303 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 23, 185!}. 
pnd this explains the- reason of their subsequent failure and 
weakness of growth. 
In the great heat and moist atmosphere of the tropics, plants 
grow with greater rapidity and more vigorously than in those of 
more temperate regions. In such climates, decay proceeds with 
greater rapidity than it does in our own country; carbonic acid and 
ammonia, the food of plants, are produced in greater abundance; 
whilst from the great heat and power of the sun plants can assi¬ 
milate (in those countries) more of these substances than they 
call do in colder regions.- 
Thus, in all cases, it would appear that much in the growth df 
plants results from climatic influences, and it is quite possible to 
have the greatest development of vegetation without the soil 
being at all cultivated. The heated and moist atmosphere sup- 
plyingj in tropical countries; all the elements of vegetation; 
whilst in our northern latitudes we are obliged to extract from 
mother earth, and to draw lai’gely upon her hidden resources for 
the maintainance of that vigorous health which every gardener 
desires to sec characterising his productions, and which can only 
result from practice and knowledge of laws founded by Eternal 
Wisdom, and exemplified and illustrated throughout the whole 
programme of creation. 
Let, then, all cultivators of soil for garden purposes remember 
that shallow digging is of little or no use; and that, if they would 
bring their productions up to the highest perfection, they must 
trench periodically aud deeply, bringing up at each operation a 
small portion of the subsoil to be disintegrated, and to have its 
inorganic constituents dissolved and made soluble, for by such 
means alone can they hope to preserve a steady habit of vigour in 
crops in this our northern latitude. 
My own experience has now extended over many years, diming 
a considerable portion of which I have had one of the largest 
consumptions to supply ; but having adopted this plan of deep 
cultivation, I have been enabled to meet the demands made upon 
me with comparative ease. Aud wishing to be one of “ those 
worthies” who make two blades of grass grow where one only 
grew before, I commend my plan to the gardening world, assuring 
them confidently of its certain success. 
Persons who may be induced to try this should be careful in 
not bringing up too much clay or crude soil to the surface at 
once, but to introduce small quantities at a time. Should they 
do so, they may be induced to make the same objection which 
prejudiced fanners did to deep ploughing. 
I have now briefly noticed most of the advantages resulting 
from the practice of deep cultivation; and will conclude by ex¬ 
pressing my full belief that “ a little ” digging, like “ a little 
learning, is a dangerous thing.” H. Bailey, Nuneham. 
BELLE VUE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL 
GARDENS NEAR MANCHESTER. 
It is more than twenty years since I first knew of the existence 
of a small tea garden on or near the spot wdiere now the far- 
famed Belle Yue Gardens are situated. At the period I allude 
to, the Garden did not cover more than an acre of ground, but 
now it occupies, as the spirited proprietor, Mr. John Jennison, 
himself informed me, upwards of forty acres within the walls. 
Two parties have been concerned in bringing out such an as¬ 
tounding result. The first is the proprietor himself, who has, 
with persevering, never-tiring industry, “ through good report 
and ill report,” laboured so many years to bring the Gardens to 
their present state. The second party is, as may be surmised, 
the peoplo of Manchester aud its neighbourhood, who have so 
appreciated Mr. Jennison’s well-directed efforts to please, amuse, 
and, let me add, instruct them, that they have attended by their 
thousands and tens of thousands, and thus furnished the moans 
by which these Gardens have been established, and are now 
carried on to the extent they display. 
My good friend and zealous coadjutor, Mr. Fish, and myself, 
had the pleasure of visiting these famous Gardens lately; but 
(his time being limited, though very desirous to do so) he could 
not tako notes and give a report, and, therefore, it has fallen to 
my lot to try to describe them to the readers of The Cottage 
G ardener. We both thought them highly worthy of a report 
on several grounds. 1st. To show what a single individual can 
accomplish in catering rational amusement for the public. 2ndly. 
How certain the public arc to patronise and reward such efforts 
to please them. 3rdly. The great benefit such gardens yield to 
tho visitors, by giving the means of relaxation from business, espe¬ 
cially such business as the Operatives are engaged in daily in mami' 
facturing districts like Manchester. Lastly. To encourage other 
men, like Mr. Jennison, to persevere in a similar way, and strive 
to gratify the public, for then they will Certainly achieve success. 
