December 16, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
537 
litter to prevent the wind blowing them about. Should this plan not 
meet his views, I would suggest that he should take the roots to where he 
stores his leaves, and where is the labour involved in any of these 
methods ? 
“ 4 Working Gardener” says that as much labour would be necessary 
in lifting and planting the roots as in forcing as he described in his first 
letter. But a man will plant in an hour as many roots as would serve 
a large establishment a whole year, and if the ground is in good heart to 
produce any other crop, it will grow Rhubarb, if two or three spadefuls 
of manure are mixed with the soil where each plant is to be in order to 
give it a good start. Taking up the roots is a small item of labour com¬ 
pared with the excavations advocated. Besides, these trenches just take 
up as much ground as a row of Rhubarb, or one year’s supply. I may 
here add that roots after their second year’s growth should be as good as 
older ones for forcing. Assuming that up to this stage the labour of each 
method is equally balanced, your correspondent has yet to get his materials 
and turn them over the orthodox number of times, wheel them to the 
Rhubarb bed at the rate of two cartloads for each root; and that is not 
all, for if heavy rain or a fall of snow succeeds his operations, the pro¬ 
babilities are that the heat will be “ washed out ” of his fermenting 
material, and some fresh manure has to be added, all of which must, as I 
said before, be wheeled away after forcing is over, and then there are the 
trenches to be filled up. 
11 A Working Gardener ” appears to be averse to the use of a manure 
bed for forcing Rhubarb, and infers that the sticks would be flavoured 
with the manure. Market gardeners never use anything but a hotbed of 
manure for the purpose, and have long ago recognised the economy of 
lifting the roots and placing them on the manure, but I never heard that 
their produce was tainted with it. It is, however, possible for it to be so 
affected if the sticks have to force their way through the manure, as is 
Fig. 74.—Silene pendula compacta flore-pleno. 
likely to happen when forced in the way advocated by your correspondent, 
as it is a most difficult matter to see all the crowns at covering time. The 
plan recommended by me obviates all this, as the crowns are visible, and 
by severing the roots they can be made to fit the pot or box, and if 
crammed well together half as much more produce will be got from each 
pot than when the roots are not lifted. Lukewarm is the temperature 
required in forcing Rhubarb, and to be of service it must be under¬ 
neath the roots, and not above them.—W. P. R. 
SILENE PENDULA COMPACTA ELORE-PLENO. 
AISITOBS to the St. Osyth seed farm of Messrs. .James Carter last year 
were impressed with the extraordinary display of the flowers seen there 
and amongst them this new double pink Silene. Each plant formed 
a perfect cushion of bright pink blooms, deeper in colour than the well 
known single variety, and the long lines represented ridges of flowers that 
were “ quite a sight.” A plant of the aspirant to popular favour is 
figured in the new edition of the “ Yade Mecum ” of the fiim in question, 
a very handsome issue, excelling in character those of its long line of 
predecessors. Messrs. Carter have obliged us with the illustration of this 
distinct annual, that will be equally adapted for pots in the greenhouse 
lines to borders, or massing in flower beds where a cushion-like surface 
of glowing pink is required. It is quite hardy, and on that account if 
raised in the autumn will be valuable for spring gardening. Sown in 
the open ground in early spring it flowers in the summer. 
JODRELL HALL, CHESHIRE. 
That Jodrell Hall is one of the landmark of the east of Cheshire is 
sufficiently indicated by its name. The old hall irresistibly suggests the 
old fam ly traditions with which that name in the past has been so closely 
a ociated. We now find the place so enriched and beautified by skill 
and care, so judiciously exercised and carried out with such exceedingly 
good taste, that we cannot help the impulse which prompts us to put our 
few mentally made notes, made on the occasion of a recent visit, into 
some more tangible form of expression. 
Upon the occasion referred to we took train upon a bright autumn day 
and booked for the nearest point to which the railway traiu can take the 
visitor—some three or four miles from the mansion. The approach to 
Jodrell is most effective, as there is a broad sweep of lawn faultles-ly 
laid which at once attracts attention by its breadth of beautiful velvety 
turf. A broad belt of well selected carefully planted trees skirts the 
high road and secures that privacy and harmonious blending which can 
only be secured by the graceful form of a natural line of living trees. 
The belt is fringed with ornamental trees, choice shrubs, and remarkably 
fine Rhododendrons. 
