March 8, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
199 
LONDON’S LESSER OPEN SPACES—THEIR TREES 
AND PLANTS. 
NEW SERIES.—No. 7. 
Perhaps it was for the sake of contrast between their dry pursuits 
and the freshness of Nature that the lawyers of the olden time sur¬ 
rounded their London quarters with gardens, often somewhat extensive, 
for it does not appear that they themselves were, like the monks, 
particularly fond of horticulture in any branch. Yet the precincts of 
the Temple to this day witness that a love of plants and flowers exists 
in some legal minds, for we see many pots arranged in odd nooks and 
corners. Window sills are also turned into miniature greenhouses. One 
window, indeed, has been curiously adorned by its owner, who has 
covered the panes with dried fronds of various Ferns stucR to the glass, 
amongst them here and there a flattened body of a moth or butterfly. 
Evergreens have long been a speciality of the Temple. The poet 
Cowper tells of his experiences in trying to keep Myrtles alive at his 
chambers, and advises a friend to change the earth about October, and 
water regularly twice a week through the winter. But Myrtles will 
not thrive in London’s smokier gardens. Still, it is surprising how little 
some evergreens, chiefly those with large leaves, seem to suffer from it, 
not even if the leaves during the winter are so coated with soot that 
their texture cannot be seen. Perhaps to some extent this carbon 
deposit acts as a preservative from the cold, and if well syringed off 
with tepid water in spring leaves no evil effects afterwards. 
The Temple Gardens are not likely to be forgotten as long as English 
literature endures, for many are the allusions made to them by famous 
writers. All students of Shakespeare will remember the scene he lays 
in these gardens, where the rivalry between the Yorkists and Lan¬ 
castrians is represented as starting from the plucking of red and white 
Roses by some of their partisans, who took this flower for symbols. And 
indeed it is probable that the gardens had during the fifteenth century a 
profusion of Roses, and they grew there for centuries, till the smoke¬ 
laden air forbade even the strong Perpetuals to put forth blooms. The 
last to struggle for existence were the old Provence Rose, the Cabbage, 
and Maiden's Blush. Then there came a turn for the better owing to 
Smoke Prevention Acts, and Mr. Broome could show in 1804 some 
twenty trusses of Temple Roses. The continued growth of London, 
however, has not been favourable for this plant. About the Temple we 
still find that pleasant quietude on which Charles Lamb and Miss 
Landon have commented—so different to the streets outside and the 
Embankment below. Of course the gardens are less picturesque now 
than when the Thames crept up to their edge, forming a little bay. But 
in the summer season, by the kindness of the Benchers, many poor 
persons are much benefited by the privilege allowed them of strolling 
here, and perhaps eventually the gardens may be opened to the public 
daily. 
The Temple Gardens now existing must be about five acres in size, 
and they are named from the Middle and the Inner Temple. There 
may have been formerly a garden attached to the Outer Temple, if so, 
it has been built over. In the upper squ.are or terrace of the Middle 
Temple Garden the memorable fountain still throvvs up its spray, but 
the jet is now of diminished height to what it was, according to tradi¬ 
tion, in the olden time. It is under the shade of some trees, the notable 
ones being two well grown. Descending to the larger space below, we 
see no signs of the shady recesses or bowers which, in the eighteenth 
eentury, attracted meditative authors, but there is a broad lawn, edged 
by some Planes and young Limes, ami over which are scattered flower 
beds of shapes somewhat singular, bare in February, but which receive 
^ilants for a summer display. Vases and boxes shovv some of the spring 
bulbs, to whieh the N.E. winds have been unkindly of late. As this 
garden had the repute of being the most retired, it was probably here 
that the rooks had their settlement, oft referred to. The commencement 
of the colony was said to have been a f- w birds, brought hither from 
Woodcote Green,. Epsom. Of the one or more Catalpa trees planted in 
Stuart times there is no relic left, and not a Fig tree has sur'dved to 
our day of those that had flourished and borne fruit. There are some 
venerable evergreens, but the Hollies have fared badly, and also the 
Rhododendrons (which very possibly used to flower years ago, when 
more vigorous). Aucubas, Portugal Laur Is, and Tbujr.s, however, have 
strong shoots, fairly leafy. Along the borders one may notice Pinks, 
Irises, and Chrysanthemums, and amongst them annuals are sown with 
variable success. Mignonette is one of these that has for years been a 
favourite flower in both gardens ; it may adva itageously be allowed to 
sow itself, and from observation I do not think sparrows are such 
destroyers of see Is in town gardens as some suppose, but the Temple 
has ever been a rare haunt of these binls. L igh Hunt declared he s.aw 
them by thousands, and in the accounts appeal's a disbursement, while 
Barrington was treasurer, of a pound for poison to thin their numbers, 
which was rather a severe measure. 
Of the Inner Temple garden there is an old engraving dated KiZl, 
one of the few that exist repre.senting the gardens of our ancestors. It 
enables us to mark the places where trees then stood. It is likely these 
were chiefly Elms and Poplars The last to survive of these venerable 
trees was a Sycamore, for many years carefullv propped up and Ivy-clad, 
beneath which Johnson ami Goldsmith are said to have sat in talk. 
