32 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. f January 12,1882. 
it should not exceed the colour of pale ale to commence with, but 
much depends on the naiure of the manure to be applied. Ours 
is pumped from a well containing the drainings of the stables and 
farmyard aud is very strong. If these facilities are not at com¬ 
mand procure a bushel of sheep manure, a peck of soot, and 1 tb. 
of guano. This should be tied in a coarse bag, placed in a tub 
and filled with water, well pressing the bag to extract the 
strength. Mr. Luckhurst, on page 514 last volume, says the 
secret of obtaining fine Chrysanthemum blooms lies in the sewage 
pump, and to a certain extent he is correct. Chrysanthemums 
must have liberal treatment, but I have proved, at least to my 
own satisfaction, it is easy to treat them too well. During the past 
season we have had some plants of the stoutness of walking sticks, 
but in every instance these were very inferior to those of smaller 
growth, yet strong and well matured. After the buds are set the 
strength of the liquid manure may be increased considerably, 
and a good mulching of sheep manure will assist the plants to 
form fine buds. This may be continued until the flowers are 
showing colour, when the liquid may be decreased in strength, 
but not wholly withheld, until the flowers are fully expanded. 
The operation of disbudding is a very important one, and for 
which no definite rules can be formed ; the cultivator, however, 
will easily overcome this difficulty by careful observation. After 
the natural branching above referred to, the first bud to appear 
is termed by many growers the “July bud this, in the majority 
of cases, is useless and may be removed. At this bud also the 
plant will naturally break into two or three branches, the strongest 
only of which must be retained. The next bud to appear is 
generally the one to be selected, and all further growth must be 
instantly removed. On the approach of cold weather the plants 
must be removed to a light airy structure from which frost can be 
excluded, and where the heat may be occasionally utilised for the 
purpose of evaporat : ng superfluous moisture, which is often more 
destructive than frost. 
Two years ago, for the sake of experiment, I grafted several 
varieties of Chrysanthemums for the production of specimen 
blooms, the results of which were encouraging ; consequently 
last spring I renewed the experiments, my object being to in¬ 
crease the size of the smaller varieties by grafting them on the 
stonger growers, and improve those of a coarse or uncertain 
character by being worked on those of a more hardy constitution. 
For instance, G. Glenny grafted on Empress of India produced 
finer blooms than on its own roots ; on the other hand, Empress 
of India and Golden Empress worked on Mrs. G. Rundle were 
very satisfactory, also Miss Mary Morgan worked on Golden 
Empress was clearly ahead of others on their own roots. A 
bloom cut from the latter was sent to the Editor. The grafting 
was done towards the end of February after the young plants 
were well established in the 4-inch pots, ordinary wedge grafting 
being adopted. The stock was shortened to within 2 or 3 inches 
of the soil, the scion being a young growing top of the desired 
variety about 2£ inches in length. When in position these were 
made secure with soft matting, the union was sure and rapid ; 
in fact, I know of no plant so easy to graft as a Chrysanthemum. 
Plants grown in the manner described are considered by many 
useless as decorative objects on account of the great height to 
which some attain ; I think, however, in many cases this diffi¬ 
culty may be overcome. In our case the conservatory stages 
were removed and the plants arranged on the floor. The tallest 
were placed at the back, and the whole arranged to form a 
sloping bank down to the flags. To effect this the front part was 
filled in with a row of bushy Pompons, again in front of these 
Abutilons and Zonal Geraniums, the whole being margined with 
the common but useful Pteris serrulata. The result was bright 
and effective.—A. R. Cox, Elm Hall, Wavcrtree. 
[The experience recorded is interesting, and the fine bloom 
sent suggests that the practice of grafting with the object indicated 
is worthy of the attention of cultivators.—E d.] 
The Khan of Khiva’s Gardens— In the interesting work by 
Lieut.-Col. F. Burnaby, “ A Ride to Khiva,” the following descrip¬ 
tion of the Khan’s Gardens is given :—“ The Sovereign’s gardens 
are about three versts from the town. He has five; each of 
them is from four to five acres in extent; they are surrounded by 
high walls built of dried clay, with solid buttresses at the corners. 
Two large wooden gates at the entrance of the enclosure were 
opened by the gardener, a little swarthy man clad in a dressing 
gown of many colours, and with a long iron hoe on his shoulder. 
