July  8,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
27 
'  Woodlands  Vale,  Rtde. — This  beautifully  situated  mansion 
is  the  residence  of  Lieut.-General  Somerset  John  Gough  Oalthorpe, 
Chairman  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  County  Council.  The  extensive  gardens 
at  Woodlands  Yale  are  in  the  capable  hands  of  Mri  W.  Heath.  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  aud  Grapes  under  glass  promise  well  both  for  quantity  and 
size ;  Melons  and  Cucumbers  have  been  yielding  abundantly  ;  the 
kitchen  garden  crops  are  in  the  pink  of  condition.  Amongst  the  many 
varieties  of  Peas  grown  Sutton’s  Excelsior  has  given  entire  satisfaction, 
and  merited  a  permanent  place  in  this  garden.  It  is  of  dwarf  habit, 
free  bearer,  fills  well — two  or  three  pods  I  opened  each  had  six  to  eight 
peas  in  colour  and  fiavour  realise  expectations.  Apples  and  Pears  are 
about  average,  with  extra  crops  of  Strawberries,  Gooseberries,  Currants, 
and  Figs.  Amongst  the  many  varieties  of  Strawberries  grown  Mr. 
Heath  speaks  very  highly  of  Royal  Sovereign,  and  is  propagating  it 
very  largely.  In  the  flower  garden  a  magnificent  show  of  Roses  is  to  be 
seen  ;  whilst  a  judicious  admixture  of  bedding  plants,  including 
Geraniums  and  Lobelis,  gives  a  charming  eflEect  to  the  whole  place. 
— S.  H. 
-  Packing  Cut  Flowees. — Light  wooden  boxes  from  3  to 
5  inches  deep  are  much  better  for  packing  cut  flowers  than  pasteboard 
boxes.  With  the  least  rough  handling,  especially  if  they  are  in  a  damp 
condition,  the  latter  may  become  crushed  and  the  flowers  spoiled. 
Having  selected  a  suitable  box,  place  a  layer  of  sheet  wadding  in  the 
bottom,  seeing  the  corners  are  nicely  fitted,  and  over  this  place  waxed 
paper.  Allow  the  flowers  to  stand  in  water  for  some  time  before 
packing,  and  when  the  stems  have  taken  up  all  the  water  that  is 
possible,  lay  them  in  smooth  even  rows  on  the  waxed  paper.  Let  the 
stems  of  the  upper  row  meet  the  blossoms  of  the  lower,  and  continue 
packing  close  until  the  box  is  full.  Then  lay  another  piece  of  waxed 
paper  over  the  top,  with  a  layer  of  sheet  wadding  next  to  the  lid.  It  is 
of  the  greatest  importance  to  have  the  box  packed  full.  If  the  flowers 
do  not  quite  fill  it  see  that  the  spaces  are  filled  with  the  wadding. 
If  Roses  are  to  be  sent  do  not  select  the  full-blown  ones,  but  firm,  half- 
opened  buds.  It  will  not  be  necessary  to  sprinkle  them  with  water  if 
the  stems  have  absorbed  a  quantity  of  moisture  ;  being  covered  closely 
from  the  air,  they  will  not  wither  as  they  would  if  exposed. 
-  Emigbants’  Information. — The  July  circulars  of  the 
Emigrants’  Information  OflSce  and  the  annual  penny  handbooks  show 
the  present  prospects  of  emigration.  This  is  the  best  season  of  the  year 
for  work  in  Canada  ;  but  there  is  no  demand  for  anyone  except  farmers 
with  capital  and  experienced  farm  labourers.  With  regard  to  Victoria, 
a  correspondent  writes  from  Horsham — which  is  the  centre  of  a  large 
Wheat  and  wool  district — “  any  hardworking,  earnest  man  need  have  no 
fear  of  obtaining  work  ;  good  workmen  are  sure  of  constant  work.”  In 
South  Australia  the  drought  is  very  severe,  and  there  is  no  demand  for 
more  hands  in  that  colony  or  in  Queensland.  In  Western  Australia  there 
continues  to  be  a  good  demand  for  mechanics  and  farm  labourers.  In 
New  Zealand  large  areas  of  some  of  the  best  lands  in  the  North  Island  are 
being  acquired  by  the  Colonial  Government  from  the  natives  for  purposes 
of  settlement,  and  there  are  good  openings  for  farmers  with  a  little 
capital.  Large  numbers  of  persons  continue  to  airive  in  Cape  Colony 
from  England  and  Australia,  and  many  find  much  difficulty  in  getting 
work.  In  Natal,  the  Immigration  Restriction  Act,  which  has  just  been 
passed,  prohibits  the  landing  in  Natal  of  the  following  persons  amongst 
others — (1)  any  one  who  cannot  himself  write  out  and  sign,  in  the 
characters  of  any  language  of  Europe,  a  prescribed  application  form  of 
admission  giving  his  name,  address,  and  business  ;  (2)  of  anyone  who  is 
a  pauper  or  likely  to  become  a  public  charge  ;  and  (3)  of  anyone  who, 
not  having  received  a  free  pardon,  has  within  two  years  been  convicted 
of  a  felony  or  infamous  crime  or  misdemeanour  involving  moral  turpitude, 
and  not  being  a  mere  political  offence.  Otherwise  this  Act  in  no  kind  of 
way  interferes  with  the  landing  of  respectable  immigrants. —  Emigrants' 
Information  Offiee,  31,  Broadway,  Westminster. 
