294 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
September  23,  1897. 
does  speedy  execution  on  red  spider,  also  on  most  epiphytal  parasitic 
fungi,  such  as  mildew,  even  preventing  spores  jmshing  germ-tubes  into 
the  tissues  of  their  hosts.  —  G.  Abbey. 
[The  pulilication  of  this  article,  which  we  sus[iect  no  other  gardener 
than  Mr.  .\bbey  could  have  Avritten,  has  been  deferred  till  the  time  is 
approaching  for  the  fall  of  the  leaf  and  the  dressing  of  tree.s  for  the 
subjugation  of  their  enemies.] 
(lUrKET  ST.  THOMAS. 
LvixCr  somewhat  out  of  the  beaten  track  of  horticultural  travel, 
this  really  \  ery  lovely  place  is  about  four  miles  from  the  small  station 
known  as  Chard  . I  unction,  on  the  South-Western  system,  and  being  on  an 
elevation  has  commanding  views,  chiefly  of  the  county  of  Dorset,  in  the 
direction  of  Weymouth  and  the  sea  coast,  and  has  immediately  beneath 
its  front  the  broad  and  beautiful  valley  of  the  Axe,  stream  or  river, 
which  no  largely  divides  Somerset  from  Dorset.  Mr.  Crook  of  Forde 
Abbey  recently  drove  me  over  to  see  this  estate,  where  I  found  the  gar¬ 
dener  to  be  Mr.  Tjyon,  once  so  well  known  when  at  Sundridge  Park, 
Chislehurst,  vvho  has  since  his  freiiuent  visits  to  South  Kensington,  AAhen 
both  a  successful  exhibitor  and  member  of  the  Fruit  Committee,  become 
rather  greyer,  yet  seems  to  be  in  the  full  vigour  of  manhood. 
Cricket  St.  Thomas,  though  such  a  singularly  beautiful  place,  for  the 
fine  undulations  of  the  park,  the  noble  groups  or  individual  trees,  the 
beautiful  as  well  as  luxuriant  greenery  of  the  pasture,  and  the  general 
contour  of  the  place  and  gardens,  with  the  lovely  views  beyond, 
arouse  one’s  enthusiasm — is,  all  the  same,  in  an  unfortunate  position. 
Long  the  home  of  the  Hood  family,  the  present  head  of  Avhich  is  the 
aged  Lord  Bridport,  it  is  now  in  the  market  for  private  sale,  and  may 
shortly  pass  into  the  hands  of  one  or  other  of  our  rich  traders,  Avho  are 
fast  becoming  the  real  aristocracy  of  the  kingdom.  The  old  order 
changeth,  is  as  true  of  estates  as  of  men,  and  we  see  now  in  every 
direction  the  ancestral  homes  of  the  landed  gentry  passing  into  the 
hands  of  the  newer  rich  trader,  who,  if  he  Avill  carry  into  his  new  sphere 
liberal  ideas,  liberal  e.xpenditure.  a  real  love  for  gardening  and  rural  life, 
and  Avill  seek  to  make  the  lives  of  the  people  al  out  him  prosperous  and 
happy,  will  indeed  ])lay  a  groat  part  in  bringing  back  to  these  fine  old 
estates  much  that  will  be  heartily  welcomed. 
Knowing  how  largely  at  Cricket  the  gardeners’  labours  had  for  several 
years  been  devoted  to  the  production  of  fruit  and  vegetables  for  market 
sale,  the  house  having  been  for  a  long  time  unoccupied.  I  was  not  prepared 
to  see  the  pleasure  grounds  so  admirably  kept,  or  the  kitchen  gardens 
and  houses  so  capitally  utilised.  Certainly  both  gardener  and  garden 
merit  liberal  expenditure,  for  the  best  has  been  done  to  deserve  it. 
