26 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ July 10, 1884. 
new single Chrysanthemums, but must not now claim more space.— 
\V. J, Muephy. 
THE PARSON’S GARDEN. 
A PEW years ago there was exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery a 
collection of pictures by the late talented young artist, Cecil Lawson. 
His chef d'oeuvre was the “ Minister’s Garden,” a huge canvas depicting 
in subdued but harmonious tones the outlook from a country parsonage. 
It was an ordinary garden with Hollyhocks on one side and Tropasolums 
rambling over a rustic fence on the other. A few garden tools, watering 
cans, and flower pots lay about the foreground, and the front, if I recollect 
aright, consisted of a bed of Cabbages. There was little more to be seen 
of the garden itself, but an extensive panorama of Sussex field and wood¬ 
land and cozy homesteads stretched upwards to the horizon. Materials 
so simple and homely would have escaped the observation of any but a 
genius. It is the privilege of genius, however, to invest the ordinary and 
commonplace with beauty, and in this case, moreover, sentiment per¬ 
vaded the artist’s work ; he had caught Dame Nature in one of her pensive 
moods on such a day as George Herbert describes— 
“Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,” 
and transferred her portrait to his canvas. The parson’s garden I will 
endeavour to describe is none the less a reality—more than poor Cecil 
Lawson’s. Were my hand as cunning as the now quiet one that once 
wielded the pencil the picture would needs be as famous. But the masses 
of gorgeous Rhododendrons and Azaleas, deep crimson, glowing reds, 
cerise and rose, white and orange-yellow, with background of dark 
Conifers ; the Pink and White Thorns, gold and silver Chestnuts and 
Maples, the Copper Beeches, the arches of clustered Roses, and purple 
Clematis, and glowing Poppies, would laugh in the summer sunlight at 
the puny efforts of a Titian or a Tintojetti. 
The parsonage itself is a comfortable gabled house, almost every inch 
of whose white walls is covered with leaves or blossoms. I shall en¬ 
deavour to describe in this short series of notes on typical gardens exactly 
what was to be seen. On my visit to the gardens under notice the memo¬ 
randa were taken on the spot. On the west walls were a huge Magnolia, 
Wistarias, Jasmines, Clematis Jackmanni, and the following Roses in 
bloom—Gloire de Dijon, Climbing Devoniensis, Abricotd, Cbeshunt 
Hybrid, Madame Falcot, that brightest of double yellow Roses the old 
Austrian Briar, and a fine full red Rose which I took to be Paul Ricaut. 
Over the spacious porch, whose tiled threshold bore the (ne word 
“ Welcome,” were Gloire de Dijon and Honeysuckle. Across the smooth, 
wide, gravelled drive there was a charming group of shrubs, and towering 
over them an effective background of Cupressus Lawsoniana. For the 
sake of intending planters it may be useful to sketch this group. It pre¬ 
sented a semicircular front to the porch. The central figure in front was 
a golden Yew, with a crimson-leaved Maple on one side, and Acer Negundo, 
the variegated Maple, on the other. The latter is a charming accessory 
to the mixed border, as it forms a light and elegant background to Roses 
and most tall-growing herbaceous plants. Behind the Maples were tall 
Cupressus and Piceas, and in front of the Negundo a standard Rhodo¬ 
dendron, Illuminator, with its huge clusters of rosy cerise. A golden- 
variegated Oak, a double Deutzia, and a fine clump of a crimson Colum¬ 
bine completed the picture. The garden is sheltered from the highway 
by a thick belt of Thujopsis, in front of which is a line of tall Cupressus. 
A broad, smooth, gravelled drive of 50 yards or more leads in a straight 
line from the porch aforesaid towards the lower gate, to which it then 
sweeps in a graceful curve. On each side of the drive is a line of Irish 
Yews 7 to 8 feet high and alternate standard Rhododendrons. The 
effect was extremely picturesque and delightful : the Yews just showing 
their light-green summer growth, and the Rhododendrons were in all 
their summer glory. On the right there is a varying breadth of grass 
with a sinuous belt of deciduous shrubs, coloured Thorns, and choice 
herbaceous plants. On the left a well-kept lawn with picturesquely dis¬ 
posed clumps of American plants and beds of mixed perennials. Towards 
the bottom of the drive on each side stood a fine Picea Nordmanniana. 
An iron hurdle fence divides the garden from green meadows beyond, 
sheltered by tall hedgerows. In the middle distance among the leafy 
Elms are the red-tiled roofs of farm buildings and gabled cottages, and 
on the right the grey tower of a village church ; wooded heights complete 
the distance of this charming bit of rural landscape. 
Passing the vinery with its large crop of Muscats and robust healthy 
foliage, we enter “ a wild disordered garden,’’ apparently used as a 
nursery some years ago. There is a little orchard of pyramid Apples 
and Pears, then some sheltered beds of Strawberries and small fruit, and 
beyond scores of grand Rhododendrons scattered about and intermingled 
with Conifers of stately growth. Deodars, Araucarias, Abies, Cedars, 
Yews, Retinosporas, and Cupressus, nearly all of them making splendid 
growth and showing their variously formed cones. Here and there were 
large bushes of Rosa rugosa, clumps of the brilliant oriental Poppy, Fox¬ 
glove, Helianthus, Delphiniums, beds of Roses, Pinks, and Stocks. 
