September 28, ’.889 j 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
2G3 
Taylor will not claim to be the originator of the method, though 
he is undeniably one of its best exponents, and somehow manages to 
grow much better Grapes than several persons do who have written so 
much against it. In Mr. Young he has a worthy disciple. 
A word must be said on open-air Peach culture. The wall faces 
■south, is 100 yards long and 12 or 11 feet high, I forget which. It is 
completely covered, without the growths being overcrowded, and from 
end to end and top to bottom there was a fruit where it was wauted— 
no blanks. The thinning had been severe, leaving the fruits 15 or 18 
inches asunder, the number then fully equa'ling all requirements, and 
the fruits being finer than if the crop were heavier. Surface roots by 
mulching about 5 feet from the wall, with periodical waterings as 
required, and not an insect allowed on the trees, are the leading points 
in the success attained, aided probably by a glass coping. Just as I was 
leaving, a Merryweather engine and 200 or 300 yards of hose were being 
put into action for the trees. 
Young hardy fruit plantations are growing into bearing, but this is 
not a fruit year in the district. I noticed several apparently new, yet 
at the same time apparently healing canker specks on some of the trees. 
We felt sure they were not caused by insects, and Mr. Young was speak¬ 
ing of sending some examples to Mr. Hiam. I wonder if he has done 
60 . If he has not I hope he will, for I am willing for this to be a test 
case as to insects being the originators of the wounds or not. 
Nothing can be said about the pleasure grounds, conservatory, re¬ 
markable memorial tower, and other features of Abberley, beyond Mr. 
Parker’s remark on leaving—“ The place is well worthy of a visit by 
gardeners, and a credit to master and man.” 
WITLEY. 
From the heights of Abberley we look down on Witley, a mile 
■distant, the splendid mansion of the Earl of Dudley being situated in 
a richly wooded vale. The golden dome of the church which adjoins 
the Court is a conspicuous feature in the landscape as it glitters in the 
sunlight on a bright summer’s day. Witley is as different from 
Abberley in iis characteristics as it is possible to conceive. The miles 
■of drives are level, or nearly so, firm, smooth, clean, with superb lawns 
beautifully kept, and neatness and high order everywhere prevailing. 
Witley is not a “ fruit place.” Pines, Melons, Tomatoes, and Cucum¬ 
bers are well grown in houses and pits, and a good collection of hardy 
fruits outdoors, but little on the trees beside leaves this year. Vegetables 
■are grown in enormous quantities for the household, and there the work 
of utility ends. 
Witley is essentially a “ flower place.” Of these Lady Dudley is an 
ardent admirer, and her taste in floral decorations is proverbial. No 
mixtures in room or table adornments are permitted, but one kind alone 
for each jvase, and one alone for the table, varying according to 
•seasons and circumstances, is the prevailing rule. Thus variety is com¬ 
bined with individuality, and in that way the flowers employed give the 
greatest satisfaction. There are good ranges of plant houses and supply 
pits well filled with well-grown plants, and it is thought if ranges of 
glass were erected for Vines, Peaches, &c., her ladyship would want 
them all filled with flowers. “ Fruit can be bought, but flowers must 
be grown at home,” is evidently an established idea, and the best of the 
former that can be obtained Mr. Austen has to procure. It was a new 
experience to a gardener accustomed to grow the best, but he has settled 
down to it, and is no doubt very happy in his delightful home with its 
beautiful surroundings. There are flowers everywhere for cutting, acres 
■of Violets, Hoses, and other popular kinds, admirably stocked herbaceous 
borders, great batches of plants and shrubs in pots for forcing, and a 
few thousands of Chrysanthemums, evidently in charge of an able 
cultivator. 
But the flower garden is the pride of Wit'ey. It is situated on two 
■sides of the mansion, south and east enclosed by a balustrated wall. 
The extent of the ground is about 10 acres. It is surrounded by a 
walk, flanked with the choicest of Conifers, golden columnar Biotas, 
dark Yews surmounted with golden balls, Araucarias, and other appro¬ 
priate specimens that cannot be enumerated, the whole evidently having 
been arranged with great care, and from the time of planting till now 
received the best of attention. The ground slopes from the mansion to 
the centre, then rises again to the opposite extremity, whence golden 
gates open to the park beyond, and there in contrast to the art within 
stand gigantic Oaks of great antiquity, relics of the forest primeval. 
On the slopes of the undulating lawn, which is faultless in character 
and keeping, are beds of evergreen and flowering shrubs, masses of 
flowers that ‘‘tell” in the distance—Tritomas, Marguerites, Japanese 
Anemones, Dahlias, and ochers suitable for the purpose. There are neat 
carpet and effective flower beds near the walks, and here and there 
marble vases tastefully occupied with appropriate plants. 
Near the centre of the two sections of the garden are fountains such 
as cannot be seen elsewhere in this country. The garden is open to 
visitors by arrangement, and Lady Dudley, seeing a party of about 
twenty persons, kindly thought they would like to see the fountains in 
aetion, and gave the order accordingly. It was a brilliant afternoon, 
the flower garden just at its best, and when the water rose high in the 
air with a rushing sound, and the great arching streams appeared from 
one fountain, and cascades rushed down the other, a diamond fence of 
■water springing up round the margin, the scene was surely one of the 
brighest and fairest that “ ever the sun shone on.” The mansion with 
the handsome conservatory and church form an imposing architectural 
pile, and abundant relief to the handiwork of man is afforded in the 
individual specimens and bold masses of contiguous trees. 
Near the mansion commences what is known as the Wilderness—a 
long twisting dell, with handsome Conifers on the slopes, including a 
beautiful example of Prince Albert’s Fir, Abies Albertiana, the noblest 
trees of Pinus Nordmanniana I have yet seen, rich deep green Douglas 
Firs, a heavy background of deciduous trees, and here and there round 
beds of Hypericum calycinum, studded with the golden many-anthered 
flowers, the growths cut to the ground yearly—evidently the right 
method for producing cushion-like masses of blooms. Then we go on to 
the nursery, an enclosure of 8 or 9 acres, where all sorts of trees are 
raised, vegetables of different kinds grown, and even here large breadths 
of flowers for cutting to meet what must be the enormous demand. Mr. 
Austen has a great charge, and is equal to it. One of the most unde¬ 
monstrative of men, he is ready to do a kind act when he can, and the 
last of these of which I was the recipient was a twelve-miles drive into 
Worcester.—W. 
WATSONIA IRIDIFOLIA, VAR. O’BRIENI. 
Watsonia ieidifolia, and several varieties have been known in 
English gardens for the greater portion of the present century, and 
FIG. 31.— WATSONIA IRIDIFOLIA, VAR. O’BRIENI. 
W. iv'difolia var. fulgens is a brilliant companion for the beautiful 
W. rosea, which was only recently certificated by the Royal Horticul- 
cultural Society, and represented in this Journal, p. 225, September 12th 
last. In the variety now depicted (fig. 34), however, we have a most 
useful and charming addition to the Watsonias, and it further possesses 
the claim of being the only pure white Irid known. When exhibited 
before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society at the 
meeting held at the Drill Hall on Tuesday, September 17th, it was at 
once awarded a first class certificate. 
