August 30, 1833 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
181 
turf, the opposite beds mostly corresponding, the centres being either 
Pelargoniums or mixed Blue King. A few of these beds may he briefly 
enumerated, and in most cases the names alone will suffice, commencing 
with the centre plants. Pelargonium C. Smith, edged with Gnaphalium 
lanatum and Lobelia Blue Stone ; Pel. Lucy Bosworth, Iresine Lindeni, 
and Lobelia pumila magnifica; Pel. Ernest, Ageratum Cannell’s Dwarf, 
and Lobelia pumila Ingrami, white, free, and good; Pel. Henry Jacoby. 
Iresine Lindeni, and Lobelia pumila magnifica; Pel. Mrs. Schwind, 
Iresine Lindeni, and Koniga maritima variegata ; Pel. Rosamond Wright, 
mixed with Iresine Herbstii, edged with a scarlet dwarf Tropaeolum and 
Fuchsia Cloth of Gold pegged down, a distinct and pleasing bed ; Pel. C. 
Schwind, Veronica Andersoni variegata, and Lobelia pumila magnifica; 
Pel. Mrs. Leavers, Coleus Verschaffelti, and Mesembryanthemum cordi- 
folium variegatum; Dracama congesta, Pel. Lady Plymouth and Heliotrope 
Jean d’Amour mixed, edged with Iresine Wallsi, a very dark variety of 
the Herbsti type, and Lobelia Omen; Acacia lopliantha, Pel. Manglesi 
variegata, Iresine Wallsi, and Lobelia Omen. 
A series of oblong beds, with rounded ends, are all edged alike with 
Golden Feather and Iresine Herbstii, the best being the undermentioned. 
Verbena Ariosto Improved with Veronica Andersoni variegata; Pel. Lady 
Bailey and Gnaphalium lanatum; Phlox Drummondi and the last- 
mentioned edging plant; Pel. Sir H. S. Stanhope and the Gnaphalium; 
and white Verbenas edged with Veronica Andersoni variegata. In the 
first double row of beds the following were good:—Pel. Olive Carr with 
Iresine Lindeni and Lobelia Porcelain Brilliant, a free-flowering, rather tall 
variety, bright blue, with a white centre; Grevillea robusta, a few Iresine 
Lindeni, ground of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum edged 
with Pel. Robert Fish and the same Lobelia; Abutilon Tliompsoni, with a 
ground of Iresine Lindeni and Heliotrope Jean d’Amour edged with 
Golden Harry Hieover and the above Lobelia, this is a very good com¬ 
bination and extremely pleasing ; Melianthus major mixed with Veronica 
Andersoni variegata and purple Violas, edged with Iresine Lindeni, Pel. 
Robert Fish, and Lobelia Porcelain Brilliant. In the second series of 
double beds the edging is uniform—namely, Lobelia Blue King next to the 
grass; Pel. La Vestale and Pel. Robert Fish ; Pel. Princess of Wales and 
Pel. Queen of Queens ; Verbena venosa mixed with Pel. Ariosto and edged 
with Golden Fleece ; Pel. Mont Rouge and Golden Fleece; Verbena 
Nemesis and Veronica Andersoni variegata mixed, and Pel. Verona. 
Many others are planted in a similar style, but the above are the most 
distinct and will serve as a guide to the method adopted. Several good 
groups of succulent plants impart considerable diversity to the effect, 
while some beds have been devoted to the Tuberous Begonias; these, 
however, are not very notable, except a circle of Lady Stanhope, a large- 
flowered bright pink variety, which is in capital condition. Most of the 
others seem to have suffered very much by the storms we experienced a 
short time since. Around the fountain in the small dell near the above 
beds single Dahlias are planted freely and have a good effect, while sub¬ 
tropical plants are placed near the carriage drive on the Kensington side 
and near the head of the Serpentine, several good beds being there 
observable; but that form of bedding is not very largely practised in 
Hyde Park, which, from its exposed position, is not so well fitted for it 
as those in lower situations. It may be remembered that this Park is 
now under the superintendence of Mr. Brown, formerly at Regent’s Park, 
who has well maintained the reputation he had previously gained. 
THE RANELAGH ANT) HOSPITAL GARDENS, CHELSEA. 
Visitors who are making a tour of the parks should by no means omit 
this from their list, as, though there is nothing on a very pretentions 
scale, the gardens and shrubberies are well kept. The flower bedding 
arrangements are possibly a little too riazzling for some tastes—scarlet 
Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, and yellow Violas being very freely employed, 
especially on the terrace in front of the Hospital ; these, however, at least 
possess the merit of brightness. Some of the central beds are planted 
with white Dahlias, and these have a striking effect in contrast with the 
rich colours surrounding them. Two large conical mounds of variegated 
and Zonal Pelargoniums in alternate bands are also conspicuous features 
in that portion of the garden. A few tastefully designed carpet beds 
are observable in various parts, but the extremely neat lawns, the denes 
shrubberies, and number of single specimen weeping trees—such as Elm«, 
Willows, Ashes, &c.—are the most pleasing features. The turf is in 
excellent condition, and the surface is considerably varied, sloping up to 
the margins of the shrubberies, which are raised several feet above the 
level of the paths in some cases. 
