March  23,  U99. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENEPi. 
239 
most  effective.  Necr  these  a  collection  of  herbaceous  plants  was  growins 
and  flowering  well,  the  border  extending  to  a  length  of  450  feet.  Some  of 
the  best  in  flower  at  that  time  were  Dicentra  eximia,  Phygelius  capensis, 
Aster  acris,  A.  ericoides,  Hyacinthus  candicans,  Lysimachia  clethroides, 
Montbretia  Pottsi,  Verbena  venosa,  Scabiosa  caucasica,  Hemerocallis  fulva, 
H.  flava,  Sidalcea  Candida,  Boccbnia  cordata,  Alstrbmeria  aurantiaca, 
Delphiniums  in  variety,  and  many  others.  These  were  backed  by  the 
Sweet  Peas  previously'  mentioned,  and  a  fine  collection  of  Hollyhocks 
growing  from  8  to  10  feet  high.  Ihese  were  the  picture  of  health,  and 
full  of  flowers  ;  they  are  raised  by  sowing  seed  annually  in  May. 
At  the  back  of  this  border  is  the  principal  range  of  glass,  450  feet  in 
length  ;  it  is  divided  into  eleven  compartments,  and  terminates  at  each  end 
in  a  square  built  stone  structure.  One  of  these  is  fitted  as  a  garden  room 
for  visitors  to  rest  in  ;  while  the  other  does  duly  as  a  fruit  room.  Entering 
from  the  former,  the  first  house  contained  a  good  collection  of  Zonal 
Pelargoniums  in  pots.  At  the  back  of  the  stage  a  hedge  of  Plumbago 
capensis,  8  feet  high,  formed  a  remarkably  pretty  picture,  as  it  showed  to 
advantage  behind  the  bright  coloured  Pelargonium  flowers  ;  on  the  back 
sweetly  scented,  an  old  plant  worthy  of  more  extensive  cultivation  ;  and 
Begonia  corallina.  The  stove  contained  a  fine  collection  of  Eucharis  in 
first-rate  health,  and  a  plant  of  Aristolochia  eleganson  the  back, wall  was 
flowering  well,  and  has  not  the  disagreeable  scent  of  the  larger  species.  A 
large  collection  of  useful  decorative  plants  was  growing  here.  The 
central  division  is  devoted  to  Palms,  with  the  exception  of  a  Bougainvillea 
glabra  above,  which  gives  a  welcome  touch  of  colour  among  all  the 
greenery.  Ir.  the  heventh  division,  among  a  great  variety  of  flowering  plants, 
Crinum  Moorei  was  flowering  well ;  Petunia  Mrs.  E.  Sander  (which  is  a 
very  pretty  shade  of  pink),  Swainsonia  galegifoia,  Erancoa  ramosa, 
Solantim  jasminoides.  Campanula  pyramidalis,  and  Streptosolen 
Jamesoni,  were  in  splendid  condition  :  a  very  large  plant  of  Vesuvius 
Pelargonium  occupied  part  of  the  back  wall. 
The  late  vinery'  contained  a  fine  crop  of  Gros  Colman,  Lady'Downe’s, 
and  Alicante,  with  Srailax  and  Adiantums  in  abundance  underneath, 
and  ti  very  healthy  looking  plant  of  the  new  Conifer  from  Africa — 
Widdringtonia  Whytei — which  seemed  quite  contented  under  the  shade 
of  the  Vines,  the  Grapes  were  finishing  well,  good  bunches,  large  berries, 
Eig.  59.— in  RIPLEY 
CASTLE  GARDENS. 
wall  a  fine  plant  of  double  scarlet  Pelargonium  E.  V.  Raspail  added 
largely  to  the  effect  when  seen  from  the  end  ;  a  plant  ol  Heliotrope  known 
to  be  over  fifty  years  old  was  growing  on  the  back  wall  also.  The  next 
<livision  is  devoted  to  Vines,  which  were  carrying  a  heavy  crop  of  well 
iiuished  fruit.  Lady  Downe’s,  Mrs.  Pince.  Barbarossa,  White  Nice,  Black 
Hamburgh,  and  Trentham  Black  were  all  doing  well  together.  The  last 
variety  is  not  often  met  with,  and  appears  very  similar  to  Lady  Downe’s. 
