March 23, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
237 
lime has also a stronger affinity for sulphuric acid than ammonia 
has. But here there are other influences at work. The formation 
of the insoluble carbonate of lime controls and overcomes the action 
of affinity, and indeed, if moisture be present in small amount 
only, the action is in the other direction. The sulphuric acid or 
sulphate of ammonia deserts the ammonia and takes the lime for 
its partner, according to the usual order of affinity. From an 
agricultural point of view this question is full of interest. The 
action also of the soil itself in promoting the decomposition of 
chemical substances must be considered fully. This action is 
more powerful probably than that of affinity.— Inquirer, 
EPIGJEA REPENS. 
The difficulty in growing this lovely little undershrub (the May¬ 
flower) is mostly experienced in inducing it to commence growth 
when it is received from nurserymen. Three years ago, in the 
winter, Messrs. Woolson & Co. of New Jersey, sent us, along with 
Sarracenia flava, a good plant of Epigaea, and the weather being 
cold we considered it better to pot and keep it indoors until better 
weather. Both the Pitcher-plants and the Mayflower were treated 
in the same way, and made some young growth. When sufficiently 
inured to outdoor temperature they were planted out, both kinds 
in peaty soil kept moist by a miniature stream of water. The 
Epigaea had already formed its leaves, so now made only its 
flowering buds for next year, which always remain conspicuous 
throughout half the summer previous to next spring’s flowering. 
The Pitcher-plants formed beautifully shaped pitchers, some above 
18 inches high that year, but the next two winters being very severe, 
they, although existing, only seemed to recover sufficiently to brave 
another winter, and, this being a very mild one, we hope to see 
better growth. 
The Mayflower at the present time has abundance of Stepha- 
notis-like flowers in miniature, waxy, and lasting as long. The first 
flowers, or rather all the flowers, when first open are pure white, 
gradually changing to a very delicate rose. A delicious perfume 
is emitted, which I can best compare to that of Orange blossom. 
This is the prettiest plant we have in our garden at present, and 
one of the best American undershiubs.—T. D. H. 
DOINGS AT BURGHLEY. 
On page 198 reference was made exclusively to the outdoor depart¬ 
ments of the gardens at Burghley, but the work under glass is equally 
good, the useful rather than the ornamental aspects of gardening 
having primary attention. Fruit-growing preponderates over plant 
culture; still plants are represented, and not one is to be seen that is 
not worthy of the space it occupies, either for affording flowers for 
cutting or for serving some decorative object connected with the 
establishment. In these notes no attempt will be made to describe 
in detail the contents of each structure, nor will the length and width 
of each house be stated ; neither is it conceived to be a matter of great 
moment to observe whether we turn to the left or the right when we 
leave one range and enter the next, or whether a door opens inwards 
or outwards. It is true all such particulars are not unfrequently given 
in descriptions of gardens, but they have never appeared to me of 
commanding importance, either by their interest, usefulness, or sug¬ 
gestiveness. All such minutiae, therefore, will be omitted, and all that 
will be said as affording an idea of the extent of the glass is, that 
8000 feet of hot-water piping and two of Weeks’ tubular boilers are 
employed for heating, these being used alternately, and answer admir¬ 
ably, “ not having,” as Mr. Gilbert states, “ cost sixpence for repairs 
for thirteen years.” The houses are chiefly lean-to’s, and not lofty, 
supplemented by some useful span-roofed pits. 
VINES IN POTS. 
Several houses are devoted to Grape culture. The earliest Grapes 
are produced by Vines in pots, which afford satisfactory evidence of 
a bountiful crop. Several varieties are grown, the canes being very 
strong and the pots large, 14 or 15 inches in diameter. Two rows of 
Vines occupy the house, one row placed near the front reaching half 
way up the rafters ; the other at the back of the pit furnishing the 
upper portion of the house. Very early forcing is not attempted, the 
cultivator being alive to the fact that more than twice the weight of 
Grapes can be had in April and early May with half the trouble that 
ia requisite to have an inferior crop ripe in March. The fine well¬ 
shouldered bunches now being produced resemble those ordinarily 
produced by permanent Vine3, and the crop will undoubtedly be 
heavy. The Vines are grown from cut-backs, by which system 
stronger canes can, as a rule, be had than by producing them from 
eyes in one season. The cut-backs, in 6-inch pots, were being shifted, 
and many of them are now in their fruiting pots, the growths being 
4 to 5 feet high, and as strong as the fruit-bearing laterals on perma¬ 
nent Vines. Those who desire to grow Vines in pots and have not 
well-heated and light structures for securing very early growth, will 
find the advantage of growing the Vines on thi3 system ; that is, by 
inserting the eyes late rather than early, and letting the plants 
remain in 6-inch pots, cutting their canes down to the lowest good 
eye in winter, and starting the growth during the light days of spring 
instead of the dark period of winter. This is a hint for amateurs ; 
competent gardeners need no advice on this subject, for they know 
which system of Vine-raising is best adapted to the means at their 
command. 