But the grounds so artistically planted and garnished by such wealth 
of glowing colour and graceful form are outdone in interest and 
attractiveness by the grand and varied collection of Orchids. In the 
half-dozen unobtrusive little houses (with the exception of the East and 
West India Orchids, all so cool and airy, and screened from hot sunlight) 
there are perhaps 12,u00 plants enjoying life, it would appear, as com¬ 
fortably, if not as luxuriously, as in their native haunts. Here are plants 
of the extremely beautiful Oduntoglossum vexillarium, there the scarcely 
less charming 0. Alexandra, then the magnificent Laelias elegans. 
Warneri, and the elegant Jongheana, with fimbriated lip and petals 
of rich amethyst; Dendrobiums, Cypripediums, Epidendrums, the 
Cattleyas, pre-eminent among which were C. dolosa, with broad oval 
leaves, and C. gigas, the most striking and beautiful of all the Cattleyas ; 
the Bat Orchid, the Beetle, the Gnat, and the strange and curious forms 
of Masdevallia and graceful Phalaenopsis. But to know and appreciate 
the almost endless variety of this wonderful tribe of plants requires years 
of patient study in their midst—the bare mention of their names only 
would require columns of your Journal. The parson knows, however, 
and rumour says that he has knowledge enough of Orchids even to 
purchase the dried roots at sales. Although many years might elapse 
before one acquires knowledge so extensive as he possesses, a little 
knowledge in this case need not be a dangerous thing. The most 
ordinary greenhouse might afford shelter for not a few species, includiiig 
some of the most beautiful. There has been a great change in Orchid 
culture during the last few years, and any respectable grower would 
name from half a dozen to a score “ cool Orchids ” as manageable for the 
amateur gardener as a Camellia or a Pelargonium. 
But the interesting and beautiful display I have endeavoured briefly 
to describe is not attainable without incessant Labour and vvatchfulness. 
All these seem to be here but a labour of love. To maintain a suitable 
temperature and degree of humidity, to guard against the attacks of 
marauding insects, to employ judicious shading, are essential in the 
cultivation of choice Orchids, the neglect of one of which would imperil 
a host of costly plants. If it be the sin of idolatry to throw a rich and 
costly floral robe over the mean and commonplace, to fling down on the 
margin of God’s acre such wealth of glorious hues and graceful forms 
that gladden the soul of the rustic as he walks to the village church, or 
the wayfarer as he pauses a moment at the garden gate ; to linger over 
the rare and beautiful exotics and expatiate on their marvellous structure 
to eager listeners, to encourage and pri mote by precept and example 
among his parishioners a love of gardening, and especially of flowers, 
then my parson of the beautiful garden has erred. Nevertheless, it is 
much to be desired that his reverend brethren would to a greater extent 
than they do now follow his example and have the grace to err in such a 
way. English countryfolk would assuredly be the happier and the 
better for it.— Luke Ellis. 
WASHING VINES. 
I MIGHT say I am a non-believer in syringing Vines, but I believe in 
giving the foliage a good washing through a hose just previous to the 
colouring period. I daresay some Vine-growers will shudder when read¬ 
ing the above, but I can assure them if it is managed carefully the bloom 
will not be disfigured. We do not stand on the floor of the vinery and 
turn the hose unmercifully at the bunches, for the bunches are not syringed 
at all. In the first place we use rain water, for if hard water is used 
it might contain lime, and the result would be marked berries. 
We choose a mild morning for the operation, so that abundance of 
ventilation may be given early. We also manage to wash the foliage 
between 5 A.M. and G A.M. ; if ic is done so early the Vines are dry before 
the sun has much power. The water is placed in a garden engine with a 
long hose attached to it with a fine rose on the end. The man who 
works the hose stands on high steps so as to be close to the foliage, but of 
course out of the way of the bunches. The garden engine is then worked 
gently, when the water is forced out like a gentle spray on to the foliage 
and glass. The engine must not be worked too bard, as being close to 
the foliage it might get injured. It is only the water which is falling 
that passes on the bunches, but in our case it rolled off like from a duck’s 
back. 
At our first attempt in washing the foliage we placed a leaf of an old 
copy book over the best bunches, but those which were left uncovered 
escaped without any injury whatever. We found this washing very 
beneficial, as it removed the blacks and dust from the foliage, besides re¬ 
moving any spider which might be lurking about, and the Vines seemed 
to be benefited by the washing until the end of the season. It is rather 
wet work for the man who is holding the hose ; it is like being under a 
shower bath.—A. Youkg. 
THE HEEBACEOUS BOEDEE. 
The early part of May was very unfavourable for outdoor 
plants, and this in connection with the severe weather of April 
rendered the borders anything but gay for the time of year. At 
the close of the month, however, things began to look up, and 
some plants have been really good. 
Dodecatheon splendidum. —This flowered freely, having 
eight to ten flowers on a stem, Cyclamen-like, deep crimson in 
colour, with a yellow ring at the base of the retiexed corolla. 
The flower stems attain to a height of about 6 inches. It is 
quite a gem, does well in rich soil well drained, and appears to 
like a little shade, but does not flower so freely as in the full sun. 
Ranunculus aconitifolius plenus forms a somewhat 
spreading and branching bush about 2 feet high in a rather moist 
soil and slight shade, where it grows freely and flowers profusely, 
having pure white and very double flowers. It certainly is one 
of the best of early summer-flowering plants for a damp situa¬ 
tion, and will grow in any good soil if not too hot and dry. The 
