THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 20, 1888. 
; 114 
GardeningNotesfrom Ireland. 
Drumartin. 
This is the suburban residence of the present High 
Sheriff of the City of Dublin, — Winstanley, Esq., 
and is at no great distance from the railway station at 
Dundrum, on the Dublin and Wicklow Railway. The 
grounds are well situated, and command views of some 
fine scenery, glimpses of which are obtained from 
various standpoints in the vicinity. At present the 
place seems to be undergoing some alterations, all of 
which will no doubt have the effect of giving an im¬ 
proved appearance to the place by-and-bye. 
Roses. 
There is a fine collection of outdoor Roses here, and 
if proof of what a little shelter will do to preserve 
tender flowers and plants from the evil effects of 8° or 
10° of frost were needed, here it is supplied. In a 
border well sheltered by a close-cut hedge and some 
low shrubs in front are planted some fine healthy 
standards, and many of them are still bearing some 
good uninjured blooms, one plant of Souvenir de la 
Malmaison carrying a remarkably fine lot of open 
flowers and buds. In other places I have visited since 
the late frost, I saw Rose blooms and buds all destroyed, 
the situation being in all cases rather exposed. As a 
standard, Gloire de Dijon was also in fine form, and 
again as trained plants over arched trellis-work. The 
foliage and flowers of this Rose were remarkably fresh 
and healthy. For early cutting there is a large stock 
kept of Hydrangeas, Spineas, Deutzias, &c., and they 
are now in a forward state of preparation. Independent 
of these, quantities of bulbs are grown, as well as Lily 
of the Valley. 
The Plant and Fruit Houses. 
These are all of recent construction, and are of lean-to, 
quarter-span, or whole-span form. The lean-to 
structures are devoted to Peach and Vine growing, 
while those of the span pattern contain flowering 
plants only. The Peach house contains three grand 
trees, the sorts being Royal George, Noblesse, and Lord 
Palmerston. A pretty good estimate may be formed of 
the health and vigour of these trees when it is stated 
that notwithstanding they have been allowed to yield 
heavy crops, individual fruits have been frequently 
taken that weighed 12 ozs. The Vines planted in an 
inside border are Black Hamburghs, and are growing 
vigorously. One of the plant houses has a plant of 
Tacsonia trained across the roof, and must present a 
fine appearance when in flower. The plant at first 
sight looks like a Vine, the stems being as thick as 
walking canes, and the pruning done on the “ spurring ” 
system. In this house also was a fine collection of 
zonal Pelargoniums, all stout healthy plants and pro¬ 
fusely bloomed, and which will, no doubt, contribute 
their share of cut blooms through the winter. The lot is 
made up of some of the best known old sorts of doubles 
and singles, as well as some of the newest ones sent out 
by Messrs. Henry Cannell & Sons, of the Swanley 
Nurseries. As some of these are very fine I will give 
the names of a few. Amongst the doubles there are 
Madame Leon Delloy, peach colour; Goldfinder, scarlet ; 
Blanche Perfecta, white ; Swanley White ; and Golden 
Crown, scarlet. Amongst the singles were Lady 
Rosebery, deep salmon ; Improved Queen of Whites ; 
Cissy, very deep salmon ; Lord Churchill, mulberry ; 
Improved Jealousy; President Leon Simon; Edouard 
Pailleron, with salmon-coloured flowers in the centre, 
and the edges blotched with white ; International’ 
white , and Alsace Lorraine, scarlet. All of these were 
carrying trusses of remarkable size and good form, and 
as they are only commencing to bloom now, are sure to 
give a lot of cut flowers during the coming winter. In 
another large house there was a good miscellaneous 
collection of plants, including Camellias, Azaleas, 
&c., and very fine lots of Cinerarias and Calceolarias. 
The Fernery. 
This is a very handsome structure, and contains 
numerous plants of Ferns and Begonias, all in a robust 
state of growth. The walls all round are a mass of 
Fern and Begonia foliage, of many colours, while 
projecting from it at intervals are large clumps of a 
very strong-growing bronze Begonia, known here 
under the name of V illiam Dodd. On the ground and 
along the base of the walls there are numerous taste¬ 
fully arranged pieces of rockwork, growing among 
which are plants of Davallia canariensis, Osmunda 
regalis, Asplenium falcatum, and many others. The 
roof, which is glazed with large alternate squares of 
blue and white coloured glass, has a very good effect, 
and this is further heightened by the trailing and 
mingled growth of plants of Tacsonia Van Volxemii 
and Tradescantias hanging from the roof. The 
arranging and planting of this fernery reflects much 
credit on the gardener, Mr. Donnelly, under whose 
able superintendence it has developed into one of the 
most pleasing features of the place. 
