556 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 55,1890, 
things sought after is the variegated Holly, but it should be cut 
with a sparing hand, for it takes a lifetime to grow a fair sized 
tree. Leaves of this and the berries I have seen made into wreaths 
and crosses at cemeteries as tributes to departed relatives and 
friends, lasting and looking fresh for a long time ; the leaves as an 
edging all round, with a centre of 2 or 3 inches (according to size) 
of berries stuck in with pins or threaded with a needle. Yariegated 
Box is pretty, but unless it thrives well and there is abundance of 
it, should also be cut sparingly.—A. Harding. 
A GARDENING TOUR IN IRELAND. 
(Continued from page 513.) 
The concluding sentences of my last letter referred to a garden 
visited on the north coast of Antrim, which occupied an extremely 
exposed position, and to that a few words will be devoted in the 
present communication. When gardening is successfully carried 
out under the greatest difficulties we may expect to find something 
of special interest. I have had opportunities of visiting many 
exposed gardens in Great Britain along the east, west, and south 
coasts, and have often been astonished at the results produced 
under most unfavourable circumstances. Upon one occasion I 
journeyed to the late Mr. Percival’s residence at Southpoit, Lan¬ 
cashire, to see his large collections of Orchids there in fine healthy 
condition ; yet the houses were within a short distance of the sea, 
and the prevailing powerful westerly or south-westerly winds swept 
into them laden with salt whenever the ventilators were open, as 
they were very freely and generally. Along the Northumberland 
and Durham coasts also there are several gardens quite near the 
stormy North Sea, as, for instance, Earl Grey’s garden at Howick 
Hall, Lesbury, where Mr. David Inglis has for so many years pro¬ 
duced such excellent cultural results, but there is more protection 
from the winds than at Southport, though the cold is greater in the 
winter and early spring. At Sunderland and in the neighbourhood 
several gardens are still more exposed, with comparatively little 
protection, notably at Seaham Hall, one of the Marquis of London¬ 
derry’s estates, which is under the management of one of the 
oldest Journal subscribers and readers, Mr. R. Draper. There also 
gardening is carried out under adverse circumstances, and 
with no small measure of success. These are only a few examples 
of exposed gardens that occur to me on the moment, and where 
I have been particularly impressed with the disadvantages over¬ 
come, but many others could be named in England, Scotland, 
and Wales occupying equally unfavourable positions. In all such 
even a moderate degree of success depends upon the judgment 
and care exercised on the part of the gardeners, who must be 
essentially experimental at first, as it is only by experience that 
it can be ascertained what plants will form the best protection 
and what others can be grown, either indoors or out, sufficiently well 
to pay for the labour expended upon them. There is a surprising 
difference in the adaptability of plants to particular situations, both 
as regards exposure to cold, to wind, and to the sea breezes, and 
the same remark applies to fruit trees with equal force. Because 
a certain plant, shrub, tree, or variety c£ fruit is found satis¬ 
factory on the west coast it does not by any means follow that 
the same will give as good results on the east. Some plants 
possess a much greater elasticity of constitution than others, and 
to find these will naturally require continual trials for several 
years with close observation of their behaviour in various positions. 
The record of an exposed garden kept by a practical and well 
informed man can thus be rendered both interesting and useful, as 
it serves for a guide to others who are in similar difficulties 
Attention to the matter is especially necessary, because the most 
picturesque situations that can be selected for gentlemen’s country 
or seaside residences are usually the most exposed and the least 
fitted for gardening in a general way. One of the first considerations 
in such a place is to provide something as shelter from wind, either 
walls, fences, hedges, or plantations, and here it may be noted that 
the matter is of considerable importance, as if well done at first 
much after trouble and expense will be spared. A short time since 
a cultivator engaged in flower production in the Scilly Isles was 
discussing this subject with me, and he expressed himself some¬ 
what as follows—“ In our Isles the wind is our greatest enemy, 
and causes our plants and flowers more damage than anything else. 
Many different plans have been tried to obviate this, and a good 
proportion have failed absolutely. Some went to the expense of 
erecting walls, but these, if anything, seemed to aggravate the 
mischief, for the wind bounced over them and descended upon the 
plants with redoubled force. I tried them myself, but was soon 
glad to remove them notwithstanding the expense. Closed fences 
are similarly useless, but partially open ones were better, and best 
of all were strong well planted hedges. They broke the force of 
the wind, which filtered through them as it were, and so satisfactory 
did they prove that I have extended them round, and as divisions, 
on the whole of my land.” This applies, of course, to an ex¬ 
ceptional situation, but there are many places where a similar 
result would be obtained, and in nurseries occupying exposed’ 
positions, and in others for the protection of tender plants, the- 
value of hedges for shelter has been abundantly proved. For a 
garden of any extent something more is required, and a plantations 
belt of the hardier Conifers becomes a necessity. But this long 
preamble is only intended to lead up to a short description of the- 
garden at 
Rankerry House. 
