September 13, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
23 
cells which forms so effectual a barrier to the passage 
of bacteria. Not only water, but everything else when 
thrown upon the soil disappears sooner or later. Such 
tilings as pieces of wood, or leather, about the toughest 
of organic materials, become softened and permeated 
by fungoid growth, and finally crumble away. In 
some parts of the country rags of all kinds are largely 
used for manure. Through the autumn and winter 
these may be seen lying ou the surface, but when in 
spring the tilling of the land goes forward, and the 
fermentation of the soil commences, the coarsest of 
these rags disappear. If wood, leather, and rags 
disappear, leaves and animal excrement disappear, as 
we all know, far more readily. The disintegration is 
forwarded by birds, insects, worms and their allies, and 
what was the excrement of many small ones, until 
finally by the action of saprophytic fungi these organic 
matters become fertile “humus,” which is the only 
permanent source of wealth in any country, the source 
whence we derive all the materials for our food and 
clothing. 
The question whether among the bacteria which are 
found in the soil, some may not be hurtful to mankind, 
is a question of great interest and importance. If 
disease-causing organisms find their way into the soil, 
may they not multiply, or at least continue to live, and 
then prove a danger to health 1 There can be no doubt 
that pathogenic organisms do exist in the soil, but their 
power for harm would seem to be practically very small 
indeed ; and to regard the soil as dangerous because 
some pathogenic organisms may lurk in it would be 
about as rational as it would be to condemn vegetable 
food because of the occasional dangers of hemlock, 
aconite, or the deadly nightshade. It is well known 
that if soil be inoculated into some of the lower animals, 
such as guinea pigs, fatal results will follow from 
malignant oedema and tetanus ; and it is also well 
known that earth, and especially street mud, if ground 
into wounds in the human subject, may cause malignant 
redema and the death of the victim. It it equally well 
known that the workers of the soil, agricultural 
labourers and 'gardeners, are amongst the healthiest 
classes of the communitjq and that they are not credited 
with any diseases which are special to their calling. It 
seems to be a fact that the great doctrine of the 
survival of the fittest holds good for microbes in the 
soil, as for all other organised things everywhere ; and 
that organisms which flourish in the human body 
languish and cease to multiply in the soil, where the 
conditions are unsuited for their multiplication or even 
for their survival. They get overgrown by saprophytic 
microbes, and even if they do not die the risk of their 
finding their way into the ground water is practically 
nil, for we have seen that humus is the best of filters.— 
From an Address delivered by Dr. G. V. Poore at the 
Brighton Sanitary Conference. 
- -- 
WOLLATON HALL, NOTTS. 
This magnificent estate, the Nottinghamshire seat of the 
Eight Hon. Lord Middleton, is situated about four 
miles from the large and rapidly increasing borough of 
Nottingham. It is one of the leading private garden’ 
i n cr establishments in the Midlands, and well worth a 
visit from any enthusiastic horticulturist, who, if he 
does not derive a certain amount of pleasure and 
instruction thereby, must be singularly unfortunate in 
his powers of observation and conception of much that 
pertains to real merit and worth The mansion itself 
is a most imposing pile, and is of the Elizabethan 
style, bearing the date of 1588 ; it occupies a central 
position in the extensive park of 800 acres, which 
is entirely surrounded with a substantially built 
wall. 
From the east front of the mansion we have a fine 
view of a noble avenue of Limes, of historic note (about 
one mile in length), each individual tree being of 
remarkable size and beauty. Numbers of deer are 
visible in the avenue, and add much to the picturesque 
effect. At all times of the year the woods and gardens 
at Wollaton are charming, but at no time are they 
more so than at the first blush of autumn. Standing 
upon the southern side of the hall a most pleasing 
landscape is opened up to view. Here we are far 
removed from every road, from every cultivated field, 
from every village, where the hum and stir of life may 
prevail, and the silence would, indeed, be oppressive, 
but that our sense of vision is almost ravished by the 
sight of the beauty about us. Only an educated 
eye, the eye of the student of nature, as he reveals 
himself upon the canvas, can give living utterance 
to the charm. The sunlight for a moment falls boldly 
upon the majestic Oaks which bestud the banks of the 
lake, and the shadows of their lacing boughs lie across 
its pellucid water. A few steps brings us to the Hall 
flower gardeD, which Mr. Mee, the enthusiastic gardener, 
so ably manages, and which has recently gained 
considerable fame. The series of beds are principally 
devoted to the ordinary style of bedding ; the richness 
of colour the various beds supply is peculiarly appro¬ 
priate and quite in accordance with the surroundings. 
