318 



JOTJEN'AL OF HOKTICULTtIKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 



[ April 26, 1S66. 



200 runnei-s to spare. Tlie plantations of Eliza in all ag6s 

 are most beautiful. About three plants and a half at the 

 first pickinjj will fill a dessert dish. The plantations of this 

 kind were last yeai- picked five and si.x times clean, being 

 always drenched with water after picking. I supplied the 

 d^euner at Kensington last year with more Strawbenies 

 than could be eaten. The sorts were Eliza, Wonderful, and 

 Empress Euijcnie. They seemed to give great satisfaction. 

 I never had a finer array of Strawberry plants than now, 

 nor in more splendid condition. They look like clumps of 

 Firs. The question of " (i. S.," at the same page, Mr. de 

 Jonghe must answer for himself. I suppose he meant that 

 when you take uj) a plant in spring witli the soil caked you 

 mast slacken it with your hand. If you do not mean to 

 crop it, it is best to shake it out clean. Pot Eose plants, 

 if the soil around them in the pot is clayey, should always 

 be slackened with the hand before they are planted.— W. F. 

 Radcltffe, Tarrant Riisliton, Illandford. 



A FEW WOEDS ABOUT CHISWICK. 



"F. K. H. S.," at page 244 of The Journal op Hoeti- 

 ODXTUBE, with great good sense disposes of Mr. Bateman's 

 speech, and writes truly, feelingly, and practically, on the 

 condition of Chiswiek and its prospects. I, as a practical 

 horticulturist, feel more concerned about the interests of 

 Chiswiek than about the inconsiderate words of Mr. Bate- 

 man ; and I crave space in your columns to offer my thanks 

 to " F. E. H. S.," and record my esteem for a true " Old 

 Fellow" on the side of gardening. 



My introduction to gardening was under Mr. J. D— — , one 

 of the most accomplished gardeners thtit took a diploma at 

 Chiswiek when " The Chiswiek of the past was before its 

 day." From my learned master I imbibed a regard for 

 Chiswiek, and learned much from its journals or transac- 

 tions. Chiswiek was the object of my iirst visit to London ; 

 although then beginning to totter, there was much to 

 instruct and interest. I saw a slight revival under my 

 lamented friend Mr. G. McEwen, and recently I saw Chis- 

 wiek in what is stvled " a most efficient state." Such 

 effrontery is past belief. I wish here to state that I bring 

 no charge or insinuation against the respectable men who 

 conduct the work at Chiswiek. I speak of Chiswiek Garden 

 as being one of a public character, which was esteemed in 

 the progress of horticulture, but is now in a state of neglect 

 as regards the objects for which it was founded. It has 

 been stated that some of the chief objects for which Chis- 

 wiek Garden was founded having been accomplished, it is 

 no longer important to that end. Wliy, the same loose 

 remarks might be applied to the leading universities in 

 England, Scotland, and Ii-eland. 



Most firmly do I believe that a high school of gardening 

 is now more needed than ever it was. The duties and 

 requirements of a gardener have not only immensely in- 

 oreaied, but are of a much higher order, and require more 

 methodical training. I know that Chit-wick, to be of any 

 practical good, must be under the direction of practical 

 talent; that the superintendent must be a man of lage 

 experience, familiar with the highest interests oi gardening. 

 and Rive his labour with undivided attention to improve and 

 develope the resources of the garden. 



The present anangements at Chiswiek are opposed to the 

 progress of horticulture, and if I did not believe, with your 

 correspondent '■ P. E. H. S.," that Chiswiek has yet valuable 

 refiources, I would not trouble you with a remark on Chis- 

 wiek in its present state. Kew would never injure Chiswiek 

 if the gfird<-n were conducted as a garden of enlightened 

 experiment and progresK. 



My employer — an "Old Fellow" — goes to Chiswiek and 

 complains that the neglected state of the arboretum, and the 

 tro' 9 without names, and w.ilks in bad order, make a visit 

 atrial; in the houses he sees cortiiin plants that interest 

 him, but finds they are without names. The Vines, as a 

 ooUection, arc int^-resling. and in tlie right place; the hardy 

 fruit trecH are another establishi d feature ; but what can 

 bo giiid of any Bpecial plan or systi'm of culture ? In 

 speaking of the fruit trees, I am not unmindful of the 

 services of Mr. H. Thompson. Now, Cliiswick, as it should 

 be, would be a great aid as a standard of fruit culture ; it 



should also be a position for a young gardener to acquire a 

 fellowship, and give a status and finish to young men of 

 character, which rarely or never can be acquired in private 

 gardens.— C. M. D. 



