261 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. Jaxuaet 26, 1858. 
ood collection of evergreens, such as Hollies, Portugal 
^aurels, evergreen Oaks, Rhododendrons, Laurustinus, 
fee. As soon as the Grove was passed, we came upon 
le lawn ; and on it I noted a large number of Arau- 
•aria imbricata . I was sorry to see they were not 
driving well: many of them had their lower shoots 
. illed ; and on other branches the leaves were evidently 
lead and dying. The gardener pointed out to me 
;ome others that had been planted amongst Ehodo- 
lendrons and other evergreens, the leaves and branches 
of which were as green as a Leek, and as healthy a3 
possible, showing that in their young stage shelter 
rom the wind was needful. They had been planted 
on the lawn on the level, and in such a subsoil that 
was very injudicious. Rhododendrons here thrive 
uost remarkably well, without any other than the 
•ommon soil; owing, no doubt, to the moist climate 
of this part of Lancashire. They are of a dark healthy 
;reen, and covered with dowering buds. Just on the 
irow of the hill I noted a fine collection of Thorns, 
which, I was assured, were very beautiful when in 
bloom. 
To the left, just after passing these Thorns, I saw 
vliat, I confess, somewhat startled me—a large two- 
ight frame set on a hillock on the lawn, directly facing 
he west windows of the Hall. I supposed it contained 
;ome bedding-out plants, as I thought, sadly out of 
place. We went up to it, and the light was lifted up. 
i then saw I had erred egregiously :—it was a shelter 
for a tolerable specimen of the famous T Vellingtonia 
gigantea. A label declared that this new and won¬ 
drous tree had been planted by our gracious Queen 
Victoria during her stay at Worsley Hall last July : 
and at a short distance from it I was shown a young 
English Oak, which, the label declared, had been 
planted on the same day by Her Royal Highness, the 
Princess Royal. 
From these two interesting plants we wended our 
way up a flight of steps, on to the highest terrace, 
close to the mansion. This terrace is very spacious, 
extending right and left of the house. At each end is 
a scroll-flower, laid out by Hesfield in his peculiar 
style. The terrace is bounded by a wall and balus¬ 
trade ; from that the ground falls rapidly down to the 
akes. Since Mr. Davis undertook the command of 
the gardens, this ground has been formed into a second 
terrace of about three acres’ extent; and it is laid out 
in the geometrical style. Seen at this time of the 
r ear, the form of every bed is distinctly seen. I was 
informed the plan of it was taken out of some old 
French publication. There are some very handsome, 
large, and lofty vases, placed at regular intervals on 
this new terrace, which, when filled with plants, must 
have a very fine effect. The old balustrade conceals 
this fine new terrace parterre from the lower windows ; 
but it is to be taken down and placed at the bottom of 
the first new slope: it will be then out of sight. 
When it is removed, and the flowers in the beds are 
n full beauty, the view will be very beautiful. 
I was much gratified with this part of the domain ; 
and hope at some time to be favoured with a plan of 
the new flower garden, which is very dissimilar to any 
other that I have seen. Mr. Davis very kindly in¬ 
vited me to visit the place again during the summer. 
He said the place was by no means exclusive; the 
noble Earl had no objection to any respectable person, 
properly attended, seeing the place. 
T. Applebt. 
HOTES FOR FEBRUARY. 
The season has now arrived when the routine duties of 
gardening will require careful and immediate performance. 