I was accompanied by the son of my host, and Nazar ; when the 
former, saying that I had the Khan’s permission, the gardener 
stepped aside and allowed us to enter. The garden was remarkably 
well kept, and the horticultural arrangements much better than I 
expected to see so far from Europe. Here were to be seen long 
avenues of fruit trees carefully cut and trimmed. Three men were 
engaged in preparing the soil, which would be thickly studded 
with Melons the following spring. Apple, Pear, and Cherry trees 
abounded, whilst in the centre of the ground high scaffoldings 
covered with trelliswork showed where in summer the Vines are 
trained. The Khan has a summer palace where he resorts and 
holds his court in June and July. Trenches for the purpose of 
irrigation are cut in all directions about the grounds, whilst Mul¬ 
berry trees are interspersed throughout the garden.” 
THE HOLLOWAY NURSERIES. 
Mr. B. S. Williams’ Victoria and Paradise Nurseries at Upper 
Holloway have obtained a well-deserved fame for the large and 
choice collections of plants they contain ; and few horticulturists 
visit London on a tour of inspection through the principal parks, 
nurseries, and gardens without including those at Holloway 
among the most important on their list. All w r ho are interested 
in the principal groups of plants that are now employed in de¬ 
corating cool and warm houses will find there some striking 
novelties in each section, as not only is attention paid to securing 
a good stock of plants that have obtained a high position in the 
favour of the horticultural world, but care is exercised also to add 
to the collection any really valuable novelty that can be procured. 
In consequence numbers of new species or improved varieties of 
well-known plants are annually sent out from these nurseries. 
Orchids are especially strongly represented, and beautiful varie¬ 
ties are included by hundreds, some distinct forms being always 
to be seen in flower whatever season is selected for a visit. Ferns, 
Crotons, Dracaenas, and numerous other fine-foliage plants are 
similarly abundant; while among other specialities may be noticed 
the handsome collection of Nepenthes, the hardwooded and other 
greenhouse plants, the Camellias, Amaryllises, and Azaleas, all 
which contribute attractions of no mean degree at different 
periods of the year. In the following notes, however, the chief 
object is to indicate the most beautiful novelties in the various 
departments, with special reference to such as seem most likely 
to take a foremost place amongst useful garden plants. 
Ferns. —The admirers of Ferns do not appear to decrease in 
numbers ; indeed, judging by the demand existing for such plants, 
the culture is extending, and the desire for novelties is almost as 
great as in some other popular families of plants. It is not sur¬ 
prising that to meet this Ferns are introduced in large numbers 
annually, and amongst these are always some remarkable either 
for their distinctness or gracefulness, though necessarily others 
possessing little but botanical value are also imported. The latter, 
however, are soon consigned to scientific establishments ; only the 
forms that from beauty and free growth are proved to be of real 
value to horticulturists are grown. At Holloway Gleichenias 
receive much attention, most of the best species and varieties 
being represented. G. rupestris glaucescens, with well-marked 
glaucous-tinted fronds, and the handsome compact-growing 
G. Mendelli are both good Ferns, but certainly the most graceful 
of the recent acquisitions in this genus is the Australian G. dicarpa 
longipiDnata. In this Fern the fronds have four spreading 
pinnae, each closely furnished with narrow dark green pinnules 
2 or 3 inches long, and very neat in appearance. The plant is of 
good habit, quick growth, and undeniably graceful. Adiantum 
Williamsi well maintains its distinct characters, in fact it appears 
to improve, several handsome specimens of good size being notice¬ 
able in the collection. As it becomes better known this Fern is 
likely to be a general favourite in gardens, especially as it is 
found to succeed in a temperature little above that of an ordinary 
greenhouse. 
The little Actiniopteris radiata australis, for which Mr. B. S. 
Williams obtained first-class certificates at several of the leading 
exhibitions last year, also deserves a word of notice. Though 
not entitled to rank amongst useful Ferns such as Adiantum 
cuneatum, it should be grown wherever there is a collection of 
exotics, as it is attractive both for its dwarf habit and neat Fern¬ 
like fronds. It is, moreover, of easy culture, succeeding well in 
shallow pots or pans of peat and good drainage. Asplenium 
apicidens, another exhibited with similar success last year, has 
pinnate fronds of moderately firm texture, each pinna being much 
divided at the apex, to which the specific name refers ; the 
bright shining green colour is also an attraction. Three other 
Aspleniums have been added to the collection, each distinct and 
meritorious—namely, A. Baptisti, introduced a year or two ago, . 
but not yet so well knowm as it deserves to be ; it has fine bi- 
pinnate fronds frequently 18 inches long, and dark green in 
colour. A. horridum, a by no means unattractive Fern, though 
possessing such a formidable name ; it has pinnate triangular 
fronds nearly 2 feet long and of firm texturx A. contiguum 
fissum has neat dark green pinnate fronds, the pinnae very regu¬ 
larly and neatly cut. Perhaps one of the most distinct novelties 
