May  14,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
451 
while  signs  of  soil  are  conspicuous  only  by  their  absence.  The  Viola,  a 
yellow  one  as  before  stated,  is  of  exceptional  merit.  The  habit  is  sturdy 
and  very  compact,  and  each  plant  is  flowering  with  remarkable  profusion  ; 
bat  unfortunately  there  is  no  name,  as  it  remains  as  one  of  the  few 
mementoes  of  the  previous  owner. 
From  this  aspect  of  gardening  we  turn  to  the  borders,  wherein 
grow  apace  plants  commonly  grown  and  others  rarely  seen.  Hardy 
trees  and  shrubs,  whether  producers  of  flowers  or  of  beautiful  leaves, 
are  very  popular,  and  have  been  planted  with  careful  discrimina¬ 
tion.  Bold  clumps,  borders,  or  belts  of  them  have  been  formed  about 
the  lawns,  and  look  at  all  times  very  beautiful,  though  never  more  so 
than  in  the  spring,  when  Nature  is  just  awaking,  as  it  were,  from  her 
winter  sleep.  Then  we  have  that  delicate  tender  green  that  is  so 
charming  to  all,  while  the  flowers  of  the  lowly  Primrose,  the  modest 
Violet,  the  ever-pleasing  Snowdrops,  and  the  Daffodils  lend  beauty  in  an 
unpretentious  way.  Flowering  now  are  Cytisus  scoparius  Andreanus, 
C.  prmcox,  Pyrus  malus  floribunda,  Lilacs,  Gueldres  Roses,  Spiraeas  in 
variety,  Dielytra  spectabilis,  Berberis,  and  others.  Besides  these  there  are 
many  such  as  Acers,  Paulownias,  and  Copper  Beeches,  that  are  cultivated 
exclusively  for  the  beauty  of  their  leaves.  In  the  herbaceous  borders 
just  at  present  the  Poet’s  Narcissus,  superb  Polyanthuses,  splendid 
Auriculas,  and  stately  Doronicums  are  doing  the  honours,  while  ere  long 
many  other  plants  will  be  coming  into  flower  for  the  maintenance  of  a 
continued  display.  These  borders  are  all  of  recent  formation,  and  will, 
when  the  plants  become  thoroughly  established,  be  even  more  beautiful 
than  they  are  at  present.  _ 
Continuing  our  peregrinations  we  pass  through  an  avenue  of 
Laburnums,  in  which  almost  all  the  plants  are  carrying  enormous 
numbers  of  their  gorgeous  racemes  of  flowers.  As  we  emerge  from  this 
we  see  before  us  a  splendid  young  Beech,  that  is  growing  apace  ;  and 
learn  with  surprise  that  it  had  during  last  winter  been  removed  from 
one  end  of  the  gardens  to  the  other.  Considering  it  had  been  done  with 
the  aid  of  a  home-made  wooden  platform,  and  pipes  as  runners,  this  was 
a  good  piece  of  work,  and  might  reasonably  have  been  expected  to  result 
in  the  death  of  the  tree.  The  rockery  is  of  limited  dimensions,  but  of 
exquisite  beauty.  Only  small  plants  can  be  grown,  and  Saxifragas 
appear  to  be  great  favourites,  for  many  of  the  smaller  growing  kinds 
find  a  happy  home.  Helianthemums  (Rock  Roses)  also  have  a  place, 
while  Gentians  and  Edelweiss  are  creditably  represented.  Then  there 
are  dwarf  Wallflowers,  Iberis,  and  other  plants  utilised  for  diversified 
beauty.  From  the  rockery,  through  a  winding  path  in  the  grass,  on  the 
sides  of  which  the  Forget-me-not  flourishes,  we  proceed  to  the  Rose 
nursery,  where  are  the  stocks,  the  budded  plants  of  last  year  and  the 
year  before,  and  thence  to  the  gardens  devoted  to  vegetables  and  fruit. 
