274 THE FLORIST. 



THE NEW GARDENS, WHITBY. 



In noticing Mr. Willison's Rose Nursery in the last Number of the 

 Florist, I inadvertently stated that the Roses were grown on alluvial 

 soil ; this is an error (although perhaps not of much consequence,) 

 which I wish to correct. The soil in this garden varies much, both 

 in its nature and quality; and although there is a small portion of 

 the alluvial, yet the principal part of the Roses is cultivated on 

 strong loam. Since my last notice, I regret to add, that the re- 

 spected lessee, Mr. Alexander Willison, has been " gathered to his 

 fathers :" he died on the 7th October, at the advanced age of 75 years, 

 after having had the superintendence of this nursery for nearly forty 

 years. These gardens, however, will very probably be carried on by 

 his son, Mr. W. Willison, who has hitherto had the entire manage- 

 ment of the Rose department. 



Amongst floral curiosities, I may first mention a seedling Dahlia 

 of very dwarf habit, which has attracted much attention. Mr. Wil- 

 lison now possesses about a dozen plants of this truly singular pro- 

 duction, the tallest of which does not exceed ten inches in height, 

 and several of them are not more than six inches, and yet flowering 

 in this dwarf state. What may we not expect from the Dahlia ! 

 Some say we may grow and exhibit Dahlias in pots as we do Auri- 

 culas; others state that we shall now be furnished with plants of the 

 Dahlia for our smallest compartments, even for our Wardian cases. 

 How much of this will be realised, time alone will reveal ; at any 

 rate, the variety to which I allude is as complete a Liliputian as 

 ever was created by Chinese art. 



From a conversation which took place a few days ago between 

 Mr. Rivers and Mr. Willison, some interesting facts were elicited in 

 reference to raising seedling Roses. Whilst remarking on the Weep- 

 ing Rose, the Crested Moss, the Miniature Moss, and other Roses 

 raised at this nursery, Mr. Rivers expressed his surprise, that seed 

 could be obtained in such an (apparently) unpropitious locality ; to 

 which Mr. Willison replied, that he never was at a loss for seed, but, 

 like his neighbours, he had often failed in causing it to vegetate. 

 Amongst those from which he had anticipated the most (but without 

 success), were Smith's yellow Noisette (impregnated). Curled Crested 

 Moss (Willison's), &c. From other varieties, such as Madame Laf- 

 fay, Proserpine, W. Jesse, Madame Desprez, and others, he had 

 succeeded in raising some scores of seedlings, exhibiting in many 

 instances the greatest dissimilarity from the parent, especially those 

 from Rose Ruga, many of its offspring certainly being like the parent ; 

 but one half at least were stated to be either true Tea or China 

 Roses; and one in particular. King of the Ayrshires (Willison), 

 with very durable maroon flowers, is most like a climbing Gallica. 

 Also those obtained from the old China exhibited, if possible, a 

 greater diversity of character ; some were like Sweet Briers, others 

 were smooth and flexible in their shoots, resembling the Boursault, 

 blooming only as Summer Roses, while the rest were Chinas, Climb- 



