July 26, 1888 J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
81 
situation let them be removed to frames or to their winter quarters : the 
former is preferable where the accommodation can be given. Here 
they should have a cool bottom to stand upon, for we have frequently 
seen Heaths, more especially the softer-growing kinds, go quite blind 
(that is, lose all the flower) through being suddenly removed from a 
cool standing place to an open greenhouse stage. Wherever they are 
placed, however, all the air possible must be given. Look carefully to 
the watering : see that none are only half watered, as this is a fertile 
source of mildew. Should this pest put in appearance dust the plants 
affected with sulphur ; use it carefully, because it does not improve the 
appearance of the plants, and the less waste the better. 
Some of the most distinct Heaths now flowering are the following, 
but several of these are too seldom seen in gardens at the present time 
though they can be still found in a few collections of hardwooded 
plants : — 
Erica Z hriapilosa. —An extremely showy plant. Leaves arranged 
in threes, linear, and densely clothed with ciliated hairs, dark green. 
1 lowers produced upon the apex of the small branches, mostly in 
couples ; these are tubular and clavate, furnished with short hairs ; 
colour deep reddish purple, green at the ends. Whole flower gummy. 
h. nit'ula.— This is a perfect little gem, and should be more fre¬ 
quently found in amateurs’ collections. Leaves obtuse, linear, spread- 
arranged in threes and dark green. Flowers terminal, on short 
footstalks, in small umbels of three to six, globose, with a recurved 
limb, clear snow white. 
1j. metulcejiora bicolor (fig. 9).—A charming free-flowering variety, 
free from the pest mildew, which is such a plague to the old mebuhe- 
FIG. 9.-E11ICA METUL.EFLORA BfCOLOR, 
flora. Leaves arranged in fours, linear, smooth, and light greer. 
Flowers in terminal umbels of six to twelve, tubular, erect and oblong, 
soft rose colour, with a white neck and limb. 
E. ornata. —This is a superb garden hybrid. Leaves arranged in 
fours, linear obtuse, hairy at the margins, and deep green. Flowers 
arianged in terminal whorls of six to twelve; they are large, tubular, 
with an inflated base, where the colour is soft rose or rosy carmine 
passing into white, and with a pale green band round the neck ; 
segments of limb reflexed, white. 
E. lateralis— & slender-growing species, much branched. Leaves 
arranged in fours, linear obtuse, erect and dark green. Flowers 
globose, set upon long coloured footstalks, arranged in terminal umbels 
of six to twelve, and deep purple. 
E. cubica minor. —A slender, dwarf, much-branched plant of great 
beauty. Branches arranged in whorls of three to five. Leaves linear 
obtuse, arranged in fours, shining dark green. Flowers in whorls near 
the ends of ail the branches, bell-shaped, and deep reddish purple. 
E. Aitoniana Turnbulli. —A slender-growing plant of great beauty. 
Leaves broadly linear, spreading, slightly recurved, dark green. 
Flowers an inch or more in length, in umbels of six to eight, tubular. 
Flowers white, changing to flesh colour or pink by exposure to the sun 
and air; segments of limb large and spreading, white. 
E. injvn/lihuliformis. —This is a dwarf-growing and very elegant 
species. Leaves arranged in fours, linear obtuse, smooth, erect, and 
dark green. Flowers in large terminal whorls upon all the branches ; 
tubes long and slender, bright red ; limb white : calyx imbricated, 
leafy. 
E. effusa .—This together with E. ornata are garden hybrids which 
originated with the Messrs. Rollinson & Sons of Tooting, and they 
cannot be too highly recommended, for they are of good habit, large 
flowers, fine colours, very distinct and profuse bloomers. In this 
variety the leaves are dense, linear obtuse, dark green. Flowers pro¬ 
duced in large terminal whorls of six to twelve, large, tubular, with an 
inflated base ; colour wholly bright reddish crimson ; segments of the 
limb reflexed, straw colour. 
E. cerinthoides .—A strong and vigorous grower, although somewhat 
lax, and therefore requiring more support than many other kinds. 
Leaves in fours, linear oblong, acute, and profusely clothed with long- 
light-coloured hairs ; whorls terminal, many-flowered. Flowers tubular-, 
with a slightly contracted neck, about an inch long, hairy, bright 
scarlet throughout. In the variety coronata the leaves are shorter and’ 
more erect, whilst the whorl of flowers is larger and spread evenly 
round, forming a corona or crown upon the ends of the shoots.—T. 
