August 25, 1870. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



143 



the trees. All along the sides of this glade are Tree Ferns, 

 their graceful fronds almost touching each other, and spread- 

 ing out over other kinds of more lowly growth, forming a 

 charming vi6ta full of quiet beauty and repose. 



Having thu3 given a sketch of some of the most striking 

 scenes with which these gardens abound, I will now proceed to 

 describe a few of the principal beds, most of which occupy 

 raised spaces on the banks by the sides of the walks. A good 

 effect was produced by a broad band of Canna Bendatleri, with 

 abundance of its orange-coloured flower spikes ; in front of 

 this was a row of Solanum laciniatum, with deeply serrated 

 foliage and pale blue flowers, and outside, an edging of Amu- 

 ranthus melancholicus ruber. Another bed had a band of 

 Canna limbata, with pale green foliage ; in front of this was 

 Canna zebrina coccinea, of medium height, with bronze 

 foliage, having a handsome edging of Santolina lavandula?- 

 folia. A bold mass of Wigandia earacasana, with broad deep 

 green leaves, had a fine effect, somewhat spoilt, however, 

 by the rough and unsightly stakes supporting the plants. 

 Another interesting bed contained the curious Solanum pyra- 

 -canthum, with narrow foliage deeply serrated, having a number 

 •of spines or thorns of a bright orange colour on the stems and 

 the upper sides of the leaves. In front of these were some 

 plants of Amaranthus tricolor, with the rich leaf-markings 

 beautifully developed. A long border contained Canna limbata 

 and the fine Canna Bihorelli, with a good edging of Scarlet 

 Pelargonium ; another had two rows of Canna purpurea specta- 

 bilis, a fine variety, with deep bronze foliage. In front of this 

 was a row of Canna Sellowii, a dwarf kind with green foliage ; 

 the edging was Pelargonium Golden Fleece. A mass of Canna 

 zebrina coccinea was surrounded by a row of Pelargonium Dr. 

 SJindley, with an edging of Statice in fine flower ; this bed 

 would have been better without the Pelargonium. In another 

 bed was a fine, bold mass of foliage, consisting of Canna lim- 

 bata, with Bicinus purpureus, and with an edging of Funkia 

 snbcordata. A circular bed of Coleus Berkleyi, interspersed 

 with Abutilon Thompsoni, had a very novel effect. In another 

 bed was Solanum macrophyllum, with Solanum marginatum 

 next it, then a row of alternate plants of Amaranthus melan- 

 cholicus ruber and Golden Chain Pelargonium, with an edging 

 of Sempervivum montanum. A fine effect was obtained in a 

 circular bed by planting the centre with Coleus Prince Arthur, 

 out of which sprang a few small Musas ; round this was a row 

 of pink-flowered Lantanas (Delicatissima, I think), with an 

 edging of dwarf Ageratum. Another bed had a central mass 

 of Coleus nigricans, out of which sprang a number of Abutilon 

 Thompsoni ; round this was a handsome line of Pelargonium 

 (Daybreak, a very fine variegated kind, the foliage having a 

 broad silvery margin, and next this was an edging of the bright 

 crimson Alternanthera amcena. This was a very handsome 

 and attractive bed. Some of the beds were bordered with a 

 broad line of a gold-blotched Ivy (Hedera Helix aureo-maculata, 

 I think), which looked well. Many of the variegated Ivies are 

 very valuable for this purpose. A small circle had a pretty 

 design, formed of Alternanthera spathulata, Golden Pyrethrum, 

 Blue Lobelia, and Santolina incana. Nor must I omit some 

 good groups of Ficus elastica, conspicuous by their glosBy 

 green leaves and long, crimson, taper buds. 



From other groups I may select Polymnia grandis, Arnndo 

 Donax variegata, Canna metallica with very dark rich foliage, 

 and Canna expansa, a dwarf kind with bronze foliage, as 

 plants possessing distinct and striking features. One or two 

 lices of Artemisia Stelleriana had a very dull and ragged ap- 

 pearance, and it was to be regretted that so paltry a plant, 

 without one good quality to recommend it, should find a place 

 among so many plants of sterling merit. Some lines, too, of 

 Plumbago capensis, though not so objectionable, were some- 

 what ragged in appearance, and had a very scanty crop of 

 flowers. It must, however, be acknowledged that in the entire 

 garden there was little, if anything, to cause one to indulge in 

 a "growl;" on the contrary, the very high degree of skill 

 exhibited in the selection, arrangement, and culture of the 

 plants, their health, vigour, and uniform excellence, and the 

 neatness and order which everywhere prevailed, all formed 

 cause for hearty congratulation to all concerned. 



