September  14,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
227 
conduct  felling  and  selling,  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to 
mentally  measure  and  value  the  tree.  He  looked  it  up  and  down, 
then  after  seeming  to  study  his  boots  for  a  moment,  sententiously 
remarked,  “700  feet.”  Query,  “the  value?”  Answer,  “£70  at 
least,  might  fetch  £100.”  Then  spoke  Mr.  Allan — “  the  last  time  it 
was  measured  the  result  was  680  feet,  and  an  offer  was  madeof  £100.” 
The  mental  measurer  quietly  shook  hands  with  himself,  and  we  passed 
on.  It  may  be  of  advantage  to  young  gardeners  to  learn  to  measure 
timber.  The  old  one,  who  is  wielding  the  pen,  found  the  acquirement 
serviceable  forty  years  ago.  Mr.  Allan  has  all  sorts  of  trees  and 
shrubs  in  the  estate  nursery,  also  splendidly  fruited  plants  of  Tomatoes. 
He  had  been  intercrossing  Nisbet’s  Victoria,  Conference,  and  another 
for  producing  long  racemes  of  medium  sized  and  saleable  fruit.  He 
has  succeeded,  for  one  cluster  contained  sixteen,  and  he  thinks  the 
variety  is  worthy  of  its  name — Up-to-Date. 
It  may  be  in  the  recollection  of  some  readers  that  the  front  part  of 
Lord  Suffield’s  fine  mansion  was  destroyed  by  fire  some  years  ago. 
The  divisional  walls  of  the  burnt-out  rooms  were  cleared  away  ;  the 
external  walls,  being  practically  uninjured,  still  stand,  enclosing  a 
capacious  square.  This  was  planted  wilh  shrubs,  in  beds,  and  the 
inside  of  the  walls  with  Ivy,  which  now  covers  them.  The  effect  is, 
to  say  the  least,  unusual,  and  may  be  unique;  but  one  hesitates  to 
employ  a  word  that  is  so  commonly  misused.  If  this  instance  of 
forming  a  miniature  pleasure  ground  with  hardy  shrubs  within  the 
walls  of  a  mansion  is  without  an  equal,  it  is  then,  and  only  then, 
unique.  The  uuiujured  part  of  the  mansion  is  very  large,  and 
tenanted,  Lord  Suffield  occupying  his  marine  residence  at  Cromer. 
There  is  a  large  terrace  flower  garden  at  Guuton,  not  formally  planted, 
but  rendered  attractive  and  enjoyable  in  an  informal  way  with 
inexpensive  flowers.  Mr.  Allan  has  improved  the  pleasure  grounds 
considerably  from  time  to  time,  as  he  can  spare  men  in  the  winter. 
He  is  evidently  a  utilitarian  and  economiser,  and  makes  the  most  of 
resources. 
The  kitchen  garden  is  old  but  good,  and  the  glass  structures  not 
of  the  most  modern  type.  Splendid  Muscat  and  Gros  Maroc  Grapes 
were  seen,  and  every  house  and  frame  stocked  with  something  useful. 
Tomatoes  occupied  much  space,  and  the  new  Melon  previously 
mentioned  was  fruiting  freely  in  long  pits.  The  new  Strawberry 
Lady  Suffield,  which  Mr.  Allan  regards  as  his  best,  was  producing 
runners  freely  to  meet  the  already  considerable  demand  for  plants. 
Pears  on  walls  were  bearing  bountiful  crops,  with  scarcely  an 
exception,  though  the  blossoms  had  not  been  protected.  In  the 
open  the  most  profitable  variety  of  fruit  this  year  was  Rivers’ 
Czar  Plum,  every  tree  bearing  an  abundant  crop  of  fine  marketable 
fruit,  of  greater  value  than  the  crops  of  all  other  sorts  put  together. 
Asparagus  is  finely  grown  at  Gunton.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to  it, 
while  care  and  skill  are  exercised  in  culture.  Connover’s  Colossal  and 
Argenteuil  are  the  varieties,  the  commoner  forms  being  discarded. 
