July 27, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



585 



Camm, the head gardener, through its mag- 

 nificent grounds and gardens, enjoying en 

 route innuitierable glimpses of the pic- 

 turesque, meandering reaches of the Thames 

 which limits the estate in that direction. 

 Though the day was gloomy and threatening 

 only a few drops of rain fell, and the air was 

 sufficiently clear to detract no whit from 

 the beauty of the many vistas afforded 

 through judicious gaps in the woodland. 

 From Cliveden the party were then driven, 

 by special invitation of Sir Harry J. Veitch, 

 to East Burnham Park, where tea was pro- 

 vided, and another oj^portunity afforded of 

 inspecting more beautiful gardens, laid out 

 on most charming lines, and, of course, under 

 such auspices as those of the host, replete 

 with the latest and most beautiful horticul- 

 tural acquisitions. The party was thten 

 driven back to Slough Station, where the 

 saloons were awaiting them, and expressed 

 themselves as deeply grateful to both Sir 

 Harry Veitch and Lady Veitch for their 

 kindly hospitality and to Mr. R. Hooper 

 Pearson, the hon. secretary of the club, for 

 the completeness of the arrangements which 

 had been made by him, with Sir Harry 

 Veitch's aid, for their comfort and enjoyment 

 during the day. 



East Angrlia Horticultural Club. 



Over a hundred members and friends 

 joined in the summer excursion of this club 

 to the noted gardens at Westwick House^ 

 Norwich. Colenel Petre^ through his genial 

 gardener, Mr. Geo. Davison, had thrown 

 the whole of the gardens, woods, and fruit 

 farm open for the party to ramble in at their 

 own will. The day was cooler than the past 

 few had been, which everyone was thankful 

 for. Almost as soon as they entered the 

 gardens the party was passing under a huge 

 l>ergola over 300ft. long, and coA^ered Avitli 

 all the choice subjects associated with such 

 locations. The varieties of vitis were most 

 numerous, and gave a charming effect. A 

 little further along, and the visitors passed 

 along a herbaceous border over 350ft. in 

 length, and at no part less than 30ft. wide. 

 The subjects here are planted in large bold 

 masses, and to see them in their glory is a 

 sight to be remembered. Most hardy plant 

 growers know what Mr. Davison has done to 

 improve the montbretias, and it was not to 

 be wondered at that huge tracts of the gar- 

 den are planted with these flowers. Every- 

 thing in the greenhouses and vineries seemed 

 at their best, pointing all along to the skill 

 of the man in charge. 



Fruit growers, and esi^ecially those who 

 have visited the autumn fruit show of the 

 R.H.S., know of Mr, Davison's skill in 

 the culture of pears, but to see his 

 trees is an education. This year they are 

 better than ever, and it will not be surpris- 

 ing to hear that important prizes are won 

 with them. Apples, too, were looking in 

 first-class condition. After the mansion gar- 

 den had been thoroughly inspected, the 

 party, under the escort of Mr. Davison, 

 wended away to the fruit farm which (\)Iouel 

 Petre has taken a great interest in. Tons 

 of black currants had just been gathered 

 and sent away, and the pickers" were just 

 busy upon the raspberries. All these pickers 

 are local people, and the sums they are able 

 to earn in this work are a great benefit to 

 the communitv. 



ine woodlands, noted for their many kinds 

 of timber, especially firs, were not forgotten, 

 and the large lakes added a charm to the 

 whole of the sylvan scene. Much more could 

 ^ written, but it must suffice to say that 

 ^veryone was interested and well pleased with 

 the visit. 



Bournemouth Gardeners' 



Annua.! Outing:. 



On Tuesday, July 16, the members of this 

 society had their annual outing at South- 

 hampton. Soon after arriving there a num- 

 "^r of them paid a visit to the docks, where 

 they inspected some large liners. After 



lunch at the Grosvenor restaurant they 

 visited the Jubilee Show of the Horticultural 

 Society of Southampton, which was held at 

 the County Cricket Ground. Bannisters 

 Court. Although the weather was very hot 

 the party greatly enjoyed their ins]>ection of 

 the many and various exhibits, which were of 

 a high order of merit. 



