204 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  27,  188!. 
A  DAY  IN  THE  MIDLANDS. 
A  Morning  at  Osberton. 
As  was  suggested  in  the  preceding  portion  of  this  article,  on  page  182 
of  the  last  issue,  a  few  notes  on  a  morning  at  Osberton  will  now  be  given. 
That  ail  possible  time  should  be  put  in  at  this  estate  an  early  breakfast 
under  the  hospitable  roof  of  Mr.  Summers  was  partaken  of,  and  ere  it 
was  quite  finished  the  trap  was  waiting  to  bear  us  on  our  journey. 
Through  the  broad  deer  park  and  shady  roads  we  quickly  emerge  into 
the  highway  on  the  road  back  to  Worksop.  We  cross  the  borler  from 
Yorkshire  into  Nottingham,  and,  despite  a  drizzling  rain,  the  ride  is 
very  enjoyable.  About  seven  miles  separate  Sandbeck  from  Osberton, 
and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  latter  half  of  the  journey  is  by  grass 
roads,  by  whose  sides  the  wild  Thyme  grows,  and  diffuses  fragrance 
rendered  yet  more  sweet  by  the  Honeysuckles  that  twine  in  the  hedge¬ 
rows.  Sandy  indeed  is  the  soil  here,  but  the 
crops  in  the  neighbouring  fields  prove  bow 
fertile  it  may  be  made  by  thorough  cultiva¬ 
tion.  The  farming  is  done  on  the  same  lines 
as  those  mentioned  as  prevailing  on  the 
route  to  Sandbeck .  But  the  gates  of  Osberton 
are  before  us,  and  are  opened  wide  for  our 
entry.  _ 
Though  we  are  within  the  confines  of 
Osberton  we  have  by  no  means  reached  the 
gardens  ;  on  the  contrary,  we  have  still  some 
distance  to  go.  Oceans  of  Bracken  surround 
us,  while  clumps  of  trees  with  odd  specimens 
rise  at  irregular  intervals  and  relieve  the 
landscape  of  any  suspicion  of  bareness. 
There  are  some  magnificent  examples  of 
several  of  the  forest  trees,  while  Conifers 
thrive  apace.  For  miles  around  stretches 
this  noble  estate,  the  home  of  the  Eight 
Hon.  F.  J.  Savile  Foljambe  and  Lady 
Gertrude  Foljambe,  who  as  landlords  are 
deeply  respected,  and  as  patrons  of  horti¬ 
culture  are  known  far  and  wide.  Each 
takes  a  keen  interest  in  the  whole,  while 
each  has  particular  hobbies,  so  that  the 
gardens  in  all  departments  are  admirably 
kept.  But  this  they  alone  could  not  do  ; 
they  must  have  someone  to  attend  to  the 
details,  so  that  the  whole  structure  of  flower 
gardens,  pleasure  grounds,  kitchen  and  fruit 
gardens,  with  the  many  glass  structures,  shall 
be  well  built,  stocked,  and  maintained.  Able 
are  the  hands  in  which  this  great  responsi¬ 
bility  lies,  for  in  Mr.  T.  H.  Grasp  is  found 
the  man  whose  whole  object  is  not  to  equal 
only  what  has  been  dona  in  the  gardens  in 
the  past,  but  to  excel  in  every  direction 
possible.  He  may  be  seen  standing  at  his 
cottage  door  in  the  illustration  (fig.  41) 
reproduced  from  a  photograph,  and  which  we 
have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  to  readers. 
Hamburghs,  Gros  Oolmans,  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  and  Madresfield  Court 
are  rich  in  colour  and  perfect  in  finish  as  anyone  need  wish  to  see,  while 
the  Muscat  of  Alexandria  and  Golden  Queen  are  superb.  To  overcome 
the  shanking  Mr.  Grasp  let  the  leaders  run  several  yards,  and  encouraged 
fresh  roots  in  every  conceivable  manner,  and  the  results  must  be  to  him 
and  all  concerned  most  gratifying. 
The  pen  has  run  on  so  much  that  we 
have  introduced  the  personages  ere  they 
have  been  found,  but  it  is  of  little  import, 
as  we  are  soon  at  that  door  where  Mr.  Crasp 
is  seen  in  the  picture.  Early  as  it  was  when 
we  arrived,  the  chief  was  out  for  a  tour  of 
inspection,  and,  the  garden  found,  we  soon 
ran  the  man  to  earth.  Our  reception  was  a 
warm  one  indeed,  and  no  time  was  wasted 
before  we  commenced  a  look  round  these 
famous  gardens.  The  word  famous  has  been 
used  here  as  applying  to  the  gardens  as  a 
whole,  but  if  there  is  one  point  in  which 
Osberton  is  stronger  than  another  it  is  that 
devoted  to  the  fruit.  The  owner  of  the 
estate  is  a  lover  of  fruit,  and  thoroughly 
appreciates  the  difference  between  good,  bad, 
and  indifferent,  with  the  result  that  he  is  entirely  in  favour  of  the  former, 
to  the  utter  displacement  of  the  two  latter.  Such  being  the  case,  it  need 
scarcely  be  told  that  the  energies  and  abilities  of  the  chief  are  directed 
largely  towards  the  Grapes,  Peaches,  Melons,  Pigs,  and  Pine  Apples  with 
the  several  hardy  kinds.  _ 
As  Grapes  are  usually  placed  in  the  position  of  king  of  fruits  we  first 
looked  through  the  several  vineries,  the  majority  of  which  are  planted 
with  comparatively  young  Vines.  Some  have  been  inserted  nine  years, 
others  twelve,  others  more,  but  the  glow  of  health  and  strength  is  alike 
on  all.  Many  exhibitors  have  had  just  cause  to  fear  the  Osberton 
Grapes  in  the  past,  and  if  the  progress  is  as  good  as  it  now  promises  to 
be  the  bunches  will  be  just  as  hard  to  beat  in  the  future.  For  thirty 
years  these  have  been  good,  last  season  bringing  the  first  failure,  when 
the  berries  shanked  and  failed  to  colour  in  their  customary  satisfactory 
manner.  To-day  there  is  no  trace  of  shanking,  and  the  Black 
The  rods  and  laterals  of  the  Vines  are  in  fine  condition,  as  also 
is  the  foliage,  which  is  abundant  (without  being  over-luxuriant),  and  of 
a  rich  deep-green  hue.  The  bunches  run  of  peculiarly  even  size,  and 
are  shapely  as  they  should  be  when  composed  of  such  large,  perfectly 
formed  berries.  Duke  of  Buccleuch, accounted  “miffy  ”  in  some  establish¬ 
ments,  is  here  seen  in  the  best  of  condition,  proving  that  its  treatment 
with  that  of  all  the  others  grown  is  thoroughly  understood.  The  houses 
are  well  built,  and  the  borders  doubtless 
thoroughly  well  made,  and  the  whole  of  the 
floor,  walls,  wood  and  glass  is  kept  scrupu¬ 
lously  clean,  which  probably  has  a  good  effect 
on  the  plants  therein. 