I must not conclude this notice without referring to the 

 numerous healthy examples of Palms and other fine-foliaged 

 plants interspersed among the beds. The kinds most worthy 

 of note were — Phcenix reclinata, Cham£erops Fortunei, some 

 fine plants of the elegant Cordyline mdivisa, Seaforthia elegans, 

 Ferdinanda eminens, Areca sapida, and our old friend Cha- 

 tassrops humilis, a fine Musa superba, and nobler than all 



the rest, the splendid Musa Ensete, the Abyssinian Banana. 

 The largest plant of this was probably 12 feet high ; one enor- 

 mous leaf springing erect from its centre was perfect, but most 

 of the other leaves had apparently been lacerated by wind. 

 This stately denizen of the tropics has its stem sheathed in 

 the bases of the leaves, which spring upwards and outwards, 

 often being 10 or 12 feet long. Though attaining such noble 

 dimensions the texture of the leaf is of exquisite delicacy ; the 

 bright red midrib, standing out boldly from the under surface 

 of the leaf, contrasts moBt beautifully with its lively green 

 colour. Beautiful as the plant is at Battersea this summer, 

 it must be seen growing under the shelter of glass to be fully 

 appreciated, for there its huge foliage acquires a delicacy of 

 appearance far surpassing that which it presents in the open 

 air. The fine plant growing in the Crystal Palace is well 

 worthy of inspection. 



The able manner in which all formality is avoided in the 

 gardens at Battersea is an important consideration, for sure I 

 am that a much greater degree of enjoyment must be derived 

 from pleasure grounds so beautifully diversified, and offering 

 such a charming contrast to the flat monotonous style which 

 haB hitherto obtained an almost universal adoption than from 

 the latter ; but this is a subject which to my mind is far too 

 important to be dealt with here, and I therefore propose at some 

 future time to devote a paper specially to it. — Edwaed Luck- 

 huest, Egerton House Gardens, Kent. 



BEET FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES. 



Of the many subjects that within the past few years have 

 been pressed into the service of the flower gardener, there is 

 Done which seems to me so much out of place and character as 

 Beet. Look at it as we may, intermix it as we choose — whether 

 in the front or at the back of a border, near to the eye or dis- 

 tant from it — the impression given by the dark bronzy purple 

 foliage of Dell's Crimson ie that of a kitchen garden, whilst the 

 Chilian Beet reminds me of a field of Mangolds. Flowers in a 

 kitchen garden may be tolerated, they are there for a purpose 

 — to afford cut flowers ; but for vegetables in a flower garden 

 there can be no such excuse so long as suitable plants having 

 no culinary use can be found. But are there no plants so good 

 as Beet ? I imagine there are, and better subjects for a flower 

 garden. 



Dell's Crimson Beet is the most compact and close-growing, 

 and it has the property of keeping well furnished at the base, 

 the root being hidden by the dense leaf-growth even in a front 

 line. The foliage is Dracsena-like, arches over from the centre, 

 and its colour is very uniform. Individual plants hardly vary 

 in this respect, but present a dark bronzed purple, a hue that 

 may well be termed metallic. They are very regular in growth 

 and size, and there are no "runners"; indeed it is by far the 

 best variety I have seen. Of its value as a decorative plant 

 there can be no question. It is much bolder, has more of an 

 oriental aspect than any of the Iresines, Amaranthuses, or Alter- 

 nantheras, and may be used with or without them. Unlike 

 them, however, it is hardy, does not require to be reared in 

 pots, and takes up no time nor house room. It may lie in the 

 seed-closet until April, and then be sown where it is to do its 

 duty. Besides, it comes in for the table quite as well as Beet 

 grown in the kitchen garden. It will grow in cold localities 

 where Iresine, Amaranthus, and Coleus do not Bucceed, and it 

 is equally at home in a wet cold summer a3 in one like the 

 present. It is just the plant for places where a mass or lines 

 of a dark purple colour are required with the least amount of 

 labour and expense. But it is only a Beet ; if one can get over 

 that, which I cannot, it will not fail to please. 



Sown in April it attains a good size by the end of June, and 

 is in its beauty all through July, improving as the season ad- 

 vances, and is never finer than when taken up in November. 

 The first or second week in April is when I should sow it in 

 order to have it in condition in July, but I would not sow until 

 the first week in May if it were not wanted to produce an effect 

 before August. Of course it will grow in any soil. Sow the 

 seed in drills, cover with light soil, and thin out the seedlings 

 to 9 inches apart. Some bow in pans and transplant, but I do 

 not perceive any benefit in the practice; on the contrary, if 

 the weather be dry after transplanting many plants will pro- 

 bably run to seed and must be pulled up, spoiling the mass 

 or line. I have not seen a more select stock than Dell's Crim- 

 son. It remains to be seen how long this Beet will continue 

 true to its characteristics. 

 Of the Chilian Beet I cannot Bay much, this being my first 



