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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  15,  1902. 
Hallingburj  Place,  Bishop’s  Stortford. 
Lying  abont  three  miles  in  a  south-westerly  direction  from  the 
town  of  Bishop’s  Stortford,  in  Hertfordshire,  is  Hallingbury 
Place,  the  estate  and  residence  of  Colonel  G.  B.  Archer  Houblon, 
who  is  also  owner  of  Welford  Park,  Newbury,  in  Bei'kshire, 
where  Mr.  Ross,  the  gardener  there,  has  lately  raised  some 
Apples  and  Pears  of  standard  excellence.  And  curiously  enough, 
hardy  fruit  culture  is  perhaps  the  strongest  feature  of  the  exten¬ 
sive  and  well  kept  gardens  at  Hallingbui-y,  where  the  Colonel 
here,  and  his  gardener,  Mr.  W.  Harrison,  both  delight  in  this 
phase  of  horticulture.  Our  illustrations  show  the  aspect  of  the 
mansion  from  two  points  of  view,  and  though  the  edifice  is  not 
ornate,  it  is  yet  spacious  and  magnificently  proportioned.  I  can¬ 
not  pretend  on  this  occasion  to  trace  the  history  of  the  demesne 
in  the  slightest,  but  when  Hallingbury  comes  to  be  noticed  at 
another  time,  its  historical  records  will  be  reviewed.  This  estate 
comprises  four  thousand  acres  of  forest,  park,  garden,  and  farms, 
lying  at  a  goodly  elevation,  and  with  a  surface  conformation 
beautifully  varied,  for  the  Bishop’s  Stortford  region  is  anything 
but  monotonous.  Its  roads  are  winding  and  undixlating,  smooth 
and  in  good  keeping,  being  sheltered  on  either  side  with  tall 
Thorn  hedges  and  flowery  banks. 
Hallingbury  is  rich  in  noble  specimen  trees,  and  its  Cedar 
Avenue  on  the  east  front  conveys  a  long  and  splendid  carriage 
drive  forward  in  that  direction^  and  in  some  of  the  most  handsome 
features  of  the  domain. 
The  Evergreen  Oaks 
(Quercus  Ilex),  Cedars, 
and  Sequoias  (Welling- 
tonias)  rise  here  and 
there  in  stately  bearing, 
and  full  of  vigour.  This 
is  particularly  charac¬ 
teristic  of  the  Holm 
Oaks ;  and  as  a  typical 
instance  of  the  dimen- 
sions  of  some  of  the 
Cedars,  I  may  mention 
one  (C.  atlantica)  avIiosc 
circumference  measures 
16ft.  Some  fine  Yew 
hedges  exist,  the  best 
being  around  the  tennis- 
lawn. 
A  Ha!  Ha!  divides 
the  mown  lawns  of  the 
garden  proper  from  the 
large  surrounding  iiark 
on  the  south  and  western 
sides,  and  admits  an  un¬ 
interrupted  view  far 
out,  and  banked  tov.ard 
the  right  with  tall  Elms, 
and  Beech,  and  Oak 
trees.  In  the  grounds 
themselves  are  little 
clumps  of  Austrian  and 
Copper  Briars,  and  beds 
’  of  Roses.  Beneath  the 
trees  at  this  .season  the  Daffodils  add  grace,  and  on  ‘‘Lady 
Maw  ley’s  Lake”  (as  I  believe  it  is  named)  the  oniamental  water- 
fowls  disport  themselves  without  fear  of  molestation.  The  stock 
of  these  embraces  pintails,  widgeons,  Carolinas,  Mandarins,  and 
other  sorts.  A  portion  of  this  lake  is  figured  on  this  page. 
The  glass  liomses  are  numerous  and  substantial.  A  long,  lean- 
to  peachery  contams  trellis-trained  and  .standard  trees,  each  iir 
full  flower  at  Easter,  and  as  healtlij^  as  po.ssible.  A  method  seem¬ 
ingly  adoi)ted  to  obtain  a  steady  and  easy  flo^v  in  the  hot  water 
pipes  in  this  long  Peach  house  was  that  of  constituting  an  incline 
from  the  point  of  the  water’s  ingress  to  the  opposite  end,  so  the 
heated  water  might  have  no  check  to  its  onward  and  upward  flow. 
The  flow  pipes  were  raised  on  low  piers  of  varying  heights.  Roses 
arc  well  cultivated  in  one  compartment  of  the  same  range,  and 
that  fine  old  variety  Fortune’s  Yellow,  was  not  omitted.  Beyond 
the  Rose  section,  a  Cherry  house  .succeeded,  and  from  among  the 
usual  selection  of  Chen-ies  that  are  grown,  Mr.  Harrison  finds 
Empress  Frederick  to  be  the  be.st.  The  earliest  vinery  rvas  w^ell 
advanced.  The  house  is  of  the  sunk-pit  style,  very  manageable 
and  useful  for  the  purpose.  The  aged  Vines  (said  to  be  .sixty 
years  old)  were  carrying  large  bunches  at  regular  distances,  and 
the  stout  growths  and  robust  leafage  were  sufficient  to  satisfy 
the  mind  of  the  most  critical.  There  is  no  in.side  border  here,  but 
the  outside  area  was  deeply  bedded  with  fermenting  material. 