Luscious  look  the  Queen  Pines  on  the 
healthy  plants,  as  well  as  they  appeared  when 
something  over  a  dozen  were  sent  to  the  Drill 
Hall  on  June  23rd.  The  fruits  are  not, 
perhaps,  so  large  as  have  been  seen,  but  the 
quality  is  there,  and  that,  as  has  been  said,  is 
of  primary  importance.  Mr.  Grasp  said  they 
thought  of  clearing  them  out,  as  in  so  many 
other  places,  but  it  is  to  be  hoped  this  will 
not  be  done,  especially  as  they  do  so  thoroughly 
well.  The  Peaches  and  Nectarines  are  very 
numerous  indeed,  and  notwithstanding  this 
fact  they  have  to  carry  heavy  crops  of  fruit. 
This  they  do  with  no  apparent  effort,  for 
every  one  is  in  excellent  condition.  The 
wood  and  foliage  show  no  indications  of  gross¬ 
ness,  but  several  of  excellent  health.  The 
varieties  comprise  all  those  best  known,  and 
it  would  be  waste  of  space  to  enumerate  them 
here  ;  so  we  will  pass  on  for  a  moment  to 
the  Melons,  and  then  out  of  doors  again. 
These  are  mainly  cultivated  in  a  low  span- 
roofed  structure,  and  such  crops  as  these 
plants  perfect  are  very  rarely  seen.  The 
variety  is  of  fine  flavour  and  appearance,  but 
unnamed,  having  been  a  prime  favourite  at 
Osberton  for  many  years. 
FIG.  41.— MR.  T.  H.  CRA8P  AT  HOME. 
Amongst  the  outdoor  fruit  the  same  high 
and  thorough  system  of  culture  is  adopted 
as  within  doors,  and  every  one  of  the  several 
kinds  being  in  excellent  condition  proves 
that  they  appreciate  and  amply  repay  the 
time  that  is  spent  in  looking  after  them. 
As  the  bush  and  pyramid  trees  in  the  kitchen 
garden  did  not  come  up  to  Mr.  Grasp’s  ideas 
as  to  condition  and  productiveness,  each  one 
was  lifted  last  winter  and  replanted  in  fresh 
soil  and  position.  It  was  a  bold  venture,  as 
almost  all  of  the  trees  are  several  years  old  ; 
but  despite  age  and  the  drought  they  have 
come  out  wonderfully  well,  and  will,  it  is 
hoped  and  expected,  be  doing  perfectly  well 
next  season.  They  have  been  well  watched 
and  mulched  it  is  certain,  or  the  majority  of 
them  would  in  all  pjobability  have  suc¬ 
cumbed.  The  walls  for  fruit  are  very  fine 
indeed,  but  the  trees  on  them  are  superb. 
Splendid  are  the  crops  they  carry  of  Pears, 
Plums,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Gherries,  Goose¬ 
berries,  and  Gurrants.  The  two  last  named, 
with  the  Strawberries  and  Easpberries  in 
the  open,  would  do  credit  to  any  garden  in 
the  kingdom.  The  fruits  on  all  those  mentioned  combine  size  with 
rich  colour,  and  highly  developed  quality. 
The  dimensions  of  the  vegetable  garden  are,  as  will  naturally  be 
supposed,  somewhat  considerable,  but  nevertheless  the  land  is  most 
exhaustively  cropped.  All  borders  are  brought  into  requisition,  and  add 
their  quota  to  the  large  supplies  that  are  required.  Small  quarters  are 
not  found  sufiicient,  every  crop  needing  a  big  amount  of  space.  It  need 
not  be  said  that  Potatoes  are  seen  in  quantity,  as  indeed  are  all  the 
seasonable  green  crops.  Very  fine  sections  are  noticed  of  Garrots, 
Turnips,  Beet,  and  Parsnips;  while  the  Peas  are  (July  10th)  splendid. 
There  are  several  long  rows  of  different  varieties,  representing  the  early, 
medium,  and  late  sections,  but  the  one  in  the  very  best  condition  is 
The  Daisy.  This  is  now  a  comparatively  well  known  dwarf  early  Pea,  of 
which  the  haulm,  about  18  inches  high  at  Osberton,  was  simply  wreathed 
