June 2S, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
511 
provement, and they were chiefly laid out under his direction. The 
lawns slope down to an ornamental lake embowered in trees and 
shrubs, and a peep across this is afforded in the illustration (fig. 84, 
. 507). There are numerous winding shaded walks, and so plentifully 
ave large trees been employed, that they have effectually screened 
the garden from all appearances of town life. A diversity of old- 
fashioned hardy plants occupy the beds, with Chrysanthemums for 
late autumn display, and the garden altogether furnishes a charming 
rural-like retreat, admirably adapted for garden parties such as the 
great gathering of illustrious visitors at the end of the present 
month. 
Osborne," one of the Queen’s favourite residences, -owes 
much of its fame to its charming situation at East Cowes over¬ 
looking the Solent, and to the number of memorial trees its garden 
contains ; for, like other districts in the Isle of Wight, many 
Conifers, trees, shrubs, and plants that are delicate or unsafe farther 
north succeed there admirably. Handsome Catalpas, Paulownias, 
Eucalyptus globulus, Arbutus, Griselinia littoralis, Eriobottya 
japonica, Escallonias, and Buddlea globosa are conspicuous the 
Conifers comprising Retinosporas, Thuias, the Umbrella Pirie, 
Sciadopitys verticiHata, Arthrotaxus selaginoides, Picea Engel- 
manni, Liboeedrus chilensis, and Abies bracteata, with innumerable 
others of similar interest. Amongst the memorial trees deserving 
special attention are a Myrtle and a Cedar of Lebanon, the former 
raised from a sprig in the bouquet of the Princess Royal, now 
Crowm Princess of Germany, and the other brought by th : e Prince of 
Wales as a seedling from Mount Lebanon. Hollies thrive well, 
and there are several fine examples of green and variegated forms. 
A magnificent avenue of Austrian Pines and Cornish Ehms leads up 
to the mansion, which is in the Italian style, and overlooks a-terrace 
occupied with ordinary bedding plants, Camellias, and Vines 
trained over arches ; also commanding beautiful glimpses between 
the trees of the Solent and the Hampshire coast. The garden is 
carefully kept, and is now under the charge of Mr. Todrnan, Mr. 
McPherson having, after a long service, retired on a pension. 
Balmoral Castle (fig. 86, p. 516) Her Majesty’s northern retreat, is 
situated amidst some of the grandest of Scottish scenery about fifty 
miles west of Aberdeen. The river Dee there partly encircles the 
base of the Craig-an Gowan range, and on the south bank stands 
the Castle, which is architecturally a noble building in a modification 
of the old Baronial style with a tower rising to the height 
of 100 feet. A magnificent view is obtained from there of the 
neighbouring mountains, several of which exceed 4000 feet in 
height, densely wooded with Scotch Firs and Larch, of which 
some millions have been planted on contiguous estates. There 
is no kitchen garden and only two or three small houses de¬ 
voted to plants, but the Flower Gardens and Rose Gardens are the 
chief features, and receive the best attention from the gardener, Mr. 
W. Paterson. Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, and other ordinary 
bedding plants are employed in the Scroll flower garden to the east 
of the Castle, the terraces on the opposite side containing large beds 
of Common Juniper and Rhododendron hirsutum, with bronze 
figures of deer and wild boars amongst the shrubs. The Rose 
Garden contains a good selection of varieties which succeed well 
though so far north, the plants being healthy and floriferous. 
Another interesting feature is a long border of herbaceous plants 
that present a series of attractions during the greater portion of 
the year. 
In all these gardens there is one prevailing character, a graceful 
picturesque simplicity of design, and a freedom from ostentation, 
which indicates the most cultured taste. Many might derive a 
lesson from this that would improve some of the most celebrated 
British gardens.—L. Castle. 
APHELEXIS CULTURE. 
This beautiful and justly much-admired genus has for many years 
formed one of the greatest ornaments in the splendid collections of 
plants that have annually graced the tents of our great metropolitan 
exhibitions ; a few practical hints, therefore, respecting its cultivation, 
which 1 have conducted successfully for many years, may not be 
uninteresting. I will commence with its propagation, which is con¬ 
sidered by many rather a difficult task, but, having raised some 
hundreds of them by the following process, I venture to assert that 
by strictly pursuing my plan no one will be disappointed in the 
attempt. I would choose the month of June for the purpose. In 
selecting cuttings make choice of good strong ripe wood, 3 or 4 inches 
long, if fcuch can be obtained ; and if there are three or four side 
shoots to the cuttings all the better, as in that way neat dwarf bushy 
plants will be formed at once. In-taking off cuttiDgs, instead of 
removing them with a knife, break them out down to the joint, with 
a shoulder or heel to them, and just pruning off the loose bark with 
a knife, is all that is required. Prepare some -5-inch pots by well 
draining them, and nearly filling them with light peat and sharp 
■ sand in equal proportions ; on this place half an inch of clean sharp 
; sand, press all down close, and place your cuttings round the edge 
of the pot, pressing them in tightly. When finished select a shady 
place out of doors under a north Wall for them. Take out a trench 
about 9 inches deep ; place in the bottom of it 3 inches of coal ashes 
for the purpose of keeping down worms, and on this plunge the 
pots to their rims, filling up between them with ashes. When this is 
done put a sound handglass over them, pressing it down firmly on 
the ashes to prevent air entering. They may then be left three or 
four days, when they may receive a slight sprinkling of water. 
