August 3, 1693, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
107 
largely for ornament and use against walls, fences, and as screens, the 
abundant crops must be mostly, if not entirely, due to self-fertilisation. 
Indeed, it is doubtful if humble bees contribute to the setting of Beans, 
for in towns they are by no means plentiful, and French Beans set 
abundantly under glass when the bees are asleep. Besides this, the 
humble bees are never seen partial to Beans, and work most on wild 
plants, though they will visit exotics in cases of emergency, and some¬ 
times damage Beans by boring a hole in the calyx to obtain the nectar 
more easily. In that case the flowers are not fertilised, and the seeds 
become abortive. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that certain 
plants—that is, Red Clover, are dependent on humble bees for their 
fertilisation, and they may generally be regarded as useful allies through 
their conveying pollen from flower to flower.—G. Abbev. 
FRITILLARIA ARMENA. 
Among the dwarf-growing Fritillarias, the species depicted in the 
illustration (fig. 17) occupies a prominent place. As the specific name 
implies, F. armena is a native of Armenia, and was introduced in 1878, 
but it is not generally well known in gardens. It is a charming little 
plant, growing about 6 inches in height. The flowers are brownish 
purple, and as will be seen by referring to the woodcut, are small^ 
campanulate, and slightly drooping. They are usually produced in 
April. There is a yellow form of this species named F. a. fusco-lutea. 
This was introduced in 1887 and is a native of Smyrna. 
The engraving was prepared from a sketch taken at the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, where the choicer Fritillarias can be seen in bloom 
during the spring and early summer. F. armena can be grown in 
sheltered positions on a rockery or border, or in pots in a cool green¬ 
house. 
COOMBE COURT. 
Amongst the residences and gardens that so finely decorate the 
lower portion of the Duke of Cambridge’s estate at Coombe, Kingston- 
on-Thames, there are few prettier or more admirably kept than is that 
under notice. For some years it was the residence of Mr. Watney, but 
now is the property of Mr. W. A. Bevan, one of a well-known banking 
firm, and Mr. Springthorpe is the able and esteemed gardener. The 
front or upper side of the grounds abuts on a new road that runs 
through Coombe Warren, and there are seen on the outer wall, which is most 
pleasingly covered with Ivies planted outside, evidence of the neatness 
which prevails within. The lower side of the grounds, probably one- 
third of a mile distant, abuts on to Coombe Lane, where a long line of 
close-trimmed Lime trees shows again the estimation in which order and 
neatness is held. The fine house, one of red brick, stands on the upper 
margin, and for that reason obtains some splendid views over the county 
of Surrey, the wjiich spreads out south like a beautiful panorama. 
In the grounds the centre portion comprises two or three enclosures, 
in which cows luxuriate, whilst surrounding these are extensive 
shrubberies and walks, all admirably kept, and where there are many 
beautiful trees, that are not at all common, whilst there are some 
efiectively planted flower beds on the upper terraces for the summer. 
In the spring it is possible to look down in divers places in the grounds 
of really grand masses of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other flowering 
shrubs, the which, even at remote distances, have been planted to be 
seen from the terrace. Kalmias do wonderfully here. 
There are good walled kitchen gardens admirably cropped, and a 
large number of houses, in which fruit and flowers are well grown, 
whilst there seems to be not an inch of level ground in the place. 
A good tennis court has been formed, and, in spite of the sand which 
forms so much of the subsoil, trees and shrubs thrive splendidly. 
I was much interested in the fine wall of Cherries. The trees are in 
the best of health, very clean, and some of them reaching to the top of 
the 9-feet wall, also run from 12 to 16 feet in length, and in all cases 
were carrying heavy crops of fruit. They were all close netted; the 
nets, however, not hanging in immediate contact with the leaves, but 
held off from some 3 feet at the base, slanting up to the top, by long 
bamboo rods. 
