274 
THE GA R TURNERS' CHRONICLE. 
[September i, 1877. 
sive term. Most of the beds and borders are freely 
relieved by raised, well-marked divisional lines and 
sloping mounds, on the top of which are planted 
small Dracaenas, Chamsepeuce, Agaves, and Pachy- 
phytums. Mentha pulegium gibraltarica plays a 
conspicuous part as a green ground, varied with 
green and glaucous Sedums ; yellow ground colours 
are represented by Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 
variegatum, Pyrethrum, and the cream of white 
Sedums, S. acre elegans. All violent contrasts are 
avoided ; the Alternantheras and Coleus are gradually 
toned down to the more subdued and grave ground 
colours, these latter much predominating, and until 
seen it would be difficult to realise the beautiful 
effect produced by the association of some of these 
plants with soft and subdued colours. Noticeable in 
this way we may mention Sempervivum calcareum, 
used as a setting in the dividing lines of Sedum 
glaucum, where the slightly bronzy tinge of 
the points of the leaves produce a beautiful 
effect by contrast with the metallic-hued cushion 
in which it is half embedded. Nertera de- 
pressa, which some people find difficult to manage, is 
very much finer here this season than it has ever been 
before, the berries on many of the little patches not 
only being as close as they can stand but almost piled 
on each other. The circular beds filled with large- 
leaved plants are in good order without being too 
coarse and rampant to harmonise with the rest ; and 
the condition of the whole bears the stamp of careful 
and patient study, not only in the conception and 
working out of the different designs but also an inti- 
mate acquaintance with the nature, requirements, 
and capabilities of the various plants used. All who 
are interested in this style of bedding should pay a 
visit to Cleveland House at once, as we understand 
Mr. Legg has resigned his charge of the gardens 
here, and leaves at the end of the season. 
■ The Corporation of Bolton are about to make 
a new cemetery, and offered two premiums of £^o 
and ,£15 for the best plans for laying-out the same. 
Thirteen plans were sent in, and the prizes were event- 
ually awarded to Mr. R. K. Freeman., Architect, 
Bolton, and Mr. Alfred Caldwell, Knutsford, 
first, and Mr. John .SLhaw, of Bowden and Man- 
chester, second. 
We have received from Mr. J. Hart, King’s 
House, Jamaica, a couple of Pine-apples, there known 
as “ Ripleys,” or white and black Ripleys. They are 
said to be the Pines of Jamaica, all the other varieties 
being banished from the table in their favour ; and 
are moreover stated to have been raised from seeds 
sent to Jamaica from the Island of Antigua. Con- 
sidering that they were cut before they were quite 
ripe, to facilitate travelling, they proved to be uncom- 
monly good as compared with the usual run of 
imported fruits, but as to their identification we can 
do nothing more than suggest that the sort calkd 
Black Ripley may probably be the Black Antigua, 
but, in the absence of foliage, we are unable to say 
with any degree of certainty. The White Ripley 
comes nearer to the description of the old Ripley (not 
Ripley Queen), but here also we are uncertain. 
The inhabitants of Richmond and Kew 
remind us of Oliver Twist. They are among the 
most favoured of suburbans — they have a noble park, 
a terrace, an unequalled river walk, kept up at the 
Government expense, and now they want more. They 
are clamouring for the Earlier Opening of Kew 
Gardens, and for the removal of what is, no doub f , 
an eye- sore to neighbouring householders. We pre- 
sume the opening ot the gardens at an . earlier hour is 
chiefly a matter of expense— more police would be 
wanted. But this is a matter for the Treasury. In 
any case, we think the authorities would be wise to 
accede to the request for an earlier opening of the 
gardens, at least in the summer months. In the case 
of the houses, a difficulty exists from the hindrance 
to the necessary work which the presence of the 
public entails. In all such questions it must not 
be overlooked that the primary" object of Kew is 
not to supply a recreation ground for local nursemaids 
or Cockney excursionists. The primary aim of Kew 
is, and should always be, the advancement of botany 
and scientific horticulture at home and in the colonies. 
