320 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  27,  1898- 
AMPTHILL  HOUSE,  BEDS. 
About  a  mile  from  the  Ampthill  station  of  the  Midland  Railway  is 
the  pretty  village  of  A mpthill,  at  the  end  of  which  is  noticeable  a  reat, 
compact  lodge.  The  carriage  drive  from  this  entrance  is  well  planted  on 
each  side  with  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  backed  up  by  large  timber 
trees.  A  wing  of  considerable  dimensions  has  recently  been  added  to  the 
mansion.  The  terrace  is  a  large  one,  overlooking  a  fine  expanse  of 
country,  beautifully  undulated  and  well  timbered.  The  scene  is  imposing, 
as  many  fine  views  are  obtained  from  different  points.  Various  suitable 
climbers  planted  against  the  mansion  are  doing  well.  The  bedding  on  the 
terrace  was  gay  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  and  the  display  highly  pleasing. 
Recently  a  long  border  alongside  a  grass  walk  has  been  planted  with 
a  choice  collection  ot  ornamental  trees,  shrubs,  and  Conifers,  ot  which  the 
following  were  doing  well  amongst  the  many  : — 
Conifers  at  Ampthill  House. 
Abies  Douglasi 
,,  Engelmanni 
,,  Parryana  glauca 
„  Nordmanniana 
„  canadensis 
„  magnifica 
Cedrus  atlantica 
„  atlantica  glauca 
,,  Deodara 
,,  Libani 
Cryptomeria  elegans 
Cupressus  argentea 
,,  Lawsoniana 
,,  L.  aureo-variegata 
,,  L.  erecta  viridis 
,,  L.  lutea 
,,  L.  nana 
Pinus  austriaca 
Pinus  cembra 
,,  excelsa 
Retinospora  filifera 
,,  plumosa 
,,  plumosa  aurea 
,,  squarrosa 
Thuia  Lobbi 
,,  Vervaenana 
„  gigantea  aurea 
„  borealis 
Thuiopsis  dolabrata 
,,  dolabrata  variegata 
.Tuniperus  virginica 
Wellingtonia  gigantea 
Golden  Elder 
Prunus  Pissardi 
Golden  Irish  Yew' 
Acer  negundo  variegata 
Plant  Houses. 
Several  houses  are  devoted  to  plant  growing.  There  is  a  good  house 
of  Orchids,  and  healthier  Cattleyas,  Lmlias,  Dendrobes,  and  other  kinds  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find.  A  span-roof  house  is  filled  with  beautifully 
grown  and  well  coloured  Crotons.  There  is  a  collection  of  Dracaenas  of 
the  very  best  sorts,  the  plants  ranging  from  a  foot  to  3  feet  in  height, 
and  are  clothed  with  richly  coloured  foliage  to  the  pots.  On  the  roof  of 
this  house,  trained  the  whole  length,  is  one  of  the  finest  and  healthiest 
Stephanotis  floribunda  I  have  ever  seen,  carrying  hundreds  of  enormous 
trusses  of  its  pure  waxy  white  flowers.  Not  an  insect  was  to  be  seen. 
This  house  was  a  picture,  for  great  taste  is  displayed  in  the  arrangement. 
Other  houses  are  devoted  to  Palms  and  Ferns.  The  demand  for 
these  at  times  is  very  great  for  decorative  work.  All  the  leading  kinds 
of  the  former  are  to  be  found  in  quantity,  from  ,a  foot  to  15  feet  high, 
pictures  of  health.  Of  Ferns  the  same  can  be  said  as  far  as  health  is 
concerned.  Grandly  grown  plants  in  from  thumbs  to  18-inch  pots  are 
here  in  perfection.  There  are  other  houses  devoted  to  flowering  plants, 
such  as  Ixoras,  Allamandas,  Eucharises,  Pancratiums,  and  others.  The 
greenhouse  department  is  also  well  represented.  Noticeable  in  one  of 
the  houses  was  a  tastefully  arranged  display  of  Hydrangea  paniculata 
grandiflora,  Celosia  pyramidal  is,  Lilium  Harrisi,  and  Cockscombs,  in  great 
numbers,  which  are  found  invaluable  during  the  late  summer  months. 
Fruit  Houses. 
A  span-roof  vinery  in  two  compartments  rather  surprised  me  by  the 
splendid  crops  of  different  varieties  growing  happily'  together.  They  were 
excellent  in  quality,  fine  in  bunch,  grand  in  berry,  and  colouring  superbly. 
The  first  compartment  included  Madresfield  Court,  Black  Hamburgh, 
Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Buckland  Sweetwater,  and  Foster’s  Seedling,  every 
rod  carrying  a  fine  even  crop  of  grand  fruit.  No.  2  contains  Muscat  of 
Alexandria,  Appley  Towers,  Foster’s  Seedling,  Golden  Queen,  Mrs. 
Pearson,  Madresfield  Court,  Lady  Downe’s,  Alicante,  and  Gros  Colman. 
