358 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 1,19»3. 
“Find wliat is wanted, grow it better than anybody else, treat 
the public fairly in putting nothing bad at the bottom of a 
box or in the middle of a bundle, and confidence will be gained, 
then trade follows and success is certain.” That is the delivery of 
a man worth listening to, and others who have been successful 
know how true the utterance is. Inferior culture, bad marketing, 
and especially “ dodgery,” are what Mr. Herbst and such as he 
condemns, well knowing that no one can sell inferior produce 
profitably or deceive the public for very long. We leave after a 
pleasurable visit a good and genial man, wishing he may enjoy a 
long and happy eventide in his pretty Ivy-clad villa between 
Richmond and Kew. 
But on departing, Lilies linger in the mind, and we remember 
that Twickenham is the next station, and that Messrs. Hawkins 
and Bennett grow them by and for the million. We found Mr. 
Hawkins at home directing the cutting out of canvas for covering 
those of his beds that are wanted to succeed others which are 
covered with glass. They are about 6 feet wide, enclosed between 
planks on edge, and sashes or covers placed across the enclosures, 
that are filled, row after row of them, with vigorous Lilies, for 
they are thoroughly well grown. When flowers are wanted early 
a portable boiler is placed near a glass-covered bed, and pipes run 
round for heating. The cost of production is not great, and small 
bunches, when sold in huge quantities at even a moderate price, 
leave a good profit behind them. Lily growing in Mr. Hawkins’s 
way has grown into an industry, of which he by no means enjoys 
the monopoly ; and he does not appear as if he wanted, as he 
conveys the impression of being a man of generous instincts— 
a live and let live sort of individual, who looks well after his 
business, and does not trouble himself beyond that. He is a veteran 
in growing flowers for the million, and has attended Covent Garden 
Market for forty years, where business often commences at three or 
four o’clock in the morning, but has relinquished the duties of 
salesman, and now “ sees to things ” at home, no doubt pretty 
sharply. 
The Victoria Lily of the Valley has been the chief market 
variety for years, and the favourite at Twickenham. A very robust 
and early form known as the Jubilee is now being increased, and a 
large bed of it protected with sashes was flowering grandly, the 
Victoria covered at the same time being apparently ten days later, 
but the earlier flowers when fine pay the best. 
In addition to Lilies of the Valley, Maidenhair Ferns are grown 
in thousands for cutting. Several houses are a mass of green 
fronds, the plants in 5 and 6-inch pots, with here and there a larger 
specimen hoisted above them. The fronds, grown large and “ hard,” 
pay well. Gently brushing his hands over a specimen in passing 
in a fondling sort of way, Mr. Hawkins remarked, “ That chap’s 
given me Os. worth,” and was rapidly perfecting another fine crop. 
“ Demand great ? ” quoth the guide, inquiringly. “ Great ! ” was 
the response, “ we can hardly keep pace with it. Why Mr. Wills 
will often order 300 bunches at once—big handfuls, but they must 
be good and then goes on soliloquisingly, “Yes ; Mr. Wills has 
done much to create a demand for plants and flowers, and to 
increase the trade all round.” 
Then Pelargoniums, chiefly Zonals, are grown in enormous 
numbers, both as “ market plants ” and for supplying flowers for 
cutting. But the winter has been cruel to these plants. There 
was nothing but frost, and no sun for six weeks, plus the poisonous 
fogs. These brought off the leaves to such an extent that no less 
that twenty-two barrowloads were removed. But the plants now 
look as if nothing had happened, which shows how clever these 
market m^n are in making things grow. 
