486 



JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ Jane 22, 1876. 



of Jane. Everything ig in a transition state : preparations 

 are being made for bedding-out, honses being re-arranged and 

 the general nursery stock shifted, while the long dry weather 

 experienced in the north had not been helpful. But notwith- 

 Btanding these disadvantages the Upton Nurseries were in 

 excellent condition, things looking well, and activity prevailing 

 in every deportjnent. 



These famous grounds are now about 150 acres in extent, 

 and stretch for a distance of a mile and a half, at some little 

 distance from the charming quaint old city of Chester, a city 

 which to once see is never to forget. The grounds occupy an 

 elevated position a good deal exposed to westerly winds, and 

 hence the stock acquires a hardy and robust character, which 

 is very favourable to a purchaser who lives in a more genial 

 climate and situation ; for oftentimes when plants are removed 

 from a very favoured locality to one where they have to rough 

 it they suffer very much from the removal ; but in the case 

 of plants coming from a rougher climate and colder soil the 

 reverse is the case. Here about one half of the ground is good 

 sound loam, the other light sandy loam, and it is remarkable 

 to find how plants which are usually supposed to require very 

 different soil have adapted themselves to circumstances. Thas 

 the Rhododendron, the home of which is always supposed to 

 be the sandy peat of Bagshot and Knap Hill, is here found to 

 Buccetd admirably in loam, and Arancarias and other Conifers 

 thrive with great vigour. 



I wonder how many of your readers know anything of the 

 manner in which the common Larch is raised. I happened 

 to visit the nursery when they were engaged in the opera- 

 tion, and it may not be without interest to state how it is done. 

 It may give some idea of the extent of Larch growing when 

 I say that half a ton of seed is used. This is obtained from 

 Scotland and the Tyrol, the former being preferred owing to 

 its greater hardiness. The ground is first heavily manured, 

 then dug very fine and thrown up into beds about 4 feet wide ; 

 it is then raked over three times with rakes of different degrees 

 of fineness. Two men are then told off to the bed, one at each 

 end, and a portion of the bed is raked off so that a small ridge 

 is formed on both sides the whole length of the bed. The 

 seed (which has been previously soaked for some days and 

 then red-leaded) is then sown broadcast, half a pint of seed 

 being the proportion for each square yard. The soil, which 

 had been removed, is then raked over again, and a small hand- 

 roller passed over it ; and when the seeds have germinated, 

 which they do in a very short time owing to the previous 

 Boaking which they have received, a portion of the soil is raked 

 off and the young plants allowed to push themselves freely. 

 It shows the value of little things when I say that after all this 

 trouble and expense (for each bed costs in labour alone 6s.), 

 at the end of two years these Larch will sell at about a farthing 

 a-piece. 



In a very different way there was another matter that in- 

 terested me. I remarked to the intelligent foreman Mr. Freeman 

 on the goodness of the paths in the long range of greenhouses, 

 they seemed so solid and good, and he told me that they were 

 made in the following manner: First a layer of cinders about an 

 inch thick is placed, and then on this is placed as a concrete a 

 composition of one part Portland cement, one part sand, and 

 one part limestone or chalk ; it is laid on with a trowel, can 

 be done by any ordinary labourer, and at a cost of about lOd. 

 per yard, although when a builder was asked what he would 

 do it for his reply was not less than 4s. 6d. In these same 

 greenhouses was to be found an excellent collection of Azaleas, 

 Camellias, Orchids, stove and greenhouse plants, Ferns, <&c. 

 One thing struck me as strange. I noticed some buds of Tac- 

 Bonia insignis with cotton wool tied round the footstalk, and 

 found on ii.quiry that as soon as the flower is impregnated and 

 the procesd of seeding commences, it is immediately attacked 

 by ants, which gnaw the base of the calyx ; consequently, in 

 order to save the seed vessels, a piece of cotton wool steeped 

 in paraffin has to be tied round the base of the footstalk ; 

 but until the flower is impregnated the ants do not touch it. 



There are some ninety acres devoted to the culture of forest 

 trees, which are to be counted by the million ; for of Beedling 

 Larch alone there are from ten to twelve millions, and of 

 trannplantcd Larch from five to six millions of good vigorous 

 stuff. Then there are large quarters of Scotch Fir, Spruce, 

 Anstrian Pine, &a., and immense quantities of Birch, Horse 

 Chestnut, Sycamore, and other decidaous forest trees. Hollies, 

 too, thrive here remarkably well ; and amongst a large number 

 of seedlings from the Balearic Holly great variety of form was 

 to be seen, while its rapidity of growth makes it a very desir- 



able variety. The leaves of the Hollies are very mnoh dis- 

 figured by a small boring grub, the eggs of which are deposited 

 by a small fly not bigger than a cheese fly, many holes being 

 punctured in the leaf as if with a pin ; the grub eats the inner 

 substance of the leaf and disfigures the tree, nor does there seem 

 to be any method of getting rid of the pest. 



