330 
JOURNAL OF HORTIOULIURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 9, 1884. 
31 per cent, of possible duration ; there were two sunless days. Total 
rainfall, 0.53 inch ; the heaviest fall in twenty-four hours was on the 8th, 
when 0 24 inch fell. Eain fell on twelve days ; the rainfall is less than 
half of any of the previous eight Septembers, and only one-sixth of what 
fell last year. Mean temperature of the month, 57.5°. Maximum on the 
17th, 78.2° ; minimum on the 30:h, 32.3°. Maximum in sun on the 17th, 
12G.0° ; minimum on grass on the 30th, 27.0°. The warmest day, 15th, 
mean temperature, 66.0°. Coldest day, the 30th, mean temperature, 46.0°. 
Mean temperature of air at 9 A.M., 57.4°. Mean temperature of soil 1 foot 
deep, 58.1°. The temperature, both mean and maximum, higher than in 
any of the previous eight years, except in 1880. The wind principally 
from westerly points, the average velocity 8.1 miles per hour ; it exceeded 
400 miles on one day.” 
THE LONDON PARKS. 
Following the route previously pointed out, less than half an hour 
will convey the visitor from the Victoria Park station on the North 
London Railway to 
FINSBURY PARK. 
For many years this Park has taken a prominent place amongst those 
containing the best examples of bedding in the metropolitan district, 
and the present season has fully maintained its credit in this respect. 
Every care is taken to vary the display as much as possible and with no 
mean degree of success, for all the different styles of bedding are repre¬ 
sented by effective and beautiful combinations of plants. The greatest 
attention is also paid to the general condition of the Park, the turf, 
borders, and paths being all thoroughly well kept, and in this respect 
alone Finsbury Park would bear comparison with the best places of 
public resort in London or elsewhere. The elevated position, somewhat 
out of the smoke range, also appears to give everything a fresh and 
pleasing appearance, which is exactly what is needed in an establishment 
of this kind. In regard to prospects, too, the Park surpasses all in 
London, and though one of the views is now being sadly marred by 
industrious builders, there still remains a pretty and extensive view to 
the north-east. Upon a fine open piece of lawn commanding this 
prospect a liberal allowance of comfortable seats are placed, a consider¬ 
ation which is duly appreciated by visitors. During the summer months 
there is always a refreshing breeze at this point, but in the winter it is 
tjo bleak for any except the most robust. 
It has been previously remarked that the majority of the paths are 
composed of asphalt, and through this has to some extent a dull and 
ungarden-like appearance, there is ample compensation for such defects 
in its cleanliness, good wearing qualities, and the fact that a few minutes 
after a heavy rain the paths can be walked upon without discomfort. 
Some experiments are, however, being tried to brighten its colour, and 
one of these is likely to prove successful. It consists in applying a 
dressing of fine burnt gravel to the surface before the substance has 
dried, and by this means the dark colour and real nature of the paths are 
effectually concealed. 
The principal display of bedding is in a much-frequented portion of 
the Park near the lake and refreshment house—an elevated position, but 
which has been judiciously sheltered by a surrounding band of shrubs. 
The space is of circular form, and the beds are cut in the turf, an equal 
number on each side of a broad walk which passes through the centre. 
At the back on each side are three large circular beds of Gannas Annei 
with yellow fiowers, and Hookeri with dark red flowers, being the 
principal varieties, and having a very beautiful effect owing to their 
luxuriant growth and abundant blooms. These were edged with 
Swanley Gem Ageratum and Omen Lobelia, the former very compact 
and free, and the latter of the peculiar reddish-purple tint, so distinct 
from other forms of Lobelia. Next to these on one side are two beds 
filled with Verbena venosa and Centaurea ragusina mixed, with a margin 
of Tropteolum Vesuvius, while on the other side are four similar beds, 
except that Cineraria candidissima is employed in the place of the Cen¬ 
taurea. Next these are several angular beds, having as a centre Pelar¬ 
goniums Henry Jacoby, extremely rich in colour, on one side, and John 
Gibbons, a most brilliant scarlet and effective variety, on the other. These 
are margined with rows of the variegated Flower of Spring Pelargonium, 
and Lobelia Finsbury Park, blue, dwarf, compact and floriferous. Then 
on each side are four very fine circular beds of Coleus Verschaffeltii edged 
with Robert Fish Pelargonium and Echeverias. The Coleuses were care¬ 
fully planted and allowed to develope freely, and as a result formed a 
semi-globular bed even and well raised in the centre. Near the path are 
some oblong beds devoted to Pelargoniums Princess Alexandra, Marshal 
MacMahon, and Lady Cullum, margined with Mesembryanthemum cordi- 
folium variegatum and Echeverias. Ten carpet beds have been tastefully 
designed, well planted, and neatly kept, consisting chiefly of Leucophyton 
Browni in the centre, Alternanthera paronychioides major, Mesembry¬ 
anthemum cordifolium variegatum, and Echeverias. Several examples of 
pretty carpet beds are to be seen in other portions of the park, especially 
near the entrance by the Superintendent’s house. 
