October 23, 1SG8. 1 



JOURNAL OF UORTICUIiTURE AND COTXAr,E GARDENER. 



299 



purpnreum. On the next mound Golden Feather Pyrethrum 

 was interBpersed amongst Echeveria metallica and Semper- 

 viviim Donkelaari, and at the back there was a plant of San- 

 seviera zejlanica in quite as good condition as it is seen in the 

 beat collections of ornamental-foliaged plants, though not so 

 large. A third mound was covered with the charming little 

 buttons of Sedum glauoum, dotted with a very ellective Sem- 

 pervivum said to be new, Echeveria metallica beautifully 

 coloured, and Sempervivum phioloidos. On other mounds the 

 above plants were repeated in various combinations with each 

 other, and with several more plants of a similar character. Of 

 these Sedum virens, Gnaphalium dioicum nanum, and Sedum 

 ochroleucum, formed very pretty dense tufts, those of the last 

 named, in particular, being almost like small berries. Sedum 

 brevifolium is also pretty at the end of the season. 



A bed of Pelargoniums occurred on the grass not far from 

 tho alpincs. This was prettily divided into several compart- 

 ments by a zigzag band of Silver Thyme, and in these were 

 growing several Pelargoniums for trial. John Heaviside, scarlet, 

 looked very well, and King of Nosegays had fine trusses of 

 broad-petalled flowers. After passing a splendid bed of Castor 

 Oil plants, and a very fine one of the variegated Acer 

 negundo, edged with Golden Feather Pyrethrum, we reached 

 a magnificent plant of Musa ensete, with leaves 12 feet long, 

 in a sheltered nook at the junction of two walks. This was 

 planted on a slight elevation above the surrounding turf, and 

 the ground beneath carpeted with the frosty-leaved Anten- 

 naria tomentosa. 



Near this point a large piece of rockwork is in course of for- 

 mation, the ground has been thrown up so as to form a bold 

 promontory at the head of the lake, facing the south and south- 

 east, and judging from the work already executed, an ex- 

 cellent imitation of natural sandstone rocks will be produced. 

 They appear as if there had been a " fault " near the lake, and 

 the dip of the strata is seen to be inland. This rockwork is to 

 have basins and ledges for the growth of alpine and other suit- 

 able plants, and there are to be some small waterfalls ; but 

 very judiciously no attempt has been made to imitate mountain 

 scenery by representing a mountain by a molehill, and a lofty 

 rock by a large stone. Eockwork is one of the most difficult 

 forms to imitate, so as to produce a good effect in a garden, 

 for on a largo scale it is both expensive, and occupies a large 

 amount of space, and if small it becomes ridiculous, unless of 

 an unambitious character. At Battersea, however, so far as we 

 can perceive, neither too much nor too little has been attempted, 

 and when the work shall have been finished, and the various 

 parts clad in their living garments, we have little doubt the 

 effect will be very pleasing. Still many shrubs and trees will 

 have to be planted, and some years must elapse before that 

 effect can be fully realised, for it will be a work of time to shut 

 out Clapham Junction, with its engines speeding in all di- 

 rections, and the tall chimneys beyond — the outposts of an 

 army ever on the advance. But even at this point, whilst 

 looking at the many spires lighted up by the autumn sunset, 

 one is reminded by the voices of thousands of starlings seeking 

 their roosting places on the island in the lake, that though ao 

 near a great city, our wild birds have sought and found a home 

 where the rich and varied vegetation of the far south is flourish- 

 ing in a strange land. 



Beturning from the rockwork there still remains a long 

 series of beds, but as it would be tedious to particularise the 

 planting of each, we shall only notice some of the most effective of 

 the plants employed. Of these Solanum robustum was one of 

 the most ornamental. It is a tall-growing species, with large, 

 very spiny leaves covered, like the whole plant, with cinnamon- 

 coloured down, and has a noble appearance. Solanum amazo- 

 nicum is of much dwarfer habit than the preceding, and its 

 leaves are small, and have also a cinnamon tinge, but the 

 flowers are large and oraameutal, being blue with yellow 

 stamens. Another Solanum, very dwarf in growth, and set 

 with a multitude of spines, was interesting by its prettily marbled 

 green and white fruit. Cannas, including the dark-leaved 

 C. rubrieaulis, Wigandias, Castor Oil plants, Indiarnbbers, and 

 Niootiana wigandioides, were everywhere most luxuriant. 

