118 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 18. 
I almost every direction. There are some beautiful geo- 1 
1 metric flower-gardens on the terraces, which, of course, 
wore bare, but were being prepared for bedding-out 
j plants. The box edging, 1 was told, bad been planted J 
for twenty years, but by dint of constant attention had 
been kept as neat in appearance as the first year after 
planting; it was not more than an inch high, and scarcely 
as much through. 
The walks here are extensive, winding amongst fine 
trees and shrubs, and are in excellent order, though the 
family mere not at home. In one secluded spot I noticed 
a tree, which I shall call an Ivy-tree. The centre was 
a Scotch Fir, some 70 feet high. Ivy had been planted 
against it, and had run up nearly to the top, where it 
hung down in graceful festoons. At the foot of the tree, i 
and about eight feet from it, some six or seven strong 
posts, seven feet high, had been set firmly in the ground. 
The space thus inclosed was gravelled, and Ivy was 
planted against each of these posts. It had grown up to 
the top, and then was trained horizontally across to the 
main support—the Scotch Fir. The effect was most 
unique and excellent. 
Near to this Ivy-tree and seat there is a series of 
rockwork, one part of which was overhung by an enor¬ 
mous double Conhorus japonica, in full flower; the 1 
golden colour of the blossoms contrasting beautifully 
with the dark green of the moss-covered rocks beneath. 
On an eminence, a short distance from the house, there i 
is a beautiful Church, in the Greek style, from the front 
ol which, Oxford, with its domes, spires, and towers, i 
may be seen in the distance. In front, the river Isis 
winds its way, the waters dancing and sparkling in the 
glorious sunlight that was shining when we stood and 
looked admiringly on the beautiful landscape richly 
spread out before us. On a hill at the other end of the 
pleasure ground there is another vista-like view of 
Oxford; and, by just turning half-way round, the spec¬ 
tator has a fine view of the quiet little town of Abing¬ 
don, about three miles distant. Indeed, no place I have 
ever seen has so many beautiful views as Nuneham. 
The frost has been here, as well as elsewhere, and has 
done great mischief in the kitchen-gardens, which are 
extensive and well managed. I noticed the Pear trees 
covered with thousands of young fruit, apparently 
quite sound, but in order to try them, wo selected some I 
of the seemingly sound ones, cut them in two, and then 
found a black mark where it ought to have been pure 
white. Both Mr. Fish (for he was with me), Mr. Bailey, 
and myself, concluded that they would all, or nearly all, 
drop off in a very short time. Apricots against the 
walls, great part of them were spotted with white, and 
appeared contracted. A few of them that were situated 
under tufts of leaves will escape. Peaches and Nectarines 
are in the same plight, but Morello Cherries ou the 
north wall vvill be safe. Mr. B. manages his Morellos 
differently from anybody else that I have ever seen. 
He is only pruning and nailing now, the border close 
under them was strewed with branches in full flower. 
The reasons for this late pruning and nailing are, 
because, the young shoots having made their appearance, 
the pruner can see where to cut to, and also many 
shoots, being at a distance from the wall, are re¬ 
tarded in blooming, and thus escape the ill effects of 
late frosts, as they had done in this instance; and lastly, 
as Mr. Bailey humanely observed, it was more comfort¬ 
able tor the men to nail the trees in the warm days of 
spring, than to have to stand still in the cold bleak 
days of winter. 
I he Pear trees in the open borders were also trained 
somewhat different to other gardens. Every alternate 
tree is trained into the pyramidal weeping form, and 
the others are trained espalier fashion, horizontally; 
this method takes off the tormal appearance oi the 
espalier. One south wall was entirely devoted to Figs; 
on these the frost had severe effect. The ends of most 1 
of the shoots arc blackened, but some of the fruit will 
escape where it had been sheltered by forward shot 
leaves. The May Duke, and other kinds of sweet 
Cherries, appear to be all destroyed, and all the Straw¬ 
berry blossoms that were open on the frosty night of 
the 2-lth of April (the night and morning when so much 
mischief was done,) arc quite black in the centre, and, 
of course, will come to nothing. Later blossoms appear 
to be all right. 
In vegetables, the Potatoes wore all killed, but are j 
now springing again. Beans and Peas were in flower; 
one row of l’eas ( The Prince Albert,) sown close to a 
south wall were in pod. Very nice Carrots, the Horn 
variety, were fit to draw. These had been sown on a j 
slight hotbed covered with glass. In the houses there 
were fine crops of Grapes, one bunch just beginning 
to change colour. Here are several plant houses, filled [ 
with the usual plants, all clean and healthy, and trained j 
in the approved fashion. 
Space will not allow me to say more about this j 
interesting place. It is likely Mr. Fish will have some- i 
thing to write about, for I observed him taking notes. 
T. Appleby. 
NEW FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
(Continued from page 99.) 
ROSES. 
The culture of these flowers is not confined to the 
experienced florist, but is extended to almost everybody, 
from the highest in rank, having extensive gardens, to 
the humblest artizan, who only has, perhaps, a broken 
pot to grow a siugle plant in. This universal love of 
the Rose is peculiar, no other flower being so valued 
and so generally grown. 
The great Rose Nurseries of Messrs. Lane and Sons, 
at Berkhampstead; Messrs. Paul and Sons, atCheshunt; 
Mr. Rivers, at Sawbridgeworth ; Mr. Francis, at Hert¬ 
ford ; contain such a vast quantity of Rose-trees, that if 
we could suppose such a being in existence as a man 
who never saw a Rose growing would perfectly astonish 
him. So many are raised every year, by budding and 
by cuttings, that even the practical man catches himself 
asking the question, “ Wherever do all the Boses go to ?” 
I have mentioned the above growers as being the 
principal, but all nurserymen, or nearly so, grow Roses; ! 
some to such an extent as almost to rival Messrs, i 
Paul, and the rest above alluded to. Upon a rough j 
calculation, I believe, that in Great Britain there are I 
raised for sale, every year, a million of Rose-trees, in- I 
eluding Standards, Half Standards, and those on their ! 
own roots, in pots. Then, again, the number of the 
varieties perfectly distinct is equally astonishing. 
Some of the catalogues of the large growers contain 
more than five hundred names, with the colours of each 
described, and this great number is annually increasing, 
I though it is a fact that we are indebted to the growers 
on the continent for by far the greatest number of new 
varieties of this universally-esteemed flower. 1 know 
more than one nurseryman in this country who take a 
i trip annually to the Rose Nurseries across the water, 
purposely to see the seedlings in flower, and purchase 
such as are good to propagate for the Rose cultivators j 
in our gardens. I have selected a few of the best batch 
of new ones, all of which are worthy of adding to a 
good collection. 
MOSS. 
Princess Alice; blush, shading to a pink centre; large 
and full, with the buds well covered with moss. A most 
beautiful, distinct variety. 
