388 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 2, 1895. 
failed to remark how largely the popular Oriental flower haa been used 
in what may be termed commercial art work in England. Wall papers, 
cretonnes, tapestry. China, pottery, and many other domestic and 
decorative articles have been the subjects of Chrysanthemum ornamenta¬ 
tion by English designers, and in corroboration of Mr. Haiti’s remarks 
almost without exception has the subject been some form or other of 
the Japanese type.—P. 
THROUGH THE PARKS. 
What the green casis is to the weary traveller over the Saharan 
Desert, so are the parks and open spaces to the dwellers in this vast 
city, and fortunate it is that so many of them have been kept intact 
from the encroachment of the speculative builder. There, within easy 
distance of the busiest street or most crowded slum, are to be found 
sylvan scenes and rustic nooks, where the eye may rest on Nature in 
her most pleasing garb, or the mind be so enraptured with the quiet¬ 
ness of the scene that it is possible almost for one to forget for the 
moment that one is in the midst of the metropolis. 
London dwellers may well feel proud of the spacious parks, for it is 
in this respect that the metropolis has such an advantage over any other 
large city in England. A pleasing aspect about such as Hyde and 
Regent’s Parks is that there is little of that stiff, artificial look which 
so characterises many such places. Nature seems to have special 
thought for the dwellers in the crowded city, for once within the gates 
may be seen huge forest trees growing in magnificent splendour, 
flowers blooming profusely, and birds singing, whilst the rich verdure of 
the grass on every side show that in spite of the smoky surroundings, 
that each and all are doing their share towards making the scene pleasant 
to all who see it. 
Great is the credit due to the authorities for their commendable 
efforts in producing at the several seasons of the year brilliant and 
varied displays of flowers, which add so much to the brightness of the 
scene. A special feature in Hyde Park at the present time is the 
refulgent beauty of the bulbous flowers, a sight which has only to be 
seen to be appreciated. On entering at the Stanhope Gate a whole 
sheet of bloom presents itself, all discriminated with excellent taste, 
there being no erroneous mixing of colours, but all harmonising in 
pleasing unison. 
Several of the beds are mixed, one with the fine Narcissus Sir Watkin 
and the rose-coloured Queen of the Hyacinths ; another with Narcissus 
princeps and blue Hyacinth Couronne de Celle; and another with 
Narcissus Golden Spur and fancy coloured Pansies. 
A pleasing effect is caused by a mass of white Hyacinth alba maxima 
surrounded by Pansies, and followed by a bed of H. King of the Blues and 
N. Horsefieldi mixed. White Hyacinth La Grandesse planted alone 
looks charming, as also does a bed of the yellow N. maxima mixed 
with the light blue Hyacinth Regulus. A special feature is a group of 
blue Hyacinth Grand Maitre, the spikes and flowers being especially 
fine, and encircled by the rose coloured variety Lord Macaulay. 
Again may be seen Hyacinth L’Incomparable in mass and sur¬ 
rounded by H. alba maxima. Especially worthy of mention are large 
beds, centered with light rose Hyacinth Fabiola, the white La 
Grandesse forming a band round. Many beds are devoted entirely to 
Narcissi, amongst others being N. maximus Emperor, Sir Watkin, and 
princeps. Hyacinths La Grandesse, Lord Derby, General Havelock, 
Mont Blanc, Charles Dickens, Lord Wellington, and the graceful 
habited Mina, may also be seen to great advantage. 
Tulips, single and double, are strongly in evidence, their bright and 
varied colours rendering them especially noticeable. Among the 
doubles are beds of Tournesol, Murillo, Gloria Solis, and others ; while 
the singles are represented by Proserpine, Queen of the Violets, Chryso- 
lora, Cottage Maid, La Belle Alliance, Queen Victoria, Duchesse de 
Parme, Joost Van Vondel, and Yellow Prince, the last named emitting 
a pleasant scent. 
A striking feature is several beds of single Tulips and Doronicum 
plantagineum mixed indiscriminately together, and blooming profusely, 
Masses of the blue Muscari botryoides have a pretty effect, whilst 
Wallflowers, Daisies, Auriculas, Polyanthuses, and Primroses are 
accorded prominent positions. The modest Scilla sibirica forms the 
groundwork for several beds planted with Narcissi Horsefieldi and 
Emperor. 
The view presented in the flower garden in Regent’s Park is one of 
equal merit; the beds are laid out with great taste, the bright and 
varied colours of the flowers being very effective. The beds are 
situated amid sweeping avenues of Horse Chestnut and Lime trees, all 
bursting forth in the bright verdure of the spring, and forming a bright 
contrast to the spread of flowers which form, as it were, a groundwork 
to the landscape. In spite of the ravages caused by the severe frost 
amongst the ornamental and other shrubs, many are now growing 
profusely, whilst the Flowering Currant looks very pretty amidst the 
dense green. 
The modest Saxifraga crassifolia may be seen peeping from under 
the shrubs, whilst the grass banks, clothed with Narcissi, Hyacinths, 
and Tulips, all mixed in pleasing harmony, present a sight perhaps more 
charming than the more orthodox style of planting. 
