390 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
the frame ground for grouping with Fuchsias, &c., and for which 
purpose this Campanula is admirably adapted. Apples and bush 
fruit are also grown in the kitchen garden. 
GLASS DEPARTMENT. 
All the glass houses, pits, frames, fruit, and store-rooms, 
together with Mr. Haines’ cottage (the porch and walls of which 
are covered by Jasminum officinale, Wistaria sinensis, and 
, Jargonelle Pear, the stem of the latter being 3 feet round), are, 
excepting one small range, situate in No. 2 kitchen garden. 
They consist of three or four vineries, Melon and Cucumber 
houses, stove and greenhouse, small Orchid house, and Pine pits, 
and the best and greatest number of cold pits and frames that I 
have ever before seen in one gardening establishment. 
Grapes .—By way of describing the good crops and perfect 
finish of the Grapes in these fine gardens we would only say that 
with examples of them Mr. Haines (soon after my visit) carried 
off first honours at several of the local shows—shows at which 
exhibitors whose names are associated with the production of 
first-class Grapes competed. The varieties which Mr. Haines 
grows are Black Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling, Buckland Sweet¬ 
water, Madresfield Court, Lady Downe’s, Mrs. Pince, Gro3 Colman, 
and Muscat of Alexandria, one rod of the latter being especially 
deserving of notice as illustrating—if illustration be necessary— 
the manageableness of the Vine, and also as showing how the 
space occupied by the one under notice could be profitably 
utilised in many other vineries if necessary. It is planted against 
the back wall in the centre of a lean-to house 80 feet long and 
in two divisions. A single rod having been (years since) taken 
up to the top transversal wire immediately under the ventilators, 
and trained to it right and left the entire length of both houses, 
was finishing one hundred compact average-sized bunches to 
perfection ; and although the division in which the Vine is planted 
had been started several weeks in advance of the one containing 
its left arm, the only perceptible difference in the quality of the 
crop, as might be expected, was in colour, the bunches on the 
“right arm” being, as regards the coveted “amber,” slightly in 
advance ot the others. 
Melons and Cucumbers .—These are grown mostly in pits and 
frames, and were in various stages of development, bore ample 
evidence of skilful management, as also did, among others, well- 
flowered plants of Eucharis amazonica, Stanhopea tigrina, Sacco- 
labium Blumei, Imantophyllum miniatum, Balsams, Begonias, 
Fuchsias, Lilium auratum, See., and these, being tastefully arranged 
with Ferns, See., had a very pleasing effect, which would be supple¬ 
mented later on by the flowers of Primulas, Cinerarias, Cyclamens, 
&c , which, in some of the pits in front of the houses, gave promise 
of a good floral display during the winter and spring months. 
The shedding accommodation contiguous to and communicating 
with the back premises of Mr. Haines’ cottage is of such a descrip¬ 
tion as is unfortunately seldom met with in gardening establish¬ 
ments, being substantially built, provided with good doors and 
windows, and internally fitted up in accordance with the special 
use of the respective compartments (which communicate with 
each other) into which this long range is divided so as to afford 
a proper place for everything ; and, judging from the internal 
condition of the individual sheds, everything would appear to be 
kept in its proper place. 
Waste Water. —In the second division of the kitchen garden, 
and within easy reach of the numerous forcing houses and pits, is 
a large ornamental oval-shaped basin of stone and cement, into 
which all the waste water from tanks occupying higher positions 
than the former, as also from the roofs of the extensive stables, 
garden sheds, &c., is conducted through underground pipes. 
The importance of being provided with a reservoir of this kind 
in these burning-of-ancestral-mansion days must be apparent 
to the proprietor of every country mansion. Moreover, the 
presence of such a reservoir in the garden as the one under notice 
is not only an ornamental, but also an almost priceless feature in 
the summer, when during the presence of a spell of dry weather 
the demand for water often more than exceeds the supply. 
Flower Garden .-—In addition to the flower beds in the beautiful 
lawn opposite the west front of the mansion there is ensconced 
between the second and third divisions of the kitchen garden and 
thick well-kept hedges of Box and Hornbeam the most cosy 
flower garden that we have seen for many a day, and whither a 
private walk through the grounds and a shady bower leads from 
the house. It consists of fifty beds, geometrically laid out in Box 
and gravel, and which, together with two raised side borders, were 
ablaze with a variety of colour, the arrangement of which bore 
evidence of good taste. 
