April 18, 1395, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
343 
here, Crotons being especially rich in colour. Scent of foliage is also 
taken into account, for fcented Pelargoniums, Lemon-scented Verbena, 
Eucalyptus citriodora and E. globulus are each well represented. A few 
of the many plants grown are mentioned, but these must be sufficient 
for the present, as we would like now to glance hurriedly at the fruit. 
Both outdoor and under glass fruits are grown, many kinds being 
represented in varying numbers. Of the hardy fruits, nothing could be 
seen but bare stems at the time of our visit, though now, no doubt, 
with the warm sunshine rapid advances have been made. Under glass a 
very different aspect of affairs is seen, for here the fruit on many trees is 
well set, and others are in full bloom. Most of the Peaches and 
Nectarines are old trees that have seen their best days, but still Mr. 
Mowbray hopes to secure some more good fruits from them. The Vines 
though also rather old, are still promising a good return for labour, and 
if the crops of any fruits are not good, it will not be the fault of the 
grower, who evidently does his best to grow everything well. 
Fulmer, though not an old place, has many splendid trees. Conifers 
being especially tine, but of these, with the Rhododendrons, more may 
perhaps be said later in the year. The place was “made” by Mr. J. 
Mowbray, sen., and under the superintendence of his son will be a lasting 
memorial of his untiring energy and indomitable perseverance in over¬ 
coming all obstacles. In the early days of Mr. Mowbray, sen,, there 
was no mansion on the estate, but the present owner. Major the 
Hon. H. C. Legge (who, with Mrs. Legge, is very fond of gardening) has 
•caused one to be erected. There are several good points about the place, 
such as the vinery, the mansion, the trees, the gardens, the gardener, and 
others ; but these will be sufficient to show that here is comfort and 
unity, and such an air of tranquil peace, as is mentioned above, pervades 
o’er all. At last we turned our faces homeward, and soon the train whirls 
us into London and smoke.— Nomai>, 
anemone patens ochroleuca. 
In complying with the request of a correspondent the illustration 
(fig. 59) will furnish him with an idea of this pretty variety of Anemone. 
It has cream white flowers, somewhat larger than those of the normal 
species, which are very attractive. The plant is perfectly hardy, being 
a native of Siberia, and is rarely seen in cultivation. Anemone patens, 
or the Spreading Windflower, is a variety little more common and easily 
grown. The flowers, which are about the size of those of the common 
Wood Anemone, are of a pleasing light yellow colour. It grows to 
a height of about a foot, and soon forms large clump in rich soil. 
Both varieties flower during May and June, but not very profusely. 
MARKET PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 
Skilful cultivators of plants for market purposes wisely act on the 
principle that it is the better plan to grow a few well than a more varied 
stock IndiflEerently. Thus it is that Covent Garden Flower Market is so 
well supplied all the year round with plants and cut flowers, whose 
cultivation leaves nothing further to be desired in the ideal of excellence. 
How that result is obtained is most important, and is no simple question 
that can be answered in an off-hand manner. There are several important 
items to be considered and formulated previous to the propagation of 
stock and future development. 
The principal feature of such items may be enumerated under the 
heads of capital, brains, energy, and last, though not least, situation. 
Skilful gardeners cannot grow good Grapes where the vineries are over¬ 
shadowed by tall trees, nor can they in an atmosphere overcharged with 
carbon grow some of our common plants to perfection and tit to be 
admired. It may also be observed that it is to the evil influence which 
is ever present in the atmosphere of the metropolis that some of those 
nurseries, which used to be the glory and pride of young gardeners, have 
altogether disappeared. Situation may not be everything, buc it 
certainly is nine points in a grower’s favour. Some localities may do 
very well for the cultivation of Palms and Ferns, but to attempt to grow 
common Zonal Pelargoniums, Genistas, Calceolarias, Hydrangeas, or 
Roses, with a view for Covent Garden Flower Market, courts nothing but 
failure. Let anyone try his utmost, his Zonals lack the vigour of 
■country grown plants ; the foliage is thin and pale, the flower stalks 
weak, and the blooms feeble in tone ; and of all places in the world 
where such a contrast is perceived it is in Covent Garden Flower 
Market. 
The buyers can tell in a moment. The Genistas are weakly wooded, 
•straggly, and the flowers a dullish yellow, and are altogether scarcely fit 
for the coster’s barrow. It is the same with all other flowering plants he 
may attempt to grow, and the consequence is that they hang on his 
Land, and go at last for an “ old song.” Even if the cultivator should go 
in for Palms, the extra labour entailed in keeping them clean and fit for 
•market is a great drawback. No one but those who have experienced 
the disadvantage of plant culture, where they are surrounded by myriads 
of chimneys continually on the go, knows that excellence is an impossible 
xesult. 
Those who wish to make a start on their own account in the paths 
■of the divine profession must beware a soot-ladened atmosphere as 
they would the fabled locality of the “ Upas tree.” Also let them beware 
those glowing enticements of a good going concern of so many thousand 
feet of glass at moderate rental. Remember the old adage. No one 
likes to part with a good horse. Possibly the extensive range of houses 
may not be adapted for the successful cultivation of plants for market, 
which is altogether a different thing than the growing of plants in private 
establishments. The structures may be lofty and too heavily timbered, 
which may do for vineries or tall Palms for furnishing, but are altogether 
unsuitable for growing the ordinary run of market produce. The 
heating apparatus may be defective in quantity and quality, the ven¬ 
tilation may be insufficient and unworkable, the staging may be in last 
stage of decay; take out your knife and give the wood a tap or two, 
much in the same manner as a second-hand carriage dealer raps the 
panels and spokes to arrive at a sense of their soundness. Then again 
the water cisterns may be leaky, and out of place by being situated at 
FIG. 59.— ANEMONE PATENS OCHEOLEUCA. 
one end of the house instead of at the middle ; and if a span-roofed house 
such cistern should extend to both pathways, so that the watering 
pot can be dipped in readily—no filling cans at taps will do for market 
growers. Then the drainage of stokeholes may be defective, causing 
the fires to be damped out at a most dangerous moment. 
The most favoured localities, where the best market growers are to 
be found, and who attend Covent Garden Flower Market all the year 
round, are chiefly established in the sunny valleys of Kent, where there 
is abundance of that fine yellow loam whieh is the most suitable for the 
growth of softwooded plants. The natural soil produces first-class crops 
of Grapes, and when it can do that we know the value in a horticultural 
sense ; and no doubt it is the circumstance of an abundant supply of 
good material that favours Kent in the eyes of market growers. 
The horliculturist who pays a visit to some of those establishments 
may be rather disappointed to find them more useful than beautiful. 
