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JOURNAL OF HOBTIOOLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ October 13, 1879. 



trasted with the dark foliage of the Yews. Still ascending the 

 left side of the valley, we come to the rock walk nearly two 

 miles in length, deriving its name from the numerous jutting 

 crags which project over and by the Bide of the walk at intervals 

 throughout its length. Ferns grow among the masses of rock 

 in great profusion. The abrupt rising of the hillside from this 

 walk, the huge masses of rock and the overhanging boughs of 

 trees, all tend to impart a wild, romantic air of grandeur. 



Close to the entrance of this walk, on the top of an archway 

 of rock, are some common Laurels and Tews, apparently grow- 

 ing out of the bare rock, but a closer inspection shows that 

 before the soil in which they were first planted was all washed 

 away by the rains, their roots had struck into the adjoining 

 soil, and so the shrubs continued to flourish. Proceeding up a 

 rude flight of steps, under this archway, along a walk with huge 

 fragments of rock at its sides, up more steps, and we are at the 

 door of the Gothic Temple, then up the spiral staircase leading 

 to the top of this elegant building, whence we have extensive 

 views across the valley to Cannock Chase and the Bagot Woods 

 in the far distance. On the right bank of the valley the Swiss 

 Cottage, an ornamental structure, nestles among the trees j and 

 crowning the eminence near the entrance to the valley is the 

 stately mansion of Alton Towers (fig. 4), with its embattled 

 walls, its towers and turrets, its massive dignity impressing 

 one all the more strongly from the commanding position which 

 it occupies, and from the contrast which its huge proportions 

 present to the numerous architectural features of the gardens 

 visible from this point. — Edward Luckhubst, Old Lands, 

 Buxtcd, Sussex. 



(To be continued.) 



GARDENING IN ALGERIA. 



Fbuits are not cultivated as much as might be the case were 

 there improved facilities for exporting them to remunerative 

 markets, though they form, as it is, a very large portion of the 

 food of the people, both in a fresh and in a dried state. The 

 Fig is as important an element in the food of the Kabyle as the 

 Date in the dietary of the Arab. Olives are grown principally 

 in the mountainous region extending between Morocco and 

 Tunis, at from 1200 feet to 2500 feet above the sea ; at a less 

 elevation the fruit is not only inferior in quality, but in 

 quantity. That portion of the Atlas range which runs through 

 the province of Algiers produced last year 50,000 tons of the 

 fruit ; while during the first quarter of the year upwards of a 

 million pounds of oil were shipped at the port of Algiers alone. 

 The Locust, or Eharoub tree, is destined to become one of the 

 most important products of Algeria — perhaps for sugar, cer- 

 tainly for feeding cattle. What is very much wanted in this 

 country is some remunerative arborescent culture ; and nothing 

 appears better adapted to the climate, or the requirements of 

 the colony, than this valuable tree. 



The time is not far distant when Algeria will become an im- 

 portant wine-producing country. It will furnish not only 

 sufficient for its own consumption, but its wine will compete 

 with the finer vintages of France and Spain. The chief faults 

 requiring correction are :— 1, The mixture of plants in vine- 

 yards ; 2, The want of attention to the proper kinds of Vine 

 for each climate ; 3, Careless fabrication ; 4, Want of proper 

 cellarage ; and 5, Precipitation in bottling. Before the French 

 conquest, the natives only cultivated the Vine for the purpose 

 of eating its fruit, and up to the present day they have not 

 improved their defective system of cultivation. Even in 

 European farms much yet remains to be done. The colonists 

 of Algeria, coming as they do from nearly all the countries of 

 Europe, are naturally inclined to introduce the mode of Vine- 

 culture, and fabrication of the wine, with which they were 

 familiar in their own country, without the slightest regard to 

 its suitability to their altered circumstances ; this defect is now 

 understood, and will, consequently, be remedied. In the pro- 

 vince of Algiers about 17,000 acres are under cultivation with 

 Vines, though a great proportion of the surface is not in full bear- 

 ing This area produced during the past year about 1,350,000 

 imperial gallons of wine, generally strong and well flavoured. 

 The cost of planting Vines varies from £4 to £9 10s. per acre 

 and an annual charge of £2 5s. is required for its cultivation. 

 This ought to produce in the plains about 350 gallons, and in 

 the hills 200 gallons of wine, when the Vines have attained the 

 full bearing age of five years. Eaisins have not hitherto been 

 made to any great extent ; but attention is being turned in 

 this direction, and one Spaniard has lately planted 100 acres 

 of Vine, entirely for the sake of the dry fruit. 



