October S, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



267 



the Society's garden at Chiswiek came a splendid Begonia, one 

 of Major Trevor Clarke's hybrids, with large bright rose flowers. 

 The Committee deferred passing an opinion on it till it had 

 been compared with other kinds. Anehusa-capensis, with splen- 

 did dark blue Forget-me-not-like flowers, with a white eye, also 

 from Chiswick, had a first-class certificate. Mr. Wills, nursery- 

 man, Old Bronipton, sent several varieties of Scolopendrium 

 vulgare. From Mr. Wright, gardener to Rev. C. Roe, Bury 

 St. Edmunds, came a stand of seedling Dahlias; from Mr. 

 Wilson, gardener to W. Marshall, Esq., Enfield, a variety of 

 Asplenium nidus, named ramosum, with the fronds forked at 

 the extremities. Mr. R. Dean, seedsman, sent a form of Dwarf 

 French Marigold, with fine crimson and yellow heads, and an 

 excellent orange yellow one called Aurea Floribunda, 



Economically Dividing a Pit. — In a pit or frame with 

 several lights rather tender plants are placed at one end under 

 one light, and that light is covered over for security, but the 

 other lights are left uncovered. The tender plants thus receive 

 little benefit from the covering, as the air in the whole space 

 would soon equalise itself in temperature. The easiest re- 

 medy is to shut-in that single light from the others by a thin 

 moveable wooden partition. I often make a single or folded 

 mat answer the same purpose. In a small pit or frame we can 

 thus easily give a distinct temperature and condition to each 

 separate light — nay, it is easy to give distinct conditions to 

 plants growing in one light of a pit or frame. For instance : 

 I make a slight hotbed under one light, place a division 

 separating that from the other lights ; one part we can devote 

 to cuttings of tender plants that need more heat and a closer 

 warmer atmosphere, by placing them in a small wooden box, 

 say 18 inches square, with a square of glass in a slight frame 

 to lay over it, and in the other part we may have small plants 

 that need hardening-off with more air than would suit the 

 cuttings that have yet to make roots. — R. F. 



BEDDING ARRANGEMENTS IN BATTEBSEA 



. PARK. 

 On September 17th I paid a visit to this park for the purpose 

 of taking notes on the principal bedding features. The sub- 

 tropical department being the most desirable portion to inspect 

 I entered by the broad walk leading from the refreshment- 

 roorn, near Battersea pier; and coming to the gate which di- 

 vides the subtropical from the more recreative portion of 

 the park, the first thing that meets the eye is a group of 

 circular beds on both sides, planted alike with mixtures of 

 Cannas, stripedMaize, and Yucca aloifolia variegata, associated 

 with the graceful and very ornamental-foliaged plant Sonchus 

 laciniatus, margined with Golden Thyme, Mesembryanthemum 

 Wandum, and Sempervivum tectorum. Turning to the right, on 

 the left-haud side is a'group of plants in pots plunged to the 

 rim of Draeama fragrans, variegated Yuccas, Seaforthias, and 

 Monstera deliciosa, interspersed with small groups of a neat 

 variegated Ivy. Next, on the same side, is a bank of the lovely 

 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, with an undergrowth of Abutilon 

 Thompsohi, edged with Scarlet Geraniums and Centaurea gym- 

 nocarpa. On the opposite side is a sort of recess, in which are 

 to be sejn numbers of Wigandias Aralia papyrifera, Ficus 

 elastica, and Palms, all thriving luxuriantly. Next, on the 

 " level turf, is to be seen a very pleasing arrangement ; in the 

 centre of the bed is a group of dwarf plants of Cordyline aus- 

 tralis, the two ends Dracsena Rumphn and Tradescantia dis- 

 color. The pattern is worked- out with Golden Pyrethrum, 

 Alternanthera amcena, Sedums, and Echeverias. It is a first- 

 rate bed, a'ld has a fine appearance. There is an oval-shaped 

 bed with some large plants of Amaranthus salicifolius, most of 

 which do not appear to have done well, but those that have 

 attained perfection in colour are such as the Messrs. Yeiteh 

 have in their nursery ; it is a truly grand object for a bed. 

 The other occupants of this bed call for no remark ; it ought to 

 have been a pretty bed. 



Passing some other beds, Cannas, Aralias, Maize, &c, we 

 come upon what I consider is one of the most telling beds in 

 the garden. It is a round bed, and has a centre of Canna 

 Premices de Nice and Madame Schmidt, tall variegated Maize, 

 Abutilon Thompsoni, a band of Pelargonium Rosslyn, and an 

 edging of Fuchsia Meteor. This Fuchsia is so well adapted for 

 edging purposes that I shall expect to see it largely used an- 

 other season. Next to this is a circular bed, the centre Coleus 

 Yerschaffelti margined with Centaurea candidissima ; next a 

 band of Alternanthera paronychioides major, surrounded by a 

 groundwork of Golden Feather, panelled with Alternanthera 



amcena ; the whole margin is Echeveria pumila, a pointed- 

 leaved distinct form from the others in use. 



