298 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
September  21  1896. 
OrcbardB  and  frsit  plantations  should  be  carefully  examined,  and 
individual  trees  scrutinised,  so  that  their  exact  condition  can  be  appre¬ 
ciated,  and  the  best  line  of  treatment  determined  in  respect  to  removals, 
thinning,  root-piuning,  grafting,  or  whatever  is  suggested  as  best  to  be 
done  under  the  circumstances.  Fruit  trees  innumerable  are  habitually 
fruitless  because  the  disposition  of  the  branches  is  determined  at  the 
winter’s  pruning.  They  appear  to  be  thin  enough  then,  but  are  delusive 
when  leafless,  and  thin' looking  trees  in  winter  are  in  summer  a  thicket 
of  growths  and  constitutionally  imperfect  foliage.  This  applies  to  trees 
on  walls  as  well  as  to  bushes  and  pyramids,  for  the  evil  is  flagrant  all 
round,  but  not  in  all  gardens,  for  cultivators  who  grow  the  best  fruit  do 
what  all  others  are  now  invited  to  do — see  that  the  trees  are  not  crowded 
when  in  leaf,  the  disposition  of  the  branches  afterwards  is  quite 
immaterial. 
The  same  close  inspection  of  Vines  and  fruit  trees  under  glais  should 
be  made  without  delay.  It  is  not  too  much  to  fay  that  the  great  majority 
are  seriously  overcrowded,  and  half  the  laterals  of  the  former  and  growths 
of  the  latter  should  be  cut  away.  The  true  condition  of  Vines  and  Peach 
trees  can  be  seen  now,  it  will  soon  be  less  apparent.  But  let  no  one  think 
the  evil  is  removed  when  the  leaves  are  swept  away.  Faulty  enough 
many  of  these  were  through  want  of  space  for  development  and  light  for 
strengthening  their  tissues  ;  hut  after  they  are  gone  the  evil,  the  source 
of  their  imperiect  character,  remains — overcrowded  growths.  Look  very 
carefully  into  this  matter  at  once,  and  determine  on  a  method  for  future 
improvement  and  better  crops  of  finer  fruit  before  it  is  too  late. 
The  examination  that  is  advocated  must  extend  to  the  flower  and 
kitchen  garden.  The  cropping  of  flower  beds  and  borders  for  another 
year  should  be  determined  before  the  occupants  of  the  current  season 
fade,  and  provision  be  made  accordingly  for  meeting  the  demand.  In 
the  absence  of  a  system  of  the  nature  indicated  space  is  occupied  in 
winter  with  plants  that  are  of  little  use  in  spring,  while  those  that  are 
wanted  are  not  to  be  found,  having  been  needlessly  and  thoughtlessly 
crowded  out.  It  is  the  same  in  the  vegetable  supply.  Unless  careful 
note  is  made  of  the  position,  and  the  season’s  wants  accurctely  balanced 
against  existing  and  prospective  crops,  an  alternate  glut  and  famine  are 
apt  to  result,  instead  of  a  steady  unbroken  supply  of  seasonable  produce. 
A  very  thorough  inspection  of  plants  in  pots  is  also  imperatively 
needed  at  this  season  of  the  year.  It  is  surprising  to  see  so  much  space 
in  many  glass  structures  occupied  with  worthless  plants.  Miserable, 
disease-stricken,  and  insect-infested  “  specimens”  are  huddled  together 
on  the  more-tbe-merrier  system,  as  if  there  were  more  virtue  in  numbers 
than  anything  else.  A  well  considered  yet  courageous  clearing-out  plan 
is  sadly  needed  in  many  gardens  where  there  is  ”  room  for  nothing,”  and 
space  might  then  be  gained  for  something  that  would  be  a  credit  to  the 
cultivator  and  the  garden. — ExPeeientia  docet. 
LOCKE  PARK,  BAKNSLEY. 
To  the  munificence  of  the  Locke  family  the  public  of  Barnsley  owes 
Locke  Park,  the  highly  appreciated  boon  to  its  toiling  thousands.  In 
the  year  1861  the  widow  of  the  late  Joseph  Locke,  Civil  Engineer, 
purchased  a  field  of  17  acres,  which  was  enclosed  by  a  substantial 
wall,  laid  out,  planted,  and  presented  to  the  Barnsley  public  in  memory 
of  her  husband.  Mrs.  Locke  also  invested  £1000  in  railway  stock, 
which  yearly  brings  in  a  sum  as  part  endowment  for  the  Park’s 
maintenance.  These  gifts  were  supplemented  by  the  purchase  of  20  acres 
of  adjoining  land,  which  was  also  fenced  in,  laid  out,  planted,  and  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  Barnsley  public  by  Miss  McCreery,  in  memory  of  Mrs. 
