322 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 7, 1880. 
—the Fern-leaved Marquis of Lome, a handsome, sturdy grower, and The 
Queen, both of which were raised here and are great acquisitions. 
Another splendid Fern-leaved seedling, The Emperor, quite new, and with 
bright pinkish salmon Marquis of Lome flowers, is very fine. Older 
varieties, such as Marquis of Lome and Princess Louise, are extensively 
cultivated. 
Doubles also have much attention, one of the finest being Maiden’s 
Blush, a beautiful semi-double Fern-leaved variety, and Miss Eva Fish, 
also a very fine variety. A. F. Barron, Marchioness of Exeter, Annie 
Hillier, Pooli, Alba magnifies, Purple King, Peach Blossom, and others 
are grown. Some new varieties recently bought in are coming on, of 
which a few notes can be furnished later on. 
Strong bushy Chrysanthemums, naturally grown, are plentiful here, 
so also are Bouvardias and Tuberoses, and some lovely young specimen 
plants of Celosia plumosa, invariably done well here, are indeed glorious 
autumn decorative plants.— Traveller. 
ROSES AT THE NATIONAL SHOW. 
A press of important matter has given me scant time for anything but 
actual duties, and until lately “ our Journal ” has been hastily conned and 
set aside. Once only, when my blood was rather “ up ” at the murmurings 
of some small Rose-growers and the National, did I threaten to inflict on 
your columns a few lines, but it ended in a few unfinished thoughts that 
were thrown aside. Now, my old friend, “E. M.’s ” paperon the Roses at 
the National touches me, and I venture to think that by this method of 
election you cannot arrive at a fair idea of the best Roses for a beginner. 
It is very interesting, but it really depends on the character of the season 
what Roses are exhibited. For instance, judging by this list, Mons. 
Noman should be obtained by every young exhibitor intending to win 
honours. I picture the youthful aspirant’s regrets in the future, his dis¬ 
appointment at fine buds that refuse altogether to open because there has 
been rain. Duchesse de Yallombrosa again—which my good friend, 
“ E. M.” actually puts into the selected dozen—I have grown steadily for 
the last five or six years, and have never had even during the past dry 
season a single beautiful bloom. Even at its best it has looked as if some 
one had accidentally sat on it for a few seconds before discovering it. To 
me it is always splendidly full of promise, I know no Rose more so, but 
utterly devoid of performance. A marvellously strong stem, a most 
promising large bud ; but when this expands it is inferior in size to many 
Roses less promising in their earlier stages. Its terribly strong abundant 
thorns are also an additional disadvantage. As far as I am concerned, 
being only a “ small grower,” I intend to discard it altogether, and I cer¬ 
tainly cannot advise any intending purchaser of a dozen varieties to order 
Her Grace, especially with Baroness Rothschild and Mervcille de Lyon 
already deservedly in the dozen. 
Another, a great favourite of mine, Camille Bernardin, surely is far 
higher than its merits actually deserve. I am very fond of it, the per¬ 
fume is delicious, and the Rose itself very charming, especially some of 
the autumn blooms. Of Etoile de Lyon, having now grown it four years, 
I have never seen a respectable bloom, rarely one that opens at all. I 
gave away several plants last year, and shall get rid of more this. It is 
with me a first-rate grower, and voith tout. “ E. M.” does not put in 
Catherine Mermet. Certainly this year I have not cut from any of my 
Teas blooms that gave me greater pleasure than this exquisite gem. Ten 
or a dozen, morning after morning, each fresh bloom as lifted up, appear¬ 
ing more exquisitely charming than the last. 
I would endorse all the good opinion of Ulrich Brunner that Mr. B. R. 
Cant has given. It is in every way good, robust, a free and constant 
bloomer, large, yet not coarse, one of the greatest acquisitions we have had 
of late years. Yiolette Bowyer has disappointed me till this year. But 
where, oh, where, is the queen of H.P.’s in my friend, “ E. M.’s ” list 1 
It has made me think of our old friend Mr. Radclylfe, who never would 
recommend Marie Baumann because she hung her head. But surely she 
should be in every dozen or half-dozen or less selected Roses. In form 
equal to any, in numbers [of blooms rarely surpassed, fairly hardy, its 
only drawback in the exhibition stand being the weakness of stem. I 
cannot understand her omission. 
Lady Mary Fitzwilliam is a beatiful Rose, but thus far with me she 
utterly refuses to make any wood. Gioire Lyonnaise has flowered with me 
this autumn. I think, though it can only by a great stretch of courtesy be 
called a yellow Rose, that it is still an acquisition, especially if cut 
early. 
Most interesting as is this form of table, I must give my humble 
opinion that as a guide in the selection of Roses it is altogether mislead¬ 
ing. It will tell to all Rose-glowers years hence what kind of season it 
was, but this is not a reliable plan on which to advise an intending Rose 
buyer what Roses he should purchase, at least such is the humble opinion 
of—Y. B. A. Z. 
BANBURY ONIONS. 
Amongst Onions for spring sowing the Banbury is a general favourite, 
and after trying many types of them I conclude there are several forms. 
The true variety is a useful Onion, but some of those bearing the name 
are quite unworthy of it. In many instances I have found red, white, 
and grey bulbs amongst them, some being elongated in form while others 
are globular ; but the true Banbury is round and flat, of regular form, 
ihe colour being a bright golden straw, the neck small as a rule, and the 
roots veiy few and fine considering the size the bulbs attain. I forward 
you a bulb, which represents the type of Webb’s Banbury. It was grown 
with hundreds similarly large without any special attention. Indeed, 
with the exception of Dutch hoeing to keep the weeds down they received 
no other attention from the time of sowing until they were harvested.— 
J. Muir. 
[The specimen is exactly as described by our correspondent—very 
large, very flat, and of a bright clear straw oolour.] 
