140 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 12, 1886. 
from these experiments. Mr. G.lmour can, and perhaps will, give 
instructions on Rose-growing that would be welcome to beginners, and is, 
moreover, in a position to describe something of the wonderful growth of 
Rotes in Tasmania that would be fresh to the majority of Britishers at 
home, his family having estates there as well as at Sandygate, the parish 
in which Highbury is situated, some five miles from Sheffield, and a few 
hundreds of feet above the level of the sea. 
OAKBROOK. 
A call was made on Mr. W. K. Woodcock, Mrs. Mark Firth’s able 
gardener, and an earnest worker in everything that has a tendency to 
improve the horticulture of the district ant benefit his fellow men. Only 
a little can be said about'the garden in his charge. It is thoroughly well 
managed, enjoyable from its excellent keeping, and abundantly produc¬ 
tive. As a grower of Mushrooms he has, perhaps, no superiors and few 
equals, his outdoor beds now yielding splendidly, and he appears to have 
no difficulty in maintaining an all-the-year-round supply of the coveted 
esculent. He is also devoting some attention to Chrysanthemums, and 
has a stock of plants that even a Molyneux would not be disposed to find 
fault with—sturdy, short-jointed, with leathery leaves, and the growth 
ripening as it is made. The crown buds are now being set, and with a 
favourable autumn should produce good blooms. The collection includes 
some American varieties of repute that have not yet flowered in England, 
and seedlings from good parentage that will flower for the first time in 
November. These American novelties are being looked forward to with 
interest by Chrysanthemum growers generally, who are always longing 
for something new and good outside the Japanese section. 
Sharpe’s Victor Potato is worthy of mention as grown at Oakbrook. 
It was sent out as a dwarf early frame variety, but is found far more 
valuable as an early successor of the Ashleaf out of doors on account of 
its great productiveness and high quality. It is oval-shaped, white, and 
of the medium size that is approved at table. Mr. Woodcock recommends 
it as a variety of sterling merit, and grows it as a staple crop, following 
sharply on the Ashleaf and yielding much more abundantly. 
It is not often such fine rows of Peas are seen as in this garden, and 
the method of culture is as simple as it is sensible. In the winter, when 
digging is being done, trenches are thrown out 8 or 9 feet apart, and 
manured as if for Celery. The manure is “ mellowed ” by the time of 
sowing, forming a rooting medium which Peas evidently enjoy, for the 
rows are extraordinarily productive, and pods large and well filled. 
Carrots and other low-growing crops are grown between the rows, so that 
no ground is wasted, while twice the weight of Peas is gathered that could 
be obtained from rows 3 or 4 feet asunder. 
THORNBURY. 
This is the residence of the new Baronet, Sir F. T. Mappin, whose 
garden is in charge of one whose name used to be somewhat familiar to 
the readers of the Journal, Mr. Quintin Read. Like a good and loyal 
servant he expressed his pride at the social elevation of his master, and 
without a doubt takes equal pride in the high keeping of his garden. So 
clean and neat was it, so orderly, and so well in hand, that the keenest 
critic would have a little difficulty in finding fault; and the plants, ViDes, 
and vegetable crops were similarly commendable. Mr. Read is proving 
himself a worthy successor to Mr. Woodcock, who was formerly gardener 
here, and the place is now, what it was then, fit for a prince to see. We 
hurry away to catch the Midland express, and in three hour 3 and thirty- 
five minutes are steaming into St. Pancras. 
THE HORTICULTURAL CLUB. 
It has been my pleasant duty to chronicle each year the pleasant doings of 
“ Our Club ” in the annual outing we indulge in at the end of July, and I do 
so because it has been our good fortune to fix on places which have a wide 
horticultural renown; and there is something therefore in these to interest 
not merely ourselves, who were the happy enjoyers of the scenes, but others 
who in the various branches of our loved persuit like to know what is being 
done around them. 
