440 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 9, 1892. 
inches in diameter, and as the plants were in 5*inch pots they were very 
useful for many purposes. 
While writing on the above subject I should like to add that I have 
heard a rumour that there is to be a gathering of Paxton Societies, or to 
be more explicit. Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Societies, at Grimston. 
If this could be brought about I think that the members of the various 
societies would be well rewarded for a journey there, as the gardens 
under the able supervision of Mr. Clayton are in the highest state of 
excellence, a walk through them being a source of much pleasure. 
Passing through the fruit houses, of which there is a long range, the 
Vines and Peaches evoke admiration. Pines are grown and show evidence 
of good cultivation, as also do the Melons, of which there is a splendid 
crop. Figs and Strawberries receive good attention. Going from the 
fruit to the plant houses and conservatory one cannot help but admire 
the health and vigour of their contents. Ferns and Orchids are 
well grown, and it is almost impossible to single out anything for 
individual praise, as everything seems to be done well that is worth 
growing both indoors and out. I have no doubt that visitors would have 
a cordial welcome both from Mr. Clayton and his courteous assistant, 
Mr. Snell.— Eboe. 
VINE MANAGEMENT. 
The remarks of “ E. M.” on page 371 contain many useful hints, 
and, as he points out, there are few gardeners who are able to train 
their Vines 2 or 3 feet from the glass on account of the houses not 
being built high enough. It is, however, a great advantage to be able to 
do so, and one which is often overlooked where the necessary light is 
provided. I have in my mind at present an instance of this, where the 
Vines might with advantage to all concerned be trained fully 6 inches 
further from the glass at the front of the house, and considerably more 
than that at the apex. There are but few vineries in which it would 
be di£cult to allow the shoots more room at the top, for it is by no 
means imperative for the trellis to be fixed at the same angle as the 
roof. If it is necessary to have this fixed 17 inches from the glass at 
the bottom the distance could be gradually increased to 24 or 30 inches 
at the top. This is an advantage in many ways. One is that the apex of 
a vinery being the hottest part of it the Vines are much benefited by 
being trained further from the glass at that poin', and are less liable to 
the attacks of red spider in bright weather, and the nearer they are to 
the floor the easier it is to attend to the operations of stopping, tying, 
and thinning. I would, therefore, strongly advise all who have the 
fixing of trellises in vineries for the future to allow as much distance 
from the glass as the height of the house will allow, and those who have 
to deal with Vines trained rather close to the glass, when tying down 
very strong shoots, should take the additional precaution recommended 
by “ E. M.,” of fastening bands of tying material round the base of the 
young shoots.— H. Dunkin. 
FALKLAND PARK, SOUTH NORWOOD HILL. 
The mansion, a noble pile, newly built, occupies a fine site. From 
the tower may be obtained grand views of the Surrey Hills and an 
extensive range of surrounding country. In an old house on the 
estate, of some 33 acres, lived the late Admiral Lord Falkland, whose 
descendant, the twelfth Lord Falkland, sold it to the present owner, 
T. McMeeken, Esq. Extensive alterations and improvements of the 
grounds have been and are still being carried out under the able 
direction of his gardener, Mr. A. Wright, who won his spurs at 
Devonhurst, Chiswick, a spot famous at one time as the fine old 
arboretum of the R.H.S, The parterre in front of the mansion is 
partly planted with shrubs and specimen Conifers. Other beds will be 
filled in their seasons with spring and summer flowering plants. The 
rock garden, which will be a pretty feature when established, is planted 
extensively with hardy Heaths, Menziesias, Andromedas, Kalmias, and 
Mezereums. Adjoining large beds of herbaceous plants in bold clumps 
are being planted. 
In the American garden features are made of Rhododendrons in all 
the best named varieties, Ghent Azaleas intermingled with Daffodils, 
Lilies, Crocuses, Snowdrops, and varieties of dwarf herbaceous plants. 
A rootery, at present planted with the different species of Saxifragas, to 
be eventually overrun by Honeysuckle and Clematis, is a pretty feature. 
The conservatory, a noble structure, built by Messrs. Mackenzie and 
Moncur, is just now being planted with the choicest of climbers 
suited for such structures. Here, prettily arranged in a recess, is a fine 
example of rockwork by Mr. Pulham, which will be planted with Ferns, 
Bheusrepens, F. minima, foliage Begoniss, and other sui'able subjects. 
A fine corridor, some 270 feet in length, connects the range of plant 
houses just alluded to. The corridor is very effectively planted with 
foliage and flowering plants on each side, giving it a most attractive 
appearance amongst the climbers draping the sides. Specially notice¬ 
able was the too seldom seen Solanum jasminoides wreathed with its 
whitish flowers. Centrum (Habrothamnus) elegans, and C. Newelli. 