About that date it was usual for the leading counsel to promenade the 
gardens on summer evenings, habited in their .satin smalls, with stock¬ 
ings, ruflles, and cocked hats, and they would stoop over the borders to 
admire the “ Sweet Williams,” the “ London Prides,” Stocks, Larkspur-s, 
W.allflowers, and other old favourites, which are still cultivated here, but 
outshone by the Chrysanthemums, which arc now the specialty of the 
Temple. The.se have been oft described in their annual display. Of 
course, all the choicer varieties are grown under cover, though there are 
some that will bloom in the open pretty freely, the best position for 
them being a bend of the grounds towards the east, where the gales of 
spring and autumn touch the plants lightly. Some shelter is afforded 
by evergreens, which might be more extensively planted on the Embank¬ 
ment side of the gardens. I preceive it is now becoming common 
to set Golden Feather abundantly along the borders of London gardens ; 
it has the advantage of looking green and fresh most winters. 
The enclosure of Clifford’s Inn upon the north side of Fleet Street is 
an example of a town garden, which thousands pass near daily, un¬ 
conscious of its existence. Being so enclosed by buildings, it is not 
favourable for the growth of trees and many plants, but it might be 
greatly improved, and the Public Gardens Association are endeavouring 
to have it thrown open to the public. The square space is sub-divided 
into four lesser square.s, on their sides scattered Planes, Elders, and 
Laburnums. The ground, however, is so impoverished that the few 
herbaceous plants look feeble ; the most vigorous growth noticeable was 
that of a bank of Ivy.—J. R. S. C. 
CULTURE OF FREESIAS. 
Your correspondent “ J. C. A.” has done well in directing attention 
to these charming Cape bulbs at page A.I. Few semi-hardy bulbous 
])lants are more delightfully fragrant than these. They possess a per¬ 
fume peculiarly their own, and cannot be too strongly recommended as 
especially valuable for cultivation in all gardens where choice fragrant 
flowers are appi'eciated ; and whether for personal adornment, dinner 
table, or vase decoration, their characteristic beauty and exquisite per¬ 
fume can hardly be overrated, ihe more so, as already pointed out by 
the writer above referred to, they may be had in succession for a long 
periotl. I suppose that “ J. C. A.” has special use for these flowers in 
November by potting his bulbs as early as June, which I may remark 
is an extremely early date, and very much before the time that they 
can be procured from our largest bulb growers and importers. From 
November onward to Christmas too there is such a wealth of Chrysan¬ 
themum blooms, tree Carnations. Cyclamens, and such flowers that I 
have regarded the Freesias as of greater value when the former are on 
the wane. This is, however, no reason why these charming flowers 
should not be among their number, and my reason for calling attention 
to them is that those who may wish to take them in hand for the first time 
may not be disappointed in their endeavours to obtain them so early 
from the bulb merchants, who usually receive them from August to the 
end of the year. Not infrequently do consignments come to hand even 
in January, the bulbs as plump and sound as ever, and these when 
potted will start I'eadily in about three weeks in a tcm))eraturc of about 
50°, and if grown in this continuous!}' will flower at the end of April. 
With a view to protecting their fi'ail growths I always prefer a frame 
for them, where they may be protected from heavy rains or destructive 
hailstorms. At all times overwatering should be studiously avoided. 
A thorough baking in full sun and without water near them is essential 
to their success, which may be secured by placing them on a shelf near 
the glass. 
My experience of Freesias, however, will not allow my endorsing 
the statement that “ a single pot will frequently treble its produce of 
flowering bulbs in one yeai',” and 1 doubt if growers genm'ally will be 
ablo4;o give so highly satisfactory an account of the rapid increase of - 
their stock. I willingly admit they can be rapidly increased by offsets, 
but the statement that they frequently treble themselves in one year, 
and flowering bulbs too, is something I had never heard or ea en 
dreamt of. One instance alone while writing occurs to me of any 
plant doing so much, and this is Gladiolus Colvillei The Bride. Ire- 
(piently this trebles its produce of flowering corms in one season, but it 
is purely the result of extra large corms, and good culture, fully jn'o- 
tected from spring frosts. In this case the corm is but annual, hich 
may to some extent account for its prolific reproduction, and 1 do not 
know of any strictly perennial bulb increasing so freely. Numbers of 
bulbs, as Lachen.alias, Erythroniums, Jluscaris, Alliums, and some 
Scillas, increase at a surprising rate, but do not make flowering bulbs 
for two years even with good culture. The Freesias in general appearance 
resemble the Erythroniums, the offsets being disposed similarly in both 
genera, and I have never yet seen a flowering bulb produced as a one 
year’s offset upon either ; on the contrary. 1 have had some hundreds of 
medium-sized Freesias whi(*h never proiluced an offset at all. r lom 
time to time 1 have had various inquiries from amateur growers of these 
bulbs who complain that they do not come up the second year. This is a 
sure sign of not being properly ripened, and to all these who have a 
similar experience it cannot be too strongly urged that a thorough ■ 
baking in full sun, regardless of how hot or dry the soil becomes in 
consequence, is most essential to their success, not. however, brought 
about too suddenly, but gradually and thoroughly.—J. H. E. 
SELF-IMPROYEMENT. 
The opinions and the discussion on this subject, now appearing in 
the .Journal of llortlrvlture, are worthy of the attention and consider¬ 
ation of all -who are interested in horticulture—to young ardeners they 
arc specially applicable. c f 
The importance of tins que.stion will hardly need an confirmation 
which I can .give, for anvone will comprehend .that a kn \\ edge of the 
higher subjects relating to gardening is of immec t advantage 