We were very fortunate in our arrangements this year, as we had 
arranged to go to Heckfield and Stratfieldsaye. One of our members, Mr. 
A. W. Sutton, very kindly underrook to make all the arrangements necessary 
tor our comfort and enjoyment. Nor could we have been in better hands. 
Everything was thought of, and the only regret we had in our day’s 
pleasure that he was unable, owing to business arrangements, to accompany 
us as he intended, a regret which he himself shared. We all assembled at 
the Great Western Station at Paddington, our party numbering about 
twenty, our evergreen Chairman, Mr. John Lee, leading us ; and leaving 
there at 10 a.m we were, in an hour’s time, at Reading, where brakes 
awaited us, and we started off for Heckfield. The drive was not so 
picturesque as some of those through which we have gone in former ex¬ 
cursions, but the day was perfect—warm, but not oppressive, and with a nice 
breeze, while the recent rains had laid the dust, so that we had but little to 
complain of. We reached Heckfield, the well-known residence of that fine 
old English gentleman, Lord Eversley, who, in his 93rd year, can still enjoy 
life, and can take his day’s shooting in his well-stocked preserves. We had 
all heard of, and some of us knew, Mr. Wildsmith, his able and intelligent 
gardener, and had been told that we should see some good gardening ; but 
I do not think that any of us were prepared for the perfect place we bad 
the pleasure of seeing. In some places you find some things well done, 
while others are neglected, but here everything was well done. Fruit indoors 
and out, plants, bedding out, shrubs, trees, lawn—all so good as to cause us 
to wonder how it could be done, but I suppose Mr. Wildsmith infuses some 
of his own energy into those under him, for so energetic a man one does not 
often meet with, or tnergy turned to such good purpose. 
We were first invited to inspect the magnificent carpet bedding on the 
terrace in front of the house. This has more than once been described, and 
therefore it is sufficient to say that it is arranged with exquisite taste, and in 
such a place with such surroundings no one can find fault with the style of 
gardening as adopted here. It is appropriate and so well carried out that 
everyone felt it was a gem of gardening in a very beautiful setting. Raised 
beds took off from the monotonous level one often sees in such gardens. In 
such a place as this, where every kind of gardening finds its place, one was 
glad to see this style so thoroughly well executed. From this terrace there 
is a charming view, a beautifully kept lawn of thirty acres stretches all 
round the house in undulating curves, and in the middle foreground was a 
piece of artificial water, in which the whiteWater Lilies were abundant; 
while far away in the distance beyond the richly wooded country the 
horizon was bounded by the grand trees of Windsor Great Park. In another 
direction the eye rested on one of the oldest houses in England, said to have 
been built for the Black Prince, and all around were glimpses of thoroughly 
English sylvan scenery. When we had sat ; sfied ourselves with these lovely 
sights it was discovered that there were other appetites unsatisfied, and so 
in a tent in one part of the beautiful lawn we adjourned to luncheon. This 
having ended we set out on our pilgrimage through the grounds, admiring 
some fine specimens of both evergreen and deciduous trees, amongst them 
the most beautiful specimen of Abies Douglasi I have ever seen. Larger 
ones of course we have found in our wanderings, but this was most beauti¬ 
fully feathered, and in perfect proportion. We then strolled on down by 
the lake, and from there through the shrubberies into the gardens, meeting 
on our way with shrubs and trees of all kinds. In the gardens there we e 
objects of interest for everybody. Houses full of luscious Grapes, Figs, 
Peaches, &c .; Pine pits (a rare thing now in Euglish gardens), where 
beautiful plauts, clean and healthy, were set with fruits, which promised 
well; and then the Melon pits, how thick they hung! how beautiful in 
appearance, and fine in foliage ! In the kitchen garden everything in grand 
condition, nothing seemed to be neglected, and it is no exaggeration to say 
there was not a weed to be found anywhere, or any sign of untidiness. 
