November 9, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 483 
Fig. 72 .—Heckfield place—the flower garden and pleasure grounds. (See page 431.) 
coloured forms are similarly fine ; but the greatest praise must be 
accorded to the three first, which scarcely admit of improvement. 
Well-grown Balsams are always admired, and they prove most wel¬ 
come additions to any conservatory in the summer months. A very 
large per-centage of the'seed yields plants with double flowers, and 
this is attributed in part to keeping the seed a year or slightly longer 
before sowing it, a practice which is adopted by many others with 
the same view ; but whether it has a substantial foundation is not 
quite certain, though results I have myself obtained seem to point 
to that conclusion. 
Pelargoniums of the Zonal and Nosegay types were in grand con¬ 
dition, the collection including the finest old and new varieties, a 
houseful in full bloom rivalling the Begonias ineffectiveness. Viewed 
in contrast like this, the difference between the scarlet shades of the 
Pelargoniums and those of the Begonias was very surprising—a 
difference that can be scarcely expressed by words, though as regards 
brilliancy a verdict would have been given unanimously in favour of 
the first-named. It is unnecessary to give a list of the varieties, as 
they were so numerous, and each possessed some special merit to 
commend it. Of other softwooded flowering plants Primulas were 
advancing fast and giving promise of a fine display later in the 
season, while due provision had been made for Cinerarias, Calceo¬ 
larias, and Cyclamens. 
In the warmer houses Palms, Ferns, and miscellaneous fine-foliage 
plants occupy much space, healthy specimens of various sizes. Gar¬ 
denias, those indispensable plants wherever fragrant white flowers 
are valued, are evidently very carefully treated, for it is seldom that 
such healthy specimens are seen. With Gardenias as with other plants 
it is highly important to make a good start; and unless vigorous 
plants are obtained that have been grown robustly without a check 
it is extremely difficult to ensure successful results, and nurserymen 
who give particular attention to the culture of such plants in their 
early stages render the gardener’s task much more easy. Bouyardias, 
Stephanotises, and in cooler houses Lapagerias red and white, are 
similarly largely and well grown ; while amongst the novelties the 
graceful Gymnogramma schizophylla, the double Bouvardia, and 
Gynura aurantiaca with its peculiar purplish velvety leaves, were 
being fast increased to meet the demands for them. 
The borders outside were occupied with choice collections of hardy 
plants, amongst which Delphiniums, Phloxes, and Sweet Williams 
were prominently noteworthy, the varieties and strains of these 
plants being remarkably good. Annuals, too, are extensively grown, 
and Boses, which form special features, as the old nursery has secured 
a well-deserved renown in these departments. 
Returning to what is still the headquarters, the principal charac¬ 
teristics of the indoor stock may be briefly referred to. • It should be 
observed that in this branch of the business all the best stove and 
greenhouse plants receive a large share of attention, the collection 
being select in the strictest sense of the word, as the space at com¬ 
mand is necessarily limited ; and although the houses are numerous, 
and several of good dimensions, with frames and other conveniences, 
all are well filled, and it is not easy to find accommodation for the 
large stock which has to be annually provided. One of the chief 
features at the time of my visit, early in September, were the 
Tuberous Begonias, which, to meet the rapidly increasing demand, are 
grown in very large numbers. Most of the best-named forms are in¬ 
cluded, but by careful crossing and selection a meritorious strain has 
been obtained, which is of such general excellence that it is not con¬ 
sidered necessa'-y to name individual variations, but to supply either 
seed or tubers as purchasers may require. The plants were of good 
compact habit, and distinguished by remarkable floriferousness ; and 
though the blooms were slightly smaller than some of the recently 
raised varieties, the colour (various shades of scarlet), was remarkable 
for its brilliancy, the sturdy habit and abundant flowers far more than 
compensating for the slight deficiency in size. It is a regretable fact, 
indeed, that too many of the large-flowered varieties are shy bloomers, 
and for decorative purposes they cannot be compared with the smaller 
but freer sorts. Besides the scarlets, there is a race of the yellow- 
flowered Pearcei type. A dwarf race of the Davisiand Yeitchii types, 
with representatives of several other species, are also grown in large 
quantities, and were extremely beautiful. B. Froebeli, so very distinct 
from the others, is a rather attractive plant with its large rough 
woolly leaves and round scarlet flowers, and it is rarely seen in such 
good condition as it is at the Durdham Down Nursery. The useful 
B. semperflorens, with its rosy-tinted variety, is grown by the thou¬ 
sand, and certainly the two plants are almost invaluable for winter 
decoration, not only on account of their freely-produced white and 
rosy flowers, but because the foliage is of such a fresh, shining, bright 
green colour—in itself a great recommendation. 
Florists’ flowers constitute an important feature at this nursery, all 
the popular kinds being largely and well grown. The firm is much 
noted for their Balsams, and, judging by the plants in some of the 
houses, their fame is well merited. Three self colours are particularly 
good—viz., purple, scarlet, and white, all pure; the purple rich, the 
scarlet brilliant, and the white clear. The flowers, too, are very large, 
full, of good form, and abundant. Striped, mottled, and other parti- 
