393 THE COTTAG E GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, September 22, 1857. 
able to decide for themselves as to the effects of Mr. 
Snow’s experiments. I hope these advantages will be 
permanent; but, even if they are not, he deserves our 
thanks for making the attempt. 
Treatment of Amaryllids. — Of stove plants and 
greenhouse plants I say nothing at present. In one of 
the houses were two large bulbs of Brunsvigia Josephines, 
(I think, but am not sure), the treatment of which furnishes 
a key-note to the management of the whole group. One 
of them had thrown up a magnificent flower-stem, the 
florets just beginning to peep from its top. From the 
time the stem appeared the plant had been watered. 
By its side stood the companion bulb, making as yet no 
sign, and the loamy soil in the pot was as dry and 
nearly as compact as a brick. Not a drop of water 
would be given until growth appeared. All the moisture 
the roots could get must be absorbed from the stone or 
tile on which the pot stood. This place is particularly 
rich in Amaryllids, most of them hybrids of Mr. Snow’s 
raising, generally partaking of the Hippeastrum character, 
and producing their leaves before or simultaneously with 
the flower-stem. A pit was filled with these, the pots 
plunged, slightly shaded from very bright sun, and 
watered only until the leaves began to give signs of ripen¬ 
ing. I have no doubt that others finished growing would 
be found standing quite dry in some suitable position. 
Unity and Fitness in Flower Gardens. —These, 
owing to the fine weather and the care and taste in 
planting, exceeded even their usual beauty. The one 
to the west of the conservatory was chiefly radiant with 
scarlet Geraniums, yellow Calceolarias, and Verbenas; 
but the most striking of all was a bed of the Erythrinct 
crista-galli, which I referred to in a previous notice, 
even more splendid than usual, but just rather too high 
for its neighbours. The reason for the heading of this 
paragraph is the following :—The clumps of this garden, 
it will be recollected, are edged with stone and separated 
by gravel paths. As far as I recollect it may be said to 
have four centres, the groups of clumps radiating from 
four groups of statuary, with a handsome pedestal 
for each. The four centres arc formed by joining the 
ends of the clumps next the pedestal, thus forming 
a circle, and planting it close to the pedestal, and 
thus wholly concealing its base. In a mere floral 
effect point of view perhaps no plan could be better; 
in a fitness and economical point of view I consider 
it superior to the ring beds at the Crystal Palace. 
Looked at as combining fitness with the artistic, I 
expressed my surprise to Mr. Snow that such centres 
of flowers were formed round the pedestals, and he at 
once told me that, though such a matter was never 
noticed, it was no less the fact that when his lordship 
gave the plan of the garden an open circle of gravel was 
round each pedestal, but that the ladies would have the 
intervening spaces between the ends of the beds filled 
up with the stone edging, and the inclosed space made 
a circle of earth for plants. Whatever may be thought 
of some ideas lately advanced upon this subject, it was 
somewhat pleasing to find that similar ideas had been 
held by the noble President of the Society of Arts. As 
a general rule, however near each other, flower-beds and 
statuary ought to bo distinct and separate. 
The scroll flower gardens in front of the terrace were 
in their usual state of high keeping and brilliancy. I 
mention them merely for stating that the standard 
Laurels by the side of the main walk are growing most 
vigorously, and that to produce a more artistic effect, 
and give them a greater resemblance to Orange trees, 
portable boxes are put round them on particular occa¬ 
sions; and, being covered openly on the top with boards, 
and strewed thinly with moss, no injury is done to the 
fine stems by keeping them from the air. Opinions 
may well vary as to this boxing; but the effect no doubt 
will be to make the specimens more artistic. 
I found the large Orange trees wintered in the new 
Orange house, now standing under the partial shade of 
trees, growing vigorously, and well supplied with flowers 
and fruit in various stages. The house is already too 
small for the plants, and it is proposed to enlarge it by 
widening it, when no doubt Mr. Snow will endeavour 
to gain more sunlight through its roof. 
Unique American Ground. —This is placed as a huge 
square to the south of the orangery, and between it and 
the pavilion temple, in a very open position. I have 
waited for the exact size of this ground, but as it is not 
yet come Mr. Snow must correct any inaccuracies. The 
space is divided into four large squares, with suitable 
divisions of turf between them. Each of these squares 
is surrounded by a double fence of Yew, separated by a 
grass path six feet wide. The inner fence of Yew will 
be allowed to grow about three feet in height, the outer 
fence about two feet and a half. There are openings 
left in the centre of each side of these squares, and 
consequently opposite each other. In the centre of 
each square is a circle fifty feet in diameter, and con¬ 
siderably elevated in the centre, where an upright 
Juniper is planted, leaving abundance of lawn. Four 
small circles are also placed in the corners for lower- 
growing plants, and there also a position will be found 
for specimens of elegant low-growing Cypresses, &c., so 
as to carry the eye in a slanting line from the Yew to 
the plants in the centre of the largo circle. Besides 
good heath and peat soil found on the demesne, 
hundreds of loads of rotten tree leaves here found a 
last resting place. The plants looked extremely well, 
but those on the north and east side of the circles were 
most luxuriant. Much of their flourishing condition in 
such a dry, hot summer was no doubt greatly owing to 
a deep mulching of half-decayed tree leaves. Every 
year this singular unique American garden will become 
more interesting. To connect it in some measure with 
the orangery and the pavilion a huge, gigantic group of 
statuary is spoken of for being placed in the centre of 
the four squares. 
Passing many other matters, I must conclude with 
stating that the A rail a Japonica, the subject of a former 
notice, is still more flourishing in its sheltered corner, 
and that on the same border the Cupressus thurifera and 
torulosa and other things are equally luxuriant. 
R. Fish. 
PRUNING GRAPE VINES. 
Those who have been behind the curtains must 
necessarily know a good many things which the rest 
of the world could hardly believe, and would not tell of 
any one of such things without making a sufficient 
apology by way of taking off the edge or sharp angles 
of the story. Of those authors who have treated on 
the Grape Vine in our days it is not difficult to perceive, 
from their writings, that some of them were behind the 
curtains and saw nothing “ very particular,” that others 
saw what needed to be softened down before it could be 
told of, and that some of them had never a glimpse be¬ 
hind a curtain or beyond a scene. Of the three classes 
I belong to the second. I was behind the curtains very 
often, saw many things done there which should have 
been done nowhere, often made apologies for them, or 
wrote in such a way about them as took off the sharp 
edges from the public eye. 
One of these was this:—The true theory of pruning 
Grape Vines is believed in by every one; but I could 
plainly see that the true theory was either not true, or 
else they, the practitioners and the authors, with the 
rest in the place, did not square their practice with the 
truth, and to make up for the difference the said authors 
wrote the truth, but not all the truth, myself among 
tho rest. 