 Several kinds of Senecio were also noticeable, more particularly 

 Senecio Ghiesbreghtii, with large and beautiful green leaves, 

 and which in January produces enormous corymbs of golden 

 flowers ; and amang Abutilons there were several pretty kinds, 

 especially A. sulphureum, with yellow flowers. Boceonia fru- 

 tesceus, which was employed at one place as an edging, also 

 deserves mention on account of its large and elegantly lobed 

 foliage. From one point of the walk leading from the rockwork 



to the entrance, a view is obtained across a smaller lake than 

 that in which the starlings' island is situated, and the masses 

 of dark and green-leaved Cannas backed up by various trees 

 and shrubs, with a small bed of Salvia argcutoa on tho margin, 

 had a very pretty effect. 



Before quitting the subtropical department, it must be men- 

 tioned that a terrace walk has been formed on a portion of the 

 south and west sides, giving an elevation of 2i) feet and from 

 this a view can be obtained over those gigantic Bananas referred 

 to in a previous number, and a largo number of the beds. The 

 whole of this has been raised since Midsummer, 1hG7, princi- 

 pally by means of the soil obtained from the excavations for 

 the new metropolitan railways, and which, consequently, was 

 of a very mixed character. Notwithstanding the heat of the 

 summer, the Hollies and other shrubs, though only removed 

 in June, exhibited no sign of having been transplanted, not 

 even a withered leaf. Of course, little basins were formed round 

 each to hold water, with which they were plentifully supplied. 



Besides the subtropical garden, Battereea Park has presented 

 during the season another great attraction in the bedding 

 plants which have adorned the sides of the drives and walks, 

 especially on the river side of the Park. A ribbon border in 

 the American ground which had been very effective earlier in 

 the season, was planted thus — edging blue Lobelia ; 2, Flower 

 of the Day Pelargonium ; 3, a double row of Christine ; -1, Cy- 

 bister; 5, Waltham Seedling, backed with Double White Pyre- 

 thrum. In other arrangements, the dwaif French Marigolds 

 had been very useful all through the dry weather, but the rains 

 which succeeded rendered their growth rampant. The semi- 

 circle at the principal entrance on the north side afforded a 

 brilliant display of colour up till very lately. Both of the quad- 

 rants were planted alike ; it will, therefore, be sufficient to take 

 one. In shape the beds were what may be called (to save the 

 use of a less generally inteUigible term) oblong, with the sides 

 following the curve of the semicircle, and with the ends swept, 

 out to correspond with the curve of the small circular beds with 

 which these oblongs alternate. The first bod was planted with 

 Lucius Pelargonium, scarlet, and like all the rest was edged 

 with Golden Fleece, and bordered next the grass with Ceras- 

 tium tomentosum, cut closely to a regular width of 4 inches ; 

 bed 2, a circle, was planted with Christine; 3, oblong, with 

 Lady Constance Grosvenor, scarlet ; 4, with Waltham Seed- 

 ling ; .'>, with Excellent ; fi, with Christine ; and 7 with blue 

 Lobelia and Mrs. Pollock Pelargonium in alternate bands 

 across the bed, the blue flowers of the Lobelia setting off to 

 great advantage the tricolor leaves of Mrs. Pollock. At the 

 back of these beds there was one long continuous bed, as it 

 were embracing them. This was divided into triangles by 

 zigzag bands of Altemanthera versicolor with similar bands o£ 

 Cerastium on each side of it, the triangles being alternately filled 

 with Harry Hieover, dwarf scarlet Pelargonium, and blue 

 Lobelia. The whole was edged with Golden Feather Pyrethrum, 

 and backed with two rows of Golden Fleece Pelargonium, then 

 Waltham Seedling, and another scarlet variety of stronger 

 growth. 



The last arrangement which we shall notice, was one near 

 the West Lodge, which continued in fine condition till very 

 lately. Though simple it is not very easy to give an intelligible 

 description of it without an engraving. It consisted of a circle 

 bordered with Echeveria secunda glauca, within which there 

 was a ring of Altemanthera amcpua. The large circle was 

 centred with a small circle of Gaiety Bronze Pelargonium. 

 Another circle was then described with a longer radius, fiUed 

 in with Coleus marmoratus. The broad ring between the cir- 

 cumference of this second circle was then divided by segmental 

 bands of Altemanthera, and the panels thus formed planted 

 with blue Lobelias and Pelargoniums of the Gold and Bronze 

 section. Eadiating from the circle are seven somewhat club- 

 shaped beds, the whole of which were bordered with the pretty 

 variegated Euonymus radicans, very dwarf, compact, and form- 

 ing an excellent permanent edging. The second rows in the 

 different beds consisted of Lobelia, or Alternantheras ; the 

 third rows of Golden or Silver-variegated Pelargoniums ; and 

 the centres of rose-coloured and scarlet kinds, the beds on each 

 side of the central one pairing with each other. 



BELLE DE FONTENAY RASPBERRY. 



The Easpberry, useful as it is for jam and many other pur- 

 poses, does not rank equal in importance with many other 

 garden fruits, consequently but little attention is given to in- 



