380 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May IS, '8 6. 
the privileges would not have to be so great as for those who paid, say> 
two guineas, but surely it would be conducive to the welfare of the Society 
to secure the co-operation of gardeners, numbers of whom would be glad 
to be associated with it on some such terms as suggested. Still more 
substantial help would be forthcoming from the rich classes of the 
mercantile community than is now given when the Society resumes its 
proper functions. 
The difficulty appears to be in securing suitable premises to carry on 
the work of the Society in a central position. This, however, is a 
question of ways and means, a problem which is surely capable of 
solution. Some have suggested the Thames Embankment, others the 
neighbourhood of Regent’s Park. No doubt a suitable place will be found 
if it is sought for by practical men. I should like to see the Society 
flourishing with the support of wealthy patrons of horticulture, the 
nursery trade, horticultural builders and gardeners. Let these several 
classes directly interested in horticulture combine, and we shall no doubt 
soon see the Royal Horticultural Society develope into an institution 
thoroughly representative of British horticulture ; at least that is a dream 
not altogether hopeless of realisation by—A British Gardener. 
THE HUNTINGDON NURSERIES. 
(Continued from page 362.) 
Hardy perennial, herbaceous, bulbous, and alpine plants are extensively 
cultivated, patches sufficiently large to exhibit the general effect of each 
being grown in addition to the usual sale plants in pots or otherwise. Those 
most remarkable at the time of my visit (the third week in April) were 
Anemone stellata fulgens, brilliant scarlet, a gem for cutting ; A. appenina, 
blue and its white variety, which, with the Wood Anemone (nemorosa), and 
its variety lutea, bright clear yellow, are fine for naturalising. In the mass 
they are simply charming. Adonis vernalis, large yellow flowers, is doing 
better than is usually seen. Orobus vernus, with its pretty pea-shaped 
flowers, rosy purple, about a foot high is effective ; but far more telling is a 
species of Henbane (Hyoscyamus physaloides) with very dark metallic 
foliage, and Prussian blue, almost black flowers. In strong contrast with 
the last is Symphitum officinale variegata, its clear yellow variegation on its 
bold foliage being very effective. Aubrietia grreca, sheets of purple, is one 
of _ the best, and Doronicum austriacum, with its large yellow flowers and 
bright green foliage, effective. Pulmonaria paniculata alba variegata, a 
mass of white flowers about 1 foot high. Sanguinaria canadensis, only a few 
inches highland with snow-white flowers, lead up to the larger Ranunculus 
amplexicaulis, pure white. Erythronium Dens-canis and var. alba have 
remarkably prettv foliage ; and not less interesting in foliage is the beautiful 
Tulipa Greigi. The yellow Tulipa sylvestris is also charming. It does well 
naturalised in woods ; and Triteleia uniflora and lilacina are eligible for a 
Bimilar purpose. Fritillarias in masses are most telling, the stately growth 
of the Crown Imperials, about a yard high, capped with flowers, being very 
beautiful. The best were F. imperialis flava plena, yellow; F. imprrialis 
monstrosa, very large bells, red ; F. imperialis grandiflora, very large heads 
of bloom as well as flowers, and bright in colour ; F. imperialis rubra plena, 
double red, and variegata, pretty sulphur-edged variegation. Brighter in 
colour than most is_F. imperialis rubra. F. Meleagris, beR-sliaped drooping 
flowers, just showing its purple finely marked flowers, whilst the white 
variety alba were in flower. F. pyrenaica has pretty grassy foliage, and 
anon brown and yellow flowers. F. persica, having fine glaucous foliage and 
brown foliage later on. These Fritillarias are not so common in gardens as 
they deserve, and why it is difficult to understand, as they are only of 
moderate height (1 foot), and are so effective in early summer. 
Daffodils are well represented by Sir Watkin, large in size, and beautiful 
in fringe and colour, tube golden yellow, perianth stout, broad, and pale 
primrose, very fine. Emperor is more striking, being of such great size and 
substance, the golden yellow trumpet and delicate primrose perianth render¬ 
ing it very beautiful. Empress is very fine, indeed one of the noblest, 
golden-yellow trumpet and broad white perianth, finer even than N. bicolor 
Horsfieldi, which last well deserves the appellation of King of the Daffodils, 
and it certainly is one of the very finest, being so free and early. N. obval- 
laris (Tenby) is one of the freest, and N. poeticus ornatus deserves noteas 
the earliest flowering of that section, and being so fine and sweet for cutting. 
