December 20, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



477 



to mention that the true CorniBh variety of Maidenhair Fern 

 was well represented. 



The garden abounds in snug little nooks and cosy enclosures, 

 every one of them turned to account to teBt the merit and hardi- 

 ness of plants, Bhrnbs, and even trees collected from distant 

 sources, widespread as the world itself. Near the large fernery 

 we pause to admire a curious and very beautiful species of 

 Bramble from Australia — Rubus australis, with hardly any 

 leaves, the green flexile branehes being thickly set with little 

 white spines. Further on we find an example of the " Omboo," 

 the only tree found on the South American Pampas. Then we 

 come upon an irregular heap of rocks turned to account for a 

 collection of Alpine plants, a Prostrate Willow brought from 

 the High Alps being pointed out as worthy of notice for its 

 pretty spreading growth. Near the rocks some Fig trees 

 heavily laden with fruit were worthy of special notice, the fine 

 crop being attributed to careful manipulation of the growth the 

 previous season, every strong shoot having had its tip nipped 

 off when it was a few inches long, inducing it to put forth 

 three or four other shoots, Mr. Came having thuB in his 

 culture followed the lead of Nature ; for as the Fig bear3 its 

 fruit near the tips of the shoots made a year before, so " the 

 more shoots the more fruit " was the guiding principle in his 

 treatment. Of other rare shrubs I may add the Japanese 

 Desmodium penduliflorum laden with lovely bright purple 

 flowers, quite hardy here, aB indeed it is also in the neighbour- 

 hood of London ; the Silvery-variegated Bramble was also 

 bright-looking and attractive; Arundo conspicua, too, was in 

 full beauty. I note thiB from a desire to see this fine Grass 

 more frequently ; it throws up its elegant plumeB quite two 

 months before the Pampas Grass, and is highly ornamental. 



Many other choice plants and shrubs must be left unnoticed, 

 for the garden is literally crammed with botanical rarities, 

 affording convincing evidence of a devotion to and success in 

 collecting and cultivating them that is rarely met with. Mr. 

 Came is emphatically a pioneer, so thoroughly in earnest as 

 to propagate and offer plants of his choicest novelties to his 

 friends and neighbours, for his is no selfish love. " Add to my 

 pleasure by sharing it with me," says he ; and thus wisely and 

 well does he Btrive to foster and render popular a science 

 which he loves and understands so well. 



The glass houses contained plants of a similarly uncommon 

 charaoter. A collection of such Buccnlents as Opuntias, 

 Stapelias, Cacti, and others remarkable for the quaint guise 

 of their growth and the beauty of their flowers were there in 

 considerable numbers. The most tender sortB of exotic Ferns, 

 too, have a house specially devoted to them. All were thriv- 

 ing ; not a sickly plant did I see. And this is perhaps the most 

 extraordinary thing about this garden where everything is 

 extraordinary — that although the whole of the plants were 

 new, rare, or uncommon, yet the healthy vigorous appearance 

 of every one of them showed that each received the treatment 

 beBt suited to its requirements, and my only regret was that 

 my hurried visit prevented me from learning more of skill so 

 well applied and work so thoroughly welt done.— Edwaed 



LuCKHUBST. 



PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS. 



Scene Covent Garden Market ; date December 18th ; time 

 5 a.m. Weather delightful, aB clear and mild as a May morn- 

 ing. Produce enormous, visitors numerous, vendors noisy, 

 purchasers active. No time and no place could probably have 

 afforded Buch evidence of the magnitude of preparations for 

 the coming festival, at least so far aB garden products are 

 concerned. The most striking feature of the Market were the 

 mountains of Holly, richly berried and brilliant in the gas- 

 light. 



Those who have not seen this year's Holly harvest as 

 garnered at Covent Garden can form no conception of its 

 enormous extent. For some days past small donkey carts, 

 large horse vans, and railway trucks have been conveying 

 their loads of Holly to the metropolis. The streets contiguous 

 to the Market were almost blocked with Holly, which the 

 " costers " scrambled for and distributed over the thousands 

 of homes of the city and environs. But there was enough for 

 all and to spare, for the supply was as bountiful aB it was 

 brilliant. Mistletoe was much less plentiful, and was quickly 

 " collared." Christmas Trees — young Spruce Firs — were re- 

 presented by many thousands. Laurel and other evergreens 

 were not in great request ; the trade in these was spoiled by 

 the extraordinary plethora of Holly. 



