120 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ August 15, 1867. 



drought, while others are swelling and require damp, it follows 

 that either one or the other must be sacrificed, or else that 

 a compromise must be made, the result of which is inferior 

 flavour in the ripe fruit, and red spider on the leaves of the 

 later varieties. 



Now my mode of attemptinR to overcome the difficulty, for 

 I do not pretend to have conquered it, is to grow my plants in 

 pots, and shift the ripening varieties to the extreme sunny end 

 of the house, leaving the ventilators near them partially open 

 all night, and not syringing those plants at all. When the 

 fruit is off the plants are put out of doors, and others moved 

 onwards to supply their places. 



Now these things being premised, we return to the considera- 

 tion of five spiral cordons planted in a group, and ripening fruit 

 from July to October. Are they to be syringed during these 

 months or not ? If they are, will the fruit be of good flavour ? 

 and if not, how is the red spider to be kept at bay ? — G. S. 



MESSES, CARTER & CO.S SEED FARMS. 



A WEEK ago we visited these extensive grounds, and although 

 that visit ought to have been made some days sooner to have 

 seen many of the seed-plants at their full perfection, many 

 more had just arrived at that state, so that after all what we 

 missed was probably fully compensated by what the others 

 had gained in beauty. Be this as it may, the sight was one 

 that amply repaid a journey to Manningtree at the farther 

 side of Essex, near which two of the seed farms are situated — 

 namely, Jiipe's Hill, and East House, Dedham, the one wholly 

 devoted to vegetables, the other principally to flowers. On our 

 way, however, from the station we pass over Jupe's Hill, and 

 from this eminence catch a view of the lower ground, where 

 whole fields of the most brilliant-coloured flowers are exhibited 

 before us. Even at the distance of a mile bright scarlet masses 

 may be discerned, and others of orange, and yellow, and white ; 

 ■while nearer at hand aud farther off stretch bright green pas- 

 tures and fields of golden corn, with Dedham church — an old 

 country church, such as one loves — with its massive square 

 tower, 'almost hidden by the trees in the distance. And now 

 we come to East House farm, cropped with subjects so plenti- 

 ful, so various, and withal so beautiful in their forms and 

 colouring, that numerous as those noticed may appear, at least 

 as many more must be left unmentioned, though scarcely less 

 deserving. 



Marigolds are grown very extensively, and although the 

 object here, as with other plants, is simply to produce seed, 

 and no special mode of cultivation is adopted to bring the 

 flowers to a large size, both the lemon-coloured and orange 

 African are very large and showy, having heads not less than 

 4 inches in diameter, and several measured even more than 

 that. The orange variety is very rich in colour, and both 

 would prove very effective in large borders where tall plants 

 are grown ; while for places in which such are not admissible, 

 the miniature French kinds are well adapted, being very com- 

 pact and seldom exceeding G or 7 inches in height. Cue, the 

 Miniature Orange, has heads li inch across, and is very free- 

 flowering, but still more showy are the dwarf gold-striped, 

 ■which produce a profusion of rich brownish-crimson flower- 

 heads striped and edged ■with golden yellow, and measuring 

 when well grown about 2; inches in diameter. Clarkia pul- 

 chella in several varieties is also largely grown, as will readily 

 he supposed from its being one of the best of hardy annuals 

 both in point of beauty and free-flowering. Among the in- 

 tegripetala varieties there are a showy one called carnea, flesh 

 tinged with pink ; a fine double white ; a dwarf variety called 

 Tom Thumb, with large rose- coloured petals; and marginata, 

 deep rose with a light edge. 



Among Godetias, one called The Bride, is very fine ; the 

 blossoms are large, of a very delicate rose-colour, approaching 

 to white, and deep red at the base of the petals, forming a 

 ring of that colour round the centre of the flower. Godetia 

 Lindleyana, which is well known, likewise covers a large space, 

 as also does G. roseo-alba, pale rose, blotched in each petal 

 with crimson, and which is in most profuse bloom. Messrs. 

 Carter have also a variety which is a great improvement on 

 the kind just named. Godetia reptans alba is very dwarf and 

 pretty for trailing over rockwork. 



