March 2, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
169 
"but to the student, or others desirous of studying really tasteful 
artificial rockwork, mention may he made of that in Battersea 
Park as one of the finest examples we have in a public garden; 
and in a private garden the magnificent rockery at Osmaston 
Manor near Derby. Both are upon a scale beyond ordinary 
requirements, and one regrets the rarity of really artistic rockeries 
and rock beds upon a small scale. 
Taking next shrubbery groups and belts, it is desirable to call 
attention to the monotonous effect of evergreens. At one time 
very many gardens were crowded with common Laurels. They 
have very generally been swept away to make room for Conifers, 
which have justly become so widely popular. But elegant in 
form, as Conifers undoubtedly are, they gain much in effect when 
tastefully associated with such deciduous growth as Silver Birch, 
Purple Plum, Mountain Ash, Purple Beech, Maples, Laburnum, 
and the best flowering shrubs. Under skilful arrangement all 
heaviness is avoided, brightness and beauty are the dominant 
features, the formality of a nursery show border is not present 
simply because of the judicious massing of colour and form which 
gives such scope to the artist, and enables him to impart distinct 
features to different parts of a garden. He especially avoids in 
grouping anything like a plantation, formality only being allowed 
in the straight lines of an avenue, yet a group of Cupressus 
Lawsoniana or Thuja gigantea on a steep slope may be rendered 
very effective, as also may other distinct groups of Birch, Holly, 
Larch, Mountain Ash, and many other things. 
Mixed planting, too, plays an important part, and may be ren¬ 
dered very effective. Take, for example, a lawn group of tall 
columns or cones of green ; the effect is stately, and it becomes 
decidedly pleasing by the addition of a marginal belt of flowering 
shrubs. There can be no objection to occasional masses consisting 
solely of Conifers or Holly, and single specimens may often be so 
placed as to impart brightness and beauty to a scene that was tame 
and insipid without them. For example, a group of the common 
Holly in the angle of a building, though healthy and flourishing, 
was so heavy that I was asked if anything could be done to relieve 
it. Certainly ! Plant a Pampas Grass in front, well away from it 
and opposite the centre ; plant in it such deep, rich, well drained 
soil that fine spikes are a certainty, and every summer and autumn, 
while the plumes are in full beauty, the effect will be most striking, 
the Holly forming a foil and setting of deep green for the silvery 
plumes of the most beautiful of all Grasses. I know nothing 
among hardy ornamental plants that repays one better than it does 
for a carefully prepared station. Planted in ordinary soil without 
special care it will give spikes 4 or 5 feet high ; but planted out 
as suggested in very deep rich soil the plant grows to an enormous 
size, and the spikes spring up to a height of 10 or 12 feet. Or, to 
take another example, a bed or group of beds was required for 
a turf plat visible from some of the house windows. Beds for 
ordinary bedding plants were suggested ; but there was a flower 
garden near, and the advice given was to have a central specimen 
of Barberis Darwini with four rock beds around it, but well away 
from it. The rock beds had the stones arranged as has been indi¬ 
cated, and the planting consisted of compact growing and dwarf 
sorts of Heath, dwarf Kalmias, Andromedas, Gentians, Cyclamens, 
Primulas, Irises, Campanulas, various bulbs, and some Sedums, 
Sempervivums, and other alpines. The rocky masses were not 
obtrusive even at first, and as in due course they became partly 
concealed by cushions of various shades of green and grey, 
mingled with the bright pink masses of that most useful of 
hardy Heaths, Erica carnea, the effect was charming. The eye 
was never offended, as it is wont to be, by the bare aspect of 
ordinary flower beds in winter. The beds were always clothed, 
they became increasingly attractive year by year, and the Berberis 
grew into a huge, rounded mass of glossy green, enriched every 
spring by the deep rich yellow blossom. 
I might go on to enumerate many other examples of features 
rich and rare in gardens, but the object of this article was to utter 
a protest against the growing predominance of fanciful display in 
gardens ; of the introduction of features essentially vulgar, and of 
the sacrifice of good taste to a craving for startling effect.— 
Edward Luckhurst. 
MILDEW. 