Annuals. 
Even such a tender thing as Phlox Drummondii was 
standing out here in perfection, and there was quite a 
profusion of French and African Marigolds, many fine 
flowers of the latter being fit for exhibition even now. 
Elsewhere I have seen these quite destroyed by the late 
frosts, but the situations were low, and this one is so 
high and dry that the Vartry water supply cannot 
reach it. 
PASSIFLORA CCERULEA- 
Regarding Mr. Murphy’s note on this plant, where 
he refers to its growth by Lady Wilde, in Dublin, I 
would like to say that a large plant of it I saw growing 
in the neighbourhood of Rathmines last year, not only 
produced large quantities of fruit, but ripened them 
to perfection. The plant was growing full south in 
front of a dwelling-house. I was given a couple of 
the fruits when ripe, and having sown them last March 
in pots, in a cold frame, they came up as free as grass 
seeds. The plant I refer to was very much admired, 
both in flower and fruit, and I believe there were many 
applications for seeds. It may be taken for granted 
that it was owing to the very warm dry summer of last 
year that so many fruits ripened, but I think the same 
result might be had in ordinary years, if planted in 
good positions in any of the southern counties of 
Ireland.— IF. B. 
-- 
PROFITABLE FRUIT FARMING— 
MAINLY GOOSEBERRIES.* 
A point that I have observed at these meetings is a 
O 
tendency to concentrate attention mainly on fruit- 
bearing “trees,” such as Apples, Plums, and Pears. 
The importance of those crops—especially, perhaps, 
the two former—is admitted ; and without suggesting 
that too much attention has been devoted to them, the 
fact remains that little or nothing has been advanced 
on the smaller but not less useful, and under certain 
conditions not less profitable, bush fruits—Currants 
and Gooseberries. It is to a successful example of 
growing the latter that I will chiefly direct attention 
now. Having been credibly informed that Gooseberries 
were grown in the fens of Lincolnshire on an extensive 
scale and with great success pecuniarily—that the 
bushes were so large that twenty or thirty women 
could work amongst them without being seen, and that 
fruit was sent away in tons by rail to London as well as 
to cities and towns in the north, I thought I would 
endeavour to see for myself this fruit plantation on a 
level with the sea, and very few miles from it—a 
district exposed to the full sweep of the east winds in 
spring that are often so disastrous to fruit blossom in 
more or less sheltered inland localities. 
A somewhat lengthened experience with fruits—first 
as a cultivator or worker amongst them for a quarter of 
a century, and subsequently as an inspector of the 
work of others in different counties —I never hesitate 
to journey a hundred or more miles for the purpose of 
verifying a statement, even though I may be convinced 
of its truth at the outset. I am a strong believer in 
accomplished facts, and have a weakness for seeing 
them. Now and then some of the actualities of culture 
impress me, and a desire arises to impress the examples 
on others (who may not have opportunities for a per¬ 
sonal examination) in the hope that the recital may 
possibly be of slight service to persons who have land 
at disposal, and desire to cultivate it profitably. 
Apples and Osiers. 
The combinations in culture that have impressed me 
during the past few weeks are Gooseberries, with 
Apples, Pears, and Plums in Lincolnshire, and Apples 
and Osiers in Nottinghamshire. Some Apples in the 
show to-day of Bramley’s Seedling, remind me of large 
orchards of it with their undergrowth of Osiers. When 
you see, say twenty acres of Osiers, 6 ft. or 7 ft. high, 
and standard Apples growing amongst them, their 
heads, as it were, resting on the Osiers, and stems 
invisible, and both Apples and Osiers growing in the 
most satisfactory manner as if they took different food 
out of the soil, as perhaps they do ; when you see that, 
I say, as it may be seen near Southwell, I think you 
will not forget it, and when you learn that the land so 
* A paper read by Mr. J. Wright at the Crystal Palace Fruit 
Conference, October 11th. 
occupied has increased in value from £25 to £100 an 
acre in half a dozen years, some of you would perhaps 
not object to have a share in the little enterprise. 