The  house  is  not  a  large  one,  but  seems  particularly  adapted  to  fur¬ 
nish  comfort.  The  natural  prompting  is  to  Avish  for  so  fine  and  so  com¬ 
manding  a  site  a  noble  mansion.  But  huge  mansions  become  to  so  many 
families  great  Avhite  elephants,  in  course  of  time,  that  it  may  be  well  ail 
the  same  to  suppress  the  desire.  The  present  one  is  flanked  on  each 
side  by  bold  lofty  glass  corridors,  that  seem  to  materially  enlarge  it,  and 
behind  the  southern  one  is  a  large  conservatory.  Within  the  northern 
corridor  I  noticed  some  remarkable  plants  of  the  yelloAV  Cassia  corymbosa. 
These  were  trained  to  trellises  6  feet  wide  and  15  feet  in  height.  There 
were  four  in  number,  and  they  covered  the  walls  between  the  lofty 
Avindows  of  the  room  inside.  They  were  planted  in  stout  wood  boxes 
6  feet  long  and  2  feet  wide,  and  were  literally  from  top  to  bottom  masses 
of  bloom  and  foliage.  Strong  growing  scarlet  Pelargoniums  Avere  carried 
up  and  intermixed  with  the  Cassias,  and  the  front  of  the  boxes  were 
faced  with  a  few  dwarf  ones.  These  boxes  and  plants  are  removed, 
shortened  back,  and  stood  at  the  back  of  a  lofty  Camellia  house  during 
the^  winter.  Close  by  there  is  the  fine  climbing  Souvenir  de  la  iVlal- 
maison  Rose  jireviously  referred  to,  and  just  beyond  a  grand  Avhite 
Datura  suaveolens,  forty  years  old,  having  a  tall  huge  stem  and  gigantic 
head. 
On  a  broad  border  beneath  these  yelloAv  Callas  are  planted  out,  having 
been  there  three  years.  They  had  thrown  up  numerous  stout  leaf  growths, 
and  when  in  floAAmr  present  a  big  bunch  of  leaves  and  spathes.  On  the 
front  broad  pilasters  supporting  the  fronts  of  the  corridors  are  trained 
various  Fuchsias,  groAvths  being  also  carried  along  the  tops  of  the 
AA’indoAvs  horizontally.  They  are  close  trained  to  the  masonry,  and  were 
literally  masses  of  bloom.  Amongst  them  were  the  fine  old  varieties 
Marie  Cornellissen,  Venus  de  IMedici,  Rose  of  Castile,  and  others.  These 
presented  a  very  unusual  feature  in  conservatory  decoration.  Arundo 
conspicua  variegata  is  very  fine  and  effective  for  its  luxuriant  groAvth 
here  ;  so,  too,  in  another  corridor,  is' the  beautiful  Solanum  jasminoides. 
One  plant  jmt  out  at  the  base  of  the  back  wall,  others  at  the  u|iper  part, 
fully  40  feet  length,  and  blooming  most  profusely.  This  is  indeed  a  lovely 
house  climber.  Camellias  are  in  grand  form  ;  so,  too,  are  Roses,  as 
previously  mentioned.  ’ 
A  big  plant  of  Climbing  Niphetos  Rose  seems  to  have  been  at  Cricket 
before  the  variety  was  put  into  commerce.  The  old  Cloth  of  Gold,  referred 
to  recently,  with  its  marA^ellous  stem,  Mr.  Lyon  mentions,  seems  to  bloom 
only  in  the  spring  ;  but  the  flowers  are  of  the  most  brilliant  vellow, 
quite  eclipsing  the  well-known  Marechal  Kiel.  Climbing  Devoniensis  is 
also  very  aged  here.  _  In  the  conservatory  the  roof  is  hung  Avith  Tacsonia 
^  Volxemi.  blooming  in  rich  profusion,  A  more  beautiful  conservatorv 
roof  climber  than  this,  and  one  that  gives  less  trouble  to  keep  clean,  doe's 
not  exist.  Apart  from  their  splendid  and  picturesque  situation  and 
surroundings,  the  pleasure  grounds  are  rich  in  fine  trees,  and  one, 
having  an  historical  and  somewhat  pathetic  interest,  is  a  IVillow  groAV- 
ing  beside  a  spring  that  bubbles  out  from  the  hillside,  grown  from  a 
cutting  taken  from  the  famous  Willow  beside  Napoleon’s  former  tomb  at 
St.  Helena. 