Most of the now very numerous family of Daffodils are represented. 
With a look at Pasonies, Irises, Delphiniums, Potentillas, Pyrethrums, 
Phloxes, &c., that will gladden later on, I came to some Ivies. Osborn’s 
New Silver is a fine variegated form with medium-sized leaves ; Hedera Helix 
madeirensis variegata also has medium-sized leaves and distinct variegation, 
Of the large-leaved Irish (Hedera helix canariensis) is far the best, Hedera 
digitata being very distinct, and rhomboida variegata, maculata major, 
palmata, and o’ovata have all large or medium-sized foliage, the latter being 
the most close clinging of all Ivies. Of the small-leaved sorts taurica and 
donerailensis are the best; and of the somewhat larger or medium-sized 
leaved kinds hybrida variegata, Crippsi, chrysocarpa (yellow-berried), and 
himalaica. Atro-purpurea is a very neat free-growing kind, with purplish 
green foliage, very distinct ; and glomerata has its leaves set thickly on both 
sides of the stem, which gives it a most singular appearance, even quaint 
and grotesque. 
At the St. Neot’s branch Pelargoniums for bedding are grown extensively, 
there being about 30,000, and as a criterion of their value for their particular 
purpose the number grown of each is suggestive. Vesuvius heads the list 
with 10,000, Henry Jacoby 4000, Master Christine 3000, Whites 3000, West 
Brighton Gem 2000, Bronze and Gold 5000. Vesuvius is far the most popular 
of scarlets, but West Brighton Gem is dwarfer, more compact growing, 
freer flowering, and is considered much the best scarlet bending Pelargonium. 
The foliage is marked by a clear well-defined zone as in Vesuvius, and as 
proved in trial beds (all the kinds as sent out being subjected to this ordeal 
annually, with a view to an estimate of their merits and consequent selec¬ 
tion of the best), is likely to supersede it. John Gibbons, with plain green 
lead and somewhat strong habit, is the best of the taller kinds, the flowers 
being very large, fine form, and great substance. Master Christine holds 
its own as much the best pink, habit, floriferousness, and general usefulness 
placing it first in its class. Henry Jacoby is far ahead of all the crimsons, 
it being so free and fine in form as to excel all others for bedding purposes, 
and as a pot plant, especially for winter flowering, is unrivalled. Its colour 
is so bright and shining as to render it particu atly attractive and telling-. 
Of Whites as a bedder White Perfection is considered the best. Of varieties 
for pots the best were Corsair, oraagj scarlet; David Thomson, crimson, 
white eye ; Dr. Orton, deep crimson ; The Shah, crimson scarlet; Hettie, 
rose madder; General Roberts, pale salmon ; Mrs. Taylor, white, salmon 
centre ; Acme, rosy salmon, edged white ; Lady Sheffield, lilac pink ; Sophie 
Birkin, salmon ; White Clipper, and Niphetos, pure white, immense trusses, 
good for winter flowering. 
Of bronze Pelargoniums Zulu is far the best, the zone being much darker 
than any other, almost black, habit dwarf and free, the very finest ; the effect 
of this in the mass being very striking, flowers silmon. Black Douglas is the 
next best, the flowers light salmon. Marbchal MacMahon still unsurpassed 
as a bedder, broad zone and very bright, habit excellent. Dragon has a 
chestnut zone and light salmon flowers, habit dwarf and free. Beauly of 
Calderdale is still a favourite in the light bronze, and is free, even strong in 
growth. Of gold, Crystal Palace Gem is most in repute. Calceolarias are 
grown by the ten thousand ; the best yellow is Golden Gam, best dark 
bronze Ion, and yellow and brown Sparkler. 
Alternantheras, judging by the quantity grown, show no diminution of 
the popularity of carpet bedding. The collection of these is very rich. 
