42 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 20, 1890. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
SEASONABLE WORK in the GARDEN. 
Stove Climbers.—The dry and bright weather with 
which we have been favoured for some time past has 
been favourable to the ripening of the wood of climbers 
amongst other plants. In order further to aid in 
this, the plants should be gone over, and weak or useless 
shoots, as well as those where crowding prevails, 
thinned out. This will also enable the sun to reach the 
plants beneath more freely, and give the tissues the 
necessary hardening before the advent of winter. 
Euphorbia fulgens. —Plants of this useful win¬ 
ter-flowering subject, if grown in pots, may now be 
stood near the glass, so that the stems may be tied to 
wires close under the roof, in order to prepare them for 
flowering later on, when the days become shorter and 
light deficient. 
Poinsettias, Sericographis, &c. —The soil in 
which these subjects are grown will now be well per¬ 
meated with roots, and accordingly should receive some 
assistance in the way of supplies of liquid manure, 
which will enable them to carry the bottom leaves 
better, and also greatly assist in increasing the size of 
the bracts. 
Boilers and Hot-water Pipes. —Before the 
advent of cold weather, it will be advisable to see that 
the boilers and hot-water pipes are all in good working 
order, as it becomes less convenient to do so when the 
houses are filled with tender plants, and the boilers are 
being driven to keep up the necessary temperature. All 
furnaces, flues and stokeholes, should also be put in 
thorough repair, so that no anxiety is occasioned when 
rough weather supervenes. 
Hyacinths, &c.—It is now time to see about the 
potting of the main batches of Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Narcissi and other subjects which may be contemplated. 
They can be kept perfectly cool so as to prevent them 
coming on more rapidly than is desired. This will be 
more in their favour than otherwise, and give the 
bulbs the best chance of forming good roots before they 
commence to throw up their flower spikes. A batch of 
Roman Hyacinths may also be potted for a succession. 
Sparaxis, Ixias, Lachenalias.— These useful 
and showy bulbs may also be potted and plunged in 
ashes in a cold frame. To subject them to heat before 
they are well started into growth would be to court 
failure, and even when growing freely the temperature 
of a greenhouse will be quite sufficient. "When the 
leaves are up, the plants should he placed as near the 
glass as possible. 
Richardias. —Where these are planted in the open 
ground, they should now be lifted and potted up, in 
case frost should occur, as is likely to happen any 
morning now without much previous warning. Be 
careful to avoid injuring the leaves in potting, as the 
petioles are very brittle. The spathes will be all the 
larger for it if the full complement of leaves is main¬ 
tained. Stand the pots in a sheltered place in readiness 
to be taken indoors when frost is likely to occur, or 
they may be placed in a pit, where they will be out of 
all danger. 
Solanums.—In lifting those that have heen planted 
out, it will be well to bear in mind that the sooner the 
work is accomplished now the better, so that the roots 
may become established in the fresh soil before the 
advent of winter, and while the roots are still active. 
Place them in some structure where they can be kept 
close for a time, and syringed twice a day till fresh 
roots are formed. By this means, the foliage may be 
preserved in a healthy condition, and prevented from 
dropping prematurely. 
Fuchsias. —Cuttings of these may still be taken if 
necessary, but in order to root them quickly, they 
should be inserted in small pots and plunged in a little 
bottom heat. After being rooted they may be allowed 
to drop their leaves by keeping them cooler and drier. 
After that they may be stored with the others. 
Bedding Plants. —Pelargoniums in pots or boxes 
should be fully exposed to sun and air in order to 
harden their tissues. The same applies to Verbenas, 
Lobelias, Ageratums, Gazanias, and the other subjects 
which are much benefited by plenty of ventilation and 
exposure after they become rooted. 
Vineries. —A night temperature of 75° should be 
maintained in late houses where the Grapes are not yet 
ripe, for all should be perfectly matured by the end of 
the month if they are expected to keep well during 
winter. All laterals should be removed where they 
occur beyond the bunches, in order to allow a free play 
of light and air to the berries. Should the borders be 
dry give a good watering, otherwise the fruit cannot be 
so plump as it otherwise should be. It will be necessary 
to leave a little ventilation even at night in order to 
carry off superfluous moisture. Where it is'intended to 
lift Vines, it should be done now while the leaves are 
still quite fresh. Of course, those bearing a crop 
cannot be disturbed at present. 
