Feb. 21st, 1885 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
393 
the length of about 18 ins. after which it comes into 
flower with the utmost freedom. 
On the west side between the terrace and the arm 
of the lake seen in the illustration, is a very pretty 
natural rock-garden formed out of the quarry from 
which the stone was obtained to build the mansion, and 
which is kept in that semi-wild state which so well 
befits the situation. The steeper rocks are draped with 
Ivy, and those near the ground level are covered with 
Cotoneaster microphylla, Ayrshire Eoses, Kock Eoses 
(Cistus), and the dwarf Broom; while on prominent 
positions are planted such conifers as Thuja aurea ; 
The kitchen garden and glass departments at Vinters 
are not extensive, indeed the latter is somewhat 
limited in quantity. The garden, which is close to and 
on the east side of the mansion, is an irregular¬ 
shaped walled-in space, an acre in extent. Against 
the south wall are two excellent vineries about which 
more anon. On the open walls are well trained 
Plums, Peaches and Nectarines, and Figs, while in 
the open quarters the crops for the coming season are 
quickly being got in. The choicer kinds only are 
being grown here, what are usually called the rough 
vegetables being grown in a field outside the park. 
THE HELIOTROPE. 
Heliotrope, or Cherry Pie, as it is commonly called, 
is a very easy plant to cultivate, but it certainly would 
have seemed more hopeful (sec p. 382) if your correspon¬ 
dent’s plants had now been in growth. I should advise 
him to lose no time in placing them in a moist heat. If 
no other place is at command a Cucumber-frame 
would answer well, damping them overhead occa¬ 
sionally, but not over watering at the root, until the 
plant is started. If it breaks satisfactorily it may soon 
be removed to cooler quarters, but if it does not, 
VINTEEs’ PARK, MAIDSTONE, 111E BESIDEXCE OF J. WHATMAN, 11SQ. 
while on the grass plots bordering the walk are beds 
of Lilium candidum and the handsome Bocconia 
japonica. Numerous alpine and bulbous plants also 
find a home here in suitable positions. From the 
opposite side of the lake, the point where the photo¬ 
graph was taken, a walk leads up to a broad avenue 
of Elms, Beech, Maples, Oaks, Ash, Hazel, and 
flowering Thorns, which is a mile long, somewhat 
circuitous, and leading to the North Lodge. Nearer 
the mansion, and on the same side, there is a beautiful 
row of old Elms, under the spreading branches of 
which have been planted a vast number of Snowdrops, 
Daffodils, and Crocuses, the former of which are now 
m full bloom, a pleasing sight indeed. Near this 
carpet of Snowdrops is The Mound, a coigne of vantage 
from which a number of fine views are obtained. 
Outside the garden wall on the north side is a neat little 
span-roofed Cucumber-house, which is also made 
useful in the cultivation of plants for table decoration, 
and for the propagation of bedding-plants, &c. Half¬ 
specimen stove and greenhouse plants are grown in 
heated pits, and well-grown too considering the con¬ 
fined space allotted to them. Outside the garden- 
walls is an excellent herbaceous border, and a rosery 
in front of a curiously constructed plant-house in two 
divisions, the largest portion of which is gay with the 
usual class of flowering greenhouse plants, and the 
smaller one devoted to subjects requiring more heat. 
Gardening, kitchen gardening especially, at Vinters’ 
Park is well done, evidence of good management on 
the part of Mr. Malcolm McLean, the gardener, being 
seen in every department. 
procure another growing plant. In the summer 
months the plant in question succeeds well in a cold 
pit. It should have its points pinched out several 
times during the summer and be staked out so as to 
encourage it to grow bushy, shifting it on into larger- 
sized pots as it requires it, using a mixture of leaf-soil 
and loam in equal parts, with plenty of sand added. 
With care taken to shut up the frame early in the 
afternoon, giving the plant a damp over at the same 
time, a good-sized specimen may be grown in one 
season. 
It would be best to prevent the plants from flower¬ 
ing until a short time before they are wanted, by 
pinching off the ends of all the shoots. When 
about to flower they should be removed to an airy 
greenhouse.— C. Warden. 
