490 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ Deoemfcer 7, 187G. 



The pure air, green grass, trees, shrubs, and bright flowers 

 are nowhere more prized than at the East End. Bethnal 

 Green, Hackney, Bow, and Whiteohapel are proud of their 

 park, and justly so, for they have a cricket ground (40 acres), 

 a lake for boating and another for bathing, and they have also 

 a gymnasium, and last, but not least, a magnificent display of 

 flowers that is equal to anything seen in and about London. 

 The designs and planting are varied and exoellent — examples 

 of good taste, which afford delight to all beholders. It is 

 gratifying to observe that the people show by their demeanour 

 that they know how to respect these benefits and protect a 

 privilege conceded to them. They look upon the park as their 

 own property, and the authorities do what they can to foster 

 a taste for floriculture. It is evident also that plants are 

 valued by the people of the East, for thousands apply to the 

 Park Superintendent at certain times of the year for cuttings, 

 <fec, which the First Commissioner of Her Majesty's Works has 



ordered to be distributed among them. As a means of further 

 rendering assistance and instruction plants are grown in the 

 park and exhibited at the local shows. Friendly hints of 

 management are also given, and not without effect, for the 

 working classes exhibit plants that would be a credit to a west- 

 end show. 



This park possesses horticultural attractions in no small 

 degree, and maintains the first position for flowers in spring, 

 summer, and autumn. The spring commences with Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, and other spring flowers of various and delicate colours 

 filling the atmosphere with fragrance. Then comes the sum- 

 mer glow with a diversity of colours contrasted and har- 

 monised, producing a picture at once pleasing and satisfying ; 

 and after the summer flowers have passed away come the 

 autumn candidates for their share of admiration. The Chry- 

 santhemum receives great attention in this neighbourhood, 

 and an exhibition in the park of this flower attracts thousands 



TOEIA PARK. 



in the dull days of November. The plants are brought to 

 great perfection through unwearying diligence and care. 



Although this is a young park, yet trees abound. There are 

 shady avenues of Limes and Elms, and on all sides handsome 

 specimens are towering above the shrubs, such as the Pinus 

 excelsa from Nepal, the Cedrus Deodara from India, the Tulip 

 Tree from North Amerioa, Cypress trees from California, and 

 on the turf in a recess is a thriving example of Salisiraria 

 adiantifolia, the Maiden-hair Tree. The deoiduous Cypress is 

 growing freely, also the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosa) 

 and Locust Trees (Eobinias) flower profusely. The following 

 trees are making good headway :— The Syoamore, the Ash, 

 Horse Chestnut, Birch, the 'Willow, and the Plane. The park 

 is celebrated for an extensive collection of trees and shrubs of 

 smaller growth. Near the valley-walk leading to the lake is 

 the sweet-scented Daphne ; the Cotoneaster, covered in spring 

 with white blossoms, and in winter with red berries ; the red- 

 flowered Currant (Bibes sanguineum), one of the hardiest 

 and most handsome of all our deoiduous flowering shrubs, 

 is very beautiful with its orimson-red flowers in April and 

 May. Nearer to the lake is a fine group of variegated Hollies 

 and several species of Spirteas. On the turf is the Coffee Tree 

 (Gymnoeladua canadensis} and the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus 

 unedo). 



A small piece of rockwork has a very picturesque effect ; it 



is covered with many carious alpine plants, Sedums, Saxi- 

 frages, Echeveiias, Grasses, and other plants remarkable for 

 the elegance of their foliage. The ground in this part of the 

 park is laid out in the most irregular manner possible, so as to 

 obtain a great number of pleasant walks. The shrubs are 

 mostly planted on raised banks. A number of strong-growing 

 plants are scattered about in front of them, and a few ohoice 

 specimens on the grass contribute to break and soften the out- 

 line of the ehrubs. 



There are also ornamental Bheets of water, islands, rustio 

 bridges, shady and banks. On the islands the Weeping Willow 

 dips its branches in the water, forming an excellent cover for 

 the Muscovy ducks and the timid waterhens. The majestic 

 swan and the keen-eyed China and Barnacle geese may also be 

 seen in oompany with other aquatic birds. The varied attrac- 

 tions of this park are thoroughly enjoyed by all visitors, and 

 good management is refleoted in every department. — Nathan 

 Cole, Remington Gardens. 



THE CULTUEE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



As a proof that the Chrysanthemum is not declining in 

 public favour we have only to look around us and notioe the 

 many societies which offer encouragement for the cultivation 

 of this grand autumnal flower, In the immediate neighbour- 