Put the glass carefully on them again, when there will be bub 
little to attend to until they are rooted, except looking to them 
occasionally, in order to sec that they do not get dry or that damp 
does not accumulate. 
In August they will be ready for potting, which should be done- 
as soon as they are rooted, in order to get well established bushy 
plants before winter. When potting use the same compost as 
is recommended for the bottom of the cutting plants, and pot them 
into 3-inch pots. Set them in a close cold frame, and shade them 
from the hot sun. In a fortnight they will be sufficiently established 
' to permit of the operation of topping being performed, which should 
be done to every shoot; this will insure your getting them 6hort and 
bushy, and a proper foundation will be laid for a fine specimen. 
When the season arrives for placing them in their winter quarters,, 
make choice of a dry airy shelf in the greenhouse for them, as close 
to the glass as can be obtained, where they may remain until the 
following April ; they will then require shifting into larger pots, - 
using the compost rather coarser and with less sand in it than before, 
and mixing some small pieces of charcoal or broken potsherds 
with it, which prevent the soil becoming soddened and unhealthy. 
Keep them either in a cold pit or frame, and see that they are con¬ 
stantly topped, which will be found to give them more strength and 
vigour. They will require another fresh potting about the middle 
1 of June, which should be their final one for that season. When 
properly established, after this time of shifting, begin to expose them 
to more sun and air, until they may eventually be placed out in the 
open ground, making choice of a partially shaded situation for them, 
free from all drip of trees, and where they may remain until housing 
time arrives, when they should be replaced in the greenhouse as before 
; recommended, paying great attention not to give them an over-supply 
of water during the winter. As spring advances attend to potting 
them as they may require it ; and should the plants not be wanted te 
i bloom in a small state, they may again be regularly topped as before 
directed. By following the practice I have just described, hud 
attending to shifting them as they increase in growth, in two years 
you will be in possession of some good bushy plants. Bhould this, 
however, be too long to wait, young plants may always be purchased 
at the principal nurseries, taking care to choose dwarf bushy ones 
in preference to those having long weak wood, and by following 
up the principle of potting and topping, you will insure a specimen in 
much less time than you could from cuttings. 
My object in giving the full particulars of the most successful 
mode of propagating them is to show that there is not that difficulty 
in the operation that many suppose. It may here be observed 
; that as the plant advances in growth the soil should be used in a 
coarser or rougher state, always employing sharp sand rather liberally 
with it, and increasing the size of the pieces of charcoal or potsherd, 
mixed with the compost, and when they receive their final shift, say 
into 15-inch pots, pieces as large as hens’ eggs may be introduced, 
pressing them firmly into the soil. This will be found of the 
greatest possible advantage. It will promote in many ways the well¬ 
doing of the plant, as, for instance, in keeping the soil open and 
porous, kind and healthy, and in. giving the roots full scope for 
extending themselves through the ball of earth, -without coming in 
contaot with soil that has become by constant watering soddened and 
unhealthy.—W. B. G. 
A CALAMITY WITH GRAPES. 
I should feel extremely obliged to you if you could help me to 
solve the cause of the Madresfield Court Grapes decaying;" as indicated 
by the enclosed sample. The Vine is planted in a good ordinary lean- 
to vinery, ten years ago. I started the house early in February. Thq 
Vine showed great promise, and on the 4th of June was carrying nine 
splendid bunches. As there was great interest evinced by all who saw 
the Vine, I wished to give it every advantage. Finding a very slight trace 
of thrips in the house, I determined to give a light fumigating as a pre¬ 
ventive. On the 6th to my great dismay I observed a few of the berries 
turning a dirty colour. I cut them out thinking they were “ scalded. 
The berries have gone worse daily since, and to-day, the 14th inst., to 
my great regret I cut all the bunches. I also enclose a leaf, how, if 
the fumigating has done the damage, the foliage is still perfect, and also 
good crops.... of Black Hamburgh, Mill Hill Hamburgh, and Fosters 
