THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Octobeb 23, 18G0. 
■with Lobelia spcciosa and Mangles’ Variegated Geranium. These 
were very fine, the variegated leaves and the rich blue being so 
nicely mingled. 
18, 19, 24, 25. Flower of the Day Geranium. 
21, 27. Aurea fioribunda Calceolaria. 
22, 28. Prince of Orange Calceolaria. 
20, 23, 26, 29. Scarlet Geranium, edged with variegated 
Alyssum. 
The effect of the whole was very good, though different planters 
might have arranged it very differently. But for the pearling 
with the Frosted Silver Plant (Cineraria maritime) in the centre, 
the centre group as a whole wrnuld have looked dull; as, owing 
to the season, the Tropseolum had more leaves than flowers, and 
the leaves of Brilliant were not so white as usual. A broad band 
of a lively colour, white or yellow, round the outside of the raised 
bed, would have brightened up the whole; but I learned that 
Lady Wake dislikes yellow as much as I like it, for my friends 
tell me sometimes I have a mania for yellow in everything but a 
bridal nosegay. A broad band of the Cineraria, that always looks 
best on the round, would have had a similar effect. 
A prominent and distinctive feature of this garden cannot be 
shown on any ground plan—namely, having tall standards with 
fine massive heads of flowers placed in all the large beds except 
those near the centre. These standards consisting of Scarlet 
Geraniums, Heliotropes, Fuchsias, Brugmansias of different 
colours, &c., and very fine specimens of Cassia corymbose, which 
out of doors in summer flourishes as it never did in a tropical 
stove. These standards range from four to ten feet in height, 
and are nicely 1 regulated and balanced as to size. The result is 
not to prevent you seeing all the garden at once if you wish to 
do so, but to lift up the garden, as it were, from a monotonous 
level of colour, and to furnish so many stand points for separate 
observation. 
The square outline of the two ends of the group is, I presume, 
in deference to the straight line of the mansion ; and the similar 
outline on the two sides is in deference to the two ends of the 
mansion, with which ends these clumps are in line—the flower 
garden thus being of the width of the mansion. Beyond the 
garden and close to the park are several bowers covered with 
Roses and Ivy, and several series of ornamental arches, generally 
in threes—the centre one being wider and loftier than the side 
ones. These arches are being covered with Roses and other 
creepers ; and from their centres baskets of various sizes filled 
with flowering plants are suspended, and looking very nice to the 
admirers of this suspending system. These are only a little of 
what is done in this way ; for, from the branches of large trees 
near the principal walk scores of such baskets are suspended, and 
which, by means of stout cords and pullies, are lowered to be 
watered and regulated. A great deal of pleasure may be derived 
from this style of gardening by those whose tastes lead in such a 
direction. 
I found many large seven and eight-inch pots were filled with 
Geranium cuttings as thick as they could stand, and were placed 
behind Fuchsias, &c., in the greenhouse; and there in some suit¬ 
able place they would remain until turned out separately in 
earth and turf-pits in spring, to be covered with calico and 
straw mats. 
To keep such a supply for the pleasure-ground, to maintain 
the greenhouse in a presentable condition, to decorate the mansion 
with an extra abundance of plants and cut flowers, and have 
early vegetables, Cucumbers, Melons, &c., not to speak of taking 
vanloads of plants, and very successfully, to the horticultural 
shows, most readers would imagine that Mr. Gardener had a fine 
lot of glass, with hot-water pits, and all the rest of it. They 
would be rather surprised to enter a small enclosure in the 
kitchen garden that might be called a Melon-ground, and find 
abutting against the boundary wall two small deep pits, of six or 
seven lights each, with room for fermenting matter, and helped 
by a very old flue. A lean-to vinery at the end of the pits, some 
thirty feet in length, heated also by a flue, with a pit for tan, &c., 
in the centre, and that, besides these, from a dozen to a score of 
frame-lights, constituted all the great glass preparatory and even 
ripening workshops. I may have recollected wrong as to a light 
or two, but I do not think I am much out of the way. If neither 
the grandeur nor the extent of a place are such good tests of 
professional ability as the achieving great and desirable results 
with little and inconvenient means, then there will be no dis¬ 
cussion among those who have the privilege of know'ing him as 
to the position the manager of these gardens occupies among his 
blue-aproned brethren. Few better instances could be afforded 
of the truth of the old adage, “ A good workman never stands 
still for want of a tool.” All honour to whom that honour is 
due. R. Fish. 
