24 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 12, 1885. 
WALL PEACH CULTURE. 
Some years since, we saw an Apricot tree growing as 
a standard, and a fine tree it was too, in a fine old 
garden in a north ern county, that annually produced 
well ripened fruit. It is just possible that the tree has 
long since gone the way of all trees, and no more adorns 
the earth. The incident may not have been so singular 
as some will take it to be, but it was the only one we 
have met with growing and fruiting well under similar 
conditions in English gardens. But on walls and in 
proper aspects Apricots are produced freely enough, and 
in spite of the known reputation the trees have for 
dying oft’ piece-meal, yet now and again, some fine ones 
are met with, and probably, in few gardens, are better 
ones to be found, than in those of the Dowager Duchess 
of Buccleuch’s estate of Ditton, near Slough. There, 
trees of great age, and of conqiarative youth, thrive 
well and fruitfully, some trees covering quite 180 
superficial feet of wall area, and producing fine fruits by 
hundreds, one tree having been specially mentioned 
as giving over 500 fruits. 
But Ditton enjoys, and honourably too, a high repu¬ 
tation for Peach trees on walls, and when we mention 
Peaches, of course Nectarines are included, although 
the former fruits are the most largely grown. The 
kitchen garden is enclosed by a 10 ft. wall, that has on 
each of its four sides a run of about 100 yards. On the 
west and east aspects Pears and Plums are chiefly 
grown, whilst on the south aspect we find almost 
exclusively Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots. But the 
■piece de resistance of the garden is undoubtedly the 
outer south wall, on which may be seen at this moment 
of writing, as fine a show of trees and of fruit as can be 
found probably in any garden in the kingdom. With 
the exception of a doorway some 2 yards wide, there is 
in this aspect 75 yards run of wall surface, covered 
absolutely from ground to coping, with trees full of 
luxuriant growth and leafage, and equally full of fruit ; 
there is not over that great surface hardly much space 
to lay a hand flat that is not covered by the growth. 
In these days of difficulty in getting Peaches to thrive 
in the open, this lot of trees at Ditton is indeed a 
triumph, and if anybody possessed the power to award 
special honours for special success in garden culture, Mr. 
Lindsay would certainly be entitled to receive them. 
Starting from the door on the one side, we note a fine 
five years planted Lord Palmerston tree, perfect in 
form, and carrying 180 fine fruits. Next conies two of 
Walburton, one a grand young tree, also five years old, 
and the other a twenty year veteran, with a stem some 
5 ft. high, like that of an oak sapling. It was origi¬ 
nally a rider, but its growth has been brought down, 
and the wall is covered in every part; both these trees 
are carrying heavy crops. Then comes a Late Admir¬ 
able, some six yards in length, also twenty years old ; 
then a Royal George, next a Violette Hative, and finally 
a Barrington Peach, with a Lord Napier Nectarine, to 
reach the end of the wall. Thus we find eight trees 
alone absolutely filling this 48 yards’ length of wall, the 
which is 10 ft. in height. Then from the door in the 
other direction comes a Violette Hative Nectarine, 
Noblesse and Walburton Peaches, and finally a Moor 
Park Apricot, all very fine and perfect trees that have, 
o.' are, producing great crops, the Noblesse alone having 
given about 350 fruits. The remainder of the wall is 
left to some Pear trees that do not thrive well in that 
warm aspect, and these are this winter to be replaced 
by Peaches and Nectarines, so that we hope in a year 
or two to see this 100 yard space covered as completely 
for its almost entire length as it now is for three-fourths 
ts surface. 
During the past dry season watering has been an 
essential, but still the exigencies of labour—or, rather, 
the lack of it—has not permitted that to be done 
largely. Yet never, even under the most highly 
favoured conditions, could trees look better, and cer¬ 
tainly not produce finer crops. The border beneath the 
trees is mulched with long manure for some 4 ft. in 
width, and the remainder heavily cropped. We should 
have wished that quite 8 ft. of the border could have 
been mulched, as the trees so well deserve that much of 
generosity. The soil is such as usually exists in the 
Thames valley, and is neither better nor worse, nor is 
the position better or more sheltered than may be found 
in hundreds of gardens, where Peach culture is badly 
done. Mr. Lindsay hardly protects his trees—indeed, 
has had no material for the purpose, and from year to 
year they take their chance, seldom, if ever, failing to 
fruit well. Most certainly the trees get no coddling, 
neither can they be said to have generous culture. 
