686 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 12, 1900. 
land lends itself admirably for this purpose ; most of 
the land also is in a very poor condition and would 
require thorough cultivation and manuring, the 
variety of soils and positions would make the site an 
admirable one for an experimental garden. The 
whole of it is particularly well situated and protected 
from N. and E. winds, and hardly any fruits 
flowers, or vegetables should fail to do well upon it, 
Rhododendrons perhaps excepted. 
I consider it an ideal soil for all kinds of vegetables, 
and apparently a good supply of water could 
be stored, and a delightful bog and water 
garden might be formed. The climate appears 
to be all one could wish, and the site could be made 
both interesting and beautiful .—Edwin Beckett, Alden- 
ham House Gardens, Elstree, Herts, April 20th, 1900. 
Aspect of the Farm .—The upper portion of the 
farm is some 400 ft. above the sea, and gradually 
falls to some 300 ft., the whole (speaking generally) 
having a most desirable exposure to the south. 
Shelter .—The estate is naturally sheltered from the 
N. and E. by the adjacent hills and woodlands, and 
the spinneys and tall hedges provide all the shelter 
required for fruit and vegetable crops. 
Soil .—I took notes of the soil in about eighteen 
positions, but as some trials were exact duplicates, I 
only record nine instances. 
Field 344.—Starting at the lower end next the main 
road in field 344, now in clover and seed, the soil 
proved to be an unctuous heavy loam with a subsoil 
of pervious sandy clay which can readily be im¬ 
proved by drainage, a grand position for Pear trees 
on Quince stock, Black Currants, and Strawberries 
of the later sorts and the British Queen race. 
Field ztf>—ln Wheat .—This field has a slight slope 
to the west, and is a trifle lighter in texture than 344. 
A grand spot for Roses. 
Field 32 3—In Grass .—This lies at the lowest point, 
and although the drains and ditches had been neg¬ 
lected I found no part saturated with water and the 
opening of the ditches and draining will make this a 
valuable plot for vegetable crops, as it contains more 
humus than the previous plots. 
Field 342 —In Pasture .—Very similar to 323, and 
only the neglect to keep the drains open causes it to 
be damp,as the sub-soil is not impervious; and there 
are two outfalls for drainage with a fall of 2 ft. to 
provide ample outlet for any winter rains. This 
would make a fine Pinetum. 
Field 324 is a fine pasture field from E. to W. The 
soil is a very rich heavy loam, eminently suitable for 
fruit of all kinds, as the surface soil is deep, and the 
subsoil is lighter than in other parts. I consider it 
the best field on the farm. 
Field 310 —In Hops .—Here the necessary culture 
for the crop has rendered the land in good heart and 
condition, and I should fix on this spot for an experi¬ 
mental orchard or plantation. The top of this 
position is even better than the lower part. 
Field 311 (a) —In Corn .—The upper portion is on 
the bed-rock at 2 ft., and is of a lighter description 
than any yet noticed, eminently suitable for bulbs 
and root vegetables, as Beet, Carrots, &c., also for 
Nut bushes, Plums, or Kidney Potatos. 
Field 311 ( b ).—Half-way down, this land becomes 
heavier and is then fine retentive loam suitable for 
Pea and Bean trials, Apple culture, or main crop 
Potatos, and Strawberries. 
Field 311 (c ).—At the base of this large field and 
towards the W. it becomes heavier, and requires to 
be ameliorated by drainage, although fine land for 
cereal crops in its present state. There is a 2 ft. fall 
into a ditch on the other side of the hedge, ample for 
all drainage purposes. 
Field 311 is not well farmed, and will require a 
heavy coating of manure to bring it into full use. 
The Present Oast House .—If Hops at e not continued 
it will make a capital fruit store on the top floor, 
and Potatos and roots can be kept below. 
General remarks .—I consider the site an ideal posi¬ 
tion for an experimental garden for horticultural 
purposes, as there are several features which can be 
made the most of. For example the road sides can 
be utilised as an Arboretum (forest trees, etc.). 
The fields 323 and 342 for a Pinetum ; other spots 
suggest a collection of flowering shrubs, a Salicetum, 
or Willow bed, for the purpose of correcting the 
nomenclature of this useful family, and for selecting 
the best Osiers for basket work. Trials of suitable 
fancy hedge shrubs, trials of artificial manures, &c. 
