264 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 21, 1893. 
Rolling the ground does not compress it sufficiently, and I rather prefer 
treading. It is a little more tedious perhaps, but results justify the 
practiee. Rake over the bed after sowing, but do not tread or roll it, 
as if that is done, and rain follows, the surface cracks in drying, and 
the seedlings do not grow freely. In very hot weather spread a herring 
net over the ground after sowing the Turnips, and leave it on till the 
rough leaf appears. The fly rarely troubles while the net is on, however 
hot the weather may be; afterwards use the anthracite coal ashes to 
prevent its ravages. 
Mildew is very destructive among Onions. On its first appearance 
rub flowers of sulphur on the affected parts. It generally attacks the 
Onions during the month of August, and will work much damage 
among them if not quickly checked. At first it is not observable, 
ordinarily, but upon close inspection small patches of grey dust-like 
powder will be found on the stalks, and these if left untouched will 
soon cause the stem to turn yellow and decay. This premature loss of 
foliage is detrimental to the sound keeping of the bulbs during winter. 
If extra large Onions are desired the plants should be raised in January, 
and grown thinly in boxes before being finally planted out in April, 
and the ci op treated generously throughout. 
Good varieties of Carrots are Early Gem for early use, and New Red 
Intermediate for the main crop. Beetroot, Pragnell’s Exhibition, Blood 
Red, and Carter’s Perfection. Parsnips, Student and Hollow Crown. 
Turnips, Jersey Lily, Snowball, and Golden Rose. Onions, for autumn 
sowing. White Leviathan ; for spring sowing, Rousham Park Hero, 
Improved Reading, James’ Keeping, and Ailsa Craig.—G. Gaener. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTES BY THE WAY. 
An oblique line to the left of the main road from East Grinstead, 
near which are Oakleigh, Brockhurst, and Brambletye, leads in the 
direction of Hammer wood, the residence of Oswald Smith, Esq. The 
exact direction of the line is more than I was able to grasp, for an 
obliging guide led me by winding footpaths and zigzag approaches, 
beguiling the long and weary way by frequent references to a mysterious 
“ short cut ” which was to be found sooner or later. Hearing about 
short routes when it is only too evident that you are taking a long one is 
about as consoling as a landlady’s assurance to a hungry traveller that 
she would have had a splendid dinner ready for him if disappointments 
with tradesmen had not left her with nothing but bread and cheese. 
Not being found on the outward journey, the guide decided that we 
must return by it. He had forgotten Mrs. Glasse’s preliminary point in 
the recipe for jugged hare, which was to catch it first. The only “ short 
cut ” discovered was one which led through a farmyard, wherein a large, 
gaunt, and hungry looking dog was dragging round several feet of broken 
chain, and the settled conviction that we were at last on the straight 
road which had taken possession of the guide’s mind deserted him with 
startling suddenness. But we found Hammerwood and got back from 
it, so I take it that a veil may be drawn over the doubts and difficulties 
engendered by seeking for a path that either does not exist or is too well 
guarded for use. 
Mr. Oswald Smith is, I believe, either a brother or near relative of 
Mr. Martin Smith, but certainly he does not seem to share the fraternal 
enthusiasm for Carnations. I do not know that there is anything very 
striking in this fact, for as yet no gardening Ibsen has arisen to show us 
that heredity has its say in floral tastes, and we can do very well without 
him. But Mr. Martin Smith is such an enthusiast, and so convincing in 
his championship of the great summer flower, that there is room for a 
mild species of wonder that Hammerwood has not its quota of white 
grounds, yellow grounds, seifs, and the rest of the Carnation string. 
“ A person of the name of ’Arris,” as Mrs. Gamp would have said, 
has charge of the gardens at Hammerwood. He is a broad, deep chested, 
hale and hearty looking gardener, and has earned quite a reputation in 
the locality as a vegetaWe grower. Perhaps the fact of his pleasant 
house opening direct on to the kitchen garden may have something to do 
with this, although it is not easy to trace any distinct connection between 
the two facts. It may be that as the vegetable quarters are also the 
, pleasure grounds, so far as his residence is concerned, he takes a special 
pride in having them well filled, and this view I should be the last to 
traverse, apart altogether from fear of a cudgelling from our critical 
friend “A. D.” to whom, as we all know, no Rose or Carnation has the 
beautiful points of an Onion or a Potato. Be the reason what it may, 
it is the exception to meet with a kitchen garden so well stocked and so 
admirably kept as that at Hammerwood. It is full of good produce, 
clean and orderly. Without being hypercritical, it may be advanced 
that many kitchen gardens would be improved if the “ place-for-every- 
thing-and-evsrything-in-its-place ” rule were observed in them as care¬ 
fully as it is in this well-managed Sussex garden. 