LAMBTON CASTLE GARDENS. 
A visit to the above is always pleasant and interesting under the 
guidance of Mr. Hunter. The beauties of Lambton Castle have so 
often been described in the pages of the Journal that reference here 
will be unnecessary at any length. Suffice it to say, it was just after a 
June shower we drove into the park, where all the beautiful contrasts 
of various shades of ^reen foliage were seen to great advantage; the 
winding walks, well-kept drives, and the tortuous course of the river 
Wear, which is nearly navigable up to the castle, makes the pleasure 
greater after a few hours’ escape from a begrimed and smoky town. 
On the large terrace in front of the principal row of vineries is a 
scries of beds which will have an imposing effect when the plants are- 
fully developed. The groundwork is principally Antennaria tomentosa, 
Lobelia Blue King, Alternantheras, Echeveria secunda glauca, Veronica 
repens, &c. These are planted in a series of geometrical figures, which 
are bold, and will give a massive effect. 
In the glass structures we were much struck with the marvellous 
crops of fruit in pots, especially of Pears. Amongst a dozeu seedlings 
Mr. Hunter has received there is one that ripened its fruit on the 8th of 
June last. This was started in March with other varieties ; the fruit is 
wellj coloured, good flavoured, in size about as large as an ordinary 
BeunA Diel, and resembles a Pitmaston Duchess. The name of the fruit 
is Blanqhe Claude. Mr. Hunter is much charmed with it, and in future 
it will no doubt form a very valuable acquisition for early work. Some 
littlfe trees in 10 and 14-inch pots were carrying from one to three 
dozen fruits each ; all the ordinary varieties are growp and each is 
found to do well, Pitmaston Duchess often attaining 20 ozs. each. Mr. 
Hunter’s success is evidently due to being a very close observer of 
Nature. He argues, and with much logic, that when a tree bears a heavy 
crop one year it is generally not so good the second. This is always 
apparent under natural circumstances, but when artificial means are 
employed the practice of Mr. Hunter is still more effective, as by giving 
all the trees that bear well a year’s rest they regain their lost vigour, 
and as there are some 500 trees in pots this can be easily carried out. 
Some grand Plums were also good. Trees of 1 Prince Englebert were 
positively laden from base to summit with fine fruits. Some of the 
varieties of Pears we omitted to mention often attain from 12 to 
15 inches in circumference. 
In the vineries we observed some very fine bunches of Black Ham¬ 
burgh, 8 to 9 lbs. each, especially one Vine, which has always borne 
well. On each rod there averaged twenty-six bunches each. There were 
also grand bunches of Trebbiano and Calabrian Raisin all equally large. 
In toe early house the bunches, 3 lbs. to 4 lbs. each, of Black Hamburgh,, 
were! well coloured and finished to perfection. The earliest house was 
started on the 1st December, Muscats were extremely fine, and so were 
Alicantes. There is a new vinery planted from last year’s eyes, and the 
Vines have now made growths up to the top of the rafters, and there is 
no doubt that in future exhibitions the fruit from this vinery will be 
admired. We observed some fine plants of Hydrangeas 6 and 7 feet 
high, trainer! in a pyramidal form, and very symmetrical; they were 
placed there to make their growth. They had just come from the con¬ 
servatory, where they had flowered profusely, and are found most useful 
for decoration. 
Iii the stoves we were struck with the profuseness of Stephanotis, 
which runs everywhere, and blooms at every joint ; 1000 trusses have 
been.cut in a month, and up to the 15th of June last, the time of our 
visit, 825 trusses had been cut for June. They are planted just between 
tlie pipes in the usual soil, and flower most admirably. Ixoras were also 
planted out in borders, and were equally as floriferous as the Gardenias. 
In the conservatory, the stove, or any available place, Eucharises are 
planted out and throwing up flowers freely, and, as Mr. Hunter points, 
out, potting is saved, less water is required, and drying is not needed, 
which are all great savings in a large establishment where so much is 
required, but there are also some very fine plants in pots which are used 
for conservatory decoration. 
In the warm conservatory is Phoenix dactylifera in flower. Last 
year this plant was much -used for table decoration, where the colour of 
the fruit is found to be attractive. This is advantageous for the winter 
months, while many like and enjoy the fruit. Cycas revoluta is also 
used in the same way. Mr. Hunter has a great number of seedling 
Crotons which seem to possess considerable merit. Many of them are 
extremely fastigiated and diversified in leaf and colour. There are a 
