June 7,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
459 
great value of some trifling protection to an ordinary hardy Vine. The 
utilisation of fruit products in the manufacture of liquors has very 
long been one of Mr. Fenn’s characteristics. There is in the barn a screen 
through which is passed all the smaller and fallen Apples and Pears for 
conversion into cider and perry. The Esperione Grapes make what 
passes for sherry and port. The Gooseberries become converted into 
what also may be regarded as English champagne, and Mr. Fenn thinks 
much more wholesome than is the imported liquid for which people 
like to pay 7s. 6d. per bottle. These are, however, but some of the 
things done at Sulhampstead which serve to show that the small farmer 
here is something more than an ordinary man, and large farmers and 
many gardeners cannot well visit Mr. Fenn without coming away wiser 
in many ways.—A. D. 
STATICE PROFUSA. 
It is much to be regretted that the cultivation of this Statice is so 
generally neglected, for it would prove an inestimable acquisition to 
those gardeners who have to maintain an unbroken supply of plants for 
late summer and autumn decoration. In groups, as individual 
specimens, or when used in conjunction with other plants it is always 
an object of admiration, yet does not seem to win general favour with 
cultivators. It cannot be said that it is at all difficult to grow, 
excepting perhaps some slight trouble in propagating, which can be 
easily overcome if the right method is adopted. The flowers, too, are of 
a striking colour—far too scarce amongst our plants, and to them might 
fittingly be applied the term “ everlasting,” for they will remain in good 
condition on the plants for quite three months. 
As the rooting of the cuttings is generally attended with some slight 
difficulties, it will be as well to commence with this operation. Secure 
shoots of about 4 inches in length, well provided with leaves to the base, 
and the stronger these are the greater will be the progress made. 
Remove two or three of the lower leaves so that about an inch of the 
stem will be bare, which must be cut square across directly below a 
joint. Prepare small pots by draining perfectly, and filling with a 
compost of peat, sand, and charcoal in equal proportions, with a small 
quantity of sand placed on the centre of each, to insure the cutting 
resting on and being surrounded by this material. Insert the cuttings 
singly, and do not bury the bases of the lower leaves, as it is very 
important that these should not on any account be allowed to damp, 
for if the cuttings once lose the services of these their chances of 
rooting are indeed problematical. Cuttings taken from plants in active 
growth almost invariably give the best results. 
After insertion see that all are made firm and thoroughly watered, 
then place thinly in hand-lights, which should be set upon a cool bottom, 
either of shingle or coal ashes, in a house where a temperature of 60° to 
65° is maintained. Now it is that the chief difficulty generally presents 
itself, and to overcome which it must be the cultivator’s endeavour to 
maintain such a degree of humidity within the hand-lights for the next 
fourteen or sixteen days that the cuttings are neither allowed to flag 
through a too dry atmosphere nor damp from an opposite cause. If 
these conditions are strictly observed roots may be looked for after 
about the twelfth day from date of insertion. Owing to a peculiarity 
of this plant in sending its roots at once into the drainage and through 
the hole of the pot it is unnecessary to turn the cutting out to ascertain 
whether it is rooted. On the first appearance of roots remove from the 
case but still shield from bright sun until they become used to the 
change. 
When the cuttings are well rooted shift into a larger size and grow 
in the same temperature, removing a few leaves at intervals so as to 
prevent crowding. The compost for this and the remaining shifts 
should consist of good fibrous peat and loam, two parts of the former 
to one of the latter, a little sun-dried cow manure crushed through a 
half-inch sieve, and enough coarse sand to keep the whole open. 
Continue to repot as the plants need it until 8-inch pots are reached, 
when they should be removed to cooler quarters to mature and solidify 
the growth made. Some growers flower the young plants the first year, 
but this is scarcely to be advised, as all the strength should be stored up 
for a grand effort the following season. For winter quarters any house 
where a temperature of 45° to 50° is maintained, and which possesses 
a cool bottom whereon to set the plants, will answer admirably. 
Water at that period and until new growth commences must be very 
sparingly given, as the extremely fine roots are very susceptible to injury 
from too much moisture. 
Early in January two or three plants should be placed in a gentle 
heat for the production of cuttings, allowing the remainder to continue 
in cool quarters until the beginning of March, when growth will to a 
certain extent have commenced. This is the best time to repot those 
plants that require it, and top-dress others. By annual top-dressings 
plants may be kept in good condition for years in the same pots. 
For potting use the same compost as previously advised, but for top¬ 
dressing much richer material is needed. The following will answer 
admirably :—Fibrous loam and peat in equal proportion, and add some 
approved chemical manure. Remove about an inch of the old soil, and 
when adding the new see that it is pressed quite firmly—a remark 
equally applicable to the potting. Although this plant will grow very 
satisfactorily in a cool house, the finest foliage and flowers are always 
the result of a medium temperature and an atmosphere at all times 
slightly charged with moisture. One drawback this latter treatment has 
—viz., the trouble given to keep green fly in check, but this m.ay 
easily be overcome by lightly fumigating at intervals. Pinch out all 
flowers until within six or eight weeks of the time they are required 
to be in bloom, give occasional dressings of chemical manure, and prevent 
the foliage becoming crowded by removing surplus shoots and leaves 
whenever it appears to be needed. Before removing for decorative pur¬ 
poses, give each cluster of bloom the support of a short slake to keep it 
in position and prevent accident.— Sassenach. 
