448 
May  26,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
are  situated  against' the  castle  on  its  south  side,  and  the  walls 
that  support  them  are  coveied  with  numerous  interesting  shrubs, 
as  Magnolia  grandiflora,  Jianksia  and  other  Roses,  Abutilon 
vitmlolium,  Rhus  Toxicodendron,  Muehlenbeckia  complexa, 
Punica  granatum,  Azara  microphylla,  P'orsythia  suspensa, 
Chimonanthus  praecox,  and  many  other  things. 
A  Jjawson  s  Cypress,  now  43tt  high,  is  seen  on  the  sloping 
lawns  just  below,  and  this  was  planted  by  the  present  king  in 
the  3;ear  184(5.  And  amongst  other  trees  that  deserve  to  be 
mentioned  are  types  of  the  Loquat,  also  Choisya  ternata,  5^ft 
high,  Juthospermum  scoparium,  now  quite  a  little  tree,  and 
which  even  in  the  open  flowers  freely.  Erica  mediterranea 
and  Cistus  salvifolius  each  assume  goodly  proportions,  while 
under  the  tall  forest  trees  all  around  there  are  well-placed 
plantations  of  the  commoner,  but  none  the  less  beautiful,  shrubs. 
At  all  seasons  of  the  year  spring  garden  flowers  are  seen  freely 
naturalised  in  the  grass,  and  the  bright  effect  they  give  can  well 
be  imagined. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  castle  we  find  the  Castle  Gardens, 
which  are  geometrical  flower  beds,  tastefully  planned,  and  filled 
with  harmonious  and  finely  contrasting  flowers.  Below  these 
Castle  Gardens  (for  the  whole  situation  is  on  the  side  of  a 
lengthened  slope)  appears  the  Statuary  Garden,  with  other 
flower  beds,  each  ablaze  with  colours,  and  giving  a  bright 
reflection  amid  the  surrounding  greenery.  Five  palms _ Trachy- 
carpus  excelsa— occupy  the  centre,  and  have  resisted  the 
weather  since  1899,  when  they  were  received  from  Italy.  Only 
a  slight  protection  is  furnished  over  the  winter,  and  they  are 
9ft  high.  The  garden  takes  its  name  from  the  statues  that 
surround  it,  these  being  “life  size”  representations  of  the 
mythological  characters,  Juno,  Flora,  Ceres,  Bacchus,  Pomona 
and  Diana.  They  each  cost  £35,  and  were  carved  in  1680.  ’ 
The  spring  bedding  in  the  Castle  Gardens  may  be  described 
as  follows Beds  containing  (1)  Aubrietia  Leichtlini  and  white 
Tulips,  (2)  white  bunch  Primroses  and  Tulipa  fulgens,  (3)  purple 
Aubrietia^  and  Keizers-kroon  Tulip,  (4)  Triteleia  uniflora  and 
IMuscari  Heavenly  Blue,  each  being  small  triangular  beds.  In 
a  large,  variously-angled  bed  were  Myosotis  dissitiflora  Dyerie 
^uth  large  bright  blue  flowers),  surrounded  by  a  band  of  yellow 
Primroses  (selected),  then  purple  Aubrietia,  and  an  outer  band 
of  Holcus  mollis  variegatus,  obtainable  from  Dutch  growers 
and  w  hicli  makes  a  beautiful  edge.  Other  plants  variously  em- 
ployed  were  Phlox  divaricata,  Phalaris  arundinacea,  Heuchera 
hispida,  Viola  Bullein,  and  V.  Lord  Elcho,  Erica  carnea  Doroni- 
cunis,  and  double  white  Arabis.  ’ 
I.eaving  these  gardens,  a  sylvan  path  in  the  shade  of  tall 
trees  leads  over  the  dell  and  along  the  flank  of  the  opposite 
woody  slope  to  the  Duchess’  Garden,  which  is  the  jewel  of  the 
Belvoir  estate.  Indeed,  few  places  in  England  can  vie  with  it 
and  probably  none  can  excel  its  wonderful  beauty.  Here  are 
trees  of  ah  forms,  united  with  great  discernment  for  effect,  and 
tile  wliole  scene  of  some  eight  acres  in  extent  is  richly  filled  with 
both  choice  and  favourite  flowering  or  foliage  shrubs,  floweriim 
plants  being  also  abundantly  utilised.  The  Duchess’  Garden 
occupies  a  natural  dell  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  so  that  there  is 
ample  opportunity  for  rock  gardening,  for  winding  flower 
borders,  for  beds,  cascades,  grassy  slopes,  and  for  the  disposi¬ 
tion  of  the  arborescent  vegetation  to  the  best  advantage.  There 
aie  some  tall  columnar  Cupressus,  rising  amidsjb  resplendent 
masses  of  Acer  polymorphum  atjopnrpureum  (over  20ft  high) 
JDiododendron  caucasicuni  pictum,  R.  Thomsoni  (rich,  glowincr 
mimson;  a  Siklani  species),  also  Camellia  alba  plena,  Ladv. 