We then passed onto the Chrysanthemums, which Mr. Wildsmith does so 
well. Here were arranged about 700 plants of the best Japanese and 
choice varieties, ranging from 5 to 7 feet high, from which grand blooms 
could be seen, to be gathered by-and-by, and of which probably we shall 
hear more. Time flew rapidly, and we were obliged to tear ourselves away 
from this charming place ; but “ needs must,” and so bidding adieu to Mr. 
Wildsmith we departed for Stratfieldsaye, feeling that although we had 
seen some larger and grand r places, we had not seen one so perfect in all 
its parts as Heckfield, containing beautiful scenery, with the most perfect 
management, and feeling convinced that whatever other places we might 
visit we should never meet a better gardener or more genial companion 
than the one we left behind us heie. The drive from here to Stratfieldsaye 
is about two miles, and when we arrived there we were met by Mr. Bell 
the able gardener, who showed us through the long ranges of fruit and 
plant houses with which this garden abounds. From them we went into, 
the park, admiring on our way some fine trees with which the place abounds. 
The country about, however, is flat, and lacks the natural advantages of Heck¬ 
field ; while the house is like what we suppose would have suited the old 
Duke, whose taste was not a strong point, and whose habits were so simple. 
Had we had more time we should have lingered over the grounds which 
surround the house, but we could not, and had to make our way back to 
Reading. Here we arrived five minutes after the time we had arranged, 
and sat down at the Great W estern Hotel to an excellent dinner, and managed 
to get back in good time to Paddington, where we dispersed to our several 
homes, feeling that all had gone merrily, that we had enjoyed a very 
pleasant and profitable outing, and came back wiser, but I am sure not 
sadder, men (aye, and women too, for we had ladies with U3) than when we 
left Paddington in the morning.—D., Deal. 
CUTTING THE FIRST GROWTHS OF ASPARAGUS. 
Allow me to refresh my versatile opponent’s memory on this sub¬ 
ject. The question on page 12 is not the question on page 64. “ The question 
is,” writes, “ A Thinker,” “whether after this first cutting, as soon as 
they are a few inches high, say early in May, other growths do not spring 
from the crowns and get even stronger the same season than the originals 
would if they wero left to grow unchecked 1 That is the question.” Now 
turn to page 109, twelve lines from the bottom, right hand column, we are 
asked to see no difference—the question remaios as at the beginning, viz., 
“That is just the point of the question I first put on this subject, on 
page 12, namely, “ Is Asparagus strengthened by cutting the small growths 
or ‘ sprue ’ till, say, the beginning of June or not ?” Comparison is invited 
of the question as it appears on pages 12 and 109 with that on page 64. 
I have only to retaliate—give my critic a lesson—“ a great honour.” If 
I “ forget what has been penned at the top before finishing at the bottom,” 
“ A Thinker ” forgets in the middle what he stated at the beginning, and 
states the question to be the same, forgetting it was put very differently. 
Now Mr. Thinker, I must ask if you ever raised an Oak, a Cabbage, or 
anything of that sort from seed. To strengthen the Oak its head was cut 
off below the cotyledons, and the Cabbage below the seed leaves 1 They 
will “spring the sooner and grow the stronger!” The fact is they are 
killed. Cut off the tiny head of the seedling Asparagus when onlv a few 
inches high, in late April or early May, it will spring again. Keep on 
cutting as succeeding heads appear until June. Is that a fair following 
of the question on pages 12 and 109 ? I do not think fora moment it was 
the practice of your correspondent, for he states “ spray,” and that he 
ceitainly would not see until June, therefore your correspondent admits 
the difference between seedling and established Asparagus. It is not 
treated as “ sprue.” It is allowed to make a “ spray,” get good root hold, 
and when it has those remove it, other growths will come “ sooner and 
grow stronger.” This I cannot understand. The succeeding growths are 
different in the seedling to those of, say, a year old Asparagus. If 
we leave the first growth of the seedling, and it is accom¬ 
panied by other sprays stronger than itsel% does the first growth 