MR. G. MOUNT’S NURSERY, CANTERBURY. 
Of the various places with which my early days were connected 
there is none for which I have retained so warm an affection as for the 
old city of Canterbury. It is true that some of its features are altered, 
which must of necessity be the case in these days ; and when a place has 
had two railways brought into connection with it, changes must 
inevitably ensue. I cannot but think it somewhat remarkable that 
this old, and as it then was, sleepy city should have been the first to 
introduce the iron road, which it did in the line connecting it with 
Whitstable, a distance of about six miles. There was no locomotive, 
but the carriages were drawn by a rope to the top of the hill—about 
half way—and then allowed to run down the other side. Although 
some-called improvements have taken place within the city itself, yet a 
large portion of it remains as it used to be. Its quaint and narrow 
streets, its old-fashioned houses, its solid almshouses, its old churches, 
and above all its grand Cathedral still remain much as they were ; and 
amongst those things which have not been swept away or given over to 
the destructive tools of the “ jerry ” builder is the old exotic nursery, 
which once belonged to Mr. Alderman Masters, and which after his 
death passed through various hands until it fell into those of Mr. 
George Mount, by whose energy and intelligence the place has been 
greatly altered and modernised. The quaint little shop facing 
St. Peter’s Street, and the old dwelling house still remain much as 
they were. 
It is refreshing in these days, when one is hearing so much of 
depression, and when we become unfortunately personally acquainted 
with it, to hear one who tells us such tales, but who speaks cheerily of 
what he has done and what he hopes to do. In the visit which I recently 
paid to him I was forcibly struck with the energy with which he had 
carried out his work and the success that has attended his efforts. It is 
true that the old Exotic Nursery has been greatly altered, and one cannot 
help regretting (although I know it was necessary) the removal of the 
old round house which stood in the centre of the nursery, and where 
many a strange and curious botanical curiosity had been grown, for 
Mr. Masters was one of those horticulturists with whom the commercial 
value of a plant was not the first consideration ; his scientific knowledge 
of plants, and his zeal in endeavouring to overcome the difficulties 
attending the cultivation of many of them were not conducive to such 
commercial success as is reaped by those who go in for the cultivation 
of two or three kinds of plants which they grow extensively. When I 
call to mind the many pleasant chats I have had with its accomplished 
owner in that same round house, I could not but regret the necessity of 
its removal ; but like many other structures it had fallen into decay, 
and its original construction was not of a kind that would ensure its 
continuance. 
Mr. George Mount, who, after the nursery had passed through many 
vicissitudes, entered upon its occupation some few years ago, had been 
long known to the Rose world as a thoroughly good, sound, and practical 
rosariau. Long ago he was an amateur growing about 300 Roses in a 
small garden in Harbledown, close to Canterbury. Here he achieved 
such success and exhibited so well that he was encouraged to attempt 
longer flights, but feeling that he could not accomplish this as an amateur 
he took some ground at St. Dunstan’s, close to the old city, and erected 
some glass structures for the purpose of growing his favourite flower. 
After this the opportunity was offered him of taking the Exotic 
Nursery, of which I have already spoken, and which is really within 
the old city walls, also a small nursery at Vauxhall, about two 
miles from the city, and is a splendid soil for fruit trees. This last 
year he opened a nursery at Folkestone, and it is cheering to find that 
amidst the many complaints of depression here is one tradesman, at any 
rate, that takes a hopeful view of things, and believes in the ultimate 
success of his undertakings. 
Mr. Mount’s object in Rose growing is not mainly the growing of 
plants for sale but of cut flowers for decoration. He finds a ready 
demand for his blooms all through the spring months. To supply this 
Mr. Mount has added house after house, and thousands—nay, tens of 
thousands of both Tea and Hybrid Perpetuals. In the St. Dunstan’s 
Nursery there are ten low span-roofed houses at present filled with grand 
Tea and Hybrid Perpetual Roses in vigorous health, and with a perfect 
forest of buds in various stages of development; while on the roof may 
be seen the Mar^chal Niel with upwards of 3000 flower buds on it, 
William Allen Richardson, and other strong growing kinds grat.fy the 
eyes. Of course, the Roses which are grown here are confined to a few 
of the best kinds for cutting purposes. Thus amongst Teas Anna Ollivier, 
Catherine Mermet, The Bride, and Niphetos are extensively cultivated, 
although his growth of Niphetos is somewhat diminished, as there 
are so many persons about London who grow it almost excluaively. 
Cleopatra, the last of Mr. Henry Bennett’s seedlings, is in much favour 
with Mr. Mount, and will be increased from year to year. 
Amongst Hybrid Perpetuals G4n6ral Jacqueminot, Mrs John Laing, 
La France, and Baroness Rothschild, and Ulrich Brunner, are grown in 
large numbers. I was rather surprised at the latter flower being so 
much grown, as I thought it would be too large for ordinary decoration. 