In the other parks and recreation- grounds of the 
metropolis the object is altogetherdifferent. Still if 
consistently with the special purpose of the institutions 
in question other objects can be carried out, by all 
means let them be. 
- — Two very fine examples of Lapageria alba 
growing in pots can now be seen in bloom in the 
stove-house at Bearwood, Wokingham, the residence 
of John Walter, Esq., M.P. Not only are these 
plants flowering freely, but they bear as many as five 
blooms in a cluster, and it is almost needless to state 
the plants are found of great value for cutting from. 
In the same house Tacsonia exoniensis is remaikably 
fine, growing and blooming with wonderful freedom. 
It is a prime favourite with Mr. Tegg, the gardener 
at Bearwood, who praises it highly. 
Perhaps it is because the cool moist summer 
suited the plants best that Phlox Drummondii has 
proved very fine this season. At Cardiff Castle one 
of the exterior Vine borders was planted with a 
quantity of mixed varieties of the large flowering 
forms known as grandiflora, which are great improve- 
ments on the smaller types of a few years ago. The 
soil was good, the flowers were large, numerous, and 
finely coloured-. If the Phlox has a drawback, it is 
the freedom with which it seeds, but it is not a diffi- 
cult matter to keep them gathered, so that the energies 
of the plants may be directed to the production of 
flowers. 
The Police Station in New Street, Basing- 
stoke, cannot be, in any sense of the word, a “terror 
to evil-doers” as far as its exterior aspect is concerned. 
Unlike many modern constructions, which are of a 
cold, formal, and somewhat repellent character, this 
is in appearance a floral palace, for it is covered with 
a rare growth of creepers such as Jasmine, Glycine, 
Virginian Creeper, Roses, and such-like, and on the 
window-sills, hanging against the walls and crowded 
on raised stands, are numbers of bright flowering 
plants, all well cared for and singularly effective. It 
represents a bright and attractive spot in the midst of 
this respectable Hampshire town. 
From the Botanische Zeitung we extract the 
summary of an “inaugural dissertation ” by Fit. 
Resa, on the Period of Root Formation. It 
is in the author’s own word?. Three kinds of roots, 
connected by transitional stages, may be distinguished 
— extension roots, by which the root system is en- 
larged ; and absorbing roots, consisting of much- 
branched fibrous roots, and sometimes of secondary 
rootlets, increasing the surface of the latter. A 
periodical dying off ot roots was only observed in 
^Esculus. In the growth of roots there is a certain 
fixed and specific period, influenced by the weather, but 
it never coincides with the growth of the parts above- 
ground ; on the contrary, a division of labour is always 
perceptible. In the flat-leaved plants investigated it was 
found that there was root-growth in autumn after 
growth above-ground had ceased, which is completed 
sooner or . later according to circumstances. The 
winter has only a retarding influence on root-growth, 
and does not terminate it. Needle-leaved plants 
(Coniferoe) stand so far in contrast to the flat-leaved 
plants, that the autumn and spring shoots are sepa- 
rated by the winter. Respecting the beginning and 
continuation of the course of the period of develop- 
ment, the influence of favourable and unfavourable 
weather has already been sufficiently dwelt upon. 
But just as a seed, a bulb, or a bud will not develope 
“before its time has come,” and often cannot be 
made to grow at all, so we must regard the period 
of the root-formation of plants as a hereditary pro- 
perty. The question as to the place where the new 
fibrous roots originate may be answered in this way, 
that in general the roots of the highest order have the 
preference, without, however, excluding those of older 
orders from being able to produce new rootlets. 