When Lord Macnaghton selected this site near Bushmills for the- 
present spacious mansion he undoubtedly paid more regard to the 
attractions of the coast scenery than to the fitness of the place for 
the development of a satisfactory garden. Many in fact would 
have despaired of ever producing anything of the kind. A large 
measure of success has, however, attended the efforts of the 
gardener (Mr. E. Duffin) to render it not only useful but ornamental 
as well. The house stands on an elevated portion of the cliff over¬ 
looking Blackrock Bay, and commands an extensive prospect along 
the coast to Portrush, with the Donegal coast in the distance, and 
on a bright sunny morning, like that when I was there, it was 
delightful in the extreme. The garden is a short distance farther 
in from the sea, but near enough for the spray to reach it on 
stormy days, and Mr. Duffin says that sometimes he “could go 
round after a storm and gather the salt from the trees and shrubs 
in large quantities by running his hand up the branches.” This, it 
can be readily imagined, must be a serious trial for many plants,, 
and it is with the wind the worst enemy that has to be contended 
against. Somewhat over an acre is enclosed within stout walls, as 
at this elevation these are found absolutely essential for the protec¬ 
tion of glass houses and fruit trees ; but within this enclosure 
hedges of Hawthorn and Elder, 3 or 4 feet high, are employed as 
sectional divisions and for additional protection. The land slopes 
rather steeply to the south, and therefore is well exposed to the 
influence of the sun ; the atmosphere is generally clearer and the 
rainfall less than farther inland, so that certain advantages are 
employed of which the best possible use is made in the production 
of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. 
The natural soil was not well suited for plant growth, and a 
large portion had to be made up by soil brought from a distance. 
This was thoroughly done, however, and by the judicious applica¬ 
tion of fertilisers since it has been gradually brought into good 
condition. The results are seen in the vegetable crops, Cauliflowers 
especially succeeding admirably. Peas also give good returns, Duke 
of Albany, Telephone, and Ne Plus Ultra being the favourites. 
Of other general kitchen garden crops are secured in good quantity 
and quality, so that when Lord Macnaghten and family are in- 
London supplies are sent from Rankerry, and preferred to what 
could be obtained much nearer at hand. A very careful system 
of cropping has to be adopted, and considerable foresight is needed 
to maintain a due succession, as it is not at all uncommon for 
several sowings to be lost. Some idea of the success achieved 
can be formed from the fact that a succession of Cauliflowers 
and Broccoli has been maintained for the past four years with 
only one week break each season. 
Amongst the fruits Strawberries are particularly successful, a 
bountiful crop of fine fruits being obtained from such varieties as 
Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury, Dr. Hogg, President, Duke of Edin¬ 
burgh, and James Yeitch. In several parts of the garden rows of 
compact sturdy plants showed how well these useful fruits can be 
grown when due attention is given them. They reminded me of 
those in the Royal Strawberry Gardens near Yirginia Water, where? 
Mr. Sharp has been so successful, and wherever healthy Strawberry 
plants are grown without an undue luxuriance of foliage the crops 
of fruit are usually the most satisfactory. Currants of various 
kinds thrive, and bear satisfactorily trained to wooden trellises,. 
Lee’s Prolific Black being a great favourite, and a profitable variety 
to cultivate where quantities of fine fruit are required. Red and 
White Currants are also included, and with Raspberries and Goose¬ 
berries give fair returns, though some little trouble has been needed 
to establish them. Upon the walls and in any sheltered places 
Apples, Pears, and Plums are being tried, and some have proved 
satisfactory, while as regards others the record is not yet complete, 
and further results have yet to determine which shall be grown and 
which discarded. As an example of the difference in experience 
with certain varieties, two days before in Leicester I heard a 
practical fruit cultivator condemn the Apple Lord Suffield as 
“ utterly useless ” for that district ; yet here, at Rankerry, in the 
extreme north of Ireland, it gave perfect satisfaction together with 
Lane’s Prince Albert, Potts’ Seedling, Warner’s King, Stirling 
Castle, and Ecklinville. 
One of the special features of Rankerry gardens, however, is a 
