]10 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  2,  1900. 
remainder  is  given  over  to  the  collection  of  Ruses.  One  c.in  see  at  a 
glance  that  here  we  have  an  enthusiastic  rosarian  pure  and  simple, 
and  one  could  quickly  gather  that  the  gardener  who  is  called  in 
occasionally  must  on  no  account  trench  upon  the  Rose  department, 
but  must  direct  the  whole  of  his  attention  to  the  grass  and  the  borders. 
Your  real  rosarian  is  a  man  who  has  a  superabundance  of  energy  which 
must  be  worked  off  on  his  beloved  plants ;  to  grow  them  wholly  on 
his  own  initiative  is  his  ambition,  and  when  his  efforts  are  rewarded 
by  prizes  at  the  local  show  and  subsequently  at  the  exhibitiun  of  the 
National  Rose  Society,  he  is  a  happy  man  indeed,  and  only  thirsts  for 
other  fields  to  conquer. 
In  the  rosery  we  find  a  central  path  flanked  on  each  side  by  four 
beds  measuring  15  feet  by  9  feet,  and  having  a  3  feet  alley  between 
each  pair.  There  are  thus  eight  beds  of  uniform  size;  while  in 
addition  there  is  a  larger  bed  running  crosswis '  of  the  garden,  and 
which  divides  the  two  sections.  3  he  smaller  beds  provide  accommo¬ 
dation  for  about  fifty  plants  each,  and  the  larger  one  has  probably 
from  seventy-five  to  ninety  Roses  in  it.  The  first  desideratum  has 
obviously  been  to  insure  every  individual  having  an  abundance  of 
space  for  the  free  passage  of  light  and  air,  which  are  essentials  to 
successful  results.  The  soil  is  a  peculiarly  unkind  looking  clayey 
loam,  but  that  it  is  amenable  to  good  cultivation  is  proved  by  the 
condition  of  its  surface,  and  again  by  the  excellence  of  growth  that  is 
produced.  The  secret  of  its  present  condition  lies  in  the  persistent 
forking  over  of  the  surface;  every  time  Mr.  Gifford  treads  upon  the 
bed  for  purposes  of  gathering  he  immediately  afterwards  loosens  the 
firmed  spot  with  a  fork.  Even  with  this  constantly  recurring,  it  is 
impossible  to  turn  over  G  inches  other  than  in  the  form  of  a  compact 
mass,  which  shows  the  adhesive  character  of  the  medium. 
The  general  system  of  culture  adopted  is  simple  but  thorough. 
Briefly  stated  it  consists  of  going  carefully  over  the  plants  in  August, 
and  removing  any  shoots  that  it  can  be  seen  will  be  superfluous,  thus 
admitting  light  and  air  for  the  maturation  of  those  remaining ;  and 
later  in  the  season  digging  the  whole  over  roughly  so  that  it  may  lie 
fallow,  so  to  speak,  throughout  the  winter.  In  February  the  ground 
is  top-dressed  with  some  thoroughly  good  material,  and  in  March  the 
whole  surface  is  dressed  with  lime,  and  the  surface  is  again  forked 
over.  The  third  and  last  addition  is  made  in  May,  and  it  takes  the 
form  of  bonemeal,  which  Mr.  Gifford  finds  peculiarly  beneficial  to  his 
plants.  The  all-.mportant  operation  of  pruning  is  carried  out  from 
about  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  March  to  a  similar  time  in  April. 
Close  pruning  is  adopted,  and  though  the  time  of  commencement 
seems  rather  early  it  is  clearly  suited  to  the  progress  that  is  made  in 
the  soil  of  Edensor.  Each  variety  has  its  requirements  intelligently 
studied  both  in  respect  of  time  and  closeness  of  pruning — indeed  it  is 
only  by  such  means  that  the  best  results  can  be  looked  for  by  Rose 
growers. 
Generally  speaking  all  the  varieties  thrive  well,  but  Mrs.  John 
Laing  is  probably  the  finest  of  all.  It  makes  splendidly  stocky 
growth,  which  produces  flowers  of  superb  colour  and  fine  substance. 
Captain  Hayward,  too,  is  more  at  home  than  is  sometimes  the  case, 
and  produces  handsomely  formed  blooms  of  great  size  and  the  richest 
colour.  Others  could  easily  be  enumerated,  but  it  is  unnece.«sary. 
