176 



GARnE^ERS• CHnOMCLE, 



grandeur. Though space would not permit one even to 

 mention individually a tithe of the gorgeous specimens on 

 view in this section, reference must be made to the won- 

 derful Rhododendron Corona, in a full shrimp pink, the 

 blood-red " Lady Constance," "'Loder's White' and a new 

 white of the same tyi>e. temporarilv named "Snowflake." 

 "Bagshot Ruby'' and "Brilliant'' were still conspicuous 

 among the richer crimsons and that good old variety R. 

 fastuosum fl. pi. was well represented in liush and stand- 

 ard form. Kurume .\zaleas and other Japanese kinds 

 were well dis]>layed, as were those of the nmllis, sinensis 

 and the late, double-flowered ru.stica set. The well-known 

 "J. C. van Thol,'" "Anthony Koster" and the newer multa- 

 tuli, with very large trusses in a flaming orange-scarlet, 

 were among the more striking of these impressive throngs 

 of blossom. Japanese Maples and Wistarias. Ceanothuses 

 in varietv, Kalmias and many conifers were conspicuous 

 in the shrub sections, and such Rhododendron species as 

 cinnabarinimi, decorum and yunnanense magnifica were 

 staged. Fremontia californica and the rare Dipelta flori- 

 bunda were both shown full of blossom : the fragrant 

 Daphne cntorum and the more uncommon D. Genkwa 

 were on view, and many who had not seen Pottntilla 

 Farreri and the newer Leptospermums in bloom here saw 

 these attractive shrubs in perfection. On one stand alone 

 there were some two dozen distinct species and varieties 

 of Brooms exhibited, including Cytisus Dallemorei, 

 crimson and purple, the lovely C. sulphnreus, "Ivory," 

 and the many delightful parti-colored forms of the pur- 

 pureus and andreanus class, many of these being sent 

 out as standards. When I add that in addition to all 

 these (and I have not mentioned a fraction of the ex- 

 hibits) we had the productions of those growers from 

 S. W. England who are enabled to exhibit from the open 

 air and in full flower such shrubs as Embothrium 

 coccinea. Eucalypti. Pittosporums, Clianthus, Tricuspi- 

 darias and many other tender subjects, one may perhaps 

 imagine the wealth of color and variety which this show 

 alTorded. 



The greenhouse, or stove, plants comprised an exhibi- 

 tion of vast dimensions in themselves and the same must 

 be said of the Carnations and Pinks, of which there was 

 a ravishing display, especially of the now popular All- 

 woodii class. Against a background of black velvet several 

 tiers of superb Carnations .shown by the President, Lord 

 Lambourne. made an impression one will not soon 

 forget. The entries in CMematises from one firm 

 alone covered a s]5ace of some five hundred square 

 feet, nearly fifty distinct varieties being staged in 

 faultless condition, and though one hardly expected 

 much in the way of Roses during the last days 

 of Mav there were some magnificent groupings of Ram- 

 blers, Climbers, Baby Polyanthas, Yellow P.anksian and 

 others. From one well known iklfast nursery came an 

 exhibit of no less than 10,000 sjirays of Sweet Peas in 

 faultless condition, immense in flower and of almost every 

 conceivable tint, the.se being rivalled, but not eclijjsed, by 

 the .sheaves of Lupins and .\iilirrhinums which made 

 veritable banks of color from floor to canvas. Oriental 

 Poppies also made a brave show, some of the dwarf and 

 intermediate forms being very delightful, and in P;eonies 

 one was imi)ressed by the beauty of extensive arrays of 

 the uncommon P. officinalis lobata whose gorgeous crim- 

 son single blooms have a large centr;il tuft of golden yel- 

 low. The Eremuri (Fox Tail Lilies) also created much 

 attention by their majestic s]>ires of blossf)m, and the ex- 

 hibition of Iri.ses ])roduced a i^erfect galaxy of color, 

 amf)ng which the newer forms of Sjjanish Iris, the June- 

 flowering varieties of the liearded section and the Siliiri- 

 cans were jjarticularly good. 