In planting at any time, the border is opened to a 
depth of 4 ft. and as wide. Into the bottom is placed 
some 9 ins. depth of rubble lor drainage, and over that 
rough pieces of turf, to prevent the soil clogging into 
the drainage. The hole is then filled with fresh soil from 
the front of the border, mixed with turfy loam and a 
little short manure, but of that no great quantity is 
given at any time, as it is not forthcoming. Of course, 
as the trees grow, other breadths of soil are opened out 
and refilled until the trees are fully established. Wood 
is laid in freely, and it is rather of good stoutness and 
well matured than luxuriant in growth. In these days 
of laments over the decay of outdoor Peach culture, the 
wall of these trees at Ditton is as well worth seeing as 
are many more showy garden features. 
-->£<-'- 
ABBEY PARK, LEICESTER. 
This beautiful Park is situated about one mile north 
of Leicester, close to the Old Abbey, the remains of 
which are partly visible from the Park. The Abbey 
was founded by Robert de Bossu, second Earl of Leicester, 
in 1143, for the order of Black Canons, and the grounds 
surrounding it have been converted into a nursery, oc¬ 
cupied by Mr. Warner, where a very choice collection 
of hardy trees and shrubs of all descriptions are 
extensively grown. The Park is about seventy acres 
in extent, including a very picturesque lake with islands, 
and was opened on May the 29th, 1882, by His Royal 
Highness the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Her 
Royal Highness the Princess, who, on that occasion, 
planted an oak, which is growing well. If all trees 
planted by their Royal Highnesses have done as well 
as this, some must be good specimens by this time. I 
need not say the tree is greatly prized and is a feature 
of great attraction. The Park is well laid out and just 
now is in grand condition. Open spaces are devoted to 
archery, croquet and bowles, and great taste has been 
displayed in the planting ; the innumerable trees and 
shrubs are doing well, and the bedding of various kinds 
is splendidly carried out. The Town Council did well, 
when they secured the services of Mr. John Burn, the 
energetic superintendent, whose practical knowledge of 
the various branches of gardening he so ably brings to 
bear on his work, and great credit is due to him for the 
admirable condition in which the Park is maintained. 
He has given the public a taste of the various kinds of 
bedding, which are carried out in a thoroughly able 
manner. He has used over 200,000 bedding plants 
this season ; the carpet bedding is first-rate, that 
around the pavilion, especially, being very fine. Ex¬ 
cellent taste has been displayed in blending the colours 
of the various plants used, the whole producing a 
charming effect; a good bit of bedding in the same style 
and representing the town arms is also most effective. 
The ordinary bedding in the flower garden is now a 
blaze of colour, and remarkably attractive. Sub-tropical 
gardening is also well done, and particularly noticeable, 
also is a grand bed of succulents, which catches the 
eye of the curious. The various shrubberies contain 
many good things, and the borders are \yell planted 
with good herbaceous plants. Antirrhinums, Delphi¬ 
niums, Phloxes, Pentstemons, and Gladioli are also 
extensively used, and create a fine display. Annuals 
also form a prominent and interesting feature ; they 
are grown extensively and give brilliant displays of 
colour. In addition to this Mr. Burn is working up 
a large stock of herbaceous and alpine plants, which he 
intends to use largely ; Dahlias are also seen here to 
great advantage. The rosery has been a grand sight, 
and the plants are making good growth ; some beds 
planted with miniature Coniferoe and shrubs, give one 
also an idea of how useful they are for this purpose, 
and when used, as seen here, they are certainly very 
effective, and give a nice change. A very large bed, 
which attracted my attention, was one planted with 
Salvia patens, intermixed with summer flowering Chry¬ 
santhemum of sorts ; it is very pleasing, and affords an 
admirable contrast. I can strongly recommend any 
reader to try this combination. 