In the open ground, seeds of vegetables, as well as of flowers, 
should be got in as expeditiously as possible, provided the 
weather continues dry, and the ground L in good order : if 
wet, it will not do to trample it too much. When such is 
the case, some few seeds of early crops may be forwarded 
under cover, to be transplanted at a more favourable oppor¬ 
tunity. To judge from the present and past very mild winter 
weather, we may expect this month to be favourable for sow¬ 
ing and planting early spring crops; therefore, we would 
advise to sow a succession crop of Peas and Broad Beans; 
and, for a regular succession, as soon as one crop appears 
above ground, another should be sown, until the middle of 
May. Sow Radishes; Early York Cabbage; Lettuce; Brussels '■ 
Sprouts, for early planting; and a pan of Celery , for early 
use; Parsnips ; a few Onions; Parsley ; and a few early I 
Turnips. Plant Ash-leaved, Kidney, or any other early sort 
of Potatoes , on a warm border; and spread the other sorts, 
for future planting, thinly on shelves, or on a dry floor, where 
they will have sufficient space to swell their buds in a healthy 
and vigorous manner. Some of the Cauliflower plants, that 
had been potted in the autumn, may now be turned out of 
their pots in some sheltered situation. 
Preparations for grafting should be made, by looking out 
for proper scions in good time, and inserting the larger ends 
in the ground until wanted for grafting next month, when the 1 
sap in the stock will be in more active circulation. 
The pruning and nailing of Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot j 
trees, if postponed to the present time, should be now finished ; 
without delay; and preparations made for protecting from 
early spring frosts, the blossoms, even before they expand. 
The pruning of Raspberries , Gooseberries , and Currants , 
should also be finished. 
Advantage should be taken of frosty weather , whenever it j 
occurs, to fork over the frozen portion of the ridged or 
trenched ground and compost heaps; by which they are made 
more mellow, and the larvae of grubs are destroyed*. 
Any alterations in the floicer garden may now be carried ■ 
out; as also the sowing of hardy annuals in beds or borders. : 
The following are sorts of a permanent character, and are I 
suitable for an agreeable combination of colours in flower- 
garden scenery:— Lschscholtzia crocea , blue-branching Lark¬ 
spur, scarlet Intermediate Stock, Phlox Drummond i, Lutoca j 
viscida, dwarf dark Trench Marigold, and white and purple : 
Candytuft. Half-hardy annuals to be sown in pots, and 
protected from inclement weather; and when two or three 
inches long, to be transplanted in pots, and placed where 
they will receive an abundance of air, and protected until all 
danger of frost is over, when they may be transplanted where 
they are intended to bloom. Tender annuals, such as Balsams, \ 
Cocks'-combs, Globe Amaranths, &c., may now also be sown in 
pots, to be plunged in a hotbed, or in some warm place ; and 
when they are up, and have attained one or two proper leaves, 
they should be pricked out into the smallest pots in two- 
thirds light, rich loam, and one-third leaf mould, or rotten 
dung; to be shifted into larger-sized pots as they advance in 
growth. A little seed of Lobelia gracilis, or L. ramosa, sown 
now, will make a pretty blue edging for beds, or rustic baskets. 
If old roots of Saida patens are not at hand from which to 
procure a stock of cuttings, the seed of that beautiful blue 
Salvia—a colour so very scarce for bedding-out purposes— 
should now be sown. 
Alpine plants in pots should be looked over and top-dressed 
with fresh soil; and, if an increase be desired, they may be 
divided into pieces, repotted, and returned again to the same 
quarter in the pit or frame. Auriculas to be top-dressed with 
fresh compost, and all dead and decaying leaves removed. 
Carnations, Piccotees, and Pinks in pots, to be looked over 
frequently. The surface, if sodden, green, or compact, to be 
stirred up, and kept moderately dry. 
Plants in pits and frames will require careful attention, 
that they may not be exposed to cold cutting winds, nor 
allowed to be closely shut up during sunshine; but the lights 
to be opened on that side least exposed, to prevent the cold 
air from acting injuriously on the foliage of the plants. 
Ranunculuses to be planted in rows six inches apart, about 1 
four inches from root to root, and to be covered with three 
inches of soil. 
The planting of Pinks , Wallflowers , Arabis, Alyssum, 
Aubretia, and all such things, so useful and ornamental as 
spring flowers, should now be finished in favourable weather. 