Among the hardy Liliums one noted the now popular 

 L. regale ])robably the most beautiful of all recent intro- 

 ductions. L. Farreri was here also, a most chaste little 

 Lilv whose ])ure white reflexed petals are spotted with 

 \-iolet. There were some extensive arrays of the orange- 

 buff, L. elegans. "Orange Queen," the very dainty L. 

 Willmottire and the Xankeen Lily (L. testaceum or ex- 

 Cflsum) whose ivory flower.^- arc held in great clusters at 

 the head of six-foot stems. One specialist in Delphiniums 

 showed si.xty distinct varieties, the splendid colors of the 

 noble spires of bloom, some of which rose to nearlv ten 

 feet high, affording a most sumptuous, Oriental effect. 



Not less interesting to many were the gardens outside 

 l;'.e tents. The day before the show the several acres de- 

 voted to these were a cpiagmire of grimy turf, but by the 

 following noon all this had been transformed as if by 

 magic into smiling gardens of every conceivable style. 

 There were rock gardens, sunken gardens, formal gar- 

 dens. Spring gardens, blue gardens, water gardens, Dutch 

 and Japanese gardens and many others, all looking much 

 as if they had been here for years instead of a few hours. 

 The rock gardens were particularly good. For the con- 

 struction of some of these many tons of mountain turf 

 and carefull) selected rock hud been brought long dis- 

 tances by rail or road, the latter without the mosses or 

 lichens of Nature's adorning suffering .so much as an un- 

 sightly scratch ! These were disposed with consummate 

 cleverness, sin'table plants set in their chinks or in the 

 accompanying slopes of sod, whilst rivulets of water and 

 sparkling pools fringed with acquatic plants gave life 

 and movement to the scene. Some of the representatinns 

 of alpine meadows were also especially attractive, the well- 

 known enthusiast responsible for these having conceived 

 the idea that one might with greater interest and delight 

 have a "lawn'' of suitable alpine plants,, all set close to- 

 gether, than the more commonplace strefch of grass. The 

 examples shown of these flowerful meadows were cer- 

 tainly fascinating and, even if the idea does not suggest 

 l^ractical usage, there is little doubt "out that it will develop 

 as a phase of alpine gardening which may perha]>s be 

 truer to Nature than those regiments of stones which so 

 often dominate the rock garden of the unskilled amateur. 



IN THE GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



(Cuntiiinrd Iroiii iHiiic 172) 



down enough to go into the same size pot, if jiossible. L'se 

 a good, strong loam and jiot cpiite firmly. Keep the syr- 

 inge going on the ])lants as soon as the operation is fin- 

 ished, and never allow them to get dry, as good root ac- 

 tion is essential, before the leaves fall, i^xaminc the roots 

 of any early vines that are clear of I'rnit. If ihev have 

 been allowed to go down too dee]) in the bnrdcr. thev by 

 careful work can be lifted. Uncover them carefullv and 

 lift the roots up near the surface of the liorder wurking 

 tough, sod loam under them. Sjiread them out e(|ually, 

 just covering them with some of the broken up turf. We 

 believe the reason that the roots of vines very often go 

 down too dee]) is that during their growing season, they 

 :lo not get enough moisture near the surface of the border 

 ;in(l feel their way down where it is more dam]>. (Ira])es 

 lake grtat (juantities of w;iler while lhe\- are in active 

 growth, and the surface of the liorder slimild always be 

 (]uite moist. .\ good coat of .'scotch soot scattered on the 

 i;ra]ie border just before the fruit begins to coUir will 

 liel]i the cokiring. (live the binders ])ienty of w:ilei', until 

 the fruit riju'iis but discontinue >yringing. .Scmie of the 

 varieties, such ;in ".Maderstield Court." as they near ri])en- 

 ing need to lie kejit somewhat drier .-it the roots nr the 

 berries are aj)! to crack. 



d 