To give a detailed description of this Park, as I 
should like to do, would occupy too much space, but I 
strongly advise any of your readers who may visit 
Leicester, to go and see it, and they will agree with 
me that it is one of the best kept Parks in the Provinces, 
and a credit to the town. I must not omit to state 
that two years ago, J. Harrison, Esq., presented to the 
Park some magnificent specimens of Hollies, some of 
which are 30 ft. high. These were successfully moved 
under the superintendence of Mr. Burn, though it was no 
easy task, some of the plants weighing fully seven tons ; 
they are now growing luxuriantly, and are a great orna¬ 
ment to the Park. It is the intention of Mr. Burns to 
plant bulbs extensively this autumn, so that another 
treat is in store for the Leicester public. —Alfred 
Outram, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper 
Holloway, London. N. 
-—*>£<-- 
SUBURBAN GARDENS. 
When' a gentleman is looking out for a house, he 
naturally considers the situation, the style of the struc¬ 
ture, and the distance it may be from the rail, tram, 
or ’bus ; then, these important points being satisfac¬ 
torily decided upon, the next consideration is the 
number of rooms, then the sanitary arrangements and 
the general appearance of the outside of the house, the 
views from different windows, and, finally, what sort 
of a garden is there ? Is it a pleasant one, in keeping 
with the taste of the intended occupier, and is it large 
enough for the wife and children to breathe the fresh 
air without having to undertake a journey by rail or 
’bus ? When the house-hunter has satisfied himself 
upon these points, he comes to terms with the landlord 
and takes up his abode. It may be, as is frequently 
the case, however, that the house is to his liking, but 
the garden is not, being a wilderness and enough to 
drive him instantly away. If he thinks a garden can 
be made out of it, he decides to take the house, and 
forthwith proceeds to call in the nearest jobbing gar¬ 
dener, who is, as a rule, as much at sea as the employer, 
but who, nevertheless, commences to do the best he 
can, with results that are not always completely satis¬ 
factory. 
It is with the idea of supplying a few ideas on this 
subject that we submit two plans as suitable for ordi¬ 
nary-sized villa gardens. The one on the right-hand 
side is for a garden at the angle of two roads, having 
front carriage entrance in each, and kitchen entrance 
in the side road. The front door is approached by 
steps, and a verandah runs the whole width of the 
house, and is covered with Clematises, Roses, Jasmine 
and Honeysuckle. The shrubbery borders in front are 
somewhat raised above the turf. The small beds are 
intended for the usual bedding-out plants, and a few 
specimen Gold and Silver Hollies, Deodars, aud other 
Conifers are dotted about as indicated. The boundary 
fence and the house are to be covered with variegated 
and small-leaved Ivies, Cotoneaster, Virginian Creeper, 
or Ampelopsis Yeitchi, Clematises, Roses, &c. The 
path on the right of the house is intended to be edged 
with Ivy. There is a conservatory at C, a set of flower 
beds immediately opposite, and a summer-house at S. 
The lawn is to be perfectly level, with a raised bank at 
the farthest end, the front of which may be a combi¬ 
nation of rockery and trailing plants, and the back 
planted with Shrubs and Roses. To reach the kitchen 
garden behind the lawn, three wire arches, covered with 
creepers, have to be passed under, and specimen Apple, 
Pear, Plum, aud Cherry Trees may be planted as indi¬ 
cated. Fruit trees may also be planted against the 
fences, and the remaining portion of the ground be 
utilised for the production of the choicer sorts of vege¬ 
tables, salad plants, and herbs, the most profitable 
subjects to grow on a limited area. 
The plan on the left is a suitable one for a villa 
placed between others, and which has no access to the 
house or garden except by the front gate. The planting 
of this garden is somewhat similar to the other. At 
the back of the house there is an ornamental rockery 
planted with Ferns and Rock-plants, backed up with 
creepers on the house. The oval lawn is quite flat, the 
shrubberies at the lower end and sides are raised, and 
the entrance from lawn to kitchen garden is arched 
with wire and covered with Clematis and Roses. The 
kitchen garden should be planted with fruit trees, as 
shown. All the kitchen garden paths should be edged 
with blue metallic edging tiles, as they resist the frost, 
and do not harbour slugs and insects. 
Now as to the manner in which a garden should be 
laid out. First of all, when the site has been chosen 
for a new house, a definite plan should be prepared, 
with everything marked upon it that it has been 
decided shall be carried out, and which will save much 
