Dec. 27 th, 1884. THE GARDENING WORLD. 263 
HOTBEDS. 
How to make and cse them.— Antiquated as this 
subject undoubtedly is it is but very imperfectly under¬ 
stood by many amateurs who would like to raise their 
own Cucumbers, cuttings, &c., did they but understand 
the mode of procedure. Therefore, being cognizant 
of the want of knowledge on this subject on the one 
hand, and the willingness to learn on the other, I 
shall endeavour to show those readers of The Gar¬ 
dening World who, perhaps, may hitherto have failed 
how they may succeed. The first step to be taken is 
to throw together to heat a good heap of stable dung 
and leaves, using rather more of leaves than dung. 
This should be tinned over twice within ten or twelve 
days to sweeten and to' allow of the rank steam 
escaping therefrom before making into a hotbed. The 
ground on which the hotbed is to be made should be 
higher than that surrounding it, so as to prevent the 
lodgment of water under the bed. Where this is not 
the case half-a-dozen faggots placed underneath the 
bed would answer the same purpose. Make the bed 
a few inches larger than the frame 'which is intended 
to be placed upon it, and sufficiently high (6 ft.) to 
allow of its subsiding, which will be to the extent of 
rather more than one-third its height when finished. 
As the work proceeds beat the dung and leaves together 
with a five-pronged fork, and place a few layers of old 
Pea-sticks across, and along the bed for the prarpose of 
conducting the heat supplied by the linings to the 
interior of the bed. 
When the frame is placed on the bed, put inside it 
a shell, which should be 6 ins. shallower than the 
frame. This shell can be easily made by measuring 
the interior of the box and making it an inch less all 
round, and, as I have before stated, 6 ins. shallower, 
and nailing the battens on the outer side of the shell, 
so that when it is fixed in the frame there will be a 
clear space of 1 in. between the shell and the frame, 
thus supplying a means of admitting top-heat as 
supplied by the linings, made up at intervals more or 
less frequent according to circumstances. Let there 
be sufficient fermenting material (hot dung and leaves) 
put inside the frame to make the depth at the back 
part correspond with that of the front; after which a 
couple of inches of short dung, and then (if the bed is 
int ended in the meantime to raise Melon and Cucumber 
plants, &c., in) 4 ins. or 5 ins. thick of dry leaf-mould 
or sawdust. But, on the other hand, if the hotbeds 
are intended for producing early Potatos, Carrots and 
Radishes, and for raising young Cauliflower, Cabbage, 
and Lettuce-plants in, 9 ins. thick of light garden soil 
should follow the short dung. This, like the leaf- 
mould or sawdust referred to above, should be in the 
frame a couple of days to become slightly warmed 
before planting the Potatos or sowing the seeds in it. 
How to use Hotbeds Profitably.— Early Potatos 
now starting into growth should be planted in 
rows 1 ft. apart, and 7 ins. or 8 ins. asunder in 
the rows, and be subsequently treated as advised at 
p. 257 in your last number. Carrots (Early Nantes 
Horn is the best for early use) should be sown thinly 
in shallow drills (about 1 in. deep) 1 ft. apart, and 
between these rows of Wood’s Frame Radish may be 
similarly sown. The soil should then be closed over the 
seeds and be patted with the back of a spade, to make 
it moderately firm. If steam is likely to arise in the 
frame sufficient air should be left on day and night to 
allow it to escape. A pinch of Cauliflower, Cabbage, 
and Lettuce seeds may also be sown thinly and broad¬ 
cast in each light without in the least interfering 
with the growth of the Carrots and Radishes, as the 
young plants should be removed for transplanting 
under handlights in warm corners or in beds prepared 
for pushing them on as soon as they are large enough 
to handle. The Radishes, too, will be removed for 
salading as they become fit for use and before the 
Carrots require the space occupied by the former for 
developing their growth. These frames should always 
have sufficient air admitted to prevent their contents 
from making a weakly growth, and the linings should 
be made up sufficiently often to maintain a little 
warmth in the beds, so as to keep the roots active 
and the plants on the move. 
