112 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Angust S, 1894. 
The Peach houses are models of neatness and good management. 
The trees of the early varieties, grown in two structures, are cleau, none 
of the common insect pests being noticeable. The shoots, too, are 
thinly laid in, so that but little or no winter pruning will be necessary. 
This is the proper method of Peach culture, and it would be well were 
the practice more generally adopted. A few years since a new house 
for Peaches was erected, this being a very long building. The back 
wall is covered with young vigorous trees, whilst others are planted 
across the front border and trained to trellises. Some trouble with the 
“ yellows ” was recently experienced ; but by renovating the borders, 
incorporating virgin loam, burnt earth, and wood ashes, with the utilisa¬ 
tion of sulphate of iron, the disease has been practically mastered. 
The trees are now bearing crops of fine, well coloured fruits, the Nec¬ 
tarines, it was noticed, being particularly good. All vacant places on 
the walls and trellises that have not yet been covered with Peach or 
Nectarine trees are devoted to Tomatoes, which are grown on the cordon 
system. Two or three long ranges of heated pits are also filled with 
Tomatoes in pots, the plants trained in a horizontal manner to trellises. 
At one time the fruit would not set freely, but an occasional syringing 
during the day disperses the pollen and results in ready fertilisation, 
heavy crops being consequently produced. This hint may be useful to 
others who grow Tomatoes largely. No particular attention is given 
to special varieties, although Sutton’s A1 and Ham Green Favourite 
figure prominently amongst those grown. Cucumbers are cultivated 
extensively in pits, and plants in a house bear numbers of excellent 
fruit. 
In the stoves and greenhouses the usual complement of plants is 
grown, primarily for decorative purposes. Orchids forming a feature. 
Some of these were collected by Lord Scarbrough during his travels, 
and hybridising is done on a small scale. Eucharis grandiflora 
(amazonica) is splendidly grown here, huge plants, more than a yard in 
diameter, producing deep green leaves of an enormous »ize and stout 
texture. These plants are reserved for blooming in the winter. More 
than a thousand Chrysanthemums are now in the open air. Some of 
these are for producing large blooms for decoration, and others for the 
purposes above mentioned. Those for the latter use are partially 
disbudded, and about sixteen flowers are allowed to develop on each 
plant. Mdlle. Lacroix, Soeur Melaine, Etoile de Lyon, and Stanstead 
White are amongst the varieties grown for supplying cut blooms. The 
last named is considered one of the most useful whites in cultivation. 
The general collection includes many of the newer kinds, as Beauty of 
Exmouth, Primrose League, William Seward, and others of sterling 
merit. 
A walk through the kitchen and fruit gardens revealed the fact that 
cleanliness is as conspicuous here as in the glass departments. Weeds 
are nowhere to be noticed, the whole of the walks being remarkably 
firm and bright. This, it was ascertained, is due to the use of a special 
home-made weed killer, which has proved so efficacious that application 
is only made once a year, or even less frequently. By the adoption 
of this course a considerable saving of labour is effected, which is neces¬ 
sary where, as here, a large establishment has to be maintained in good 
order with a limited number of hands. This permits closer attention 
being paid to the cultivation of crops or vegetables and fruit, the 
latter including Apples of the best varieties. Some young trees 
of Bismarck, Sandringham, Lane’s Prince Albert, Beauty of Stoke, 
Lord Grosvenor, and Bramley’s Seedling have been planted during 
the past two or three years, a few of them last season. These 
give a lesson in pruning immediately after planting that should not be 
overlooked. Some trees planted last autumn were cut hard back in 
the spring, and these are now producing stout vigorous shoots a yard 
or more in length, and nearly as thick as one’s finger. Others planted 
at the same time, but allowed to go unpruned, have failed to grow 
satisfactorily, and are comparatively leafless. It is obvious that in 
pruning the trees after planting the proper course is adopted, notwith¬ 
standing the advocates of the opposite method. Many of the old Apple 
trees have become somewhat cankered, the renovating of which has 
given much work in burning the soil and trenching the ground 
upwards of 2 feet deep. Further operations in this respect are to 
be carried out in due course, and young trees planted to take the 
place of old and diseased ones. Of Pears Doyenn6 d’Et6, Pitmaston 
Duchesse, Beurr6 Diel, and Clapp’s Favourite do as well as any, and 
Apricots of various kinds thrive exceedingly well on walls. Straw¬ 
berries flourish amazingly, especially President, Vicomtesse H4ricart de 
Thury, and La Grosse Sucr^e ; but the plantations are only allowed to 
remain two years before being renewed. Noble has not, so far, proved 
particularly adapted to the locality, and the newer kinds raised at 
Gunton Park do not appear as vigorous growers. Mushrooms are grown 
extensively on ridge-shaped beds in the open air, large crops being 
obtained during the winter, when remunerative prices are realised. 
It might also be mentioned that Mr. Summers is an enthusiastic 
and successful bee-keeper. He started with one frame hive some years 
ago, and rapidly increased his stock by purchasing bees from the 
cottagers in the neighbourhood, to prevent them being killed over the 
sulphur pit. Excellent honey is procured from the White Clover in the 
locality, and the bees are managed on a different system to that 
generally advocated in these pages. 
