104 
August  8,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
ceased  for  ever — the  roll  of  Battle  in  rent.  The  shields  of  the  Norman 
lineages  are  trodden  in  the  dust.  The  Abbey  church  is  levelled  to  the 
ground— and  a  dank  and  reedy  pool  (ills  the  spot  where  tho  foundations 
of  the  choir  have  been  uncovered,  merely  for  the  gaze  of  the  idle  visitor 
or  the  meditation  of  the  moping  antiquary.’  But  it  has  since  been  cleared, 
and  is  now  readily  examined  by  the  hundreds  of  interested  visitors. 
The  Abbey  itself  is  partially  ancient  and  partially  modern,  and  though 
the  architecture  is  slightly  different,  there  is  a  pleasing  harmony  over 
the  whole.  As  a  reference  to  the  illustration  (fig.  23)  will  prove,  it  is 
ornately  handsome,  and  is  adorned  with  numerous  headpieces,  emble¬ 
matical  of  the  various  phases  of  life  ;  some,  of  course,  are  grotesque, 
and  others  pleasing  in  their  characteristics.  Various  portions  ot  the 
building  are  well  covered  with  such  plants  as  Boses,  Camellias, 
Ceanothuses,  Stauntonia  latifolia,  which  (lowers  in  May  and  fruits  in 
autumn;  Eucryphia  pinnatifida,  Olearias,  l’ernettyas,  Cydonia  (I  yrus) 
jup  mieu,  and  a  splendid  Garrya  elliptica,  about  30  feet  in  height.  1  lie 
formal  garden  seen  in  the  picture  is  in  the  Dutch  style,  with  its  closely 
clipped  Box  edgings,  between  which  are  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  Lobelias, 
and  other  suitable  plants.  Mr.  Camm  takes  somewhat  drastic  steps  with 
the  Lobelias  to  insure  late  (lowering.  Every  plant  is  clipped  down  to  the 
ground  early  in  June,  and  this  results  in  late,  sturdy  growth,  with  a 
profusion  of  (lowers  at  the  end  of  the  summer.  Daphne  indicia  llowers 
and  diffuses  its  fragrance  near  here,  as  does  I),  laureolu,  while  the 
beautiful  Carpenteria  californica  (lowers  year  by  year.  Without  the 
walls  of  the  Refectory  Lapagerias  are  to  be  seen  in  Mower,  with  Tropasolum 
speciostim  in  one  position  looking  wondorfully  well.  Splendid  Rhododen¬ 
drons  grow  on  all  hands,  ami  in  places  are  accompanied  by  healthy  Bays  and 
Myrtles.  Aralia  Sieboldi  is  an  immense  bush  after  years  of  open-air  life  ; 
and  Dracrena  indivisa,  under  similar  conditions,  is  in  the  best  of  health. 
At  no  great  distance  from  the  Dutch  garden  are  the  Lime  and  1  e\v 
walks,  of  which  the  latter  is  said  to  be  300  years  old.  The  grass  in  this 
neighbourhood  has  all  been  planted  with  bulbs,  Snowdrops,  and  Aconites, 
while  not  far  distant  is  the  Primrose  garden  filled  with  the  choicest 
varieties.  Cedars,  Acers,  and  standard  Wistarias  are,  with  flowering  trees 
and  shrubs,  excellent  hereabouts.  Immense  clumps  of  rock  Boses  make 
a  most  pleasing  effect  when  the  plants  are  producing  their  charming 
flowers.  Traversing  cool  and  shady  walks  and  passing  what  Mr.  Camm 
terms  Camellia  Lane  (an  expression  that  calls  for  no  elucidatory  remarks) 
we  enter  the  fountain  garden,  which  is  one  of  the  most  charming  of  its 
kind  that  I  have  seen.  It  is  full  of  old-time  flowers  that  grow  with 
delightful  profusion.  Charming  Boses,  grand  plants  of  Lupinus  arboreus, 
Fuchsia  Iticoartoni,  Spiriea  arisefolia,  Bomneya  Coulteri,  (1  auras,  Colchi- 
cums,  Irises,  and  scores  of  others  assist  the  arches  anil  pillars  of  Clematis 
to  delight  every  visitor,  another  charming  factor  in  the  scene  being  the 
Clematis  montana  growing  to  the  top  of  lofty  trees.  One  could  spend 
hours  amongst  the  splendid  Hollies,  Arbutus  unedo,  Buddlea  globosa,  and 
the  hundreds  of  others  ;  but  it  must  not  be,  as  just  a  word  or  two  must  be 
given  to  other  departments.  For  the  two  photos  we  are  indebted  to  the 
kindnoss  of  Mr.  A.  Brooker  of  Hastings. 
