January 24 4 88 4 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
71 
and E. giganfceum, wliich are considered the most tender in 
cultivation, prove excellent for the rockwork, even in the most 
exposed situations, where their graceful spiny-edged foliage lend 
quite a subtropical character to it, even in midwinter, and more 
especially when tastefully arranged and dotted about for effect. 
That much requires to be done in this way before we can claim 
or even th:nk of perfection in the art of rockwork ornamentation 
is obvious, not only from the desolate and neglected state most 
of them present in the winter season, but also in the careless 
distribution and arrangement of the plants. 
The Sea Holly (fig. 11), as E. maritimum is not inaptlv 
termed, is one of the most striking of our native plants, and 
lias very beautiful silvery spiny foliage, which contrasts very 
agreeably with the steel-blue flowers. It is easily grown either 
on a rockery or in a light well-drained border. 
A few of the other species not favoured with such striking 
foliage as the above compensate for this defect in the varied 
beauty of their involucres. Among them E. amethystinmu, syn. 
E. azureum and E. cceruleum, E. Andersonii, E. campestre, 
E. Bourgati, and E. dichotomum are all worthy of cultivation, 
and should find a place in every garden where room can be 
spared for their full development. 
A_s their roots are easily injured in a damp undrained 
position a rockery should be chosen as a site, but where that 
is not available its p'ace can be, to a gi-eat extent, supplied in 
the border by the free use of stones about the roots when 
planting, always choosing the most elevated position. This is 
not so unsightly, and serves its purpose better than the old- 
fashioned mound of earth so much resorted to long ago. 
Eringos are rather difficult to propagate by division, owing to 
most of them having large tuber-like roots, and are much easier 
managed from seed, which should be sown as soon as ripe in 
pots and placed in a little heat. Gradually harden the seedlings 
and as soon as they are ready to handle place them in large 
thumb pots.—M. S. 
PEACH TREES CASTING THEIR BUDS. 
Can any readers of the Journal say from experience if the constant 
use of spring water would be likely to cause Peach trees to cast their buds ? 
The trees in question are six in number, and were planted three years ago 
in an inside border, all having done well. Copious supplies of water were 
needed, and having little reserve for soft water, we were driven to use the 
water above mentioned, which we warmed to the required temperature. 
All appeared satisfactory, and a good crop of fruit was anticipated up to 
about a month ago, when the buds began to drop out, and have continued 
to do so to a serious extent, though the house is fully ventilate!. The 
house is a lean-to facing south. Three trees are planted along the front, 
two supernumeraries in the centre, and one at the end ; they are suc-es- 
sional varieties, but all are casting their buds alike, not only fruit buds, 
but in many instances wood buds as well. I find on examination that 
these are black in the centre, and appear to have been dead some time. 
What can be the cause ?— Alpha. 
GARDENS ABOUT BRISTOL. 
BRENTREY HOUSE. 
These gardens have been for some years under the charge of Mr. 
Gibson, and give unmistakeable evidence of the skill and energy of this 
intelligent gardener. The whole place is exceedingly well kept, and 
nothing but the best of everything grown, overcrowding being carefully 
avoided, while cleanliness ruled everywhere. Most noteworthy as being 
most uncommon was a h use devoted principally to Dipladenias. These 
completely covered the roof, and strikingly beautiful were the grandly 
flowered plants of the richly coloured D. Brearleyana; and in contrast with 
these were several seedlings of various shades of colour, the most distinct 
having large blooms of a lovely pale pink hue ; and another with medium¬ 
sized blooms of a rich crimson and shaded purple, was also good and 
distinct, especially in its sturdy habit of growth and smooth green leaves. 
Several of the plants annually perfect a few of their curiously formed seed 
pods, and these seeds, if sown when ripe and before they become hard 
and dry, germinate readily in a biisk bottom heat. Mr. Gibson’s seedlings 
vary considerably in habit and colours, some assuming a more shrubby 
habit than is common to the species; others, again, are singularly precocious, 
as they commence flowering when only in 4-inch pots. Mr. Gibson 
attributes much of his success with Dipladenias to the pains taken with 
the potting and watering. Large shifts are avoided, and the compost is 
composed entirely of roughly broken fibrous peat of the best quality, to 
this being added a liberal quantity of charcoal, crocks, and silver sand. 
Overwatering or anything approaching stagnation at the roo's soon proves 
fatal to these lovely climbers. They require to be trained thinly over the 
roof, and a rather high temperature, say from 65° to 70° by night to 75° to 
80° by day, and etill higher in warm weather, a proportionately moist 
atmosphere being also maintained. They must be kept scrupulously clean, 
mealy bug especially quickly overrunning them. In another three- 
quarter span-roofed plant stove the wall and back part of the roof was 
beautifully draped with a mixture of Allamanda Ilendersonii, Cissus 
discolor, and Dipladenias amabile and boliviensis. The two former were 
planted in a narrow border filled with good loamy soil, the Dipladenias 
being in pots, and the rich foliage of the Cissus intermingled with the 
flowering climbers presented the prettiest sight I have seen for some time. 
