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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 7, 1876. 



day, and at night resembles a panorama — a topsy-tarvy firma- 

 ment—of lamps. The air of the standpoint is clear and brac- 

 ing, for it floats above the level of the mist and the line of the 

 smoke. Finchley is even higher than Highgate, and higher 

 still than Finchley is Barnet, and at the highest part of Barnet 

 on the plateau of its hill are the nurseries : the nurseries of 

 Messrs. Cutbush & Sons, therefore, occupy a " high position." 



The two nurseries, Highgate and Barnet, are connected by 

 a loop of the Great Northern Railway, Finchley being midway 

 between the two places. The country traversed is pleasant, 

 even picturesque, for the ground is boldly undulated, and if 

 the trees are not of the largest the grass is of the greenest. 

 It is a district of pasture lands and meadows, unbroken as yet 

 by the " civilising influences of the plough," and uninvaded 

 by the ever-spreading, ever-rising "monuments of art" — 

 dwellings of bricks and mortar. Why does the city linger so 

 long in travelling southwards ? and why does the country 

 begin so suddenly northwards ? The answer is found in two 

 short but potent words — gravel, clay. Southwards the former 

 attracts and man rears his dwellings ; northwards the latter 

 repels and nature reigns supreme. 



Yet before reaching the nurseries at Barnet at least one ob- 

 ject of art attracts — the noble parish church, one of the many 

 edifices which adorn our land, and more than any other link 

 the past with the present, and also which happily will connect 

 the present with the future, for this is a generation of church 

 restoration, and the fine edifice at Barnet has been restored at 

 a cost of £12,000. It is built of flints with dressings of stone, 

 and is of imposing appearance, a structure which any town 

 might be proud of owning. 



But we are at the nurseries, and here we find, like many 

 other eminences in clay districts, that the soil is light — an ad- 

 mixture of sand and gravel, the valleys only being of clay. 

 On this bleak exposure the air is keen and clear, just such 

 where the Heather thrives, and doubtless the situation and the 

 nature of the water have much to do with the healthy freedom 

 with which hardwooded plants grow in this nursery. For 

 years it has been noted for the production of Ericas, Epacrises, 

 &c, and only recently thirty thousand plants of this nature 

 have been sold from its stores, and there are thousands more 

 in various stages of growth preparing to meet future demands. 



A visit on the heels of a " clearing-out," and when altera- 

 tions such as placing new heating apparatus in the houses, is 

 not a time to find a nursery in showy trimness. Beyond this 

 it perhaps betrays a suspicion of the absence of a " master's 

 eye." Failing health and death ever leaves marks more or 

 less melancholy behind. But a master's eye and energy is 

 again visible, and Barnet may be expected in due time to re- 

 flect the order, neatness, and superior condition of Highgate. 

 At Barnet there are several glass structures — large lighthouses, 

 which after the sale one might have expected to have found 

 nearly empty, yet they are mor3 nearly full, some even being 

 crowded. In the propagating house in a flourishing state 

 is a fine lot of Camellias grafted six weeks ago, and nearly 

 every one " taken." Many thousands of Camellia cuttings for 

 stocks are also as healthy as could be desired. Epiphyllums 

 are being extensively increased by grafting them on Pereskia 

 stocks, and this work is skilfully done, the union of stock 

 and graft being nearly imperceptible. Boronias, especially 

 B. pinnata, also Acacias, Ericas, Draeophyllums, &c, are 

 being provided for future demands by the skilful propagator. 

 In other houses plants of this nature are in various stages of 

 growth, from small pcrtable " market stuff" to three-quarter 

 and half specimens. Genetyllises are growing with the free- 

 dom of Privet, Phcenocomas, Correas (magnifica and cardi- 

 nalie) are equally healthy ; and Gompholobiums, Pleromas, 

 Polygalas, Aphelexes, Eriostemons, Daphnes, &c, are luxu- 

 riating in the several structures ; about half a score of large 

 houses are devoted to plants of this nature. A large span- 

 roofed house about 100 feet in length is filled with large and 

 small Camellias, heavily-berried Aucubas (A. japociea vera), 

 Acacias (armata, Biceana, &c.) ; choice Rhododendrons, and a 

 goodly number of Statice profusa. Stove plants are also 

 grown — popular kinds for decorative purposes, such as Dra- 

 caenas, Eucharises, Ardisia crenulata, a remarkably fine stock; 

 Stephanotes, and the fine climber Ipomaea Horsfallise. Be- 

 sides the houses are extensive ranges of pits. In one range 

 are 20,000 Ericas and Epacrises for flowering next year, and 

 in others are plants in an advanced stage for decorative pur- 

 poses, such as Ericas caffra, hyemalis, colorans, &c, flowering 

 profusely, and in excellent condition. Plants of this nature 

 are indispensable for winter decoration, and the way in which 



they are grown in this and other nurseries where special atten- 

 tion is given to them insures a supply of plants much better, 

 also more cheaply, provided than ran be produced by gardeners 

 who have so many and varied demands on their time and 

 attention. 