NEW BOOKS. 
Teeatise on the Vine.* — The chief objection to this 
pamphlet is its price—half-a-crown is eigliteenpence too much 
in these days for thirty pages of thickly-leaded large type. 
To the contents of the treatise, which, by-the-by, is not on 
the Vine but on its culture, we can give this praise—its directions' 
are correct, though not new, and, to use the author’s own words, 
“ those who follow them cannot fail of success.” 
Mr. Caulfield commences with directions for making the 
border. He states that the fibrous surface of an upland pasture 
and cow manure (he should have stated the proportions) are 
“ sufficient for all the Vine’s wants ; ” but then, more hibernice , 
he adds, four pages after, that crushed bones, charcoal, and lime 
rubbish are to be mixed with the compost. Still we have no 
definite proportions, which are always desirable in directions in¬ 
tended for the use of amateurs. 
The directions for training the first, second, and third years are 
good. Mr. Caulfield preferring the short-rod to the spurring 
system. 
Among the miscellaneous directions is the following :—“ In 
February let the Vine be thickly coated over with the following 
wash:—To half a gallon of tobacco water made to boil, put 
three and a half pounds of soft soap, stir over the fire until it is 
dissolved, then add three pounds and a half of flowers of sul¬ 
phur ; let all be well blended, and laid on with a small paint¬ 
brush. I have found this wash effectual against even the ap¬ 
pearance of mildew ; and I have no hesitation in stating, that if 
proper attention be paid to ventilating, &c., no Vine disease can 
have existence.” 
This is very satisfactory testimony from a practical gardener 
“ grown grey in the service of horticulture and arboriculture,” 
and we coincide to a considerable extent in the cheering assertion, 
Hthough we differ from him in his opinion as to the cause of at 
least one of the Vines’ diseases. Mr. Caulfield states—“ Previous 
to colouring, the skin of the berries becomes thin and transparent. 
More watchfulness must now be exercised in giving air early in 
the mornings, and not allow the heat to get excessive before 
ventilating. If this be neglected, the vapour of the house will 
condense on the glass, and fall on fruit and leaves, comparatively 
speaking, like scalding w r ater. To this and sudden draughts can 
shanking alone be attributed. Many are of opinion that this 
proceeds from the border, but when the border makes wood that 
produces a good crop it has done its part: therefore, to find 
fault with it or the soil is out of the question—the interior 
management is alone blameable. 
“When speaking on this perplexing subject, I wish to state 
that I had an illustration not long since, and which I consider 
sustains me in my opinion. Visiting an extensive garden—the 
gardener (a first-class man), conducted me through the houses, 
—the crop in one of which, he told me, was nearly all destroyed 
by shanking, owing, as he said, to the excessive wet of this 
summer, and that he was obliged to cover the border with 
boards to prevent the entire loss. But in this very house, the 
best White Syrian Grapes I ever saw, notwithstanding, were 
hanging. Now, if wet had been the cause, why not the White 
Syrian as well as the other varieties ? Simply this, they were 
stronger in the neck of the berry, and better able to resist the 
condensed vapour and sudden draughts. 
“ As another proof that wet cannot be the immediate cause of 
shanking—throughout England, even in London, w r here Vines 
are planted outside dwelling-houses, and some in areas, I never 
saw shanked Grapes.” 
Now, so far from shanking being caused by condensed vapour 
falling upon the fruit, and its being exposed to sudden diaughts, 
Mr. Caulfield will find that a bunch of Grapes inserted in a 
glass globe luted round its stalk will be just as much affected by 
shanking as a bunch left exposed to the vapour and draughts. 
If the roots of a Vine are kept withinside the house, m a com¬ 
post such as Mr. Caulfield directs, and duly supplied with 
moisture, and if the stem and branches are duly aired and kept 
from being in a temperature too high in proportion to that in 
which the roots are performing their functions, there will be no 
shanking. The very fact of out-door Grapes in England rarely 
*A Treatise on the Vine. By S. Caulfield, Superintendent, Richmond 
Nurseries, Dublin. John M. O’Toole, Dublin. 
