December 1, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
489 
grow so freely, and give so little trouble that the wonder is to me that 
they have not been more numerously employed in the embellishment of 
our gardens.—E. Molyneux. 
THE CARNATION MAGGOT. 
This pest seems to be getting very prevalent again this winter, for 
its work of destruction seems to be chiefly performed at this time of the 
year. Calling in at a Kingston garden the other day, where Carnations 
are largely grown, I found the gardener yet busy potting his rooted 
layers, and as he did so was searching for the maggot. In not a 
few cases the main stem or heart of the plant was already destroyed, 
in others the side shoots only had been eaten, and in some instances 
but a leaf or two. These were gathered, and the tiny depredators 
exposed to view. As evidence of the tenacity of life these insects 
possess, the gardener told me that he had put several into a saucer that 
contained pure paraffin for several hours, and tnat did not kill them. 
If that be so, it is evident that very drastic dressings indeed would be 
needful to kill the maggots. What seems obvious is that dressings in 
some form early in the autumn are needed to render the plants obnoxious 
to the parent fly which deposits the eggs. That these are laid in the 
sheaths of the leaves there seems to be no doubt, as in nearly all cases 
the maggot is found at the base. Still my friend would have that some¬ 
times the leaf was burrowed or eaten from the point downwards, but 
howsoever the attackers commence, there can be no doubt whatever but 
that they are a source of exceeding trouble and annoyance. So far a3 
I gather, plants grown under glass are not so affected, but if layers be 
so out in the open, and then potted, nothing seems able to save them. 
—D. K. 
SHERBORNE CASTLE, DORSET. 
In the days of the old Potato exhibitions there was no more enthusi¬ 
astic attendant and judge than Mr. Pragnell, of Sherborne Castle 
Gardens. How much he would have enjoyed the grand autumn show 
of Potatoes at Earl’s Court I know full well, for I was enabled to visit 
Sherborne on October 1st, and learnt from him that he was still as enthu¬ 
siastic over the noble tuber as ever. 
Sherborne is situated in a lovely county, and the park attached to 
the castle is one of a delightful nature, for it is very undulating, is 
finely wooded, and has in it a lake of water that is of immense area, 
and adds exceeding beauty to the demesne. The present mansion, though 
just a little of castellated form, is not a castle, and is of somewhat 
Elizabethan architecture. The main portion or centre was, it seems, 
built by Sir Walter Raleigh, who found it a favourite residence, and 
near to the ruins of what is a very ancient castle. Situated on high 
ground beyond the lake there is not only a stone seat that was built by 
Raleigh for his own special enjoyment, but there is also a stone alcove 
called Pope’s Seat, in which the poet of Queen Anne’s time used to spend 
many of his pleasantest hours. The ruins of the castle naturally have 
great cbarm for the archeologist, as also has the grand church or minster 
in the town, about half a mile distant, the foundations of which were 
probably laid some 1200 years ago. The present mansion has been en¬ 
larged by the addition of wings, and that too is situated on an eminence 
and is well sheltered by lofty trees, whilst from its chief fronts run 
away to the lake, broad if somewhat bare lawns or glades of grass. 
The kitchen gardens are within easy distance from the mansion, and 
Mr. Pragnell resides on one side in a roomy house. Just before entering 
the park a number of varieties of Crataegus, planted in a triangular 
enclosure, attract attention. These were planted some forty years ago 
by Mr. Pragnell’s father, and were supplied by the Messrs. Osborne of 
Fulham. The collection is probably one of the best and most representa¬ 
tive to be found outside of a nursery, and presented in many respects 
when I saw the trees, not only exceeding beauty in the berries, but also 
great variety. Bordering one of the roads that margin this group of 
Thorns are many very fine, and indeed beautiful, trees of what is 
probably Fagus incisa—at least, it is here termed the Fern-leaved 
Beech. A more beautiful avenue or bordering tree than this is—so 
pyramidal, dense, elegant, and leafy—could hardly be found. There is 
near the mansion one of the finest Salisburia adiantifolia to be found in 
the kingdom, for this noble tree is some 65 feet high, and it is well 
furnished. Cedars of Lebanon are about the grounds in very fine form ; 
some of remarkably erect growth. 
Mr. Pragnell has plenty of fine Grapes to show in his vineries, an entire 
house being devoted to Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat; it has a very fine crop, 
and richly coloured. It hangs well if needed till Christmas. Another 
house is devoted to Black Hamburgh Grapes, a third one to Muscat of 
Alexandria, a capital crop, and a further one to Lady Downe’s, also in 
excellent condition. These are the chief Grapes grown here. The 
culture of Pines is still a feature here, fruiting and successional plants 
being in the best possible condition. Wall fruits have been good and 
plentiful, and trees generally are in good form Oa some hard-pruned 
Apple trees in the kitchen garden King of the Pippins, Lord Burleigh, 
Adam’s Pearmain, Scarlet Nonpareil, Egremont Russet, and some other 
good dessert sorts are carrying heavy crops. Lord Burleigh is in great 
favour for its excellent keeping qualities. 
Very considerable quantities of Chinese Primulas are grown in 
numerous varieties, for Mr. Pragnell is fond of cr-ss-fertilising these 
flowers, and has a capital selection. Cinerarias, too, are excellent. A 
very curious illustration of the capacity of what is usually esteemed a 
tender plant to adapt itself to adverse conditions is evidenced in Ficus 
repens, which, growing luxuriantly in a stove, forced some of its shoots 
through loose joints in the door jambs, and spreading over the wall out¬ 
side on a north aspect, where it grows as freely as inside. If such be 
the case may not this Ficus be absolutely hardy after all ? 
Tomatoes on a south wall—Laxton’s Open Air, Acquisition, and 
others—were giving a heavy crop of fine fruit. Some spare frame lights 
stood in front were helping the fruit to ripen materially. The true 
stock of Pragnell’s Exhibition Beet is still growing here. None 
other is grown or seeded, hence the stock does not become mixed. 
The day previous I saw at Longford Castle a remarkably true and 
refined stock of the Pineapple Beet, which seemed to be a long 
way better than are the samples seen in market gardens.—A. D. 
TULBAGHIA VIOLACEA. 
A pretty little hardy bulbous plant, which is far too seldom seen 
in gardens, is that represented in the woodcut (fig. 65). The name may 
be said to be the least recommendation possessed by the plant, for it is 
by no means euphonious, though the plant itself is both graceful and 
attractive, and should be more generally grown. The flowers are rich 
purple, and are borne in large umbels, which have a pleasing effect 
when intermixed with other hardy flowers. It succeeds in any light 
moderately rich soil, and requires no special attention in its cultivation. 
NOTES ON GARDENS AND GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 
[Abridged from a paper read at a meeting of the Ancient Society of York Florists by 
Mr. H. J. Clayton.] 
My subject appears to divide itself into two parts—viz., (1) Gardens 
and (2) Management. First as to gardens. I need not trespass on your 
time and attention as to the antiquity of gardens. The oldest and best 
book the world knows has proved this for all; our Ancient Florists’ crest, 
too, gives us an allegorical picture of the first gardener and his wife. If 
time permitted I might refer to the gardens of ancient Greece and 
Rome, though the records we have do not go to prove that they were 
common, save in their larger cities. China has probably been the 
possessor of gardens in a general sense longer than any other country. 
To come to our own land. We have to admit that gardens are 
comparatively of a modern character in the sense we understand them, 
though possibly the cultivation of small plots of land was more general 