Yery noticeable is a lovely dark Heliotrope named 
President Garfield, and several large beds of seedling 
Yiolas. 
Some of the larger beds are partly carpet and 
partly sub-tropical, the whole being ablaze with colour 
of nearly every imaginable shade. Leaving this part 
of the flower garden, Mr. Mee directs our attention to 
some of the noble Cedars which bestud the lawn, many 
of them being truly magnificent examples. Worthy of 
notice is an enormous two-stemmed Beech, known as 
the twin Beech, a grand specimen of mammoth propor¬ 
tions ; there is about it an attraction irresistible, and 
it seems to look down with pity upon the flowery 
paradise below, as if to say, How soon it will be 
over! 
With some reluctance we turn to leave this part of 
the grounds, and are conducted to the conservatory, a 
quaint old structure built about the same time as the 
mansion, the materials being copper, iron, and lead. 
It contains a fine collection of huge Camellias in rude 
health ; the beautiful Ruscus androgynus occupying 
a portion of the back wall, and several varieties of 
climbing Roses and other useful things hang in graceful 
festoons from its roof. 
The kitchen gardens are situated about half a mile 
from the mansion, on the eastern side of the 
park, and are about ten acres in extent. The glass 
erections are numerous, and contain many objects of con¬ 
siderable interest. In one large span-roofed plant stove 
we noticed a fine collection of Palms in great variety, 
varying from the smallest seedling to the perfect 
specimen, very noticeable being grand specimens of 
Latania borbonica and Phcenix reclinata, and in the 
adjoining house were splendidly grown examples of 
Anthurium Yeitchii carrying immense leaves measuring 
over 3 ft. in length. Anthurium Sanderi with its 
graceful metallic leaves was in splendid condition. 
A small but choice collection of Orchids is grown. 
Some good pans of Coelogyne cristata, Oncidium flex- 
uosum, and Stanhopea tigrina are worthy of special 
notice, as also are Oattieya Mendelii and Cattleya 
Mossice aurea. The pretty Oncidium ornithorhynchum 
was flowering very freely in a cool house devoted to 
Odontoglossums. 
A lofty conservatory occupies a central position 
amongst the group of houses, and contains some very 
fine climbing Roses which have already attained a 
height of over 30 ft., W. A. Richardson being an 
especial favourite with Mr. Mee. Near here is a house 
devoted to Bananas and Poinsettias, they being planted 
out near the sides, and are already 30 ft. high, and 
promising immense heads later on. Chrysanthemums 
are a leading feature at Wollaton ; some 500 plants 
are annually grown, the demand for cut flowers in the 
winter months being very great. Bouvardias, Primulas, 
Cinerarias, and Epiphyllums are well done. 
In the fruit department there are very evenly 
balanced crops of Grapes, Black Hamburgh being very 
fine in both bunch and berry. Peaches and Nectarines 
are beautifully coloured in the late houses. Unfortu¬ 
nately the vineries and Peach houses are heated under 
the old-fashioned flue system, and consequently are 
attended to with a good deal of trouble. Several large 
houses are devoted to Tomatos, which are grown upon 
the single rod principle, most of the standard varieties 
being under cultivation. Mr. Mee speaks very highly 
of Laxton’s Open Air, as it is carrying a beautifully 
finished crop on south walls in the open garden. The 
herbaceous garden is very gay, and many interesting 
objects of plant life are to be found in it. The Parsley¬ 
leaved Bramble is very prolific on a west wall near. 
The Apple and Pear crops are a conspicuous failure, 
Duchesse d’Angouleme Pear being the only variety 
carrying a crop. Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines 
are heavily cropped, and a variety of French Bean 
which originated at Wollaton is remarkable for its 
productiveness. There are many other objects of 
interest to be found at lYollaton which are too 
numerous to mention, and I may justly record that 
great credit is due to Mr. Mee for the energy and skill 
which he displays in all matters appertaining to the 
success of the place.— J. S. Walker. 