Four  large  span-roofed  vineries  have  been  recently  overhauled, 
and  indeed  the  work  was  still  in  progress  at  Easter,  so  that  the 
young  new  Vines  here  planted  have  yet  to  prove  the  skill  of  the 
grower ;  and  the  gardener  w'ho  can  produce  first-class  Grapes  must 
be  thoroughly  qualified.  No  pains  are  spared  in  order  to  obtain 
the  best  of  fibrous  loam  that  the  estate  affords,  and  this  is  mixed 
with  lime-plaster,  knit  with  the  coarse  hair  used  in  its  prepara¬ 
tion,  to  form  a  very  sweet  and  acceptable  rooting  medium  for  the 
Vines.  The  young  Vines  are  confined  to  the  single  rod,  being  cut 
back  to  one-third  of  their  length  the  first  year ;  next  season’s  wood 
is  again  headed  back  a  little,  but  by  the  third  year  the  growth 
reaches  the  top  (the  limit),  and  the  point  alone  is  shortened.  A 
stout  rod  of  three  .seasons’  growth  is  thus  built  up,  and  is  able  to 
yield  exhibition  bunches. 
Numerous  flower  and  plant  houses  are  situated  within  the 
walls,  but  not  altogether.  The  ubiquitous  Cinerarias,  both  the 
dwarf  and  stellate  types,  are  creditably  shown,  and  the  .same  is  to 
be  .said  for  the  Primulas.  Malmaison  Carnations  are  another 
feature,  and  these  receive  considerable  attention. 
The  borders  of  the  hardy  fruit  garden  are  laden  in  summer 
time  with  Delphiniums,  Pinks,  Aquilegias,  Phloxes,  Pentstemons, 
and  other  herbaceous  plants  ;  but  the  sweet  and  odorous  Violets 
claim  all  the  attention  of  visitors  in  March.  Sheltered  at  the 
base  of  the  surrounding  fruit  walls,  the  Violets  almost  smother 
themselves  with  their  little  blo.ssonis.  Hardy  fruit  trees,  as  I 
have  said,  are  a  feature  of  Hallingbury.  Already  there  are  some 
promising  representatives  of  the  excellent  Charles  Ross  variety, 
a  new  comer  in  whose  progress  Colonel  Houblon  especially  in- 
tereste  himself.  The  esi^alier  trees  of  Pear  and  Ai>ple  line  every 
border  and  brake.  They  had  become  crowded  and  decrepit  from 
that  effect,  but  the  commonsense  method  of  lopping  off  each 
alternate  horizontal  branch  has  been  suggested,  and  meanwhile 
a  number  of  fresh  young,  shoots  have  been  allowed  to  arise  at 
regular  intervals  from 
the  upper  branches  of 
these  trees,  and  from 
these  it  is  expected  to 
draw  such  supplies  as 
stout  young  wood  alone 
can  give.  Gi-afting  i.? 
largely  practised  by  Mr. 
Harrison,  and  quite  a 
number  of  middle-aged 
trees  were  “  headed- 
back  ”  in  March,  ready 
to  be  manipulated  upon. 
Nut  bushes  and  Mul¬ 
berries  do  well  here. 
Why  not  trj'  the  Date 
Plum  next,  Mr.  Harri¬ 
son  ?  It  groAvs  and  fruits 
freely  (under  glass,  of 
course),  and  the  fruit 
would,  at  all  events,  be 
noA^el.  There  are  also 
the  Anonas,  or  Custard 
Apples,  and  Mangoes, 
Avhich  may  not  be 
beyond  the  poAA'er  of  a 
careful  culturist  to  ren¬ 
der  fertile.  The  fruit 
store-room  at  •Halling¬ 
bury  is  suitable  for  late 
keeping  Apples,  Pears, 
and  Grapes,  and  a  goodly 
representation  of  fine 
fruit  Avas  still  on  vieAv. 
In  the  coming  summer  I  look  forAA’ard  to  another  leisurely  pere¬ 
grination  in  the  garden  and  glades  of  Hallingbui*y. — J.  H.  D. 
Gadding  and  Gathering. 
“Here  a\a'a’,  There  awa’.” 
Norhyrst,  South  Norwood,  S.E. 
Mushroom.s  in  a  Cucumber  house !  What  next  ?  Yet  Mr. 
J.  R.  Ball,  the  head  gardener  to  A.  D.  Klaber,  Esq.,  of  Norhyrst, 
South  Noi'Avood,  London,  greAv  very  successful  crops  during  the 
past  season,  in  wlmt  is  noAv  used  as  a  house  for  Cucumbers.  The 
structure  is  of  ordinary  span-roofed  form,  and  heated  Avith 
double  rows  of  floAA’  and  return  pipes.  There  is  a  central  path  and 
side  stages,  bricked  up,  and  it  aa-rs  upon  one  of  these  that  the 
bed  was  made.  Sufficient  depth  being  ensured,  the  fermenting 
manure  and  leaves  Avere  filled  in  and  made  firm  in  the  ordinary 
Avay,  a  layer  of  good  loam  being  placed  on  the  surface.  To  .secure 
an  equability  of  shade  for  the  fungous  groAvth,  a  heavy  screen  of 
tiffany  Avas  hung  about  the  bed  and  over  it,  and  the  result  was 
so  entirely  sati.sfactory  that  good  and  useable  crops  were  gathered 
over  an  extended  period.  Cucumbers  and  French  Beans  are  now 
in  this  house.  Amongst  varieties  of  the  latter  Mr.  Ball  favours 
Williams’  Early  and  Osborn  for  early  forcing.  Cantaloup  Melons 
are  grown  in  large  pots  in  an  adjoining  section  of  the  structure; 
Lady  Mawiey’s  Lake,  Hallingbury  Piace. 
