January 3, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
9 
and activity of the foliage, and the absorption of food by the roots during 
the previous summer. In the case of hundreds of Vines the food store 
is not more than sufficient to support an inch of growth, while in 
hundreds of others there is sufficient to support growths of five times 
that length, for the simple reason that there is five times more nutritive 
matter deposited in strong matured Vines than in weak, ill-fed, and 
immature canes. This can, no doubt, be demonstrated any day by a 
competent microscopist. Thus both your correspondents may be wrong 
an £ . right on this point—one in saying the stored-up sap is only 
eufficient for fairly starting the growth of Vines, the other in asserting 
at will support the growths until they are several inches long. 
The discussion, so far as it has gone, and perhaps it is not finished 
yet, has been without doubt instructive to many, and possibly even to 
the two able leaders in the controversy. It is true a little “ feeling ” 
has been exhibited in the matter, but not to an extent harmful to either; 
and m this matter it will be conceded by impartial observers that it is 
aiot easy to determine on which side the virtue of restraint has been the 
most prominently exhibited ; but most experienced readers will agree 
that those who cultivate that virtue the most usually strengthen their 
position in any controversy. 
If, perchance, any should fail to perceive the benefit of a discussion 
on the subject under notice, their obtuseness cannot but be regretted, 
as the question of storing-up nutriment by Vines has a direct, important, 
and practical bearing on the routine of successful Grape-production, as 
perhaps some competent “ modern scribe ”—if there be one left—will 
show on some future occasion.— Not H., Notts. 
TREE CARNATIONS. 
Tree Carnations are amongst the most useful plants we have for 
supplying cut blooms during the winter and spring months. They can 
also be had to bloom during the summer if required. But it is in the 
winter and spring that tree Carnations are the most useful, as during the 
months of July, August, and part of September the beautiful show 
varieties are in full beauty, and none need be short of choice cut blooms 
during those months if they have a stock of Carnations, Picotees, and 
Roses. Tree Carnation blooms are much appreciated for buttonholes 
and bouquets, as they last a long time when cut. They are also well 
adapted for the embellishment of the conservatory or dwelling house, as 
they continue unfolding for months. 
If anyone wishes to raise a good stock, and has no plants to produce 
cuttings when the time for propagating arrives, be should procure a plant 
of each of the best varieties from a nurseryman who makes a speciality of 
them. If the plants are required for blooming during the winter the 
cuttings should be taken about the end of February or early in March 
and inserted in sandy soil, using well-drained pots. Place them in slight 
bottom heat, and top heat about 55°, and if kept moist they will soon 
form roots. Insert them singly in small 60-size pots in the same tempera¬ 
ture until April, when they should be transferred into 48-size pots. The 
coil at this potting should consist of four parts loam, one part well- 
decayed manure, and one of sand, with a little charcoal broken up fine. 
Arrange them in a cold frame kept rather close until they are established 
and growing freely, when it should be well ventilated. In May place 
them in the open air, but not until the May frosts are over, so that the 
end of the month would be preferable. If large plants are required 
transfer the most forward into 7-inch pots, but keep them under cover 
until established. 
Carnations require careful watering during growth ; in fact, at all 
times. The following are a few good varieties :—A. Alegatibre (red), Miss 
Jolliffe (pale pink), The Queen (white), Proserpine (scarlet), Firefly 
(scarlet), Mrs. George Hawtry (yellow), La Belle (white), and Warrior 
(scarlet).— A. Young. 
DEATH OF MR. THOMAS SPEED. 
It is our painful duty to record the death of the above excellent 
gardener, whose name has long been familiar to most, if not all, of 
cm 1 readers, by the high position he occupied in the ducal establish¬ 
ment of Chatsworth. So painful has been his life of late years, and 
so melancholy its termination, that we are reluctant to dwell on one 
of the saddest events in the modem history of gardening. Left a 
widower with a large family, and an almost constant sufferer by an 
•excruciating affliction, gout, he in a moment of temporary insanity shot 
limself on the 26th ult. At the inquest at which the above verdict 
was recorded medical evidence was adduced showing that the remedies 
that he had been employing for the alleviation of pain had a tendency 
to produce mental depression; and this appears to have been the fact, 
as was evident by his changed demeanour in transacting business with 
the steward, and by his conduct at home, as observed by liis sister 
shortly before the occurrence of the dire event. Still there was no 
■cause for alarm, nor any apprehensions that anything serious was about 
to happen. He retired after dinner as usual, a noise was heard, and 
an alarm raised, but he expired before the room was entered. 
Previous to taking charge of the gardens at Chatsworth (in 1868) 
Mr. Speed was gardener to Sir Edward Walker, Berry Hill, Mansfield, 
Nottinghamshire, where he gained considerable fame as a Grape-grower 
during the years 1859 to 1868. He had also served some time at 
Belvoir Castle and Wrotham Park, where he laid the foundation of the 
practical knowlege he subsequently displayed. His earliest experience 
of specimen-plant-growing was gained at The Pymmes, Edmonton, 
which about the years 1850 and 1851 was one of the most noted 
establishments in the neighbourhood of London. 