We have only got thus far when the gardener, Mr. Gough, meets us, 
and very kindly takes us under his charge to point out the features of the 
place as they present themselves. It is very evident that the same skill 
which helped to make Baron Hill famous in the gardening world has 
been actively at work in and about the grounds at Jodrell, and the same 
heartiness of manner and cordiality of bearing shows that time has not 
blunted the enthusiasm or chilled the warmth of his heart. He is full 
of zeal as ever, and seems to bring before us the vivid reality of things 
as they were. “ Here we took away this and that, and made it as you 
see it. There we founl a little clump of pretty shrubs would claim the 
attention of a passing glance, whilst here a badly planted group of 
stunted growth broke the line of symmetry and concealed the line of 
beauty which helped to make the corner complete. Yes, and the lawn 
we are now standing upon was, twelve months ago, a bare field, and 
now we have lawn and carriage drive where before there was but the 
unattractiveness of a piece of poor pasture.” 
So do we have the story of the place’s develop¬ 
ment told us as we proceed, and now we get round 
to the outhouses, and stay a moment to admire the 
fine stables, where we are told the popular squire, J. 
E. Rcis3, Esq , has over twenty horses, for this is a 
hunting country, and runs with “the Cheshire” are 
brisk, aud for the most part over heavy ground, so 
that for a keen sportsman a large reserve is need¬ 
ful for the possible demands of “ a brilliant season.” 
Here is the Hall itself, with its added “ new wing,” 
the design of which is quite in keeping with the archi¬ 
tecture of the older portions, and with the natural 
surroundings of the home. 
But in the gardens and grounds lie, for us, the 
chief charms of attractiveness, and here, in front of 
the dining-room window’, we find a very imposing 
arrangement of beds filled with Daisies and Silenes, 
giving a quaint prettiness to the raised mounds which 
show their dainty occupants off to such advantage. 
They are planted out upon gradually rising bosses, and 
are thus brought into a more effective prominence. 
The additions and improvements are by no means 
confined to the grounds, however, for we now find 
ourselves confronted by a handsome glass structure, re¬ 
cently erected by Messrs. Allen & Co. of Holmeschapel, 
and which makes a most beautiful conservatory. Though so recently 
built it is already well stocked with remarkably fine specimens of Chrysan¬ 
themums, Salvias, and other late-flowering plants. The fernery and 
grotto really deserve more time than we can afford to give to their 
inspection now, but we notice the rockwork in the latter is covered with 
fine specimens of Adiantum farleyense, A. cuneatum, &e., with here and 
there, in graceful repose, the drooping fronds of Pteris argyrea, the bright 
silver in striking contrast and pleasing relief to the other Ferns in the 
subdued light. In the stove there are some fine specimens of Anthu- 
riums, and some well coloured Dracaenas and Crotons, the back wall 
being covered with the variegated leaves of Begonia Rex. 
Then there is a Camellia house filled with fine and well-trained speci¬ 
mens, all of which are crowded with buds, and give promise of an abundant 
supply of bloom during the winter, whilst the stages arranged round the 
house are full of healthy plants of Cinerarias of a splendid strain, all in 
the “ pink of perfection ” as to health and cleanliness. Pelargoniums, in 
bloom, and Primulas have a house also to themselves, and just now they 
are in ad the gorgeous splendour of full flower. 
We must leave much unseen as we hurry on to the vineries and find 
here, as elsewhere, every foot of space utilised, for upon every available 
shelf and ledge we find Strawberries for forcing vigorous and healthy. 
Mr. Gough is specially proud of his vineries, and justly so. We could 
scarcely credit the fact that the foundations were not dug until the 
later months of 1885, and now there are Vines bearing splendid bunches 
of fruit fit for the show table. These Vines are planted in the centre 
of the house to provide temporary supplies, whilst in front are those in¬ 
tended to remain permanently. Canes planted this spring — Black 
Hamburghs, Alicantes, and Lady Downe’s—are carrying seven or eight 
bunches of fruit of 2 or 3 lbs. each, colouring beautifully, and bearing 
evidence of the care and skill bestowed upon them. On each side of the 
vinery are the Peach houses, built at the same time, and the young trees 
so recently put into position have made splendid wood, and are full of 
fruit buds. We must see the kitchen garden if only for the sake of some 
specially commendable Celery, Endive, and other such necessaries of the 
culinary corner, which Mr. Gough so wisely guards carefully, knowing 
its value where the house demmds are so large and constant. The walls 