Locke,  her  sister,  who  was  then  deceased.  A  further  highly  appreciated 
and  much  needed  addition  to  the  Park,  in  the  form  of  a  long  romantic 
piece  of  ground,  giving  a  convenient  entrance  to  the  south-west  corner, 
was  presented  by  Frederic  T.  V,  Wentworth.  Eeq.  This  piece  of  land 
also  opens  out  fine  views  of  Worsbro’  Dale,  including  the  finely 
timbered  Park  and  pleasure  grcuuds  of  noted  Stainbro,’  the  seat  of  the 
Wentworths. 
Public  parks  should  present,  in  the  variety  and  wealth  of  their 
furniture,  the  widest  scope  possible  for  the  study  of  the  daily  varying 
moods  of  Nature,  this  being  the  greatest  contrast  to  the  dusty  highway 
and  squalid  street,  not  only  giving  rest  or  recreation  as  the  case  may  be, 
but  providing  an  unmeasurable  power  as  a  civiliser  and  refining  educa¬ 
tional  agency.  In  these  respects  Lccke  Park  will  bear  favourable 
comparison  with  any  other,  whilst  it  is  a  pleasure  to  note  the  absence  of 
any  signs  of  the  desecration  of  the  landscape  either  by  the  designer  or 
by  subsequent  meddling.  The  park  was  designed  and  formed  by  the 
late  Mr.  Barron  of  Elvaston,  and,  as  might  be  expected,  the  work  was 
well  done.  The  new  park  was  opened  in  1877,  so  that  the  nineteen 
years’  lapse  of  time  has  developed  the  ideas  of  the  designer,  and  the 
results  are  eminently  satisfactory. 
The  chief  entrance  is  in  Park  Road,  about  1 J  mile  from  the  Market 
Place.  The  roomy,  substantial,  and  comfortable  residence  of  the  park 
superintendent  flankn  the  handsome  gates,  and  directly  opposite  them 
stands  the  flower  garden  on  the  site  of  a  stone  quarry,  the  escarpment  on 
each  band  being  60  to  80  feet  in  height.  Owing  to  the  skilful  manner  of 
treatment  it  is  difficult  to  realise  its  original  purpose.  By  throwing  back 
the  top  portions  steep  banks  have  been  formed  worked  into  bays  and  bold 
promontories,  here  and  there  the  rock  protruding  yet  clothed  with 
vegetation.  The  steep  banks  in  the  background  are  furnished  with 
imposing  specimens  one  above  the  other  of  Finns,  Hollies,  Rhododendrons, 
Aucubas,  and  Laurels  in  great  variety.  Lower  down  the  lesser  specimens 
are  mixed  vith  showy  Cactus  and  Pompon  Dahlias,  Helianthemums,  and 
other  herbaceous  plants  of  a  bold  character.  Along  the  margin  seven 
rows  of  flowers  on  each  side  of  the  ravine  form  a  ribbon  border  the  entire 
length,  about  180  yards,  the  gracefully  curved  lines  for  such  a  distance 
adding  wonderfully  to  the  effect.  Broad  grass  margins  on  each  side  of 
the  serpentine  walk  widen  out  here  and  there  to  admit  of  a  series  of  beds,, 
gorgeous  in  their  autumn  prime,  culminating  at  the  head  of  the  ravine 
with  a  bold  geometrical  design  en  grass,  greatly  improved  by  the  grand 
background  in  the  deep  steep  bank  of  dark  foliage.  In  such  a  situation, 
and  in  so  fine  a  setting,  the  colours  come  out  especially  effective,  and 
much  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  Heniball,  the  genial  bead  of  the  park  staff,  for 
thethorcugh  grasp  of  the  requirements  necessary  to  develop  the  fuR 
beauties  of  a  flower  garden,  which  for  its  exceptional  features  stamp  it 
as  amongst  the  most  interesting  and  charming. 
A  fine  fountain  provided  in  this  beautiful  spot  is  the  outcome  of  a 
subscription  of  £140,  raised  by  the  working  men  of  Barnsley  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  some  suitable  memorial  to  Miss  McCreery  as  an 
acknowledgement  of  her  generosity.  Facing  the  fountain  an  easy  flight 
of  steps  leads  to  the  site  of  the  statue  of  Joseph  Locke,  Esq.,  M.P.,  who 
was  born  at  Attercliffe,  near  Sheffield,  but  at  the  age  of  four  years  he' 
was  removed  to  Barnsley,  and  received  his  education  at  the  Grammar 
School  in  that  town.  He  was  afterwards  articled  to  Geo.  Stephenson, 
the  great  engineer  of  Newcastle,  and  became  most  eminent  in  his 
profession  under  Stephenson’s  tuition,  bis  talent  being  universally 
known  and  appreciated.  From  the  year  1847  Locke  represented 
He  niton  in  the  House  of  Commons.  After  a  successful  career  be  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty -five  in  the  year  1860.  The  statue  is  considered  a 
striking  likeness,  and  was  executed  by  the  renowned  artist,  Baron 
Maroebetti.  It  is  the  gift  of  the  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  of 
which  Mr.  Locke  had  been  President.  It  was  intended  to  be  erected  in, 
the  gardens  of  St.  Margaret’s,  Westminster,  but  through  some  hitch 
with  the  authorities  this  arrangement  fell  through.  The  Locke  Park  in 
the  meantime  having  become  an  accomplished  fact  the  statue  found  ita 
proper  site,  which  was  selected  by  Maroebetti  himself.  In  presenting  it 
to  the  Locke  Park  Lord  Allred  Paget  gave  the  inaugural  address  on 
January  18th,  1866,  amid  the  widespread  rejoicings  of  the  Barnsley 
people. 
