valley or broken ground below being an immense orchard. 

 At another place a sort of ravine is crossed by a rustic bridge.- 

 The principal front of the mansion is enclosed by a terrace- 

 garden bounded by a wall with a parapet, and a series of 

 geometrical beds are laid out on grass on the east side. The- 

 carriage entrance is to the north. The whole place was in good 

 keeping and very creditable to the proprietor, Mr. Moore, and 

 his industrious gardener. — J. Bobson. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



With continual surface-stirring weeds will never make their 

 appearance amongst growing crops, but there are some parts of 

 the garden, such as those quarters devoted to Gooseberries,. 

 Currants, and Raspberries, which, from not requiring continual 

 surface-stirring, are apt to be neglected. The hoe should be 

 kept constantly at work amongst these whenever the sun is- 

 powerful enough to wither the weeds as they are cut up. This 

 is a very difficult matter in many places, because so much help 

 is required just now in the flower department, but great exer- 

 tions should be made to devote a day occasionally to this work, 

 for a day now is worth two or three at a later season, and the 

 weeds are prevented from seeding. The first- sown Red Beef. 

 must now be thinned out, and if there are any vacancies the 

 thinnings may be successfully transplanted if they are care- 

 fully lifted, using a long dibble in replanting, and placing the 

 roots perfectly straight in the hole. With such favourable- 

 weather as we have had there ought now to be a good breadth 

 of Oauliflowers and Cahhages. Keep the earth well ruove* 

 amongst them. Cauliflowers in a forward state must still be- 

 snpplied with liquid manure, even if the ground is wet. A 

 few trenches should now be prepared tor the earliest Celery^ 

 In soils with a wet bottom the trenches should not be made 

 too deep, so that the plants may be nearly on a level with the- 

 surface of the ground ; a dry bottom with deeper soil may have- 

 deeper trenches ; in either case give the rows a good width,, 

 because the Celery should never be earthed-up until it has 

 nearly attained a size fit for use, and therefore the intervening 

 spaces may be cropped with early dwarf Cabbages, Cauliflowers, 

 and Lettuces, all of which would come oft before the finalt 

 earthing. Where young Carrots are continually in request 

 another sowing may be made, and advancing crops of the same 

 must be kept well surface-stirred and thinned out to from 4 to- 

 6 inches, as very large Carrots are seldom required. _ The ridge 

 for Cucumiers, recommended last week, will now be in a proper 

 state to receive the plants ; let them be planted without delay,, 

 and shade the glasses for a few days. At the same time a few 

 hand-glasses may be sown with seeds of Vegetable Marrows^ 

 and with Cucumhers for succession and for Gherkins. For the- 

 latter purpose, on warm soils, seeds sown in the open bolder 

 will suffice ; but on colder soils it is better to forward plants m- 

 poks, have a sloping bank thrown up facing the south, plant 

 them near the top, and train the vines downwards, stopping, 

 them occasionally. Plant out Basil, Chilies, Capaictms and- 

 Tomatoes in light compost under a south wall, in doing which, 

 if they are at all pot-bound, let the roots be gently loosened- 

 and spread out. Stop the early Peas as soon as the first 

 blooms are well set. Parsnips require to be thinned to 9 inches- 

 or more apart if the ground is rich. 



FEUIT GAEDEN. 



During the process of nailing-in the shoots of Peaches, Nee- 