Woking: Sweet Pea Show. 



The first exhibition of the newly-formed 

 society in the above town was held on the 

 13th inst.3 audit was a distinct success. The 

 Public Hall was filled with really excellent 

 produce; it was, in fact, the London show 

 on a small scale, with exhibitors like Mr. T. 

 Stevenson, gardener to E. G. Moeatta, Esq., 

 and Mr. W. Hopkins, gardener to the Presi- 

 dent, F. A. ^Vellesl-y, Esq., J.P. There 

 were many visitors, who^ perhaps, had not 

 an idea as to the perfection obtained in sweet 

 peas, and were thTus given an opportunity of 

 irspecting specimens that have not been sur- 

 passed auywhere this year. Mr. Hopkins did 

 not compete, but put up a score of big bunches 

 in tall glasses, which were much admired. Mr. 

 Stevenson won the first prize in the open class 

 for twelve bunches with, among others, Elsie 

 Herbert, Mrs. Breadmore, Thomas Stevenson, 

 Queen of Norway, Barbara, Edith Taylor, 

 Edroni Beauty, R. F. Felton. and a beautiful 

 vase of a newer form named Queen Mary. 

 The local classes brought capital competition^ 

 Messrs. Gabriel, Seabrook, Churcher, and 

 ethers being responsible for blossoms of much 

 merit. It ^is also pleasing to note that the 

 society is likely to go on. Promises of sup- 

 port were numerous, and two interested mem- 

 l>ers have already offered silver cups for next 

 year. 



NOTES OF OBSERVATION. 



Climbing: Tropseolums. — Common 



as they are, so that a pennyworth of seed will 

 go a long way, these are among the finest of 

 climbing plants of annual duration. For the 

 clothing of any unsightly object 'during the 

 summer their rapid growth is greatly in their 

 favour. Within recent years there has been 

 a great improvement in the colour of the 



flower.s. — S.W. 



AmpelopsiS Lowi. Tliis pretty 

 form of Ampelopsis Veitchi, or Vitis incon- 

 stans, as it is often called, differs consider- 

 ably from the type. This last is decidedly 

 variable in character; among other items 

 some individuals are more slender in growth 

 than others. Tlie variety Lowi belongs to 

 this section, and in other respects it differs 

 in the leaves being more or less cut and 

 slashed, a feature totally wanting in the 

 typical A. Veitchi. Though brought out a 

 few years ago Ampelopsis Lowi is not yet suf- 

 ficiently known, for its merits as a pretty 

 self-clinging climber are considerable. — K. 



' L I 



The Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia 



nummularia). — There are very few plants of 

 a more accommodating nature than this, for 

 it can be put to many uses. In dainp posi- 

 tions on the rockwork it is very beautiful, 

 while for growing in susj^ended pots or bas- 

 kets its markedly pendulous nature stands 

 it in good stead.' For the front of window 

 boxes it is also just +he thing, provided it is 

 not allowed to suffer from want of water. — T. 



Verbena Mahoneti.— This pretty 



verbena, Avhich is by some authorities re- 

 garded as a variety of the Brazilian Verbena 

 tenera, is a very pretty kind, and one quite 

 distinct from most of the garden forms in 

 general cultivation. It is of a rather weak 

 procumbent habit of growth, while the 

 flowers, which are of a clear. ])ui'])li>h violet 

 colour, have each segment clcai'ly Jiiargined 

 with pure white so as to present the apj^ear 

 ance of a white cross on a violet giinnid. 

 It not much known, but is amenablt^ ti) th*^ 

 ^ame mode of culture as the garden varieties 

 oi verltena. — S. . 