1  never  remember  seeing  a  better  collection  of  high-class  Grapes,  and  we 
may  expect  to  see  some  of  them  at  future  exhibitions.  There  are  other 
vineries,  and  all  well  and  usefully  occupied  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
the  establishment. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  occupy  other  houses,  late  and  early  varieties 
being  admirably  grown,  and  give  a  long  supply  of  these  delicious  fruits. 
Outside  Fruit. 
The  collection  is  an  extensive  and  varied  one.  The  walls  are  covered 
with  grand  trees.  Plums,  Peaches,  Apricots,  Cherries,  and  Pears  are  in 
abundance,  and  yield  excellent  crops,  Apples  and  Pears,  in  pyramids 
and  bushes,  are  also  grown  extensively,  fine  fruit  of  the  leading  kinds 
being  produced  in  great  quantity.  Bush  fruits  are  also  extensively 
grown.  All  the  leading  new  Strawberries,  Raspberries,  Gooseberries, 
Currants  are  well  represented,  the  trees  of  the  latter  literally  breaking 
down  with  the  heavy  crops  of  fine  fruit. 
Vegetables. 
The  vegetable  department  is  an  important  feature  of  this  establish¬ 
ment.  The  early  forcing  of  vegetables  is  carried  out  to  a  great  extent — 
there  are  two  or  three  kitchen  gardens  in  various  parts  of  the  estate,  and 
it  is  from  these  that  Mr.  Empson  produces  the  grand  specimens  for  which 
he  is  so  frequently  honoured  at  shows.  One  of  the  latest  displays  was  the 
remarkable  collections  of  Onions  arranged  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  and  represented  in  part  in  the  photograph,  fig.  57. 
I’he  pile  on  the  right  is  Carter’s  Ilolborn,  the  centre  Record.  To  enume¬ 
rate  all  that  was  seen  in  the  gardens  would  occupy  too  much  space. 
Suffice  to  say  that  everything  undertaken  is  grown  well.  Mr.  Empson 
tries  most  of  the  novelties  in  vegetables,  retaining  the  more  and  weeding 
out  the  less  useful.  Many  visitors  to  the  Temple  Show  at  the  end  of  May 
will  remember  his  wonderful  exhibit  of  early  vegetables,  probably  one 
of  the  finest  displays  ever  set  up  by  a  private  gardener.  It  was  the 
admiration  of  all  interested,  the  Peas  in  pots  being  a  notable  feature. 
Mr.  W.  Empson,  the  able  and  enthusiastic  gardener,  is  a  young  man 
in  the  prime  of  life  and  full  of  energy.  To  him  is  entrusted  the 
working  of  the  whole  estate.  After  viewing  the  grounds  and  houses 
he  said,  ‘‘  Now  you  must  see  my  pets,”  leading  me  to  see  a  grand 
pedigree  herd  of  cattle — perhaps  the  finest  in  the  Midlands — Guernseys 
and  Jerseys,  many  of  them  prizewinners  at  the  leading  shows.  The 
“  Home  Farm  ”  adjoining  the  gardens  is  a  model,  such  as  your  farming 
authority  would  rejoice  to  see.  and  where  he  would  find  a  hearty 
welcome.  Stepping  inside  Mr.  Empson’s  garden  office,  I  found  the  walls 
covered  with  prize  cards,  the  majority  firsts,  and  dozens  of  them.  This 
is  sufficient  to  prove  the  abilities  of  a  good  all  round  man,  for  on  exami¬ 
nation  I  found  they  are  for  plants,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  not  forgetting 
the  Guernsey  and  Jersey  favourites.  It  will  be  seen  that  Mrs.  Wingfield 
is  a  great  patron  of  gardening  and  important  country  pursuits. — 
A.  Outram. 
REVIEW  OF  THE  FRUIT  SEASON,  1898. 
By  Mr.  G.  Bunyard,  V.M.H.  Read  at  the  Horticultural  Club. 
Following  an  abnormally  dry  winter,  with  a  February  of  unusual 
sunshine  and  warmth,  fruit  crops  looked  promising,  and  the  necessary 
work  on  the  land  was  well  forward.  The  blossoming  was  of  unusual 
beauty  and  profusion,  but  a  cold  spell  of  weather,  with  a  very  low  night 
temperature,  set  in  in  April,  and  continued  with  slight  intermissions  nearly 
into  July,  so  that  the  abundant  set  of  fruit  failed  to  swell,  and  conse¬ 
quently  dropped  wholesale,  while  a  swarm  of'  aphides,  with  mould,  on 
the  foliage  promised  to  annihilate  such  fruit  as  had  set  on  the  healthiest 
and  most  vigorous  trees.  However,  to  take  the  “  ground  crops  ”  first. 