Subtropical bedding is not attempted on a large scale, but in several 
suitable positions, and especially in a sheltered walk leading to the prin¬ 
cipal flower garden already noted, there are numbers of small beds 
which during the summer have been very attractive. Abutilon niveum 
aureum marmoratum is a particular favourite, and the leaves having 
developed their rich golden marbling very well this season, they have 
been much admired. Eucalyptus globulus is similarly largely planted, 
mostly small specimens 3 to 4 feet high, but their silvery glaucous colour 
afforded a pretty contrast with the golden Abutilons. Acacia lophantha 
and Cannas were the chief of the other subtroj ical plants, each bed having 
a suitable margin of variegated or Zonal Pelargoniums, the principal of the 
first-named being Mont Blanc and Madame Salcray, the latter having a 
somewhat glaucous appearance and a narrow white margin of the neat 
round leaves. Of general herbaceous plants a large number is grown, 
and many of the shrubbery and ribbon borders are most effectively 
planted. Single Dahlias have been, and still are, very bright and profuse 
in flowering, one long border of seedlings raised in the Park including 
some very striking and distinct shades of colour. 
Preparations are now being made for the annual exhibition of Chrys¬ 
anthemums, and the plants are in such fine and promising condition 
that they will, no doubt, maintain the fame which has been gained by 
previous shows. 
REGENT’S PARK. 
A few notes must sufiice to dispose of the leading features in the 
Regent’s Park bedding. It is unquestionably at all times the least 
satisfactory of the London parks, nor can the best possible management 
ever render it otherwise. The position is enclosed and too much sheltered, 
the whole of the flower garden being densely overshadowed by rows of 
trees, causing the plants to become drawn, weakly, and comparatively 
flowerless. Carpet bedding is the most suitable, but even in this the best 
or proper colouring cannot be obtained without a certain degree of ex¬ 
posure. The Superintendent, therefore, has many difficulties to contend 
which in more favoured positions are not known or cause no trouble, and 
in consequence it is most creditable that so good an effect is produced. 
Several pretty carpet beds have been noteworthy this season, the 
favourite plants as a foundation or general ground carpet being Mesem¬ 
bryanthemum cordifolium and Mentha Pulegium gibraltaricum, with 
panels or scrolls of Alternantheras. One of the best was an oval bed of 
Mesembryanthemum with neat scrolls of A. aurea, A. paronychioides, 
A. amoena, and A. amabilis, with a central Chamaspeuce diacantha, and 
a margin of Echeverias. Another bed of similar shape had a ground of 
Mentha with long scrolls of A. amoena and A. amabilis, but this was not 
so bright in appearance as the one previously mentioned. Around some 
of the bases were circles of Herniaria glabra, panels of Echeverias edged 
with A. amoena, and outside that further panels of A. aurea and A. ama¬ 
bilis. A circular carpet bed had Mesembryanthemum as the groundwork, 
with a centre cross of A. amabilis, ellipse-like panels of A. amoena, and 
irregular-shaped blocks of A. paronychioides major. This was pleasing, 
and the two most effective plants for the groundwork of carpet beds have 
undoubtedly been the Mesembryanthemum and the Herniaria. The 
Mentha has been employed too freely in many places, and the result is a 
corresponding dullness not at all consistent with the character of such 
beds. 
The oblique parallel beds at Regent’s Park are usually planted in the 
mixed style, and this season have been very attractive. The central 
blocks have been formed of Iresine Lindeni, Abutilon marmoratum, 
Grevillea robusta, and Abutilon Boule de Neige. Beneath these the beds 
have been covered with Mentha, Mesembryanthemum, or Gazanias, with 
a margin of pink or scarlet Zonal Pelargoniums. Mixed beds of Gre- 
villeas, Iresine Lindeni, Abutilons, Cannas, and similar plants are also 
employed in a few positions. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
The first meeting of the Floral Committee of the above Society was 
held on Thursday evening last at the Old Four Swans Hotel, Bishopsgate 
Street, City. Several very interesting exhibits of cut fiowers of Chrysan¬ 
themums were staged, and the following awards were made :—A first-class 
certificate to Colonel J. R. Mallock of Pinewood, Bagshot, for Japanese 
Chrysanthemum Margot; a first-class certificate to Mr. Davis, Camberwell, 
for Japanese Crysanthemum Mademoiselle Lecroix ; and a vote of thanks 
to Mr. Davis for a collection of early-flowering Chrysanthemums, including 
several new and rare varieties. 
This specially appointed Committee, consisting of the following gentle¬ 
man :—Messrs. Berry, Roehampton; Butcher, Barnet; Davis, Camber¬ 
well; Kemp, Clapton; Lowry, Mill Hill, N.W.; Payne, Stamford Hill; 
Townsend, Putney; and Springbet, Waltham; with E. Sanderson, Esq., 
and R. Ballantine, Esq., as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively, and 
Mr. Holmes as Hon. Secretary, will meet at the Old Four Swans, Bishops¬ 
gate Street, City, at seven o’clock on the evenings of October 16th and 30th, 
November 27th, and December 11th, specially to consider the merits of 
any new or rare varieties of Chrysanthemums that may be submitted. 
BEGONIA CARRIEREI. 
Several improved forms have in the past two or three years been 
added to the list of winter-flowering Begonias, and one of the best and 
most recent of these is B. Carrierei, represented in the woodcut, fig. 56, 
for which we are indebted to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley. This 
plant is the result of a cross between the well-known useful B. semper- 
florens and the dwarfer B. Schmidti, or Smithi, as it is termed in some 
gardens. It partakes of the habit of both parents, being dwarfer than 
B. semperflorens but taller than B. Schmidti, the flowers being inter¬ 
mediate in size, pure white, and most abundantly produced. This flori¬ 
ferous character is a most valuable one, and at the season when it is in 
its best condition—namely, February and March, flowers are always 