Water .—The water supply rising at a fair altitude 
can be utilised by gravitation for greenhouses, 
Vineries, etc., ornamental ponds for Aquatics, tanks 
for the smaller water plants, and water for all 
purposes can be stored where desired. 
There is ample choice of soil for all the families of 
herbaceous plants, sandstone rock at hand suitable 
for rockeries, alpine gardens, &c., and positions for 
every kind of hardy fruits and vegetables. 
From the condition of the old trees in the garden 
(uncared for), it is evident that fruit will succeed in 
the district, and younger trees planted near were 
evidently in congenial soil. 
Drainage .—A complete system of drainage will be 
required, and the trend of the land favours this 
operation as it falls naturally to the outlet.-- George 
Bunyard, Maidstone. 
As requested I inspected on Wednesday, the 18th 
April, the farm land at Limpsfield by Oxted, offered 
to the Society. 
My instructions I understand were to report upon : 
The lay of the land, its quality, condition and suita¬ 
bility for the culture of fruits, vegetables, and, in my 
case more especially, of flowers, Roses, herbaceous, 
and similar plants. Messrs. Bunyard, Poupart, and 
Beckett, are each sending a separate report, but 
there will be found much upon which, after dis¬ 
cussion and a frank interchange of opinion, we were 
agreed. 
The site is a southern slope of a continuous range 
of hills bearing to the east, upon the lower green¬ 
sand, ascending half up the hill and thus sheltered 
thoroughly from the north and east by the higher 
portion of the slope. The meadows referred to 
further on lie at the foot of this slope, and are con¬ 
sequently as regards 323 and 342 of the Ordnance 
Survey map, the recipients of the storm water of the 
somewhat basin-like shape of the higher slopes. 
This accounts for a fact which we gathered from in¬ 
quiry of the neighbouring cottagers that a part of 
these two fields is subject to an occasional flooding 
after sudden storms, but which quickly passes away 
(these fields having a thoroughly good outlet now 
needing clearing), but which I consider as a valuable 
element in the estate for water supply and other 
purposes. The estate is entered through two fields, 
with long frontages to the main road, across the ex¬ 
tensive adjoining commons, from Oxted Station. 
Field No. 344, in turf of many years standing (old 
pasture), falling slightly to north and foot of 
hill. 
Field No. 343.—The adjoining field, arable, under 
wheat, frontage to road, same fall, fairly clean and 
fair crop. 
Field No. 323.—Adjoining field to north of 343, 
with entry over roadway at the east side of 343, is 
old pasture, with a covered drain or culvert to take 
the storm water from the upper sloping basin to the 
outfall ditch which is by the side (east) of the entry 
road on 343. 
Field No. 342.—Old pasture, with a slight fall to 
the ditch referred to on its western side. 
These four fields are all more or less of one level. 
The flat land at the foot of the three sharp sloping 
fields lying above them. The soil is a heavy, clayey 
loam, of good fertility, of about 1 ft. in depth, the 
sub-soil being the sandy clay or moist sand of this 
formation. I should say this position of the estate 
would grow Roses freely, herbaceous plants, ever¬ 
greens, Pears, and Apples among the large fruits, 
Strawberries and bush fruits among the small fruits ; 
and, with regard to vegetables, it would be good Pea, 
Bean, and Broccoli soil. It requires draining, and, 
had I to deal with it for practical nursery or market 
garden work, I should, along its centre and in the 
lowest part of the two last named grassfields, make 
a wide ditch or small moat with a controllable out¬ 
fall into the brook near the road, and which, I under¬ 
stand, flows into the Eden, and so I should secure a 
water storage supply which could be pumped to the 
highest level of the estate, and so lay the whole of 
the experimental garden under water control. The 
brook which, after turning a ram for the owners of 
the higher land, flows through the estate, might, I 
think, be used to lift this stored water to the higher 
point alluded to. 
Such a basin would be invaluable in a trial garden 
for the growth of the newer Water Lilies and other 
water plants. Altogether, I conclude this water 
supply to be of value for a garden applicable to 
experimental purposes. 
The three additional fields are of a totally different 
character. They form the sloping sides of the land 
basin of which the lower fields are the bottom. 