Owing  to  the  large  demand  for  plants,  Mr.  Tunnington  is  obliged  to  grow 
various  kinds  under  the  Vines,  and  succeeds  remarkably  well,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  do  full  justice  to  all  when  grown  together,  and  much  laboui 
uiHi  anviety  is  sure  to  follow  in  regard  to  keeping  away  insects.  The 
next  division  was  an  early  vinery,  the  crop  of  fruit  having  reached 
”20  bunches,  which  is  certainly  not  a  bad  one  for  a  house 
40  feet  long,  but  these  had  ail  been  used  before  ray  visit. 
We  next  came  to  the  Pine  stove,  where  some  famous  Pines  were  grown 
in  years  gone  by,  of  which  the  variety  Ripley  Queen  perpetuates  the 
ineinory  ;  but  for  various  reasons  their  culture  has  been  discontinued,  and 
the  house  coiitiiined  a  splendid  crop  of  Tomatoes,  the  sorts  being  Sutton’s 
Ruby,  C' inference,  and  Hack  wood  Park  ;  the  latter  variety  is  preferred 
by  Mr.  Tunnington  for  winter  fruiting.  Every  corner  under  glass  is  made 
to  grow  something  useful,  and  in  this  house  were  nice  plants  of  a  new 
Ab.itilon  with  white  varietated  leaves,  very  pretty  and  distinct  ;  Acalypha 
II  umltonianH,  the  leaves  green  and  yellow,  and  curiously  jagged  at  the 
edges  j  Celsia  arcCurus  flowering  well  and  very  pretty  ;  Rogiera  gratissima, 
and  perfect  colour.  Peaches  are  grown  in  large  numbers  in  the  next  two 
divisions,  the  latest  of  which  contained  some  good  fruits  of  Sea  Eagle 
and  Prince  of  Wales  Peaches,  and  Pineapple  Nectarine.  A  Fig  tree  on 
the  back  wall  was  fruiting  well,  planted  in  a  border!  foot' wide,  and 
1 8  inches  deep  ;  a  very  limited  larder,  but  probably  its  roots  may  have  found 
a  crack  somewhere  leading  to  Iresh  supplies.  The  last  division  is  chiefly 
occupied  by  IMarfichal  Niel  Roses,  ’these  were  full  of  strong  healthy 
yoaiig  wood,  trained  in  long  rods  near  the  glass,  which  is  the  best  ivay  of 
getting  large  and  highly  coloured  flowers.  The  healthiest  Primula 
fluribunda  that  I  have  ever  iieen,  were  growing  in  a  very  shady  corridor 
close  bj’,  and  consisted  of  dozens  of  plants  in  rude  health,  which  must 
lorm  a  charming  sight  when  in  flower. 
Time  and  space  will  not  allow  of  more  than  a  few  words  on  the 
remaining  plant  houses.  Although  these  are  not  in  accordance  with 
modern  fdeas  structurally,  they  ^et  contained  grand  Poinsettias,  and 
many  other  uselul  winter  flowering  plants.  The  kitchen  garden,  too, 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice,  part  of  it  having  been  under 
cultivation  for  hundreds  of  years,  but  with  skilful  management  and  close 
attention  good  crops  of  vegetables  are  still  grown,  although  this  is  by  no 
means  a  favourable  localiiy  as  regards  climatic  conditions.  In  one 
portion  of  the  vegetable  quarters  were  many  fine  Chrysanthemums,  Irom 
which  it  is  appar”  nt  that  Mr.  Tunnington  inherits  some  of  his  lather’s 
ability  in  their  culture,  as  the  whole  of  them  were  in  the  best  of  health, 
and  clothed  with  foliage  to  the  rims  of  the  pots.  M.  H.  Diners. 
