14 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 4, 1894. 
Ferns, and other plants not often met with 'outside a garden of this 
kind revealed the fact that good health is everywhere apparent. Chrys¬ 
anthemums receive some attention, an abundance of flowers being 
preferred to a few of individual quality. Tlie plants were grouped 
together in masses of one colour, making quite a pleasing effect, so 
distinct from the usual plan. Excivations were going on for the 
building of a house to accommodate the many Tree Ferns, which sadly 
need extended space. Within a stone’s throw of the garden Mr. 
Burbidge pointed to a building where the iron was cast for building the 
large Palm house at Kew, 
Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. 
A quick drive past some of the many open spaces which Dublin is 
favoured with, through some of the most busy and fashionable streets 
in the city, and by the on'y penal establishment in the country, brought 
us to Glasnevin—the Kew of Ireland. One cannot help but notice the 
prim neatness of the grass, paths, shrubs, and trees the moment the 
gardens are entered. We were unfortunate in not finding the courteous 
and able Curator, Mr. Moore, but his trusty lieutenant, Mr. Pope, 
quickly made us feel at home at once by the geniality of his manner. 
No wonder Mr. Pope proved so able a pilot, when I gathered from 
him that forty years of his life had been spent in this garden. The 
large lean-to house filled with Chrysanthemums was the first inspected. 
Instead of following the prevailing fashion of cultivating the plants for 
the production of large blooms, a few to a plant, the system known as 
the “ bush ” method is that practised. Perha s it would be more 
correct in saying they were naturally grown, for in the majority of 
instances I noted they had not been stopped at all, but allowed to grow 
freely and flower in the same manner without any disbudding. From 
six to seven hundred plants there must have been in this one house, 
and a mass of colour they produced, the like of which I have not seen 
before. Not only are new varieties grown, but older and deserving 
favourites like James Salter and Bouquet Fait were to be seen, 
rendering the groups all the more interesting, as it afforded means of 
comparison between the older and newer sorts. 
House after house literally crammed with all conceivable kinds of plants 
were passed through. Camellias de-erve more than a passing note, so 
healthy did they appear. New Holland plants are a feature, and of these 
Mr. Moore may justly be proud. Orchids are indeed a speciality here, many 
houses being filled with them, and all testify to the treatment received. 
Want of space forbids details of them being given, but I cannot omit a 
mention of the splendid Calanthes. The colour of the blooms repre¬ 
senting the Veitchi type were especially rich. Cypripediums are a 
feature in themselves, so well is this genus represented. The large 
Palm house erected but a few years since is now almost filled, so rapid 
has been the growth of the plants. Ferns are extremely well grown, 
and in such numbers that it is difficult to imagine any variety not to 
be found here. Filmy Ferns enjoy a house to themselves on the north 
side of the garden, and is well worthy of a visit by all lovers of this 
section. Bulbous plants, such as Lachenalias for example, are growing 
in large numbers and variety, rendering the different houses quite gay 
in their turn. 
A mere glance only could be given to the outside plants. The her¬ 
baceous department I thought very extensive, judging from the number 
of beds and space devoted to this branch. Much regret I had to confess 
at the brevity of my visit to this fine garden, but hope for an extension 
next time. 
Phcenix Park. 
A sharp drive past the huge Cattle Market and the recruiting 
establishment of the Royal Irish Constabulary brought us to Phoenix 
Park. Here but a glance could be taken of that part known as the 
People’s Garden, which is in itself a feature, so dmirably is it laid out 
and managed. The deer strolling lei-nrely about on the footpaths 
and roads in a public park was a sight unique to me, A mere glance in 
the direction of the Viceregal Lodge had to suffice with the deep regret 
that daylight did not admit of my making the acquaintance of that 
estimable man and good gardener, Mr. Smith, who my guide informed 
me has always much of interest to show. 
From the Chief Secretary’s Lodge a rapid drive was taken the whole 
length of the Park out at the main entrance, where we caught a 
view of Kilmainham, past Guiness’s Brewery—a town in itself—over 
the river Liffey (not noted for its purny of water), past Dublin Castle 
and the O’Connell Monument, and back to our starting point, the 
Grosvenor Hotel. The last few miles our spirited nag had taken us 
with but one trace, and appeared quite as fit to repeat the journey 
of twenty-five miles if necessary. 
I fear these jottings may contain a few imperfections, but as having 
made no notes beyond mental ones, the mistakes (if any), I doubt not, 
will be passed over indulgently, 1 desire to express my thanks to all 
concerned for rendering my first and brief visit to Dublin so 
interesting and enjoyable.—E. Molyneux, 
CULTURE OF LTBONIA FLORIBUNDA. 
We have few plants flowering at this time of the year more elegant 
and attractive than Libonias, and as their cultural necessities are of the 
simplest description, it is a pity they are not more generally grown. 
