448 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Nov( mbcr 13 1884. 
September—a splendid crop of handsome fruit, consisting of Kead’s Scarlet 
Flesh, Bellamore, Eastnor Castle, and Golden Ptrfection, a selection not 
easily surpassed. One of the low houses devoted to Tomatoes contains a 
grand floriferous example of Allamanda—either A. grandiflora or A. 
Schottii, 1 forget which. This is trained the entire length of the house, 
28 feet, at the back of the centre pit and parallel to the path behind, on 
wires trained horizontally and one above the other, so that no space is lost 
and no dense shade cast anywhere but upon the pathway. This is the 
most economical and successful way of growing this handsome stove 
climber that I have seen ; it was covered with hundreds of its rich yellow 
flowers, and Mr. Gilman says it had been blooming in a similar manner 
since last May. I saw the same plant in equally as good condition in 
July, 1882. 
In the next division is a caj)'tal batch of Tuberoses and Poinsettias, 
some 300 of the latter being grown annually, and chiefly UFed for house 
decoration. They are spring-struck, are about 2 feet in height, and well 
clothed with foliage. These will make a dazzling display in dull November. 
Gardenias are also a speciality at Ingestre, and therefore are grown to per¬ 
fection. The batch for use during next winter and spring were struck in 
February, 1883, thus being of two years’ growth, and for size, vigour, 
cleanliness, and floriferousness are scarcely to be excelled ; indeed, so good 
are they that my steadfast and hitherto unshaken faith in the plan adopted 
by the best of London market growers of growing and keeping large 
plants, and followed by myself, has received a rude shock to which it may 
ultimately succumb. I have known of the “ propagating-frame and 
rubbish-heap ” system ever since it was generally advocated, but neither 
its advocates nor practitioners ever succeeded in convincing me that the 
system was the best, and I believe I have seen some of the finest examples 
in the country. 
The foregoing are brief notices of what is worth seeing in the houses 
at Ingestre, but there are many other equally deserving of mention; for 
instance, the house containing a beautiful collection of Ferns has its rafters 
covered and draped with festoons of Ficus repens, the long sprays of 
which are used in large quantities for house decoration in winter, besides 
giving a useful shade to the plants beneath. In the house adjoining is a 
bright and healthy stock of the usual kinds of “ furnishing ” plants, and 
in numerous pits and frames are the usual autumnal occupants, all in great 
quantity and of high quality. The large and well-stocked kitchen garden, 
eight acres in extent, contains goi d crops of vegetables and of some kinds 
of fruits. Apples are very abundant; by the sides of the paths are several 
thousands of Strawberries in pots plumping up and ripening their crowns ; 
on the space of ground devoted to the Vines, but not interfering with the 
borders, are some huge Pumpkins w'eighing about 120 lbs. These are used 
for decorating the house in winter, dried ornamental Grasses being placed 
amongst them ; when well grouped no doubt they are very effective. 
The pleasure grounds are extensive, well kept, and contain fine 
specimens of deciduous trees and Coniferas ; and though the hall itself, after 
the disastrous fiie in 1882, has been rebuilt, yet no unnecessary damage 
has been done to the surrounding lawns and flower beds, owing to the con¬ 
sideration which caused stout wooden hoardings to be erected at a con¬ 
venient distance around the house, and confined all building operations 
within them. Sr well has this protective system been carried out that two 
magnificent specimens of Magnolia grandiflora on the walls of the house 
itself do not appear to have a leaf injured, and they are about 30 feet in 
height. 
The keeping of the various garden departments at Ingestre prove Mr- 
Gilman to be one of our most able horticulturists, and his courtesy is as 
marked as his undoubted ability. —Visitor. 
CHEYSANTHEMUM AND FRUIT SHOWS, AUTUMN, 1884. 
November ISth and 14th.—Richmond, Brixton, Teddington, and Tunbridge Wells. 
„ 14th.—Reading. 
„ 14th and 10th.—Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Canterbury. 
„ 18th.—Winchester, Yeovil, and Lincoln. 
„ 18th and 19th.—Plymouth. 
„ 19th.—Wimbledon. 
,, 19th and 20th.—Northampton and Birmingham. 
„ 20th.—Taunton, Dublin, and Aylesbury. 
„ 20th and 21st.—Hull, 
„ 22nd.—Loughborough. 
„ 25th.—Manchester. 
„ 25th and 26th.—Liverpool, Basingstoke, and South Shields. 
„ 26th, 27th, and 28th.—York. 
