246 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 17, 1885. 
manently appointed head gardener and steward, in which position he 
remained for more than thirty years, during which time he enjoyed the 
entire confidence and respect of his noble employer, and was held in high 
esteem by all those with whom he came in contact. During the time he 
had charge of the Elvaston gardens he brought together one of the best 
collections of Conifer® in this country, some of which have attained the 
proportions of large timber trees. 
Mr. Barron has made himself famous both as a landscape gardener, 
and for his successful mode of removing large trees, some of them being 
of great dimensions, amongst which may be mentioned a few of the 
largest. The first large trees that he attempted to remove were some 
Cedars of Lebanon at Elvaston. The largest of these measures at the 
present time 80 feet in height, 9 feet 9 inches circumference of stem, 
with a spread of branches 63 feet in diameter. This tree is in the most 
robust health. He also removed a Cedar of Lebanon from Hornsey to 
Acton, 60 feet high. This required thirteen horses to convey it to its 
destination. One of the largest trees removed was a Cedar of Lebanon 
for Sir John Hartop, Bart. This tree measured 50 feet high, 50 feet 
diameter of branches, and was moved with a ball 18 feet long by 16 feet 
in width by 3 feet 7 inches deep, the whole weight being computed at 
50 tons. 
The greatest feat of tree-lifting was, however, accomplished at Dover, 
when an old Yew, considered to be over a thousand years old, was moved 
with the greatest success, and is now to be seen in a thriving condition. 
"Mr. Barron is still in the enjoyment of excellent health, thus showing the 
beneficial results of temperate habits and constant activity. 
VINE GOSSIP. 
MucHhasbeen said latelyaboutVine leaves being scorched or curled, and 
I wish to add a few observations on the subject. The last Saturday in 
July here was a scorching day, though with the wind being north-easterly 
ihe temperature was not excessive, but the sun was extremely bright with 
a very dry atmosphere. My Gros Colman Vines in a span-house running 
north and south did well up till about eleven in the morning, then the four 
end Vines in the south-east corner, together with a Madresfield Court, 
were very much burnt. I cannot understand how it should be so, as this 
house is well ventilated by five in the morning ; in fact, this is always the 
first house attended to. Between noon and three o’clock I watched the 
south end very closely, and all was right until about four, then the Gros 
Colman on the west side was slightly burnt, and a few exposed 
hunches of Madresfield Court were burnt. As soon as the sun’s 
rays were off the house I syringed all the injured Vines thoroughly, 
anxiously watching the result on Sunday, hut no farther damage 
was done. On Monday to be safe I used a slight coat of Elliott's 
Summer Cloud outside the glass to slightly shade the four end, 
Vines on the east side, and also the south end. The mystery is that 
supposing the morning burning was caused by insufficient ventilation, it 
could not be so at four in the afternoon. The Grapes were at a standstill 
for at least ten days. In the meanwhile I gave these Vines a little liquid 
manure, and I am pleased to say the Grapes are swelling well. They will 
be later, but do not think any worse for the check. The foliage did not 
fall, but curled very much, though now even these have expanded. Last 
year the Vines were caught in the same way at the north-east corner, 
though the Grapes coloured and did as well as the rest, only being later. 
I expected this time to have seen them somewhat weaker, but it is not so ; 
the crop and berries especially are the best in the house, which I attribute 
to the extra liberal treatment they received to counteract the burning. 
The foliage is good up to the height of 4 feet, when the rods turn up the 
roof, the leaves measuring 12 or 14 inches in diameter, and the laterals 
fairly strong about 18 inches apart on each side. The burning must be 
peculiar to the variety, as in the same hou=e I have a fine Vine of Gros 
Guillaume in the north-east corner with foliage always good. It was not 
due to forcing, as these Vines were gently started on March 1st, and have 
only this last fortnight begun colouring. I have at least a dozen good 
rods of Gros Colman grafted on Muscat of Alexandria last year, which 
have a bunch or two of Grapes, and these are all that can be desired in 
-colour. I measured a rod of a graft two years old, and find it over 3 inches 
in circumference with leaves 15 inches across the graft, carrying three 
bunches, and the stock Muscat of Alexandria four bunches, as it was 
grafted 4 feet up the stem. I have grown the Muscats on the cool system. 
Another year I shall try Gros Colman or Black Hamburgh, as I am sure 
grafting Gros Colman is a step in the right direction. I remember a house 
of Lady Downe’s at Garston in Meredith’s time, which faced the north, 
and the Vines doing capitally, and I believe this would be the right treat¬ 
ment for Gros Colman if started eaily. Having the management of these 
houses in my own hands I have no one to blame, so I am enabled to speak 
with authority when I say it is not the fault of ventilation. I ought, how¬ 
ever, to say that the wind being strong from the north-east we had to be 
careful in opening on that side. On the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 
named the air was full of black midges like thrips ; Dahlias, See., outside 
were smoothered with red spider. This must be a good year for red 
spider, for the supply of water being generally short with other favourable 
circumstances, gave the enemy a good chance. I see now my Gros Col- 
mans are inclined to have a few on the leaves, and as the Grapes are 
colouring I cannot syringe. 
We have a lean-to bouse facing east planted with Muscats. The 
wires are only' 12 inches from the glass, and the foliage is a little affected, 
but the fruit is swelling freely'. In this care I believe also they were 
p< rhaps rather dry at the roots, the border being shallow. I am more 
than ever of the opinion that the farther the foliage is from the glass the 
better. I have another lean-to Muscat house facing south, the wires 15 
inches from the glass, and the Vines are in perfect condition; position 
mav have something to do with this, but the distance of the wires from 
the glass is also important. I inarched Madresfield Court on Gros Colman 
last summer and have one bunch of Grapes. I did this to see if it would 
crack. This bunch is finished and in good condition. I shall graft Gros 
Colman on Gros Guillaume next year. This should do well.— Stephen 
Castle, Went Lynn. 
EPILOBIUM OBUORDATUM. 
A3 a rule Epilobiums are far from beiDg popular, though for what 
reason I do not know, the majority being really desirable plants, and that 
should be in all mixed borders, E. angustifolium and its var. alba can¬ 
not be surpassed for marshy ground. When planted in bold masses they 
have the advantage of being able to take care of themselves better than 
most plants in a similar situation, and during the flowering season are 
very attractive. This species has also been very effectively used on the 
margins of lakes and streams. E. hirsutum, though not so showy, may 
be advantagously used in the same way ; it is, however, a coarser grower, 
and should be placed in the background. Then there are E. montanum, 
E. roseum, and E. palustre, all excellent border plants. The chief thing 
to be guarded against with Epilobiums is their seeding in the border, but 
this is easily remedied by cutting the tops before the seeds ripen. 
The dwarfer-growing sorts are essentially rockwork plants, and especi¬ 
ally E. obcordatum, shown in fig. 40. It is a native of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains, where it is found at over 1000 feet above sea level. It is perfectly 
hardy in our gardens, standing any amount of drought, and the present 
season has been the best for this plant we have seen since its introduction) 
flowering as it has done incessantly from June until September. Dry 
sunny slopes are the places to be chosen on which to plant it, and as it 
has a trailing or procumbent habit it soon covers the place allotted to it- 
The flowers vary from three to five on each stem, over an inch in 
diameter, and of a lovely dark rose colour. It is easily injured by damp 
during the winter season, and should be protected by a “ cloche ” or 