Regarding the flower gardens and pleasure grounds, these, too. 
extend many acres, the mowing involving work of considerable 
magnitude. On one side of the mansion is a stretch of lawn called the 
Oval, which rivals in size that of cricket fame in the metropolis. Some 
fine Cedars rise here and there in the grounds, and a splendid avenue of 
Limes forms a pleasant resort in summer. The bedding is of an 
attractive but simple character, intricate designs of gaudy plants 
having fortunately given place to masses of such charming flowers as 
Roses, Carnations, Salpiglossis, Indian Pinks, and Violas, amongst 
others. Hardy plants also form a feature on the borders, whilst 
flowering shrubs have been planted in large numbers. Many shrubs 
and trees, however, were injured during the past winter, no less than 
35° of frost having been registered on one occasion. A splendid lake 
and shady woodland walks add charms that can only be appreciated by 
the true lover of rural beauty, whilst the extensive park of some 
400 acres is well studded with magnificent specimens of Oak, Beech, 
Chestnut, and other trees. Much more could be written of this 
delightfully sequestered place, but space is limited, and the Editor’s 
shears are sharp, hence it only remains for the writer, before leaving 
Sandbeck, to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. and Mrs. Summers 
for their generous hospitality. 
Roche Abbey. 
In close proximity to the above-mentioned place, and connected with 
the same estate, are the ruins of Roche Abbey, of more interest perhaps 
to archseologians and architectural students than from a horticultural 
point of view. Gardeners, however, and thousands of other persons 
delight to roam in the beautiful grounds in which these interesting 
ruins are situated and view the charming scenery. In the spring 
Daffodils grow in large breadths, the enormous masses of golden blossoms 
making a pleasing contrast with the myriads of Primroses, Bluebells, 
and hardy Ferns. As the summer advances acres of the Lily of the 
Valley fill the air with fragrance, flourishing in such numbers as to sur¬ 
prise the numerous visitors who came from Sheffield, Rotherham, and 
other towns in the north. The grounds are open to the public twice a 
week, although parties may otherwise gain admittance by special per¬ 
mission, and many avail themselves of a ramble in them. A hurried 
inspection made whilst in the locality gave the writer much pleasure, as 
did a brief chat with Mr. S. Cadman, who resides close by the Abbey 
ruins, and is a farmer, poultry breeder, caterer for the visitors, and 
amateur horticulturist. As an erstwhile gardener Mr. Cadman still 
admires his Chrysanthemums, and talks enthusiastically about his 
“ Gunnerwalds” for early blooming. Like many other amateurs, too, 
he grows more plants than he has room for, but is confident of finding 
accommodation for them in the autumn. A well constructed fernery 
here attracts notice, as does an effectively arranged border ; indeed, the 
surroundings are of such a poetical nature that one is inclined to sing 
further praises of Roche’s “ White walls and silver springs,” even after 
reaching busy London, the home of—A Young Scribe. 
APRICOTS ON WALLS. 
I HAVE just been thinning finally the young growths and unfruitful 
spurs on our trees, and with that little further attention will be called 
for apart from attending to the ripening fruit. A more abundant 
crop of fruit than that of the present year has never set, and though 
much of it was removed early in May, there were left here and there 
clusters that had been passed over, and which have been thinned as 
noticed. 
Nothing is so futile in its results, and so disastrous in the end, as 
overcropping, unless it be letting the growths become too thick. In 
the former case the energies of the tree are unduly strained in attempt¬ 
ing to bring to perfection a crop beyond its natural powers, and in the 
latter a dense growth not only retards the progress and the due ripening 
of the fruit, but it also prevents the spurs ripening, and hinders the 
formation of fruit buds. The spurs ought to be thinned out suflficiently 
to allow every leaf to secure a due share of light and air. If this 
operation has not as yet received attention it should be no longer 
delayed. The growths ought to be rubbed or cut off so as to allow each 
fruit to receive every ray of sunshine possible. We appear to have lost 
sight of the reason for growing fruit trees on walls when we allow 
the bricks to be hidden so completely, as often happens to be the case. 
Even with all the sunshine we have in the warmest of our summers, it 
requires as much of the bric’xwork bare as possible in order to secure 
well ripened fruit. In a sunless season it therefore is absolutely neces¬ 
sary to catch every ray of sunshine in order to induce the fruit to ripen. 
All spurs growing out from the branches and bare of fruit may be cut 
clean back at this time, and indeed it is a good system to go thoroughly 
over the trees and remove every portion of extra growth that can be 
spared. This has the double effect of improving the general health of 
the trees, and saves pruning in winter or spring, which is by this means 
reduced to a few hours’ attention. 
When Apricots are ripening the fruit requires much attention. Last 
year there was no trouble apart from gathering the fruit when it was 
thoroughly ripe. This year, on the other hand, we may get little sun¬ 
shine, and if damp weather ensues there is daily care required in select¬ 
ing ripening fruit, which if left on the trees is apt to decay, but 
gathered and laid out in a warm dry vinery or even in a room in a few 
days the fruit ripens to a degree that it would never attain if left on 
the tree. Fruit for sending a distance ought always to be gathered 
before it is ripe, or, indeed, the least soft. Fruit equal in size should be 
packed together, and not more than three layers in depth in one pack¬ 
age. Wood wool is the best material for packing, being soft and 
springy. The fruit must be quite firm when packing is finished.— 
R. P. Beotherston. 
