m 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTDRE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. I Octobor ai, 1869. 



to some garden in the neighbonrhood, where I am always 

 aure to hear and learn somethiog which may lie of advan- 

 tage not only to myself, but perhaps, through '• the JoamHl," 

 to others also ; and althoui^h when I sit down at night I 

 feel perhaps a leetle bit tired, yet I know that it is a fatigue 

 BOt without service to myself and others. Amongst the 

 places visited during the fortnight was the old city of Nor- 

 wiob, a bustling, thriving place, very different from the dull 

 drowsiness that generally characterises cathedral cities; very 

 different from Canterbury, Ely, Rochester, Winchester, itc, 

 where all the life there is seems so respectable and solemn, 

 that noboJy is ever in a bustle, and the very rooks in the close 

 eaw as if they thought they ought not to be like their noisy, 

 raoketty brethren elsewhere. In Norwich, on the other hand, 

 all is lite: "its merchants are princes," its streets are ever 

 bnsy, and in the neighbourhood you see marks of what all this 

 kas achieved in the evidently well-kept seats, whither the more 

 •micent citizens resoit afier the day's toil is over. Three 

 of these residences I visited, each different in character, but 

 all of them very interesting, as evidencing that widespread 

 interest in horticulture that so characterises ns as a people, 

 and that, I believe, tu an extent not equalled by any other 

 Saropean nation. 

 My Cist visit was paid to 



J. J. COLMAX, ESQ., CAHHOW HOUSE, 



•n the banks of the river Wensnm, and in the immediate 

 Tioinity of those extensive factories which are known all over 

 the world. The house is situated on the side of the road, 

 and one does not gain at first sight any idea of the beauty of 

 the place or the extent of the grounds ; but the moment you 

 enter you perceive at once that you are at the residence of one 

 ot those men of wealth who delight in spending, not in hoard- 

 ing ; and in this instance exquisite taste, which is not always 

 the case, has ministered to the expenditure. From the back 

 windows of the sitting-rooms you gain a pretty view of the 

 pleasure grounds and the country beyond, with the river wind- 

 ing pleasantly through it, the house being situated en rising 

 gronnd. The garden is immediately underneath. The beds 

 are cut out of the grass, and aie neither too numerous nor too 

 large, aud notwithstanding the trying season they were all in 

 good condition, save the yellow Calceolaria, which here disap- 

 points, as it does in most places, and will have to give way for 

 Golden Feather Pyrethrum, or some other yellow bedding 

 plant. From this the ground again rises, and yon catch a sight 

 on the opposite eminence of another smaller arrangement of 

 beds, among which one of Colous Verschaffelti shone brilliantly. 

 On the left-hand side is a range of vineries with a centre house 

 for plants. In some of these the Grapes had already been cut. 

 Muscats of Alexandria were in full size, though not then coloured 

 sufficiently, and Black Alicante was very good. The borders 

 seemed to have been recently renewed, and round them outside 

 i&n a row of Peiilla nankinensis. 



From this pleasure ground, which comprises abont two acres, 

 yon pass a little to the left to the kitchen and fruit gardens ; 

 though here, as in a good many places, flowers encroach upon 

 Mtchen gronnd, and the duke as well as the «/i7i* are mingled 

 together. There are glass structures here as well, one of them 

 an orchard house; but when I asked the gardener about it he 

 shook his head, and did not seem to value it very much, although 

 it was capable of being heated. Both fruit and vegetables 

 seemed to be in very good condition, except, of course, the wall 

 fmit, which here, as everywhere this season, was a total failure. 



But after all my greatest treat was perhaps the last, for en 

 Tetnming from the kitchen garden my eyes rested in a north 

 border on as tine a collection of Auriculas as I have seen in 

 any private grower's hands for a long time. The plants were 

 good and in fine condition, and all the leading varieties were to 

 be found in goodly numbers. To me they were full of interest. 

 The Auricula was one of my earliest loves (Lothario that I am 

 to speak of one !) and the very coyness she displays, the care 

 she requires, the manner in which she repudiates all neglect, 

 tend to give her a very warm place in one's heart. Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Koses, Pinks, itc, are here all cultivated ; for although 

 Mr. Colman rejoices in his parterres and his houses, he does 

 not, like a good many, snub the florists' flowers. I wish there 

 were many more like him to protect one's favourites. The 

 grounds altogether comprise about four acres, and seldom have 

 I seen gardens better disposed or more abundantly stocked. 