Humes  Blush,  Corallina,  and  others;  and  with  these  choice 
plants  are  Pninus  Pissardi,  Daphnyphyllum  glaucescens.  Ilex 
mj-itiroha,  Olea  ilicifolia,  lihododendron  Griffithianuni,  Styrax 
japonica,  Eucryphia  pinnata  (10ft).  and  Araucaria  imbricata, 
planted  in  1842,  and  measuring  70ft  in  height.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  for  these  subjects  to  consistently  thrive  and  fe 
ornamental,  the  garden  must  be  warm,  and  this  it  is  by  virtue 
of  Its  sheltered  position.  Arundinarias  and  Phyllostachys  grow 
admirably  and  they  are  considerably  used  in  various  ether 
parts  of  the  Belvoir  grounds.  It  i.s  impossible  by  mere  words 
to  convev  an  impres.sion  of  the  beauty  of  this  remarkable  per- 
tion  of  the  estate,  but  readers  must  try  to  visit  the  place  them- 
selves,  and  the  journey  will  be  well  repaid. 
1  hough  the  Duchess’  Garden  is  considerably  removed  from 
TJ  P^ike’s  VValk  continues  onward  to  Frog 
Hollow,  which  IS  really  a  pretty  bog  garden,  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  residence  Another  walk  leads  back,  still  through  the 
V  oocis,  to  the  Castle  Gardens  again. 
The  value  of  one’s  descriptive  notes  would  have  ])een  much 
enhanced  had  they  been  supplemented  and  assisted  by  some 
photographic  illmstrations  of  the  scenic  splendours;  but,' failing 
these,  I  have  traced  the  inain  features  of  Belvoir  and  its  gardens 
with  what  meed  of  skill  is  given  me.— J,  H.  D. 
Soils  and  Geology.— During  the  ages  when  the  earth  was 
undergoing  the  format«ye  proces.ses,  a  great  variety  of  rocks 
neie  formed,  some  of  which,  when  later  reduced  to  soil  bv  the 
agency  of  ice  and  water  in  their  wide  distribution,  are  found 
to  be  also  of  widely  varying  character;  and  upon  an  area  of  one 
d  ffn  that  are  quite 
dincient  in  some  respects.  ■* 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Some  American  Apple  History. 
The  first  Apple  trees  planted  in  America  were  imported  by 
the  Dutch  settlement  at  New  York  in  1614.  Apple  trees  were 
also  known  to  have  been  growing  at  Jamestown,  Va.,  as  early 
as  1622.  Until  within  the  last  half  century  Apples  were  grown 
almost  solely  for  cider  making,  as  is  the  ca.se  to-day  in  France. 
As  hard  cider  will  produce  drunkenness  and  a  horrible  katzen- 
jammer,  William  Penn  advised  his  Quaker  colonists  in  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  to  cultivate  indigenous  fruits  alone,  as  Apples  were  then 
used  almost  exclusively  for  making  cider  or  applejack.  ^  Many  of 
the  early  orchards  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Middle  West  were 
seedlings  obtained  in  a  peculiar  ivay.  Some  man  whose  full 
name  has  been  forgotten,  and  who  is  remembered  only  by  the 
appellation  of  “  Apple-seed  Johnny,”  travelled  through  the 
West  and  scattered  among  the  settlers  untold  quantities  of 
Apple  seeds.  He  gave  them  away  free  of  charge,  and  he  was 
given  a  hearty  welcome  at  every  cabin  door.  The  last  decade 
or  two  has  shown  wonderful  development  of  the  large  com¬ 
mercial  Apple  orchards  in  the  W’est,  and  the  industry  has  now 
assumed  vast  proportions.  Apples,  for  instance,  are  exported 
to  England  and  many  foreign  countries.  Apple  cores  from  the 
big  drying  establishments  are  purchased  by  Eastern  buyers  and 
shipped  to  France  to  be  used  in  the  adulteration  of  wines  and 
champagne.  A  large  part  of  this  champagne  and  wine  i.s 
shipped  back  to  America  in  wine  casks  made  at  Poplar  Bluff, 
Mo.,  in  the  largest  barrel  factory  in  the  world. 
