470 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICTJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



( November aO li'fi 



The next house was a vinery devoted to MuEcats. Here also 

 was a mixed collection of plants, for so great is the demanl 

 for flowering and fine-foliage plants for the e rutellisbment of 

 the mansion, that Mr. Marks hes to economise ev<ry inch of 

 space and mate the best of his gless accommodation. With 

 regard to the Vines we cannot epeak in flattering terms. As 

 the worthy proprietor is but a young gentleman, it would 

 afford him and his able gardener the most satisfaction to have 

 the Vines rooted out and start with a fresh set. We have 

 known these Vines for more than twenty years, but never saw 

 them with a crop of Grapes worthy of the trouble they incur 

 and Bpace they occupy. The last bouse in the range was the 

 fernery. Here we observed some fine plants of Blechnum Cor- 

 covadense, Pteris elegantisBima, Neottopteris nidus, Dicksonia 

 antarctioa, Adiantum concinnum latum, Adiantnm cuneatum, 

 &c. ; also Palms and Begonias. 



Leaving these houses we croEsed the grounds in the direction 

 of the kitchen gardens. Just outside the garden gates there 

 was a pool of NympbsBaswith their lovely blossoms floating on 

 the surface of the water. Passing into the walled kitchen 

 garden, which is just two acres in extent, but like all other 

 gardens of this class, there are some large strips outBide the 

 walls. On the lower side the centre walk there was a ribbon 

 border planted as follows : — Front row Lobelia tpeciosa and 

 Dactylis glomerata variegata alternate, second row was a pink 

 Verbena, third Geranium William Underwood, and the last 

 Dahlias. 



We next t ntered a rarge of houses, the first of which was for 

 Peaches. There was a good crop of Boyal George, Noblesse, 

 and Grosse Mignonne. The second hoUEe was aleo Peaches; 

 the crop was moderate, but the fruit fine in quality. The 

 third house was an early vinery, chiefly Black Hamburghs and 

 Muscat Hamburghs. The fiuit was ripe by the firEt vreek in 

 June, and though the bunches were not quite so large as we 

 are sometimes accustomed to see, yet they were well finished 

 and such as are always acceptable at a gentleman's table. The 

 next house was a Muecat vinery with Gardenias on the Etages. 

 Standing a little distance from the latter was a span-roofed 

 Pine house containing 6ome good fruiting Pines, besides some 

 fine specimens of Caladiums, Dracaenas, and Cisbus discolor. 

 In a span-roofed house the Cucumbers were in good bearing 

 condition, and we noticed specially such sorts as Telegraph and 

 Tender-and-True doing well. In the adjoining Melon house 

 the plants were flourishing, and Bead's Hybrid and Queen 

 Emma appeared favourite sorts. Besides the Melons and 

 Cucumbers there were hosts of Achimenes, ColeuEes, and 

 other plants, all required for the decoration of the mansion. 



The Apricots on the walls were rather a failing crop. In the 

 various quarters in the kitchen garden Peas and other culinary 

 vegetables were in good condition and plentifnl. We were 

 pleaeed to notice the marked improvement of the gardens 

 generally since they came under the management of Mr. 

 Marks, and have no doubt if the like progress is maintained 

 in the future that has been observable during the laBt three or 

 four ye ars that they will soon compare with the best gardens 

 in the district.— Q. B. 



MESSRS. JACKSON & SON'S NURSERIES, 

 KINGSTON-ON-THAMES. 



Wheihee it be to the plant-exhibitor, botanist, or florist, 

 this establishment is always attractive. The name of this 

 firm has become very familiar from the many victories won at 

 the great metropolitan and other large shows. No other 

 nurseries are richer in Cape and New Holland plants, and in 

 few places are they grown in greater profusion ; but these are 

 not the only plants that are grown well here, for florist flowers 

 receive more than ordinary attention, and the show house is 

 particularly gay just now with a fine display of Chrysanthe- 

 mums. Situated in one of the main streets of Kingston it 

 presents one mass of bloom to passers-by, and many a hasty 

 pedestrian stops to admire the gayness of the interior. At the 

 time of my visit these plantB were just at their best, and were 

 equal to any I have seen this Eeaeon. 



Messrs. Jackson have received some new Japanese varieties 

 from Monsieur Lemoine, and it is to be regretted that Eome of 

 them were not shown at South Kensington at the last meeting, 

 where they would doubtless have been certificated, eEpecially 

 Fulton, a bright golden yellow, very pleaBing, quite 6 inches 

 across and of great substance, in the way of Blaine ; Fulgore, 

 quite a novelty among the Japanese sorts both for shape and 

 colour, somewhat the colour of the old Ariadne; La Nymph, 



Nuit d'Hiver, M. Lucien Barthere, and Lacinatum. These 

 were the moBt noticeable of the new varieties. Of the good 

 older sorts I noticed Grandiflora, Chang, Baronne de Prailly, 

 quite 9 inches across; James Salter, Elaine, Magnum Bonum, 

 Bismarck, Fair Maid of Guernsey, the best for decorative 

 purposes, for it can be cut with such a length of stalk, and is 

 one of the freest to bloom ; Apollo, and Bronze Dragon. 

