472 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 30, 1895. 
by members of the horticultural trade, it is but natural they should wish 
to stage things in their own way for business purposes, and that way is 
too often far from being attractive. Any attempt to compel certain 
styles of arrangement would be productive of a revolt, and therefore, 
even if the surroundings did admit of it, the production of artistic effects 
would be out of the question. 
It would he most unjust to assume that grace and elegance in the 
grouping of plants is not an attribute of the British people. That we 
are not in the concrete a tasteful people there can be no doubt, but we 
have had in the past abundant evidence, that given a free hand, we have 
numerous designers in floral arrangements who would be hard to beat 
anywhere. But when obliged to take the form they must necessarily 
do at the Temple, it is obvious that any grouper’s flighty fancy has to be 
restricted, and the best made of the difficulty. The long tents 
have side tables, and the centre ones are too narrow and rather too high. 
It would be a distinct advantage to exhibitors in these tents were the 
side tables placed on each side of the centre one, and a trifle lower, 
as then a finer face could be given to each collection, much more scope 
for arrangement, and a far bolder effect produced. 
The public would gain also in having only one face of plants or 
flowers to look at on either side, and thus save so much twisting of the 
neck as is now needful, and so much perambulation, as to see everything 
two turns round each tent are requisite, thus unduly crowding them, and 
making the visitor very tired. Even in the large tent, where the material 
was so fine and varied, very little of artistic effect was or could be seen. 
Where Palms or other common decorative plants were introduced 
naturally elegance could be combined with the grouping, but many 
things—balloon-shaped Clematises, large Caladiums, big pot Boses, 
Bhododendrons, Acers, and hardy flowering plants—do not present the 
most promising of material for grouping unless associated largely with 
other things. Mr. C. Turner’s group of Boses, thanks to the free use of 
the beautiful Crimson Bam bier, was undoubtedly very pleasing, and 
should furnish a valuable hint to others another year how to employ 
some graceful material if at hand. 
Of all plants naturally suited to produce eminently light elegant 
arrangements Orchids are of the best, and yet of all the immense 
numbers present none were so utilised. Presumably it cannot be 
otherwise, as each grower wishes to show off the abundance of his 
Orchid riches rather than to make with their aid the most elegant 
display. I observe the Council awarded Mr. Bivers a gold medal for 
his group of Nectarines in pots—a triumph in cultivation and transit- 
bat artistically of no merit. Would that next year a real award could 
be offered for the group of plants in the show, apart from intrinsic 
merit, that was most gracefully and artistically arranged. It should 
also be for groups in which not foliage plants such as Palms, but rather 
flowering plants comprised at least one-third. Such an award would, 
without in any way interfering with the present general arrangement, 
at least help to stimulate growers and exhibitors of groups in the 
direction of trying to do something artistic. 
Of course the groups in the large tent would have the best chance, 
but then, so far as practicable, all exhibitors who wished to compete for 
the medal should have the first claim on the spaces in that tent, and 
they should in each case be rigidly restricted to a certain area, very 
much room is therefore some encouragement to those who set up such 
fine but still generally muddled groups of hardy flowers. These are 
invariably mere conglomerations, and it is feared that whilst permitted 
to be so exhibited in endless quantity, these collections will never be 
other than conglomerations. Messrs. Backhouse «& Sons showed in a 
very beautiful way, and Messrs. Paul & Sons strove in the same direc¬ 
tion to show how artistically alpine plants may be staged, but cut hardy 
flowers seem to baffle ingenuity. Anything that served to illumine with 
grace the present long monotonous banks of these flowers would indeed 
be welcome.—A. D. 
STRAWBERRY AUGUSTE NICAISE. 
For gentle forcing this is a very fine variety, and some growers can 
command success by subjecting it to temperatures sufficient to mature 
them early. As a rule, however, the finest fruits come from midseason 
or later plants. Well grown in pots it is equal to any variety I know of 
in point of crop and weight, but outdoors I do not find it nearly so 
prolific as Sir Joseph Paxton, Noble, President, James Veitch, and others 
here. 
As Strawberries vary so much in different soils, this failing with us 
may be quite unknown elsewhere. As I had no previous experience 
with it as an outdoor variety, I can only invite the opinion of other 
readers who may have had the opportunity of proving it. Two 
acquaintances of mine grow the variety largely in pots ; indeed, 
it commands greater space and favour with both than any other sort, 
and judging from the results obtained they appear to be fully 
justified in their choice. It has been said that berries weighing 3^ ozs. 
each have been grown at Leighton, but I have never had the statement 
verified by Mr. Mann, the gardener, and therefore have never accepted 
it as an established fact. I saw a large number of plants there in the 
month of April, and the ambition for very large fruits was clearly 
apparent, as a few strong plants in 7-inch pots were permitted to carry 
only four fruits each. 