I only wish it had fallen into more able hands to describe, in 
detail, these interesting Gardens. However, I Will try to dd 
justice to them to the best of my ability. 
The Gardens are situated east from Manchester, and aboiit twd 
miles and a half from the centre of the city. Means of access Vf 
rail and omnibus are abundant. The omnibuses run from the 
Centre df the city every quarter of an hour. There ars two 
entrances, one Close to the Longsight Station, on the London anti 
j North Western Railway ■; the other, which is the house entrance, 
is near the Asbury Station, on the Manchester and Lincolnshire 
Railway. Omnibuses run to both entrances.- That the public; 
| have need of all these means of access and entrances may be 
imagined when 1 state tho fact, that, in Whitsun week alone,- 90,000 
persons visited the Gardens. Whitsuntide is the great holiday 
of the Manchester folks. Most of the factories and warehouses 
are nearly closed that week on that account. I may here state 
j that the management of this large establishment is jointly 
j under the care of the proprietor and his two soils, Mr. Johu 
and Mr. George Jennison, ably assisted by Mr. Charles Crouch, 
the active and intelligent superintendent of the garden depart¬ 
ment, who has managed the Gardens for upwards of nine years, 
with what success my report of the state of the hothouses, &c., 
below will show. 
I entered the Gardens from the Longsight end. Here are 
handsome, wide, lofty iron gales. The centre for carriages, and a 
wide gate on each side for foot passengers. An avenue of trees 
directs the eye to a lofty building aud gates, which are the 
entrance to the Gardens. Under the archway there are two 
! noble figures of lions couchant; and before the visitor is another 
avenue of half a mile. On the left hand is a large kitchen garden 
occupied with large plots of Salad plants, pits, Cucumber-house, 
orchard-house 200 feet long, and several long beds of Water 
Cresses. The orchard-house is newly erected, and is intended 
chiefly for the culture of Vines in pots, several scores of which 
were progressing favourably for next season’s fruiting. This house 
1 serves admirably as a receptacle in winter for Azaleas, of which 
there is a large collection. I also noticed a considerable number 
of the old favourite plant, Bletia Tanicervillce, in very fine 
health. These are to make a display in early spring. I noticed 
many long rows of the finest Celery I have seen this year, grown 
on much like the plan described by Mr. Fish lately. Also a large 
plot of We Plus Ultra Lettuce, the best of all Cabbage Lettuces 
for summer use. The common Mustard for salading is grown 
here wholesale, in a rather peculiar manner. The ground is duly 
prepared, then the seed is sown on the surface, and watered, hut 
not covered with soil. What, then, think you ? Why with thick 
canvass, which is allowed to remain on till the seed is sprouted 
and grown half an inch long; it is then removed, and the 
Mustard quickly becomes green. It is required in such quan¬ 
tities, that the man who gathers it mows it with a garden scythe! 
I could scarcely have believed this, had I not seen it done. Tho 
Water Cresses are cultivated in partly broad and partly narrow 
beds. The latter are formed so, in order to cover them with 
glass in winter to keep off the frost. Really they do things un¬ 
commonly here. 
On the right hand the grounds are extensive, and diversified 
very agreeably with lawn, rivulets of water, flower-beds, rock- 
work, trees, and shrubs. Reaching the end of tliis part of tho 
ground I turned to the right and came upon the grand sight of 
the season. A view of Rome, with the Temple ot Janus in the 
centre, the Colisseum on the the right, and the Capitol on the 
left. The perspective of this grand scene is exceedingly effective. 
Hills, woods, buildings, human figures, &c., appear as if real. 
The effect is greatly enhanced by a large sheet of real water in 
front of the painting, the size of which is enormous. I was 
told 20,000 feet of canvass were used for the purpose. Tho 
bank before this water aft’ords standing room for 10,000 people ; 
and there is a gallery behind this mass of- spectators which will 
seat 2000 more. 
Passing this gorgeous display of art, which was painted by 
Messrs. Danson and Sons, of London, I made my way to the 
hothouses, near to which I met Mr. Crouch, aud requested him 
to show me the greenhouses, hothouses, and the flower garden. 
He very kindly complied with my request, and first showed me 
the flower garden, which though not very large, was in good 
trim, every bed being in full flower. 
