August 30, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



175 



The species are all epiphytal, and bear solitary flowers on erect 

 scapes; the sepals are nearly equal, forming a tube below and 

 spreading above. The petals of T. obtusum are very small, 

 almost hidden within the tube, and the labellum is even still 

 smaller. It is easily cultivated in a warm house, and several 

 plants in a pot make an attractive specimen. — L. K. 



VICTORIA PARK. 



Situated as it is in a neighbourhood densely populated by 

 the industrial classes, this Park serves an important purpose, 

 and serves it admirably, of affording wholesome means of 

 exercise and recreation to those to whom such provision is 

 especially beneficial, and, whioh is particularly gratifying, is 

 warmly appreciated. None of the metropolitan parks are 

 more thoroughly enjoyed than this is, and none are more 

 worthy of the patronage that is bestowed on it by the many 

 thousands of visitors who seek repose in its shady walks, take 

 exercise on its ample lakes, and derive salutary gratification 

 irom its brilliant flowers. Owing to the extent and excellence 

 of the floral decorations in past years Viotoria Park has won 

 much more than local fame — fame which has increased yearly, 

 and which is splendidly sustained in the display of the present 

 season. Those who delight in witnessing examples of floral 

 decoration in various aspects— old-fashioned mixed border 

 ornamentation savouring of the taste of the past, middle-aged 

 'lawn embellishment as exemplified in the Geranium-massing 

 period, and modern artistic decoration embodied in semi- 

 tropical masses and geometrical carpet beds — can enjoy all 

 these modes, and the best examples of each, in this attractive 

 Park. The skilful Superintendent of Victoria Park, Mr. 

 Mclntyre, takes a broad and comprehensive view of the sub- 

 ject of garden ornamentation. He is alive to the f aot that the 

 British public, for whose benefit the publio parks were estab- 

 lished, have varied tastes, and have a habit of closely examin- 

 ing and keenly criticising their floral fare, and hence he pro- 

 vides accordingly, and the provision is varied and exoellent. 

 He has no sympathy with those who dendunoe any one style 

 of garden decoration, but, on the contrary, believes that eaoh 

 system is worthy of his best efforts. The mixed border has its 

 own charms and its appropriate position, and so with floral 

 masses and carpet beds. He is right. Does anyone doubt it ? 

 Remove, then, in fanoy, for it is not likely to be so in faot, any 

 one of these features from the Park, and the blank created 

 will Bettle the point. 



The beauty of the flowers in this Park is greatly enhanced 

 by their setting — the handsome evergreens, especially Hollies, 

 and the rich greenery of the deciduous trees and shrubs. 

 These form a background and a foil which contribute in a 

 powerful manner to the general effeot. Take the small 

 division, for instanoe, known as the West Park. The flowers 

 are bright and beautiful unquestionably, but this portion would 

 not be nearly so attractive were it not for the grand pyramids 

 of Hollies. These, judioiously disposed, relieve what would 

 otherwise be a tiring monotony of colour. A large circular 

 raised mound in this division of the Park is especially note- 

 worthy. It is surmounted with fine cones of variegated 

 Hollies, literally in a "ring fence" — namely, a dwarf hedge 

 of Aucubas. From the hedge to the walk the ground slopes 

 Sharply, and is effectively planted with flowers in concentric 

 sings, festoons, and diamonds of contrasting oolours, such as 

 Coleuses, Centaureas, Geraniums, Golden Feather, &c, edged 

 with Echeverias. This fine group is near the Bouth- west entrance 

 of the Park, and worthily commands muoh notice from the 

 visitors. But bold as it is, it is only a trifle— an appetiser of the 

 least to follow. Turning one's back on this firBt instalment 

 we find the mixed border stretching away on the left, a broad 

 fringe to the belt of trees and shrubs which mark the western 

 boundary of the park. This flower border is 7 or 8 feet wide 

 and nearly a mile long. The order of planting, to speak para- 

 doxically, consists in its irregularity. In this border there 

 is always something to attract. In the early spring the bulbs 

 which have been planted freely contribute their meed of 

 beauty. A fine collection of Irises follow with clumps of spring 

 flowers, notably the Iberises. I. corifolia is represented by large 

 •dense semi-globular plants, which in the early summer are 

 masses of purity. This, one of the finest of hardy border plants, 

 is planted alternately and at intervals of a few yards with earlier- 

 flowering sorts, suoh as I. sempervirens and others. Then 

 there are Pinks, sweet common Pinks, by hundreds, with the 

 contrasting blue of stately Delphiniums. Campanulas, Antir- 

 rhinums, Phloxes, Foxgloves, Lilies, annuals, &a., contribute 



their share of beauty during the summer, and in the autumn the 

 Helianthuses, Dahlias, MiehaelmaB Daisies, and Tritomas are 

 the principal " back plants," and fine they are, with Gladioluses, 

 China Asters t &c, in front. Between the border and the 

 broad walk is a stretch of well-kept lawn containing flower 

 beds at intervals filled with Geraniums, Verbenas, Calceo- 

 larias, &c, and the effeot of one style of decoration increases 

 that of the other. In these isolated beds the newer varieties 

 of Geraniums are grown, and such of them as prove worthy are 

 afterwards honoured by a place in the chief flower garden. 