If a surfacing of soil is put over the short dung, 
Asparagus-roots can be packed closely together thereon, 
covered with 4 ins. or 5 ins. thick of light mould, and 
then watered with tepid water to settle the soil. Air 
must be admitted to the frame as soon as the “ grass” 
comes through the soil to encourage a sturdy growth 
in the same, and it will grow to perfection, 
Cucumbers and Melons can also be well grown in hot¬ 
beds by those who understand their management, 
and those who do not may learn to do so by 
reading attentively and following the instructions 
given, as occasion requires, in these columns. 
A few seeds of Telegraph Cucumber and High 
Cross Hybrid Melon may now be sown singly 
in 3-in. pots half filled with light mould, and 
covered with a little of the same, as soon as there 
is a hotbed ready to plunge the pots to the rim in, 
afterwards covering them with a square of glass, 
which should be removed as soon as the young 
plants appear through the soil, and which, when 
they have made a couple of inches of growth, should 
be top-dressed with soil which has been in the frame 
a couple of days before being used to get warm. 
By the time the plants have attained to the size 
stated further instructions respecting their after 
treatment will be given. In conclusion, I need only 
say that, after the crops of Potatos and Carrots have 
been taken, Melons, Cucumbers, and Vegetable 
Marrows may be grown on the hotbeds thus vacated. 
7 V. H. TV. 
NOTES ON GARDENS. 
Norman Court, Wilts.—This fine establishment, 
which is situated about nine miles south-east of 
Salisbury, and about five miles from Romsey, is the 
seat of W. Baring, Esq. The mansion is a large 
square building in excellent preservation, and is 
surrounded by a park of considerable extent, beauti¬ 
fully undulated, and well wooded. The pleasure- 
grounds, which surround the mansion, and consist of 
a good portion of velvety lawn, are on the south and 
north side. On the east side is the principal flower- 
garden, which is intersected by gravel walks, forming a 
series of squares, with glass verges along the edges of the 
walks. It is well sheltered on the east by some thriving 
specimens of the rarer kinds of Conifers, and on the 
north by a dense shrubbery. There is also another 
flower-garden at the west end, but this is on turf, and 
is now furnished with the usual spring bedding 
subjects. 
There is also a good portion of shrubbery and 
woodland walks attached, which must afford con¬ 
siderable comfort and pleasure in the heat of summer. 
On a high wall, close by the last-mentioned flower- 
garden, are some grand specimens of Magnolias, both of 
grandiflora and conspicua, the latter of which flowers 
most freely, and is invaluable for cutting in the early 
spring months. So much prized, indeed, are its 
deliciously sweet white blossoms, that I wonder it is 
not more often met with. 
The glass in this part of the garden might justly be 
said to consist of four conservatories, but in reality 
there is a corridor, a conservatory, a stove, and a 
fernery. The two former at the time of my visit, 
were gay with Chrysanthemums and other flowering 
plants. The conservatory which is span-roofed, 
contains a central bed with a walk around it, and the 
centre group consists of Palms in excellent health. 
A wall wffiich flanks one side, as also the pillars which 
support the roof, are well clothed with such climbers as 
Rhynchospermum jasminoides, Bougainvilleas glabra 
and spectabilis, Marechal Niel Rose, Heliotropes, and 
Begonia fuchsioides, which makes an excellent pillar- 
plant here, and is almost always in flower. The stove 
which is a lean-to structure, has the roof thinly 
clothed with such climbers as Stephanotis floribunda, 
several varieties of Dipladenia, Bougainvilleas, Jas- 
minum Sambac flora-plena, and others. The front 
stage is well furnished with a good assortment of 
small decorative plants, such as Palms, Cocos Wedde- 
liana, Kentia australis, Geonoma gracilis, Dracaenas 
and Crotons in variety, Pandanus Veitchii, Acalyphya 
macrophylla, and many other useful subjects. The 
edge of the stage is beautifully clothed with Panicum 
variegatum, which hangs gracefully down for a yard 
or more, and effectually conceals the hot-water pipes 
from view. On the back stage there is a good collec¬ 
tion of Orchids, many of which are now throwing up 
their flower-spikes, in all manner of quaint forms. 
