October 1 , 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
to admit of their remaining so simply by pruning, but by judicious 
training the necessity for reducing the size of the tree is avoided, and a 
fuller crop of fruit assured. 
Some trees of the same variety planted last autumn have made shoots 
this year nearly a yard long. Beyond removing the extreme point of 
growth—many have been already treated so—they will not be pruned 
any more, but the branches will be spread out to give space to the inner 
parts of the tree for the purpose of maturing leaves and trees alike. No 
matter how strong these trees may grow I do not apprehend that they 
will require root-pruning, a judicious manipulation of the branches will 
cause fruitfulness. I am a firm believer in the encouragement of a 
corresponding number and kind of roots to the branches. Trees which 
lack healthy roots cannot have a profusion of branches ; the two must 
go together. Many trees have too much winter pruning, as Mr. Wright 
rightly says, and are followed by strong growth. Where space will 
admit the extension system of training is to be recommended, which 
will generally dispense with the necessity of root-pruning. Where so 
many persons err in pruning is with newly planted trees, and especially 
in the case of standards, they do not cut them far enough back the first 
year. Close pruning gives increased vigour, afterwards to be followed 
by extension training. 
Mere de Manage is generally considered to be a shy-bearing sort, but 
if growers would allow it more freedom in growth, at the same time not 
crowd its branches, 1 think there would be less cause for complaint. 
This is looked upon as a certain cropper here. One tree planted as a 
pyramid twelve years ago now reaches 20 feet high, the thinly disposed 
branches being at the present time heavily laden with extra fine fruit, 
the colour of which under such conditions may easily be guessed. 
Cherries are another instance of the wisdom of this plan. A close 
summer pruning, keeping the main branches thin, results every year in 
a full, generally extra full, crop of fruit; in fact I have never known 
them to fail. Gooseberries are the same, Peaches ditto ; in fact, nearly 
all kinds of hardy fruit will come under the head of “ sure croppers ” 
provided a rational system of pruning is carried out and the natural 
weather elements are anything like propitious during the time the trees 
are in full bloom.— E. Molyneux. 
We shall expect to find the columns of the Journal again become full 
of useful and interesting Chrysanthemum news in the course of the next 
week or two, for as soon as October arrives attention is earnestly turned 
to these ever popular plants, and we amateurs are on the look out for 
every item that can be turned to account. The fine weather of the past 
few days is improving matters considerably, but up to then the prospect 
was not by any means all that could be desired. The sunless summer 
caused much rank growth which had not been well matured, and buds 
were not likely to develop freely into the kind of flowers we require now 
to enter even a very modest competition at local shows. If it be not too 
late a few weeks’ fine weather will greatly help matters, and though 
gloomy forebodings have been expressed by experienced growers the 
events may prove better than expected. 
It is especially interesting to learn something about the collections 
at the various noted exhibiting gardens and nurseries, and we shall look 
eagerly for a continuation of the notes which the Journal has favoured 
us with for some years.— Amateur. 
DOWNSIDE. 
It is surprising what changes are brought about in different establish¬ 
ments by a change of owners. Downside when owned by Mr. Lee 
gained a reputation that was probably unsurpassed for the fine collec¬ 
tion of Orchids. The glass houses, which are numerous, were all 
designed especially for their culture and well-being. Seldom we find 
houses so well provided with tanks of water that run the whole length 
of the house beneath the stages. We must pass from what Downside 
was, and turn to what it is now and bids fair to become in the future 
under the ownership of A. Tate, Esq. Those who knew Mr. Tate and 
his tastes when in the neighbourhood of Liverpool will not be surprised 
to learn that he is cultivating on a large scale his favourite flower, the 
Lose, with that enthusiasm that only true rosarians possess. A large 
amount of success in exhibiting has already been attained, and we have 
no doubt that before long Downside will be as popular for its Roses as it 
was formerly for Orchids. 
For the benefit of those who have never visited Downside, it may be 
said that it is situated at Leatherhead, on the side of a hill, and com¬ 
mands extensive views of the Surrey hills and the surrounding country— 
a beautiful landscape splendidly wooded. The character of Downside 
has been almost entirely changed since Mr. Tate took possession ; some 
extensive alterations have been made, and others are in progress or 
contemplation. It is not what may be called a “ large ” place, but it is 
extending—adjoining land has been purchased and added to it. Borders 
of trees and shrubs have been planted with clumps here and there, which 
in a few years will give it quite a park-like appearance, and add much 
to the beauty of its surroundings. Extensive herbaceous borders have 
been made round one side of the pleasure grounds, which will not oniy 
be effective but useful when they are well filled with a choice selection 
of plants. Portions of ground once occupied by vegetables and crowded 
with trees and shrubs have been cleared and sown with grass. Large 
chalk banks on the left of the drive have had a thicket of under wood, 
beneath some fine Elms, removed from them, and the chalk lowered 
fully 3 or 4 feet or more in places that had been formerly piled round 
the stems of the large forest trees that fringe the hill side. The removal 
of so much chalk has been a work of magnitude, so as to give the bank, 
an easy slope. A winding walk under the shade of these trees has been 
formed with little bits of rockwork at intervals and patches of plants. 