To  reach  the  fruit  and  vegetable  gardens  and  Mr  Camtn's  house  it  is 
necessary  to  pass  over  a  long  stretch  of  park  land,  and  then  go  through  a 
wood,  and  is  in  this  respect  unique,  as  (except  a  small  kitchen  garden  in 
the  middle  of  a  wood  at  Bramham  Park)  I  know  of  no  garden  in  a  similar 
position.  And  what  a  garden  it  is.  Faultless  in  condition,  and  magni¬ 
ficently  cropped,  it  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of  intelligent  cultivation 
that  anyone  could  conceive.  There  are  no  haphazard  methods  of  pro¬ 
cedure,  but  definite  lines  are  taken  which  are  known  to  be  followed  by  the 
most  satisfactory  results.  So  closely  is  the  succession  followed  that  hardly 
any  bare  ground  is  to  be  seen,  as  if  this  were  not  done  Mr.  Camm  would 
find  it  extremely  difficult  to  maintain  an  unbroken  supply.  There  is  the 
same  excellence  in  the  outdoor  fruit,  while  Grapes  and  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  under  glass  are  no  whit  inferior.  The  plant  houses,  too,  are 
characterised  by  cleanliness  of  the  structures  themselves  as  well  as  of  the 
plants  within  them,  and  though  some  of  Mr.  Gamin's  ideas  are  a  deviation 
from  orthodox  lines,  they  are  invariably  followed  by  the  greatest  success. 
Tho  position  is  one  of  responsibility,  and  necessitates  constant  attention  on 
the  part  of  the  gardener,  which  its  general  excellence  proves  it  to  receive, 
and  makes  it  a  credit  to  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  as  well  as  to  the 
gardener  and  his  staff. — H.  J.  Wright. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES  ON  LOW  WALLS 
IN  HERTFORDSHIRE. 
On  duly  22nd  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  see  grand  fruits  of 
Alexander  Peach,  which  I  remarked  as  early  and  exceptionally  fine  for 
outdoors,  and  was  informed  bv  the  grower  that  similar  fruits  had  been 
forthcoming  from  a  tree  on  a  low  wall  (6  feet  above  ground)  with  a  south 
aspect  for  a  week,  or  since  July  15th.  This  variety  originated  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  and  Waterloo  hailed  from  New'  York  ;  were  introduced 
into  this  country  by  Messrs  Bivers  &  Son,  Sawbridge worth.  The  two 
varieties  are  often  confounded  with  each  other,  but  according  to  Wickson 
they  are  distinct,  as  follows  : — 
“  Alexander  (Illinois). — Most  grown  as  best  early  variety.  Fruit 
medium  to  large,  greenish  white,  nearly  covered  with  deep  red  ;  flesh 
firm,  juicy,  and  sweet  :  bears  transportation  well  ;  pit  partly  free.-’ 
“  Waterloo  New  York). — Medium  to  large,  round  ;  pale  green, 
ANI)  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
marbled  with  red,  flesh  adhering  partially  to  pit,  greenish  white,  juicy, 
vinous.  Not  largely  grown.” 
1  have  grown  both  varieties,  and  have  found  the  fruit  to  sometimes 
accord  with  one  and  sometimes  the  other  description,  not  on  the  same 
tree,  but  with  trees  named  ihe  one  or  the  other,  so  they  have  evidently 
got  mixed.  I  consider  the  “deep  red”  (Aleian(ler)  better  than  the 
-  marbled  with  red”  (Waterloo),  for  this  with  me  on  a  south-west  wall 
was  given  to  “  wart,"  and  in  consequence  assume  an  irregular  outline. 
Early  Louise  (Rivers). — A  pale  coloured  and  smaller  fruit,  does  well  on 
walls,  and  ripens  with  Alexander,  or  shortly  after  that  variety.  From 
its  lighter  colour  it  gives  a  pleasing  change  at  dessert.  The  tree  is  abo 
hardy  and  free  bearing. 
Hale’s  Early  follows  the  preceding,  being  a  medium  sized  fruit  of  the 
first  quality  and  a  freestone  ;  after  which  Livers’  Early  York,  with  a 
fine  colour  and  exquisite  flavour,  takes  up  the  running  along  with  l)r. 
Ilogg  and  Crimson  Galan  le,  both  with  colour  enough  and  flavour  for  the 
most  fastidious.  Light  colour,  great  size,  and  highest  quality  are  found 
in  Alexandra  Noblesse.  Who  has  tried  Goshawk  on  the  open  wall  ? 
Then  there  is  Dyraond,  or  shall  it  be  Grosse  Mignonne  ?  What  says  the 
Editor  ?  Is  it  hardier,  earlier,  or  in  what  is  the  difference  ?  Bellegarde, 
Violette  IIAtive,  and  Barrington  have  colour  enough  for  most  people,  the 
fruits  being  largo,  melting,  and  excellent,  To  finish  up  with  there  are 
tho  Princess  of  Wales,  Gladstone,  Sea  Eagle,  and  Late  Admirable, 
Of  Nectarines  there  are  Advance,  Hunt’s  Tawny,  Ilardwicke,  Improved 
Downton,  Balgowan,  Goldoni,  and  Stanwick  Elrugo  for  August  and  into 
September,  Then  Darwin,  Humboldt  and  Dryden,  with  Violet  Hative  to 
follow,  and  the  season  closes  with  Victoria,  which  is  not  tender,  only  in  a 
cold  climate. 
