^prll 80, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
343 
part of the distance, the trees on each side showing luxuriant growth, 
capital specimens of Pinus insignis and Abies Douglassi being con¬ 
spicuous. On each side of the drive Rhododendrons are freely planted, 
and are growing strongly, the sandy soil appearing to suit them 
admirably. To the south of the house is a large space of lawn, 
which slopes gently away into the park, the natural ground formation 
being especially beautiful. Near the outskirts of the lawn clumps of 
shrubs, mainly evergreen, are effectively plantcil, a few goml specimens 
of Conifers being judiciously dotted here and there. Pinus ins'gnis 
standing on the sale of a sharp slope, where it receives the full force 
of “ sou-westers,” which are prevalent there, proves by its uniformity 
and luxuriance of growth what a capital tree it is for such a site. The 
one in question was planted by the i^resent owner about twenty-two 
years .ago, and which has reached a height of nea’^ly 50 feet. From 
there a fine sheet of water can be seen aw.ay in the distance among the 
trees in the })ark, where white Water Lilies are fiouiishing grandly. 
South-east of the mansion are the flower garden, lawns, and 
shrubberies, which altogether eover six .acres. This part of the 
garden is .separated from the lawn just referred to by a thick belt of 
shrubs, which effectually prevents the south-west winds sweeping 
through this part of the garden. The flower beds are formal in appear¬ 
ance, cut out on the grass, and are devoted to the usual summer 
occupants. Tuberous Begonias last season appeared to have been a 
great success. The soil between the plants was neatly carpeted with 
Herniaria glabra, making a good setting for the various coloured flowers 
of the Begonias alx)vc. Zinnias, Petunias, Coleus Verschaffelti, Cal¬ 
ceolarias, and Pelargoniums were planted in bold m.asses, and viewed 
from the windows of the house had a good effect. A long border close 
to the house was dcvofc<l to carpet bedding, with the adtlition of a few 
‘ dot ” phants, which gave variety and relief, the raised perpendicular 
edgings covered with Herniaria glabra making a good contrast with the 
gravel path .alongside. 
From the flower beds the ground slopes sharply away into a deep 
valley, in the bottom of which were several l»ds, some filled with 
numerous sub-tropical, others with herbaceous plants, all of which were 
very showy as viewed from above. In the valley named large masses 
of Rhododendrons, Kalmias, and Ghent Azaleas luxuriate in the natural 
soil, and the quantity of bloom the two latter produce is marvellous. On 
the slopes rising from the v.alley are numerous shrubs and trees, most 
of them p'anted by the owner .and his uncle, who precaled him. A 
specimen of Liquidamber styraciflua has a .spread of branches of fully 
35 feet, and it is about 20 feet high, anti the foliage at the time of my 
visit was assuming the rich tints which render tlrs such a conspicuous 
object wherever it succee Is. Wellingtonia gig.antea. Cedar of Lebanon 
and C. atlantica, Abies Menziesi, Pieea Nordmanniana, Araucaria imbri- 
cata. Thuja Lobbi, Cryptomeria elegans, Thujopsis borealis, Cupressus 
macrocarpa, and Picea nobilis are noteworthy examples of ymrng 
thriving trees. A mass of Aucuba japonica, growing in a rounded form 
fully 20 feet acro.ss, is conspicuous as a lawn plant, and so is a group of 
Yucca filamentosa, which never fails to flower freely. Large plants of 
Pampas Gra,ss, variable in form, are plantal on the gr.ass, and are very 
graceful when bearing their tall flower spikes. In this part of the 
grounds I noted a medium-sized healthy specimen of the Mulberry tree, 
which is a handsome lawn plant, as also is Magnolia purpurea. A small 
collection of hardy British Ferns increases the interest of this part of the 
grounds, and the plants grow freely in a prepared mound or rockery. 