In the grounds are many Conifers, &e. Arauearias in this 

 high bleak exposure having passed uninjured through many 

 winters, and are now commanding specimens. Standard va- 

 riegated Hollies are numerous and fine, and there are good 

 stocks of Deodars, Ivies, &c, and Vines in pots. About a 

 quarter of a mile distant is another nursery worthy of a visit 

 if only to inspect the extensive and splendid collection of 

 Hollies. The green-leaved varieties are numerous, but the 

 best of the variegated sorts surpass them in numbers and 

 effect. The Golden and Silver Queens, marginata, and others 

 are in thousands, the shrubs ranging from 3 to 6 feet in height. 

 They are in the most perfect health and colour, and are adapt- 

 able more than any other shrub in cultivation to brighten 

 and cheer on lawns and in pleasure grounds throughout the 

 dull months of winter. Rhododendrons thrive admirably in 

 the gravelly but peatless soil of this nursery, a3 do hardy 

 Ghent Azaleas, A. sinensis. There are also evergreens and 

 Conifers and Ivies ; many thousands of the common green 

 Ivy in pots for insuring safe removal. There are also forest 

 trees and fruit trees ; but the latter, with Roses, are chiefly 

 grown at Finchley, where the soil and situation are specially 

 favourable for their free yet robust and hardy growth. The 

 Barnet Nursery is an important addition to business of the 

 firm under whose personal supervision it will shortly again 

 be brought into systematic order. 



Highgate.— This nursery is in an admirable state, the plants 

 in the houses and the shrubs, &c, in the grounds being alike 

 creditable to their owner and his foremen. The span-roofed 

 show house, about 50 feet by 30, is filled with clean and healthy 

 Palms, Ferns, Yuccas, and Dracaenas, and the foliage is en- 

 livened by flowering plants of Epiphyllums. A few of the 

 best of these valuable winter-decorative plants are violacea 

 grandiflora, purple white tube, free ; Salmonea, rosy salmon ; 

 tricolor, purple and scarlet, fine ; Morrelliana, scarlet ; Snowii, 

 purplish red ; and amabilis, deep rose. Two other houses are 

 filled with Erica Willmoreana, the plants being in the finest 

 possible condition ; and equally superior are the EpacriseB, 

 which occupied an adjoining structure, the foliage being of the 

 deepest green, and the' shoots of 2 to 3 feet in length closely 

 set with flower buds. A few of the most useful are the follow- 

 ing : — Vesta, Viscountess Hill, Lady Panmure, The Bride, alba 

 odorata, and hyacinthiflora rosea amongst the early-flowering ; 

 Walkeri, rubella, fulgens, Fairburniana, hyacinthiflora candi- 

 dissima, and courascens being good as later-flowering sorts. 

 Another house is filled with Azaleas, half-specimens, and the 

 next with small plants of the best continental varieties. A 

 fine stock of Bossis Hendersonii, a valuable greenhouse plant, 

 is noticeable, as also are young plants of WitEenia corymbosa, 

 a good old Cape plant, distinct in habit and attractive by its 

 purplish blue flowers. Of Camellias there is an excellent col- 

 lection including many well-furnished plants of the old alba 

 plena, the most useful Camellia in cultivation. The plants of 

 this are numerous and superior, and are well set with flower 

 buds. The plants of the different varieties range in height 

 from 5 inches to 5 feet. Amongst them are interspersed 

 Chrysanthemums, the plants having been grown this year in a 

 natural manner. On the shelves of this and adjoining house 

 is an extensive stock of double Primulas, than which no 

 plants in the winter are more valuable for furnishing pure 

 white flowers for bouquets, &c. Brick pits are crowded with 

 Heaths for the next year's supply — a most promising stock, 

 and successive batcheB are struck and Btriking in the propa- 

 gating house ; and Hyacinths, for which this nursery is famed, 

 are snugly buried in cocoa-nut fibre refuse, the greater number 

 being in the open air, only a few for early flowering being 

 buried under glass. 



The outdoor department is fully as worthy of inspection as 

 the stock of plants in the houses. Euonymuses, Retinospo- 

 ras, &c, are attractively disposed, and Bays, Laurustinuses, 

 &c, in pots are numerous and good. Standard Bays are 

 grown here equal in the straightness of their stems and the 

 symmetry of their heads to the continental specimens, and 

 these shrubs are never injured by frost at Highgate. There 

 are huge bushes of Bays, also a hedge of them, than which 

 nothing in their way could look better. Laurels are, too, very 

 conspicuous, not wildly growing untended shrubs of the com- 

 mon variety, but handsome specimens of those noble sorts — 