Though  the  houses  and  kitchen  gardens  have  to  produce  market 
material,  they  are  Avell  kept  and  utilised.  Grapes,  Beaches,  Figs,  Plums, 
Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  Melons,  are  all  well  grown,  and  so  are  vegetables. 
There  was  a  big  breadth  of  the  true  Ashleaf  Kidney,  of  which  some  lifted 
showed  a  fine  sample,  and  very  true  to  character.  This  first  early  Potato 
is  in  great  favour  in  the  West,  where  its  yellow  flesh  and  nutty  flavour  is 
fully  recognised.  My  notes  were  few,  and  1  write  chiefly  from  memory, 
but  I  may  hope  to  see  Cricket  St.  Thomas  some  day  yet  under  happier 
auspices,  when  with  a  Avealthy  and  liberal  OAvner  it  may  be  seen  in  all 
that  high  perfection  in  gardening  the  place  so  richly  merits. — A.  D. 
NOTES  FROM  IRELAND. 
Until  recently  the  general  outlook,  so  far  as  the  staple  food  products 
were,  concerned,  Avas  decidedly  gloomy,  and  he  Avould  be  a  bold  prophet 
indeed  who  Avould  say,  even  upon  the  strength  of  ten  daj's’  fine  Aveather 
generally  prevailing  over  Hie  island,  that  any  great  things  are  promised 
on  the  credit  side.  HoAvevei’,  a  continuance  of  the  blessing  lately 
vouchsafed  Avas  much  to  be  desired,  but  unfortunately  a  return  has  been 
made  to  the  old  order  of  things,  and,  judging  by  meteorological  observa¬ 
tions  from  over  a  Avide  area,  the  relapse  may  prove  to  be  more  than  a 
temporary  one. 
Respecting  the  harvest  our  press  reports  are  somewhat  conflicting, 
emanating  perhaps  from  those  Avho  are  inclined  to  take  extreme  vieivs. 
To  say  that  the  harvest,  which  at  least  appears  to  be  of  fair  average  in 
the  comparatively  early  districts  of  Dublin  and  its  environs,  Avas  saved 
Avithout  damage  would  be  saying  too  much,  but  undoubtedly  a  spell  of 
fine  weather  raised  the  tone  from  one  of  despondency  to  one  of  hopeful¬ 
ness,  even  to  that  of  congratulation,  Avith  those  avIio  can  noAv  say,  “All 
is  safely  gathered  in,’’  irresjiective  of  quality  or  quantity.  That  such  is 
not  universal  is  Avell  understood  by  those  who  knoAv  the  wide  range  of 
climatic  conditions  betAveen  the  eastern  and  Avestern  seaboards,  and  in  the 
latter,  Avhere  the  Avhole  course  of  operations  is  necessarily  later,  anxiety 
must  not  only  continue,  but  increase. 
So  far  as  concerns  the  Potato  crop,  and  that  appears  to  be  the  chief 
concern;  and  one  may  here  remark,  Avhat  has  been  more  than  once 
remarked  by  those  Avell  versed  in  Irish  jiolitical  economy,  that  it  is  a 
matter  for  regret  so  much  dependence  is  still  placed  upon  it,  the  prospect 
is  bad.  So  far,  indeed,  is  the  dreaded  blight  in  evidence,  that  reports  from 
some  places  shoAv  no  prospect,  total  failure  being  the  result  of  an  abnor¬ 
mally  early  visitation  of  the  foe,  Avhich  during  the  whole  month  of  August 
ravaged  some  of  the  more  remote  localities  unchecked.  This,  of  course,, 
means  disaster,  which  so  far  is  localised  to  certain  areas.  Never  before 
has  the  value  of  spraying  been  so  much  in  evidence,  and  possibly  the  evil 
Avill  entail  some  good  by  attention  being  forced  to  the  combative  process. 
