350 



Calls at the Nurseries. 



neglected. For example, at the present time, what parterre in any 

 country residence can display 100 sorts of early dwarf tulips, all in bloom 

 Lo^ether, producing an effect, that for brilliance of colour cannot be 

 surpassed in the vegetable kingdom ? How few gentlemen's seats can boast 

 a fine stage of auriculas, or carnations ; the last flower highly desirable, 

 as combining both beauty and fragance. The culture of bulbs in general, 

 is at present too much neglected by country gardeners, probably because 

 at the season when they come into bloom, families are generally in their 

 metropolitan residences. 



Mr. Groom is an enthusiastic florist, and no man is more liberal in ex- 

 plaining the canons of floral criticism, and even the secrets of the art, to 

 the uninitiated. The first thing he pointed out in walking round with us, 

 was his collection of auriculas in pots in a common hot-bed frame ; Mr. 

 G. made out a list of above thirty fine sorts which had flowered this 

 season in greater vigour than usual. We regret want of room prevents 

 us from printing the names. 



There is here a large supply of the night-smelling stock, which, Mr. 

 Groom says, begins to diffuse its odour at six o'clock in the evening and 

 leaves off at six in the morning, whether in the open air, under glass, or 

 in a room. Mr. G. has in vain tried to render it odoriferous in the day- 

 time, by placing it in a humid atmosphere, and also in a darkened place. 

 A fine new variety of Viola tricolor raised by Mr. Groom attracted our 

 attention ; the flower is not so large as some varieties, but is of a darker 

 purple velvet than any of them. Many plants of Pyrus spectabilis, in 

 pots in full bloom, are very handsome ; and in the green-houses are some 

 good varieties of camellia and erica, and a considerable stock of gerania. 



The next grand feature, at present in this garden, is, the collection of 

 early dwarf tulips, single and double. Of the former Mr. G. has upwards 

 of 1.50 sorts, and 100 at least are now fully expanded, and very brilliant. 



The double tulips are rather later than the single ones ; of thirty sorts 

 which are here, about a dozen were fully expanded, including Tournesol 

 panache"e and Marriage de ma fille, which are two of the largest and 

 most showy flowers. 



There is an immense stock of late tulips of very vigorous growth, 

 but we shall return to see them when they are in bloom. There is a 

 good collection of crown imperials ; and the double red, double yellow, 

 crown upon crown, and gold striped, were in great vigour. Various very 

 curious sorts of fritillary were in flower, but less vigorous in growth than 

 usuaL Mr. G. has left off growing hyacinths, which, he allows, can be 

 better grown by the Dutch. He frequently visits Holland, and has even 

 gone so far as to import soil from the florists' gardens there, for the pur- 

 pose of trying experiments. 



Among the mis- 

 cellanea of the 

 garden, we may 

 notice a formid- 

 able fence ( fig. 

 65.), which Mr. 

 Groom has made 

 by plashing a 

 tall regularly cut 

 hedge en masse, 

 so as to make 

 it hang over a 

 deep and wide 

 ditch at nearly a 

 right angle. The 

 fallen part of the 

 hedge is in a 



