16 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ January 1, 1885. 
that scarcely any pruning is needed at any time. Though not so fragrant 
as B. megastigma, or so showy as some other Boronias, B. rutosma is still 
a useful plant well worth attention. 
A WORD TO YOUNG HEAD GARDENERS. 
I read with much pleasure the advice given twelve months ago to 
young gardeners in the Journal by your correspondent, “ A Working 
Gardener,” and I was pleased on opening the Journal last week to see 
that he is still interested in the welfare of us younger brethren of the 
craft. I look upon his present paper as a sound and safe guide to all 
young gardeners. I would that we had more men who would give U3 
such advice. If all young men would take it to heart I feel sure it would 
be a great help to them in their calling. 
I can almost imagine I can hear some young men who are inclined to 
treat such advice with contempt, or think very light of it, but when it is 
their lot to be placed at the head of an establishment, whether large or 
small, and be held responsible for everything concerning their charge, 
they will then realise the value of such an article.—A YOUNG Head 
Gardener. 
GARDEN WALKS. 
The present is a good time to give garden walks any attention they may 
require in the way of repairs, &c. Where the walks are low new gravel 
should be added, or the walks trenched, and some rough material put in the 
bottom to make up the deficiency. Where the surface is green or dirty, turn¬ 
ing the gravel over will work a great improvement. After being turned the 
gravel should be left for a few days to get a good washing by the rain, then 
to be trodden down and thoroughly rolled. If weeds or moss are troublesome, 
and it is not desirable to disturb the gravel, a good dressing of salt will 
soon cleanse the walks of these and make the gravel look bright and fresh. 
In applying the salt care must be taken not to place it too near the grass 
edgings, or the turf may be injured. We leave a space of about 5 or 6 inches 
on each side of the walks. Some have objected to the use of salt on 
account of the fertilising power after the first effect ha3 passed away; but 
if the dressing is sufficient weeds will not establish themselves again for at 
least a year. This is more than the most careful hand-weeding can secure, 
and at a much less cost. We have a walk 12 feet wide and over a quarter of 
a mile long, which at a rough calculation cost about £10 a year to keep 
clean by hand-weeding. This walk is now kept perfectly clean for as many 
shillings by an annual dressing of salt. It is best to apply the salt during 
damp weather, as then it quickly dissolves and does not get washed away. 
—E. B. 
A RUN TO LINCOLN—NOTES BY THE WAY. 
The Chrysanthemum Shows occasion many journeys at a season when 
little of general interest is to be found in most gardens, hut even in dull 
November it is not difficult to obtain subjects worthy of note. Thus, 
taking advantage of a journey to Lincoln, I had an opportunity of making 
a few calls by the way, and memories of the principal objects of interest 
are briefly conveyed in the following jottings. 
Starting from Liverpool Street the first call was made at 
THE GRAPERIES, BISHOP STORTFORD. 
For many years Mr. Ward has held a foremost position amongst 
the fruit-growers of the present day, and the establishment where 
he has achieved so many triumphs is therefore invested with an unusual 
interest. Pine culture was long an important part of Mr. Ward’s practice, 
and those who have seen the handsome fruits he has repeatedly staged at 
metropolitan and other shows are fully prepared to admit that his success 
was most praiseworthy. Pine-growing has, however, been in a great 
measure discontinued, and we now see several ranges of grand vineries 
containing Vines of equally remarkable strength and bearing fruit of the 
same admirable quality. The principal ranges are those for early and late 
Grapes, each about 200 feet long, the former a lean-to and the latter span- 
roof, about 25 feet wide and well proportioned. Another span-roof house 
is devoted to Muscat of Alexandria, the Vines of which have this season 
borne a wonderfully fine crop of richly coloured bunches, the greater 
portion of which had, however, been cleared off at the time of my visit. 
In the early house Black Hamburgh is the variety relied upon, while in 
the late house a general collection is grown, amongst which Gro 3 Colman, 
Lady Downe’s, and Alicante are chief favourites. All the Vines have made 
surprisingly vigorous growth, for Mr. Ward treats them liberally, though 
the borders are not nearly so wide as is usual in gardens, but a well- 
prepared compost and frequent top-dressings amply compensate for any 
deficiency that might arise from that cause. In preparing the borders the 
greatest care is bestowed upon the drainage as a point of the utmost 
importance, and the outfall in the part of the border is contrived so that 
there is little chance of either soil or roots obtaining entry and thus 
checking the free passage of the water. The boundary wall has the joints 
carefully cemented and finished, for in several instances Mr. Ward has 
found the roots pass through 9-inch walls, and in one case the roots had 
penetrated an old board placed against the outer surface of the wall, and 
this in one year’s growth. It is in consequence of this well-known root¬ 
extending power of the Vine that so much importance is attached to 
having a boundary wall that will effectually restrain the roots, as without 
this is done they are not completely under the management of the culti¬ 
vator, and unsatisfactory results may be occasioned. The late house 
already mentioned is a magnificent structure, and it would not be easy to 
find such fine examples of well-finished Grapes as those that hung from 
the Vines trained to its roof. Viewed from one end it had a beautiful 
appearance, the bunches being numerous, well developed, and evenly 
distributed over the rods. Some of the Vines had been partly relieved of 
their crop, but the majority would not be cut until some weeks later, when 
the useful troughs which Mr. Ward has designed would be employed to 
preserve them until wanted. These troughs have been repeatedly noticed 
and described, and it need only be added that they are admirably adapted 
for the purpose, being evidently much superior to the ordinary bottles. 
