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JOUENAL OF EOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r September 24, 1868. 



class of plants common to soils of this kind ; it consequently 

 differs much from the Wealdeu clajs that lie on the north, 

 or the deep rich soils of Komney Marsh on the opposite side, 

 which tradition says have been reclaimed from the sea, and 

 which are still defended against it by hifili banks kept up 

 at great expense. Occasional patches of Heath, with Fern, 

 Broom, Furze, Foxglove, and other plants in a wild state, in- 

 dicate a soil in which the Khododendron and similar plants 

 would do well. Such is the soil in which Mr. Potton grows his 

 Tricolor Pelargoniums to such perfection, and as some of the 

 readers of this Journal have soil of a similar kind, their success 

 or otherwise, if reported, would form an interesting solution of 

 the question— viz.. What influence soil really has on the 

 markings of this important class of plants ? I am certainly of 

 belief that it has a great influence, but 1 am anxious to hear 

 the arguments on the other side. 



I must add that this soil does not seem to grow Rhododen- 

 drons and similar plants so well as that of many parts of 

 Surrey and elsewhere, the soil at Sissinghurst being modified 

 or balanced by admixture with other ingredients, not in the 

 black peats of Surrey, although it is well adapted for most of 

 the purposes of husbandry, and fertile in other respects. It is 

 neither a peat in colour nor texture, and although it possesses 

 the necessary amount of sand to keep it open, it has by no 

 means an undue proportion of it, while in colour it is medium. 

 The situation of Camden Lodge presents nothing remarkable ; 

 a comfortable residence is surrounded by dressed grounds on 

 most of its sides, and these, along with a kitchen garden and 

 some fruit and plant houses of an ordinary kind, offer as a 

 whole no feature worthy of special remark, but when taken in 

 detail, and the healthy growth of many of the products is con- 

 sidered, one cannot but feel pleased at the skill with which 

 everything is managed. 



As a proof of the success achieved in growing and propa- 

 gating choice bedding Pelargoniums at this place, I may 

 mention that the stock of Mrs. Pollock was so large in 1863, 

 that in the following spring it was determined to sell some, 

 and I believe upwards of three thousand plants were disposed 

 of at that time. This may not appear so remarkable to those 

 who prepare for very large places, as I remember on visiting 

 Enville, many years ago, being told that seven thousand plants 

 of Golden Chain were turned out ; but when it is considered 

 that the place I refer to is small, and Mrs. Pollock three years 

 ago was much more scarce than now, the numbers seem large, 

 and I believe the plants had all been reared from a very small 

 beginning. Other kinds are as rapidly multiplied, and on look- 

 ing round one is astonished at seeing'large beds of kinds which 

 people think themselves fortunate in possessing single plants 

 of, yet such is the case. At the same time Mr. Potton only 

 grows really good, healthy kinds, rejecting all poor growers, 

 unless in some special case, when they are cultivated to com- 

 pare with others. In general, the majority of his plants are 

 grown in circular and other shaped beds on the lawn, inter- 

 spersed here and there with some choice shrubs or Conifers, and 

 very often planted in the same bed with Calceolarias, Lobelias, 

 and other plants, as will be understood by the following de- 

 scriptions of some of these. beds, the bed's being taken pro- 

 miscuously, and not as representing a series or geometrical set, 

 as is often the case. 



A large oval bed is planted thus :— Colens Veitchii in a mass 

 in the centre. Pelargonium Perilla in a band round the Colens, 

 Beauty of Calderdale in a band round Perilla, Model in a band 

 round the preceding. Mangles's Variegated forms the edging 

 next the grass. 



The three Pelargoniums— Perilla, Beauty of Calderdale, and 

 Model are all Bronze and Gold varieties of different hues, yet 

 all robust growers, and they blended admirably. Their distinc- 

 tive features are more perceptible when a number of plants 

 are grown together, and may be described thus ; — 



Pt-nHa.— Very distinct, of robust habit, and rather upright 

 growth, with scarlet flowers. It resembles in growth and flower- 

 ing the old variety called Crystal Palace Scarlet, but, of 

 course, the markings on its foliage give it a distinction from 

 most of the Tricolors of the Mrs. Pollock class. 



Bcatitt/ of Ciddcrdah'.— This is also of robust growth, the 

 leaves large and even fleshy, the zone a reddish brown ; habit of 

 the plant rather spreading ; flowers scarlet. This is unquestion- 

 ably one of the best of its class, and where it was grown pre- 

 sented all the sturdiness of growth that Stella usually has, with 

 a much larger foliage. 



Model. — Somewhat in the same way as Perilla, but dwarfer, 

 and with salmon-coloured flowers. The ground colour and 



markings of its foliage are much the same as in Perilla, and it 

 is well deserving of extensive cultivation. 



