268 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 3, 1672. 



thera amcena, -with a margin of Seixrpervivum californieum. 

 The whole was arranged in exceedingly good taste. Further 

 on is to be seen a remarkably fine plant of Phormium tenax 

 variegatum, or the Variegated New Zealand Flax. One notice- 

 able feature in this garden is the dotting-about of pans and 

 pots of Sedums of various sorts plunged into the earth up to 

 the rim ; these have a very pleasing effect, and such miniature 

 subjects as they contained could not be brought under notice 

 in a better way. 



We now leave this part of the park, and bearing towards the 

 right enter the Fern glade. On the left are to be seen fine 

 examples of Dicksonia antarctica, Cyathea dealbata, as "tree 

 Ferns very tastefully arranged ; and under these are growing 

 numerous specimens of the Bird's-nest Fern, Platyceriums, 

 and Woodwardias, with Dracaenas, the whole having freshness 

 scarcely to be excelled in a hothouse fernery. On the right of 

 this is a vista of considerable length, planted with similar 

 subjects, but not less noteworthy for health and vigour. 



After passing by a fine plant of MusaEnsete standing boldly 

 among beds of fine-foliaged plants and a remarkably good 

 specimen of Cycas revoluta in the centre of a circular bed, we 

 come to the best example of carpet bedding to be seen in the 

 park. But it will be almost impossible to give an accurate 

 description of the planning in these beds without the aid of a 

 diagram. It consists of a series of four beds — two oblong and 

 two circular beds. The former have raised panels in the centre 

 planted with Alternanthera magnifies and amcena in single 

 lines ; then a broad band of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 

 variegatum and Alternanthera amcena ; afterwards, two lines 

 of Mesernbryanthemuni divided by A. amcena. In the corners 

 left by the designer are some small mounds of Sedum glaucum 

 and various other interesting plants. One of the round beds is 

 divided into several heart-shaped blocks, or shields, of Golden 

 Feather Pyrethrum, with a Coleus Verschaffelti for a centre. 

 The hearts are margined with Echeveria secunda glauea. -The 

 outer panels are Alternanthera paronychioides major, and the 

 whole bed has a margin of Echeveria secunda glauea, divided 

 alternately with Sedum glaucum and Alternanthera amcena. 

 The other circular bed, which I consider the prettier of the 

 two, is cut up into two series of triangles, the inner one being 

 filled with Golden Feather, and the outer one with Alternan- 

 thera paronychioides major. Then there are ten panels con- 

 sisting of Alternanthera amcena and Sedum glaucum alter- 

 nately, and a margin of Echeveria secunda glauea. 



Next we come to the Alpine mound, on which are planted 

 various kinds of succulents and a large number of the most 

 popular Alpine plants. Next on the left are some mixed beds 

 of flowering plants, and groups of large specimen plants of 

 Echeveria metalliea, Dracaenas, and other interesting subjects. 

 Further on is an oblong bed planted in a style quite different 

 to that of any other in the grounds, very interesting, and ex- 

 ceedingly pretty. The centre consists of Dracaenas terminalis 

 and Rumphii, with a carpet of Mesembryanthemum cordifo- 

 lium variegatum ; the outer part of panels of Alternanthera 

 amcena and Echeveria secunda glauea alternately. After this 

 on the right-hand side is a bank of the lovely Acer Negundo 

 variegatum, tall plants with an undergrowth of Lamium 

 aureurn and Ajuga reptans mixed, and a front line of Rhus 

 glabra. 



After passing by beds of mixed flowering plants and speci- 

 men foliage plants, and turning the corner by the waterfall, is 

 the Fern bank, planted with numerous Ferns, &c. This feature 

 will year by year grow more interesting as it becomes deve- 

 loped ; it has been but recently established. 