The  whole  of  the  garden  reflects  the  utmost  credit  on  the  skill  and 
perseverance  of  Mr.  Gifford,  and  it  may  be  in  jus; ice  added  on  Mrs. 
Gifford  also,  for  she  is  the  officer  in  charge  when  the  presiding  genius 
is  away.  We  may  congratulate  Mr.  Gifford  on  his  past  successes,  and 
express  the  hope  that  the  future  record  will  be  such  as  will  maintain 
the  reputation  he  has  made  for  himself  amongst  those  growers  who 
are  eligible  to  compete  in  classes  restricted  to  “  growers  of  less  than 
500  plants.”— An  Amateur  Rosarian. 
William  Allan  Richardson. 
In  the  neighbourhood  of  Woking  there  are  many  fine  specimens  of 
this  favoured  climbing  variety,  and  this  season  the  blooms  have  been 
better  coloured  than  for  several  years  past.  It  is  a  Rose  the  blooms 
of  which  like  shade;  the  sunless  month  of  June  has  therefore  suited  it. 
When  planting  this  variety  it  would  be  well  to  choose  the  least  sunny 
aspect,  then  we  need  not  wait  for  a  suitable  year  to  see  it  at  its  best. 
The  blanched  blooms  of  W.  A.  Richardson  are  not  attractive,  but 
when  they  put  on  a  deep  apricot  tint  few  flowers  are  more  admired  ; 
and  as  it  grows  so  readily  in  almost  any  soil,  no  garden,  however 
small,  should  be  without  this  well-known  Rose. — S. 
Rubens. 
Not  the  least  remarkable  plant  of  a  Rose  we  have  noted  this  year 
is  one  of  the  old  variety  named.  It  is  trained  against  the  wall  of  a 
villa  residence,  and  is  climbing  about  the  window  with  great  freedom. 
The  growth  is  never  pruned  ;  with  the  usual  nailing  it  is  allowed 
to  grow  at  will.  The  flowers  are  notable  not  only  for  their  number, 
but  their  fine  development ;  and  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  cut  a 
dozen  blooms,  which  would,  in  exhibitors’  words,  take  some  boating. 
When  specimens  like  thi ;  are  seen  we  pause,  and  wonder  if  we  do  not 
prune  our  Tea  Roses  too  hard. — II. 
Pictorial  Practical  Gardening." 
This  modest  manual,  which  costs  but  one  shilling,  is  a  marvel  of 
logical  arrangement  and  concentrated  knowledge.  It  may  be  said  that 
Mr.  W.  P.  Wright,  the  author,  has  put  forth  an  epitome  of  horticultural 
practice  such  as  the  ordinary  English  enthusiast,  amateur  or  pro¬ 
fessional,  seeks  to  compass  outside  the  hothouse.  Being  as  full  of  the 
required  information  as  an  egg  is  full  of  mear,  particularisation  would 
lead  us  very  far  afield.  In  fact,  like  the  Institutes  of  Justinian,  a 
paragraph,  or  a  portion  of  a  paragraph,  might  serve  as  the  text  for  a 
long  and  interesting  article.  So  compressed,  indeed,  is  the  knowledge 
that  some  experience  is  necessary  to  extend  it  into  practical  utility,  and 
hence,  so  far  from  being  useful  merely  to  beginners,  this  work  should 
be  kept  near  at  hand  for  reference  by  every  gardener  of  ten  years 
standing. 
On  a  thousand  and  one  points  we  find  the  memory  will  play  us 
false,  and  such  a  manual  as  this  is  the  nostrum  for  correcting  such 
inaccuracy.  These  works,  too,  contain  a  good  shillingsworth  of  flattery 
for  the  veteran,  even  if  they  do  not  instruct  him,  for  cannot  he  road 
herein  how  much  he  has  learnt,  and  also  how  much  he  has  forgotten  ? 
In  short,  all  gardeners  who  do  not  confine  their  operations  to  the 
arcana  of  the  forcing  house  and  the  conservatory  will  do  wisely  to 
purchase  “  Pictorial  Practical  Gardening.”  They  will  find  the  style 
pleasing  and  terse,  and  enjoy  the  assistance  of  129  excellent  technical 
illustrations  in  its  130  pages.  Mr.  Wright’s  reference  in  the  opening 
paragraph  to  the  popular  idea  of  the  old  and  crusted  (or  is  it 
”  crusty  p  ”)  horticulturist,  relates  of  course  to  an  exaggeration.  Few 
credit  the  craft  with  having  a  monopoly  of  the  ferocity  of  criticism. 