Towards the other end of the house is a good assort¬ 
ment of general stove subjects, consisting of some of 
the subjects before mentioned, but larger plants ; as 
well as some good specimen plants of Marantas and 
Alocasias, a splendid plant of Anthurium Andreanum, 
and last, but not least, some enormous specimens of 
Eucharis amazonica, which are pictures of health 
and vigour, and though there were no flower-scapes 
then on them, on removing the leaves on one side, an 
abundance of evidence was found that numbers had 
been cut but a few days previously for decorative 
purposes. The fernery, which is comparatively new, 
and is furnished with ferns principally planted out 
in rockwork, also contains some good specimens of 
Adiantum farleyense in pots and baskets, and a very 
large specimen plant of Asparagus plumosus. 
The remainder of the glass houses, and there are a 
considerable number of them, are situated in the 
kitchen-garden, some mile or so from the Court. The 
principal range here consists of a large span-roofed 
greenhouse in two divisions, and which is filled with 
a variety of subjects, among them being Salvias, 
Chrysanthemums, perpetual flowering Carnations, 
amongst which were some large plants of Souvenir de 
la Malmaison, Poinsettias, Imantophyllum miniatum, 
Iinjiatiens Sultani, double and single Primulas, and 
beautiful berried plants of Solanum capsicastrum, 
and many other subjects too numerous to mention. 
Continuing the range is the late vinery, where 
a goodly quantity of Grapes were still hanging. 
Adjoining the vinery and on the north side is the 
Cucumber-house, in which Cucumbers are grown in 
the summer months, and where I have seen myself 
some grand crops. The pit or house is now filled 
with bedding plants. Two more vineries in another 
block complete this line of glass, one of which is the 
early or Hamburgh-house, and the other the Muscat- 
house. In one of these two houses was a fine group 
of well-flowered Chrysanthemums, and in the other 
an assortment of greenhouse plants, amongst them 
some fine plants of Richardia arthiopiea. 
At the back of the two last-named vineries are the 
fruit-rooms, packing-shed, and potting-shed, &c. 
Above these and adjoining the gardener’s house is a 
Peach-house in two divisions, the occupants of which 
produce excellent crops of fine fruit, as many can 
attest who have seen the Barrington Peaches from 
this range, at the Southampton Show held in August. 
On the same line, and next to the Peach-house, is a 
Rose-house, the roof of which is covered with such 
varieties as Marechal Niel and Catherine Mennet. 
Roses in pots are also grown beneath them on the 
stage-. In front of the principal range of which the 
greenhouse forms a part are several lines of hot-water 
heated and cold pits, in which are grown Pines, 
Gardenias, Eucharis, and many other subjects, also 
quantities of Violets, principally Marie Louise. A 
Fig-house completes the glass structures, and this, as 
well as all the other fruit-houses, is fully furnished 
with plants, thus making a double use of them. 
The kitchen-garden lies in a good position so far as 
the declivity of the ground is concerned, and it 
gradually slopes to the south, and is backed up by a 
plantation of Spruce Firs, followed by an Apple 
orchard of standard trees. The principal garden is 
completely enclosed by walls, on which some excellent 
and fruitful Pear-trees, as well as other kinds of fruit- 
trees are growing. It is rectangular in form, inter¬ 
sected by several walks and borders under the wall 
about 6 ft. wide. By the sides of the walk in the prin¬ 
cipal quarters are some excellent fruit-trees, pyramid 
and bush, of Apples and Pears. There is also some 
ground devoted to vegetables on the lower division, 
where the glass is situated, and on one side of this 
division, that is, outside the wall, there is an excellent 
Rose-garden, probably containing as many as fifteen 
hundred plants ; dwarf ones in front, backed up by 
standards on Briar stocks. This garden must afford an 
abundance of flowers for cutting in summer. 
Although this garden is favoured in some respects, 
it is nevertheless a cold and late garden for vegetables, 
the ground being of very strong texture, though for all 
that it bears some excellent crops, which it would be 
difficult to surpass. In conclusion, I may add that 
the condition of everything throughout the garden 
reflects the highest credit on the gardener, Mr. F. 
Thomson.— C. Warden, Clarendon. 
■ — a~- — 
Osteo-carpus rostratus. —A pretty little Sola- 
naceous plant from Chili. The leaves are linear and 
whitish-green in oolour, and the Convolvulus-like 
flowers are indigo-blue. It is figured in the December 
number of the Gartenfiora. 