CANTERBURY  BELLS. 
Canterbury  Bells  form  bright,  showy  and  effective  plants  in 
shrubbery  and  herbaceous  borders,  and  might  well  be  employed  for 
giving  a  furnished  appearance  to  positions  where  many  other  plants 
that  bloom  at  a  similar  period  would  not  succeed.  I  have  seen  very 
floriferous  specimens  growing  and  flowering  freely  on  steep  banks  over¬ 
hung  with  trees.  The  plants  bad  become  established  when  the  foliage 
was  absent  from  the  trees,  or  probably  they  were  self-sown. 
Frequently  Canterbury  Bells  spring  up  in  places  quite  unexpectedly, 
and  succeed  in  what  would  be  considered  unsuitable  positions.  When 
in  bloom  they  look  charming  in  wild  or  semi-wild  spots,  and  they  are 
none  the  less  welcome  in  the  cultivated  portions  of  gardens,  provided 
their  presence  does  not  interfere  with  the  permanent  occupants.  The 
predominating  colours  of  Canterbury  Bells  are  blue,  lilac,  rose,  and 
white.  A  border  containing  a  mixture  is  therefore  interesting,  especially 
as  the  blue,  lilac,  and  rose  vary  more  or  less  in  depth  of  tint  or  shade. 
Double  forms  may  be  had  by  the  careful  selection  of  seed,  but  plants 
bearing  single  flowers  are  always  produced  as  well  as  double. 
The  finest  plants  are  produced  from  seed  sown  in  May  and  June, 
transplanting  in  good  soil  and  a  favourable  position  so  as  to  become 
strong  for  final  planting  in  autumn.  July,  however,  is  not  too  late  to 
sow  seed  in  a  moist  position  in  the  open,  or  in  boxes.  Transplant  the 
seedlings  as  soon  as  possible  ;  if  this  can  be  done  to  a  permanent  position 
all  the  better.  The  plants  will  be  sure  to  flower,  though  they  may  not 
attain  to  as  large  size  as  earlier  raised  examples.  Seed  sown  later  than 
this  month  cannot  be  depended  upon  to  produce  plants  of  sufficient 
strength  to  flower  the  following  year.  Such  would,  however,  form 
superb  specimens  the  succeeding  year. 
The  flowers  are  very  useful  for  cutting,  being  borne  on  fairly  long 
stalks.  Branches  of  various  size  containing  a  number  can  also  be  cut. 
Small  plants,  when  they  do  bloom  before  they  have  attained  strength, 
are  very  useful  in  affording  material  for  cutting,  so  that  it  is  not  always 
necessary  to  spoil  good  specimens. — E.  D.  S. 
BARFORD  HILL. 
Horticulture  is  conducted  with  spirit  at  this  the  Warwickshire 
home  of  C.  A.  Smith-Ryland,  Esq.,  who,  in  conjunction  with  Mrs.  Smith- 
Ryland,  takes  the  greatest  interest  in  all  matters  connected  with  gardening. 
During  the  last  two  years  a  fine  collection  of  Malmaison  Carnations  has 
been  got  together,  and  at  the  present  time  they  make  a  grand  display. 
About  700  plants  are  grown,  these  being  chiefly  the  bright  pink  kind 
known  as  Princess  of  Wales.  About  half  the  number  are  two-year-old 
plants  in  8,  9,  and  10-inch  pots.  These  occupy  a  couple  of  span-roofed 
houses.  The  plants  have  been  kept  very  cool  throughout  by  the  admis¬ 
sion  of  abundance  of  air  both  night  and  day  whenever  the  temperature 
has  been  well  above  freezing  point.  The  result  is  strong  vigorous  plants, 
carrying  large,  well  coloured  flowers,  which  are  used  in  large  quantities 
for  house  decoration. 
