September 2(3, 1872. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



231 



both of these and Verbena venosa, were seedlings, so that the 

 materials for such a border are within the reach of those 

 ha-ring very limited glass accommodation. Taken as an ex- 

 ample of a clever arrangement of plants easily obtained and 

 cultivated, and producing a strikingly beautiful effect, it was 

 very praiseworthy. Apart from this consideration such dis- 

 plays do not very much interest one, and I must confess to a 

 decided preference for herbaceous plants in borders so situated. 

 Very rare, indeed, is it that one meets with a really good and 

 well-arranged collection of herbaceous plants. Out-of-the-way 

 borders, in which a few of them are suffered to exist in miser- 

 able unkempt disorder, are common enough; but they are 

 surely worthy of something more than this, for they are so 

 beautiful and interesting, that I do not doubt eventually due 

 attention and prominence will be given both to herbaceous 

 and Alpine plants. 

 Fine views of the beautiful undulations of the park open 



out in rich variety all along the ribbon border, beyond which 

 a walk winds in pleasing curves between high turf-clad banks 

 downwards to the lake. Upon the top of each bank is a line 

 of Conifers planted in pahs by members of the family — that 

 is to say, any plant on one bank is of a similar kind to the 

 one opposite it on the other bank : as these gain size, the 

 beauty and finish of this part of the grounds will be much 

 enhanced. Another feature of interest very near this walk is 

 a Eose garden made and planted last season. The situation is 

 good, for it is upon a gentle slope quite at the extremity of the 

 dressed grounds, beyond some dispersed groups of Bhododen- 

 drons, and is well screened from the south-western gales — so 

 trying and severe in this part of Sussex — by a thick irregular 

 belt of trees and shrubs. The design is of a circular form, 

 consisting of a double series of curved oblong and circular 

 beds surrounding a central group of iron pillars, with pendant 

 chains for climbing Eoses. 



Eridge Castle. 



The glass houses, pits, and offices are arranged in a spacious 

 quadrangle, enclosed by walls adjoining the kitchen garden. 

 The stove, a span-roofed structure, having a raised bed along 

 its centre with a water-tank beneath, and wide shelves along 

 its sides, contained an interesting and very healthy collection 

 of the plants generally found in such houses. Among them 

 were some well-flowered Eucharis, the curious Drosera dicho- 

 toma, the charming Adiantum farleyense, one of the finest and 

 most distinct Ferns of modern introduction, and a rich variety 

 of Caladiums, Dracamas, and Lycopods. Planted in the 

 centre bed of this house, and trained along wires under the 

 roof, were four climbers which were worthy of note as being 

 in Mr. Bust's estimation the best four stove climbers ; they 

 were Bougainvillea spectabilis, Stephanotis floribunda, Passi- 

 fiora princeps laden with brilliant racemes of its bright 

 pink flowers, and the magnificent free-flowering Allamanda 

 Hendersoni. 



Among the Vines were good bunches of Lady Downe's, well 

 coloured and with fine berries. The White Lady Downe's was 

 not so satisfactory, shanking being visible in the whole of its 

 bunches ; that this is peculiar to it was evident from the 

 fact that the fruit of several other varieties of Grapes growing 

 in the same house was quite free of this evil. I noticed excel- 



lent fruit of Mrs. Pince's Muscat, and that distinct and valu- 

 able late Grape Black Alicante. Pines, both fruiting and 

 succession, were in excellent condition. Pot-culture is followed,, 

 and the favourite kinds are Smooth-leaved Cayenne and Eipley 

 Queen. Melons are grown extensively in pits, and although 

 many kinds are cultivated, preference is given to Bromham 

 Hall. A promising scarlet-fleshed kind, raised by Mr. Bust, 

 and named " The Claimant," bore some very large fruit, one 

 that I saw weighed 11J lbs. 



There were other pits, containing Orchids and a variety of 

 useful plants for decorative purposes. 



A pole standing in the quadrangle bears an appropriate 

 vane in the form of a gilt spade, and having at its foot a useful 

 set of meteorological instruments, comprising various thermo- 

 meters, a barometer, a hygrometer, and a rain-gauge. At the 

 garden office I saw a barometer having the bottom of the tube 

 in an open cup of mercury ; this was a contrivance of Mr. 

 Bust's, and is an accurate and reliable instrument. 



In the kitchen garden there are three acres enclosed by walls, 

 and about as much outside. All kinds of wall fruit were scarce 

 excepting Pears, which were very abundant, most of the trees 

 bearing an unusually fine crop, particularly Marie Louise, 

 Winter Nelis, Ne Plus Meuris, and Vicar of Winkfield. Point- 



