August 21, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
809 
If the pots take up too much room, you may knock 
the plants out, shake away the soil, and store them 
in boxes with sand in the same way as the tubers 
lifted from the open. 
Plum Leaves Falling.—What is the cause of the 
enclosed Plum leaves falling off? They are from 
young trees, planted last year.- Subscriber. 
The leaves have been badly bitten by red spider, 
brought on doubtless by the drought. The trees 
have most likely not had sufficient water at the root, 
and this combined with the aridity of the atmos¬ 
phere is responsible for the plague. Collect the 
fallen leaves and burn them ; also syringe the trees 
heavily with clear water, and see to the supply of 
moisture at the root. 
- - 
DOVER HOUSE, R0EHAMPT0N. 
There are very few estates of such a size in the 
suburbs of London as Dover House, the residence of 
J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq. The place is situated 
practically on the borders of Wimbledon Common, 
which consists of ancient valley gravel of a very 
pcor or hungry nature, yet capable of much improve¬ 
ment under the skilled bands of good gardeners. 
There are something like 75 acres of woodland and 
meadow, on wh ich the trees have attained a much 
greater size than one would have expected. To the 
above must be added 17 acres of shrubbery and plea¬ 
sure grounds and 6J acres under garden crops, 
making a total of 98$ acres. Everything is under 
the care of Mr. J. F. McLeod, the gardener, and 
every part of the estate is in excellent order. 
Kitchen Garden. 
At various times during the season most parts of 
Britain have been subjected to severe drought, and 
Dover House has had its share, but at the same 
time has been favoured with a fair amount of rain. 
The result is that the crops have done splendidly. 
Owing to the hungry and gravelly nature of the 
ground, Mr. McLeod does not practise deep trench¬ 
ing, his object being to maintain the original firmness 
of the ground, as it conserves the moisture and plants 
grow well. At the same time he believes and prac¬ 
tises heavy manuring, which economises moisture, 
keeps the ground cool, and supplies nourishment to 
the plants. 
He is still gathering Peas in the freshest condition 
for kitchen use, and expects to do so for three or four 
weeks to come. British Queen and Ne Plus Ultra 
Peas have grown 10 ft. high and are yet in blocm at 
the tops. Veitch’s Dwarf Mammoth are d ft. high 
and in capital order, the long pods containing about 
rine seeds each, and of good flavour. For each row 
a trench about 18 in. is taken out and about 10 in. 
of dung is put in the bottom. Over this a little soil 
is placed, the seeds sown, covered, and then watered. 
The trench is not filled up, but left so that the rows 
of Peas grow in a furrow into which the moisture 
drains when there is rain. A second watering was 
given after the plants were in full growth, and that 
is practically all the attention they have bad, besides 
staking and keeping the ground clean. The rows 
shelter and partly shade one another, thus keeping 
the ground cool. 
Onions are grown for home use, not for exhibition, 
so that they have been allowed to grow in lines so 
thickly that the bulbs now touch one another. They 
were sown in spring in the open ground, yet we 
noticed some grand bulbs, indicating that with a 
little coaxing on the part of the cultivator they 
would grow to fine exhibition size, even in this pocr 
soil. Cranston’s Excelsior has done well. They 
have been watered, and that is all. 
Elsewhere is a piece of ground, consisting of made 
soil that has been specially prepared, for Carrots. 
For this root crop the ground is trenched. The 
sixth crop in as many successive years on this 
identical piece of ground is a delight to behold. An 
excellent crop of Tomatos planted round the borders 
of vegetable ground will soon begin to colour. They 
are trained to single stems and have no shelter what¬ 
ever. There are several varieties, including Sutton’s 
Maincrop. 
About an acre of ground, on the opposite side of 
Putney Park Lane from the estate proper, is devoted 
to vegetables including splendid Brussel Sprouts, 
Onions, and various kinds of Borecole, including 
Scotch Kale and other winter greens. The ground 
here is on the slope lying towards the south, conse¬ 
quently very early crops are obtained. Royal 
Sovereign Strawberries give splendid crops of large 
fruits for dessert during the first year. The second 
season the fruits are so much reduced in size as to be 
fit only for preserving ; then the plants must be 
rooted up and other plantations made. 
Hardy Fruits. 
On all hands it is reported to be a bad year for hardy 
fruit; yet there will be no dearth of Apples or Pears 
here. Plums and Cherries on the walls are, however, 
poor. Whether on walls or as pyramids Pitmaston 
Duchess Pear is thiD, but the fruits are generally of 
grand size. Beurre Die), Doyenne Boussock, St. 
Michael, and several trees of WiDter Nelis Pears on 
walls carry heavy crops. 
Mr. H. W. Adnitt (See p. 812) 
Mr. W. W. Naunton (See p. 812). 