^ WOKK.foiitheWeEK.. ^ 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
The Plantind Season. — Aspect .—Now that the value of cordons 
is understood the advice to turn every foot of wall space to account may 
literally be followed. Well will it be also if in planting against walls 
the influence of aspect receives that attention which it merits. It is 
indeed impoitant to afford shelter to fruit trees by walls, but they may 
also be turned to good account in accelerating and lengthening the reason 
of many of our best sorts of fruit. By planting favourite sorts of Plums, 
Pears, and Cherries against walls facing north, south, east, and west, we 
obtain early, intermediate, and late crops of the same sorts. For 
example, we have Marie Louise, Doyenne du Comice, Williams’ Bon 
Chietien, Comte de Lamy, Thompion’s, Glou Moiq’ru, Napoleon, Winter 
Nelis, Fondante d’Automne, and many of our best Pears on walls facing- 
north, east, and west, and find all the trees grow and bear fruit well, and 
strange to say the trees bearing the most abundant crops regularly year 
by year are those with an aspect facing due east. All the sorts of Gage 
Plums that we have tried against a north aspect answer well, and we 
may note the especial value of fine late crops of Green Gage, McLaughlin’s 
Gage, and Reine Claude de Bavay. We had excellent fruit of the last- 
named sort in October this year. Coe’s Golden Drop may also be men¬ 
tioned as answering equally well against due north and south aspects, 
both trees being alike healthy, vigorous, and fruitful. It must be con¬ 
ceded that south and west aspects are quite indispensable for Peaches, 
Nectarines, and Apricots ; but the facilities which cordons afford for 
comparatively inexpensive trials of other fruit should induce everybody 
having wall space to plant so-called delicate sorts as extensively as possible 
in different aspects. In the southern counties Brown Turkey Fig should 
have a place both against a south and east aspect for a supply of early 
and late fruit, the tree facing east affording plenty of ripe fruit till late 
in autumn. Morello Cherries have long had a liberal share of the north 
wall, but we have also found other sorts of Cherry afford an invaluable 
supply of late fruit from north walls, where a few cordons of Governor 
Wood, Bigarreau, and Black Tartarian afford many a dish of fine dessert 
fruit, and others of Belle Magnifique insure a supply for making Cherry 
jam. It was our intention, when sitting down to write this note, to give 
special lists of fruit for various aspects, but upon consideration we refrain 
from doing so, from a strong conviction that it is unnecessary to do so. 
Rather do we advise you to plant some cordons of each sort already 
given in our lists upon every available aspect of wall or outbuilding, and 
we confidently predict very general success. Unquestionably there will 
be a few failures, and only a few, if the planting and subsequent culture 
be alike skilful and careful for all the trees. 
Bush Fruit .—Raspberries should be planted a foot apart in rows and 
with 6 feet between the rows, shortening each cane to 18 inches before 
planting. In poor soil very heavy dressings of farmyard manure must be 
dug in, or, better still, put in trenches and some soil mixed with it, for 
Raspberries to answer really well. If this ba attended to, and the 
planting is done now, there will be both a fair crop of fruit next season 
and a strong growth of new canes. Black, or rather all Currants, require 
the same care in planting, and then with a plentiful supply of house 
sewage in summer success is certain. Prune and tie established beds of 
Raspberries now, and top-dress all plantations of bush fruit with plenty 
of rich farmyard manure. A sharp look-out must be kept upon Goose¬ 
berry bushes as soon as the leaf falls, for they are then liable to have the 
buds destroyed by birds at any time, and we may once more advise the 
erection of permanent coverings of fine-meshed wire netting over 
Gooseberry plantations in gardens to insure safety from the depredations 
of birds. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Pines. —The importance of light at this season of the year cannot be 
too much insisted upon. To insure this keep the glass clean, and let the 
plants he placed as near to it as can be done consistently with the foliage 
being clear of it. This is somewhat difficult of attainment where 
fermenting beds are employed, as they in time through decomposition 
subside considerably, and newly made ones, unless they be well trodden 
down, are apt to settle rapidly. It is a prevailiug and necessary practice 
to assort the plants before winter, and to give the fruiting plants the best 
places at a time when natural means will not afford much aid. These 
plants, under any conditions, should have a night temperature of about 
65°, and 70° to 75° during the daytime from fire heat, with 10° to 15° rise 
from sun heat. Snccessional plants may safely be kept at 60° at night 
and from 60° to 70° on fine days, advancing, of course, from 5° to 10° from 
sun heat. Young stock which are not prepared to make much growth 
will progress satisfactorily with a night temperature of 55° to 60° and 
65° in the daytime, or on cold or dull days 5° less. Atmospheric 
moisture will he necessary at all times in the fruiting compartments. 
Sprinkling must, therefore, be attended to regularly, and syringing in a 
light house and in bright weather at least twice or thrice a week. In th& 
case of snccessional plants it will only be needed occasionally. For 
fermenting beds of leaves Oak and Beech are the most durable, and as 
these are now available new beds should be made where necessary. It ia 
best, where the extent of glass will admit of it, to free the pits of all the 
plants and not put tbe plants into them until the beds are in proper con¬ 
dition, as more injury arises from shifting the plants about, or putting 
them on cold or very hot beds, than is generally supposed. 
Figs._ Early Mouse .—The house must now be closed for starting, 
hut there must not be any attempt to excite growth until the soil is 
thoroughly moistened, which must he effected by repeated waterings. 
Although Figs may he started at a high temperature, tbe most satisfactory 
results are obtained where the houses are closed early and the roots and 
fruit are allowed to advance steadily under the influence of gentle heat in 
near proximity to the pots. If Oak or Beech leaves are used they should 
be fermented before they are introduced, and for some time afterwards 
they should be watched and allowed to lie loosely until the heat descends 
to 70° or 75°, and this should not be exceeded about the pots, especially 
in the early stages. It is well not to employ fire heat the first fortnight, 
when the minimum temperature may range from 50° to 55 on Hidd 
nights, with a rise of 5° to 10° by day, when a little air at the top of the 
house will allow the atmosphere to become fresh at least once in twenty- 