They are easily filled or emptied, and can be affixed to a wall with the 
greatest ease, or in the case of the double troughs a great economy of 
space is effected by placing them in rows on a wooden frame support, so 
that bunches can be hung on each side. 
Fruit is not, however, the only object of attention, for Chrysanthemums 
are numerously and well grown, chiefly to afford blooms for cutting, and 
they formed an attractive display in one of the houses. Eucharises are 
also largely grown, and one of the old Vine pits is now being devoted 
to these valuable plants. But in every house and with each object of 
attention the same cultural skill is evident as in the vineries. 
EASTON LODGE, DUNMOW. 
A short run on a branch line towards Chelmsford, and the ancient 
little town of Dunmow is reached, the name of which is familiar to 
English ears in connection with the flitch of bacon custom. But for 
this it is probable the town would have remained in the obscurity which 
might be expected from its isolated position. In one other respect the 
neighbourhood of Dunmow is notable, and that is for its quiet but pretty 
rural scenery. It would be difficult to wax eloquent over the scenery of 
many parts of Essex, and particularly of these portions nearest to 
London extending near the Thames to Southend, but in the Dunmow 
district there is an agreeable undulation of the surface, quite superior to 
the prevailing flatness elsewhere. This is particularly observable in 
travelling by road to Easton Lodge, the seat of Lord and Lady Brooke, 
which is about three miles from the town, and most pleasantly situated, 
surrounded by a large estate of fertile and well-farmed land. For some 
distance the public road passes through the extensive and beautiful park, 
which abounds in remarkable old Oaks, every one of which would form 
an interesting study for an artist or admirers of arboreal antiquity. Some 
have suffered sadly in the severe gales of recent years, and shorn of their 
massive limbs the huge boles stand mementos of past ages. Others 
still in the pride of mature strength resist the warring elements and rise 
majestically above their neighbours. Many an hour might be spent in 
admiring these old giants, which impart so much interest to the landscape 
and render the park the pride of its noble owners. 
The mansion is an unpretentious building, but substantial and com- 
modius, commanding on one side a view of the park, and on the other a 
pretty prospect of neat homesteads, meadows, and farms, with a graceful 
church spire forming an additional and important feature in the scene. 
Upon this side of the house is the principal flower garden, where a good 
display of the ordinary bedding plants is provided during the summer 
months ; but November was too late to see any of these, though some large 
beds of Dahlias were still uninjured by frosts, and were bearing abundant 
blooms. On the left-hand side, looking from the house, is, however, the 
great feature of the Easton Lodge Gardens—namely, the rosery, 
which is one of the most extensive that can be seen in any private 
garden. Over 100 beds of various forms and sizes are filled with 
strong plants of all the leading varieties, some beds 20 feet or more in 
diameter being devoted to one variety, while in others a selection is 
planted. The situation is sheltered by borders of shrubs and trees, but not 
too much shaded, and the soil being moderately heavy appears to suit the 
Boses admirably, the result being that with the good attention they receive 
a vigorous growth is made and handsome blooms are obtained by thousands 
to meet the home demands. In June and July this Rose garden must be 
magnificent with its wealth of fra.grant flowers, and its proximity to the 
mansion renders it still more appreciated. A walk leads from this through 
a shrubbery to a little dell where a pretty rootery and rockery have been 
recently formed, thus suitably utilising what had previously been one of 
those waste and neglected corners which are to be found in most gardens. 
From there the walk passes through the kitchen garden, which is several 
acres in extent, clean, and thoroughly well cropped, for the demand upon 
this department is very great, and large supplies of all vegetables are 
required throughout the year. Free and frequent working of the soil, 
good dressings of manure, and close intercropping is the system followed 
with evident success. Fruit trees and bush fruits are numerous, and have 
this season yielded very fair crops, though not generally so satisfactory as 
last year, except perhaps in the size of individual fruits, which, in the case 
of some Apples especially, has been rather remarkable. 
Several houses are devoted to Vines, stove and greenhouse plants, but 
the two best are the stove and conservatory, both pretty houses of more 
modern construction than the others which have done service for many 
years. In November the conservatory was particularly gay with Chrys¬ 
anthemums, which the experienced and able gardener, Mr. H. Lister, 
grows very successfully. Plants of various sizes are employed, so that a 
fine bank is formed at the back, with smaller plants along the stage in 
front, while some of the taller plants are trained up the rafters, the heads 
of flowers being allowed to droop over the path. This is an admirable 
mode of decorating a conservatory, and is practised in several establish¬ 
ments with most satisfactory results. Many of the large-flowere I 
incurved varieties are seen to excellent advantage in this way, the blooms 
retain their form better and keep clean and fresh longer. Several plants 
of White and Golden Empress of India, Queen of England, and others of 
that type were exceedingly fine, quite up to exhibition standard, as were 
also most of the smaller incurved varieties. Japanese varieties are largely 