Mr. Hawkins did not hesitate to name the varieties he found 
the most productive. As a pink Constance holds the field for 
freedom, fine blooms, good trusses, and charming colour. Four or 
five whites have each some point of merit, the distinctions being 
never so well seen as when hundreds of plants are grown together 
in “ blocks.” Eureka is the earliest. Then comes “ The Seedling,” 
always pure, never “ tints,” and The Queen, while Yiphetos is 
retained because of its freedom, though the flowers individually are 
not of good form. Of single scarlets De Lesseps is a prime 
favourite, while West Brighton Gem and John Gibbons are classed 
amongst the usefuls. As a single crimson Henry Jacoby is mainly 
relied on, and seldom fails to produce rich trusses freely. Of 
doubles Duke of Albany has passed the old favourite “ Raspail,” 
and now leads the way with its velvety rich red semi-double 
flowers in neat trusses on erect stems. A fine winter and spring 
variety is the Duke no doubt, indeed good all the year round. But 
there is a new comer, a home sport, like a “ Raspail ” in foliage, 
but with better flowers, and the habit and light stalk of West 
Brighton Gem. It is prized as possessing a combination of virtues, 
and its name is Twickenham Gem. 
“I suppose you gum your flowers, Mr. Hawkins,” observed the 
guide. “ Yes, every one. Here, where’s that tin, let me show the 
young man.” Forth came the little broad-based tin, like a lady’s 
sewing machine oiler, but with a very thin curving spout for 
dropping the gum exactly where wanted. Taking a truss in one 
hand and the tin in the other the pressure of the thumb did the 
rest, and the flowers were gummed with deftness and celetity.. 
They then travel safely and remain attractive over the longfSt 
possible time. “ Make your own gum ?” “ No, it isn’t often we 
have time, but it’s simply made by mixing ^ lb. of white shellac 
in 2 quarts of methylated spirit ; if you want a small quantity 
reduce the proportions, and you will find it answer the purpose 
well.” Thank you, Mr. Hawkins ; three-quarters of a pound of 
shellac to a quart of spirit, 6 ozs. to a pint, 3 ozs. to half a pint. 
That is about it, if I am not out in my reckoning. 
This is all I can tell. We were tired of sight-seeing that day, 
but the courtesy of all the men we met will long be remembered. 
And now I am tired of writing. The guide said if I would do 
what I could and send it to him he would “touch it up.” How- 
far his “touchings” go I shall be curious to see, but am hoping 
for the best.—A Novice. 
CURRENT NOTES. 
A Garden Difficulty. 
The answers to correspondents column is always full of the 
best of information, and it is very rarely, if ever, that the best 
informed or most critical reader will challenge the replies there 
given to correspondents. Your answers to “J. J. A.” (page 315) 
and “S. J. A.” (page 335) are so good in every way that they 
ought to be carefully studied by the numerous noble—market 
gardener, nursery—men, and others who now wish to make th ir 
gardens pay by selling their “ surplus produce.” It is actually 
believed that such a garden—a large private garden—exists. I.s 
this so ? 
I know of a nobleman’s garden that is supposed to pay for 
itself, but it is so much like a market garden, and the family re¬ 
quirements so very small as compared to its capacities, that it could 
scarcely be accepted as a fair specimen. In addition, the produce 
consumed by the family is booked at much higher prices than the 
same produce would command in the open market ; and even after 
that I do not think the garden clears its own expenses. I aho 
know a home farm that is supposed to pay a clear 4^ per cent. 
The bailifl: received a part of his education on the estate of the 
above nobleman. The farm is not debited with any rent, tl e 
produce supplied to the mansion is charged at top—and sometimes 
fictitious—market prices, and if bare, and very frequently sho't, 
weights and measures. 'There being no transference of cash, the 
complaints of the cook and the housekeeper are ignored. The 
bailifP’s salary is not included in the accounts. Your able writer 
in the “ Home Farm ” would find that there is at least one “ home 
farm ” in the country that is a standing example of how “ not to 
do it ” were he to visit it ; and yet the proprietor really believes 
that farm pays him 4^ per cent. 
I think there are many gardens that could be made to “ pay ” 
in the same way, but I should not like to be the owner of them, 
and have to find the cash. To keep a horse, employ it for two 
days drawing manure, charge 10s. per day for horse and man, credit 
the sovereign to the garden, and fail to charge it on the manure, h? 
a charming way of making farms and gardens “ pay.” 