Mr. Speed was born on December 19th, 1832, and he was therefore 
fifty-one years of age at the time of his death. 
VEITCH’S IN 1853 AND 1883. 
Thirty years ago on a certain day in December I visited the Royal 
Exotic Nursery at Chelsea for the first time. I was then a mere youth, 
but certainly not less earnest in my search for excellence in the culture 
of plants than I am now, and was possibly more observant. The 
astonishment felt at the number of houses and great variety of plants 
made a deep and lasting impression. I was bewildered and perplexed, 
even almost daunted, as a sense of fear overcame me that I should 
never attain the knowledge that I felt requisite for a gardener—namely, 
that he should not only know the names of all the plants in that great 
collection, but be able to grow every plant satisfactorily. As time 
passed the majority of the plants and their culture became familiar to 
me, and some others that were not seen then but which are indis¬ 
pensable now. Hardwooded plants were then predominant, and the 
flowers of the period consisted mainly of Heaths, Epacrises, Camellias, 
a few Acacias, with early Rhododendrons and Azaleas. There were 
also tall Poinsettias with gorgeous heads, not dwarf plants as now; 
Epipliyllums, very beautiful; Primulas in quantity of the old “ mill sail ” 
type, not the massive richly coloured forms of the present day; with 
some tall Cinerarias, made taller by forcing, and a remnant of 
Chrysanthemums, also a few of those rare and wonderful plants 
Orchids. The display was for the time considered imposing, and the 
astonishment of visitors was great to find so many “flowers in winter.” 
Last week I had the pleasure of inspecting the same nursery. As it 
was considered a “ great place ” in 1853, what can be said about it after 
its generation of steady growth? It is wonderful by its hundred 
houses and their intricate arrangement; threading our way amongst them 
is like traversing a maze. Numbers of these structures visitors never 
see, and certainly they could not be found without a guide. Yet even 
now the establishment is growing, and new erections are constantly in 
progress. Apart, then, from other nurseries, the increase of this one 
demonstrates in a striking manner the extraordinary expansion of public 
taste in the direction indicated. Plants and flowers by nearly all who 
can afford to have them would appear to be regarded as necessaries of 
life, and those that are attractive during the winter season being 
particularly esteemed. Of these a feast is now to be seen at Chelsea. 
In 1853 there were no Cyclamens, but these are splendid now— 
wonderful in vigour and variety. There were no winter Carnations then, 
but now a large structure is wholly occupied with thousands of flowering 
plants; and what were then little more than curiosities—Orchids, now 
constitute the most splendid feature of the establishment. The Odonto- 
glossums are a sight, a great and beautiful sight, in themselves—a forest 
of arching spikes and richly spotted flowers, relieved by rich glossy 
foliage that the most advanced enthusiast of thirty years ago never 
dreamt of seeing in “ dreary December.” Then the Cypripediums arrest 
attention, as well they may, by their striking forms and remarkable 
combinations of colour. A mass of sixty flowers alone of the peerless 
Spicerianum on a batch of plants was something to see and remember, 
to say nothing of the many charming and interesting varieties that were 
born on the premises. Of Cattleyas there are but few flowering, yet 
these are gorgeous; but 400 uprising sheaths are premonitory of future 
magnificence, and there is a similar bright prospect of Vandas, Aerides, 
and Saccolabiums, which are bristling with spikes. Great white flowers 
of Angrsecum sesquipedale are expanding, and very lovely is Lidia 
albida, with scores of other charming companions constitute a display of 
no little beauty even in dull December and January. Of special interest, 
however, amongst the Orchids, though now past its best, is the handsome 
hybrid Cypripedium calurum, which was honoured with a first-class 
certificate at the last meeting at Kensington. It is one of the popular 
Sedeni group, and possesses the valuable characters of vigorous growth 
and a floriferous habit, the neatly formed flowers with full rounded deep 
rose lip and pure white petals and sepals having a unique appearance. 
Much good service has been done in this section of Cypripediums, which 
are becoming great favourites with Orchid growers generally. Large 
numbers of seedling Orchids are constantly being raised in these nurseries; 
and though much patient waiting is required before the results can be 
seen, the long-continued efforts now bring annual additions to the already 
long list of beautiful hybrids that have been originated by the firm. 
Nepenthes both in numbers and variety produce a spectacle altogether 
unique, thousands of pitchers hanging from the plants and rustling 
against each other by the slightest movement. The famed N. Northiana 
is developing, but nothing in the houses is more striking than the free 
and rich N. Mastersiana. This is indeed a grand acquisition, and not 
many plants more remarkable, distinct, and meritorious have emanated 
from this great plant emporium. Then there is the wonderful N. bical- 
carata with its two strong and peculiar spurs at the mouth of the pitcher. 
N. madagascariensis is an exceedingly brightly coloured form of the 
N. sanguinea type, the pitchers about 7 inches long and very numerous, 
even on small plants, which, by the way, are dwarf and sturdy in habit 
as compared with many others of this family. N. Morgan!® is a very 
attractive hybrid, with green and red mottled pitchers gracefully formed 
and abundant. But the most extraordinary of all is the giant N. Rajah, 
which, though not yet represented by pitchers in their full proportions, 