VISITS TO GAEDENS PFBLIC AND PRIVATE. 

 Mil. B. 8. Williams's, Victoria and Pabadise 



WUBSERIES, HOLLOWAY. 



Whkn I last visited Mr. Williams's, the Victoria Nursery 

 was quite in nn embryo state, and all the energies of this 

 rnpidly rising establishment were concentrated in the Para- 

 dise Nursery. Now, however, I saw a great change, and 

 indications of a still greater one. Indjpeudently of tlia 

 houses that have arisen since I was there, others are in pro- 

 gress of erection, and before long nearly the whole of the 

 ground will be covered with glass. The more valuable pro- 

 ductions, for whose culture Mr. Williams is so noted, ara 

 beinff removed there, and hereafter the older nursery will 

 be given up to more hardy things, while the general nursery 

 stock will be grown at some distance. London is now so 

 rapidly, like the fabled cuttle-fish, extending its great ten- 

 tacula on every side, drawing into its capacious maw the 

 green fields and open spaces that men now only in middle 

 life played in when boys — that perfirce the nurseryman 

 who desires healthy stock must seek sisate elsewhere, and 

 even the foot of Highgate Hill is too much in London to 

 attain this. m 



Twv features particularly struck me in looking over Mr. H 

 WiUiams's varied stock — the very fine sjjecimen ijlants that bB 

 ho possesses, and the rich and varied selection of new, rare, 

 and choice plants. The greater portion of the foi-mer are 

 contained in the new show conservatory which he has built 

 at the entrance of the Victoria Nursery, at the bottom of 

 Plighgate Hill. This beautiful building, certainly one of 

 the finest in the neighbourhood of London, is 100 feet long 

 by 40 feet wide, with a broad walk up the centre, wide 

 enough for crinoline in its most capacious dnys — days which 

 all gardeners will rejoice to hear are on the wane. These 

 specimens Mr. Williams has been gathering together from 

 various sources, more especially from the continent. Many 

 of them are arranged in paij-s — two fine pairs of Yucca 

 variegata, said to be the finest in growth, a pair of Yucca 

 Stokesii, Zamias, Cycas revoluta, Draca^ua indivisa and 

 lineata. Chamsrops excelsa, Dracffina draco, Ehododendron 

 Nuttallii, again showing splendidly for bloom, and other 

 plants of a similar showy character and in fine condition; 

 interspersed with these are some magnificent specimens of 

 tree Ferns. Cyathea dealbata, medullaris, and excelsa, 

 Dicksonia antarctii:a, Cibotium princeps and Schiedei, were 

 amongst the very fine ornamental Perns that thus adorn 

 this house. The last of these deserves a passing notice. 

 The fluffy down that envelopes the young fronds is one of 

 the most certaiu styptics that I know, and any one who 

 grow.s large Ferns would be really conferring a benefit on his 

 nrighbours by growing it. It was only the other day that 

 in iruning I sliced olf a largo piece of uiy tlmiub. Having 

 son;e of this by me I applied it, and although the wound 

 gave great promise of bleeding profusely, it instantly stopped 

 it. The collection of Yuccas, and Dracn:nas, and allied 

 plants in this house is alone worth the jooruey for those who 

 aduiire such things. Passing out of this house, of which 

 there is the less need to say much, as an exrellont descrip- 

 tion and engraving of it appeared in the last volume of Thb 

 .Toui'NAL OI'' HoRTicuLTiJKE, into tlio garden, there is a large 

 Fcr::-housi! in course of erection, and ground is being pre- 

 pared for five span-roofs for Orchids, &c. Wo then come to 

 a greenhouse, in which is a nice stock of Heaths and hard- 

 wooded plants, such as Aphelexis, Genetyllis, Boronia, Dra- 

 co|ihyl!um, well set for bloom, .and in very heallliy condition. 

 In a Pine-house was ii largo collection of young Pines, 

 including a goodly number of what is Siiid to be one of the 

 finest in cuU.ivation, and which I have seen largely grown in 

 Franco — Charlotte IJolhsehild. In another house was a 

 largo stock of GeraninniH, including Buck's new greenhouse 

 Pi.)argoniumB,and someZonate of Mr.Williain'i's own — Annie 

 Williams, in Iho way of Mrs. Milford, and Golden Nugget. 

 Mr. WillianiB speaks highly of Variegated Sti'lla as a good 

 addition to the Nosegay section with variegated leaves. 



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