Calls at Gardens and Nurseries. 69 



tained ; for we are sure no person is more capable of making; tlio niost of 

 them than Mr. Cupliing's gardener, i\lr. Hagirerstoii ; we found him making 

 preparations for forcing vines, on the coiling system, as recommended hy Mr. 

 Mearns, an account of which will be ii)nnd at page GO of tlie present nundier. 

 Mr, Haggerston has already coiled a large quantity wliich we observed in the 

 back shed of the greeii-iionse, we should say lifty pots or more. Some of 

 the pots are about ten inches in diameter and some tifteen. Mr. Mearns re- 

 commends shifting, but iMr. HaggiTston agrees with us in thinking it impossi- 

 ble to do so, as a vine that is coiled round .1 i)ot six or eight times, must 

 be done so with considerable pressure against the sides, and it certainly would 

 uncoil when the pots were taken away, and the hall of earth left unprotected. 

 Mr. Haggerston has however, very kindly j)ron]ised to conmiunicate to us 

 any information in relation to his practice. 



From the forcing ground we now entered the large conservatory, in the 

 centre of the extensive range of houses, by passing through a grapery — the 

 peach house, and then another grapery, of larger size than the first named. 

 All three of tlie latter are yet unplanted, and of course present nothing wor- 

 thy of note. They are noAv used to protect clnysanthcmunis, roses, pinks, &.c. 

 &c. The first oliject which rivetted our attention, as we opened the door, 

 ■was a magnificent plant of the Double White Camellia, ui)wards of eight 

 feet in height. The flowers had not yet began to expand ; A few only just 

 showing their color. Passing round the back stage, which fijrms a semi- 

 circle against the wall on our rigiit, we next observed a beautiful plant of 

 the Acacia lophanta, ten feet in height, in full bloom ; its graceful and wav- 

 ing foliage, together with its clustered heads of straw-colored blossoms, form- 

 ing a conspicuous object. In the centre of the stage stood a grand specimen 

 of the Pandiinus sfiiralis (screw pine) the finest, we believe, in the country. 

 Further on was another splendid ])laKt of the double white camellia, cor- 

 responding in its situation, with the one first named on the other end of the 

 stage; this jjlant, Mr. Haggerston infiirmed us, had open at one time 

 a few days previous to our visit, sixty liill blown flowers; we counted, our- 

 selves, twenly-five, and we cannot in language do justice to the delicacy and 

 loveliness of its snow-hued blossoms. The Red varieties may dazzle — the 

 variegated excite astonishment — the Blush gratify our admiration — but the 

 old double White alone will maintain its richness and attraction, when all 

 the other varieties now existing sliall become extinct. The two Camellias, 

 the Acacia, and the Pandanus were the princi|)al objects on the back stage; 

 but we observed a Ppeonia papaveracea, showing- two large and prominent 

 buds which will probably be o|)en in ten or twelve days ; this will be a grand 

 sight. The Schizanthus mentioned in our last were still blooming in great 

 profusion. A warratah Camellia was just opening a bud ; and a few 

 of the doid)le Striped were just shedding their petals. A number of sn)all 

 plants of the Double White were blooming finely. We observed an Aza- 

 lea ledifolia and A. indica phoenicea, just showing buds: A. indica varie- 

 gata had opened one or two flowers, hut we do not think they are of very 

 great beauty; they are not to be comj)ared with the white. Mr. Cushing 

 has some fine ])lants of T^eatifurtia decuss;\ta and Kpucris paludosa ; he has 

 also, a small, but very healthy jilant of the siilendid Ribes speciosum, which 

 has been so eagerly sought alter in the English nurseries. Those invaluable 

 ornaments, the White and Purple Primulas, intermixed Nvith the Salvia 

 fulgens, splendens and other plants gave tl e whole stage a gay and sum- 

 rnerlike ajipearance. Continuing round th ■ house, on our right we found 

 the front shelf filled with Mignonette, Hyacinths, a number ot beautiful Ox- 

 alis's, some very pretty ])lants of the Iloiiza coccinea, Primulas, Sec. The 

 Mignonette and Hyacinths filled the house with their agreeable odors. On 

 the two front stages which are separated by a walk, the i)lantsare ranged up 

 on either side, and exhibit the same appearance from the centre ;is I'rom the 

 front walk of the house. They were stocked with Salvias, Primulas, jmd a 



