August 12,1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 139 
Growing these Stocks from seed is very simple. I sow the seed 
early in February in boxes, or in prepared beds ; in either case it 
is better not to give a higher temperature than 50° to 55°. When 
the seedlings have formed their first leaves is the most uncertain 
period in their life, and if grown in a high temperature they are 
liable to damp-off by hundreds. I seldom lose many, as venti¬ 
lation is carefully attended to, and if water is required the boxes 
are plunged in a tank. Should the seedlings commence “ damp¬ 
ing-off ” they are immediately transferred to cold frames. After 
being a few days there a bed is prepared in a cold brick frame 
by mixing together a large quantity of mushroom dung and soil, 
and in this the plants are pricked-out. When established they 
grow very rapidly, and by the end of April they are transferred 
to borders prepared for them. I prefer the white and purple varie¬ 
ties to the others, but the new crimson is very fine.—R. P. B. 
A WEEK OUT.—No. 4. 
CHISWICK. 
On June the 12 th I visited the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens at Chiswick, which, although not now noted for its shows, 
is still the backbone of horticulture in this country. Unassuming 
labour is everywhere in these gardens bestowed upon horticulture. 
Whatever the skilful cultivator can bring to light by careful well- 
conducted experiment is done in no uncertain manner. Whatever 
is necessary for comparison in respect of the most esteemed vege¬ 
tables, fruits, and plants is represented by complete collections at 
the time of experiment, so that the merits of the several varieties 
is patent, and the testing of new varieties complete from the data 
thereby secured. That much useful work is done there deserves 
to be more extensively known. Much real horticultural work is 
done and thoroughly, reflecting great credit upon the Society’s 
talented and urbane Superintendent Mr. Barron. 
Of the multitudinous subjects provided by Mr. Barron for the 
instruction of Fellows and visitors a volume might be written with 
no little profit to the horticulturist; but I have neither the oppor¬ 
tunity nor the capacity of describing or criticising the treasures 
at this establishment, but some of these noted may not be devoid of 
interest. In Ewing’s glass case or covered wall were very healthy 
Vines in their second season from planting, making stout short- 
jointed wood, and having good firm-textured leaves, each Vine 
having shown a profusion of fruit, which had been reduced to 
about eight bunches to each rod ; the footstalks of the bunches, 
as also those of the berries, being stout, which are among the 
essentials to well-swelled berries and the avoidance of shanking. 
The Vines were producing roots freely from the collar and were 
in the best possible health. The varieties were principally Gros 
Colman, Alicante, and Alnwick Seedling. When ripened-off the 
effect must be telling, as the bunches are of the size and form 
that swell off large berries and colour well. Against the back 
wall Tomatoes (Hathaway’s Excelsior) in pots were promising 
an abundant crop of fruit. In another vinery were Vines finishing 
off an even crop, being serviceable bunches of fair size, good in 
colour and bloom. These Vines are growing in loam without any 
of those many ingredients considered necessary for mixing with 
what is here only considered necessary, the results justifying the 
practice. Muscat Hamburgh (Black Muscat) is proved by Mr. 
Barron not to be different from Venn's Muscat. Royal Ascot is 
considered good in every respect for pots. The conservatory, 
now a vinery, is very interesting, the crop of Grapes being very 
regularly disposed in bunches that will certainly average 14 lb. 
each, the size most desirable, and such as almost invariably finish 
well. The Vines show fruit so freely that probably one-half only 
is allowed to remain for the crop, which amounts to 4500 bunches, 
and though carrying full crops annually the Vines were in the best 
of health, and may owe their fertility to Mr. Barron’s practice of 
yearly encouraging new growth to replace older growth, a portion 
being cut away each season. This, whilst it does not overcrowd, 
is clearly the extension system modified, and one that might be 
followed in the case of Vines that have been planted some years 
with great advantage. Barbarossa (Gros Guillaume) is not found 
to fruit freely on the old or close-pruning system, but fruits here 
admirably from not being very closely pruned. 
In the orchard house was a moderate crop of fruit, Galande 
Peach and some others being well fruited, also Downton Necta¬ 
rine ; but as a rule orchard trees this season, though they set the 
fruit well, have made much stronger growth than usual, and, as 
invariably happens after a sunless season, the fruits have not 
stoned satisfactorily. The trees, trained obliquely against the 
Peach wall, had very little fruit. Both Peach and Nectarine trees 
had very healthy foliage and no blister. Apricots were few ; 
Plums had dropped, and pyramid Pears were very scant generally, 
there being a good sprinkling on some, notably Beurre Gris. 
