October 21, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
123 
5 ft. in diameter, a magnificent lot of Adiantum far- 
leyense, Pandanus Veitchii, &c., &c. 
No. 2. A loDg low span-roofed house we found 
contained a magnificent lot of plants suitable for 
house and table decorations, including beautifully 
coloured Crotons, Dracaenas, Areca lutescens, 
Geonoma gracilis, Kentiabelmoreana, Cocos weddel- 
iana, &c. 
No. 3 —The Orchid house does not contain a 
large variety, but what there are are most useful and 
healthy plants. They include Coelogyne cristata 
(true Cbatsworth variety). Many of the above are 
4 ft. in diameter, and will produce thousands of 
their lovely flowers Laelias, a great variety of 
Cypripediums, Calanthe veitchiana, C. vestita, and 
others are most vigorous, and no doubt will pro¬ 
duce spikes 4 ft. in length. There is also a fine 
batch of DeDdrobium nobile. In this house we 
found a lovely dwarf Gloxinia-looking foliage 
plant with bright blue flowers—Saintpaulia 
ionantba. This is very effective for the front of 
a stage. 
No. 4.—We come to a large lean-to house, the 
stages of which are almost entirely filled with 
Azaleas. Underneath the stages are planted Pteris 
cretica cristata major, growing most luxuriantly, and 
bars and Melons. Several splendid Melons were 
hanging, ripe, on the day of our visit, October 6th, 
variety William Tillery, and a green-fleshed variety 
(one of Mr. Hamshere’s own raising). The only 
variety of Cucumber grown here, for either winter or 
summer use is Veitch's Improved Telegraph. 
An immense quantity of winter and flowering sub¬ 
jects is grown in brick pits in this enclosure. Two 
thousand Freesias alone are grown in pots and in 
various stages. Large quantities of Roman Hya¬ 
cinths, Narcissi, Carnation Malmaison—both the 
flesh and yellow varieties—Carnation Prince of 
Wales, and Duchess de Consillo ; Amaryllis (Veitch's 
strain) Primulas, Cinerarias, &c., are grown here. 
Still in the enclosure we see thousands of Christmas 
Roses, grown in beds in the summer, taken up and 
placed in the turf-pits as required. These produce 
large numbers of flowers during the winter. 
Several other turf-pits are filled with Violets. The 
only varieties used are Marie Louise and the old 
Neapolitan—perhaps two of the best yet for cultiva¬ 
tion. 
In addition to the above, large quantities of winter 
and spring flowering plants are planted out in beds 
and taken as required in the autumn and winter for 
forcing. These include Lilac virginalis, and Persian 
A splendid crop of the latter was hanging at the time 
of our visit. 
The Peach and Nectarine houses are also in three 
divisions, the lengths respectively being 80 ft., 60 ft. 
and 50 ft. In the early house are grown Royal 
George and French Galande Peaches, Rivers' Pit- 
maston Orange and Lord Napier Nectarines. In the 
second house are Royal George, Grosse Mignonne, 
Walburton’s Admirable Peaches, and Rivers’ Pit- 
maston Orange, Lord Napier and Victoria Nectarines. 
The late house is devoted entirely to Victoria 
Nectarines. 
The Fig house (50 ft. in length) is entirely occupied 
with Brown Turkey. The first crop generally ripens 
early in May and a continuous supply is produced 
until the middle of October. 
On the east side of the walled-in kitchen garden, 
Mr. Hamshere laid out, a few years ago, an acre and 
a-half of additional fruit and kitchen garden. The 
fruit trees which consist principally of Apples, 
Pears and Plums in all the leading varieties, are 
grown chiefly in bush form and produce annually 
large quantities of the choicest fruits. The vege¬ 
tables include Peas, Beans, Seakale, Broccoli, &c. 
Outside and parallel with the kitchen garden walls, 
and about 40 ft. removed from them, that is, except- 
Messrs. Toogood & Sons' Warehouse, Showing Elevation. 
producing the entire season thousands of their 
lovely fronds. Adjoining this house is a lean-to 
filled with healthy plants of Maidenhair Ferns. 
