36 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 12, 1877. 



been out, one of the finest crops we may state that it has been 

 our good fortune to see for many a day. The Vines were 

 grown on the double-root system — that is, the canes were 

 pegged over the rims of the pots into a bed of rich soil, into 

 which they rooted and thence derived much support. On the 

 other side of this house is growing quantities of Negro Largo 

 and Brown Turkey Figs. The Negro Largo Mr. Baker considers 

 the best of all Figs ; it is dwarf and prolific as well as of ex- 

 cellent flavour. The corresponding pit is now filled with 

 Tomatoes just ripening, this crop having succeeded French 

 Beans. A very useful range of three compartments for the growth 

 of early Grapes, Melons, and Cucumbers has just been erected 

 under Mr. Baker's superintendence, also a similar but some- 

 what larger range, the two end houses being for Strawberry 

 and French Bean forcing, and the middle one for Muscats, 

 which were planted during October last, and now cover the 

 roof. Numerous smaller ranges of pits and frames are also 

 provided. The glass structures are_ numerous and face every 

 point of the compass. 



We pass on to what is known as the Dairy Lawn, at the 

 extreme end of which is the model dairy fitted-up with every 

 modern appliance. This lawn has been much extended by 

 Mr. Baker, and is a very pleasant part of the grounds. Lead- 

 ing from this lawn to the pleasure grounds are a series of 

 panel beds, divided by Yew hedges and bounded by a high 

 wall massively covered with creepers, principally sweet-scented, 

 and the beds are filled with sweet-scented flowers, such as 

 Roses, Mignonette, sweet-scented Geraniums, and the Sweet- 

 scented Verbena (Aloysia citriodora). A continuation of 

 this border leading to the house is tastefully planted with 

 Abutilons, Cannas, Sweet Peas, and subtropical plants, with a 

 front row cf Viola (blue), and Dactylis variegata (white), 

 mixed. From this point and on the front lawn a view em- 

 bracing nearly thirty-five miles of country is to be seen. Leith 

 Hill, Box Hill, and the Crystal Palace are all visible. An 

 ornamental terrace wall fronts the house, where there are 

 numerous tastefully arranged baskets and vases. Two flights 

 of steps bring us below the terrace wall into the rosery, 

 flower garden, and another lawn, on which are some famous 

 and extensive banks of Rhododendrons, including all the best 

 new varieties. These form a grand feature to the place. At 

 the bottom of this lawn are flower beds and some famous 

 standard Rhododendrons, one approaching from 15 to 20 feet 

 high and as many in diameter. There are also amongst the 

 Conifers; a fine Pinus lasiocarpa. P. Pinsapo and a large speci- 

 men of Thuja Lobbii, a perfect cone, are noteworthy. Roses 

 are grown in large numbers on arches, pillars, in beds, on their 

 own roots, and on dwarf and tall standards : all are doing well, 

 but Mr. Baker is in favour of dwarfs. Abutting these grounds 

 are several acres of wood with tastefully laid-out gravel and 

 grass walks, some winding to the substantial and well-built 

 model farm. 



The kitchen garden is plentifully stocked with every re- 

 quisite; it is also ornamental from the plan that has been 

 adopted of training the leading shoots of the pyramid fruit 

 trees on arches over the walks. The effect of this arrangement 

 is very pleasing, and does not impair the fruitfulness of the 

 trees. 



There are many places of more imposing exterior than 

 Coombe Cottage, but few are in better order ; and there are not 

 many gardens where better practice is carried out than that of 

 Mr. Baker, the able, and courteous as well as able, gardener. 



A MOBNING AT CHBSHUNT. 



" After thunder, rain," remarked Socrates on a too memor- 

 able occasion. After the turmoil of the Rose battle on the 

 4th how refreshing a morning among the new Roses at 

 Cheshunt ! 



Starting from Liverpool Street — a great improvement on the 

 old Shoreditoh terminus — a pleasant run of forty minutes lands 

 at the Cheshunt station. The Old Nurseries are about twenty 

 minutes' walk, down a lane first, where every cottage has its 

 miniature and well-appointed Rose garden, and then along the 

 high road which once led to the great bed of Ware. Stronger 

 attractions now stay the traveller. On entering the nurseries 

 the attention is at once caught by the collection of Roses in 

 pots. How the beautiful little plants can be such a blaze of 

 beauty and yet do their duty again in the autumn is a marvel, 

 yet so it is ; I was informed they would then again be equally 

 fine. But my mission was to the new Roses and seedlings. 

