September 6, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
205 
iag on the water afterwards there must have been at least a thousand 
wasps, whilst the sealed brood must have been many thousands. 
This nest had been attacked by a mason, who soon beat a precipitate 
retreat; then a young gentleman in the neighbourhood was going to 
burn it out, and the rafter was charred in one place, but he too retreated, 
nsing forcible language, for which he afterwards apologised ; tobacco, 
sulphur, &c., had been tried, but the looseness of the tiles rendered 
them useless, but the cyanide was a great success.—Y. B. A. Z. 
I have during the whole of this season and also the latter part of last 
been using powdered cyanide of potassium for this purpose. I find one 
teaspoonful quite sufficient for effectually killing all the winged mem¬ 
bers of the strongest nest when placed carefully just inside the passage 
to the same. 
I find all times of the day equally effective, as after having been 
placed in the mouth about one minute no wasp ever comes out, and all 
coming in from work after once passing over the powder are quite unable 
to take wing again. 
I consider this the best and cleanest remedy I know at present, 
although where difficult to apply as described I have used paraffin with 
•equal success.—K obt. Grindrod, Whitfield. 
THE LONDON PARKS. 
Crossing the “silent highway” from the Chelsea Gardens, one of 
the most popular and beautiful of public London gardens is reached— 
namely, 
BATTERSEA PARK. 
The great charms of this establishment are its diversity of aspect and 
constant freshness. In none of the other metropolitan parks are these 
features so strongly marked, and in none do we obtain more beautiful 
landscape effects, though these are entirely artificial and quite unaided 
by natural characters. It was, indeed, an admirable work to convert a 
swamp into a picturesque, varied, and lovely park that has yielded 
pleasure to millions of the great city’s toilers, and it is doubly satis¬ 
factory to see its attractions maintained in all their power, and even 
annually increased where opportunities offer. Improvements have been 
irepeatedly effected in recent years ; diversified, well-wooded, and con¬ 
siderably elevated mounds have been formed with winding and undu¬ 
lating paths that in several cases, especially at the east side of the park 
near the Chelsea Bridge Road, command extensive and pleasing views. 
Close attention, too, has been given to what might be termed the more 
minute details. Flower beds or borders in previously uninteresting 
positions in many cases supply agreeable surprises, while the shrubberies 
have been thinned where necessary to bring some fine specimen into pro¬ 
minence, or planting done where a denser screen was needed, and in 
hundreds of other ways the observant visitor who is well acquainted 
with the park may constantly notice a steady advance. The freshness 
which has been already referred to as one of the charms of this park has 
•been severely tried this season. Turf, trees, and bedding plants have all 
suffered from the prolonged drought, but the two former especially, as 
by the liberal use of the hose the beds in the subtropical garden and else¬ 
where have been kept in good condition. Earlier in the season it 
appeared at one time as if the bedding would never reach its usual con¬ 
dition, but within the past month there has been a vast improvement. 
>Yhe beds are well filled, the combinations and designs proving in the 
majority of cases eminently satisfactory. 
Entering the park from the west side near the Albert Bridge the 
■visitor can readily inspect the principal features without travelling over 
Ahe same ground twice, and can either take his leave from the York Road 
gate, the Chelsea Bridge gate, or the pier. A short distance from the 
-entrance first mentioned will be noticed on the right a series of oblong 
beds with rounded ends, radiating from a circle in the centre. There are 
seven ways, and each pair of opposite beds are planted alike, mostly in the 
mixed style now becoming so popular. Alyssum variegatum, Verbenas, 
and Pelargoniums form one combination, Tropseolums, Ageratums, and 
Tagetes another, and Phlox Drummondii and Centaureas a third, mar¬ 
gined respectively with Pyrethrum Golden Feather, Alternanthera 
versicolor, and Iresine Lindeni, outermost edge in each case being a 
neatly kept band of Euonymus radicans. The borders near the shrubs 
around this, and extending by the road for some distance, are filled with 
Anemone japonica alba very fine, scarlet Pentstemons, Chrysanthemum 
ifrutescens, and Calceolaria amplexicaulis, which have a beautiful effect. 
A short distance beyond the above is a refreshment lodge, and around 
this are several pretty beds, chiefly carpet designs, that well merit 
attention. One, a chain of three circles, is tastefully planted, a central 
•star of Alternanthera versicolor being lined with Leucophyton Browni ; 
the angles filled with Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, 
•margined with Echeverias and Sedum acre elegans. An elliptical 
mixed bed of Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, Abutilons, and Heliotropes, 
edged with Lobelias and Golden Treasure Fuchsias pegged down, with 
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, has a distinct appearance, perhaps the 
only fault being that rather too many kinds of plants are employed. In 
mixed beds the most pleasing are those occupied with several varieties 
of one species, or a few very distinct varieties of different species ; when 
so many are employed a bed has a heterogenous appearance that is rather 
•objectionable. A carpet circle of simple but striking design is also 
notable near the above ; it consists of a ground of Golden Feather, in the 
■centre of which is a design of brightly coloured Alternanthera amcena, a 
■series of bands curving outwards and downwards from a main axis ; the 
bed is margined with Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica and Lobelias, and is 
undeniably effective. 