This is in the next division of the Park, and passing by several 

 beds of Yuccas (how splendidly Y. recurva flourishes here !) it 

 is soon reached. It is on the opposite side of the walk, and is 

 in a large recess — that is, the lawn containing the flower beds 

 has a bold cresoent-shaped background of trees and Bhrubs. 

 Between the flowers and the shrubs further relief is afforded 

 by some fine speoimens of American Aloes in tubs. The 

 flower beds are large, and are uniform and simple in outline — 

 ciroles of about 10 feet in diameter, and oblongs of the same 

 width and from 20 to 40 feet long between the circleB. The 

 front row of beds next the broad walk are carpet beds and are 

 strikingly beautiful, the remaining beds — the oblongs — being 

 chiefly planted with Geraniums, with one or two in the back 

 oircular line of Ageratum mexioanum. The round beds are 

 nearly all planted with Coleus Verschaffelti — beds which for 

 perfeotness of outline and richness of colour have never been 

 surpassed. Good and well-worked soil, free healthy plants, 

 and very close planting have produoed these fine beds. They 

 are edged with such contrasting colours as Gnaphalium lana- 

 tnm, variegated Geraniums, Golden Stellaria, and dwarf 

 Lobelias. The Golden Chickweed is in splendid colour, much 

 brighter than the Golden Feather. It has been stated that 

 before Geraniums are admitted into this garden they must 

 have given proof of their satisfying qualities as bedders. 

 They are tested simply on their merits. An old sort is not 

 despised because it is old, nor over-estimated because it is 

 new. It must be good, have upright trusses, free, level, dis- 

 tinct, and continuous, and then it matters not from whence 

 it came or at what date it was introduced, it has a place of 

 honour in this design, where nothing must be left to chance, 

 but every bed must be as perfeot as it is possible to produce it. 

 Note now the few Geraniums that come up to the high stan- 

 dard required. As a strong grower for large back beds Lucius 

 is unsurpassed ; as a medium grower of glowing crimson colour 

 Waltham Seedling is pre-eminent ; while another of Mr. Paul's 

 varieties (Nimrod) makes the best orange-scarlet beds ; and as 

 a pure dwarf scarlet Vesuvius bears the palm. The beBt of all 

 the pinks is Cleopatra, but Christine is also not yet discarded, 

 and the best salmon is the old Madame Rudersdorff . The beds 

 of the sorts named are simply grand, and to all appearance 

 will continue so for some time, while those of some of the 

 newer sorts with larger trusses, produced more or less " side- 

 ways," have been injured beyond reoovery by the late rains. 

 The scarlet beds are chiefly banded with silver-variegated 

 Geraniums, and edged with LobeliaB; and the pinks with soft 

 yellow-leaved Geraniums and silver Gnaphaliums. There are 

 a few light beds, one for instance of the old friend Flower of 

 the Day ; but Prinoess Alexandra is perhapB the best bedder 

 in this seotion, and as an edging plant none surpass Flower of 

 Spring. These Geraniums, associated with suoh plants as 

 Iresine Lindeni, whioh is extensively and well grown here, 

 afford an agreeable change to the higher colours. The best 

 yellow edging Geranium is Robert Fish. Creed's Seedling is 

 also good, and Crystal Palace Gem makes an agreeable bed. 

 The edgings of Lobelias here demand speoial notice. Blue 

 Stone is dark and fairly compaot, but L. pumila grandiflora 

 surpasses all others by its cIobo cushion-like growth and its 

 wonderful profusion of bright blue flowers. These edgings 

 can only be expressed in one word — excellent. One large bed 

 of singular form in the centre of the group is distinct from the 

 others ; it is much raised and is very conspicuous. It is along 

 soroll-like bed with bold triangular spurs. In the centre of each 

 wing is a triangle of Mrs. Pollock Geranium followed in order 

 with broad bands of Coleus, silver-variegated Geranium, 

 Iresine Lindeni, Robert Fish Geranium, and two rows of 

 Eoheveria secunda glauca — an arrangement whioh is strikingly 

 effective. 



There remain yet the carpet beds to be noticed. What can 

 be said about them ? An " inner voice " whispers, " Let them 

 alone" — prudent advice which one would gladly follow were 

 it possible that all who are interested could visit the beds and 

 see for themselves ; but they cannot, and yet they would like 