 On our way to these we passed by the original Cheshunt 



Hybrid, a dismal-looking affair now the old parent stook, but 

 the parent of flourishing ohildren settled all over the world 

 already. " It grows very well with me in Auckland," was 

 casually remarked the other day to Mr. Paul by a stranger. 

 They are most anxious looking for seed podB on this Rose, but 

 at present have had no success ; the heps attain a certain point 

 and then drop off. It seems doubtful whether these hybrids 

 are not hopelessly sterile. 



Arrived on the ground, the seed beds of last year were first 

 of all inspected. Funny little things the young Roses are. 

 One sturdy little fellow of 3 inches high had his five buds 

 already, and had been allowed to keep them in compliment to 

 his audacity ; ordinarily such precocity is promptly suppressed. 



Passing on we inspected some splendid Framjois Michelon 

 as large as Paul Neron, but shaped infinitely better; Julie 

 Touvais with most exquisite — almost Homere petals in half- 

 open bud ; Emily Laxton like Monsieur Noman in the bud, but 

 opening far better than that most queer-tempered fair-weather 

 Rose ; John Bright, bright indeed, spreading quite a fiery 

 glow over a long row of standards ; Sultan of Zanzibar, flash- 

 ing its dark crimson ; and Duke of Connaught, with which I 

 was extremely pleased. It has the peculiar dark red brilliancy 

 of Monsieur Boncenne witli an infinitely better shape, and 

 with buds after the manner of Camille de Rohan at his best ; 

 foliage very firm and substantial. Altogether a very great 

 acquisition. 



And now as to the newest of all. Many " mute inglorious 

 Miltons " are worked on Briars and then suppressed, not ap- 

 pearing afterwards quite good enough for commeroe. Others 

 are still aiib judice. I was much struck with one violet-coloured, 

 which I am not allowed to speak of. I named him on the 

 spot " The Dark Horse " in consequence. Another seedling 

 of the most brilliant scarlet has the Noisette foliage of Boule 

 de Neige ; if it can be had solid enough Boule deFeu will begin 

 a new and very charming strain for us. Marguerite Brassac 

 seems a more robust Charles Lsfebvre, but almost too similar 

 for two in a box. Duchesse de Vallombrosa was magnificent ; 

 she will speedily take her place amongst the cream of our 

 white Roses. Capitaine Christy very fine. I hope Mr. Carnm 

 will recant in this instance, as well as in that of Madame 

 Lacharme. And, to return to the seedlings, the Duke of Teck 

 I may speak of. Mr. Paul thinks him the best Rose since the 

 Duke of Edinburgh, than which there is, I think, no other such 

 light red Rose in existence ; its pure distinct scarlet is almost 

 dazzling, the foliage robust, the shape and substance in all 

 ways satisfactory. Amongst other novelties I heard also of 

 a pink sport from Mar6chal Niel. It has been obtained from 

 a tree in a nobleman's garden ; should the two buds that have 

 been inserted prosper it will one day be famous. 



To conolude, in his inviting little red paper of trains and 

 directions to Bummer-coming visitors Mr. Paul gives a list of 

 various kinds of Strawberries. It was no part of my business 

 to inspect the plants in the nurseries, but I can answer for 

 the excellence of the fruit in combination with cream after 

 luncheon. — A. C. 



THE KOSE YEAE. 



Roses here (Longloat) and elsewhere about the neighbour- 

 hood where they do not receive primary attention are poor, 

 being wanting in size and substance. They were much injured 

 by late frosts; and the dry parching weather which followed, 

 aided by aphides, made them grow less vigorous than usual. 

 There are some growers, however, who seem to defy the 

 weather, and amongst the former is Mr. Keynes. This veteran 

 showed some splendid flowers at Frome ; one Francois Michelon 

 was a marvel both in size and shape. Other good flowers 

 were Capitaine Christy, Duchesse de Vallombrosa, Etienne 

 Dupuy, La France, Madame Lacharme, Mdlle. Eugenie Verdier, 

 Mdlle. Therese Levet, Souvenir de Madame Boll, Comtesse 

 Nadaillac, Madame C. Kuster, Monsieur Furtado, Niphetos, 

 Alba Rosea, Marie.Van Houtte, and Souvenir d'Elise Varden. 

 Roses about here were about at their best at the time of the 

 National Show. — Williau Taylor, Warminster. 



The very early blooms of Gloire de Dijon and Devoniensis 

 opened very badly, but the later flowers are expanding freely. 

 They are very profuse and very globular. I have had a " Gloire " 

 in every box of twenty-four I have set up this season. I could 

 cut hundreds of blooms from the trained pyramids which were 

 not pruned. Some of the Marechal Niel blooms were good. 

 Souvenir de Malmaison has been very good. It appears to be 