Achlmenes Rose Queen-— Of the 



different garden varieties of achimenes now in 

 cultivation many of the coloured kinds have 

 flowers more or less of a purple hue, except 

 the smaller forms, that show the influence 



scarlet- 



of 



Achimenes coccinea , a pretty 

 flowered species from the West Indies and the 

 oldest memT>er of the genus. The variety 

 Eose Queen is quite distinct from any of 

 these, Ihe colour being a very pleasing shade 

 of deep pink, with a light throat. It affords 

 a very pleasing: variety to the forms more 

 generally cultivated. — W, 



EpiSCia f ulgida.— One of the many 

 Ix^autiful - flowering gesnerads native of 

 South America, for it was introduced from 

 New Grenada in 187;i. Both from a foliage 

 and a flowering point of view it is very 

 pretty. Tlie leaves, which are roundish, ob- 

 long, and from six to eight inches 

 in length, liave their upper surface wrinkled, 

 and of a deep green colour, with tlie midrib 

 and principal veins of a silvery whiteness. 

 Tlie flowers are tubular and of a rosy-scarlet 

 colour. Tliis plant produces runners freely, 

 and grown in a susjjended basket the long 

 stolons terminated by the young plants have 

 a very pretty effect. If these runners are 

 allowed full play the plants do not flower 

 as freely as if they are pinched off. This 

 epi^cia is also known by the generic name of 

 Cyrtodeira. — T. 



OBITUARY. 



♦ 



MR. WM. COMFORT. 



Mr. Wm. Comfort died at Berwiek-on- 

 Tweed on July 15, at the age of 65. He was 

 one of five brothers, all of whom, like their 

 father and grandfather, followed gardening 

 as a profession. He served his apprenticeship 

 in his native county of Al^erdeen, and after- 

 wards he became "foreman at Altyre, near 

 Forres. He served as head gardener at 

 Marvhill, Elgin ; Aberlour. Banffshire ; 

 Farnley Hall, Otley, Yorkshire ; Knowle 

 Hall, "^iiear Birmingham ; and Kylemore 

 Castle, CO. Galway, first under the late Mr. 

 Henry, M.P., and latterly under the Duke 

 of Manchester. Since he retired from ser- 

 vice, about seven years ago, he has resided 

 in Berwick-on-Tweed, where he carried on a 

 fruiterer and seedsman's business. He leaves 

 a widow but no family. One of his brothers 

 is Mr. Charles Comfort, Broomfield Gardens, 

 Davidsons Main's, Midlothian. 



FORTHCOMING ENGAGEMENTS. 



SATURDAY, July 27.— Bi^rby Gard^'iK-re' Association 



Suniiiier Sliow. 

 Fife and Kinroes Horticultural Society. 

 G-curock Horticiiltural society. , ^ - ^ 



TITE.SDAT, Julv 30.— Royal Horticultural Socie^: 

 Floral, Fruit, and Orchid Oommittwe mc«et a* 

 noon. General meeting with lecture by Mr. Ocil 

 Hooper on " PolUnatiou of Fruit Bloeeom*, 

 3 p.m. Scientific Onimittce. 4 p.m. 

 WKDNEiSDAY, July Burw:v>'li Horticultural i?o- 



cit>tv. 



Totto« Horticultural Socioty. . . . ^ . . 



Midland Carn«tion and Picotce :^oelety 6 Eihibitioa 



at Binuinjrhaui. 

 Diniif^ PowiM Horticultural Society. 

 Llanellv Horticultural Society. 

 Cheet^i'rfield Horticultural Society. 

 Peven-sev Flower >how. 

 Nettlebed Flower Show. 



The question to-day is not "Shall WO Spray, "as every 

 oardener knows he muSt Spray, but *' What machine 

 or syringe shall I .spray with ? " All the world answers, 



U^e only the reliable tested iipgy^ QftKS" 



which have won 30 

 Gold Silver Medals, 

 many in open competi- 

 tion with other makes. 

 The machine illustrated 

 is the Four Oaks Gold 

 ' K apsack Spray- 

 No rubber 

 mplete Cata- 

 lu^u 'A Spraying and 



Lime washing Alachines 

 and Syringes of every description free on application to 

 the Sole Manufacturers-THE FOUR OAKS SPRAYING 

 MACHINE CO.. NO. 3 G. SUTTON COLDFIELD. 



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