VINES FOR TABLE DECORATION. 
A few Vines are being raised in pots for table decoration, after 
the manner of a very fine specimen that was exhibited at South 
Kensington by Mr. Sage of Ashridge in 1878. A cane is drawn 
through a 6 or 7-inch pot, round which it is twisted, and the pot filled 
with rich soil. This pot stands on the soil of the larger pot in which 
the Vine is growing. The cane is taken upwards to the height re¬ 
quired. then turned so as to form a hoop, round which the bunches 
are produced. By the autumn the smaller pot is crowded with roots, 
which, when the Grapes are ripe, will afford the necessary support 
after the cane is severed from the original roots, and one of the most 
appropriate and beautiful of ornaments is produced for a large dining- 
table or side-board during the shooting season. “ Nothing new about 
that,” some readers may say. The plan is certainly not new, neither 
is it common. I had Vines similarly grown under my charge nearly 
thirty years ago ; but we may go back further, say about two thousand 
years, for Cato, who lived 150 years B.C., described particularly the 
mode of raising Vines by passing up a shoot through a hole made in 
the bottom of a pot filled with earth. There is thus nothing “ new ” as 
regards the system of propagation ; but whether the luxurious Homan 
emperors employed the Vines for the same purpose as they are pro¬ 
vided at Burghley there appears no evidence to show. Amongst the 
Vines in pots Abercaimey Seedling is showing fine bunches, and 
Mr. Gilbert is as firmly impressed as ever with its distinctness and 
great usefulness as a late Grape. 
ESTABLISHED VINES. 
Except a house of very old Black Hamburghs now starting, most 
of the Vines are grow r n in inside borders, or rather pits, 5 or 6 feet 
wide and 3 feet deep ; the latest Vines, however, in a long range have 
more root room. The Grapes from these Vines, Lady Downe’s and 
Alicantes, are cut and “bottled,” the fruit being fresh and of excel¬ 
lent quality. The rods are pruned, but neither peeled nor painted, 
the former process being unnatural, and the latter fast becoming 
obsolete ; but habit is so powerful that many good gardeners cannot 
relinquish the practice of daubing the canes with a dirty pigment. 
The last Vine I thus dressed was in 1850. Thus I do not speak without 
experience of managing Vines and keeping them clean on the non¬ 
daubing system. 
The useful late white Grape Trebbiano is a favourite at Burghley, 
a house being devoted wholly to it, filled with five Vines. These 
Vines are grown somewhat on the principle that is now being de¬ 
scribed by Mr. Taylor ; but as yet the extension system is not carried 
out so fully at Burghley as it is at Longleat, and perhaps never will 
be, for as at present managed the Vines give complete satisfaction. 
This is considered by competent judges as being the finest “Treb¬ 
biano house ” in the country. A house of Muscats merits notice. 
The Vines are only two years old, but they have been so freely 
grown as to appear much older, and are undoubtedly in first-class 
condition, the rods being very strong, short-jointed,' firm and clean. 
Adjoining is another house of Muscats, the Vines having been raised 
from eyes last February and planted in July. The canes are strong, 
well matured, and have bold eyes. According to the practice of 
some cultivators these rods ought to have been cut pretty closely 
down. Mr. Gilbert, however, fails to see the necessity of such close 
pruning, and these are left some 10 or 11 feet in length. They are 
certainly strong enough to bear a few good bunches, and as the older 
Vines treated in the same manner are in all respects excellent the 
practice in question is found to succeed well at Burghley. Only 
sufficient foliage is permitted to form in the summer that can be 
fully exposed to the sun ; in fact the method of culture is precisely 
that which was advocated by Mr. Iggulden some weeks ago. 
PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
A large extent of glass is devoted to these fruits, and it is rare 
indeed to find trees in better bearing condition. They are excellently 
trained and furnished to the centre with bearing wood thinly dis¬ 
posed. A great number of shoots are not shortened at all, and none 
severely. Thinning rather than shortening is the principle of ma¬ 
nagement, and it is a sound principle. Overcrowding of the growths 
is ruinous to Peach trees, and examples of it are far too common. 
The varieties chiefly grown at Burghley are Early Alfred, Dr. Hogg, 
Bellegarde, and Barrington. Nectarines are less numerous, and 
consist chiefly if not entirely of Elruge and Victoria. A tree of the 
latter is a model, something to be proud of, and it afforded the first- 
prize fruit at the great Manchester Exhibition last year. Camellias 
are trained to the back walls of the houses ; these handsome shrubs 
and Peaches succeeding well together, the shade of the trees on the 
trellis in summer being exactly suited for the plants on the wall. 
There are thousands of square yards of bare back walls in Peach 
houses in this country, and thousands of Camellias waiting to cover 
them—a hint that may be turned to profitable account. 