Starting  again  from  the  main  entrance  we  find  the  general  view  of 
the  park  cut  off  by  the  flower  garden  and  plantations  surrounding.  We 
therefore  pursue  our  way  to  the  left,  and  find  the  new  Park  spread  out 
before  us  in  fine  bold  undulations  stretching  away  upwards  to  its 
highest  elevation,  where  stands  the  striking  ornamental  tower  and 
observatory.  On  the  town  side  the  Park  is  shut  by  a  belt  of  timber 
faced  with  a  profusion  of  flowering  shrubs  of  every  description.  When, 
once  within  the  Park  it  is  difficult  to  realise  that  on  our  way  here  we 
had  a  few  minutes  previously  passed  through  a  large  town,  our  route 
flanked  by  the  squalid  streets  of  a  populous  mining  community. 
Between  this  noint  and  the  tower  the  intervening  space  to  the  right  and 
le't  give  the  impression  of  considerably  more  space  than  what  is  really 
the  case  ;  this  is  due  to  the  skilful  manner  of  treatment.  The  position 
of  the  walks  have  been  chosen  so  that  no  frittering  away  of  the 
landscape  has  resulted,  the  planting  and  grouping  so  managed  as  to 
give  diversified  vistas  and  grassy  glades  in  every  direction,  whilst  the 
varying  gradients  of  each  undulation  present  a  pleasing  variety  of  tone 
in  different  shades  of  green. 
Full  advantage  has  keen  taken  of  the  wide  scope  offered  by  so 
extensive  an  area  of  shrubberies  to  include  everything  worthy  of  a 
place,  evergreens  and  flowering  shrubs  tastefully  arranged  with  due 
proportions  of  each,  so  that  winter  or  summer  they  are  attractive  or  gay 
according  to  the  season.  The  Hollies  demand  a  special  reference.  All 
tbe  best  varieties  are  in  evidence  and  profusion  everywhere,  the  soil  and 
situation  suiting  all  alike.  Gold  and  silver  varieties  from  6  to  9  feet  in 
height,  whilst  some  of  tbe  broad-leaved  varieties  attain  double  these 
heights,  and  all  well  furnished  in  proportion.  Mr.  Hensball  gives  these 
fine  specimens  the  care  and  attention  they  deserve,  by  preventing 
encroachments  that  would  mar  their  beauty. 
On  a  lower  plateau  fronting  the  tower  we  come  to  another  flower 
garden  on  grass  in  a  large  oval  sunk  panel.  Upwards  of  twenty  large, 
beds  brighten  this  part  of  the  park.  This  is  a  fine  position,  viewing  the 
architectural  tower,  which  stands  on  an  elevated  terrace  rising  over 
75  feet  from  the  level.  Situated  in  the  centre  of  the  South-West  Ridings 
which  is  noted  for  its  varied  and  beautiful  scenery;  combining  hill  and 
dale,  rich  pasture  and  fertile  cornfields,  interspersed  with  the  remains 
of  ancient  forest  lands,  the  view  from  the  lantern  of  this  tower  is  one  of 
the  finest  imaginable. 
Noticing  the  absence  of  ornamental  water  in  tbe  park,  Mr.  Hensball 
informed  us  that  he  had  in  hand  a  scheme  to  remedy  this,  a  portion  of 
the  old  park  admirably  lending  itself  for  the  site  of  a  lake  of  consider¬ 
able  dimensions.  Coming  round  to  the  glass  department  we  again  find 
Barnsley  people  worthily  seconding  the  munificent  gifts  of  the  Locke 
family  by  tbe  erection  of  a  conservatory,  costing  £350.  Subsequent 
additions  have  been  in  the  form  of  propagating  house,  roomy  pits  and 
frames  for  the  storage  of  bedding  plants,  and  at  the  present  time  we 
found  Mr.  Hensball  busy  superintending  the  erection  and  heating  of  a 
fine  plant  stove  46  feet  by  21,  also  a  fernery  of  like  dimensions. 
Tbe  houses  are  gay  with  the  usual  summer  occupants,  and  we  found 
a  fine  collection  of  360  Chrysanthemums  coming  on,  promising  to  keep 
this  department  interesting  to  the  end  of  the  year.  It  is  a  pleasing 
duty  to  congratulate  the  Barnsley  people  on  the  possession  of  so  fine  a 
property,  and  also  on  the  fact  that  they  have  in  the  person  of  their 
Park  superintendent  a  gentleman  whose  zeal  and  enthusiasm  in  his 
duties  are  well  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  the  authorities,  who  have 
acknowledged  his  services  by  a  substantial  advance  of  salary. — .Azota. 