 Among the incurved varieties were both the Golden and White 

 Beverleys, Mrs. G. Bundle, and her sports— Mr. G. Glenny 

 and Mrs. Dixon. What a pity these sports are not designated 

 Primrose Mrs. G. Bundle and Golden Mrs. G. Bundle, for Mrs. 

 G. Bundle is known and valued by all growers, and her sports 

 are valuable additions, especially Mrs. Dixon, for here we have 

 the colour of Jardin des Plantes combined with the symmetry 

 of the parent, Mrs. Bundle. Empress of India, Prince Alfred, 

 Venus, Eve, which I never saw better ; Pink Perfection, Jardin 

 des Plantes, White Globe, Golden John Salter, and Princess 

 Teck, this last a grand late variety. Triomphe du Nord and 

 Mazeppa are two good reflexed varieties, and amoDg the 

 Anemones are Gluck, Lady Margaret, and Bijou. 



Another house contained excellent samples of Orchids, among 

 which were Phalamopsis Schilleriana with leaves 15 inches 

 long, P. amabilis, P. grandiflora rosea, and P. Liiddeman- 

 Diana, all in fine health, and showing flower spikes ; Oncidium 

 Weltoni, Dendrobium formosum giganteum, Saccolabium re- 

 tusum, and a batch of many dozens of Cypripedium niveum. 

 In the same house were three very large plants of Platycerium 

 grande, and an improved form of crested Pteris, raised by 

 MeBBrs. Jackson, and named P. magnifica. In the cool Orchid 

 house was a very fine plant of Coelogyne cristate, with large 

 plump growths, attributed to the cool treatment it receives ; it 

 certainly looked remarkably healthy and thriving. There were 

 also here good examples of OdontoglosEums, Cattleya Moseia?, 

 Epidendrums, Vandas, &c. Parallel with theee bouses is a 

 large stove, in which are grown Alocasias, Crotons, Dracaenas, 

 Dieffenbachias, Ixoras, Marantas, &c, and here too are many 

 of the large specimen Allamandas, Dipladenias, Ixoras, Bougain- 

 villeas, Eucharis, &c. Two large houses are filled to overflow- 

 ing with Heaths, Pimeleas, Aphelexis, Phcenocomas, Statices, 

 Dracophyllums, Genetyllis, Azaleas, and other greenhouse- 

 flowering plants, ranging from a foot to 6 feet through, from 

 the quarter and half specimen size to full grown " elephants. " 

 Another house, running at right angles with these last, is an 

 intermediate house, rarely kept above 50° to 55°. and there 

 were Vandas, Aerides; Dendrobiums nobile, Wardianum, 

 crassinode, Parishii, and Falconeri, all in fine health, and 

 with extraordinary large new growths. In this same house 

 was a vaBt number of Anthuriums Scherzerianum.from plants 

 that would measure i feet through to small pieces in thumb 

 pots. I noticed a healthy plant of the white variety about 

 18 inches through. There were also very fine plants of 

 Areucaria Eulei and Platycerium alcicorne major, a very 

 robust and erect-growing variety of alcicorne with much daiker 

 fronds. 



Three new pits have recently been erected, each 127 feet by 

 13 feet. One is entirely full of Show and Fancy Pelargoniums, 

 strong and stocky, including great quantities of Kingston 

 Beauty, Mrs. Bradshaw, Mrs. Lewis Lloyd, Chas. Outram, 

 Leopold, The Moor, and Eva Baker, all new forcing decorative 

 varieties. The other pits contain Bouvardias, Heliotropes, 

 double Primulas, Cyclamens, and winter-flowering Begonias in 

 vast numbers. In a small bouEe devoted to Ferns there wc re 

 growing large quantities of Adiantum farleyense and all the 

 leading kinds, while of British Ferns their collection numbers 

 over two hundred species and varieties. 



There is also a large Camellia house; the Camellias planted 

 out, and just coming in bloom. A couple of other houses, 

 which contain a thousand Azaleas in in-sized pots, small 

 Camellias, Epacris, and winter-blooming Ericas, and a corner 

 for Todeas, Triohomanes, and other Filmy Ferns ; and many 

 other objects deserving being recorded, but time and space 

 forbid. — J. W. Moobman. 



OUR BORDER FLOWERS -SWALLOW-WORTS. 



We are indebted to North America for the hardy her- 

 baceous Swallow- worts we possess. They are not what we 

 call choice border flowers, yet where variety and change are 

 sought after they are desirable. Being strong growers they are 

 well adapted for large borders, open spaces in shrubberies, and 

 other out-of-the-way places where choicer plants will not live. 

 Asolepiases will bear partial shade, but they enjoy light and 



