Joly 12, 1877. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



39 



twining of a slender climber, and bare sterna oould often be 

 olothed in this way. We may here suggest the attachment 

 of certain epiphytes to the stems of living Tree Perns. Shade- 

 loving species of suitable habit are found among the Bromeli- 

 acesB. Some Orchids might be found to thrive, and a few 

 trailing Gesneriaoeas are quite at home in this position. 



The newly-imported Vanda CEerulescens var. Boxalli is now 

 flowering in the Orchid house. It is not considered equal 

 to the species, but is extremely pretty, all being pure white 

 with the exception of its blue lip. The showy Orchids of most 

 attraction now in flower are Phalsenopais LiiJdemanniana, 

 Aerides odoratum and multiflorum, the nearly white-flowered 

 Oncidium pulchellum, 0. leucochilum, with spikes of great 

 strength ; Barkeria Skinneri, Oncidiums Krameri and Papilio, 

 and Cypripediums Hookers and snperbiens. 



The new Begonia Frcebeli in the cool end of the T range 

 is commencing to flower freely. It seems to have found less 

 favour than it deserves, but here is quite ornamental, and takes 

 a good position among the tuberous species. It is difficult to 

 imagine why these have not been grown for exhibition, con- 

 sidering the gorgeous display they are capable of producing 

 with but little trouble. 



In the next house are many beautiful examples of Gesneri- 

 aoe», inclusive of the genera Achimenes, Gloxinia, Biglandu- 

 laria, Gesnera, Sheeria, Tydsea, and others, few only of which 

 are novel ; but it is difficult not to mention their value as a 

 class for the greenhouse in summer, a time when houses are 

 often empty or nearly so. These are an important feature 

 in the establishment of L. Van Houtte at Ghent, but in this 

 country at least meet with far too little appreciation. A repre- 

 sentative set would be highly attractive at the summer and 

 autumn flower shows. 



Boella ciliata is extremely pretty in the conservatory, and 

 to which we draw attention from its great beauty and rarity. 

 It is a small evergreen shrub with slender stems, producing 

 large bell-shaped blue flowers. It was introduced from the 

 Cape more than one hundred years ago. 



AMONG THE HOSES AT WOODLANDS. 



To obtain a clear idea of the relative value of our best Roses 

 it is necessary to see them growing side by side, not planted 

 Bingly but in considerable numbers of each sort, so that one 

 may not be misled by individual peculiarities, of which there 

 is an undoubted risk when a single plant only of each variety 

 is before one, as is usually the case in private gardens. It is 

 true that such exhibitions of Roses as the National afford us a 

 sight of picked blooms of our best Borts in such a guise as we 

 unfortunately but too often see them only in a prize stand ; 

 yet I much fear that these noble examples of skilful culture 

 convey no very just or fair conception to the mind of the 

 ordinary practitioner of their appearance when not enjoying 

 the special advantages of high culture and most oareful tend- 

 ing, or, what is more to the point, of their value or otherwise 

 for the embellishment of a garden. Not that I wish to say 

 one word in disparagement of Rose shows, for our national 

 flower is worthy of all honour, and, moreover, such shows are 

 most useful in a variety of ways, such as in bringing new and 

 worthy varieties prominently before the public, testing the 

 merits of new sorts with old, affording Rose-growers an oppor- 

 tunity for an interchange of ideas, promoting social intercourse 

 in its most innocent genial form, and above all in tending to 

 popularise Roses and Rose culture. 



Acting upon the idea set forth in my first sentence I went 

 last week to inspect the Roses of Messrs. William Wood & Son 

 in their Woodlands Nursery at Maresfield near Uckfield ; and 

 under the courteous guidance of the head of the firm, Mr. 

 Charles Wood, and his youngest son, I went through the whole 

 of their Roses, comprising I suppose all the varieties really 

 worth growing, every one of which was to be seen by the 

 hundred, perhaps I should be safe to say by the thousand, for 

 in the open air they extend over many acres, and under glass 

 they fill house after house and range after range, affording one 

 such a sight of standards, half-standards, and dwarfs, of Roses 

 in pots, as I will very frankly own I have never seen before, and 

 in my experience of nurseries and gardens has been somewhat 

 extensive. It will therefore be understood that I had a rare 

 opportunity of seeing Roses new and old, good and indifferent, 

 under what may be fairly claimed as the best possible condi- 

 tions for forming a reliable opinion of their worth. 



Marshal Niel and Gloire de Dijon are undoubtedly our two 

 most popular Roses, as was clearly shown by the immense 



numbers of both which were flourishing in rude health and in 

 every form from dwarfs to standards. Messrs. Wood oonsider 

 that The Garland, a hybrid climber sent out by them many 

 years ago, makes quite the beet stock for Marechal Niel, tend- 

 ing materially to promote that free strong growth for whioh 

 " The Marshal" is so remarkable when bud and stock agree. 