Peaches.—On no account must the borders be 
allowed to become dry, even if the leaves are falling, 
otherwise the roots will suffer, and likewise the fruit 
buds, either before or after expansion. The roots make 
a considerable amount of growth even after the leaves 
have dropped. All superfluous shoots should be re¬ 
moved so as to allow of a free play of light upon those 
that are left; in fact, little need be left to cut away at 
the winter pruning, unless the trees are old and weak 
from overcropping. In such a case the superfluous 
wood may be left to encourage root growth, provided 
there is no actual overcrowding. 
Figs.—Trees still in leaf should be frequently 
syringed to keep them clean. Applications of manure 
water would prove very beneficial. Where the second 
crop is still immature, syringing should be discon¬ 
tinued, and a dry atmosphere maintained to assist in 
developing the full flavour of the fruits. At this 
season of the year they take longer to ripen than in the 
summer months. It will sometimes happen that a 
few fruits will push where they ought to remain 
dormant till spring. They may be removed as useless, 
and to prevent their drawing upon the resources of the 
tree. 
- ->=£**- 
PATSHULL, NEAR WOLVER¬ 
HAMPTON. 
Patshull, the Shropshire seat of the Earl of Dartmouth, 
is very rich in Conifers and rarer kinds of ornamental 
trees and shrubs, many acres of pleasure ground having 
been planted years ago, while additions are frequently 
made. Conifers flourish here, although in some in¬ 
stances symptoms of decay exist, from the roots having 
penetrated into some uncongenial soil or other material. 
There are, however, a very large number of fine 
specimens, as Deodars have been planted by hundreds, 
and do well, while some excellent Araucarias, Picea 
nobilis, and a host of other Conifers abound. An Abies 
Douglasii is over 100 ft. high, with a straight trunk 
which is quite 10 ft. in diameter at the base. Welling- 
tonias also thrive here, one handsome pyramidal 
tree rising to a height of 60 ft., and is W'ell furnished. 
Deciduous trees are also abundant, such as Cratfegus in 
variety, Ailanthus, a fine old Cork tree, fine Tulip 
trees, the rarer varieties of Elms, Birch, Ash and other 
trees, Bird Cherries, Robinias, and a large collection 
of other choicer kinds of trees and shrubs. Amongst 
the latter are large masses of Rhus Cotinus, now 
exceedingly bright with scarlet tinted tufts, and very 
striking objects such masses are. 
The terrace gardens are small, and here are fine 
standards of Robinia inermis and other terrace trees. 
Along some sloping borders of mixed plants are masses 
of Hyacinthus candicans clothed with white flowers, 
and Agapanthus umbellatus planted out does well 
here, flowering freely and telling well amongst other 
things. 
The kitchen gardens are extensive, comprising some 
eight acres within the walls. There is an excellent 
crop of Pears on some of the wall trees, especially on 
Ne Plus Meuris, Nelis de Hiver, Beurre de Jonghe, 
Josephine de Malines, and a heavy crop on the Forelle 
or Trout Pear. 
Wasps are as plentiful at Patshull as elsewhere, and 
Mr. Farr uses a vessel resembling a water-bottle in 
shape, but flatter, and resting on three glass knobs 
about 1 in. deep. The base of the wasp-bottle is saucer 
shaped, rising in the centre, in which there is an 
aperture about 2 ins. wide. The wasps get in at the 
bottom, and do not find their way out again. A corked 
opening at the top admits the liquid used, simply 
treacle and water. A stake should be driven into the 
ground with a small square of wood on the top, and on 
this the bottles can be placed. One thing is a cer¬ 
tainty, they form death-traps for a great quantity of 
wasps. 
