198 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 9, 1882. 
been made in that direction. They have some of the finest and 
clearest whites I have seen. The flowers differ considerably in 
size and form. Some have exquisitely neat blooms admirably 
adapted for button-holes or bouquets, with petals of moderate 
length, but very broad and rounded of great substance, and com¬ 
pactly arranged in the flower. Others of the giganteum type are 
extremely large and very showy, but all are alike good. Bright 
shades of crimson are also represented, several being remarkably 
rich. One very distinct and delicate rose-tinted seedling is worthy 
of careful preservation, for it is one that would be highly valuable 
for bouquetists, the shade of colour being very soft and quite 
different from any other known to me. 
Mignonette is grown in thousands, and the condition of the 
stock at the present time is as satisfactory as could be desired. 
The plants are grown in lean-to frames facing the south, the pots 
being arranged on a cool moist base of ashes. The seed is sown 
in 48-size pots, and if the seedlings appear too thickly they are 
thinned out sufficiently to ensure a compact, full, but not crowded 
specimen, when lightly tied in for market. The plants have made 
fine sturdy growth, and are showing flowers abundantly. 
Pelargoniums of the decorative and Ivy-leaf types occupy very 
large lean-to houses, and are in excellent health. The decorative 
and show varieties are as solid, firm and clean as any I have seen 
this season, the bright green hue of the foliage and its almost 
leathery texture indicating how well it has been matured and the 
quality of the flowers that may be expected. The Ivy-leaved 
varieties were similarly fine, indeed a better lot could scarcely be 
desired. In both houses the plants were arranged on a sloping 
stage very close to the glass, and it is this full exposure to light 
and air that has undoubtedly contributed to their success. Winter¬ 
flowering Carnations such as La Belle, Callas, and other useful 
plants are grown in moderate quantities, and the last named 
were still bearing a number of large pure white spathes, which are 
in much demand in the market early in the season. The plants 
are grown in pots and liberally treated as regards the supply of 
liquid manure, and they are found to produce quite as satisfactory 
results as if planted out. 
The extensive and admirably cultivated fruit garden, every 
portion of which is cropped to the best advantage, calls for little 
comment at this time of year. It may, however, be remarked as 
an example of the way in which land is utilised under good market 
garden culture, that about thirteen acres have been recently added 
and planted with young Apple and Plum - trees 12 feet apart each 
way. Between these are rows of Gooseberry bushes, and again 
between the rows of Gooseberries and Apples Strawberries will 
be planted in lines. The varieties of Apples are Early Julien 
and Lord Suffield on the Crab stock. The Plums are Gisborne’s 
and Victoria. The Gooseberries are all Lancashire Lad ; and the 
varieties of Strawberries selected are Sir Joseph Paxton, Sir Chas. 
Napier, and President. The planting of a few varieties only is 
significant, as in too many establishments the chief object appears 
to be including as large a number as possible, but when the market 
supply is counted, not by bushels, but by tons, this system is 
found extremely unsatisfactory. When the land was duly pre¬ 
pared for planting, but before this was commenced, the whole 
was drilled with Onions, so that there is little space lost. The 
soil is fairly good, and some highly satisfactory results are ex¬ 
pected in a few years. 
It should be also added that Mr. W. Warren is a practical and 
scientific bee-keeper, and his opinion on the subject is worth the 
consideration of gardeners' and fruit-tree growers. He considers 
that the large crops of fruit he has obtained, even when his 
neighbours have been complaining of scarcity, have been chiefly 
due to the influence of the bees in distributing the pollen. In this 
respect he considers bees return a handsome profit for the attention 
and care they need. It is worthy of note that the well-known 
Keens’ Seedling Strawberry was raised in these grounds by Mr. 
Michael Keens, Mr. W. Warren’s maternal grandfather, about the 
year 1810. 
In concluding these brief notes a word of thanks is due to 
Mr. Warren for his courteous attention and willingness to give 
particulars of his cultivation, especially as it is seldom that 
market growers are ready to impart the results of their experience 
to others.—L. C. 
AMARYLLISES AT CHELSEA. 