A. versicolor grandis is the strongest grower, foliage dark bronze with rich 
magenta red marking, very distinct and effective. A. amcena spectabilis, 
brilliant magenta, red, or scarlet, the highest in colour of all the family, and 
a great acquisition, freer and stronger than amoena in habit. The New 
Golden—viz., aurea nana, completely eclipses all others wiih yellow-coloured 
foiiage. It grows so free and yet so compact as to be quite a gem, its bright 
golden yellow foliage rendering it most eff.ctive, distinct, a decided acquisi¬ 
tion. These three are the best of Alternantheras. The others grown are 
paronychoides, thick grower, forming round clumps about 4 inches high, 
brown bronze, tipped red ; paronychoides major, bronze, orange tips, good ; 
paronychoides major aurea, golden yellow, which is kept throughout the 
season ; magnifies, a sport from paronychoides, but la-ger and a much higher 
colour; amoena, magenta red ; amcena tricolor, bright in colour ; amabilis, 
orange and red ; amabilis latifolia, more vigorous grower and richer in 
colour ; amabilis tricolor, a vigorous grower with green margin. The 
three first named are, however, a long way ahead of the others. Coleus 
Verschaffelti is grown extensively for bedding purposes, the demand for 
which shows no abatement, but is rather an increasing one. Ageratum 
Cupid, a free bloomer, and the dwarfest of all, and Countess of Stair, are 
grown in quantity, also Heliotropes, and many other plants. A fine batch 
of Vallota purpurea is grown in 5-inch pots, it being much in demand for 
late summer decoration. 
At Brampton Messrs. "Wood & Ingram have nurseries to the extent of 
over sixty acres devoted to Roses, fruit trees, Conifers, ornamental flower¬ 
ing trees, and shrubs ; and a seed farm of upwards of fifty acres in another 
district, the whole under excellent management by their respective fore¬ 
men in the several departments.—G. 
WINTER GARDEN AT THE FIRS, LEE. 
The engraving, from a photograph by Messrs. Perkins & Son, Lee, 
represents the interior of this structure, the dimensions of which are : — 
Length, 70 feet ; width, 30 feet ; depth from centre ridge to path, 18 feet. 
In form it is a three-quarter span, western aspect, and was erected by 
Messrs. Weeks <fc Co. of Chelsea several years ago, for the purpose of 
growing late Grapes and Oranges. For many years splendid crops of 
Lady Downe’s Grape were grown in this structure. Its use as a vinery 
was discontinued ten years ago, and Mr. Larking conceived the idea of 
turning it to its present use, the bods and banks being formed under 
his direction—that is, the outline of them—his present gardener, Mr. 
T. W. Sanders, being allowed to mtke improvements by adapting the beds 
to the requirements of the plants. 
On the left-hand side of the structure is a bank 6 feet deep, divided 
in the centre by half a dozen stone steps, which lead down from a gravel 
path, 3 feet wide, that runs along the top of the bank to the path shown 
in the engraving. The soil forming the bank is supported in posit on by 
means of large boulders of Kentish ragstone disposed in a bold informal 
manner. The outline of the bank consists of this stone, which here and 
there projects boldly. Nooks and crannies are formed, which vary in size 
and treatment according to the distance from the foreground and the 
character of the plants used. The engraving shows about two-thirds of 
the interior, and in the part not shown are the seats and table, which 
form the coign of vantage, so to speak, from whence the arrangements of 
the beds, rocks, and plants are made. The right-hand side arrangement 
shows a couple of beds, the one in the foreground being smaller than the 
farther one. A gravel path runs behind these beds and joins th broad 
one at the far end, and a short gravel path also intersects th e two- 
beds leading to another flight of stone steps, which descend into an 
octagon annexe devoted to tropical plants. A narrow stage runs along 
the ends and right-hand side, not so much for the purpose of holding 
plants as to cover the treble rows of hot-water pipes, of which there are 
over 400 feet. The front of this stage is covered in an irregular manner 
with virgin cork, which projects sufficiently low to hide the first row of 
pipes and intercept the straight lines of the remaining ones. In order to 
further conceal this outline, or at any rate to break the straight lines, 
Mr. Sanders formed a narrow irregular border, and planted such bold¬ 
growing Fern3 as Pteris tremula and argyraea, &c. There grow freely, 
and by a little tasteful arrangement of the fronds the desired result is 
obtained. These Ferns have to be supplied copiously with water every 
day throughout the year to keep them in a healthy condition. 
The two large beds are interspersed with stones of considerable size 
in the upper portions, whilst all round the margins small beds occur 