The  remarkable  rapidity  Avith  which  the  common  foe  has  marched  upon 
us  this  year  sIioavs  the  vital  necessity  of  prompt  action.  Those  who  are 
interested  in  the  question  might  study  the  value  of  spraying  ;  might 
from  the  present  standpoint  seriously  inquire  whether  it  can  honestly 
claim  all  the  merits  that  have  been  showered  upon  it.  If  results  are 
satisfactory — convincing,  and  in  my  opinion  deduced  more  from  observa¬ 
tion,  I  Avill  allow,  than  from  experience,  they  are,  Avhy  temporise,  one 
may  reasonably  ask,  with  so  subtle  a  foe  any  longer  ? 
As  a  cure  the  virtues  of  spraying  are,  I  believe,  practically  nil,  but  as  a 
preventive  so  much  proof  has  been  adduced  of  its  efficacy  that  but  little  doubt 
need  remain  upon  that  point.  In  this  is  the  whole  gist  of  the  question  ;  a 
question  of  such  importance  to  the  poorer  population  on  this  side  the 
Channel,  and  one,  too,  wdiich  the  United  Kingdom  can  neither  wisely 
nor  humanely  ignore,  that  one  is  led  to  speak  strongly  upon  it,  and  ask 
for  pity’s  sake  vA’hy  some  urgent  measures  are  not  taken  to  cojie  with  the 
common  enemy.  Non-interference  in  this  case  appears  to  be  not  only  a 
bad  policy,  but,  what  is  Avorse,  no  policy  at  all.  One  would  scarcely  dare 
venture  in  these  pages  to  broach  even  political  economy,  that  is,  so  far 
as  politics  themselves  pertain  to  it,  but  the  matter  is  one  of  far  too  deep 
concern  to  alloAv  any  little  feeling  of  that  kind  to  preclude  it  ;  and  sooner 
or  later  those  Avho  take  up  the  responsibility  of  the  commonwealth  will 
have  to  face  this  question,  and  not  only  face  it,  but  grapple  Avith  it. 
Much  has  been  done,  aa'c  admit,  to  publicly  impress  the  matter ;  chiefly, 
if  not  solely,  in  the  Avay  of  good  advice.  Good  advice  costs  nothing,  and 
such  cheap'commodities,  if  appreciated,  are  seldom  availed  of. 
“  Ten  shillings  and  costs  ’’  if  my  dog  goes  Avithout  a  muzzle ;  some¬ 
thing  else  and  costs  if  my  baby  is  not  vaccinated  ;  no  admittance  from  an 
infected  port  Avhen  cholera  morbus  is  on  the  march  ;  but  for  Bhytophora 
infestans,  which  threatens  to  take  a  nation  in  the  jatvs  of  famine,  Avhich 
works  its  ravages  unchecked  by  legislation,  and  floats  in  the  water- 
charged  atmosphere  unrestricted,  nothing— nothing  ;  or,  at  least,  that  is 
Avhat  the  fetv  half-hearted  measures  practically  amount  to.  I  am  quite 
certain  'these  crude  exiiressions  on  a  subject  of  vital  importance,  which 
these  brief  notes  have  drifted  into,  could  by  a  few  ])olished  shafts,  driven 
by  abler  pens,  be  shattered,  but  it  would  be  far  more  to  the  purpose  if 
the  ])OAvers  that  be  adojited  a  decisive  policy.  Compulsory  measures  ? 
Even  so.  “  Desperate  diseases  require  desperate  remedies,”  and  who 
shall  say  that  rabies,  small-pox,  or  cholera  morbus  are  more  dreaded 
foes  generally  than  Bhytophora  infestans  is,  to  Ireland  in  particular. — 
K.,  Dublin, 
