184 
THE GARDENING WORLD. October 27, 1900 
LATE PEAS. 
With this short ncte I am sending a few pods of 
Veitch’s Autocrat and St. Duthus Peas to let you 
see how good these are even now, October igth. 
Some are borne in pairs, especially with St. Duthus. 
I consider these two varieties capital for late work, 
and though slightly mildewed, it seems of very little 
detriment to them as they are full of pods and still 
growing up the sticks. Of course we are having a 
most lovely autumn, no frost of any note yet to check 
their career ; and on account of the dwarf habit of 
the Peas, all under 5 ft., the winds have done them 
no harm. Of course the rows have bad heavy 
waterings every few days from the time they begin 
to run the sticks, and considering we have only had 
1 in. 66° parts of rain since the end of August I 
think the produce is exceptionally good. Autocrat 
was sown June 19th; St. Duthus, July 9th. The 
flavour of both varieties leaves nothing to be desired. 
A row of Late Queen was also sown at the latter 
date, but failed to fill up as the first two. If it had 
been sown with Autocrat no doubt the results would 
have been better.— J. Mayne, Bicton. 
[Both varieties w ere exceptionally fine and of a 
rich dark green colour, with no evidence of having 
been attacked by mildew or anything else. Th? 
pods of Autocrat were of the usual form, straight, 
and filled with six to eight seeds. Those of St. 
Duthus were more slender, curved, about 4 in. lorg. 
and contained seven to nine seeds, of good flavour as 
were those of Autocrat. Ed.] 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
Mr. John Eastor. 
Mr. John Eastor is head gardener to Lord and 
Lady St. Oswald, at Nostell Priory, Wakefield. We 
had the opportunity of briefly describing a few of 
the features of the gardens, park and grounds which 
stretch in amplitude from all sides of the high 
situated “ Priory," about a year and a half ago in 
our pages. We at that time gave a fair idea of this 
ancient and renowned family residence, and since 
then Mr. Eastor himself has furnished some very 
practical and helpful articles to readers of The 
Gardening World. The subject of our notice was 
born and brought up in Norfolk, a shire famous in 
the more dominant realm of agriculture, but which 
is not without its influence in horticulture. At 
the age of fifteen he was sent southward to the sister 
county of Suffolk, and for four years he pursued his 
avocation at a market garden establishment. The 
economical principles which governed the working 
of this market garden fixed themselves in the mind 
of the young gardener, and have been continuously 
practised durirg the whole of Mr. Eastor's sub¬ 
sequent experience. 
But by " economical principles " we do not mean a 
policy of niggardliness in cultural routine, but the 
1 ructice which makes the most of everything, 
ires to do the best for everything, and 
which has the word “ carefulness ” in strong letters 
always in view. Nostell, though favourably situated 
from an artistic point of view, is not hygienically 
favourable to the growth of crops and vegetation in 
general. Yet the records of the great Yorkshire Gala 
can prove many a famous fruit prize to have gone to 
the head gardener of Nostell Priory. He has 
carried out quite a series of experiments in the cul¬ 
ture of hardy fruits.' Their manuring from a scienti¬ 
fic aspect has been tried, and his efforts we are pleased 
to learn from a recent letter, are an unqualified 
success. He writes :— "Apples here have improved 
immensely in colour these last few years. The Queen 
Apple a few years ago was perfectly green; now it 
is highly coloured, and this is the case with others. 
I think you are aware that I gave our trees an 
autumn dressing of soot and sulphate of iron, and in 
winter they get a top-dressing from our smother 
heap (wood ashes, charcoal, and burnt earth), and 
during the growing season they get an occasional 
dusting of phosphates. All this well repays for the 
trouble by giving us clean and well-coloured fruit for 
this smoky district.” To emphasise the fact of the 
district being smoky and sulphurous, we may state 
that many of the large Ash trees are suffering 
severely from the effects, and one or two have 
succumbed. 
But to continue the biography. From the market 
nursery Mr. Eastor removed to Somerleyton Hall in 
the same county, and from the gardens here he shifted 
to Broome Hall, Norfolk. After having learned 
what he could at these two places he determined to 
enter Mr. John EwiDgs’nursery at Eaton, Norwich. 
So after having spent three years at Broome Hall 
he agreed for a term of two years to become a nur¬ 
seryman. He had the opportunity of working 
through the whole of the glass department, and at 
Mr. John Eastor. 
that time this nursery was celebrated for hard- 
wooded plants. Ericas and New Holland plants 
were well represented, and a full collection of 
Camellias was also grown. The usual stock of stove 
plants was also included, together with pot Vines, 
Figs, Pears, and Roses, all under glass. These two 
years added greatly to his experience and abilities, 
and fitted him for the position of head gardener, 
which he unexpectedly was offered by Mr. Broadly, 
his chief when at Somerleyton Hall. His new and 
responsible appointment was to the charge of the 
gardens at Clippesley Hall. This position, however, 
was only temporary, and from this place he soon 
mi-rated to Laurels Court, in Kent, where he con¬ 
tinued as head gardener till the death of his 
employer. 
The next five years found Mr. Eastor busy at 
Stubton Hall, Newark, where wall fruits were more 
or less a feature. Owing to a reduction of the place 
a shift was again necessary, and for the next eighteen 
years he worked enthusiastically in reforming and 
improving the gardens at Rathdaire, in Ireland. 
