534 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
and prosper during a period in which too many have succumbed 
to the vicissitudes of the seasons and the force of circumstances. 
Instead of grieving at the cruelty of Fate, and moving slowly on 
the old lines as if there were no American grain and cattle, he 
admits the competition and endeavours to meet it. Both in stock 
and cropping he knows only the best will pay. With labour and 
manure he is generous, the most approved machinery being pro¬ 
vided for expediting the former, while artificial manures best 
suited for each crop and the soil are largely and profitably em¬ 
ployed, very careful experiments having been conducted for 
determining their adaptability in every case. 
As an instance of the manner in which stimulants are used, 
30 tons of nitrate of soda have been applied to certain crops during 
the present season ; and as an example of the manner of working, 
the peculiar state of a Barley field and its treatment may be ad¬ 
duced. The growth of the Barley was regular, yet irregular, for 
between breadths that were satisfactory were strips apparently 
worthless—strips of luxuriance alternating with others denoting 
exhaustion. Various fertilisers were tried on small portions and 
the effects carefully watched for ; but there was no response and 
it was eventually surmised that as the Turnips were trimmed and 
removed from the land that the tops that were cast on each side 
by the trimmers were not spread equally over the surface before 
ploughing, and in such a case the portions cleared would be de¬ 
prived of potash, while the others where the tops were cast and 
ploughed in would have a double quantity. Potash was then 
promptly tried on the exhausted corn, and the effect was almost 
magical, the signal for a sufficient dressing being given to every 
part needing assistance. The result of this will be found at harvest, 
but can be foreshadowed now, for instead of a comparatively 
worthless crop, over about half the field a level yield of 7 qrs. per 
acre is expected. As yet there is nothing much pertaining to 
Vines. The reason of this is we are not yet at the Vineyard, but 
at Mr. Cooke’s residence at Flitcham Abbey, some eight or nine 
miles distant, and the experience narrated is far too suggestive to 
be overlooked, even if it blocks the way to a chat about Grapes. 
Mr. Cooke’s experience with artificial manures is so great that it 
is hoped he may at some convenient time be induced to communi¬ 
cate his information, which would be valuable. Both of the garden 
and home-farm departments of this Journal he is an attentive 
reader, and it is only justice to the skilful writer of the latter to 
say that he has won the approbation of such a close observer and 
competent agriculturist as Mr. Cooke. 
Now, at last, to the vineries. They are at Lynn—West Lynn 
it is called, because it can only be reached by a ferry over a 
broad tidal river, near its effluence with the Wash. The Grapes 
are grown here for two reasons, and both substantial. First 
because the Vineyard is on Mr. Cooke’s freehold, and secondly 
because the land is far better, being rich alluvial soil, than the 
drier, poorer, thinner chalk formation at Flitcham. The soil 
around Lynn, marshland, is a rather strong greasy loam, cal¬ 
culated, agriculturally, to produce food for a bullock and five 
sheep per acre. All kinds of fruit trees grow well, and Straw¬ 
berries luxuriate. It was therefore conceived that good Grapes 
ought to be produced if suitable structures were erected and 
competent supervision provided. Good structures there are, also 
a very competent manager in Mr. Stephen Castle ; and Grapes of 
the late varieties are plentiful and of the first quality. 
Mr. Cooke’s object in growing Grapes was twofold. First 
because of the pleasure their good culture would afford him, 
and secondly because he expected a fair return for his outlay. 
Anything beyond a moderate return he neither hoped for nor 
expected. In this he was undoubtedly wise, for it is certainly 
not everywhere that a fortune can be made by Grape-growing 
now-a-days. Indeed, those who have not had much experience 
in the work usually lose before they gam, and gather wisdom as 
they go, profiting eventually by mistakes ; while as for private 
gentlemen expecting to defray the cost of their gardens by selling 
the surplus crop after consuming the best produce, the idea, 
broadly speaking, is preposterous, yet it is entertained by some, 
to the discomfort of some correspondingly distracted gardeners. 
The vineries are commodious, carefully designed, substantially 
built, and well-finished structures, efficiently heated, and a good 
water supply provided. They are, in fact, just such as we should 
expect to find in the well-appointed garden of a nobleman. They 
are also as clean and orderly as if adjoining a mansion. The 
principal range a lofty lean-to, faces the south. At right angles 
with this are two other lean-to’s, each 80 feet long, one facing 
west, the others east. The space thus enclosed on three sides is 
occupied by span-roofed structures running east and west, the 
whole forming a very compact block of excellent houses three or 
four years old. 
