*^:?2C0 
JOURNAL  OF  irORTTCULTURE  AND  OOTTAGR  OARDFLYER. 
August  26,  1897. 
Medea  and  Mahechae  Niel. 
I  AM  gratified  to  find  my  estimate  of  Medea  supported  liy  sik 
authorities  as  Mr.  A.  Piper  and  Mr.  Easlea  on  page  151  of  the 
Journal  of  lloi-ticnlturc.  Judging  fi’om  what  he  says  of  it  in  his  catalogue 
(in  which  he  does  not  always  follow  the  raisers’  descriptions),  Mr.  Prank 
Cant,  who  grows  it  magnificently,  has  an  equally  high  opinion  of  the 
value  of  this  Rose.  This  rosarian  describes  it  as  follows,  “  Lemon  yellow', 
wdth  canary  yellow  centre ;  large,  very  double,  and  perfect  globular 
form  ;  a  good  grower  and  free  bloomer  ;  it  promises  to  bo  first-class.” 
And  I  think  that  the  pi’omise  of  what  Mr.  Cant  writes  at  the  end  of  his 
estimate  has  been  amply  redeemed.  I  recently  show'ed  a  superb  bloom 
of  Medea  to  a  successful  cultivator  of  Marechal  Niel,  and  while  he  insisted 
on  the  greater  depth  of  colour  possessed  by  the  (jueen  of  Noisettes,  he 
admitted  that  Medea  “had  a  more  vigorous  constitution;  firmer  and 
stronger  petals,  and  greater  substance.” 
It  is,  as  “D.,  Deal,’'  very  clearly  indicates,  its  delicacy  of  petal  and 
peculiarly  pendulous  habit  that  impose  on  Marechal  Niel  wdien  grown  in 
the  open  garden,  its  greatest  limitations.  I  have  invariably  discovered 
that  of  all  existing  Roses  of  its  special  character  it  is  the  most  susceptible 
to  the  influence  of  rain.  Only  in  a  very  exceptional  season  is  it  capable 
of  unfolding  its  marvellous  capabilities.  What  “  W.  R.  Raillem  ”  has 
said  regarding  its  so-called  perpetuality  is  very  interesting  as  indicating 
that,  with  adequate  protection  during  the  winter  season  and  careful, 
judicious  pruning,  its  period  of  bloom  may  be  considerably  prolonged. 
Nevertheless,  I  still  venture  to  ([uestion  if  it  can  expressively  be  termed 
a  perpetual  bloomer,  like  Madame  Hoste,  Aledea,  or  Marie  V an  Iloutte, 
Unlike  Mr.  A.  Piper,  I  am  disposed  to  give  Medea  a  higher  place  in 
my  estimation  than  Perle  des  .lardins.  The  latter  is,  of  course,  a  deeper 
yellow,  if  that  is  any  merit  from  an  artistic  point  of  view'.  For  my  own 
part  I  much  prefer  the  complexion  of  Medea,  deepening  as  it  does  from 
pale  lemon  in  the  outer  petals  to  the  richest  canary  yellow  in  the  centre, 
with  a  most  exquisite  external  suggestion  of  carmine.  It  has  also  a  much 
finer  form  and  habit  than  Perles  des  Jardins,  and  rarely  appears,  like 
that  variety,  with  divided  blooms. 
In  the  special  contribution  w'hich  created  this  conh’ovcrsy  I  made  no 
comparison  of  Medea  with  Alarechal  Niel,  no  allusion  whatever  having 
been  made  to  the  latter  variety,  which  I  have  never  regarded,  by  reason 
of  the  limitations  to  w  hich  I  have  alluded,  as  adapted  for  the  special 
Xnirpose  of  garden  cultivation. —D.wid  R.  'VVieeiamson. 
NOTES  FROM  HTONELEIGII  ARREY. 
A  KECENT  call  on  Mr.  IT.  T.  Martin,  who  took  charge  of  these 
gardens  about  six  months  ago,  found  him  comfortably  settled  in  his 
pleasant  home  among  the  sylvan  scenes  of  “  leafy  Warwick shiri;.”  The 
garden  is  a  good  one,  and  has  long  been  noted  fur  the  extensive  and 
successful  culture  of  fruit  and  vegetables.  These,  things  Mr.  Martin 
continues  to  maintain  in  good  condition,  as  w’ell  as  to  make  steady 
improvements  in  other  directions.  Two  new  features  introduced  are  a 
couple  of  hundred  Chrysanthemums  grow'ii  on  the  large  bloom  principle, 
and  the  modern  method  of  growing  Onions,  a  grand  bed  resulting.  They 
were  planted  about  a  foot  apart,  and  the  large  shapely  bulbs  show  that 
their  w'ants  have  been  well  attended  to. 