Pyramids, large and small, in various parts of the 
garden, but in borders skirting the various pathways, 
in a large number of cases bear heavy crops, while 
the branches in many instances are propped or tied 
up to prevent them breaking down. The stewing 
varieties Catillac and Uvedale’s St. Germain are in 
grand condition. The same may be said of Beurre 
Ranee, several trees of Bergamot Esperen, and 
Marie Louise d’Uccle. Clapp's Favourite is now 
colouring and presenting a fine appearance This 
tree never fails to fruit ; and three years ago 390 
fruits were taken off it. Splendid crops are also 
borne by William’s Bon Chretien, Doyenne du 
Comice, Zephirin Gregoire, Josephine de Malines, 
and Brockworth Park. These are really only some 
of the trees that have given great satisfaction. 
Apples are grown as pyramids cr bushes and have 
sustained their part well. Both kitchen and dessert 
varieties are well cared for, and repay the trouble. 
Lady Sudeley is already highly coloured, and will 
soon be fit to gather. Really splendid crops are 
borne by Kmg of the Pippins, Adam’s Pearmain, 
Old Nonsuch, Celini, Kerry Pippin, Stirling Castle, 
and Worcester Pearmain, the branches in some 
cases being tied up. According to many authorities 
Cockle Pippin is one of the best flavoured Apples. It 
is also a very old variety, but not much known, 
probably because it is neither very large nor much to 
look at in the matter of colour. Other heavily 
fruited trees are Lord Derby, Court of Wick, 
Ribston Pippin, and Lord Suffield. The latter has 
been supplying fruits for cooking for some three 
weeks past. The fruits of Ribston Pippin are clean 
and handsome, on a spreading bush of low stature. 
In a certain part of the ground, young Apple trees 
are planted in a nursery as it were, and get trans¬ 
planted into their permanent quarters as soon as 
ground is vacant and they have attained a bearing 
size. A plantation was formed last winter, and 
many of the trees had to be thinned. Amongst 
those bearing well are Sandringham, Tower of 
Glamis, Lord Grosvenor, Red Quarrenden, Beauty 
of Moray, Lady Henniker, Ecklinville Seedling, and 
Peasegood’s Nonsuch, the fruits of the latter having 
attained grand proportions. 
Raspberries grow amazingly here, such as may be 
seen in northern counties. Superlative has recently 
been added to the stock and bids fair to oust all the 
others. Some years ago several new varieties were 
obtained, including Baumforth’s Seedling, but they 
proved worthless cn this soil. Old and unknown 
sorts will be discarded as soon as Superlative has 
increased to occupy the ground. The fruits of the 
latter attain a splendid size. One spit of soil is taken 
off the roots and a good coating of farmyard manure 
placed over them and covered. They are also 
mulched with manure, to be in turn dug into the 
ground. The results justify the practice. 
Flowers and Beds. 
Large quantities of cut flowers are required, so that 
really useful subjects are grown in greater or less 
quantity for that purpose. East Lothian Stocks 
were planted in a long border in the first week of 
April. Cutting of the flowers was commenced on 
the 2nd June, and has been continued ever since. 
The gravelly soil here is evidently well adapted for 
their welfare ; for they are still flowering profusely 
and their delicious fragrance pervades the atmos¬ 
phere around. The colours are very varied, and 
the percentage of double flowers very high. 
Around one part of the lawn surrounding the 
mansion a shrubbery of old and dymg Rhododen¬ 
drons, that had been several times cut back, has been 
destroyed ; the ground trenched and planted in part 
with fresh shrubbery. About a foot of gravel was 
removed and some new walks made with it. It was 
replaced with Banstead and other loam as well as 
manure, and in the case of a large bed of Azalea 
mollis a small quantity of peat was added. A Fern 
rockery has been made and planted in one half-shady 
place. Gladioli and other flowers have been planted 
in front of the shrubbery. Several very large beds 
have also been renovated with fresh loam, &c., in 
the same way. In one of these double Hollyhocks 
interspersed amongst flowering trees and shrubs 
have produced a grand effect. Cytisus, in the form 
of standards, is still flowering in another bed. A 
herbaceous border on one side of this renovated area 
is planted with useful subjects for cut flowers, in¬ 
cluding Galtonia candicans, Chrysanthemum lati- 
folium, C. maximum grandiflorum, perennial Asters, 
White Heather, &c. A vine of the purple-leaved 
Vitis Coignetiae is being trained over an arch. 
Several Clematis, including C. Jackmanni, on a south 
wall are flowering finely. 
The flower garden proper is close to the house. In 
some of the beds tuberous Begonias are flowering 
freely, but particularly a small flowered scarlet 
variety named Comte Zeppin. The golden-leaved 
Fuchsia Golden Treasure is very bright. The four 
central beds consist of mixtures of night scented and 
other Tobaccos, Ricinus Gibsoni, Cannas, Cyperus 
longus, and Abutilon Souvenir deBonn, with silvery 
variegated foliage,on a groundwork of dwarf Fuchsia 