This, however, is digression, and as more will certainly 
be heard about this Apple and Osier culture, and as 
information can be obtained any day from Mr. Henry 
Merry weather, we will pass on to 
The Gooseberries at Pinchbeck. 
Those to be referred to are at Pinchbeck, a large 
parish of 11,000 acres as level as the sea, the soil of 
medium texture, yet free working, alluvial, probably 
rich in phosphate, as old sea beds usually are, and 
resting on—well, apparently on water, for, judging by 
the dividing ditches, the water table appears to be 
within 3 ft. from the surface. Authorities tell us 
Gooseberries like a dry sub-soil. Perhaps they do, for 
they are very good natured, and are certainly quite 
content to thrive on a wet one in the Fens. The 
plantation in question is the property of Mr. Charles 
Parker, a farmer of 200 or 300 acres. I do not know 
whether he owns the whole of it or not, but hope he 
does. Be that as it may, the portion under fruit 
culture, with the well-appointed homestead he “has 
built, is his freehold, the reward of his industry, good 
management, and enterprise. He is one of those men 
of whom we ought to be proud in these days, for 
he makes land pay that is not under fruit culture, 
though this would be extended if he could make sure of 
a sufficiency of labour for gathering the crops. What 
a contrast is here to what obtains in many districts, 
where men and women are longing for labour and 
longing in vain. Mr. Parker employs five times more 
workpeople on his little farm than hundreds of farmers 
they do who have five times more land than he has, and 
grumble at “ bad times,” while he smokes his pipe in 
contentment at work well done, and rest well deserved. 
I have said he makes land pay that is not under 
fruit. An instance will suffice. A fine piece of 
Mangolds, pointed out as showing the superiority of a 
mixture of sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate 
over bonemeal, the same in value being applied on 
different portions of the field. “But,” remarked the 
owner, “ the Mangolds are only a second crop. ” “A 
second crop ! ” 1 repeated, parrot-like, and in surprise. 
“Yes,” was the quiet rejoinder, “ I made £200 out of 
the plot this year before the Mangolds were sown. ” 
That was a poser to me, as the land would not exceed 
4 acres. But what was the wonderful crop ? It is a 
very simple one that you are all familiar with, so I 
think I will leave you to work it out. Why not ? Mr. 
Parker did, and no one told him ; and besides, I think 
I ought to have his permission before making it known 
to the world. I have no such reservation about the 
Gooseberries, they are Crown Bobs, and such bushes of 
the good old variety as I have never seen elsewhere. 
Instead of twenty or thirty women working amongst 
them without being seen gathering the fruit, a hundred 
might have been so engaged, yet invisible. Several of 
the bushes were as high as I am, some higher, and all 
much farther round, while when laden with fruit a few 
of them may have been nearly as heavy, but perhaps not 
quite. The yield varies from 30 to 40 tons, and this 
year the price obtained was £10 a ton. It is consider¬ 
ably lower than that when the crops are heavy 
everywhere. The culture is very profitable, more so, 
perhaps, and more quickly than any under crop 
that can be grown in orchards, and more so, also, taking 
one year with another, than the fruit crops above them" 
of Apples, Pears, and Plums, though when all are good 
alike, as occurs occasionally, they realise a little fortune ; 
but the top crops fail at least every alternate year, and 
sometimes more frequently, the bottom crops seldom. 
The Gooseberries are gathered as soon as they are 
large enough for use, and are cleared off as quickly as 
possible, and are sent off in 1 cwt. hampers by the 
Great Eastern Railway southwards, and the joint Great 
Northern in the other direction, Pinchbeck Station 
being within a mile from the grounds. Several varieties 
of Gooseberries have been tried, including the celebrated 
Whinham s Industry, that is so good in many places, 
also Whitesmith, this and Lancashire Lad being 
favourites with many market growers, but 
“ Old Bob ” Holds the Field, 
in the Fens, and invariably drives all competitors 
out of it sooner or later. It has also driven out 
Currants, both red and black, in bringing more grist 
to the mill than they did, and that, and that alone, is 
the test of merit. There is no charm in names and 
outside reputations with growers like Mr. Parker. 
That which pays best is retained and increased, the 
relatively inferior, or less lucrative, being removed, no 
matter whence they came or what they are called. 
The bushes are grown on clean single stems raised from 