Single  one-year-old  plants — not  clusters  of  seedlings — are  planted 
3  feet  apart  on  the  level,  in  rows  4  feet  asunder.  The  top  growth  of 
three-year-old  plants  is  wonderful,  each  cluster  of  growths  forming  a 
large  bush,  and  the  bushes  quite  meet  each  other.  The  difference 
between  the  two  varieties  is  this — Connover’s  Colossal  “stools  out” 
by  far  the  more  freely,  producing  thrice  the  number  of  growths  that 
are  afforded  by  the  Argenteuil ;  but  these  are  much  the  stronger, 
7  feet  high,  or  2  feet  higher  than  the  other.  This,  the  Argenteuil,  is 
Mr.  Allan’s  favourite,  because  of  the  splendid  heads  it  yields  in  the 
spring,  though  Connover’s  Colossal  throws  up  a  greater  number  of 
smaller  size.  The  distinctions  indicated  are  clearly  marked  in  the 
two  plantations,  and  the  pollen-bearing  plants  are,  as  a  rule,  notably 
stronger  than  the  seed  bearers,  and  may  be  expected  to  afford  the 
finer  produce  for  cutting.  This  will  be  carefully  noted,  for  Mr.  Allan 
likes  to  know  how  to  obtain  the  best  of  everything.  He  has  not  much 
to  learn  in  the  art  of  entertaining  his  friends,  and  sending  them  away 
satisfied. 
A  drive  of  five  or  six  miles  across  country  to  Melton  Constable 
suggested  that  here  if  anywhere  farmers  should  be  prosperous.  Yards 
were  full  of  ricks  of  new  and  old  hay,  as  well  as  of  corn,  for  some  of 
last  year’s  were  visible,  while  not  a  blank  in  Swedish  Turnip  fields 
could  be  seen.  All  were  full,  and  so  level  that  the  rows  could  not  be 
seen.  How  different  :n  the  south  with  its  bare  and  patchy  fields. 
Barley  stubbles  were  also  green  with  “  seeds,”  for  the  four-course 
system  of  cropping  seems  to  be  in  operation  in  the  district.  We 
approach  Lord  Hastings’  fine  demesne,  and  enter  the  spacious  park 
under  the  arch  of  the  “Tower”  Lodge,  for  from  the  arch  rises  a  lofty 
tower  which  forms  a  striking  feature,  and  in  its  way  may  be  almost 
said  to  be  “  unique.”  Mr.  8hingler  was  evidently  on  the  look  out,  and 
met  us  with  a  quiet,  yet  genuine,  gardener’s  greeting.  On  the  way 
to  the  gardens  and  Grapes  he  happened  to  mention  “cricket.”  The 
junior,  an  advanced  exponent  of  the  “  art,”  pricked  up  his  ears — “Did 
you  say  cricket,  have  you  a  match  on,  who,  where  ?  ”  All  in  a 
breath.  “  Eton  and  Harrow  over  in  the  park  there  ;  his  lordship  is 
entertaining  Eton,  and  Sir  Samuel  Hoare,  Harrow,”  was  the  quiet 
response.  It  was  enough,  gardens  and  Grapes  must  wait.  If  you 
have  an  invalid  to  look  after  you  must  let  him  have  his  own  way  ; 
and  wait  they  did  till  it  was  a  case  of  a  rush  and  a  glance  all  the 
way  through  and  onward  to  the  station. 
The  first  glance  was  across  the  fine  flower  garden,  in  which  large 
mixed  beds  of  stately  plants  show  the  more  effectively  in  contrast 
with  brilliant  masses  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums.  Sutton’s  miniature 
Sunflower  is  employed  with  great  advantage  in  mixtures.  A  long 
border,  brilliant  with  double  Zinnias  (Dickson’s),  and  a  background  of 
the  Sunflower,  was  remarkably  fine.  Plants  of  the  last  named  raised 
and  grown  sturdily  in  pots,  had  formed  dwarf  floriferous  bushes,, 
the  main  stem'  near  the  ground  being  as  thick  as  a  man’s  thumb.. 
There  had  been  no  sowing  too  early  and  growing  the  plants  spindly, 
or  such  telling  specimens  could  not  have  been  obtained.  We  rush 
for  the  Grapes.  They  are  grown  as  was  described  in  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture  of  October  20th  last  year.  The  black  Grapes  are  simply 
grand.  The  Muscats  have,  through  some  occult  reason,  unfortunately 
collapsed,  Mr.  Shingler  suspects  through  a  chill,  and  this  may  be  the 
cause,  as  they  are  the  worst  at  the  cooler  end  of  a  house  that 
certainly  would  be  better  with  a  more  generous  supply  of  piping.  As 
is  generally  known,  Mr.  Shingler’s  sport  from  Muscat  Hamburgh — 
Lady  Hastings — has  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Paul  &  Sons,. 
Cheshunt.  It  has  a  general  resemblance  to  Madresfield  Court,  but  is- 
quite  distinct  from  it  and  all  others,  and  is  of  the  first  quality,  as  it 
ought  to  be,  considering  its  origin.  Such  Alicantes,  Gros  Marocs,  and 
Gros  Colmans  are  rarely  seen,  while  a  seedling  from  Lady  Hastings  X 
Gros  Colman  bids  fair  to  surpass  them  all.  It  is  as  fine  as  any  Gros 
Colman,  which  it  resembles,  keeps  as  long,  and  is  of  superior  quality. 
