^::iy  15.  lec". 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTTCULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
431 
but  very  profitable  crops  can  also  be  obtained  from  Cantaloups  in 
frames,  a  system  often  employed.  Bananas  are  also  favourites  at 
Norhyrst,  even  though  the  houses  are  only  of  very  moderate 
dimensions.  But  this  is  all  the  more  encouraging,  for  there  are 
surely  others  who  would  cultivate  these  fruitful  and  much  prized 
members  were  they  confident  they  possessed  the  means  to  do  so. 
They  can'  be  gi-own  in  tubs  containing  little  more  than  a  cubic 
yard  of  soil,  and  half  a  dozen  plants  occupy  no  more  space  in  a 
stove  or  warm  plant-house  than  the  same  number  of  large  sized 
Palms.  In  the  fruit  ranges  everything  was  satisfactory.  Part 
of  a  tree  of  a  Barrington  Peach  having  succumbed,  it  was  decided 
to  cut  the  branches  right  back  to  the  main  stem,  and  a.  bud  of 
Royal  George  Peach  was  iii'-erted  on  the  Barrington  stock.  The 
relationship  seems  to  have  proved  agreeable,  and  the  bud  has 
now  developed  to  a  vigorousl.v  branching  limb.  The  gardener 
here  says  he  always  "  buds  ”  a  branch  on  any  of  his  trees  on  those 
parts  where  natural  breaks  are  awanting.  Thus  a  bare  xrortion  of 
the  wall  space  can  bb  speedily  covered. 
Among  Vines  Mr.  Ball  is  equally  practical.  Finding  that  his 
Alnwick  Castle  Vines  did  not  set  well,  and  were  prone  to  exude 
those  ]>ellucid  drops  so  often  noticeable,  he  grafted  this  variety 
on  to  Black  Alicante,  and  the  object  has  so  far  been  attained, 
viz.,  a  stoppage  of  the  exudation,  and  a  better  “set.”  The 
grafted  Alnwick  rod  being  brought  into  comparative  nearness  to 
the  Alicante,  its  own  semi-sterile  flowers  become  pollinated  and 
hence  fei’tilised.  Both  outside  and  inside  borders  are  provided, 
though  the  latter  is  very  narrow.  Oranges  in  pots  are  a  feature 
in  the  house  devoted  to  Bananas.  Citrus  Li’ucnum,  the  Lemon, 
has  been  grafted  on  to  the  Orange,  Ci'rus  aurantium,  to 
strengthen  its  fruiting  proclivities. 
In  the  open  grounds  there  is 
much  of  interest  during  spring  and 
ummer.  Sweet  Potatoes  (Ipomsea 
battatas)  are  somewhat  novel  in 
English  gardens,  but  are  grown 
here,  and  Sweet  Corn  is  never 
omitted,  for  the  owner  of  Norhyrst 
is  an  American.  The  variety  of 
Sweet  Corn  cultivated  is  the  Early 
Sweet  Cfib.  The  seeds  are  sown 
early  in  April  in  small  pots,  and 
when  the  plantlets  are  of  a  size  to 
be  handled,  and  good  weather  pre¬ 
vails,  they  are  planted  in  trenches 
prepared  as  for  Celery.  The  Per¬ 
petual  Spinach  at  this  season  sup¬ 
plies  very  large  quantities  of  a 
tender  vegetable.  From  a  sowing 
in  September,  picking  can  start 
during  the  first  week  of  April.  In 
the  formation  of  new  Asi^aragns 
beds,  a  considerable  amount  of 
fowl  (chicken)  droppings  has  been 
incorporated,  and  the  wisdom  of 
this  a.ddition  to  Asparagus  beds 
seems  to  have  been  previously  con- 
.sidered  by  Mr.  Ball.  Early  Peas 
are  grown  between  the  beds,  which 
are  raised.  A  French  Haricot 
Bean  named  Haricot  de  Pedigique 
is  on  trial. 
