406 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  13,  1897. 
starting  the  supply,  after  which  a  regular  succession  must  be 
maintained. 
All  the  rootlets  are  cut  away  about  half  an  inch  from  the  base, 
and  as  the  crowns  are  lifted  all  these  are  saved,  placed  in  a  heap, 
and  covered  with  some  half-decayed  leaves,  to  preserve  them  in  a 
fresh  and  plump  condition.  As  the  winter  draws  on,  and  danger 
of  severe  frosts  become  likely  to  impede  lifting,  a  good  portion  of 
the  crowns  are  taken  up,  the  rootlets  trimmed  off  and  put  away, 
the  crowns  laid  in  leaf  mould,  out  of  the  reach  of  frost,  or  where 
they  can  be  easily  got  up,  and  introduced  to  the  Mushroom  house 
at  intervals  of  about  five  days. 
Preparation  op  the  Sets  or  Cuttings.  —  During  bad 
weather  in  December  and  January  the  rootlets  that  are  to  form  the 
stock  for  planting  the  following  season  are  selected  and  prepared. 
As  the  largest  eventually  make  the  strongest  and  best  crowns, 
these  are  first  chosen.  Many  are  as  large  as  a  man’s  forefinger,  a 
few  larger,  and  none  is  used  less  in  size  than  double  the  thickness 
of  an  ordinary  cedar  pencil.  They  are  cut  into  sets  or  cuttings 
about  5  inches  in  length  ;  the  thicker  end,  where  the  crown  will 
form,  being  cut  straight  across,  the  other  or  planting  end  with  a 
sloping  cut  downwards.  After  preparing  thus  some  are  stood 
closely  together  in  boxes  of  sandy  soil,  just  level  with  the  crown 
end,  and  others  in  similar  soil  or  leaf  mould  in  any  out-of-the-way 
corner,  and  both  left  outside,  but  sheltered  from  frost  until  plant¬ 
ing  time  arrives. 
Before  describing  planting  we  will  return  to  the  crowns,  about 
a  quarter  or  rather  less  in  my  case,  that  remain  to  be  dug.  These 
are  the  crowns  that  produce  the  latest  supply  of  Kale,  and  they  are 
not  lifted  until  just  starting  into  growth,  or  about  the  middle  of 
March  usually.  Some  are  simply  planted  closely  together  in  a 
heap  of  leaf  mould  in  some  sheltered  corner  and  cohered  with 
similar  material  to  blanch,  while  the  remainder,  about  two-thirds, 
are  laid  in  in  rows  closely  together  in  a  cool  north-east  border, 
just  covering  the  crowns  with  soil,  over  which,  for  blanching,  is 
placed  a  bed  of  half-decayed  leaves  about  a  foot  in  thickness. 
This  is  the  latest  supply,  and  produced  in  this  way  Kale  may  be 
cut  some  weeks  later  than  when  blanched  in  the  ground  where 
it  has  been  growing  ;  but  to  keep  it  as  late  as  possible  I  find  it 
must  not  be  lifted  earlier  than  the  time  mentioned  above.  Some 
crowns  treated  in  this  way  are  still  supplying  very  useful  Kale, 
and  will  continue  to  do  so  for  another  week. 
Planting  the  Sets. — Assuming  that  a  piece  of  ground  in  a 
well-exposed  quarter  of  the  garden  has  already  been  prepared  by 
trenching  and  manuring,  we  will  now  return  to  the  sets  prepared 
for  planting.  Those  in  the  boxes  of  sandy  soil  I  generally  plant  a 
week  or  two  earlier  than  the  others,  or  about  the  end  of  March,  if 
the  soil  ia  in  a  suitable  condition.  These  by  this  time  will  have 
callused  over  and  have  produced  numerous  small  crown  growths, 
which  if  long  enough  should  be  reduced  to  one  before  planting. 
After  the  piece  of  ground  has  been  trodden  to  break  down  lumps, 
and  raked  over  to  remove  stones  and  rubbish,  shallow  drills  are 
drawn  out  15  inches  apart. 
When  this  is  done  a  surface  sprinkling  of  wood  ashes  and  soot 
is  given  in  the  proportion  of  about  six  of  the  former  to  one  of  the 
latter,  and  the  sets  planted  in  these  rows  with  a  dibbler  at  15  inches 
apart  in  the  row.  The  crown  of  the  set  when  planted  should  be 
just  under  the  surface.  When  growth  has  started  the  ground 
is  hoed,  and  the  principal  after  culture  required  is  to  keep  the 
quarter  free  from  weeds,  to  look  over  the  crowns,  and  remove 
surplus  ones  where  more  than  one  has  started  from  each  cutting. 