When the newly sown grass is established this part of the grounds 
will look well. 
We must just glance at the Rose garden, which covers a large space 
of ground, and is to be extended again this autumn. A thousand 
Hybrid Perpetuals were planted last autumn, besides Teas and other 
Roses. The whole of the Rose garden can be seen from the residence, 
which stands on higher ground. The garden in question more nearly 
approaches my ideal of a Rose garden than any I have seen before. It 
is laid out in squares that hold about four rows of plants with broad 
grass walks between each. The larger or central beds are divided by a. 
hedge of the old Gloire de Dijon. The hedges are to be extended, and 
will be broken up at distances by suitable pillar varieties that will be 
allowed to stand up well above the rest. In the centre of this garden is 
what is commonly known as a rosery formed of wire which is p'anted 
with various climbing varieties. To correspond with this are wire arches 
in various positions spanning the grass walks that have been alluded to. 
One object has been to render the garden effective from the residence as 
well as from any point from which it may be viewed. The broad walks 
of grass will prevent the garden ever having the crowded appearance 
of too many Rose gardens. It must not be thought that Mr. Tate is 
growing Roses only that are suitable for exhibiting; this is by no means 
the case. One portion of this garden, and the most attractive at the 
time of my visit, is almost exclusively devoted to China and Polyantha 
Roses, which were covered with thousands of their small but fragrant 
flowers. Apart from their beauty in the Rose garden, the beds of these 
miniature Roses were, without exception, the most effective- we have 
seen this year. These Roses deserve to be planted on a much larger 
scale in gardens generally for ornamental purposes. Beds of the follow¬ 
ing were noticed—Mignonette, very fine ; Perle d’Or, very striking in 
colour, even prettier than the famous William Allan Richardson ; The 
Pet or Parquerette, Gloire de Polyantha, and several others. The 
absence of a note-book and limited time prevented my taking any notes p 
suffice it to say that this Rose garden contains examples already of 
nearly every section of the Rose. One or more of the glass houses has 
been altered and planted with Tea varieties, while a large number had 
been forced in pots and were standing outside. A scroll pattern of beds 
which border the Rose garden were filled with such sweet-scented 
flowers as Carnations and Mignonette, favourites that are not out of 
place in any position. 
Chrysanthemums were everywhere on the walks close to the houses, 
and wonderfully well they looked. Some hundreds of plants are grown, 
and later on will make a grand display in the large Cattleya house 
which I understood was being reserved for the purpose, the sides of 
which were covered with Tomatoes bearing some large fine-shaped fruit. 
The houses at present call for no special note, they are being filled with 
various stove and greenhouse flowering and foliage plants, with a few 
Orchids. The fruit and kitchen gardens are not being neglected, the 
latter is being extended, while the old trees in the former are to be 
grubbed up and young planted, while others are to have their roots lifted 
out of the chalk and brought near the surface. 
My best thanks are due to Mr. Tate for his kindness and courtesy in 
showing me his garden, and also to his gardener, Mr. Wm. Mease, who 
seems quite at home and happy in his new sphere of labour, and whose 
abilities need no comment from me.— A Countryman. 
GARDENING AS A CALLING. 
[A paper by Mr. Charles Gibson, Morden Park Gardens, Mitcham, read at a recent- 
meeting of the Croydon Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ Mutual Improvement Society.] 
Gardening is one of the oldest callings, and provides some of the 
purest pleasures and most elevating employment. It is admitted by 
statesmen in charge of the weighty matters of the nation, and by 
merchants in hard pursuit of trade and commerce, that they derive 
great delight and solace from their gardens in their intervals of leisure. 
But the pleasures of the garden are not confined to statesmen and the 
wealthy, but extend to all classes down to the cottager, who enjoys his 
favourite Fuchsia or Geranium as much as the gentleman does his 
Orchid. The cottager comes out well at exhibitions with produce of 
excellent quality, especially vegetables, and near large towns where 
exhibitions are held for special flowers—Roses, Carnations, Pansies, or 
Chrysanthemums ; but whatever the subject is, the enthusiasm is extra¬ 
ordinary, and consequently their products good, for seldom are extra, 
fine specimens shown without that enthusiasm. The prosperity the 
country has enjoyed through the Victorian era has added large numbers 
to the wealthy classes who all admire and enjoy their gardens in various 
degrees, and employ gardeners to conduct them. In no other country 
is horticulture carried on with the same all-round excellence. One of 
