March  7,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
197 
Osmaston  Manor.  There  is  also  a  fine  avenue  of  Lime  trees  running  | 
through  the  old  churchyard  of  St.  Oswalds  at  Ashbourne, 
t^lln  reference  to  forest  planting,  the  reason  for  the  trees  being 
planted  thickly  is  to  induce  a  quicker  growth  when  young,  and 
when  arrived  at  a  certain  stage  take  every  other  plant  out.  The 
plants  left  will  then  make  finer  timber  and  attain  a  greater  girth 
than  they  would  otherwise  have  done  if  this  plan  had  not  been 
adopted.  Snelston  Park  is  now  becoming  rather  overcrowded  with 
specimen  and  timber  trees;  still,  when  there  is  such  a  great  variety  of 
hues  and  colouring  given  to  the  landscape  by  the  splendid  arrange¬ 
ment  [of  the  trees,  we  must  not  be  too  ready  to  find  fault  with  a 
matter  of  detail.  I  might  suggest  an  improvement  to  the  appearance 
of  the  Coniferous  specimens  might  be  effected  by  planting  a  small 
belt  of  the  double  Gorse  round  each  tree.  When  these  are  in  bloom 
the  effect  would  be  pleasing.  Of  course  in  park  scenery,  for  an 
effective  finish  there  should  be  a  lake.  This,  planted  around  with 
hardy  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas,  when  in  flower  would  add  decidedly 
to  the  scenic  effect. 
In  order  to  protect  the  stems  of  the  specimen  trees  from  injury  by 
cattle,  another  consideration  of  importance  is  to  have  nice  light  tree 
Figs  Under  Glass. 
The  earliest  forced  trees  in  pots  started  in  November  or  beginning 
of  December  will  soon  complete  the  first  swelling.  They  remain 
stationary  for  some  time  in  the  process  of  flowering,  and  as  this  is  the 
most  critical  time  in  their  culture  every  care  should  be  taken  to  avoid 
a  check.  Insufficient  moisture  or  excessive  fire  heat  will  cause  the 
fruits  to  drop  when  they  should  be  commencing  their  last  swelling, 
therefore  keep  the  temperature  steady.  If  mild  it  may  be  kept  at  60° 
to  65°  at  night,  but  if  the  weather  is  cold  5°  less  is  safer,  and  what  is 
lost  at  night  may  be  gained  in  the  daytime  by  closing  with  plenty  of 
heat  and  moisture  (but  not  with  the  latter  hanging  on  the  fruit),  when 
a  rise  of  10°  to  15°  may  be  indulged  in  without  producing  a  weak  or 
elongated  growth,  keeping  the  temperature  through  the  day  with 
gleams  of  sun  at  70c  to  75°,  otherwise  65°  artificially. 
Afford  copious  syringings  on  all  favourable  occasions  as  a  means  of 
|  keeping  down  red  spider.  It  is  prone  to  attack  foliage  most  in 
proximity  to  hot-water  pipes,  and  should  be  prevented  spreading  by 
I  sponging  the  leaves  carefully  with  soapy  solution,  2  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of 
water.  To  encourage  the  swelling  of  the  fruit  top-dressings  of  rich 
THE  LILY  POND  IN  GREENWICH  PARK. 
guards  for  all  the  ornamental  and  Coniferous  species.  Nice  compact 
specimens  of  Picea  Normanniana  and  P.  nobilis,  if  planted  in  prominent 
situations,  combined  with  the  Deodar  Cedar,  would  add  a  picturesque 
feature  to  the  landscape.  If  there  are  any  still  watercourses  running 
through  the  intended  park  plant  aloDg  the  margins  the  dwarf  species 
of  Willows,  so  as  to  droop  over  the  water  and  so  hide  any  unsightly 
appearance.  There  are  some  nice  varieties  of  ornamental  Oaks  at 
Snelston,  and  among  them  the  Scarlet-leaved  Ilex  is  a  prominent 
object. 
The  grounds  and  gardens  of  Snelston  Hall  are  also  very  fine,  both 
in  themselves  and  also  in  their  outward  surroundings,  and  well 
deserve  a  visit,  but  if  there  is  one  spot  of  ideal  beauty  more  than  any 
other  it  is  the  rock  garden  ;  here  Nature  and  Art  have  both  combined 
to  help  the  effect. 
The  time  to  visit  Snelston,  may  I  suggest,  is  either  in  the  spring 
time  of  its  loveliness  or  the  autumn  of  its  decay,  when  the  foliage  is 
changing  its  tints,  preparatory  to  Winter’s  stern  approach.  Calwich 
Abbey,  with  its  fine  avenue  of  Elms,  is  also  well  worthy  of  a  visit 
when  in  the  neighbourhood. — A.  W.  Godwin. 
[As  instances  of  the  effective  park  and  woodland  scenes  which 
Mr.  Godwin  explains,  we  would  refer  to  the  illustrations  on 
pages  196  and  197. — Ed.] 
material  should  be  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  pots.  Supply  tepid 
liquid  manure  steadily  to  the  roots,  giving  it  in  sufficient  quantity  to 
pass  through  the  pots.  Avoid  crowding  the  growths,  stopping  at  about 
the  fifth  leaf,  tying  out  the  shoots  as  the  growth  advances,  and  cutting 
out  superfluous  shoots.  These,  however,  are  best  prevented  by  rubbing 
them  off  early,  so  as  to  give  those  left  all  the  light  possible.  The  fruit, 
to  have  colour  and  high  flavour,  must  have  full  exposure  to  light  and  a 
circulation  of  warm,  rather  dry  air. 
The  planted-out  Fig  trees  started  early  in  the  year  will  require 
disbudding,  removing  all  the  overcrowded  shoots ;  and  where  there  is 
not  room  for  laying  in  a  long  shoot,  yet  space  for  some  growth,  the 
shoots  may  be  pinched  at  the  fifth  or  sixth  leaf  to  form  well- developed 
so-called  spurs  for  the  second  crop,  the  leading  and  successional  shoots, 
where  there  is  space,  being  allowed  to  extend,  as  these  invariably  afford 
the  finest  fruits  and  longest  succession.  Water  the  border  as  required 
with  liquid  manure,  taking  care  not  to  apply  it  too  strong,  and  mulch 
with  an  inch  of  rather  rich  and  rough  compost,  which  attracts  the 
roots  to  the  surface.  Trees  in  restricted  borders  and  needing  more 
support  may  have  roots  encouraged  from  the  collar  by  placing  turves 
interspersed  with  lime  rubbish  and  manure  in  contact  with  it,  and  by 
extending  the  material  outwards  a  quantity  of  feeders  will  be  secured, 
which  if  duly  supplied  with  liquid  manure  will  greatly  assist  the  trees 
in  swelling.  Syringe  the  trees  twice  a  day  in  favourable  weather, 
damping  only  on  dull  days,  and  keep  the  malching  moistened  as  it 
becomes  dry. — Grower. 
