October 19, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
369 
tunately no amount of anxious watching on the part of an enthusiastic 
Kose grower will induce his plants to come into flower if they have not 
sufficient warmth at the roots to enable them to do so, besides which 
a very late Rose season generally means late spring frosts and other 
evils which check the growth of the plants and consequently disfigure 
the first cut of blooms—the only one available in most districts at 
anything like an early show, in fact it would have been just like 
holding our metropolitan show in a backward season during the second 
week in June. We all know, for instance, what the Drill Hall Show 
(held June 2l8t) was like in the late summer of 1891. Therefore, I 
repeat, sooner or later this must prove our doleful experience at ‘‘ the 
National,” particularly if an early fixture and a terribly backward 
season happen to unite their destructive forces in order to ruin it. This 
is not a matter of opinion at all but of temperature. 
Turning now to the friendly remarks of “ Y. B. A. Z.,” he says, “ I 
have always thought this analysis showed rather the Roses that stood 
best the test of certain seasons ; this has been particularly brought out 
in the present analysis.” Had he made this charge against any of my 
previous Rose analyses, and it is, I confess, a most natural conclusion to 
have come to, there might have been some grounds for this statement. 
He goes on to say, “ a season that is inimical to a certain Rose has an 
effect of a very damaging character on its position for many years.” 
Now this would undoubtedly be the case but for the precautions I have 
mentioned (paragraph 2). He quotes as an example La France, let 
me therefore give him the figures from which the average for this 
popular variety was obtained—35, 27, 33, 38, 38, 48, and 49—average 38'3. 
Had, however, the values for the full eight years been taken, instead of 
those for the first seven, its average would have been reduced to 35'3, 
still allowing it to retain its present position in the table. But Marquise 
de Castellane, the other Rose he names, if similarly treated, would at 
once fall from No. 15, the place now accorded to it, to No. 23. 
Is not “ Y. B. A. Z.” in error in classing Ernest Metz as a sport from 
Catherine Mermet? The plants do not seem to me alike in their habit 
of growth, the former being a much more sturdy grower. I obtained 
the date of Cleopatra from that handy little book of reference before 
referred to (the new catalogue of the N.R.S.), and therefore conclude it 
is correct. Catherine Mermet, Comtesse de Nadaillac, and The Bride 
were omitted from the select lists at the end of the analysis as not 
being, in my opinion, sufficiently good growers to recommend for general 
cultivation.—B. M., Berlihamsted. 
In my remarks on this in your last issue (page 331) there is a 
printer’s error. In the eighth line it ought to read, “ I cannot fancy 
that any exhibitor would prefer Ulrich Brunner to Marie Baumann.”— 
Y. B. A. Z. 
MESSRS. VEITCH & SONS’ LANGLEY NURSERIES. 
It is not so many years ago since Messrs. Veitch & Sons established 
themselves at Langley near Slough, in order to extend their fruit 
ground and go in extensively for home-grown seeds. They commenced 
with about 30 acres and now have 70, and judging by the half-worked 
brickfields all around, the time will come when the land will be worth a 
great deal more than the astute Chelsea firm paid for it, though it is 
quite possible that as it is first rate fruit soil and answers its purpose 
well, the brick speculators will have to do without it when the time 
comes for them to attempt its acquisition. Land that makes good bricks 
generally grows good fruit, and one has only to glance over the nursery 
stock to see that the present case is no exception to the rule. 
The Langley Nurseries are easily reached. Fast trains from 
Paddington run to Slough in a little over half an hour, and the grounds 
are seen from the line not long before the station is reached. Perhaps 
they are a mile away on the line side, and about double the distance 
round by the road. Travellers up and down the Great Western must 
find much to admire when the broad stretches of trees are in blossom, 
as well as later on when the herbaceous plants and annuals come into 
bloom. Probably also they note the handsome and substantial dwellings 
dotted here and there, and think, which is undoubtedly the case, that 
the Veitchian nursery is a model one and in every respect worthy of the 
great firm. 
SEED-GROWINa AND SEED-CLEANING. 
Many acres of the Langley Nurseries are devoted to seed-raising, choice 
stocks of both vegetables and flowers being grown there. At the present 
season cleaning is in full swing, and a good many hands were employed 
in thrashing Peas, cleaning Beet, and picking over flower seeds. The 
samples are just such as a seedsman would delight in, and the quantities 
are surprisingly great when it is considered that they are sold retail by 
the packet and ounce, and not wholesale by the pound and hundred¬ 
weight. There are, for instance, about 20 bushels of Crawford’s Beet, an 
excellent sample of seed, and still more of the popular Dell’s, which is 
the most in demand of all. Then there are large quantities of Veitch’s 
Mammoth Runner Bean, and amongst flowers miniature Sunflowers, 
Tagetes. Marigolds, Tropasolums, and hosts of others. Seed-growing 
and cleaning has grown to be quite a large business there, and the 
policy of securing home-grown stocks is found good, not only because 
of excellent samples being secured, but also in respect to accuracy of 
nomenclature. 
Roses. 
