October 17, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
333 
had two plants on a south wall of my house for twenty-two years, they 
bloom well, but only seed in very warm summers ; and on another house 
with an eastern aspect there is now a fine plant covered with blooms. 
I consider the Mandevilla suaveolens quite a hardy creeper in this 
island.—C., Guernsey. 
- Liquid Manure fob Fruit Tbees.—I should like to ask 
Mr. Edmund Tonks what good liquid manure would do for my fruit trees 
during winter. I should say no good at all, for in winter the soil is 
cold and clammy. I can answer for the land being well drained. Some 
Apples and Pears are 18 inches through the stems. Does he think on 
such land he could with safety use liquid manure if he had the working 
of it ? I think his answer will be a loud “ No.” I prefer a good 
mulching of leaves and stable manure.—E. H. S. 
The Thames Bank Ieon Company desire us to state 
that they have made important improvements in the “ Champion 
Horizontal Tubular Boiler,” expansion and contraction being now 
effectually provided for by the substitution of compressed indiarubber 
rings for caulked sockets ; also that in the event of a pipe requiring to 
be replaced at any time, this can now be done in a few minutes without 
disturbing the brickwork setting. These boilers, we are informed, are 
in great request for trade establishments and private gardens. 
We have to announce the death of Majoe A. F. Lendy, which 
took place at Riverside House, Sunburv-on-Thames, on October 10th. 
Major Lendy was for some years a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural 
Society and a frequent visitor at the shows and meetings. He formed a 
good collection of Orchids at Sunbury House, including many rarities, 
but owing to his failing health they were recently sold by auction. 
Major Lendy was also a Fellow of the Linnean and Geological Societies, 
formerly captain of the French Staff, and major of the 4th Middlesex 
Regiment. He was in his sixty-fourth year. 
Wakefield Paxton Society. —At the last meeting of the 
members of this Society at Councillor Lupton’s, the Saw Hotel, Mr. 
Squire Pickersgill presided, and Mr. G. Gill was in the vice-chair. Mr. 
M . Grix, gardener, of Gledhow Hall, near Leeds, read an excellent and 
practical paper on “ The Gardenia.” Mr. W. Hudson of Sandal Grange 
and Mr. Fenner of The Woodlands, Sandal, put a few questions to the 
essayist, and after they had been satisfactorily answered, Mr. T. Garnett 
roposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Grix, and this was seconded by Mr, 
B. Whiteley, supported by the Chairman, and heartily carried. 
-Reading and Disteict Gaedeners’ Improvement 
Association. —The opening meeting of the autumn session of this 
Association was held on Monday last, when the members attended in 
large numbers to hear a paper on “ Peach Culture ” from Mr. Wm. 
Lees, Chairman of the Association. Unfortunately, however. Mr. Lees 
met with a somewhat serious accident a few hours previous to the 
meeting and was unable to attend. His paper was read by Mr. Turton 
of Maiden Erlegh, and was much appreciated by the members. Mr. 
Jas. Martin occupied the chair. Judging from the attendance at this, 
the first autumn meeting, together with the capital programme that 
has been arranged, the session promises to be highly successful. 
- A French translation of Mr. Lewis Castle’s Orchids ; Their 
Structure, History, and Culture, has been prepared by M. A. de 
Meulenaere, Secretary of the “ Orchidophiles Beiges,” and has just 
been published in Ghent by F. & R. Buyck Freres, 13, rue de la Tour 
Rouge. It comprises 189 pages, the list of Orchid illustrations having 
been extended by the addition of numerous references to continental 
works, and the list of Orchid amateurs includes the names of those in 
England, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, and 
S witzerland. The English list, which was taken from the third edition of 
Mr. Castle’s book (published nearly two years ago), requires some 
revision, but the directory altogether will be found very useful. The 
translation has been admirably rendered ; the book is well printed, and 
neatly bound in green cloth. 
- The Weather and Plants. —Our Lanarkshire correspondent 
writes :—“ The present year has had its peculiarities, as every one has, on 
some plant or plants. For example, last year Erigerons bloomed with 
me in August; this year, although warmer and the plants stronger, they 
have not bloomed at all. The same may be said of Coreopsis lanceolata 
and a Statice, while for the past twenty-five years Gloire de Dijon Rose 
has not made such strong shoots. Wallflowers in 1888 took the whole 
summer to complete their first flowering spikes ; this year they have 
completed their first flowering, ripened their seeds, and are for the second 
time in profuse bloom. A better example of giving annuals every 
opportunity of developing their growth may be seen in a border of 
Mignonette, the plants 18 inches apart in the row have extended to 
5 feet across. The autumnal Colchicum began to flower on the first day 
of September, and has continued until now. We have had copious rains 
lately. Frosty nights have also been frequent, but never so severe as 
to injure the most tender plants; most of them, especially single 
Dahlias and Mignonette, affording a liberal supply of flowers.” 