The prevailing depression in trade is being 
felt among the woollen manufactories and other de- 
partments of business at Trowbridge, consequently on 
the occasion of the annual exhibition of the Trow- 
bridge Horticultural Society the streets were not so 
generally decorated as is usually the case. It was felt 
to be a decided loss, as the country people, who are 
great sightseers, are as much attracted by the town 
j decorations as by the flower show and the fireworks, 
j But there were two notable exceptions to the general 
j falling off in street decorations one the remarkable 
Gothic archway erected by Messrs. Haden Bros., 
engineers, Silver Street. This was an imposing and 
admirably constructed piece of decoration, graceful in 
outline and well-proportioned. Alight but sufficiently 
strong framework of wood spanned the roadway, and 
there were smaller arches on the pavement on either 
side. The framework was covered with evergreens, 
and over the smaller arches were, on the one side, 
a triangular shaped shield edged with flowers, with 
“Welcome to all,” and on the other, “Good 
night.” The royal monogram, in floral letters, 
came out conspicuously against the dark green 
background. Flags tastefully arranged in groups, 
and placed at intervals round the arch, gave a 
life and colour to the structure and above the crown, 
at the top, rising some 40 feet above the roadway, 
waved the British ensign. At night the structure 
was lit up with unusual brilliancy, by means of 
1400 gas jets, distributed over the surface. It 
was the general opinion that such an arch has never 
before been witnessed in the West of England, and 
its erection must have entailed a large expenditure of 
time and money. The other exception was the 
Great Western Railway Station, which is always 
dressed out with excellent taste and skilful decorative 
effect by the station master, Mr. J. A. Cox, who 
was on this occasion even more successful than usual 
Huge Spruce Firs were planted at intervals on the 
spacious up -platform, and the topmost boughs of these 
were thickly hung with mimic banner?. Wreaths of 
evergreens were suspended in all directions, and flags 
hung [out bravely in the breeze. The notice board 
containing the name of the station had the sensible 
motto, “Be merry and wise.” Mr. Cox, who is a 
hard working member of the committee of the flower 
show, deserves much praise for the admirable display. 
We are indebted to the Trowbridge Advertiser for 
some of the foregoing particulars ; and the report of 
the show given by this paper was as accurate as it was 
comprehensive — a marked contrast to many local 
performances of a similar character. 
At a late meeting of the Horticultural Society 
of Berlin, one of the members described and recom- 
mended the Cultivation of Rhubarb for eating. 
Although in Hamburgh it is largely grown and con- 
sumed, at Berlin it is only known to a few amateurs, 
and few even of those who have a chance of trying it 
are able to overcome their prejudice against the name, 
and housekeepers declare that it consumes too much 
sugar. However, two or three of the members of the 
Society who have grown it for some years, and are 
able to appreciate the real merits of some of the first- 
rate varieties, are now endeavouring to promote the 
cultivation of Rhubarb. In the discussion that fol- 
lowed nobody appeared to be aware of the large 
extent to which Rhubarb is forced in this country, 
and of its value as a cheap substitute for expensive 
fruits during the winter months. Rhubarb jam is to 
be had in Berlin, but there exists, as was long the case 
here, a strong prejudice against it simply on account 
of its name, which the people associate with the 
drug obtained from the root-stock. 
One of the leading horticultural societies in 
the south-west has among its rules and regulations one 
* to the effect that any exhibitor dissatisfied with the 
judgment in any class in which he exhibits may 
enter a protest against the awards, provided such pro- 
test be famished in writing to the committee before 
4 o’clock in the afternoon of the show day. This 
an unusual rule, and scarcely to be commended ; and 
it also leads to awkward results, as was seen at a 
recent exhibition. Two of the judges made their 
awards in a certain class for plants, and the exhibitor 
awarded the 2d prize sent in a protest as provided by 
the regulations. Two other judges were requested to 
express their opinion, and they unanimously declared 
in favour of the 2d prize collection as the best of the 
two. The result was that both collections were placed 
equal 1st. But what an unenviable position for the 
judges who made the first award !— for the modification 
of their decision practically amounted to an expression 
of their unfitness to fill the office to which they had 
been appointed. The committee may reasonably 
anticipate a considerable addition to the number of 
prbtests from disappointed exhibitors at their next 
show. Perhaps it would be as well if the judges, 
appointed for next year were to subject themselves to 
a competitive examination at the hands of the exhi- 
bitors before undertaking the office. 
BOTAN ICAL 
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