The Langley Nurseries are, as hinted, extensive, and the departments 
are many. The Roses form a great feature. As many as 24,000 
Manettis and Briars have been budded this year, and that does not 
represent all the propagating, for other stocks, notably the De la 
Grifferaie, are also employed. The last named ia found to be better 
than the Briars for many Teas and Noisettes, and is being used more 
and more every season. The quarters look wonderfully well consi¬ 
dering the dry season, and it may be noted that the nurseries have had 
to bear the brunt of the drought, the hills and woods not far away 
splitting many storms that promised to moisten the thirsty soil. There 
was hardly rain enough to lay the dust from February to the end of 
September, so that it can be easily understood how trying the season 
has been, and what great efforts have had to be made to keep the stock 
“ up to the mark.” It has been done, as anyone can see who cares 
to go. 
Orchids and Plants. 
Here enters Mr. Seden. The fogs got to be too much for his 
hybrids at Chelsea, and so structures have been put up for him at 
Langley, together with a commodious residence near by. At home 
amongst his millions of seedlings he ought to be happy, aud if appear¬ 
ances go for anything he is. So are the plants. Of seedling Cattleyas, 
Lselias, and Cypripediums, together with bi-generic hybrids, there are 
immense numbers, modest-looking now in the early stages of seedling- 
hood, but destined to occupy proud positions later on no doubt. One 
beautiful hybrid, a cross between Cattleya Bowringiana and C. maxima, 
named Chloris, was in bloom, and has since been certificated by the 
R.H.S. It was sown in 1886, and flowered last year, promising to be a 
remarkably free bloomer. The rich magenta carmine lip and the golden 
veining in the throat are very noteworthy. Another Cattleya named 
Phiedona, a cross between C. intermedia (pollen parent) and C. maxima, 
was also flowering, and has since received an award of merit. It is^ 
ivory white veined with pink, the lip narrow and flattened at the base 
ivory with magenta veins, and the throat tinged with gold. Its pleasing 
appearance, its period of flowering, and its delicious Honeysuckle-like 
fragrance, combine to make it a valuable form. An ivory-like Cypri- 
pedium named Cleola, a cross between C. Schlimi alba and C. reticulatum, 
is also a gem. It is a near approach to white, and flowers up the stem 
like the valuable Sedeni candidulum. There are other novelties, which 
will doubtless be produced anon. Phalmnopsia are splendidly grown, 
and so are Disas. 
A word must be said about the new Veronica Purple Queen, which was 
certificated not long ago. There is a fine stock, and judging by its 
bushy free-flowering habit it should prove a great acquisition for market 
work. 
Strawberries. 
Exit Mr. Seden, enter Mr. Morle. The chief of the fruit department, 
who acted as guide from London, lives at Southfielda, Fulham, where 
the great bulk of the trained trees are grown, and he is a master in their 
management. He has a good lieutenant at Slough, and the stock there 
bears the same impress of quality and skilful management as the magni¬ 
ficent material in the London nursery, which is the highest praise any¬ 
one could bestow. There are some Strawberries left yet, for many buy and 
plant at bulb-ordering time instead of earlier in the season. Mr. Allan’s 
trio are very highly thought of. Empress of India is a fine grower 
with British Queen flavour, and ready several days before the royal sort. 
Lord Suffield and Gunton Park are also good growers of high flavour 
and force well, besides being firm enough for travelling. These should 
be tried. Dr. Hogg, another Strawberry much esteemed, is well repre¬ 
sented, and BO is King of the Earlies, as well as all the older sorts. 
Waterloo is strongly recommended as a late variety that stands the sun 
well. It should not be picked when red, but left till it assumes the 
rich purplish hue which denotes perfect ripeness and rich flavour. 
Large Fruits. 
There are many acres of Apples, Pears and Plums, all the leading 
sorts being largely grown, and they are in the best condition. A large 
quarter of four-year-old standard Plums is very striking, and so are 
standard Apples on straight, clean, healthy stems, wanting no stakes to 
support them. These are as fine a collection of trees as any planter 
need wish to buy, and so are the three-year-old bush Apples, with 
Frogmore Prolific prominent amongst them. There is a quarter of 
pyramids budded on the Crab conspicuous for clean and vigorous 
growth. Two-year-old standards of Bramley’s Seedling are excellent 
material, and another Apple very noteworthy for its clean, healthy 
growth and good habit is Beauty of Stoke. This is unquestionably a 
fine variety, and one that ought to be tried. Apart from its qualities as 
a grower it bears freely and the fruit keeps well. Two-year-old 
Bismarcks are ahead of almost everything of their age. Lord Grosvenor, 
a valuable early Codlin, does spendidly at Langley, its growth being as 
clean as a well managed Croton and its foliage quite leathery. Young 
pyramid Pears of the principal sorts with a cordon tree planted 
between each pair form another impressive quarter. 
Trained Trees. 
Trained trees comprise Mr. Morle’s great forte. Every grower 
should go to Southfields, to see the stock there, and then arrange for 
another day at Langley. Popular Plums like Coe’s Golden Drop, 
Jefferson, Green Gage, Kirke’s, and Victoria are represented in hundreds, 
every tree a model of good management and cleanliness. Then there 
are Cherries, such as Bigarreau Napoleon, Governor Wood, Elton, Early 
Rivers, Black Tartarian, and Archduke, almost as numerous and equally 
good. High quality Pears like Doyenn^ du Comice and Marie Louise 
are grown in enormous numbers. There are more of these at South- 
