November 28, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



429 



oldest families of continental horticulturists, dating back 

 several generations. Mr. Van Geert is approaching the sere 

 and yellow leaf, but he has a talented successor in his son, well 

 known and appreciated by his ready aid and genial manner 

 when, after leaving the university, he buckled to work in the 

 celebrated nursery of Messrs. Veiteh, of Chelsea. This little 

 incident is evidence of the earnestness with which horticulture 

 is prosecuted by the Tan Geerts, and tells us once again that 

 an honourable university course is not incompatible with hard 

 work. Mr. Van Geert, jun., is now preparing himself, after 

 extensive travels, to settle down, with a well-stored fund of 

 knowledge, to the old business at home, to perpetuate its fame 

 and name to future generations. 



This, unlike some other continental nurseries, does not con- 

 tain a " sea of glass " and all that is rich and rare in tropical 

 vegetation ; neither does it — and this is a feature common to 



them all — present any outward show of grandeur to make an 

 impression on the mind of visitors. Utility rather than mere 

 show is the predominant feature of the establishment. The 

 great characteristic of the nursery is its fine collection of hardy 

 plants, trees, ornamental and fruit-bearing, shrubs, and Coni- 

 fers. The only glass structures are a splendid vinery, orangery, 

 and a long range of plain span-roofs. These are principally 

 employed for wintering Camellias, Azaleas, Ferns, Palms , 

 and other half-hardy ornamental subjects located in the open 

 air — or in what I will call, for want of a better name, Van 

 Geert's wigwams — during the summer. These erections are 

 homely, but the health of the endless variety of plants beneath 

 their shade proves them to be excellently adapted to their 

 purpose. They are found better than glass in being cool, and 

 better than canvas, inasmuch as while they exclude the sun 

 they admit the rain. They are simply sheds on posts, with a 



Tan Geert's Sun Protection. 



covering of split bamboo canes — deal laths would do as well. 

 The canes are arranged longitudinally, and are put together 

 with stout string, leaving interstices between each cane of a 

 quarter or half an inch, formed by the twist or knot of the 

 string between cane and cane. They are rolled-up in lengths, 

 and taken in during winter. They last for years. Mr. Van 

 Geert spoke highly of them, as indeed well he may, for they 

 evidently serve him well. The accompanying rough sketch of 

 the wigwams will give an idea of what they are like. The 

 open path between the lean-to's affords easy access to the 

 plants. 



In gardens destitute of shade, simple erections, such as that 

 figured, would be invaluable for the growth and protection of 

 many plants to which bright sunlight and heat are detrimental. 



On first entering the nursery we are at once in the midst of 

 a large number of oblong beds occupied by hardy perennials 

 and kindred subjects, comprising almost everything that can be 

 mentioned in the way of out-door decorative plants. Phloxes, 

 one of the finest and most useful classes of hardy plants ex- 

 tant, stood out prominently, the colours of a number of seed- 

 lings being particularly brilliant. Chrysanthemums in full 

 bloom September 14th, and some of them over, were dis- 

 tinct by their precocity — a valuable quality ; but in point of 

 intrinsic excellence they were not superior to the general 

 average of the order, still then' earliness is an advantage not 

 to be lost sight of. In these beds were Yuccas in exceedingly 

 fine order and variety, and Hydrangeas are evidently in great 

 request by the large stock provided. The fine crowns of flowers 

 of many of the varieties were very imposing, one — paniculata 

 grandiflora — standing out proudly. This variety is free-grow- 

 ing and floriferous, and apparently as hardy as the Oak, not 

 an inch of wood being injured during last winter, which was 

 one of the most severe on record. 



I must, however, leave these beds, just noticing one feature 

 as giving an outline idea of what may be carried out more 



fully, and which may assist to make, especially little suburban 

 and town plots, more interesting. At the ends of one range 

 of beds is a miniature hardy aquarium — I mean one in each 

 bed. It is simply the half of a paraffin cask sunk to the level 

 of the ground and filled with water. These tubs were occupied 



Van Geert's Trellis. 



with named collections of hardy aquatics, and by then- evident 

 health would quickly establish themselves. Around the tubs 

 were Ferns and sub-aquatics. It is easy to see that by a little 

 rockwork and suitable plants a pleasing variety may be pro- 

 vided in any garden, however small, by working out, according 

 to taste, this simple idea. The only thing required to keep 

 the water pure and the plants healthy is to pour in a pailful 