A considerable portion of the ground is allotted to herbaceous 

 and alpine plants, which are now again coming into favour, 

 and were a special favourite with the elder Mr. Dickson the 

 founder of the firm. Many old-established families which have 

 been for years pushed on one side are here to be seen flourish- 

 ing vigorously, while the contributions of more recent times 

 have been added ; a large number being grown in pots so as 

 to be ready for removal at any time, while the larger and 

 coarser-growing varieties were planted out. 



As in every large, and indeed small, nursery now-a-days 

 Eoses are largely cultivated ; and although not on the large 

 scale of Mr. Smith of Worcester or those who make it their 

 speciality, yet they were to be seen in large quantities and in 

 fine condition. Of course in such a backward season as this 

 there was nothing to be seen in the way of blooms, but there 

 was abundant promise, and should anything like favourable 

 weather come there will be a fine show of bloom. Eoses in 

 pots are also extensively grown, and large quantities of those 

 two favourite Roses Gloire de Dijon and Maiecbal Niel were 

 to be seen. The Messrs. Dickson are succeesfnl growers and 

 have exhibited well, although I believe they do not now enter 

 the arena ; like others who have fought and won in the field 

 they now rest on their laurels. 



Fruit trees form a large portion of the stock of tliis nursery, 

 and are to be found in the various forms which modern culti- 

 vation demands. Pyramids, bushes, cordons, standards are 

 all here extensively grown and were in capital health. In fact 

 there was no part of the extensive grounds to wliich the same 

 remark would not apply, and it would therefore be needless 

 for me to recapitnlate. I should have been glad had time per- 

 mitted to have gone down to see the farm which Mr. Arthur 

 Dickson has at the seaside, where Asparagus is grown very 

 largely and to a size that nearly equals the famed product of 

 ArgenteuU, but a great deal superior to that in flavour. 



It remains but for me to add that nothing could exceed the 

 kindness and hospitality with which I was received, and alto- 

 gether my visit to Chester (of which more anon) leaves behind 

 it many pleasant memories which will not soon be effaced. 

 To the heads of the firm and to their able and intelligent 

 foreman Mr. Freeman I am deeply indebted for much pleasant 

 intercourse and valuable information. — D., Deal. 



KOTAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



June 21st. 



Fruit Committee. — Henry Webb, Esq., in the chair. A 

 quantity of Fern-leaved Parsley was sent from Mr. C. Osman, 

 South Metropolitan District Schools. The leaves are ornamental 

 and quite distinct. A dish of fruit thought to be small Shaddocks 

 was sent by some exhibitor, but his name was not in the dish 

 with it. 



Flobai, Committee. — W. B. Kellock, Esq., in the chair. Owing 

 to the show of fruit and flowers at the Botanic Gardens, Regent's 

 Park, the new plants were very few, Messrs. "Veitch, Ball, Wil- 

 liams, &c., having sent their productions to the larger exhibition. 

 A small group of Orchids was sent from the gardens of Sir Trevor 

 Lawrence, Bart,, Burford Hill, Dorking. A plant of Calanthe 

 Domiiiii was in splendid health ; it had eight fine spikes of rosy 

 lilac flowers— cultural certificate. Odontoglossum Roezlii, a 

 fine plant. Mormodes pardinum had one spike of golden flowers'; 

 and M. luxatum eburneum had a similar spike of large creamy 

 white flowers. The last-named received a first-class certificate. 

 Mr. W. Miles, West Brighton Nurseries, CUftonville, sent a 

 basket of Mignonette; the plants were well grown, and received 

 a vote of thanks. Pink Lord Lyons from the Society's gardens 

 had very fine pale purple flowers ; also Dianthas mnltiflorus, a 

 very dwarf plant with rosy red flowers, and well adapted for 

 border culture. 



Messrs. Veitch, of the Royal Exotic Nurseries, King's Road, 

 Chelsea, received a first-class certificate for a perfectly double 

 Azalea with white flowers slightly striped with red. Clove 

 Carnation Madame Gonbert was sent by Mr. J. B. Goubert, 

 nurseryman, Kilburn ; it is a pleasing rose-coloured flower, but 

 wanting in quality. "The following productions also received the 

 thanks of the Committee :— A hybrid Indian Pink (Dianthus) 

 from Col. R. T. Clarke, Welton Place, Daventry ; Canterbury 

 Bells from Mr. E. Dean, Ealing; seedling Violas from Mr. R. 

 Nash, Three Household, Gerrard's Cross, Bucks; and Foxgloves 

 from the Eight Hon. Earl of Portsmouth (Mr. Warren, gardener). 