A FEW of the chief of the new hybrid Amaryllises in Messrs- 
Veitch & Sons’ Chelsea Nurseries were noted last week (page 176), 
but there are many others of equal merit to those mentioned ; and 
as some of these are more advanced now, their distinctive charac¬ 
ters being better developed, they merit a brief additional com¬ 
ment. One very striking feature is the vigour of even young 
bulbs, many only two years old bearing strong scapes of hand¬ 
some flowers, while those three and four years old have in several 
cases two scapes with from four to six flowers each. In some 
instances this vigorous floriferousness is characteristic of the 
variety ; but in others, Mr. Heal, Messrs. Veitch’s foreman, con¬ 
siders it is chiefly due to the strength of the bulb as ensured by a 
judicious and liberal method of culture. The house they now 
occupy is constructed so that the plants enjoy free exposure to 
light, and this not only matures the bulbs but assists materially 
in intensifying the colours of the flowers. 
Among the numerous forms represented, the following are 
especially deserving of notice—Miss Alice Gair, a particularly 
handsome variety with very large, well formed, extremely bright 
scarlet flowers 8 or 9 inches in diameter, and borne four or five 
on a scape. In the brilliancy of the scarlet shade this is scarcely 
surpassed. Mr. H. Little, flower massive, 8 or 9 inches in 
diameter ; petals 3 inches in diameter, finely rounded, of a rich 
distinct shade of crimson, with darker veins and a few white 
streaks. Abraham Lincoln, another variety with flowers of ex¬ 
cellent form, crimson scarlet, with a white centre and streaked 
with white. The scapes bear four flowers each, and the plant 
has a noble appearance entitling it to rank amongst the best. 
Royal Standard, a superb form with fine broad rounded crimson 
petals tipped with white. Empress of India is one of the most 
vigorous and floriferous of all. One plant has two scapes each, 
with four massive scarlet flowers with white stripe and centre. 
The scapes are tall, and the large brilliantly coloured flowers 
give the plant a most imposing appearance. Thalia, which has a 
peculiar combination of scarlet and crimson in the flowers, is now 
well known, having been certificated some time ago. It is very 
effective and beautiful. 
Of the hybrids with smaller but not less pleasing flowers the 
following are noteworthy. Maid, a very neat and pretty form, 
having flowers of moderate size streaked with reddish crimson on 
a pure white ground. Flammetta, light bright scarlet; chiefly 
notable for the fact that the colour extends to the centre of the 
flower, in which respect Temeraire is similar, though of a distinct 
shade of scarlet. Alexandria has crimson flowers with a few 
white streaks ; very attractive. Alphonse Karr and Dr. Sarphati 
have fine crimson-veined flowers with white stripes, the latter 
variety being very free. Constance is white and crimson veined 
and streaked ; attractive. Signor Foli, a handsome form, with 
rich crimson flowers tipped with white. Grand Sultan, very 
floriferous, having four deep crimson and white-striped flowers in 
a scape ; and Beine des Roses has neat flowers marked with a 
peculiar crimson shade. 
These are only a few of the best. Many are equally as good as 
these, and, judging by the careful crossing now being attended to, 
some even more satisfactory results may be expected. It may be 
well to note that the remarkable hybrid between Amaryllis reti¬ 
culata and one of the scarlet-flowered forms, which is named 
Autumn Beauty and was certificated some months ago, is to be 
shortly sent out. It will be remembered that, as we have pre¬ 
viously stated, a scarlet Amaryllis was made the seed-bearing 
parent; yet, strangely enough, the foliage precisely resembles 
A. reticulata, the flowers being intermediate in characters. 
DOINGS AT BURGHLEY. 
“ Come and have some Chou de Burghley,” was the most pointed 
sentence in a letter lately received from Mr. Gilbert; as this was 
during the London fogs the invitation was irresistible, and I went. 
A great deal might be said historically about the grand old place, 
and much might be written on the picturesqueness of the park, the 
splendid Lime avenues rivalling the royal Elms at Windsor, and the 
pleasant walks in the pleasure grounds half encircled by the lake. 
But all these must be passed, as the great kitchen gardens demand 
primary notice, and too little space is at disposal for recording the 
doings therein. 
Regarding these kitchen gardens in all aspects—site, soil, arrange¬ 
ment and cropping—they must certainly rank very high, perhaps 
even as the best in the country. At Longleat Mr. Taylor has some 
reason for thinking the worst possible site had been selected for 
vegetable and fruit growing ; at Burghley, on the contrary, the best 
position appears to have been chosen for these purposes. As both 
these famous aristocratic seats were, as regards the parks and gardens, 
formed UDder the direction of the celebrated “Capability” Brown, it 
is a little singular there should be such a marked difference in the 
departments in question. They are alike in one respect, both being 
a mile from the mansions, and there the similarity ends. At Longleat 
the four or five acres are about as unlevel as the back of a dromedary, 
