THE FLORIST. 287 



the hollow of the valley — for we came down faster than we went up 

 — and turned westward to another division of the nursery, covered 

 with large breadths of the " Queen of flowers," here and there sepa- 

 rated by long grass walks, whose sides were ornamented with " droop- 

 ing Standard" Roses. This is a mode of managing this fine flower 

 which only needs to be seen to be adopted ; fashioned in this way, 

 they produce a truly striking effect ; it was these which first caught 

 our eye on approaching the nursery. The varieties treated in this 

 manner were, Ruga, Thoresbyana, Garland, Crimson Boursault, 

 Banksiaeflora, Myrianthes, Princess Louise, Donna Maria, and Laure 

 Davoust. This latter is, however, somewhat tender ; it succeeds 

 best against a wall. These weeping Roses are never touched with 

 the knife. 



Among novelties were, Standard of Marengo, brilliant scarlet ; 

 Madame Pepin, blush ; Dr. Arnal, crimson ; Pauline Bonaparte, white 

 perpetual ; Paul Ricaut, brilliant hybrid Bourbon and many others. 



By referring to our reports of the great metropolitan shows, it 

 will be seen that Mr. Lane has been a very successful competitor in 

 pot Roses ; some of our readers may therefore like to have an account 

 of the Rose-house in which he grew so many fine specimens. It 

 is span-roofed, with a bed in its centre, in which the Roses are 

 plunged in saw-dust, and heated by means of a common brick flue 

 running round it immediately within the walls. The bed is not 

 warmed. It will thus be seen that the successful cultivation of the 

 Rose in pots is attended with little expense, as far as the house and 

 heating apparatus is concerned. 



Satisfied with our inspection of the home nursery, Mr. Lane 

 drove us on to Great Berkhampstead Common, where he has also 

 large plantations, ay, we may say fields, of Roses, which shews the 

 rank this flower still holds, and must continue to hold, in public 

 estimation. Here we saw Moss Rose Lanei in great perfection, and 

 a most beautiful dark moss it is, when well blown ; still we must 

 hold to the opinion expressed in one of our early Numbers, that it 

 is not so well mossed as could be desired. 



Many entertain the idea that our great Rose nurserymen grow 

 nothing but Roses ; but this is a mistake : Mr. Rivers has his fields 

 of Roses, but then he has also his fields of fruit-trees, and of general 

 nursery stock. Mr. Paul, it will be seen from our last, also culti- 

 vates general nursery stock, and so does Mr. Lane. The latter has 

 many nice specimens of Conifers, a very interesting collection of 

 weeping trees, many of our old favourite herbaceous plants, which 

 have been so unwisely driven from our flower-gardens of late years, 

 to make room for what is called " the bedding system," and, what 

 may be of advantage to such of our readers as are far removed from 

 peat, Rhododendrons and Kalmias growing, and thriving too, in loam. 



As we returned to the railway station, we had an extensive view 

 of the country, which is undulating and picturesque, and altogether 

 we came away highly gratified with our visit ; and we are sure all 

 who spend a long summer's day among Messrs. Lane's Roses (and it 

 takes a long summer's day to inspect them,) would derive equal 

 pleasure. 