Of Mr. Bobinson’s plants in pots of the Auguste Nicaise I have 
previously written, and the attainments of this season have been fully 
up to the old standard. In a good dish gathered during the past week, 
there were twenty berries that weighed 2 ozs. each and over, the largest 
which would cover the palm of the hand, weighing 2^ ozs. Such fruits 
cannot fail to give satisfaction at the dinner table, and the fact of 
its being an annual attainment proves that it is no mere accident, but 
that the grower fully understands the cultural treatment the variety 
requires. 
Whilst in bloom the plants occupy a low sunk pit with moveable lights, 
and these are tilted in front so as to allow a current of air to play on 
them—a valuable aid in securing a good set. Individual attention to 
the opening flowers is also given, and light top-dressings of chemical 
manures given occasionally promote the requisite vigour for carrying 
them on to the ripening stage. That they are never allowed to suffer 
for want of root moisture no further evidence than the uniform 
excellence of the crop is required. From seven to nine fruits are allowed 
on each 7-inch pot, and small berries, of course, are unknown. Before 
the stems are brought down by the weight of the fruit small twiggy 
supports are given to keep them in a natural position. The colour is 
very bright and glossy, and such a dish as I have described would be 
considered creditable to any grower.—W. S. 
ROUND PECKHAM RYE. 
With the inhabitants of South London the above name is a house¬ 
hold word, the large expanse of open ground being looked on by the 
people as being entirely their own, and so far as freedom of use is con¬ 
cerned such is certainly the case. To see the famous Bye in the glory 
of its popularity it is necessary to pay a visit on some Bank Holiday, 
when there is ample scope for anyone of that turn of mind to study 
many different grades of society. It is on such occasions that the jolly 
coster and his “donah” are glad to escape for a short time from the 
environs of Covent Garden, and while away their few idle hours on this 
public playground. 
Such a place, however, as a real park on the Bye was a few years ago 
unthought of, but through the energy of the London County Council a 
large tract of land was purchased, the skill of landscape gardeners 
brought to bear on it, and what was once wild and uncared for is now 
transformed into a pleasing landscape equal in every respect to the 
pleasure ground that surrounds many a nobleman’s mansion. As it is 
but little over a year since the park was open to the public the flowering 
and ornamental shrubs are yet but small, and here, like everywhere else, 
many have suffered severely from the effects of the past cruel winter. 
In spite of this, however, the walks, turf, and borders present a 
neat and well-kept appearance, which is in every way creditable to 
Mr. Ashmore, the superintendent, and his staff. A pleasing feature in 
the Park is its natural appearance, rendered so by its richness in forest 
trees, chiefly Elms, which were left undisturbed at the time of its 
formation. The landscape abounds in rustic peeps and delightfully 
shaded walks, one of which, known as the “ Lovers Walk,” struck the 
writer as being an ideal spot for a hot summer’s day, covered as it is 
by a dense canopy of foliage, and proof against the rays of the brightest 
sunshine. 
Long lines of sweet Hawthorn bushes abound on every side, now 
charming with their profusion of white flowers, emitting a perfume 
which cannot fail to remind one of spring time in country lanes. 
These have formerly done duty as hedgerows dividing meadows, and 
it was a happy inspiration that led to them being left in their natural 
form. In the centre of the Park are several acres of copse not yet 
in the hands of the Council, thickly studded with tall forest trees, 
under which there is dense underwood, where many wild flowers are to 
be seen blooming profusely. 
From this spot comes the sound of the cuckoo’s welcome voice, 
thrushes and other song birds build nests and raise their broods in 
perfect safety, and in the stillness of the night may be heard the lays of 
the nightingale. Perhaps some reader will say there is nothing extra¬ 
ordinary about this, if so I would ask him to remember that all this is 
within a short distance of one of the thickest populated districts of the 
metropolis. 
In the more cultivated portions are to be seen in profusion of bloom, 
Lilacs, Guelder Boses, Spirtea callosa alba, Bosarugosa, and many others, 
while, strange to say. Wallflowers have mostly passed safely through the 
ordeal of the winter, and now present a bright appearance. Long 
stretches of green turf look verdant and healthy, especially considering 
it is only a comparatively short time since portions of it were laid, and 
in one part lovers of the tennis racquet are free to display their skill, 
while in another wielders of the willow can indulge in their favourite 
sport. 
As there is but little of that garden-like appearance here which 
characterises the neighbouring Park, Dulwich, formal flower beds are 
not a feature, nor would they be in character with the rustic surround¬ 
ings. In spite of this, however, the borders have been recently gay 
with Narcissi and other bulbous flowers, pleasingly intermingled with 
the shrubs, and now may be seen in their places many patches of 
popular annuals just peeping through the surface, which give ample 
promise of a future bright display. The situation is everything that 
could be desired, the air being fresh and clear, while all round lies rich 
undulating scenery, the like of which adds so much towards making 
many London suburbs pleasant. 
There are several small improvements yet to be completed, but 
with the consideration that it is only a little over twelve months since 
this pleasant spot was made a public resort, the general condition is truly 
creditable, and, it is gratifying to know, appreciated by the people, who 
have in this and other such places privileges unknown to London 
dwellers of but a few years ago.— Wanderer, 
