SEPTEMBER. 



133 



when in perfection is quite unequalled ; but it is too tender for this climate, 

 and what is a worse fault, too uncertain. The latter fault also belongs to the 

 Carolina superba, of which, hoAvever, I shall keep a small bed for a dish of 

 very large Strawberries on occasion. 



The object of this communication, however, is to say two of the new ones 

 of last year have supplied me with the means of reducing my stock of sorts 

 within reasonable limits, and these are Frogmore Late Pine and Rifleman. 

 Both are large and fine, though not so large as the two preceding ; both, and 

 especially the former, are among the highest-flavoured of the season, the flesh 

 more red and juicy than those of the Queen family, red enough indeed for 

 preserving. They arc also very hardy, and great croppers. The Late Pine 

 ripened with me, as I see it also did with Mr. Turner, among the first ; yet it 

 well deserves its name, for there are signs that it will be in bearing when all 

 the rest are done. I consider this likely to be the most useful variety intro- 

 duced since the old and not yet obsolete Keens' Seedling. 



Alford Vicarage. George Jeans. 



THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S GARDEN IN 

 SOUTH KENSINGTON. 



That this Garden as at present laid out and planted is a partial failure 

 is generally admitted ; and I think with your correspondent, « A Country 

 F.R.H.S.," that a different style of planting must be followed to make it popular 

 with the public. As the world's fair has taken more country gardeners up to 

 London than usual, the Society's Garden has been visited and criticised ; and 

 I may say that nine out of ten return disappointed with the arrangements and 

 general effect. In the present Superintendent the Society has got the right 

 man m the right place ; and, if left to himself to manage all the details, I have 

 no doubt but there would be spring flowers in abundance, and plenty of the 

 usual bedding display in July, August, and September, with a different arrange- 

 ment of the shrubs and trees. The gingerbread style of flower-gardening now 

 m vogue— namely, the " polychrome beds of broken glass and coloured gravels," 

 may be very artistic and pleasing to some, and in small geometrical flower 

 gardens may be tolerated as adding some variety and effect in the winter 

 months ; but it has often struck me that a great deal of trouble and expense in. 

 this style might be saved by having the patterns printed on oilcloth, and 

 pegged down on the lawn or parterres where wanted. 



The trees, as at present planted in the Garden, are not in my opinion well 

 fitted for the purpose ; for Lombardy Poplars and Limes are two of the most 

 rubbishy sorts which could be employed, as they generally shed their leaves by 

 the middle of August in. hot, dry summers in town gardens. A few of the 

 Maples and Sycamores might be used for shade, as they stand the smoke of 

 London well ; but the great want in such a garden is trees of an architectural 

 character. To commence with the Deodar Cedars planted, there is little chance 

 of the trees of the size used ever making handsome specimens ; and it would 

 have been far better to have selected a few young, close-growing trees from 

 12 to 16 feet high. One of the finest Conifers for such a garden would be 

 Ihujopsis boreale ; for when pinched-in a little in the side branches when 

 young it grows compact, and keeps its beautiful green colour in the winter 

 I have specimens so managed 10 feet high, and no fastigiate tree I have yet 

 seen equals it m beauty. Lawson's Cypress is another fine, graceful tree but 

 wants no training, as the branches naturally droop, and forms a close, compact 

 tree when of the height of 10 or 12 feet. The Thuja gigantea with me is 



