August 2J, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
157 
adjoining division is the notorious vinery, and there we find that hand¬ 
some variety, Duke of Buccleuch, in capital form, one Vine bearing 
twenty large bunches, the berries large, very clear, and colouring well. 
Mr. Westcott considers one of the secrets of success with this variety is 
(liberal ventilation, and he evidently experiences no difficulty in obtaining 
•the Grape as its admirers like to see it, and when in such condition it is 
'undoubtedly a magnificent fruit. Lady Downe’s, Muscat Hamburgh, 
and Gros Colman are very satisfactory in the same house. The third 
vinery is mainly devoted to Muscat of Alexandria, of which there are 
some grandly coloured bunches. Mrs. Pearson and Golden Champion 
are also bearing a good crop of fine bunches, colouring admirably. The 
Vines here are about twenty years old, but the year before last they were 
lifted and replanted, the result being that the Vines have been greatly 
invigorated, as the fine crops testify. The fourth house is occupied with 
yeung Vines recently planted, which are making good progress, but the 
most notable occupants of this house are some plants of Vitis hetero- 
phylla variegata and humulifolia, which are trained 01 trellises for room 
decoration, the spaces between being filled with Thunbergias when they 
are wanted for use. There are several early vineries, Peach houses, &c.; 
ibut another important feature at Raby are the Pine Apples, of which 300 are 
grown of Charlotte Rothschild, Smooth and Prickly Cayenne, and Queens, 
of which there are some fine fruiting and succession plants. Melons 
Anthuriums, Crotons, Statices, &c., which frequently figure prominently 
at local shows. Calanthe Veitchi and vestita are well grown, eight fine 
baskets being filled with strong plants, the pseudo-bulbs of great size, 
and last year spikes 4 or 5 feet long were obtained. In the stove with 
the plants just named is Peristeria elata with two spikes, one with 
nineteen flowers and buds. Golden Allamandas on the roof and the 
graceful Asparagus plumosus are notable in the same house. Lapage- 
rias are very fine in the greenhouse, the red and white varieties being 
planted together and trained on the roof, the stems twining about one 
another, and produce a charming effect, the red and white wax-like 
flowers hanging together most gracefully in festoons. The plants will 
soon cover a large house, for they seem to thrive well in a bricked 
border of peat and charcoal with good drainage, about 4 feet square and 
2 feet deep. An ornamental conservatory near the flower beds first 
mentioned contains plants of the bright Canna iridiflora, Araucaria 
excelsa, and Camellias, with Bougainvillea glabra, Swainsonia galegifolia 
alba, and Tacsonia Van Volxemi on the roof, and a huge plant of 
Brugmansia suaveolens at the end, its great trumpet-shaped white 
flowers perfuming the whole house. Large quantities of small plants 
for decoration are grown, and Cockscombs are cultivated very success¬ 
fully, being dwarf and bearing large well-formed richly coloured 
“h ads.” The kitchen garden, like all the other departments, is 
Fig. 19.—RABY CASTLE. 
are in large demand, and a supply is obtained from plants in pots up to 
Christmas, Best of All being the favourite variety, about two good 
fruits being taken from each plant. In a late Peach house are healthy 
trees of Royal George, Walburton Admirable, Barrington, and Belle- 
garde Peaches, with Pitmaston Orange, Rivers’ Orange, and Pine Apple 
Nectarines, which are the favourite varieties, and all are bearing capital 
crops. Some of the trees are of great age, and one of Pitmaston Orange 
has its stem four or five times the diameter of the stock. A tree of 
Royal George is also interesting, as, though the stem is quite hollow and 
the only living portion is the shell-like outer wood and bark, the stem 
above being also strangely twisted and distorted, it is in perfect health, 
the foliage fresh, the fruits numerous and well developed. The old Fig tree 
already mentioned is an extraordinary specimen of the White Marseilles or 
Raby Castle, filling a lean-to house 50 feet long, covering both the back 
wall and the roof. It is said to be over 100 years old, and bears a 
large quantity of fruit. Apricots are much valued at Raby, and, 
despite the disease, they are successfully grown, especially some fine 
trees against a hollow wall heated by flues, where some grand fruits 
are obtained, never losing a crop, and the flavour is excellent. The 
trees have, however, been twice renewed in twenty-two years, and Mr. 
Westcott finds that generally Moorpark is more subject to the disease 
than other varieties, though there is one striking exception to this in a 
tree of that variety that is probably fifty years old, and is in perfect 
health without a sign of defect. Outdoor fruits, such as Apples and 
Pears, are fairly good crops, some varieties of the former especially. 
The plant houses contain several good specimen plants, such as 
admirably managed, and the condition of the whole garden reflects the 
highest credit on the genial superintendent. 
Before leaving Raby the visitors inspected the principal rooms in the 
Castle, a grand old historical building, from the terrace of which a 
charming view of the park is obtained, the prospect being bounded by a 
fine belt of timber, and the undulating surface of the park is rendered 
still more picturesque by the large number of deer with which it is 
stocked, the appearance of the stately Castle being enhanced by the 
rich green Ivy that is gradually clothing its massive walls. Within a 
mile of the Castle is the quaint old village of Staindrop, with an in¬ 
teresting church containing many fine monuments of the Neville and 
Vane families. Some time was spent there, and then after dining- 
together, the party departed for Winston station about 6 P.M., having 
spent a most enjoyable day.— L. Castle. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
Some few weeks ago a correspondent wrote complaining of the 
flavour of some varieties, particularly Loxford Hall Seedling. I think 
the very hot weather which dried the moisture out of the ground has 
had something to do with the poor flavour in Strawberries this year. 
I have sometimes noticed that Strawberries in pots have been allowed 
to get dry enough for the foliage to droop, and although they have been 
well watered afterwards, the flavour has not been equal to those which 
have never suffered by want of water. On the other hand, when 
Strawberries have too much water and not much sun they are equally 