Flowees. — Dear at all times to Londoners are flowers, but 

 at Christmas they are indispensable. The immense resources 

 of the market growers and their cultural skill were admirably 

 displayed. Primulas sturdy in growth, rich in foliage, and 

 remarkable for the high " strain " of the flowers, were there- 

 in "loads." Lilies of the Valley, Dutch Hyacinths, and early 

 Tulips were in charming profusion ; Erioas, hyemalis being, 

 excellently grown; Veronicas, Cyclamens, Poinsettias, Epi- 

 phyllums, a few AzaleaB, Echeveria retusa, and Solanums 

 were the staple floral prodnots offered, and quickly purchased,, 

 at thiB great mart in preparation for the coming festival. 

 Bouquets were composed chiefly of white Roses, pink Gera- 

 niums, Camellias, Eucharis, Azaleas, Bouvardias, and Ferns ^ 

 feathery Grasses in divers colours and Everlastings formed in 

 tasteful devices were attractively displayed; and, as if these 

 were not sufficient, artificial flowers and sprays were almost 

 as " loud " in their extravagant colourB as their vendors were 

 in shouting their charms. 



Fecit. — How deficient is the supply of British-grown fruit 

 for the Christmas requirements of the head quarters of the 

 nation was evidenced by the tons of Apples sent from America 

 and the Continent. Pears are large in size but limited, and 

 Grapes somewhat disappointing. The finest were Gros Col- 

 mans and Alicantes ; the largest bunches were of Gros Guil- 

 laume at Mr. Webber's, who also sustains his fame as an im- 

 porter of Pine Apples. Bananas, Shaddocks, and Tomatoes 

 were represented, while Nuts and Oranges were apparently 

 sufficient to supply a nation, much more a oity. 



Vegetables. — Immense and superior was the supply. Roots 

 of all kinds, from the thousands of sackB of Potatoes, piled-up 

 loads of Turnips, Carrots, and Parsnips, to the hampers of 

 Onions and Beet and bundles of Horseradish were provided. 

 for the million of a quality equal to that at the disposal of the 

 aristocracy. SavoyB, Coleworts, and Kale composed the bulk 

 of green vegetables ; but Brussels Sprouts were plentiful and 

 exoellent, and Broccoli was also well represented. Rhubarb 

 and Seakale, all kinds of salads, Cucumbers, Mushrooms,, 

 and Truffles were provided to meet the demands of a populace 

 preparing for a feaBt. Herbs also, especially Parsley and Sage,, 

 were provided on the same scale of prodigality. Yet enormous 

 as was the display of garden products it was only an instal- 

 ment, and at least two more Bimilar markets will be held before 

 the preparations are completed. 



The immense provision cannot be contemplated without 

 recognising how great is the industry of horticulture ; how 

 necessary it is in ministering to the wants and comforts of 

 life ; how important it iB as being the sole means of livelihood 

 of thousands who are engaged in it; and how great, natural, 

 and intimate is the alliance between city and country — between 

 homes and gardens, lords and labourers ! Let us hope this 

 dependance on each other may be more and more recognised, 

 and the interchange of good wishes incidental to Christmas 

 will not be peculiar to that period alone. Covent Garden tella 

 how much of benefit and pleasure gardens afford, and how. 

 worthy they are of the best efforts of all who are engaged in. 

 their cultivation. — A City Man. 



COMPARATIVE MERITS OF PEAS. 



During the past season I had the opportunity of testing, 

 about sixteen varietios of Peas, and possibly a few remarks onv 

 their respective merits may be of service to some who limit 

 their seed bill, and consequently the introduction of novelties 

 also. % 



The past season was, and in this district often is, very un- 

 favourable to the growth of Peas. Cold easterly winds were 

 very prevalent till late in May, and from that time till the 

 middle of September we had not a good soaking rain. OurB 

 is rich soil on a clayey loam subsoil, and autumo sowings are 

 generally failures. None of the Peas were sown on shallow 

 Boil. Preference was given to double-dug ground, and from, 

 these sowings we obtained our best and most prolonged pick- 

 ings. The second earlies and very late sorts were sown on 

 the ridges between the Celery trenches. They thus obtained" 

 two spits of soil, as the spaces between the trenches were 

 previously dug. The remainder were sown in trenches pre- 

 pared as for Celery. This plan is very well where there is 

 plenty of water at hand, but Buch was not the case with us. . 

 The soil in the trench shrank from the sides, and a poor crop- 

 was the result. In consequence of continued wet weather we 

 were unable to bow the earlies till the end of February, and 

 even then had to cut out the drills with the Bpade and replace 



