Aogost 13, 1871. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



130 



need this width will Bufflce, whilst two persons can very 

 comfortably walk side by side on a path 5 feet wide. Now 

 we oome to the size of the garden, for which, if small, very 

 wide paths would look objectionable, besides taking-up un- 

 necessary space. For a garden of an acre none of the walks 

 should exceed 6 feet, and this width might be allotted to the 

 main walk if found necessary to have one; and I should advise 

 a little dilYerence in them, such as those leading to any par- 

 ticular place or object, leaving the others narrower. JIany 

 have their walks 4 feet wide or even less, but I prefer to see 

 a few walks properly arranged for comfort, as stated above, 

 and if more are needed let them be temporary workmen's 

 walks merely cut out in the ground and dug-up again when 

 not wanted. 



Next comes their formation, and this is not a very difficult 

 matter in some localities, while in others it is so. I am an 

 advocate for their being made well. There are three or more 

 kinds in general use : there are the old-fashioned gravel walks, 

 asphalte walks, and those made of concrete. Grass walks, 

 though sometimes used, are becoming less common. To have 

 a firm smooth gravel walk is the pride of many, but owing to 

 the scarcity of good binding gravel other modes are resorted 

 to when it cannot be obtained without a great outlay. In 

 heavy soils, or in low situations, to make a good walk the soil 

 should be taken out quite 18 inches, or even more, and the bed 

 of the walk made hollow in the middle, in which should be laid 

 a substantial pipe drain. The whole should be covered with 

 at least 1 foot of rough rubble, such as broken brick, stone, 

 clinkers, and then with 3 inches thick of broken materials of a 

 similar kind, all well beaten down ; afterwards put on 2 inches 

 of fine gravel and roll it, then finish off with another inch 

 of the same material, and roll that. WhUe the first layer of 

 coarse material is being formed, take care to keep the centre 

 of the walk the highest, so that the layers may all be of 

 uniform thickness, and they are not then likely to give way 

 easily. The above will make a good walk ; but, if necessary, 

 or if material is plentiful, the walks may be made more sub- 

 stantially by excavating deeply and making thicker layers. It 

 sometimes happens that gravel cannot be obtained, in which 

 case a substitute must be found. Coal ashes sifted fine, or 

 road sand, may be used. The only objection to the former is 

 their colour, otherwise they are always dry, if on a prepared 

 bottom, and likewise clean. I am compelled to use them for 

 the kitchen garden, and Uke them because they are not afJected 

 by frost so much as other materials. Eoad sand is also clean, 

 but often wants renewing, and is aii'ected by frost ; if laid on 

 moderately wet and afterwards rolled it hardens considerably, 

 and makes a tolerably good surface to a walk. — Thomas Eecord. 



DESIRABLE PLANTS FOR BEDDING. 



Many of your readers, like myself, no doubt require some 

 ten or fifteen dozen plants every spring for bedding purposes. 

 Whether it is cheaper to provide a greenhouse for the purpose 

 of saving such a number, or to purchase a fresh supply annu- 

 ally, is a question into which I will not enter ; but with myself 

 the saving of trouble leads me to prefer the latter way. Pur- 

 chasing has likewise the advantage, that if you meet with 

 anything that takes your fancy you can be supplied with it at 

 " a moment's notice in any quantity at reasonable prices. 



As regards Geraniums, four years ago I tried six dozen 

 Vesuvius ; next I tried the same quantity of Jean Sisley, and 

 last year I had Omega, but this year I have come back again 

 to Jean Sisley ; and being particularly fond of bright distinct 

 colours with other corresponding qualities, Jean Sisley is that 

 which I prefer. Of the Tricolors none that I have yet tried 

 grow with that robustness which is necessary to keep up a 

 constant pleasing effect. This year I have Lady Cullum, and 

 if there is a better for my purpose I should only be glad to 

 hear of it. Of the Golden-leaved I have Crystal Palace Gem ; 

 and though it is of slow growth it is a very pleasing kind, and 

 another year, with a little more rich soil in the beds, it will, 

 I think, be more to my taste. I am particularly fond of good 

 Bronzes, and this year obtained two dozen of Black Douglas, 

 which are now such splendid plants (foliage only), that I 

 should hardly know how sufficiently to praise them, the growth 

 being robust, and the colour really superb. 



