October  22,  1898, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
391 
of  the  rockeries  where  I  did  not  expect  to  see  anythinar  in  bloom. 
On  going  nearer  I  foand  that  this  was  this  little  Lobed  Wood  Sorrel, 
which  had  been  getting  ready  its  flowers,  and,  induced  by  the  sun, 
had  untwisted  two  of  them  from  their  convolutions,  and  opened 
them  out  to  my  delight.  One  of  the  poets  has  spoken  of  the 
delight  felt  by  one  when  he  first  observed  the  green  markings  on 
the  Snowdrop,  The  opening  for  the  first  time  in  one’s  garden  of  a 
flower  makes  one  feel  that  we  can  answer  “  Yes  ”  to  the  question — 
•  “  Could  you  understand 
One  who  was  wild,  as  if  he  found  a  mine 
Of  golden  guineas,  when  he  noticed  first 
The  soft  green  streaks  in  a  Snowdrop’s  inner  leaves  ?” 
Some  of  my  readers  do  not  care  for  poetical  quotations,  but 
they  can,  perhaps,  enter  aomewhat  into  a  feeling  which  is  better 
expressed  by  the  poet  than  the  writer  could  hope  to  do.  I  shall  not 
again  trespass  this  time. 
Yery  pretty  are  the  small  yellow  flowers  which  glisten  in  the 
sunlight  and  go  to  sleep  again.  Pretty  are  the  leaves,  too,  which 
alto  go  to  sleep,  folding  themselves  up  in  the  manner  so  familiar  to 
those  who  observe  the  nature  of  these  Trefoil-like  plants.  Oxalis 
lobata,  which  comes  from  Chili,  whence  it  was  introduced  in  1823, 
was  figured  in  the  “Botanical  Magazine,”  table  2386.  It  grows 
only  about  3  inches  high. 
Although  not  at  its  ordinary  flowering  season  a  good  spike  of 
a  Campanula  now  in  bloom  reminds  me  that  so  far  as  I  recollect  I 
have  said  nothing  about  it.  This  is  C.  Grosseki,  which  is  far  from 
being  free  from  faults  but  has  a  value  of  its  own,  although  a  worthy 
friend  of  mine  pretends  to  think  the  first  syllable  of  the  name  is 
intended  as  an  indication  of  the  habit  of  the  plant.  It  is,  indeed, 
a  little  too  vigorous  for  many  places,  but  a  capital  plant  for  the 
wild  garden  or  for  an  odd  half -shady  corner,  where  its  inclination 
to  ramble  at  the  root  and  increase  from  seed  wuald  not  be  objected 
to.  In  either  of  these  places  its  long  spikes  of  purple  blue 
flowers  look  very  well,  and  those  who  wish  to  have  a  Bellflower  in 
their  grounds,  by  woodland  walks,  by  the  waterside,  or  in  some 
pretty  glen,  will  find  C.  Grosseki  freer  in  growth  than  C.  latifolia, 
which  is  well  adapted  for  such  positions.  I  know  very  little  about 
the  plant  except  from  my  own  observation  and  its  mention  in  the 
“  Kew  Hand  List,”  that  work' stating  that  it  comes  from  Eastern 
Europe.  It  is  not  mentioned  in  several  works  of  reference  I  have 
searched,  but  I  have  seen  seed  offered.  I  cannot  recollect  whence 
my  plant  came,  but  have  had  the  opportunity  of  verifying  it.  The 
leaves  are  a  fresh  light  green,  and  the  plant,  which  flowers  for  a 
considerable  time,  has  a  long  tapering  spike  4  feet  or  more  high, 
bearing  flowers  resembling  to  some  extent  those  of  C.  latifolia.  As 
already  mentioned  it  is  inclined  to  spread  at  the  root,  and  should 
thus  be  kept  out  of  the  choicest  beds  or  borders. — S.  Arnott. 
AMPTHILL  HOUSE. 