To the east side of the mansion stands a large conservatory, 
reached by passing through a verandah about 50 feet long, on the 
end of which is a tine plant of Magnolia grandiflora. The piPars 
supporting the verandah, which is 15 feet high at the front, are neatly 
covered with Jessamine, Honeysuckle, Aristolochia Sipho, and numerous 
other hardy trailing plants. The back wall is covered with Camellias 
in rude health. One specimen of Mathotiana, 15 feet in diameter, 
reaches to the top of the wall, and another of Alba plena is the same 
height. These and others produce a fine display of flowers in the spring, 
and have no protection beyond that afforded by the roof of the verandah 
and a thick mulching of bracken over the roots in the winter. The 
conservatory is 100 feet long, 40 feet wide and 25 feet high, with a 
perpendicular front, the lights being fully 18 feet high. The roof is 
divided into two spans, a broad gutter running between the two roofs. 
Inside this house several remarkable plants are to be found, one 
especially so—Bignonia Chirere, p’anted alx)ut 20 feet from the east 
end of the house in a ccnti-al bed; the stems coil around one of the 
posts or supports of the body of the house. The two main stems are 
connected close to the surface, each of them being fully 10 inches in 
diameter, which will give some iilea of the size and age of the plant. 
From the base numerous other brandies proceed to the roof, quite 
three parts of it being occupieil with this Bignonia. It is one of the 
finest in the kingdom, and produces a wealth of bloom during the 
summer months, especially during June and July. The proper system 
of pruning and manipulation of the shoots was explained to me by 
Mr. N, Molyneux, .and consists in allowing .some of the growths to hang 
downwards from the r(X)f in such a manner that abundance of sunlight 
is obtained by all so as to thoroughly mature them, as only under 
these conditions can blooms be secured. From these shoots or branches 
additional growths are made which show bloom buds, and directly these 
are discernible the point of growth beyoml the flower trusses is pinched 
out, thus concentrating the strength of that portion of the shoot upon 
the flowers. Neglecting to pinch the young growth at this time would 
end in blind flower buds. 
Nowhere have I seen Daturas or Brugmansias flourishing so well as 
at Rooksbury. The white single-flowered D. suaveolens is planted in 
the border, and is of tree-like proportions, being 22 feet high, and 
10 feet across, completely covered with its pure white blooms, which 
are so sweetly scented. All the year round, with but few intermissions, 
does this plant flower. A younger but very healthy specimen of the 
double D. Knighti grows and flowers freely, and .so does D. sanguinea, 
which is very showy both when in bloom and also when coveretl 
with its freely produced healthy foliage. A plant of Cassia corymbosa 
nearly 20 feet high and half as much in diameter \vas laden with bright 
orange yellow flowers and dense green leaves, \vhich made a capital 
contrast. On the north side of the house Camelli<as are plan ed in a 
broad border, and appear satisfactory. A plant of a double red variety 
is 20 feet across its branches and 18 feet high. One of Albi plena is 
nearly equal in size, and Lady Hume’s Blush a little smaller—all 
most useful in producing blooms through the winter and spring. 
The pillars which support this structure in the middle are clothed with 
Abutilons, Plumbago capensis, Clematis indivisa, and similar plants 
that succeed in such a temperature, the b.ack wall being covered with 
Heliotrope and Pelargoniums. A plant of Guava, Psidium Catlleyanum, 
is planted in the border at the base of the back wall, the branches being 
trained under the roof, and flowers and fruit are freely produced. 
Several Palms, such as Latania borbonica, rvere growing freely in pots. 
Arranged in a mass .along the front of the house and on the borders 
among the regular occupants were 400 capital plants of Chrysanthemums, 
grown on the tall system, mainly consisting of incurved and Jap.anese 
varieties. 
The kitchen garden and glass houses are situated a quarter of a mile 
from the mansion, reached by pleasant winding paths, on each side of 
which Rhododendron ponticum and common Laurels are growing freely. 
