1G0 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 22, 1889. 
varieties were selected as productive and good in appearance. The 
heavy rains of the night previous to lifting affected the whole of them 
prejudicially, and though several were cooked, it was considered advis¬ 
able to submit them to a further trial for satisfactorily determining their 
qualities. 
Vegetarian (Dean).—Oval, white, free cropper, fine sample. 
The Canon. (Dean).—White, round, medium size, splendid crop. 
Edgeote Early. —Kidney, medium size, good shape and good crop. 
The Governor (Dean).—Kidney, white, large, even, and good crop. 
Crown Jewel (Fletcher).—White, round, evenly shaped, medium¬ 
sized tubers, great crop. 
Bedfont Purple (Dean).—Fine uniform tubers, and a good crop. 
Irishman (Kane).—White, round tubers, large with somewhat deep 
eyes ; very heavy crop. 
Debutante (Ross).—Bright crimson, round, uniform, good crop, 
rather small tubers. 
Early Victor (Oakshott & Millard).—Large, white, flattish oval, 
even sized tubers, good crop. 
Satisfaction (Oakshott & Millard).—White, round, heavy crop of 
good sized tubers. 
Tacoma (Bliss).—Pink, large, roundish, a heavy crop. 
Ellington s Prolific. —White, round, medium size, even ; very heavy 
crop. 
THE LONDON PARKS. 
SOUTHWARK PARK. 
Perhaps few of those who make a yearly pilgrimage to the London 
Parks ever visit that situated near the Thames in the south-east district, 
and known as Southwark Park. It is quite out of the ordinary route, 
and necessitates a special journey to a densely populated and not too 
salubrious a neighbourhood, yet to those who are interested in town 
gardening, and who wish to see how much can be effected by good 
management under unfavourable circumstances, a visit would not be 
altogether unprofitable. The fact is that it affords an agreeable sur¬ 
prise to all who are unacquainted with its attractions and resources, 
as few could expect to find anything of horticultural importance in 
Rotherhitlie or the adjoining districts. Still the Park mentioned would 
compare favourably with any similar place of public resort in the 
eastern portion of the metropolis. It is in such a neighbourhood as this 
that parks, public gardens, and open spaces are most needed and most 
valuable. It is also satisfactory to note that they are greatly appre¬ 
ciated judging by the large number of people who assemble in them on 
Sundays and at general holiday times. Securing spaces in such situa¬ 
tions, laying out, planting, and maintaining them is a wise expenditure 
of public money, and cannot bring anything but good results to a 
portion of the community that experience few of the pleasures of life. 
Southwark Park is an extensive tract of land, originally flat and 
uninteresting enough no doubt, but by the aid of the landscape gardener’s 
art it has been improved out of recognition, and now presents considerable 
diversity of aspect. It is easily reached by steamboat from London Bridge 
to Cherry Garden Pier, which is within a few minutes’ walk of the two 
entrances in Union Road. The Deptford Road station on the London 
Bridge line is also a short distance from the Park, and tramcars pass 
the Jamaica Level entrance frequently. From the last named gate a 
hard straight road extends some 200 yards to the refreshment pavilion, 
and upon turf slopes on each side are numerous carpet and flower beds, 
bright and effective as they should be in such a position. To the right 
is the subtropical garden and lake ; beyond (his a large space reserved 
for cricket and other sports. On the left are tree-shaded walks and 
avenues, dense shrubberies, and an open space devoted to band stand 
and seats for visitors. Nearly the whole of the walks are of asphalte 
or some similar composition, which are found cleaner, drier, and more 
durable than gravel, where they are so much frequented as in these 
parks. Of course some objection can be raised against such paths on 
account of their appearance, but where a white or light coloured finely 
broken surfacing material is employed this objection does not hold 
good. An important matter in forming these parks is to have them 
well furnished with trees and shrubs that will endure the smoke and 
fumes of London and make fairly good progress. This necessarily 
restricts the selection considerably, and renders it difficult to introduce 
much variety, in foliage or contour effects. Amongst trees Poplars, 
Planes, and Limes are most relied upon, and in shrubs Privet, Ancubas, 
Lilacs, and common Laurels predominate. Most of these seem to be 
making progress, and some have attained good size, becoming vigorous 
well developed specimens. 