Amongst  energetic  gardeners  who  are  worthily  striving  to  obtain 
an  honourable  reputation  in  the  profession  may  well  be  ranked  Mr. 
W.  J.  Etnpson,  who  is  bailiff  gardener  to  the  Hon.  Mrs,  Wingfield  at 
Ampthill.  This  little  Bedfordshire  town  forms  a  station  on  the  Midland 
Railway,  between  the  large  populous  towns  of  Luton  and  Bedford.  It 
is  a  quiet  place  wi  bout  doubt,  and  in  that  respect  finds  in  Mr.  Empson 
one  of  its  most  active  of  citizens.  For  this  gardener  dwells  not  in  the 
gardens,  but  in  a  hou  e  that  abuts  on  to  the  main  street  ;  yet  is  he  close 
to  the  gardens,  for  they  also  are  practically  in  the  town,  although  the 
park  and  meadows,  which  are  of  a  pleasing  undulating  character,  stretch 
away  to  the  south  to  a  considerable  extent.  The  mansion  is  a  large  but 
comparatively  plain  structure. 
A  good  deal  of  the  planting  is  of  recent  formation,  and  there  is 
room  for  wider  expansion  in  that  direction.  No  doubt  it  will  be 
gradually  carried  oat,  especially  if  seasons  for  newly  planted  things 
should  for  the  next  few  years  prove  more  favourable.  The  soil  is  literally 
a  bed  of  sand,  there  seems  to  be  not  a  particle  of  loam  in  it ;  but  all 
the  same,  whilst  flowers  usually  do  very  well,  fruit  and  vegetables  do 
admirably.  Mr.  Empson  has  occasionally  shown  of  what  sort  of  material 
in  both  ways  the  Ampthill  sand  will  produce,  and  with  ordinarily  good 
fortune  more  may  be  se  n  of  it  in  the  future. 
The  glass  houses  all  lie  clo^e  at  band,  and  adjoining  the  kitchen 
gardens.  The  situation  is  rather  lower  than  is  the  surrounding  pleasure 
grounds,  but  probably  the  position  is  a  good  one.  Several  houses  are 
filled  with  plants  of  all  descriptions,  useful  for  house  decoration  or  for 
grouping  at  exhibitions.  Crotons  especially  being  in  great  variety,  and 
both  well  grown  and  superbly  coloured.  Dracaenas  also  are  numerous 
and  good.  Thf  re  is  a  specially  fine  specimen  of  the  new  silvery  varie¬ 
gated  Sanderiana,  which  is  a  very  attractive  plant.  Eucharis  amazonica 
is  found  in  huge  clumps,  and  in  fine  condition  ;  and  on  the  floor 
beneath  and  in  pots  plentifully  is  found  the  pretty  Artillery  Plant,  Pilea 
muscosa,  which  is  in  much  request  for  table  decoration.  Various  kinds 
of  other  plants  are  grown  largely,  but  we  can  now  only  refer  to  other 
departments. 
Grapes  are  grown  almost  exclusively  in  one  large  long  span,  divided 
into  two  compartments.  This  house  was  erected  several  years  since,  and 
planted  by  Mr.  Empson.  The  varieties  are  representative,  as  they 
include  Black  Hamburgh,  Madresfield  Court,  Mrs.  Wingfield  (recently 
referred  to),  Lady  Downe’s,  Alicante,  and  Gros  Colman,  blacks  ;  and 
Foster’s  Seedling,  Buckland  Sweetwater,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Golden 
Queen,  and  Mrs.  Pearson,  whites.  The  borders  are  chiefly  inside,  and 
made  from  imported  loam  ;  they  are  occasionally  fed,  though  not  lavishly, 
and  there  is  every  evidence  that  the  greatest  care  is  exercised  in  their 
cultivation.  Madresfield  Court  gives  splendid  bunches  and  fine  black 
berries,  not  one  showing  evidence  of  cracking.  That  is  a  trouble  which 
does  not  present  itself  here.  Muscat  of  Alexandria  is  also  finely  done, 
the  bunches  large,  tapering  and  massive,  the  berries  very  fine  and  clean, 
needing  only  rather  more  time  to  finish  them  well.  Hamburghs  are 
getting  over,  but  have  been  remarkably  good,  and  Alicanes  show  first 
rate,  though  not  unduly  large  clusters,  getting  black  as  Sloes.  Foster’s 
Seedling  and  Buckland  Sweetwater  both  show  fine  bunches,  in  fact  all 
are  excellent.  The  entire  house  is  60  feet  long  and  24  feet  wide,  the 
Vines  are  3  feet  apart.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  so  far  as  my  humble 
judgment  goes,  that  Mrs.  Wingfield  Grape  is  a  very  distinct  one,  but 
FIG.  71. — MR.  W.  J  EMPSON. 