One of the best fitted up fruit rooms in the kingdom 
is at Patshull. Small hot-water pipes run along the 
paths, and are sunk to the floor level, while ventilators 
admit fresh air inside from the same level. The 
Mushroom house, a good one too, is under ground, and 
is entered from a large stokehole ; there is a heavy crop 
now, the spawn supply coming from a well-known 
London source. A portion of the kitchen garden is 
planted as an orchard, with a carpet of grass. Some 
veteran bush trees are to be seen here, which are kept 
very closely pruned in the summer. Several trees of 
Cox’s Pomona are bearing heavy crops, and Yellow 
Ingestre, Blenheim Orange, Manks’ and Keswick 
Codlins have good crops. Lord Suffield is plentiful, 
and everybody seems to grow this free-bearing, ex¬ 
cellent Apple. 
Patshull had dropped into a very neglected state 
when Mr. Farr entered upon his duties there some 
sixteen months ago. His predecessor had been laid up 
by illness for many months, and could not see to 
matters, so it has been uphill work for some time, but 
sure and certain signs of improvement are plainly 
visible, both under glass and out of doors. In a brief 
notice such as this, it is impossible to do justice to these 
extensive and well-kept pleasure grounds and gardens. 
It is a grand old place, and to all horticulturists 
especially interesting. 
The glass is extensive, and things are getting more 
into shape. One range of Peach houses is 300 yards 
long, with trees on trellis io front, and fine trees of 
Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs on the back wall. The 
Fig trees, Mr. Farr found, on entering on his duties as 
head gardener, to be in a lamentable state of mealy¬ 
bug, and he had the trees well washed with paraffin oil, 
an experiment suggestive of much danger and anxiety 
as to results. It killed the bug and it did not kill the 
trees, as they are alive .and well, and bearing excellent 
fruit. 
There is an extensive Orangery, a large light building, 
in which are Orange, Lemon and Citron trees in tubs, 
but these appear to have undergone starvation treat¬ 
ment in the past, and there is a goodly number of 
specimen Camellias. 
Patshull can also lay claim to an elephantine golden- 
rayed Lily and the largest bulb known in Britain. 
The bulb when last potted weighed 26 lbs., is now 
growing in a 24-in. wide pot, and has thrown up a 
good many flower stems, bearing 1S9 blooms recently. 
The old root has thrown out many pseudo-bulbs, but 
they all form a compact huge mass of bulbous matter ; 
and Mr. Farr keeps it liberally surfaced with strong 
manure and good soil. 
On a Vine border are some very fine examples of 
Deverill’s Pedigree Onions. The Cocoa-nut variety is 
very fine indeed, the true type being of the form of 
half a Cocoa-nut, but they do not all run so yet. 
Deverill’s Advance is a wonderfully fine Onion for 
exhibitors, and so also is Anglo-Spanish and Deverill’s 
Jubilee. Mr. Farr has selected two or three bulbs of 
the last-named variety, well-formed bulbs, which at 
present may be written down as an “Improved” 
Jubilee, but of this we may hear more anon.— IV. D. 
--*$«- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
-*f-- 
Geranium, Shirley Blue. 
I have just read (at p. 12) a note on “Geranium, 
Shirley Blue,” “stated to be a garden hybrid,” shown 
by the Rev. W. Wilks, and awarded a First Class Certi¬ 
ficate by the Floral Committee. There appears to 
have been a mistake with this ; I am told on good 
authority that the Geranium is a Himalayan one, well 
known in hardy plant collections as Geranium Wal- 
lichianum.— G. F. Wilson, Heatherbank, Weylridge 
Heath. 
Salvia patens and S. p. alba. 
The fine effect of Salvia patens is greatly enhanced 
when grown in proximity to its white variety, 
either in alternate lines or in masses, according to the 
fancy of the cultivator. The white variety is as pure 
and distinct as the type is rich in its blue tint, and at 
present there does not seem to bo any intermediate 
shades. Both may .be grown in pots, but the flower 
garden is their proper place. Unless continually being 
shifted to stimulate growth, the growing period is but 
short lived when grown in pots, although plants raised 
from seed come in very conveniently for late flowering 
in autumn. Out of doors with plenty of room and 
good soil, fresh shoots continue to be thrown up, and 
flower until frost cuts them down or the rough and 
stormy autumn weather destroys them and puts a stop 
to further growth. Individually, the large flowers are 
rather fugitive, but a large number of them continue to 