Referring briefly to the occupants of the houses. Azaleas in 8, 10, and 
12-inch pots were flowering profusely, and formed a str.k ngly effective 
feature. I refer to a few only of the best. King among the whites 
was Apollon, an immense flower of the finest rhape, and very free, A 
good double white is Deutsche Perle, a very early variety. A fine rose 
banded with pure white is Empereur du Brhsil, Souvenir d’Arthur 
Veitch is a very large single, superb salmon-crimson. Punctulata is very 
double, rosy orange ; and Roi d’Hollande, orange, with handsome saffron 
spot is a large flower of fine form and rich colour. Polygala Dalmaisiana, 
reddish-purple pea-shaped flowers, free, was represented by a pair of fine 
standard plants. Some splendid varieties of Olivias are grown with 
wide sepals and petals, bold flowers, and good colours. Amongst hard- 
wooded plants mention should be made of Acacia grandis, specially 
well-flowered Epacrises and Heaths. 
A good collection of Orchids is being formed, and another house will 
soon be built to accommodate those of the cool section. A very fine 
variety of Cattleya labiata (from an imported bulb), rich in colouring, 
was flowering well. Amongst others blooming were a plant of the old 
Dendrobium nobile bearing from 200 to 300 flowers ; D.densiflorum, with 
massive pendent spikes ; Odontoglossum cirrhosum, the somewhat rare 
Cattleya Schroderse, Odoutoglossums in var., Lselias, and others. In 
foliage plants very worthy of mention are Anthurium crystallinum, 
A. Waroequeanum, Acalypha tricolor, and fine examples amongst Palms 
of Kentia Forsteriana, K. Belmoreana, Latania borbonica, Aieca sapida, 
A. lutescens, Phoenix lupicola, P, canariensis, P. reclinata, and P. dacty- 
lifera. Ferns are well grown, and are represented by some vigorous 
examples, such as Nephrolepis davallioides furcans, N. tripinnatifida, 
N. hirta cristata, Cibotium Schiedel, Pteris tremula Smithiana, P. Mayi, 
and Davallia dissecta, 4 feet in diameter. Specimen Tree Ferns have 
splendid heads and are making fine growth. Some excellent specimens of 
pyramidally trained Bay trees in a house give it a furnished appearance. 
The kitchen and outdoor fruit gardens are being croppe >, and a range of 
fruit houses will ere long be erected and thus give a finished aspect to 
the whole.—J, B. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Strawberries. —Where the mulching material has been applied 
between the rows for some time it may have become too decayed, 
especially if wet weather continues for any length of time, to afford 
sufficient protection to the fruit. When this is found to be the case 
lose no time in applying a fresh layer of strawy material or short clean 
cut straw or chaff. The latter is excellent for thwarting slugs, but the 
manurial mulching possesses fertilising properties which are beneficial 
to the roots when washed down by tbe rains. Applications of liquid 
manure in the shape of stable or cowhouse drainings, soapsuds, soot, or 
guano water, or even clean water, are all beneficial. When in bloom 
and swelling its fruit the Strawberry will absorb any amount of nutri¬ 
ment. Do not waste any fertilising material, whether natural or 
artificial, by applying it to nearly exhausted plants. These, if fruiting 
at all, can have one good mulching and watering, then be left to pro¬ 
duce what fruit they may, which will do for minor purposes or 
preserving. 
Young plantations of Strawberries always show flower however small 
the plants. It is not advisable to retain the flowers on these unless 
they are very strong and vigorous. Any plants that do not show bloom, 
especially if large, uproot at once, as they will probably be constantly 
barren. Also keep runners closely cue away from plants intended for 
fruiting next ye-.r. It is best to depend only upon those runners for 
furnishing the next year’s plantations procured from vigorous fruiting 
plants of one year old. i’ruit advancing to ripening must be protected 
from s’ugs. Tiles, slates, and pieces of glass are useful to place under 
the fruit. 
Summer Pruning Fruit Trees. —This important operation for 
encouraging and continuing fruitfulness in restricted fruit trees, such as 
those growing in various shapes against walls, espaliers in the open, 
pyramids and dwarf bushes, now begins to claim the attention of the 
cultivator. Growth progresses fast, producing a wide area of foliage, 
which will, if not properly restricted, drain away the most important 
resources of the trees. Summer stopping, therefore, with the majority 
of trees cultivated and trained on any restricted methods becomes a 
necessity to attain to the highest points of culture. Judiciously carried 
out it affects the regular flow of the sap to every part of the tree, and 
neutralises any tendency to grossness by avoiding confusion of growth, 
except when powerful roots have struck down deeply into the subsoil, 
rendering the vigour of such trees too luxuriant to be suppressed by 
summer-pruning. Where this is found to be the case root-pruning 
in early autumn is the best remedy. 
Commence stopping when the lowest pairs of leaves, not counting 
those small basal leaves nearest the branch, have attained to full size. 
The upper parts of the trees, where the strongest foreright shoots 
generally are produced, claim attention first, the strongest taking pre¬ 
cedence over the weaker. A difference in the manner of stopping 
various shoots is adopted with good results, those of luxuriant and 
medium growth being stopped closer or just over the fourth leaf, while 
weaker shoots are allowed a little more latitude, being stopped over the 
sixth leaf, full sized in all cases. 
It is not desirable to hurry over and complete all the summer 
pruning at one time. It is more conducive to healthy growth and 