The  gardens  in  which  are  grown  the  vegetables  and  hardy  fruits  are 
enclosed  by  good  brick  walls,  of  which  it  need  hardly  be  stated  the  capable 
gardener  takes  the  fullest  advantage.  The  soil  here  again,  as  in  the 
Rose  garden,  was  at  one  time  almost  wholly  chalk  ;  but  this  has  been 
carted  away  and  good  loam  substituted  to  a  depth  of  quite  2  feet.  In 
this,  with  manuring8,  top-dressiDgs,  and  mulchings,  all  the  crops  required 
appear  to  thrive  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner  ;  at  least,  if  those  now  in 
use  may  be  taken  as  a  criterion.  Each  quarter  is  edged  with  Box,  which 
is  kept  very  dwarf  and  compact  by  seasonable  clipping,  and  as  a  conse¬ 
quence  always  presents  a  neat  and  tidy  appearance.  The  hardy  fruits, 
such  as  Apples,  Pears,  Plums,  and  Cherries,  with  the  bush  kinds,  including 
Gooseberries,  Raspberries,  Currants,  and  Strawberries,  are  all  extensively 
and  well  represented.  The  trees  are  now  thickly  set  with  fruit,  and  the 
first  thinning  was  about  to  commence  a  week  ago.  This  is  an  aspect  of 
fruit  culture  which  is  often  neglected,  but  that  it  pays  is  proved  by  the 
constancy  of  the  heavy  crops  that  are  taken  from  this  Surrey  garden. 
In  addition  to  these  trees  an  orchard  is  being  formed  in  another  portion 
of  the  estate. 
Turning  to  the  wall  trees,  we  find  the  same  excellent  conditions 
prevail,  a  south  wall  covered  with  Peaches  and  Nectarines  being  par¬ 
ticularly  noticeable  for  the  magnificent  examples  of  culture  with  which 
it  is  occupied.  There  is  a  glass  coping  at  the  top,  at  the  front  of  it  being 
moveable  blinds  for  protection.  On  another  wall  having  the  same  aspect 
Vines  grow,  and  annually  produce  good  crops.  The  rods  are  trained 
perpendicularly,  and  of  course  abundance  of  space  is  left  for  the  thorough 
maturation  of  the  wood.  In  other  positions  are  Apricots,  Plums,  and 
Cherries,  to  each  of  which  a  suitable  position  has  been  allotted.  Under 
glass  the  Vines  are  excellent.  Several  varieties  occupy  some  houses,  but 
Muscat  of  Alexandria  has  a  separate  structure,  as  also  has  the  useful 
Lady  Downe’s.  Peaches  and  Nectarines  planted  out,  Fig  trees  in  pots, 
and  Melons  in  pits,  with  such  vegetables  as  Cucumbers,  Tomatoes,  and 
the  climbing  French  Beans,  have  every  necessary  attention  bestowed  on 
them.  Of  the  last  named  this  grower  speaks  very  highly,  having  found 
it  a  heavy  cropper  and  in  all  respects  satisfactory  on  the  table. 
In  the  plant  department  there  are  many  kinds  deserving  of  more 
than  the  passing  glance  that  can  be  accorded  them  here,  for  every 
plant,  flowering  or  foliage,  is  grown  thoroughly  well.  Carnations  are 
particular  favourites  with  Mr,  Tate,  and  are  very  largely  grown,  as  will 
be  understood  when  it  is  stated  that  upwards  of  200  plants  of  Winter 
Cheer  are  cultivated.  If  Messrs.  Veitch  &  Sons  will  permit  a  suggestion, 
it  would  be  that  the  name  is  changed  to  Perpetual  Cheer,  as  it  is  always 
in  flower.  All  the  best  of  the  Malmaisons  (Mr.  Martin  R.  Smith’s)  find 
a  space,  while  others  seen  are  Madame  Carle,  Mrs.  Leopold  de  Roth¬ 
schild,  with  Uriah  Pike,  which  does  not  here  take  much  credit  as  a 
winter  bloomer.  Chrysanthemums,  loo,  are  grown,  and  considering 
Mr.  Mease’s  record  in  the  north,  and  more  recently  in  the  south,  it  is 
superfluous  to  add  grown  well.  Of  these  more  will  be  heard  and  seen 
as  the  autumn  comes  round.  Orchids  have  a  place  found  for  them,  and 
appear  to  be  in  excellent  health.  Of  those  in  flower  at  present,  Lselia 
purpurata  and  several  varieties  of  Odontoglossum  crispum  are  the  most 
charming. 
Diminishing  space  tells  that  the  clos  ire  must  of  necessity  be  quickly 
put  on  these  notes,  all  too  brief  as  they  are  to  do  justice  to  this  beautiful 
home.  Paragraphs  might 
yet  be  written  of  the 
proposed  changes  and 
additions,  and  of  the 
magnificent  views  with 
which  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  abounds,  but  all 
these  must  remain  for 
the  time  being  in  abey¬ 
ance.  Perhaps  there  are 
some  gardeners  who  do 
not  yet  know  Mr.  Mease, 
and  to  these,  by  the  aid 
of  the  illustration  (fig. 