Magnifieent specimens of Beech, Silver and Scotch Fir, Larch, Ash, and 
Balsam Poplars are to be seen on the way, many of them 100 feet high, 
and as straight as a gun barrel for a considerable distance upwards. The 
glass houses are inside the kitchen g.arden, which is thoroughly sheltered 
from winds, especially those from the erst and north. There are two 
vineries, one being filled with several varieties of Graprs, and so well do 
they succeed that the idea of having a separate house for some varieties is 
thoroughly upset. Splendid examples of Muscat of Alexandria are culti¬ 
vated in the same house as Black Hamburgh, Trcntham Black, Buckland 
Sweetwater, and even White Frontignan. So good were the Muscats that 
they easily secured leading honours at the Southampton Show last year in 
the class for any white Grape. The Vines throughout th'S house are 
old, but all have borne full crops of serviceable fruit. The other vinery, 
30 feet long and about 18 feet wide, is devoted almost entirely to 
late sorts, comparatively young Vines, which were lifted last year, 
and by the growth and crops proiluced this season indicate clearly 
what may bo expected from them when they are well established 
in the new soil in which the roots were laid. An iron lean- 
to house, 100 feet long, 16 feet wide, was devoted mainly to Pcaehrs 
and Nectarines with a few Plums, Apricots, Figs, ami Tom.atoes, 
the latter growing in any spare sp.ace between the trees, .and a row the 
whole length of the house clown the middle beside the footpath. The 
stems were trained singly upwards and then under the roof until many of 
them measured 12 feet long. Plentiful crops of both Trophy and 
Sutton’s Earliest of All were obtained la«t year. From the Peach trees. 
Royal George, Walburton Admirable, Violette Hative, and Nectarines 
Pineapple and Elruge, a full crop had been obtained, and the growth 
was well ripened. One three-quarter span house, 20 feet long, was 
devoted to small table plants and Ferns, while profusely flowered plants 
of Allamanda Henderson! were growing in 12-inch pot?, trained under 
the roof, and had done good service in supplying flowers over a long time, 
a circumstance which was attributed to tbe fact of the growth having 
been kept thin and well matured. Pits and frames filled with the usual 
occupants were noted as being satisfactory. That part of the garden 
devoted to vegetables and fnrit comprises four acres, half of which is 
inside the walls and has a gentle slope to the south. The soil is of a light 
description, easily worked, and most suitable for vegetable crops. The 
fruit ejuarters are well stocked with Apples and Pears ; many of the 
former are espaliere newly planted, all of the leading kinds. Capital 
crops of outdoor Figs on bushes have been gathered, Brunswick and 
Brown Turkey especially. The place altogether shows signs of the 
improvement which has taken place since Mr. N. Molyneux took charge 
a little over two years ago.—A. 
Early Forced Strawberries. —If these are carefully attended 
to in hardening off and watering when removed from the fruiting house 
they m.ake good plants for planting out, as they will give a full crop of 
fruit next season, and thus save a year in the growth of young plants. 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury and La Grosse Sucree will also fruit 
again this year if desired, but this only applies to plants that have by 
this time finished fruiting. These large plants require a little extra care 
in planting. The balls of soil should be put in entire without disturbing 
the roots, and the soil must be thoroughly rammed firm all round them. 
They must also have a good sotiking of water before turning them out of 
their pots .and again soon after planting, mulching must also be .attended 
to before dry weather comes. All ground intended for Strawberries must 
be well manured and worked deeply with the spade before i)lanting. 
Alpine varieties are much appreciated by some people a'ter the others 
are over, as they keep up a succession of fruit until 8topi)3d by frost 
in the autumn, and although the fruits are small they are of excellent 
flavour for creams. Pick off the earliest flowers in order to reserve the 
energies of the plants for the later fiaiiting. New plantationof these may 
still be made if attention is afterwards given to watering and mukhing ; 
they will then bear well in the autumn if good strong pi ints are put in.—G . 