It  should  be  sent  to  the  R.II.S.  in  April  or  May.  Up-to-Date 
Tomatoes  in  8-inch  pots  were  trained  as  an  arch  through  the  centre 
of  a  long  span-roofed  house,  the  average  weight  of  fruit  per  plant 
being  14'lbs.  _ 
We  hear  a  good  deal  about  Grape  growing  in  the  natural  soil. 
When  they  succeed  it  is  because  the  soil  is  naturally  suitable.  Ar. 
Melton  Constable  it  is  not,  an  1  some  Grapes  grown  in  it  are  dismally 
lacking  in  both  size  and  quality  as  compared  with  magnificent 
samples  of  the  same  varieties  growing  in  prepared  soil  in  the  same 
house.  But  everybody  who  tries  to  grow  Grapes  is  not  a  William 
Shingler.  No  small  amount  of  judgment  is  required  in  preparing 
Vine  borders  and  skill  in  their  management  afterwards.  Tnese 
requisites  are  embodied  in  the  person  of  the  widely  experienced, 
extremely  modest,  and  genuine  gardener  at  Melton  Constable,  and,  as 
the  junior  remarked,  it  was  a  “treat”  to  see  his  work  with  black 
Grapes.  What  he  will  do  with  the  Muscats  remains  to  be  seen.  The 
short  holiday  in  the  East  is  at  an  end,  and  the  “invalid”  has  gone- 
like  a  giant  refreshed  to  the  estate  that  he  manages  so  well ;  and 
none  the  worse  for  the  “changes” — by  rail  and  road,  with  a  sniff 
of  the  sea,  is — The  SenicR. 
RHUS  TYPH1NA. 
From  the  number  of  specimens  met  with  in  gardens  this  species 
appears  to  be  the  most  popular  of  the  genus  to  planters  in  general,  and, 
while  there  are  at  least  half  a  dozen  species,  which  in  their  own  par¬ 
ticular  style  are  quite  as  beautiful,  this,  by  its  hardiness  and  happy  way 
of  adapting  itselt  to  circumstances,  will  not  be  ousted  from  its  position 
for  a  considerable  time  at  any  rate.  It  is  a  North  American  species,  and 
is  usually  met  with  as  a  small  tree,  8  to  12  and  occasionally  ^16  or  more 
feet  high,  with  a  flat  spreading  head  equalling  in  diameter  and  sometimes 
exceeding  the  height. 
When  growing  in  this  way  the  pinnate  leaves  are  about  1  foot  long 
and  the  inflorescences  from  4  to  6  inches  ;  it  is  not,  however,  when  grown 
i.i  this  way  that  its  full  value  as  an  ornamental  plant  is  seen.  A  good 
way  of  growing  it  is  to  put  young  plants  out  in  beds  or  masses  planted 
thinly,  rich  soTl  being  used.  These  plants  should  be  cut  back  each 
spring  to  within  an  eye  or  two  of  the  old  wood  ;  they  will  then,  early  in 
the  summer,  make  long  strong  growths,  with  leaves  2  to  2^  feet  long,  and 
carry  their  terminal  inflorescences  to  a  height  of  16  inches  above  the 
foliage.  The  inflorescences  are  followed  by  a  mass  <  f  fruit  thickly  covered 
with  dark  red  hairs,  which  keeps  its  colour  until  late  in  the  autumn.  In 
addition  to  being  ornamental  during  summer,  the  leaves  colour  most, 
brilliantly  in  autumn,  making  a  fine  show  for  several  weeks.  It  shoula 
be  stated  that  there  is  both  a  male  and  femrle  form,  and  to  get  the  fruit 
both  should  be  planted  together;  the  male  form  is  met  often  with  as 
viridiflora.  It  is  a  paler  coloured  plant  in  leaves  and  flowers  than  the 
female,  and,  if  anything,  colours  more  brilliantly  in  autumn.  When 
grown  as  describe'),  the  large,  graceful,  luxuriant  foliage,  surmounted 
with  the  stiff  upright  panicles  of  red  fruit,  make  it  au  admirable  plant 
for  lawns  or  sub-tropical  gardens. 
Anyone  who  has  an  old  plant  can  quickly  raise  a  stock  by  cutting  up 
pieces  of  the  roots  into  lengths  of  4  inches  and  inserting  them  in  the 
open  ground  in  spring.  These  will  grow  and  make  good  plants  during 
the  summer. — W.  D. 