The principal flower and carpet beds are seen near the Jamaica Level 
entrance already mentioned, and some of these may be noted. Near 
the entrance are two large beds upon rather steep slopes on opposite 
sides of the road. One has a groundwork of Golden Feather, with large 
panels of Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica, edged with Alternantheras ; 
smaller panels of A. versicolor, and a centre of A. aurea edged with 
Echeverias. This is flanked by two crescent-shaped beds, containing 
scarlet Zonal Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Lobelias, and Antennaria as a 
margin. Upon the other side of the road the beds are not quite so 
bright, Ageratums, Pelargoniums, and Iresine Lindeni being chiefly 
employed. One characteristic of several beds in these slopes is that a 
background or edging of a taller and different plant from that in the 
front is frequently employed. Sometimes this has a good appearance, 
but in a few instances it is rather incongruous, and rather spoils the 
symmetry of the bed. 
A crescent-shaped bed raised at the back is one of the most pleasing* 
A series of panels in a well designed scroll have centres of Mesem" 
bryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, edged with a neat band of 
Lobelia pumila, A ! ternanthera aurea and A. magnifica, with the outer 
edge of Violas and Echeverias. The back edge is formed of variegated 
Pelargoniums with end blocks of Antennaria tormentosa and “ London 
Pride.” A smaller space is occupied with several beds, the whole 
surrounded by sloping banks of Ivy, Pelargoniums furnishing the chief 
colour in the centre. Near this is another crescent-shaped bed with 
somewhat angular panels in a scroll, Golden Feather forming the chief 
groundwork, filled in with Lobelias and Alternanthera magnifica. A 
star-shaped bed of moderate size is planted with blue and white Violas, 
filled in with Stonecrop, edged with Antennarias. Lobelias are em¬ 
ployed freely in several large beds with good effect, one variety, a deep 
rich blue with white eye, being conspicuous amongst the others. A 
peculiar conical bed is seen in one portion of the slope, it is 3 or 4 feet 
high, covered with Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica, and having designs in 
Echeverias and Alternantheras on the sides. This is original and 
arrests attention, but it is rather more strange than beautiful, and is 
scarcely a style to be recommended; it must be also very difficult to 
plant and keep in order. 
The lake has been tastefully designed ; the islands are well planted 
with trees, and several picturesque peeps are obtained that could not be 
expected in a park so unfavourably situated as this. The slopes around 
are of grass kept neatly mown, but the margin of the water itself 
consists of cable-like tiles or bricks, which impart a rather formal 
appearance, though something of the kind is probably necessary to keep 
up the edge. Some of the banks here are raised to a good elevation, and 
assist in improving the aspect of the surroundings materially. The park 
generally affords ample proof that it is well attended, and the Superin¬ 
tendent, Mr. G. Bush, evidently understands what is required in the 
locality. 
DISA GRANDIFLORA. 
This plant often fai’s to grow satisfactorily through being 
placed in too warm, too close, and too dry an atmosphere. The 
best examples that have come under my notice were grown at the 
shady end, close to the door of a small greenhouse. The position 
was shaded from the sun, constantly moist, and the door open from 
the end of May until September. The cool treatment that this 
Disa enjoys has led growers to remove squares of glass directly 
opposite the plants, and substitute perforated zinc. They certainly 
enjoy during genial weather a constant supply of air ; but during 
winter, when they are making their growth, they do not appear 
to appreciate cold air constantly striking upon them. After 
flowering the plants enjoy a period of rest, and if the position in 
which they have been grown is such that they can be kept cool and 
moist without recourse to constant watering all the better. We 
have found a cool shady frame, where the pans can be plunged in 
cocoa-nut fibre refuse, a capital place for them for a month or five 
weeks after flowering. During this time no more water should be 
given than is really necessary, but take care that they do not- 
become dry, or the roots are very liable to perish. When the 
pots are plunged in a cool shady place occasional sprinkling with 
the syringe will be ample to keep the soil moist and the roots 
in good condition. We prefer at all times to water them by the 
aid of the syringe. The syringe further assists in keeping them 
free from aphides and red spider. 
MAXILLARIA GRANDIFLORA. 
This Orchid is said to flourish well with the coolest treatment, 
but its progress is very slow ; in fact, there is no comparison 
between the growth of a plant in a cool house and one in a warm 
structure. It grows strongly and increases rapidly in the Cattleya 
house, or will flourish admirably in an ordinary stove. Under such 
treatment it will make and mature at least two growths in the 
year. It blooms under cool treatment in the autumn, but when 
grown in heat its flowering time is changed. We have flowers at- 
various times during the year. At one time after growth had 
been made we removed it for a time to a cool house to rest, and 
then started it again into growth. It is just possible we had more 
flowers by this means than by the method of culture we are now 
pursuing. For some time we have given the plant the same treat¬ 
ment as the Cattleyas enjoy, and anyone anxious to develope a 
large plant quickly we advise to follow this course. It does well in 
a pot and roots abundantly in good peat, a little charcoal, with a 
thin layer of moss on the surface, which in the course of a season 