The  estate  embraces  an  area  of  thirty  acres  altogether  :  and 
jjart  of  it,  which  is  played  upon  by  the  sun  in  all  dirccrions.  has 
lately  been  added  to  the  kitchen  and  fruit  garden.  A  litt'e  more 
shelter  from  the  north-east  (the  South  Norwood  district  being 
very  high)  would  have  materially  favoured  gardening  operations 
here,  but  that  may  be  added  in  time.  In  this  new  garden  are 
Gooseberries  that  were  planted  at  Christmas  and  are  now  bearing 
well,  showing  that  the  soil  suits  them,  and  that  tlu'  irlanting  has 
been  carefully  done;  bush  and- pyramid  Apple  trees  are  also 
becoming  established.  Tulips  and  spring  flowers  adorned  the 
beds  and  borders  at  my  visit,  and  the  open¬ 
ing  Ch'atseguses  gave  promise  of  sustaining 
the  flowery  show  made  by  the  Amelanchiers. 
One  very  interesting  feature  of  the  grounds 
on  the  west  side  of  the  residence  is  the 
Young  Ladies’  Gardens,  formed  in  a.  shel¬ 
tered  nook,  and  divided  into  sections 
according  to  the  number  of  the  fair  young 
gardeners.  Primulas  and  Auriculas  and 
Scillas,  and  the  wild  Brvony — no  le.ss! — 
were  all  to  be  seen.  May  their  love  for 
gardens  and  flowers  long  continue ! 
Cuinberlow,  South  Norwood. 
'the  Cuinberlow  and  Norhyrst  jiroperties 
adjoin  ;  the  former  lying  more  towards 
South  Norwood  and  at  a  considerably  lower 
level.  The  hand  of  man  has  worked 
wonders  with  the  grounds  of  Cuinberlow, 
which  now  suiDport  such  tactfully  disposed 
groiqis  of  shrubs,  Roses,  and  specimen  trees 
that  no  one  would  imagine  tlie  scene  as  it 
now  ajjpears  was  once  a  large  brick-clay 
field.  Tlie  lowei'  xmrtions  are  laid  out  in 
lawns',  and  xjart  to  the  right,  by  the  .stables 
(which  lie  back  from  the  west  entrance 
gates),  is  utilised  as  a  kitchen  garden.  On 
the  north  side  additional  ground  has  re¬ 
cently  been  acquired  and  planted  around 
the  boundaries  with  a  selection  of  flowering  and  evergreen  ti'ees 
and  shrubs.  On  the  same  side,  but  nearer  to  the  residence  itself, 
are  the  plant  houses  and  vinery.  On  the  south  side  there  is 
another  entrance,  and  here,  too,  is  a  large  new  rock  garden,  at 
the  ba,se  of  which  it  has  been  suggested  to  form  a  Water  Lily  pool. 
W.  F.  Stanleju  Esq.,  J.P.,  the  owner  of  Cuinberlow,  takes  an 
active  interest  in  his  garden  and  its  working,  and  his  wishes  are, 
we  feel  sure,  conscientiously  enacted  by  Mr.  J.  Dingwall,  who 
has  now  been  head  gardener  here  for  nine  years.  The  keeping  of 
the  whole  place  imimesses  the  visitor  most  favourably.  The 
Vines  were  in  bearing,  and  are  fumishing  vigorous  growirhs. 
Though  the  vinery  is  not  a  large  house,  there  is  yet  a  selection 
of  six  varieties,  including  Mrs.  Pince,  Black  Hamburgh,  and  the 
lesser-known  Dr.  Hogg.  Near  by  are  some  sx^an-roofed  houses, 
which  contain  Tomatoes  in  summer,  with  other  occupants.  The 
varieties  of  the  favourite  “Love  Apple”  here  grown  are  not  so 
w'ell  knoAvn  in  the  South,  but  are  x^opular  northwards.  They  are 
Laird’s  Supreme,  Earliest  of  All,  and  Lister’s  Prolific,  the  first 
The  North  Front,  Hallingbury  Place. 
and  last  bring  mere  or  less  rarities.  The  fernery,  conservatory, 
Hallingbury  from  the  North  West. 