BEGONIAS AT FOREST HILL. 
The main batches in the houses of Messrs. J. Laing & 
Sons are still in fine condition, and continue; to 
produce a large quantity of bloom. The size of the 
largest blooms as they existed a few years ago, has not 
been exceeded, but the tendency in recent years has 
been to raise the average standard of the general stock 
of plants. Attention is also given to the production 
and selection of compact plants of upright habit and 
free-flowering properties. Of the latter type we 
recently noted many seedlings, including a white one 
with large orbicular flowers toothed on the margin, 
also white with pink edge, blackish crimson, magenta- 
rose, brilliant scarlet, light rose-magenta and salmon. 
The standard of the double kinds has also been greatly 
improved since the first doubles were sent out. The 
petals are larger, more loosely arranged, sometimes 
flat and at other times waved like a Hollyhock, and 
often arranged around a single centre. Some are rosy 
pink, and others blush-white with the other petals pink, 
pink with a white centre, salmon and yellow blended, 
snowy white and globular, deep salmon, brilliant red, 
bright yellow and globose, and deep rose with a 
white centre. A white variety was notable for the 
great size of its flowers, and broad petals arranged 
round a single centre after the style of a Rose or 
Camellia. It was also highly curious from a botanical 
point of view many of the segments bearing ovules 
exposed on the upper surface of the basal part. Some 
varieties have flowers consisting of many rosettes, like 
trusses of double Pelargoniums. 
The chief centre of attraction at present is the long 
beds in the open air, containing something like 
150,000 plants or moie. The plants are arranged in 
beds, of a colour such as scarlet, pale rose, pink, 
crimson, dark crimson, brilliant scarlet and white. 
The latter in the open air are generally tinted with 
pink on the back. Single and double varieties are 
planted, but the latter more extensively. They were 
sown in February last, but have not attained the size 
they do in warmer seasons, but nevertheless present 
a varied and beautiful sight when viewed from one 
side of the field on account of the blending of the 
colours, which are even intensified compared with those 
indoors. The flowers of many are of great size and 
regularity for seedlings. When we saw them in the 
last week of August the men were busy erecting a light 
framework for the support of mats to protect the plants 
from frost, which may be expected any night during 
the present unsettled state of the weather, and actually 
did occur on that morning, though light. 
-—=->£-<«- 
PLANT NOTES FROM DUNROBIN. 
With reference to the recent note in your columns, on 
Bocconia cordata, at Syon House, it may interest you 
to know that we have this fine plant growing here in a 
mass on a lawn in front of the sea. The plants occupy 
an irregular-shaped bed, about 30 yards in circumference, 
which has been planted about seven or eight years. 
The mass is at present coming into flower, and the 
flowering stems are from 5 ft. to 8 ft. high. The 
Bocconia forms a striking and handsome mass of sub¬ 
tropical appearance ; it is quite hardy, and when once 
planted, gives no further trouble for several years. 
Lythrum roseum is at present very showy, a mass of 
it, near the Bocconia, filling a bed about 50 yards in 
circumference. The beds are about 5 ft. high, and 
covered with flower spikes of a bright rosy purple. 
This is another herbaceous plant which is very 
showy and attractive, and is well suited for planting in 
masses. 
A bed of Arundo conspicua, on the lawns at some 
distance from the main walks, show well at present. 
The mass is about 30 yards in circumference, and bears 
about 200 Pampas-like spikes from 8 ft. to 10 ft. high. 
This plant does well round the central fountain in the 
great flower garden here. There are eight plants of it 
at intervals round the fountain, each plant being from 
15 yards to 18 yards in circumference, and bearing from 
18 to 120 spikes, each from 8 ft. to 12 ft. high. 
The fountain plays from sunrise to sunset, and 
rises to a height of from 60 ft. to 70 ft., the fine masses 
of Arundo around it forming a noble and striking 
feature in the flower garden, and having a fine effect 
from the castle windows and terrace. The Arundo 
conspicua usually comes into flower about the end of 
July here. The Pampas Grass does not flower till well 
in October.— D. Melville, Dunrobin Castle Gardens, 
Golspie, N.B. 
