December 10, 1835. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDESFR. 
619 
made this year, then he only achieves that which scores have done hetore 
him, but do not make a regular practice of doing for satisfactory reasons 
to themselves.—R eader. 
ROOD ASHTON HOUSE AND GROUNDS. 
Rood Ashton House is a beautiful Gothic mansion situated about 
three miles from Trowbridge and about one mile from the village of 
Steeple Ashton. Its present popular proprietor is Walter H. Long Esq., 
M.P. for the Northern Division of the County oE Wilts, D.L. for Wilts, 
and J.P. for Wilts and Somerset. Mr. Long is descended from a family 
of the same name which has for centuri's been honourably connected 
with the county, and various members of the family have been known to 
serve it in Parliament since the year 1433, certainly a good reason why 
Mr. Long should still represent us. The family originally, lived at South 
Wraxhall, and according to Leland, the first known ancestor was “ One 
Long Thomas, a stoute felawe.” As surnames were then becoming general 
this name appears to have been reversed, and the “ stoute felawe ” became 
Thomas Long. We could go much further into this highly interesting 
subject, hut except saying that Wrekeshalle (Wrexhall) is first mentioned 
in the Harl AISS. when “ Agnes de la Ferei ” was abbes3 in 1252, turn 
we to the grounds. 
Alighting at the railway station and passing through Trowbridge we 
very soon pass through the first lodge. At this lodge lives a very old man. 
who, I suppose, would rather serve Mr. Long than he Emperor of all the 
Russias. From this lodge to the next—about a mile and a half—is a very 
pleasant drive. There is a row of Fir trees nearly the whole distmce 
each side, and all the trees are about the same height. The park is truly 
English, which is saying a great deal; undulating scenery, fine tree®, 
and a lake, the latter containing tench, carp, and perch. 
We at last reach the house of the head gardener, Mr. Alexander 
Miller, who kindly shows us everything worth seeing. First a Pine 
house, 44 feet in length, with some splendid specimen", and then a plant 
house of the same size. These houses, as well as several others, are 
glazed on the modern system —i e., large pieces of glass embedded in 
putty, but no putty on the outside, and rivetted down firmly. This gives 
great strength as well as the maximum of light and heat. Now we come 
to a vinery 100 feet in length, but in four divisions. The vinery contains 
Foster’s Seedling. Black Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and Gros 
Guillaume. Mr. Miller manages to have a good succession. The Grapes 
in the first division are eaten, in the second ready to be eaten, third not 
quite ready, and so on. Mr. Miller has Grapes from April to Christmas, 
but by d'fferent arrangements of heating, &c., he intends having them 
all the year round. We now pass into another house, 100 feet long, 
intended eventually for Pines, &c., but at present used for a fine lot of 
Tomatoes. 
Next is the kitchen garden, and I never saw a better. A wall all round 
it, not a weed inside, and completely filled with everything the palate 
could desire. This garden is a proof of the value of a good garden 
education. In the north a gardener is apprenticed, and is turned into the 
kitchen garden first and made to master that. He has, I believe, at least 
a year of that before he attempts anything with the flowers. One notice¬ 
able feature of this garden was a splendid bed of spring-sown Onicns, 
which had attained a very large size, notwithstanding the dry season. 
There are several other houses for Grapes, Peaches, Figs, &c., and one 
long Peach house (.75 feet) full of splendid trees, both of Peaches and 
Nectarines. We saw some fine specimens of the Peach called “ Exquisite.” 
The wasps had found some of these Peaches exquisite, but Mr. Miller 
intends next year to try whether a good pail of tar will keep them out. 
Going out of the kitchen garden we get near to the mansion, which, loyal 
as we are, we could not help thinking something like Windsor Castle. 
The flag was flying, showing that Mr. Long was in residence. There are 
some fine specimens of trees here, amongst which we might mention a 
Wellingtonia 45 feet high, a splendid Weeping Birch, Evergreen Oak, &c. 
A fine specimen of Thujopsis dolahrata planted, we believe, on the day 
Walter Long, jun., was baptised, September 11th, 1879. Many other 
fine trees, but we must not forget an old Oak which must have stood there 
centuries. It is 25 feet round at the height of 4 feet from the ground, 
and more a little higher up. It is quite hollow, and large enough to hold 
several men. It forms a happy home for owls. The bark has been nailed 
on from time to time as it came off. We cannot refrain from mentioning 
one more tree, a Lime tree, which contains immense bunches of Mistletoe. 
We have never seen such bunches, even in Covent Garden. 
The bedding out is done after the good old fashion. Plenty of Scarlet 
Pelargoniums and the blue Lobelia, as well as other sorts of Pelargoniums, 
but no carpet bedding, and here we admire Mr. Miller’s taste. The 
borders are in the shape of various kinds of scrolls, and were designed 
by him. The view obtained of the flower garden from the mansion is 
very good indeed. 
Altogether the place is well worth a visit, and through the kindness of 
Mr. Long the beautiful park is open to the public the whole of the year, 
with the exception of three days’.— Walter Chitty. 
EARLY PRUNING VINES. 