In frpnt of the Hospital are two very distinct and attractive carpet 
beds which deserve particular notice. One is termed the Crown bed, 
the design being a representation of a royal crown well depicted and 
appropriately planted. The ground is of Alternanthera amoena edged 
with Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum and Echeveria seounda 
glauca. The upper outline of the crown is in Alternanthera paronychi- 
oides aurea and Golden Feather, with a margin of Echeveria glauca 
metallica. The interspaces are filled with Alternanthera versicolor 
grandis, the base being Herniaria glabra and Cerastium tomento>um, 
Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica being used in a few places. This bed, 
being raised and sloped towards the Hospital, has a good appearance 
from the terrace. The other carpet bed is a geometrical design chiefly 
of interlacing bands of Echeveria secunda glauca, the enclosed spaces 
being filled with Iresine Lindeni in the centre, around this Mesembiy- 
anthemum cordifolium variegatum, Alternanthera magnifica, A. versi¬ 
color grandis, A. paronyebyoides major, and A. amcena, the edging being 
of Echeveria secunda glauca with a band of Golden Feather on each 
side. The ribbon border above noticed is about 300 yards long, and is 
planted with Cerastium tomentosum next the grass, and the following 
in rows :—Viola lutea grandiflora, Pelargonium Vesuvius, P. Daybreak, 
P. General Outram, P. Lucius, and dwarf Sunflowers. 
In the Ranelagh Gardens is a carpet bed termed the Grecian Honey¬ 
suckle, which has been much admired by many persons, and is unques¬ 
tionably distinct in design and effect. It is formed of a series of 
serpentine bands, which radiate from the base of the bed and curve 
inwards at the apex. These bands are of Echeveria glauca metallica 
filled in with Sedum glaucum (centre). On each side are bands of 
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum and Alternanthera aurea, 
the interspaces being filled with A. versicolor grandis, A. magnifica, and 
A. amoena. The general management is very creditable to Mr. GibsoD, 
under whose charge these gardens have been for several years, and that 
they are greatly appreciated by the residents in the neighbourhood is 
abundantly proved by the numbers which daily assemble there at this 
time of year. 
In connection with the above the Pensioners’ Allotment Gardens 
deserve notice, and alone are well worthy of the visitors’ attention, for 
just now they are particularly gay. It is known to many that some 
scores of plots of ground adjoining the Hospital are placed under the 
care of the pensioners, who cultivate them to the best of their ability and 
sell the produce, chiefly to visitors. At one time Musk was very largely 
grown there, and quite a brisk trade was done with the roots and plants ; 
but much less attention seems to be paid to that now, and aestheticism 
appears to have even invaded this quiet spot, for Sunflowers and Dahlias 
are most powerfully and almost painfully in the ascendant. One very 
advanced aesthetic hero has indeed a large central patch of white 
Dahlias, surrounded by a dense hedge of Sunflowers ; but pleasing as this 
may possibly be it is doubtful if the results are so substantially useful as 
when the. more humble, but popular and saleable, Musk was grown. A 
few plots are devoted to diversified collections of old-fashioned plants, 
Carnations being great favourites, and still fewer decidedly utilitarian 
cultivators have their land occupied entirely with vegetables. One very 
pleasing feature is the cleanliness distinguishing the whole of the ground. 
Scarcely a weed can be seen—most satisfactory evidence of the attention 
given to them by the white-bearded veterans, who can be daily seen 
engaged in work which evidently brings them both pleasure and 
profit.—L. C. 
VINES IN AN INEXPENSIVE JBOBDEB. 
A correspondent, “ J. 0.,” appears to have afforded one 
more proof that good Grapes can be grown without great ex¬ 
pense having been incurred in making borders; still “ 2 yards 
wide of turf sods ” for the Amines to “ start in ” ought to have 
done something. The question is whether the Vines would have 
done equally well with half the quantity of sods, and the remain¬ 
der of the soil treated as directed (page 164). In all likelihood 
there would have been no difference in the results ; indeed it is 
not improbable that good Grapes would have been produced 
without any “ sods ” at all, as the natural soil with the additions 
mentioned would have provided all that was requisite for 
success. 
I have seen many excellent houses of Grapes where very much 
less expense had been incurred in border-making than in the 
example referred to. One of the most striking is in a garden 
near London, once famed for grand Azaleas as grown by Mr. 
George Baker. The estate, Sisters House, Clapham Common, 
has changed owners somewhat frequently, and the vinery in 
question has been devoted to different purposes. It is a span- 
roofed structure upwards of 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, not 
more than 9 or 10 feet high at the apex, and about 5 feet at the 
sides. It was erected by Mr. Lucas, the great London builder, 
and then occupier of the Sisters estate, for an orchard house 
and Peaches with other fruits in pots and planted out were 
grown in it. Subsequently the property passed into the hands 
of Mr. Basset, a great patron of Orchids and plants generally, 
and which his gardener, Mr. Baker, grew so splendidly. The 
house under notice was then devoted chiefly to the fine specimen 
Azaleas that were sold a few years ago. A few Vines appear to 
have been planted at intervals for affording a little shade to the 
plants, and not with the object of producing superior Grapes. 
The present owner of the Sisters House estate is Thomas 
AVallis, Esq., and as there were no plants in the house when 
his gardener, Mr. Holmes, took charge, he thought he would 
try and make someth'ng of the Vines. No border whatever 
was made. The inside of the house was floored with gravel, 
in fact resembled, as the greater part of it does yet, a hard 
carriage drive. This was for standing the plants on. On 
each side of the house the gravel was broken up to a width 
of something less than 5 feet, and the young A r ines that 
were planted had a little fresh soil placed over their roots, 
the same as in planting any ordinary fruit tree, and the 
broken-up narrow border was thickly surfaced with stable 
manure, neither lime, bones, nor anything else was added. 
Seeing the Vines progress, the gardener roughly affixed some 
wires at a good distance from the roof, arching them over from 