Their uses are many and varied. One-year-old plants in 5-inch pots are 
very useful for intermixing with Zonal Pelargoniums, a bright and 
pretty effect being produced. Larger plants are excellent for cutting 
from, and the length of time they produce flowers is remarkable. The 
blooms when cut are admirable for large or small vases and epergnes ; 
the colour is telling, and they last well in water. 
Early in January cut back a few plants that are past their best, 
and put them in a house having a temperature of about 65° or 70°. 
This will cause them to break freely. When these shoots are about 
an inch or so in length they can be taken off and dibbled in about 
2 inches asunder in pots in a propagating frame or under hand- 
lights in a warm house. In a fortnight or three weeks these will be 
rooted, and will need to be hardened a little, and pinched preparatory to 
being placed in small pots. After potting keep close for a few days, 
when a shelf near the glass in the same house will be the best position 
for them, topping them frequently as they grow, which they will do 
rapidly. Water rather sparingly until the roots are well through 
the soil and filling the pots, when they will require a more liberal 
supply. 
When ready for their final shift thev must be potted firmly and 
stood in a light frame or on the front stage of a vinery, and grown 
without a check until the end of July, when they should be gradually 
hardened and stood out of doors in a sunny and shelter d position to 
ripen the growth. A neat stake should be put to each plant, and the 
leading growths loosely tied, as at this stage they are very brittle, and 
apt to be blown off if not supported. They may remain out of doors 
until September, when they should be taken inside, and can be induced 
to flower as required. A rich porous compost is necessary. Two parts 
fibry loam, one each of leaf mould and horse droppings, and a good 
dash of clean coarse sand will suit them well. From the time they 
have fllled their pots with roots until they are in flower occasional 
waterings with liquid manure are necessary.—H. R. Richards. 
THE CHRISTMAS FLOWER MARKEf. 
“ Such a smother of flowers at Christmas has never been known 
before,” said a leading grower in Covent Garden the other morning, 
and, standing in the middle of the market, it certainly was easy to 
believe it. As a matter of fact, however, it has been possible to say 
this of almost every Christmas for many years past. Year by year the 
market coatinues to grow, and there must be at least flve times as much 
trade done here now as there was five-and-twenty yeais ago. The 
public taste for flowers and for floral decorations has greatly developed, 
the numbers engaged in the trade have multiplied very considerably, 
and prices, of course, gone down. Not so very many years ago the 
height of the summer trade could not have shown anything like such a 
profusion of blossoms as did the Saturday morning proceeding Christmas, 
though, of course, the flowers would have been somewhat different. The 
Christmas trade has been quite exceptional. A mild open season is 
always good for the business, so far as the generality of buyers are 
concerned in it. People will not stand in the streets to buy flowers in 
frost and snow, and it is difficult to display them with biting winds and 
sharp frost nipping to pieces the foliage and blooms that have been 
coaxed to unfold in the genial warmth of the greenhouse. All the busy 
thoroughfares in all parts of London have been veritable flower gardens, 
and greengrocers’ and fruiterers’ shops have been almost as well supplied 
as in June and .July. 
The special feature of this Christmas market has been its Chrys¬ 
anthemums. The flowers this autumn came on in great profusion, and 
the frosts were so late that everybody was able to get a fine show of 
bloom under glass before they were any of them nipped off, and by 
keeping them a little back they have been made to hold out for 
Christmas, and have thus supplemented the enormous supply of Arums 
and Hyacinths, Tulips and Marguerites, Cyclamens and Lilies of the 
Valley, and so on, that are always grown for this season’s trade. So 
enormous has been the supply that growers have been many of them 
wishing that half of it had been caught by the frosts. After the manner 
of the farmers, they are apt to grumble when flowers are few that they 
have nothing to sell, and when they are plentiful that they can get no 
prices. The only thing that could render a Covent Garden flower 
dealer really happy would be a season that spoiled all the flowers but 
those he had the luck to save. Plenty of flowers at good high prices are 
really the desiderata, but certainly the market on Saturday morning 
hardly gave the impression that anybody could have been indulged tbat 
way this year. There were some things that appeared to have done 
very well. One grower from Hoddesdon, for instance, Mr. Beckwith, 
had brought in nearly 800 bunches of deliciously fresh Roses—between 
9000 and 10,000 blooms—and within an hour or two every blossom was 
cleared off at satisfactory prices. About 1000 bunches of Lilies of the 
Valley, and 1200 bunches of cut Chrysanthemums, besides Tulips and 
Hyacinths, Bouvardias, and so forth, were also disposed of before the 
bell rang for the closing of the market. It was a wonderful sight pre¬ 
sented as one turned into the market from the bleak and sloppy streets 
in the early hours of Saturday, and it was difificult indeed to realise that 
it was the depth of winter, and that the enormous gathering was for 
Christmas decoration. 
Between seven and eight o’clock, although the stock had been 
dribbling away for an hour or more, the great floor and the stands 
rising from it were so choked with foliage and flowers, and the throng 
of buyers so great, that it was difficult to squeeze one’s way about, and 
the precincts of the market all around were blocked with carts and vans 
and cabs and costermongers’ barrows heavily laden with Ferns and 