Apples were somewhat better ; some cordon trees were profusely 
fruited. A pit full of the different varieties of Capsicum will be 
interesting by-and-by, the bright-coloured fruit of these plants 
rendering them highly decorative ; and another pit was devoted 
to Egg Plants, also very pretty, and must come into more general 
use for culinary purposes. The yellow-leaved Red Currant as 
well as the yellow-leaved Black Currant, having fine bright yellow 
foliage, would be highly ornamental for planting, also useful in 
coverts, on account of the berries for winged game, the Black 
Currant being suitable for planting in damp situations. Asparagus 
was there, as in many other places, killed or the plantations spoiled, 
and Seakale was equally as bad. Early Munich Turnip showed 
several days in advance of Strap-leaved in being fit for use, a 
point of some consequence in early Turnips. 
A charming bit of rockery was very gay with many plants. 
Some of the most noticeable were Iberis Tenoreana, the best of 
the genus, having large heads of lilac bloom. Viburnum plicatum 
occupied a prominent position, its large snow balls being very 
effective, this and Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora are two of 
the finest of hardy white-flowering shrubs. Campanula pulla 
with its profuse bells of brightest blue was really grand. Veronica 
rupestris, even more bright and of the loveliest blue. Dianthus 
alpinus, with its deep rose flowers spotted with crimson. D. plu- 
marius, pale pink and dark ring ; very fine. Armerias or Thrift 
that in pink have few equals. Aralia Sieboldi, introduced in pro¬ 
minent position, from its boldness, is telling ; the Feathered 
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari monstrosum) with its large showy 
heads of soft purple ; and a magnificent mass of Orchis foliosa, 
having lilac-purple flowers spotted with crimson, were very beau¬ 
tiful. Among herbaceous plants were Potentillas, very fine ; 
Irises deservedly coming to the fore, for no Orchids excel them in 
beauty ; Delphiniums, Pyrethrums, &c. 
Cape Pelargoniums at Chiswick were unique. There was the origi¬ 
nal Zonal, the parent of the fine varieties we now possess ; and what 
an advance has been made from this with its pink narrow petals 
and zoned leaf ! Not less interesting is the original Nosegay with 
its still more narrow scarlet petals. Pelargonium crispum, one of 
the Cape species, is as lovely a plant as can be had for affording 
sprays for cutting. The double Pelargoniums were a feature of 
great interest, especially those from M. Lemoine ; the double- 
flowered Ivy-leaved being very fine, especially Beaute d’Orleans, 
bright deep rose, very beautiful, the habit being very compact. 
Zonal and Show Pelargoniums were well represented, and there 
was a grand display of Tuberous Begonias in one of the houses. 
Those were remarkably well grown, the plants being sturdy, and 
carrying large highly coloured flowers with good foliage. Pelar¬ 
gonium bicolor is an old Cape species of interest, and by no means 
common is the very beautiful and distinct Canna iri diflora with 
rose flowers, very effective for a conservatory. 
There were plants of varied description for decorative purposes, 
such as Palms, Dracsenas, &c. Fuchsia dependens, having bright 
scarlet flowers, may be mentioned as fine for pillars ; and F. co- 
rymbiflora is equally fine for a similar purpose. In the Fuchsia 
house are some great curiosities, such as F. procumbens ; the 
lovely Venus Victrix, one of the finest small decorative plants in 
existence ; F. conica, small bright red flowers at the points of 
the shoots ; F. ignea, orange-scarlet tubular flowers ; and others of 
greater pretensions. Tuberous Begonias succeed well at Chiswick 
in beds. Iberis gibraltarica is the finest of all the perennial 
Candytufts, and Myosotis Imperatrice Elizabeth yields to none in 
the brightness of its blue. 
Gloxinias were a speciality, and the collection, or rather selec¬ 
tion was fine. Neriums were in strong force, there being many varie¬ 
ties, in colours of white, yellow, rose to deep red. Plants of Torenia 
Fournieri in 6-inch pots had lovely flowers, sky blue with dark 
indigo spots, and is highly ornamental, being a greenhouse annual, 
it being spoiled by too much heat. Fragaria indica is a fine plant 
for baskets, being of slender growth, producing yellow flowers at 
the joints succeeded by highly coloured fruits. It is not hardy, 
or only in sheltered situations, otherwise this Strawberry would 
be a fine rock plant. Many other plants are to be seen at Chiswick 
which few hear of, or only occasionally by a paragraph in the 
press ; but the best of all means of unearthing its treasures is 
to go and see—see plants being propagated, new, choice, and rare, 
for distribution among the Fellows ; and if the visitor be 
accompanied by Mr. Barron the intellect must be dull if some 
new idea is not obtained and much instruction afforded. Old 
Chiswick has done much in the past, and is still doing work 
tending to advance horticulture ; and may it long continue its 
career of usefulness, taking the lead in all matters calculated to 
promote the interests of gardening and gardeners. 
June 14th. —My object this day was to see fruit and market 
gardens, but after much travelling by rail and on foot I only saw 