Of Lupins, numerous varieties are grown, among which 

 Lupinus albo-coccineus is one of the best ; in this the flower- 

 spikes are partly reddish purple and partly white. Another 

 very pleasing variety, growing about 1{ foot in height, and 



having roBe-coloured and white flowers, is called L. elegans 

 roseuB albus. L. elegans carnens is likewise a pretty sort, and 

 there is a dwarf form of Cruickshanki, differing from it only 

 in its height. Larkspurs of the tall branching kinds occupy a 

 considerable space, and the blue is remarkably fine in colour ; 

 the same remark applies to the double scarlet Poppies ; there 

 are also large patches of other kinds, but now going out 

 of flower. Indian Pinks in mixtures include many pretty 

 varieties of different colours and markings, and Petunias, 

 which are raised from seed by the thousand, have with but 

 few exceptions large and showy flowers. Those known as 

 Dunnett's hybrids, which are striped and variously marked 

 with rich purplish violet, are of great excellence, while among 

 selected sorts, atroviolacea, deep violet purple, and magna coc- 

 cinea, purplish crimson, are very rich in colour and most desir- 

 able for bedding. There is also a variety called I'etunia viride- 

 cincta with purple blooms narrowly edged with green. 



Among dwarf annuals, Cenia turbinata with small bright 

 yellow flower-heads, and its white variety, are certainly two of 

 the prettiest and are well worthy of attention. Of Brachy- 

 come iberidifolia, or the Swan Kiver Daisy, there are lovely 

 masses, both of the blue and the white varieties, and of the 

 two mixed. They are two of the most beautiful of dwarf half- 

 hardy annuals, and cannot be too generally cultivated ; in 

 masses they are more effective mixed than when either is 

 grown alone. Another Swan Eiver plant, the Acroclinium 

 roseum, of which there are both rose-coloured and white 

 varieties, fills large quarters ; and among other Everlastings 

 there are several pretty varieties of Xeranthemum of various 

 colours ; one called atropurpureum forms a showy mass of 

 double purple flowers ; whilst of Helichrysums, which are 

 much better for drying for winter, the stock includes fine large- 

 flowered varieties of different colours. 



Lobelias of the dwarf kinds suitable for bedding and pot 

 culture, being such general favourites, it is scarcely necessary 

 to remark receive much attention and occupy a considerable 

 space ; besides a tine strain of the deep blue Lobelia Erinus 

 speciosa, compacta alba was noticeable as a neat dwarf white 

 kind, and the hght- blue-flowered gracilis as being well adapted 

 for pot culture. Nemophilas, which are amongst the prettiest, 

 and for almost all purposes the most popular of annuals, are 

 grown by the acre, and when in flower they must alone have 

 constituted a sight of rare beauty ; but at the time of our visit 

 the bloom was over and they were gathered into cocks, like hay, 

 by the sides of the roads, along which, and in other parts of 

 the seed farms, we were informed, they extended in belts to the 

 length of eleven miles altogether. 



Calliopsis of various kinds are also extensively grown, are 

 at present very showy, and offer a considerable diversity, the 

 predominant colours being yellow and brown, or crimson. They 

 are very effective in masses. Calliopsis elegans nana, brownish 

 crimson edged with golden yellow, is particularly so. Of 

 annual Chrysanthemums, the New Double Golden is very free- 

 blooming, dwarf, and very double ; whilst amongst those ex- 

 hibiting several colours in the same flower. Chrysanthemum 

 Burridgi, white, crimson, yellow, and dark brown in concentric 

 circles, is most beautiful. Some of the flowers measure 

 2J inches in diameter. The pretty and useful rose-flowered 

 Saponaria calabrica and its white variety form large masses, 

 which from their continuous-blooming character will probably 

 remain long in beauty. There is also a variety -with rose- 

 coloured flowers having a nari'ow white margin. The white- 

 flowered variety of Silene pendula is also pretty, "as well as 

 Nemesia versicolor compacta, which is densely covered with 

 bluish lilac, rose, and white flowers, and being very compact is 

 excellent for pot culture. Viscarias form tine masses ; one of 

 the most noticeable is that called oculata Dunnetti ; another, 

 cceli-rosa nana, is a fine, dwarf, rose-coloured sort, very even 

 in height; but more beautiful than either is Viscaria car- 

 diualis with brilliant crimson flowers produced in profusion. 

 Among ffinotheras are the large, yellow-flowered (E. macro- 

 carpa, one of the most useful of all the dwarf kinds, and 

 CE. bistorta Veitchii, which is excellent for rockwork. Mesem- 

 bryanthemum glabrum is another plant suitable for the same 

 purpose, having bright yeUow flowers 2i inches across. 



Tropa'olums, or Nasturtiums as they are called, are a spe- 

 ciality, and alone cover several acres, in masses of nearly an 

 acre of a kind, but some varieties take up three times that 

 extent of ground. Being all now in full bloom the effect is 

 most brilliant, and where the flowers are scarlet perfectly 

 dazzling. Glory, one of the climbing varieties, is conspicuous 

 even from a long way off, by the splendid mass of orange 