73),  it  is  a  pleasure  to 
introduce  him  on  paper 
as  a  gardener  who  lives 
for  his  work  and  carries 
out  ;hist(many  duties  to 
the,['Utmost  extent  of 
his  great  abilities.  In 
conclusion  thanks  are 
tendered  to  Mr.  Tate  for 
no  ....  ...  his  kindness  in  impart- 
•  ing  so  many.interestmg 
details  of  work  done, 
being  done,  and  to  be  done,  also  to  Mr.  Mease  for  the  time  he  so 
pleasantly  bestowed  for  the  benefit  of  Journal  readers. — H.  J.  Wright. 
MR.  HORNER’S  GARDEN. 
An  enjoyable  visit  to  Lowfield  was  the  sequence  to  an  invitation 
from  the  Rev  F.  D.  Horner,  conveyed  in  characteristic  terms  as  follows  : 
— “  It  will  be  a  very  great  pleasure  to  see  you  here  for  a  look  round  the 
different  plants.  The  Auriculas  are  still  in  considerable  bloom  and 
many  of  the  Tulips  are  open,  never  so  early  before.  You  will  also 
enjoy  the  Orchids,  and  other  odds  and  ends  about.  The  Dendrobium 
Harveyanum  named  by  Reichenbach  will  have  some  of  its  marvellously 
lovely  and  unique  blooms  open.  Other  Orchids  are  also  very  interest¬ 
ing.  And  do  tarry  with  us  for  the  night ;  your  visit  will  then 
be  altogether  more  complete  than  attempting  to  come  for  only  the 
day . ” 
The  Route  and  Scenery. 
Changing  for  the  Midland  Railway  at  Leeds,  a  two  hours  further 
journey  through  such  scenery  as  the  route  affords  is  to  the  lowland 
dwellers  something  of  a  revelation  of  the  beautiful  and  grand  in  Nature. 
Past  the  famous  ruins  of  Kirkstall  Abbey,  onwards  up  the  comparatively 
narrow,  but  still  beautifully  wooded  valley  of  the  Aire,  ever  ascending 
towards  the  Yorkshire  moorlands,  until  Hellifield  Junction  is  reached, 
then  onwards  across  broad  and  fertile  Ribblesdale,  the  land  of  immense 
limestone  scars,  beautiful  waterfalls,  noted  caves,  with  their  fantastic 
and  wonderful  furniture  of  stalactite  and  stalagmite  ;  the  land  of 
unfathomable  pot-holes  and  swallows,  which  now  and  again  swallow  up 
the  newborn  rivers  brought  forth  by  the  surrounding  moors  and 
mountains.  Still  onwards,  past  Giggleswick,  with  its  noted  ebbing  and 
flowing  well,  the  scars  and  falls  still  increasing  in  altitude  until  we 
come  abreast  on  our  right  of  the  well  known  Yorkshire  mountains, 
Whernside,  Penyghent,  Ingleborough,  aud  Grargreth ;  whilst  on  our 
left  are  the  extensive  moors  dividing  Yorkshire  and  Lancashire,  with 
Pendle’s  massive  shoulder  looming  largely  into  view,  reminding  us  of 
Harrison  Ainsworth’s  “  Lancashire  Witches  ” 
Clapham  Junction  and  Ingleton. 
Eventually  the  refrain  “  Clapham  Junction  ”  salutes  our  ears,  but 
the  idea  of  any  similitude  to  the  London  “  Clapham  Junction,”  through 
which,  it  is  said,  1500  trains  a  day  pass,  is  dispelled  by  the  first  view 
from  the  carriage  window.  Here  we  find  a  small  roadside  station, 
planted  amidst  lovely  scenery,  and  the  imposing  summit  of  Ingleborough 
frowning  down  upon  us.  “  Change  here  for  Ingleton,”  which  is  now 
becoming  well  known  as  a  holiday  resort  to  the  inhabitants  of  Leeds, 
Bradford,  and  other  thickly  populated  centres  of  the  West  Riding  and 
Lancashire.  Ingleton  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  Ingleborough  on  the  one 
side  and  Grargreth  on  the  other,  the  stupendous  Twistleton  Scar  between, 
thus  forming  the  gathering  ground  for  the  two  rivers,  the  Greta  and  the 
Doe,  each  of  them  having  cut  its  way  through  the  limestone  rocks, 
