402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 8, 186?. 
the flowers being unusually large and handsome. Altogether this ex¬ 
periment was a most decided success. 
Crotons are principally grown for table decoration, a shelf in Pine 
stove just suiting them. Croton Heathi elegans, a variety very popular 
in the neighbourhood of Worcester, is one of the best for table work, and 
C. interruptus aureus, Johannis, and Countess are also good. Aralia 
Chabrieri is much liked for table decoration, and is an easily grown 
stove plant, while the better known and most serviceable Pandanus 
Veitchi is grown in quantity. The bulk of the plants in the fernery are 
planted out, being ornamental and less trouble thus treated. A great 
variety of Adiantums principally are in small pots, and with these is a 
fine supply of Asparagus plumosus. The latter are freely divided each 
spring, small plants being the most ornamental. For affording cut 
sprays a few are planted out, and in time will prove of great service. 
The hot-water pipes are partially enclosed in boxes, these being nearly 
filled with coarse rubble and faced with fine gravel, makes a capital bed 
for pot plants. I must not omit mentioning a line plant of Lapageria 
alba that was still flowering in large clusters on the roof of a span-roofed 
greenhouse. It is planted out in a narrow raised brick pit, this being 
very freely drained, and filled with a { eaty compost to which an abun¬ 
dance of charcoal was added. The use of the latter and the perfect 
drainage admits of abundance of water being given without souring the 
soil. 
Fruit Culture under Glass. —It is in this department that Mr. 
Barker's long experience under Mr. Coleman at Eastnor Castle is plainly 
manifest, as taken altogether there are few places where choice fruit 
generally is so well grown as at Hindlip. Two houses are devoted to 
Pine Apples, there being several good Smooth Cayennes ripe or ripening 
at the time of my visit, and a fine lot of plants for fruiting next season. 
All are given plenty of room, this being one good factor in the produc¬ 
tion of such sturdy well rooted plants. In each back corner of the pit 
in the fruiting house, a small space is bricked off for a plant of Musa 
Cavendishi, and these being very liberally treated, when about twelve 
months produce immense clusters of fine “ fingers,” which are altogether 
superior to the ordinary imported Bananas. After the fruit clusters 
show themselves great quantities of strong liquid manure is given the 
plants, and this helps to develope clusters 70 lbs. and upwards in weight. 
The Banana is a welcome addition to the list of autumn fruits, and I 
have frequently expressed surprise that so few of the noble plants pro¬ 
ducing them are grown. I cannot say much about the early vineries, 
beyond remarking that the wood appears most promising for a good crop 
next season, but in the late houses very serviceable crops of well ripened 
Lady Downe’s, Alicante, Mrs. Pinc°, Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Col- 
man, and Gros Maroc are hanging. Both of the latter are better finished 
and of better quality than I have found them elsewhere this season. 
Both Foster's Seedling and Lady Downe’s stock appears to well suit 
them. Oranges and Camellias thrive admirably on the back walls of the 
vineries, the roots being confined in narrow borders. The former were 
heavily fruited, while the Camellias, some of which are 14 feet high, 
were crowded with plump buds. 
Three or four large lean-to houses with high back walls are devoted 
to Peach and Nectarine culture, both the walls and semi-circular trellis- 
ing being furnished with grand trees. The whole of the fruit being 
consumed by the family large gluts are undesirable, and for this reason 
Mr. Barker prefers to plant rather thickly, especially against the back 
wall, and in greater variety than is often favoured, in order to secure a 
long succession. Cordons, or trees with one main stem, are principally 
grown against the walls. These are planted about 6 feet apart, and 
trained obliquely, the fruiting wood being laid in right and left each 
season, and the old bearing wood cut out at each winter pruning. In 
this simple manner capital bearing wood is secured, and in addition to this 
system of training admitting of a good variety being grown on a com¬ 
paratively limited wall space, it may safely be said to be the quickest 
way of furnishing the walls. Mr. Taylor when at Longleat adopted a 
somewhat similar method of furnishing an outside wall, though he did 
not so closely limit the spread of fruiting wood. Mr. Barker’s selection 
of varieties for an early house consists of Princess Louise, the best of the 
early Peaches, and ripening with him about the first week in May, 
requiring, however, to be eaten quickly ; Hale’s Early, this being about 
ten days later, and is handsome and good ; Condor, which ripens about 
the middle of May, is of good habit, and the fruit of fair size and other¬ 
wise good. Then follows the good old Royal George, and after this the 
handsome and good Dymond. Lord Napier, the earliest Nectarine and 
very fine ; Stanwick Elruge closely succeeds it, and this is described 
as grandly coloured and richly flavoured ; Albert, Pine Apple, and the 
good keeping Victoria are also considered valuable varieties of Necta¬ 
rines for forcing or successional houses. In the second early house 
Crimson Galande always does well and is very handsome ; Craw¬ 
ford’s Early is both early, handsome and good; Stirling Castle, 
Bellegarde, Alexandra Noblesse—a superior form of the old Noblesse— 
and Barrington, as well as several of the above mentioned Nectarines 
are grown. Some of the Peaches just named find a place in the fine late 
house, and also Princess of Wales, another good late sort ; Sea Eagle, 
handsome late and good, and Lord Palmerston, extra large, and at 
Hindlip of good quality. Humboldt Nectarine is also highly spoken of, 
and should be in every collection. 
