THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 27 
eye would learn by a glance that the high culture given, the costly skilled attend- 
ance in training and pruning, and all tiat sort of thing, could never be repaid by 
appropriation of results to such rough purposes, and it is quite clear on the face of 
the whole business that the millions of trees and shrnbs raised here are destined 
for parks and gardens, for orchards, streets, and ornamental woods and plantations. 
Nevertheless, the enormous extent of ground covered, and the splendid appearance 
of the stock throughout will compel the question to find a place in tue mind— 
« Where does it all go to?””—and you would perhaps scarcely thank Mr. Smith if 
he opened his books and compelled you to find your own reply; for these nurseries 
meet only the settled every-day wants of mankind, and there is no romance hidden 
in the business details. Very large consignments are every season sent to the 
colonies, more especially to ‘Australia and New Zealand; the Americans buy 
largely, and there is even a continental demand for some kinds of English trees. 
Nevertheless, the home trade is the mainstay of this great nursery, as of many 
others, and therefore a peep at such a place has more than a momentary interest, 
for it surely tells how deep and strong in the hearts of the English people is the 
love of homely rural life. 
In a brief notice it is, of course, impossible to do justice to a visit we lately 
paid to these nurseries. But we will endeavour to convey a few of our impressions 
agreeably. We walked with Mr. Smith over some parts of the nursery during four 
hours, without a rest, and found that we had then seen only part of it. It is 
divided into four great sections by two main roads that cross each other at right 
angles, and measure each nearly a mile in length. It would occupy a week to go 
all over the place and see everything, for there are thirty-six miles of roads, and 
six miles a day is as much as any one can do in such a place, where a halt must be 
made every few yards for the inspection of something, and to make notes about it, 
and perhaps occasionally discuss its merits at some length. There are fifty acres 
of fruit-trees, and amongst them eight and a half miles of trained wall-trees. The 
roses cover twelve acres of ground, and the favourite stock ig the manetti. Of 
ornamental trees the collections are immense, both as to variety and extent, as 
may be judged by the fact that there are 10,000 thorns in one plantation, and 
10,000 of the variegated Acer negundo in another. There are 40,000 apple-trees 
and 20,000 plum-trees produced every year, and of fruit-trees in general the annual 
production is 160,000. While all kinds of trees are produced in quantity, they are 
produced in all kinds of ways for all kinds of purposes; but in the selection of 
stocks and method of budding, grafting, and training, Mr. Smith gives no encou- 
ragement to notions that are simply new, but does full justice to materials and 
methods that have had the test of time for the advantage of all his customers. 
The demands for varieties in such a place are of necessity instructive. The 
40,000 Apple-trees made every year comprise no less than 20,000 of Lord Suffield, 
a proof that in this district this is the most popular of all apples. The Worcester 
Pearmain will probably rank equal with it in importance, and may indeed take 
precedence of it on account of its exceeding beanty. Other kinds in great demand 
are Blenheim Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Cox’s Pomona, Mére de Ménage, 
Golden Winter Pearmain, Ribston Pippin, Emperor Alexander, Ecklinville, Cellini, 
Northern Spy, Sturmer Pippin, Alfriston, Royal Russet, Winter Majeting. As 4 
matter of course, there is scarcely an apple known to cultivation but is here to be 
found; but the foregoing fifteen varieties are special favourites, and their names 
will have an interest for all our readers. Of Plums, the great favourite is Victoria, 
of which 10,000 trees are made every year; but the following are in great demand : 
Orleans, Prince of Wales, Green Gage, Kirke’s, White Magnum Bonum, Washing- 
ton, Diamond, Prince Englebert, Damson. The favourite Pears are Jargonelle, 
Williams’ Bon Chretien, Beurre d’Amanlis, British Queen, Beurré Superfin, Autumn 
Bergamot, Autumn Nelis, Beurré de Capiaumont, Brown Beurré, Louise Bonne 
of Jersey, Marie Louise, Beurré Diel, Gansel’s Bergamot, Beurré Clairgeau, Althorp 
Crassane, Van Mous, Passe Colmar, Forelle, Winter Nelis, Huyshe’s Victoria, 
Easter Beurré. The leading Peach is Royal George, and it is closely followed 
by Noblesse, Grosse Mignonne, Barrington, Walburton Admirable, and Lord Pal- 
merston. 
Amongst the many novelties to be found here, we made note of a house full of 
standard plants of Euonymus Japonica, the silver and golden-leaved varieties being 
erpecially valuable for conservatory decoration, Indeed, in the great range of 
January. 