The suggestion of your correspondent, Mr. Iggulden, regarding the 
“ effects of early pruning on Vines ” was well timed from the facts he has 
laid before us; and there is little doubt but many will direct their 
attention during the next spring and summer to the spurs from which 
show bunches have been cut, especially those who have not been in the 
habit of making an “ all round ” shortening back. 
I trust my opinion on this subject at the present time may assist in 
stimulating others to careful observation on all matters connected with 
this untimely operation, and let it be proved whether or not this de¬ 
nuding the Vines of a large part of wood and leaves is hurtful. 
My interest in early pruning was aroused about three years ago on 
receiving a letter from a brother gardener and one of the most successful 
Grape-growers in the middle counties of Scotland, now on his way to a 
far-off land, where his skill and energy are to be applied to the growing 
of fruit on a large scale. 
He said in that note he thought we are in our infancy in the manage¬ 
ment of Vines, and one of the points we are far wrong in is the 
pruning. After some thought he came to the conclusion we are in error in 
applying our labour and care to the perfect ripening of wood to be cut 
away in winter and burned ; and in order to economise resolved to prune 
early, expecting what nourishment would have been laid up in the part 
removed would be appropriated by the parts left. 
Happily the experiment was conducted on a small scale, or the quantity 
and quality of his crop would have been very much impaired, and I may 
as well give the details of procedure. My friend had the faculty cf 
seeing a long way before him, and tried to the best of his ability to meet 
all demands made upon him. Not being a close pruner he found it 
necessary to lead up a young cane to take the place of the old one, and 
from th's he expected to get his best show bunches. On this occasion he 
had an extra fine rod of Hamburgh he had specially prepared in view of 
a forthcoming international, which he determined to try his new idea 
upon. This rod was cut about the beginning of October, while the leaves 
were still green, to about a foot above the place where a second pruning 
was to be done later on. The following spring it broke moderately 
strong, but showed poor hunches and never attained to anything lik& 
others of the same variety growing side by side. The result from the 
operation on this Vine was not considered a sufficient test, as the energy 
of the Vine might have been crippled by tho removal of the old rod at the 
same time with the pruning of the young one ; but the same plan was 
carried out on the laterals of another Vine of the same sort at the same 
time with a like result, and proved to our minds the evil effects of 
premature pruning or shortening of laterals. 
We often see it affirmed that root-action is late in commencing in 
spring ; would there not be a corresponding period of activity in autumn 
and early winter in storing food for the spring supply ? I think it has 
been clearly proved that the roots are active long after the leaves have 
fallen, and everything apparently at rest. But then, is the quality 
stored during this time of the same value with that previously laid up, 
which had gone through the regular process of digestion, while the leaves 
were there and at work ? I think not. The future crop depends more 
on the quality than the quantity of stored sap, and if the source for the 
production of this supply be removed, to a greater or less degree will the 
provision for next crop be reduced. 
Pruning, in my opinion, is an unnatural process, and has to be re¬ 
sorted to as a matter of expediency from the cramped circumstances and 
conditions under which growth is sought to be carried on. If this is so. 
the less pruning the better, and then only when everything is ripe, 
“ Thinker ” has touched very lightly on the subject. He thinks there can 
be no harm done in shortening early provided four leaves are left. I 
presume he considers these necessary to provide elaborated sap for the 
buds and wood in their immediate vicinity ; but what of the other parts 
of the plant, not to mention the roots at this, of all, the most important 
period of preparation for future wants ? 
It is said that after assimilation takes place the sap has a downward 
tendency, and possibly the supply from the four leaves might be wanted 
farther down ; in consequence of the supply from above being cut away, 
this part from where the fruit is expected next would be starved. It may 
be argued that this sap takes its start downwards, first at the extremity, 
gathering in and laying up as it proceeds, or it may be said if any part of 
the plant is deprived of its supply in autumn, the flow in spring will 
immediately rush to make it up. But these are matters beyond our “ ken.’* 
Our duty is to work upon the knowledge we have, and strive energetically 
to obtain what we have not. 
Mr. Iggulden remarks that the fine buds in some cases we see, are not 
what they appear to be. I think one of the causes is this system of early 
pruning, or before the roots are at rest, while yet the supply of watery 
matter suited to swell the buds for the production of gross spongy 
shoots is still going on, but possessing none of the qualities required for 
the production of good bunches. These opinions will lead to the con¬ 
clusion that early pruning should be dispensed with, and as many leaves 
as can be exposed to light be preserved in health as long as they will 
remain on the Vine.—W. Williamson. 
ONIONS. 
I do not think there is a moie important crop grown than these. If 
we lose our Cabbage we can use Savoys or Brussels Sprouts. Peas may 
take the place of Kidney Beans, and Spinach of Cauliflower, but Onions 
stand by themselves, and when they are lost nothing can replace them. 
They are in daily demand in all kitchens of any importance, and their 
total absence makes it very inconvenient for the cooks and unpleasant for 
the gardener?. True, Onions may be bought very cheaply, but buying is 
not satisfactory where there is a garden. For the last twelve years at 
least we have never had a failure of our Onion crop. We grow upwards 
of a quarter of an acre annually, and we rarely lose a score of plants 
from any cause. The young plants grow rather better in a light soil at 
first, but for a really fine crop we prefer growing them on heavy land. 