Hammerwood may be said to be the centre of a little kingdom of 
which Mr. Smith is the reigning monarch. It is far away from a town 
or even village, being snugged away amongst the fields and woods. But 
the beneficent potentate has built a number of excellent dwellings for his 
workpeople, a fine school and a handsome church. The little hamlet and 
the neighbouring mansion which fosters it lie calm, peaceful, and 
secluded, typical of many a pastoral picture in Merrie England. The 
hum of busy life, the ceaseless tramp of the “ madding crowd,” do not 
penetrate there. There is a restfuluess and repose about the place which 
are full of charm. The residence is embowered in lofty trees and huge 
masses of Rhododendrons. There are some immense banks of the old 
caucasicum quite close to the flower garden adjoining the house which 
must present noble effects when in full bloom, despite the modest beauty 
of the variety as compared with some of the gorgeous hybrids. I could 
not help thinking, indeed, that the semi-wild and natural aspect of the 
grounds was much in keeping with the surroundings, and perhaps 
felt inclined to accuse Mr. Harris of a leaning to vandalism when he 
talked about clearing some of them away ; but superior varieties are, I 
understand, to take their place. 
The sight of these wonderful bushes suggested the reflection that 
Sussex must possess a record hard to beat in her examples of this fine 
old Rhododendron. I remember dropping unexpectedly upon a huge 
tree—for it was nothing less—in a garden at Groombridge a few years 
ago, not very far from the foot of the famous hill. It was on a sunny after¬ 
noon late in spring, and the gigantic bush was laden with blossom. I 
am unable to recall my estimate of its size, but it v/as larger than many 
a cottage. Beyond Crawley, too, far past Cheal’s, through the old town, 
up the hill and so on along the Brighton road, attention is attracted by 
some very fine bushes on the left, which when carrying their spring 
burden of flowers are a sight to linger in the recollection even when the 
manifold attractions of ancient Brighthelmstone are exercising their 
influences. This, however, is a digression. 
A charitable and considerate pen must be wielded in touching on 
flower gardens this year. Gardeners waited anxiously for the fulfilment 
of Falb’s weather predictions, and the filling up of their beds consequent 
on the rains which he generously provided, but alas 1 the professorial 
vaticinations proved to be a delusion and a snare. It is not the fault of 
Mr. Harris and his suffering brethren in other parts if the beds were 
only half furnished when they ought to have been amply filled. The 
designs were right enough, and so was the material to begin with, but 
the plants would not grow as they should have done, all their time being 
taken up in keeping alive under the fierce and protracted heat. Not 
that the bedding was bad, quite the reverse. There were some attractive 
arrangements, and quite a brave glow of colour in some cases, but there 
as elsewhere thin beds were the rule. 
It will not be in the least surprising if there should be a check in the 
triumphant march of Tuberous Begonias, as a result of this season’s 
experiences. Their most partial admirer must admit that the season has 
been somewhat too much for them in a great many places. They have 
not shone radiant as of yore, luxuriant in leafage and brilliant with 
flowers, but have been pinched, starved, and melancholy. It is easy to 
tell when plants are unhappy, and dejection has been written large on 
most of the bedding Begonias which I have seen in this season of sultry 
memory. But in venturing (spite of the colossal failure of the luckless 
professor) on this little prophecy it is not my wish to suggest that the 
Begonias merit the rebuff which fate perhaps has in store for them. That 
would be unjust. All I wish to do is to point out the probable result of 
their failure this year. It must be remembered that thousands of people 
act mainly on impulses, and the first thing that they will do in observing 
the poor condition of the plants will be to decide on doing without 
them another year, forgetful that we have had a season in a hundred, 
and that the Begonias have not had a ghost of a chance of doing them¬ 
selves justice. ’Twas ever thus. Praise and admiration in the hour of 
success, disparagement and distaste in the moment of failure. But the 
flowers will win after all. _ 
Speaking of Begonias reminds me that I ought to say how exceed¬ 
ingly well Mr. Harris grows them in pots, for he has a very fine 
display. Another useful decorative plant that he grows extremely well 
is the Cockscomb. He had a very fine specimen of Veitch’s Dwarf, 
which, as grown at Hammerwood, is distinctly superior to the Glasgow 
Prize of my novitiate days, for, although very dwarf, the combs are even 
and finely developed. Orchids are well grown at Hammerwood, and so 
are many other plants under glass, such as Clerodendrons, Bougain¬ 
villeas, Bouvardias, Acalyphas, and others, but I have not space to 
enumerate them all. _ 
Fruit comes in the same stream of praise, especially Peaches and 
Nectarines. The early house is a very wide and roomy structure, and 
contains some very large trees of Dr. Hogg, Princess of Wales, and 
Stanwick Elruge. Trees of the latter which were bought a few inches 
high in small pots of Mr. Rivers twelve years ago now have a spread of 
20 feet and bear enormous crops. I was about to omit mention of Mr. 
Harris’s Melon. What would he think of me if I did 1 I did not leave 
Hammerwood without tasting it, and I must not quit it now without 
saying a word about the fruit. Please do not understand me to suggest 
that there is anything astonishing in a gardener having a Melon of his 
own raising. Almost every gardener has one. It is a peculiarity of the 
craft to get a hybrid which puts every other Melon into the shade, and 
which is so precious that a slice has to be cut for you with great care 
lest you should carry away a seed in your mouth, sow it, and basely sell 
the stock thus procured for a fabulous sum. The Grinstead gardeners 
have this amiable little weakness strongly developed. Each runs a 
Melon of his own. The neighbourhood is positively overflowing with 
wonderful varieties. Each, of course, is a great deal better than the 
other; and the other, equally as a matter of course, is better than each. 
This may seem peculiar, but, as a proof of its accuracy, I may mention 