Strawberries. — Although  these  were  as  late  as  June  25th  before 
they  commenced  to  ripen  in  Kent,  the  crop  was  a  very  heavy  one,  and  the 
absence  of  showers  and  storms  caused  the  berries  to  mature  in  grand 
condition,  and  very  few  were  spoilt  on  the  land.  Prices  were  good.  The 
late  April  frosts  caused  a  few  of  the  earliest  blooming  sorts  to  fall  in  our 
district  ;  but  although  a  few  outside  varieties  were  not  satisfactory,  the 
main  sorts  were  very  fine.  Royal  Sovereign  being  top  for  size  and  flavour 
combined,  while  Dr.  Hogg  kept  its  premier  place,  closely  followed  by  the 
Countess,  which  was  superb. 
Gooseberries. — An  abnormal  crop,  the  berries  being,  very  large, 
and  afforded  perhaps  the  best  crop  of  any  fruit.  Very  fine  punnets  of 
yellow  and  white  sorts  were  in  the  town  markets,  and  they  lasted  a  longer 
time  than  usual.  Unfortunately  they  were  some  fourteen  days  later  than 
other  seasons,  so  that  a  large  quantity  were  unpicked,  as  the  Bank 
Holiday  came  before  they  were  all  sold,  and  the  loss  of  four  days  was 
fatal  (no  picking  on  Saturday,  and  pickers  on  pleasure  till  Wednesday). 
Red  Currants  were  good  and  sold  freely.  Black  Currants  did  not 
make  such  prices  as  were  expected,  as  there  were  large  importations 
from  the  Continent.  Still  they  paid  well,  and  bid  fair  to  do  so  for  many 
years,  as  the  mite  has  played  havoc  with  so  many  plantations.  While  on 
this  subject,  a  cure  has  yet  to  be  found,  as  the  minute  larvae  are  so 
concealed  in  the  buds  that  no  spray  or  wash  can  reach  them.  Picking  off 
is  a  partial  remedy,  and  the  system  of  cutting  back  every  other  year  has 
been  tried  with  very  poor  results  in  Kent,  the  strong  new  growths  being 
infested  worse  than  ever.  Clever  growers  think  planting  wider  apart 
with  severe  thinning  out  of  old  wood,  combined  with  rich  cultivation,  may 
help.  We  know  that  bushes  12  feet  apart  in  our  nursery  have  been  so  far 
free  from  mite,  and  have  borne  every  season.  Ripened  wood  may  check 
this  pest.  We  fail  to  find  any  one  kind  resist  the  mite  more  than 
another,  and  in  many  cases  so-called  remedies  have  been  worse  than  the 
disease.  White  Currants  are  finding  more  favour  as  a  market  crop.  I 
saw  some  fine  ones  in  the  London  shops  this  season. 
Raspberries  suffered  severely  from  the  extreme  heat  and  drought, 
and  the  growers  only  found  consolation  in  very  high  prices  ;  cases  of  £50 
a  ton  are  known.  I  fear  the  plant  has  suffered  severely  from  the  red  spider 
since  the  crop  has  been  gathered,  as  the  fields  present  a  reddish  brown 
appearance,  that  is  not  promising  for  the  crop  of  1899. 
Cherries  have  been  the  shortest  3'ield  for  some  years,  and  those 
fortunate  growers  who  had  a  crop  have  done  well.  Record  prices  were 
made  here  and  there,  but  the  average  wat  low,  and  I  fear  the  trees,  b.-ing 
surface  feeders,  will  suffer  for  some  time,  except  where  the  owners  of  grass 
orchards  have  kept  the  sheep  fed  well,  as  nothing  does  orchards  of  Cherries 
more  good  than  keeping  the  grass  fed  down  close  by  fattening  sheep. 
Pears. — The  crop  was  very  light  in  orchards  ;  even  several  of  the 
common  early  kinds  failed.  I  think  this  was  in  a  great  measure  duo  to 
the  fact  that  the  winter  drought  did  not  leave  these  deep-rooted  trees 
sufficient  moisture  to  assure  the  swelling  of  the  fruit.  In  gardens  there 
are  grand  crops  on  walls  in  many  places,  and  also  on  pyramids,  but 
these,  of  course,  secure  proper  attention  in  watering,  thinning  the  fruit, 
and  securing  good  clean  foliage.  The  1898  season  again  emphasises  the 
fact  the  gardeners  must  grow  a  greater  variety  than  seems  at  first 
necessary,  as  without  some  of  the  second-rate  sorts  this  year  we  should 
be  without  Pears  at  all.  Generally  second-class  kinds  are  good  in  a  dry 
year.  I  allude  to  such  as  Clapp’s  Favourite.  Dr.  Jules  Gnyot,  Doyennd 
Boussoch,  Beurrb  d’Amanlis,  Princess,  Colmar  d’Etc,  and  Duchesse 
d’Angouleme,  which  are  this  year  so  serviceable.  We  cannot  depend 
entirely  on  Doyenne  de  Comice,  Marie  Louise,  and  others  of  the  highest 
quality.  One  grand  Pear  is  again  to  the  fore  — Emile  d’Heyst.  It  is 
curious  that  a  Pear  that  I  knew  fifty  years  back  is  yet  so  little  known. 
