272 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 4, 1377 



ever required, as the first subsequent shower invariably cleans 

 the walks sufficiently. 



The garden here is oblong in form with a walk through the 

 ■centre, and the other walks running parallel on the north and 

 south sides respectively. Pyramid Apples and Pears are planted 

 on both sides of the central walk ; each tree corresponds in 

 •height and form as nearly as possible with its opposite neighbour, 

 and behind the rows of trees and the walk there are two rows 

 •of Strawberries planted, and the dark green foliage of the 

 Strawberries contrasts effectively with the white appearance 

 of the cement. When this avenue of trees is in bloom in the 

 month of May the effect is very pleasing; but perhaps there 

 is no time these walks have a more striking effect than during 

 moonlight, they are certainly most picturesque then. Some 

 of the walks have marginal rows of Beet and Parsley. These 

 walks make a pleasant promenade which can be used at ail 

 times; it matters not how wet it may have been, so long as 

 it is dry overhead. They will scarcely damp the sole of any 

 lady or gentleman's dress boot — in fact water perfectly passes 

 off them, and there are openings scarcely visible left at the 

 sides of the walks near the edge, where the water makes a 

 quick exit. 



Now as regards their making, it is quite simple: 8 inches 

 of excavation will do, then the cement edging is laid. About 

 4 inches of rubble does for a foundation. Anything will do 

 for this, either broken stones or bricks, and act well. We use 

 clinkers from the colliery, which is close at hand. On this 

 the cement is laid, which is composed of Portland cement and 

 .ground bricks mixed together. The workman fashions it into 

 the shape required, and just before it dries he shakes pure 

 cement on, which gives that charming white appearance so 

 highly prizeable here. The cement is spread in blocks of S feet 

 long, and every alternate one is done first, so as to allow of 

 expansion in setting. In winter weather the walks are apt in 

 •very severe weather to become slippery ; we then use silver sand 

 and salt and keep the walk well swept, and we then experience 

 little if any inconvenience on that account. 



The walks were laid by Messrs. W. B. Wilkinson & Co., 

 Newcastle, at a cost of 3s. 6d. per square yard for the walk and 

 Is. 9d. per lineal yard for the edging. This perhaps to some 

 may be considered expensive, but it is the first and last cost. 



I may here mention that the gardens and the estate likewise 

 are swarming with ants. When these walks were first made 

 the ants perfectly covered them, so much so that we could 

 have swept them up by shovelfuls, and so did worms after rain 

 6oo. — B. Cowan, Axicell Park Gardens, Blaydon-on-Tyne. 



IN THE NORTH.— No. 2. 



ABNEY HALL, CHEADLE, THE BESIDENCE OF 

 SIB JAMES WATTS. 



The President of the Manchester Botanical Society has long 

 been known for the energy with which he has entered into the 

 pursuit of horticulture, and his residence (within about six 

 miles of Manchester) has deservedly acquired a high renown 

 for the excellence of its cultures and the careful manner in 

 which it is kept. To those of us who live far from the busy 

 haunts of men it sounds somewhat startling that it is only on 

 the verge of the zone within which the Oak will thrive rouncj 

 Cottonopolis. Tou meet with other trees in some degrees of 

 luxuriant growth, but until you pass the boundary you meet 

 with no Oiks of any degree of vigour. I saw none on my way 

 here, and I am told it is the same on other sides of the city ; 

 font once within the gates of Abney Hall you may fancy your- 

 self at any distance from the noise and bustle you have just 

 left behind you. There is a diversified character in the grounds 

 of which the most has be6n made, and a fine avenue of Ca- 

 pressus Lawsoniana is a feature which you do not see in many 

 places of much greater size, while specimens of other Conifers 

 and other shrubs are scattered throughout the grounds. 



An an exhibitor Sir James Watts has made his mark ; and 

 although now he has withdrawn from the contest, you meet 

 in going through the houses the plants which have won for 

 him the distinction he has acquired. At the last Manchester 

 Exhibition some of these plants occupied a conspicuous place, 

 although he no longer enters the lists as a competitor. Here, 

 for instance, are plants of Genetyllis fuchsioides and tulipifera 

 some 4 feet through ; then, again , there is a fine plant of Boronia 

 pinnata quite as large. The Azaleas also were vc-ry fine ; they 

 were not fully trained but allowed partly to grow naturally, 

 and the effect was exceedingly good. Then the Orchids were 

 «xce!lent, more especially the Dendrobiums ; such sorts aa 



densiflorum, Fraserii, &c, being huge masses 3 to 4 feet through 

 and as full of bloom as they could possibly be. Heaths, too, 

 were exceedingly well done, some large specimens 3 to 4 feet 

 in diameter exhibiting great skill in their treatment. 



