March 1, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
171 
of the Pippins, Keswick Codlin, Grenadier, Cellini, and Warner’s 
King. 1383 are pyramids, and the others standards. 
Plums are very largely grown, over 20,000 having been 
planted of no less than 44 varieties. The most approved sorts, 
however, head the list ; for instance, there are 2919 trees of 
\ictoria ; Diamond, 1654 ; Early Orleans, 1650 ; Pond’s 
Seedling, 1506 ; Greengage, 1382 ; Early Prolific, 793 ; Old 
Orleans, 825 ; and Autumn Compote, 800. Of Damsons 8845 
have been planted, comprising 4610 of the Clus'er, a variety 
which is also known as Crittenden’s, and described in Dr. 
Hogg’s excellent “Fruit Manual” as “the best of all 
Damsons ; ” 3260 of the Prune, a fine variety for preserving 
and jam-making ; 700 of the common Damson, 200 of ihe 
Cheshire, and 50 of the Late Black. Cherries are represented 
by 532 trees of nine varieties. Of Bigarreau Napoleon, an 
extremely rich-flavoured variety, there are 100 trees, and the 
same number of Black Heart, a prolific and good-flavoured 
variety. There are also 50 trees each of Frogmore Early, one 
of the Bigarreau type, with juicy pleasantly flavoured fruits, 
Bigarreau Noir and Flemish, a variety similar* to the well- 
known Kentish Cherry. 
The small fruits are very abundant, Black Currants heading 
the list with 167,000 bushes, the produce of which in a few 
years’ time will be enormous. Of Baldwins and Black Naples 
together there are nearly 100,000 bushes, thus forming con¬ 
siderably more than half the total. These varieties are much 
alike, very prolific, and bearing large berries of a pleasant 
flavour. The chief other varieties are Black Grape, or Ogden’s 
Black, which has smaller fruits than the preceding, but of 
good quality ; Lee’s Prolific, one of the most freely fruiting 
varieties, and with very large berries ; and Prince of Wales. 
10,000 Red Currants are grown—5000 each of Raby Castle 
and Scotch Red, the first being a well-known excellent variety. 
Of Raspberries 5000 stools have been planted, all Carters’ 
Prolific, except 1000 of Semper Fidelis ; and of Gooseberries 
no less than 93,000 bushes, the last-named comprising fifty 
varieties. Of these the principal are Crown Bob, 38,450 ; 
Whitesmith, 14,550 ; Lancashire Lad, 9000 ; Warrington, 8000 ; 
and Lancashire Prize, 1000, which may be relied upon to pro¬ 
duce good crops of useful fruit. 
About forty acres are devoted to Strawberries, the variety 
being Stirling Castle Pine, which is said to be of excellent 
quality for preserving purposes. A large additional space of 
land is, however, being planted with a small-fruited variety that 
is a great favourite with the growers in the neighbourhood of 
Isleworth, and known to them as the American Scarlet, but 
which is very similar in qualities to the Grove End Scarlet. 
The fruits though small are very regular in size, of fine bright 
colour, which is not destroyed in preserving, and the flavour is 
rich and sugary. About 20 tons of runners of this variety 
have already been dispatched to Toddington for planting. 
The first-mentioned variety, Stirling Castle Pine, is not much 
known now, still it has been in cultivation over thirty years, 
though when it was raised or by whom does not appear ; but 
in M. J. Decaisne’s Jardin Fruitier it is said to have been 
introduced to France by Vilmorin in 1851, and it is mentioned 
in lists published in the Cottage Gardener about that time. In 
the earlier editions of the “ Fruit Manual ” the variety is thus 
described—“ Fruit large, ovate or conical, pointed, even and 
regular in shape. Seeds small, not deeply embedded. Skin of 
a bright scarlet colour, becoming dark red as it ripens. Flesh 
pale scarlet, brisk and of excellent flavour.” Decaisne de¬ 
scribed he plant as very hardy and fertile and one of the best 
for preserving, which is no doubt due both to its colour and 
flavour. The other appears to be that described by Mr. C. 