 This is an important matter, as although I have a splendid 

 tree of it some 20 feet high on the common Briar, others 

 have not done so well, and some have failed outright. 



Of other sorts grown in very large quantities — a sure indica- 

 tion of popularity — La Prance still holds a prominent place as 

 one of the very best pink sorts, as do the rich crimson Duke 

 of Edinburgh and the lovely white Boule de Neige, always 

 good, but occasionally giving us a flower that is the very per- 

 fection of form and purity of colour. I was glad to find that 

 John Hopper, too, continues to hold a high position. I sup- 

 pose we have nothing more beautiful among Roses, or any 

 flowers, than an opening bud of John Hopper with the recurved 

 petals juBt showing that rosy crimson, or rather pink, tinge 

 which is so oharming. Mosb Roses are, of course, grown ex- 

 tensively, the old White Bath being more vigorous than I 

 have before seen it. A still more vigorous white Moss is Reine 

 Blanche, very hardy, beautiful in bud, and expanding into 

 large flowers. This is an excellent sort, which everyone ought 

 to grow by the dozen, for we never can obtain enough of it for 

 mixing with other cut flowers. 



Reverting now to my notes of the best sorts, a new one 

 named Abel Carriere first claims notioe. It has large flowers, 

 very full petalled, of perfect form ; is glowing crimson in odour, 

 and is in every respect worthy of Messrs. Wood's description 

 as a " superb new Rose." In Madame Prosper Dingier we 

 have another new one with magnificent flowers, very large and 

 full, and of a lovely soft shade of carmine. Madame la 

 Baronne de Medeni is also new in colour. It is pink shaded 

 with violet ; it is very full and of perfect form. Another 

 variety of 1876 is named Bosa alba — Pompon blanc parfait, 

 and answers perfectly to the catalogue description : — " Flowers 

 small and of exquisite form, colour pale flesh passing to pure 

 white, a oharming miniature Rose," to which I may add that 

 it forms a pretty little bush such as one admires in a '-order 

 or bed. Dinge Conard as I saw it appeared quite worthy of 

 being termed "one of the finest new Boses of the season;" 

 its petals are of great size, and the colour a brilliant crimson. 

 Olga Marix has charming white flowers, cupped and with 

 elegant petals. It is a valuable sort. Catherine Bonnard of 

 the Hybrid China section has brilliant crimson flowers and is 

 very striking. It is a new variety, and is considered very 

 suitable for pillars. Sultan of Zanzibar is a good new Bose, 

 remarkable for its colour — a deep crimson, or, as the catalogues 

 say, blackish maroon. Panachfie Langroise is a very distinct 

 variety with deep flesh-coloured mottled flowers, which tell 

 well among other varieties. Of older Roses Marguerite de 

 St. Amand was aB usual most lovely with its abundant bold 

 bright pink flowers. Abel Grand was also very fine ; like John 

 Hopper, its expanding flowers are so charming that we should 

 value it for them alone when in that stage, even if they were 

 not so perfect when fully developed. Francois Miehelon was 

 very good ; it has lovely deep pink flowers, very large and 

 full. Paul Neron was of course conspicuous, its strong healthy 

 growth and immense flowers never failing to attract attention. 

 Large quantities of it are grown, but it must be termed some- 

 what coarse and vulgar when fully expanded. Felix Genero 

 was grown in quantity, and its flowers were certainly very 

 fine. It has now been under cultivation for a good many 

 years, and there has been frequent discussion as to its merits. 

 I have grown it and have not liked it, but after seeing it so 

 perfect as it was at Woodlands I can understand why some 

 should term it a good Rose and some a bad one, for it is evi- 

 dently much influenced by soil and situation. Bessie John- 

 son was very good, with large full flowers of a charming deli- 

 cate pink shade and very sweet. Marquise de Castellane was 

 in splendid condition, but then I have never seen it other- 

 wise ; it is undoubtedly one of our best Roses. AbbS Bramerel 

 has deep rich crimson flowers, and is a very striking variety. 



Tea Roses, though grown in such large numbers being 

 mostly in pots, were past their best, but I was able to see and 

 admire the crimson-flowered Duchess of Edinburgh, a distinot 

 and valuable acquisition to this class, as is also Cheshunt 

 Hybrid, of which there was a goodly number of standards in 

 the open nursery. Both are vigorous growers, and both are 

 indispensable. They will prove of especial value for clothing 

 buildings of light-coloursd stone or stucco, aB well as for 



