AugDst S3,1894, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
181 
which have been selected out of the large number of seedlings for distri¬ 
bution next year, were in flower. The shades of colour vary greatly, 
and combined together have a very pleasing effect. Amongst the 
novelties for next year was one of the purest white that I have yet seen, 
large pips, and an immense truss ; another was of a rich shaded salmon 
colour. In the larger house were also varieties of foreign raisers, mostly 
forms which had originated in some way or other from Souvenir de 
Mirande. The back wall of this house was completely draped with 
enormous plants of an ornamental Asparagus. These had been planted 
out about eight years ago in the border ; had been allowed to cover the 
wall and to hang down in long festoons of rich green. It is largely used 
for bouquets, and as it remains fresh for some time after being cut, may 
perhaps prove a formidable rival for this purpose to Adiantum cuneatum. 
Of this latter there were two long houses filled with plants of the 
utmost luxuriance of growth and freshness of colour. 
I also had the pleasure of seeing the old orchard house, which I well 
remember in the time of my former visit, when these structures were 
not so plentiful as they are now. In another of the houses there was a 
remarkable bed of Eucharis amazonica (grandiflora); it was some 90 feet 
long and 6 feet wide, and was filled with hundreds of healthy and 
vigorous plants. There was no trace of Eucharis mite, or indeed of 
any disease; many hundreds of blooms had been cut, and the 
plants promised well for a future supply. Mr. Pearson thinks that the 
secret of his success in growing them is that they are kept continually 
on the move ; he does not believe in their requiring a rest, and it may 
be with them, as with Disa grandiflora, that they do not really require 
it; at any rate, no more successfully grown group of plants could be very 
well seen. The Chilwell Nurseries are not Orchid nurseries, but there was 
one very fine group of the Chatsworth variety of Ccelogyne cristata, which 
might be the envy of any orchidist. The firm has long been famous for 
its pot Vines, and a house full of magnificent plants of all the leading 
varieties bore witness to the fact that the reputation in this respect 
has been well maintained. There was also a house full of grand 
plants of that Rose for which the demand seems even greater than the 
supply, Mar^chal Niel. These plants were strong and healthy, placed 
on each side of a span-roofed house, forming a complete arch of 
green and luxuriant foliage. One oftentimes wonders what becomes 
of all the plants of this grand Rose which are everywhere distributed ; 
it cannot be that they perish, for nearly the same demand exists for 
Gloire de Dijon, yet we hardly ever hear of that Rose dying, so I 
suppose in many of an out of the way nook, where its beauties are “ born 
to bloom unseen,” it is to be found. 
In one thing I was disappointed, the firm has taken a considerable 
interest in the dwarf varieties of flowering Gannas, and I had hoped to 
have seen many of the newer forms in flower, but they had been nearly 
all planted out, and the cold and wet weather had so checked them that 
they were not in bloom. There were a few in one of the houses which 
showed how effective they are both in flower and foliage. Conspicuous 
amongst them was that grand variety Konigin Charlotte raised by 
M. Pfitzer. It is somewhat in the style of Madame Crozy, but superior 
both in size and colour to that well known variety. There were some 
which would be attractive for their foliage only, one most especially, 
with large dark velvety leaves which would at any time command 
attention, and when in flower the contrast between the dark foliage and 
the bright flowers must be very pleasing, Mr, Pearson speaks as highly 
of these for winter use as did Mr. George Paul in the admirable paper 
which he read before the Horticultural Club three months ago. It is a 
class of flowers which is evidently coming into vogue, and in which, as 
in all such cases, we may expect grander results from the hybridiser’s 
efforts. 
As I have said, it was not much of a time for the inspection of the 
outdoor part of the nursery, I was therefore obliged to leave unvisited 
the fruit tree department which Mr. Alfred Pearson has under his 
especial care; bub there was one quarter which I think was perfectly 
unique, and that was a bed of about 2000 plants of the variegated form 
of the Yucca filamentosa. It still holds its own for the distinctness of 
its variegation, notwithstanding the many rivals which have been 
introduced of late years. These plants were of various sizes and all in 
conditions of perfect health. 
Crossing the road which divides the nursery I came upon a walled 
garden, which brought before me vividly the zeal with which florists’ 
flowers were cultivated in times past. This garden was enclosed by a 
wall 10 feet high, and in the time of Mr. Pearson’s grandfather or great¬ 
grandfather was devoted to the cultivation of the Tulip. This is a 
time not like, of course, the Tulip mania in Holland 200 years ago, 
which was simply a gambling speculation, but it was a time when 
Tulips were found catalogued at 10, 20, and even 50 guineas apiece, 
and when Groom’s collections at Walworth formed one of the attrac¬ 
tions of South London. Of the varieties of which these almost fabulous 
prices were paid there hardly remains one in cultivation, having been 
superseded by the beautiful rectified Tulips of modern raisers. This 
high wall was intended as a protection not only from winds but from 
intruders. The glory of the Tulip garden has departed, and it is now 
devoted to other purposes. 
There is one other speciality of the Chilwell Nurseries which 
cannot be passed over without notice; I mean the culture of the 
Chrysanthemum, to which Mr. C. Pearson has so zealously devoted him¬ 
self. There is no collection I know of that can be compared with 
that at Chilwell. It comprises between 4000 and 5000 plants, all grown 
in pots, and at the time of my visit were in the most luxuriant foliage, 
clothed right down to the pot, and showing no trace of mildew or of 
any other infirmity. Mr. Pearson is not an exhibitor, but he has a grand 
exhibition in his own place. These plants will be by-and-by removed 
into three houses, the largest of which is about 100 feet long and 30 wide. 