ample  opportunity  to  determine  that  will  later  be  offered.  Houses  are 
devoted  to  Peaches  and  Nectarines,  though  the  fruit  is  mostly  gathered. 
Outdoors  there  are  good  crops  ;  so  also  of  Plums  and  Apricots  on  the 
walls.  Hardy  fruits,  such  as  Apples  and  Pears,  are  not  abundant,  but 
bush  fruits  have  been  very  plentiful.  Melons  are  well  grown,  the  most 
in  request  being  the  Earl’s  Favourite,  and  one  raised  at  Ampthill  from 
crossing  Hero  of  Lockinge  with  Sutton’s  Masterpiece,  resulting  in 
producing  a  very  handsome  and  deliciously  flavoured  variety  named 
Anthony’s  Favourite,  which  was  last  year  given  an  award  of  merit, 
and  in  June  last  a  first-class  certificate.  The  stock  has  passed  into 
Mr.  H.  Cannell’s  hands. 
Also  grown  are  Blenheim  Orange  and  others.  These  are  arranged  to 
be  fruiting  over  a  long  season.  Mr.  Empson  obtained  his  award  of 
merit  last  year  so  late  as  October  29th.  The  Tomatoes  grown,  and 
largely,  are  Polegate,  Perfection,  Mitchell’s  Hybrid,  and  Duke  of  York, 
and  of  Cucumbers  Model,  Telegraph  Improved,  and  Stourbridge  Gem, 
whilst  adjoining  the  fruit  houses  is  a  large  vegetable  garden,  where  there 
are  many  good  crops,  including  Onions  planted  out  early  to  produce 
full  bulbs.  Of  these  there  are  Ailsa  Craig,  Record,  Sutton’s  Al, 
Exhibition,  Silver  Ball,  and  Golden  Queen,  all  very  fine  samples.  A 
good  number  of  Potatoes  are  grown  in  the  enclosed  garden,  and  Beets, 
Celery,  and  Late  Peas  are  all  first  rate.  The  best  vegetable  site, 
however,  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  road,  where  the  sand  formation 
seems  even  more  marked  than  it  is  in  the  older  garden. 
Mr.  Empson  conducts  us  a  short  distance  along  the  road,  then  up  a 
byway  and  footpath,  calling  for  hard  climbing,  on  the  sides  of  which 
are  growing  large  breadths  of  Carrots,  Broccoli,  Brussels  Sprouts,  and 
other  crops.  Then  on  reaching  the  top  of  the  mound  there  opens  up  in 
a  sort  of  valley  or  dell  beneath,  the  sides  sloping  down  gradually  to  a 
centre  cart  road,  and  this  capitally  placed  spot  is  utilised  as  a  vegetable 
garden.  Carrots  thrive  here  admirably,  whether  on  the  hillsides  or  in 
the  vale  below.  They  are  utilised  for  the  cattle  in  the  winter  largely 
for  the  gardener  has  a  splendid  herd  of  Jersey  cows  and  numerous  pigs 
under  his  charge.  What  sort  of  examples  in  Carrots  this  sand  produces 