Field No. 324.—Old pasture in good condition, 
facing S.W., rising quickly some fifty feet; soil 
slightly lighter than the preceding fields; subsoil 
rather charged with the water from the upper green¬ 
sand lands; requires, as do also the adjoining 
sloping fields, good subsoil drainage. Fine Straw¬ 
berry and fruit land. 
Field No. 310.—Arable, under Hops, which are 
breaking strongly. The brook in question falls 
rapidly along its eastern side. Slope to the east, 
rising rapidly to a level of about 400 ft. The soil is 
somewhat lighter, but of greater depth, and the 
subsoil is decidedly more sandy. I should consider 
it, as far as its suitability for fruit culture, as good 
Plum, dessert Apple, and choice Pear land. At the 
top of the field, lying, as it does, close to the stone 
Cherry-land, I think Tea Roses, shrubs, and 
Conifers, requiring lighter soil, and hardy plants with 
like requirements, should do well. 
Field No. 311.—Upper part of this field light 
sandy loam, resting 1 ft. above stone used for build¬ 
ing. Arable, with a fall of some 200 ft. to the 
meadow below. A fertile, lighter soil, with the 
different quality, invaluable in such a garden. Half¬ 
way down the slope the soil changes, and gradually 
approaches that of the lower level; it is here some¬ 
what moist from the flow of water from the rock, 
but needs only drainage. This difference of soil again 
aflords from its variety opportunities for trial of 
fruits in the different lighter or heavier soils. Roses 
would do well here. Conifers on the rock, underlying 
upper part of the field, and it is either here or in the 
exposed rock hill-side by the farmhouse that alpine 
plants would be tried. 
Conclusively , I look on the soil as good, sound 
heavy soil; the large proportion of old turf is most 
valuable ; the sheltered position as beneficial; its 
water supply valuable and available ; and its differ¬ 
ence of altitude, slopes, and variations of soil as 
essential for the purposes for which the garden, as 
an experimental garden, is required. The whole 
estate from its altitude is, I should imagine, above 
the dangers of spring frosts, but I cannot be positive 
as to this .—George Paul, Cheshunt. 
According to instructions I attended on April 18th 
at Chartland Farm, Limpsfield, Surrey, with a view 
of reporting as to its adaptability for a fruit, vege¬ 
table and flower garden. I made a careful inspec¬ 
tion with the following result:— 
The farm consists of about fifty acres and is situ¬ 
ated in the lower and middle portion of a sharp 
rising valley mostly facing the south and well pro¬ 
tected from the north and east. It is divided into 
eight enclosures, which I report on separately using 
the numbers on ordnance survey. 
No. 344.—Wheat stubble, a comparatively flat field, 
has about 10 in. of heavy loam on slightly sandy 
clay. 
No. 343.—Young wheat, very slight slope to S. and 
S.W., soil same as 344. 
I consider these two fields well adapted for the 
growth of most vegetables, fruit and many flowers. 
No. 323—Grass; soil a medium loam on sandy 
clay. This field shows signs of wet in a portion 
running down the centre. 
No. 342.—Grass; soil same as 323. This field is 
also very wet through the centre part. 
These two fields are the middle of the lower part 
of the valley, and form the natural outlet for the 
whole. The drains appear to have been sadly neg¬ 
lected, in fact some have almost disappeared. I am 
of opinion that with good open ditches and the land 
well drained and cultivated these fields would make 
excellent garden ground. 
No. 324.—Grass field, sharp slope facing S.W. 
Soil 12 in. good loam on stiffer loam over sandy clay. 
This is a capital piece of land. 
No. 310.—Hops ; slope facing S. and E. Soil 12 
in. to 15 in., good medium loam. 
No. 311.—Large arable field, good slope to S. 
Soil, upper pari (about hall) 12 in. light sandy loam 
on rock ; lower part little stiffer on sandy clay ; about 
two acres of bottom corner of this field show signs 
of wet, but could be easily drained in con¬ 
junction with 323. The two fields (310—311) would 
do well for fruit, vegetable and flower growing. 
Generally .—The land has been badly farmed, the 
drainage utterly neglected. I am of opinion that 
with proper attention to the drainage (the final out- 