In the same province, in 1867, about 7390 aores were under 

 cultivation as market gardens. Potatoes are one of the prin- 

 cipal vegetables produced; the cultivation of these costs 

 about £7 per acre, which area yields in dry soils from 4000 

 to 6000 lbs. ; and in irrigable land from 16,000 to 24,000 lbs., 

 in three successive crops. The production, however, is very 

 uncertain, owing to disease and sirocco, and the seed has to 

 be renewed from Europe every year. Potatoes sown in March, 

 and gathered in June or July, sell at from 6s. Sd. to 8s. 4d. 

 per cwt. Those planted in August and September usually 

 fetch nearly double these sums. Sweet Potatoes produoe 

 from 6000 lbs. to 8000 lbs. in dry soil, and from 24,000 lbs. to 

 32,000 lbs. per acre, in irrigable land. Artichokes yield from 

 30,000 to 40,000 heads per acre, and sell for exportation to the 

 Paris market at about 2s. per 100.— (Food Journal.) 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



At this period let every inch of spare ground, if time permit, 

 be trenched into sharp ridges. Spare ground to any consider- 

 able extent at this season is a sign of bad gardening. Let a good 

 breadth of Cabbage plants be pricked out in rather poor soil ; 

 they will all be wanted in spring. Plant a good breadth of 

 half-blanched stout Endive plants in every spare frame, also 

 stout half-blanched Cos and Cabbage Lettuces. Pot for forcing 

 in winter a stock of herbs, such as Sweet Marjoram, Mint, 

 Sorrel, and Tarragon. Early-ripened Sea-kale for forcing in 

 dung beds or the Mushroom house may be trenched up with 

 every root entire, and heeled in the compost-ground, in order 

 to be drawn out successively as wanted. Gather Tomatoes as 

 soon as they begin to colour, and complete their ripening 

 in-doors in a good dry heat. Examine Onions in store. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Give occasional ventilation to the fruit room, shutting up as 

 dry as possible. Gather all remaining Pears and Apples forth- 

 with ; if unripe they will receive no benefit out of doors after 

 this period. Attend to the remarks on the removal of fruit 

 trees in last week's calendar. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Choice flowers in the flower garden can no longer be depended 

 on for affording a display ; it is, therefore, desirable at this 

 period to look over the masses and beds, and see if there be 

 any plants of a tender character which it is desirable to secure 

 for next year. Such may be potted with balls and wintered in 

 the cold pits. Alterations may be proceeded with, also planting, 

 turf-laying, edging, &c. The time is now arrived when all 

 Tulip beds ought to be properly arranged for planting, so that 

 the bulbs may be placed in the ground not later than the last 

 week in October. Some means also should be adopted to shelter 

 the bed or beds from heavy rain, as it is extremely prejudicial 

 to the bulbs before they have begun to appear aboveground, 

 and, in fact, excess of moisture ought at all times to be avoided. 

 Attention ought likewise to be given to those bulbs of which 

 the spikes have elongated. Aphis or green fly is apt to attack 

 them, and should be carefully brushed off. In obtaining new 

 varieties of Carnations and Picotees the best plan is to purchase 

 them immediately ; better plants will generally be obtained 

 now than in the spring, and they will have time to establish 

 themselves before winter. This is very necessary if they are 

 to be kept in a state of health till next spring. Take care that 

 the frames in which Auriculas are to be wintered have a proper 

 pitch, and that all the glass is sound, so that the plants may 

 not be subject to drip, which will be sure to ruin them. A free 

 circulation of air should at all times be promoted, and when 

 properly managed few flowers are more hardy than the Auricula. 

 Pink and Pansy beds, I presume, are already planted. Some 

 of the plants of both are occasionally "long on the leg ;" such 

 should be supported with small sticks, or they are apt to be 

 broken over by the wind. After all that has been said about 

 the spring or even midwinter planting of evergreens, I am per- 

 suaded that no period of the year can equal the autumn, say 

 from the middle of October until the end of November. Much, 

 however, depends upon the character of the soil as well as on 

 the mode in which the operation is conducted. Some persons 

 advocate puddle-planting, but on what principles I never could 

 discover. Why not puddle-potting? Certainly it is better to 

 puddle a large specimen than to totally neglect it in regard to 

 moisture. The best practice is to open a hole much larger 

 than the ball of earth or volume of roots about to be introduced, 

 taking care not to make the hole any deeper in general than 



