430 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 16, 1903. 
work of artificially-constructed rocks of great size and furnished 
with stalactites 1 . A dripping well whs. one of the features of 
this rockery. The pockets were planted with Ferns, Begonia 
Bex, and other subjects suitable 1 for a moist atmosphere similar 
to that of a fernery. 
Another structure was devoted to flowering plants, amongst, 
which Indian Azaleas of large size and in many colours were 1 
conspicuous. Some fine Tydaeas, Astilbes, and Richardia. 
afrieana were also grown in some quantity. The Carnation 
house was filled with a fine collection of young plants chiefly 
of the Souvenir de la Malmaison type. Calceolarias, Lilies, and 
Pelargoniums were the features of another cool house. Some 
houses were also 1 devoted to Peaches and Vines. 
The whole of the garden in, the immediate vicinity of the 
mansion is on sloping gravelly ground. Some fruits are grown 
here, but the kitchen garden proper is situated on another part, 
of the estate, on the opposite side of the valley, where the soil 
is more fertile. The high wall surrounding the northern side 
of the garden is occupied with a fine lot of fruit trees, chiefly 
Plums. & Our visit, was paid during the prevalence of the recent 
spell of cold weather, and, as far as could be determined, the 
frost had done the blossoms considerable damage. Possibly 
some of the late blooms may have escaped the frost, otherwise 
what gave practically great promise will now have t:o be set 
down asi a great loss, owing to the unlooked-for severity of the 
weather. 
Most of the sloping ground on the same side ol the valley 
as. the mansion is occupied with rockwork in considerable 
variety of form and aspect. In the building of this the red 
sandstone obtained in the neighbourhood has been freely 
utilised. Aubrietias were largely in evidence in various situa¬ 
tions, and were already in bloom. The same might be said ol 
Phlox subulata and its varieties. The mossy-leaved Saxifragas 
were represented by S. Wallacei, the broad-leaved by S. coidi- 
folia, and the crustaceous type by S. longifolia. Some very- 
fine crowns of each were very aptly inserted in the crevices of 
the rockwork. Further to the eastward very bold pieces ol 
rock-building were also 1 observable, in which were patches of 
Veronica reptans, Phlox' subulata Vivid, Sea. Thrift, Scilla, 
sibirica, and other plants of that class. In suitable situations 
were bushes of Cotoneasters, such as C. microphylla, a very 
suitable subject for clothing large and bold promontories of 
rocks. Trees and other Ivies were also freely used for the same 
purpose. Chrysanthemum Tchihatchewii .is a. very suitable 
subject for dry situations, and for such it is used in carpeting 
the ground with its dark foliage. 
At the bottom of one slope is a bog garden planted^ with 
various water-loving subjects, but with the excepting of Caltha 
palustris very few of the plants were in bloom at that eai y 
period, most of the water plants being late flowering. At the 
eastern end of the valley is a large pond, boldly set. off with 
rockv banks rising up very steeply in places. In some instances 
were’ bold clumps of Rhododendrons growing right down to the 
water’s edo-e. On the steep slopes high above the water were 
masses of “the double Gorse and other ornamental flowering 
shrubs. These rocks again furnish the means for the cultiva¬ 
tion of various rock-loving subjects. Amongst these we noted 
Arabis albida fl. pi. Epimedium colchicum, with yellow flowers, 
and a small-growing species of Thyme, named Thymus, micans 
chrysolera. In the dry situations and above large pieces ot 
rockwork were masses of hardy Heaths and Rosa wichunana. 
Yellow masses of the Marsh Marigold were veiy appropriate 
near the edge of the water:- In the vicinity were clumps, of 
Bamboos. Above this again we came upon another pond having 
various aquatic subjects planted round the margin. 