Before the space was occupied with Vines Tomatoes were grown 
extensively, and with great success ; but tbeir culture commer¬ 
cially is now being practically discontinued, and they never 
proved so remunerative as many have supposed them to be. On 
this account probably it is that the two long lean-to’s facing east 
and west are now occupied with Cucumbers, but it is not unlikely 
that one of them at least will eventually be devoted to Muscat 
Grapes. Mr. Castle can detail his experience in growing Cucum¬ 
bers on the non-ventilating system, his first failing then succeeding 
better than I can ; and it is only necessary to add in confirmation 
of his observations (on p. 530), on watering, that beyond question 
one great cause of failure was an insufficiency of moisture at the roots 
The soil was moist on the surface, but on digging down to the 
base of the bed over the hot-water pipes it was dry as dust. The 
direct result of this is that fruit forms and the flowers expand, 
but there is no further progress ; the small Cucumbers turn hard, 
curl up, decay at the points, and all is over. When the cause of 
the evil was determined water that was before given hesitatingly 
was now applied copiously, gallon after gallon being poured in as 
fast as it drained away. The result was almost magical, and fine 
fruits are now swelling freely—a hint that may perhaps be 
turned to account by those who have Cucumbers that are not 
satisfactory, and the plants growing and trying to produce fruit 
over hot-water pipes. 
Two varieties of Cucumbers grown at West Lynn merit attention 
—namely, Elliott’s Yorkshireman and Sander’s Telephone. These 
are very free and very fine. The Yorkshireman averages 18 inches 
long, is short-shouldered, blunt-ended, of uniform thickness 
throughout, good colour, inclining to dark, and carrying a thick 
bloom. Telephone is somewhat longer, a little thinner, and 
slightly tapering, also a shade lighter in colour, yet is a very 
attractive fruit. Both these Cucumbers are of good quality, and 
according to the report on page 522 they secured the chief prizes in 
competition at the York Show. Notes on Grapes at Lynn must 
be postponed.— Inspector. 
ROSES ON THEIR OWN ROOTS. 
Under the above heading I ask a little more space in your 
valuable paper, hoping thereby to clear up the mystery in some 
form as set forth by “ A. F. M.” (see Journal , June 7th, page 467) 
as to how good my “best” Boses are. I stated in the first place I 
was not an exhibitor, and only claim for my Roses average merit, 
yet surely it will be allowed that a gardener can and does do a 
thing well, though he be not allowed to exhibit. 
Bearing this in mind, I send two or three of my average Roses 
taken from plants on their own roots, each plant carrying from 
one to two dozen Roses in different stages of development. The 
cuttings were inserted in the autumn of 1881, and the plants 
grown without any special preparation in an ordinary kitchen 
garden border, and I beg of the Editor to give his opinion as to 
their merits. If considered by him second or third-rate for the 
season I am content, and will strive to do them better another 
year. I have noticed particularly this spring as they open those 
on their own roots, those worked on the Briar, and those on the 
Manetti. As regards the bloom one is equal to the other, so far 
as I can see. Charles Lawson does the kindest of any I have 
tried on its own roots, and John Hopper next; the same difference 
may be noticed, I think, no matter on what stock these may be 
worked. 
I feel sure “ Y. B. A. Z.,” had he studied my paper on prepar¬ 
ing the Rose cuttings and inserting the same, that he would observe 
two buds would be beneath the soil. I cannot say why I remove 
the two lower buds, unless it be that cuttings root more freely, 
but looking at the subject from a practical point of view one bud 
removed would suffice for that purpose. Hitherto I have potted 
all my stock, and do not consider it time wasted, but rather a gain. 
If “ Y. B. A. Z.” really cannot find time for this I would advise 
him to use a one-light frame, or as many with one light as he 
might require, and place the cuttings 6 or 8 inches apart each 
way. They might then be left for one or two years before finally 
transplanted ; but so practical does his writing appear that I fear 
he might learn me a lesson rather than I teach him. 
I ought to say I do not grow a large quantity, but just so many 
as I think I can attend to well. This applies to other things as 
well as the Rose. My entire stock of pot Roses (proper) all told 
is only fifteen. If I do these well they are worth more than 
double that quantity badly done. 1 beg to thank “ Y. B. A. Z.” 
for the list of varieties given, and wish him hearty success with 
the Rose.— A. J. Sanders. 
[Considering the age of the plants, and that each is bearing 
from one to two dozen blooms, we consider three of the examples 
before us—La France, John Hopper, and Charles Lawson—excel¬ 
lent ; the remaining one, Capitaine Christy, not being expanded. 