We come now to a very pleasing foliage-bed of Acacia 

 lophantha and Grevillea robusta, with an undergrowth of Yitis 

 heterophylla, banded by the golden Lonicera, Alternanthera 

 magnifica, and Echeveria. Passing by some foliage-beds of 

 less note where fine plants of Musa Ensete, Wigandias, and 

 Eucalyptus globulus are thriving as if in the genial temperature 

 of a hothouse, we come to a round bed, the centre being Cen- 

 taurea candidissima, surrounded by Iresine Lindeni in two 

 lines, with Robert Fish Geranium growing between ; then 

 come two lines of Mesembryanthemum eordifolium variegatum, 

 divided by Alternanthera spathulata. The whole bed has a 

 margin of Sempervivnm tabukefornie, and has come out well. 

 In close proximity are growing some good specimens of Sola- 

 nums, Castor-Oil Plants, and the beautiful Ferdinanda emi- 

 nens, also some excellent examples of Musa superba, Melianthes 

 major, and Chainaepuce Cassabonae, or Fish-bone Thistle. 

 Opposite to it is a bed somewhat different in character, having 

 for its centre some nice plants of Fuchsia Rose of Castille and 

 Cassia corymbosa, a yellow-flowering plant with dark shining 

 foliage, and then a blooming plant of Yallota purpurea, and 

 the whole edged with Centaurea gymnocarpa. Near this is a 

 bed of Aralia papyrifera, also a grand specimen of Musa Ensete. 

 On the same side is a noble group of Castor-Oil Plants averag- 

 ing 8 feet high, with a front line of Polymnia grandis, a grand 

 ornamental plant ; in front is a mixed edging of Oenothera 

 maerooarpa and a pink Yerbena. Turning to the left is a 

 serpentine bed of great length planted with Trentham Rose 

 and Christine Geraniums, Iresine Lindeni, and a hedge 

 9 inches high of the pretty Euonymus radicans variegatus ; 

 while dotted over and around it are good plants of Dracama 

 Draco, or Dragon Tree, D. lineata, Cycas revoluta, Latania 

 borbonica, the Bourbon Palm, Chamajrops Fortunei, Sea- 

 forthia Cunninghami, Cordyline australis, 9 feet high, and 

 Strelitzia Nicolai. Next in importance is a large ovate bed 

 containing very fine plants of Fuchsia Rose of Castille, with 

 an undergrowth of various sorts of Amaranthuses not doing 

 well, surrounded with Fuchsias Magnifica and Regalia, margin 

 of Echeveria secunda glauca. On each side of a tree are good 

 plants of Phormium tenax. In view conspicuously on the 

 opposite side is a large round bed of Aralia papyrifera, Abu- 

 tilon Thompsoni, edged with^Geraniums Golden Fleece and 

 Shrubland Pet, margin of Sempervivum californicum. Also 

 near this is an irregular-shaped bed of immense size, contain- 

 ing, I was told, sixteen hundred plants of Carina Annei, edged 

 with Pelargoniums Lucius and Canariensis. 



Having now reached the south-gate entrance we see before 

 us projecting banks clothed very cleverly with mixed fine- 

 foliaged plants of various colours and shapes, and in a sort of 

 recess at the back is to be seen about the finest plant of Musa 

 Ensete to be found in the grounds. In this as well as other 

 parts of the park many fine specimens of various Palms 

 and other attractive plants are dotted about. Then there are 

 some fine plants of Aralia Sieboldii growing luxuriantly in 

 positions which I was told they had occupied for ten years. 

 This is proof that the plant is sufficiently hardy to be more 

 extensively planted in sheltered situations. Turning round to 

 the left we find banks of fine-foliaged plants, and a group of 

 Ficus elastica, tall plants, witn Iponia?as of sorts climbing up 

 the stems. Further on is a clump of the Coral Tree, Erythrina 

 Crista-galli, in full health and bloom. Passing by several beds 

 less noteworthy, but quite in their place, we come to a bed of 

 mixed flowering plants, which is quite a relief, and I thought 

 several similar beds might have" been added with good effect 

 in different parts of the grounds. Then there is a bed of 

 Cordyline australis of different sizes, with a carpet of Begonia 

 ricinifolia, veiy pretty, edged with a broad band of Santolina 

 incana, or Lavender Cotton. 



On the left-hand side of this walk is to be seen as good a bit 

 of carpet bedding as one might wish to see ; it is a group of 

 these beds consisting of two long narrow beds divided by a 

 circular one, all planted with very dwarf-growing plants. The 

 two long beds are planted alike, and running down the middle 

 are several heart-shaped blocks of Alternanthera magnifica, 

 surrounded by a single row of Echeveria secunda glauca. 

 Then there are segments of Golden Feather, and for' an edging 

 to this Alternanthera amcena is employed in single line ; the 

 whole has a margin of Sempervivum californicum. The cir- 

 cular bed was planted in the form of a star, the centre of 

 some sort of Cotyledon underlined with Mesembryanthe- 

 mum eordifolium variegatum, then six segments of Alternan- 



