November 15, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



383 



5 and 6 feet high, and also two plants of Hendersoni equally 

 as good ; these plants were perfect in symmetry, and well laden 

 ■with bads. Mr. Moult makes it his practice to leave but one 

 bud to each Bhoot ; by this means he secures an annual supply 

 of Camellias. At the east end of this house is planted a 

 noteworthy plant of Lapageria rosea, covering about 108 square 

 -feet of glass, and its charming flowers were gracefully hanging 

 down in clusters. The second house is a late Peach house, 

 with a Moorpark Apricot on the back wall. The Peaches 

 are Violette Hative and Royal George; while the Neotarines 

 are Violette Hative and Pitmaston Orange. Both trees were 

 ripening their wood well, and were free from red spider. In 

 this house were two fine Camellias of Mrs. Abbey Wilder, a 

 white, and also one of Lowi and Chandleri elegans, equally as 

 good as those mentioned. The third is a late vinery of about 

 28 feet long, and consists of Lady Downe's, Black Alicante, 

 and Trebbiano. This was an even house of Grapes well 

 •coloured, and bunches weighing about 2 lbs. each. Mr. Moult 

 considers Lady Downe's and West's St. Peter's better varie- 

 ties than Black Alicante for late work, for he thinks the best 

 attribute Alicante possesses is its charming colour when placed 

 on the table. In this house were two fine specimen Azaleas 

 and three large Ixoras coccinea superba, which are to be 

 here for & time for want of better accommodation. 



The fourth house is a vinery, which principally contains 

 Black Alicante and Black Hamburgh Grapes, of which re- 

 mained some fine examples of both varieties. In this house 

 were some fine specimen Azaleas, for Mr. Moult does not place 

 Camellias and Azaleas outside after they have done blooming ; 

 they are removed into the vineries and peacheries, and allowed 

 "to remain there to make their growth. A liberal and frequent 

 use of the syringe is applied at all times, and thus the houses 

 ■are kept free from insects. These bouses so far are Bimply 

 heated with flues. 



The fifth house is a plant stove with a plunging bed in one 

 end heated by pipes. Here we saw a fine young plant of 

 Maranta Veitchii with thirteen large leaves, also some fine 

 Musas and large Stephanotises, with two or three Bougain- 

 villea glabras good, and an Ixora Williams! about 3 feet 

 through and 2A feet high. Noticeable also were some fine 

 plants of Euoharis amazonica in about 10 or 12-inch pots. 

 One of them had niue .spikes of flowers with six flowers on 

 each spike. This was the third time of flowering this year. 

 The mode of treatment adopted consists in giving a rest after 

 flowering, then plunging it in bottom heat for a time, after 

 which it invariably throws up flower. Those plants have 

 remained in their pots for some years now. On the side 

 stages_ here were a quantity of Poinsettias, Justicias, Euphorbia 

 jacquinisflora, Eranthemum pulchellum, and other winter- 

 flowering plants. 



The sixth division is a fruiting Pine stove with a plunging 

 bed and hot-water pipes in it. The varieties were principally 

 Montserrats and Providence. One or two fruits of the latter 

 were swelling off, and would, perhaps, average 5 or 6 lbs. each. 

 At the end of this house wereCuoumbers in pots, and, plunged 

 in the hotbed and trained up to the glass for the winter, they 

 looked very healthy and strong. On a water tank here, 

 which is covered with a stone slab, was a splendid plant of 

 Lffilia anceps, throwing up seven flower spikeB. This plant 

 remains here all the year round, and the cool bottom seems to 

 suit it admirably. Here were also two fine plants of Anthurium 

 Schertzerianum. 



The seventh house is an early vinery. The varieties are 

 principally Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria. Here 

 were some plants of Salvia patens and a fine specimen of 

 Azalea Roi Leopold 5 feet through, also other good plants. 

 The eighth house is a second Peach house, and consists of the 

 same varieties as the former. Here were some fine Bouvardias, 

 which are grown in a cool frame daring the summer, also some 

 large Camellias, a good Eriostemon or two, and a sturdy speci- 

 men of Erica Aitoniana superba. The ninth and last house 

 is a late vinery. The varieties are principally Lady Downe's, 

 Mrs. Pince, and Black Hamburgh. The Grapes were not quite 

 ripe at the time of my visit, October 4th, although strong fire 

 heat had been applied for some time. Here cuttings are Btruck 

 of Begonia Sedeni in the spring, and planted out against 

 the stonework in front of the houses or against any bare wall, 

 and they flower profusely during the summer. On the Vine 

 borders were seven hundred Strawberry pots ; the varieties are 

 President and Garibaldi, which were strong and healthy. 