Where the ground still recedes in this valley is a tennis court, 
two of the sides of which are bounded by very high banks 
utilised for rock building. Here are many interesting subjects 
suitable for growing in relatively dry situations, including 
Sedurns Vincas, Diantlms, Cerastium, Alyssum saxatile, and 
other plants of that character now well established, clothing 
the banks with verdure and brightening the place with their 
flowers when in season. As time was pressing we here thanked 
our guide and took our departure, 
A Few Plants for Conservatory Decoration. 
Callas. —A batch of these are extremely useful, either for 
cutting or show. Bulbs should be procured in the autumn and 
potted up. I prefer four or five 1 bulbs in a 9-in. pot in a good 
rich compost of loam, sifted manure, and a quantity of wood 
ashes. They should not be potted too firmly, as their fleshy 
roots like room to run, and, in feeding, liquid cow or sheep 
manure is preferable to chemicals. After flowering they 
should be gradually ripened, and later planted in a good part of 
the garden, and about September lifted carefully and potted 
up. After being established, to procure early flowers, place 
a few pots in gentle heat. 
Wallflower is also a useful, sweet-smelling plant for the con¬ 
servatory, and a few should be lifted from the bed and potted 
up, when they will be found to come in useful. A few plants of 
the following should always be pn hand, as they repay any 
trouble taken with them. 
Genistas, in a small state, are of much value, and by striking 
a few in spring and keeping confined to 5-in. pots, and well 
cut back, fine plants will be on hand the spring following. 
Azaleas are also of much use in spring, and beyond placing 
in heat after flowering till the growth is finished they are not 
much trouble, and can be placed out of doors all the summer. 
By plunging a lot of watering .is saved, but here care must be 
exercised; if they get dry, stand in a pail of water till 
thoroughly saturated. 
Deutzias. — These are invaluable plants, and a few should be 
on hand. If treated as the Azaleas, they will do all right, ex¬ 
cepting that in winter, having no foliage, they can be kept 
in a, frost-proof shed if glass accommodation is scarce. These 
should never be cut back ; only the veiy old wood removed. 
The following bulbs are also useful fop winter and spring: — 
Roman Hyacinths are of easy culture, and can be had at a 
small cost. By potting up tw:o batches, say, from September 
onward, five bulbs in a pot, keeping in an ash heap till the pots 
are full of roots, and taking in a.s required, they give a fine 
display for a long time. 
Tulips are also cheap, and furnish a pleasant display, and, 
treated as the above; only not potted up so early, will thrive 
finely ; as also a few fljotfuls of Narcissi, especially the Polyan¬ 
thus Narcissi. j 
Fr^sdas are truly indispensable, and are not difficult to 
manage. Procure bulbs about July or August, and pot up 
eight or nine bulbs in a , 6-in: pot, and grow on cool, avoiding 
forcing, and a fine display will in due time be' forthcoming. 
A few clumps of Lily of the Valley and Spiraeas may be placed 
in pots, which will, if taken from a good bed, flower easily 
and well. 
Carnations (border varieties).—A batch of these should be 
grown for flowering indoors. As soon as layers can be got, peg 
down in the usual way, and when rooted pot up in small pots 
in a loamy compost, and place in a cold frame till winter sets 
in, when they should be removed to a greenhouse shelf. In 
spring pot again into 6.-in. pots, using a rich compost, grow 
in cool quarters, and attend to staking as the flower steins 
appear. They come in previous to the outdoor ones, and give 
a long season of these flowers; and when done flowering layer 
again, and an excellent lot of plants will be on hand for another 
season. 
Zonal Pelargoniums are the flower of the summer, and are 
of so easy culture that eveiy possessor of a greenhouse should 
have a batch or two. It is well to raise a few from cuttings in 
spring and autumn, and pot up into a moderately light mix¬ 
ture ; and for the final shift a 5-in. pot is ample, stopping 
them twice previous to the final shift, and removing all flowers 
till required. Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums are also good things, 
either trained in various shapes for hanging baskets, or to hang 
over the staging. Syringing overhead is in both cases un¬ 
necessary. 
(To be continued.) 