Among the difficult and multifarious duties of a gardener’s 
daily life is the constant warfare he has to wage in one way or 
another against the many garden enemies which are ever ready to 
attack him on all sides almost every day throughout the year, and 
I think of all the enemies he has to contend against perhaps mildew 
is the mo-it insidious and destructive. As I am a believer in 
prevention rather than in cure, I will endeavour to show how 
through good cultivation it is possible to keep mildew at bay; but 
I will first refer to the cure of mildew, and to illustrate my 
meaning on this point I may be allowed to relate an incident in 
my experience, which happened in the spring of 1870. 
The previous December I had been appointed head gardener at 
Drayton Manor, and under my charge was a large late vinery, and a 
good crop of Grapes in the house was a most important considera¬ 
tion to meet the heavy demands for numerous shooting parties in 
the autumn. The Vines started and apparently went on all right 
until early in the month of May, immediately after which time 
(just as the berries had finished setting) I was horrified to find 
that half the Vines were badly affected with mildew, and especially 
the young berries, which were literally coated over with it. Being 
then young and new to my charge this disaster seemed to over¬ 
whelm. and stagger me, and I felt within myself that my career as 
a head gardener had suddenly and for ever come to a close, as I 
expected nothing less than that my then generous and kind-hearted 
employer would say that this failure in the Grape crop clearly 
pointed out to my utter incapacity as a gardener. However, I soon 
overcame this feeling, and knowing from previous experience the 
efficacy of sulphur in the destruction of mildew, I at once 
decided to resort to this remedy, and being at the same time 
apprehensive that other parts of the Vines not then visibly 
mildewed might be affected I decided to apply a drastic remedy. 
In the afternoon of the same day I had the Vines thoroughly 
saturated with rain water, and whilst they were in this condition I 
dredged every portion of the fruit, leaves (both under and above), 
and stems with flowers of sulphur, and left them in this condition 
until the following morning, when every particle of the sulphur was 
carefully washed away. I may say here that before that appli¬ 
cation of the sulphur in the afternoon until it was all washed off 
early the next morning the pipes were kept at a good heat, but not 
enough to cause fumes to emit from the sulphur. 
Of course I am well aware that there is nothing new in the 
application of sulphur for the destruction of mildew, but many are 
timid in the liberal application of it in the way I have described, 
that I write to make it perfectly clear, to young readers more 
particularly, that sulphur may be liberally applied in the way I 
have described with perfect immunity from harm or danger; but 
here let me say that overheating of the pipes must be guarded 
against or the consequences will be fatal. 
Now as to the result of the heavy sulphuring which, as you may 
imagine, was watched by me with much anxiety for many days. 
The cure as far as killing the mildew was perfect, and my feelings 
afterwards I remember were something akin to a boy’s feelings at 
school when he has given another boy a good licking—a feeling 
which all old boys must remember—I felt that I had come off 
victor. I have much to thank for that experience, as mildew and 
1 have often met since, and the old remedy remains as powerful as 
ever. 
At the beginning of this paper I stated that I believed preven¬ 
tion to be better than cure, and this mildew visitation troubled mo 
a good deal afterwards, attacking the Vines at the time it did, 
when they wore under a great strain for a period—viz., in forming 
their berries, I decided there must have been something wrong at 
the roots, and in the following autumn I had them lifted within 
2 feet of their stems and replanted in a new compost. I had the 
charge of these Vines for nine years afterwards, and no Vines 
could flourish better than they did during this time, and no trace of 
mildew was seen on them again. 
More recently I have had Peaches to deal with badly affected 
in the same way, and the cure and prevention have been equally 
effective. The experience of many of our best practitioners may 
be quoted in opposition to my views on the causes and cure of 
mildew, and I only give you my experience for what it is worth, and I 
say again that a thorough application of the flowers of sulphur will 
destroy mildew, and I further say that a proper and generous cul¬ 
tivation of the roots of trees and plants will effectually protect 
them from its visitation.—0. Thomas, Royal Gardens^ Windsor. 
FERNS. 
When in a healthy and flourishing condition all Ferns, 
whether stove, greenhouse, or British, are beautiful and interest 
ing, and well repay that attention which is necessary to obtain th« 
best results. So varied are they in size, habit, and form that thej 
lend themselves to be cultivated successfully under various methods 
and while nearly all species and varieties succeed well under pot 
culture, many of them would do much better, and be more in 
character with the habit and general requirement of the plant, if 
grown in baskets or planted out. Grown thus they would, when 
once established, last many years, and give far less trouble. 
Where proper arrangements can be made with suitable surround¬ 
ings undoubtedly Ferns planted out flourish best and certainly look 