HEYSHAM HALL. 
Being in the neighbourhood of Heysham Hall, the residence of 
F. W. Grafton, Esq., we paid a visit one morning to the gardens there. 
Mr. Lomas, the gardener, was at home and busy as usual. He at 
once conducted us to the conservatory, a handsome structure built in 
the Queen Anne style, one end adjoining the mansion. It is well 
furnished with plants, the roof with suitable climbing varieties, and at 
each side of the pathway down the centre with Liliums, early flowering 
Chrysanthemums, and other plants, both flowering and fine-foliaged, 
including Balms in the best of health, the borders being planted with 
Selaginella, which gives to the whole a fresh appearance. We next 
made a tour of the pleasure grounds, passing through the orchard on 
the way. Apples and Pears were good crops, some of the Apples, 
notably Warner’s King, being very fine. The trees were healthy, not a 
sign of canker. Damsons also were a heavy crop. Both Apples and 
Pears were quite up to the average. The orchard is in a sheltered 
position, and in one equally so is situated an herbaceous garden laid out 
in the old style with gravel walks and Box edgings. This garden was 
designed and planted by Mr. Lomas, not the least interesting feature in 
it being the labels attached to each plant, which bears the common and 
botanical name of the variety, and in most instances their native habitat. 
This is well worthy of imitation by all who intend planting, or have 
herbaceous borders. I must not attempt to name many of the plants 
grown, the majority being past their best; but sufficient were then in 
bloom to show what a grand sight it must present. Carnations are 
largely grown, a place being found there for Mrs. Reynolds Hole, 
Gladiolus, single Dahlias, and Sunflowers ; one a double variety resem¬ 
bling somewhat a Cactus Dahlia flowered in England for the first time 
this season. The terraced flower garden, from which a beautiful view is 
to be had of Morecambe Bay, was gay with Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, 
and other plants in beds in keeping with the situation. The terrace 
walls are covered with Ivies, and in small beds adjoining these walls are 
Roses in good health and still producing fine blooms. On the opposite 
side of the mansion several carpet beds looked very well; other beds are 
occupied with Carnations, Tuberous Begonias; and one bed with 
Verbenas had a bright appearance. 
In the fruit houses the early Peaches and Grapes were over, but a 
few bunches of Grapes were still hanging, which gave one some idea of 
the fine crop previously gathered. The houses of Vines were still 
interesting to the gardener, for the wood was short-jointed and ripened, 
promising well for another year. The Grapes in the late houses were 
finishing well, and fine both in bunch and berry. Pine Apples were 
producing medium-sized fruits, and in an adjoining house Tea Roses 
trained over an arched trellis had done good service. Tomatoes in 
another house with late Peach trees on the back wall were hanging in 
fine bunches ; the wood was not gross, but healthy, and bore fruit very 
freely. They were planted in boxes along the front stage of the house 
and the shoots trained up under the roof. I must not omit mention of 
a house of Tuberous Begonias, chiefly single varieties ; they presented a 
grand sight, some of the individual blooms being quite G inches across. 
Stove and decorative plants are grown in other houses, all having the 
appearance of great care being bestowed upon them. Chrysanthemums 
are not grown here on the large bloom system, but fine healthy plants 
are coming forward for decorative purposes. Strawberries in pots for 
forcing are grown in large quantities, and appear to be thoroughly 
established in their fruiting pots. 
In the kitchen garden we noticed good examples of Brussels Sprouts, 
President Carnot, Leicester Red and Sutton’s White Gem Celery, Beet, 
and Peas, giving promise of plentiful gatherings for some time longer. 
The walks, and indeed all parts of these gardens, were scrupulously 
clean, no quarter being given to weeds, the whole reflecting great credit 
to Mr. Lomas, with whom a most pleasant morning was spent.— 
G. Garner. 
TREATMENT OF SOILS AND MANURES. 
Being entitled to reply to Mr. Tonks’ remarks on page 314, I will be 
as concise as possible. The fact still remains that carbonic acid is 
deposited upon the surface of the soil in the form of carbonic dioxide, 
notwithstanding the diffusion of gases. I would ask Mr. Tonks a few 
pertinent questions, but as he states he has finished in this discussion it 
would be taking up space needlessly to do so. I began my articles with 
a view to impress upon those gardeners and others having plenty of 
solid and liquid manures the desirability of making the best use of 
them, and tried to prove that they could then produce as good vege¬ 
tables and plants as others having at command unlimited quantities of 
manufactured manures. I did not condemn them, and had Mr. Tonks 