Those  who  do,  forget  the  reciprocal  amiability  (sic)  of  doctors  and 
musicians,  and  overlook  the  meekness  of  the  theologian  in  meeting 
the  views  of  a  dissentient  brother,  a  spectacle  which  has  long  been 
the  subject  of  wonder  and  admiration  among  the  laity. 
. — - - 
King’s  Weston,  near  Bristol. 
In  an  old-established  garden  such  as  this  there  are  sure  to  be  many 
points  of  interest  even  to  the  most  casual  observer.  King’s  Weston  is 
situated  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  busy  port  of  Avonsmoutb, 
where  tons  of  merchandise  are  unshipped  from  American  and  other 
great  steamers  in  order  to  avoid  the  passage  up  the  treacherous  and 
winding  tidal  river  to  the  Bristol  city  docks.  The  situation  of  the 
house  and  gardens  is  unique  in  the  extreme,  broad  expanses  of  sea, 
river,  mountain,  and  valley  meeting  the  eye  in  wonderful  diversity. 
What  the  elevation  is  I  did  not  learn,  but  it  must  be  considerable, 
because  it  stands  above  and  presents  to  the  eye  such  a  vast  and  lovely 
sea  and  landscape  picture.  King’s  Weston  has  been  the  home  of  the 
Miles  family  for  generations  past,  the  present  owner  being  P.  Napier 
Miles,  Esq.,  J.P.,  one  of  a  family  famed  for  political,  commercial,  and 
artistic  tastes,  and  who  is  himself  gifted  with  great  musical  talent. 
The  house  is  in  the  centre  of  an  extensive  and  heavily  timbered  park, 
and  the  estate  has  its  boundary  in  the  river  banks  and  docks.  Great 
devastation  was  wrought  in  the  seventies  by  a  gale,  which  swept  down 
hundreds  of  valuable  timber  and  ornamental  trees,  an  avenue  of  Elms 
of  great  antiquity  being  levelled  almost  to  a  tree. 
In  the  grounds  there  is  an  echo  walk — a  broad  gravelled  expanse 
extending  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  a  straight  line,  at  the  end  of  which  is  a 
stone  building  from  which  the  voice  repeats  itself  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
house  when  loudly  spoken.  There  is  a  gentle  rise  of  the  ground  to  the 
”  Echo,”  and  tall  trees  skirt  the  sides  and  foreground  ;  closely  mown 
lawns  and  well  designed  flower  beds,  standard  Roses  and  herbaceous 
borders,  all  playing  their  part  in  this  interesting  spot.  Near  the  house 
are  small  walled-in  flower  gardens,  which  afford  charming  seclusion 
and  variety  of  floral  features.  In  one,  a  summer  house  was  almost 
hidden  beneath  a  fragrant  bower  of  Honeysuckle,  and  much  the  finest 
plant  of  the  winter  flowering  Chimonanthus  fragrans  I  have  ever  seen  is 
here  covering  a  great  depth  of  wall  in  its  wild  profusion.  Banksian 
Roses  and  other  shrubs,  too,  have  space  afforded  them.  What  was  once 
a  vinery  remains  in  sacred  preservation,  save  the  structure  itself.  This 
was  taken  down  some  years  since  and  an  ironwork  frame  fixed  to  carry 
the  Vines.  That  they  have  occupied  their  present  position  for  many 
years  is  demonstrated  by  the  size  of  the  rods,  and  their  growth  in  this 
open  air  vinery  is  to  the  stranger  a  most  interesting  and  striking 
feature.  Another  relic  is  a  very  old  Ivy-covered  stone  cross  above  tiers 
of  stone  steps,  which  may  have  been  a  monument  to  some  departed 
hero.  This  little  garden  is  supposed — though  history  does  not  appear 
certain  on  the  point — ^to  have  been  a  burying  ground,  and  a  settlement 
in  the  turf  is  a  spot  tradition  holds  sacred  as  one  containing  human 
remains  in  a  stone  or  brick-built  vault. 
A  short  distance  from  this  is  another  walled-in  garden,  in  extent 
perhaps  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  acre.  Here  Figs  occupy  a  large 
*  “  Pictorial  Practical  Gardening,”  by  W.  P.  Wright.  Price  Is.  Messrs, 
Cassells  &  Co.,  Belle  Sauvage  Yard,  London,  E.C. 
