10 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. October 6. 
through a fine sieve, and carefully pick out the small 
bulbs, for small they will be. Plant them in a nursery- 
bed, like the one described above, and allow them to 
flower there. Mark all that are decidedly improved, and 
cultivate such with great care till a stock is obtained. 
Forcing. —Perhaps there is no bulbous-rooted plant 
that forces so easily as the Crocus. Pot them in rich 
soil, in 5-inch pots, placing five or six bulbs, according 
to their size, in each pot. Do this early in Oetober, 
and place the pots under a bed of coal-ashes till they 
form roots; then remove them into a gentle heat in 
batches, and the bloom may be extended so till they 
flower in the open air. There are fanciful pots, in the 
shape of hedgehogs, globes, &c., with holes made at the 
toi> and sides. Where these are used, the inside should 
be filled with rich earth, and a bulb inserted opposite to 
every hole. Place them in a frame, or on a shelf in a 
greenhouse, and the plants will force their leaves and 
flowers through each hole. All bulbs so treated and 
forced are injured thereby, and will require a year or two 
in the nursery-bed to renew their size and strength. 
T. Appleby. 
JOTTINGS BY THE WAY. 
(Continued from Vol. x., page 483.) 
Abney House, Cheadle, near Manchester, the resi¬ 
dence of R. Watts, Esq.—I visited this place last year, 
and mentioned, in my “Jottings,” that Mr. Watts had 
purchased, at Elvaston Castle, some large Araucarias, 
fifteen feet high, removed them that distance, and with 
success, not having lost one. I found them this year 
making good growths, thus proving that the practice of 
nurserymen keeping these fine conifers in jrots, or tubs, 
is decidedly unnecessary, and positively injurious, for 
tho simple reason, that their roots are interlaced, and 
wound round the inside of the pots or tubs, that tlioy 
can never spread out and take firm hold of the soil to 
support the trees when they attain any magnitude. 
This year, Mr. Watts has added several more to his 
stock, and they appear to be doing equally well. Some 
Deodars have not done quite so well, especially largo 
ones. The intelligent gardener, Mr. Sturdy, said it was 
owing to the unfavourable weather in early spring, 
accompanied with strong winds, and besides being so 
exposed, for the place being entirely a new one, the trees 
for shelter are, as yet, too small to afford any. Some 
Pinus Austriaca, large plants, on the other band, have 
done quite as well as the Araucaria, and also some 
Pinus Cembra. This difference of bearing removal such 
a great distance is of some importance to planters of 
new places. The Cedrus Deodara should never be moved 
at more than seven or eight feet high, unless the situation 
is well sheltered from high winds. When I called this 
year, about the end of August, Mr. Sturdy had just 
removed some large Yews and Plollies, which appeared 
quite fresh, and likely to grow. He always waters all 
fresh-planted trees liberally. 
Ivenmel Park, St. Asaph, North Wales, the residence 
of R. Hughes, Esq.—Mr. Mountford, an old friend of 
mine, is now gardener here. Under his management, 
the place, in gardening matters, is greatly improving. 
I alluded, very lately, to the Peach-walls here beim* 
covered with glass. 1 had the satisfaction to see a fine 
crop of fruit just ripening, in consoquence of that 
covering, confirming very strongly my opinion of its 
great utility. Since l was there, I have been called 
upon to give my advice on the matter. One place I 
found a good border made, Peaches planted, but no 
success; in another, the Peaches were old, in a gravelly 
soil, near a river. In both cases, the Peaches were 
miserable, and I believe it is intended to cover the walls 
with glass. A correspondent writes for information; also 
including what covering a wall will cost. This I shall 
ascertain shortly, and then will answer the query. Our 
seasons are now, and have been for some years, very un¬ 
favourable for the Peach. The winters have been mild, 
and the summers cold; hence, the blooms started early, and 
were injured, and the cold summers prevented the wood 
from ripening. Just glance at America; there the winters 
are much more severe than here, but then the summers 
arc much, very much hotter. The consequence is, the 
Peach being hardy enough to bear severe frost, has a 
hot sun to ripen the wood, and thus enable it to bring 
forth good fruit. I trust these observations will -be 
taken in good part. I know many gardens that do pro¬ 
duce good Peaches; but what I contend for is the un¬ 
certainty of the crop without a great amount of care in 
protecting the blossoms; whereas, covered with glass, 
success is certain every year. Kenmel Park is situated 
close to the sea, but considerably elevated. I noted, in 
the pleasure-ground, several fine specimens of Cedrus 
Deodara, one measured nearly thirty feet high, well 
clothed with branches, which covered a space thirty- 
six feet in circumference, without a single shoot in¬ 
jured by the sea breezes. Of Irish Yews, there were 
several specimens twenty feet high. 
The flower-garden was rather unique, and well fur¬ 
nished with flowers on the grouping system. A bed of 
Calceolarias was very imposing; C. viscosissitna in the 
centre ; Kentish Hero, in good breadth, around it; and 
next, a thick mass of the yellow Kayii, edged with the 
dark Sultan. Then another bed of the best Phlox 
Drummondi, edged with Cuplieas, had a good effect. 
Entire large beds of Ageratum, Salvias, Tall Lobelias, 
Scarlet Geraniums, <&c., rendered the scene a gay one for 
flowers. The flower-garden is very properly placed in 
front of a long range of plant houses, several of which 
have Vines up the rafters. The plants were well in 
bloom, consisting chiefly of the gay fancy Geraniums, 
Petunias, Salpiglossis, a tribe undeservedly neglected; 
Fuchsias, Thunbergias, and many large pots of the pretty 
Rliodanthe Manglesii. 
The Grapes were good, especially the Black Ham- 
bro, which were really black, and several rafters of 
the delicate Grapes, the Frontignans, were well cropped, 
and of good quality. I saw some very long bunches of 
an excellent black Grape, not half so much grown as it 
deserves, I mean the Black Prince. This always comes 
black. Mr. Mountford has just had a house put up on 
purpose for the Alexandrian Muscat. He planted them 
last May, and they have nearly reached the top of the 
house. This fine Grape should always have a house to 
itself, it requires a higher temperature, and a drier one 
when ripening than aoy other Grape. The hardy fruit- 
garden here is very productive. The quantity of the 
better kind of Pears is astonishing. I never saw trees 
so loaded with fruit. Apples were also in abundance, 
though Plums were not so plentiful. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
THE SUCCESS AND FAILURE OF TENDER 
WALL-FRUITS. 
Notwithstanding the advantages which climate and 
situation undoubtedly afford to many of our more tender 
productions, yet it must not bo understood that a posi¬ 
tion in “ the south” is all that is required to ensure 
successful culture; on tho other hand, many of our most 
useful garden products are obtained in greater perfec¬ 
tion, and embrace a longer season of utility, in the 
northern parts of the kngdom than they do in the south 
of it, except when placed under peculiar circumstances 
in the latter district. This may appear strange to those 
who imagine that a journey southward ensures a pro- 
