August 1st, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
761 
one side of the mansion there is a grove of tall Beech- 
trees that is one of the arboreal features of the place, 
and there are individual specimens of great altitude 
standing up tall and strong against the sky. Such 
protection is necessary, for here the high winds come 
sweeping up from the valley with tremendous force. 
Almost all round Shipley are extensive mining opera¬ 
tions. It is almost in the heart of the Derbyshire 
colliery works, but they are in the valley below ; and 
no din, and but little, if any, smoke, rises up to disturb 
But to our tour of inspection. Here is a Lapageria- 
house in two divisions, with the plants doing well, 
and here are some plants of one of Mr. Cannell’s 
dwarf double Tropseolums, very free and good, and a 
useful decorative plant. Outside, under a north wall, 
are some very fine plants of Humea elegans, for 
summer decoration, in admirable condition at the end 
of May, on the occasion of our visit, raised from seeds 
sown in August. Here, too, is a collection of Gilbert’s 
double forms of the Chinese Primrose. Mr. Elphin- 
small pots, and plunged in a temperature of some 
80 degs., and then shifted, hardened off, and grown 
on coldly, until they are in their blooming-pots. 
That is a wrinkle worth making a note of. Here are 
some plants of the Elvaston variety of Stephanotis 
floribunda, very free, producing flowers at every point, 
planted out in a pit, and doing admirably. [See p. 757.] 
Imantophyllum mimatum is admirably grown here; 
the plants are divided once in three years, and when 
growing are treated to liberal supplies of manure- 
VIEW IN THE FERNERY AT SHIPLEY HALL, DERBY. 
the serenity that prevails above. Conducted by 
Mr. William Elphinstone, the clever gardener at 
Shipley, whose kind hospitality and genial com¬ 
panionship cannot be too highly estimated, we 
take a tour of the grounds, and in doing so we 
set down a few particulars by way of illustrating the 
high order of gardening carried on here. But what a 
charming residence Mr. Elphinstone inhabits ! It is 
a gardener’s cottage worthy of the name, replete with 
every convenience, near the gardens, and most plea¬ 
santly situated. If a man can live a contented, 
peaceful life, away from the roar and bustle of the town, 
then here is the very place where he should reside. 
stone makes a great hit every year with these, and 
exhibits at the Chrysanthemum show at Manchester 
specimens 2 ft. through, grandly grown and flowered. 
His method of propagation differs in some respects 
from that usually followed. After the plants have 
done blooming they are dried off, and some fine 
charcoal is laid on the surface of the soil to absorb 
the damp. Then by means of a sharp knife, the side 
shoots are cut half through in a downward direction ; 
they fall down and rest upon the charcoal, and in a 
day or two the plants are placed in a temperature of 
55 degs. to 60 degs., where the half-severed shoots 
put forth roots ; they are then taken off, potted into 
water. Next we come to a curvilinear range of houses, 
three of them devoted to Peaches and Nectarines, 
then a stove-house, and a wing of three vineries 
beyond. These houses appear admirably adapted for 
Peach-culture; there is good foliage and free crops 
of fruit. The early-house has trees on a front 
trellis, and also at the back. Early Louise Peach is 
an admirable early variety, the first crop gathered on 
May 4th. Eoyal George Peach is here also, carrying 
an admirable crop, and Lord Napier Nectarine is very 
fine and most useful for early or late work. Hale’s 
Early, very fine; Belle Bauce are noticeable, very 
fine healthy trees of them carrying excellent crops. 