Asked whether much trouble had been found from aphis, Mr. Spring¬ 
thorpe said that when the points of the summer shoots were being 
infested, he cut them all bare back, had their trimmings carefully 
removed at once, and burnt, and the fly had since given no further 
trouble. Of course the fruit was a little less in size than usual, owing 
to the drought, but then none of the fruits had cracked, as is so 
commonly the case, when rain is plentiful. 
From the earliest variety. Early May, fruits for tarts were gathered 
early in May, and for dessert in the middle of the month. Early 
Rivers followed, then May Duke, Frogmore Bigarreau, Black Eagle, 
Bigarreau Napoleon, and latest the Old Bigarreau. The Cherry portion 
of the wall is about 100 yards long, and capitally furnished throughout. 
In one part of the garden low down a standard Morello is fruiting 
heavily, whilst within 20 feet is another that has hardly a fruit upon it. 
Both were in full bloom in the middle of April, when as is well known 
one or two sharp white frosts prevailed. These frosts, erratic in effect, 
killed the blossom on one tree and left the other unharmed, yet both 
were apparently equally exposed.—A. D. 
LIVERPOOL SUMMER SHOW. 
July 26th and 27th. 
Nevek perhaps in the history of the Liverpool Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation has there been a better all-round Show than that which was 
opened on the Review Ground, Sefton Park, on Wednesday and Thursday 
last. In every class the competition was of the keenest character, and 
the exhibits numbered 100 'more than last year. Although the large 
marquee in which the plants were shown covered some 3000 square yards, 
the entire space was fully occupied, the centre portion containing one 
broad stretch of beautiful foliage and flowering plants. 
Specimen Plants and Groups. 
Mr. Finch, gardener to W. Marriott, Esq., Coventry, secured the 
highest award for eight stove and greenhouse plants, having grand 
examples of Cycas circinalis, Kentias australis and Fosteriana, and 
FIG. 17.— FRITILLARIA ARMENA. 
a fine Croton Queen Victoria; Erica impressa, Phoenocoma prolifera 
Barnesi 5 feet across well flowered, Ixoras Fraseri 5 feet, and a 
grand salicifolia. Mr. Cromwell, gardener to T. Sutton Timmis, Esq., 
Cleveley, Allerton, was a close second, his grand Croton Queen 
Victoria 7 feet 6 inches across being the admiration of all. This 
exhibitor also showed splendid plants of Alocasia Lowi, Statiee profusa 
and Ixora Williamsi. Mr. R. Pinnington, gardener to Mrs. Banner, 
Blacklow House, Roby, was third in this class with smaller plants. 
There was a close competition between Messrs. Jellicoe, gardener to 
F. H. Gossage, Esq., J.P., Camp Hill, Woolton, and Healey, gardener to 
Col. Wilson, Hillside, Allerton, for six stove and greenhouse flowering 
plants, the former winning by the superiority of his foliage plants, 
which contained two magnificent bush Crotons Countess and Mortfor- 
tainensis, his best flowering specimens being Allamanda Hendersoni, 
Anthurium Andreanum. Mr. Healey staged beautiful examples of 
Crotons interruptus, aureus, and Queen Victoria; and Cycas revoluta. 
Erica impressa, and Allamanda Hendersoni. Mr. Leadbeater, gardener 
to W. J. Davey, Esq , Aigburth, a good third. Mr. Healey also succeeded 
in defeating Mr. Finch with four stove and greenhouse flowering plants, 
staging Allamanda Schotti, Erica Wilsoni, Ixora Williamsi, and 
Cypripedium barbatum. Mr. Finch had a fine Allamanda grandi- 
flora. Mr. Bracegirdle, gardener to W. H. Watts, Esq., Elm Hall, 
Wavertree, being third. In the class for three stove and greenhouse 
plants in flower, Mr. Jellicoe was first also for four fine-foliage plants, 
Mr. McFall and Mr. Healey taking second honours, whilst the latter 
succeeded in securing the prize for three Palms, Mr. Pinnington being 