Two light span-roofed houses are in the spring and summer filled 
with fruit trees in pots and Figs, the former being now set outside, and 
their pots and tubs protected with litter. They are fine trees, and I can 
readily believe perfect heavy crops of good fruit. The favourite Figs 
are Brown Turkey, Negro Largo, White Marseilles, and Black Bourja- 
sotte, the last named being of medium size, quite black, and of first-class 
flavour. All having their roots confined either in narrow raised pits orr 
large pots form very sturdy fruitful growth, and are much more profit¬ 
able than when planted out in a large border. Such excellent Plums as 
Green Gage, Jefferson's, Kirke’s, and Coe’s Golden Drop are grown in 
pots, and capital crops are taken from Apricots Royal, St. Ambroise, and 
Moor Park. A few Nectarines and Peaches are fruited in tubs, and 
these having a clear stem and a head trained over a flat trellis are- 
available for replacing any of the permanent trees on roof of Peach 
houses. La Grosse Sucrte is the favourite Strawberry for fruiting in 
pots, this being found the best for forcing. Pauline and King of the 
Earlies will be tried this season. Tomatoes and Cucumbers are in 
demand all the year round. Several sorts of the former are grown, 
including Perfection and Carter’s Green Gage, while Pettigrew’s Cardiff 
Castle Cucumber is solely relied upon for the winter supplies, and the 
plants being of good size before they are fruited they do not break 
down prematurely. 
Hardy Fruit and Kitchen Garden. —There is a very good num¬ 
ber of fruit trees of all kinds in the gardens at Hindlip, Mr. Barker taking 
a very great interest in this department. Of Pears there are numerous 
pyramids, horizontally trained, and cordon trees, and much of the fruit 
produced is of an unusually clean and bright character. Some of the 
best are Williams’ Bon Chretien, Beum5d’Amanlis,Fondante d’Automne, 
Beurr6 Superfin, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurre Hardy, Doyenne tin 
Comice, Pitmaston Duchess, Marie Louise, Passe Colmar, Thompson’s, 
Glou Mor§eau, Knight’s Monarch, Winter Nelis, Josephine de Malines, 
Beurre Ranee, Easter Beurre, and Bergamotte Esperen. Many of the 
horizontally trained wall trees are grand specimens, notably those that 
have been regrafted with superior sorts. This was accomplished by 
cutting back all the side branches to near the main stem and inserting 
the grafts in these, the character of the trees being thus quickly changed 
for the better. Choice Apples, Plums, and Apricots are also grown on 
the walls, the cordon system of training the latter being found the 
best owing to the trees not lasting long at Hindlip. There is a fine 
lot of pyramid Apple trees all just arrived at a good bearing state. 
The kitchen garden, and indeed the place generally, is very well managed, 
and I must not omit mentioning the capital lot of herbaceous plants 
grown near the kitchen garden. Mr. Barker has been in delicate health 
for some time, but his many fiiends will be glad to hear he is now much 
better, and I sincerely trust will soon be heard of again as a successful 
exhibitor.—W. I. 
MEALY BUG ON VINES. 
With the exception of the phylloxera, which entails the total 
destruction of Vines, mealy bug is unquestionably the most difficult 
insect to eradicate. It has been said that to do so is an “ impossibility,” 
but experience has proved that such assertions are not well founded, 
for it can, and has been, cleared out of vineries, not by half measures, 
but by strict attention and unflagging perseverance for a few seasons. 
When houses have become badly infested its eradication is not the work 
of a solitary season, but will entail considerable labour for two, three., 
or more seasons. 
To clean the houses and Vines thoroughly during the winter, and 
then conclude that all has been done that is practicable, will not achieve 
success, for upon examination it will be found that the pest is as nume¬ 
rous upon the Vines as was the case before the previous cleaning took 
place. This will be the condition of any vinery where the attempt to 
stamp out mealy bug is confined to cleaning and dressing during the 
resting period of the Vines. Year after year the periodical wintev 
scraping and cleaning is necessary without the slightest appearance of 
reduction of numbers. If bug exists in a vinery it is certain to get into 
the bunches, and then the Grapes are almost useless. Whatever may bs 
done to remove the pest the appearance of the Grapes is sacrificed. 
In any attempt to clear vineries of this destructive pest gardeners 
require the co-operation of their assistants. My experience leads me to 
believe that where gardeners and amateurs are determined to stamp out 
this insect, they are far more certain of achieving success than many 
gardeners who, from a constant variety of other duties, compel them to 
entrust the work solely to their subordinates. Under gardeners may 
think that I am casting a reflection upon them. I have, however, no 
wish to do so, but I hope that my remarks may stir th m to greater 
energy, care, and attention in such important matters, so that confidence 
can be placed in them. I was recently asked by one who had profited 
by some articles of mine to write again about young gardeners. The 
one who requests me to do so was without question the best “ bug 
hunter ” I ever had. 1 have had many young men engaged at this 
work, and the majority of them have been particularly careless, as if 
they had no wish or desire to exterminate this pest. It is a tiresome 
operation, and almost enough to weary the most trustworthy and atten¬ 
tive. If, however, our assistants would work with determination, they 
would the sooner be freed from such disagreeable work. 
I must, however, enter into details how the extermination of this 
insect is to be accomplished, and in order to do so effectually, a start must 
be made from the time the Vines are pruned. After pruning has been 
completed, every particle of the old bark should be removed from the 
Vines, as well as the dead portions of old spurs. The woolly matter 
about the eyes should be carefully removed, and every portion of the- 
outer bark, from the new as well as the old wood. The removal of the 
bark from Vines should be absolute, but it becomes a necessity if mealy 
bug exists upon them. Before scraping the Vines spread canvas sheets 
