208 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 8, 1887. 
pretty little Retinosporas as central plants, surrounded by Lobelias and 
Alternantberas. This has a very distinct appearance, especially when 
viewed from the upper part of the garden, the white sand in contrast 
with the dark green Box bringing it out in bold relief. Numerous beds 
of herbaceous plants are attractive, ornamental shrubs, trees, and 
Conifers being scattered about freely in suitable positions. 
But we must turn our attention to the houses, as in a hurried visit 
there is not much time for all the departments, and the fruit is one of 
the specialities at Lambton. The range on the lower wall, termed the 
Orchard range, is in several divisions, and yields a quantity of useful 
produce from fruit trees in pots or planted out. With very little arti¬ 
ficial heat the trees bring their fruits of much larger size, ripen better, 
and the crops are more regular than outside. The roots are well under 
control, both as regards the supply of water and stimulants also for 
restriction if necessary, and in the northern counties of England houses 
of this kind are invaluable. Some of the produce of trees in this house 
was included in the premier collection of fifty dishes at Newcastle, and 
afforded a good example of what can be done with such assistance in an 
unfavourable season or situation. The first division is partly occupied 
with Plums, yellow and white Magnum Bonum, Prince Englebert, and 
Pond’s Seedling being the chief varieties. In the front of the house 
rained to the roof are cordon Pears of the leading varieties, and bear- 
dition, and are liberally treated, Thomson’s manure being found a 
useful stimulant as a top-dressing or mixed in the borders. Some of the 
older Vines have, however, been removed, and one house has been 
entirely replanted, the young Vines making good progress and promising 
well for future seasons. In one of the houses an interesting experiment has 
been tried with Gros Colman worked on Foster’s Seedling side by side 
with one of the same variety on its o«n roots. A remarkable difference 
is seen in the colouring of the Grapes, those on the worked Gros Colman 
having coloured well, while the others are at present nearly green. The 
newly planted vinery is utilised for young Apple trees and Tomatoes, 
Hackwood Park, Large Red and Criterion being the principal of the latter, 
and the first-named the chief favourite. The conservatory is a 
peculiarly shaped building inside, but it is very picturesque and filled 
with a number of ornamental plants, including some fine specimen 
Palms, Phoenix dactylifera being of great size and in fine health. A 
large plant of Cycas revoluta has a crown of its peculiar orange-coloured 
fruits, a dish of which was included in the large collection at New¬ 
castle. Ferns are numerous. The little Ficus repens covers a good 
portion of the wall, and some arches are clothed with Epiphyllums, 
which must have a beautiful effect when in flower. A flight of steps 
conducts to another portion of the conservatory at a higher level, and 
besides a number of miscellaneous plants we find Eucharises planted out 
Fig 
27.— Lambton 
Castle, S.W. View. 
ing fine fruits, all spare space being filled with Tomatoes. The Pear 
have been planted out four or five years, and have proved quite satisfac¬ 
tory. In an adjoining division the back wall is covered with Peaches 
and Nectarines, Pears occupy the front of the house, Tomatoes and 
Chrysanthemums for early flowering being used as temporary crops for 
filling up. Some of the favourite Peaches in this house are Alexander. 
Goshawk, and Rivers’ Victoria : the best Nectarines being Lord Napier 
and Pine Apple. Of Pears, Durondeau, Beurn: d’Amanlis, Doyenne du 
Comice, Pitmaston Duchess, and Bcurrc Diel have handsome fruits, 
clean and well developed. These are only a few of the best, but the 
collection of Pears is a large one, as over fifty varieties are represented 
indoors and out, and 100 varieties of Apples. 
The upper range overlooking the terrace flower borders contains the 
principal vineries, which have produced such magnificent Grapes, and in 
which may be seen some good bunches now. Mr. Hunter has abun¬ 
dantly proved his skill as a Grape grower, and has shown bunches of 
sensational size on several occasions, but the character of the demand 
has altered; the extensive supplies now raised at Lambton consist more 
of medium sized bunches, with good berries and well finished. A 
moderate sized compact bunch of Grapes, in which the berries are large 
and the colour good, is usually more satisfactory on the table, is very 
strong at an exhibition, and possesses a substantial commercial value. 
There are, however, some large bunches to be seen y et, and a sixteen- 
year-old Vine of Alicante is bearing some grand specimens, as also is 
Trebbiano in another house. The Vines are in healthy fruitful con- 
son the shelves thriving well and yielding abundant supplies of flowers, 
while Pear trees in pots occupy all the sj ace that can be spared near the 
glass. This system of utilising every portion of the houses prevails 
throughout the establishment, and the quantity of produce, both in 
flowers and fruits, is very great in consequence. A vinery on the other 
side of the central house contains vigorous Vines of Trebbiano, Golden 
Queen, Calabrian Raisin, and Gros Colman, while in the earlier houses 
Black Hamburgh is the variety relied upon, the greater part of the crops 
having been cut previous to our visit. One variety is grown that is not 
often seen—namely, Burchardt’s Prince, or Aramon, which is distin¬ 
guished by its long bunches, one Vine having eleven good specimens. 
It is a late variety, and is sometimes of good flavour, but not reliable in 
this respect. It is said in Dr. Hogg’s “ Fruit Manual ” that the Grape 
is “ extensively cultivated in Languedoc and Provence on account of its 
great fertility and the large quantity of wine it yields ; but the wine is 
not of a high character, being principally the vin ordinaire of that part 
of the country.” The early Peach house had been stripped of its fruits, 
but there also we find Camellias and Pears in pots all looking healthy 
and satisfactory. 
A number of outside pits and frames are also devoted to plants and 
fruits, Ixoras, Gardenias, Apples and Melons beingall extensively grown 
in this way. Crotons are a speciality for decorative purposes, one house 
being filled with plants of various sizes, and splendidly coloured, such 
varieties as Queen Victoria, Weismanni, Mrs. Dorman, angustifolius, 
Warreni, Chelsoni, and Andreanus standing out prominently for their 