In an adjoining plant stove the back wall was principally covered with 
Poinsettia pulcherrima, and these planted in a narrow border composed 
of good loam were growing vigorously, and must subsequently have pro¬ 
duced a number of fine showy whorls. They are freely cut for decorative 
purposes, and the season I was informed is a remarkably long one. 
S ephanotis floribunda are well done at Brentrev. Several experiments 
have been made with plants obtained from noted shy-blooming plants; but 
so floriferous do all alike prove, that Mr. Gibson does not agree with 
myself and others who are inclined to think there arc some varieties much 
more floriferous than others. 
Orchids are also well grown, the various sorts being very strong, and 
are said to bloom exceptionally well. Phalsenopsis amabile, Cattleya 
Harrisonii, and Odontoglossum grande were the most noteworthy at the 
time of my visit, and certainly bore out what had been said of the 
flowering qualities of the Orchids generally. Gardenias, Crotons, Dracaenas, 
Euphorbias, Pandanuses, Pancratiums, Eucharises, and various Ferns were 
all in a very creditable condition, and very pretty were two baskets filled 
respectively with Hoya bella and iEschynanthus splendtns. In a cooler 
house a strong plant of Thunbergia Harrisii was carrying large quanti¬ 
ties of its charming pale blue flowers, and the wonder is that so few 
try to grow this valuable climber. At Brentrey it grows vigorously ; and 
trained over the roof, for which style only is it adapted only to the brittle 
nature of the growths, it produces during the autumn a profusion of 
racemes of bloom which find great favour with ihe ladies. Near the end 
of September the plants are carefully removed to a house where an 
ordinary stove temperature is maintained, this serving to greatly prolong 
the display. They require but little root room, the strongest plant at 
Brentrey having been in a 12-inch pot for three years, but has had the 
surface soil and some roots removed, and more good soil given by way of 
top-dressing. A good peaty soil appears to suit them, and in the gro ing 
and flowering season water varied with liquid manure is frequ ntly and 
liberally supplied them. 
Mr. Gibson is a very successful Grape-grower, and 1 ad Madresfield 
Court, Muscat of Alexandria, and other popular sorts in excellent condition. 
The borders are inside and out, and the former rightly receive more water 
and liquid manure throughout the year than the majority of authorities 
appear to think necessary. Melons and Cucumbers are also well grown, 
and a few Pine Apples are annually fruited. The conservatory adjoining 
the residences was attractively arranged, and the kitchen garden is equally 
well managed. Altogether Mrs. Mdler, the proprietress of this place, 
has every reason to be well satisfied with it.—W. Igghlden. 
IIARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Planting for Profit.— Where to Plant .—A sunny slope facing the 
south or south-west, well sheltered from the north and east, is un¬ 
doubtedly the best position ; but such favoured spots are rare, and plant¬ 
ing on the level or in open and exposed positions has more frequently 
to be done. A belt of trees planted at the same time around the fruit 
garden or orchard is good for shelter, but a thick hedge of Thuja Lobbi 
is better, for it grows faster than any fruit tree, and its dense growth 
is an effectual check to wind. By all means plant a tree belt, but plant 
also a Thuja hedge in front of it, and have Thuja hedges also inter¬ 
secting the orchard, so as to break the sweeping wind among the trees, 
for depend upon it if we had such hedges at interval of 60 feet or 
upwards among our fruit trees the blossoms would be far less subject to 
injury from cold wind in spring. 
What to Plant —Fruit which comes early and abundantly upon the 
trees, ripens early or keeps good late, combined with a healthy sturdy 
growth of tree or bush in all fertile soil, is what we require, and we must 
avoid all fanciful or speculative planting. Of Apples no dessert sort 
affords an earlier or more steady profit than Margil. Grafted upon the 
Paradise stock it makes compict little bushes about 6 feet high and of 
the same diameter, and every branch is almost invariably crowded with 
fruit from top to bottom. Nine feet apart is sufficient for such bushes, 
so that an imperial acre will contain 537. Taking the crop at that 
number of bushels, at 4.?. per bushel, we have the handsome sum of 
£107 8.v. per acre. Halve it, and we have still the by no means despicable 
sum of £53 14.?. We have had at the same time sturdy little bushes of 
Margil bearing such a crop, and huge standards of Fearn’s Pippin, each 
laden with twenty bushels of its handsome rosy fruit. If the standards 
would always yield such a crop we should find them most profitable, 
but they do not, and the bushes do, therefore we are bound to recommend 
them. Plant also extensively of Apples Duchess of Oldenburgh, Keswick 
Codlin, Mank’s Codlin, Adam’s Pearmain, Stirling Castle, and Warner’s 
King, for all are of sterling merit for profitable culture. Among Pears 
the same may be said of Williams’ Bon Chretien, Autumn Bergamot, 
Beurre Clairgeau, and Comte de Flandre. Of Plums there is none like 
Early Rivers. Plant pyramids of it 10 feet apart, or 435 to the acre, 
and you will soon be rewarded with heavy crops of fine fruit ripe and in 
