16 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 6,1887. 
been equally successful in preserving the plumpness of his Muscat berries. 
The Vines in this case have been wonderfully improved since he has taken 
them in hand, the crop, however being more remaikable for the even 
useful size of bunches, and the plumpness and good colour of the berries. 
From “information received,” it appears Mr. Gibson “ watered and 
damped down the same in September as heretofore.’’ He does not believe 
in any cut and dried rules for watering and damping down, but waters 
the borders, all inside, when approaching dryness, and damps down when¬ 
ever the atmosphere of the house feels at all dry. His are not mere 
sprinklings, but the water is dipped with a bucket always kept conve¬ 
niently near an open soft water tank, and thrown all over the border. 
It should be added that the border is well covered with stable litter, this 
admitting of the just described expeditious method of damping down, and 
also I should imagine checking injurious evaporation from a damp 
border. 
Mr. Gibson also points out that the Vines that are in the best state 
at the roots are the first to ripen the wood and cast off the foliage, and 
are the least liable to have shrivelled berries. Overcropped or badly 
rooted Vines will frequently disappoint in the matter of shrivelling or 
imperfectly maturing the crops, this happening during any season, but 
whenVines in the best of health and well attended to in every way act some¬ 
what similarly, the cause must be more or less abnormal. The profession 
of gardening presents many difficulties, and is never thoroughly mastered, 
nearly every season disclosing some new enigma.—W. Iggulden. 
ROSES THE BRIDE AND GRAND MOGUL. 
As the exhibitors of these two Roses at the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Gardens on July 6th last, alluded to by yeur correspondent, 
Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, at page 562, last vol., we feel compelled to pro¬ 
test against his treatment of them. So far from the blooms in question 
being discreditable to the varieties, we have ample evidence that by the 
more discriminating section of the Rose-growing public there present 
their merits were fully recognised. 
We also beg to deny Mr. Girdlestone’s assertion that Grand Mogul is 
a sport from A. K. Williams, which if believed is calculated to damage 
the sale of the Rose, because many people who would buy a seedling 
would not buy a spoit, as the latter often reverts to the type, which the 
former never does. As Mr. Girdlestone in the same column I ells your 
readers that “ these Rose sports are generally inferior to their parent in 
some respect or other,” he should hardly have branded this grand 
novelty as a sport when we had long previously exhibited it and an¬ 
nounced it in our catalogue as a seedling. 
By thus endeavouring to “ damn ” these two Roses “ with faint praise,” 
Mr. Girdlestone may think to do Rose-growers a service, but we are of 
opinion that they have already won for themselves too secure a place in 
the estimation of competent judges to be thus ousted from it. 
We hope Mr. Girdlestone will not expect that we shall be deterred by 
fear of his displeasure from exhibiting any new Rose that comes into our 
hands at as early a date as we possibly can, since we believe it to be the 
true interest of Rose-growers and Rose-growing that we should do so.— 
Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross. 
ALDENHAM PARK. 
This, the pleasantly situated residence of H. H. Gibbs, Esq., is easily 
reached by train from St. Pancras, on the Midland line, being 2| miles 
from Elstree Station. The mansion is backed up by some fine specimen 
Elm trees, and has a most pleasant outlook. The gardens have undergone 
many improvements during the last two years. Trees and Conifers have 
bei n transplanted from one place to another, and from their luxuriant 
appearance they seem to have had the right treatment. Notwithstanding 
the fact that the soil is clayey and wet during the winter, the gardens 
entirely are particularly well managed, the kitchen garden crops being 
excellent, and, what is of great importance in all gardens, everything is 
very neat and clean, reflecting great credit on the gardener, Mr. E. 
Beckett, who, though young in years, is old in experience. A few notes, 
hurriedly taken during a short visit some months back, may not be out 
of place, and might perhaps be suggestive to others. One of the most 
effective sub-tropical arrangements which I have yet seen was there dis¬ 
played, a border 12 feet wide and 50 feet long, backed up with dark ever¬ 
greens, such as Yews, Thuiopsis borealis, &c. The tallest plants were 
gigantic specimens of Hemp (Cannabis gigantea), green Castor Oils, and 
tall. Sunflowers, mingled thinly. The middle and front was filled with 
Ricinus Gibsoni, Wigandia caracasana, Solanum robustum, Acacia 
lophantha, Red Mountain Spinach, Sutton’s Miniature Sunflower, Varie¬ 
gated Maize. The whole was remarkable for the wonderful luxuriance 
of the foliage ; without being in any way crowded, each plant seeming to 
fill its allotted space and no more, while the colours harmonised well ; 
the whole formed a grand combination of sub-tropical plants. Particu¬ 
larly effective was an oblong bed filled with Lobelia fulgens, and edged 
with Chamaepeuce Casabonse. Several beds on the terrace were planted 
chiefly with carpet plants relieved with a tall plant or two of Dracaena 
australis, the arrangement of the various plants being quite in the best 
style. Particularly bright was Alternanthera amcena. Lilium auratum 
was freely planted among the Rhododendrons, and very well it looked 
when in bloom ; large spikes of richly coloured flowers towering above 
the green foliage of the plants underneath looked quite imposing. The 
herbaceous borders, which are extensive, were occupied with many 
choice plants suitable for the purpose. Amongst them were some choice 
Scabious, Z'nnias, and at the back were varieties of Pompon Dahlias, 
which served to lighten the garden considerably. 
The houses were characterised by the same good quality and cleanli¬ 
ness. There is a small choice collection of Orchids in excellent condition, 
the fronts of the stages being neatly margined with Isolepis gracilis, 
which gave a finish to the stages, a good batch of healthy-growing plants 
of Eucharis amazonica, which Mr. Beckett informed me was at one time 
nearly killed with disease. A very fine collection of Chrysanthemums, of 
which Mr. Beckett was a noted grower when in the neighbourhood of 
Kingston-on-Thames, gave promise of abundance of fine blossoms. 
Bananas, Pines, Grapes, Peaches, not forgetting a very fine tree of the 
Brown Turkey Fig, were all in excellent order. About 1200 Strawberries 
in pots looked capital.—E. M, 
GOMPHIA DECORA. 
Small plants in pots of Gomphia decora are useful for late autumn 
and winter flowering in stoves or warm conservatories, but they are seldom 
seen employed in this way. Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, had 
Fig. 3.—Gomphia decora. 
some attractive little specimens in one of the stoves at his nursery a few 
weeks back, and the bright yellow flowers had a very cheerful effect 
amongst the foliage plants that usually predominate in such structures. 
It is easily grown, but is seen to better advantage in a small state, say in 
48-size pots, than when of larger size, and to maintain a stock of suitable 
plants a few cuttings might be struck occasionally. Light turfy loam 
with a little peat or, preferably, good leaf soil, will form a compost adapted 
to the requirements of the plant. Some attention will be needed to keep 
the plants clear of insects, mealy bug and scale being the chief enemies, 
but these can be readily destroyed. 
INDIAN EXPERIENCES. 
(Continued from page 589, last vol.) 
The first work appointed me by Mr. Bassano was forming a large 
nursery of seedlings, and building a house for myself on the highest 
point on the property. The first operation was one easy enough of ac- 