" THE HOME FOR FLOWERS,” SWANLEY, KENT. 
I have just returned from a run through England, north and south, 
and much of Ireland, and I am trying to collect my confused ideas, for 
the mind does get dazed when beauteous objects so many and so varied 
constantly pass in review for days and weeks at a time. One of my most 
agreeable recollections was our visit to Mr. Cannell, sen., and the “ Home 
for Flowers ” at Swanley. I was accompanied by Mrs. Malcolmson’s head 
gardener, of Minella, near this town, Mr. John Crehan. I propose, so as 
to avoid repetition and unduly trespassing on your columns, to divide 
the notes I was tempted to make as follows :— 
We proceeded by the London, Chatham, and Dover line from Victoria 
station ; but the “ Viaduct ” or Ludgate Hill would be equally convenient, 
the distance being only fifteen miles. The nurseries are situated on a 
warm southern slope of about twenty acres, a large portion being covered 
with upwards of a score ranges of glass, one half being on each side of a 
central avenue. In general terms it is bounded on the south and east by 
the public roads, and on the north by the aforementioned line of rails, 
thus having unusual facilities of transit. An unlimited supply of water 
—there are hydrants all over the nursery—and a manure dep&t adjoining 
are further advantages that practical men knowing something of Kent 
in summer can appreciate. The soil is a fine yellow loam, readily yield¬ 
ing to cultivation, and with the treatment received evidently the most 
suitable for the object intended. All around are fruit and Strawberry 
gardens, enabling one to realise the phrase, “ Kent is the garden of 
England.” All this we could see from the higher ground near the 
Swanley station. We were fortunate in finding Mr. Cannell, sen., at 
home, though his sons or foremen are always very pleased to see visitors 
and aocompany them around ; but for floral enthusiasm, love for his pets, 
and a keen eye for colour and effect the founder is remarkable. 
Double Zonal Pelargoniums.— I should have liked to have re¬ 
ferred to the seed department, the offices, the despatch and cut flower 
houses, in which orders are executed for all parts of the world, &c.; but 
possibly all this has been told in your columns before, so after parsing a 
number of propagating and trial glass ranges we enter the double Zonal 
show house, 100 feet long by 12 wide. I mention these dimensions, as I 
believe with a few exceptions the score or so of houses are uniform. The 
first thing that strikes a visitor for the first time is the piping for main¬ 
taining a steady temperature being above and not below. Here we are 
assured at Christmas and through the winter this house is still gay. 
Special varieties and young plants specially prepared, grown, and hard¬ 
ened are suitable for this purpose, as shall be noticed further on, and 
can at all times be here cheaply procured. To have doubles in perfection 
in winter it is in addition necessary to have the temperature as near 65° 
as possible, and to maintain a buoyant atmosphere a small-bore addi¬ 
tional pipe in front of the stage is then utilised. I first glanced through 
to see the new acquisitions, and among the whites Le Cygne still comes 
first. Rather curious that all at once, both at home and in the United 
States, two raisers, Messrs. Miller and Thorpe, should succeed in getting 
such sterling novelties as Spade Guinea and Progression (syn., Australian 
Gold), orange scarlet, with distinct shades of yellow ; some day a pure 
yellow seems probable. Blanche Perfecta received a first-class certificate 
as an improvement on Le Cygne ; but, though I may be singular, I prefer 
the old love to the new. Going over the house a second time to select 
two or three in each class of colours of superior merit in size, colour, 
habit, and floriferousness, we noted of scarlets or shades thereof, Kobus, 
Fritz Goebel, and Mr. Henry Cannell, one of Thorpe’s American intro¬ 
ductions, and that we noticed as a favourite in Covent Garden. Of pink 
doubles I have a fancy still for Lord Mayor, it flowers so freely, and 
with so low a temperature, though Madame Thibaut has surpassed, only 
to be itself exceeded by Roseum Superbum. Tendresse seems to stand 
fir6t of the rose-coloured doubles, to be followed close in popularity by 
Lord Derby and Jules Simon, lighter pink. Of those with orange or 
salmon colours I noted Belle Nancienne, Carillon, and James Markland ; 
while of lighter tints of the same character, and that all should have, 
were Danas, Erl King, and Althaea ; of purples, Etendard and M. l’Abbc 
Jalabert will be desirable additions, while for small pots and unending 
bloom grow the little beauties Comte-se de Tanneberg, Princess Stephanie, 
and Jeanne Canot. 
Single Zonals for Pot Culture. —I may remark that the 
number and size of the trusses surprised us when we noticed that none 
of the pots exceeded 6 inches in diameter, and some were only 4J, but 
on inquiry ascertained the only stimulant they received at long intervals 
was a manure sent out by the firm. If we were struck with the glow and 
brilliancy of the double Zonal Pelargoniums, wbat can describe the 
dazzling intensity of the singles ? They continue to improve, but many 
of the old ones will long continue in public favour, though neither the 
pips or trusses may be so large as the new. Of the former comes 
Favourite, cerise scarlet ; Omphale, velvety salmon ; Mrs. Naish, ccul&ted, 
white crimson centre ; Lady Sheffield, violet pink, largely bedded out 
this year ; and Eureka, a robust-growing white, useful in winter. Of the 
newer varieties that all should grow as distinct advances, I place erst 
Mr. James Douglas, immense crimson truss, 9 inches across. Of the 
same character, magenta colour, is’ Amy Kohn. Among single white3, 
