and Suburban Gardens. 



353 



since the stem rises without branches to the height of 9 in., and then forms 

 a compact globular head 2 ft. in diameter, without sending out suckers. 

 Cunningham/rt lanceolata has stood in this border several winters, without 

 protection. Handsome bushes of Cydonia japonica, white and red ; Rho- 

 dora canadensis ; several daphnes ; and that fine showy evergreen the 

 double-blossomed furze, just showing its bright yellow flowers. 



In the stoves, Cypripedium venustum (Jig. 62.), a charming plant, 



coming into bloom j and the blossoms 

 of Epidendrum cochleatum are already 

 expanded. In the green-houses, besides 

 heaths of several sorts (see the valuable 

 monthly lists of Messrs. Rollison in 

 Vol. I. p. 366,), various New Holland 

 Leguminosas, cinerarias, Chinese prim- 

 roses, cyclamens, and camellias, there 

 are vicacia longifolia and bracteata, Dry- 

 andr« falcata, Greviilera punlcea, and a 

 number of New Holland shrubs. A 

 large plant of Lyttae'a geminiflora had 

 thrown up a stem in the autumn, which, 

 had it not damped off, would probably 

 have reached the height of Mr. Knight's 

 plant, which we figured in a former 

 Volume. (Vol. II. p. 96.) The remains 

 of the Hammersmith plant are 7 ft. or 8 ft. high. In the long grape-house, 

 planted with upwards of 200 sorts, or at least names, for the sake of 

 proving them, the buds of the vines are just beginning to burst. These 

 vines bore last year, for the first time since they were planted (about 

 seven years ago) ; a circumstance to be accounted for from their having 

 been pruned too close. The blossom-buds of vines, when the plants are 

 young or on poor soil, or when the tree is any way weak, are always at four 

 or five buds' distance from the commencement of the young shoot. In the 

 case of vines firmly established on rich deep dry soil, such as that of the late 

 Mr. Andrews, at his pine and grape garden, Vauxhall, they may be pruned 

 in any way, with a certainty of the current year's shoots, however produced, 

 being furnished with blossoms. Accordingly, Mr. Andrews always cut close 

 to the old wood. For this theory we are indebted to Mr. Money of the 

 Haverstock nursery, who, we should suppose, knows as much of vines as 

 any gardener about London. Whoever is acquainted with the botany 

 and gardening of England during the last centurj', must venerate this 

 establishment and the names of Lee and Kennedy. 



Brompton Nursery, Messrs. Gray and Son. — Feb. 25. We never enter 

 these finely lying grounds, and look down the broad interminable walk, with- 

 out thinking on London and Wise, and the other eminent gardeners of the 

 time of James II., when this nursery was established. The grounds were 

 then much more extensive than they are now, but the main walk from the 

 entrance could scarcely have had a better effect. It descends, winding with 

 a gentle slope, to the south, and seems to lose itself in one great valley of 

 trees and shrubs. We walked down to look at the row of venerable stools 

 of vines, which must, together with the wall against which they are placed, 

 be as old as the nursery. We passed a plantation of mezereons in bloom, 

 remarking the great variety in their colours, one or two being of so very 

 intense a red that it would be well worth while to continue them by 

 la3'ers. The autumn-flowering mezereon has doubtless been discovered by 

 accident in the like manner, and by this mode of propagation is deservedly 

 perpetuated. On returning, we entered the green-houses, and looked at the 

 pits, and found one or two plants worth noticing. There is a good stock 

 of Cotoneaster microphylla, a pretty little hardy evergreen shrub, which 

 Vol. VII. — Noi 32. "a a 