Of  all  outdoor  fruits  I  think  Peaches  and  Nectarines  are  the  finest, 
and  can  now  be  had,  thanks  to  cross-fertilisers,  from  mid-July  to  the 
middle  of  October  by  everyone  with  a  6-foot  high  wall  facing  south. 
Where?  Nearly  every  where  in  England  and  Wales,  also  in  many  gardens 
in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  that  are  not  too  high,  too  cold,  and  .too  wet. 
In  Hertfordshire  Peaches  and  Nectarines  thrive  on  substantial  loams 
over  calcareous  and  ferruginous  gravels  up  to  400  feet  above  sea  level, 
and  those  that  require  variety  and  wish  to  gain  experience,  can  grow 
the  trees  as  oblique  or  diagonal  cordons  at  18  inches  to  2  feet  apart  or 
on  the  U  system,  figured  some  years  ago  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture, 
at  4  feet  distance  asunder,  or  planted  12  feet  apart,  the  space  the  trees 
are  asunder  on  tho  6-foot  wall,  from  which  the  fruit  alluded  to  was 
gathered  this  year  in  mid- July. 
The  wall  has  no  particular  projecting  coping,  and  all  the  protection 
given  consists  of  a  double  thickness  of  herring  nets  for  the  blossom  and 
young  fruit  in  the  spring.  There  is  no  special  treatment,  just  the  ordinary 
keeping  clean  and  cultural  procedure  practised  for  over  300  years  in  the 
British  Islands.  Why  not  utiliso  similar  walls  for  growing  Peaches  and 
Nectarines,  instead  of  occupying  them  with  fruits  that  can  be  grown  quite 
as  well,  if  not  much  better,  in  the  open  ? — SEXAGENARIAN. 
|  D.ymond,  as  we  have  grown  it  on  an  open  wall,  was  darker  in  colour 
and  a  little  later  than  Grosse  Mignonne,  and  the  most  certain  in  bearing 
of  all  in  not  tho  most  favourable  of  positions.  Have  ihe  two  excellent 
varieties,  like  Alexander  and  Waterloo,  “got  mixed  ?  ’  ]  J 
PEAT  MOSS  LITTER  AN])  GARDEN  (’RODS. 
Although  1  have  had  no  very  extensive  experience  with  the  above 
manure,  l  have  used  it  freely  for  garden  crops  during  the  last  eighteen 
months  with  good  results.  1  have,  however,  often  heard  other  cultivators 
complain  that  when  used  continuously  it  sours  the  soil,  and  crops  do  not 
succeed  in  it.  It  is  a  very  powerful  manure,  as  the  moss  absorbs  so 
much  urine,  and  as  the  fibrous  material  decays  slowly  it  is  unwise  to  use 
it  exclusively  on  any  soil.  I  should  advise  “  W.  M.”  (page  (!)  to  dress 
his  soil  with  lime  during  the  autumn,  and  next  season  rely  on  chemical 
manures.  Air-slaked  lime,  if  scattered  between  the  crops  during  showery 
weather,  would,  I  think,  considerably  improve  matters  this  season.  —  II.  D. 
Peat  Moss  Litter  and  Fungus. 
I  MIGHT  safely  add  to  the  above  title  insect  pests,  for  these  have  to 
be  included  amongst  (the  troubles  of  the  gardener  who  has  to  use  peat 
moss  litter.  I  must  admit  1  was  rather  pleased  with  tho  manure  when  it 
first  came  out,  as  there  was  no  strawy  litter  about,  and  it  made  a  cupital 
top-dressing  for  flower  and  other  beds  ;  but  now  1  can  fully  endorse  all 
that  “  W.  M.”  and  others  (pnges  6  and  52)  have  said.  Crops  went  off 
in  an  unaccountable  manner,  and  diseases  came  that  we  never  had  before, 
and  which  have  already  cost  a  considerable  sum  to  reduce,  far  more  than 
many  employers  ate  aware  of.  In  addition  to  this,  I  know  more  than  one 
gardener  who  has  had  to  bear  the  blame  of  crops  failing  through  diseases 
caused  by  its  introduction  ;  and  although  peat  moss  is  not  used  now  in 
the  district  in  which  I  live,  the  diseases  are  most  difficult  to  eradicate. 
Lime  has  been  applied,  and  we  are  in  hopes  of  seeing  good  results  from 
its  application.  1  do  not  know  if  insect  eggs  were  introduced  with  the 
peat  moss  ;  if  not,  it  made  an  excellent  breeding  ground  for  them  when 
used  as  a  top-dressing.  Cockchafer  grubs,  surface  caterpillars,  and 
wireworras  were  always  abundant  where  it  was  used. —  L.  B. 
Cardiee  Show. — Mr.  W.  G.  Godfrey,  Exmouth,  writes: — “I  would 
like  to  call  your  attention  to  the  omission  of  my  exhibit  at  Cardiff  Show. 
It  was  the  most  extensive  trade  exhibit  in  the  whole  Show,  and  consisted 
mainly  of  Cannas,  which  were  a  very  promimmt  feature.  In  one  tent  1 
had  considerably  more  than  half  the  space  at  disposal.” 