Now  for  a  word  about  the  Chi'ysanthemums.  They  are  certainly 
the  tallest  plants  that  I  have  met  with  this  season,  and  have  evidently 
been  grown  throughout  without  a  check.  Both  wood  and  leaves  are 
wonderfully  strong,  yet  apparently  hard,  and  likely  to  ripen  well.  This 
will,  of  course,  depend  to  a  great  extent  upon  the  weather  we  experience 
from  the  present  time  till  November.  There  is  just  a  doubt  in  my  mind  as 
to  their  ripening  properly,  for  the  situation  at  Stoneleigh  is  not  an  ideal 
one  for  Chrysanthemum  growing,  lying  somew'hat  too  low  to  secure  the 
necessary  exposure.  Of  this,  however,  we  may  be  certain,  that  Mr. 
Martin’s  past  experience  with  “  the  (pieen  of  autumn  fiowers  ”  will 
enable  him  to  handle  them  in  a  skilful  manner. 
Vine-grow'ing  is  at  present  conducted  under  considerable  difficulties, 
but  it  is  probable  that  in  the  near  future  matters  may  be  improved  by  a 
re-arrangement  of  the  borders,  and  the  system  of  planting.  A  promising 
stock  of  decorative  plants  is  being  worked  up,  and  I  noticed  among 
them  some  of  the  best  varieties  of  Crotons  and  Dracienas,  all  looking 
clean,  healthy,  and  colouring  well.  Gooseberries  grown  as  cordons 
ai'e  one  of  the  features  of  Stoneleigh,  and  are  alone  worth  going  a  long 
journey  to  see ;  from  top  to  bottom  they  are  loaded  with  fruit,  and  I  am 
told  that  the  crop  seldom  if  ever  fails  when  grown  on  this  system. 
We  should,  no  doubt,  have  spent  much  more  time  in  examining 
various  crops,  debating  methods  of  culture,  and  having  generally  a  good 
time  of  it,  but  for  the  fact  that  we  were  reminded  we  had  yet  to  partake 
of  the  cup  of  tea  which  Mrs.  Martin  had  so  thoughtfully  provided.  This 
and  many  other  kindnesses  we  thoroughly  enjoyed,  and  then  set  out  for  a 
pleasant  homeward  drive  towards  the  stately  towers  of  Warwick  Castle. 
■—11.  D. 
MUSCAT  OF  ALEXANDRIA  GRADES  SHANKING. 
INFORMATION  WANTED. 
I  HAVE  a  small  'house  of  Muscats  under  my  charge  which  were 
planted  six  years  ago,  after  being  fruited  one  year  in  pots.  On  my 
taking  charge  two  years  later  I  found  them  in  a  very  unsatisfactory 
condition.  The  leaves  were  thin,  pale  in  colour,  and  sickly  looking, 
while  the  few  bunches  that  were  on  them  had  shanked  badly. 
Having  ascertained  that  they  were  planted  in  an  old  border,  which  is 
an  -outside  one  (and  M'hich  was  originally  occupied  by  Roses,  drawn 
through  under  the  sill  and  trained  to  the  roof  the  same  way  as  the  Vines), 
I  decided  to  lift  them  the  following  autumn  and  re-make  the  border.  In 
doing  this  1  found  the  site  properly  drained,  and  after  wheeling  all  the 
old  soil  out,  its  place  was  taken  by  new  compost— a  mixture  of  one  part 
turf  cut  oif  the  limestone,  one  part  sandy  loam,  and  one  part  horse  and 
pig  manure,  to  which  was  added  some  old  mortar,  burnt  earth,  and  wood 
ashes.  After  being  made  firm  the  roots  were  laid  out  and  covered  about 
13  inches  deep  with  soil ;  the  next  year  the  Vines  wei’e  much  improved  in 
health,  and  good  crops  of  Grapes  followed,  but  this  year  the  berries  have 
shanked  almost  wholesale. 
An  examination  of  the  border  revealed  the  fact  that  the  soil  is  full  of 
Elm  roots,  which  come  under  the  garden  wall  from  some  trees  growing 
outside.  Would  it  be  that  these  hungry  feeding  roots  have  impoverished 
the  soil,  thus  causing  the  Grapes  to  shank?  t  am  anxious  to  find  the 
cause,  also  a  remedy.  There  is  a  Lady  Downe’s  about  one-third  of  the 
way  along  the  lunise,  and  this  never  loses  a  beiTy  by  shanking,  yet  the 
Muscats  on  each  sich^  of  it  are  as  bad  as  they  can  be. — R.  M. 
R  RAM  LEY  DARK. 
Tuts,  tbe  charming  estate  of  Colonel  Ricardo,  is  situate  in  the  pretty 
and  quaint  village  of  Bramley,  which  is  about  four  miles  below  Guildford. 
The  house,  udiich  is  of  the  Italian  order,  lies  somewhat  low  relatively, 
as  much  oGhe  surrounding  ground  runs  high.  It  is  a  handsome  struc- 
tuic,  approached  by  a  broad  serpentine  drive,  and  has  at  one  end  a  very 
fine  span  conservatory  that  is  always  kept  wonderfully  gay  with  fiowers. 