Few  gardens  are  so  well  supplied  with  these  lovely  Carnations  as 
to  be  able  to  use  them  largely  for  such  work,  but  at  Barford  Hill  a  table 
filled  with  vases  is  sometimes  decorated  solely  with  Malmaisons,  and  the 
necessary  greenery  added.  Early  plants  have  already  been  layered 
in  frames,  and  with  his  usual  energy  Mr.  R.  Jones,  the  enthusiastic 
gardener,  is  setting  about  the  task  of  providing  a  still  larger  stock  of 
plants  for  next  season.  In  the  Orchid  houses  the  plants  were  in  superb 
health  ;  indeed,  I  question  if  a  more  healthy  and  vigorous  collection  of 
cool  house  ones  could  be  met  with  in  Britain.  The  floor  of  the  house, 
instead  of  being  made  of  the  usual  non-absorbent  materials,  is  formed 
with  clean  loose  gravel,  which  keeps  the  atmosphere  in  a  cool  moist 
condition  ;  and  to  this  fact,  as  well  as  cultural  skill,  is  perhaps  due  the 
fine  condition  of  the  plants.  Many  good  forms  of  Odontoglossums  were 
to  be  seen,  some  with  enormous  spikes  and  others  with  large  and  well- 
marked  individual  flowers.  In  the  Cattleya  house  the  bulk  of  the 
flowers  were  over,  but  the  fading  blooms  on  one  large  and  valuable  plant 
showed  that  when  in  full  beauty  the  sight  must  have  been  a  grand  one. 
As  no  notes  were  taken  it  would  be  difficult  for  me  to  enumerate  the 
many  good  things  grown  ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  the  collection  contains 
many  splendid  varieties  of  acknowledged  repute,  as  well  as  promising 
imported  ones,  the  condition  of  all  showing  that  their  culture  is  thoroughly 
understood. 
Another  notable  feature  in  the  plant  houses  was  a  fine  display  of 
Hydrangea  hortensis.  Few  things  at  this  season  are  more  useful  and 
showy  for  decorative  purposes  when  grown  as  they  are  at  Barford  Hill. 
Old  plants  in  large  pots  were  bearing  numbers  of  grand  flowers  of  a 
clear  pink  colour  ;  but  something  more  surprising  still  was  the  gigantic 
trusses  small  plants  in  4  and  6  inch  pots  were  carrying.  Some  of  these 
were  fully  12  inches  in  diameter,  which  is  surely  no  mean  cultural 
achievement  ;  but  in  one  instance  even  this  was  surpassed,  for  a  plant 
growing  in  a  pot  4^  inches  in  diameter  carried  four  flowers,  the  central 
one  being  scarcely  less  than  a  foot  in  diameter  and  the  other  three  were 
of  large  size. 
Such  results  prompted  me  to  inquire  about  the  system  of  culture 
followed,  which  was  readily  given  as  follows : — Good  firm  cuttings  are 
inserted  in  3-inch  pots  the  last  week  in  June,  the  soil  consisting  of  three 
parts  fibrous  loam  and  one  of  leaf  soil,  with  a  little  sharp  sand  added. 
This  is  pressed  very  firmly.  When  rooted  the  young  plants  are  fully 
exposed  in  the  open  air  till  the  autumn,  when  they  are  placed  in  a  cool 
house,  and  kept  rather  dry  throughout  the  winter  to  prevent  the  buds 
from  starting.  In  February  more  water  is  gradually  given,  and  when 
growth  is  proceeding  freely  a  shift  is  given  into  5-inch  pots,  substituting 
a  little  well  decayed  manure  for  leaf  soil,  and  ramming  the  compost 
quite  firmly.  From  this  time  the  plants  give  but  little  trouble  till  they 
are  in  flower.  They  are  simply  kept  near  the  glass  in  cool  houses, 
receive  water  when  they  need  it,  and  are  occasionally  given  a  sprinkling 
of  artificial  manure.  This  short  outline  of  the  simple  means  taken  to 
secure  such  fine  results  will,  I  feel  sure,  be  useful  to  many  Journal 
readers. 
Calceolarias,  Gloxinias,  Show  Pelargoniums,  and  stove  plants  are  all 
grown  largely  and  well.  In  the  vineries  both  young  and  old  Vines 
promise  to  give  very  satisfactory  results,  while  the  crops  in  the  kitchen 
garden  show  evidences  of  a  master’s  hand.  In  these  brief  notes  I  have 
not  attempted  to  give  more  than  a  passing  notice  of  a  few  of  the  good 
things  to  be  seen  in  this  garden  of  Shakespeare’s  county.  At  some 
future  time  I  hope  to  deal  with  the  fine  ornamental  grounds. — Wanderer. 