When I said Mr. Colman was rne of those who spend and do 

 not hoard, I did not mean that he spent all on himself. Wit- 

 ness the schools close by bnilt by the firm, and intended solely 



for the children of the workpeople. Their numbers may b* 

 estimated by the fact that there are from 300 to 350 of thtir 

 children in the day schools. The education is not gratuitous, 

 but the sum paid weekly is returned to the children in th* 

 shape of pri;;es every half year, the teacher being paid entirely 

 by the firm. It is a noble instance of that large-hearted charity 

 which distinguishes so many of our wealthy merchants. Wonld 

 that it were universal ! 



My pen has run on, and I must reserve notices of the other 

 two places for another week, only adding that anyone visiting 

 Norwich would do well to pay this garden a vieit, and I am 

 stire he will meet with a courteous reception. — D., Dtal. 



MEMORIAL TO MR. JAMES VEITCH. 



Having had a visit today from a few gardening friends, jnst 

 as your Journal arrived, we discussed the suggestion of Mr. 

 Thomson, respecting a memorial to the late Mr. James Veitch. 

 Our opinions agreed that something should be done to per- 

 petuate the memory of this lamented horticulturist, and after 

 considering the contents of Mr. Thomson's letter, choice fell 

 upon the latter suggestion of his, and which we are glad to see 

 is so favourably taken up by you. Such a form of showing 

 respect, and doing honour to the memory of this energetic 

 man, would annually stir up the spirit of enthusiasm in all 

 those who are working for the good of horticulture. But why 

 not place a suitable monument over his grave also? The re- 

 spect of his personal acquaintances wonld be beat shown ia 

 that way ; but whichever way it is done, I shall be most willing 

 to assist in the good work, if needed. — Thos. Hecobd, LilU$€im 

 Garilew, Ilawkhurst. 



[If the funds subscribed bo sufQcient to provide a snitabis 

 monument, as well as an annual prize medal, there could be no 

 objection to carrying out both suggestions. This, however, 

 must be left to the decision ot the Committee to be formed for 

 realising the suggestion. — Eds.] 



SEEDLING ROSES, 



The autumn of 1868 was most propitious for the ripening 

 of Hose hips. I never remember having seen so large a crop 

 on Hybrid Perpetual Roses. All the tine varieties, such as 

 Charles Lefebvre, Duke of Wellington, Lord Clyde, Xavier 

 Olibo, Alfred Colomb, Due de Ruhan, Lord Macaulay, Jules 

 Margottin, Louise Peyronny, Madame Cli'mence Joigneanx, 

 Madame Alfred de Rougemont, and even that very double Rose 

 Madame Vidot, with a host of others, bore a crop of well- 

 ripened hips. 



I am induced to- record the effect of that remarkable and 

 almost tropical summer, as it may be many years before its 

 like be again seen, and also to note the moit successful mode 

 of treating Rose hips, so that a crop of seedlings may be insured. 

 Last year, in the month of October, about two bunhels of hips 

 were gathered here from the most choice sorts of Hybrid Per- 

 petuals ; they were at once placed thinly on mats in a vinery, 

 and fully exposed to the sun. This treatment seemed to ripen 

 them thoroughly, for by the end of the year the seeds seemed 

 filled with their white kernels firm as a nut. In January the 

 hips were all crushed with the fingers by boys, the husks p»r- 

 tially removed, and the seeds mixed with sand rather moist, 

 and still kept in the vinery. In March they were sown in drills 

 crosswise on a spent hotbed of the previous seoson, the sartaee 

 mould, abont G inches in depth, being formed of light loam 

 and old cocoa-nut fibre. About the end of April the yonng 

 plants made their appearance so thickly ai to look more like a 

 crop of Mustard than Rises. They bad no sooner shown 

 themselves than a host of birds, thinking them, I suppose, 

 delicate morsels, attacked them, and would soon have devoured 

 them all. They had a feast of some thousands before their 

 attack on them — only one daj- — was discovered. The yoimg 

 plants were at once made safe by netting. 



About the end of May, the plants, having made their rough 

 leaves, were transplanted into beds raised above the surface 

 with leaves and litter, so as to give a gentle heat; and on 

 these beds a coat of loam and decomposed manure was plased, 

 in which the little fellows were planted, some short grass from 

 the lawn being strewed on the surface to keep it cool. The 

 weather was cloudy, and no shading was required ; but few 

 failed, and some hundreds when not more than i inches high 

 put forth a blossom, so that one could almost fancy the Rose 

 an annual instead of a long-lived shitib. It was ctuioos to 