But  the  other  day  when  seen  the"  dominating  feature  was  Campanula 
pyramidalis,  huge  plants  splendidly  grown,  both  white  and  blue. 
Fuchsias  also  were  plentiful  and  good,  and  numerous  other  plants, 
flowering  and  foliage.  The  lawns  have  several  ilower  beds  filled  with 
the  usual  summer  "plants,  all  looking  exceedingly  gay,  and  there  are 
plenty  of  fine  trees  and  clumps  of  shrubs.  Rhododendrons  growing  most 
luxuriantly. 
But  the  great  floral  feature  of  the  place  is  the  herbaceous  garden.  This 
was  some  years  since,  w'hcn  Mr.  II.  Paddon,  the  present  gardener, 
came  to  Bramley',  little  better  than  a  swamp.  Getting  permission  to 
convert  it  into  a  garden  the  largo  lakes  near  the  house  were  cleaned 
out,  and  the  sediment  used  to  fill  the  hollow.  Gradually  large  borders, 
paths,  and  grassy  glades  w'ore  formed  and  planted,  and  nearer  the  lower 
half  is  fuli  to  the  utmost  of  hardy  herbaceous  and  bulbous  plants  in 
rich  profusion,  and  in  huge  clumps,  fuimishing  a  wonderful  wealth  of 
bloom,  w  hilst  the  upper  half  is  planted  with  Dahlias,  Stocks,  Fuchsias, 
Caunu’s,  Asters,  and  other  similar  tender  or  half-hardy  fiowers. 
This  garden  w  as  completed  in  1887,  hence  it  is  known  as  the  Jubilee 
Garden.  'On  its  north  and  east  sides  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  was  planted 
to  form  a  dense  shelter,  as  also  a  blind  to  houses  beyond,  and  these  have 
grown  so  well  that  they  tower  up  18  and  20  feet  in  height,  making  a  very 
perfect  as  well  as  a  pleasing  break.  This  garden,  thus  evolved  from  a 
piece  of  v'ery  unsightly' waste,  is  indeed  a  fine  feature  at  this  place.  In 
the  kitchen  garden  hardy  flowers  are  grown  in  great  abundance,  and  they 
lend  much  of  beauty  to  the  surroundings. 
Ill  one  greenhouse,  some  28  feet  long,  Allamanda  lleiulersoni,  trained 
5  feet  wide  all  along  the  roof,  is  a  marvellous  sight,  being  literally  a  mass 
of  bloom.  It  fiowers  for  some  eight  months,  furnishing  many  thousands 
of  blooms  in  the  time.  Fuchsias  are  in  this  house  blooming  with 
exceeding  profusencss.  It  was  quite  a  treat  to  see  these  plants  so  freely 
used,  as  in  so  many  gardens  gaudy  Begonias  and  similar  things  have 
elbowed  them  out.  Outside  fruit  on  Apple,  Pear,  and  Plum  trees  is 
rather  scarce,  but  some  Apples  are  very  fine,  and  it  is  easy  to  understand 
that  when  springs  are  favourable  in  this  low-lying,  moist  situation  the 
fruits  must  be  fine  indeed.  Grapes  are  good  generally— so,  indeed,  is 
every'thing  else. 
The  great  glass  house  feature  is  the  Peach  house,  a  lean-to  52  feet  by 
15  feet.  This  house  has  the  front  border  planted  with  trees  -on  the  cross 
nu'thod.  There  are  twelve  of  them  at  about  4  feet  apart,  each  old  tree 
being  some  12  feet  long  by  5  feet  high.  On  several  the  fruit  crops 
are  wonderful,  notably  on  Royal  George,  at  each  end,  the  crops  being 
astonishing,  the  fruits  fine  and  richly  coloured.  _  This  is,  indeed,  one  of 
the  best  general  Peaches  in  cultivation.  Besides  these  there  are 
Barrington,  Crimson  Galande,  Walburton  Admirable,  Salwey,  Noblesse, 
Prince  of  Wales,  Alexandra  Noblesse,  and  Dymond  ;  and  Violet  Ilative 
Nectarine.  Then  on  the  back  wall,  furnishing  it  fully  from  top  to  bottom, 
are  Royal  George  Peach,  again  a  splendid  crop  ;  Elruge  Nectarine,  also 
a  great  crop,  the  fruits  of  intense  colour  ;  Gros  Mignonne  and  Noblesse 
Peaches.  A  couple  of  old  riders  will  be  removed  in  the  winter. 
ISIr.  Paddon  thinks  that  while  fruits  grown  on  cross-trained  trees  may 
not  always  colour  so  well  as  on  trees  trained  close  under  the  glass,  yet 
more  fruits  are  obtained  in  this  way,  and  it  is  possible  to  have  greater 
succession  in  variety,  which  where  there  is  but  one  house  is  very 
important.  This  Peach  house  would  do  credit  to  any  garden  in  the 
kingdom. — A.  D. 