A circular bed of medium size has for its centre a mass of 

 Sophia Dumaresque Pelargonium, and an edging of Lobelia 

 Paxtonii. 



Sophia Dumares<pie. — A Tricolor in the way of Sunset, being 

 paler than Mrs. Pollock ; it is, however, a much better grower 

 than Sunset, and is a deserving variety in every respect, the 

 zone being very distinctly marked, and the whole plant more 

 robust than many of its class. 



Another circular bed has in the centre a mass of Centaurea 

 candidissima ; Lady Cullum Pelargonium in a broad band 

 around the Centaurea ; L'EIegante, a white-edged Ivy leaf 

 Pelargonium, as an edging next the grass. 



Lady Cullum is too well known to require comment. The 

 only fault most growers find with it is its slow growth ; and 

 even here it does not go on so well as many other kinds, yet 

 those in the bed referred to looked well, although I was told 

 upwards of 150 cuttings had been taken off only a day or two 

 before, and loO cuttings from Lady Cullum are what everyone 

 cannot obtain at one time. When well grown, this variety would 

 be difficult to improve upon ; but in too many cases we are 

 apt to see it in a lingering, half-starved condition, when almost 

 anything looks better. 



L'EIegante. — This is the best silver-edged Ivy leaf Pelargo- 

 nium I am acquainted with, and I hope to see it still further 

 improved, as I cannot but think this class of plants has been 

 too long neglected, for there are many positions, as vases, 

 baskets, and other places, where they stand unrivalled. A sort 

 with a still broader band of white marking than this would be 

 desirable. As it is, it is far in advance of others in its class. 



An oval bed is thus planted : — A mass of Pelargonium 

 Aureum in the centre, a band of Amaranthus melancholicus, 

 Pyrethrum Golden Feather, and Cerastium as an edging next 

 the turf. 



Anrenin. — This is in the way of Cloth of Gold, but much 

 better. It is superseded, however, by Crystal Palace Gem, 

 which will be described hereafter. Nevertheless, with some 

 growers Aureum is the better of the two, and here it is 

 quite as good. Its chief merit would seem to be to com- 

 pete with Golden Chain, as a bright yellow leaf is its principal 

 feature. The other plants in this bed all looked well, but they 

 are too well known to need description. 



In a circular bed we find Crystal Palace Gem Pelargonium 

 as a mass in the centre ; Colens Verschaffeiti in a band next the 

 last named, a band of Flower of Spring Pelargonium, a band 

 of Lobelia speciosa, and a dwarf silver-edged Pelargonium 

 next the grass. 



Crystal Palace Gem. — Having already described Model, to 

 which this bears some resemblance, I may add that at Camden 

 Lodge this variety was much the finer of the two. It is, more- 

 over, more of a Tricolor, the zone being dark red ; the flowers 

 are rose-coloured. It is well deserving the attention of all 

 growers, as it promises to grow as fast as Tom Thumb, and 

 possesses all the requisites of a Golden-leaved Pelargonium. 



A large oval bed contains Eoi d'ltalie Pelargonium in a mass 

 in the centre ; Vandyke in a band next Eoi d'ltalie ; Flower of 

 Spring in a band ; and Mrs. Pollock in two rows next the turf. 



Pioi d'ltalie. — This well-known old kind was doing well in the 

 position assigned it here, its rosy scarlet blooms showing to 

 great advantage when surrounded by the fine variety adjoining it. 

 Vandyke. — This is somewhat like Beauty of Calderdale, and 

 was, I believe, raised by the same grower, Mr. Wills, to whom 

 the floral world ow»s so much. It may, however, be somewhat 

 dwarfer, but is not by any means " miffy ;" on the contrary, it 

 is of good growth. 



Flou-er of Spriiiy and Mrs. Pollock, two good varieties, likely 

 to be in demand for many years, and, perhaps, more often met 

 with at the present day than any other, Stella, perhaps, ex- 

 cepted. 



The curved ribbon border facing both sides was planted with 

 five rows thus — namely. Meteor Pelargonium, a white-flowered 

 variety, good ; Tom Thumb, a line on each side of last-named ; 

 Lobelia speciosa as an edging on both sides, and here it had 

 done better than anywhere I have seen it this season. Per- 

 h.aps watering had something to do with this result. 



Besides the beds enumerated, there were others containing 

 varieties scarcely less interesting, while in a wide border adjoin- 

 ing the kitchen garden, beds were planted without regard to 

 the order so much enforced in the flower garden proper ; yet 

 this mixed border was, perhaps, more interesting than the 

 others from the variety of its contents. Not having time to 