A range of Pine pits, divided into three comparL 
ments, containing suckers, succession, and fruiting, 
all of which are in fine form, and healthy, Is situated 
in this enclosure. The varieties grown here are 
Smooth Cayenne, Charlotte Rothschild, Black 
Jamaica, Queen, and Moscon Queen. 
Mr. Hamshere depends chiefly for his supply of 
fruit in winter on Smooth Cayenne. It swells well 
and has well developed pips during the winter. On 
the occasion of our visit we saw fruit of Smooth 
Cayenne 8 lbs. ia weight. 
Another large span-roofed house contains Coleus, 
Bilbergias, Begonias, Bouvardias (var. Alfred 
Neuner, President Cleveland, and President Gar¬ 
field), and Streptocarpus (Veitch’s improved strain). 
Close to this is the Rose house, another span- 
roofed erection. The only varieties grown are 
Safrano, Isabella Sprunt, and William Allen Richard¬ 
son. Underneath the Roses there is a fine batch of 
Poinsettia pulcherrima and P. p. plenissima. 
In still another house (span-roofed) adjoining the 
Rose house, is a healthy lot of zonal Pelargoniums 
—all Pearson’s best varieties. 
There is a low span-roofed house used for Cucum- 
Lilac, Prunus, in variety, Azalea mollis, Deutzias, 
and small stocky, well-budded Rhododendrons. 
Large quantities of Michaelmas Daisies are taken up 
from the open ground in September and potted up, 
which are found most useful during October and 
November, and even in December. The varieties 
are Aster Novi-Belgii Thomas Ware, Harpur 
Crewe, Robert Parker (the best lavender-blue 
grown), A. corymbosus, A. umbellatus, Purity, and 
the yellow-flowered A. Linosyris. 
The Kitchen Garden —Leaving this ground we 
enter the kitchen garden—about three acres “within 
the walls—a picture of neatness and good cultivation. 
The walks are broad, well made and edged with neat 
serviceable tiles. On the north-east and west walls 
we saw splendidly trained trees in full bearing con¬ 
dition- Cherries, Plums, Pears, &c. On each side 
of the walks are perfect specimens of dwarf pyramid 
Apples and Pears. A neater or belter kept or 
cropped kitchen garden, it would be difficult to find. 
A long range of vineries and Peach houses with a 
Fig house, occupy the entire length of the south 
wall. The vineries are divided into three sections, 
viz., early, second and late. The early house is 
planted with Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria and 
Madresfield Court. The second has all Madresfield 
Court; the late house, all Lady Downe’s Seedling. 
ing the south wall, is a magnificent Holly hedge 
planted about sixty years ago, 8 ft. in height and 5 ft. 
wide at the base. This is one of the best Holly 
hedges we ever saw. 
During the fourteen years Mr. Hamshere has had 
charge of these gardens, and through the encourage¬ 
ment, generosity and kindness he has at all times 
received from the lady, Mrs. Perry Herrick, he 
has been able to carry out great improvements in 
the gardens generally.— J. B. 
[Very lengthy lists of choice herbaceous and alpine 
or rockery plants accompanied the above descrip¬ 
tions, but considerations of space prevent their re¬ 
production in full. Many plants are also grown for 
the sake of cut flowers. List of Apples and Pears 
were also supplied. We give a few of each to show 
their nature.— Ed.]. 
Herbaceous plants —Adonis volgensis, Borago 
laxiflora, Anemone japonica and others, Aquilegia 
glandulosa, A. Skinneri, Baptisia australis, Bupthal- 
mium salicifolium; many species of Campanula, 
Centaurea, Eryngium, Helianthus, Phloxes, Asters, 
Paeonies, Hemerocallis, and Rudbeckia; Chelone 
barbata, Cypripedium spectabile, C. Calceolus, 
Echinops Ritro, Echinacea purpurea, Epimedium 
alpinum, Amaryllis Belladonna major, Geum minia- 
tum, Liatris spicata, Monarda didyma, Ostrowskya 
magnifica, Sanguinaria canadensis, Tropaeolum, 
speciosurn, Rubeckia laciniata 0 . pi., and many 
others, which are being added to by new things as 
they are sent out. 
[To be continued ) 
