February  12,  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
143 
Scattered  about  the  country  are  many 
men  who,  in  their  younger  days,  have  done 
probation  at  Rood  Ashton,  and  during  a 
period  of  seventy  years  a  good  many  have 
crossed  the  border.  Messrs.  Dawson, 
CJeorge,  Miller,  and  Lees  are  a  few  among 
others  that  have  left  an  unfading  legacy 
behind  them  in  the  conduct  of  these 
.gardens,  and  we  have  overheard  remarks 
from  those  whose  remembrance  of  some, 
at  least,  of  these  past  masters  that  there  is 
as  great  a  productive  capacity  of  the 
gardens  at  the  present  time  as  at  any 
earlier  period  of  their  history. 
The  season  of  Peaches  under  glass  ex¬ 
tends  from  the  end  of  April  until  October 
is  well  advanced,  and  Grapes  have  an 
equally  good  record.  Melons,  Cucumbers, 
Figs,  Tomatoes,  Strawberries,  and  Nec¬ 
tarines  are  cultivated  to  an  extent  con¬ 
sistent  with  demands  and  the  space  available,  as  is  the 
forcing  of  salads  and  vegetables. 
Plants  and  flowers  are  in  good  demand  for  the  furnish 
of  the  house,  and  for  packing  to  -the  family  when  in  town. 
A  large  iron-roofed  Palm  house  displays  an  excellent 
collection  of  plants  in  many  sizes,  from  large  specimens 
dov  nwards  to  tiny  pigmies.  These  and  other  seasonable 
plants  are  in  constant  change,  the  extent  of  supply  taxing  to 
the  utmost  the  available  material  as  the  seasqns  come 
round.  Cyclamens  have  been  a  fine  feature  this  past  winter, 
also  Primulas  of  the  Stellata  type,  Cinerarias,  Begonias 
(Sutton  s  fibrous  rooted),  and  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Cypri- 
pedium  insignis,  Poinsettias,  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  and 
Coelogynes.  A  much  admired  plant  is  Streptosolen 
Jamesoni,  covering  the  back  wall  of  one  of  the  houses,  and 
Bougainvillea  Sanderi  grows  and  flowers  abundantly  in 
another  structure. 
Pines,  which  in  olden  times  were  so  much  prized,  are 
now  dispensed  with,  both  on  the  score  of  economy  and 
demand.  The  heating  arrangements  have  been  entirely 
remodelled,  two  boilers  of  modern  pattern  doing  the  work 
of  five  with  as  much  ease,  and  with  far  greater  economy  of 
labour  and  fuel. 
The  kitchen  garden  extends  to  about  five  acres,  four 
of  which  are  enclosed  within  12ft  walls.  Large  fruit  trees 
skirt  the  walks,  many  of  which  were  found  to  be  absolutely 
worthless.  Many  have  been  grafted  with  better  varieties, 
and  some,  too  old  for  this  operation,  have  been  replaced 
with  young  trees.  Peaches,  which  used  to  be  such  a 
failure,  now  succeed  well  on  the  south  walls.  Plums,  Pears, 
Apricots,  Cherries,  and  Figs  are  occupants  of  other  Lpects! 
Rood  Ashton;  the  main  entrance- 
Rood  Ashton  :  from  the  croquet  lawns. 
A  wire  structure  has  been  added  on  a  north  border  as  a 
protection  against  birds  for  the  growth  of  dessert  Cherries 
and  Gooseberries,  and  another  is  in  contemplation  on  the 
southern  side  for  the  same  fruits  and  Peaches.  Flowers 
share  the  central  borders  with  fruit  trees,  and  rustic  arches 
of  recent  date  accommodate  Roses  and  other  summer 
climbers,  all  tending  to  brighten  and  beautify,  to  say 
nothing  of  their  value  for  the  flower  basket. 
Though  we  have  not  specialised  anything,  it  is  interest¬ 
ing  to  record  the  fact  that  no  less  than  seventy-five  prizes 
were  gained  last  year  with  produce  from  the  garden,  fruit 
and  plants  accounting  in  a  large  measure  towards  this 
success,  which,  considering  that  special  cultivation  for 
exhibition  is  not  adopted,  is  creditable,  we  think,  to  Mr. 
Strugnell  and  his  co-workers.  Much  more  could  be  written 
without  exhausting  the  resources  of  this  well-known  and 
interesting  garden,  but  space  forbids. 
Mr.  W.  Strugnell,  the  Gardener  In  Charge. 
Mr.  Strugnell’s  first  experience  in  gardening  was  gained 
under  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Fox,  of  Northwood  Grange,  near 
Bristol.  Mr.  W.  Townsend,  the  gardener,  being  most 
generous  by  imparting  hints  of  practical  value.  From  here 
he  went  to  the  Durdham  Down  Nurseries  as  a  probationer, 
the  Messrs.  Garaway  having  been  an  old-established  firm 
where  every  phase  of  plant  culture  was  found.  These 
nurseries  are  now  almost  entirely  absorbed  by  the  builder 
for  residential  purposes.  His  next  change  found  Mr.  Strug¬ 
nell  in  the  gardens  of  the  late  George  Miller,  Esq.  Mr. 
Gibson,  the  gardener  at  Brentry  House,  having  a  local 
reputation  second  to  none  at  that  time.  Under  this  good 
gardener  he  was  able  to  acquire  an  all 
round  experience,  and  after  serving  two 
years  under  glass  removed  outside  in  order 
to  gain  a  knowledge  of  kitchen  garden, 
lawns,  and  flower  garden  work. 
Sneyd  Park,  Clifton,  then  in  the  height 
of  its  fame  as  a  plant  and  fruit  garden, 
gave  Mr.  Strugnell  an  insight  into  the 
needs  of  an  exhibitor.  From  here  his  next 
step  was  into  Breconshire,  South  Wales, 
as  foreman  at  Buckland,  the  residence  of 
J.  P.  G Wynne  Holford,  Esq.,  an  extensive 
and  beautiful  demesne,  and  thence  he  was 
engaged  by  Mr.  Iggulden  at  Marston, 
where  much  useful  experience  was  gained. 
This  able  gardener  has  spent  the  past 
eighteen  yeai’s  first  at  Beenham  Court, 
Newbury;  at  Willow  Vale,  Frome,  and  for 
ten  and  a  half  years  at  Rood  Ashton. — 
Itinerant.  Bristol. 