Leaving the Alpine and rockwork garden, and passing up 

 the broad walk towards the refreshment room, we find an 

 extensive and very pretty piece of bedding. It is a semicircle 

 divided in the centre by the broad walk referred to, and, like 

 some others, it is most difficult to describe. In the first place, 

 there is a background of shrubs with a border of considerable 

 width planted principally with panels of Coleus Terschaffelt, 

 and Alternantheras of sorts, surrounded by an irregular band 

 of Pyrethrum Golden Feather and other suitable plants. Next 

 in front of these, but on a lower level, panels of Alternantheras 

 paronychioides and amcena and a margin of the beautiful 

 Thymus aureo-marginatus, a new Golden Thyme of considerable 

 merit. The arrangement on the grass in front next the walk 

 is pretty. The series of beds planted there has for a centre 

 a raised basket of mixed flowers, very good and in capital 

 position. Right and left of this basket are groups of Dracaenas, 

 Aralias, and Echeveria metalliea in pots ; and at the two ends 

 are three circular beds, connected by a band of the new Golden 



Thyme above alluded to. The circles are planted with bronze 

 and silver-leaved Geraniums mixed with Yiola cornuta, the 

 flowers of which are just springing up high enough to set the 

 beds off to the best possible advantage. In this part there 

 are also some pans filled very tastefully with succulents of 

 various kinds, and which add additional interest to the whole. 



Turning to the left towards the west entrance are to be 

 found a series of radiating beds, seven in number, with a cir- 

 cular bed in the centre from which the others radiate. They 

 are planted very effectively as follows : — The circle is a basket 

 of mixed flowering plants, and right and left of that are 

 two long beds planted in diamonds, Alternanthera magnifica 

 divided by lines of Sernpervivum ; the outer triangles are 

 wholly of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, and a 

 line of Alternanthera amcena round the whole. These and 

 every bed in the group have a hedge of Euonymus radicans 

 variegatus. Taking the next two right and left, there is Gera- 

 nium Crystal Palace Gem for the centre, and a line of Creed's- 

 Seedling Geranium, a golden-leaved one, and a band of blue 

 Lobelia. The next two beds have square panels of Coleus 

 Verschaffelti divided by Centaurea candidissima, with a broad 

 band of the same. The centre bed of the seven, which is the 

 largest, has a wedge-shaped line of Centaurea gymnoearpa for 

 the centre, two lines on each side of Christine Geranium, and 

 this is surrounded by a line of Gnaphalium lanatum and a 

 bronze Geranium edged with Centaurea ragusina. This group 

 of beds is exceedingly beautiful and tastefully arranged. 



Having given the principal features, as nearly as it is possible 

 to describe them, of the bedding arrangements in this park,. 

 I canuot conclude without complimenting Mr. Rogers on his 

 tasteful arrangements, as >vell as for the general health and 

 vigour of the plants in the grounds under his superintendence. 

 It is plain that the wants of the plants are well understood 

 and studied ; for when one can witness such examples of plants 

 with fine and healthy foliage luxuriating in an atmosphere of 

 London smoke, there can be no want of skill in applying the 

 necessaries for their successful development. — T. Record. 



SKELETONISED LEAVES. 

 Messes. Dick Radclyite & Co. have sent us specimens, 

 and although the process is not a new one, still the cheap rate 

 at which they are now enabled to offer them, and the very 

 great value of them for all pur- 

 poses where a relief in bouquet 

 or other plant arrangement is re- 

 quired, render them very worthy 

 of notice. They are found very 

 useful, composed as a group under 

 a glass shade, for mixing with 

 winter bouquets, as a head dress 

 for ladies' hair, and other pur- 

 poses. We have seen at their 

 warehouse a very effective cross 

 made entirely of skeletonised 

 leaves. It is 2 feet by 20 inches, 

 and is formed of the skeletonised 

 leaves of Magnolia Thompsoni- 

 anum, Holly, Aspen, and Beech, 

 pods of Stramonium. They are 

 mounted on wire set on black 

 velvet. This is a reduced portrait 

 of the cross. Other leaves we saw- 

 are of Berberis Aquifolium and 

 Sycamore ; and a bouquet of Poplar, Indiarubber, Holly leaves, 

 Feather Grass (Stipa pennata), and Stramonium pods. 



THE SALWAY PEACH. 



Having seen in your Journal a notice of the Salway Peach 

 by Mr. G. Cosburn, I write to say that his statement is 

 entirely at variance with the character of the Salway Peach 

 grown here (near Dublin). We have had it on a south and 

 south-west wall, and also in tubs under glass. With us it is a 

 late Peach of great size, but only fit for cooking purposes; 

 after being gathered a few days it turns quite mealy, and is 

 destitute of flavour. Are there two varieties of the same name, 

 or is there one Salway and another Solway ? 



[The Salway Peach is one of the largest and most hand- 

 some, but it is not always equally good. We are quite pre- 

 pared to hear your account of it, as if left till quite ripe on the 