Death overtook his employer, and three years later 
the mansion accidentally caught fire and was burned 
to the ground. A gardener was unnecessary under 
the circumstances, but arrangements were concluded 
by which Mr. Eastor was drafted to Nostell Priory, 
which charge he entered on in 1890. 
As a gardener, and especially as a fruit-grower, 
Mr. Eastor has just claims to distinction. The large 
York shows are the only ones he now competes at, 
and he never exhibits without coming off creditably. 
Some of the berries, in bunches of Gros Colman and 
Gros Maroc Vines, this year measured over 1J in. in 
diameter, and were well finished in colour. (We 
should say two bites to the berry in this case 1) 
These two varieties, however, are condemned by 
Lord St. Oswald, and to take their place Vines with 
Muscat flavour have been worked upon them, the 
young rods being very vigorous. Bunches of Gros 
Guillaume scaled 10 lb. each ; Mrs. Pearson yielded 
bunches weighings lb., and Mrs. Pince Vine returned 
similar results. This speaks for itself. Orchids, 
more especially Cattleyas and Phalaenopsis, are a 
speciality, and few collections in the United Kingdom 
can surpass the Nostell array of Phalaenopsis. 
As a personal friend Mr. Eastor is valued by all 
who have learned to know him. He is somewhat 
reserved, but can open out and spin many a hearty 
yarn about the days that have gone. He is hale and 
hearty, and though now " gaun down the hill,” we 
hope to see him active for many years to come, and 
able to grow good Grapes, and tell other "hearty 
yarns " ! 
■ — E » 
WALL CLIMBERS. 
Lovers of the beautiiul generally like to have some 
of the favourite sorts of climbers on the walls of 
their mansions cr villas. It is necessary, however, 
to prepare a border with suitable soil for them 
before planting, and, if possible, it ought to be made 
2 ft. wide and the same deep. For Roses of sorts, 
Jasmine, Clematis of sorts, Cydonia japonica, Ribes 
fuchsioides, &c., a very suitable mixture is two parts 
rotten turf and one old cow manure. Variegated 
Ivies, Escallonias of sorts, Crataegus Pyracantha, 
Lonicera of sorts, Tropaeolum speciosum and the 
charming Ampelopsis Veitchii, all like a mixture of 
one part rotten turf, one old leaf soil, one peat and 
one of sand, putting a few inches of old lime riddlings 
in the bottom for drainage, It is a good idea to 
mulch them with short manure at the beginning of 
winter; besides keeping the frost from their roots, it 
helps to keep vigour in them, making the foliage and 
flowers larger and more attractive and pleasing. The 
best method of training them is to place diamond 
wire trellis, painted green up to the height wanted, 
tying the young growth in annually, unless for Ampe¬ 
lopsis which clings to the wall without any tying or 
nailing up. They ought to get a good soaking of 
water a few times during the summer months, 
especially the first summer after planting, as the rain 
seldom reaches the bottom of a wall owing to the 
roof projecting over .—John C. Dick, Champflcurie, 
Linlithgow. 
GROWING STRAWBERRIES IN 
BARRELS. 
Secure empty paraffin casks, knock out one end, 
char the inside by burning, wash the outside with a 
strong solution of soda and water. Next bore holes, 
eighteen in number, 3 in. by 2 in., six to the circle, 
in three tiers, alternately. Paint the outsides of the 
casks two coats of a bright green colour, and make 
a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Compost 
for planting should consist of three parts loam, one 
part leaf soil, one part mellow manure, one part 
lime rubbish, and a 5-in. potful of bone meal to each 
barrow load of compost. Proceed to plant in 
March; place 3 in. of drainage in the bottom, fill 
with soil up to the level of the first tier of holes, 
make very firm, push the leaves of the plant through 
the holes, just leaving the crown clear of the inside 
of the barrel, spread out the roots and proceed to 
fill up to the next level, and repeat the process. 
Finish by planting three or four plants on the sur¬ 
face. Keep the soil well up to allow for settling. 
Water well, and stand in an open position. Occa¬ 
sionally syringe the plants to keep them free from 
insects. Allow all runners to grow in order to cover 
the barrels, removing them in winter. I find they 
fruit abundantly, colour and flavour being all that 
could be desired. They are easily protected from 
birds, and, in addition, a novel and pretty ornament. 
— A. Manson. 
MALMAISONS. 
T^velve months ago our Malmaisons here were as 
sore looking objects as one could see in a day’s 
journey. Just now, they are as healthy-looking a 
batch as could be seen in the same travel, and very 
simply done, too. We have no Carnation house 
here, but kept them all winter in a small, span- 
roofed greenhouse, with the temperature ranging 
between 50° and 55 0 . They were all badly diseased 
and pretty bad with greenfly. By continually fumi¬ 
gating, dippipg in tar water, and dusting with lime 
and sulphur, we got them pretty well cleared of 
both. The flowers got from them in spring were 
nothing to speak of, and as soon as the layers were 
ready, they were layered in a cold frame. During the 
time they were there they were twice fumigated, then 
lifted and potted in 3-ln. and 4-in. pots, and put on a 
shelf near the glass in a cool Rose house. This was on 
September 10th, and so well have they grown, that 
they will have to get a shift directly, a thing we did 
not intend doing till February or March. The 
compost used was pure loam, with a dash of sand, 
and potted very firm. For the second shift we will 
add a little bone meal. Some gardeners layer Mal¬ 
maisons outside; but that is a mistake, especially in 