Young  Gooseberries. 
The  new  fruits  have  arrived  for  the  season,  and  have  made 
fancy  prices  (says  “The  Globe”).  They  sold  at  Is.  a  quart, 
and  from  8s.  to  lOs.  a  peck,  the  latter  prices  being  equal  to  32s. 
and  40s.  a  bushel  respectively.  The  Gooseberry  crop  this 
season  bids  fair  to  be  an  exceptionally  heavy  one.  In  Kent, 
Essex,  Cambridge,  Worcester,  and  Northumberland  the  bushes 
are  loaded  with  fruits.  The  continuous  rains  have  acted  iiKe 
magic  upon  the  fruits,  which,  in  some  districts,  are  as  thick  as 
the  leaves.  Thanks  to  the  rains,  the  bushes  are  very  free  from 
insect  pests,  and  in  no  district  has  any  complaint  yet  been  made 
of  the  appearance  of  the  Gooseberry  caterpillar.  There  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  Gooseberries  will  yield  larger  profits  than 
most  fruits  this  season.  The  jam  makers  are  expected  to  be 
large  buyers,  the  shortage  in  the  fruit  crops  of  the  past  two 
years  having  compelled  them  to  depend  to  a  very  great  extent 
upon  foreign  fruit  pulps.  Already  several  large  contracts  have 
been  completed  for  the  sale  of  growing  crops  in  Kent  at  high 
prices  per  ton.  It  is  safe  to  estimate  that  jam  makers  will  buy 
up  half  the  entire  crops  of  English  Gooseberries  this  year.  If 
this  should  prove  correct,  then  good  quality  berries  will  be 
worth  more  money  retail  than  usual.  The  popularity  of  the 
fruit  is  upon  the  increase.  Last  year  punneted  Gooseberries 
made  as  much  as  9d.  and  Is.  a  pound  retail.  Growers  now 
pack  them  in  this  way  before  marketing  them,  as  they  do  with 
Strawberries.  As  the  result  of  la.st  season’s  trade,  it  was  found 
that  in  many  instances  punneted  Gooseberries  realised  larger 
profits  than  many  punneted  Strawberries.  They  were  even  sold 
at  one  part  of  the  season  at  higher  prices  retail  than  Guernsey 
glasshouse  Grapes.  J^ast  year  they  were,  in  some  instances, 
retailed  at  prices  equal  to  50s.  a  bu.shel. 
Notes  on  Figs  under  Glass. 
Earliest  Forced  Trees  in  Pots. — When  the  fruit  comprising 
the  first  crop  on  the  very  early  varieties  is  gathered,  return  to 
the  treatment  applicable  to  trees  swelling  their  crops.  If  red 
spider  has  gained  a  footing,  thoroughly  cleanse  the  trees  with 
some  approved  mixture.  Syringe  the  trees  forcibly  on  fine 
evenings  until  new  growth  is  being  made  freely,  and  in  ordinary 
routine  twice  a  day,  in  the  morning  and  early  afternoon.  AVhere 
the  second  crop  is  thickly  set,  thin  liberally,  leaving  the  fruits 
nearest  the  base  of  the  shoots,  and  do  not  overtax  the  trees. 
Expose  the  ripening  fruits  as  much  as  possible,  and  increase  the 
ventilation.  Stop  the  shoots,  and  thin  where  crowded,  for 
vigorous,  sturdy  shoots  produce  the  finest  Figs. 
Planted-out  Trees. — The  earliest  forced  trees — those 
started  at  the  new  year — have  the  fruit  approaching  ripening, 
and  must  not  be  wetted,  maintaining  atmo.spheric  moisture  by 
keeping  the  mulching,,  walls,  and  paths  properly  moistened. 
