1 873] GARDEN MEMORANDUMS. 193 



we knew it, by experience, to be twenty years ago. This is one of the cases 

 which we would not consider it to be wrong if dealt with by the State, and 

 means allowed for the support of those who have given what was dearest to 

 them in the world (their health) for the benefit of science and their race. Wish- 

 ing that we had more time to spend in the locality, we beat a hasty retreat and 

 took train to London, visiting Covent Garden with the view of comparing notes. 

 We have seen some things at the season much finer in the market, but never 

 saw quantities lai-ger. Fruits consisted of some fine Pears, showy Apples, Grapes 

 plentiful, but with the exception of some Alicants and Gros Colman, the others 

 were unfit for use. The quantities of wretched small Pines with huge crowns 

 showed that the growth of inferior fruit was not out of date. There were a few 

 good Cayennes and Black Jamaicas. Asparagus was poor, French Beans very 

 few and "seedy." Seakale was plentiful but moderate in quality. Common 

 vegetables were good and plentiful. Cut-flowers abundant, consisting chiefly 

 of Camellias, Koses-Devoniensis, Souvenir de Malmaison, Gloire de Bijon, and 

 others of that class mostly in bud. Lily of the Valley, Violets, Poinsettia, and 

 bulbs of sorts. 



After seeing all that Covent Garden exhibited to public view, our next route 

 was to the nurseries at Fulham. This "firm," so long and favourably known 

 for its respectability, is conducted much on the same principles as when the 

 late Messrs Osborne were at the head of the afiairs of the business. An excel- 

 lent manager has been secured, and the various departments are each well man- 

 aged; we thought the stoves and greenhouses were never in better order. 

 Great quantities of plants fit for table-decoration were in robust health and very 

 clean. The demand for these plants seems on the increase. The young stock 

 of Heaths was in very fine condition. Though every garden requisite is kept 

 in stock at the Fulham Nurseries, the feature which has so long distinguished 

 this fine old business is the unrivalled stock of fruit-trees, which are in as fine 

 condition as ever ; and we were pleased to see the veteran ]\Ir Pitman, though 

 marked with the shades of time since last we saw him, as active and enthusi- 

 astic among the fruit-trees under his charge as ever he was. He may have 

 equals as knifemen, though we have not met them, but it is hardly possible that 

 he can have a superior in the art. It was gratifying to know that this nursery 

 business is prospering though deprived of its two leaders last year under melan- 

 choly circumstances, and that the widows and children are substantially pro- 

 vided for, though nothing in a tangible form can make up for the loss of an 

 excellent father. Leaving Fulham we intended visiting Veitch's Exotic 

 Nurseries, but the want of time prevented us enjoying a peep of this the finest 

 plant establishment in Europe, and we could only glance over the vast ranges of 

 glass as we passed along on the 'bus ; but we had a run through this establish- 

 ment two months ago, and the quantity and quality of every plant worth 

 growing are still maintained in all their excellence ; and we may say that this 

 nursery holds the same position for its exotic plants which Knap Hill holds for 

 its hardy shrubs and trees. We returned to Oxfordshire much refreshed by 

 sight-seeing : and when employers send their gardeners out for a gardening 

 tour, we consider it advantageous to both parties, and money expended in this 

 way by considerate employers is generally returned to them with interest in 

 another form. M. Temple. 



Blenheim. 