Before concluding these brief notes of the gardens at Coleshill 
—a place which for a long period has been familiar to your agri¬ 
cultural readers by reason of the cattle and pigs from there being 
annually awarded high honours at the Smithfield and Boyal 
Counties Meetings—I would remark that its noble proprietor, who 
is not only a most popular Master of Foxhounds, but also the 
best of landlords and masters, takes a great interest in his gardens 
(the management of which reflects great credit on Mr. Haines), 
and is a capital judge of their produce.—W. W. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Hitherto the work in this department has been chiefly digging, 
sowing, and planting ; but as growth is now advancing, other 
matters must have timely and proper attention. Work in the 
flower gardens and pleasure grounds is always pressing at this 
time, and in attending to this the kitchen garden is very apt to be 
neglected, much to the disadvantage of the crops. When it rains, 
or the soil is too wet, all hands are put to cut grass and edge 
walks, and on a fine dry day hoeing receives chief attention. 
Many Peas are requiring stakes now, and they should have 
timely attention, as nothing is more against the ultimate success 
of the crop than allowing the young growths to be injured at an 
early stage of their development. All tall-growiDg crops, such as 
Broad Beans, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Potatoes, &c., should be 
earthed up. The drag hoe is often used for this work, but a fork 
is very much better, as it loosens the soil so well and leaves the 
surface free and open. Turnips, Carrots, Parsnips, and all young 
plants which have formed five or six rough leaves, should be 
thinned to 6 inches apart in the rows. Thin sowing of good seed 
saves much of this work, and it has other advantages. Our 
practice is only to thin to half the distance at first, and the 
whole further on. With Turnips, for instance, we would thin now 
to 6 inches apart, and in ten days again every alternate one would 
be removed, and as by this time failure from any cause would not 
be likely to occur, we could rely on having a regular crop. As 
soon as any thinning has been done the Dutch hoe should be 
immediately employed to destroy young weeds. 
Plant out early Celery in trenches which have been thoroughly 
manured, and early Brussels Sprouts and Savoys which may be 
required for special purposes should be planted when the atmo¬ 
sphere is humid and the soil moist. Winter Spinach is now 
throwing up the flower spikes, and it should be cleared off, the 
ground well manured and deeply dug, and then planted with 
Veitch’s Autumn Giant Cauliflower. Another sowing of Kidney 
Beans may be made ; indeed, all our Kidney Bean seed will soon 
be sown, as we find May a most suitable month to sow runners to 
bear up until frost or cold kills them. Spinach runs fast to 
flower in hot weather, therefore sow small quantities often now. 
Between our Gooseberry and Currant bushes is a favourite place 
for our summer Spinach, as the ground there is generally cool, 
shady, and suitable. 
Asparagus is now coming up satisfactorily, and the best way to 
secure a full crop and long succession of heads is to cut every one 
of them as they attain a height of 6 inches or so. When some of 
the shoots are allowed to run up from the first it is very seldom 
that all the dormant eyes or buds are induced to grow, and the 
supply is stopped before it should be, but by cutting all of them 
every bud is obliged to push forth. Indoor Cucumbers are now 
bearing most freely, and they are growing so fast that every plant 
has to be stopped and trained twice weekly to keep them in bounds. 
The short-spur system is the best for Cucumbers ; in fact, no other 
will do at this season. The same remark applies to Tomatoes, as 
they must be frequently restricted now, and where they are 
bearing a full crop liquid manure must be applied unstintingly. 
A dryness at the root causes the fruits to ripen prematurely, and 
it also curtails flavour. Mushroom beds formed in cool sheds two 
months ago are now bearing freely, and others may still be 
formed. We attach much importance to having the manure in 
such a condition that it will retain a heat of 70° for at least three 
months after being made into a bed. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Figs. —Early-forced Figs in pots are now ripening, and will 
be greatly improved by liberal ventilation with a free circulation 
of warm air and full exposure to the sun, it being impracticable 
to have highly coloured well-flavoured Figs when the fruit is 
shaded. Heavy watering at the roots must be avoided, yet suffi- 