But after all the grand feature of the place is the conserva- 

 tory, and of the conservatory the Camellias. The conservatory 

 adjoins the mansion and is a well-designed and ornamental 

 building, but once inEide it all this is forgotten in the glorious 

 specimens of the lovely flowers with which it is filled. 

 Although I have seen a good many Camellia houses — notably 

 do I recollect one many years ago at Lord Middleton's at 

 Wollaton near Nottingham — yet I do not recollect anywhere 

 to have seen grander or more healthy plants than those. They 

 were planted out, and some of them could not have been less 

 than 20 feet high. At the period of my visit they had long 

 passed out of flower and were making rapid growth for next 

 season, but when at their height of bloom the sight must have 

 been grand. The sorts were nearly all of the best and most 

 useful kinds grown, such as the old Double White, which still 

 retains its position as the most useful of all the pure white 

 kinds. Then there was Fimbriata Alba, a most lovely kind; 

 Imbricata, of which there were two plants fully 20 feet high ; 

 Countess of Derby, Contessa Lavinia Maggi, Cup of Beauty, 

 Sarah Frost, Jubilee, ever vigorous and free-blooming, and 

 many others. Another house was also devoted to Camellias, 

 which were brought in here to bloom, while the Orchids and 

 other flowering plants added great gaiety and beauty to the 

 house. 



Of course under the care of so experienced a gardener as 

 Mr. McKellar every department of the garden was in excellent 

 order. Bedding plants were in immense quantities and in fine 

 condition ; Vines were healthy and full of fruit ; the Peach 

 house also afforded a remarkable contrast to the condition of 

 trees on walls everywhere this untoward season. But it seems 

 to be useless to expatiate on these, which are to be found in 

 every well-ordered establishment. I have indicated what seem 

 to me to be the chief features of the place and what make it 

 well worth a visit. Sir James Watts himself is now unable 

 to do as he was always ready to do, but hi3 courtesy is the 

 same as ever, and permission is readily accorded to view the 

 grounds. — D., Deal. 



GEAPES CRACKING. 



On page 230 " A Kitchen Gardeneb " informs U3 that he 

 has succeeded this Eeason in preventing the cracking of his 

 Grapes by letting three or four of the laterals on the tops of 

 the Yine3 grow at will. He does not inform us what sorts the 

 Vines are. "A Kitchen Gabdeneb " may be right and I may 

 be wrong, but I do not feel satisfied that by aDowing three or 

 four of the laterals on the top of a Vine to grow and not pinch 

 them will prevent the cracking of Grapes ; or why should 

 one sort crack more than another? Some Grapes never crack, 

 while others grown under precisely the same circumstances 

 always crack. Why is this ? 



Last year a writer in the Journal said that he had succeeded 

 in preventing his Grapes crackiog by denuding the Vines of 

 Eome of their foliage. His practice was quite the opposite of 

 " A Kitchen Gabdeneb's," and yet both state they succeeded 

 in preventing their Grapes cracking. " A Kitchen Gabdeneb's " 

 practice would certainly lessen the flow of sap into the berries, 

 but the practice of your other correspondent would, according 

 to my ideas, fores mors into them, and cause them to crack 

 worse. This lead3 me to believe that it was not the means 

 adopted by your correspondents that prevented their Grapes 

 cracking. 



About two years ago we potted a Vine of MadresSeld Court 

 to see if by growing it in a pot we could prevent it from crack- 

 ing its berrieB. It grew well and ripened a good cane, which 

 the following season showed fruit. One very fine-Ehaped 

 bunch was allowed to remain, all the others being removed. 

 It set its berries well, and all went as well as could be desired 

 until the berries commenced colouring, when they as usual 

 began to crack. On the first signs of cracking less water was 

 given to the roots to lessen the flow of sap into the berries. 

 To such an extent was the water withheld that the Vine would 

 often flag. Still cracking went on until scarcely a sound berry 

 was left. There was at the same time abundance of foliage on 

 the Vine. Another instance : Last spring we planted-out in 

 the vinery a Vine of the same sort, which grew well and 

 ripened a shoot to the top of the rafter. It was laBt winter 

 cut-back to within 5 feet of the border. This spring it broke 