Another  dressing  of  wood  ashes  and  soot,  with  a  little  salt  added, 
may  be  given  before  the  foliage  covers  the  ground  much  between 
the  rows  to  assist  a  quick  and  strong  growth,  and  if  the  summer  be 
dry  an  occasional  soaking  of  water  applied  will  be  of  much 
assistance. — C.  Herrin,  Dropmore. 
'  [Our  correspondent  has  sent  us  a  sample  of  Seakale,  than  which 
no  better  could  be  desired.  It  is  excelli  nt.] 
Strawberry  Royal  Sovereign.  —  It  is  only  a  short  time  ago 
since  this  Strawberry  was  first  placed  before  the  public.  Even  then 
competent  judges  were  agreed  that  considering  its  splendid  cropping 
properties,  its  handsome  fruit,  and  its  excellent  flavour  it  would  most 
assuredly  come  into  great  favour.  This  haB  proved  to  be  the  case,  for  it 
is  now  being  grown  in  almost  all  gardens  where  Strawberries  are 
largely  caltivated,  and  it  has  more  than  fulfi  led  its  early  promise.  By 
many  growers  it  has  been  placed  in  the  first  rank,  and  amongst  these 
may  be  mentiomd  Mr.  Wythes  of  Syon  House,  by  whom  it  is  utilised  as 
a  second  early  variety  for  pot  culture.  This  cultivator  has  a  stock  of 
1000  plants  this  season,  and  their  extraordinary  productiveness  has  led 
to  the  decision  that  the  number  will  be  doubled  for  next  year’s  supply. 
There  are  houses  and  shelves  of  Strawberries  at  Syon,  the  plants  being 
in  perfect  health,  and  amongst  the  whole  collection  Royal  Sovereign 
atands  out  conspicuously  as  a  variety  worthy  of  its  name  and  fame. 
— D.  R. 
AVERY  HILL. 
Travellers  on  the  North  Kent  line  of  the  South-Eastern  Railway 
will  doubtless  bave  ofien  noticed  on  their  left  hand,  between  New 
Eltham  and  Sidcup  stations,  a  handsome  red  brick  mansion  with  a  magni¬ 
ficent  domed  conservatory,  and  will  bave  wondered,  perhaps,  to  whom 
it  belonged.  It  is  the  home  of  Mrs.  North,  and  was  built  by  the  late 
Colonel  North,  being  completed  only  just  prior  to  his  sudden  death. 
Thousands  of  pounds  were  spent  in  the  erection  of  the  mansion,  the 
palatial  stables,  and  the  perfect  electric  lighting  plant ;  but  with  these 
we  have  nothing  to  do  here,  as  our  visit  was  to  see  the  gardens,  both 
out  of  doors  and  under  glass.  Like  the  residence,  almost  all  is  new, 
kitchen,  flower,  and  fruit  gardens,  lawn-  having  beer  formed,  and  new 
houses  erected-  But  the  whole  of  these  are  completely  dwarfed  by 
the  winter  garden,  upon  which  the  eno  m ous  sum  of  £60,000  is  said  to 
have  been  expended  ere  the  erection  was  completed.  * 
Before  making  specific  reference  to  thin,  however,  we  may  perhaps 
spend  a  pleasant  half  hour  in  the  gardens  outside.  The  name  of  the 
head  gardener  who  acts  as  guide,  will  be  'amiliar  to  every  reader  of  the 
Journal  of  Horticulture.  It  is  G,  Abbey  It  is  not,  however,  the  Mr. 
G.  Abbey  who  writes  in  these  pages,  but  that  excellent  gardener’s  son, 
who  as  a  gardener  is  well  worthy  of  his  talented  father.  For  upwards 
of  eight  years  Mr  Abbey,  jun.,  has  been  at  Avery  Hill,  and  during  that 
time  he  has  practically  made  the  placn.  Immense  forest  trees  have  been 
felled,  lawns  and  kitchen  gardens  have  been  formed,  fruit  trees  planted, 
and  the  winter  garden  stocked.  Not  that  it  has  taken  eight  years  to  do 
the  work — not  by  any  means,  as  that  would  have  been  far  too  slow  for 
the  late  energetic  Colonel,  who  wanted  things  done  at  once,  done  well, 
and  done  quickly.  The  natural  outcou  e  of  this  desire  was  that  almost 
unlimited  labour  had  to  be  employed,  ai  d  the  strain  of  planning  and 
supervising  that  fell  upon  the  gardener  must  have  been  very  great 
indeed.  However,  he  is  prone  to  take  things  calmly,  and  so  came  forth 
from  the  ordeal  with  flying  colours. 