Other beds are formed of Narcissi, Auriculas, Tulips, Sedum glaucum, 
Bcilla sibirica, Sempervivum calcareum, and others. Large vases, massed 
wich single Tulips and others with yellow Wallflowers, are exceedingly 
pretty. Beds planted respectively with Primroses, Doronicums, Wall¬ 
flowers, and Auriculas form a bright display, while one of the chief 
features is formed by long borders planted indiscriminately with 
Hyacinths, Daffodils, Dielytra spectabilis, and Auriculas. 
Beds of Hyacinth gigantea surrounded with white Violas are effec¬ 
tive, as so are others with mixed Hyacinths in various colours. Espe¬ 
cially noticeable is a large triangular bed of N. Sir Watkin, around 
which is a band of dark Wallflowers. Hyacinths Chas. Dickens, Robt. 
Steiger, and others are exceedingly fine, while amongst the Tulips 
bright displays of Keyser’s Kroon, Duchesse de Parme, Joost Van Vondel, 
Yellow Prince, Cottage Maid, and Proserpine add much to the richness 
and variation of the display. 
The bulbs flowering in the London parks this year were supplied 
by Messrs. Jas. Carter, High Holborn, London, the general excellence of 
which is a great credit to the firm, as the effect caused by them is one 
that it would be diflBcult to excel. 
Long might one linger amid this maze of floral beauty, admiring 
this or comparing that; and in conclusion, it is not superfluous to add 
that great credit is due to those in charge for the exquisite manner in 
which the whole has been planned, and it is gratifying to know that 
without travelling outside th'? precincts of London everyone who is so 
disposed may, without any charge, feast his eyes on these charming 
gems of the spring.— Wanderer. 
PLANT-FORMING ELEMENTS. 
I READ with considerable interest the full and instructive article on 
the above subject which appeared in the last two issues of the Journal 
of Horticulture. I think it is well worth the careful study of all those 
who are interested in horticultural work, for there is much to be learnt 
from it. 1 noticed on page 332 Mr. G. Abbey says “argon ’’ enters into 
the composition of plants. “ Argon,’’ being a newly discovered element, 
it would be interesting to know something more about it; but I failed 
to find anything further about it in the articles named. Mr. G. Abbey 
must have had some authority for the above statement, so perhaps he 
can explain “ how it is assimilated by plants,” for it would not do to 
assume that because argon and nitrogen are found so intimately con¬ 
nected together that they must consequently be both taken up by the 
plant. From recent experiments carried out by Professor Ramsey to see 
if “ argon ’’ could be found in plants or animals, he came to the conclu¬ 
sion that none was present, but that probably the method of analysis 
was not suitable for its detection. 
Further investigations are needed, but until they have been carried 
out we must be satisfied with what Mr. G. Abbey can tell us on the 
subject.—W. Dyke, Turnford, Herts. 
AMONGST THE DAFFODILS. 
When one reaches the Long Ditton Nurseries of Messrs. Barr & Son, 
Covent Garden, he is certainly amongst the Daffodils, for there are in 
all upwards of 15 acres devoted to this class of bulbous plants alone. 
The picture is a glorious and at the same time an impressive one, such 
as can only be seen at rare intervals. Great breadths of all the most 
popular varieties are seen, such, for instance, as a plot of Barri con- 
spicuus, containing something like 20,000 bulbs. Impress this fact on 
the mind, and endeavour to realise what the effect will be when you 
stand in front of the beds, and some small idea may be formed of the 
display that is made. Then near at hand is a stretch of Emperor, with 
its stout foliage and handsome substantial flowers. Here, again, are about 
12,000 roots, and the effect is perhaps even more striking than that of 
those previously named. Certainly, seen as they are at Ditton, Daffodils 
are well worthy of their popularity, and one might say of even more 
than is at present accorded to them. 
The names of Barr and Daffodils may now safely be termed 
synonymous, and it is just possible that the compilers of the next big 
dictionary will so far recognise the fact as to place it on permanent 
record. There can be little doubt that if a letter was addressed to 
Messrs. Daffodil & Sons the postal authorities would promptly deliver 
it at 12, King Street, Covent Garden, and in doing so they would be 
right. If one might be allowed to coin a new word one might dub 
Mr. Peter Barr a daffodilist, because he has in collecting and studying 
them, made himself conversant with their history and with the varie¬ 
ties now grown to a remarkable extent. He has wandered (by no 
means aimlessly) over thousands of miles, ever on the look out for 
something new, and it is to these journeys that we are indebted ifor 
many extremely beautiful introductions. In this good work of finding 
new forms and studying old, Mr. Barr has found an able colleague 
and lieutenant in Mr. William Barr, who is at present in Cornwall 
investigating the flowers of the Scilly Islands. As all lovers of Daffodils 
thirst for novelties, and knowing that the Messrs. Barr will continue 
their energetic labours, they may be sure of having their wishes gratified 
to a good extent, and in the furthering of the popularity and increasing 
the cultivation of these plants the firm will doubtless secure the reward 
it so very richly deserves. 
It is a well-known fact that if a certain variety of Potato be grown 
on the same land year after year it will deteriorate, and it is equally 
well known that if the same sort is planted on entirely new ground, 
providing, as it will, a change of food, it will improve sometimes to a 
very remarkable extent. This fact, as Messrs. Barr have proved, is just 
as applicable to Narcissi, and with admirable foresight they have taken 
an area of land in the southern part of Lincolnshire where Daffodils 