McIntosh in his “ Book of the Garden ” as the Old Scarlet, 
and known also as the Scarlet Virginian, Early Scarlet, and 
Old Bath Scarlet, and was at one time greatly valued by confec¬ 
tioners for preserving. The preceding, with 100 Cob Nuts, 
100 Scotch Firs, and 10,000 Poplars for sheltering purposes 
make a grand total of 338,400 trees. 
As further explanatory of the method of planting adopted, 
it may be observed that the space has been strictly economised 
in the market garden style, the standard trees, as already 
stated, being 16 feet apart each way, and the ground between 
planted with bush fruits. By far the greatest portion of the 
land is occupied with Plums and Damsons, and on the west 
side of the estate 167 acres are devoted to them ; two Red 
Curran f , Black Currant, or Gooseberry bushes being planted 
between each pair of standards in the lines, and the rows 
between the lines at equal distances. In some places Rasp¬ 
berries also are placed between the bushes, but this will only 
be a temporary arrangement until the latter need more space, 
when the Raspberries will be removed. On rising ground near 
the above also are 38 acres of standard Plums and Damsons, 
with Black Currants between them, and there are 48 acres 
planted with Raspberries, Black Currants, and Strawberries in 
rows without standards. The space between the Apples and 
Pears is chiefly planted with Red Currants. Such close crop¬ 
ping as this will of course necessitate considerable thinning in 
the future, but in the meantime the bush fruits will be yield¬ 
ing large and useful supplies. 
The produce of this wonderful fruit farm in a few years 
will be simply prodigious, and it might be pertinently asked 
how Lord Sudeley intends to dispose of it. This may be 
explained in a few words. An agreement has just been settled 
between his lordship and Mr. T. W. Beach of Ealing Road, 
the latter to take the whole of the produce of the 500 acres, 
and to dispose of it either fresh or preserved. Mr. Beach has 
had long experience as a fruit-grower and preserver, and he 
has found there is sufficient demand for pure jams to induce 
him to confidently expect the most satisfactory results both for 
Lord Sudeley and himself. A correspondent of a commercial 
journal recently stated that he had seen a manufactory from 
which a compound of Turnips, flavoured and coloured with 
extracts of coal-tar, was being produced for sale as jam, and 
if such injurious substances can command a sale it may be 
reasonably expected that a wholesome compound of good fruit 
and pure sugar must find plenty of purchasers. The farm 
buildings on the estate are now being fitted up for the purpose 
of preserving fruit on a very large scale, and every effort is 
being made by Lord Sudeley to render the establishment as 
complete as possible.—L. Castle. 
CULTURE OF AMARYLLISES. 
These beautiful plants are not grown so extensively in 
many gardens as they deserve to be, for they are amongst the 
most useful and brilliant flowering plants we possess. With 
a good stock of bulbs it is not difficult to have them in flower 
during every week in the year, but they are the most valuable 
when grown to flower during the winter and spring, and are 
very effective when arranged amongst other flowering plants. 
To display their beauty to the most striking advantage they 
should be well elevated. Their flower spikes in the majority 
of instances are produced before the foliage has made much 
progress, and they are invaluable for the decoration of rooms, 
and can be used in these positions without the slightest injury. 
There is a great diversity in the colour of their flowers ; and 
good seedlings are almost as fine as many of the named 
varieties, the colours varying from white to the richest crimson, 
others being striped, while the flowers of some are of a great 
size and very fragrant. Some varieties are very free, and 
produce as many as three spikes from a bulb. 
Amaryllises are of easy culture, as they can be stored under 
the stage in any cool dry position after growth is completed 
and the bulbs thoroughly matured. Some cultivators maintain 
it is advantageous to keep these plants in the same pots and 
allow them to become thoroughly root-bound, as they then 
flower better than when periodically potted. There can be no 
doubt they follow a much wiser course than those who shift 
on the bulbs until they have them in 10-inch pots, as practised 
in many gardens. They certainly increase more rapidly with 
abundance of root room than when confined, but I thin he 
system is erroneous. Potting is general!}' recommended after 
the bulbs have flowered, but this I consider too late, as tho 
roots are then active, and however carefully the operation 
performed it is impossible to do it without injuring them. 
From careful observation I found when the bulbs have been 
properly matured and gradually rested the whole of the thick 
fleshy roots and fibres remain in a healthy condition during 