At the end of this range is another entrance to the kitchen 

 garden, to the right of which iB a Peach house or lean-to for 



early work about 52 feet long, with a division in the centre ; it 

 is heated with flues. The lights had been off during the sum- 

 mer, and were just put on at the time of my visit to prepare 

 for early forcing. Near the Peach house is a span-roof stove 

 about 21 feet by 14, with a plunging bed in the centre. In 

 this house were specimen plants of Allamanda nobilis and 

 Dipladenia amabilie, with the young shoots trained near to the 

 glass, so as to procure all the sun possible; also good Crotons, 

 a Cissus discolor or two, and a plant of Dendrobium nobile 

 about 4 feet through. On the side stage above the pipes were 

 some fine plants of Calanthe vestita, with leaves as large as 

 Phaius grandiflora. Close to this house are two ranges of pits 

 for forcing Potatoes, Cucumbers, &c, in, and also one for suc- 

 eessional Pines. Near to this is a span-roof warm greenhouse 

 of about 24 feet by 12 feet. In it were some fine plants of 

 Sericographis Ghiesbreghtiana. Mr. Moult places this charming 

 plant outside during the summer. On the opposite side of the 

 walk is the Erica house, a half-Bpanned low house, heated with 

 a flow and return pipe. It is a very homely structure about 

 20 feet long and 12 feet broad, yet in it were the following 

 specimens, all remarkably healthy and possessing good sym- 

 metry — plants which any cultivator may feel justly proud of : — 

 Ericas AuBtiniana, Irbyana, Marnockiana ampliata, ollula, 

 tricolor Holfordii, obbata umbellata, and Jacksoni. These 

 were an even lot of about Si feet through and 2 J feet high; 

 but the crowning plant of all was a retorta major, 4 feet by 4. 

 This was a real gem. Leaving here you come to the fruiting 

 Pine pit, about 26 feet long and 18 feet wide. The plants were 

 principally Queens, strong and healthy, and are expected to 

 Ihrow up next spring for summer use. 



The kitchen garden consists of about four acres. The soil 

 is a heavy cold clay ; there is therefore great difficulty in the 

 procuring a choice supply of vegetables all the year round. 

 Mr. Moult experienced great difficulty in growing Asparagus, 

 but by adopting the following plan has insured success. When 

 planting he raises the beds about 1 foot higher than the alleys. 

 By this means the plants when young do not go off ; and when 

 they get older and are in a state for more nourishment, these 

 alleys are filled up gradually with leaf Boil. He also prefers 

 sowing to planting. A quantity of Asparagus is annually 

 forced ; this is generally done in a late vinery or Peach house, 

 Mr. Moult believing in strong bottom heat and plenty of air 

 for flavour. 



Peas were growing after Celery ; the varieties McLean's Gem, 

 Ne Plus Ultra and Champion of England, G. F. Wilson and 

 Hair's Dwarf Mammoth. These are sown in the order men- 

 tioned. Onions were not a heavy crop, an unusual thing at 

 Ravensworth, and many have thick necks, which is the case 

 generally in the north this year. The favourite Cauliflower is 

 Walcheren, which is grown late and early. There are also 

 quantities of Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, CabbageB, Coleworts 

 and Broccoli ; the varieties of this last vegetable are Snow's 

 Early Purple Cape, Danvers Pink, Carter's Champion, Wilcove's 

 White, Alexandra and Late Mammoth, which generally come 

 in the order mentioned. The soil is too cold for Potatoes ; they 

 are grown in raised drills. By this means they come earlier 

 and finer. 



The walls are covered with Peaches, Nectarines, and Apri- 

 cots. The former fruits are the same as those mentioned in 

 the houses with the addition of the Barrington Peach, which 

 is deservedly a great favourite here. Fires are applied to these 

 walls when the blossom buds begin to expand, and are con- 

 tinued to the end of May ; the trees are also well covered with 

 frigi domo netting. The Pears that do beBt are Marie Louise, 

 Glou Morceau, and Winter Nelis ; the Plums are Victoria, 

 Princess of Wales, Kirke's, and Green Gages. On the borders 

 are dwarf pyramid Apples and Pears on the Paradise and 

 Quince Btocks respectively. The varieties are of Apples Lord 

 Suffield, Wellington, New Hawthornden, Cellini, Cox's Orange 

 Pippin, and Kerry Pippin ; while the Pears are Louise Bonne 

 of Jersey, Beurre d'Amanlis, Beurre Diel, and Williams' Bon 

 Chretien. ParBley is grown on the borders for winter, neatly 

 hooped over and matted on the approach of snow. A quantity 

 of Seakale is grown and forced much in the same manner aa 

 the market gardeners force it near London. It is taken up 

 every autumn ; all cuttings are taken off and thrown into a 

 heap till the spring ; all eyes are rubbed off but one, and the 

 cuttings are planted in rich ground previously well prepared, 

 and splendid plants are produced for forcing by the autumn. 



Near the kitchen garden is a small rosery, which was quite 

 refreshing to the eye after being so long lingering and admiring 

 the culinary part of these gardens. Many Roses were in full 