In these the Chrysanthemums are staged in the best possible way for 
effect, and I have no doubt forms, as many of your correspondents have 
stated, a grand treat to the lover of this beautiful autumnal flower. Of 
course all the best of the foreign varieties are introduced for trial, but 
those only of superior merit are retained, it not being considered that a 
new name is the same thing as a new flower. 
I have thus endeavoured to give a slight idea of the existing state of 
this fine nursery. In so doing I have had as my main object that of 
showing that the well-established repute of an honoured name is being 
worthily maintained in the present generation, and all who knew the 
late Mr. Pearson, and who now know his enterprising and energetic 
successors, will not only hope that they may continue to maintain the 
high position which their establishment holds in the horticultural world, 
but also that they may be able to transmit this to successors who will 
uphold its character unimpaired.—D., Deal. 
LADY GARDENERS. 
Now and again the problem of overcrowding in the gardening 
vocation claims the attention of the press. To all thinking men whom 
this question of supply and demand directly concerns, and it may be 
said that is the whole body of gardeners, it is one that is ever present 
and ever increasing. To what acute stage the disorder may attain before 
a remedy is found it is difficult to foresee, or indeed to say if it is within 
the bounds of possibility of being successfully grappled with. The very 
magnitude of the evil is such that men in active life can give it but 
little more than passive attention, and those who are peculiarly qualified 
to do so by an unenviable experience are the last to seek sympathy in 
publicity, but are fain content to suffer in silence. Any means whereby 
the evil might be mitigated are worthy of consideration, and not less 
should any augmentation of it be ignored. One phase—a new one- 
bearing on the latter is the threatened invasion by lady gardeners of 
our field work. Gallantry presupposes that when they arrive there will 
he place aux dames., and by natural sequence the displacement or non¬ 
placement of a corresponding proportion of the sterner sex. 
Hitherto with few exceptions those hereditary acquirements derived 
from primeval times have through the lapse of ages run on parallel 
lines. Now the digging department is threatened by invasion from the 
spinning department, doubtless some thought is given by many who 
from chivalrous motives are diffident in expressing it. Present 
discussion of the subject may be somewhat premature, but we know not 
the day nor the hour when the portcullis of some horticultural college 
may be raised and the fair enemy be among us. It may not be a matter 
of surprise to those most interested in the advertising pages of the 
Journal of Horticulture to find at any time its columns monopolised 
by a bevy of fair lady gardeners’ names, setting forth in the orthodox 
manner their qualifications in the matter of Pines, Peaches, and 
Cucumbers. Neither will it be grateful or comforting to the candidate 
for one of those precious situations to find himself in competition with 
Mrs. -■' , who is anxious for a situation as head gardeneress; Miss- 
as forewoman, or the steady and industrious girl willing to go as 
journeywoman or improver. Again, preparing for all possibilities, one 
may presuppose themselves acting as judge at some flower show, and 
wonders what will happen if in the stern official capacity he is beset by 
some fair competitor with the supplication, “Ah ! do give me the prize, 
Mr. So-and-so.” Shall we be sufficiently stonyhearted or callously 
indifferent to maintain our mens conscia recta? Imaginary fears 
probably. But what of everyday work? Will these lady gardeners 
dig, hoe, rake, sow—Bachelor’s Buttons? stoke, and syringe ? 
We live in an age of enterprise not limited to sex. Practically there 
is no precedent from which to foreshadow coming events. We can, 
perhaps, by reconnoitreing the strongholds of these lady gardeners, obtain 
some ideas on a subject as yet obscure. A visitor to the Horticultural 
College at Swanley, in a bright racy article, records his experience in 
the “ Lady’s Pictorial” of October 2l8t, 1893, from which I venture to 
make a small extract. In response to his query as to the success of lady 
gardeners on leaving College, he is informed that “ So far only four have 
passed through the course, the women’s side of the College only having 
been opened two years ago. And these have found employment ? Well, 
one has abandoned all idea of following the trade ; two, who are sisters, 
are managing—I hope successfully—their father’s land and garden in 
Kent; and the fourth, who was a widow, has re-married.” In this peep 
behind the scenes I think there is a gleam of comfort for us fearsome 
ones. Unseen dangers often possess a magnitude of abnormal dimen¬ 
sions which the visible reality dispels. Due reflection may enable us to 
see farther, and view the new crusade as a blessing in prospective. We 
cannot ignore the great and good work which has and is being done by 
ladies in the interests of horticulture—work which we cannot fail to 
recognise as ennobling the business and contributing in no small degree 
to the success of our labours. 
There can be but one opinion, and that of unqualified admiration for 
Miss Ormerod’s entomological researches, and the inestimable benefit they 
confer on our sphere of duties. Here, too, agriculturists join hands with 
us. Miss North’s paintings, also, with their unique value and bearing on 
the art. Then there is that keen interest now taken by ladies in the 
gardener’s work by which the best efforts of head and hand are developed. 
These examples are, I admit, somewhat wide of the mark, but in the 
infinite variety of our work, and the requirements of modern society, 