Of  what  may  be  termed  formal  flower  gardening  there  is  really  none, 
for  the  beds  are  distributed  at  unequal  intervals  and  are  planted  in 
various  styles.  At  the  lime  this  visit  was  paid  the  Dutch  Tulips  were 
making  a  really  gorgeous  display  both  in  beds  and  in  borders  in  various 
parts  of  the  grounds.  The  bulbs  had  not  been  planted  in  distinct  colours 
according  to  variety,  but  in  mixture,  cm  ugh  only  good  sorts  had  been 
utilised.  In  a  sheltered  corner  Auriculas  were  flowering  with  the 
greatest  freedom.  Amongst  them  are  some  of  great  promise  that  have 
been  raised  by  the  gardener.  _ 
A  glimpse  is  caught  in  passing  of  a  superb  bed  of  Primroses  in  a 
secluded  nook,  where  they  had  been  pian>ed  to  afford  an  abundant 
supply  of  flowers  for  Primrose  Day.  Tulips  and  Narcissi  are  also 
seen,  and  a  new  Pansy  that  has  been  raised  at  Avery  Hill,  and  which  is 
named  Colonel  North.  It  is  entirely  distinct  from  all  varieties  in 
commerce,  and  is  at  the  same  time  of  very  great  beauty.  The  prevailing 
colour  is  rich  velvety  brown,  the  lower  portion  of  the  flower  being  a 
glossy  black-brown.  The  whole  is  edged  witn  gold  in  a  very  narrow 
line.  It  is  a  distinct  light  edged  Picotee,  and  is  useful  for  borders 
or  beds,  in  which  it  flowers  over  a  very  extended  period,  as  well  as 
for  pot  cu  ture.  It  is  a  telling  acquisiuon,  of  which  more  ought  to 
be  heard  in  the  future.  Then  there  are  large  nnmbers  of  herbaceous 
plants  here  and  there,  besides  a  small  pond  surrounded  by  a  little  rock 
garden,  that  has  been  formed  for  aquatics,  f  which  a  fine  selection  has 
been  planted.  Suitable  plants  have  been  disposed  round  the  pond,  and 
the  whole  will,  under  favourable  conditions,  develop  into  one  of  the 
most  interesting  features  of  the  estate  woen  the  plants  have  become 
thoroughly  established  and  at  home. 
Wall  fruit  is  by  no  means  a  great  feature,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
there  is  an  excepti. >nal  dearth  ot  wall  space,  though  where  there  is  some  it 
is  occupied  by  the  healthiest  of  PeacheH  ami  Nectarines  that  one  could 
reasonably  wish  to  see.  Pears  and  Apples  in  bush  form  in  the  garden 
are  magnificent  examples  of  the  best  man-igement,  though  on  the  former 
fruit  will  be  none  too  abundant  this  season,  because  the  frost  has 
destroyed  the- essential  organs  in  thousands  -  f  beautiful  blossoms.  The 
trees  are  not  as  a  rule  large,  it  is  not  desired  that  they  should  be,  but 
they  are  models  of  pruning,  while  there  is  no  vestige  of  insect  pests. 
Root  as  well  as  branch  pruning  is  constantly  resorted  to,  and  the 
results  achieved  fully  justify  the  grower  in  the  system  he  adopts. 
Small  fruits  of  all  kinds  receive  equally  as  good  attention,  and  give  the 
same  handsome  return  for  the  labour  bestowed  upon  them. 
The  dimensions  of  the  vegetable  garden  are  very  limited,  and  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  proper  supply  the  greatest  care  and  attention  have  to 
be  bestowed  so  as  to  insure  the  utmost  being  secured  from  the  ground 
that  is  at  disposal.  To  effect  this,  not  only  are  kinds  and  varieties 
selected  with  the  utmost  discretion,  but  the  working  of  the  ground  is 
most  efficiently  carried  out,  and  of  course  no  weeds  are  tolerated,  as  all 
the  food  in  the  soil  is  required  for  the  profitable  and  legitimate  crops. 
Fortunately  plenty  of  manure  can  be  bad  from  the  stables,  and  this 
being  of  good  quality  materially  assists  in  securing  the  necessarily  heavy 
crops.  The  actual  area  of  this  department  is  2  acres,  but  a  fair  portion 
of  the  margins  to  toe  walks  of  this  is  occupied  by  a  considerable 
number  of  the  fruits  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph. 