This brings me to, in my lot, the flower of the season — 

 Cannell's Lustrous Lobelia. Oh, what a gem ! Pray allow me 

 to give this little picture its due, for amid flowers for bedding 

 purposes it is all the heart can desire. You have compactness, 

 free blooming, and such an intensity of colour as most cer- ' 



tainly in all my travels I never previously beheld. For edging 

 I use Golden Feather Pyrethrum and Lobelia fresh planted 

 every season, with colours nicely balanced ; and with a few 

 other little nicnacs I contrive to derive a succession of pleasure 

 from what is within the reach of many, if they so wiU, one of 

 the treasures of the earth — a sweet Uttle garden. — Joseph 



WlIHBESPOON. 



HALF AN HOUR AT CANNELL'S. 



A BRIEF record of a visit to this floral bee-hive may not be 

 absolutely devoid of interest. It is the little centre of a great 

 business — the little head of a trade ramification embracing not 

 only the whole of Britain, but extending to the continents of 

 Europe and America, and even to the antipodes. One must 

 travel far and wide to find so much business of its kind, and 

 such an extensive collection of popular plants compressed into 

 a space so small as may be seen on the railway embankment 

 of Woolwich Dockyard station. 



When last at this bee-hive it was weak — a very small infan- 

 tile affair; now it is strong, overgrown, enclosed as with an iron 

 band by boundaries impregnable. It has grown and spread 

 over the property of eight or nine landlords until it can grow 

 no longer there ; and Mr. Cannell, on the very day of my visit, 

 was negotiating the purchase of several acres of laud whereon 

 to "swarm" with all his host. This is one of the successes in 

 business founded entirely on energy, perseverance, sound trade 

 principles, and professional skill. Mr. Cannell is a mau of 

 nerve, self-reliance, quick decision, and great activity. He is 

 in many respects an original. He struck out a new line by 

 making the post office the chief medium of transport for his 

 wares. He, a lover of plants, yet not rich, thought there 

 might be thousands hke him, and therefore offered small plants 

 at small prices ; he let the world know it, and the thousands 

 came. His trade lists are " guides," and have a sniff of origi- 

 naUty about them. His essays are not quite like those of other 

 folk in language, and in idea often different to those of other 

 men. His boilers are " circulators," and instead of heating 

 by orthodox water pipes in the orthodox way — along the sides, 

 floor, and under stages, he suspends the hot water in gas pipes 

 along the roof and just underneath the glass of his houses and 

 pits. Truly this is a bold innovation. 



I will now take a glance at the place and its contents, and a 

 selection of plants which have merit to recommend them will 

 occupy disposable space. If he who doubles the produce of 

 the soil is a benefactor, then Mr. Cannell holds honourable 

 position amongst cultivators. What was no long time ago a 

 hard, dry, barren slope of rubbish now teems with floral life — 

 a selection of the best varieties extant of typical popular plants, 

 in immense numbers, and of great value. Tho place may ba 

 said to be covered with glass, consisting of light span-roofed 

 houses and a great extent of low pits — that is, about 2J feet 

 deep at the back by 1.} in front— the very places for the well- 

 being of their hundreds of thousands of little occupants. 

 What strikes one at a glance is the prevailing health and 

 cleanUness of the vast array of small plants. There is no 

 question as to their being well tended. Their order of arrange- 

 ment, too, is simple and effectual, the nursery being, in fact, 

 an exact counterpart of the catalogue. Turn from a page of 

 the list containing the names to the corresponding page in the 

 nursery, and you see the plants. The stock in trade of any 

 given kind is thus seen at a glance, and there is no time lost 

 in hunting for any particular thing wanted. Not only are 

 plant-loving amateurs supplied with their dozens in Uttle post- 

 boxes, but thousands are also here manufactured for the trade. 

 It is curious to see the run on particular things, in some of 

 which it is almost impossible to keep pace with the demand, 

 whUe of others a small stock suffices. From this little spot 

 have first issued to the world many varieties of plants of great 

 merit, especially amongst Fuchsias and Pelargoniums, of which 

 the store is very extensive and good. So numerous, in fact, 

 are the varieties offered, that is a no small difficulty with 

 many to select a few dozens. This indeed is felt as one of the 

 greatest obstacles of many intending purchasers, who only 

 purchase a few plants at a time, and who desire them free, 

 distinct, and good. By way of aiding these, and imparting an 

 element of usefulness to this communication, I append a few 

 that may be relied on, not because they are new or old, or 

 cheap or dear, but because they possess merit and give value 

 for money. 



Commencing with the plants that have made the place 

 famous — viz.. Fuchsias, the following are good in their re- 