A few minutes’ walk from this portion of the park brings the visitor 
to the great feature, the subtropical garden, which has been so well 
managed for such a number of years that it has gained considerable 
fame. The position is suited for work of this kind, being sheltered and 
low, so that the plants are not exposed to the full effects of the sun or 
wind, either of which prove injurious to tropical or tender plants out of 
doors in England. Palms, Ferns, Ficus, Grevilleas, Solanums of various 
kinds, the silvery-leaved Eucalyptus globulus, the majestic Polymnia 
grandis, Wigandia caracasana, with elegant Beaucarneas and Dracmnas, 
all assist in imparting a most distinctive aspect to the garden, whether 
singly or in large beds. The fine clumps of Polygonum cuspidatum 
also have a grand effect, and there is one specimen of a plant or small 
tree that is rarely seen, but which is eminently fitted for such positions 
—namely, Griselinia macrophylla. This has broad, rounded, thick 
leaves, resembling some of the Ficus, or more nearly the Clusias, and as 
they have a shining dark-green surface it is very telling. In several 
cases where single specimen Palms are placed out in the turf they are 
surrounded by small circular borders of miscellaneous or carpet-bedding 
plants. One of the best of these is a good specimen of Phoenix reclinata, 
around which is a band of the distinct Begonia ricinifolia, next to that 
a band of Centaureas, and a margin of Pyrethrum selaginoides. The 
last-named is in better condition there than we have seen it elsewhere : 
the leaves large, flat, neatly and regularly divided, quite frond-like in 
appearance, and of a good clear yellow colour. When it does as well as 
this it is a most desirable plant for the margins of beds. Where large 
masses of the Polymnia, Wigandia, or Eucalyptus are employed the 
spaces between the plants are filled chiefly with Chrysanthemum fru- 
tescens, Heliotropes, Lobelias, Pelargoniums, Petunias, and in some 
instances a few examples of Agapanthus umbellatus are introduced. 
Some fine clumps of single Dahlias attract much attention, the colours 
of the graceful flowers being so brilliant and varied. The silver- 
variegated Acer Negundo is employed as usual with good effect, and a 
long border next the shrubs of the var' igated Willow Herb, margined 
with Pelargoniums, has an excellent e :coi in contrast with the dark¬ 
leaved shrubs. 
The majority of the carpet beds are in the subtropical garden, and 
though none is distinguished by any extraordinary novelty of design they 
are all tasteful, and some are extremely so. A few of the best may be 
noted to give an idea of the plants employed and combinations most 
approved. One circle has a ground of Gibraltar Mint, with small circles 
and a central square of Alternanthera magnifica, edged with Leucophyton 
and Stellaria graminea aurea, the outermost general margin consisting of 
Alternanthera aurea and Cerastium tomentosum. Another, also a circle 
with a ground of the same Mint, has a scroll of Mesembryanthemum 
cordifolium, a centre of Alternanthera versicolor grandis, a marginal 
chain of Alternanthera aurea, and an edge of Echeveria pumila and 
Sedum acre elegans. A trio of beds (a centre circle and two oblongs) 
near the lake are invariably planted in good taste, and this season they 
are exceptionally good. The ground is of the Gibraltar Mint, on which 
is a neat but somewhat intricate design in Alternanthera aurea with 
isolated circles of A. versicolor grandis and A. amcena, with a margin of 
Sedum acre elegans. Several beds are of a composite character—that 
is, partly carpet and partly subtropical. One of the best of these has a 
ground of Lamium maculatum aureum brightly coloured, with heart- 
shaped clumps of Iresine Lindeni and Mint, with Palms, Agaves, Pelar¬ 
goniums, and Centaureas. An oblong bed of similar character has four 
circles, the two outer of Stellaria graminea aurea and Dracajna marginata, 
the two inner of Sedum acre elegans and Beaucarnea recurva ; the 
centre is Pandanus Veitchi on a ground of Sedum glaucum, these circles 
being lined with Sedum Lydium, white Lobelias, Spergula pilifera 
aurea, Alternanthera amoena, Echeverias, and Sedum glaucum. The 
Fern nook is as usual filled with healthy specimens of the most suit¬ 
able kinds for the purpose, and the long beds a short distance beyond 
generally planted in the carpet style, are this season of an exceedingly 
mixed character, but possess the attractions of novelty and diversity. 
Many other pleasant walks may be taken, especially that round the east 
side of the park, where there are some charming Fern dells and good 
examples of mixed bedding, while nearer the boat-landing stage at the lake 
are some extremely bright borders of Calceolarias, Zonal Pelargoniums, 
Lobelias, &c., Chrysanthemum frutescens and C. coronarium being largely 
and well employed. Throughout abundant evidence is afforded of Mr. 
Rogers’ careful and efficient system of management, and a horticulturist 
can never regret a few hours spent in Battersea Park.—L. C. 
THE CRYSTAL PALACE FRUIT SHOW. 
This is the only great Exhibition of fruit that has, as yet, been pro¬ 
vided this year in the neighbourhood of London, and there is little doubt 
it was the finest show of its kind held in this country during the present 
season. In every respect it far surpassed the Show of last year, which was 
disappointing; yet in some respects the present display was faulty. Several 
examples of Grapes, for instance, were not ripe, while others were very 
inferior and quite unworthy of a place at any show. But such were in a 
minority, the majority being very good indeed, and not a few excel¬ 
lent. The collections of fruit were admirable, the winning stands superior, 
and the whole most creditable to the exhibitors. Peaches were extremely 
fine, and Nectarines good. Plums were sparsely represented, and Pine3 
and Melons were of good average quality. Altogether the Exhibition was 
one of the best that has been seen at the Palace during recent years, and 
Mr. Head managed—and this is no small feat—to have all ready in good 
